The arrival of the Zimbabwe allrounder strengthens a squad heavily hit by coronavirus-related departures

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Mar-2020Sikandar Raza, the Zimbabwe allrounder, has joined Peshawar Zalmi’s squad as a silver category player. He will be available for Zalmi’s PSL semi-final against table-toppers Multan Sultans, which is to be played in Lahore on Tuesday.Raza’s arrival will strengthen a Zalmi squad that has been hit particularly hard by the departure of overseas players due to the coronavirus pandemic. Zalmi lost the services of five players – Tom Banton, Carlos Brathwaite, Liam Dawson, Lewis Gregory and Liam Livingstone – along with coach James Foster.Batsmen Abid Ali and Agha Salman, meanwhile, have joined the Lahore Qalandars line-up ahead of their semi-final against Karachi Kings, which is also set to be played on Tuesday. Both players slot into the silver category. The Qalandars were the only team not to lose any of their players to the coronavirus exodus.

West Indies allrounder sets out personal aim for successful tour of England

Alan Gardner20-Jun-2020Roston Chase has played as much of a part as any of his team-mates in West Indies’ recent improvements as a Test side. He has scored five hundreds since his debut in 2016, including a six-hour rearguard against India in his second Test, and another in his last encounter with England. Two Tests before that, his eight-wicket haul condemned England to defeat in Barbados and set Jason Holder’s side on their way to reclaiming the Wisden Trophy.Chase also did his bit when West Indies won at Headingley in 2017, although that was an underwhelming tour generally as he averaged 13.33 with the bat. Perhaps that is why he has set his sights on scoring “at least one century” this time around. “Once you do well in England, I think your stock as a cricketer goes up on the international scene,” he said.”I’ve always wanted to score a century in England. I scored a century against England in the Caribbean, but I would love to get one in England. As I said, when you score hundreds in England, I think, as a batsman people take you more serious and rate you a bit higher. I’m looking to have a good series with the bat, score as many runs as possible. I will not be happy if I don’t get at least one century.”ALSO READ: Root sledge ‘blown way out of proportion’ – GabrielThe onus on Chase to provide a sturdy bulwark at No. 5 or 6 has only increased in the absence of Darren Bravo and Shimron Hetmyer, who batted either side of him against England in 2018-19. Certainly runs in the forthcoming three-match series would bolster Chase’s overall record, which has seen him enjoy the majority of his success at home, with only one century – in India in 2018 – and an average of 24.75 in away Tests.Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope led the way in Leeds three years ago, while both Chase and Jermaine Blackwood have experience of English conditions, and the ability of a reshaped West Indies batting line-up to put up fighting totals will likely go a long way to determining their chances of success.”It’s fair to say that we haven’t had the best time as a top order,” Chase said. “But I think some of the guys have played 30 or more Test matches, so the guys are experienced and know how to get runs at that level – so we are ever improving. It’s just for us to get that confidence and belief back in our batting in the top order and I think that will be fine because the guys know they have the ability.”While Chase was England’s destroyer with the ball at the Kensington Oval 18 months ago – his second-innings 8 for 60 perhaps aided by some “complacent” batting – he is happy to stand in the not-inconsiderable shadow of Rakheem Cornwall when it comes to spin-bowling duties on tour. Depending on whether West Indies choose to deploy a four-man pace attack or not, Chase will fill in as required and aim to keep England on their toes.Rahkeem Cornwall celebrates a wicket with captain Jason Holder•Getty Images

“Yeah, he’s definitely the No. 1 spinner, but I have no problem with that,” Chase said of Cornwall, who made his Test debut last year. “I’m always willing to do whatever it takes for the team, if I have to back him up or if I have to be the main spinner, it doesn’t really matter to me. Once we’re going in the right direction and winning games and series, that’s all that really matters to me. Doesn’t matter if I’m No. 1 or No. 2 or No. 3, just want to go out there and do well for the country and for myself.”I’m comfortable with my role, batting in the middle order and bowling some overs when need be. The unit it a very close unit, all the guys are friends, we came up playing cricket from youth cricket days. We’re comfortable and just like to enjoy our company and enjoy the cricket and look to be successful.”In the first game [in Barbados last year], my lines and lengths and variation were spot on. And I guess the England batsmen – I wouldn’t want to say they underestimated me, but they were a bit complacent playing me. As the series went on they got a bit tighter. Having lost that first game, I thought they really tried to knuckle down and cope with my bowling and they did a good job.”One significant change from the previous meetings between these two sides is the addition of Jofra Archer to England’s bowling ranks. Like several of West Indies’ strong Bajan contingent, Chase came up against Archer during the young quick’s formative years – but their most-recent meeting came when the two appeared on opposing sides in the Sussex Premier League in 2015.”I do remember the game we played against Jofra,” Chase said. “This was before he even played for Sussex or anything like that. He actually got five wickets, he got me out as well. He pulled up after he got the five wickets and batting became a lot easier for us.”He was always a good talent but he wasn’t as rapid as he is now.”

Board sets focus on the revival of club cricket and the re-establishment of a national academy

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jun-2020Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani has said that despite enduring among the worst years in the country’s cricket history, the board has emerged stronger over the past 12 months, with the body able to almost pay off its legacy debts amounting to USD 27 million.Zimbabwe had been suspended from the ICC in July 2019 before they were reinstated in October later that year. During that time, the ICC’s funding was frozen and Zimbabwe were not allowed to participate in the qualifying tournaments for the men’s T20 World Cup as well as the women’s event. Soon after they were reinstated, the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world, which led to further cancellations of tours, including a limited-overs tour by India, which ZC was counting on to shore up finances. Ireland’s tour of Zimbabwe was also called off in the wake of the coronavirus.ALSO READ – Alistair Campbell interview: ‘The smaller teams want to play more, but they can’t because the cash is not there’However, Zimbabwe’s players have now resumed training after having passed their Covid-19 tests earlier this month. Zimbabwe are supposed to host Afghanistan in July-August for a five-match T20I series before travelling to Australia to play three ODIs.”Perhaps the biggest irony of our lifetime, the very same horrible year saw us making huge strides towards making ZC debt-free,” Mukuhlani said during the board’s annual general meeting that was held virtually. “At the close of the just-ended financial year, we had whittled the USD 27 million legacy debt down to USD 1 million, in the process breaking the chains that had enslaved our organisation to an unending cycle of financial troubles.”Mukuhlani said ZC had managed to repay that debt by careful planning and “an intricate debt resolution plan” from the time he took charge in 2015. The repaid amounts included an obligation of USD 6 million to the ICC as well as loans worth up to USD 10 million that were housed under the Zimbabwe Asset Management Company (ZAMCO).”Under the arrangement, we were supposed to settle the ZAMCO obligations by 2023 but, as we take stock of the period under review, I am proud to report that – a whole three years earlier – ZC is nearly debt-free,” Mukuhlani said. He added that, with a significant portion of debt cleared, the focus would now be on the revival of club cricket and the re-establishment of a national academy.Apart from revitalising first-class cricket in the country, a provincial women’s competition was also in the works.ZC’s acting managing director Givemore Makoni also reiterated that the organisation would prioritise boosting its game development as well as domestic and international cricket structures.”The beauty of the mess – an oxymoron if ever there was one – was our ability to make the most of the difficult situation,” he said. “This would not have been possible without the commitment, hard work and massive sacrifices made by our management and staff who had to face layoffs, take pay cuts and operate within shoe-string budgets to ensure cricket continued being played at all levels.”The difficulties we faced – and conquered – in 2019-20 could only prepare us for a better future.”

Brijesh Patel, the IPL Governing Council chairman, has confirmed the development

Nagraj Gollapudi10-Aug-2020The BCCI has received the much-awaited permission from the Indian government to conduct the IPL in the UAE. Brijesh Patel, the IPL Governing Council chairman, has confirmed the development.Although the BCCI had received an in-principle nod from the government, it was waiting for written permission to finalise the contract with the Emirates Cricket Board. Patel did not confirm the exact date, indicating the government permission came over the weekend.The tournament will be played between September 19 and November 10 with 60 matches at three venues: Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Although the tournament schedule has not yet been finalised, the eight teams have already been busy planning their travel to the UAE.Last week the IPL sent the franchises a set of draft standing operating procedures [SOPs] for the tournament including a rigorous testing process which commences before the teams board the flight to the UAE. Team members would need to undergo multiple tests including three tests upon reaching the UAE which would also involve a week-long quarantine before they can start training.The IPL made it clear that both team members as well as owners would need to strictly adhere to the rules laid out to be part of the biosecure bubble. Any breach of the protocols, the IPL warned, would be “punishable” under the tournament’s code of conduct.According to the draft SOPs, if the owners and family members step outside the bubble, they will need to understood a week-long quarantine and undergo fresh testing before re-entering the biosecure environment.During a virtual meeting last week, officials from various franchises communicated a set of concerns they had with the draft SOPs. One key concern was whether the quarantine measures could be relaxed for English and Australian players arriving from the UK after their limited overs series.

September white-ball series set to be confirmed but financial challenges remain

George Dobell at the Ageas Bowl13-Aug-2020English cricket has received a significant boost with the news that Australia are set to confirm their limited-overs tour in September.Confirmation of the tour, which will see the sides play three ODIs and three T20Is, means England’s men’s team should be able to fulfil all 18 international fixtures which were scheduled ahead of the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result, the ECB should be able to avoid the bleakest financial predictions that were made ahead of the season.Significant challenges remain, however. The ECB management recently warned the first-class counties that the next broadcast deal could be worth up to 50% less than the current deal – due, in part, to less competition in the market – meaning a period of cost-cutting is inevitable.ESPNcricinfo understands that among the options being considered is a partial move away from Lord’s as an administrative base and a move away from Loughborough as a performance base. While it is understood that the ECB is given a relatively favourable rental agreement at Lord’s by the MCC, there is ongoing consideration towards moving to less expensive offices elsewhere.ALSO READ: England’s white-ball tour of India postponed until 2021This possibility has been considered previously. This time, however, there is not only a financial incentive but a growing view that a game intent on becoming more inclusive for all aspects of society might benefit from a move away from St John’s Wood, the suburb of London where Lord’s is situated, which is one of the most expensive and exclusive parts of the country.Thought will also be given to moving away from the National Cricket Performance Centre in Loughborough. While the centre has outstanding facilities, there are suggestions it is largely replicating those offered at various other major grounds.Edgbaston, which is about to embark on the next stage of its redevelopment, is one location that is sure to be considered as an alternative for both the administrative and the performance set-ups. In the next few weeks, building work will begin at the ground on new residential and commercial premises which could easily be fitted as required by the ECB. Emirates Old Trafford is also likely to be considered.The ECB could move its offices away from Lord’s•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The most likely conclusion at this stage is that ECB could set up hubs in different areas of the country in order both to cut costs and to improve its relationships with the counties. While a complete move from London is unlikely, it does seem the ECB will follow other major companies – such as Channel 4, the BBC and HSBC – in moving away from the capital.A reduction in the headcount at the ECB, which has risen sharply in recent years, also appears inevitable. As part of a likely restructure, the pay of some executives could also be cut.While confirmation of the Australia tour will ease the ECB’s most immediate concerns, other scheduling issues remain. Most pertinently, there is ongoing discussion about a possible cut to the number of Tests played on the tour to India (from late January to late March) with suggestions it could be trimmed from five Tests to four or even three.England were originally scheduled to play three ODIs and three T20Is in India in September and October before returning for a five-Test series starting in January. Now, they will attempt to fit in as many of the limited-overs matches and Tests as possible in a window from late January to late March. At this stage, the tour is still scheduled to be staged in India, though there remains a strong possibility it will be moved to the UAE.There is also doubt about the viability of England’s limited-overs tour of South Africa, which had been pencilled in for December. The current Covid situation in South Africa suggests the tour would need to be staged behind closed doors in a biosecure bubble, which might prove both problematic logistically and prohibitively costly.Looking ahead to the 2021 English summer, the ECB is still waiting on confirmation over whether the World Test Championship final, which is planned for June, is to be postponed. In any event, it looks probable the Asia Cup, pushed back from September, will be held in June, which could see England’s fixture list hit as a consequence. England are due to host Sri Lanka for three T20Is and three ODIs from June, Pakistan (three T20Is, three ODIs) and India (five Tests).There are no immediate prospects of senior tours to either Pakistan or West Indies – the sides which have so far toured England in far-from-perfect circumstances this summer – though it appears there is some thought towards extending the next England tour of West Indies, in early 2022, from two Tests to three.

22 years after his first Surrey game at The Oval, Thursday could be Batty’s last

Matt Roller30-Sep-202022 years after his first appearance for Surrey at The Oval, Gareth Batty has accepted that Thursday’s T20 Blast quarter-final against Kent could be his last.It would be foolish to rule out the possibility of him extending his playing career, not least after a Blast campaign in which he has conceded a miserly 6.31 runs per over and recovered from a hamstring injury within two weeks. But at the ripe old age of 42, with his contract up at the end of the season and a coaching position at the club on the table, this may be his final week as a player.”We’ll get to the end of the season and then we’ll have a sit down,” Batty said. “I have a coaching role [already] so it’s about what is right for the group moving forward. We have to move forward as a club and if that means the claw replaces the pretty average old offspin, so be it.”If we do decide I don’t play, we’ll be going out for dinner. I’ll buy Vikram [Solanki] and Stewie [Alec Stewart] a slap-up meal for the first time ever, we’ll have a glass of something and I’ll say thanks, to move forward. The exciting bit is that whatever happens, I’m winning.”ALSO READ: ‘Old blokes win stuff’ – Why experience is key in the T20 BlastIn the absence of the injured Jade Dernbach, Batty captained Surrey for the first seven games of their Blast season before his hamstring problem. They began the tournament with a threadbare squad due to injury and international call-ups, but the number of available players has swelled since: Laurie Evans and Jamie Overton arrived on loan ahead of permanent deals next year, while Rory Burns, Jason Roy and Ben Foakes are back from England bubbles and Hashim Amla arrived from South Africa.”We played an intra-squad practice game yesterday and I think at one point we had 21 players all fit and available for selection,” Batty said. “It’s a bit of contrast to six weeks ago when we were scrambling around for 11.”There will be some disappointed boys, but hopefully it stands us in good stead – if we can get over the line tomorrow – with three games in three days. That is pretty full on, so having bodies available and ready to go – and obviously they are quality players – is an advantage for us.”There will be a dilemma at the top of the order, with a decision to make over who bats where between Roy, Amla, Evans and breakout star Will Jacks, while youngsters Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson may be squeezed out in order to accommodate more experienced players.Batty has been particularly impressed by Overton – whom he dubs Surrey’s “own Andre Russell: bowls rockets, and smacks it out the ground” – since his move from Somerset, and quipped that after a lean summer with the bat in international cricket, Roy has been saving his best for his county.”He knew he’d get back at some point and thought he’d save them for the good lads,” he laughed. “In our last game he showed what a good player he is: he’s world-class. When Jason plays like that you can count on one hand the better players in the world.”It’s obvious, but four into three doesn’t go so, someone will bat fractionally out of position. It will be covered off with that player, and no stone left unturned. We are very fortunate to have four exceptional players in the top order, and someone will have a change of role.”Surrey’s record in T20 has been underwhelming in recent years – they have not reached Finals Day since 2014 – but things have been different this year. They have exploited home conditions to their advantage, playing on used, central pitches to create enormous square boundaries to support their spinners and allow their seamers to bang the ball in, and are on a seven-match winning run heading into Thursday’s quarter-final.Vikram Solanki is in his first season as Surrey’s head coach•Getty Images

Batty was effusive in his praise for Solanki, and in particular the pre-match planning and preparation that he has put into place in his first season as head coach, and insisted that regardless how he fares against Kent, he will be playing with a smile on his face after wondering if he would step onto the pitch at all this year.”Whenever I get on the cricket field now it feels like a day out,” he grinned. “[Covid-19] puts things into perspective, it really does. I’m very aware that I’m pretty much done, but it’s nice that you can still contribute in a positive way.”There’s been some really good cricket played [this season] and there’s been a progression in how people are playing the game. People are learning from how different competitions around the world are accelerating T20 cricket. It’s not the same old mundane ‘he’s going to do this, he’s going to do that’, [teams are] trying to move the game forward.”Kent are a very dangerous team. We’re very aware of that. They’ve got some very fine players who tore it up with England this year, on a bit of a high. Hopefully we’re all going out there to fulfil our roles and help Surrey over the line. If some old sod manages to get a few wickets you’ll see a smile on his face; even if he doesn’t, there will still be a smile.”

“You keep talking about process, process… but the process of selection itself is wrong”

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Oct-2020Kris Srikkanth, the former India captain and chairman of the selection committee, had strong words for MS Dhoni after the Chennai Super Kings succumbed to a seven-wicket loss against the Rajasthan Royals, calling his selections throughout the season as “ridiculous” and “rubbish”.Monday’s defeat was the Super Kings’ seventh of the tournament, leaving them rooted to the bottom of the points table and in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time in their history. After the game, Dhoni told the official broadcaster Star Sports that the youngsters in the team had not showed him the kind of “spark” that would have warranted their inclusion in the side.A visibly distraught Srikkanth, however, rubbished all of Dhoni’s claims, taking particular umbrage over the continued selections of Piyush Chawla and Kedar Jadhav, who he had suggested needed a scooter to move around quickly on the field.”I will never accept what Dhoni is saying about this process,” Srikkanth told Star Sports Tamil. “This process he keeps talking about is meaningless. You keep talking about process, process… but the process of selection itself is wrong.”ALSO READ: Why Dhoni and Jadeja got stuck against RoyalsSrikkanth, who was the brand ambassador of the Super Kings franchise during the inaugural IPL season, singled out the case of N Jagadeesan as an example of someone who had not been given a fair chance in the team; Jagadeesan has played just one game all season, scoring 33 against the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Jadhav, meanwhile, has played eight matches making just 62 runs in total, and has struggled to make an impact.”What is Dhoni’s deal? He says Jagadeesan doesn’t have spark, but does ‘scooter’ Jadhav have that spark? This is ridiculous. I will not accept this answer today. All this talk of process, and Chennai’s tournament itself is over.”Dhoni now says that since the pressure is off, he’ll give the youngsters a chance. Come on, . I don’t understand this rubbish about the process at all. What spark didn’t he see in Jagadeesan? What spark did he see in Jadhav and Piyush Chawla?”Karn Sharma at least took wickets. Chawla simply goes through the motions of bowling, coming on when the game is already lost. Dhoni may be a (big shot) and there is no doubt he is great, but I cannot agree with him or accept this.”

He played an unofficial Test against Ceylon in Ahmedabad in 1965

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Nov-2020CK Bhaskaran, the former Kerala first-class cricketer who once played an unofficial Test for an Indian team led by Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi against Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) in January 1965, has died at the age of 79. Bhaskaran passed away in Houston, USA, where he had practiced medicine for the past many years.Bhaskaran, born in 1941 in Thalassery, played 42 first-class matches between 1957-58 and 1968-69 as a medium pacer, picking up 106 wickets at an average of 29.05. He had five five-wicket hauls to his name.That game against Ceylon, in Ahmedabad, was the closest Bhaskaran got to international cricket.Opening the bowling with Mumbai left-arm medium pacer Umesh Kulkarni, he returned 2 for 35 from ten overs in the Ceylon first innings, and bowled a further eight overs (none for 16) in the second as Pataudi’s star-studded team lost by four wickets.

The BCCI is expected to take a final call during its annual general meeting on Thursday

Nagraj Gollapudi23-Dec-2020The IPL will dominate the agenda of the BCCI annual general meeting on Thursday, with the tournament likely to expand to ten teams from 2022. The 2021 season, due to start in April, could stick with eight teams or have a ninth, depending on logistical issues being worked out.In early December the BCCI informed its state associations that one of the key items on the AGM agenda would be the “approval” of two new IPL teams.In the past such a proposal would have been deliberated by the IPL Governing Council, but this time the BCCI top brass comprising its president Sourav Ganguly, secretary Jay Shah and treasurer Arun Dhumal, along with the IPL chief operating officer Hemang Amin, have had discussions in private.Related

• IPL could have two new teams as BCCI seeks 'approval' at AGM

At the AGM, which will be held in Ahmedabad, the BCCI will seek approval from its members, the state associations, on one of the options after giving them a presentation of the pros and cons of each option.Paucity of time along with the complexities of conducting the tournament during the Covid-19 pandemic are the two main deterrents the BCCI has recognised against adding two new teams in 2021 itself. With the next edition of the IPL scheduled for an April start, the BCCI has just four months to achieve several targets if two new teams are to be added.First, the BCCI would need to issue a tender to invite bidders to buy the two new franchises. It would also need to list a set number of cities around India for the bidders to pick their home base from. That would be followed by a mega auction where all 10 franchises would build their squads. Even before that the existing eight franchises would need to be told how many players they could retain including the combination of Indian and overseas players.The other significant challenge for the BCCI concerning the 2021 IPL is that it is yet to finalise the venue for the tournament. Right now India remains the preferred choice. However the BCCI would still keep a back-up venue like the UAE in mind in case it cannot create a biosecure bubble for the multi-team tournament in India, which has gone past the 10-million mark for total Covid-19 cases, the second-highest globally.While the majority of the eight existing franchises would prefer the 2021 IPL to not have any additional teams for different reasons, the state associations don’t mind either way. A few state associations favour a nine-team IPL from 2021 and would consider a tenth team in the future. Either way that would entail the BCCI conducting a mega auction.In normal circumstances a mega auction was scheduled before the 2021 IPL. The IPL conducts a mega auction every three years with the last one held in 2018. In case the BCCI does not add any new team for the 2021 edition it would only conduct a mini auction, which would allow the current eight franchises to retain the bulk of their squads and only make alterations and additions to them.Pragyan Ojha to be part of IPL Governing CouncilThe Indian Cricketers’ Association (ICA) has nominated the former India spinner Pragyan Ojha to the IPL Governing Council. Ojha will replace former Delhi and India batsman Surinder Khanna. As per the BCCI constitution, updated in the wake of the Lodha Committee reforms, the ICA representative will be nominated Governing Council every year.Ojha will join former India batsman Brijesh Patel and Khairul Majumdar, the Mizoram Cricket Association president, who were elected unopposed for a second term from the BCCI general body to sit on the IPL Governing Council.

Updates, analysis and colour from the final day in Chennai

Matt Roller09-Feb-2021*Most recent entry will appear at the top, please refresh your page for the latest updates. All times are local.1.35pm: Archer finishes itNo five-for for Leach, who picks up the No. 9, Shahbaz Nadeem, via a deflection off the keeper to slip in over after Kohli’s dismissal; Root then went back to Archer for the final wicket, Jasprit Bumrah nicking behind to seal victory by 227 runs for England. This is England’s sixth win in a row away from home, and their first in India since 2012. It’s only India’s second defeat in that timeframe – but it has set the series up beautifully, the tourists 1-0 up with three to play.1.15pm: Stokes gets KohliThat’s the big one! This emphasises just how difficult the pitch has become. Kohli had been almost faultless in this innings, barely playing a false shot, but is deceived by one which shoots through from a length, with a big puff of dust coming off the surface in the process. It pings back his off stump, and England are on the cusp of their sixth consecutive away Test win.