Our bowlers experienced enough to utilise UAE conditions better: Waqar Younis on T20 World Cup

Shreyas Iyer raring to come back in IPL, downplays talks around Delhi Capitals captaincy

India’s middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer has said that he will be fit and ready in the second half of the Indian Premier League scheduled to be played in September. Iyer was ruled out of the initial half of the IPL 14 after dislocating his shoulder in the ODI series against England. Then, he had undergone surgery and Iyer has now confirmed the healing process has conlcuded and that he will be back in action in one month time. “My shoulder… yes, I think the healing process is done. Now it’s the last stage of achieving strength and range. So that’s going to take about a month and the training is obviously going on. Other than that, I feel, I will be there in the IPL," Iyer told The Grade Cricketer’s YouTube channel. Shreyas Iyer had been leading the Delhi Capitals franchise in the IPL since the middle of the 2018 edition but his shoulder injury saw Rishabh Pant leading the side in this year’s edition. It has been speculated that if he wil be reinstated as the captain of the Capitals in the second half of the tournament, but Iyer said that captaincy is the last thing on his mind. Instead, he said that his only goal is to the maiden IPL title for the Capitals. “I don’t know about the captaincy, it’s in the hands of the owners. But the team has already been doing well and we are on top and that’s what really matters to me. My main aim and goal to lift the trophy which Delhi has never done before,” Iyer added. Shreyas Iyer’s return will bolster Delhi Capitals’ batting which suffered a little bit due to inexperience in the first half of the tournament.

VVS Laxman urges Shikhar Dhawan to score heavily in Sri Lanka to regain opener position in T20Is

Former Indian batsman VVS Laxman has said that Shikhar Dhawan has to maximise the opportunities on the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka in order to stake claim for an opener slot in the Indian T20 side. Laxman said that the competition for the opening position is very stiff as prolific batsmen as Kohli, Rahul have either eyes on it and hence Dhawan will have to pile on big runs to secure his position in the side. “Shikhar Dhawan will be very clear that he has to use this opportunity – especially keeping in mind the T20 World Cup, there is so much stiff competition. So, while he is excited being the captain of the Indian team — and anyone will be proud to lead their country — but his focus will be to score runs and put his spot in a secure position,” Laxman said on Star Sports show Game Plan “There is Rohit Sharma and K.L. Rahul – who are established opening batsmen. Virat Kohli, very clearly mentioned that he wants to open in T20 formats. So, Shikhar Dhawan has to be amongst runs.” Notably, Dhawan was overlooked in the last four T20 of the series against England as the likes of KL Rahul and Virat Kohli took his positon along side Rohit Sharma at the top of the order. Dhawan has been a prolific opener for India in the ODIs but has not been able to replicate his success in the shortest format. The selection committee recognised his experience and consistency with the bat by promoting him as the leader of an Indian team without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, but for the T20 World Cup scheduled for the end of this year, only thing that will matter will be runs from his bat.

Mitchell Starc gearing up to overcome quarantine hurdles, eyes all formats in busy year

ENG vs PAK | Haris Sohail yet to recover from leg injury, MRI scan on July 6 to decide fate

Pakistan middle-order batsman Harris Sohail has not recovered from his leg injury and continues to feel pain in his right leg, the Pakistan Cricket Board said in its injury update. The board also said that the left-hander will not take part in practice sessions scheduled on July 5 and 6 in Derby after missing out from the intra-squad game last week. However, he has not been ruled out of the first ODI of the series against England starting July 8 and any decision on his availability will be taken after the MRI scan scheduled to take place on July 6 in Cardiff. The members of the Pakistan squad have arrived in the UK for a three match-long ODI and T20 series under the leadership of Babar Azam. The remaining ODIs of the series will be played in London and Birmingham on July 10 and 13 respectively. The T20I series will follow the ODI series and will start on July 16 and conclude on July 20.