Top Stories: Things that made news in the cricket world

I’am very happy to be back at the Tallawahs: Kumar Sangakkara

• Jamaica Tallawahs star batsman Kumar Sangakkara has nothing but positive memories from his previous stint in the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), but the Sri Lanka superstar is keen to create a new legacy when he links up with the Tallawahs squad for the fourth instalment of CPL.
• In an exclusive interview with cplt20.com, the Sri Lanka legend reflected on the 2013 campaign, why playing in the CPL is special, on why the CPL’s decision to play matches in USA is a “great thing” and his excitement about returning to the Tallawahs after a three-year hiatus.
• (More about the story)

Hong Kong to host 2016 Women’s World Cup Qualifier

• The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that the 2016 Women’s World Cup Qualifier – Asia, will be held in Hong Kong. The tournament will commence from October 9 and all the matches will take place at the Tin Kwong Recreation Ground in Mong Kok. China, Nepal, Thailand and Hong Kong will feature in the tournament and will play against each other in the round-robin format.
• “The ICC 2016 Women’s World Cup Qualifier – Asia is an exciting opportunity for the top Women’s teams in Asia,” ICC Development and Programs Manager Andy Hobbs said. “The winner of this event will progress to the ICC 2017 Women’s World Cup Global Qualifier and have the opportunity to play against some of the top Women’s teams in the world and of course, the chance to make it to the very pinnacle of Women’s Cricket at the World Cup itself.”
• (More about the story)

Jason Gillespie urges to revive CLT20

• Former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie calls for bringing back Champions League T20 which was discontinued after 6 seasons, since its inception in 2009. He feels that it would be a fantastic idea to revive it.
• “It doesn’t seem to be on the agenda at the moment, yet I think it would be a fantastic idea to revive it,” Gillespie wrote in Evening Standard.
• “At Yorkshire, we were involved in the 2012 tournament, after finishing runners-up in the domestic T20 competition earlier that year, and it was one of the best experiences of my career,” says the current coach of Yorkshire.
• (More about the story)

Not very concerned about the numbers: Jasprit Bumrah

• Jasprit Bumrah was as much a part of India’s victory as he completed with figures of 3/11 as the Indians coasted to a comfortable win in the second T20. Although Bumrah became the highest wicket-taker in T20s with 23 wickets to his name, he stated that he is one who never thinks about numbers. Moreover, Bumrah also added that he was pleased with the performances of debutants Mandeep Singh and Barinder Sran.
• Speaking about the victory, Bumrah said, “We are very happy because we were a bit disappointed after the last match. We were looking to come into the match much harder at the opposition. We were just sticking to our basic plan that we had to hit the correct areas which are important on the wicket. So, it was a good result for us.”
• (More about the story)

Anushka Sharma sends strong message out to trollers

• Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma has hit out at all those who trolled her during the bad performances of the Indian cricket team. Many have dubbed her as the unlucky charm for Indian cricket and her boyfriend Virat Kohli and poked fun at her. However, in a recent interview, Sharma stated that trollers do not really affect her anymore.
• In an interview with Indian Express, Anushka said, “I have been trolled for other reasons as well. I don’t have a reaction to it. I am not going to react to a bunch of cowards sitting in front of their computer screens who are insecure and have sh*t idea of themselves. They think so lowly of themselves that they feel ki kisi aur ko neeche girayenge toh unki aukaad badegi. Aise logon ke upar kya react karu (if we pull someone else down, we will rise. What to react on such people).”
• (More about the story)

Jasprit Bumrah can bowl over 150km: Brett Lee

• India’s latest bowling sensation Jasprit Bumrah has been highly effective for the team ever since he made his debut against Australia earlier this year. Former Australian pace bowling great, Brett Lee termed Bumrah as a “really good find for India” and said that he could easily bowl over 150kmph.
• Lee also said that there is nothing wrong to say about his awkward action, as the former Australian great, Jeff Thomson also had an awkward action, but bowled well over 150kmph and had a successful career.
• (More about the story)

Mithali Raj – Tendulkar of Indian Women’s Cricket

• Indian Women’s team skipper, Mithali Raj is one of the best cricketers in the history of the game and almost holds every possible record in Indian Women’s cricket. To start with, she is currently the leading run-getter for India in all formats of the game.
• In an interview to cricket country, she talks about her journey to become a cricketer, her general views about women’s cricket and about her favourite cricketers and revealed the reason behind her improved aggressive cricket over the last 2 years.
• (More about the story)

Ross Taylor mistaken as Grey Worm from Game of Thrones

• Former New Zealand cricket captain Ross Taylor on Tuesday revealed that he was mistaken for American drama series, Game of Thrones character Grey Worm when he went for a TV show in London.
• “So I was two minutes away from going on Soccer AM, the UK’s massive Saturday morning soccer show ahead of the FA Cup semi-final as Grey Worm from Game of Thrones – who’s a huge Manchester United fan apparently,” Taylor was quoted as saying by New Zealand Cricket’s website.
• (More about the story)

Pakistan decides against hiring PR firm in England

• Pakistan has decided against hiring a Public Relations firm in England to give out positive coverage of the national team during its series in England this summer. However, a unanimous decision was taken that the Pakistan chief Shahryar Khan and others on the PCB board would interact with the media.
• A source close to the Pakistani management stated that there were enough people to ensure that the Pakistan side does not get a hostile media reception.  “Shaharyar himself is a former career diplomat and the board had also sent its GM media, Agha Akbar with the team for the Tests. They will along with manager Intikhab Alam be looking after the media affairs and issues to ensure the team does not get a hostile press or reception in the series,” the source said.
• (More about the story)

Sourav Ganguly to pen a book soon

• Prince of Kolkata Sourav Ganguly will soon be penning his own biography, titled A Century is Not Enough. The book will be co-authored by Gautam Bhattacharya and published by Juggernaut Books. It shall be available in bookstores from early next year. He announced this wonderful news in a press conference in Kolkata on Tuesday.
• Promising that the book shall be frank, colourful and inspiring, the publishers said that they expect the book to attain the status of a classic sports book in years to come. The contents of the book shall draw from all the highs Ganguly enjoyed in his career (the debut century at Lord’s, leading India to a new age, the 2003 World Cup) as well as the lows – the battles he had to fight on his way to the glories.
• (More about the story)

Michael Clarke decides against domestic cricket comeback

• Former Australian skipper Michael Clarke has ruled out a return to his domestic side New South Wales for the upcoming edition of the domestic season. The 35-year old Clarke, who retired shortly after the Ashes defeat in England in 2015 staged the possibility of a comeback and raised heavy speculations about resurfacing in the forthcoming season of the domestic One-Day Cup, the state association confirmed on Tuesday.
• However, all these rumors were quashed once a spokesman from the New South Wales confirmed that Clarke would certainly not be making his much-anticipated comeback.
• (More about the story)

Mignon du Preez steps as South Africa women’s team captain

• 27-year-old Mignon du Preez has announced that she will step down as the skipper of the South Africa Women’s team in all formats with immediate effect. The wicket-keeper batsman has led South Africa in 46 ODIs, 50 T20Is and a Test match in her four years longs reign as captain.
• According to her, she took decided to step down to focus more on her batting. She will be succeeded by leg-spinner Dane van Niekerk.
• “This was an incredibly difficult decision and took a lot of introspection, but ultimately I believe that this is the best step forward not only for myself, but for the team,” du Preez said.
• (More about the story)

Inzamam-ul-Haq to travel to England with Pakistan team

• Former Pakistan cricket captain and now chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq will travel with the Pakistan side according to a source close to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). He will travel to England upon the instructions of the board to observe the performances of the national team and ‘A’ side. The initial plan was for Inzamam to stay the entire duration of the tour. However, time and budget cuts have seen the PCB tweak their plan for him.
• “The former captain will now go to England after the third Test and remain there for the final Test at the Oval, the one-day series and the lone T20 international,” an official in the board said.
• (More about the story)

West Indies and Pakistan set to play pink-ball Test

• As the urge for pink ball Test matches is increasing day-by-day in the cricketing world, West Indies have agreed to play pink-ball Test against Pakistan in UAE in September ESPNcricinfo reported.
• The WICB initially hesitated for the day-night Test, but they agreed once Pakistan offered a practice match and training sessions under lights.
• PCB had also proposed to change the composure of the series from two Tests, five ODIs, and two T20Is, to three Tests, three ODIs, and three T20Is, according to FTP. They also have plans of Sri Lanka as the alternative venue to host the series against West Indies, with the high expenses in UAE.
• (More about the story)

Angelo Mathews confident of Shaminda Eranga’s comeback

• Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews spoke about his fellow teammate, Shaminda Eranga’s comeback into the squad. Eranga was hospitalised with a heart ailment in England on Sunday and later on in the day, he was suspended from bowling in international cricket by the ICC after his bowling action was found to be illegal.
• Mathews said that, while the team was warming up for the 2nd ODI, Eranga complained of uneasiness to him. “At the time, he called me and said ‘something has happened to me’,” Mathews said.
• “He was warming up and just before we went on the field, he said something happened to me, can you touch my heart because it is beating fast. I felt something unusual so I quickly called the physio and the physio went for the doctor with him. It was a shocking incident.”
• (More about the story)

Ben Stokes absence leaves England in a selection soup

• Ben Stokes, England’s premier all-rounder has been out of action since sustaining a knee injury at Headingley in the first Test between England and Sri Lanka. while Stokes is away receiving treatment to his dodgy knee, Eoin Morgan, and the England side is in the middle of a massive selection conundrum.
• Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Morgan stated that Stokes is a key member of the side, and it is indeed difficult to find a replacement for a player of his calibre. Morgan added that Moeen Ali would be the right player to step into that particular role.
• “Ben leaves a huge hole,” Morgan said. “He is a key member of our side. It’d be the same thing if the likes of Moeen Ali went down. Having Moeen batting at possibly six or seven is a luxury when he’s a frontline spin bowler.
• (More about the story)

Kumar Sangakkara scales 19,000 run summit in first-class cricket

• Legendary Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara has become only the second player in Sri Lankan history to complete 19,000 runs in first-class cricket. Central Province, Colombo District Cricket Association, Durham, Kandurata, Marylebone Cricket Club, Nondescripts Cricket Club and Warwickshire are some of the clubs the former Sri Lankan skipper has played for in the past.
• Sangakkara reached the milestone while playing for his current county Surrey against Nottinghamshire in the ongoing County Championship. Having been 18 runs short of the mark, the Sri Lankan southpaw smashed 29 runs before Stephen Mullaney breached his defences.
• (More about the story)

MS Dhoni The Untold Story: Dhoni’s biopic release postponed to September 30

• “MS Dhoni – The Untold Story”, the much-awaited biopic on MS Dhoni, will now release on September 30 instead of September 2. The makers took the decision to present the film in the “best way.”
• “It was a unanimous decision to release the film on September 30. This would give the team some more time to present the film to the audiences in the best way.
• “We did not want to compromise on the visual experience that Neeraj Pandey is set to create with this movie,” Vijay Singh, CEO, Fox Star Studios, said in a statement.
• (More about the story)

Sussex coach Mark Davis frustrated with Mustafizur delay

• Sussex head coach Mark Davis has expressed his frustration over the availability of 20-year old Bangladesh bowler Mustafizur Rahman.
• In spite of committing to playing for Sussex in the ongoing NatWest T20 blast, Bangladesh cricket board officials are seemingly stalling on the 20-year olds’ move to England as reports from Bangladesh suggest that Mustafizur seems to be undergoing a rehab following an ankle injury sustained in the recently concluded IPL season.
• (More about the story)

Mohammad Amir is like a kid to us: Wahab Riaz

• Ahead of the tour his pace bowling partner in the team, Wahab Riaz has said that the entire Pakistan team will be backing him to succeed in his comeback.
• Speaking to ESPN Cricinfo, Wahab said that he is like a kid for them being the youngest member of the squad and promised that Pakistan team would react to the provocation from England crowd in a sporting manner.
• He said, “So, he is not the one who is being left alone. He is a part of our family. He is the youngest part of our family. So, he is like a kid to us. He’s like a brother to us, a son to most of our senior players.”
• (More about the story)

Anytime you miss cricket, it definitely hurts: James Faulkner

• James Faulkner, who has spoken on the behalf of the Australian side ahead of the do or die match against West Indies in the Tri-Series, has suggested that the team is pretty clear about their current situation in the series.
• According to cricket.com.au, Faulkner added, “It’s been a pretty stagnated series so far. We haven’t played as well as we would have liked and the weather has played a role as well. If we don’t win tomorrow we obviously don’t deserve to be in the final. That’s the way I look at it and I’m sure most of the boys look at it the same way.”
• (More about the story)

Shahryar Khan to request ICC for ‘special fund’ for Pakistan

• With the lack of international cricket in the country, Shahryar Khan and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have reported huge losses as far as Pakistan cricket is concerned. The 81-year old president of the Pakistan Cricket Board has stated that he would request the ICC for a ‘special fund’ in a bid to grow and develop cricket in Pakistan.
• At the moment, the television revenue sharing of the ICC is based on the ‘Big-Three’ model, a model that witnesses the Big Three, India, Australia and England award themselves with the Lions’ share of the revenues, leaving a smaller portion for the subsequent nations. Khan, however, added that he would send out a message to the ICC requesting them to put aside a small percentage of their revenue for Pakistan cricket.
• (More about the story)