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Ashes 2021-22 | Victoria Premier targets 80,000 attendance for Boxing day game at MCG

It has come as good news for the Australian and Ashes fans as the Victorian government is thinking of getting as many as 80,000 people for the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground. The Test, which is scheduled to begin from December 26 will have all the people vaccinated in the stands as the government is targeting to complete 90% vaccination for all people above the age of 12 years by November 24. 

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews in a press interaction said the goal was to have 80,000 at the MCG on Boxing Day.

"I want to see 80,000 plus people at the Boxing Day Test on day one, that's what I want to see. We are determined to deliver that. It won't be easy. I think selling the tickets will be pretty easy,” ESPNCricinfo quoted Andrews as saying. 

Since the start of the pandemic in December 2019, Melbourne has spent more days in lockdown than any other city in the world as a result, the last year’s L Boxing Day Test against India with only 30,000 allowed to attend. 

However, in April this year, a crowd of 78,113 was allowed into the MCG for an Australian Football League match and more recently crowds are being allowed for horse races giving an indication that by the time Ashes starts, there would definitely be enough confidence to bring in a full house at the MCG.

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T20 World Cup | SL vs BAN: On batsmen's day out, Sri Lanka thump Bangladesh

The Sri Lankan batting unit was on song against Bangladesh in Sharjah on Sunday after it chased down a stiff target of 172 runs by 5 wickets and with more than an over to spare. The Lankan lions had an early hiccup after losing Kusal Perera for 1 off three in the very first over but Pathum Nissanka and Charitha Asalanka then steadied the ship for the side and stitched a stand of 69 runs for the second wicket. Nissanka was eventually undone by Shakib after he was cleaned up by the spinner for a 21-ball 24. Sri Lanka then lost a couple of wickets in quick succession. While Avishka Fernando was back in the hut without troubling the scorers, Wanindu Hasaranga could only manage to score 6 off 5 before he was dismissed by Saifuddin. The Sri Lankan side was in a spot of bother after being reduced to 79/4 in the 10th over but courtesy some fine piece of batting from Asalanka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa and some dismal fielding efforts from Bangladesh, the Dasun Shanaka-led side was back in the game. The two batters provided the much-needed resistance and chipped in with a valuable partnership of 86 runs for the fifth wicket. Rajapaksa was eventually sent back to the dug out for a 31-ball 53 that included three maximums and as many fours while Asalanka remained unbeaten at 80 off 49 to see his side home. Shakib and Nasum Ahmed picked up a couple of wickets apiece while Saiffudin had one scalp to his name. Earlier, in the day, Bangladesh were off to a decent start as openers Naim and Liton Das had put 40 on the board in less than 6 overs for the first wicket. But the Bangla tigers then lost a couple of wickets at quick intervals and were 56/2 when Naim was joined by Mushfiqur Rahim in the middle and the two batsmen joined hands to score 73 for the third wicket. Naim went on to struck 62 off 52 before he was caught and bowled by Fernando while Rahim remained not out at a 37-ball 57 as Bangladesh put 171/4 in 20 overs. Sri Lanka captain Shanaka lauded Asalanka and Rajapaksa for their knocks. “Not the easiest target to chase. It's all about boundaries. Once the batsman gets set, any target is chaseable. Really important to win the first game. They batted really well. Those knocks are brilliant (Asalanka and Rajapaksa),” he said in the post-match presentation. Bangladesh will now lock horns with England in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday while Sri Lanka will be up against Australia in Dubai on Thursday.

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T20 World Cup | IND vs Pak: Hasan Ali recalls 2019 game when Rohit Sharma ruled Pakistan bowlers

In a video produced by the International Cricket Council before the big-ticket clash between India and Pakistan, Pakistan pacer Hasan Ali has narrated a story when he was left helpless and clueless by India’s opener Rohit Sharma. Hasan was narrating the incidences from the last game between the sides in the ODI World Cup 2019 when Rohit was in red-hot form and had put Pakistan bowler on the sword on the way to a big hundred. Hasan said that his shot selection and perfection in timing and add to that the hunger to go for the run even after competing a deserving century made him feel like asking the batsman as to what was he intending to do in that game. In that game, Rohit Sharam and KL Rahul had laid out a dominant platform with the bat at the top of the order and a flourishing finish by Virat Kohli ensured that India had big runs on the board. In reply, Pakistan were decent till the middle phase of the game, but as soon Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman were dismissed in quick succession, they collapsed to lose the rain-curtailed game by 89 runs as per Duckworth-Lewis Method. Hasan Ali will once again come up against the same trio of Rohit, Rahul and Kohli that had led the demolition job of the Pakistan bowling attack in that ODI world cup game in 2019. He will have to do rise to the occasion in the company of Shaheen Shah Afridi if Pakistan have to break the one-sided record of 0-13 against India in all world cup games and 0-5 in T20 world cup games.