Allan Border wishes Kohli-Anushka had their baby in Australia

Joking that Australia could have claimed Indian captain Virat Kohli and his actor wife Anushka Sharma child if the latter was to give birth in Australia, former World Cup-winning captain, Allan Border wished that the power couple had their baby in the Kangaroo nation.

“We were thinking he might think about having his newborn baby here because we can claim his offspring as Australian,” joked the first Aussie captain to lift a World Cup.

On a serious note, he said that Australia will go into the Test series with an advantage due to Virat Kohli’s absence in the series. “The one thing that is in Australia’s favour is Virat Kohli playing only the first Test. I think that is a big OUT for India. He is irreplaceable at the moment as a batsman and a leader. Should be 2-1 to Australia,” Border said.

Kohli, 32, has got paternity leave approved from the BCCI and would be leaving Australia after the first Test ends in Adelaide.

The border also called Kohli a leader of the modern-day Indian Team and credited him with bringing positive intent among the boys. “The way India play the modern game, they have a very positive mindset, and Virat has led the way very well in those areas. I am a big fan,” he said.

Indian team is in Australia to play two limited-overs series (of three ODIs and an equal number of T20Is) and four-match Test series, starting with the first ODI at SCG on 27^th November. The Test begins with a day/night affair in Adelaide.

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Less restrictions for Pak team in New Zealand

The 50-member Pakistan contingent which is scheduled to leave for New Zealand on Monday from Lahore will reportedly have minimum restrictions, at least, lesser than what they went through on their tour to England in July earlier this year. Pakistan are scheduled to play three T20Is and two Tests against the Kiwi nation. The series starts with T20s on December 18. On this tour, the Men in Green would be put in complete isolation for the first three days on their arrival in Auckland, where no player would be able to physically interact with any other member. A covid-19 test will be conducted on the fourth day. For the last three days of their 14 day quarantine period, the 50 members would be divided into a team of 15 each (number not yet confirmed) with both players and support staff in it. The teams can then practice and eat together. Post the 14 days, another covid-19 test would be conducted and the members would be left to roam freely wherever they please. In England however, the Pak players were tested every fifth day and not allowed to leave their hotel premises either.

We didn’t have that luxury: Kapil Dev on Kohli’s paternity leave

India’s first World Cup-winning captain and arguably the greatest all-rounder India has ever produced, Kapil Dev, said that Sunil Gavaskar was not able to see his newborn son for months. He said that in comparison to current India captain Virat Kohli’s paternity leave, which he also termed a privilege that cricketers in his era couldn’t have. “Don’t think we could afford to go and come back. That’s for sure. Sunil Gavaskar didn’t see his son for many months. It was a different thing. Look, things change. If I talk about Kohli, when his father died, he came back playing cricket the next day. Today he is taking a leave for his baby. It's fine, you can afford it,” Kapil said while speaking via video conference at HTLS 2020. The Septuagenarian former cricketer said that he was happy for the 32-year-old Indian captain that he was able to be with his family in moments of such intimacy. “You can buy a plane and go back and come back again in three days. I feel happy and proud that today sportsmen have reached a level where they can do this. I’m happy for Virat. He’s coming back to see his family. I understand you have passion but the biggest passion is that he’s having a baby,” he said.

Guha targets BCCI Prez Ganguly, says his greed for money is shocking

Ramchandra Guha has attacked BCCI President and former India captain, Sourav Ganguly, accusing him of being greedy over petty money. Guha, launching an attack on the Kolkata born said, “Look at Ganguly today—head of the Board and representing some cricket fantasy game, this kind of greed for money among Indian cricketers is shocking.” Guha was being interviewed by Mid Day post the launch of his book - The Commonwealth of Cricket: A Lifelong Love Affair with the Most Subtle and Sophisticated Game Known to Humankind. To contrast the BCCI boss’ image, the historian presented former India spinner Bishan Singh Bedi as an example. “The most telling story in my book is about Bishan Singh Bedi saying that he is happy to go to Kabul [to coach Afghan cricketers]—anywhere for cricket and not anywhere for money,” he said. “Why should Ganguly be doing all these things for a little extra money?” Gugha asked. “Ethical standards go down if the president of the Board behaves like this. What Ganguly is doing now is incorrect and no other country would allow it,” said Guha, differentiating how cricket is seen and represented in different countries. The former member of the Committee of Administrators did not hold back anything on attacking the overarching influence of the cricket board in India and how it is doing more harm than good to the game. He illustrated that through the case of commentator Sanjay Manjrekar. “Gags on commentators are bad. That Sanjay Manjrekar has to beg to be readmitted [in the commentary team] is pathetic. Why should the Board have [power over] commentary? It's absurd. It never happens anywhere in the world. Can you imagine the English Premier League doing this?” he said.

WBBL: Sydney Sixers fined $25,000 for naming wrong player on team sheet

In a bizarre administrative error, a player not part of the primary squad of the 15 players was named in the playing XI by Women’s Big Bash League team Sydney Sixers, leading to a fine of $25,000 by Cricket Australia, the cricketing authority in the country. Sixers named fast bowler Hayley Silver-Holmes on the team sheet against Melbourne Renegades, however, Holmes, who had been injured prior to this game was not even part of the primary squad of 15. Although she had recovered from injury, her return to the squad was still pending approval from WBBL's technical committee. The fine though was reduced one, for the misjudgment was self-reported by the Sixers team. The cause was helped by the fact that Holmes did not bat in the first innings as she wasn’t required. Sixers had reported the administrative error by then and Holmes could not come out to bowl in the second. The Sixers remained one bowler short, losing the match eventually in the final over. Out of the 25k, $15,000 is suspended because of Sixers' prompt action and co-operation with the integrity and security committee. Cricket Australia's Senior Conduct Commissioner, Alan Sullivan QC said that the maximum penalty of $50,000 and/or additional sanctions were "not deemed appropriate given the nature of the breach and the fact Sixers lost the match and adversely impacted their Net Run Rate". Sean Carroll, CA's Head of Integrity and Security, said: "Cricket Australia places a significant emphasis on the integrity of all competitions, including the compliance with its player contracting rules and regulations. This breach by the Sydney Sixers, while serious in nature, had a reduced impact due to the Club's actions during last night's game. As such, we support the findings of Alan Sullivan QC, including the suspension of $15,000 of the $25,000 fine imposed."