Page 50 - Cricket

BCCI's 92nd Annual General Meeting to take place on September 25 in Goa

The 18-point agenda for BCCI's 92nd AGM includes the election & induction of 2 representatives of General Body in Governing Council of IPL and adoption of annual budget for FY 2023-24 among others.

Former Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak dies after long battle with cancer

Former Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak died on Sunday at the age of 49, his family confirmed on social media. Streak, who played 65 Tests and 189 ODIs for Zimbabwe from 1993-2005, was battling liver cancer for a long time. "In the early hours of this morning, Sunday the 3rd of September 2023, the greatest love of my life and the father of my beautiful children, was carried to be with the Angels from his home where he wished to spend his last days surrounded by his family and closest loved ones," wrote Streak's wife Nadine on Facebook. "He was covered in love and peace and did not walk off the Park alone. Our souls are joined for eternity Streaky. Till I hold you again," Nadine added. A few days ago, former Zimbabwe fast bowler Henry Olonga announced the demise of Streak on social media, only to deny it hours later after a message from his captain, but by then condolence messages by several former cricketers had surfaced. "RIP Streaky," Olonga wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday.

Former Zimbabwe cricket team captain Heath Streak dies at 49, wife confirms

Former Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak died on Sunday at the age of 49, his family confirmed on social media. Streak, who played 65 Tests and 189 ODIs for Zimbabwe from 1993-2005, was battling liver cancer for a long time. "In the early hours of this morning, Sunday the 3rd of September 2023, the greatest love of my life and the father of my beautiful children, was carried to be with the Angels from his home where he wished to spend his last days surrounded by his family and closest loved ones," wrote Streak's wife Nadine on Facebook. "He was covered in love and peace and did not walk off the Park alone. Our souls are joined for eternity Streaky. Till I hold you again," Nadine added. A few days ago, former Zimbabwe fast bowler Henry Olonga announced the demise of Streak on social media, only to deny it hours later after a message from his captain, but by then condolence messages by several former cricketers had surfaced. "RIP Streaky," Olonga wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday.

KL Rahul to be included in India's World Cup squad, Samson misses out

Having received a clearance certificate on his fitness from the NCA, KL Rahul is set to be included in India's 15-member provisional World Cup squad, which will be announced on Sunday. Rahul has been recuperating at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru post a thigh surgery, and he will have one final round of fitness drills before flying out to Sri Lanka to join the Indian team for the ongoing Asia Cup. It is understood that the NCA trainers and the team management have been left with little doubt after Rahul batted extensively at nets and in the match simulation process. India was expected to announce their World Cup-bound 15 on September 4 ahead of the September 5 cut off date. But the selectors decided to go ahead with the announcement after Rahul received the fitness clearance. He can be expected to keep wickets too in the World Cup. Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar had reached Pallekele on Saturday, and it is understood that he held discussions with captain Rohit Shar

Sri Lanka Cricket suspends all board-run domestic competitions: Report

The timing of such clarification is unknown, with the only certainty at the moment being that the continuance of Sri Lanka's domestic cricket season is in the hands of the country's sports minister

Viacom18 secures exclusive media rights for BCCI in India for Rs 5,963 cr

Leading media & entertainment firm Viacom18 on Saturday said it has bagged streaming and broadcast rights for all domestic and international cricket in India for five years from September 2023 to March 2028 for a consideration of Rs 5,963 crore. The Reliance Industries-controlled media house, which earlier this year disrupted the market by live streaming the IPL matches through its OTT platform JioCinema, was competing with rival media houses such as Star India and Sony for the five-year rights. The e-auction of media rights was held on August 31. "Viacom18 secured exclusive Media Rights for the BCCI International and Domestic matches for September 2023-March 2028. The network won both the Indian sub-continent and global television and digital rights for the next five years for a cumulative figure of INR 5,963 crore," said a Viacom18 statement. Reliance-backed Viacom18 had earlier acquired digital rights for IPL for the 2023-27 cycle for a whopping Rs 20,500 crore. After ...

Asia Cup 2023 IND vs PAK: Wasim Akram rates Shaheen, Bumrah and Babar-Virat

Former Pakistan player Wasim Akram gave his verdict on the debate surrounding who is better among India's Jasprit Bumrah and Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi as well as between Babar Azam and Virat Kohli

Asia Cup, IND vs PAK: Shaheen Afridi says prepared enough to win the trophy

Shaheen Afridi talks about team spirit, preparations to win the Asia Cup and the Pakistan pace trio that includes him, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah

Saudi money is unbeatable, says Ben Stokes as Kingdom sets eye on cricket

The Indian Premier League is currently the most lucrative, though, attracting players including Stokes. But that could change given the financial firepower of Saudi Arabia

Canada's McGahey to become first transgender to play international cricket

Danielle McGahey of Canada will become the first transgender cricketer to play in an international match when she represents her adopted country during the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup qualifier in Bangladesh. The 29-year-old McGahey, an opening batter, has been selected in Canada's women's squad for the next month's qualifying tournament after she fulfilled ICC's eligibility criteria for male-to-female transgender players. The qualifying tournament will be played in Los Angeles from September 4 to 11. Canada will take on Argentina, Brazil and the United States in the ICC Americas Qualifier for a place in the Global Qualifiers. "I am absolutely honoured. To be able to represent my community is something I never dreamed I would be able to do," McGahey was quoted as saying by BBC Sport. McGahey moved to Canada from Australia in February 2020 and began her social transition from a man to a woman in November 2020. She started medical transition in May 2021. McGahey's participation in .

Asia Cup: Pathirana's coach cliams he didn't copy action from Malinga

Matheesha Pathirana's sling-shot action immediately brings Lasith Malinga to mind but the young Sri Lankan did not deliberately copy his illustrious senior, his childhood coach Bilal Fassy said on Thursday, insisting that the much talked-about bowling style came naturally to the pacer. His Malinga-like action has also earned Pathirana sobriquets like Podi (Little) Malinga in Sri Lanka and Baby Malinga among Chennai Super Kings (CSK) fans. Pathirana had a breakout season for IPL champions CSK. He snared 19 wickets from 12 matches and was Mahendra Singh Dhoni's go-to bowler in crunch situations. While Dhoni is grooming the 20-year-old as CSK's designated death overs specialist, the Sri Lankan cricket establishment should handle him with utmost care, feels Fassy. "Seeing his action, a lot of people think that he has modelled it after seeing Malinga. Pathirana also trained under Malinga. But he came to me with this action from day one, and we just worked on it a bit, considering it can

Gujrat Titans' Sai Sudharsan signs up with Surrey for County Championship

In a rare feat, uncapped Indian opener B Sai Sudharsan on Thursday signed up for Surrey County Cricket Club for the remainder of its County Championship season. The 21-year-old Sudharsan has so far played in only eight first-class matches for Tamil Nadu, scoring 598 runs at an average of 42.71, including two hundreds and a half-century, with a top score of 179. Sudharsan has also been a regular player in the Indian Premier League for former champions Gujarat Titans over the last couple of seasons, accumulating 507 runs in 13 matches at an average of 46.09 and a strike rate of 137.03, with a top score of 96. He made his India 'A' debut during the Emerging Asia Cup a few months back, where he hammered a ton. Speaking on Sudharsan's signing, Surrey head coach Alec Stewart said, With the busy schedule of international and domestic cricket around the world, I'm pleased to add Sai Sudharsan to our available squad of players. "Sai has come highly recommended to me by people I hugely resp

Asia Cup 2023: Dasun Shanaka confident his young players would prove enough

Sri Lanka have been hit hard by injuries to key players in the run up to the ongoing Asia Cup, and captain Dasun Shanaka on Wednesday said they can't have control over such crisis but are confident of others standing up for the absentees in the continental tournament. Six-time champions Sri Lanka will open their Asia Cup campaign against Bangladesh here on Thursday, but they will be without four main players in Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara and Dilshan Madhushanka. "We can't have control over injuries. You know the players who unfortunately missed out -- Hasaranga, Chameerathey are big players, experienced players. "But we have a young side and this will be a good experience for them and we are looking forward to the tournament," said Shanaka here during the pre-match press meet. Shanaka said they have enough quality players in the side to make an impression in the Asia Cup. "Last time (in the 2022 Asia Cup) also we went in as underdogs and lost our first g

England women to get same match fee as men in international cricket

England's female international cricketers will be paid the same match fees as their male counterparts on the back of record attendances and viewing figures for the Women's Ashes played over June and July. The move toward abolishing the pay gap between male and female players in England had already been recommended in a report by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket, which was published two months ago and highlighted deep-rooted discrimination in the English game. That report said the average salary for England Women players was 20.6% of what players in the men's team received for limited-overs games. A total of 1,10,00 people came to watch the drawn Women's Ashes series between England and Australia, with crowds of around 20,000 at several of the limited-overs matches. More than 23,000 tickets were sold for the five days of the test at Trent Bridge. Broadcast viewing figures of 5.3 million were double those in 2019. The pay increase will take effect immediately, starti

Asia Cup 2023: Bangladesh jolted, Litton Das ruled out due to illness

Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das was on Wednesday ruled out of the entire duration of Asia Cup cricket tournament due to illness, dealing a blow to the side ahead of their campaign opener against hosts Sri Lanka in Pallekele. Das could not recover from a viral fever, and he did not travel to Sri Lanka whom Bangladesh face in their opening match on Thursday. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has named 30-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Anamul Haque Bijoy as Das' replacement. Bijoy will join the squad in Sri Lanka later on Wednesday. "Bangladesh opening batsman Litton Kumer Das, who could not travel to Sri Lanka with the Asia Cup squad due to viral fever, has been ruled out of the tournament as he has not recovered from the illness," the BCB said in a statement. "The National Selection Panel of BCB has named 30-year-old fellow right-hander Anamul Haque Bijoy as Litton's replacement." Anamul Haque has played 44 ODIs and has scored 1254 runs which include three hundreds. His l

Disney gambles on free cricket to turn the tables in India streaming war

The India streaming operations, which were Disney's biggest last year globally by users, posted a loss of $41.5 million on revenue of $390 million for the year to March 2022, its last disclosed result

Asia Cup will test bowlers' readiness for 50-overs cricket: Wasim Akram

Pakistan bowling great Wasim Akram on Sunday said the upcoming Asia Cup will test readiness of subcontinental bowlers for 50-overs cricket ahead of the ODI World Cup, but refused to pick any favourites for the tournament. The Asia Cup begins on Wednesday with Pakistan taking on Nepal in the tournament-opener in Multan, but all eyes are fixed on the mega clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan in Kandy on September 2. "Be it India or Pakistan or Sri Lanka, we will find out if the bowlers are able to deliver 10 overs or not, now-a-days they are all used to bowling four-overs (per game)," Akram told reporters here during a tournament sponsor's event. The competition will revert to 50-overs format in this edition after being organised in T20 version last year, and Akram welcomed the change. "This is a good idea by ACC to have a 50-over Asia Cup because right after it we have the World Cup," he said. Akram said all teams will be challenged on the parameters of fitness and game ...

Asia Cup 2023: Karim Janat returns after six years to Afghanistan ODI squad

All-rounder Karim Janat on Sunday returned to Afghanistan's ODI squad after a gap of six years and the selectors also included seasoned left-handed batter Najibullah Zadran in the 17-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup. Hashmatullah Shahidi, a solid left-handed batter and who is known for anchoring the innings, will lead the team in the tournament will be played from August 30 to September 17 in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Mohammad Saleem Safi and Abdul Rahman, two fast bowlers, who were part of Afghanistan's recent home ODI series against Pakistan, have retained their spots in the squad, but Fareed Ahmad and Wafadar Momand have been left out. Azmatullah Omarzai, a seam-bowling all-rounder, has been ruled out of the competition due to a side strain. Gulbadin Naib and Janat have been added to the team to serve as backup all-rounders. Sharafuddin Ashraf, a left-arm spin bowling all-rounder, has also been included as a reserve spinner. Zadran, who missed the recently-concluded Pakista

Asia Cup 2023: Top five run scorers for India in tournament's history

The top five Indian batters in the list include heavyweights of the game like Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni. But the last two names are of Delhi boys which might surprise people

World Cup: Netherlands bank on practice matches in India to make an impact

Netherlands might be entering the ICC World Cup 2023 as rank outsiders, but their coach Ryan Cook is banking on camps in India and practice matches to make an impact in the quadrennial extravaganza. Netherlands will arrive in India mid-September to have an acclimatization camp in Bengaluru, where they will play a couple of local sides. Following that, they will face India and Australia in the pre-tournament warm-up matches at Thiruvananthapuram. Cook hoped that the time spent in India would blend with his team's inherent desire to win matches. "We are preparing as hard as we can. There will be a couple of camps and practice matches in India. We hope they will serve us well in the tournament proper. Once you enter the tournament, it will be inspirational for everyone to do well," Cook said on Saturday while addressing a select media gathering. The Dutchmen qualified for the World Cup earlier in July ahead of teams like two-time champions West Indies. However, since that day they h