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With the WHO declaring COVID-19 as a pandemic, the fate of the tournament hangs in the balance

Nagraj Gollapudi12-Mar-2020The fate of the IPL will be up for discussion with the tournament’s Governing Council set to meet on March 14. With the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) as a pandemic, there is growing concern over whether or not the IPL should go ahead as scheduled from March 29.Even if the tournament were to go ahead, the participation of overseas players is in doubt, with the Indian government suspending all visas – except diplomatic, official, employment and certain other kinds – until April 15. Foreign players and coaches visiting India for sports events such as the IPL are granted a B-Sports visa – it is not yet clear whether these also stand suspended.On Thursday, the eve of his team’s first ODI against New Zealand in Sydney, Australia captain Aaron Finch said he hadn’t heard any updates from the IPL on the coronavirus front. Finch is set to play for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2020.”The franchises have been great in updating players pretty much daily on how that looks and will effect anything going forward,” Finch said. “We are just concentrating on tomorrow, I know it’s difficult when it’s a pandemic now. It’s going to be tough, no doubt they’ll be some restrictions in place for teams, fans and grounds.”New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, who plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, said it was important “to be cautious” about travel in the current situation.”[There’s been] a number of emails from medical staff at home and the upkeep of good hygiene and things,” he said. “It’s a concern all around the world at the moment, other countries are affected a lot more at the moment, [but] no one’s exempt, it seems. To be travelling the globe so suddenly you need to be very cautious.”Sporting events across the world have been affected by the spread of the coronavirus. On Wednesday, the NBA suspended its 2019-20 season after a Utah Jazz player tested positive. Serie A also stands suspended until April 3, following a directive from the Italian government; until then, its last few sets of matches had been played behind closed doors.”It would be weird to play in an empty stadium, no doubt,” Finch said, when asked about the prospect of playing behind closed doors. “You get so accustomed to the atmosphere of the fans who ride the momentum, especially at home with the Australian fans who support us so well. If it comes to that we’ll wait and see, I saw the NBA being suspended for the near future. It’s interesting to see, not ideal obviously. A lot of people effected which is unfortunate.”COVID-19 is a respiratory illness which is primarily spread through contact. On Wednesday, the BCCI made its first official statement on the pandemic, which has caused over 4,300 deaths, with more than 120,000 people affected across 118 countries so far. In a media statement the BCCI said the three-match ODI series between India and South Africa, which starts on Thursday in Dharamsala, would not be impacted, and issued a wide set of dos and don’ts to all the stakeholders including teams, players, state associations, airlines and team hotels.ALSO READ – Coronavirus newsfile: BCCI releases list of precautions for India to followThe BCCI said it was following the guidelines set in place by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on following personal hygiene and isolating in case of any symptoms of coronavirus, which have been widely circulated across all platforms.So far, the BCCI is yet to discuss the option of postponing the tournament or playing it behind closed doors, and has been waiting for the Indian government to provide directions.Incidentally, the Indian government has already issued an advisory asking people to “avoid” mass gatherings, which events such as the IPL fall under. “Experts across the World have advised to reduce mass gatherings to avoid the spread of COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus disease,” the advisory, which is on the health ministry’s website, says. “In view of above, it is advised that mass gatherings may be avoided or possibly be postponed till the disease spread is contained.”In case any such mass gatherings are organized, States may take necessary action guide the Organisers on precautions to be taken as per the risk communication material already sent so as to avoid any Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases and Influenz Illness (ILs) including Covid-19.”

Fifties from du Plessis and Hendricks was backed up by four catches and two run-outs from Miller as the hosts took a 1-0 lead in the series

The Report by Danyal Rasool01-Feb-2019 192 for 6 (Du Plessis 78, Hendricks 74, Shinwari 3-31) bear Pakistan 186 for 9 (Malik 49, Shamsi 2-33)Where Pakistan play with a stand-in captain and the bizarre arrangement of the PCB announcing captains will be appointed on a “series-by-series” basis, their South African counterpart – captain of all formats and all foreseeable series to come – demonstrated the benefits of having a rock in that position. Faf du Plessis thwacked 78 off 45 in a partnership with Reeza Hendricks that added a colossal 131 at almost eleven per over through the middle overs, helping South Africa post a ground record 192 in the first innings at Newlands. Hendricks played his own part in full measure, adding 74 off 41. Job done, Du Plessis came out to the press conference and announced that he would rest for the remaining two games of the series.For a Pakistan side that had put South Africa in after winning the toss, this was just a few too many. There was no partnership to even remotely be considered a challenger to that Hendricks-du Plessis onslaught. All South Africa’s bowlers needed to do was keep it straightforward, and watch Pakistan crumble under the pressure of a ballooning asking rate. They were more than up for it, and rewarded with a six-run victory, pulling ahead in the three-match T20I series.This might just be the start of the year, but you could be sure the partnership between Hendricks and his captain will rank among the elite by the time 2019 is out. Du Plessis has come in enjoying steely runs in the Test series and solid ones in the ODIs, and here he showed he could do sizzling runs too. From the moment he spanked Shadab Khan – the unfortunate whipping boy among a number of contenders in the Pakistan line-up today – through the offside for four, the gloves were fully off. Eighty-nine runs were scored in the seven overs beginning with that one, Hendricks just as much a participant in the carnage.15,13,12,14,15. Those were the respective fates of the bowlers tasked with sending down overs 11-15, Shadab, Hussain Talat, Usman Shinwari and Faheem Ashraf all unable to stem the flow of runs. The quicker bowlers were a shade predictable in their approach, both in terms of the pace and length they delivered at, allowing two settled batsman to take full advantage with almost consummate ease. Reeza Hendricks eyed Shinwari for the most severe punishment, a six over midwicket from around the wicket to Pakistan’s fastest bowler indicative of the confidence flowing through his veins following a brilliant ODI series.South Africa were so far ahead of par by the 15 over mark – 157 for 1 – they could afford a poor last five and still post a challenging total. Pakistan came back brilliantly with a Shinwari over that removed both du Plessis and Rassie van der Dussen, conceding just one run. Ashraf nailed his yorkers in the dying overs as the runs began to dry up, and where the top order had once eyed 220, the lower order could only manage 192.Pakistan began poorly, Fakhar Zaman edging to slip off just the third ball. The sort of innings they have come to take for granted from the ever-dependable Babar Azam did arrive, and for a period, he and 22-year old Hussain Talat built up a launchpad partnership. The trouble was Talat wasn’t nearly as capable of keeping up with the required rate as Babar, and with the asking rate rising, someone had to take responsibility. 81 was added in 57 balls by the two, meaning around the halfway mark, Pakistan were just three short of South Africa’s equivalent tally.It was there that South Africa’s innings had really taken off, but the same overs in the Pakistan innings saw their challenge fade. Talat went looking for successive big hits, but it was the run out of Babar that twisted the knife into Pakistan. David Miller, who found himself all over the field in the final ten overs, directed a brilliant hit at one stump to catch Babar out. It would be one of a staggering six dismissals he effected, with four catches to complement two run-outs. From there on, Pakistan’s chase took on a manic, even unsophisticated air.Make no mistake, they were in it till the final few balls, but with the class of Babar removed, it was Malik at one end and rudimentary slogs at the other. The hosts were far more effective with the ball in the middle overs; Andile Phehlukwayo was the pick. The pace was varied effectively and the batsmen were routinely out-thought as slogs and misses became the norm, mistimed hits carrying to the deep fielders the expected outcome. Ashraf struck a six and got out, ditto Hasan Ali, and with skipper Malik the anchor from the other end, a bizarre game Pakistan were supposedly out of went to the final over.Here, Chris Morris, coming back into the side after an extended lay-off, showed the utility of his skillset. The yorkers were immaculate off the first two deliveries, forcing Malik to feel the pressure and hole out with three deliveries to spare. Shadab took it deeper still to make it ten off two, but in a game where South Africa always appeared to be just one step ahead, Morris made sure they came away with a six-run win to reflect that fact.

Australia eased to a crushing ten-wicket win in just over an hour’s play on the fifth and final morning at the Gabba

The Report by Andrew Miller27-Nov-20171:57

Swann: Short-pitched bowling not a problem for England’s top and middle order

Australia 328 (Smith 141*, Marsh 51) and 0 for 173 (Warner 87*, Bancroft 82*) beat England 302 and 195 (Root 51, Bairstow 42) by 10 wickets

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
David Warner and Cameron Bancroft resolved to offer England’s toiling bowlers no crumbs of comfort in the closing moments of the first Test at the Gabba, as they eased Australia to a crushing ten-wicket win in just over an hour’s play on the fifth and final morning.After resuming on 114 for 0 overnight, Australia’s openers resisted any temptation to gallop to the finishing line, with just 56 runs required and England’s players doubtless distracted by overnight headlines concerning Jonny Bairstow’s alleged altercation with Bancroft in Perth last month.Both batsmen eased themselves back into the groove, seeing off another disciplined but unpenetrative burst from James Anderson and Stuart Broad before picking up their tempos against the second seamers, Chris Woakes and Jake Ball.Ball did induce the day’s solitary half-chance, an edge off Bancroft that flew wide of Alastair Cook, the solitary slip, but it was left to Bancroft to strike the winning runs off Woakes, in a three-boundary fusillade in the first over after the drinks break. Moeen Ali was not called upon to bowl after struggling with a finger injury earlier in the innings, with Joe Root sending down two overs of offspin before the end.Despite Australia’s justified jubilation, it was an anticlimatic end to what had been, for three and a half days, a gripping and hard-fought contest, and it was very similar, in fact, to the first Test of the 1990-91 series, also at the Gabba, when England were again crushed by ten wickets despite having held the upper hand at times in a low-scoring contest.Afterwards Root rued the moments in the match when Australia got away from England.”We’re very disappointed to lose the game,” he said. “We came here fully confident that we could get a win, and for three days we were excellent. We probably missed a couple of chances with bat and ball in the first innings, where we should have maybe gone on and made that 400-plus score, being four-down with 250-plus on the board, you want to make that count.”Root singled out the efforts of Mark Stoneman and James Vince, whose first-innings half-centuries seemed to have set England up in the match.”I thought Mark and Vincey in particular played outstandingly well in their first Ashes Test,” he added. “To stand up like that showed great character, composure and skill. It’s just about making sure they go on and make big hundreds when they get in next time.”Similarly with the ball, we made them work extremely hard. I do think the wicket got better and better throughout, but [Steve] Smith played an unbelievable knock and if you take that out, we bowl them out for 150.”We’ve got to make sure we bounce back straight away,” said Root. “We’ve showed great resilience and character over the last year and we’ve got to do that again.”Smith, Australia’s captain, was proud of both his team and his personal contribution to the victory, a brilliant unbeaten 141 that shored up Australia’s first innings and secured a priceless lead.”The first Test of an Ashes is always incredibly important, especially with our record here at the Gabba,” he said. “So it’s great to keep that intact. We played some really good cricket after losing the toss, and to get a ten-wicket win against a quality side is very satisfying.”My hundred has got to be up there with one of my best, purely from the position we were in and that it’s an Ashes series. I had to work really hard for it, dig deep and get ourselves out of that situation, so I’m really pleased with it.”

Afghanistan would want to keep their bowling plans intact, after being successful in their two-wicket win as they face Bangladesh in the series-decider on October 1

The Preview by Mohammad Isam30-Sep-2016

Match facts

October 1, Mirpur
Start time 1430 local (0830 GMT)1:46

Isam: Will be tough for Bangladesh to decide playing XI

Big Picture

If it wasn’t during the first game, the second ODI made sure Afghanistan grabbed the undivided attention of Bangladesh – the cricket team and nation alike. There will be a lot of eyeballs on the Shere Bangla National Stadium for the series decider, which will have a large bearing on the home team’s mindset ahead of the England series.Bangladesh would like their batsmen to not throw away their wickets after getting a start, as the top five did in the second game. Soumya Sarkar, in need of runs after a barren 12 months, was the biggest culprit when he charged at Mirwais Ashraf unnecessarily after Tamim Iqbal had got out attempting the same shot.Imrul Kayes returning to the XI would be a must, given how comfortably he dealt with the Afghanistan attack, albeit for 50-odd deliveries. But his form is going to be important in the third ODI. So would be longer knocks from Mahmudullah and Shakib Al Hasan.Bangladesh also have a reshaped bowling attack after Rubel Hossain was dropped from the squad for the third ODI, making way for left-arm spinner Mosharraf Hossain, the domestic stalwart making a comeback after eight years. Mashrafe Mortaza would have a lot in his mind with the bowling attack, and that could mean picking three left-arm spinners, himself and Taskin Ahmed.Afghanistan have to keep their bowling plans intact, after being successful in their two-wicket win. Mohammad Nabi’s accurate offbreaks have been the perfect foil for Rashid Khan’s quick legspin but the rest of the Afghanistan attack must put its act together.And so should their batting line-up. A big one is due from Mohammad Shahzad, and there would not be any better time than to let one of his whirlwind innings hit Mirpur. It could knock the wind out of Bangladesh.

Form guide

Bangladesh LWWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Afghanistan WLLWL

In the spotlight

It was a dream ODI debut for Mosaddek Hossain with some runs and wickets. There wasn’t enough opportunity for the newcomer in the first ODI but he made the best of what he got, forging a 43-run tenth-wicket stand with No. 11 Rubel Hossain. He was a revelation with the ball and might get more overs in the third ODI.Asghar Stanikzai reached his first ODI fifty in 19 months, in the second ODI, as he mixed caution with six-hitting quite effectively. But he suffered from cramps twice during the innings. He would now want to continue with the flow, and make sure the humidity doesn’t get to him.

Team news

Bangladesh brought in Mosharraf Hossain to replace Rubel Hossain in the 14-man squad, but it is still uncertain whether he will replace Taijul Islam or Bangladesh will go with three specialist left-arm spinners. Imrul Kayes could return to the playing XI at the expense of the out-of-form Soumya Sarkar.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Imrul Kayes/Soumya Sarkar, 3 Mahmudullah, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Sabbir Rahman, 7 Mosaddek Hossain, 8 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt.), 9 Mosharraf Hossain, 10 Taijul Islam, 11 Taskin AhmedAfghanistan brought in the experienced Nawroz Mangal to open with Mohammad Shahzad. Although Mangal didn’t make a worthy contribution, the winning combination may not be altered with the chance to win the series.Afghanistan (probable): 1 Mohammad Shahzad (wk), 2 Nawroz Mangal, 3 Rahmat Shah, 4 Hashmatullah Shahidi, 5 Asghar Stanikzai (capt.), 6 Mohammad Nabi, 7 Najibullah Zadran, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Mirwais Ashraf, 10 Dawlat Zadran, 11 Naveen-ul-Haque

Pitch and conditions

The Mirpur pitch was sluggish in the first ODI and then a rank turner in the second. Curator Gamini Silva could revert to the one he put out for the first game, which could assist Bangladesh’s spinners who bowl slower than the Afghanistan counterparts. For a change, there is very little rain forecast for Saturday.

Stats and trivia

• Shakib Al Hasan is only the third bowler after Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis to take 100 or more wickets at a single venue. Akram and Younis took 122 and 114 wickets each at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium while Shakib has exactly 100 at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.
• Afghanistan seem to be specialist in winning by two wickets, having now done it five times.
• If Afghanistan win, it will be their first series win against any team ranked higher than Zimbabwe in ODIs.

Quotes

“Pressure is obviously on both sides, this being an international match. Fact that they are an Associate nation doesn’t come to our mind. They are a strong team.”

Grant Elliott, Doug Bracewell and Mitchell Santner are the three additions to the New Zealand Cricket central contract list for 2015-16

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Jul-2015After his semi-final heroics vaulted New Zealand into their first ever World Cup final, allrounder Grant Elliott has become one of three additions to New Zealand Cricket’s 20-man central contract list for 2015-16. In addition to Elliott, fast bowler Doug Bracewell has returned to the list after both were cut following the 2013-14 season.New Zealand selectors had taken a gamble on Elliott, 36, by naming him in their World Cup squad in January despite not having played for New Zealand since November 2013. He repaid their faith in the semi-final against South Africa at Eden Park in Auckland, striking an unbeaten 84 and the winning six with a ball to spare to seal a four-wicket win, which put New Zealand into the final against Australia. Elliott also top-scored for New Zealand in the final at the MCG with 83.Mitchell Santner is the third change in the updated list of centrally contracted players. The 23-year old left-arm spinning allrounder received a NZC central contract for the first time after making his international debut against England in June.”Mitch is a player of genuine all-round ability,” Mike Hesson, New Zealand coach and selector, said. “His appearance on this list is recognition of where we see his skills in all three forms of the game. My feeling is that we’ll see a lot more of him with the bat, in particular, as he gains more experience.”Doug deserved to return,” Hesson said. “He’s performed strongly and forced his way back into the fold – ultimately in longer-form cricket, although we continue to see him as a multi-skilled player.”Bracewell, 24, has played 19 Tests for New Zealand since making his debut against Zimbabwe in 2011. His last match was the second Test against Sri Lanka at Basin Reserve in January. Bracewell was included in New Zealand’s Test squad for the recent tour of England but did not make the starting XI for either Test in the drawn series. In last season’s Plunket Shield domestic first-class competition, Bracewell was tied for seventh with 33 wickets at an average of 28.39.The contracts of legspinner Ish Sodhi and batsman Colin Munro were not renewed by NZC while Kyle Mills, who was previously contracted, had retired from all forms of cricket. Sodhi, 22, had played in 11 Tests since making his debut against Bangladesh in October 2013 but was dropped after struggling in the three-match series against Pakistan in the UAE last November, when he took eight wickets at an average of 67.62.Munro, 28, played a lone Test and seven ODIs in addition to 15 T20s. He is currently playing County cricket with Worcestershire.New Zealand central contract list for 2015-16: Corey Anderson, Doug Bracewell, Trent Boult, Mark Craig, Martin Guptill, Grant Elliott, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Mitchell McClenaghan, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Adam Milne, Jimmy Neesham, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson

Simon Jones will attempt to return to red-ball cricket next season after renegotiating his contract with Glamorgan.

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Dec-2012Simon Jones, the former England fast bowler who has seen his career punctuated by injury, will attempt to return to red-ball cricket next season after renegotiating his contract with Glamorgan.Jones, who will be 34 on Christmas day, helped England win the Ashes in 2005 but has suffered with knee problems ever since he ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament in Brisbane in 2002.He has played only three County Championship matches since 2008 but now feels he can manage his workload and has agreed a deal for six first-class matches in 2013.”I’ve agreed to do these four-day games because I don’t want to leave anything in the tank,” he told . “It’s a continuous thing, looking after my knee. I have to do the right preparation and rest up properly. It’s hard work but it keeps me playing the game I love so it’s not a hardship.”Jones’ Test career was limited to 18 appearances, during which he took 59 wickets at 28.23 and now, feeling back to fitness, he is hoping to help Glamorgan mount a promotion push next season. “I still feel I’ve got a couple of years left in me,” Jones said. “And that’s why I’ve agreed to do these four-day games.”It’s one of those things. I just want to get everything out of my system so when I finish I know I’ve done everything I can in the game and then I can relax and just chill with the kids. I have to play six four-day games and obviously a number of one-day games as well, which I’m backing myself to do. It’s the best I’ve felt in a long, long time.”Glamorgan are short of a quality seam bowler, having seen James Harris move to Middlesex, leaving their attack mostly comprised of young and relatively inexperienced bowlers. If Jones can regain form with the red ball, his experience will complement Graham Wagg with the new ball.Jones has taken 125 first-class wickets for Glamorgan, the club where he began his career in 1998. He left for Worcestershire in 2008, where he claimed another 42 wickets at 18.02, before moving to Hampshire. But his time on the south coast was thwarted with injury and he played only two first-class matches before securing a pay-as-you-play loan deal back at Glamorgan in 2011, primarily for one-day cricket.

Simon Katich’s disciplinary hearing before Cricket Australia over his comments about Michael Clarke has been delayed until December

Daniel Brettig18-Nov-2011Simon Katich’s disciplinary hearing before Cricket Australia over his comments about Michael Clarke has been delayed until December, allowing further time for the air to cool and increasing the likelihood of a guilty plea.The disciplinary hearing, originally slated for November 21, is now expected to be held on Monday, December 5. The delay has been caused by scheduling conflicts and Katich, his legal representation and management requiring more time to organise ahead an answer to the charge of “detrimental public comment”.Since Katich’s comments on October 28, which re-opened the question of whether or not personal enmity between himself and Clarke had led to the opener’s removal from the list of CA contracted players, time is believed to have cooled the anger that flowed from Katich’s mouth at the SCG.When asked by reporters whether John Inverarity’s appointment as the new National Selector had enhanced his chances of an international recall, Katich had spoken pointedly.”It’s pleasing to hear but I think you don’t have to be Einstein to figure out that it’s not just the selectors that had a part in sending me on my way,” Katich said following a Sheffield Shield century against Victoria. “I mean to be brutally honest obviously what happened in the dressing room here a few years ago didn’t help my cause. And obviously the captain and coach are selectors.”Just because he [Inverarity] is going to be chairman of selectors or whatever role it is I wouldn’t have thought that’d make too much difference.”Queried on whether or not he could ever expect to play for Australia while Clarke was captain, Katich replied: “I wouldn’t have thought so. That’s probably why I’m in this position in the first place.”James Sutherland, the CA chief executive, was swift in his repudiation of Katich’s words, and the batsman himself is thought to now want the matter to be concluded as quickly as possible, minimising the damage from a divisive episode.

Usman Khawaja’s maiden one-day century set up a dramatic three-run victory for New South Wales over South Australia at North Sydney Oval

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Dec-2010
Scorecard
Usman Khawaja finished with 121, his first one-day century•Getty Images

Usman Khawaja’s maiden one-day century set up a dramatic three-run victory for New South Wales over South Australia at North Sydney Oval. Michael Klinger’s century and a late blitz from Daniel Christian looked set to ensure the Redbacks would pass their target of 318, but the Blues held on thanks to a terrific final over bowled by Brett Lee.South Australia needed eight from the last over, and it began with the key wicket of Aaron O’Brien, who was caught behind for 52. With the established man gone, Tim Ludeman and Gary Putland couldn’t manufacture a win for the visitors, who had also had to contend with Doug Bollinger (3 for 59), fired up by his axing from the Test team.The narrow victory almost mirrored the difference at the halfway mark, when the Redbacks at 3 for 105 fell just short of claiming one point, taken by New South Wales, who had made 1 for 110. The star was Khawaja, who missed out on a Test call-up on Friday but made sure he will remain in the selectors’ thoughts with 121 from 105 deliveries.It was only Khawaja’s eighth one-day match, as he has mainly been used in the longer formats by the Blues. He was ably supported by another young batting star on the rise, Nic Maddinson, who made 65 from 56 balls to help New South Wales to their strong total of 6 for 317.Klinger’s patient 103 set up South Australia’s chase, which was given a monstrous boost by the in-form Christian, who enjoyed the small dimensions of the ground and slammed 85 from 40 balls, including six sixes. But in the end it wasn’t enough, and New South Wales have jumped to the top of the Ryobi Cup table.