Kieron Pollard: IPL 2023: Mumbai Indians release Pollard, Unadkat, Sams, Meredith; retain most of core squad

Kieron Pollard, Daniel Sams, Jaydev Unadkat, Tymal Mills and Riley Meredith are among the players released by Mumbai Indians for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season.

According to ESPNCricinfo, MI have retained most of their core players like Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Jofra Archer and Jasprit Bumrah. Also, with the future on their mind, the team has retained some exciting young talents such as Tilak Verma, hard-hitting Tim Davids, South African Under-19 sensation Dewald Brewis and Tristan Stubbs.

Pollard has announced his retirement from IPL as a player and will extend his association with the franchise as batting coach.

Ever since he signed with MI in 2010, Pollard has been one of the marquee players of the franchise, winning them many games with his all-round performances. In 189 matches for the side, Pollard has scored 3,412 runs at an average of 28.67, including 16 half-centuries. He has also taken 69 wickets for the five-time champions.

But the last season with Mumbai Indians was disappointing for him. In 11 matches, he could only manage 144 runs at an average of 14.40, with a highest score of 25. He hit these runs at a poor strike rate of 107.46. Also, he took only four wickets for his side in the tournament.

MI, who had a poor IPL 2022 performance after finishing last on the points table with four wins from 14 matches and eight points on the board, will enter the next season with an exciting mix of experience and youth.

Rs 20.55 crore and three foreign player slots are also left in their purse for the auction.

Locked and Loaded for #IPL2023 Introducing our stars for the upcoming season #OneFamily #MumbaiIndians, tweeted MI.

Mumbai Indians:

Released players: Kieron Pollard, Anmolpreet Singh, Aryan Juyal, Basil Thampi, Daniel Symes, Fabian Allen, Jaydev Unadkat, Mayank Markande, Murugan Ashwin, Rahul Buddhi, Riley Meredith, Sanjay Yadav, Tymal Mills

Players acquired via trades: Jason Behrendorff

Current squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Tim David, Ramandeep Singh, Tilak Verma, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Tristan Stubbs, Devald Brewis, Jofra Archer, Jasprit Bumrah, Arjun Tendulkar, Arshad Khan, Kumar Karthikeya, Hrithik Shokeen, Jason Behrendorff Akash Madhwal.

Originally published at Pen 18

Novak Djokovic to be granted visa to play in 2023 Australian open, say reports

Originally published at Pen 18

Novak Djokovic granted visa to play in 2023 Australian Open

Guardian Australia and state broadcaster ABC reported on Tuesday that Novak Djokovic has been granted a visa to play at the Australian Open in January.

Djokovic, who is Serbian, was deported from Australia in the lead-up to the Grand Slam in January after refusing to be vaccinated. The former world No. 1 was originally banned from the country till 2025.

The ABC said it had confirmed that Immigration Minister Andrew Giles had overturned that ban, allowing Djokovic to compete.

A spokeswoman for Australia’s immigration ministry declined to comment on the reports.

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tilley said this month that Djokovic would be welcome in January if he could get a visa, but Tennis Australia was unable to lobby on his behalf.

Australia in July scrapped a rule requiring international travelers to declare their Covid vaccination status, and Djokovic said in October he had “positive signs” about the status of efforts to lift his ban. Had met

Originally published at Pen 18

world cup: Having the World Cup in Qatar creates unique tight schedule

There has never been a World Cup match schedule like this. The first World Cup, played in November and December to escape Qatar’s desert heat, is just the starting point for other unique features.

For the players and fans in Qatar and spectators around the world, the games come on a quicker and often more intense schedule than any previous group stage. This tournament required four different kickoff time slots to function, although they were used on the first Saturday of previous tournaments.

In Qatar, there will be back-to-back-to-back games for seven consecutive days to squeeze this World Cup into just 29 days.

The total is three days less than those used to play the 2018 tournament in Russia and the 2014 edition in Brazil.

A 32-day tournament using five full weekends was not available this time because FIFA had to strike in 2015 with European leagues and clubs having to abandon the World Cup in the middle of their domestic season.

The European league group warned of “very serious damage” to the sporting and financial interests of its members by a shutdown for at least six weeks.

While high-profile clubs and stars such as Erling Haaland take an extended break or head off to training camps, the World Cup players have time ahead.

Teams in Groups G and H, such as Brazil and Portugal, have the least number of rest days. To win the title, they will have to play seven matches in just 25 days. The World Cup doesn’t even stop between the group stage and the round of 16.

“It will be a very tiring tournament and it is true that we will start later,” Portugal coach Fernando Santos said after the draw on 1 April.

“The only advantage I see is starting on the 24th,” he said, noting that the teams playing on November 21 — England, the Netherlands, the United States — have fewer days to prepare.

Santos, who wants those extra pre-tournament days for practice, pointed to the dilemma facing most of the 32 coaches at the World Cup, where typically 75% of selected players are employed by European clubs.

European domestic leagues were mostly playing games until Sunday, the final day before players were mandated by FIFA to remain with their national teams.

This leaves only one week of official preparation time, instead of the usual minimum two weeks prior to the World Cup.

In the Premier League on Sunday, Ecuadorean players Moises Caicedo and Parvis Estupinen were on the field for Brighton just a week before their national team open the World Cup against Qatar.

When the clock in Doha struck midnight on Monday – FIFA’s November 14 deadline to put players on national-team duty – squad members from Argentina, Brazil, France, Poland and Serbia were still on the field in Italy , where the Juventus-Lazio game ended around 11 pm local time.

“We don’t have time to prepare the team, just seven days,” Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said in April. “It won’t be easy for us.”

There was no perfect solution when FIFA confirmed the inevitable switch of dates in 2015, accepting the World Cup could not be played or held in June, when temperatures in Qatar would reach 45 °C (113 °F). Is.

Seven years ago, the preferred European option for a January 2022 tournament was rejected by FIFA’s then-leaders because of its direct conflict with the Winter Olympics in Beijing.

“Of course, it is not an ideal situation to play in November and December,” the then UEFA Secretary-General Gianni Infantino (now FIFA President) said in March 2015, “and we would have preferred to play in January because it would have had less impact.” ”

Nevertheless, the agreement to play in November and December led to a five-month delay that proved necessary when the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc with international soccer. Almost all the World Cup qualifying games scheduled in 2020 were postponed.

When it came to finalizing World Cup dates, one red line was making sure the Premier League would have its traditional 26 December games.

The happy solution for Qatar was holding a four-week tournament with the final on a traditional and auspicious Sunday – the emirate’s national day on 18 December.

Originally published at Pen 18

Suryakumar yadav: Virat Kohli, Suryakumar named in “Most Valued Team” of 2022 T20 World Cup

The tournament’s leading run-scorers, Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav were on Monday named for the “Most Valuable Team” of the ICC 2022 T20 World Cup.

Indian superstar Virat finished as the most successful batsman of the tournament, scoring 296 runs at an impressive average of 98.66.

Kohli began his campaign against Pakistan with an unbeaten 82, helping his team register a four-wicket win off the last ball.

Also an unbeaten 64 against Bangladesh, an unbeaten 62 against the Netherlands, and a 50 not out against England in the semi-finals held a personal event to remember one of the greatest white-ball batsmen of the modern era.

Another Indian Suryakumar finished third in the tournament with 239 runs. Three half-centuries – an unbeaten 51 against the Netherlands in Sydney, an unbeaten 68 against South Africa in Perth, and an unbeaten 61 off just 25 balls against Zimbabwe in Melbourne – helped his team reach the semi-finals with a strike rate. 189.68 runs in six innings.

Another Indian Hardik Pandya was selected as the 12th player of the team.

“Players from six different teams have been named in the Upstox Most Valuable Team of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022,” the ICC said in a statement a day after England won their second world title in the shortest format.

England captain Jos Buttler, as well as fellow openers Alex Hales and seamer Sam Curran, all made the team. Glenn Phillips of New Zealand and Sikandar Raza of Zimbabwe are at number five and sixth in the playing XI. Phillips’ scintillating century against Sri Lanka led his team to a 65-run victory in Sydney.

Another 62-run knock against England helped them reach 201 runs at an average of 40.20. Raza’s 219 runs and 10 wickets were important assets for Zimbabwe with both bat and ball.

He began the tournament with a polished 82 off 48 balls against Ireland in Hobart, before further batting contributions against Scotland, the Netherlands and India – impressing with a brilliant three for 25 as Zimbabwe stunned Pakistan in Perth – Started a memorable tournament round.

Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan finished the middle order with 11 wickets at an average of just 15.00. And he was brilliant with the bat, scoring 92 runs at an average of 24.50 to lead his team to the final in Melbourne.

Sam Curran and Enrique Nortje are eighth and ninth respectively, with the former being named Player of the Tournament after a series of spellbinding bowling performances. After starting his game with five for ten against Afghanistan, the left-arm seamer claimed remarkable figures of 3 for 12 in four overs in the final.

Another standout pacer was Nortje, who served as a vital weapon in South Africa’s arsenal after finishing with a tournament-best average of 8.54.

Nortje conceded just 94 for his 11 wickets, including four against both Bangladesh and Pakistan, to help establish himself as one of the most intimidating bowlers of the competition. Mark Wood and Shaheen Shah Afridi, who took nine and eleven wickets for England and Pakistan, rounded out the team at number 10 and 11.

Despite being ruled out of the semi-finals and final due to injury, Wood’s consistency during the Super 12, highlighted by three wickets against Afghanistan and Ireland, saw him finish with an average of just 12.00.

And for Afridi, who was also injured in Sunday’s final, figures of four for 22 against Bangladesh and three for 14 against South Africa saw him repeat his new-ball heroics in last year’s game. helped as Pakistan was easily defeated in Melbourne.

Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who took eight wickets in 128 runs, has replaced him as the 12th player.

The dangerous middle-order ace smashed 63 off 63 balls against England in the semi-finals after picking up crucial wickets against Pakistan, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe during the Super 12s.

Alex Hales, Jos Buttler, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Glenn Phillips, Sikandar Raza, Shadab Khan, Sam Curran, Enrique Nortje, Mark Wood and Shaheen Shah Afridi batted first. Hardik Pandya is the 12th player.

Originally published at Pen 18

morgan: Ben Stokes continues to stand up for England in big games, says former captain Eoin Morgan

Former England captain Eoin Morgan heaped praise on his compatriot Ben Stokes when he led the men’s team to their second T20 World Cup trophy, scoring an unbeaten half-century in the process.

Morgan said, “Ben is such a special player. He stands up for his country in big matches, when his country needs him. It’s such an incredible skill.”

His remarks came after questions were raised over Stokes’ inclusion in the squad at the start of the tournament, which was laid to rest with the 31-year-old leaving behind a determined Pakistan side to win the entire affair. .

Stokes lowered his head and scored 52* off 49 balls even as wickets fell all around him, reaching the target of 138 with one over and five wickets to spare.

Morgan said on Sky Sports after the end of the match, “When there’s the ability to mess something up, Ben is the guy who thinks calmly and calmly under pressure and makes great decisions. He’s done that many times.” ”

The win establishes England as one of the greatest limited-overs teams, with the current Jos Buttler-led side holding both the 50-over and 20-over trophy at the same time, the first team to do so. becomes.

“It’s such an incredible feeling – pure joy, relief, happiness. This team deserves it. They’ve been through the mill in the group stages and have done their best against India in the semi-finals.” Morgan.

“Jos Buttler said, ‘We don’t want to be known as a team just because of our style of play’. Won something solid to be considered one of the great sides. They were excellent,” he concluded.

Asked after the end of the match whether he doubted that England would go over the line, Stokes said he had no such doubts in his mind.

“I didn’t feel like it was out of our hands. I tried to make sure I stayed there for as long as possible at the end.”

“It’s easy when you have a batsman at the end of the innings and it’s never really a panic station when it’s less than eight runs per over and Mo (Moeen Ali) really got us going. ”

Test captain Stokes revealed that England had started playing their best edition in the T20 World Cup after a five-run loss to Ireland in a rain-hit Super 12 match at the MCG. “In the final, especially chasing, you forgot all the hard work that came first. To restrict them to 130, the bowlers have to take a lot of credit. Adil Rashid and Sam Curran won us the game.”

“With Ireland being so early in the competition, we had to address it. Say what had to be said and then let it go. We can’t carry stuff into the tournament. It was a small setback along the way, credit Ireland We are beating us by turning back.”

“The best teams take it on the chin, and move on to the next challenge. A great evening. It’s wonderful to represent your country at the World Cup. It’s been a good one.”

IANS. with inputs of

Originally published at Pen 18

england world cup: ‘Best white ball team’: Cricket greats congratulate England on T20 World Cup victory

Former cricketers have congratulated the English cricket team for winning the T20 World Cup in Australia. This was England’s second T20 World Cup title. England chased down the target of 138 with one over to beat Pakistan by 5 wickets.

As the Jos Buttler-led side became the T20 champions, social media poured in for former cricketers from across the world.

Indian master blaster Sachin Tendulkar described England’s win as a grand achievement and described the unfortunate timing of Shaheen Afridi’s injury as a crucial moment in Sunday’s match.

Tendulkar said in a tweet, “Congratulations England on winning your 2nd T20 World Cup. Great achievement. It was a close match and it would have been even more interesting if Afridi hadn’t been injured. What a roller coaster of a World Cup.”

Congratulations to England on winning their second @T20WorldCup. Fantastic achievement. It was a close match… https://t.co/M2YUtYd9iE

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) 1668342415000

Indian star batsman Virat Kohli congratulated England on Instagram.

Kohli wrote alongside the picture, “Congratulations England, well deserved.”

Another Indian legend – VVS Laxman called the final a great game.

“Great final in front of over 80,000 fans at the MCG. Congratulations to England on their thrilling title win & Pakistan for a brave fight. #T20WorldCup #T20WorldCupFinal,” Laxman tweeted.

Fantastic final in front of over 80,000 fans at the MCG. Congratulations to England on their thrilling title win and Pakistan… https://t.co/FSglTtvooK

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) 1668339757000

Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya tweeted, “Congratulations to England for playing a strong entertaining brand of cricket. Well played for never giving up. Cricket #T20WorldCup Final Winners.”

Congratulations to England for playing a strong recreational brand of cricket. Pakistan never gave up… https://t.co/dRJkUW532W

— Sanath Jayasuriya (@sanath07) 1668340532000

Meanwhile, former England captain Michael Vaughan heaped praise on Ben Stokes, saying that the all-rounder knows how to win the big moments.

“England are the best white-ball team in the world. They have an incredible group of players who now totally deserve both white-ball WCs… in Ben Stokes they have a player who just takes the big moments.” Knows to win… Great teams need great individuals.. England have a lot,” Vaughan tweeted.

England is the best white ball team in the world. They have an incredible group of players, which is worth it now… https://t.co/3cxLmmXBa5

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) 1668339319000

Former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh said in his tweet, “Congratulations to the in-laws!!

Congratulations on in-laws!! @Benstokes38 Great innings in a big pressure game!! #PakistanVsEngland #T20WorldCupFinal

— yuvraj singh (@YUVSTRONG12) 1668342167000

Former West Indies cricketer and well-known commentator Ian Raphael Bishop feels England really deserves a win.

In a tweet, Bishop said, “England played well. Really deserved to excel in the white ball game for the last 5 years. Pakistan showed great spirit to reach the final and will be even better.”

Well played England. Duly deserves to be truly excellent in the game of white ball for the last 5 years. Pa… https://t.co/Qs0yOPcs2o

— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) 16683410060000

AB de Villiers tweeted, “Fantastic England! Undoubtedly the best team in the tournament.”

Well done England! Undoubtedly the best team in the tournament

— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) 1668339534000

Originally published at Pen 18