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Chris Green To Join Middlesex For First Half Of T20 Blast

Chris Green to join Middlesex for first half of T20 Blast

All-rounder Chris Green will be joining Middlesex for the first half of the T20 Blast. Green has been called up as a replacement for Afghanistan's Mujeeb Ur Rahman, whose availability has been delayed until the second half because of the 'unforeseen visa issues.'

"Mujeeb is not alone in having to quarantine in a country outside the UK prior to arriving and continued uncertainty over the timescale of these delays has caused Middlesex to make the decision to push back Mujeeb's arrival," the Middlesex said in its statement.

"As a consequence Green will have an increased number of games to play in. Mujeeb is expected to be with the club and available for the last seven group matches."

Green is an experienced customer when it comes to the shortest format of the game. He has featured in the IPL for KKR, played CPL for Guyana Amazon Warriors and in the 2019 Blast with Birmingham Bears. Apart from this, Green played for the Thunder side that lifted the title in 2016.

The all-rounder said that he was looking forward to joining the side. "I have really enjoyed my previous experiences playing in England and I am looking forward to playing at Lord's for the first time,” Gree said.

Middlesex head coach Stuart Law put his weight behind Green’s selection and admitted that his T20 experience can be helpful for the side.

"Chris is an experienced performer in T20 cricket and has played in tournaments all over the world. He has had a huge impact at Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash for a few years now and I look forward to him bringing that wealth of experience here to Middlesex,” Law said.

In 108 T20s that he has played, Green has scored 568 runs while has 87 scalps to his name.

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Hamstring forces Sean Abbott to return to Australia after brief maiden county stint

Sean Abbott who was signed up by Surrey for his maiden county and Vitality blast stint this April is now forced to go back home to Australia after injuring his hamstring in his very first outing for the county club in the championship. The county informed about this news in their official press release saying, “Surrey all-rounder sean Abbott will return to Australia after badly damaging his hamstring during last week’s county championship with Gloucestershire.” The New South Wales born was making his debut in the Championship and took 2/5 in the second innings and made 40 with the bat during the game which Surrey won by an innings and 47 runs. Surrey CCC Director of Cricket, Alec Stewart, while speaking on Abbot’s departure said, “Sean’s injury is incredibly unfortunate as he made a great impression during his first game and had already become a popular member of the dressing room.” With the departure of the 29-year-old Abbott, Hashim Amla is the only foreigner available in the squad. The Vitality Blast begins on June 9 while the preliminary group stages of the Championship end on June 7. Surrey are currently 3rd in Group 2 behind Gloucestershire and Somerset, but having played one game extra.

Ravi Shastri supported me after my father passed away: Mohammed Siraj

India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj has revealed that it was coach Ravi Shastri who encouraged him to stay in Australia and play for the national side after his father’s sad demise. Siraj was in Australia with the Indian team when his father passed away. "'You play the Test match. You will get 5 wickets as your father's blessings are with you," was what Shastri told Siraj before the second Test in Melbourne. The right-arm fast bowler returned with a fifer during his debut game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Siraj further added that he gained a lot of confidence after he was backed by the coach. "Ravi sir said after the match 'I told you that you will be getting five wickets.' I became very confident after my coaches encouraged me in such a way," Siraj told ABP news. "When I lost my father during the Australia tour, both Ravi sir and bowling coach Bharat Arun sir were so supportive," he said. India made a brilliant return in the series against Australia after they were bowled out for 36 in the first Test. The Indian team suffered some blows on and off the field during the four-match series. They were racially abused while having injury concerns with some key players getting ruled out. But the youngsters took the onus on themselves and fought back in a magnificent manner to hand India a 2-1 win in the series eventually.

Dinesh Karthik harbours hopes of India return, says can captain KKR if the team wants

India wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik, who recently celebrated his 36th birthday still has hopes of playing for the country in white-ball cricket. The right-handed batsman believes that there is still a place for a finisher in the Indian middle order and he can be that guy. "India need a batsman in the middle-order who can be a finisher and I believe I can do that job," Karthik was quoted as saying in an interview with TOI. Karthik has so far played 26 Tests, 94 ODIs and 32 T20Is for the Indian team, scoring a total of 3173 international runs. He also has 153 dismissals including catches and stumpings to his name. The Tamil Nadu skipper, who has captained Kolkata Knight Riders before, said that he has no qualms in captaining the side in Eoin Morgan and Pat Cummins’ absence during the UAE leg of the IPL in September-October this year. "Pat Cummins has himself said that he will not come. But when it comes to Eoin Morgan, there are still three months to go. A lot can change from now till September,” he said. “But if I am asked to lead, I will be ready for it," Karthik added. While Cummins would most probably like to spend some time with his family with his partner being pregnant, ECB has disallowed its players from IPL participation before the all-important T20 World Cup.

I am better off as a player: Rashid Khan denies Afghanistan captaincy

Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan has declined the offer to take up captaincy of the national team in T20 format, stating that it might affect his performance. “I am very much clear in my mind that I am better off as a player. I am good in the role of vice-captain and help the captain wherever I am needed. It’s better for me that I stay away from this position,” Rashid told ESPNcricinfo. The right-arm leggie further added that his performance as a player is more importnat for the side. “I want to do well for the team as a player and my performance is a bit more crucial for the team rather than me thinking about different things being a captain.” The 22 year old also pointed out that the World T20 is round the corner and it would take time for him to get into the groove if he takes up the role. “Also, it takes time, and right now the most important thing is the World Cup which is quite near and I feel it is too much for me to have,” he said. “If you have a year or two, you manage yourself and understand things only then it’s easier to deal with the role,” Rashid added. Afghanistan recently sacked their skipper Asghar Afghan across all formats following an investigation conducted by ACB's Investigative committee. The side suffered a defeat against Zimbabwe in the first Test of the two-match series but managed to win the second encounter to level it. Hashmatullah Shahidi was handed over the captain’s band for the ODIs and Tests while Rahmat Shah was appointed as his deputy. Rashid though has led the side for a short period of time after the Asian team had a dismal run in the 2019 World Cup under Gulbadin Naib’s captaincy, but was later removed after a disappointing outing against the West Indies, later that year.