Covid-19: After Rajasthan Royals, now Punjab Kings extend support with oxygen concentrators

Hosting rights of World T20 to remain with BCCI even if tournament moves to UAE

The World T20 which is scheduled to take place in India in October-November might move to UAE if the COVID-19 situation in the country doesn’t get better. But the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) hasn’t given up on the hopes of hosting the tournament in the country. “It’s too early to say what will happen. But the contingency plan is that it would go to UAE with the hosting rights staying with BCCI,” Dhiraj Malhotra, GM, BCCI and the tournament director of the World Cup said. The board had shortlisted Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Dharamsala, Ahmedabad and Lucknow as the venues for the mega event before the rise in cases in India. The World T20 will be a 16-team tournament where the sides would have to announce the squads a month prior to the start of it. The UAE has four grounds where the tournament can be held. Last year, UAE also hosted the Indian Premier league successfully. West Indies are the defending champions of the World T20 who lifted the trophy back in 2016 after beating England in the final. The Caribbean side has been crowned the champions twice. India have won the T20 World Cup in 2007 under MS Dhoni’s captaincy while making it to the final of 2014 edition where they lost to Sri Lanka in the title clash.

Nicholas Pooran to donate 'portion' of his IPL 2021 salary to help India fight 'tragic' Covid-19

Days after Australian pacer Pat Cummins opened his purse to help people who are struggling with the havoc of the Covid-19 pandemic in India, West Indies’ Nicholas Pooran has come forward with the donation of a ‘portion’ of his IPL salary to help people in the times of crisis. Pooran took to his Twitter account to express his feelings and solidarity with India—a country where people have showered a lot of love on support, he said. He said that he is keeping India and Indians in his prayers but will also donate money to help people amid shortage in supply of Oxygen across the country. “To all my friends and supporters in the world and back home, I realise I am in a safe and privileged position herein at the IPL but it’s also heartbreaking to be so close to such a tragedy that’s unfolding around us. For a country that has shown us so much and love and support over these years, the least I can do is to join hands with my fellow players to help spread some awareness of this situation in India,” Pooran said in the video. “The healthcare system is overwhelmed right now, people can’t get the medical attention they need because of a lack of oxygen resources and supplies. I can’t comprehend that. If you can get vaccinated, please do. I will also do my part which is to continue to pray for India, but not only that, I’ll also like to donate a portion of my IPL salary towards this crisis in India.” Pooran has not had a great time with the bat in the ongoing edition of the IPL but his humanitarian gesture will go a long way as India is grappling with severe health and humanitarian crisis imploded due to what is perceived as the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

IPL 2021: Shahrukh Khan can become the next Hardik Pandya feels Scott Styris

Former New Zealand al--rounder Scott Styris is highly impressed with Punjab King's finisher Shahrukh Khan who is playing his first IPL season. Though he has only scored 103 runs in five innings, Shahrukh has made his presence felt and has come up with the runs when the rest of the team has struggled. He has timed the ball to perfection and his ability to hit the long ball has been evident from some of his breezy knocks this season. With the sort of innings he has played so far, Shahrukh Khan has definitely given some hope to Punjab Kings as a designated finisher. Styris who hailed the hard-hitting batsman doesnt want Shahrukh to put too much pressure on himself. All he wants him to do is to enjoy his game. “I think that’s a lot of pressure to put on his shoulders. I would want to back up that truck a little bit and say no. Just let him play and develop! People develop at different speeds as well. He might take two-three-four seasons to get to a point where he is a reliable finisher,” said Styris. “I don’t want to compare anyone with Kieron Pollard, he’s 6 foot 5, he’s huge. Shahrukh Khan is a big guy as well. Maybe he can look to aspire to be like Hardik Pandya. I’ve seen a lot of Shahrukh Khan because of my commentary days with the Tamil Nadu Premier League and he was a powerful striker of the ball in that league,” the former New Zealand all-rounder added. Shahrukh Khan looked in ominous touch for Tamil Nadu in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and played the role of a designated finisher to perfection. He turned some matches on it’s head with delightful strokeplay and it was due to his exploits there, SRK was snapped up by the Punjab Kings for Rs 5.25 crores. So far Shahrukh has justified his position at the Punjab Kings. “I am glad to see him go on and do the same thing for the Tamil Nadu side in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and that’s how he has earned his space. Dominic Cork just talked about players developing and moving on to India. Well, that’s what these local leagues do as well, by televising them, by putting them under pressure. They then develop to get into their first-class sides and then into the IPL and then potentially into their national sides as well,” Styris said. Styris urged Punjab Kings to let Shahrukh Khan develop organically and hon his traits from some of the illustrated cricketers around him. “So, Shahrukh Khan, just let him play like all the uncapped players, just let them develop; learn from the big-named players around them and when that happens, you just don’t know what can come from that,” Styris concluded.

Glenn Maxwell tries to fly back safe and secure, won't mind travelling with Indian players

Swashbuckling all-rounder Glenn Maxwell wants to return home safe and secure after the conclusion of the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League. He said that he won’t mind the fact boarding the same chartered flight that would take India and New Zealand players to the United Kingdom for the ICC Test Championship final. As per a senior BCCI option, the option could be feasible and can be explored given the stringent travel guidelines during the last week of May. All commercial flights from India to Australia has been suspended at the moment due to the rapid surge in COVID cases in India. “We just want to find a way to go home. The BCCI, both governments can work a solution. If we have to wait bit longer, so be it but there is a way to get home at some stage,” Maxwell was quoted as saying in “The Final World Podcast” which was conducted by renowned journalists Geoff Lemon and Adam Collins. “India and England are going to play in England. Worst comes to worst, we have to wait in England and try and find a way out in that chartered (flight) and get out of India. I am sure a lot of guys will try and put their hand up in trying to do that as well,” Maxwell said. The Indian and the New Zealand players who are part of the Test squad for the ICC Test Championship final slated to be played in Southampton from 18th June is expected to fly out to England together in the same flights. The English players part of the league might also travel with the Indian and the New Zealand players on the same flight. BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal said that all the possibilities are being looked at to ensure that the foreign players can safely fly back to their respective countries in times of strict travel restrictions. “Travelling to England and going to Australia from there could be an option that can be explored. There will be various options and obviously, BCCI will try and take the safest one which doesn’t compromise any of the players’ health and security,” Dhumal was quoted as saying by PTI. Maxwell just wants to make sure that they manage to travel back home safe and secure. He wants to figure out the safest route that the players can avail following the conclusion of the IPL. Currently, there are 14 Australian players remaining in the league with three pulling out. “Once IPL finishes and potentially the bubble will be broken, you don’t want to be stuck here, just try and look for the safest way to move on,” the ‘Big Show’ said. “It’s something I floated to Vinnie (fiancee), if things go extremely south, a whole lot worse, what are we actually supposed to do if there is no help? I am sure there will be help from BCCI to accommodate the overseas players at the moment,” he added.