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Andrew Balbirnie To Lead Ireland For Odi Series Against Netherlands In Utrecht

Andrew Balbirnie to lead Ireland for ODI series against Netherlands in Utrecht

Ireland announced a 15 man squad which will be led by Andrew Balbirne for their tour to the Netherlands. The men in green would play three ODIs part of the Cricket World Cup Super League and try and add to their points for a chance of qualification to the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023, to be held in India.

The squad includes veterans like Kevin O’Brien, William Porterfield and Paul Stirling while young guns like Gareth Delany and Mark Adair have also found a place in it.

“The squad selected, not only rewards form but provides a group of players that offer Graham Ford and Andrew Balbirnie options on any given match day,’ said Andrew White chief Selector of National Men’s team. “We have sought to provide continuity with the young players who continue to gain exposure at the international level, while still incorporating a number of experienced players whose value around such a squad goes far beyond just their performances on the field,” he added.

The Irish team which sits on the 10th spot in the Cricket World Cup Super League table with just one win in five matches have a great opportunity to gain momentum ahead of the South Africa and Zimbabwe series at home. They face the Netherlands which tied two-match series against Scotland recently. The three-match series will be played in Utrecht, the Netherlands with the first one starting on June 2.

Ireland Squad

Andrew Balbirnie (captain), Mark Adair, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Josh Little, Andrew McBrine, Graeme McCarter, Barry McCarthy, Kevin O’Brien, William Porterfield, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young.

The four additional players are

Peter Chase, Stephen Doheny, Graham Kennedy, David O’Halloran.

Fixtures

2 June 2021: Netherlands Men v Ireland Men - 1st ODI (Utrecht, 11am local time)

4 June 2021: Netherlands Men v Ireland Men - 2nd ODI (Utrecht, 11am local time)

7 June 2021: Netherlands Men v Ireland Men - 3rd ODI (Utrecht, 11am local time)

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PSL 6: Shahid Afridi ruled out due to injury, Asif Afridi comes in as his replacement

Multan Sultans all-rounder Shahid Afridi has been ruled out of the Abu Dhabi leg of the Pakistan Super League’s sixth edition. The 41-year-old would be replaced by veteran Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s left-arm-spinner Asif Afridi. “While training for the remainder of the HBL Pakistan Super League 6, I felt lower back pain and had to consult a doctor. Unfortunately, I have been advised to rest and can no longer accompany my team Multan Sultans for the Abu Dhabi leg,” Afridi was quoted as saying in a press release by PSL. “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,” the legendary Pakistan all-rounder added. Asif has been in a prolific form in his recent appearances in professional cricket. In fact, he was the main reason why Khyber Pakhtunkhwa went on to clinch the Pakistan Cup, Pakistan's premier List A tournament for 2020-21. The 34-year old took 25 wickets in 12 games and was the leading wicket-taker in the tournament. The sixth PSL, which was going to fully hosted in Pakistan for the first time ever, was postponed in March this year due to rising cases of Covid-19 in the Bio-Bubble. The tournament has now been marked to begin June 5 after its initial rescheduling from June 1 had to change as the venue was once again changed from Pakistan’s National Stadium in Karachi to UAE’s Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Each team has to have 20 players in the squad and to fulfil the criterion, Islamabad United signed Pakistanleft-handed batsman Umar Amin and West Indies opener Brandon King. To do the same, Peshawar Zalmi added Afghanistan’s Hazratullah Zazai. Two other Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s pliers in Sameen Gul and Khalid Usman were added to the squad as reserve players.

Brad Hodge wants Kochi Tuskers and BCCI to pay him his 35% fee from IPL 2011

It seems like Women Cricket won’t leave the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as easy as they think. After facing the fury for not getting a women’s league of the like of IPL in India, to fewer women tours and domestic competition, to not giving charter flights to women to get to Mumbai from their residence to the recent T20 World Cup prize money fiasco, the BCCI has been in the hitting zone of the critics. However, the prize money fiasco brought in another issue for the board as after getting inspiration from the story where the BCCI had not paid the 2020 T20 World Cup runner’s up prize money to women cricketers, former Australia cricketer turned coach and commentator, Brad Hodge now wants to the BCCI to locate the 35% of the fee that the IPL franchise Kochi Tuskers Kerala was supposed to pay to its players. Taking to Twitter, Hodge replied to the Telegraph exclusive story regarding Indian Women cricketers not being paid their prize money, saying, “Players are still owed 35% of their money earned from ten years ago from the @IPL representing Kochi tuskers. Any chance @BCCI could locate that money?” If his claims are to be true, it could open a can of worms for BCCI considering that Kochi Tuskers had signed up 20 players for the 2011 season, after which it ceased to exist. Hodge though went on to play in the IPL and represented many teams including Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders. He scored 1400 runs with the help of six fifties and a strike rate of 125.11 in 66 IPL games.

PSL 6: Wildermuth, Weatherald, Faulkner and Ferguson among eight Aussies heading for UAE

After a great deal of work done by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), finally, the twenty remaining games of the Pakistan Super League will be played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in UAE. To participate in that a group of eight Australian players including Jack Wildermuth, Jake Weatherald, Callum Ferguson and James Faulkner will travel to the UAE. Since the tournament had to be rescheduled twice and it clashed with theT20 Blast and the international series of South Africa and West Indies and also England and New Zealand, many of the players who had committed to play for the six franchises of the PSL, moved out and new layers through two separate drafts were pulled in. While Ben Cutting, Joe Burns, Dan Christian and Chris Lynn were the four Aussie players to pull out of the league, Weeatheraldm Wildermuth, Ferguson and Faulkner made up for it. Quetta Gladiators picked up both Adelaide Strikers’ Weatherald and Brisbane Heat’s Wildermuth after Ben Cutting, Faf du Plessis and Chris Gaye were unable to join the side. Lahore Qalandar went on to add Sydney Thunder skipper Callum Ferguson as well as two of Hobart Hurricanes’ members Tim David and James Faulkner. Cutting, 34, who has been in various bubbles ver since November 30, the start of the Big bash League 2020-21, was willing to play his part in the PSL for Quetta. The Brisbane-born had even travelled to UAE after IPL was suspended. Since PCB wasn’t able to make any substantial gain in being able to pull of the league by June 1, as planned, the all-rounder returned home. "I love the PSL and playing for Quetta but in the current climate of bio bubbles and quarantine, it's difficult to do everything," Cutting was quoted as saying to cricket.com.au. "I have come home to refresh, reset and get back into things again at whatever tournament pops up next," he added. Along with the five new recruits, others such as Ben Dunk, Fawad Ahmed and Usman Khawaja will also join their original teams. While the PSL has decreased the number of foreign players required in the XI from three to two, the squad sizes have been increased to 20 players. The league is yet to make an official schedule for the tournament’s training 20 games. Australians in the Pakistan Super League Islamabad United: Fawad Ahmed, Usman Khawaja Lahore Qalandars: Tim David, Ben Dunk, James Faulkner, Callum Ferguson Quetta Gladiators: Jake Weatherald, Jack Wildermuth

BCCI contributes 2000 oxygen concentrators to aid in India’s fight against Covid

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to contribute 2000 10-Litre Oxygen concentrators to aid India’s fight against the second wave of Covid-19 in the country. Over the next few months, the Board will distribute the concentrators across India. Mr Sourav Ganguly, President, BCCI, said, “The BCCI acknowledges the stellar role the medical and healthcare community has played and continues to play as we fight this long battle against the virus. They have truly been frontline warriors and have done whatever possible to shield us.” “The Board has always put health and safety at the top of the chart and remains committed to the cause. The oxygen concentrators will provide immediate relief to those affected and will help in their speedy recovery,” he added in the press release. The country is going through its worst health crisis since independence with more than 4500 people losing their lives due to Covid-19 n a daily basis even as most of the states have a stringent lockdown enforced. Mr Jay Shah, Honorary Secretary, BCCI also hoped that this help from the board will help in narrowing the gap demand-supply gap of oxygen concentrators in the country. “The BCCI understands the desperate need for medical equipment in this hour of crisis and hopes this effort will help in narrowing the demand-supply gap that has generated across the country,” he said. Mr Arun Singh Dhumal, Honorary Treasurer, BCCI appraised the fighting spirit of the nation and reassured that the BCCI will keep supporting the greater cause of fighting against the virus. “It is heartening to see everyone coming together and doing their bit. The BCCI remains steadfast in its efforts towards social responsibility and will always be working closely with central and state governments to help them in their efforts to curb the spread of the virus. We believe these oxygen concentrators will boost healthcare infrastructure and be vital in providing critical oxygen when levels deplete rapidly,” he said.