Author: WebDesk

Australia have added Sean Abbott to their World Cup squad as a travelling reserve, as Josh Hazlewood is likely to miss the early stages of the T20 World Cup, which begins later this week. Hazlewood was ruled out of the start of the Ashes series with a hamstring strain and then picked up an Achilles problem during his rehabilitation. Despite nursing an injury, the fast bowler made the cut, as he was expected to recover in time for the World Cup. Cricket Australia has not provided a timeframe for when Hazlewood will join the squad in Sri Lanka. As Nathan…

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has warned Pakistan against the idea of boycotting their T20 World Cup match against India, scheduled for 15 February. Soon after the Government of Pakistan announced that its team would participate in the tournament but not take the field against India, the ICC issued an official release, reminding the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of the significant and long-term implications. The Pakistan Government’s decision to skip the India game comes on the heels of their Under-19 team’s loss to India at the ongoing ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup. Although the PCB is likely to follow the…

Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha asserted that his team would follow the instructions given by the government and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi. Agha’s remarks came when he was asked about the government’s decision to play in the World Cup but not take the field against India. On Sunday, the Government of Pakistan confirmed that the team would boycott the group-stage match against India, scheduled for February 15. Ever since the news broke, it has caused a stir in cricketing circles. Reacting to it at a press conference held in Lahore, Agha said, “Yes, absolutely, we will…

Sri Lanka pacer Matheesha Pathirana narrated the story behind his remodelled bowling action and how working with Lasith Malinga and other coaches has helped him get back on track. Since his debut, Pathirana has battled multiple injuries. A shoulder injury last year forced a slight change in his bowling action, which did not produce results during last year’s IPL. A poor run of form, coupled with injury concerns, kept Pathirana far from his best. However, against England in the first T20I, he bowled one of his most complete spells, returning figures of 1/18 in four overs. The presence of his…

Veteran batter David Miller has been declared fit for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Cricket South Africa (CSA) confirmed via a media release on Saturday, January 31. Miller was named when CSA announced the 15-member squad despite carrying an injury, with selectors hopeful that the veteran batter would regain fitness in time. According to CSA, Miller successfully underwent a fitness test this week following an adductor muscle strain sustained while playing for the Paarl Royals during the SA20. The southpaw has been given a clean chit by the medical team. The 36-year-old will join the squad on Sunday…

Veteran Australia pacer Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, with Ben Dwarshuis replacing him in the squad. Matthew Renshaw replacing Matthew Short is another change made by the selectors. Cummins failed to recover fully from his lingering back injury and will miss the tournament, which begins next month. With 20 wickets to his name in 13 T20Is, Dwarshuis comes in as Cummins’ replacement. The left-arm pacer will bring variety to the pace attack and will also be handy with the bat lower down the order. “With Pat needing more time to recover…

In a major setback for the Pakistan Under-19 team, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Shayan has been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament due to a nose injury. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will name a replacement in due course. During Pakistan’s training session on Friday, ahead of their must-win game against India, Shayan was hit on the nose while keeping wicket. As soon as he was struck and fell to the ground, the medical team rushed onto the field and escorted him off. He was subsequently taken to a local hospital, where scans revealed a fracture to his nose. “Pakistan…

England opener Phil Salt opened up about his admiration for Abhishek Sharma, saying he enjoys watching the Indian opener bat and also labelled India the ‘strongest team’ in the World Cup. Salt has the second-best strike rate (169.50) in T20Is after Abhishek, who is in a league of his own with a strike rate of 197.30. The English batter said earlier that he used to compete with Suryakumar Yadav, and now it is about catching Abhishek. “I’d like to catch him,” Salt said, as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo. “That’s been my goal for a while, even when Suryakumar Yadav was…

Tearaway quick Ben Sears has been added to New Zealand’s squad for the T20 World Cup as a travelling reserve, head coach Rob Walter confirmed on January 30. Initially left out of the squad, Sears has returned after Kyle Jamieson earned a place in the main squad following an injury to first-choice pacer Adam Milne, which ruled him out of the tournament. Since recovering from a hamstring injury, Sears has been brilliant. In the ongoing Super Smash, the right-arm pacer has taken 15 wickets at an average of 17.93 for the Wellington Firebirds. “Ben’s worked hard to get himself back…

Pakistan’s T20I captain Salman Ali Agha.has revealed that he will bat at number three in the upcoming matches, citing his ability to dominate spinners in the Powerplay. In a move that surprised many, Salman came in at number three ahead of Babar Azam in the first T20I against Australia. The right-handed batter scored a quickfire 39 off 27 balls, an innings laced with four sixes. It proved to be an inspired move, as Australia introduced spin early in the Powerplay, during which Pakistan scored 56 runs. Of the five boundaries Salman hit, four came against spin, along with one six…