Cricket

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has expressed openness to the possibility of playing bilateral series with India if the Indian team visits Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy next year.Naqvi's comments came in response to a recent interview by Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who praised the Pakistan cricket team and said it would be "awesome" to play the neighbors in a Test series overseas."If any options in this regard come, we will consider it, but our target right now is to host the Champions Trophy and first let India come for the tournament," Naqvi said. "Right now, till the CT, there is no slot available as our team has a packed itinerary.""Once they come here first, then we can look at any proposal whenever it comes before us," he added.The two teams last played a bilateral limited-overs series in 2012-13, when Pakistan visited India. However, India has refused to play any Tests against Pakistan since 2007, when the two countries engaged in a rubber on Indian soil.Last year, India declined to send its team for the Asia Cup matches in Pakistan, forcing the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to adopt a hybrid model for the event, with most matches being held in Sri Lanka.Naqvi met with BCCI secretary Jay Shah during an ICC meeting in Dubai in February. The meeting was seen as a positive step towards improving relations between the two cricket boards.If India does agree to play a bilateral series in Pakistan, it would be a significant development in the cricketing rivalry between the two nations. The series would likely attract a huge amount of attention and would be a major boost for Pakistan cricket.

Cricket Ireland has made the difficult decision to postpone its highly anticipated bilateral series against Australia this summer due to financial constraints. The series, which would have marked the first-ever men's bilateral encounter between the two nations, was scheduled for late August and included three ODIs and a T20I.Warren Deutrom, Cricket Ireland's chief executive, explained that the decision was made after careful consideration of the organization's financial situation. Ireland's lack of a permanent home stadium and the high costs associated with staging international cricket, including the need for significant temporary infrastructure, made it financially unfeasible to host Australia.Deutrom emphasized that the postponement highlights the urgent need for a permanent stadium in Ireland. He pointed to plans for a high-performance center at the Sport Ireland campus in Abbotstown, but acknowledged that the organization must compete for government funding with other priorities.Despite the setback, Deutrom defended Cricket Ireland's decision, stating that it is part of a broader effort to "rebalance our spend" and invest more in women's and age-group teams. He emphasized that Ireland will continue to play a significant number of international matches this year, including upcoming series against Pakistan, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.The postponement of the Australia series has raised questions about Cricket Ireland's financial management, particularly the recent purchase of two Tesla cars for senior officials. Deutrom defended the decision, explaining that the cars were purchased as part of a fleet renewal and that one has since been returned.

Suresh Raina Opens Up on IPL 2020 Withdrawal: Family Tragedy and Bio-Bubble ConcernsChennai Super Kings legend Suresh Raina has shed light on the reasons behind his controversial withdrawal from the IPL 2020 season in the UAE. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Raina had initially traveled to the country with the rest of the players but pulled out before the start of the season, citing personal reasons and concerns about the bio-bubble arrangements.Addressing the rumors surrounding his decision, Raina revealed that he left the bio-bubble to be with his family after a tragic incident in Punjab. "There was bereavement in the family, I went to Punjab. In my uncle's family, there were deaths. The kaccha gang...who come with oil on their body. A group of gangsters killed the entire family, my grandmother was also there. It happened in Pathankot. So I went there," Raina said.Raina emphasized that the situation back home was chaotic, and the ongoing pandemic made it even more difficult. "Yes, I told this to MS Dhoni and the team management. Family comes first. Then I returned, we played the 2021 season. We won the trophy. But the previous year, the family was in chaos. They were all in depression already due to COVID-19 and then this happened. I thought I should go home and be with my family," he added.Raina's decision to prioritize his family over cricket sparked speculation and criticism at the time. However, he maintains that it was the right choice for him. "Cricket came next, I could play anytime, first, my family was important," he said.After missing the 2020 season, Raina returned to CSK the next year and helped them win the title. It turned out to be his last season as later that year, he decided to announce his retirement from all formats of the game.

Phil Salt, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) wicketkeeper-batter, believes that Virat Kohli's dismissal off a high full toss was a fortunate call for his team, contributing to their narrow one-run victory against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in a high-scoring Indian Premier League (IPL) match.The use of the new Hawk-Eye technology to determine the height of the delivery played a crucial role, with TV umpire Michael Gough ruling that Harshit Rana's waist-high ball was fair. Kohli, who was batting aggressively, managed to score 18 runs off just seven balls before being dismissed by Rana, who took a return catch. This dismissal proved to be a turning point in RCB's chase of a challenging target of 223 runs at Eden Gardens, ultimately leading to their narrow defeat."It's a split opinion, we know that. From our point of view, we feel like we may have got away with one there. It's the rub of the greens, one of those calls," said Salt, who is ranked No. 2 in the ICC T20I batting rankings, at the Knight Golf event in Kolkata.The Englishman also suggested that utilizing technology in this way is ultimately advantageous for the game, hinting at the potential for a future review to evaluate the effectiveness of such technological advancements."They brought that data in, the no-ball data, for exactly that purpose. I feel like in 12 months' time maybe there'll be some sort of review. Is it working? Is it not working? Is it a new thing to the game?""But personally, from a player's point of view, any time you're using data and technology to be more precise and get the right decisions, that's a good thing for the game," Salt added.Salt and Sunil Narine, the opening pair for KKR, have been instrumental in scoring the majority of runs for the team, accumulating a total of 535 runs from seven innings. Their strong performances have contributed significantly to KKR's success, as the team has won five out of their seven matches, placing them at the forefront of contention for a playoff spot."It's great batting with Sunil, he is a very, very low-key chill guy. He's got a very different sort of skill set when he's opening the batting, as opposed to, up and down the order," Salt said."I suppose one of the good things for me is he takes the pressure off, and I don't have to strike at a rate of 200 in my first 10 balls. Some games I might, but I don't have to.""Normally, one of us gets going, and the other one feeds the strike. So, if we get a good start, we get a couple of boundaries away. You know, we can produce really big power plays, which is something that we've done."They have gone about their ways with a meticulous approach, picking the right bowler to attack and relied on match-ups, Salt said."Our conversations are mainly, who's going to take what ball, you know, who likes to match up, left arm spin, right arm pace, all that sort of thing.""Normally one of us wants to put their hand up and take that arm. We keep it very, very simple."Narine has been a revelation with the bat at the top of the order as the KKR spinner who was known as a pinch-hitter, has batted this time with poise and patience. Narine struck his maiden T20 century, scoring 109 against Rajasthan Royals the other day.

IPL 2024: Heated Confrontation Between Gautam Gambhir and Umpires Overshadows Thrilling RCB-KKR MatchDuring the high-stakes IPL 2024 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens, a heated confrontation between former India batsman and KKR mentor Gautam Gambhir and the umpires marred an otherwise thrilling encounter.The incident occurred as RCB approached KKR's challenging total of 222 runs. With just 31 runs needed from 12 balls, the tension was palpable. A visibly upset KKR captain Shreyas Iyer signaled towards the dugout, prompting Gambhir to approach the fourth umpire.Gambhir engaged in a fervent debate, making gestures towards his legs. According to reports, he protested the substitution of Sunil Narine with Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Despite his objections, the umpire upheld the ruling, forcing Narine to resume play for the final two overs.This incident followed another controversial moment involving RCB's Virat Kohli, who contested an umpire's decision after being declared out on a full toss. Kohli, adamant that it was a no-ball, sought a review. However, replays confirmed that he was well out of his crease at the time of the delivery.Despite rapid half-centuries from Will Jacks and Rajat Patidar, RCB fell agonizingly short by just one run. Jacks scored a brisk 55 off 32 balls, while Patidar contributed a quick 52 from 23 deliveries. Their efforts, however, were not enough to overcome the target set by KKR.In the end, RCB were all out for 221, even after a last-ditch effort by Karn Sharma, who smashed 20 runs off just 7 balls. KKR's bowling attack was led by Andre Russell, who took three wickets for 25 runs. Sunil Narine and Harshit Rana also played crucial roles, each taking two wickets, contributing to KKR's nail-biting victory over RCB.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season has been marred by a series of controversies surrounding toss-tampering allegations. The latest incident occurred during the match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Eden Gardens on Sunday.The controversy began earlier in the tournament when Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya tossed the coin over his head in a match against RCB. This sparked speculation that he may have tampered with the coin, as it landed behind everyone. RCB captain Faf du Plessis later shared the incident with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) captain Pat Cummins, adding fuel to the controversy.In response, broadcasters began zooming in on the coin during tosses to dispel any tampering theories. During Sunday's match, the camera zoomed in on the coin as Du Plessis tossed it, capturing him breaking into a cheeky smile. This humorous moment added a light-hearted touch to the situation.Despite the ongoing speculation, the IPL production team's decision to zoom in on the coin during tosses has been met with mixed reactions. Some believe it is a necessary step to ensure transparency and prevent any potential tampering, while others argue that it is an unnecessary distraction from the game itself.After the toss, KKR managed to secure a nail-biting one-run victory against RCB off the final delivery. Chasing a target of 223 runs, RCB required 21 runs from Mitchell Starc's final over. Karn Sharma launched an unexpected assault on Starc, smashing three sixes to reduce the deficit to just three runs off two balls.However, Starc redeemed himself by taking a return catch to dismiss Sharma, who scored a quickfire 20 runs off 7 balls. On the final delivery, Lockie Ferguson was run out, leaving RCB all out for 221 in their allotted 20 overs, just one run short of the target.The ongoing toss-tampering saga has cast a shadow over the IPL 2024 season. While the IPL production team's efforts to dispel any tampering theories are commendable, it remains to be seen whether these measures will be enough to restore confidence in the integrity of the tournament.

Hardik Pandya, the star all-rounder, is set to make his 100th appearance for the Mumbai Indians (MI) when they face the Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Monday. This highly anticipated clash between two batting powerhouses marks the Royals' fifth and final home match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season.The Royals are currently riding high at the top of the IPL standings with 12 points and a net run rate of 0.677, having won six matches and lost just one. Meanwhile, the Mumbai Indians have played seven games, winning three and losing four, placing them sixth in the standings with six points and an NRR of -0.133.Pandya's return to the Blue and Gold franchise this season has been a significant moment for both the player and the team. After two successful years with the Gujarat Titans, where he led them to the title in their debut season, Pandya has once again donned the prestigious MI colors.In his previous 99 matches for MI, Pandya has amassed 1,617 runs at an average of 26.95 and a strike rate of 153.27, including four half-centuries. His best score for the franchise is 91*. He has also taken 46 wickets with the best figures of 3/20.This season, however, has been a bit underwhelming for Pandya. In seven matches, he has scored 141 runs at an average of 23.50 and a strike rate of 146.88, with the best score of 39. He has also taken just four wickets.Despite his recent struggles, Pandya remains a key player for MI. His all-round abilities and leadership qualities make him a valuable asset to the team. As he prepares to make his 100th appearance for the franchise, Pandya will be looking to make a significant contribution and help MI improve their fortunes in the tournament.

Pakistan's skipper Babar Azam expressed satisfaction with his team's batting performance in the third T20I against New Zealand at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, despite their 7-wicket loss.Azam, who scored a 37-run knock off 29 balls, acknowledged that Mohammad Rizwan's injury in the first inning was a setback. Rizwan, who had scored 22 runs off 21 balls, was forced to retire hurt."We did well with the bat. I don't think it [the slowdown] made much of a difference because we had caught up in the end. You can say we were ten runs short. Unfortunately, we had a bit of a setback with [Mohammad] Rizwan's injury because it wasn't easy for new batters. But Shadab recovered well and had an outstanding partnership with Irfan [Khan]," Azam said at the post-match presentation.Azam praised the partnership between Shadab Khan and Irfan Khan, which helped Pakistan recover in the game. "In Pindi, 180-190 is a par score," he added.After winning the toss, New Zealand opted to field first. Saim Ayub (32) and Babar Azam opened the innings for Pakistan, putting on a 55-run partnership. Shadab Khan (41) was the standout batter for the hosts, while Irfan Khan (30) also contributed.Ish Sodhi led the Kiwi bowling attack with two wickets, while Bracewell and Jacob Duffy took one wicket each.In the run chase, Dean Foxcroft (31) and Mark Chapman (87) played a crucial 117-run partnership to guide New Zealand to a comfortable victory. Pakistan's bowling performance was lackluster, with only Afridi and Shah taking wickets.The five-match series is currently tied at 1-1, with both teams having won one game each.

Revenge will be on the minds of defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) when they host the unpredictable Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Chennai on April 23. Both teams are eager to break out of the mid-table logjam in the Indian Premier League (IPL).In their previous encounter in Lucknow, KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock put up a record-breaking opening partnership, leading LSG to a victory that put them on par with CSK in the IPL standings. CSK, known for their dominance at home, will be determined to avenge their loss.CSK's batting has been inconsistent, with skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shivam Dube carrying the bulk of the scoring. Their failure against LSG highlighted their struggles in the middle overs. Opener Rachin Ravindra's form is a concern, and CSK has experimented with Ajinkya Rahane as an opener, pushing Gaikwad down to number three.CSK's bowling unit was overwhelmed by the onslaught of Rahul and de Kock in the previous match. Young Matheesha Pathirana was their best bowler, but pacers Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, and Mustafizur Rahman will need to improve their performance. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja also struggled and will need to step up on his home turf.For LSG, batting has been an issue, but they have shown their potential when their top-order fires. Rahul and de Kock are key players, and Nicholas Pooran has also made significant contributions. In bowling, LSG will hope for the return of Mayank Yadav, who missed two games due to an abdominal strain. Pacer Mohsin Khan and Yash Thakur have shown promise, but they need to work on their consistency. Matt Henry had a wicketless debut for LSG and will be eager to prove himself.In the spin department, Krunal Pandya's two wickets made a difference in the middle overs, and he will need to lead the attack again against CSK. Young Ravi Bishnoi will need to overcome his recent struggles.The visitors will fancy their chances, but LSG will need consistency to pull off another win at CSK's fortress.