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Category: Sports

  • Virat Kohli to step down as T20 captain after T20 World Cup

    Virat Kohli to step down as T20 captain after T20 World Cup

    Indian captain Virat Kohli has announced he will step down as India’s T20 captain after the T20 World Cup. However, he will continue as Test and ODI captain.

    Kohli announced his decision on Twitter, saying he made it with his workload in mind as a three-format player, and that he has already spoken about it with BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, secretary Jay Shah, and the selectors. He said he arrived at his decision after “a lot of contemplation and discussions with my close people”, including India head coach Ravi Shastri and the white-ball vice-captain Rohit Sharma, who has already led India in 19 T20Is when Kohli had been rested.

    Though a formal announcement from the BCCI is awaited, Rohit is likely to take over from Kohli.

    “Understanding workload is a very important thing and considering my immense workload over the last 8-9 years playing all 3 formats and captaining regularly for last 5-6 years, I feel I need to give myself space to be fully ready to lead the Indian team in Test and ODI Cricket,” Kohli said. “I have given everything to the Team during my time as T20 Captain and I will continue to do so for the T20 Team as a batsman moving forward.”

    The development comes exactly eight days after Kohli sat with the selectors to finalise the India squad for the T20 World Cup, which will be played in the UAE in October-November.

    “Of course, arriving at this decision took a lot of time,” Kohli said. “After a lot of contemplation and discussions with my close people, Ravi bhai and also Rohit, who have been an essential part of the leadership group, I’ve decided to step down as the T20 Captain after this T20 World Cup in Dubai in October.”

  • ‘Ignorants’: Mohammad Amir hits out at PCB

    ‘Ignorants’: Mohammad Amir hits out at PCB

    Pakistani speedster Mohammad Amir has slammed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after his name was included in the list of players who received domestic contracts for the upcoming season.

    “If I’m not playing international cricket, then what’s the point of featuring in domestic cricket. They want to control me by offering this contract but that’s not going to happen. PCB should have contacted me before including my name in the domestic contracts list,” said Amir in a recent interview.

    “They [PCB] have well-educated people in their ranks but they still behave like ignorants,” he added.

    The 29-year-old also asked the PCB to give his contract to a young cricketer.

    “The PCB should give my central contract to a young cricketer to help him and so that he can support his family,” he said.

    Amir also stated that he is enjoying playing league cricket all over the world.

    “Maybe they [PCB] haven’t accepted the fact that I have retired from international cricket, which is why they take such steps,” he said. “I am enjoying playing league cricket and spend the rest of the time with my family.”

    Amir retired from international cricket in December last year due to reservations with Pakistan’s team management. He represented Pakistan in 36 Tests, 61 ODIs and 50 T20Is.

  • PCB announces team for first ODI against Kiwis

    PCB announces team for first ODI against Kiwis

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced its team for the first One-Day International (ODI) against New Zealand.

    According to the PCB’s press release, the first ODI against the Kiwis will be played at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Friday.

    The team includes Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hassan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Saud Shakil, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Qadir and Zahid Mahmood. While the second and third ODIs will be played at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on September 19 and 21.

    The Gaddafi Stadium will host the T20Is from September 25 to October 3 in Lahore.

  • Matthew Hayden, Vernon Philander new Pakistan coaches for T20 World Cup

    Matthew Hayden, Vernon Philander new Pakistan coaches for T20 World Cup

    Pakistan’s cricket team will be coached by Australian Matthew Hayden and South African Vernon Philander during the T20 World Cup, the newly elected Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ramiz Raja said in a press conference on Monday.

    Hayden and Philander will be taking over from the pair of Misbah-ul-Haq and Waqar Younis, who resigned from their posts one month ahead of the T20 World Cup.

    Speaking about Hayden, Raja said: “The Australian can bring some aggression into the team. He has experience of World Cups and was a world-class player himself. Having an Australian in the dressing room will be of great benefit for us.”

    On Philander he said: “I know him well, he understands the nuances of bowling and he has a great record in Australia.”

    The development of adding Hayden and Philander to the Pakistan side comes after the sudden resignations of Misbah and Waqar.

    According to ESPNcricinfo, “Hayden and Philander have exceptional credentials as cricketers, but neither has any substantive coaching experience. Philander only retired from international cricket in 2020, and was due to take part in the South African domestic season which begins on September 24 this year. Hayden retired in 2009, and has taken on occasional media work, but his assignment with Pakistan at the World Cup is his first major coaching assignment.”

    PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja also announced that 192 cricketers with domestic contracts will see an increase of PKR100,000 in monthly retainers across all rungs. This means that domestic men’s cricketers in the 2021-22 season, which begins with the Cricket Associations T20, the Second XI competition, from September 15 at Quetta’s Bugti Stadium, will now earn between PKR140,000 to PKR250,000 per month, which is an increase of 250 per cent for the players in the D category, which is the lowest category.

    Earlier, the PCB announced that Misbah and Waqar have resigned and that former Pakistan Test players, Saqlain Mushtaq and Abdul Razzaq would be interim coaches for the time being.

    Read More – Pakistan squad for New Zealand, England and ICC T20 World Cup announced

    The Pakistan team is in Rawalpindi and are practicing ahead of their One-Day International (ODI) series against New Zealand.

    Meanwhile, the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is scheduled to be the seventh ICC Men’s T20 World Cup tournament, with matches taking place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman from October 17 to November 14, 2021.

  • Russia’s Medvedev wins maiden Grand Slam, beats Djokovic in US Open final

    Russia’s Medvedev wins maiden Grand Slam, beats Djokovic in US Open final

    Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev has won his maiden Grand Slam, beating Djokovic with straight three sets (6-4 6-4 6-4) at the US Open final.

    Novak Djokovic’s bid for a record 21st major title that would have completed the calendar-year Grand Slam collapsed at the final hurdle as Medvedev, playing in his third major final, at last hoisted a Grand Slam trophy while avenging a straight sets defeat by Djokovic earlier this year in the Australian Open final.

    The Serb was trying to become the first man in over a half-century to win all four majors (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open) in the same year.

    Such was Medvedev’s domination that the only tiny bit of drama came late when the Serb was suddenly hit by a bout of nerves.

    The New York crowd had never really embraced Djokovic the way it wrapped its arms around Swiss Roger Federer and Spain’s Rafael Nadal, who have also won 20 Grand Slam titles.

    It had also shown no real love for Medvedev. But no amount of urging could lift Djokovic’s game.

    While an extraordinary women’s final on Saturday between teenagers Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez had softened the spotlight’s glare in which the British player clinched her maiden win for the country after 44 years. The women’s final was the first Grand Slam to feature two unseeded players.

  • Ramiz Raja elected as PCB Chairman

    Ramiz Raja elected as PCB Chairman

    Former Pakistani cricketer Ramiz Raja has been elected as Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) 36th Chairman.

    As per details, he has been appointed for a three-year term in a Special Meeting presided over by PCB Election Commissioner, Justice (retd) Sheikh Azmat Saeed.

    Raja, along with Asad Ali Khan, was nominated by PCB Patron, Prime Minister Imran Khan, to the PCB Board of Governors on August 27 for a three-year term.

    Raja is Pakistan’s 18th Test and 12th ODI captain, and played 255 international matches in which he scored 8,674 runs in the period from 1984 to 1997. He has previously served the PCB as its Chief Executive from 2003-2004, has represented Pakistan on the ICC Chief Executives’ Committee and presently sits on the MCC World Cricket Committee.

    Read More – Ehsan Mani resigns, Ramiz Raja will reportedly be the new PCB Chairman

    He has been a successful broadcaster with world’s leading cricket networks and widely regarded as the voice of Pakistan cricket.

    Raja is only the fourth former Pakistan international cricketer to head the PCB after Abdul Hafeez Kardar (1972-1977), Javed Burki (1994-1995) and Ijaz Butt (2008-2011).

    Addressing the BoG following his election, Ramiz Raja said: “I am thankful to all of you for electing me as the PCB Chairman and look forward to working with you to ensure Pakistan cricket continues to thrive and grow stronger, both on and off-the-field.”

  • PCB launches online merchandise programme

    PCB launches online merchandise programme

    To celebrate Pakistan’s rich cricket history and culture, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the launch of its Official Merchandise Store, which will go live on Tuesday, September 14. The passionate Pakistan cricket fans will be able to purchase authentic apparel and accessories at www.shop.pcb.com.pk.

    According to a press release issued by the PCB, the online store will be a one-stop shop for cricket fans in and outside Pakistan where they will be able to purchase customised merchandise, Pakistan national side’s training and travel gear, fan wear, collector’s edition merchandise and hardware accessories with items being regularly added.

    With the launch of the programme, PCB will also be introducing the first in its Legacy Series line of merchandise items. The identity of the legacy item will be revealed on September 14, and is sure to be a pleasant surprise to Pakistani cricket fans the world over.

    With ease of access to fans forming the core of the merchandise programme’s philosophy, PCB will provide shipment across the world helping the fans to #WearYourPassion. Fans in Pakistan will get their purchased items delivered at their doorsteps free of cost.

    Chief Operating Officer Salman Naseer said: “The Pakistan Cricket Board is proud to launch its Official Merchandise Store, which will provide another avenue to the fans to connect with Pakistan Cricket. It is a dream of every fan to be able to get hold of their team’s authentic apparel and this online store will help fulfil it.”

    “As Pakistan enjoys a rich cricketing history and its legacy is deeply imprinted on the game, we will be launching the online store with the PCB Legacy Series. Over time, PCB will continue to add more offerings for the fans to ensure their visits to our online store become a habit,” he added

    He went on to say: “With this launch, we are hopeful that the PCB will be able to introduce a sub-culture of authentic merchandise buying in the country through which the passionate Pakistan fans will be able to show support for their team.”

  • UK’s Emma Raducanu wins US Open in historic final

    UK’s Emma Raducanu wins US Open in historic final

    United Kingdom’s (UK) Emma Raducanu’s extraordinary run at the US Open finished in glorious fashion in New York as the 18-year-old became Britain’s first female singles Grand Slam champion after 44 years.

    According to details, Raducanu, the first qualifier ever to reach a Grand Slam final, once again rose to the occasion, beating the 19-year-old Canadian Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-3 with a remarkable display of big hitting and composure. Just three months after making her debut on the main women’s tour, Raducanu became the youngest Grand Slam singles champion since 17-year-old Maria Sharapova won Wimbledon in 2004.

    She is also the first woman ever to win the title in only her second Grand Slam tournament.

    Raducanu had made her Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon, where she became the youngest British woman in the open era to reach the fourth round. As the world No 150, she is the lowest ranked player ever to win the US Open, though Kim Clijsters did not even have a world ranking when she won the title in 2009, having just returned to competition after having a baby. Raducanu will now climb to No 24 in next week’s updated world rankings list.

    Having come through qualifying, she lifted the title by winning nine matches in the space of 17 days and without dropping a set in any of them.

  • England vs India Test match cancelled due to Covid-19 cases in Indian team

    England vs India Test match cancelled due to Covid-19 cases in Indian team

    Following ongoing conversations with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed that the fifth Test between England and India has been cancelled.

    The ECB, on Friday September 10, in a statement mentioned: “Following ongoing conversations with the BCCI, the ECB can confirm that the fifth Test between England and India Men due to start today at Old Trafford, will be cancelled.”

    “Due to fears of a further increase in the number of COVID cases inside the camp, India are regrettably unable to field a team.”

    “We send our sincere apologies to fans and partners for this news, which we know will cause immense disappointment and inconvenience to many,” the statement added.

    The development comes on the back of intense discussions between the BCCI and the ECB after India’s assistant physiotherapist Yogesh Parmar returned a positive Covid-19 test on Wednesday. Later head coach of Indian team Ravi Shastri tested positive.

    While three members of the contingent – Patel, bowling coach Bharat Arun and fielding coach R Sridhar – were identified as immediate contacts of Shastri, it was far more difficult to determine who the close contacts of Parmar were, considering he was treating a wider group of players. This included Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma. These players have been mingling among the wider group, which has made identifying close contacts even more complicated.

    Meanwhile, as per ESPN cricinfo, the series result would be determined by the ICC match referee Chris Broad based on whether the ECB accepts India’s fears of a larger outbreak in their camp as “acceptable non-compliance” as per the WTC playing conditions. If the ECB does accept it, India will win the series 2-1. But if it doesn’t, and instead challenges that outcome, the matter will go to the ICC’s Dispute Resolution Committee. Currently India have pocketed 26 WTC points from the series while England have 14 out of the available 48 points.

  • Sarfaraz Ahmed spotted riding bike, locals offer cricket match

    Sarfaraz Ahmed spotted riding bike, locals offer cricket match

    Former captain of Pakistan cricket team Sarfaraz Ahmed was recently spotted riding a bike on the roads of Karachi while some fans offered him a cricket match in the video.

    A video went viral on social media in which Sarfaraz can be seen on a bike with probably his daughter when two boys on a bike went near to him and offered a cricket series at a local ground.

    “Saifi Bhai, series khelein kia? New Zealand ka squad toh gaya, Star Ground aajayein, series khelte hain,” the boys were quoted saying to Sarfaraz in the video. “Haan ab yehi reh gaya hai,” the cricketer replied.

    [Translation: “Saifi Bhai, should we play a series? You’re not in the New Zealand squad, so come to Star Ground and we will have a series there.”

    Sarfaraz replied: “Sure, now this is what is left for me to do.”]

    It must be noted here that Sarfaraz was dropped from ODI and T20I squad against New Zealand. The announced T20I squad for the home series against New Zealand is the same that will play against England and in T20 World Cup.