Steve Smith dethrones Kane Williamson from top spot in Latest ICC Test rankings

PSL 2021 Preview | Peshawar vs Islamabad: It's clash of titans as race to helm intensifies

The two in-form teams Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi will be up against each other in the first clash of the day on Thursday (June 17, 2021) in Abu Dhabi. Both the sides will be coming into this game with a win in their previous respective matches. Interestingly, both the sides defeated Karachi Kings. The only difference between the two teams was that Zalmi bowlers had rattled Karachi batting line up while Islamabad batsmen, especially Colin Munro took on the charge and helped his side chase down a stiff target of 191 by 8 wickets. Munro remained unbeaten at 88 off 56. For Zalmi, it was captain Wahab Riaz and Abrar Ahmed first who shared a total of six Karachi wickets out of the nine and then Hazratullah Zazai took on the onus of himself and struck 63 off 26. Well, while the two teams might be coming into the match with a win, Islamabad would be looking to take revenge for the last encounter when these two sides faced each other. During the first leg of the PSL, Peshawar defeated Islamabad by 6 wickets where Wahab scalped a four-wicket haul for his side to bundle out Islamabad for 118 and the rest of the task was concluded by the batsmen. Match Details Match – Islamabad United vs Peshawar Zalmi – 25th match Venue – Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi Time – 06:30 PM IST, 01:00 PM GMT Pitch Report The tracks in Abu Dhabi have something on offer for the spinners. Though, Wahab Riaz had some good time in the middle after he bagged a three-for against Karachi on Tuesday. The slowish nature of the pitch might favour the spinners especially in the middle overs. So, the team that wins the toss should elect to field first. Team News Peshawar Zalmi: Peshawar Zalmi bowlers had a brilliant outing against Karachi Kings in their previous match and would be looking to continue that in the later stage of the tournament. Captain Wahab Riaz ripped through the Islamabad batting unit, the last time the two sides met and he would seek to repeat the feat. Apart from the bowling, Zalmi has a brilliant aggressive opener in Hazratullah Zazai who has the ability to take on any bowling attack. The left-handed batsman unleashed something similar against Karachi. He can provide the team with a brisk start and the middle-order can chip in later on. Earlier, three Zalmi players David Miller, Fabian and Fidel Edwards had left the PSL midway for national duties. South Africa and West Indies are slated to play T20I series beginning on June 26. Islamabad United: Islamabad United are riding high on Munro and Iftikhar Ahmed’s form who anchored the side to a 8-wicket win against Karachi. The two players have the ability to stitch a stand and provide resistance to the team in the middle overs and then chip with some strokes all around the park. Pacer Hasan Ali who had earlier opted out of the PSL 2021 due to personal reasons later decided to stay back and be with the team. "I was going through a personal family issue, which has been resolved thanks to my wonderful wife," Hasan was quoted as saying in a media release. "She has assured me she will take care of it and wants me to concentrate on my cricket and my career. Hats off to such a wonderful partner. She has always stood by me through the hardest times and after consulting with her I have decided to stay on with Islamabad United for the remainder of PSL 6. I would like to thank Islamabad United for their support and understanding during this tough period,” Hasan Ali further added. Probable XI Islamabad United Usman Khawaja, Colin Munro, Muhammad Akhlaq (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan (C), Hussain Talat, Asif Ali, Hasan Ali, Ali Khan, Mohammad Wasim, Akif Javed Peshawar Zalmi Hazratullah Zazai, Kamran Akmal (wk), Haider Ali, Shoaib Malik, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Abrar Ahmed, Wahab Riaz (C), Umaid Asif, Mohammad Irfan, Sameen Gul Fantasy XI Colin Munro, Hazratullah Zazai, Kamran Akmal, Shadab Khan (C), Haider Ali, Shoaib Malik (VC), Hussain Talat, Asif Ali, Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Irfan

Sanjay Manjrekar picks his India XI for WTC final, leaves out Ishant and Jadeja

Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has picked his India playing XI for the ICC World Test Championship final slated to be played against New Zealand from 18th June (Friday). Manjrekar who is known as someone who doesnt minces his words said that his picks were based on the assumptions that India will be encountering typical English conditions where the ball is seaming and swinging around. As per the weather forecast for the match, rain is predicted fr all days and hence Manjrekarwent with a lone spinner in the form of Ravichandran Ashwin. “I’m assuming you have typical English conditions. I’m assuming there will be a mixture of sun and cloudy cover throughout the five days of the Test match if it goes the distance. So, I’m picking the team accordingly," Manjrekar was quoted as saying by the ESPN Cricinfo. Most of the picks are on expected terms but he has opted to play only one spinner leaving out Ravindra Jadeja from the XI with whom he had a verbal conflict during the 2019 World Cup. He also left out experienced campaigner Ishant Sharma from his XI and decided to play an extra batsman in the form of Hanuma Vihari. Manjrekar wants to reward Vihari for his exceptional performance against Australia in Sydney last year before he succumbed to an injury and couldn't play the final Test and the home series against England. He has also got the experience of playing County cricket very recently which might work in his favour. Meanwhile, Manjrekar went with Mohammed Siraj as the third seamer alongside Bumrah and Shami. “Going to have Hanuma Vihari to reward him for his brilliant innings before he got injured," Manjrekar said. “India will need somebody with more compact defensive technique because the guys at the top of the order, barring (Cheteshwar) Pujara, aren’t those kinds. So I will have Hanuma Vihari at number 6. (Rishabh)Pant at 7, considering India have hardly had any practice game. I just want to make sure the batting runs deep.” Manjrekar feels that while Ishant, Bumrah and Shami are like for like bowlers, Siraj is a bit different who might offer different dynamics for the team’s cause. “Want Siraj, the swing bowler to be brought into the equation, and the last time Siraj bowled overseas in Australia, got a five-wicket haul. Hard to leave a bowler like him out. You will be tempted to think of Siraj because when you look at Shami, Bumrah and Ishant, they are more seam bowlers, hit-the-deck kind of bowler. Siraj might offer something different. I would go with Siraj, but India might play Ishant for obvious reasons," he said. Sanjay Manjrekar’s WTC XI For India: Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj

BCCI wins appeal against Arbitration Award in favour of Deccan Chargers

The BCCI has received some positive news after it won the appeal against the Arbitration Award in favour of Deccan Chargers. The board was asked to pay INR. 4800 crore, in the Bombay High Court in the case that relates to the termination of the franchise by the governing body. "It is a major relief for the BCCI. The Arbitration Award was very huge, close to Rs 5000 crore. We are thankful to the honourable court," said a BCCI office-bearer. Raju Subramaniam, the BCCI counsel, who had represented the board in the arbitration case, said, “The Arbitration Award was unsustainable. The franchise had not performed its duties and sought compensation. The award could not have been sustained.” The Deccan Chargers Holding Ltd had earlier challenged the termination in September 2012 in the Bombay High Court. Retired Justice CK Thakkar was then appointed as the sole arbitrator in the case who made the decision. A single-judge bench of Justice Gautam S Patel has now put aside the award and further said that the compensation was illegal. The dispute began when the BCCI that was headed by N Srinivasan had given the Hyderabad franchise to Sun TV, terminating Deccan Chargers contract five years into their 10-year franchise agreement. Chargers had lifted the IPL trophy in 2009 after beating RCB in the final.

Pumped to be in the WTC final: BJ Watling

New Zealand wicket-keeper BJ Watling will be featuring in his final Test when he takes the field in the final of the inaugural World Test Championship against India. Watling has said that he is excited about the match and just wants to take it as just another game. “I’m just looking forward to playing another test match. It is an exciting one, and I’m certainly pretty pumped to be in the final. I’m just going into it how I do with every other test going through the processes of trying to win a test match,” the 35-year-old was quoted as saying by stuff.co.nz. “I’ve certainly enjoyed the time I have spent with this team playing cricket for New Zealand. It’s been a hell of a journey,” he added. New Zealand will lock horns with Virat Kohli’s India in Southampton beginning on June 18. Talking about the final, Watling said that it is a massive opportunity and the side would look to continue the form. “It’s obviously a massive opportunity to win a title, but I think what we’ve been doing leading into this, winning the games at home this summer, and then obviously winning a test series against England, it’s certainly been fantastic,” he said. “We’ll try and do our best and try to carry on the form that we’ve been playing in for a reasonably long period,” Watling added. The Blackcaps are coming into the title clash with a 1-0 win in two-match Test series against England away from home.