BCCI calls urgent SGM to discuss upcoming season; World T20, IPL 2021 likely to dominate discussions

I respect his reasons, let’s move forward now: Mark Boucher on de Villiers decision

South Africa Head Coach Mark Boucher, who was one of the most vocal voices asking former South Africa skipper and a T20 legend AB de Villiers to reconsider his retirement and join the national team, seems to have now made peace with it. Boucher feels that the 360-degree player has his reasons to not get back to international cricket and he respects that. "AB has his reasons, which I respect. Unfortunately, he’s no longer in the mix. I say unfortunately because I think we all agree that he’s still one of the best – if not the best – T20 players in world cricket," Boucher was quoted as saying to The Citizen. In a recent development, Cricket South Africa, while announcing the squad for the upcoming West Indies tour, did not select de Villiers into the squad. Later on, the board confirmed that the 37-year old's retirement is the final call and there would be no coming back for the player. Boucher, who played alongside the RCB player at the national level, wanted him to come back after the latter announced a sudden retirement from all forms of international cricket. Boucher further delved on the topic saying that de Villiers wanted the up and coming players to serve the team, thus not becoming a hurdle in their way, he decided to stay put on his retirement decision. "He alluded to being concerned about coming in ahead of other players who have been a part of the system. I don’t think it sat well with him, which I understand," the former South Africa wicketkeeper explained. The 45-year-old finally said that all must come to realise that there would be no option of de Villiers for South Africa anymore and hence must move on. "As a coach, I needed to try and get our best players, for the team and the environment. AB is an energy booster in any environment, but I respect his reasoning. It was worth a go, but now let’s move forward," he said.

Andre Russell, Shimron Hetmyer return in West Indies provisional T20I squad for high-profile summer

The Cricket West Indies announced a 23 man provisional squad for the upcoming t20is series against three teams i.e. South Africa, Australia and Pakistan this summer. Andre Russell, who last played an international match in March 2020 has returned to fold after one year. Alongside him, hard-hitting middle-order batsman Shimron Hetmyer and bowlers Sheldon Cottrell, Oshane Thomas, and Hayden Walsh Jr have also made a comeback in the side after not being picked for the Sri Lanka series in February this year. However, this is just the provisional squad from which the main squad will be picked ahead of each series. The squad member for the time being will quarantine and train in St. Lucia ahead. Their first assignment will be a match series against Proteas which would be played from June 26 at the Grenada National Cricket Stadium. Roger Harper the Lead Selector of CWI said that the team has been picked keeping in mind the upcoming T20 World Cup to be held in India. He also confirmed that these 23 members will remain the core of the team going forward. “This Provisional T20I Squad gives us the opportunity to continue to build towards the upcoming World Cup and to determine our best squad and our ideal eleven,” Harper was quoted as saying by the West Indies cricket official website. Head coach Phil Simmons feel that this squad has got all the ingredients required to go on and defend their title won five years ago. “These upcoming T20Is are crucial in terms of our preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup. We have assembled a very solid squad — with experienced world-class match-winners and some exciting young talented players, ready to explode onto the global stage and do great things for West Indies cricket," he said. Captained by Trinidadian Kieron Pollard, this team still has many people including Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle and Lendl Simmons who were involved in their 2016 World Cup win against England. Windies Provisional Squad: Kieron Pollard (c), Nicholas Pooran (vc), Fabian Allen, Dwayne Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Fidel Edwards, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Evin Lewis, Obed McCoy, Andre Russell, Lendl Simmons, Kevin Sinclair, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh Jr

CA announces Ashes 2021-22 schedule; New Zealand, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka to tour down under as well

Cricket Australia announced the upcoming cricketing summer’s schedule for both the men’s and women’s national teams. While Ashes remain the main attraction beginning with the traditional Brisbane Test from December 8, Afghanistan’s first bilateral visit down under is also a talking point. In fact, it is Afghanistan against whom Tim Paine would begin what could be his last summer as an Australia captain or for that matter Australia international. The one-off Test, scheduled to be played at the Blundstone Arena in Hobart, Paine's home town, begins on November 27, marking the start of the Summer for the Men’s team. Apart from the Gabba Test, the rest of the four Tests for the visiting Joe Root’s side are scheduled to be played at Adelaide Oval, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Sydney Cricket Ground and Optus Stadium, Perth. While the Adelaide game would be a day-night affair, both SCG and MCG have retained their Boxing Day and New Year’s Test hosting tradition. The last Ashes game, traditionally held in Sydney would not be possible this time around as Optus, which would be hosting its first-ever Ashes has been awarded the last Test. Prior to Optus, WACA hosted the Perth Ashes Test. Along with the Ashes and Afghanistan Test, the Australian summer would also witness Aaron Finch’ men in action against both New Zealand and Sri Lanka. While the Blackcaps will play three ODIs and lone T20I, the Lankan Tigers will face the Kangaroos in a five-match T20I series starting February 11 to cape off the Australian summer. As far as the Southern Stars are concerned, they will be starting their summer with a multi-format tour by the India Women, the schedule for which has not yet been decided. It will be followed by the Women’s Ashes which would include a one-off Test, three ODIs and three T20Is and would be played over the course of 23 days, starting with the Test at Manuka Oval from January 27.

Had missed Sri Lanka tour last year, needed to work out on that: BCCI treasurer

India are set to travel to Sri Lanka for limited-overs fixtures in July. While the Indian stars like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be in England for the WTC final against New Zealand and a five-match Test series against the English side, a second team will travel to Sri Lanka for a three-match ODI series and as many T20Is. The BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal has now explained the reason behind sending another team to Sri Lanka for white-ball matches. “We had to miss Sri Lanka tour last year also. So, we need to work out on that. Since our team that is going to England is primarily for Tests, we could have made up (sic) a team for these white-ball matches. So, that is why we thought we should do our bit to make sure Sri Lankan board and we can play white-ball cricket in time,” Dhumal was quoted as saying. Dhumal further told that the series has been planned to make up for the losses that associations had suffered after a number of matches were cancelled due to Covid-19 outburst. “See, as you know the cricket world is under tremendous pressure for the last one-and-a-half year given this Covid pandemic. A lot of FTP has been cancelled (sic), which has put a lot of strain on these associations all over the world. Until and unless you do these tours, we can’t make up, and it would be very difficult for all these boards to come out of their financial struggle that they are going through,” Dhumal added. The team for the Sri Lanka tour is yet to be announced by the selectors.