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Pakistan Cricket Board and Cricket Australia announce revised schedule
Sports Bulletin Report
LAHORE:-Pakistan Cricket Board and Cricket Australia today announced the revised itinerary of the 2022 Australia men’s cricket team’s tour of Pakistan for three Tests, three ODIs and one T20I.
The tour will now start and end in Rawalpindi with the opening Test to be played from 4-8 March and the four white-ball matches to be played from 29 March to 5 April.
The change in the first Test venue means that the second Test will be played in Karachi from 12-16 March and the third in Lahore from 21-25 March.
PCB Chief Executive Faisal Hasnain: “We are pleased that the Cricket Australia Board has formally approved their side’s five-week tour itinerary and confirmed that their best available players will visit Pakistan for the first time in 24 years. We are really excited to host Pat Cummins and his players, and look forward to a competitive series that will comprise three Tests, three ODIs and a T20I.
“While Australia will arrive at the back of strong performances in their home series against England, our team has been playing excellent cricket resulting in our players sweeping the ICC Awards. This braces for a keenly contested series, something that the fans will thoroughly enjoy and remember for a long time.”
The schedule has been revised to ease logistical and operational challenges as well as to avoid Pakistan Day rehearsals, which usually commence in Islamabad in the second week of March.
The two cricket boards have also agreed that the Australia Test side will complete their isolation in Australia, before arriving in Islamabad on 27 February on a chartered flight. After a one-day room isolation, they will hold training sessions at the Pindi Cricket Stadium.
Australia’s white-ball players are expected to arrive in Lahore on 24 March following isolation in Australia. After a one-day isolation upon arrival, they will integrate with other members of the side and travel to Islamabad for the first ODI in Rawalpindi on 29 March.
The Tests will be part of the ICC World Test Championship, while the ODIs are linked to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League from which the top eight sides, including hosts India, will qualify directly for the 2023 50-over World Cup.
Revised schedule:
27 Feb – Arrival in Islamabad
4-8 Mar – 1st Test, Rawalpindi
12-16 Mar – 2nd Test, Karachi
21-25 Mar – 3rd Test, Lahore
29 Mar – 1st ODI, Rawalpindi
31 Mar – 2nd ODI, Rawalpindi
2 April – 3rd ODI, Rawalpindi
5 Apr – one-off T20I, Rawalpindi
Sri Lankan Cricketer Niroshan Dickwella Gets Business Management Diploma during his ban-period
Bipin Dani
Niroshan Dickwella, one of the three Sri Lanka cricketers who were suspended for bio-bubble breach in England has made the best use of his ban-period.
The 28-year-old wicketkeeper batter has successfully graduated from Global Technological Campus (GTC) with OTHM Level 4 & 5 programme in Business Management awarded by OTHM (UK).
"Niroshan Dickwella is a professional cricketer and his recent qualification is equivalent to the first and second years of a Bachelor’s Degree and will allow him to complete the final year at several prestigious universities in the UK", Mohamed Azmy, the institution's Chief Operations Officer, speaking exclusively over the telephone from Colombo, said.
"As a professional sportsman, Niroshan is also interested in one of GTC’s exclusive programmes, the Advanced Diploma in Sports Management. This is a management programme with a specific practical focus on the Sporting Industry. The programme teaches management related topics from a sports perspective".
"The programme also covers topics that are only relevant to the sporting industry like Nutrition & Health, Sports Psychology, Sports Coaching, Sports History and Contemporary Debates in Sports".
This programme has been prepared by GTC for sports professionals with a long-term focus and plan on developing their careers in Sports Management.
"Niroshan and many others studied and completed their courses during the height of COVID-19 pandemic and they have been awarded the certificates", he signed off.
Daryl Mitchell receives the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award for 2021
Aamir Ali Janjua
DUBAI (UAE):-As part of the 2021 edition of the ICC Awards, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced Daryl Mitchell as the winner of the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award for 2021.
Mitchell won the award for his gesture of refusing to take a single in the high-pressure ICC Men’s T20 World Cup semi-final against England in Abu Dhabi on November 10, 2021. Earning the respect of the international cricket fraternity instantly, Mitchell becomes the fourth New Zealand player to win the award, following the footsteps of Daniel Vettori, Brendon McCullum and Kane Williamson.
The incident took place in the first delivery of the 18th over bowled by England spinner Adil Rashid with Jimmy Neesham on strike. New Zealand at that moment required 34 off the final three overs and despite the match situation, Mitchell refused to take the single as he felt he was in the bowler's way, who tried to stop the ball on his follow-through. Neesham had hit the ball firmly slightly wide off Rashid's reach, who collided with Mitchell as he went on to stop the ball. Neesham was eager to take the single and had come down the wicket seeing the opportunity but was turned down by Mitchell from the other end.
Commenting on receiving the honour and reflecting on that moment, Daryl Mitchell, said: “It is a real honour to receive the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award and it was absolutely amazing to be part of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup that happened in UAE last year. Reflecting back, it was a pretty tight game against England at the semi-final of the tournament with only a few overs to go, Neesh hit a single down to long-off and I think I obstructed Rashid who was trying to get to the ball.
“We pride ourselves as a team, in the way we play our cricket and I guess that’s the spirit of cricket. Personally, I felt like I got in the way, and we wanted to win but on our own terms. I guess it paid off in the long run, that we won the game.
“We want to win every game, but we don’t want to do it in a way that goes against the values of cricket. The spirit of cricket is very important. It is a platform for young cricketers to watch and learn and to get inspired to play the game and go about winning it in the right way. At the end of the day, it is just a game, and it is a game that we all love, and we are very lucky to be able to do that in the right way.”
“Personally, there are more important things than winning a game of cricket and at that moment it was the right thing to do.”
This spirit is described in the preamble to the laws of cricket:
"Cricket is a game that owes much of its unique appeal to the fact that it should be played not only within its laws but also within the spirit of the game. Any action which is seen to abuse this spirit causes injury to the game itself."
Sobers congratulates Holder for his Beaver-trick
Bipin Dani
World's greatest all-rounder Sir Garfield Sobers was "more than happy" to congratulate the newest and Windies' first double hat-trick achiever Jason Holder on Sunday.
Jason Holder emulated Afghanistan's Rashid Khan, Sri lanka's Lasith Malinga & Ireland's Curtis Campher to become the fourth bowler in T20I cricket to claim four wickets in four balls. He did so against England at Bridgetown in the fifth and final match of the series, which enabled his team to win the match and the series.
"I was present at the Kensington Oval ground and after the match was invited by the team management to meet. I personally met Holder and congratulated his double hat-trick", Sobers, speaking exclusively over the telephone said.
"Grabbing 4 in 4 is rare and not many bowlers have achieved this. Holder is a no. 1 very good cricketer and it was his fantastic performance. I wished him good luck for the upcoming India tour as well", he added.
India-born Anuradha Doddaballapur, who is now a cardiovascular scientist in Germany was the first woman player to take four wickets in four balls in T20 internationals (against Austria in August 2020). (On 26th January this year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sent her a special message in Frankfurt on India's 75th year of freedom).
Beaver-trick
Holder's father, Ronald Holder speaking exclusively, says this feat of 4 in 4 is also known as a Beaver-trick.
West Indian All-rounder lady Matthews advances in ICC ODI Player Rankings
Sports Bulletin Report
DUBAI (UAE):-West Indies all-rounder Hayley Matthews has progressed four places to 11th position in the MRF Tyres ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings after a fine show in the first two matches of their four match-series against South Africa.
Matthews, who grabbed two wickets each in both matches, is the highest-ranked bowler from the West Indies with other off-spinner Anisa Mohammed in 25th place and Shakera Selman 26th. Seam bowler Shamilia Connell has moved up nine slots to 29th after taking three wickets in the two matches.
South Africa captain Sune Luus has advanced seven places to joint-34th among bowlers and is up two places to 44th in the batting list, which is now led by Alyssa Healy with Mithali Raj in second place after Lizelle Lee dropped two places to third. Lee, ICC’s Women’s ODI Player of the Year in 2021, is out of the series due to COVID-19.
The all-rounders’ list also sees changes at the top with Marizanne Kapp slipping to third after missing the matches against the West Indies. Nat Sciver and Elisse Perry are ranked first and second.
Chedean Nation (up five places to 51st) of the West Indies and opener Tazmin Brits (up 25 places to 64th) of South Africa are others to move up the batters’ list in the latest update that sees Sri Lanka’s players drop out of the rankings tables as they have not played ODIs since October 2019 and will make a return once they play an ODI.
Mikyo Dorji becomes first player of Bhutan to register his name for the IPL player auction
Bipin Dani
Bhutan's Mikyo Dorji became the first player from his nation to register for the IPL player auction.
The 22year-old right-handed batsman, who occasionally bowls medium pacer has registered his name for the IPL auction on 21st January and is now waiting for his fate.
Speaking exclusively over the telephone from Bhutan on Saturday, he said, "Obviously I am over the moon because it is the biggest cricket league in the world and it is every cricketer's dream to play in this league. Having the thought of being selected and part of a team itself gives me goosebumps but lets see how things go.....".
The players, however, will not lose sleep, if not picked.
"To be very honest there is a very little chance that I will be picked because as I said it's the biggest league so the competition is very high but registering my name itself is something very big for Bhutan cricket and myself".
"In case I don’t get picked this time then I’m sure in the near future I will be", he added.
"Mikyo Dorji is a talented cricketer and we selected him as soon as we saw him in the first phase. To be honest, his father introduced him to this game. He progressed in Darjeeling, where he did his schooling", D.S Gurung, the Bhutan Cricket Council Board CEO said.
Mikyo Dorji is a power hitter, who is also good at goalkeeping, volleyball, basketball and cricket. He chose cricket because he sees a future in it".
"He is a person with a strong determination and he believes that he can make it at any level if given the opportunity. For him, hard work and dedication are the most important things to succeed, “CEO added.
Today he lives in the southern part of Bhutan, mainly to play cricket and keep his shape.
Dreams will come true for Bhutan Cricket and also for Mikyo, if he is shortlisted.
Brendan Taylor banned under ICC Anti-Corruption Code and Anti-Doping Code
Aamir Ali Janjua
DUBAI:- Former Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor has been banned from all cricket for three and a half years after he accepted breaching four charges of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code and, separately, one charge of the ICC Anti-Doping Code.
Taylor admitted to being in breach of the following provisions of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code:
Article 2.4.2 – Failing to disclose (without unnecessary delay) the receipt of any gift, payment, hospitality or other benefit that (a) the participant knew or should have known was given to them to procure a breach of the Code or (b) that was made or given in circumstances that could bring the participant or the sport of cricket into disrepute.
Article 2.4.3 - Failing to disclose to the ACU (without unnecessary delay) receipt of gifts/hospitality with a value of US$750 or more regardless of the circumstances in which they were given.
Article 2.4.4 – Failing to disclose to the ACU (without unnecessary delay) full details of the approach received to engage in corrupt conduct under the Code including in relation to Zimbabwe’s then upcoming series against Sri Lanka and/or Bangladesh.
Article 2.4.7 – obstructing or delaying an ACU investigation, including concealing, tampering with or destroying any documentation or other information that may be relevant to that investigation and / or that may be evidence of or may lead to the discovery of evidence of corrupt conduct under the ICC Anti-Corruption Code.
Mr Taylor chose to admit the charges under the provisions of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code and agreed a sanction with the ICC in lieu of an Anti-Corruption Tribunal hearing.
His violation under the ICC Anti-Doping Code, which is separate and independent of the anti-corruption charges, resulted from an In-Competition test conducted on 8 September 2021 following Zimbabwe’s match against Ireland. Mr Taylor tested positive for the stimulant Benzoylecognine, a cocaine metabolite, which is specified as a Substance of Abuse under the Code.
Taylor has accepted a one-month period of ineligibility for the violation under Article 2.1 – the minimum allowed under the Code. Mr Taylor’s period of ineligibility was reduced to one month because he was able to establish that he had ingested the substance out of competition, that it was unrelated to sport performance, and because he is currently undergoing a rehabilitation treatment programme.
This one-month suspension will run concurrently with the suspension of three and a half years under the ICC Anti-Corruption Code. Mr Taylor will be free to resume his involvement in the game on 28 July 2025.
Alex Marshall, ICC General Manager – Integrity Unit, said: “Brendan is a former international captain who represented Zimbabwe for 17 years. Over such a long career, he participated in numerous anti-corruption and anti-doping education sessions and knew exactly what his obligations were under the ICC Anti-Corruption and Anti-Doping Codes.
“It is disappointing that a player of his experience chose not to fulfil those obligations, however he has accepted all charges, which has been reflected in the sanction. I would echo Brendan’s message to other players to report approaches as soon as they happen so any corrupt activity can be disrupted at the earliest possible opportunity. We wish Brendan well in his rehabilitation.”
Mother pleasantly surprised at her son's bowling analysis in his first U-19 World Cup match
Bipin Dani
Which parents would not be glad to see their son grabbing 5 wickets and giving away only 10 runs in less than 10 overs ?
Vinuja Ranpul's mother glued before the TV on Thursday night and was "pleasantly surprised" to watch her son showing bowling skill in the U-19 QF match against Afghanistan in Antigua.
"(I was surprised) because my son is a batting all-rounder. He is the one down batsman of Nalanda College 1st XI team and scored unbeaten 119 runs and 3 half centuries in the previous U19 school tournament. He was the 5th most run getter in that whole school tournament as well", the mother Deepani Rane, who is a lawyer by profession, said exclusively over the telephone from Sri Lanka.
"Representing his first match in the ICC U-19 World Cup as a bowling all-rounder, I see this as an opportunity to improve his bowling skills too", the mother added.
Vinuja's father Upul Vithanage is a sea-man (now sailing from Scotland to St. Juan Portico). The sailor with Evergas Company had also played cricket for some extent representing the BRC club Sri Lanka. Vinuja was influenced by his father.
His only sister is a 3rd year medical student studying at Faculty of Medicine, Karapitiya, Sri Lanka.
Mahela's pep-talk
Obviously, the entire team was disappointed on losing the match after performing so well till this stage.
Mahela, the team consultant, did console the players, though, one of the sources in Antigua confirmed. "He gave his own example of his playing days when his team lost four times out of five after reaching the final but ultimately won", one of the sources in Antigua confirmed.
South African players De Kock, van der Dussen gain big in ICC ODI Player Rankings
Sports Bulletin
ISLAMABAD:-South Africa batters Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen have made huge gains in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings after helping their team complete a memorable 3-0 series win over India.
De Kock is in the top five for the first time since the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 after aggregating 229 runs that included a match-winning 124 in the final match in Cape Town. The wicketkeeper-batter has moved up four places after his Player of the Series effort.
Van der Dussen, who scored 218 runs, has advanced 10 places to reach a career-best 10th position. Captain Temba Bavuma has also made huge progress, reaching a career-best 59th position from 80th before the latest weekly update which also includes the Afghanistan-Netherlands series and the last match of the Sri Lanka-Zimbabwe series.
Opener Shikhar Dhawan, the leading scorer for India against South Africa with 169 runs, has moved up one place to 15th in the list led by Pakistan captain Babar Azam with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in second and joint-third positions, respectively. Rishabh Pant is up five places to 82nd.
Afghanistan batter Rahmat Shah’s aggregate of 153 runs against the Netherlands has lifted him seven places to joint-36th while Hashmatullah Shahidi is up nine places to 53rd. For the Netherlands, Scott Edwards’s series-topping 208 runs see him move up 97 places to 100th. Charith Asalanka of Sri Lanka is another one to progress, from 52nd to a career-best 46th position.
South Africa’s bowlers too have significant gains in Wednesday’s update. Fast bowler Lungi Ngidi is back in the top 20 after five wickets in the series and spinner Keshav Maharaj is at a career-best 33rd position. Andile Phehlukwayo is up seven places to 52nd after taking six wickets in the series.
In the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings, England batter Jason Roy’s 45-run knock in the second match against the West Indies has helped him move up one place to 15th while West Indies’ Brandon King is up 28 places to 88th thanks to his unbeaten 52 in the first match.
In the bowlers’ list, Jason Holder is up to a career-best 26th following his haul of four for seven that won him the Player of the Match award in the first match. His team-mate Akeal Hosein bowled economically to gain 40 places and reach 33rd after the first two matches.
Let Vamika grow in her own way
Bipin Dani
Indian sociologists have come in support of Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma, who have requested the fans not to circulate their daughter Vamika's photo on social media.
Cameras were zoomed in on Anushka holding the baby in the arm when former captain Kohli reached 50 in the 3rd and final ODI against South Africa on Sunday.
"Any post made public is bound to have repercussions, and if you are celebrities, like Virat and Anushka, it will be followed by a large number of people reacting to it. Requesting them to social media to respect their privacy and not click, share or upload the pics of their little daughter was fine and totally their personal matter", Prof. Abha Chauhan, President, Indian Sociological Society (ISS), says.
Adding further, she says, "Beyond that it should be just a normal way of leading life, even cheering at the match, or being clicked at times, could be a usual way of growing up for a child of the two celebrities".
"The couple didn’t need to justify or sound apologetic about not being aware of the camera on them during the one-day international match between India and South Africa. The comments and counter-comments, now and before, from their fans and others, many of them making fun and some demeaning, were not in a good spirit".
"Socialization of a child is a contextual process, it depends on where and to whom you are born. There are thousands of children in our country who need care and attention, but are completely ignored by the media. Why make some children more special than others, by either protecting them too much or exposing them a lot? Either way, the children of the celebrities will be susceptible to focus and remain the center of attraction. Just let them be…and just let them enjoy the status which they have inherited, normally and naturally!
"If they don't want to bring the photos and other personal details of their daughter on social media, as an ethically and morally responsible persons, we should refrain from posting their personal details. It will provide a better chance, free from the dazzling lives of celebrities, of growing up and socialization to the daughter of Virat and Anushka",
However, it is to be noted here that ex-captain Dhoni and his wife Sakshi have also portrayed their daughter Ziva in public domain.
Prof. Manish K. Verma, the secretary. of the Association says, "No matter other celebrities have 'chosen' to make their personal life public by showcasing the photographs and other details of their spouse and children on social media, it is strictly the decision of Virat and Anushka that what they want with regard to their daughter and how they want to groom her", the sociologist adds.
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