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It is understood he was the Cricket Advisory Committee’s unanimous choice who conducted the interviews

Nagraj Gollapudi04-Jul-2023Ajit Agarkar, the former India fast bowler, has been named chairman of selectors for the Indian men’s team. Agarkar, 45, filled the position which had been vacant since February after Chetan Sharma stepped down in the wake up of a sting operation conducted on him by an Indian television network.Agarkar is the fifth member of the India men’s selection panel which already includes Shiv Sunder Das, Salil Ankola, Subroto Banerjee and S Sharath. Having played 26 Test and 191 ODIs, Agarkar is the senior-most member of the panel and as per BCCI rules becomes its chairman. First on their plate is selecting the side for the five T20Is against West Indies starting August 3.Agarkar, it is understood, was the unanimous choice of the three-person Cricket Advisory Committee comprising Ashok Malhotra, Sulakshana Naik and Jatin Paranjape, which conducted the interviews on Monday. It could not be confirmed whether Agarkar was the solitary applicant for the position for which the BCCI had advertised, with June 30 as the deadline.This will be the second time Agarkar, who has also played four T20Is for India, will play the role of chairman of selectors, having performed the job at a smaller level for Mumbai between 2017-19. Agarkar was part of the coaching staff at Delhi Capitals for the last two years but they have since parted ways.India are a team in transition, and the uncertainty around their selection panel has only added to that feeling. It all began last year when the BCCI moved away from the convention of giving a chairman two terms and asked for new applications for Chetan’s role following the semi-final loss in the T20 World Cup. But, the board failed to attract a better option, and re-elected Chetan the chairman of selectors only for the sting operation leading to his resignation, which has never been acknowledged by the BCCI.Agarkar’s appointment results in the panel having two selectors from West Zone, Ankola being the other one. In the BCCI constitution, drafted as per the RM Lodha-committee recommendations, there is no mention of selectors being appointed on a zonal basis; just that the five of them should have been retired for at least five years and played a certain number of matches. While the BCCI has followed an unwritten rule of picking a selector from each of the five zones traditionally, the advertisement for the role never specified it was looking for a candidate from a specific zone.

Sri Lanka ahead in race, Zimbabwe need a win, Scotland and Netherlands face a steeper road

S Rajesh01-Jul-2023Sri Lanka
A win against Zimbabwe on Sunday will ensure qualification for Sri Lanka as only one out of Zimbabwe or Scotland can reach eight points, as they are playing against each other. Even if Sri Lanka lose to Zimbabwe, they can still qualify if they beat West Indies in their last match on July 7. Zimbabwe and Scotland can also finish on eight points, but Sri Lanka should go through, given their excellent net run rate of 1.832.However, if Sri Lanka lose both their matches, then they can be knocked out, as Zimbabwe and Scotland can both finish above them on eight.Related

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Zimbabwe
Like Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe have taken all the points on offer from their three games so far, but their run rate isn’t as high as Sri Lanka, which leaves them more susceptible on NRR. For instance, even if they beat Sri Lanka, a defeat to Scotland could leave Zimbabwe in danger of missing out if Scotland win their last match and finish on eight, and if Sri Lanka beat West Indies.Zimbabwe’s NRR is currently 0.752, but if they beat Sri Lanka by a run and lose to Scotland by 40 (with first-innings scores of 300), then their net run rate will drop to 0.281, which can be overhauled by Scotland. However, if they beat Scotland on Tuesday, then they will qualify for sure, regardless of the result against Sri Lanka on Sunday.Scotland
Scotland have kept themselves in the hunt with the convincing win against West Indies. Not only have they added two points to their tally, but they have also improved their NRR to 0.188. Wins in their last two games will lift them to eight points, which will ensure qualification if Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe on Sunday. If Zimbabwe win that game, then all three teams could finish on eight, bringing run rates into play.Their next game, against Zimbabwe on Tuesday, is a must-win for them. A defeat will mean they can’t catch up with Zimbabwe on points, and Sri Lanka will almost certainly finish higher on NRR even if they lose both and stay on six points.Netherlands
Netherlands need to win both their games by fairly significant margins and finish on six points and then hope that several other results go their way. Their best bet will be for Sri Lanka to qualify, and for the second place to be a three-way battle among them, Zimbabwe and Scotland.To give an idea of result margins involved, if Netherlands win their last two games by a combined margin of 90 runs, and if Zimbabwe lose their last two by the same combined margin (with first-innings scores of 250), then Netherlands will sneak ahead of Zimbabwe on NRR.

“We are looking at various plans as we try to find the right combinations [ahead of the 2024 T20I World Cup],” Desmond Haynes says

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Aug-2023Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer, as well as Oshane Thomas, have been recalled to the West Indies T20I squad for the five-match series against India as they look for the “right combinations” ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup, to be played at home in the Caribbean and the USA.From West Indies’ last T20I squad, which won 2-1 in South Africa in March, the selectors have left out Shamarh Brooks, Raymon Reifer, Yannic Cariah and Sheldon Cottrell.Lead selector Desmond Haynes said in a press conference that Cariah and Cottrell were in the selectors’ conversations, but they chose the “express pace” of Thomas and were content with just two spinners in the squad: Roston Chase and Akeal Hosein. Haynes also urged the ground staff in the Caribbean to prepare pitches with more purchase for the fast bowlers going forward in T20Is, so that West Indies will have an advantage over certain teams at the T20 World Cup.Related

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The provisional 15-man squad, which will travel for all the five matches – to be played from August 3 and 13 – will be trimmed to a squad of 13 for each game before a final XI is picked.”We want people with a little bit of X-factor,” Haynes said on the inclusion of Thomas and Hope. “With Oshane, we’re looking at somebody who is going to make a difference with pace. As you know, Oshane was in the wilderness for a while, he’s come back and worked very hard. He seemed to me as though he’s very keen and really wants to get back to top shape and also to be bowling fast again. I personally think that we need to find some fast bowlers in the Caribbean and I think with the start with Oshane, I’m hoping that [it’s] time to get ready to go to Australia for the Test series [in January 2024] with six or seven fast bowlers.”We thought that Shai is obviously batting very well and well enough to play all three competitions for West Indies.”The squad is selected with the next ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in mind. We are looking at various plans as we try to find the right combinations. As we prepare, we are looking to build a unit which we believe can do the job when we host the global event in just under a year. We have some match-winners in our line-up and we will look to have the right kind of preparation, starting here in Trinidad on Thursday.”Haynes added that some other players could “come into consideration going forward” depending on performances in the CPL starting on August 17.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Hetmyer last played a T20I in August last year and returned to the ODI fold only recently, after being left out of the ODI World Cup qualifier in June. He had earlier been left out of the white-ball set-up because of form and fitness issues. Hetmyer recently played two T20s for runners-up Seattle Orcas in the inaugural Major League Cricket MLC in the USA and had scored 299 runs for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL this year, at a strike rate of 151.77, while averaging 37.37.Hope, the West Indies ODI captain and star batter in the format, also returned after over a year, having last played a T20I in February 2022 in India. He has played only 19 T20Is, striking at 121.11 with a poor average of 17.88. His last T20 was in the previous PSL for winners Lahore Qalandars.Among the returnees, Thomas’ absence was the longest. He had been out of the T20I set-up since December 2021. To add to that, he has not played any cricket since December 2022, when he featured in the Lanka Premier League for Kandy Falcons. He has been part of the ODI squad against India but didn’t play in the first two games.Oshane Thomas has been brought in to “make a difference with pace”•AFP

On picking just two spin options in the squad, Haynes said, “We didn’t go for a legbreak-googly bowler for these games. We’re still trying to find the right combination because we would like to know that we have got a T20 team that can be very competitive. Playing at home in the T20 World Cup, we’d like to be very, very competitive. Akeal Hosein has been very good for us in the T20 games and Roston Chase has also done well, and we thought we’d go for the offspin option this time and also with Akeal.”In that way, we are quite happy, but in these T20s, we decided to look for a combination where we would like to get a little bit of pace. Apart from Alzarri [Joseph], we don’t really have express pace, so we thought let Oshane have a look-in as well. We’ve got Obed [McCoy] who can swing the new ball and bowl a lot of varieties.”These five T20Is against India will be played across the Caribbean and the USA. After the series starts in Tarouba on August 3, Providence will host two games on August 6 and 8 before the teams fly to Lauderhill in Florida for the last two games on August 12 and 13.West Indies squad for T20I series against India: Rovman Powell (capt), Kyle Mayers (vice-capt), Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Obed McCoy, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Oshane Thomas

There is more confidence over Haris Rauf’s recovery after Pakistan’s Asia Cup campaign was hit by injuries

Danyal Rasool15-Sep-20231:47

‘Pakistan lack in batting intent and quality spinner’ – Urooj Mumtaz

Babar Azam has raised the possibility that Naseem Shah may not recover in time to take part in Pakistan’s opening games at the World Cup in India. While the PCB has not made public any timeline for Naseem’s recovery from a right shoulder injury, Babar appeared unsure as to whether Naseem would be fit for from the outset of the tournament next month.There is more confidence that Haris Rauf, who is nursing a side issue, will be fit for the start of the World Cup; Pakistan did not even officially rule him out of the Asia Cup or formally induct his replacement, Shahnawaz Dahani, into the squad. Speaking post-match after Pakistan’s last-ball defeat and elimination from the Asia Cup at Sri Lanka’s hands, Babar was similarly confident about Rauf’s chances, while seeming to equivocate over Naseem’s full World Cup availability.When asked what plans Pakistan had should Naseem and Rauf miss out, Babar was coy about back-up plans but did expand on the prospects of both.”I’ll tell you later,” he said. “Not telling you our Plan B now. But yes, Haris Rauf is not bad. He’s just got a little bit of a side strain, but he’s recovering before the World Cup. Naseem Shah also… they have a couple of miss matches, I don’t know [how long] the recovery [is], but in my opinion, Naseem Shah also [will be] in the World Cup later on. But let’s see.”The PCB has not yet detailed how severe the nature of Naseem’s injury is. He is currently in Dubai undergoing scans for the muscle injury below his right shoulder, one he appeared to sustain while bowling at the death against India on Monday. He went off in the middle of the over and was ruled out of the tournament soon after. Rauf didn’t bowl that day either, with the issue in his side keeping him out, and Pakistan rested him out of an abundance of caution with the World Cup fast approaching.Naseem, 20, has had injury issues in the early stages of his career. A back injury he sustained one year into his international career when he was 17 years old kept him out of cricket for 14 months. Six weeks after his return, he was sidelined for a month with a shoulder injury he suffered on his debut in the County Championship with Gloucestershire.In the 18 months since, his workload has increased significantly. While only a red-ball player at the time, Naseem has become a crucial bowler for Pakistan across all three formats. He is their most potent bowler since making his ODI debut, with 32 wickets in 14 matches at under 17.In the absence of the two fast bowlers, Pakistan played Mohammad Wasim Jnr and Zaman Khan in their must-win game against Sri Lanka. Wicket-taking proved a problem for much of Sri Lanka’s chase, with neither able to make an impression, their combined nine overs going for 64 runs as Sri Lanka sneaked home at the death.Pakistan’s squad will return home from Sri Lanka on Friday via Dubai.

Following the win in the Mohali ODI against Australia, they moved past Pakistan to become the top-ranked team in ODIs

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Sep-2023India have moved past Pakistan to become the No. 1 ranked team in ODIs ahead of the World Cup at home. As a result, they now occupy the top spot across formats, having already been No. 1 in Tests and T20Is. India are only the second team in men’s cricket history to achieve this feat after South Africa did it in August 2012.India are on 116 rating points, one ahead of Pakistan, after their victory over Australia on Friday. However, they could still slip down the table if Australia win the remaining two matches in the series.Related

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Over the course of this month, India, Pakistan and Australia were all in contention for the top spot. Pakistan emerged with it at the end of the Asia Cup, even though they had a poor tournament. Australia’s challenge fell away after they lost three straight ODIs to South Africa. India went on to win their eighth Asia Cup title after consigning Sri Lanka to a heavy defeat in the final and backed that performance up by dispatching Pat Cummins’ team with ease. Mohammed Shami picked up a career-best five-for and four of their top six scored half-centuries.India also have four players occupying the No. 1 positions across formats: Suryakumar Yadav is the No. 1 batter in T20Is, Mohammed Siraj is the No. 1 bowler in ODIs while R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are at the top of the bowling and allrounder charts in Tests.India are set to play two more ODIs against Australia, in Indore and Rajkot respectively. They will also be playing two World Cup warm-up matches before opening their campaign in the tournament proper against Australia on October 8 in Chennai.

Middlesex-bound skipper has now registered his most prolific red ball campaign for Derbyshire

ECB Reporters Network12-Sep-2023Skipper Leus du Plooy’s fourth LV= Insurance County Championship century of a prolific season ensured Derbyshire of a first innings lead on a rain-curtailed third day of the match with Gloucestershire at the Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol.The 28-year-old South African was 103 not out at stumps, taking his run tally in the competition this summer to 1,155 at an average of 88.84, as his side posted 398 for 9 from an overnight 262 for 6 in reply to Gloucestershire 377.Unbeaten on 44 at the start of play, du Plooy’s innings extended to four hours on a slow pitch. He faced 154 deliveries and struck 13 fours. Left-arm spinner Zafar Gohar was the most successful of the home bowlers with four for 121 from 38 overs.Persistent rain throughout the morning delayed the start. An early lunch taken at noon, with a view to a 12.40pm start, but it was a further half hour before conditions were deemed playable.A day in which 104 overs were due to be bowled saw the number reduced to 72. With five until the second new ball, Gloucestershire opened with spin at both ends, but neither Gohar nor debutant Ed Middleton was able to engineer a breakthrough.A single off Gohar took du Plooy, unbeaten on 44 overnight, to his sixth Championship half-century of the summer, off 81 balls, with 7 fours. The new ball was taken at 272 for 6, but made little initial impact as Anuj Dal supported his skipper with a valuable innings of 21.It ended with the reintroduction of Gohar and a delivery which appeared to keep a little low in piercing Dall’s defence and bowling him between bat and pad. At 292 for 7, Derbyshire trailed by 85 and required another meaningful partnership.Alex Thomson helped du Plooy supply it with an impressive contribution for a player with a highest first class score of 54. He contributed 34 from 65 balls to an eighth-wicket stand of 65 in 15 overs that took the total to 357.Having hit 5 meaty fours and handled the short ball well, Thomson miscued an attempted pull shot and was on his way back to the pavilion before Miles Hammond pouched a straightforward catch.The unflappable du Plooy then found another reliable partner in Mark Watt as they closed the remaining 20-run deficit of their opponents’ first innings score. It was the captain who put his side in front with a swept single off Gohar.By tea, the pair had taken the score to 388 for 8 off 108 overs, with two more to notch the 12 runs necessary for a fourth batting point. Unbeaten on 97, du Plooy needed just two deliveries after the break to loft offspinner Ollie Price over mid-on for his 13th four and a hundred off 151 balls.Two balls into the second over after tea light rain started falling and the players left the field with the scoreboard reading 394 for eight. Nine more overs were lost before the resumption saw Watt cover drive Middleton for four.Derbyshire needed two runs off the final ball of the over for the extra batting point. But Middleton kept his cool and registered his maiden first class wicket when Watt gave him the charge and was stumped by James Bracey yards out of his crease.Watt left the pitch thumping his pad in frustration, which must have grown when the umpires took the players off again, this time for bad light, without another ball bowled. Gloucestershire at least had the consolation of a third bowling point, courtesy of their young legspinner. More rain began falling and umpires Tom Lungley and Jack Shantry abandoned play for the day at 5.25pm.

Lanning said she hasn’t worked out what she will do next but she will continue to play WBBL, WNCL and the WPL to honour her existing contracts

Alex Malcolm09-Nov-2023An emotional Meg Lanning says her decision to retire from international cricket had been building for quite some time as she realised she was no longer fully committed to doing all that was required to play for Australia.Lanning, 31, made the shock announcement on Thursday that she would be retiring from international cricket effectively immediately. She said she had only realised the decision in her own mind in the last 48 hours but had been thinking about it for 18 months.Lanning’s steely gaze has been a trademark over a glittering career and it was jarring to see her visibly shaken and in tears when speaking to the media outside the MCG on Thursday with a select group of family and friends in attendance.Related

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The five-time World Cup-winning captain said that her time away from the game over the last 18 months, having taken two extended playing breaks for differing reasons had made it easier for her to walk away, after she had battled to find the motivation to keep playing following a 13-year international career.”I’ve come to the realisation that I’ve probably been trying to convince myself a little bit over the last 18 months why I should keep playing and what it is that I want to achieve,” Lanning said.”I’m not someone who can do things half-in half-out. I’ve battled away a little bit trying to work all that out. But it sort of became quite clear, particularly over the last couple of days that this was the right call and what I’m ready for.Meg Lanning announcing her retirement from international cricket•Getty Images

“Since I’ve made the decision I’ve certainly felt a little bit relieved, I guess, to have made a call and be a little bit clearer on what the next little bit looks like.”Lanning revealed she does not know exactly what the next phase of her life will look like. She will continue to play domestic cricket with Melbourne Stars in the WBBL and Victoria in the WNCL to honour existing contracts.She has also been retained by Delhi Capitals for next year’s WPL and will play in that tournament at this stage. “I’ll continue playing domestically and I’ve got contracts with some teams so I’ll keep going with that,” Lanning said. “I haven’t thought too far ahead to be honest.”I took some time to step away a little bit and be outside the cricket bubble and that’s given me the opportunity to think about what else is out there. I certainly haven’t got anything worked out. I’m excited for something new and something different. I’ll keep playing domestically, but obviously with a little bit more time and opportunity to go and discover new things.”It’s all I’ve ever known really for 13 years and I’ve given everything to being as good as I can to help the team win. That’s what it’s really been about, team success, and how I can help that and I’ve given everything to it. And now it’s time to focus on myself and see what else is out there.”Lanning worked as a barista in a café in Melbourne last year during her extended break from the game and also travelled to the United States. She took another extended break in 2023 due to an undisclosed medical issue and on her return revealed she had barely watched any cricket during her time away. She ruled out a move to the commentary box in the immediate future but she had an open mind as to what comes next.”I’ve probably been pretty narrow-minded for a long time in terms of what I wanted to do and in terms of cricket, but I’ve sort of opened up a little bit more to new opportunities,” Lanning said. “I don’t really know what the future holds, but I’m open to trying new things and seeing where it sort of lands. I won’t say no to anything.”Lanning got particularly emotional when thanking her parents, her family and close friends. She also paid special tribute to long-time Australia coach Matthew Mott and his successor Shelley Nitschke.”We had a very successful five years, but we had some lows as well,” Lanning said. “I think sometimes that’s easy to forget that it wasn’t all plain sailing. We had to work really hard to get to where we were and I think that Motty in particular and Shell have had a really big impact on me.”Matthew Mott with the trophy alongside Rachael Haynes and Meg Lanning•ICC via Getty Images

Mott, now England men’s limited-overs coach, was Australia’s women’s coach between 2015 and 2022 where he and Lanning combined to win two T20 World Cups, an ODI World Cup, and a Commonwealth Games gold medal.Lanning said her proudest achievement as an international player and captain was helping lead Australia from the bitter disappointment of the 2017 ODI World Cup semi-final loss through their golden period.”That World Cup didn’t go to plan,” Lanning said. “But you look back at that, I think we learned so much. I learned so much and we probably wouldn’t have had the success that we had if that moment hadn’t have happened.”While it was awful at the time, it was a really good reality check. And then I guess the successful five years post that, I’ve been involved in a lot of teams and the way we were able to just come together and be on the same page on and off the field just to make things work, it was a bit of magic coming together and I’ve probably never experienced that before or after in terms of just everything coming together.”I guess myself, Rach [Haynes], and Motty were the leaders of that, but the group really stood up through that period, and I’m really proud of how we responded to that which all sort of culminated in a couple of things. That 2020 World Cup here in Australia, that final is certainly something I won’t forget. An incredible experience.”While Lanning is happy to step away from international cricket, she did reveal she will miss the big moments. “I’ll definitely miss that,” she said. The competitive side in me will always be there and I always looked forward to big tournaments and big games.””I felt like that really brought the best out of me and I’ve really sort of prided myself on holding my nerve under pressure and being able to perform when the team needed me and I feel like I was able to do that at different times. I’m super competitive so I’ll certainly miss that side of things.”

They made 49 and 53 respectively in the tour game against Pakistan in Canberra

Andrew McGlashan07-Dec-2023Cameron Bancroft added a half-century to his impressive tally of runs this season but both he and Marcus Harris missed the opportunity for a substantial score in their bid for an Australia Test recall on the second day of the tour game against Pakistan in Canberra.The opening pair, plus Matt Renshaw who is at No. 3 for the Prime Minister’s XI, are in a tussle to replace David Warner when he retires from Test cricket in January although the next opener may yet come from outside of those three.Renshaw and Cameron Green, who is set to be part of the discussions for the future shape of Australia’s top order, were unbeaten at stumps with a chance to make a mark on the third day in what remain docile conditions.”It’s a good debate,” Harris, who fell for 49, said of a potential batting order reshuffle. “You’d have to ask [the selectors] what they want to do. It’s up to them. Opening the batting is not the easiest thing in the world but they’ve probably got a bit of time before they have to make that decision. It’s up to them.”Harris, who holds a Cricket Australia contract, played the most recent of his 14 Tests against England last January before being dropped following Usman Khawaja’s stunning return. A game earlier he had made 76 in tough conditions at the MCG.”I feel like I’ve had seven or eight years of good cricket,” he said. “Probably ever since I’ve moved to Victoria feel like I’ve proven myself enough, especially in domestic cricket, whether or not in international cricket that’s up for debate and other people’s opinion. In my last couple of Tests felt I was just getting going then things out of my control didn’t go my way, but that’s okay.”I’ve been in this position the last few years, so if it comes down to one game then so be it,” Harris added of a potential recall. “It’s always nice to make runs whenever you are playing, it always helps, but unfortunately got out for 40-odd so not the greatest thing in the world but things happen.”Pakistan had declared at lunch on the second day shortly after Shan Masood brought up his double-century then Bancroft, the leading Sheffield Shield run-scorer of the season having held that title last summer as well, and Harris added 96 for the first wicket.With Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali and Mohammad Wasim all rested for this match, Pakistan are taking a look at others who may feature in Perth next week so it was not the strongest attack Bancroft and Harris could face.Abrar Ahmed finished the day with figures of 19-0-54-1•Getty Images

Masood set fields to exploit the pair’s perceived weaknesses, with a leg slip for Bancroft and a packed gully and backward point area for Harris. Bancroft edged through the cordon against Mir Hamza and Harris flashed at a couple of drives, but there were no early chances.Progress was sedate with a slow pitch and sluggish outfield making free-scoring hard work and it was Harris who took the responsibility of forcing the pace. Three times he advanced at legspinner Abrar Ahmed to send him over the leg side. However, it was an attempted repeat of the stroke that brought his downfall for 49 when he found mid-on and the frustration was clear as he walked off. It has been an up-and-down season so far for Harris with Shield scores of 164 and 73 alongside seven innings under 20.”Was good to spend some time in the middle. Disappointing to get out the way I did, but a pretty slow going sort of a day,” Harris said. “It’s been one of those [seasons] where I’ve got a few good balls early, a few interesting wickets then mixed in with some good scores which is the way it can be as an opening batter. My game feels in good order, I’ve felt really good probably the last month.”Bancroft’s half-century came from 124 balls – his scoring rate could yet become a factor in the Test considerations – before he was lbw to Khurram Shahzad who got one to nip back.Of Pakistan’s bowlers, allrounder Aamer Jamal produced a bustling spell either side of tea which created a few uncomfortable moments while left-armer Hamza’s second spell provided some threat.Earlier, the morning session had largely been the story of Masood raising his third first-class double-century from 295 balls to leave him in good heart ahead of the Test series.”It’s always nice to spend some valuable time in the middle,” Masood said. “Obviously conditions are a bit different but a sign of good players and good teams is how you adapt to different conditions. Each ground, each opposition has a different challenge.”Jordan Buckingham completed a five-wicket haul, the third of his young career, when he had Hamza fending to leg gully having also claimed his third scalp down the leg side when Jamal nicked a glance.

Security claims made by board described as “trumped up and bogus” by South African Jewish Board of Deputies

Firdose Moonda18-Jan-2024Ali Bacher, the man who oversaw South African cricket’s reintegration after apartheid, has asked CSA to provide “a comprehensive explanation of the decision-making process” that led to the removal of David Teeger as Under-19 captain a week before the age-group World Cup being staged in the country.Bacher, who is related to Teeger through his wife, said doubt had been cast on CSA’s explanation of security concerns after the board failed to provide justification for its decision on safety grounds at a meeting with the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) on Tuesday.In a statement issued on the eve of the tournament, which will see South Africa play West Indies in Potchefstroom on Friday, Bacher conveyed his “dismay and concern” over CSA’s decision to stand Teeger down and asked for “transparent and open discourse” on the matter. Specifically, Bacher asked CSA to disclose four things:

• The security reports that influenced this decision.
• A comprehensive explanation of the decision-making process.
• The specific factors and insights that led to the removal of the captaincy.
• Clarification on whether there were any external pressures placed on them that led to the decision.

Bacher’s intervention comes after CSA invited the SAJBD to a meeting, four days after Teeger’s removal. At a press conference after the meeting, the SAJBD alleged that CSA’s delegates started by telling them they had received a report from state security and then that they had a briefing with state security, but would not reveal who they had dealt with. The SAJBD left dissatisfied and said in a statement that CSA’s “vacillating and contradictory responses” led them to believe any security concerns were “trumped up and bogus”.The SAJBD accused CSA of anti-semitism and of allowing “high-level political interference” but when asked for proof of any government intervention, said they did not have any. They also demanded CSA reinstate Teeger, which has not happened.Related

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• David Teeger removed as South Africa captain for U-19 World Cup

• David Teeger dismissal cuts across South African politics

Juan James has been named captain in Teeger’s place while CSA has denied any political involvement in its decision-making.Teeger was thrust into the spotlight in October when he was named the Rising Star at the ABSA Jewish Achiever Awards ceremony. In his acceptance speech, he dedicated the award to “young soldiers in Israel”, a statement which was reported in the media and attracted complaints from the Palestinian Solidarity Alliance (PSA), sponsors, cricket clubs and concerned citizens.CSA referred the complaints to advocate Wim Trengrove, who conducted an independent adjudication into whether Teeger had breached the code of conduct of CSA or his provincial team, the Lions, and found that he had not. Trengrove’s reasoning was based on the constitutional right to freedom of expression, while he also determined that Teeger did not engage in any unbecoming or detrimental conduct. CSA accepted the report and confirmed Teeger as the Under-19 team’s captain on December 8.A month later, after protests at Newlands during the New Year’s Test between South Africa and India and the South African government’s decision to bring a case of genocide against Israel at the International Court of Justice, CSA announced Teeger’s axing, citing security concerns. Teeger remains part of the squad and is expected to play in South Africa’s matches, raising further questions over whether his safety would only be compromised if he was leading the team. CSA said it believed taking him out of that role would “lower the temperature” of the issue.Protests are planned for the under-19 World Cup and while Bacher recognised the rights of South Africans to protest, he believes “it is the responsibility of CSA and South African law enforcement entities to ensure safety at all sporting events. The alternative is that the threat of using violence dictates policy.”ESPNcricinfo understands that the PSA has been granted a permit to protest outside the stadium in Potchefstroom while other demonstrations are also expected – including the possibility of counter-protests.In a pre-tournament statement, CSA said that it “respects the right to lawful protests,” but went on to “emphasise that these cannot interfere with the matches or compromise the safety of players and fans. To this end, we are collaborating closely with the South African Police Service (SAPS) to ensure that the tournament proceeds smoothly and without any disruptions.”Extra security measures are understood to be in place at all five tournament venues.

The exact nature of his injury is not understood yet, but he is presently in stable condition

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Mar-2024Former Sri Lanka captain Lahiru Thirimanne has been hospitalised after the car he was travelling in was involved in a serious head-on collision near the north-central city of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka, on Thursday morning.The exact nature of Thirimanne’s injury is not understood yet, but he is presently in stable condition at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital. At least one other passenger from the car Thirimanne was in, is also receiving care at the same hospital.Thirimanne is understood to have been on pilgrimage when the accident occurred. Essentially the car had crashed into a lorry traveling in the opposite direction.Having made his international debut in 2010, Thirimanne played 44 Test matches, 127 ODIs and 26 T20Is. He was part of three T20 World Cup campaigns, including Sri Lanka’s win in 2014, and played two ODI World Cups. He also led Sri Lanka in five one-dayers. The last of his international appearances was in March 2022. He retired from international cricket in July 2023, calling time on a 13-year career.