Adam Milne roped in by Kent Spitfires as a replacement for Mohammad Amir

PSL 6 | MS vs KRK: Desperate for redemption Multan Sultans face uphill task against Karachi Kings

Karachi Kings who were relishing their form before the PSL 2021 was suspended in March this year, will be back in action when they take on Multan Sultans in Abu Dhabi on Thursday (June 10, 2021) in a scintillating PSL clash. The two sides have met each other earlier in the competition where the Kings thumped Multan by 7 wickets after Pakistan skipper Babar Azam showed his class and struck an unbeaten 60-ball 90 to help his side chase down a target of 196 in Karachi. While Karachi would be looking to continue their successful campaign so far, the Sultans would see this as an opportunity to get themselves back on track in this tournament. Multan have only won one game out of the five they have played. Karachi Kings on the other hand have won three out of the five matches, gaining six points under their belt. To add to this, the Kings have a slight edge coming into this match with a win in their last game against Peshawar Zalmi. Sultans lost their last match to Quetta Gladiators. Match Details Date: June 10, 2021 (Thursday) Time: 5:00 PM LOCAL/ 6:30 PM IST Venue: Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi Broadcast/ Live Stream: Sony LIV Weather Report The weather in Abu Dhabi would be hot and won’t change much as the game progresses. As has been seen in the first game, it makes scoring runs a bit difficult with the odd ball gripping and getting stuck in the ground. Pitch Report The track in Abu Dhabi has witnessed some high-scoring games in the past and can be a batting-friendly surface. Nevertheless, the pitch is expected to help the team batting second so if you win the toss, elect to field. Team News A number of overseas players will be missing from the second leg of the PSL due to Covid-19 restrictions and some international fixtures clashing with the tournament. Karachi Kings Karachi Kings have included Thisara Perera, Najibullah Zadran, Martin Guptill and Mohammad Haris as the new recruits while they would be without the services of Colin Ingram, Mohammad Nabi, Dan Christian, Joe Clarke, Liton Das. Babar Azam has been performing consistently for his franchise and the national side and would play a key role in giving a kickstart to the Karachi campaign as it resumes. Apart from Babar, Kings also have some local lads like captain Imad Wasim, left-arm bowler Mohammed Amir and batsman Sharjeel Khan who can help the side keep the momentum on their side. Multan Sultans Multan Sultans have recruited Blessing Muzarabani, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Asif Afridi, Hammad Azam, Shimron Hetmyer, Johnson Charles, Waseem Muhammad as players like Chris Lynn, James Vince, Adam Lyth, Carlos Brathwaite, Obed McCoy, Shahid Afridi, Mahmudullah won’t be a part of the remainder of PSL. Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi was ruled out of the PSL 2021 due to a back injury. “Unfortunately, I have been advised to rest and can no longer accompany my team Multan Sultans,” Afridi said in a statement. “I am disappointed that I would be sitting out of the tournament, but my best wishes, support and prayers are with the team to take the trophy.” Sultans also have Mohammad Rizwan in their line up who can play a crucial role in getting the side back. He has been in some good form and has been one of the top run-scorers in the league so far. Probable XI Karachi Kings - Babar Azam, Martin Guptill, Sharjeel Khan, Danish Aziz, Thisara Perera, Mohammad Haris, Imad Wasim (C), Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Arshad Iqbal, Najibullah Zadran. Multan Sultans - Mohammad Rizwan (capt/ wk), Johnson Charles, Shimron Hetmyer, Sohaib Maqsood, Rilee Rossouw, Khushdil Shah, Hammad Azam, Sohail Tanvir, Usman Qadir, Blessing Muzarabani, Shahnawaz Dhani Fantasy XI Mohammad Rizwan(vc), Babar Azam(c), Martin Guptill, Rilee Rossouw, Khushdil Shah, Imad Wasim, Thisara Perera, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Amir, Usman Qadir, Arshad Iqbal

Devon Conway bags highest rating points for a New Zealander after Test debut

New Zealand opener Devon Conway has entered into the ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings and is currently occupying the 77th position after his heroics in his debut Test against England. The southpaw smashed 200 and 23 in the first Test against England which eventually ended in a draw. He entered the rankings with a record 447 rating points which is the highest ever for a New Zealander after his debut Test and the third-highest overall. Conway is only behind RE Foster of England and Kyle Mayers of West Indies with two and one point less from the two. Way back in 1903, RE Foster had bagged 449 rating points for a sensational knock of 287 on his debut against Australia in Sydney. Meanwhile, Kyle Mayers who scored a match-winning 210 in his debut against Bangladesh logged 448 points after his historic knock. Conway went past Lou Vincent who bagged 440 rating points after his debut Test against Australia in Perth back in 2001. Meanwhile, Kiwis speedster Tim Southee has gained his career-best rankings and is currently occupying the 3rd spot after a six-wicket haul at Lord’s. Among his New Zealand compatriots, only Sir Richard Hadlee with 909 points and Neil Wagner with 859 points has achieved higher bowling points than Southee. Courtesy a fighting century for England, Rory Burns jumped 21 places to occupy the 22nd position while Dom Sibley and Ollie Pope has also improved their rankings despite not scoring heavily in the opening Test. Meanwhile, Ollie Robinson who made his Test debut at Lord’s has entered the bowling rankings and finds his name in the 69th spot.

Seniors remain out of contention for England tour, Kusal Perera to lead

The Sri Lankan squad for the white ball tour to England later in the month has been confirmed after several days of uncertainty surrounding the players contract. The Sri Lankan cricketers were not happy with the latest player contracts and had decided to not sign them. However, the matter has been resolved now and the 24 member Sri Lankan squad will now fly out for UK on June 9. After two practice game, the islanders will lock horns against England in the first T20I on 23rd June. The tour will conclude on 4th July with the final ODI slated to be played in Bristol. Kusal Perera who was recently appointed as the new limited-overs skipper will continue leading the side in the six white-ball games. Fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep has made a return to the squad with several uncapped players being named in the squad. Ashen Bandara who was part of the squad for the series in Bangladesh has been dropped. The rest of the players has retained their place which means that experienced campaigners like Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal and Dimuth Karunaratne remain out of favour atleast for now. England will host the islanders for three ODIs and as many T20Is. They will play a practice match each in both formats before the commencement of the series. Squad: Kusal Perera (c), Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka, Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Niroshan Dickwella, Dhananjaya De Silva, Oshada Fernando, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Ishan Jayaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Isuru Udana, Asitha Fernando, Nuwan Pradeep, Binura Fernando, Shiran Fernando, Lakshan Sandakan, Akila Dananjaya, Praveen Jayawickrama

Mark Ramprakash slams British PM for his support towards Ollie Robinson

Former England middle-order batsman Mark Ramprakash feels that British Prime minister Boris Johnson’s intervention regarding Ollie Robinson’s suspension from international cricket was unwelcome. Britain’s sports minister Oliver Dowden had tweeted that the decision to suspend Robinson based on some tweets which were posted by the fast bowler almost a decade ago was not justifiable from ECB. Meanwhile a spokesperson for Britain PM stated that the PM is supportive of Dowden’s views. Robinson who made his Test debut against New Zealand only last week had posted some racist and sexist tweets back in 2012 when he was 18. After the tweets surfaced, Robinson publicly apologised for his conduct. ECB decided to suspend him from the second Test as they will further investigate on the matter. Meanwhile, one more English player had posted racist tweets but his name hasn’t been disclosed as he was only 16 when back then. When asked on the BBCI Breakfast Show about his opinion on the PM’s involvement Ramprakash expressed his displeasure at Boris Johnson coming up and trying to support Robinson. “I think it is very unwelcome. He himself has used racist language, against Muslim people, against black people. He is trying to bear undue influence in this case. If I was Ollie Robinson I’m not sure I’d want Boris Johnson involved and trying to support me,” Ramprakash said. While Ramprakash feels that it's okay for someone to speak up on the character changes that Robinson underwent in the last 9 years, he is surprised to know that not many have questioned who the tweets were aimed at. Ramprakash feels that the dressing room environment would have been toxic had Moeen Ali and Jofra Archer been present there. “I’ve heard people express sort of sympathy with Ollie Robinson, and say ‘hasn’t he shown a lot of character?’, but I haven’t heard enough about the victims or the people that these tweets are aimed at,” said Ramprakash. “How do they feel? Where is the sympathy for those people? They are UK citizens, a lot of them. We live in a diverse society and we really don’t want this behaviour,” he added. Robinson’s impressive Test debut where he picked up seven wickets was totally overshadowed by the tweets which resurfaced on Wednesday afternoon, the day he was making his Test debut against New Zealand at Lord’s.