CSK vs MI | Kieron Pollard leads Mumbai; Rohit Sharma & Hardik Pandya misses out on restart

We have good memories of playing in UAE as a unit: Delhi Capitals' Axar Patel

The second half of the IPL 2021 is scheduled to begin on Sunday in Dubai where Mumbai Indians will lock horns with Chennai Super Kings. The teams have reached UAE for the remainder of this year’s IPL. In a video released by Delhi Capitals on their social media handle, all-rounder Axar Patel is seen talking about joining the franchise back, last year’s memories of the IPL that was held in UAE itself and how excited is he to get back on the field and don the DC jersey. “Obviously, I’m enjoying it a lot and I’m feeling really good after going with the Delhi Capitals family. I was waiting to be with the team as soon as the second leg of the IPL was announced in Dubai,” Axar said. “I would want that the excitement remains and we go into the match with equal passion,“ he added. Delhi Capitals had ended as the runners up in the last edition of the IPL after losing the final to Mumbai Indians. Mentioning about the same, Patel admitted that the memories did cross his mind and also added that he would want the side to repeat the performance again in this season. “When it was announced that the second phase will be played in UAE, the first thing that went across my mind was that we were the finalist in the last season and that was the first time when we played in the title clash. So, these are the good memories that we have. We just hope that the way we performed in the last edition, we can repeat that again this year but the result should be in our favour,” the left-hander said. Delhi Capitals will resume the campaign against Surfers Hyderabad on September 22, 2021 in Dubai.

T20 Blast Final: Jordan Cox, Joe Denly help Kent win its first T20 trophy in 14 years

It was a blast indeed on the Finals day at the T20 Blast 2021 season as Kent Spitfires went on to win their first-ever final in the last 14 years in what was also their first-ever appearance in the final in 13 years after an antagonising final loss by three runs against Middlesex in the 2008 season. Jordan Cox and Joe Denly turned out to be the heroes with the bat and ball respetc9vley for the Spitfires, who had reached the final by beating Sussex in the second semi-final of the T20 Blast Finals Day. The first semi-final was won dramatically by Somerset when they defeated Hampshire, chasing down 151 after being 34-5 to win the game by two wickets. In the final, though, nothing dramatic happened as Kent went about their defence of 167 in a very methodical way with Denly removing Tom Banton off the very second delivery of the Somerset innings. That set the tone for the Kent bowlers who then went on to pick wickets at regular intervals, eventually reducing the Taunton based side to 119-9 in the 18th over before some nice shots by Josh Davy took them to 142 at the end of the innings. Denly was the pick of the bowlers for Kent removing both the Somerset openers in Banton and Will Smead alongside Tom Lammonby. Earlier in the evening, after winning the toss, Somerset invited Kent to bat first and even as the team kept on losing wickets regularly, Jordan Cox with his patient approach but very fiery innings of unbeaten 58 off just 28 balls took the Spitfires to 167-7 from their 20 overs. With this loss, Somerset have now lost four of their five Blast finals with the lone victory coming in their first-ever final appearance in 2005.

Extremely disappointed that NZ chose to abandon white-ball tour against Pakistan: Wasim Akram

Earlier last week, in a dramatic turnaround ahead of their first ODI match against Pakistan, New Zealand cancelled their historic white-ball tour citing security reasons. Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has now reacted to the Blackcaps abandoning the tour and has expressed his disappointment on the same. "I think the world underestimates how powerful our security forces are. Cricket is more than a sport to us and we will do everything in our power to prevent cricket (from) being taken from us again. The world needs to give us a chance to prove that!," Akram tweeted on Sunday. The former left-handed bowler further added that the Pakistan forces have made the country one of the safest places in the world to play cricket. This tour would have been NZ's first in 18 years in the subcontinental national and could have paved away the roadmap for other countries to visit Pakistan. "Extremely disappointed in NZ choice to abandon the #PAKvNZ tour. Pakistan has proven that our security measures for international games is of the highest order, making Pakistan one of the safest places in the world to play cricket today. I feel we are not hearing the whole story," Akram said. The two sides were slated to play three ODIs and five T20Is. While the ODIs were scheduled to take place in Rawalpindi, the T20Is had to be played in Lahore. With NZ's cancellation of the trip, teams like England have put their own tour under scanner and it is expected that they will try to force a move out as well. Pakistan have been one of the busiest touring teams in the pandemic and have played several series away from home. The conversation in recent months had been about the countries extending their gratitude by touring Pakistan, but the NZ pullout would be a huge dampener on the plans.

Less than 16 years old won't be granted access in Sharjah, PCR tests required in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has opened the entry of fans to the cricket stadiums in UAE for the second half of the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). However certain guidelines need to be followed when the spectators make their entry in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. The regulations in place which has also been shared with all the eight franchises, states that the fans attending games at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium need not produce RT-PCR tests 48 hours before the commencement of the game. However, they need to produce a double vaccination report. The fans will also need to follow social distancing regulations and have to wear masks for the full length of the game. Children below 12 won’t require vaccination proof. The authorities have also asked the spectators to download their tickets prior to their departure for the stadium which needs to be scanned at the gates. When it comes to Sharjah, the rules are a bit different. One needs to be 16+ in order to be granted access in the stadium. In addition to the vaccination report, the spectators also need to produce RT-PCR tests 48 hours before the commencement of the game. For spectators who is keen to watch the games, a green status of the Al Hosn App is a must. For every spectator over 16 years of age watching games in Abu Dhabi needs to produce a double vaccination report along with a PCR test which will be valid no more than 48 hours before entry into the stadium. Age group between 12-15 doesnt need to produce vaccination reports but a PCR test in required. Those below the age of 12 needs to be accompanied by elders over the age of 21. Masks have to be worn all through the process of entry into the stadium and till the exit. Temperature checks will be done upon arrival. Fans won’t be allowed re-entry into the stadium. The 14th season of the IPL resumes later today with a high octane clash between the Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings. While CSK occupies the 2nd position with 10 points in 7 games, MI is currently at the 4th spot with 8 points in as many games.