Quetta Gladiators Anwar Ali tests positive for Covid-19

Quetta Gladiators fast bowler Anwar Ali has tested positive for Covid-19 and won’t take the flight to Abu Dhabi for the remaining matches of the PSL 2021 according to a report in ESPNCricinfo. There are two charter flights that are leaving from Karachi and Lahore.

The fast bowler had tested negative before he checked into the hotel in Karachi but then returned with a positive result on Tuesday. He has been isolated for 10 days in the same hotel but on a different floor and would be released from the hotel only after returning two negative tests.

The franchise members are scheduled to take the flight to Abu Dhabi on Wednesday (May 26) will have to be quarantined for seven days and will have to be tested negative twice before being allowed to get into the bio-bubble environment.

There have been three separate bubbles created by the PCB, one for players, support staff, match officials, hotel staff and PCB officials; the second, in a different hotel, for the TV production crew and key event management personnel; and the third is an accommodation dedicated to the ground staff.

The Gladiators had earlier suffered another blow after Naseem Shah was ruled out of the competition for breaching the Covid-19 protocols.

"The PCB doesn't take any pride in releasing a young fast bowler from its marquee event but if we will ignore this breach, then we will potentially put at risk the entire event," Babar Hamid, commercial director and head of PSL said. "We appreciate Quetta Gladiators for accepting this decision as it confirms we are all aligned to strictly following and implementing the protocols."

The PSL 2021 had been postponed earlier after there were instances of Covid-19 cases within the franchises. It was then rescheduled to take place between June 1 to June 20 in Karachi but the franchises had requested the PCB to move it to the UAE citing the surge in Covid-19 cases in the country.

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CPL 2021 draft announced, to be streamed Live on Facebook on May 28

The 2021 edition of the Caribbean Premier League will have its player’s draft on May 28 which would be streamed Live on Facebook across the globe. After all the teams announced the players they were retaining or taking in trade from other franchise, the governing body on May 25 announced the details of the draft. It would start on Friday at 06:30 pm IST which would be 02: pm the British Summer Time and 09:00 am Local time. Earlier in the day, Nepalese spin sensation Sandeep Lamichhane announced his move from Jamaica Tallwahs to last year’s champions Trinbago Knight Riders while St. Lucia zouks welcomed Obed McCoy and Javelle Glen to their squad. This season’s CPL would take place in its entirety in St. Kitts and Nevis, beginning on August 28 and going on till September 19. The major transfers of the season include Dwayne Bravo’s move to St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots from TKR and Sherfane Rutherford being transferred to the Patriots from Guyana Amazon Warriors. Daren Sammy stepping down from playing and handing over the captaincy reigns of St. Lucia Zouks was another sensational news for preseason. He would however remain with the side as Ambassador, Mentor and Assistant coach to Andy Flower The number of players retained by each side ahead of the 2021 CPL. Jamaica Tallwahs- 7 St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots- 8 St. Lucia Zouks- 7 Guyana Amazon Warriors- 12 Barbados Tridents- 9 Trinbago Knight Riders- 14

Whenever I get opportunity to bowl in the game, I will: Suryakumar Yadav

India and Mumbai Indians batsman Suryakumar Yadav is often remembered for his match-winning performances with the bat for his side. But in a recent live session, the right-hander is seen discussing his bowling. Former wicket-keeper batsman Parthiv Patel had asked Surya when he would be returning to bowling to which the Mi mainstay replied that he is continuously bowling in the nets. “Why is he always behind my bowling? No, I have not stopped bowling, I keep bowling in the nets and whenever I get an opportunity to bowl in the game, I will be there,” Yadav said. He further revealed that MI and West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard loves his bowling and does it with great passion. “You can’t take away bowling from Pollard. He bowls from his heart and you can’t take that away from him, No chance,” added Surya. The Mumbai Indians were placed at number four spot with 8 points and four wins from seven matches in the points table before the IPL was called off on May 4. The cash-rich league was suspended after there was a rise in Covid-19 cases within the franchise teams. KKR’s Sandeep Warrior and Varun Chakravarthy, SRH’s Wriddhiman Saha, DC’s Amit Mishra and CSK’s bowling coach L.Balaji and batting coach Mike Hussey had tested positive for the disease. The BCCI has cleared that the tournament has been suspended and not cancelled but is yet to decide the dates for the resumption.

WTC Final: With Dukes ball, swinging and cold English conditions, Hadlee favours Kiwis to lift the cup

The World test Championship Final is less than a month away and many former greats have given their predictions reading the winner. India and New Zealand would be fighting it out in the neutral venue of Rose Bowl, Southampton in England. New Zealand great Sir Richard Hadlee believes that the Kiwis have an edge over the Indian side because of their swing trio of Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Kyle Jamieson. “It all comes down to who is better prepared and who adapts better to the English conditions the quickest. The weather may also play a part and if it is cold, that will favour New Zealand,’ Hadlee said. He then went on to add how the Duke ball swing is favourable for the Blackcaps bowlers. “The Duke ball will suit both team's fast bowlers, especially the genuine swing bowlers, and the Kiwis are well-served in that department with Southee, Boult and Jamieson,” said the all-rounder who was known for his deadly swing and who took quite a lot of his 1490 First-Class wickets in English conditions. “If the ball seams around off the pitch, batsmen in both teams will be challenged,” he added. Talking about the magnanimity of the WTC Final, Hadlee said that it is obviously not as big as a World Cup, but the teams that have reached here truly deserved it. “The Test Championship is a one-off game. Yes, it is a final, but I don't think either team will be too fazed about it. It is a neutral ground with no home advantage. It is something to look forward to. Both teams deserve to be contesting the final because of their consistency over a set period,” he said.

Cricket needs India: Richard Hadlee

New Zealand legend Sir Richard Hadlee believes that Indian cricket at the moment is the financial core of the game all around. The great all-rounder feels that it is not only just the financial aspect, but the South Asian nation’s contribution as a whole is noteworthy for the past few decades. “There is no doubt India produces a lot of revenue for cricket. Without India, the face of world cricket would be very different, therefore cricket needs India,” Hadlee was quoted as saying to Cricbuzz. Talking about Virat Kohli’s men contribution to Test cricket, Hadlee pointed out the team’s fightback in Australia this summer. “India has also made an outstanding contribution to Test cricket - like in all formats,” he said. “Their Test performances in Australia were outstanding despite that 36 all-out blip. They bounced back superbly, and Test cricket came alive again,” added arguably the best Test all-rounder with 431 wickets and 3124 runs to his kitty. The 69-year-old also appreciated the depth in the Indian set up saying, “So many youngsters came into the team and performed. It showed the great depth of talented players India have in all formats.” The Christchurch born, on being asked about Indian skipper Kohli’s aggressive approach, said that all sports at the highest level are about competing. But then Hadlee went on to suggest that there is a fine line between gamesmanship and being boorish. “There will always be a fine line as to whether gamesmanship from a player or a team goes too far. I quite like seeing any player expressing himself towards the opposition by having a real presence - it is a form of intimidation that can be unsettling,” he said. “I see Virat as being a very passionate and competitive cricketer with a strong desire for himself and the team to succeed,” added the legend with a batting average of 27.16 and bowling average of 22.29 in Test cricket.