Cricket

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has vehemently denied allegations of delayed player payments in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), following a report by the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA). FICA's "leagues hub" report highlighted widespread payment issues in several major franchise leagues, including the PSL.However, Usman Wahla, the PCB's director of international cricket operations, categorically stated that the PSL has never experienced any payment delays. He emphasized that the league's contract terms stipulate prompt payments, with 70% of player fees due within seven days of arrival in Pakistan and the remaining 30% within 40 days of the final league match.The PCB's denial comes after Australian all-rounder James Faulkner withdrew from the 2022 PSL season, alleging contract breaches. The board had previously denied any wrongdoing, stating that no player had ever complained about unfulfilled contractual obligations in the PSL's history.FICA's report also raised concerns about payment issues in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Women's Premier League (WPL), as well as other major franchise tournaments. Tom Moffat, FICA's CEO, emphasized the need for global regulation and increased accountability to protect players' interests.The PCB has maintained its commitment to fair and timely payments, while FICA continues to advocate for minimum contract standards and effective pay enforcement mechanisms in domestic leagues. The organization aims to support players and their representatives by providing information and resources to assist their decision-making.

Viral Video Sparks Outrage: Security Staff Allegedly Assaults Fan After Virat Kohli IncidentA disturbing video has emerged on social media, allegedly showing a fan being brutally beaten by security staff at a cricket stadium. The incident has sparked outrage and raised questions about the excessive use of force by security personnel.The video, which has gone viral, shows a group of security guards repeatedly hitting a fan with batons. The fan, who is seen lying on the ground, is unable to defend himself as the guards continue to assault him.Social media users have claimed that the fan in the video is the same person who breached security to meet Virat Kohli on the pitch during a recent Indian Premier League (IPL) match. The fan had touched Kohli's feet and hugged him, leading to his removal from the ground.However, it has not been confirmed whether the fan in the video is the same individual who met Kohli. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of fans at sporting events and the need for proper crowd management.The video has drawn widespread condemnation, with many calling for an investigation into the incident. Some have accused the security staff of using excessive force and violating the fan's rights."This is absolutely unacceptable behavior," said one Twitter user. "Security guards have no right to assault fans. They should be held accountable for their actions."Another user wrote: "This is a disgrace. The fan may have breached security, but that does not justify this level of violence. The authorities need to take action."The incident has also raised questions about the role of security personnel at sporting events. Some have argued that security guards should be trained to handle crowd situations in a more professional and humane manner."Security guards need to be trained to de-escalate situations and use force only as a last resort," said one expert. "They should not be allowed to use excessive force or violate the rights of fans."The authorities have not yet commented on the incident. However, it is expected that an investigation will be launched to determine the circumstances surrounding the assault.

Australia's dominance over Bangladesh continued in the third and final ODI in Dhaka, as they secured an emphatic eight-wicket victory to complete a clean sweep of the series.Opting to bowl first, Australia's opening bowlers Kim Garth and Ellyse Perry wreaked havoc on Bangladesh's top order. Garth dismissed Fargana Hoque and Sumaiya Akter for ducks, while Perry removed Murshida Khatun for 8. Bangladesh's innings never gained momentum, as they lost wickets at regular intervals.Captain Nigar Sultana top-scored for Bangladesh with a gritty 16 off 39 deliveries, but the rest of the batting lineup failed to provide any substantial support. Garth finished with impressive figures of 3 for 11, while Ash Gardner (3 for 25), Perry (2 for 17), and Sophie Molineux (2 for 23) shared the remaining wickets.Australia's chase was a formality, as Alyssa Healy (33), Perry (27*), and Beth Mooney (21*) guided them to victory in just 18.3 overs. Healy fell leg before to Rabeya Khatun, while Phoebe Litchfield was caught and bowled by Sultana Khatun for 12.Gardner's outstanding performance throughout the series earned her the Player-of-the-Series award. She claimed 3 for 22 and scored 32 in the first ODI, and in the second, she took 2 for 22 and made an unbeaten 20.Australia's victory extends their unbeaten streak against Bangladesh in ODIs to 10 matches. The two teams will now face off in a three-match T20I series, starting on March 31 in Dhaka.

Wellington have emerged victorious as the Plunket Shield champions after the final day of their match against Northern Districts in Hamilton was washed out due to inclement weather. The match at Seddon Park was a virtual final, with Wellington and Northern Districts being the only two teams in contention for the title in the final round.Wellington entered the game with a narrow lead at the top of the table and managed to accumulate sufficient bonus points during the first two innings to maintain their advantage. Northern Districts had a glimmer of hope after Tim Seifert's century gave them a slender lead of 88, and they had Wellington reeling at 127 for 4 in their second innings. However, they were unable to take the field on the final day, handing the title to Wellington.Wellington captain Tom Blundell expressed his satisfaction with the outcome, stating, "Ideally, you want to see the game go the distance, but it's a competition where you work hard throughout the season. We're unbeaten the whole season, so I think for me, we are the deserving winners." He added, "It's a pretty special day. For me, the Plunket Shield is probably the most rewarding trophy in domestic cricket. You play a whole season, and to come away with the Plunket Shield is a pretty special memory."Blundell played a pivotal role in Wellington's triumph, scoring a century in their first innings to lift them to 323. He shared a crucial 77-run partnership with Ben Sears for the final wicket, earning vital bonus points.Otago's Dale Phillips emerged as the leading run-scorer for the season, amassing 686 runs at an average of 49.00, including two centuries in the final two rounds. Central Districts' Greg Hay, who finished third with 643 runs at 49.46, announced his retirement from the game at the end of the season, signing off with an impressive 179 off 434 balls against Otago.Wellington's Nathan Smith was the top wicket-taker with 33 wickets at an average of 17.18, including two five-wicket hauls.

IPL 2023: Home Dominance, Indian Stars Shine, and the Impact of the Two Bouncer RuleThe Indian Premier League (IPL) has kicked off with a bang, and six games in, there are already some notable trends emerging.Home DominanceOne striking feature of the tournament so far has been the dominance of home teams. All six games have been won by the team playing at their home venue. Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Rajasthan Royals (RR), Punjab Kings (PBKS), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Gujarat Titans (GT), and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have all emerged victorious on their home turf. It remains to be seen whether this trend will continue throughout the tournament.Indian Players ShiningThe IPL has always been a platform for Indian players to showcase their talent, and this year is no exception. Despite the presence of several foreign stars, Indian players have made a significant impact in the early stages of the tournament. Harshit Rana for KKR, Virat Kohli for RCB, Mohit Sharma and Sai Kishore for the Titans, Naman Dheer's cameo for MI, Harpreet Brar's squeeze act for Punjab vs RCB, and Yash Dayal and Mohd Siraj's timely strikes for Punjab have all been standout performances.Two Bouncer RuleAnother notable aspect of the tournament has been the effective use of the two bouncer rule by pacers. This rule allows bowlers to bowl two bouncers per over, and it has been used both defensively and offensively. Mohit Sharma and Spencer Johnson used the large field and biggish square boundaries at Ahmedabad to bang the ball in the surface and make the MI batters hit the ball in the air, resulting in catches in the deep. RCB also used the ploy to strangle Shivam Dube of CSK. Former South African pace great Dale Steyn tweeted, "Short ball tactic is already showing who can and who can't. Gana (sic) be a long tournament for some batters."

Cricket Australia (CA) has expressed its eagerness to host a bilateral series between India and Pakistan, should the respective cricket boards agree to such a venture. The announcement comes as both India and Pakistan are scheduled to tour Australia in November for separate series.India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series since 2012-13, with their encounters limited to global ICC events. However, the thrilling T20 World Cup match between the two nations at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in 2022, which drew a record crowd of 90,293, has reignited interest in a potential bilateral series.CA chief executive Nick Hockley emphasized the organization's desire to host such a series, stating, "We would love to host that if the opportunity arose. If we can play a role, we'd love to play a role."Hockley acknowledged that the decision ultimately rests with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), but CA remains open to facilitating the event.CA's head of scheduling, Peter Roach, also expressed interest in hosting a tri-series involving India and Pakistan, but noted that there is currently no room for such a series in the Future Tours Programme (FTP).Despite the scheduling challenges, CA remains committed to exploring opportunities to host India and Pakistan in a bilateral series. The organization believes that such a series would not only be a sporting spectacle but also a significant cultural event.

Former Indian cricket team spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan has recently faced a racist remark on social media, to which he responded with a powerful statement. Sivaramakrishnan posted a picture of himself from the Ayyappan temple in Mahalingapuram, Tamil Nadu, which included an elephant. A user commented, "Hii sir that elephant is more visible in night than you."Sivaramakrishnan responded with dignity and assertiveness, stating, "Yes I am dark" and adding, "It's a temple festival and you people are so cheap." The user made further comments, which were later deleted.Sivaramakrishnan's response has been widely praised for its strength and grace. It highlights the ongoing issue of racism in society and the importance of standing up against it.In a separate incident, Sivaramakrishnan expressed his disappointment with the treatment he received from veteran Indian cricket team spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. Sivaramakrishnan claimed that Ashwin disconnected his calls and did not reply to his congratulatory messages on his 100th Test milestone."Tried calling him a few times to wish him for his 100th Test. Just cut off my call. Sent him a message, no reply. That's the respect we former cricketers get," Sivaramakrishnan wrote on social media.Meanwhile, in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming praised Rachin Ravindra for his impressive debut performance against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Ravindra scored 37 runs off just 15 balls, including three fours and three sixes.Fleming emphasized the importance of encouraging players to play to their strengths and creating a comfortable environment for them. He also praised Ravindra's ability to handle the pressure of his debut match.

Ravi Bopara, the seasoned English all-rounder, has inked a deal with Northamptonshire, ensuring his participation in the T20 Blast for the 22nd consecutive season. At 39 years of age, Bopara remains an integral figure in the tournament, having played more than 200 matches and featuring in every edition since its inception.Bopara's decision to join Northamptonshire comes after his release by Sussex last summer. He has been in talks with several counties and ultimately chose the Steelbacks for the upcoming season. He has signed a one-year, T20-only contract and will celebrate his 39th birthday just weeks before Northants' Blast campaign begins on May 30.Despite his age, Bopara insists he still feels "like a young man in the game." He had a productive season with Sussex last year, scoring 408 runs with a strike rate of 146.23 and taking eight wickets. However, Sussex missed out on the quarter-finals, and Bopara was not offered a new contract."I'm really happy to have joined Northamptonshire for the T20s this year," Bopara said. "I felt great in the Blast last year and my game is in a really good place at the moment. I'm looking forward to joining the Steelbacks and putting on a show for the fans at Wantage Road."Northamptonshire, who won the Blast in 2013 and 2016, have struggled in recent seasons, reaching the quarter-finals only once in the last seven years. They have made several signings over the winter, including George Bartlett, George Scrimshaw, and Sikandar Raza."We have a really exciting squad: there's a lot of quality in that list and I'm hoping to play a big part in bringing a third Blast trophy to the club," Bopara said. "I'm still learning a great deal about this game at my age. I have a burning desire and hunger to up-skill my game to new heights and I still feel like a young man in the game. There's so much more for me to achieve in the T20 space."Northants' head coach, John Sadler, hailed Bopara's signing as "phenomenal." "He's been an incredible performer across all formats for many years and brings a huge presence on and off the field," Sadler said.

Ravindra Jadeja's witty response to his wife's Instagram post has become a viral sensation among cricket fans. Rivaba Jadeja posted a photo of herself wearing a t-shirt with "Hukum" (Hindi for "order") written on it, in front of her husband's picture at the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) team hotel in Chennai. Jadeja's prompt reply, "Mera hukum hai room aao jaldi (my order is come back to the room quickly)," has delighted his followers.The CSK players are permitted to bring their families during the Indian Premier League (IPL), which helps them cope with the intense pressure of the tournament. The defending champions, who have won the IPL five times, will face 2022 winners Gujarat Titans in a rematch of the 2023 final, where Jadeja's heroics led CSK to victory. The iconic moment of CSK captain MS Dhoni lifting Jadeja to celebrate the title win remains etched in the minds of cricket enthusiasts.Dhoni stepped down as CSK captain at the start of this season, and the team is now led by opening batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad. Gujarat also has a new captain in Shubman Gill, after Hardik Pandya was traded to Mumbai Indians ahead of the 2024 season.Both Chennai and Gujarat won their opening games of the season against Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians, respectively. The upcoming match between these two teams promises to be an exciting contest, with both sides looking to maintain their winning momentum.