9:43 AM GMT ESPNcricinfo staff Despite the concerns around COVID-19 (novel coronavirus), the initial plan was to play out the short three-ODI series between India and South Africa, the second and third games behind closed doors. But after the first ODI in Dharamsala was washed out, the remaining games were cancelled for the time being. Now back home, Dr Shuaib Manjra, CSA’s chief medical officer, told the South African side…
3:07 AM GMT As may happen with many leagues and tournaments around the world, the Sheffield Shield was decided in the boardroom rather than on the pitch as coronavirus brought the Australian summer to an early and abrupt finish, but few could argue that New South Wales were not deserving of the title even if it will always be linked to extraordinary circumstances. As Kevin Roberts, the Cricket Australia chief…
12:39 PM GMT Matt Roller Close Matt Roller is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. He tweets at @mroller98 Alex Hales has confirmed he is self-isolating at home after developing symptoms of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) following his return from the Pakistan Super League. The PSL’s organisers confirmed on Tuesday morning that the competition’s semi-finals and finals had been postponed indefinitely after a player had shown symptoms of the virus. PCB chief…
10:01 AM GMT ESPNcricinfo staff Jofra Archer has spoken out against racist abuse and called for action against its perpetrators after posting screenshots of direct messages he had received, on his Instagram story. “I [have] given a lot of thought about reacting to this and I hope that no-one else has to deal with stuff like this on a regular basis,” Archer wrote on his story. “It isn’t ever acceptable…
Cameron Delport hits down the ground © PCB/PSL The Pakistan Super League, which had tweaked the original schedule to shorten it by four days with an eye on the worsening COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) situation, has been called off by the PCB, a representative of one the franchises that had qualified for the semi-finals – scheduled for today – confirmed to ESPNcricinfo. More to follow… Umar Farooq is ESPNcricinfo’s Pakistan correspondent…
5:36 AM GMT ESPNcricinfo staff Virat Kohli‘s demeanour on the field has pleased and upset people equally, with some welcoming his in-your-face pumped-up aggression, and others calling for a more restrained approach. As far as Madan Lal, the new head of the BCCI’s cricket advisory committee, is concerned, asking Kohli to “mellow down” makes no sense, and India “need a captain like him”. During India’s tour of New Zealand, Kohli…
3:55 AM GMT Strategic cash reserves and standing agreements to take control of the nation’s biggest sporting venues for next summer’s T20 World Cup will be tightly held by Cricket Australia ahead of an off-season that is set to see winter sports ravaged by efforts to fight the global spread of coronavirus. In announcing that CA had chosen to cancel the Sheffield Shield final and award the title to the…
12:24 AM GMT ESPNcricinfo staff New South Wales have been named the Sheffield Shield champions after the final was cancelled during the coronavirus pandemic. In a move that had been likely for some days following the abandonment of the final round of matches, Cricket Australia confirmed the decision on Tuesday as they also “strong recommended” that cricket at all levels was cancelled while they also closing their offices. New South…
Fantasy Pick: Trust Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam on the big day (8:40) Along with the former Pakistan cricketer Saqlain Mushtaq, we help you pick your fantasy team for the upcoming semi-final between Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars in PSL 2020 (8:40) 3:35 PM GMT ESPNcricinfo staff March 17: PSL semi-final – Karachi Kings v Lahore Qalandars, Lahore Our XI: Ben Dunk, Sohail Akhtar, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Cameron Delport,…
Kamran Akmal, Khushdil Shah key in semi-final outcome (9:18) Saqlain Mushtaq helps you pick your fantasy team for the semi-final between Multan Sultans and Peshawar Zalmi (9:18) 3:09 PM GMT Big Picture When the PSL left the UAE behind as a temporary staging venue, the expectation was that it would also mean leaving behind an era of matches often played with plenty of empty seats. But the Coronavirus outbreak has…