Big-hitting Yusuf Pathan announces retirement from all forms of cricket

Former Karnataka skipper and India bowler R Vinay Kumar bids adieu to competitive cricket

Fast bowler R Vinay Kumar has hung his boots from international and first-class cricket. In a release, the right-arm bowler thanked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for providing him with the opportunity represent India. Kumar played one Test, 31 ODIS and 9 T20Is for India. He picked one wicket in Test cricket while 38 and 10 in ODIs and T20Is respectively. In 105 IPL matches, Vinay Kumar had 105 scalps to his name at an economy of over 8. He has been a part of KKR, RCB, MI and Kochi Tuskers Kerala in the IPL. Vinay Kumar, 37, also led Karnataka to various titles including the Ranji Trophy, Irani Trophy and also the Vijay Hazare Trophy as well. In total, Kumar played 139 First-Class games and took 504 wickets in them. He was more than useful batter down the order as well and scored 3311 first-class runs with two hundred and 17 fifties to his credit. "Today "Devangere Express" after running for 25 years and passing so many stations of cricketing life, has finally arrived to a station called "Retirement", " wrote Kumar in a letter posted on his Twitter account.

Relief for Umar Akmal, CAS reduces his ban by six months

The Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) has reduced Pakistan wicket-keeper batsman Umar Akmal’s ban by six months. The 18 months ban, which was imposed on him by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is now over, making him eligible to return to representative cricket. The PCB had banned Umar just ahead of the start of last year’s PSL on February 20th. Thus his ban is officially over now, though he would have to go through a rehabilitation programme run by the anti-corruption unit of the board. He also needs to pay a fine of PKR 4.25 million (approx $27000) to be fully integrated back into the cricket system. The Lahore born who has represented Pakistan in 221 games across formats and scored more than 5800 international runs was banned by the PCB after the emergence of a call recording where the junior Akmal was caught talking to a bookie. After PCB’s decision to ban him for 36 months was overruled and his ban was reduced to 18 months by an independent enquiry committee set up by the board, Akmal moved to CAS to get the ban lifted. PCB approached the sports arbitration court to increase the duration of the ban. The ruling is in favour of neither, but Akmal would cherish it nonetheless.

Don't blame the pitch: Graeme Swann

The third Test between India and England in Ahmedabad ended within two days with the hosts etching the win by 10 wickets. Axar Patel scalped a total of 11 wickets in the match while R Ashwin picked up seven. For England, it was Jack Leach and Joe Root in the first innings who shared a total of 9 wickets between them. The pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium has now attracted a lot of controversy. While few of the former cricketers criticised the track, Greame Swann and ex-Indian skipper skipper Sunil Gavaskar suggested that it was a batting failure that led to an early conclusion of the match. “If England batsmen are honest with themselves and don’t blame the pitch or the third umpire, at least nine to ten dismissals shouldn’t have got Test batsmen out,” Swann told in a post-match discussion on Star Sports. “You have to advance down the track. Use your feet. Also, be prepared to go right back. In turners, you have to move both ways.” Gavaskar said. With this win, India now lead the four-match series 2-1 and have moved to the top of the World Test Championship points table. They would now either need to win or draw the final Test against England to make a place in the final of the WTC. New Zealand are already in the final of the tournament. If India loses the fourth Test against England then it would be Australia who will be locking horns with te Blackcaps at Lord’s in the summit clash.

Ish Sodhi appointed Team Liaison Officer by the Rajasthan Royals

Kiwi leg spinner Ish Sodhi has been offered a new role at the Indian Premier League franchise Rajasthan Royals. Sodhi has been appointed as the Liasion Officer of the Royals where he would assist the team management as well as be involved in the business development side of it. Sodhi played nine eight games in total for the franchise between 2018 and 2019. In that period, the 28-year-old took nine wickets with an economy of under seven. "The Royals are an innovative, dynamic franchise that plays an entertaining brand of cricket, and I am delighted to rejoin my IPL family to work across the board," Sodhi said in a statement after being assigned the new role. The Ludhiana born Auckland player was offered a similar role last season where he was appointed as spin bowling consultant but couldn’t manage to get on board as IPL was shifted from the April-May period to Septemeber-November due to the pandemic. "Last year I expressed my interest in exploring the management side of the franchise, and the Royals management team was very supportive, offering me a role to enable me to begin my off-field journey," said Sodhi who has 180 wickets in 166 T20 matches, with a best of 6 for 11. "I'm looking forward to supporting the coaches and the business operations of the team through which I'll really develop my cricketing and management skills," he added expressing his interest in the role. Sodhi had remained unsold in this year's IPL mini-auction.