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WATCH: Pakistan cricketer ​Imad Wasim caught smoking in dressing room | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Following his stellar performance in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final against Multan Sultans at Karachi's National Bank Stadium, Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim found himself embroiled in controversy after being spotted smoking in the dressing room.Wasim played a pivotal role in Islamabad United's clinching of their third PSL title. The 35-year-old delivered a remarkable performance, securing a five-wicket haul to restrict Multan Sultans to 159/9. Additionally, he contributed with an unbeaten 19 runs to steer the successful run chase.Imad WasimHowever, despite his on-field heroics, Wasim's actions off the field raised eyebrows when he was captured smoking in the team's dressing room during the match. A widely circulated video on social media captured the moment, showing ...
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Australia postpones Afghanistan tour for three T20Is due to human rights issues again

The Australia men’s cricket team has postponed the three-match T20 International series against Afghanistan scheduled for August due to human rights issues, Cricket Australia (CA) announced on Monday. “Following consultation with the Australian Government, CA previously postponed the ODI series against Afghanistan scheduled for March 2023 after a marked deterioration in human rights for women and girls in Afghanistan, stating we would: ‘Continue to engage with the Afghanistan Cricket Board in anticipation of improved conditions for women and girls in the country,’ CA said in its statement. “Over the past twelve months, CA has continued to consult with the Australian Government on the situation in Afghanistan. The government’s advice is that conditions for women and girls in Afghanistan...
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The nucleus of this RCB side was fantastic: Luke Williams | Cricket News – Times of India

BENGALURU: After avoiding the wooden spoon in the inaugural WPL, RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana was given a free hand to ring in changes. An overhaul of the coaching staff followed. At the Hundred in August, the 27-year-old worked with Luke Williams, an Australian with proven credentials in women's franchise cricket. Williams had coached the Adelaide Strikers to victory in the 2022 Women's Big Bash League and was the assistant coach of the 2023 Southern Brave team, winners of the Women's Hundred. By September, Williams had been roped in as head coach. The results are there for all to see.In an exclusive interview with TOI, the Australian spoke of the team's incredible journey. Excerpts...On winning the title:I'm extremely proud. I'm pleased for the people at RCB and their supporters. So mu...
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IPL 2024: Mumbai Indians sweat over Suryakumar Yadav’s fitness | Cricket News – Times of India

MUMBAI: The Mumbai Indians are clearly worried about Suryakumar Yadav's availability for the initial matches of the IPL. Suffering from a sports hernia injury which required surgery, Surya has been out of action since the T20I series against South Africa in December. The world's No 1 T20I batsman is currently recuperating at the NCA in Bengaluru."He has been batting in the nets. Tomorrow (Tuesday), he will have his first 'open net' session. He will go through some fielding drills too. Depending on how his body reacts to it, the BCCI's medical team will then assess whether he's fit to return to action," a source told TOI. MI will play their first match against Gujarat Titans on March 24 in Ahmedabad.'Match made in heaven'Meanwhile, MI coach Mark Boucher felt that the equation between Sri...
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Ind vs Aus: Cricket Australia announces venues for 5-match Test series against India

Cricket Australia announced the venues for the upcoming five-match Test series against India with Perth's Optus Stadium to host the first Test likely to take place in November despite having a low attendance in a recently concluded match against Pakistan.Cricket Australia along with Western Australia will work together and try their best to improve the attendance in Perth's stadium.Sources close to the board, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the schedule has yet to be officially revealed, said that improving Test cricket in Perth was a top goal for the governing body. The new 60,000-seat Perth Stadium has been barely occupied for Tests in previous seasons, although it is much busier during Perth Scorchers BBL matches.The highest attendance at the stadium was during the P...
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How Women’s Premier League stepped up a gear in 2024 | Cricket News – Times of India

The second season of WPL grabbed a lot of eyeballs with high-octane batting, sixes galore and last-over finishesNEW DELHI: It was a cathartic moment. When Richa Ghosh hit the winning runs in the final, the entire fan base of Royal Challengers Bangalore must have felt a burden being lifted off their shoulders. After all, the men's team had tried hard for 16 long years to win the IPL, but could not.In between, there was the dash of the Champions League T20 tournament. RCB couldn't win that either.The girls in red and black, however, got the job done in the first final they played. Skipper Smriti Mandhana's eyes were moist, some other players too had tears rolling down their cheeks. It was indeed a big relief and the emotions expressed were strong. RCB's performance was a much-improved sho...
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Imad Wasim caught smoking in dressing-room after taking five-wicket haul in PSL final win for Islamabad United

Islamabad United all-rounder Imad Wasim was caught smoking in the dressing-room after picking up a title-winning five-wicket haul for Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024 final win against Multan Sultans in Karachi on Monday. Taking the new ball for Islamabad, Wasim razed through the Multan batting order with his career-best T20 figures of five for 23 in four overs – his first five-for in the PSL. Incidentally, Wasim’s figures were also the best by any bowler in a PSL final as Islamabad restricted Multan to 159 for nine in 20 overs. Caught in the act Following the impressive showing in his four-over spell, Wasim returned to the dressing room when the broadcast visuals caught him smoking a cigarette during the 18th over of the innings. In a tricky chase that followed...
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Kolkata Knight Riders unveil jersey ahead of IPL 2024 | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have unveiled their jersey in anticipation of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season, set to commence on March 22."The armour of our Knights Presenting, our official matchday jersey for #TATAIPL2024!" KKR said in a post on X.During the ceremony, KKR's mentor Gautam Gambhir said that he did not make KKR a successful franchise with two title wins in 2012-14 during his stint as a player from 2011-17 for the team."I did not make Kolkata Knight Riders successful, it was KKR that made me a successful leader. KKR meant passion, honesty, sacrifice, and selflessness. I have to thank Shah Rukh Khan and Venky Mysore (the CEO). SRK taught me honesty, dignity, and being fair to everyone. Every player says this about their own franchise's supporters but...
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The Hindu Morning Digest, March 19, 2024

Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) President Anbumani Ramadoss | Photo Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam In Tamil Nadu, PMK announces alliance with BJP for Lok Sabha electionsThe Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) on March 18 announced it would join the BJP-led NDA and fight the coming Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu. Sources in the PMK said the decision was taken at a meeting chaired by party founder S. Ramadoss and president Anbumani Ramadoss, though a majority of party office-bearers and cadres reportedly preferred an alliance with the AIADMK.Vaccine for dengue may be available commercially by mid-2026 Vaccine for dengue could be available commercially as early as mid-2026. Indian Immunologicals Limited has finished the first phase of clinical trials to determine the safety of the vaccine, the company’s ...
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WPL 2024: Spirited Smriti Mandhana inspires a new generation of champions | Cricket News – Times of India

BENGALURU: As a bespectacled 15-year-old whose talent was being talked about in domestic cricket, Smriti Shriniwas Mandhana had a tough call to make. Cricket or studies? Her mother Smita, sitting in their middle-class dwelling in Madhavnagar, Sangli, had more confidence in her cricketing talent than the gawky teenager. She made the choice for her daughter, she would pursue a career in cricket. It was probably one of the best decisions taken in the Mandhana family. More than a decade later, Smriti is a force to reckon with in her chosen field, an inspiration to a generation which dares to dream and a subject for many books including a 37-pager written by a 13 year old. There is more to the elegant Indian opener than the feat of leading Royal Challengers Bangalore to the WPL title in New ...
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IPL-17 | Suryakumar Yadav likely to miss MI’s first two games

Suryakumar Yadav is a doubtful starter for the Mumbai Indians’ first two games of the Indian Premier League (IPL), starting March 22.The batter is still recuperating from sports hernia and yet to join the Mumbai Indians squad. While Mark Boucher, the Mumbai Indians head coach, remained non-committal about Suryakumar’s availability, The Hindu understands that Suryakumar is still undergoing his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. Mumbai Indians will begin its campaign with away games against Gujarat Titans (March 24) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (March 27). While the franchise is optimistic about Suryakumar joining the squad ahead of its first home game on April 1, there is no clarity about his fitness clearance. “Surya at the moment is on the guidance of the Ind...
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IPL-17 | Rohit is always going to be there to help me out, says Hardik

Senior pro: Hardik says he will lean on Rohit whenever the situation arises. | Photo Credit: AP Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma are going to be in a weird situation over the next three months. Hardik, having returned to his Indian Premier League alma mater, will be Rohit’s captain for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024.In June, Hardik will play under Rohit’s captaincy during India’s mission to regain the T20 World Cup. Hardik, in his first official interaction as the Mumbai Indians captain, insisted that there will be no awkwardness between the two. “It won’t be any different because he is going to always be there to help me out. That he is the captain of Indian squad will help me because of what this team (MI) has achieved has been under him,” said Hardik, with head coach Mark Boucher by his s...
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IPL-17 Countdown | Cummins-lead Sunrisers would look for resurgence, redemption

Head looks set to feature in most of the matches for SRH. | Photo Credit: Instagram/sunrisershyd Former champion Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) would like to step on to the field with a lot of optimism this season despite having finished at the bottom of the pile in the previous edition. Head coach, and former New Zealand left-arm spinner, Daniel Vettori should be conscious of the fact that it has to settle down into the groove very early in the league to get the momentum and more importantly sustain it. Led by Pat Cummins, who captained Australia to the 50-over World Cup triumph, has a big task on hand — getting the combination right and bringing the best out of the domestic talent. Explosive batters like Aiden Markram, Travis Head, the match-winning centurion in the 2023 50-over World Cup...
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IPL-17 Countdown | Rahul’s Lucknow Super Giants will be keen to break ‘Eliminator’ hoodoo

All ears: The LSG players listen intently to coach Langer’s inputs. | Photo Credit: SANDEEP SAXENA Played twice. Qualified Twice. The record certainly is not bad for Lucknow Super Giants in the world’s most glamorous cricket league. It is indeed no small feat to make it to the knock-out stage on both its appearances at the IPL. LSG’s campaign, however, ended in the Eliminator match on both the occasions. K.L. Rahul’s men will want to improve that record this season. Rahul wasn’t there when his team qualified for the Eliminator; he had, in fact, missed the latter stage of the tournament with a leg injury. He also had to withdraw from the recent Test series against India due to injury after playing the first match at Hyderabad. With the T20 World Cup coming up, the IPL also offers an exce...
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IPL 2024: Skipper Shubman Gill joins Gujarat Titans training camp ahead of upcoming season

Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill. | Photo Credit: X@gujarat_titans Ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, Gujarat Titans (GT) skipper Shubman Gill on Monday reached the franchise's training camp.The official X (formerly Twitter) handle of the Gujarat-based franchise shared pictures of the 24-year-old receiving a grand welcome while joining the team ahead of IPL 2024."Welcome home Captain Gill! Our Skipper has officially landed," GT wrote on X.The 17th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will start on March 22, with defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) set to clash with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in a South Indian derby at their home arena--MA Chidambaram Stadium.Last year's runners-up Gujarat Titans and five-time champions Mumbai Indians will s...
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Rishabh might find it very difficult to get back his fluency at IPL’s onset: Gavaskar

Delhi Capitals’ Rishabh Pant during a practice session ahead of the IPL 2024 cricket match between Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings, in Visakhapatnam, Wednesday, March 13, 2024. | Photo Credit: PTI Rishabh Pant will find it "very difficult" to be at his fluent best at the beginning of the IPL but Sunil Gavaskar expects that his knees will react better once he starts batting more and more in match situations.Having survived a horrific car crash in December, 2022, Pant will make a comeback to competitive cricket after more than 14 months as Delhi Capitals captain after an extensive rehabilitation programme."It'll be very difficult. But the good thing is he (Pant) has played some cricket. So he has got some practice. To get fluency in batting is a little tough," Gavaskar told 'Star Sports'...
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How Smriti Mandhana stopped doubting and started believing in herself as RCB completed title quest

Smriti Mandhana was asked after Royal Challengers Bangalore qualified for the playoffs of Women’s Premier League, what her biggest learnings from the two contrasting seasons were. She took a moment, smiled, and said: “I’ll think a lot more deep about this when we finish the tournament.” She did go on to speak more about her struggles last year, mainly with the bat. “In four-five years of international cricket something of that sort hadn’t happened and for me to face that was something which changed me a lot. I don’t know what has changed but something deep inside me has definitely.”A few days later, Smriti Mandhana returned to the press conference room. This time, the trophy was next to her as she became the first RCB captain to lift silverware. Ee sala, the cup was finally theirs. And ...
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Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel get BCCI’s central contracts | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Rising stars Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel have been handed BCCI's Group C central contracts, which have an annual retainership fee of Rs 1 crore.The development comes after Sarfaraz and Dhruv fulfilled the criteria of playing three Tests in a season.Middle-order batter Sarfaraz and wicket-keeper Dhruv's names were ratified during the BCCI Apex Council meeting which was held on Monday.Sarfaraz, a domestic heavyweight for Mumbai, scored three half-centuries in three Tests against England while Agra man Jurel, with scores of 90 and 39 not out in a tricky chase at Ranchi, won the Player of the Match in only his second game.Ratification of central contract was on the agenda and both have made the cut.Ranji Trophy schedulingThe BCCI is likely to revisit the Ranji Trophy calender f...
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Varun Aaron to focus on coaching budding fast bowlers after ending first-class career

Varun Aaron, a pace bowler who never delivered on his promise during his nine-Test career, has gone into coaching after playing his last First-class game.After eight back stress breakdowns and three foot fractures during his nearly-15-year First-Class career, Aaron, who still clocks high 140kph, will team up with the legendary Glenn McGrath at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai. It’s a comeback of sorts having started as a tearaway quick at the institute as a teenager. “I have been at the MRF foundation for the past 15 years, more in the capacity of a player. Considering I was going to call time on one format, the company MD (Rahul Mammen Mappillai) and I had a chat last year. I suggested that we upgrade our facilities and start a hunt for raw fast bowlers, which we did recently to feed...
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BCCI asks Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Ajit Agarkar to suggest ways to improve domestic cricket | Cricket News – Times of India

MUMBAI: In a bid to keep up its efforts to boost men’s domestic cricket, the BCCI at its Apex Council meeting on Monday formed a three-member committee, which includes India men’s team head coach Rahul Dravid, National Cricket Academy chairman VVS Laxman and men’s chief selector Ajit Agarkar, to "give suggestions to improve domestic cricket," TOI has learnt."There were a lot of issues that cropped up during the conduct of men’s domestic cricket, with a prominent problem being that a lot of games in north India, particularly during the Ranji Trophy, were washed out or heavily curtailed due to bad weather in December-January.Dravid, Laxman and Agarkar have been asked to give their suggestions to improve men’s domestic cricket," a source said.The decision was taken in the BCCI’s Apex Counc...