Cricket
SAINT LUCIA FRANCHISE TO BE CALLED THE KINGS
SPORTS NEWS
Saint Lucia (August 2, 2021):-The Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Saint Lucia franchise are to change their name from the Zouks to the Kings. The team is owned by K.P.H. Dream Cricket Private Limited who also runs the Punjab Kings franchise at the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The Saint Lucia Kings will share branding and other assets with their colleagues at the IPL as the ownership team moves to further cement ties between the two brands. This synergy will help build on the successes the team has had since the new owners arrived after they finished as runners-up at last year’s Hero CPL tournament.
The Kings will play their first match of this season against the Jamaica Tallawahs on Friday 27 August. The Kings side will be coached by Andy Flower and will have the likes of Faf du Plessis, Andre Fletcher, Rakheem Cornwall and Wahab Riaz in their ranks.
Commenting on the new brand identity Darren Sammy, Assistant Coach and Mentor, Saint Lucia Kings, said: “I love the logo and I love the new name. It’s a pleasure to be associated with the Kings Franchise and I truly hope that the name can inspire our players to play like the true Kings that we are!”
ABOUT THE HERO CARIBBEAN PREMIER LEAGUE:
First started in 2013, the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is a franchise-based T20 format cricket tournament that combines two of the most compelling aspects of Caribbean life – dramatic cricket and a vibrant Carnival atmosphere. There was a combined broadcast and digital viewership of over 500 million during the 2020 season to make it one of the most watched leagues in world cricket. Trinbago Knight Riders are the current Hero CPL champions, and the other competing teams are Barbados Royals, Guyana Amazon Warriors, St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots, Saint Lucia Kings and Jamaica Tallawahs. The 2021 tournament will take place in St Kitts & Nevis from 26 August to 15 September.
Ben Stokes withdraws from England Test Squad
SPORTS DESK
Islamabad (July 31, 2021):-The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) can confirm that England Men's all-rounder Ben Stokes will take an indefinite break from all cricket with immediate effect.
Stokes has withdrawn from England's Test squad ahead of the LV= Insurance Test series against India starting next week to prioritise his mental wellbeing and to rest his left index finger, which has not fully healed since his return to competitive cricket earlier this month.
The ECB fully supports Ben's decision, and we will continue to help him during this period away from the game.
Managing Director of England Men's Cricket, Ashley Giles, said: "Ben has shown tremendous courage to open up about his feelings and wellbeing.
"Our primary focus has always been and will continue to be the mental health and welfare of all of our people. The demands on our athletes to prepare and play elite sport are relentless in a typical environment, but the ongoing pandemic has acutely compounded this.
"Spending significant amounts of time away from family, with minimal freedoms, is extremely challenging. The cumulative effect of operating almost continuously in these environments over the last 16 months has had a major impact on everyone's wellbeing."
"Ben will be given as long as he needs, and we look forward to seeing him playing cricket for England in the future."
Stokes will be replaced in the squad by Somerset's Craig Overton.
We request that privacy is given to Ben and his family during this time.
PCB announces schedule of the course for officials
SPORTS REPORT
Lahore (July 31, 2021):-Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today announced the schedule of second phase of the umpire and match referee Level-1 course, which will be held across the six Cricket Associations.
The first phase of the course was held from 7-25 June in which 336 individuals, included 49 former international and first-class cricketers took part. The second phase of the course will include written tests, interviews and physical fitness evaluation.
The second phase will commence in the Central Punjab Cricket Association where 82 participants will attend the day-long activity at the Gaddafi Stadium on 2 August. On 5 August, 49 future umpires and match referees from the Northern Cricket Association will attend the course at the Pindi Cricket Stadium.
Bilal Qureshi, PCB Manager - Umpires and Match Referees: “As we are heading towards complete revival of cricket in Pakistan with the resumption of clubs, schools and collegiate cricket, it is important that we have sufficient match officials in each Cricket Association to cater for the requirement. While the qualified match officials will enhance the quality of competitions within the Cricket Association’s jurisdiction, these tournaments will also provide experience and a pathway to these match officials to climb up the latter and integrate in the national framework.
“We are pleased that some outstanding individuals are participating in the Level-1 course, who will surely inspire and attract other former cricketers to take up this noble profession as very recently we have seen the trend of retired cricketers officiating in domestic and international cricket. At the PCB, we are also keen for the retired cricketers to become match officials and remain connected with the sport.”
The following is the complete schedule of the umpire and match referee course:
2 August – Gaddafi Stadium (Central Punjab Cricket Association, 82 participants)
5 August – Pindi Cricket Stadium (Northern Cricket Association, 49 participants)
9 August – Multan Cricket Stadium (Southern Punjab Cricket Association, 68 participants)
13 August – Abbottabad Cricket Stadium (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cricket Association, 62 participants)
24 August – National Stadium (Sindh Cricket Association, 47 participants)
26 August – Bugti Cricket Stadium (Balochistan Cricket Association, 28 participants)
Azam Khan misses two T20Is against West Indies owing to head injury
SPORTS NEWS
Georgetown (July 30, 2021):-Buraly Azam Khan has been ruled out of the second and third T20Is against West Indies after sustaining a head injury during the scheduled training session.
A neurosurgeon has recommended an observation period of 24 hours. He will then be reassessed on Monday. His availability for the final T20I will depend on the reassessment done on Monday.
The last three T20I’s between Pakistan and West Indies will be played in Guyana from 31 July to 3 August, 2021.
MRCA termes six cricket association policy illegal
SPORTS REPORT
LAHORE (July 30, 2021):- Movement for Restoration of Cricket and Associations (MRCA) termed a move of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) unlawful, illegal practices of implementing and taking forward its so-called plan and strategy through unelected people by niminating six cricket associations.
MRCA Spokesperson Tariq Sarwar said in a statement that it was an unfortunate that all unelected officials of both the sides were engaged in meeting few days back to decide future course of action for the regional and grassroot cricket.
"We believe that wasting 3 crucial years and PCB's failure to organize cricket through elected representatives is an unfortunate act of the PCB" said the MRCA official, "This kind of incompetency and nonprofessional administration has been costing Pakistan dearly at international level.
MRCA Spokesperson said that entire process of club registration anew, appointment of coaches at regional and city level were made on political considerations would further harm Pakistan cricket at grassroot level.
Reiterating MRCA demand of restoring 2014 constitution, MRCA official said Grant Bradburn is a proven failure with National High Performance Centre has done nothing significant.
"Had NHPC done anything good, Pakistan team and its bench strength would have been enough to make it world beaters," said Tariq Sarwar.
He said the inter-city cricket being played after politically-polarized selection of teams, has shown the highly poor quality throughout the country in a rainy season.
MRCA also demanded of the Chairman PCB, CEO, COO, Director HPC and Domestice Cricket, Director International Cricket and BoGs members to step down.
Australian cricket stars ready to sleep out at home
Jamil Siraj
CANBERRA-AUSTRALIA (July 29, 2021):-Some of Australia’s most loved cricketers and stars of the past will not be sleeping in their own beds this Sunday night in the hope that their efforts will change the lives of the thousands of homeless youth who do not have a safe bed to sleep in at night.
Cricket Australia is throwing its support behind The Chappell Foundation’s Sports Stars Sleepout, with the event being moved to balconies, backyards and couch hopping due to the current pandemic restrictions in New South Wales.
Australian captain Meg Lanning is on board to help The Chappell Foundation to bring up a century and hit its target of $100,000, with funds raised going directly to a variety of essential youth services including Back Track Youth Works, WAYS, Stepping Stone House, Ecumenical Coffee Brigade, Raw Potential and Taldumande Youth Services.
Lanning will be virtually joined by wicket keeper/batter Alyssa Healy and Tassie Tigers’ trio Molly Strano, Elyse Villani and and Nicola Carey.
Annabel and Will Sutherland will spend a night in their garage along with their father James, while former stars Matthew Hayden, Ed Cowan, Mitchell Johnson, Greg Chappell and Trevor Chappell have already been strong contributors to fundraising which has already surpassed $32,000.
Johnson, who’ll dial in from Western Australia, said it was his own experience which motivated him to participate. “A lot of Australians are doing it tough at the moment, but homeless kids do it tough all the time,” he said.
“Me and my little brother were lucky, but I know what it’s like to bounce around from home to home, parent to parent.
Pakistan need fresh start in T20I series
SPORTS NEWS
Nottingham (July 15, 2021:-Pakistan team will be looking to make a fresh start on the England tour when they take on the hosts in the first of the three-match T20I on Friday, 16 July at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.
Both sides have played five T20I series before the upcoming series, where England and Pakistan have won two series each. The two teams drew the three-match series played last year in England 1-1 with one match abandoned.
Overall out of the 18 T20Is played between the two sides, Pakistan have won five games, England have won 12 matches while one match was abandoned due to rain.
The tourists will pin their hopes on experienced Mohammad Hafeez to score runs as the all-rounder has featured in 12 matches against England scoring 289 runs at 28.90 which included two half-centuries with best of 86 not out and a strike-rate of 127.31.
Captain Babar Azam, who is ranked number two in the ICC T20I Batsmen Rankings will be looking to repeat the heroics of third ODI at Edgbaston where he scored a scintillating 158 off 139.
Amongst bowlers, Imad Wasim has picked six wickets from five matches against England, the left-arm spinner’s best figures are two for 17.
While talking to the media in a virtual media conference, leg-spinner Shadab Khan expressed the team’s desire of making a strong comeback after losing ODI series 3-0: “T20 is a different format and we have a different team. Our senior players like Hafeez and Imad Wasim have returned to the side.
“Mostly players in the team have recently featured in the HBL PSL. So we have played a good amount of T20 cricket and hopefully you will see a good series.”
Asked about his individual performance, Shadab said, “I am making a comeback after injury. My recent performance was not good, but I feel I am in good rhythm lately and looking forward to contributing for the team in batting and bowling departments.”
Pakistan is currently on fourth spot in the ICC rankings with 261 points while England are at the top with 278 points.
Mohammad Hafeez hopes to repeat best performance
SPORTS NEWS
NOTTINGHAM (July 15, 2021):-Age is just a number, Mohammad Hafeez is perhaps the perfect illustration of this saying as the 40-year-old is still going strong. Hafeez who now features for Pakistan in T20 format only, has played no less than 106 T20Is, scoring 2388 runs at 27.13 with 14 half-centuries.
Pakistan team, currently preparing for a three-match T20I series against England that starts on Friday at the Trent Bridge Nottingham, will be banking on Hafeez to spearhead the batting top-order.
Hafeez has some fond memories of playing in England. His and Pakistan’s first T20I was against England, which Pakistan won by five wickets at Bristol on 28 August 2006.
Hafeez scored 46 off 40, which included five fours, he was also highest individual scorer for Pakistan in the match.
The seasoned campaigner had an instrumental role in helping Pakistan’s ICC Champions Trophy 2017 victory as he played a crucial innings in the final against India at the Oval, London. His quickfire unbeaten 57 off 37, which included four fours and three sixes helped Pakistan to their match winning 338-run total.
In his first-ever ODI against England in 2003, Hafeez was declared player of the match for his 69 runs and one wicket which helped Pakistan beat hosts by two wickets.
The right-handed batsman has featured in 12 T20Is against England, scoring 289 at 28.90. He has two half-centuries to his name with a best of 86 not out.
When Pakistan last toured England in 2020, Hafeez in two T20Is scored 155 runs at a staggering average of 155 and striking the ball at 176.13. He scored half-century in each innings in the series which was levelled at 1-1.
Leading from the front as a senior player, Hafeez scored crucial runs in New Zealand last year. Despite Pakistan losing the series 2-1, Hafeez made a 140-run contribution at 70 with 99 not out his best score. He was second on the list amongst top run-getters in the series.
Since 1 January 2020 till date, Hafeez has featured in 17 T20Is, where he has scored 480 at 48 with a strike rate of 143.28. The team has around 65 per cent winning ratio in the 17 matches in which Hafeez has played.
Mohammad Hafeez said: “I am happy to be back in England again as I have great memories of playing in this country. The T20I series against England will be a treat to watch for the fans and good display of skills and talent is expected from both sides.
“The series is crucial for us as it will help us understand where we are placed as a team for this year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Good performance against a top ranked side will give players and team management great confidence going into the mega event.”
Talking about transferring his learnings to the young cricketers, Hafeez said, “As a senior player, I feel it is my duty to transfer my experience and knowledge to young players in the team which I have gained over the years. I want to leave a legacy, so when these young players become senior they too help the new ones of that time as I helped them.”
Pakistan is currently on fourth spot in the ICC rankings with 261 points while England are at the top with 278 points.
PCB renews charity partnership with Shahid Afridi Foundation
SPORTS REPORT
LAHORE (July 13, 2021):-The Pakistan Cricket Board today renewed Corporate Social Responsibility partnership with Shahid Afridi Foundation (SAF) for an additional two years, SAF will continue to be the PCB’s charity partner for the next two years. Earlier, the PCB had signed a two-year MoU with SAF in 2019.
The partnership with SAF will cover non-ICC events, meaning as in the past, SAF logo will feature prominently on the Pakistan national men’s cricket team’s playing kits.
PCB’s other CSR initiatives include partnership with British Asian Trust to create mental health awareness and with Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme for polio eradication.
The SAF was founded in 2014 with a view of improving living conditions of poor and destitute members of the society. SAF is working in the areas of Health, Education & Clean water together with the message of global peace & goodwill via sports diplomacy. SAF aims to see Pakistani people prosper, educated and healthy in the coming years.
Director Commercial PCB Babar Hamid said: “We are delighted to renew our partnership with the Shahid Afridi Foundation for another two years. SAF has proven its worth as one of the leading charity organisations in the country which has done some stellar work for the poor and underprivileged across the country.
“The PCB would continue to promote the charity with the renewal of this partnership as part of our CSR initiatives. We want to wish SAF the very best and hope they continue to remain a shining light and a beacon of hope for millions across Pakistan.”
Shahid Afridi, Global Chairman, Shahid Afridi Foundation, said: “I am proud that my partnership with Pakistan Cricket has grown beyond my playing career for Pakistan and that the Pakistan Cricket Board will continue to support the Shahid Afridi Foundation from 2021 to 2023.
“The work that the Foundation is undertaking focuses on improving lives of our fellow Pakistanis and I look forward to seeing our national stars continuing to create more awareness around our work.”
Suspended trio finish 14-day quarantine, head home
By BIPIN DANI
Sri Lanka's suspended trio- Kusal Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella and Danushka Gunathilake-have completed their 14-day quarantine period and returned home, the hotel sources in the country, confirmed.
According to the Dolphin Hotel sources in Negombo, three left the hotel at 5.00 pm on Monday.
"They all were staying in separate rooms and went in their private vehicles", the hotel source informs.
Last month, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had suspended vice-captain & batsman Kusal Mendis and wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella, for breaching the bio-bubble during their recent tour of England and ordered their immediate return to the country.
The two, along with opener Danushka Gunathilaka, were seen roaming the streets of Durham after the final T20 international, which Sri Lanka lost by a massive 89 runs.
The SLC has set up a five-member inquiry panel to investigate alleged misconduct.
"They are willing to accept the wrong doings and they are willing to apologize for the mistake", Asanka Wijewardena, the manager of Danushka and Mendis, speaking exclusively over the telephone.
"However, during enquiry, they (suspended players) will bring the other similar cases where players have breached the bio-bubble and humbly request to give them the minimum punishment that's possible", the manager added.
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