WTC Final: Wriddhiman Saha endorses Rishabh Pant to be India’s first-choice wicketkeeper

Was planning to take a break from IPL 2021 when my parents got infected: Chahal

India RCB leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has revealed that he would have taken a break from the IPL 2021 had the tournament not been cancelled. “I was planning to take a break from the IPL when I heard the news of my parents getting infected. It was difficult to focus on the game while your parents were alone at home,” Yuzvendra Chahal told India Today in an interview. The leggie further added that his father’s oxygen level had gone down and he hospitalised. “They tested positive on May 3, and a couple of days later, the tournament got postponed…My father’s oxygen level dropped to 85-86, and we had to shift him to the hospital. He had returned home yesterday, but his results are still positive.” “However, the good thing is that his oxygen level is around 95-96, which is quite a sigh of relief for us. It will take him another 7-10 days to recover,” he added. The IPL 2021 was finally suspended on May 4 after there were Covid-19 positive cases within the franchises. KKR’s Sandeep Warrior and Varun Chakravarthy, SRH’s Wriddhiman Saha, DC’s Amit Mishra and CSK’s bowling coach L.Balaji and later batting coach Mike Hussey had tested positive for Covid-19. RCB were having a decent run in the IPL 2021 with five wins and 10 points under their belt from 7 matches before the cash-rich league was suspended. The BCCI though had cleared that the tournament has only been put to halt and hasn’t been cancelled.

With dreams of playing Tests, Deepak Chahar backs Shikhar Dhawan as captain for Lanka tour

India limited-overs pacer Deepak Chahar believes that Shikhar Dhawan should be made the captain for the team’s upcoming Sri Lanka tour. Chahar, who had good IPL (8 wickets in 7 games) before the tournament was suspended is also hopeful that the Indian team would be victorious on the tour of the island nation. "Shikhar bhai will be a good choice (for captain),” the Rajasthan man told TOI. He further argued that not only is Shikhar in a good form but also has a lot of experience to gain players’ respect in the team. “He has been playing for a long time and has a lot of experience. For me, a senior person should become a captain. Because players see that player as a senior and respect him and obey him with honesty. Players should respect their captain. He (Dhawan) will be a good choice,” said Chahar. The Board of control for Cricket in India, after the suspension of IPL due to a rise in Covid cases in India, decided that a second strung Indian team would be sent to Sri Lanka in July. At the same time, the main team led by Virat Kohli would be on a tour of England for the World Test Championship Final against New Zealand and the subsequent five-match Test series against the host country. It has been a matter of debate as to who among Shikhar Dhawan, Hardik Pandya, Shreyas Iyer (if fully recovered)and Prithvi Shaw should be given the opportunity to lead the second-string Indian side on the Lankan shores. Although it is not yet decided Team India is likely to play three ODIs and an equal number of T20Is on the tour. Chahar, who is predominantly a swing bowler and burst onto the scene with his red ball exploits on Ranji Trophy wishes to make his Test debut for India sometime in near future as well. Wishing the best to the Test team in England, Chahar who has 126 First-Class wickets in 45 games with 8/10 as his best said, "Bowling in English conditions has its own charm. I have played in England and I have enjoyed bowling there. I am sure the selectors will give me a chance someday.” “I have played T20Is and ODIs and I have to prove myself a lot in these two formats and I hope I make it to the Test team someday. I look forward to playing Tests for the country," said the 28-year-old who has represented India in 13 T20Is and three ODIs and also holds the record for the best figures in T20Is. He took six wickets for seven runs against Bangladesh in Nagpur in a game played at Nagpur.

Shocked and dismayed, Sri Lankan players refuse to sign unfair central contracts

A day after Sri Lanka Cricket offered central contracts to its players, all the 24 of them in unison have refused to accept the contracts terming it as unfair and not in coherence with the demands of the players. The group of players through their attorney even alleged that they were being forced to sign the contracts in a haste on the day of their departure for the Bangladesh tour. In a Press Release, the players said that they are shocked and dismayed that the Management Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket chose to place the ‘graded’ contracts in front of the media, even before the players’ grievances were addressed. The release, undersigned by all three captains of the Sri Lanka national team in three different formats, Kusal Perera, Dimuth Karunaratne and Dasun Shanaka also alleged that the pay scale is in no way equal to what is paid to the players from other nations with respect to their board earnings. “Without placing the same (contracts) in the context of earnings of players in other cricketing nations, the entire earnings of Sri Lanka Cricket and also without disclosing the payments made to the officials/administrators, coaches and support staff of Sri Lanka Cricket, they made the players’ earnings public.” “The players categorically state that the conduct of the Management Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket greatly concerns the players and has affected their self-confidence and peace of mind,” the release added. While briefing the media about the new contracts, Tom Moody Director of Cricket, Sri Lanka and Arvinda de Silva, Chief of Technical Committee, said that the players have been graded on five different parameters and their pay scale has been decided through that. Challenging the grading system, the players alleged that it is not transparent. “None of the players have been provided with their individual assessment sheets setting out how points were awarded under the criteria of performance, fitness, leadership and professionalism,” said the release. “All national players, in unison, are of the view that the players should be made aware of the assessment scores of each player in order to ensure transparency of the categorization process,” it added. The release further goes on tearing apart the financial debauchery of the board where they are offering very little pay although the grant from the International Cricket Council has not decreased one bit. The players were also hurt by the fact that, unlike other top cricketing nations, SLC doesn’t even have a pension scheme for players. “FICA(Federation of International Cricketers’ Association), the new remuneration intimated to Sri Lankan players is substantially lower (more than threefold lower) in comparison with other global cricketing nations. FICA also confirms that the sums paid by ICC to cricketing boards has not reduced during the last year nor has a reduction been forecasted for the following year. No pension scheme has been set up in Sri Lanka for its players either.” In the end, the release reiterates that the players are NOT in agreement to sign unfair and non-transparent contracts, urging SLC to not hold the players at gunpoint or give them ultimatums. “Sri Lankan players will continue to be readily available to play and be selected for Sri Lanka,” it further said confirming that for players their nation comes first. The release was signed by Attorney-at-Law, Nishan Sydney Premathiratne. He is the official representative appointed by members of the Sri Lanka Cricket team, including Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Suranga Lakmal, KusaI Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya De Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lasith Embuldeniya, Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha, Lakshan Sandakan, Vishwa Fernando, Isuru Udana, Oshada Fernando, Ramesh Mendis, Lahiru Kumara, Danushka Gunathillaka, Ashen Bandara and Akila Dhananjaya.

Boyd Rankin calls it quits from international cricket

Lanky speedster Boyd Rankin, who represented Ireland and England in international cricket, announced his retirement from the game. Rankin was part of Ireland playing XI during their inaugural Test match against Pakistan. He is among those 15 players in Test history to have represented two countries. The 6’8’ speedster made his international debut for Ireland during the 2007 World Cup where they registered a historic victory against Pakistan. Rankin’s career was separated by a three year period where he played for England having made his Test debut in an Ashes Test in 2014. Rankin, known to extract steep bounce from any pitch due to his stature, ends his career with 229 wickets to his name at an impressive average of 23.39. He can also swing the ball both ways and will definitely finish his career as the best fast bowler to have emerged from Ireland. He finishes his career as the 8th highest Irish wicket-taker at the international level. Rankin who started his professional cricket career way back in 2003 had a successful time in the county circuit as well. Having spent 11 years with Warwickshire, Rankin felt that it was the right time to step away from the game. “I feel now is the right time to step away. I have put my heart and soul into playing cricket professionally since 2003 and have loved every minute of it. I never dreamt I would play for Ireland as much as I did and to travel the world playing in numerous World Cups and to pull on the Irish jersey is something I will never forget," said Rankin. “To have also a long career in county cricket especially during my 11-year stint with Warwickshire where we won the County Championship, 50-over competition twice and the T20 Blast in 2014 was very special and something I am very grateful for. The dream of most cricketers is to play Test cricket and Rankin was no different. When he was at his peak, Ireland was yet to become a Test team so he had to change his base and went onto make his Test debut for England in an Ashes Test. “I always strived to be the best player I could be and to play at the highest level possible, so to make my Test debut for England during a time when Ireland wasn’t a Test-playing nation was a very proud moment. I will miss all the guys I played alongside the most and enjoying the wins we had along the way,” Rankin said. Playing their first World Cup in 2007, Ireland managed to script history when they defeated Pakistan in the group stage to qualify for the next stage of the competition. Rankin rated the victories against Pakistan and Bangladesh in the 2007 World Cup as one of his most memorable achievements. “My best memories and achievements that stick out for me would be the World Cup wins - in 2007 World Cup beating Pakistan and Bangladesh to put Irish cricket on the world map, and the 2011 win against England. Being part of the team to play Ireland’s first men’s Test match was a special moment, as well as taking Ireland’s first Test wicket,” Rankin further added.