Pakistan T20 World Cup squad to travel with families, leave Lahore on October 15

Covid-19 lockdown causes greater problems for Australian cricketers ahead of Ashes 2021-22

With lockdown norms not easing up in the states of Queensland, South Australi and Tasmania for visitors from New South Wales and Victoria states, players from these two states, who are hopeful of making it to the Australian Ashes squad, but aren’t part of the Aussie T20 World Cup squad are worried about reaching Brisbane for the first Ashes Test. Talking about such problems, Cricket NSW head of the male team, Michael Klinger said, "I suppose the next challenge for us is getting someone like Nathan up into Queensland where the first Test is going to be.” "We'll obviously work with Cricket Australia on that to find out how we're going to do that to make sure he's up there by late November, early December, whenever the guys come back from the World Cup as well,” Klinger added, saying that the problem is mainly due to the 14-day quarantine (if it is not exempted) and how to plan the quarantine to coincide with the rest of the Australian team members who would be returning from the T20 World Cup. "I suppose the biggest challenge with the guys coming back from the World Cup is we just don't know what date that will be because we just don't know if they're going to make the semi-final or the final, so we'll just have to be quite flexible with that situation and make sure we get Nath back to marry up with that. And potentially, we're hopeful guys like Moises Henriques and Sean Abbott might be in contention for selection as well,” said the former Australia player, who represented the national team in three T20Is. The lockdown issue has forced Cricket Australia to allow the NSW and Victorian teams to play each other in the Sheffield Sheild and Marsh Cup games as the other three states have closed their borders to them. Even after this Klinger is hopeful of getting an exemption from 14-day quarantine or individual players which might be easier, compared to getting it for teams. "I don't think it will be an issue for someone like Nathan. When Cricket Victoria and Cricket NSW are trying to get exemptions to get into other states when you're talking about players and staff, you're talking up to 40 to 50 people, and umpires included in that as well. I think it's a different story when you're trying to get exemptions for one, two, or three people than 40 or 50,” he said. "We certainly don't feel as though that will be an issue getting Nathan there or whoever else is needed. Similar situation with the Victorian guys as well with James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, maybe Marcus Harris, these sort of guys will be in the same boat,” added Klinger. The lockdown ash not only affected the Ashes aspiring players but has also been troublesome for Aussie T20 squad members such as Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Adam Zampa. While Zampa has been stuck in Byron Bay and is practising alone due to lockdown norms both in Sydney and Brisbane, where he was planning to go, Cummins and Daniel Sams have been able to practice together, but haven’t got even a single centre wicket practice game under their belt. Starc, on the other hand, has been travelling with the Australian women’s team to be with his wife Alyssa Healy and has been practising using their facilities.

BCCI to earn around $12 million profit from T20 World Cup

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to earn USD 12 million profit from the upcoming World T20. The BCCI which is the designated host of the tournament had informed its Apex Council members about the estimate recently. Apart from this, the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) will receive USD 7 million as it will host a total of 39 matches while Oman Cricket (OC) will get USD 400,000 for holding six fixtures of the first round of the competition. The BCCI also informed its Apex Council members in a detailed email that out of the USD 7 million that would be given to ECB, USD 1.5 million is for hosting, USD 5.5 million is the cost for operation. The USD 400,000 will be the operational cost for the matches that would be held in Muscat. The ticketing rights of the tournament in UAE and Oman has been given away by the board to ECB and OC. According to Cricbuzz, “The BCCI is hosting a major part of this event in UAE, i.e in Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Sharjah. The BCCI is working with the ECB on similar lines. Some of the key pointer's w.r.t BCCI's arrangement with ECB is as follows: 1. BCCI is paying ECB a fixed fee of USD 1.5 million (from our host fee of USD 13.5 Million) and operational costs of USD 5.5 million which will be covered by ICC. Total fee payable is USD 7 millon. 2. All operational deliverables w.r.t ICC's requirements will be provided by the ECB 3. BCCI has transferred its ticketing rights to the ECB and all revenues generated out of sale of match tickets will be retained by the ECB 4. A Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for delivery of this event has been constituted which mainly include staff from BCCI and a few staff from ECB." The email further notes: "The BCCI is hosting 6 matches in Muscat. Some of the key pointer's w.r.t BCCI's arrangement with ECB is as follows: 1. BCCI is paying OC a fixed fee of USD 400,000. 2. All operational deliverables w.r.t ICC's requirements will be provided by the OC 3. BCCI has transferred its ticketing rights to the OC and all revenues generated out of sale of match tickets will be retained by the OC. 4. The BCCI has deployed a team from its LOC in Muscat to oversee the preparation for the event." The BCCI secretary Jay Shah in an email wrote that the BCCI had talks with the ICC regarding the shift of venues and it was decided that the safety of players and other stakeholders is important. "The BCCI discussed the hosting issues with the ICC and had several rounds of deliberations internally. After much thought, it was decided that the safety of players and other stakeholders is of paramount importance and keeping that in mind, it was best to shift the event to the United Arab Emirates and Oman," Shah wrote.

Sam Curran ruled out of T20 World Cup

England all-rounder Sam Curran has been ruled out of the remainder of the Indian Premier League as 2021 as well as the upcoming T20 World Cup 2021, England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed in a press release. The left-arm pacer has suffered a lower back injury. Tom Curran, who was in the reserves list of the England T20 World Cup squad has now been drafted into the main squad as his brother’s replacement meanwhile left-arm seamer Reece Topley has been added as a travelling reserve. Topley will join the England party in due course. “Curran complained of back pain after Chennai Super Kings Indian Premier League fixture on Saturday against Rajasthan Royals,” ECB said in its release. "He [Sam Curran] will fly back to the UK in the next couple of days and will have further scans and a full review later this week from the ECB's medical team," it further added. It was only on Tuesday morning that non-IPL playing members of the England T20 squad arrived at their Muscat base in Oman. The squad will remain at this base till October 16 before moving to Dubai for the start of the tournament.

British Health Minister hopeful for Ashes to take place this summer

Great Britain's Health Minister Greg Hunt has revealed that it is ultimately in the hands of the touring party i.e. England Mens’ team on what do they decide regarding their demands for a full-fledged Ashes to take place this Summer in Australia. Taking to Skye News Australia, Hunt said, "Ultimately, it's always in the hands of the touring party, but we've been working to be flexible and practical.” “On the one hand, we have to make sure that we have safety arrangements as per Australian conditions. On the other hand, to be practical and flexible to give that touring party every chance of coming here and to have the Ashes played this summer,” he added, giving indications that Australia would have to curb its very strict Covid rules for families of English players to be able to travel. The Ashes is not just about rivalry and traditions, but also involve a huge amount of money for Cricket Australia, as much as A$200 million and thus CA doesn’t want to leave any stone unturned for the series to continue and also pave way for a fruitful BBL 11 as well. "We have had regular and positive discussions with the ECB over the past six months on providing conditions which will allow players from both teams to perform at their best during the Ashes summer," CA said in a statement. "The health and wellbeing of both squads while ensuring the tour proceeds in a safe manner is a priority and we especially thank our government partners for all their support in this regard,” it added.