Cricket - Int News
Salman Ali Agha to make Pakistan debut in first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle
Sports Bulletin Report
Galle (Sri Lanka):-Pakistan have unveiled their line-up for the first Test against Sri Lanka that begins on Saturday (July 16, 2022) at Galle International Cricket Stadium. All-rounder Salman Ali Agha will make his Pakistan debut.
Salman was added to the 18-player squad for this series following an impressive run in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy first-class tournament in the last three years. In 18 matches, since 2019-20 season, the right-hander has scored 1,629 runs at a strong average of 56.19. The 28-year-old has smashed five centuries and eight half-centuries. His off-spin snared 25 wickets.
Leg-spinner Yasir Shah and all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz will return to the side in the first Test. Yasir - who was instrumental in Pakistan’s 2-1 Test series win in 2015 with his player of the series performance – will play his first Test since August 2021 after recovering from a thumb injury. Mohammad Nawaz will return after almost six years as the 28-year-old last played a Test in November 2016.
Pakistan’s XI for first Test:
Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (vice captain-wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Afridi and Yasir Shah
England Men name squads for white-ball matches against South Africa
Sports Bulletin Report
LONDON:-England Men's selection panel have named squads for the Royal London ODIs against South Africa starting on Tuesday 19 July and the Vitality IT20s versus South Africa, which get underway later this month.
Durham seamer Matthew Potts is called up to the ODI squad for the first time after making an impressive debut in England's four Test matches earlier this summer.
Yorkshire spinner Adil Rashid returns to both squads after missing the series against India, having been permitted by the ECB to make The Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.
Yorkshire batter Jonathan Bairstow is included in the T20 squad after he was rested for the India series.
To manage the workload and fitness of England Men's Test captain Ben Stokes, he will not feature in the Vitality IT20 series and The Hundred competition, which is due to start next month.
Names of players (ODI Series):
Jos Buttler (Lancashire-captain), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire), Brydon Carse (Durham), Sam Curran (Surrey), Liam Livingstone (Lancashire), Craig Overton (Somerset), Matthew Potts (Durham), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), Phil Salt (Lancashire), Ben Stokes (Durham), Reece Topley (Surrey), David Willey (Yorkshire)
Names of Players (T20 Series):
Jos Buttler (Lancashire-captain), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Sam Curran (Surrey), Richard Gleeson (Lancashire), Chris Jordan (Surrey), Liam Livingstone (Lancashire), Dawid Malan (Yorkshire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), Phil Salt (Lancashire), Reece Topley (Surrey), David Willey (Yorkshire)
ODI Series Schedule:
1st ODI: England v South Africa, Tuesday 19 July, Seat Unique Riverside, (1.00pm start)
2nd ODI: England v South Africa, Friday 22 July, Emirates Old Trafford (1.00pm start)
3rd ODI: England v South Africa, Sunday 24 July, Headingley (11.00am start)
T20 Series Schedule:
1st IT20: England v South Africa, Wednesday 27 July 2022, The Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol (6.30pm start)
2nd IT20: England v South Africa, Thursday 28 July 2022. Sophia Gardens (6.30pm start)
3rd IT20: England v South Africa, Sunday 31 July 2022, Ageas Bowl (2.30pm start)
One change in commentary panel for Tests against Pakistan: Morrison to replace Haddin
BIPIN DANI
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has made one change in the commentary panel for the Test series against Pakistan, it is learnt.
According to the sources in Colombo, Brad Haddin, who was hired for the matches against Australia is replaced by former New Zealand fast bowler Danny Morrison.
In fact, the 56-year-old Morrison is a regular face in the commentary box in Sri Lanka.
The other members of the panel- Roshan Abeysinghe, Russel Arnold, Farveez Maharoof and Aamer Sohail- have been retained.
The former left-hand batter Aamer Sohail will be the "voice of Pakistan" in the commentary box.
The SLC has also sent chief selector Pramodya Wickramasinghe to join the squad. Pramodya replaces Romesh Kaluwitharana, who was with the team for the matches against Australia. The decision on composition of the team is, however, decided by all senior men's selectors in consultation with the team management.
Asia Cup fate
The fate of the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka is likely to be decided "soon". Considering the prevailing situations in Sri Lanka, there have been concerns over hosting the Asia Cup in the country, however, the SLC officials are still confident of hosting it successfully.
Thank you, medicos: Family all praise for Prabath super-fitness
BIPIN DANI
Sri Lankan bowler Prabath Jayasuriya's mother has given full credit to the physios and trainers, who worked really hard to enable his son achieve "super fitness".
Prabath Jayasuriya would have made his debut last year against Bangladesh if not for his fitness. A failure to pass the fitness tests was going to result in an automatic disqualification and that's what happened with him.
"He failed the skinfold tests then but worked hard with the SLC medical team and got an opportunity to play the Test against Australia", the mother, Sudarshani Perera, said over the telephone from Colombo.
"It was his childhood dream to play the Tests and what a dream debut...Regrettably, we could not be at the ground because of the situation in the country, but yes, we all watched the match at home on TV and we are all proud of him, especially grabbing six wickets in each innings and taking the MoM award".
The mother is not willing to buy the argument that Prabath got a chance to play the Test because of the rise in Covid cases in the camp. "Prabath has done well by taking wickets in the local MSL tournament and sooner or later, we were expecting his debut".
After his splendid performance, the family is still unlikely to be at Galle for the first Test against Pakistan (commencing on July 16). However, they have made a plan to visit the ground and watch the second Test in Colombo. The likely attendees in the Colombo Test are : wife (Ranisha Mirando with 3-year daughter Thyvonne Diana), mother and vehicle businessman father Jayasuriya and younger brother (Ashen).
In the meantime, the Sri Lankan players, who were given a 2-day break after the win over Australia, will begin its first training session on Thursday to prepare for the Tests against Pakistan.
Match referee compares Prabath Jayasuriya with legendary spinner Bishan Bedi
BIPIN DANI
Javagal Srinath, who had been the match-referee for the two Tests against Australia has compared Sri Lankan spinner Prabath Jayasuriya with India's legendary cricketer Bishan Singh Bedi.
This was revealed by Samantha Dodanwela, the official of the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board.
The 30-year-old debutant took six wickets in each innings, which enabled his team not only to level the series but his team won by an innings for the first time against Australia.
Speaking exclusively over the telephone, Dodanwela said, "the match referee Jawagal Srinath had a very good word for him and compared him with the Indian spinner Bishan Singh Bedi. Like Bedi, Prabath is also a good slow left arm orthodox bowler".
"Prabath has been performing extremely well for SSC (Sinhalese Sports Club) during the last couple of years and we knew that he would be picked by the national selectors sooner or later".
"I am extremely proud of him with his performance who has brought honor to the country and becoming the only Sri Lankan to take 12 wickets in his debut. I wish him good luck", Dodanwela added.
Incidentally, it was Prabath Jayasuriya, who won the Player of the Match award.
Kenyan Cricketer Aasif Karim arrives on India tour for the award-winning children film Madappally United
BIPIN DANI
Former Kenyan Cricket Captain Aasif Karim is in India for an event being curated by the Indian creative agency Words Rhythms Images (WRI).
The 58-year-old Karim, who was also a Davis Cup Tennis player, is the director of the Kenya Film Commission. To further the cause of sports and cinema, he initiated the Kenya International Sports Film Festival under the aegis of the Safinaz Foundation.
The highlight of the event is the screening of the award-winning film Madappally
United directed by Ajay Govind, which won an award for its social message and most recently won the Golden Statuette at the 51st Roshd International Film Festival in Iran.
In addition to the screening of the film, which was first held in Mumbai on Wednesday, the event will also feature the panel discussions and is set to cover multiple Indian cities including Delhi, Calicut and Ahmedabad.
“Films are a great way to start a dialogue on social issues. I am looking
forward to being a part of this event and in trying to understand how some of the issues raised by the film Madappally United can be tackled. This is also a great initiative which can take Indo-Kenyan relations in a new direction as far as entertainment and sports is concerned”, he said.
Zaheer Abbas shifted to another hospital: Family urges fans to keep him in prayers
BIPIN DANI
The health of former Pakistani batsman Zaheer Abbas has worsened, it is learnt.
The 74-year old Asian Bradman, who was being treated in Paddington's Saint Mary Hospital, is now shifted to Hammersmith Hospital for further care.
Abbas' India-born wife Rita Luthra (known as Samina Abbas after marriage in 1988), speaking exclusively over the telephone from the hospital said, "this hospital is better for the treatment of the organs".
Zaheer Abbas' kidney is enlarged and there are other complications as well.
"One day he is better and the other day his condition deteriorates. On Sunday he had a temperature also. The foreign doctors are treating him here over here. We are yet to trace any Indian or Pakistani doctor in this hospital. At present, he is in the separate ward but may be taken to an ICU", she said.
Earlier, Abbas' Dubai-based daughter Roshana said, "Through you my sister Hiba, Rudabah and I would like to say that we are very touched with the outpouring of love and prayers from dad’s fans and friends from all over the world and would like to thank every one of them. Please keep him in your prayers".
Australian Test captain Pat Cummins to attend Chappell Foundation's Gala Dinner
BIPIN DANI
Australian Test captain Pat Cummins may be otherwise engaged at the moment, but we hear he is already polishing his lines for when he appears as special guest at The Chappell Foundation annual fundraising dinner at the SCG on August 10.
This was revealed by Darshak Mehtra, the chairman of the Foundation.
The 29-year-old captain will follow in the footsteps of Tim Paine, Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne and Jimmy Barnes, who have all previously appeared at cricket’s biggest charity event.
"We hear Cummins doesn’t mind an expensive wine having been introduced to the world of the fermented grape by no less than Dennis Lillee (a TCF patron). Cummins flew to Perth a few years back to work on fixing his bowling action with the former great. While that obviously worked a treat, the Australian captain says the wine habit he developed in the company of the great man has cost him a fortune since", Mehta says.
"It’s a night for the tragic and the talented. Cummins, along with Ian, Greg and Trevor Chappell and a host of former cricketers, will join guests for sundowner drinks on the sacred turf before heading upstairs for the evening, which concludes with the skipper and Tracey Holmes in conversation", adds Mehta.
Former PM John Howard is a great supporter of the charity night, which once saw John Singleton so moved by the occasion that he pledged a million dollars on the spot.
The foundation raises money for homeless youth and is almost entirely without overheads, which means all money raised gets to the right places. The guests will also get a chance to visit the Sydney Cricket Ground dressing rooms with Cummins and Chappell.
England Lions name squad for matches against South Africa
Sports Bulletin Report
LONDON:-England Men's selection panel have named a 13-player squad for England Lions two Royal London 50-over internationals against South Africa starting on 12 July at Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton.
Mo Bobat, ECB Performance Director, said:
"It's always great when we can bring some of our best and highest potential players together, particularly to take on senior international opposition. The two games provide an excellent opportunity to continue to grow our depth and assess players' readiness for England.
"The squad reflects a balance of England's next best players and some future players of note, as well as high performers from this season's Vitality Blast campaign.
"With these games coming at the same time as England ODIs versus India and a County Championship round, we're very appreciative of the collaborative approach of counties, enabling us to field strong teams."
The first match at Taunton will permit full squad participation to facilitate South Africa Team preparation for the international white-ball programme, but the second match at Worcester will be played as an 11-a-side List-A match. England Men's Assistant Coach Paul Collingwood has been appointed Head Coach for the two matches.
England Lions Squad versus South Africa:
Tom Abell (Somerset-Captain), Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire), Tom Banton (Somerset-WK), Sam Cook (Essex), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Steven Eskinazi (Middlesex), Sam Hain (Warwickshire), Adam Hose (Warwickshire), Benny Howell (Gloucestershire), Jake Lintott (Warwickshire), David Payne (Gloucestershire), George Scrimshaw (Derbyshire), Will Smeed (Somerset).
Angelo Mathews Covid scare forced Australian team to skip Shane Warne commemoration
BIPIN DANI
Patrick Cummins-led Australian team skipped the commemoration gathering hosted in the memory of late Shane Warne on Saturday night, it is learnt.
According to the sources in Sri Lanka, the Hon., minister Harin Fernando hosted the cocktail party, which was attended by Shane's brother Jason and wife, Shay.
"Both the teams were invited for the function. The home team was in attendance but the visiting team is likely to have had Covid scare in mind. Since Angelo Mathews found Covid affected, all have taken utmost precautions", the source close to the minister, said.
"Apart from the SLC officials, the gathering was also attended by the selectors Pramodya Wickramsinghe and Romesh Kaluwithrana. Notable absentee was Muthiah Muralitharan, though his manager Kushil Gunasekera, the founder of the Foundation of Goodness was present", the source, who attended the function said on condition of anonymity.
Update on Angelo Mathews
All-rounder Angelo Mathews, who had to miss the major part of the first Test in Galle due to Covid-19 has "better chance" of playing the second Test, commencing at the same venue from Friday.
"He was diagnosed on the 2nd day of the Test and is completing the five-day isolation on Sunday. His next Rapid Test is scheduled on Monday and if the tests reports are negative, he will be available. We want him to play the second Test", the SLC source added.
The first rain-affected Test, which finished under three-days, was won by the visiting team by 10 wickets.
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