Afghanistan announces Stuart Law as interim head coach for Bangladesh tour

James Faulkner will not be drafted in future PSL events: PCB

The Pakistan Cricket Board and Quetta Gladiators have issued a statement after the allegations made by James Faulkner. The all-rounder had earlier left the PSL 2022 and blamed the PCB for not "honoring a contractual agreement". “The PCB and Quetta Gladiators are disappointed and dismayed with the reprehensible behavior of Mr James Faulkner, who was also part of the Abu Dhabi-leg of the HBL Pakistan Super League in 2021, and, along with all participants, has always been treated with utmost respect," the statement from the board and the franchise read. “Instead, all players have only praised and appreciated the efforts of the PCB to make their stay, appearance and participation as comfortable as practically possible. This is evident that from the fact that most of these cricketers have continued to remain part of the PCB’s marquee event since 2016 and have helped the PCB to make the HBL PSL a strong and formidable brand as it stands today." “Without commenting on the history of Mr James Faulkner’s misconduct over the past many years that has also resulted in his fallout with other teams, below is a brief summary of some of the undisputed facts: *In December 2021, Mr James Faulkner’s agent confirmed the United Kingdom bank details to which his fee payments should be transferred. This was noted for action. *In January 2022, for reasons best known to Mr Faulkner, his agent sent revised banking details of Mr Faulkner’s onshore account in Australia. However, the contracted 70 per cent of Mr Faulkner’s fee payment was transferred to his offshore UK bank account. The receipt of this payment was acknowledged by Mr Faulkner. *Accordingly, payments due to Mr Faulkner as per his contract are fully up to date. *The remaining 30 per cent of his contractual payment only becomes due 40 days after the completion of the HBL Pakistan Super League 2022, which now remains a matter to be reviewed in line with his contract. *In spite of the money being transferred and received in his account, Mr Faulkner continued to insist that a second duplicate payment of the same amount be made to his account in Australia. This meant Mr Faulkner would have been paid twice. *He further threatened and refused to participate in his side’s match against Multan Sultans on Friday afternoon until his money demands were met. *The PCB, as a responsible organisation, engaged with Mr Faulkner early Friday afternoon in an attempt to reason with him. Despite his reprehensible and insulting behavior during the conversation, Mr Faulkner was assured that all his grievances would be addressed. He refused to reconsider his decision to take the field in a crucial match for his side, let his team down and demanded that his travel arrangements be immediately made. *During this time, the PCB was also in constant contact with his agent, who was regretful and apologetic. *Prior to his departure on Saturday morning, Mr Faulkner caused deliberate damage to the hotel property and as a result had to pay damages to the hotel management. The PCB later also received reports and complaints from the immigration authorities that Mr Faulkner had acted inappropriately and abusively at the airport.” “In wake of the above, and taking serious note of Mr James Faulkner’s gross misconduct that was an attempt to bring the PCB, Pakistan cricket and the HBL Pakistan Super League into disrepute, it has been unanimously agreed by the PCB and the franchises that Mr James Faulkner will not be drafted in future HBL Pakistan Super League events," the statement further read.

James Faulkner blames PCB for not honouring contractual agreement, withdraws from PSL 2022

All-rounder James Faulkner had withdrawn his participation from the on-going Pakistan Super League (PSL). Faulkner who is a part of the Quetta Gladiators side blamed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for not "honoring a contractual agreement". "I apologise to the Pakistan cricket fans. But unfortunately I’ve had to withdraw from the last 2 matches and leave the @thePSLt20 due to the @TheRealPCB not honouring my contractual agreement/payments. I’ve been here the whole duration and they have continued to lie to me," he tweeted. The PCB has now said, "The PCB and Quetta Gladiators have regretfully taken note of Mr James Faulkner's false and misleading accusations and will shortly be released a detailed statement on the matter."

Rohit Sharma to lead India in Tests, Ravindra Jadeja returns for Sri Lanka series

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the squads for the Sri Lanka series. "Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant have been rested for the final T20I against West Indies and the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka," chairman of selectors Chetan Sharma said. T20I SQUAD: Rohit Sharma (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Bhuvneshwr Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Sanju Samson, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Avesh Khan Tes SQUADt: Rohit Sharma(C), Mayank Agarwal, Priyank Panchal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant (WK), KS Bharat (WK), Ashwin (subject to fitness), Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Sourav Kumar.

IND vs WI: Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant to miss third T20I

Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant have been rested by the Indian team management from the third and final T20I against the West Indies scheduled to take place on Sunday, February 20 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The Men in Blue have already sealed the series, having taken a 2-0 lead with an eight-run win on Friday, February 18. India won the first game by six wickets at the same venue. Kohli and Pant are likely to miss the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka. They will miss the game in Lucknow on February 24 followed by the ones on February 26 and 27 in Dharamsala. The duo has been given a break from the hassles of staying in bio-secure bubbles and will join the team for the Sri Lanka Tests, starting March 4 in Mohali. The squads for the Sri Lanka T20Is and Tests are yet to be announced. "BCCI has given break to Virat Kohli from the bio-bubble and the third T20, it's just a normal break for him because of a tiring schedule from a long time. Rishabh Pant has also been given a break by BCCI ahead of the third T20 and from the T20I series against Sri Lanka," the source told ANI. "Yes, managing workload has been a priority for us," a source privy to the development was quoted as saying. Kohli hasn't had the best of times of late. Last year, he relinquished T20I captaincy after India crashed out of the T20 World Cup 2021 in Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Later, the 33-year-old was removed as the ODI captain of the team. Last month, Kohli also stepped down as the Test skipper after India lost 1-2 in South Africa. India started with a win in the opening Test at the SuperSport Park in Centurion. But seven-wicket defeats in Johannesburg and Cape Town led them to lose the series. Kohli also didn't have the best of times in the ODI series against the West Indies, but he scored a half-century in the second T20I on Friday. Pant, on the other hand, has been scoring runs across formats.