Top Stories: Things that made news in the cricket world today

I am waiting for India to come to Pakistan and play a series: Shahid Afridi

• Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi felt it is the right time for both India and Pakistan to hold deliberations on their strained bilateral ties without the involvement of the third nation.
• Both the neighbouring countries last played a bilateral series in 2012.
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MS Dhoni never said in team meeting that I am a slow fielder, he told media: Virender Sehwag

• The Indian team is on the golden run at the moment with everyone in the team performing to their best whenever an opportunity is knocking the door. It is turning out to be the serious ‘selection headache’ for the selectors.
• The selection committee and the team management are finding it really tough to give a chance to everybody in the squad.
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Bangladesh name 14-man squad for Rawalpindi Test against Pakistan

• The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced a 14-man squad for the opening Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, starting February 7.
• Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar have made their return to the Test squad after missing out on the series against India back in November.
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Pakistan recall Faheem Ashraf, Bilal Asif for the Rawalpindi Test against Bangladesh

• Pakistan have called back all-rounders Faheem Ashraf and Bilal Asif for the first Test against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi. Asif made his debut against Australia in 2018 and has played all his five matches in the format in the UAE itself in the same year.
• Faheem, on the other hand, have played four Tests, the last of which came versus South Africa at the Wanderers in January 2019.
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New Zealand vs India: Visitors fined for slow over-rate in the fourth T20I in Wellington

• India have been fined 40 per cent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate against New Zealand in the fourth Twenty20 International in Wellington.
• Chris Broad of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanctions after Virat Kohli’s  side was ruled to be two overs short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration.
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‘I sulked, personally needed a hit to wake up’ – KL Rahul on life after Koffee With Karan fiasco

• KL Rahul’s world seemed to have fallen apart after his controversial episode on Koffee With Karan a year ago.
• He was provisionally suspended and was called back midway from the tour of Australia.
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Hardik Pandya ruled out of the Test series against New Zealand

• Team India is currently involved in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand and then are scheduled to play the ODIs and Tests on the tour as well.
• While the squad for the 50-over contests is already announced, the selectors are soon expected to name the team for the tussle in the longest format as well.
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Reports: Pakistan might shift Asia Cup 2020 to UAE

• The cricketing ties between India and Pakistan haven’t been on good terms with tensions being escalating every now and then between the two countries.
• Indian cricket team last played an international match against Pakistan in Pakistan in 2008. Both teams played a bilateral series way back in 2012.
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Sourav Ganguly reveals the criteria to become India’s next Chief Selector

• The BCCI, on Friday, appointed former cricketers left-arm pacer and the member of the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup-winning team RP Singh, the 1983 World Cup winner and former coach + selector Madan Lal and Sulkashana Naik as the members of the Cricket Advisory Committee [CAC].
• The immediate task of the Cricket Advisory Committee [CAC] will be to pick replacements for outgoing national selection-panel led by chief selector MSK Prasad whose 40 months stint came to an end on January 24.
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When the ball was in Kohli’s hands, I thought I’m in a bit of trouble: Colin Munro

• It was a deja-vu of epic proportions for the New Zealanders in the fourth T20I in Wellington as they once again failed to close the game out for the second time in a row in the past three days and were condemned to yet another Super Over defeat to hand India an unassailable 4-0 lead in the 5-match series.
• New Zealand was cruising for the longest part in the run-chase, and with 11 needed off the last 12 balls and seven wickets in the shade.
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Cricket Australia announce full squad for Bushfire Cricket Bash

• Cricket Australia, on Saturday, confirmed the full squads for the much-anticipated Bushfire Cricket Bash.
• The charity game will take place at the Sydney Cricket Ground on February 8.
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‘If you feel Rishabh Pant is a match-winner, why don’t you play him?’ – Virender Sehwag slams Indian team-management

• Former India opener Virender Sehwag took a dig at Virat Kohli and the Indian team management for leaving out Rishabh Pant from the playing eleven.
• The legendary batsman came down hard on Kohli, saying that he doubts whether the India skipper even talks to his players. Of late, Pant has fallen down the pecking order in the limited-overs team.
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BCCI appoints Madan Lal, RP Singh, Sulakshana Naik as CAC members

• The Indian cricket board on Friday confirmed the appointment of former cricketers Madan Lal, Rudra Pratap Singh and Sulakshana Naik as the members of the newly-formed Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC).
• The body will be responsible for picking members of the senior selection committee, including the successor to departing chairman MSK Prasad, a former India wicket-keeper-batsman.
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