Request ICC to form an independent Ethics Tribunal to judge my case: Manu Sawhney

Another franchise faces termination from LPL

The Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) has terminated another franchise from the Lanka Premier League. The name of the team hasn’t been officially revealed but as per a Cricbuzz report, it would be the Jaffna franchise. Jaffna is owned by a group of investors who are from Indian and Sri Lankan origins. Colombo Kings and Dambulla Viiking were the other two teams to have faced the axe before Jaffna. The three franchises have been terminated because of non-compliance. The sources have added that there are eight new parties who have shown interest in being a part of the league. The second edition of the LPL is scheduled to be played in Hambantota from July 30 to August 22. "With the 2nd edition of the LPL set to commence shortly, the exclusive rights holder of the event, the Innovative Production Group FZE (IPG) has decided to terminate the ownership of the franchises of Colombo Kings and Dambulla Viiking for the reason of non-compliance," the Lanka board said in a statement earlier. "Accordingly, the Innovative Production Group FZE (IPG) has received multiple requests from many interested parties and in compliance with the contractual obligation of the IPG and Sri Lanka Cricket, for the said League, as well as in keeping with the requirement of the International Cricket Council (ICC), have submitted all KYC documents for approval to finalise the new set of owners for the said teams," the SLC statement added. Jaffna was earlier led by Thisara Perera.

Shimron Hetmyer, Sheldon Cottrell, Roston Chase included in WI ODI squad for Aus series

West Indies have called up Shimron Hetmyer, Sheldon Cottrell and Roston Chase for the ODI series against Australia scheduled to begin on July 20, 2021 in Barbados. The three players had earlier missed out on selection for the fixtures against Sri Lanka in March as they had failed to meet the fitness standards. Selector Roger Harper said that the inclusion of the three players has added depth and experience to the side. "This squad is coming off a comprehensive series win against Sri Lanka which should boost their confidence going into what is expected to be a tougher contest against Australia," Roger Harper, Lead Selector said. "The return of Shimron Hetmyer, Roston Chase and Sheldon Cottrell adds greater depth and experience to the squad,” he added. "Playing in familiar home conditions, hopefully will bring out the best in each player thereby enabling the team to perform at a consistently high standard. This CG Insurance ODI series against Australia is part of the ICC Cricket World Cup qualification process where every game and every point counts, so it is very important." The three-match ODI series is a part of the ICC World Cup Super League and will be played after the five-match T20Is. All the ODIs will be held in Barbados. Squad: Kieron Pollard (Captain), Shai Hope (Vice Captain), Fabian Allen, Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Anderson Philip, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd

Haris Sohail ruled out of ODI series against England due to injury

Pakistan’s Haris Sohail has been ruled out of the three-match ODI series against England slated to begin on Thursday (July 8, 2021). Sohail had picked up a hamstring injury during the practice session last week. A Grade 3 tear has been revealed after an MRI was conducted on Wednesday. He will return to Pakistan and will be under a four-week rehabilitation program at the National High Performance Centre in Lahore. Sohail expressed his disappointment at missing out on playing in England. "I was keenly looking forward to the ODIs as part of my objective to contribute in the side's success and also cement my position in the side," the batsman said. "In this background, I am disappointed that my tour has been cut-short, but I will return to Lahore and undergo a rehabilitation programme so that I can fully recover for the 2021-22 season." While the first ODI takes place in Cardiff, the second and third encounter will take place in London and Birmingham respectively. The two sides will then move to Nottingham where they will play the first T20I of the three-match series before moving to Leeds for the second match. The final T20I will be held in Manchester.

ENG vs PAK | 1st ODI: Stokes & his ensemble cast battle patient Babar Azam's men

The English people are right now thinking anything but cricket with the alarming Covid situation of their national cricket team on one hand and the chorus of joy of "It's coming home" buzzing in the air on the other, thanks to their Football team reaching its first ever major tournament Final in five decades. It is in these circumstances that Ben Stokes and his quickly ensembled team would look to put focus back on the national game of England. Though he has limited resources up his sleeve thanks to nine uncapped players being part of his 15 member squad, which is totally different from the team that played Sri Lanka, barely a week ago. But as they say, minimal resources demand maximum optimization, Stokes and coach Chris Silverwood would have their task cut out trying to put 11 players from the 15, who will meet for the very first time on the match day itself. As far as Babar Azam's men are concerned, they seem to be England's saviour in moments of ultimate crisis. If they were only the second team to agree to tour England during last summer's pandemic, in this summer, they have again shown exemplary courage while saying that the thought of ending the tour or pushing it further never crossed their minds. Pakistan, although looks a much more experienced side than England on paper, but they have their own challenges trying to map out the new English recruits. The team hasn't had ideal practice conditions in Derby either as rains marred most of their practice sessions. So it is in these conditions that 50 over cricket returns to Sophia Gardens in Cardiff after two years. England vs Pakistan: Match Details Match No.- 1st ODI Date and Time: 08 July, 2021, 05:30 pm IST, 12:00 pm GMT, 01:00 pm Local Venue: Sophia Gardens, Cardiff Broadcast and Livestream in India: Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV Pitch Report If the T20I match between England and Sri Lanka is anything to go by, then Cardiff is not the right kind of pitch to begin the series with. However, over the years this venue in Wales has produced sensational results and thus there is no doubt as to why it cannot produce a good wicket. It has been a happy hunting ground for the chasers with a record of 16-8 in terms of wins and losses for a team chasing at Sophia Gardens in ODIs. Over the last few years, it has also become a huge scoring venue as have most grounds in England. Weather Forecast and Toss After a continuous spell of rain, it is expected that the weather in Cardiff on July 08 is going to be fine with plenty of sunshine on offer. Chances of rain are minimal too, thus giving spectators what they truly deserve, a full game of cricket. With fine weather in store, the team winning the toss would like to chase. Team News England Everybody has the news as far as the England team is concerned. With nine new faces, it would come down to luck as to who all get into the last XI. Anyhow, it is an opportunity for guys like James Vince, Saqib Mahmood, Will Jacks and Lewis Gregory to showcase their mettle and push for a first team call up eventually. Craig Overton, Matt Parkinson and Danny Briggs would like make team as well with Stokes, Dawid Malan and Ben Duckett being natural choices as middle order batter and wicketkeeper respectively. Probable XI Phil Salt (wk), James Vince, Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes (c), Dan Lawrence, Will Jacks, Lewis Gregory, Craig Overton, Saqib Mahmood, Matt Parkinson, Danny Briggs Pakistan The Pakistan unit has had a setback in the form id injury to Haris Sohail. That however has made way for Pakistan Super League's Player of the Series- Shoaib Maqsood to bat number five or even at number three with Babar Azam opening the innings alongside Fakhar Zaman. Among bowlers, it might be tempting to play Shahnawaz Dahani who is coming from a great run in PSL. But with Haris Rauf, Sheen Afridi and Hasan Ali being there, it would be very difficult for the Larkana born to get a game. Probable XI Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Sohaib Maqsood, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz/Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf Dream XI team James Vince, Babar Azam, Dawid Malan, Shoaib Maqsood, Mohammad Rizwan (wk) (vc), Ben Stokes (c), Lewis Gregory, Craig Overton, Hasan Ali, Saqib Mahmood, Shaheen Afridi