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

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.

PSL 6 Match 8: Zalmi look to continue winning run against depleted Gladiators

It has been a shoddy start for the Quetta Gladiators in the ongoing of the Pakistan Super League so far as they have encountered heavy defeats in their first two matches. Their fortunes haven’t changed after a mediocre last season and the captaincy standard and the approach towards the game by skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed has been questionable on occasions. He has lost his cool on his bowlers on quite a few occasions and the opposition teams have cashed in/ They have been severely dented by the departure of Chris Gayle after he had to fly off owing to national commitments. Faf du Plessis has been named as his interim replacement. Peshawar Zalmi on the other hand has a win and a defeat under their belt in the two matches they have played so far. They started off their campaign with a demoralising defeat against the Lahore Qalandars in the National Stadium in Karachi while they stormed back in style in the next encounter against the Multan Sultans beating them by six wickets. If head to head is to be considered, the Gladiators have a slight edge over the Zalmi with a record of 8-7 in their favour. For the Zalmi’s it was a great knock from the blade of Ravi Bopara which got them to a decent position in the opening match while Tom Kohler Cadmore and Imam-ul-Haq played brilliantly in the second encounter. In the last encounter, it was a whirlwind knock of 24 of just 8 deliveries by Haider Ali which helped them coast to a top-notch victory. Their bowers have also starred well and look in good rhythm going into their third encounter. For the Quetta Gladiators, it was Chris Gayle who shone with the bat in the first two encounters as he plundered a quickfire 39 and 68 runs respectively. It has been a pretty below-par batting performance from the Quetta batsmen so far and barring a well crafted 40 in the previous match by skipper Sarfarar there is no bright spot for the Gladiators at the moment. However, in this format, things tend to change pretty dramatically and they will be hoping for much of the same. Even their bowlers have leaked runs in the two matches and will be looking to make amends once they take the field later today. Full squads Peshawar Zalmi Abrar Ahmed, Amad Butt, Waqar Salamkheil (partial replacement of David Miller), Haider Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal, Tom-Kohler Cadmore, Mohammad Amir Khan, Mohammad Irfan Snr, Mohammad Imran, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, Mujeeb Ur Rehman, Ravi Bopara, Saqib Mahmood, Sherfane Rutherford, Shoaib Malik, Umaid Asif, Wahab Riaz Quetta Gladiators Sarfaraz Ahmed (C), Anwar Ali, Azam Khan, Ben Cutting, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Zahid Mahmood, Dale Steyn, Tom Banton, Usman Khan Shinwari, Cameron Delport, Qais Ahmad, Abdul Nasir, Saim Ayub, Arish Ali Khan, Usman Khan, Faf du Plessis (partial replacement of Chris Gayle) Peshawar Zalmi vs Quetta Gladiators: Match Details Match Number- 08 Venue: National Stadium, Karachi Date & Time: 26 February 2021, 08:30 pm IST, 08:00 pm Local Broadcast and Live Stream: Sony SIX, Sony LIV Pitch Report The tournament did start with mid-range totals, but over the last two games, it has got better as the totals are getting bigger and bigger. The pitch for this game should be a lively one and it remains to be seen on which surface the evening encounter will be played. The pitch will have good bounce and carry and favour batsmen with the ball coming on to the bat. The fresh wicket might have some juice as well and might offer some swing early on as well. But under lights the bowlers will have their task cut out. Weather Report The weather in Karachi would be ideal for playing cricket as the temperatures would range between the late 20s to early 30s. There would be sunshine and the mild chill of receding winters to compliment it, making it an ideal scenario for a cricket match without any interference from rain. As has been the tradition in the tournament so far. It would be an interesting decision from the captain whoever wins the toss. Predicted XI’s Peshawar Zalmi- Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal (wk), Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Sherfane Rutherford, Shoaib Malik, Haider Ali, Wahab Riaz C), Saqib Mahmood, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Imran Quetta Gladiators- Tom Banton, Saim Ayub, Faf du Plessis, Sarfaraz Ahmed (C and WK), Azam Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Ben Cutting, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, Usman Shinwari, Zahid Mahmood