ICC considering to increase number of teams in World T20: Reports

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is considering having 20 teams in the 2024 edition of the World T20 as per a report in ESPNCricinfo.

The 2021 edition of the World T20 that is scheduled to take place in India will have 16 teams while the next edition scheduled to be held in Australia will also have the same number of sides.

The 2024 World T20 can understandably have four groups of five teams each in the initial stage.

This change can further enhance the chances of an increased number of teams (from 10 to 14) battling out in the 50-over World Cup. ICC further plans to get cricket in the Olympics and also return for the Intercontinental Cup, for the Associate nations (with a different name).

The ICC had earlier confirmed that they have plans of increasing the number of teams in the women’s competitions as well.

The discussions have taken place in recent Chief Executives' Committee (CEC) meetings. The Intercontinental Cup will give a boost to the Associate members to play more First-Class cricket while the game’s return to the Olympics will be financially beneficial.

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Ian Watmore has also backed the return of cricket in the Olympics earlier.

"We want to help grow the game globally and believe cricket’s inclusion within the Olympic Games would provide a wonderful opportunity to showcase our sport domestically and take it to new audiences around the world,” he had said.

"The ECB will enthusiastically support efforts to secure this outcome."

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Jofra Archer confident of retention by Royals in Mega IPL auction

Rajasthan Royals premier pacer Jofra Archer believes that he is going to be retained by the franchise in the Mega IPL auction scheduled to take place after completion of the 2021 edition of the league. The speedster believes that he could be fitter and more relaxed for the next season having missed this suspended season so far due to injury. “It’s terrible in India at the moment, and if I did go to India, I would have been home early anyway,” Archer told Sussex’ Youtube channel in an interview after the first day of his Championship game against Kent. The Caribbean man further said, “If it [IPL] reschedules this year, hopefully, I would be able to go.” Talking about his relationship with the cash-rich league’s franchise, the 26-year-old said, “I have now been at Rajasthan for the last three and next year the mega auction is coming up. It is more than likely that they would want me fit and relaxed and ready to perform in the next season.” Revealing the reasons behind his decision of pulling out of this year’s league, the Sussex player said, “It was a bit of me and a bit of England as well. Obviously, both Rajasthan and England supported me in my decision. It was a hard decision to not go to India, a bit unpredictable as well.” Saying that he could have gone but wasn’t sure of the number of games he would have played, Archer emphasised that he didn’t want to go just for the sake of going and not performing to his potential. “In hindsight, we can say that Covid probably would have saved me. But you don’t want to go hoping, if I am going, I am going to give my best.” “And if IPL doesn’t happen this year then we get a fresh start and hopefully, I am there and hopefully, Stokes is there as well,” added the World Cup winner who has so far played 35 games for the Northern India franchise in the IPL, picking up 46 wickets and scoring 195 runs. Playing for Sussex in his comeback First-Class game after the elbow injury that happened prior to IPL, the Barbados born took two wickets and was one of the chief architects in Kent's debacle, getting all out for 145 at County Ground Hove.

Points allocation system needs to be taken care of in WTC: Stuart Broad

England fast bowler Stuart Broad has questioned the format of the World Test Championship. "The World Test Championship is a really good concept, I just don't think it's quite right yet. It's a first-time effort. I can't quite work out how a five-match Ashes series can be worth the same as India playing Bangladesh for two Tests," Broad said while speaking to Press Association. Broad further insisted that the idea and concept of the WTC is pretty good, there are areas that need to be taken care of. “There's something in the idea and it has given great context to the game but there needs to be work done on how it all comes together, I think," the 34-year-old said. England had played the most number of Test matches during the WTC cycle, 21 while India played 17 and the bottom-placed side Bangladesh only got 7 games. The Joe Root-led side suffered a 1-3 defeat at the hands of India away from home and bowed out of the tournament while Kohli’s troops marched into the final of the championship and they will now take on New Zealand next month in Southampton in the title clash. The WTC final will be followed by a five-match Test series between India and England. India have already announced the squad for the WTC final and the Test series against the English side.

Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips two new faces in New Zealand’s Central Contracts list

New Zealand Cricket offered yearly contracts to its players for the upcoming season on May 14. The list included 20 names and Canterbury all-rounder Daryl Mitchell and Auckland Aces star Glenn Phillips were the only two fresh faces in it. BJ Watling, the soon to be retired wicketkeeper-batsman and spinner Ajaz Patel made way for the two players. The players have time until May 22 to accept or decline their offers. While Mitchell made his ODI debut this year against Bangladesh at home, the 29-year-old also scored his maiden Test and ODI centuries to go with it, rounding up a great season for Blackcaps. Phillips, on the other hand, was phenomenal in the T20Is, scoring 366 runs at an average of 40.6. His century against the visiting West Indies at Bay Oval in November last year was the icing on the cake for South Africa born Kiwi player. Gavin Larsen, Selector of the Blackcaps congratulated the newcomers to the list. In a press release, he said, “I’d like to congratulate all the players offered agreements for the coming season and in particular newcomers Daryl and Glenn. Receiving your first national contract is a great moment in any player’s career and both thoroughly deserve their elevation.” Players offered national contracts for 2021-22: Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Devon Conway, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, Kane Williamson, Will Young.

UPCA provides financial assistance to former players

The Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) has decided to lend a helping hand to the former players amid the Covid-19 crisis. The association took to Twitter and made the announcement. “UPCA acknowledges the contribution of ex-Ranji cricketers. Hence, in order to provide financial assistance to such cricketers during the ongoing pandemic, it has decided to distribute one-time payment for ex-Ranji cricketers who have attained 50 years of age,” it said. “The assistance has been categorised as per number of matches played by the cricketer, i.e., 1 to 5 matches – Rs 50,000; 6 to 15 matches Rs 75,000; 16 to 24 matches Rs 1,00,000. The association has previously benefited many cricketers under the aforesaid scheme,” it further added. Earlier, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) suspended the IPL 2021 after there was a rise in Covid-19 cases within the franchise sides. SRH’s Wriddhiman Saha, DC’s Amit Mishra, KKR’s Sandeep Warrior and Varun Chakravarthy and CSK’s bowling coach L.Balaji and later batting coach Mike Hussey had tested positive. The tournament was suspended with immediate effect for an indefinite time. Though, the BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla said that the league was suspended and not cancelled. The BCCI hasn’t made any announcement as to when will the cash-rich league resume.