Chennai Super Kings step up to help people fighting Covid-19; procure 450 oxygen concentrators

IPL 2021: Warner, Slater issue denial after reports of a brawl in Maldives

Indian Premier League star batsman David Warner and a Star Sports commentator and former Australia international Michael Slater have categorically denied charges of a brawl between them at a bar in their hotel in the Maldives. Warner and Slater alongwith 38 Australians in total, including players, commentators and support staff are currently undergoing quarantine at the Taj Coral Resort post the suspension of IPL 2021, owning to increasing Covid-19 cases in the Bio-bubble created for the tournament. 'There is absolutely nothing to the rumour mill ... Davie and I are great mates and absolutely zero chance of [having] a fight,” Slater, 51 told the Daily Mail. Australian opener and former SRH captain also went on to clarify, and rather questioned the media for unsubstantiated reports. He said, “I don't know where you get these things from. Unless you were here and have got concrete evidence you can't write anything.” Warner was removed from the captaincy in the ongoing season after his team managed to win only one of the first six matches. The Australians involved in the IPL are forced to stay in the Maldives as their Prime Minister decided to ban any flights to and from India considering the deadly spread of the second wave of the Coronavirus in the country. Over 3 lakhs cases are being reported daily and people are dying in thousands daily because of the Covid-19. The foreign stars, therefore, were either transported back to their country or like in the case of Australia, to the Maldives, a notion not in the red list of travel, from where they could take a flight back home post the 'May 15' deadline.

ZIM vs PAK | 2nd Test: Pakistan in pole position as Zimbabwe collapse after Abid Ali's double hundred

It was Abid Ali’s day at the Harare Sports Club in Harare as he hit his maiden double century in Test cricket, aided and supported well by spinner Nauman Ali, who unfortunately missed out on a maiden Test ton, getting stumped off 97. Pakistan’s debutants Sajid Khan and Tabish Khan picked their maiden Test wickets as the host Zimbabwe were pushed to 52/4 at the end of Day two’s play of the second Test. Hasan Ali and Shaheen Afridi, the usual suspects took one each as well. Coming to bat after having let their opponents score freely and reach 510-8 in their first innings, Zimbabwe didn’t get off to a good start as Tisiarai Musakakand became 36-year-old Tabish Khan’s first international wicket. Tabish was lucky as the in swinger clearly seemed to be missing the leg stump on replays. Regis Chakabva, who was promoted to number-3 did well to build a small partnership with the other opener Kevin Kasuza. But a nipping inswinger from Hasan Ali saw Kasuza’s off-stump cartwheel to Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan. Zimbabwean skipper Brendan Taylor’s poor run of form continued as he edged a climbing short ball, bowled by an aggressive Shaheen from around the wicket, to Rizwan behind the stumps. Sajid Khan’s arm ball then got Milton Shumba and the Chevrons were reeling at 47-4 in 25 overs. The nightwatchman Tendai Chisoro then played out the remaining five overs alongside Chakabva to see off the day. Earlier in the day, starting from their overnight score of 268-4, Pakistan were anchored by Abid, who even in the face of wickets falling at regular intervals, kept ongoing. At 341-7, with no recognize batsman left to stand at the other end with Abid, it seemed that Pakistan will fold out under 400. However, 34-year-old Nauman had other ideas. Not at all a mug with the bat, the Sindh born utilised all his First class experience where he has 10 half-centuries and over 2000 runs, and played a blinder of an innings, hitting 104 balls 97, in which 41 off his last runs came off just 17 balls. The left-hander hit nine fours and five sixes in total as well. Once he got out, Babar Azam declared the innings at 510-8. Both Abid and Nauman added 169 for the eighth wicket, the 13th highest in the world and second for Pakistan. The highest eighth-wicket partnership for Pakistan also came against Zimbabwe when Wasim Akram and Saqlain Mushtaq added 31 runs in 1996.

There is no possibility of series against SL being rescheduled: BCB

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury has said that it is not possible to reschedule the ODI series against Sri Lanka. The three-match ODI series is slated to begin on May 23 and all the matches will be played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. "This is definitely a challenge. We are trying to work with the government protocol to bring the crew. We are also looking at other options. We might bring crew from other countries where cricket is being played," ESPNcricinfo quoted Chowdhury as saying. The BCB chief executive though admitted that there are certain challenges given the current situation but they have got the go ahead from the Sri Lankan players. "There is no possibility of the series being rescheduled. Of course there are challenges. We have the green signal about the cricketers from Sri Lanka. We are hopeful that they can join training within a day or two after testing negative," he added. All-rounder Shakib-Al-Hasan has cleared the first of multiple Covid-19 tests with a negative result while left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman is waiting for the reports. "We are working step by step. Those coming from India have a different, more difficult protocol. We are hopeful of hearing a good result. One has to keep in mind that we are not getting any special privilege. International cricket has a different protocol during these times. Generally a person who arrives in a passenger aircraft has to do one test and follow the government protocol. They don't have to do another test," said Chowdhury. Sri Lanka recently defeated Bangladesh in a two-match Test series 1-0 after winning the second clash by 209 runs.

IPL 2021: Looking to continue his IPL form, WTC stand-by Avesh Khan thanks Ishant and Pant

Avesh Khan is happy to have been picked as one of the four stand bys to India’s 18 man squad which will travel to England for the World Test Championship Final against New Zealand and subsequent five-match Test series against the hosts. “I am really happy and will try to continue my IPL rhythm in England as well,” Avesh told cricket.com The 24-year-old, who has been part of the major build-up programs by the BCCI, representing India A on many tours, feels that he has developed himself a lot in the last two years and that’s the confidence that rubbed off in the recent IPL. “In the last two years, I have developed many variations which were one of the major reasons for success in the IPL,” he said. Avesh further went on to say that he understands the difference between Red ball cricket and IPL and his First-Class experience is going to help him in England. “I have been playing first-class cricket for 7-8 years now. I played India A cricket and I hope I can use that experience,” told Avesh, who has so far picked up 100 First-class wickets at an average of 23.01 in 26 matches for Madhya Pradesh. The Indore born thanked senior pro at Delhi Capitals and India’s most successful pacer in the current team, Ishant Sharma for his guidance. “Ishant Bhai really helped me in identifying areas and when I should execute slower balls and when I should hold back,” he said. “Having him around was a massive help. With Ishant Bhai on my side, I got to learn how to implement the slower balls successfully,” added the right-arm pacer who picked 14 wickets in seven IPL games and was only behind the purple cap holder RCB’s Harshal Patel. Praising his DC skipper and Under-19 teammate, Rishabh Pant, Avesh emphasised the fact that he had the freedom and support of most people in the camp about what he wanted to bowl and when he wanted to bowl. “Rishabh is a very good captain. Our communication has always been good since our junior cricket days. He gave me the freedom to bowl according to my plans,” the Biryani Lover, as he is popularly known in the Capitals camp said. “If there are any mistakes in the game, we would sit down after the game and talk it out. It was really helpful in a way that Rishabh is a very aggressive captain and is ready to take the chances,” he added.