Shadman Islam of Bangladesh tests positive for Covid-19

Bangladesh’s young opener Shadman Islam has tested positive for Covid-19 and is consequentially missing the first round of the National Cricket League, the premium First-Class tournament of Bangladesh.

''I am in isolation at the moment in the hotel and waiting for my third corona report to arrive and if that is negative I will be able to play,'' Shadman was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

For all the players in the national teams’ scheme of things, competing in the NCL was made mandatory by the BCB. It was done to prepare them for the two-match series against Sri Lanka, scheduled from April 21.

Bangladesh Test captain Mominul Haque also faced the Covid-19 scare after he tested positive in the initial test, but the subsequent test gave a negative report of him, clearing him to take part in the NCL.

This Test series, a part of the World Test Championship was originally slated for July 2020 but was postponed to October 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Once again in October, it was rescheduled as the 14-day quarantine rule of the Sri Lankan government couldn’t be accepted by the BCB.

Both the matches of this series will be played at the Pallekele International Stadium.

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Shreyas Iyer signs up with Lancashire for Royal London ODI Cup before ODI series in England

Indian middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer has signed up for the Lancashire cricket team for the 2021-22 edition of the Royal London Cup. Iyer will reach Manchester on July 15 for the tournament and will represent Lancashire throughout the group stage of the competition. Notably, an ODI series between England and India is scheduled to take place in the country in the month of September, and hence Iyer would have been interested in joining the team as their overseas signing. Lancashire management harped on a long association with the Indian players of the past generations. Iyer too shared his delight on joining the Lancashire team that has the legacy of former greats such as Farokh Engineer, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman. “Lancashire is a legendary name in English Cricket with a long-standing association with Indian Cricket. I am extremely humbled and honoured to carry the legacy forward of greats like Farokh Engineer, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman at Lancashire. Emirates Old Trafford is a world-class international stadium and I am looking forward to meeting my teammates and the supporters of the Club,” Iyer was quoted as saying by the Lancashire team in its statement. The next edition of the Royal London Cup will be held from July 22 while the Lancashire will commence their campaign on July 23 against Sussex.

Babar Azam gets relief from Lahore High Court in sexual harassment case

In a relief to Pakistan skipper Babar Azam, the Lahore High High Court has suspended a session court’s order that asked the country’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to file a case on the allegations of blackmail and sexual harassment levied by Hamiza Mukhtar. Moreover, the High Court has also sent a notice to the complainant Mukhtar and the FIA. The higher court gave its verdict after Azama’s lawyer Haris Azmat submitted in the court that the previous order was issued without listening to Babar Azam’s official ‘position.’ on the issue. Meanwhile, Babar Azam has gone on the tour of South Africa and ruled out any impact of this prevalent matter related to his personal life on his performances as a captain and the leading batsman of the Pakistan cricket team. "It is my personal issue and it is in court and my lawyer is handling it. We face all sorts of hurdles in life and I am used to it. This issue has not affected my form or cricket," Babar Azam said in a virtual press conference on March 19. Notably, Hamiza Mukhtar had levied charges such as maintaining sexual relations on the false promise of marriage on Babar Azam.

Boiled by Shakib’s allegations of misrepresentation, BCB to reconsider his IPL NOC

Ace Bangladesh all-rounder, Shakib Al Hasan seems to be in trouble after his no holds barred interview in which he alleged the Bangladesh Cricket Board for misrepresenting his letter. The BCB is now thinking to reconsider the No Objection Certificate (NOC) given to him to play the Indian Premier League (IPL). Responding to Shakib’s allegation that he might not have read his letter properly, Akram Khan, the BCB Cricket Operations head, said, "What does it imply? If someone is saying that I don't want to tour Sri Lanka, where we have two Tests, to prepare for the World Cup, then what does it actually mean?" He further went on to say that the board would reconsider the 33-year-old’s NOC if he wants to play Tests and tour Sri Lanka for the upcoming series. "I heard that he said that I didn't read his letter. Perhaps I misunderstood his letter. He wants to play Tests, from what he has said. In the next couple of days, we will discuss his NOC. If he has an interest, he will play Tests in Sri Lanka," Akram was quoted as saying to cricbuzz. Earlier on Saturday, 20th March, Shakib in an interview to a cricket website had alleged Wasim Khan in particular of spreading rumours that the top-rated ODI all-rounder, who is also at number five in Test rankings, doesn’t want to play the longer format. "I did not mention anywhere in my letter that I do not want to play Tests. I mentioned in my letter that I want to play in the IPL to prepare myself properly for World Cup (T20 World Cup) but despite that Akram Bhai has repeatedly said that I do not want to play Tests," Shakib had said. The BCB is planning to convene a meeting soon to discuss the Shakib matter.

Ross Taylor fails to recover from hamstring tear, to miss 2nd ODI against Bangladesh

Ross Taylor has been ruled of the second ODI as well in the series against Bangladesh, after missing the first ODI. Taylor has not recovered completely from a hamstring tear in his left leg and hence, will sit out of the second game to be played at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. Meanwhile, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson is also not available for the series against Bangladesh and it would mean the Blackcaps will play one more game without their batting pair. The Blackcaps won the first game of the series comfortably on the back of dominant performances from bowler in Dunedin and the stand-in captain Tom Latham would be hoping for a similar return in Christchurch to seal the series in the second game itself.