IPL 2022 likely to begin on April 2: Reports

Lahore session court puts stay on PCB suspension of PSL broadcast deal with PTV

A Lahore sessions court has put a stay on Pakistan Cricket Board’s new tender to find a new broadcaster for the Pakistan Super League as well as its domestic tournaments and home international series. The stay has been put on the account of Pakistan Television Network (PTV)’s request as it has appealed to the court that the PCB has arbitrarily cancelled the $200 Million deal inked between the two parties in 2020 which allowed PTV the right to broadcast PSL and Pakistan’s domestic cricket for three years. The state-owned broadcaster PTV and the PCB deal was signed in the presence of Imran Khan, the Pakistan Prime Minister, who is also PCB's patron-in-chief. Along with PTV, the PCB also signed a deal with I-Media Communications Services, to ensure the PCB's broadcast content is not redistributed illegally by cable operators. However, as has come to light after the PCB unanimous cancellation of the deal that I-Media was not able to meet the required standards that PCB had set. Also, PTV was broadcasting the matches on Standard Definition and PCB wanted it to be broadcast on High Definition and thus the decision was taken to cancel the deal. A Sports, launched by ARY group is one of the few HD channels in Pakistan and it also broadcasted the recent T20 World Cup. Hence it seems like the PCB is inclined towards getting the PSL broadcast in HD in the domestic market as well and thus this cancellation has come. The international rights of the tournament are sold separately.

You may see three spinners playing the first Test: Gary Stead

India and New Zealand will be up against each other in the two-match Test series slated to begin on Thursday in Kanpur. New Zealand head coach Gary Stead has talked about the conditions and India and pointed out as to why it is difficult for the touring teams to win Tests here. "You have to look and realise how teams come here often and don't win. That's the enormity of obvious challenge. The traditional way of playing four seamers and one part-time spinner can't be the way to go over here. You may see three spinners playing in this game,” Stead opined. Talking about the practice matches, Stead suggested that both the sides haven’t had a chance for that considering the present condition. “In this Covid world, it is difficult to get practice games but India is also coming on the back of T20s and is on a similar boat to what we are." The Blackcaps suffered a 0-3 defeat in the T20I series and will look to turn the fortunes for themselves in the Tests. The two sides last played against each other in a Test during the final of the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship. The Kane Williamson-led side defeated India.

Bangladesh women register largest win for an Asian team in ODIs, beat USA Women by 269 runs

It was a complete performance by Bangladesh Women at the ongoing ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers 2021 in Zimbabwe. The women from South Asia beat the debutants United States Women by 269 runs, the largest victory margin by runs for an Asian side (men’s and women’s) in the history of ODI cricket. Batting first, the women in green and red rode on the back of Sharmin Akhter’s century, the first for any Bangladesh woman in ODI cricket history to reach 322, their highest ever total in ODI cricket. Along with Akhter, Fargana Hoque also scored 67 runs while Lata Mondal, Nigar Sultana and Murshida Khatun also contributed with the bat. Defending the total, only two United States batters reached the double-digits as the Bangladeshi bowlers made sure that US batters could reach only 53 in 30.3 overs before being bowled out. For Bangladesh, Salma Khatun, Fahima Khatun and Rumana Ahmed got two wickets each while Jahanara Alam scalped a solitary wicket. Prior to this win by Bangladesh Women, India Women had beaten Netherlands Women by 249 runs in 2017. As far as the biggest win by runs in women's cricket is concerned, the record is held by New Zealand women who beat Pakistan by 408 runs in 1997. This is the second win for Bangladesh Women in the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier. They had earlier beaten Pakistan in a thrilling last-over finish.

Abu Dhabi T10 League 2021: Batsmen unleash through dominance

The fourth day of the Abu Dhabi T10 league emerged to be a batsmen’s day out when both the encounters became high-scoring clashes. Deccan Gladiators defeated Delhi Bulls by 9 wickets while chasing 113 in less than 8 overs while Team Abu Dhabi beat The Chennai Braves by 8 wickets as they chased down a mammoth 132 in the final over. Deccan Gladiators vs Delhi Bulls Batting first, Delhi Bulls were 39/2 when Rossouw and Sherfane Rutherford joined hands for an important and aggressive stand of 39 runs for the second wicket which certainly laid the foundation for a good total for the side. While Rutherford struck 19 off 6, Rossouw smashed the bowlers all around to notch up a 21-ball 48 which included four maximums and three fours during the course. Rossouw held the fort strong from one end but saw wickets falling at the other side as the Delhi team was bundled out for 112. Andre Russell picked up three wickets for 17 runs in two overs while Tymal Mills and Hasaranga picked up a couple of wickets each. Later, the Gladiators rode on some emphatic batting from Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Tom Banton to go over the line. While Banton was dismissed for 44 off 21, Tom Kohler-Cadmore went on to notch up a fifty to see the side home by 9 wickets. The Chennai Braves vs Team Abu Dhabi The second match of the day unleashed a batting masterclass from both the ends. The Chennai team who batted first posted a huge total of 131/2 in 10 overs with Rajapaksa scoring a half-century. Later, Philip Salt and Paul Stirling provided Team Abu Dhabi with a brilliant start as the two batters put 88 on the board for the first wicket. Stirling was eventually out for 44 off 18 but Salt remained not out for 63 in 28 deliveries which included five sixes and as many fours during the course to clinch a win for the side by 8 wickets and with four balls to spare.