Month: May 2024

South Africa’s T20 World Cup squad has “failed to meet the [transformation] targets set by CSA”, resulting in the board’s admission that “various initiatives that have been pursued over the years have not yielded the desired results, especially in terms of producing Black African cricketers at the highest levels”. But this will not, according to a board spokesperson, extend to interference in selection. The 15-player provisional squad includes six players…

Match details Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab KingsGuwahati, 7.30pm IST (2pm GMT) Big picture: Who will replace Buttler for RR? From being fairly well-placed to top the points table, Rajasthan Royals now run the risk of slipping out of the top two – or, worse, even being knocked out – after suffering three successive defeats at the pointy end of the tournament. Royals are currently on 16 points, and four other…

Key, the managing director of the England men’s teams, regularly meets players for appraisals and told Anderson that they should meet in person. “When we made the decision and we thought, ‘OK, we need to go and meet Jimmy and discuss the future’, Brendon came to the conclusion that the right thing to do was to fly over to England [from New Zealand],” Key told the BBC’s Test Match Special…

Taskin Ahmed has been named in Bangladesh’s 15-member squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup despite his injury. Taskin, who has also been named vice-captain, suffered a side strain during the recent series against Zimbabwe and will receive treatment for the next few weeks to get fit before the tournament starts next month. Najmul Hossain Shanto will lead the team that also has Shakib Al Hasan, who has played every…

The Impact Player rule in the IPL has not gone down too well with some current players and coaches, but former India coach Ravi Shastri is in favour of it, saying it has contributed to a number of thrilling finishes. “The Impact Player [rule] is good. You have to evolve with the times,” Shastri told R Ashwin on his Youtube channel. “You know, it happens in other sports as well….

Former South Africa limited-overs captain Johan Botha has been appointed as the new head coach of BBL reigning champions Brisbane Heat and Queensland in the Sheffield Shield and the Marsh Cup for the next three years. Botha, 42, was appointed following a thorough recruitment process in the wake of Wade Seccombe’s departure. Queensland WNCL and Brisbane Heat women’s coach Ashley Noffke and former England allrounder Adam Hollioake were also in…

Cricket Ireland has officially confirmed a first men’s tour of Pakistan in August and September next year. The series, which will see Ireland and Pakistan play three T20Is and three ODIs, was a part of the Future Tours Programme (FTP), scheduled for September 2025. The release makes no detailed mention of dates and venues, or any other specifics concerning the schedule of the tour. It follows in the wake of…

Match abandoned without a ball bowled Gujarat TItans vs Kolkata Knight Riders A combination of lightning and rain forced the first abandoned game of IPL 2024 in Ahmedabad on Monday, and in the process confirmed two things: Kolkata Knight Riders’ top-two finish in the league stage and Gujarat Titans’ elimination from playoff contention. Only a win could’ve kept eighth-placed GT in the hunt, but rain did not even allow for…

Kent 407 (Leaning 179*, Bell-Drummond 67, Swanepoel 54, Leach 3-37) and 146 for 4 (Finch 48*) drew with Worcestershire 618 for 7 dec (Holder 123*, Roderick 117, Waite 100*, Hose 90, Kashif 72, Evison 3-58) Kent survived some occasional alarms to bat out a draw with Worcestershire on the final day of their Vitality County Championship at Canterbury. The captains shook hands just after five o’clock, with Kent on 146…

Gloucestershire 409 (Hammond 112, Bancroft 53, Kaul 5-76) and 319 for 5 dec (Bancroft 130*, van Buuren 67) beat Northamptonshire 171 (de Lange 5-42) and 301 (Gay 74, Nair 61, Procter 60, de Lange 3-58, Singh Dale 3-69) by 256 runs Gloucestershire pace bowler Marchant de Lange led the charge with three wickets to set up Gloucestershire’s first Vitality County Championship victory since September 2022 on the final day of…