Even amidst Farmer Protests, Vijay Hazare Trophy Knockouts to be hosted by Delhi

BCCI announces schedule for first Women’s tournament post lockdown

The Board of control for Cricket in India has announced the schedule for the first women’s tournament post the lockdown. According to a letter shared by the BCCI Secretary office to all the affiliated associations, teams have been asked to assemble at their designated centres before the tournament to begin. According to the letter, the tournament much like the Men’s ODI tournament for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, this tournament will be also based out of various centres with each group stationed at one centre. There are a total of 27 teams in the tournament, one less than the Men’s tournament as the Services don’t have any women’s teams. The tournament will be held across six venues: Surat, Rajkot, Jaipur, Indore, Chennai and Bengaluru. All Teams are requested to assemble at their respective bases by March 4 and will undergo three covid-19 tests on March 4, 6 and 8. A negative report in all three would put them through to the bio-bubble. Bengal are the defending champions and are placed in Elite Group B alongside Railways, Saurashtra, Uttarakhand, Haryana and Assam. The top five teams from each elite groups would qualify for the quarterfinals while the two best second-placed teams across elite groups would also get through. The eighth team would be decided with a pre-quarterfinal between the third-best second-placed team and the top placed plate group team. While the quarterfinal will be held on March 29, and the semi-finals are scheduled for April 1 with the final taking place on April 4. The venues for the knockouts will be announced later. Elite Group A: Jharkhand, Odisha, Hyderabad, Gujarat, Chhatisgarh, Tripura Elite Group B: Railways, Bengal, Saurashtra, Haryana, Assam, Uttarakhand Elite Group C: Andhra, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Goa, Chandigarh Elite Group D: Madhya Pradesh, Mumbai, Kerala, Baroda, Punjab, Nagaland Elite Group E: Karnataka, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Vidarbha, Meghalaya Plate Group: Pondicherry, Jammu & Kashmir, Mizoram, Bihar, Manipur, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh

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

India’s big-hitting all-rounder Yusuf Pathan has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. Announcing the news, Pathan posted a letter on Twitter with the caption, “I thank my family, friends, fans, teams, coaches and the whole country wholeheartedly for all the support and love. #retirement” Pathan, 38 was a member of the two World Cup-winning teams under former India skipper MS Dhoni. While he made his India debut in the final of the 2007 T20 World Cup, the Baroda born played five matches in the 2011 World Cup. In both the World Cups, India emerged as the winner. In total Pathan played 57 ODIs and 22 T20is for India scoring 1046 international runs with two centuries and three half-centuries in his kitty. More than a useful off-spinner, Yusuf also picked up 46 wickets in his international career as well. “The time has come today for me to put a full stop to this innings (cricket) of my life. I officially announce retirement from all forms of the game,” wrote Pathan.

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.