PCB requests New Zealand to play additional two T20Is during their tour

Rishabh Pant visited dentist, could have picked the virus from clinic: Reports

India wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant had tested positive for Covid-19 on July 8 and has been under isolation since then. As per a TOI report, the reason behind Pant’s testing positive for the disease could be his latest visit to the dentist. The aggressive left-handed batsman had visited his dentist on July 5 and 6. “Pant had gone to a dentist on July 5 and 6, and could have picked the virus from the clinic. On July 7, he had been vaccinated," a source told TOI. Apart from Pant, Wriddhiman Saha, batsman Abhimanyu Easwaran and bowling coach Bharat Arun had also isolated themselves after coming in close contact with the throwdown specialist who tested positive. “Pant, who had not stayed in the team hotel during the break period, tested positive on 8th July. He is asymptomatic and currently undergoing self-isolation at the place where he reported positive. He is being closely monitored by the BCCI Medical Team and is on his way to recovery. He will be able to join the squad in Durham after returning two negative RT-PCR tests,” said the BCCI press release. The Indian team is slated to play England in a five-match Test series beginning on August 4 in Nottingham.

SL vs IND | Kusal Perera ruled out of entire series, Binura Fernando out of ODIs

Sri Lanka ODI skipper Kusal Perera has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI and T20 series against India after suffering a shoulder sprain in the training, Sri Lanka Cricket said in its media release. Perea was appointed the skipper of the side earlier this year before the tour of Bangladesh and he has not been able to guide the side to any success in the format. In the recently-concluded series against England, Perera failed miserably with the bat and so did the side against an all-strength home side. There were speculations about his sacking from the post of captain as well before the series against India because of his leadership of players in a tussle against the board. Apart from Perera, fast bowler Binura Fernando has also been ruled out of the ODI series against India due to an ankle injury. As per the SLC media release, the pacer suffered a lateral ligament sprain. As per media reports, all-rounder Dashun Sanaka were to be the skipper of Sri Lanka for the series against India in case Perera had to face the ire of the board. However, the team for the series against India has not been announced yet by the SLC.

Hasan Ali rested for first T20I against England

Pakistan pacer Hasan Ali has been rested from the first T20I against England scheduled to take place on Friday (July 16, 2021) as a precautionary measure after he picked up a strain in his left leg during a training session. The fast bowler’s unavailability for the match was announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board on Friday morning ahead of the first clash. “Hasan Ali has been rested for the first of the three T20Is against England as a precautionary measure due to a strain in his left leg, which he picked during a training session at Trent Bridge on Thursday,” a release from the PCB said. “The fast bowler will now be assessed ahead of the second T20I, following which decision on his participation will be made,” it added. The right-handed bowler scalped six wickets during the three-match ODI series that included a fifer in the second match against England. A decision on Hasan’s availability will only be made after an assessment ahead of the second encounter. Pakistan earlier suffered a 0-3 defeat in the ODI series. The visitors who batted first rode on Babar Azam’s career-best 158 and a fifty from Mohammad Rizwan to post 331/9 in 50 overs but failed to defend it after James Vince’s ton and Lewis Gregory half-century anchored the home side to a 3-wicket win in Birmingham.

With an eye on World T20, Morgan willing to explore 'strength in depth' against Pakistan

England have already established and showcased enormous depth in their white-ball set up by thrashing a full-strength Pakistan 3-0 in the just-concluded ODI series. The hosts had to field a completely new side in wake of the Covid-19 crisis in the camp that found all first-choice players in close contact. It opened windows of opportunity for fringer players to showcase their offerings to the team management in absence of big players. Players such as Lewis Gregory, Brydon Carse, Saqib Mahmood took their opportunities with both hands and showed they can be as good as England have sought at the international level. Now, even as all those big guns including the skipper Eoin Morgan are set to return in the T20 series after serving a period of isolation, the trend of providing opportunities to fringer players is set to be continued. In the pres-series presser, Morgan asserted that the team management is willing to explore more options to understand the ‘strength in depth’ leading up to the ICC World T20 later this year in UAE. Morgan called the series against Pakistan as the last stop of trying people at various positions and roles in order to come at the best possible conclusion before selecting squad for the big event. “Knowing what is ahead, we need to look a little bit more into strength in depth. You’ll see us giving opportunities and going through various little options in the next three games for possible injury replacements for certain players. The priority will be to give guys opportunities and we’ll be treating it as though it is our last chance to look at guys in various positions,” Morgan said. There will be no dearth of opportunities for players as well with the likes of Ben Stokes, who will manage his finger injury, Chris Woakes and Sam Curran going away from the T20 set up to prepare for the Test series against India. Morgan hailed the players for stepping up in the hour of need against Pakistan and said that the brand of cricket England have employed in the aftermath of a disastrous world cup campaign in 2015 is now being fully embraced by the players in domestic cricket. “Guys recognise that opportunities are few and far between. But when they do come in, the method the team plays is starting to resonate with people around the country, which is great,” Morgan added. The three-match long T20 series between England and Pakistan will start tonight in Nottingham with the other two scheduled to take place on July 18 and July 20.