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Veteran administrator and MCA president Sharad Pawar has said he will voluntarily step down as the state association’s head within the next six months, given he will not qualify to continue in the post as per the Lodha Committee’s reforms

Arun Venugopal24-Jul-20163:10

‘Will happily retire’ – Pawar

The shake-up of India’s cricket administration in the wake of the Lodha Committee’s reforms continued as veteran administrator Sharad Pawar announced that he will step down as Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) president within six months.The Lodha Committee had recommended, among other things, that there be caps on age and duration of tenure of elected office bearers of the BCCI and state associations. These proposals were signed off on by the Supreme Court on July 18, and Pawar does not qualify on both grounds, being over 70 years of age and having served as an office bearer for over nine years. The court said the proposals would have to be implemented by the BCCI and its members within six months of the date of issue of the order.”As per the Supreme Court guidelines, I can continue [as MCA president] for six months, not beyond that. After that [I will happily bid goodbye],” Pawar said following the MCA’s managing committee meeting, from where it emerged that the state association will accept all the Lodha reforms in total. “I am quite happy to retire because Supreme Court has said nobody above 70 can continue. Secondly, Supreme Court has said about [the maximum period of] nine years, so I come in both categories, and therefore I should not expect to continue.”A powerful regional politian, Pawar, 75, took charge of the MCA in 2001. Four years later he became BCCI president, before taking up the same role in the ICC in 2010.The Lodha Committee is entrusted with the task of overseeing the implementation of its recommendations and, its secretary, Gopal Sankaranarayanan, had warned that if the BCCI or any of the the states were to violate any of the rules laid out in the Lodha report, they will be guilty of contempt of court.Pawar admitted that most of MCA’s other elected officials will have to vacate office as well, but said he was confident the transition will be smooth and that all the recommendations will be implemented within the stipulated six months. The association will begin the process of reform by amending its constitution, he said.”The core group [of the MCA] will draft the proposed constitution, then it will be discussed in the managing committee here, and we will then call a special general meeting where the draft of the constitution will have to be approved. The only thing is we need to have to complete procedure.”However, Pawar said, the MCA wanted clarification on one point: the one-state-one-vote proposal, by which no state can have more than a single vote in the BCCI elections. Currently Maharashtra contains three associations eligible to vote, the Maharashtra Cricket Association, the Mumbai Cricket Association and the Vidarbha Cricket Association. The Lodha Committee recommended that in such cases, the associations vote by rotation; so each of Maharashtra, Mumbai and Vidarbha will get a vote once in three years.”We have no objections on that [one-state, one-vote] but the important issue is the jurisdiction of that member who is going to vote,” Pawar said. “When question comes [regarding] selection of teams, there might be some unnecessary differences. [If] the voting right goes by rotation to Maharashtra, so Maharashtra’s jurisdiction will be Maharashtra, Vidarbha and Mumbai. So, the Maharashtra team can select anybody from Mumbai also [and] it will affect Mumbai team.”That’s why we will have to write to the BCCI that this is the position, and we want clarification on that. The BCCI should discuss this, if possible, with Justice Lodha [the head of the Lodha Committee].”When asked if the presence of a nominee of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the BCCI’s Apex Council – the proposed body that would replace the Working Committee, the BCCI’s highest decision-making body – will ensure transparency, Pawar pointed out that the CAG is a government entity. “My worry is only about the ICC rules. ICC has a rule that no government should depute their representative in a cricketing body.”But BCCI’s old constitution had a representative of Services [which is a] direct government [entity]. ICC has never taken objection to that, so we hope Mr Shashank Manohar [the ICC chairman] will not take objection to this.”

Some of the most serious documented instances of litigation in the IPL or investigation involving the BCCI and/or its officials

ESPNcricinfo staff25-May-2013Lalit Modi was suspended by the BCCI in 2010 over ‘alleged acts of individual misdemeanours’. The Enforcement Directorate also issued him with a showcause notice in 2011•Associated Press

April 2010: The BCCI suspends Lalit Modi following ‘alleged acts of individual misdemeanours’, including the the bidding process for IPL franchises, mid-over ad breaks, and the sale of theatrical rights. The issue of an $80-million facilitation fee agreement between Lalit Modi and Multi Screen Media also influences the BCCI’s decision.April 2010: Former BCCI president AC Muthiah files a petition in the Supreme Court of India challenging the BCCI’s rules – tweaked in 2008 – that allow N Srinivasan to hold a post in the board and own an IPL team.September 2010: Modi files a petition in the Supreme Court seeking to remove IPL commissioner Chirayu Amin and BCCI vice-president Arun Jaitley from the an independent inquiry into his ouster from the BCCI. The petition is dismissed a year later.October 2010: Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab sue BCCI for unfair termination of contract. The BCCI alleges that both franchises have violated their franchise agreements, while the franchises deny the allegations. The Bombay High Court directs the cases to arbitration. An interim order allows Royals and Kings XI to participate in the 2011 auction, subject to certain conditions, such as retaining its shareholder pattern, fulfilling pending player payments and paying the BCCI guarantee money in case the final judgement goes against them. In 2012, the BCCI finally settles all pending legal issues with Kings XI . There is no definitive outcome in their issues against Rajasthan Royals.January 2011: Senior members of the BCCI appear before a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance on alleged foreign exchange violations during IPL 2009, held in South Africa.April 2011: A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court delivers a split verdict on Muthiah’s petition challenging Srinivasan’s right to hold a position in the board while also holding a stake in an IPL franchise. At this point, Srinivasan is the BCCI’s secretary. The split verdict means the petition is to be referred to the Chief Justice for allocating it to a larger bench.July 2011: India’s Enforcement Directorate issues 19 showcause notices to the BCCI and Lalit Modi after conducting year-long investigations under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). The Directorate probes the alleged transfer of funds to domestic and offshore locations, and the violations total Rs 1077.43 crores (approx. US$ 207.52 million).September 2011: The Supreme Court clears N Srinivasan’s election as BCCI president, but the decision is subject to the outcome of Muthiah’s petition against his election. The court rules that their decision to stop Srinivasan from being president could affect the outcome of a pending trial. However, there has been no final settlement on the matter.February 2012: Rendezvous Sports World Pvt Ltd, owners of the annulled Kochi Tuskers franchise, approach court to save the franchise after BCCI terminates the franchise. The court rejects their plea and the franchise is terminated.August 2012: Enforcement Directorate issues fresh showcase notice to BCCI for committing FEMA contraventions in acceptance of performance deposits amounting to Rs 60 crores (approx. US$ 10.8 million) for awarding of contracts for the conduct of Indian Premier League (IPL).September 2012: The BCCI terminates Deccan Chargers franchise. After a legal battle, the Supreme Court of India upholds Chargers’ termination.February 2013: Competition Commission of India finds the BCCI guilty of indulging in anti-competitive practices relating to the grant of IPL franchise, sponsorship and media rights, and slaps it with a penalty of Rs. 52.24 crore (approx. US$10 million). The Commission observed that BCCI had abused its dominant position and ordered it to ‘cease and desist’ from denying potential competitors market – the ICL is mentioned here – access in the future.February 2013: Rajasthan Royals are fined Rs 100 crore (approx. US$18.8 million) by Enforcement Directorate for FEMA violations.

Simon Katich and Ashwell Prince put on a 181-run stand that could be the sign of thing to come for Lancashire’s opponents in Division Two

Tim Wigmore at Old Trafford13-Apr-2013
ScorecardAshwell Prince has been joined by Simon Katich in a strong Lancashire middle-order•PA Photos

On the basis of their performances in this game, and a palpable hunger for runs, both Simon Katich and Ashwell Prince might still be playing Test cricket. As it is, their 181-run stand in the draw against Worcestershire might just be the start of the damage they inflict upon Division Two attacks this season.After a fluent 84, Katich, the former Australia batsman, put his move from Hampshire, where he lifted two trophies last season, down to the persuasive abilities of Peter Moores. “I felt that at this stage of my career, if I was going to get the best out of myself, I needed a bit more prodding,” he said. “I thought he was probably going to be the guy to be able to do that. When you do finish playing international cricket, there’s something that has to keep driving you.”I thought he would be able to extract the best out of me at this stage of my career. Obviously you need to extract it yourself, but it helps if there’s someone there to prod you as well.” Katich described leaving Hampshire as “tough” but added: “I felt for me to have a good summer and to keep going, I needed to do something slightly different.”Katich and Prince, who last played a Test for South Africa in 2011, will surely underpin Lancashire’s challenge for Division Two promotion. In a thrilling spell in the morning, they added 110 in 16.1 overs to raise Lancashire hopes of a victory, although rain – which accounted for 111 overs in the game – soon ended those. There were no pyrotechnics but a mixture of positive batting and relentlessly aggressive running was enough to score at seven an over. An almost nonchalant Prince pull for six into the building site and Katich’s classy late cuts particularly stood out.For the entertainment they provided the crowd, perhaps both deserved centuries, but Prince was denied his after being caught at midwicket on 95 attempting to hit a third six and Katich, somewhat surprisingly after the authority with which he’d played, fell attempting to cut Moeen Ali. After mislaying their discipline a little in the first hour, Worcestershire regained it impressively and will be content with a draw from what Division Two counties will regard as the season’s hardest fixture.Last season Prince averaged 44, too often mounting lone resistance amid a top-order collapse. It was a matter of mild surprise when he was ostensibly replaced as overseas player by another left-handed Test veteran in Katich. Except, he wasn’t, really: Prince signed as a Kolpak after his Cricket South Africa contract expired last month, and so two overseas players have become one. Lancashire can hardly be blamed for assembling the strongest side possible – and there are several home-grown young players at the club, notably Luke Procter and Karl Brown, who will benefit from the presence of both Katich and Prince – but it remains an anomaly in the complex player eligibility rules.Moores explained that the rationale behind Katich batting at No. 5, rather than opening as he often did for Australia, was to strengthen the middle-order alongside Prince. “There’s a lot of flexibility – they can pretty well bat anywhere,” he said. “We decided to go down the route of four-five because we thought it made it a very solid middle order. They’re two big hundred-makers to give us some continuity.”Moores said selection before the game had been extremely difficult. “It’s the toughest side I’ve ever picked, I think, to leave out Tom Smith – I don’t think we’ve ever left out Tom in my time when he’s been fully fit. And also for Stephen Moore not to play – and Stephen’s been playing well. So testament to the guys who’ve been picked, they’ve been picked because they’ve been playing very well, but we also know we’ve left out two or three people out that have been playing well.”He also confirmed that James Anderson would play in Lancashire’s next two games, against Kent and Glamorgan. “Jim’s been training with us for the last week and a half, he’s great to have around,” Moores said. “And it will be exciting to put him back in that team. Who we put him in for, that’s a different question. But he’ll play.”

Graeme Smith is ready to “leave it all there” when he captains South Africa for the last time in an ODI tournament, starting on Thursday against the West Indies in Delhi

Firdose Moonda in Delhi23-Feb-2011Graeme Smith is ready to “leave it all out there” when he captains South Africa for the last time in an ODI tournament, starting on Thursday against the West Indies in Delhi. “I feel I am best prepared going into this tournament as I have been throughout my career. I am just excited to be able to lead the guys.”So ready is he that he almost left it all out there when a reporter persisted in asking if Smith thought the team would be able to drop the chokers tag, given their record under pressure. When Smith said that there is a “luck element” in tournaments such as this, the journalist went on to ask if South Africa’s nerves often undid any luck that the team may have secured. Smith sneered in reply. “So you have been out in the middle, you will understand that?”Silence.No one on the outside can really understand the unique kind of pressure that has weighed South Africa down, or how stoically they’ve had to deny that it’s had any effect on them. Every few years, when questions like the one above get asked, we get a small glimpse into the burden of underachievement South Africa cricketers carry. It’s why each tournament, for them, seems bigger and more important than the previous one and why this one is “the biggest tournament” for this group of players to date.”A lot of the guys who are here for the first time have definitely said that,” Smith said. “The expectation, the energy around India and before we left, the things that were going on around the group, especially compared to the other World Cups, this is a lot bigger.”The heightened importance of this tournament may stem from the fact that South Africa have brought their most dynamic line-up to a major competition, especially in the bowling department. “It’s the most variety that we have ever had,” Smith said. “We now have pace, we have bounce, we have left-armers, we have got a few spin options.” The variation means that South Africa hope they will be “a lot harder to prepare against” because their starting XI is going to be more elastic than it has been in the past. “Tactically we have got our ideas about how we would like to set up in this tournament. We have covered every base there and we are really excited to get going.”South Africa have been training in India for just over two weeks and although that time has allowed the squad to settle in, there is still an element of uncertainty going into their first game in the World Cup. The Feroz Shah Kotla stadium is hosting its first match after a 14-month ban it incurred in December 2009 for having a dangerous pitch. It has been since relaid, with a surface that promises even bounce, but Smith said neither side knows what to expect from it. “It’s an unknown factor for all of us. But I think you can see they have made a really big effort out here.”It’s also the first time Smith will use the Umpire Decision Review System in a one-day international and it may prove tricky when the team is in the field because “with our bowlers, every decision is out,” Smith said. “I’ll have to trust AB also because I am not always going to be in a position to really judge the lines and where the ball has pitched.”What’s not a first is coming up against the West Indies in the opening match of a World Cup. The last time that happened, South Africa were put to the sword by a blustering innings from Chris Gayle. Smith is wary of not allowing the same kind of flamboyant performance to undo South Africa again. “They have guys who on their day can really punish you and take the game away from you. That’s why in Cup competitions, they are a very dangerous opponent to come up against.”The West Indies struggle with consistency, as Smith noted, and often fall away in a four- or five-match series, but playing them in a one-off match is as much a competition as playing anyone else. Their strategy is based on a certain casual yet colourful flair. In many ways, on their day, they are side that leaves it all there. To see them come against a South African captain who hopes to do the same promises an explosion.

Derbyshire allrounder Greg Smith took a career-best five-wicket haul as Northamptonshire were shot out for 201 on an opening day at Chesterfield dominated by the ball

09-Aug-2010

ScorecardGreg Smith took a career first-class best of 5 for 54 as ball dominated bat at Chesterfield•PA Photos

Derbyshire allrounder Greg Smith took a career-best five-wicket haul as Northamptonshire were shot out for 201 on an opening day at Chesterfield dominated by the ball. Smith claimed 5 for 54 and Jon Clare bagged 4 for 42 on his first County Championship appearance of the season to put the hosts in control. But the promotion contenders hit back through Elton Chigumbura who took 4 for 48 to leave Derbyshire on 124 for 5 at the close with Chesney Hughes unbeaten on 61.The home side lost fast bowler Mark Footitt with an ankle injury in the pre-match warm up but skipper Chris Rogers elected to put Northants in on a well grassed pitch which proved a shrewd decision. Mal Loye was undone by some late movement from Tim Groenewald to be caught at first slip for three in the sixth over and after Alex Wakely and Ben Howgego had taken the score past 50, three wickets fell in four overs.Howgego had played some neat shots off his legs and looked set at 35 but he then left a ball from Smith which took the top of his off stump and Northants suffered a double setback when Clare struck with successive balls. Wakely drove away from his body to be caught at gully by Wes Durston who then took a diving catch to send back Rob Newton for a duck on his second Championship appearance.Andrew Hall dispatched the hat-trick ball to the cover boundary and with David Sales, who survived a confident appeal for a catch behind before he had scored, added 68 in 19 overs.
Sales had moved to 36 when Clare got one to lift to have him caught at slip and in the next over, Hall drove Smith to cover and David Murphy was bowled first ball.At 127 for 7, Northants were in a big hole but Chigumbura and James Middlebrook dug in for 13 overs before Smith removed them both but the visitors at least claimed a batting point before Clare polished off the innings.Derbyshire were soon in trouble when Rogers, who was dropped on five, was unlucky to be run out backing up when Chigumbura deflected a drive into the stumps and the Zimbabwean then trapped Wayne Madsen lbw for a duck.Durston edged low to first slip before Smith played back to a good length ball and was bowled for four to leave the home side in trouble at 40 for 4, but Hughes responded to the crisis with some punishing drives and reached his 50 by driving Middlebrook out of the ground. Chigumbura returned to have Dan Redfern caught behind for 21 but Hughes and Robin Peterson stood firm in fading light.

India’s coach remained quietly confident that a suddenly callow batting order can get the job done

S Aga07-Feb-2010South Africa believe that they have the fast bowlers to exploit early-morning swing and make inroads into an Indian line-up missing two old hands. India, with less than a 4% chance to win the game according to Cricinfo’s new Hawkeye tool, believe that they’re far from out of the contest. Recent cricket history supports that belief. In this age of placid pitches and high scoring-rates, even a total in excess of 550 is no insurance against defeat. You only have to look at two Adelaide Tests played this decade to know that.On the first occasion, in 2003, Australia rattled up 556 at a cracking pace and still lost by four wickets, with Rahul Dravid spending 835 minutes at the crease for his 305 runs. Three years later, Paul Collingwood and Kevin Pietersen added 310 as England made 551 for 6 before declaring. Their scoring rate was very similar to Australia’s in Nagpur (3.27 run an over) and few believed that they could lose when Australia slumped to 65 for 3. But then Ashley Giles dropped Ricky Ponting, Australia’s middle order dug in, and Shane Warne rediscovered his mojo on an enthralling final day.Some cricketers claim to ignore historical precedents, but there’s little doubt that such matches influence future actions. How many more times might the follow-on have been enforced in Tests this decade if not for the Dravid-Laxman show at the Eden Gardens in 2001? How much earlier might South Africa have declared on Sunday if not for memories of Chennai in 2008 when Virender Sehwag scoffed at a first-innings score of 540?The South Africans hold all the aces for the moment, but India will be well aware that four sessions of diligent and committed batting will ruffle more than a few feathers on a pitch that will see the ball turn more and more as the game progresses. “We’re going to give it our best shot,” said coach Gary Kirsten at the end of the second day’s play. “We need to go bat well. A couple of guys are going to have to apply themselves and get big scores. We know we’re capable of doing that.”Dravid, the granite plinth on which most famous Indian wins have been built, is not around, and neither is Laxman, who bats so well in tandem. But Kirsten remained quietly confident that a suddenly callow batting order can get the job done. “You’ve got two batsmen who’ve played over a 100 Tests, so obviously you’re going to miss that experience,” he said. “But I’d think it’s a great opportunity for the likes of [Murali] Vijay and [S] Badrinath to come in and do something. They’re both quality players. It’s an opportunity for them to come in against a top-ranked international team and show what they’re made of.”The bowlers will certainly hope that they can put their tired feet up for a day and more after nearly two days of largely luckless toil. At Adelaide in 2006, Warne bowled 53 overs in the first innings, with just the wicket of Geraint Jones to show for it. Amit Mishra bowled the same number of overs in Nagpur, with nothing to show for a succession of leg breaks that turned prodigiously, perhaps too much to take the edge.”From 291 for 2, we either needed to get wickets or we needed to keep the run-rate down,” said Kirsten. “We weren’t getting that many wickets, so we were happy to keep the rate down to a reasonable level. I thought the guys bowled their hearts out. It’s not an easy wicket to bowl on. I thought Mishra bowled really well for no wicket. He went past the outside edge I don’t know how many times. You have days like that when you don’t really get the result that you want.”Kirsten also refused to buy into criticism of Harbhajan Singh, who was the most expensive bowler on view, managing just one maiden in his 46 overs. “I thought Harbhajan’s rhythm today was fantastic,” he said. “He was a little unlucky at certain times. On the South African side, with Kallis and Amla, they batted exceptionally well. We just look at what we can do. If the batting on the other side is really good, you have to acknowledge that. From 6 for 2, two guys applied themselves and did a fantastic job.”All three spinners managed to get sharp, albeit slow, turn at times, and the bowlers’ footmarks will undoubtedly interest Paul Harris, who didn’t have the best of series against England. JP Duminy’s offspin could also be a factor as India seek to get within range of a huge total. “I think it’s taking some turn,” said Kirsten. “But as the South African batsmen showed, it didn’t look like it was out of hand. It’s up to us to go out and bat as well as we can.”At this stage, it doesn’t look as though it’s doing too much. We did see balls that turned a fair amount. I think we expected that it was going to start turning at some point.”That last remark was accompanied by a wry smile, though there was no humour on view when he was questioned about the squad-selection mess that left India with Wriddhiman Saha as their No.7 batsman. “You can ask the selection that question,” he said curtly, and was just as brusque when asked about Laxman’s late withdrawal. “He was not match fit. He could hit some balls, but it was a decision taken by the management and him that he wasn’t ready for a Test match.”With the specialist bowlers having shared such a heavy workload, there were queries about the wisdom of a four-man attack that ignored that India simply don’t have the allrounder needed to risk a five-bowler strategy. “In the last 15 or so Test matches, we haven’t played a fifth bowler, except for the one Test in Bangladesh,” said Kirsten. “We’ve got a pretty good record without a fifth bowler.”That record and MS Dhoni’s charmed run as captain – seven wins and no defeats in 11 games – will be subjected to intense scrutiny over the next three days. But with Sehwag having been part of huge opening stands in India’s last two home Tests, hope floats. If he can produce another defining innings, at a rate that no other batsman on the planet can come close to matching, there’ll be more than a few nerves in the South African dressing room, no matter what the scoreboard and cricketing logic say.

Barbados Royals remain winless after two games, while the latest win has lifted Patriots to second spot on the table

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Aug-2025Jason Holder was bang in the middle of all good things St Kitts and Nevis Patriots did as they ended a three-match losing streak in CPL 2025 to beat Barbados Royals by 12 runs in Basseterre on Thursday night.Holder first hit a 21-ball 38 to lift an up-and-down Patriots innings that needed a bit of impetus, and then picked up four wickets, including three key strikes at the death when the match got a bit tense.Batting first after Royals opted to field, Patriots were three down quickly, losing Evin Lewis, Rilee Rossouw and Mohammad Rizwan inside the powerplay with just 45 runs on the board. Ramon Simmonds, the left-arm quick did most of the damage, removing Lewis and Rossouw, while Rizwan, in his first match for the franchise, fell to Jomel Warrican.Andre Fletcher had been holding one end up, but he didn’t last too long after the powerplay, falling to Daniel Sams for a 16-ball 25 in the ninth over.Kyle Mayers top-scored for Patriots•CPL T20 via Getty Images

It was then that Kyle Mayers and Holder got together and put up a 49-run stand to bring Patriots back in the game. The two contributed more or less equally to the 30-ball partnership, with Mayers contributing 26 in 16 and Holder 22 in 14. Mayers and Holder fell in the 14th and 16th overs respectively, but quick runs from the Pakistan duo of Abbas Afridi (16 in ten) and Naseem Shah (19 not out in 11) took Patriots to a strong total.It might not have proved enough on another night, though. But Royals, who have now lost both their games this season so far, just couldn’t get a chase going, even though they ended up getting close enough to the target.Unlike Patriots, they got runs from their top order, but the speed of progress wasn’t good enough. Brandon King scored 22 in 17. Quinton de Kock 15 in ten. Kadeem Alleyne, the highest scorer of the innings, hit 42 in 28. Sherfane Rutherford and Kofi James had poor outings, but Rovman Powell, batting at No. 6, chipped in with a 15-ball 21.But there just wasn’t the one big effort that would have made the match close. Wickets fell at regular intervals, Naseem and Navin Bidaisee, the legspinner, picking up two wickets apiece to complement Holder, whose four wickets in 3.2 overs cost him just 14 runs. All of that combined to finish the Royals innings off with ten balls left – enough time to score 12 runs, you’d think, except that they had lost too many wickets too quickly to get to that position.The win, their second in five games, took Patriots to second place on the table behind Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, while Royals are right at the bottom.

Sri Lanka are still the favourites, though, and the Hasaranga-Theekshana combine could yet win the day for them

Andrew Fidel Fernando22-Oct-20222:34

Fleming: ‘Theekshana has a great attitude to any role he is given’

Big picture

Sri Lanka lost their first match to Namibia, but, after that, they dominated UAE and were in control for much of the fixture against Netherlands. Ireland lost to Zimbabwe, but got past Scotland and, notably, West Indies.Both teams have arrived in the Super 12s with a bit of confidence, but also knowing they must still prove themselves in this phase of the tournament. For Ireland, a victory here would be their second successive giant-killing act – the feather of another former T20 World Cup winner to decorate their cap. They appear to take particular pleasure in chasing, with their middle order having been excellent against Scotland, before the top order thumped West Indies.Sri Lanka are clear favourites going in, but their trip through the qualifiers has taken a heavy toll. Dushmantha Chameera – their premier fast bowler – has been ruled out of the tournament, with other quicks also picking up injuries. Ahead of this match, two top-order batters – Danushka Gunathilaka and Pathum Nissanka – are also carrying injuries. They do have their ace spinners in Wanindu Hasaranga, and Maheesh Theekshana. But in Hobart, perhaps they will not be quite as threatening as they were on sluggish pitches in Geelong.2:56

Dasun Shanaka wants himself and Bhanuka Rajapaksa ‘to kick on’

Form guide

(completed matches, most recent first)Sri Lanka WWLWW
Ireland WWLWL

In the spotlight

Curtis Campher is most well-known for his four wickets in four balls in the World Cup last year, but in this edition, it is his batting that has helped carry Ireland into the Super 12s. He is the team’s top scorer from the qualifying stage, having made 99 runs off 54 for the tournament so far. This is especially impressive because he bats down at No. 5.How do you stop Wanindu Hasaranga? He bowls cheap overs, gets excellent wickets with his googly, fields beautifully, occasionally produces a match-turning innings. He is the joint-highest wicket-taker in the first stage, along with Netherlands’ Bas de Leede, and could be on the way to another top World Cup wicket-taker placing. Ireland might do well to play him out quietly.Wanindu Hasaranga could be on the way to another top World Cup wicket-taker placing•ICC via Getty Images

Pitch and conditions

Bellerive Oval in Hobart is one of the smaller grounds used for the Super 12, and has been known to be especially unkind to wristspinners, which may play into Ireland’s hands. Showers are forecast for the afternoon, but there should be enough time to get a game in, even if curtailed.

Team news

Nissanka and Gunathilaka are both ruled out of at least this game, so Ashen Bandara is going to open. There is a question mark over Pramod Madushan’s fitness too.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Kusal Mendis (wk), 2 Ashen Bandara, 3 Dhananjaya de Silva, 4 Charith Asalanka, 5 Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 6 Dasun Shanaka (capt), 7 Wanindu Hasaranga, 8 Chamika Karunaratne, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Binura Fernando, 11 Lahiru KumaraIreland are likely to go in with the same XI that beat West Indies.Ireland (possible): 1 Paul Stirling, 2 Andy Balbirnie (capt), 3 Lorcan Tucker (wk), 4 Harry Tector, 5 Curtis Campher, 6 George Dockerell, 7 Gareth Delany, 8 Mark Adair, 9 Simi Singh, 10 Barry McCarthy, 11 Josh Little2:56

Balbirnie: Reaching Super 12s is huge for this group

Stats and trivia

• After 11 T20 World Cup games, Hasaranga has some staggering figures – 23 wickets at an average of 9.52 and an economy rate of 5.21.
• Andy Balbirnie has been Ireland’s most prolific T20I batter this year, with 518 runs at a strike rate of 132.
• Sri Lanka have won both previous T20Is between these teams, including at last year’s World Cup, where they won by 70 runs.

  Quotes

  “I’m not surprised that Ireland came into the Super 12s because Ireland was last year playing good cricket. They are getting better and better as a team and even bowling, batting, fielding, all three of the formats they’re doing really well. So I’m not surprised.”

Stephen Doheny, Fionn Hand and Conor Olphert also make the cut in the 15-member squad

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Sep-2022Ireland have dropped offspinner Andy McBrine from their T20 World Cup squad, and brought in Simi Singh in place of him. While the rest of the 15-member squad wears a largely familiar look, there are also some new and inexperienced names.These include opening batter Stephen Doheny, who is yet to play a T20I; pace-bowling allrounder Fionn Hand, who made his T20I debut last month against Afghanistan; and medium-pace bowler Conor Olphert, who has played only two T20Is so far.McBrine, who has featured in 32 T20Is, was left out of Ireland’s side after the first two games of the five-match series against Afghanistan in August, which was the last time they played the format. He has conceded runs at an economy rate of 10.53 in his last seven T20Is, and got only three wickets.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Ireland have lost ten – and won just three – of the last 13 T20Is they have played, including losing all five T20Is to India and New Zealand during their home summer. All three of those wins came against Afghanistan in a 3-2 series win. Having lost to Sri Lanka and Namibia in the qualifying matches of the T20 World Cup in 2021, Ireland failed to make the main round last year.Related

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This time, Ireland play Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Namibia in Group B of the qualifying matches, from where the top-two teams – and two others from Group A – will progress to the main event.Squad: Andrew Balbirnie (capt), Paul Stirling (vice-capt), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Stephen Doheny, Fionn Hand, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Conor Olphert, Simi Singh, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young

“Going forward, we will definitely keep an eye out for him,” India’s T20 captain says of Venkatesh Iyer

Sreshth Shah22-Nov-2021With the 2022 T20 World Cup just 11 months away, India’s captain for the format, Rohit Sharma, wants the new players who featured in the team’s 3-0 series win over New Zealand to be given a long run to express themselves.Speaking to the media after sealing the series sweep in Kolkata on Sunday, Rohit pointed to India’s huge pool of talented cricketers and said that with so many of them making a case for selection in the Indian T20 team, the onus was on him and head coach Rahul Dravid to create that sense of security among the players.”When you’re playing bilaterals, you need to tick certain boxes, and we are trying to do that,” Rohit said. “We are trying to create a healthy atmosphere, giving the younger players security so that players can go out and play fearlessly.Related

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“In the first meeting that we had, we spoke about this very clearly. Told them that ‘if you’re trying to do something for the team, that act will never get unnoticed; you will be noticed when you raise your hand and try to take pressure on yourself and try to do something for the team’. That’s the job of the captain and coach. To tell the players that ‘we do understand what you’re trying to do for the team’.”You tell them to take their chances, and if it doesn’t come off, you still back them because we know what they are trying to do for the team.”India fielded a fairly inexperienced squad for the series, with the previously uncapped Harshal Patel and Venkatesh Iyer making their international debuts, and Axar Patel – who had played just one T20I in four years coming into the series – getting a run in Ravindra Jadeja’s absence. However, there was no place for Ruturaj Gaikwad and Avesh Khan in any of the games.”Seeing the talent pool of India, it is not easy,” Rohit said. “Most of the guys sitting outside have also done very well. It’s not easy, only 11 can play, we know that. It’s always tough, but we will try our best that whenever our players step out, they do not have any baggage.”‘Batting down the order will be tough for Venkatesh Iyer’
Rohit was also clear on what role was being considered for Venkatesh Iyer, the breakout star from the UAE leg of the 2021 IPL. Although he has been opening for Kolkata Knight Riders, the management wants him to find a place between Nos. 5 and 7 for India.

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Rohit said the team acknowledged that changing batting positions so drastically could be tough on the newcomer, his skills as a medium-pace bowler made him a tempting option.”The plan is to keep Iyer in the mix as much as we can,” Rohit said. “At the same time, we need to give him a role to bat where he usually doesn’t bat for his franchise. It’s going to be slightly tough for him to bat down the order. We’ve given him a role to bat at No. 5, 6 or 7 and see if he can do the job for us.”Today, he looked composed, he was clear in his mindset, and he has a very good approach. And you saw his bowling skills, looks a very, very bright prospect for us. He can get the job done for us, it’s about giving him the confidence and making him play as much as he can. It’s still very early days – been just three games. He’s not had much of an opportunity to make an impact but going forward, we will definitely keep an eye out for him.”The more depth we have the better it is for us. But for now, the way our bowling is going, and the way we have bowled, you don’t need a sixth or seventh bowler if the five players bowl well. But as a captain, it’s a good cushion to have.”Rohit on Ashwin: “He is always an attacking option for the captain – when he is there, the captain has the opportunity to take wickets in the middle overs”•BCCI

‘Fielding, bowling biggest positives’
Looking back at the series win, Rohit said that there were two standout positives for India. First, the fielding, which saved them around 15 runs each in the first two games, and secondly, how they managed to restrict New Zealand in the first two games despite being put on the back foot early on.In Jaipur, India took five wickets for 68 runs in the last eight overs to keep New Zealand down to 164 and in Ranchi, New Zealand managed to score only 153 despite a 64-run powerplay. In Kolkata, too, New Zealand’s batters were stymied by a varied bowling attack that bowled them out for 111 batting second in dewy conditions.Much of the praise from Rohit went to the spin duo of Axar and R Ashwin. “I think it’s been a great comeback for Ashwin,” Rohit said. “He has proved himself with the red ball and even with the white ball, he doesn’t have a bad record. It shows the quality that he has. He is always an attacking option for the captain – when he is there, the captain has the opportunity to take wickets in the middle overs. And we know how important middle overs are – you need to take wickets there.”Along with Axar, both of these guys are wicket-taking options, and when they bowl, it’s never about surviving for them. It’s about ‘how I can get the batter out, or how I can put pressure on the batter’.”