Grateful to play cricket again: Shikhar Dhawan thanks DC members

PCB’s worries increase as more foreigners pull out of PSL Playoffs

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been hit hard by the foreign players pulling out of the PSL ahead of the final leg. The recent among the foreign stars to pull out is a well-known face in Pakistan- Daren Sammy. It would be for the first time that Sammy would not be part of PSL since its inception in 2016. The West Indian has cited travel restrictions imposed due to increasing covid-19 cases in the Caribbean as the reason for his non-availability. The PCB has decided to hold the remaining play-off matches as well as the final of the 2020 season which was marred by the spread of the covid-19, on November 14, 15, and 17 in Karachi. Earlier the PCB had lost the services of key English players due to the Three Lions’ limited-overs series against South Africa. It is getting difficult for the franchises to find a replacement as New Zealand’s Mitchell McClenaghan also pulled out of the league due to travel restrictions. Apart from that, James Vince of England and Bangladesh’s Mahmudullah had to pull out after being tested positive for the virus. Along with this, the PCB also informed that one person from one of the squads tested positive for covid-19 and he has been isolated in a separate room in the team hotel in Karachi.

Windies stripped off training rights after breaking covid-19 isolation norms

The Windies team in New Zealand have been stripped of their rights to train further during their managed isolation period. This decision has been taken by the New Zealand Health Ministry as it found certain players indulging in breach of the managed isolation’s code of conduct as set by the ministry for all visiting teams. The Ministry, on the evidence of CCTV footage from the Windies isolation facility in a Christchurch hotel, said that the team cannot train further till their managed isolation period ends on Thursday. The Caribbean team has had to go through 14 days of managed isolation on arrival in New Zealand, 12 days of which have passed. Speaking on the issue Dr. Ashley Bloomfield, Director-General of Health, New Zealand said, “As with other sports teams that have come to New Zealand, the West Indies cricket team were given certain exemptions from the managed isolation rules which apply to everyone else,”. “It is a privilege to come here but in return, they have to stick to the rules. Keeping covid-19 out of our communities and keeping our staff safe depends on it. They didn’t do that, despite agreeing to abide by the parameters of the exemption,” he added. Players were due to be tested on Wednesday for the second time since their arrival in New Zealand. If things go as per plan, they would be released by Friday and move to Queenstown where they play New Zealand A in two practice games. The tour however begins with three Twenty20 internationals, starting with the first one in Auckland on November 27, and later on, two tests beginning on Dec. 3, would be played in Hamilton and Wellington respectively. Both New Zealand Cricket and Cricket West Indies have said that they are aware of the breaches and are in full support of the steps taken by the New Zealand Health Ministry. “NZ Cricket will continue working with the West Indies team and management and relevant government agencies to ensure there is no repeat of these violations,” a spokesperson of NZC told. While CWI in a press release reiterated that it is ‘in full support of the New Zealand Ministry of Health’s position.’

Your commitment makes Indian cricket what it is: Ganguly thanks IPL players

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president and former India captain Sourav Ganguly thanked all the players involved in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for showing immense courage and commitment to go through the tough bio bubble. Through a tweet, the Board President said that it is the commitment of players that makes Indian cricket what it is. Ganguly wrote, "@bcci..along with the office bearers I personally thank all the players of each IPL team, for going thru the tuff bio bubble to make this tournament possible..it was tuff mentally, and ur commitment makes Indian cricket what it is @JayShah @ThakurArunS.” He also tagged BCCI secretary Jay Shah and Treasurer Arun Kumar Dhumal in the post. The BCCI has received accolades from all corners of the world for putting on a flawless and phenomenal show while conducting the biggest cricket league in the world amidst the pandemic. The final which was conducted yesterday was won by the Mumbai Indians by five wickets against the Delhi Capitals. Rohit Sharma, the captain of the Blue and Gold stood out in batting while Trent Boult was adjudged man of the match for inflicting early damages in the Delhi innings. Delhi could make only 156 runs and the Mumbai team chased it with eight balls to spare.

BCCI to conduct full auction for IPL 2021, league may have a ninth team

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is looking to have a full-fledged auction for the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Along with this, a new development has been planned which might pave the way for a ninth franchise in the IPL, likely to be based out Ahmedabad, the home of the biggest cricket stadium in the country- Motera. If the report from The Hindu is to be believed then, “the BCCI has plans to add a ninth team” mostly to balance its expenses and revenue generation patterns amidst the pandemic. The BCCI is also looking to get the tournament back to India next year. It is learned that the BCCI has already intimated the franchises about having a full auction. The idea of including the ninth franchise is a fresh one and since the stadium in Ahmedabad has been refurbished by Gujarat Cricket Association with a record capacity of 1,10,000, a corporate giant from the state has shown interest in getting a franchise from the city. This year’s IPL, which was won by the Mumbai Indians beating Delhi Capitals in the finals was hosted in the UAE due to rising covid-19 cases in India.