IND vs NZ | Kyle Jamieson not available for T20I series, confirms Gary Stead

Circumstances were out of our control: Brad Haddin on why Warner was ignored at SRH

Sunrisers Hyderabad Assistant coach Brad Haddin confirmed that David Warner was not removed from his position of captain and later from the playing XI of the franchise in the last edition o the Indian Premier League on the basis of form, he was rather excluded because of non-cricketing reasons. "I tell you what it was not a cricket decision that he was not playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad," Haddin was quoted as saying on the Grade Cricketers Podcast after Warner was awarded Player of the Tournament at the recently concluded ICC T20 World Cup 2021. Talking about how things were not even in control of the support staff, Haddin said, "They had a long break, he did not go to Bangladesh or West Indies. But he turned up in really good headspace. He was hitting the ball well, circumstances were out of our control, even the coaching staff.” Haddin and Warner played together for a long time for New South Wales and then also for some time for the Australian team as well before Haddin retired from international cricket in 2015.

U-19 World Cup-winning captain Akbar Ali named in Bangladesh’s squad for Pakistan series

Bangladesh announced a 16 member squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Pakistan starting November 20 at the Sher-E-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka. The inclusion of 2020 Under-19 World Cup-winning skipper Akbar Ali in the squad was big news from the announcement. Apart from Akbar, batsmen Saif Hassan and Yasir Ali Chowdhury, pacer and Shohidul Islam are the other players receiving their debut national call ups. The squad named is relatively young and would be without the services of experienced players such as Allrounders Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin due to injury while Litton Das, Soumya Sarkar and Rubel Hossain have been left out of the squad on a performance basis. Veteran wicketkeeper batter Mushfiqur Rahim has been rested for the series to remain for the two Test matches which would be part of the WTC. Mahmudullah will lead the side which would also feature the likes of Najmul Hossain Shanto and leg spinner Aminul Islam Biplob, who were left out from the World Cup squad, but have found a place in this team. Bangladesh Squad Mahmudullah (captain), Naim Sheikh, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Afif Hossain, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Aminul Islam Biplob, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Shamim Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Saif Hassan, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Shohidul Islam, Akbar Ali.

Rohit Sharma explains 'impact' player Virat Kohi's role in the side

India batsman Rohit Sharma has replaced Virat Kohli as the T20I captain while former skipper Rahul Dravid has been appointed as the new head coach for the side. Rohit has now explained Kohli’s role in the side as the batsman and has said that the right-hander is someone who leaves an impact every time he is out there in the middle. “Virat Kohli's role won't change. He will keep on doing what he has been doing for the team for so many years,” said India's newly appointed T20I captain Rohit Sharma in a virtual press conference. "He is a very important player for the team. Whenever he plays, he creates an impact. He always leaves his mark on the match,” he added. India are scheduled to play a three-match T20I series against New Zealand at home which is scheduled to begin on Wednesday in Jaipur. Kohli though has been rested for the fixtures. “Everyone has a different role in the team. And those change based on whether you are batting first or chasing so based on that, roles will keep on changing. Everyone is open to that and I'm sure when Virat comes back, it will only strengthen the team,” Sharma said.

They pinned me down: Azeem Rafiq tells harrowing incident of being forced to drink wine by clubmates

Azeem Rafiq, the former Yorkshire cricketer who was called on November 16 by the Select Parliament committee to investigate his claims of institutional racism at Yorkshire County Cricket Club, said that he was forced to drink red win eat the age of 15 even when he didn’t want to. And that it was one of the many incidents where he didn’t raise his voice and tried to fit in with others because he wanted to play cricket. "My first incident of drinking, I was 15, I got pinned down at my local cricket club and had red wine poured down my throat. The player played for Yorkshire and Hampshire. I felt like I had to drink to fit in. I regret that massively, but it has no bearing on the things I was called,” said Rafiq in his statement to the cross-party committee set up on the request of the Departement of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Clearing his stance, the 30-year-old further added, "I have been clear from the offset that I wasn't perfect. There were things I did that I felt I had to do to fit in, and I am not proud of them.” In the entire hearing, Rafiq revealed how racism is ingrained in the entire system and though he faced it at Yorkshire, he thought that it would be present all throughout the county structure. Rafiq, who quit cricket for good two years ago, just at the age of 28 said that he ‘just wanted to live my dream and my family's dream’ but racism ruined it all.