Cricket

Dwayne Bravo Announces Retirement from CPL After Ongoing SeasonDwayne Bravo, the legendary all-rounder and highest wicket-taker in T20 cricket, has announced his retirement from the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) after the conclusion of the ongoing season. The 40-year-old made the announcement hours before Trinbago Knight Riders' opening game of CPL 2024 against St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in Basseterre."It's been a great journey and I'm looking forward to playing my final professional tournament in front of my Caribbean people," Bravo posted on Instagram. "TKR is the place where everything started for me and will end with my team."Bravo has been an integral part of the CPL since its inception in 2013, leading the Trinbago Knight Riders to four titles. He is also the tournament's all-time leading wicket-taker with 128 strikes in 103 games at an impressive average of 22.40 and an economical rate of 8.69.Beyond his CPL exploits, Bravo has enjoyed a remarkable career at the international level, representing the West Indies in 40 Tests, 164 ODIs, and 91 T20Is. He has taken over 500 wickets across all formats and is widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders of all time.Bravo's retirement from the CPL marks the end of an era for the tournament. His exceptional skills, leadership, and infectious enthusiasm have left an indelible mark on the competition. He will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most iconic players in CPL history.

Pakistan's Azam Khan Suffers Neck Injury in CPL, Raises Fitness ConcernsPakistan's wicket-keeper batter Azam Khan endured a harrowing experience during the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) on Friday, sustaining a blow to his neck that sent shockwaves through the cricketing world.Playing for the Guyana Amazon Warriors against the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, Azam faced a menacing bouncer from Shamar Springer. Attempting to pull the ball towards the leg side, he missed the connection and the ball struck him flush on the neck.The impact sent Azam crashing to the ground, clutching his neck in agony. As he lay prone, the ball rolled towards the stumps, and in a desperate attempt to prevent a dismissal, Azam reached out and flicked it away. However, his bat and the ball hit the stumps simultaneously, resulting in a bizarre dismissal.The incident left the Guyana Amazon Warriors reeling at 77/4 in their chase of 169. Medical personnel rushed to Azam's aid, providing immediate attention. The unsettling nature of his dismissal raised concerns about his fitness and form.Azam, who has struggled to find consistent success on the international stage, was part of Pakistan's ICC T20 World Cup 2024 squad but failed to make an impact. His injury in the CPL has cast further doubt on his ability to contribute to the national team.Despite the setback, the Guyana Amazon Warriors managed to secure a last-ball victory, thanks to crucial cameos from Romario Shephard and Dwaine Pretorius. However, Azam's dismissal overshadowed the match, leaving a lingering sense of worry about his well-being.

New Zealand's T20 World Cup preparations have been impacted by the absence of official warm-up matches. However, the team is confident that their recent experiences in the IPL, Pakistan tour, and CPL will provide them with the necessary preparation.Head coach Gary Stead explained that logistical challenges and the staggered arrival of players from the IPL made it impractical to arrange warm-up fixtures. Instead, the team will rely on additional training sessions to fine-tune their game plan.Nine players have gained valuable experience in the IPL, while others participated in the Pakistan tour. However, match time has varied significantly for key players in India. Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, and Kane Williamson have had limited opportunities, while Daryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra have featured more prominently.Trent Boult has been a consistent performer for Rajasthan Royals, taking 12 wickets. With the bat, only Mitchell has had a successful tournament, scoring 314 runs at a strike rate of 144.70.First-choice openers Devon Conway and Finn Allen are recovering from injuries and have not played since February. Conway is expected to be assessed upon his return from India, while Allen is still experiencing some discomfort.Tim Southee, who was rested for the Pakistan tour, has not played a game since the New Zealand season ended. Despite these absences, Stead remains confident in the team's preparations."We've only got two players who haven't been to a T20 World Cup that are in this squad," he said. "That shows our group is experienced and they can lean back on those past experiences."The team has been practicing on various surfaces to simulate the conditions they may encounter in Guyana and Trinidad. Stead believes the pitches could initially favor high scores but may deteriorate with repeated use.New Zealand faces a challenging group stage, with Afghanistan, West Indies, Uganda, and Papua New Guinea as their opponents. Stead acknowledges the difficulty of the task but is eager to embrace the challenge.

The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has called for collaboration among franchise leagues to address the global scheduling crisis in cricket. Pete Russell, CPL's CEO, believes that overlaps between leagues are "a nonsense" and that regular meetings should be held to minimize clashes.Russell highlighted the recent avoidance of a clash with the Hundred as an example of successful collaboration. He emphasized that it is detrimental to players and leagues when star players have to rush between tournaments.The CPL's stance is supported by the precedent set by the ILT20 and PSL, which negotiated to manage potential clashes. However, the scheduling landscape remains complex, with multiple leagues running simultaneously in early 2024 and the ICC Champions Trophy expected to further complicate matters in 2025.The Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA) has also expressed support for global scheduling windows to minimize overlap between franchise leagues and international cricket. A recent FICA player survey revealed that 84% of respondents support introducing windows.Russell believes that a forum for franchise league owners and administrators to discuss scheduling is essential. He pointed to the recent release of Major League Cricket's 2024 fixture list, which overlaps with the Hundred, as evidence of a lack of "joined-up thinking."Russell also highlighted the perverse incentives that emerged for players earlier this year, where players could earn more money by leaving a tournament before the finals to join another league. He believes that such situations should be addressed.The CPL's call for collaboration and the support from FICA and players indicate a growing recognition of the need for a coordinated approach to scheduling in cricket. By working together, leagues and administrators can ensure that the sport's global calendar is optimized for the benefit of players, fans, and the game itself.