Shoaib Akhtar, Sanath Jayasuriya to be part of Legends Cricket League

Shakib al Hasan has no interest to continue playing three formats for Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s star all rounder Shakib al Hasan in an explosive interview has stated that he does not want to continue as an all format player with the national team. Speaking to a local TV channel Shakib clarified that he is unsure about playing the longest format, and it does not really serve the if the national team plays two matches in 40-42 days. ''I know what [format] is important for me and I know what [format] should get the preference. Right now time has come when I am thinking about Test cricket and whether I will play Tests again or even if I play, how will I play.'' "When you play two Tests in 40 to 42 days, it cannot be fruitful so certainly it encourages playing selective matches. I am not saying that I will retire from Test but it can happen that I am not playing T20s after the 2022 World Cup and at that point I might play one-day and Test. But continuing three formats together is almost close to impossible,'' he said. Shakib has found himself in murky waters over the last year with the Bangladesh Board president Nazmul Hasan Papon repeatedly giving fiery statements about the senior pros of the team. Amongst other things, Shakib was heavily criticised by the media-loving president when he chose to play in the Indian Premier League snubbing the national tour. Shakib, who has already chosen to skip the Test series against New Zealand, stated that bio-bubbles have been taking a toll over him. Comparing it to living in jail, the star all-rounder stated that so much of regulations have been hampering his personal life. 'When you have three small children and you cannot give time and suddenly you meet them for eight to 10 days and then again you are away for couple of months and again you meet for 15 days it's a very unhealthy situation and I feel it will leave an impact on their growth. I don't want them to go through it,'' he concluded.

England include uncapped David Payne in Eoin Morgan-led squad for WI T20Is

England have announced a 16-man squad for the T20I series against West Indies away from home. The selectors have included uncapped David Payne in the side that would be led by Eoin Morgan. Payne was also named in the ODI squad earlier after England’s first-choice squad had to go under isolation ahead of the series against Pakistan. The English squad that does not include the likes of Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer would find themselves in testing waters as far as their fast bowling department is concerned with most of the first-choice players nursing their respective injuries. However, the team looks strong in the top order with the inclusion of promising players like Tom Banton and James Vince. The series will have major ramifications over the ongoing Big Bash League side who will be further depleted of their overseas strength in the knockout stages of the tournament. Former England cricketer Paul Collingwood will take up the head coach’s post for the tour as Chris Silverwood is in Australia for the Ashes series. "We have selected a strong squad with some serious batting power and a balanced attack as we begin preparations ahead of the T20 World Cup in Australia," Collingwood said. "I have good memories winning a World Cup in Barbados and I'm really looking forward to going back there with this squad to face a very good West Indies who will test all aspects of our skills." The series is slated to begin on January 22 while the squad for the Test series which is scheduled to begin in Antigua on March 8 will be announced soon. Squad Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Tom Banton, Sam Billings, Liam Dawson, George Garton, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Saqib Mahmood, Tymal Mills, David Payne, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, James Vince.

Super Smash 2021-22: Northern Brave hold nerves to steal win with last-ball six vs Canterbury

Trent Boult stole away a win for Northern Brave against Canterbury in a Super Smash fixture in Mount Maunganui not with a ball but with a final-ball six. The Knights needed 7 off the final two balls with just one wicket in hand and Katene Clarke was on strike against Ed Nuttall. But Clarke could only manage to get a single on the penultimate ball bringing down the equation to 6 off the final ball. But Boult kept his cool and smashed this final delivery for a six to seal a victory by one wicket. Earlier, in the day, the Northern Brave bowlers thoroughly dominated the Canterbury batting unit and bowled them out for 107 in the 18th over. Canterbury didn’t have a good start to the proceedings and lost wickets at regular intervals to be left tottering at 85/7 before getting bundled out. Henry Nicholls was the top-scorer for his side with a 21-ball 35. Joe Walker was the pick of the bowlers for Brave after he returned with impressive figures of 3/13 in 4 overs while Boult, Anurag Verma and Ish Sodhi scalped a couple of wickets apiece during the course. In reply, the Northern Brave had a decent beginning to the chase as they had put 46 within the first five overs but lost the way in the middle to suffer a middle order collapse and were reduced to 101/9 in the final over before going over the line. Clarke, who had earlier caused the carnage before leaving the field after being hit, remained unbeaten at 32 off 12 as he came out to bat again after the fall of the ninth wicket. Nuttal picked up three wickets for his team but was hit for 43 runs in 4 overs. Canterbury will now play Otago in Christchurch on Sunday while Northern Knights will be up against Central Districts on December 30, 2021 in New Plymouth.

Ravi Shastri puts his weight behind Team India to win first Test series in South Africa

India are all set to play South Africa in a three-match Test series and are looking to win their first Test series on their soil. But before that former India head coach Ravi Shastri has come up with some anecdotes in an advertisement by Star Sports Network. Shastri was the part of the first Test that India played against South Africa in Durban in 1992 while the present head coach Rahul Dravid was the skipper of the side when the Indian team first defeated the Proteas in the longer format. India have tasted success in Australia in the recent past and Shastri made a special mention about it in a sarcastic manner. “This Indian team has a huge First ka Thirst. Just ask the Aussies (winks),” he said. The Virat Kohli-led Indian team will begin the Test series on December 26, 2021 in Centurion. The visitors suffered a blow ahead of the tour after newly-appointed Test vice-captain Rohit Sharma and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja were ruled out due to injuries. Rohit who was also appointed the new skipper of the limited-overs side, is expected to return for the ODI fixtures against the Proteas. The three-match series will start on January 19, 2022 in Paarl. India batter KL Rahul was named the deputy of Virat in Sharma’s absence for the Test series.