Mohammad Asif made a return to competitive cricket after his suspension by playing the National One Day Cup in January © AFP Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Asif, who completed a five-year suspension for spot-fixing in September last year, will captain the Sialkot Region team in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy grade-2 tournament, which starts from Saturday in Bahawalpur. Asif’s contract with the grade-1 side, Water and Power Development Authority [WAPDA], is unaffected…
Chance for India to test bench strength
Will Pawan Negi be handed an international debut? © BCCI Match facts Thursday, March 3, 2015Start time 1930 (1330 GMT) Big picture This is the deadest of rubbers. India are through to the Asia Cup final. UAE have no chance of joining them. What’s more, the result of this match, no matter which way it turns out, won’t even matter to the other teams in their bid for the trophy…
Rahman to break new ground at Sussex
02 March 2016 | Callum Dent Tweet Left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman will become the first Bangladesh international to represent Sussex after signing for the Sharks’ limited-overs competitions this summer. The 20-year-old becomes Sussex’s second overseas player for the NatWest T20 Blast, after the capture of New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor, and is available for the duration of the campaign following his stint with Indian Premier…
Robson sticks with Middlesex
Opening batsman Sam Robson has provided Middlesex with a boost ahead of the new county season by signing a three-year contract extension. The 26-year-old, who played seven Tests for England in 2014, will now stay at Lord’s until at least the end of the 2018 season. Having made his first-class debut for the county in 2009, Robson has racked up 6,325 first-class runs at an average of 37.87 in 101…
Steyn return threatens Abbott run
Kyle Abbott helped South Africa to a 2-0 win over England last month © Getty Images After finishing as the joint-leading wicket-taker in two of South Africa’s last four T20 series, Kyle Abbott should feel assured of his place in the starting XI but the imminent return of Dale Steyn means he is not. With Steyn certain to play in at least two of the three matches against Australia to…
Taylor extends stay at Derbyshire
Derbyshire have handed promising fast bowler Tom Taylor a one-year contract extension at the 3aaa County Ground. The 21-year-old, who featured on the Potential England Performance Programme which toured South Africa this winter, has committed to the county until the end of 2017. Taylor has claimed 43 wickets in 15 first-class matches with impressive career-best figures of 6-61. Elite performance director Graeme Welch is pleased with the progress of Taylor,…
Yorkshire name squad for UAE tour
Yorkshire have announced an 18-man squad for their pre-season tour of United Arab Emirates which includes the annual Champion County four-day clash against Marylebone Cricket Club from March 20. The White Rose are without England internationals Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett, Joe Root and David Willey due to their ICC World Twenty20 commitments, plus the rested Jonny Bairstow. The quintet’s absences have seen emerging all-rounder Matthew Waite and academy wicketkeeper Jonathan…
Yorkshire board 'misleading people' – Boycott
Geoffrey Boycott remains concerned about Yorkshire’s financial position © Getty Images Geoff Boycott has hit back at suggestions that his involvement on the Yorkshire board could prove disruptive and reiterated concerns about the club’s financial position. Boycott is set to stand for re-election to the Yorkshire board at the end of March but the he faces opposition from the current hierarchy, with chairman Steve Denison describing it as potentially “counter-productive”….
Pakistan opt to bat in must-win game, bring in Anwar Ali
Toss Pakistan chose to bat v BangladeshLive scorecard and ball-by-ball details File photo – Pakistan brought in Anwar Ali in place of left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz © Associated Press Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi decided to bat on a barren pitch in Mirpur in their crucial Asia Cup game against Bangladesh. Mashrafe Mortaza, the Bangladesh captain, said he would have batted first, too. Tamim Iqbal returned to the Bangladesh XI after…
Mahendra Singh Dhoni Lauds Jasprit Bumrah Post India's Emphatic Win Over Sri Lanka
Mahendra Singh Dhoni was all praise for Jasprit Bumrah, who came into the national reckoning after a successful stint with the Mumbai Indians in IPL. © AFP Mirpur: Mahendra Singh Dhoni is a relieved man after the emergence of young Jasprit Bumrah as a potent “death overs” bowler. The India captain complimented the Gujarat pacer for not only being effective with the new but also with the old ball. (Kohli,…