Any series win is big: Bangladesh coach Russell Domingo

Covid forces Windies skipper Taylor’s omission from first T20I against South Africa Women

West Indies Cricket Board announced a 13 member Women’s squad for the first T20I against South Africa Women to be played on Tuesday, August 31 at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. Regular skipper Stafanie Taylor has been omitted from the squad for the first T20I after being identified as a primary contact of a Covid-19 positive. Experienced off-spinner Anisa Mohammed has been tasked with the duty of leading Windies against a top-notch South Africa Women side. Even after Taylor’s absence, Lead selector Ann Browne-John is confident of seeing his team do well in the first T20I as well as the entire series. "It is unfortunate that Stafanie will not be available for this series but there are a number of experienced players who we would be looking to fill any void," Browne-John was quoted as saying in a press release by WICB. Qina Joseph, who hasn’t featured in any international for the West Indies team in the last four years is likely to play in place of Taylor and Browne-John backed her to do well. "The young player Qiana Joseph brings another left-hand batter option as well as left-arm orthodox bowling which has been lacking in the team,” she said. “This will be a good test coming out of the recent Pakistan series since South Africa is one of the higher-ranked teams,’ added the selector about the team. Taylor, if she doesn’t test positive would most likely be available for the remaining two matches of the T20I series on September 2 and 4 at the same venue in North Sound. The three-match series will be followed by five ODI to be played at Coolidge Cricket Ground and Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. Squad for 1st T20I - Anisa Mohammed (c), Deanda Dottin (vc), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, Britney Cooper, Shabika Gajnabi, Chinelle Henry, Qiana Joseph, Kycia Knight, Kyshona Knight, Hayley Matthews, Chedean Nation, Shakera Selman

Spinners will present the challenges in Bangladesh: Latham

New Zealand will be taking on Bangladesh in a five-match T20I series scheduled to begin on September 1 in Dhaka. Stand-in captain Tom Latham has said that its an honour to lead the national side but it won’t be an easy task either as he hasn’t played a T20I himself since 2017. "It is a really big honour to lead the side from a T20 point of view," he said. “From a leadership point of view, you are always looking to grow and improve. This format presents another opportunity. I have had captaincy experience in the past. This is a slightly younger group," he added. Talking about the difficulties that the side might face, Latham pointed out that Mustafizur’s slower deliveries and the spinners in the middle overs would present the challenges. "Mustafiz at the top of the innings, is renowned for his slower ball. We saw how he bowled against Australia. The spinners at the top and through the middle will present the challenges,” he said. The two sides locked horns with each other in a three-match T20I series in New Zealand earlier this year where Bangladesh were thumped to suffer a 3-0 clean sweep defeat. But the Bangladesh side is in some good form now especially after the way they fared against Australia in the five-match bilateral tie in T20Is where they defeated the Aussie team 4-1.

I feel a piece of me has left with him: Sachin Tendulkar on death of Mumbai great Vasudeo Paranjape

Indian cricket legend Sachi Tendulkar was all praise of his younger days’ coach Vasudeo Paranjape, who died on August 30 at the age of 82. Remembering his days with his coach, Tendulkar said that with his death it seems like a part of him has also left this world. Paranjape played 29 first-class matches for Mumbai and Baroda from 1956 to 1970, the era in which Mumbai won 12 titles and the rest two were won by Baroda. Remembering an incident from his childhood, Sachin said, “During our under 15 national camp in Indore, the caretaker had gone complaining to him (as Coach) about us boys playing with a tennis ball in the night, keenly expecting some support and stringent action.” “Vasu Sir in his inimitable style reacted, 'They are kids and will play. Why don't you also field for them,' leaving the caretaker stumped!” added Tendulkar. Tendulkar wasn’t the only one who received guidance from Paranjapae, he is credited for playing an instrumental part in the careers of great Indian players like Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar and Rohit Sharma, among others. The Master-Blaster a=remebered advice that he had received from Paranjpe very early in his career. “I remember him telling me in Marathi, 'You watch out for the first 15 minutes and the opposition will watch you for the rest of the day.' He was knowledgeable, lively and had a great sense of humour.” said Sachin before adding, “He has left us with many memories and moments to smile. I feel that a piece of me has left the world. RIP Vasu Sir."

Know there's been a lot of negativity in last few weeks, rang Langer to offer support: Ponting

The Australian side went through a tough phase recently after they suffered defeats in T20I against West Indies and were then thumped by Bangladesh away from home. But the former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has put his weight behind Justin Langer and also revealed that he did have a chat with the coach. "I have got no doubt. I know there's been a lot of negativity the last few weeks, I really felt for Justin, I rang Justin a few times," Ponting told 2GB Radio. "They just got back from that tough tour of the West Indies and then Bangladesh, and he was locked up in his hotel room in quarantine in Adelaide, and he was sort of copping it left, right and centre." "I and a lot of his close friends have reached out to him," Ponting added. Ponting also echoed what Langer had said earlier that a few months ago the Aussie team was the top-ranked side in T20Is and Tests. "If you wind the clock back not even 12 months ago, the Australian team were the number one ranked Test team and T20 team in the world, we know all the talent is there,” he said. Australia recently announced the squad for the World T20 scheduled to take place in UAE and Oman and some key players like David Warner, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith and Pat Cummins who had earlier missed the tour to the Caribbean islands and Bangladesh were included back in the side that would be led by Aaron Finch.