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IPL to resume on Sep 19 in UAE

BCCI official says remaining IPL games will be held in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, reports Asian Lite News

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has zeroed in on the date for the resumption of the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League to be held in UAE.

The first game on resumption will be played on September 19 while the final will be hosted on October 15 — the day India will be celebrating Dussehra this year.

A BCCI official in the know of developments of the recent meetings between the BCCI and the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) said the discussions went well and the Indian board is confident that the remaining IPL games will be held successfully in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.

IPL

“The discussions went really well and with ECB already giving us the oral nod to host the event ahead of the BCCI SGM, it was about closing the deal over the last week. The first game after the season resumes will be held on September 19 while we will have the final on October 15. The BCCI was always keen on a 25-day window to finish the remaining matches,” the official said.

ALSO READ: 1st England-NewZealand Test ends in a draw

Asked about the situation with regards to availability of the foreign players, the official said talks are on and the Indian board expects positive outcomes.

“The discussions have started and we are keeping fingers crossed that the foreign players will be mostly available. If a couple of them do not manage to turn up, we shall then decide on the future course of action. But keeping fingers crossed for now and hoping to have an action-packed end to the 14th edition in UAE,” the official said.

In fact, franchises are also confident that the BCCI will engage in positive discussions with the foreign boards and make players available for the remaining games.

“What we were made aware after the BCCI SGM is that the board will be speaking to the foreign boards and check on the availability of the foreign cricketers. We are confident that the BCCI will find the best possible solution and honestly it is a matter of the BCCI officials speaking to the respective board officials, so we should wait to hear from the board on this. Yes, if we do end up missing some of the foreign stars, that is an area which would need some attention when it comes to picking replacements as the foreign players are also integral to the teams. Team balance can go for a toss, so keeping fingers crossed on that one,” the franchise official told ANI.

ALSO READ: IPL 2021 shifted to UAE

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‘WTC final a clash of two styles of captaincy’

Virat Kohli

The last time the two had faced off in an ICC tournament was in the 50-over 2019 World Cup semi-final. Williamson trumped his India rival as he used his bowlers well to defend a 239-run total…reports Asian Lite News

When India captain Virat Kohli and New Zealand counterpart Kane Williamson take field for the World Test Championship (WTC) final on June 18, they will renew a captaincy rivalry that goes back 13 years, to the 2008 under-19 World Cup semi-final.

Kohli came out winner in that duel, and India eventually won the World Cup by beating South Africa in the final.

Since then, however, Williamson has grown in experience and earned accolades for his leadership whereas Kohli has earned honours as well as brickbats at the helm.

The last time the two had faced off in an ICC tournament was in the 50-over 2019 World Cup semi-final. Williamson trumped his India rival as he used his bowlers well to defend a 239-run total.

Former Australia speedster Brett Lee has said in an interview with the International Cricket Council (ICC) that the WTC final would be a clash of two styles of captaincy. He said that while Williamson is calm, Kohli is all aggression.

On Monday, former India skipper Mohammed Azharuddin echoed Lee’s views.

“I don’t like to compare captains or players. Both Kohli and Williamson are different and have been successful. Both have done well for their countries,” Azharuddin told IANS on Monday.

“Williamson has done well for himself and his team with whatever resources he has had. He has got a lot of class. He is magnanimous. Even when he loses the game, he is always generous like we saw in the 2019 World Cup final loss to England. Any other captain would have lost cool and lashed out but he stayed calm and accepted the defeat,” he said.

New Zealand lost to England in a thriller during the World Cup final. With even the Super Over ending as a tie, England won the final and trophy on boundary count.

virat kohli

England had taken the game to Super Over, thanks to a piece of luck when a throw from Martin Guptill in the last over hit Ben Stokes and was deflected to the boundary for four.

Williamson, however, stayed calm and did not lash out in anger after the final.

“He is not aggressive like Kohli but he gets the job done,” said Azhar.

Azhar said that while both have used their resources well, Kohli is different in his style and has the advantage of a very good side.

ALSO READ: Oman Cricket in talks with BCCI to host T20 WC matches

“Kohli is different. He has got the team he knows. He has got good bowlers. Both have done well for their countries,” said Azhar further.

The 32-year-old current skipper is already India’s most successful captain having led the country to 36 wins in 60 Tests. That is a winning percentage of 60, a shade better than Williamson’s 58.33 as captain.

Kane Williamson(wikipedia)

Despite the record, critics have questioned Kohli’s selections in playing XI especially in overseas Tests. His penchant for changing the playing XI regularly has been blamed for often letting India down.

In South Africa in 2018 and in England 2018, some of the selections are believed to have led to crucial defeats for India.

Conversely, his backing of some of the youngsters has fired up players to perform. He had led India to their first-ever Test series win in Australia 2018-19 and although Ajinkya Rahane repeated the feat earlier this year, coach Ravi Shastri said Kohli had played a key role in instilling self-belief.

Williamson, on the other hand, has led his country in 36 Tests and won 21 of those. The Kiwis have lost eight Tests under him. Except for one, all the losses under him have come overseas.

Although the 21 Tests he has won for New Zealand are second to 28 under Stephen Fleming, his winning percentage of 58.33 is by far the best for any Kiwi captain. Fleming’s win percentage was just 35.

Kohli though has a better record as batsman in England. He has scored 727 across 20 innings at 36.35 while Williamson has 261 runs in 10 innings at an average of 26.1 in England. In fact, in the first Test against England that ended on Sunday, Williamson got 14 across two innings.

ALSO READ: 1st England-NewZealand Test ends in a draw

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1st England-NewZealand Test ends in a draw

First England-New Zealand Test ends in a draw(IANS)

England were 170 for three wickets in their second innings in 70 overs on the fifth and final day when the match ended at Lord’s…reports Asian Lite News

All the efforts of the New Zealand bowlers to dismiss the England batsmen came to nought as the home team preferred to play out time while chasing 273 runs in 75 overs for a win, and it resulted in the first Test ending in a draw here on Sunday.

England were 170 for three wickets in their second innings in 70 overs on the fifth and final day when the match ended at Lord’s. Earlier, they were 56 for two wickets at tea, and they probably decided to hang out there and kill time.

Dominic Sibley with 60 (207 balls, 3x4s), scored in over five hours, and Ollie Pope (20 in 66 minutes, 41 balls, 3x4s) remained unbeaten at stumps. Captain Joe Root made 40 in 109 minutes.

For New Zealand, Neil Wagner bagged two wickets.

Devon Conway, who scored a superb double century on his Test debut, was declared the man of the Match.

First England-New Zealand Test ends in a draw(IANS)

Earlier, chasing the target, England were reduced to 56 for two wickets in 32 overs at the tea, and still needed 217 runs in the final session of play. At the break, Root was batting without a run and Sibley was on 19.

Earlier in the day New Zealand declared their second innings at 169 for six wickets, and asked England to score an average of 3.64 runs per over for victory.

Tom Latham was the top scorer of New Zealand’s second innings with 36 while Ross Taylor scored 33. For England, Ollie Robinson was the top wicket taker with three for 26.

Brief scores:

New Zealand: 378 all out and 169 for 6 wkts declared (Tom Lathan 36, Ross Taylor 33, Ollie Robinson 3/26); England 275 all out and 56/2 wkts (Dominic Sibley 60, Joe Root 40, Rory Burns 25, Neil Wagner 2/27)

ALSO READ: Oman Cricket in talks with BCCI to host T20 WC matches

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Oman Cricket in talks with BCCI to host T20 WC matches

Oman is one of 16 participating nations at this year’s T20 World Cup and cricket in the country is run entirely by a business conglomerate…reports Asian Lite News

International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are in talks with Oman Cricket over hosting of some of the T20 World Cup matches later this year in the gulf nation, a top Oman Cricket official has confirmed.

The ICC had, earlier this week, given BCCI a month’s time to show its readiness to host the tournament in October-November. With India’s chances to host it unlikely due to an expected third wave of Covid-19 pandemic, and things not improving drastically over the last few days, the world body has started to look at a venue besides United Arab Emirates (UAE) which is already on standby.

“We have been approached by ICC and the chairman of Oman Cricket, Pankaj Khimji, is in talks with the BCCI which is due to host the tournament,” Madhu Jesrani, the Oman Cricket secretary, said from Muscat.

“The talks with BCCI have just started. The ICC asked us for certain things that they are looking at in a hosting venue and we have given them the details. We have told them that we are ready. We have two turf pitch grounds, including one with floodlights,” added Jesrani.

Oman is one of 16 participating nations at this year’s T20 World Cup and cricket in the country is run entirely by a business conglomerate, Khimji Ramdas, which is an Indian-origin business family.

Jesrani said both the grounds are inside Muscat.

“The Al Amerat Cricket Stadium has floodlights and it is 15-20 km from the airport,” he added.

The ground was established in 2012 and has hosted ICC’s lower-division matches.

The BCCI has already announced that the remaining Indian Premier League (IPL) matches will be held in the UAE from mid-September to mid-October, which is the time when the T20 World Cup will start.

While there are concerns the pitches at the three UAE venues won’t last two tournaments (76 matches in total), the burden would be eased by shifting some games to another country like Oman.

On Tuesday, the ICC issued a statement saying, “The ICC Board has requested management [to] focus its planning efforts for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 on the event being staged in the UAE with the possibility of including another venue in the Middle East.”

Jesrani says they will wait until June 28 when ICC’s deadline to BCCI expires.

“We are waiting till June 28 when the ICC deadline ends and a final decision will be made,” he said.

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Federer withdraws from French Open

Roger Federer.

“After discussions with my team, I’ve decided I will need to pull out of Roland Garros today,” Federer wrote on Twitter….reports Asian Lite News

Roger Federer withdrew from French Open tennis ahead of his fourth-round match against Matteo Berrettini, the tournament announced on Sunday.

“After discussions with my team, I’ve decided I will need to pull out of Roland Garros today,” Federer wrote on Twitter.

“After two knee surgeries and over a year of rehabilitation, it’s important that I listen to my body and make sure I don’t push myself too quickly on my road to recovery. I am thrilled to have gotten three matches under my belt. There is no greater feeling than being back on court.”

ALSO READ: Gavaskar in love with T20 cricket

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On this day: Lara rewrote history with his 501

Lara’s big first-class score in a high-scoring match came off 427 deliveries in 474 minutes….reports Asian Lite News

Exactly 27 years ago to this day, former West Indies captain Brian Lara hammered 501 not out against Durham in a County Championship match for Warwickshire here at Edgbaston. It remains the highest first-class score until today.

Lara’s big first-class score in a high-scoring match came off 427 deliveries in 474 minutes. He hit 10 sixes and 62 boundaries during the world record innings.

Lara, who also holds the record for highest individual score in a Test innings as well, had surpassed former Pakistan batsman Hanif Mohammad’s score of 499, scored 35 years prior, in 1959.

Mohammed had played that innings for Karachi against Bahawalpur in a first-class game in Pakistan.

Durham had hit 556 for eight declared in their first innings, with John Morris scoring 204. In response, Warwickshire lost an early wicket, which exposed Lara to the new ball. The West Indian settled down and added 115 for the second wicket with New Zealander Roger Twose (51 off 35 balls) and dominated the 314-run third wicket partnership with Trevor Penney (44).

Brian Lara
ALSO READ: Sharjah based Dr Bichu creates Sachin Tendulkar cricket Museum

Lara added unbeaten 332 for the fourth wicket with Keith Piper before Warwickshire declared their innings at 810 for four.

Lara, who was 111 not out at stumps on Day 3, hammered 390 runs on the fourth day, which had followed a rest day.

He reached the milestone with a drive through off-side that went for a four and lifted his arms in the air. Penney ran up to him to hug him. Durham players congratulated him and some of the spectators also walked in to congratulate him.

A few days before the innings for Warwickshire, Lara had scored the then highest individual Test score of 375 against England in Antigua on April 16, 1994.

Australian Matthew Hayden broke that record by scoring 380 against Zimbabwe on October 9, 2003.

But Lara reclaimed the Test record on April 10, 2004, almost 10 years after he had hit 375, scoring 400 not out again against England in Antigua.

ALSO READ: Gavaskar in love with T20 cricket

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Gavaskar in love with T20 cricket

The T20 format game has attracted lot of criticism from some past cricketers who have blamed it for Test cricket losing relevance and players spoiling technique….reports Asian Lite News

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar says he is fond of T20 format unlike most other cricketers of his era since the shortest format involves more action than others.

The T20 format game has attracted lot of criticism from some past cricketers who have blamed it for Test cricket losing relevance and players spoiling technique.

The demise of West Indies Test team due to players from the Caribbean preferring T20 franchise leagues has especially led to criticism of the format.

“I know a lot of people who played around my time, they’re not happy with the T20 format, but I actually love it. I love it for the simple reason that you know it’s a three-hour game, and you get a result, and you get to see so much action,” said Gavaskar on The Analyst Inside podcast.

Gavaskar, who was the first batsman to score 10,000 runs in Test matches, said that innovative strokes attracted him.

ALSO READ: Sharjah based Dr Bichu creates Sachin Tendulkar cricket Museum




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Bio-bubble troubles Andre Russell

Russell said he was keeping himself busy in the hotel room trying to keep himself fit by exercising, and was thankful that he was still playing cricket…reports Asian Lite News

Kolkata Knight Riders’ West Indian all-rounder Andre Russell has said life in bio-bubble is exhausting him.

The right-arm pace bowler and right-handed batsman, who is in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for Pakistan Super League, said that quarantine life is taking a toll on him mentally.

“I think it’s taking a toll on myself,” Russell told Geo News from Abu Dhabi.

“I cannot talk for any other player, or coaches or anyone that goes through this whole quarantine stuff. But it has definitely taken a toll on me mentally because from bubble to bubble, in a room locked in, you cannot go out for a walk, you cannot go certain places, you cannot socialise. It is different,” he said.

Russell said he was keeping himself busy in the hotel room trying to keep himself fit by exercising, and was thankful that he was still playing cricket.

“But at the end of the day, I am not being ungrateful. I am grateful that we are still playing; we are still doing our job. So, it is tough for us. But even though we prepared for it, it still takes a toll,” he said.

“So for me, I like to have a bike or something in my room so that I can get my heart rate up. I would utilise the space that I have, go on the floor, do some of some push-ups. For some exercise, I use stuff in the room to just get something done,” he said.

ALSO READ: T20 WC could be moved out of India


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India lands in London for final battle

India team wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha posted a picture from the balcony of his hotel room….reports Asian Lite News

The Indian men’s and women’s cricket teams reached Hampshire Bowl, venue of World Test Championship (WTC) final, and checked into Hilton at The Ageas Bowl hotel where they will undergo quarantine.

India team wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha posted a picture from the balcony of his hotel room. The room overlooks the Ageas Bowl stadium. Some of the other rooms in the 171-room hotel overlook the golf course.

“That’s our view from the room balcony..Your thoughts? [emoticon: thought balloon],” tweeted Saha on arrival.

The men’s team will play the WTC final against New Zealand at the Ageas Bowl from June 18-22. New Zealand are currently playing the first of two Test matches against England at Lord’s.

The Kiwis, who will return to Southampton on June 14, were in quarantine and training at the venue before the Test series in England.

virat kohli

The women’s team will move to Bristol where they will play a one-off Test against England.

The International Cricket Council had on Saturday said that the Indian men’s team would be allowed gradual increase in activity during its period of isolation in Southampton.

“Regular tests will be conducted during the period of isolation. Players’ activity will be allowed in a gradually increasing manner after each round of negative testing, moving from exercise in isolation to small group and then larger squad activity, whilst always remaining within the bio-secure venue,” the statement added.

The players were tested on arrival at the hotel.

While it is not confirmed after how many days they would be allowed to train, it is understood that their training will begin after the third day, the same protocol provide to New Zealand last month.

Meanwhile, Captain Virat Kohli on Wednesday dismissed views that New Zealand would have advantage over India in World Test Championship (WTC) final, saying that his team was not bothered by lack of Test match practice which their opponents would get in the two-Test series against host England.

The WTC final will be played from June 18-22 in Southampton.

“In the past, we have landed in places three days prior in proper schedule and have had a hell of a series. It is all in the head. It is not the first time we are playing in England. We all know what the conditions are like. We don’t have any issues with even if we have four practice sessions heading into the game,” he said.

ALSO READ: US ready to share jabs with India


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More than 10,000 Tokyo Olympic volunteers quit

Olympics

Organisers pledged to stage safe Games through a strict hygiene protocol. But despite all the assurances, doubts and worries persist…reports Asian Lite News

Around 10,000 volunteers for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics have quit, partly due concern over coronavirus infections, Japanese organisers said on Wednesday.

“There is no doubt that one of the reasons is the concern over coronavirus infections,” organising committee chief executive Toshiro Muto told reporters in Tokyo.

Olympic organisers and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have pledged to stage safe Games through a strict hygiene protocol. But despite all the assurances, doubts and worries persist, reports DPA.

Volunteers, who make up the largest group of participants, don’t know whether they will be tested, let alone vaccinated against the coronavirus.

“There is zero information about that,” Barbara Holthus, deputy director of the German Institute for Japanese Studies in Tokyo, said in an interview. She has signed up as a volunteer for the Olympics.

Another reason pointed by the organisers for the withdrawal of so many volunteers is the Games’ postponement by a year, now set to start on July 23.

Around 1,000 volunteers have also withdrawn in protest against the sexist comments by former organising committee president Yoshiro Mori, who resigned following the scandal.

The 10,000 withdrawals are from the 80,000 volunteers for the competition sites, but organisers say they don’t expect any problems because of that due to the absence of foreign fans.

ALSO READ: T20 WC could be moved out of India