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Lpl 2020 Shahid Afridi To Lead Galle Steyn And Taylor Join Kandy Tuskers

LPL 2020: Shahid Afridi to lead Galle, Steyn and Taylor join Kandy Tuskers

Lanka Premier League franchise Galle Gladiators have announced former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi as their captain for the inaugural season. He would be supported by Sri Lankan Bhanuka Rajapaksa as the vice-captain.

The Galle team is owned by Pakistani businessman Nadeem Omar who also owns the popular Pakistan Super League team Quetta Gladiators. Omar had initially chosen his Quetta captain Sarfaraz Ahmed to lead this side as well, but the former Pak captain was picked for the tour of New Zealand and therefore pulled out of the tournament.

"Afridi will now captain the side since he is the senior-most player in our franchise and has experience of captaincy," Omar told the media.

On the other hand, good news came for the franchise owned by popular Indian actor Salman Khan’s brother Sohail Khan as Kandy Tuskers signed veteran South African speedster Dale Steyn to spearhead their depleted pace department.

The franchise also confirmed the news of roping in veteran Zimbabwe batter Brendan Taylor as well. The two are supposed to be the replacements for Liam Plunkett and Chris Gayle, both of whom pulled out of the tournament citing personal reasons.

"We are also thrilled to announce that one of the greatest bowlers of all time @DaleSteyn62 will join the Kandy Tuskers squad!” the franchise tweeted.

Five franchises - Jaffna Stallions, Kandy Tuskers, Galle Gladiators, Colombo Kings, and Dambulla Vikings will fight it out for the inaugural LPL trophy in 23 matches, all of which would be held in the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota starting November 26.

Every day will have doubleheaders and the inaugural match would be played between Colombo Kings and Kandy Tuskers.

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NZ vs PAK: Fakhar Zaman ruled out after developing fever

Pakistan's top-order batsman Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out of the upcoming New Zealand tour scheduled to start on 18 December. He would not travel with the Pakistan team which is due to leave for the Kiwi nation on Monday, 23 November from Lahore. The Pakistan Cricket Board released a statement on the issue saying, “Batsman Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out of the tour to New Zealand. Fakhar is suffering from fever and has not recovered in time for the Pakistan squad's departure for the tour.” Confirming that he had tested negative for the covid-19 a day prior to the development of his fever, Pakistan’s team doctor Sohail Saleem said that the 30-year-old is being constantly monitored after being isolated from the team. "Fakhar's covid test report was received on Saturday which came out negative but today he picked up a fever. As soon as his condition was reported, he was isolated from the rest of the squad in the team hotel. We are constantly monitoring his condition and remain hopeful of his quick recovery; however, he is not fit to travel with the squad and as such has been withdrawn from the touring party.” Pakistan are scheduled to play three T20Is and two Tests on their New Zealand sojourn, starting with the first T20I in Eden Park, Auckland on 18 December.

AUS vs IND: Gavaskar, McDonald differ on short ball ploy to Steve Smith

Steve Smith and the short ball has been a tale to tell ever since the last Ashes in England. Jofra Archer troubled him with the short ball in England and Neil Wagner roughed him up once again in Australia, even in IPL, a few teams tried the ploy. But Smith has said that he is ready to face the chin music against the Indian side. Speaking on the same issue Indian great Sunil Gavaskar and former Aussie all-rounder Andrew McDonald have contrasting views. While Gavaskar thinks that no batsman likes to play the short ball, McDonald is of the view that Smith really doesn’t have the problem against the short ball. “No one is ever ready for the short ball! A good short ball will trouble the best of batsmen. Nobody can say ‘I’m ready’,” Gavaskar told Sportstar. The septuagenarian further said that India’s Mohammad Shami could prove lethal with the short balls against Smith. “Mohammed Shami in particular has a fabulous bouncer. If he gets it right on target, then you can be pretty certain that not too many batsmen will be able to negotiate him. He is not very tall and his short ball will come skidding at you around your shoulder and head, and that’s the most difficult delivery to play. If his rhythm is right, he will not be an easy bowler to play,” Gavaskar said. The Rajasthan coach, McDonald, under whose supervision Smith played this season’s IPL backed his countryman with the example of Old Trafford where the 31-year-old bounced back from the Lord's concussion with a double century at. “Even in one-day cricket and T20 cricket, he's been able to score runs with that plan being adopted by opponents. So, I don't necessarily see it as a weakness ... they (India) can keep approaching it that way if they want,” he said.

Ramachandra Guha wants renewed Indo-Pak series to be named after Tendulkar

A noted historian and celebrated observer of the game Ramachandra Guha wants India- Pakistan to resume playing cricket once again. The columnist known for his art of calling a spade out said that he is aware that resumption in the current environment seems impossible, but that does not mean he would stop asking for it. “Of course, I would like them to play and some of my best memories are there [in India-Pakistan cricket]. I'm in favour of not treating Pakistani cricketers as enemies. I'm in favour of appreciating the great Pakistani cricketers. At the moment [resumption] seems impossible,” he told DNA newspaper during an interview. Guha, 62, has another wish that whenever the cricket between two nations resumes, it should happen with a special series named after the greatest batsman of the subcontinent- Sachin Tendulkar. “I want India v Pak series to be played for the Tendulkar Trophy. That's my hope,” he said. Asked who his favorite Pakistan cricketer was, Guha took the name of the Sultan of Swing, Wasim Akram. “It's a tough one. I would say Wasim Akram because he was such a subtle, magical bowler. His skills with the ball were just unbelievable. He was a fast bowler who you could enjoy for aesthetic pleasure and not because of terrifying the batsman,” he said.

Allan Border wishes Kohli-Anushka had their baby in Australia

Joking that Australia could have claimed Indian captain Virat Kohli and his actor wife Anushka Sharma child if the latter was to give birth in Australia, former World Cup-winning captain, Allan Border wished that the power couple had their baby in the Kangaroo nation. “We were thinking he might think about having his newborn baby here because we can claim his offspring as Australian,” joked the first Aussie captain to lift a World Cup. On a serious note, he said that Australia will go into the Test series with an advantage due to Virat Kohli’s absence in the series. “The one thing that is in Australia’s favour is Virat Kohli playing only the first Test. I think that is a big OUT for India. He is irreplaceable at the moment as a batsman and a leader. Should be 2-1 to Australia,” Border said. Kohli, 32, has got paternity leave approved from the BCCI and would be leaving Australia after the first Test ends in Adelaide. The border also called Kohli a leader of the modern-day Indian Team and credited him with bringing positive intent among the boys. “The way India play the modern game, they have a very positive mindset, and Virat has led the way very well in those areas. I am a big fan,” he said. Indian team is in Australia to play two limited-overs series (of three ODIs and an equal number of T20Is) and four-match Test series, starting with the first ODI at SCG on 27th November. The Test begins with a day/night affair in Adelaide.