WI vs PAK | 2nd Test | Day 1: Babar Azam, Fawad Alam help Pakistan recover after dismal start

High time we had an IPL: After Mandhana, Jemimah Rodriguez echoes the women’s league demand

India top-order batter and a chirpy customer on and off the field, Jemimah Rodriguez has demanded a Women’s IPL to be held in India. The Mumbai born, currently playing in The Hundred Women’s competition feels that a global T20 tournament could a go long way in changing the outlook of the women’s game in India. “When we see the WBBL (Women’s Big Bash League) happening, then the KSL (Kia Super League which is now replaced by Women’s Hundred) and now the Hundred, we are all like, when will we have our own IPL? It is going to make women’s cricket better. Imagine, the domestic girls here in England, the kind of experience they are having, sharing dressing rooms with international players. There is so much to learn,” Rodrigues was quoted as saying to BBC. The 20-year-old, who did not play even a single game on India Women’s tour of England in June-July, has now become the highest run-scorer in The Hundred, scoring 249 runs in just seven innings at an average of 41.50 and a strike rate of more than 150. Thus Jemimah understood what it is like to have a tournament where you regularly play at the highest level and feels that such a tournament will only improve the condition and stature of Indian domestic cricket as far as the Women’s game is concerned. “Once they realise that OK, this is the standard, this is what I need to go out and do, they will want to work harder and work better. That’s very important in India because there is a lot of gap between the domestic and international sides in India,” said the Northern Superchargers player, who still co-holds the record for the highest individual score by any player (men or women) in The Hundred. She scored unbeaten 92 against Welsh Fire Women. “In every street in India, you see boys and girls playing cricket – there isn’t any shortage of future players! I think it’s high time we had an IPL,” Jemimah added. Earlier another Indian player, Smriti Mandhana, who was part of The Hundred as well, said that a six-team Women’s IPL should be started by BCCI.

Amid Taliban situation Afghanistan Cricket Board add new teams, hopes to host extended Shpageeza T20 league

Even as the entire world is coming to terms with the Taliban take over of Afghanistan administration, the Afghanistan Cricket Board decided to hold an auction for team ownership rights for their domestic T20 league known as the Shpageeza Cricket League for sponsorship reasons. The ACB added two more teams to now convert the earlier six-team league to an eight-team tournament. The two new teams added to the league are Hindukush Stars and Pamir Zalmi representing two more reasons of Afghanistan. Speaking on the occasion of the franchise rights selling, ACB CEO Dr Hamid Shinwari said, “ This time around, SCL will provide audiences and fans with a new experience. It will also be great financially for players.” He also was confident about getting the senior Men’s side ODI series against Pakistan in Sri Lanka to be completed on time as well. With the inclusion of the two teams, now the eight franchises are Hindukush Stars, Pamir Zalmiyan. Speenghar Tigers, Kabul Eagles, Amo Sharks, Bost Defenders, Band-e Amir Dragons and Mis-e Ainak Knights. The eighth edition of the SPL will begin on September 10th at Kabul Cricket Stadium and will conclude on the 25th of the same month at the same venue. It would however be interesting to see whether the Afghanistan players taking part in foreign leagues at the moment including the likes of Rashid Khan, Qais Ahmad and Naveen-Ul-Haq be able to participate in the SPL or not.

Rachin Ravindra feels honoured being named in New Zealand squad, wants to win games with bat and ball

Wellington all-rounder Rachin Ravindra is excited to be named in the New Zealand squad that would be touring Bangladesh and Pakistan in September. The all-rounder believes that representing one’s country in any format is a moment of pride for any player. “It’s like a dream of mine to be able to play all formats for New Zealand. And any format you get selected in is an absolute honour to represent my country,” Ravindra said in a video uploaded by the New Zealand Cricket on their official Twitter handle. On touring the subcontinent, Ravindra feels that he can bring in some of his experience from the 2016 Under-19 World Cup he played as part of the New Zealand team in Bangladesh. “I have spent a bit of time in India and been overseas a few times. So I will just focus on using those experiences and try to have some conversations to try and adapt to what an English surface might be and to what the surfaces would be like in Bangladesh and Pakistan,’ said the 21-year-old. The Blackcaps would be going to Bangladesh first where they will play five T20Is starting September 01 in Dhaka and would then turn to Pakistan to play three ODIs in Rawalpindi and five T20Is in Lahore ahead of the T20 World Cup in UAE and Oman in October-November. Ravindra, who was part of the World Test Championship squad that toured England and won New Zealand Men’s first world title in cricketing history, wants to use all the skills that he has developed in the last five-six years growing on from an Under-19 player into the senior team. “I was 15 or 16 when I went overseas (U-19 World Cup in 2016) to represent my country, there was little weight behind my ears and I didn’t actually know my game plan as well as I know it now,” he said. “Hopefully, I would be able to use the skills that I have built in the last five-six years to be able to bat at the top of the order and bowl four overs in T20I cricket and 10 overs in ODI cricket. Just any way I might be required, I would love to prove my talent and win some games,’ added the Wellington born who has more than 50 domestic games in his kitty that includes all formats.

Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das back as Bangladesh announce squad for New Zealand series

Prominent figures like Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das made a comeback into the Bangladesh squad announced to face New Zealand in a five-match series at home. The two missed out when the Tigers created history by defeating Australia 4-1 in the five-match series in August. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced the squad on Thursday, August 19. The Blackcaps are scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on August 24 and all the matches of the series will be played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. A major missing in the squad is Mehedi Hasan Miraz who is considered as one of the top players of Bangladesh and represents the team in all three formats. Along with him, Tamim Iqbal, who has been advised rest by the doctors because of his elbow injury would also miss out on two series continuously. This would also be the last international affair for Bangladesh before the T20 World Cup 2021 as their series against England, scheduled for mid-September was postponed indefinitely and the Bangladesh players will be free to participate in the Indian Premier League. Among the new entities in the team is Aminul Islam Biplob. Biplob, the 21-year-old brings in an altogether new prospect for Bangladesh as he would be in leg memory the first leg spinner at the national level after Alok Kapali. Mohamad Mithun was unable to find a place in the squad. He has so far played seven T20Is for the team, picking up at 17.60 per wicket. The first match is scheduled for 01 September 2021 with every game being played at 04:00 pm Bangladesh Standard Time. SQUAD Mahmudullah (Captain), Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Soumya Sarkar, Liton Kumar Das, Mosaddek Hossain, Afif Hossain, Naim Sheikh, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Shamim Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Saifuddin, Shoriful Islam, Taijul Islam, Mahedi Hasan, Aminul Islam Biplob, Nasum Ahmed