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    KKR Mentor David Hussey Praises Kuldeep Yadav

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    Times of Sports
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    KKR Mentor David Hussey Praises Kuldeep Yadav
    kuldeep yadav

    David Hussey praises Kuldeep Yadav

    Kolkata Knight Riders(KKR) team mentor David Hussey praises Kuldeep Yadav by stating that he is at “top of his game” this season. Kolkata Knight Riders dropped him after his worst performance in 2019 IPL.

    Kuldeep Dropped By KKR After 2019 IPL

    The left-arm wrist-spinner picked just four wickets in nine games at an economy of 8.66. At the time, Dinesh Karthik, his captain, stated that a break would serve Yadav well and they wanted him to “get back fresh”.

    kuldeep yadav KKR
    Kuldeep Yadav

    “I personally believe after the last eight-nine days of training camp, he’s at the top of his game,” Hussey told PTI. “He’s fielding well, he is running well, he’s covering the ground very well. And he’s bowling has a nice rhythm, and with lots of revolutions on the ball.”

    “Kuldeep is a very confident player. He knows what he can and can’t do with the ball. He spins the ball both ways and reads the game exceptionally well. I don’t think he will have any confidence issues throughout the tournament and I do say that without putting too much pressure on him. I think he would be a very good consistent performer for the Kolkata Knight Riders.”

    Yadav and Sunil Narine’s Combination Would Help Team a lot

    Hussey additionally addressed the Knight Riders profiting by Sunil Narine’s experience with the ball and Yadav’s consolidate with the experienced Trinidadian, who is coming into IPL on the rear of a successful run with the Trinbago Knight Riders at the CPL.

    kuldeep Yadav Sunil Narine
    kuldeep Yadav and Sunil Narine

    Narine, who missed the finals of the CPL 2020, had a blended competition, featuring in only five out of the ten matches in the wake of being treated for kidney stones at the starting of the CPL. He got done with six wickets at an economy of 4.55.

    “He [Narine] will be one of the bowlers captain DK will throw the ball to whenever the opposition has the momentum,” Hussey said. “I’m sure Sunil Narine will win more often than not, those close battles.

    Narine arguably is the best T20 bowler in the world. In any condition, he is one of the best players to have. Fortunately, he is at KKR, and he’ll be at his most difficult self to play and handle.”

    Andre Russell’s batting position

    A consuming inquiry encompassing the team since the last season has been Andre Russell’s batting position. Russell himself has said he’d prefer to bat higher. The group the executives have affirmed that could be a chance this time around. However, Hussey wasn’t giving much away, just indicating a considerable center request gave them an embarrassment of riches.

    Andre Russell
    Andre Russell

    “First and foremost, it’s not my decision, but if he bats at No 3 for the team, it’s going to be the best decision for the team in order for us to win the games of cricket,” he said. “Our middle order, it’s probably the hardest place to bat in T20 cricket.

    “We have Eoin Morgan, who’s done it for England for many, many years. He is a great player, manipulates the field very well. We also have a captain in Dinesh Karthik who’s been a world-class player for such a long time for India and for the many IPL teams he’s played…I expect him to lead from the front and heavily in the middle overs.”

    The Knight Riders will be among the last groups to open their campaign in IPL 2020(according to IPL 2020 schedule). They start on September 23 against the Mumbai Indians in Abu Dhabi, and will conceivably have a full team to look over after the England and Australia players’ clearance to enter the biosecure bubble following a six-day quarantine after arriving in the UAE.

    Also see: IPL Franchise Kolkata Knight Riders Releases Photos of Their Team Room In Abu Dhabi

    No.1 T20I Batsman Dawid Malan Likely to Replace Suresh Raina

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    Times of Sports
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    Dawid Malan
    Dawid Malan

    Dawid Malan is the name that hits the list for the replacement player of Suresh Raina in IPL 2020 for Chennai Super Kings(CSK). CSK was dealt a huge blow when the highest run-scorer of the franchise, Suresh Raina opted out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 due to ‘personal reasons’.

    Dawid Malan Likely to play for CSK

    Since then Raina has hinted he wouldn’t mind coming back to the Super Kings camp and take part in IPL 2020 but the latest reports suggest CSK are looking at world number one T20I batsman Dawid Malan as a replacement for Raina.

    While Malan has witnessed a splendid rise in T20I cricket and has staggering statistics in the shortest format of the game, Super Kings are packed when it comes to foreign players.

    Dawid Malan
    Dawid Malan

    Chennai Super Kings CEO Kasi Viswanathan on Friday dismissed all the reports of Malan being looked as Raina’s replacement as he said foreign quota is already full in the squad.

    When asked if there is any injury issue with any foreign players which could make them opt out of the tournament, the CSK CEO said there aren’t such issues in the squad.

    “This is news to me as well because our quota of foreign players is already full. So I don’t know how we can have another foreigner in the squad,” CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan told ANI.

    CSK’s Deepak Chahar Set to restart training

    Meanwhile, CSK seamer Deepak Chahar is set to start training from Friday after testing negative for twice and completing his self-isolation period. CSK and the BCCI have given all the clearance to Deepak and he is all set to start training from Friday.

    Deepak Chahar
    Deepak Chahar

    “Deepak has all the necessary clearance from the CSK and BCCI side and will start training from today,” he said

    CSK was the last team to start training for IPL 2020 in the UAE as 13 members including two players tested positive for COVID-19. The entire contingent had to quarantine themselves in what was an extended period for them.

    The 13th edition of the league will be played from September 19 to November 10, across three venues in the UAE — Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Dubai.

    Shoaib Akhtar Likely To Replace as Head Coach of the Pakistan Cricket Team

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    Times of Sports
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    Shoaib and Misbah ul Haq
    Shoaib Akhtar and Misbah ul Haq

    Shoaib Akhtar has evidently affirmed that he is in converses with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for a top post. The reports rising up out of Pakistan is that he may be designated as the new executive of selectors, supplanting Misbah-ul-Haq who is head coach of the Pakistan cricket team.

    Shoaib Akhtar Slams Misbah-ul-Haq

    Misbah is currently heading both the selection of the team just as being the mentor yet following Pakistan’s poor show in England, there are signs that the cricket board should supplant Misbah as chairman of selectors.

    Misbah-ul-Haq
    Misbah-ul-Haq Pakistan Cricket team head coach

    On a Youtube show, Shoaib Akhtar didn’t reject that he had conversations and communicated his enthusiasm for assuming a significant function for Pakistan cricket yet included that nothing was settled.

    The move has evidently come in the wake of the new Code of Ethics strategy that evades double duties. This could imply that Misbah-ul-Haq may miss out on one of the positions.

    Akhtar Shows Interest To Lead Pakistan Cricket Team

    “I am ready to leave this comfort and try to put my neck on the line for the PCB. I am not afraid others give advice. I will give time if the opportunity arises. I am ready to get in the line of fire. I will do it because I want to play a role in creating a pool of players from the new generation who play with an aggressive mindset and without fear of failure,” Akhtar said.

    Shoaib Akhtar
    Shoaib Akhtar

    If appointed, Akhtar said his first major aim would be to create match-winners of the past like Javed Miandad and Wasim Akram. The fast bowler also wanted to dispel the climate of insecurity that had engulfed the team and it showed in the series in England. “This mindset had to be changed.

    I believe that had I been with the team there was no way we would have lost the first test to England after reducing them to top 117 for five? Aggression is necessary for top cricket. I have always believed in making tough decisions and people will back you,” Akhtar said.

    Akhtar criticizes Misbah

    Misbah-ul-Haq’s tactics in the last 12 months have been criticized. Pakistan has won two Tests and lost three, won two ODIs and only three T20Is, out of 12 played. There are reports that Misbah is not taking responsibility for the losses and this has earned the wrath of Akhtar, who said Misbah should take more responsibility and not give excuses.

    Shoaib Akhtar
    Shoaib Akhtar slams Pakistan Team Coach For T20 Loss Against England

    “Honest and strong people don’t complain but take decisions. If I had been in his place, I would have said that it is my fault, I will set it right. That is the straight point. He should have said that what had happened earlier or not happened is left behind, and now that I am at the job, I will improve things.

    Playing around here and there is probably Misbah but this is not me. I am not like that. Whatever has happened, now that you are there, you need to say with confidence that you are there now, you will see how to set things right,” Akhtar said.

    Also read: Shoaib Akhtar Claims MS Dhoni Will Play T20 WC For Sure in 2021 If “THIS” Happen

    South Africa Government Suspends CSA Board, Takes Control of Cricket

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    Times of Sports
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    Cricket South Africa(CSA)
    Cricket South Africa(CSA)

    The South African national government suspends Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Thursday(10/09/2020) and has taken control of the sport in the nation.

    SASCOC Letters to Cricket South Africa(CSA)

    Letters from the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) to CSA demand that “the CSA board and those senior executives who serve ex-officio on the board (the company secretary, the acting CEO, the CFO, and the COO) are directed to step aside from the administration of CSA on full pay” pending the outcome of a month-long investigation by a task team into what SASCOC termed “many instances of maladministration and malpractice that have occurred since at least December 2019”.

    South Africa suspends CSA
    South Africa suspends CSA Board

    “This has manifestly caused great concern and consternation amongst your own members, former and current members of the national team of the Proteas, stakeholders, sponsors, and members of the cricket-loving public,” the letter said.

    “There can be no doubt that this has caused cricket to lose the trust and confidence of members of the public, stakeholders, sponsors, and the players represented by SACA [the South African Cricketers’ Association]. All this has brought cricket into disrepute.”

    SASCOC took a dim view of CSA’s dallying about a forensic report into the organisation’s state of affairs: “SASCOC has attempted to address these issues in two meetings with the CSA board: one was exploratory, and the other failed to take place mainly because of the fact that CSA failed to make the… forensic report available to the SASCOC board despite promises and undertakings by CSA to do so.

    CSA is in receipt of our letter which records that the board’s decision to make the said report available only on a limited basis to the president and board members of SASCOC, is wholly unreasonable and irrational given the apparent nature and scope of the report.”

    What is SASCOC, the government entity that has suspended CSA?

    SASCOC (South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee) is the National Olympic Committee (NOC) and National Paralympic Committee (NPC) for South Africa and the responsible body for South Africa at the Commonwealth Games. It is also responsible for high-performance sport in the country and coordinates the relationship with various international sports federations. Thus, it is a sporting ombudsman that was formed following a process beginning with a task force established by the Minister of Sport. Thus, it is a government super body.

    Will current South Africa players’ IPL participation be in doubt?

    There is no word yet about whether this move will affect South African players’ participation in IPL. As of now, they are free to compete. It is only their international matches that might be thrown in doubt.

    Steyn Ab de villiers
    Steyn and Ab de Villiers set to play for RCB in IPL 2020

    Perhaps the biggest fall-out from this will be that South Africa could well be prevented from playing the game at the international level. ICC rules prevent direct government interference in the running of any nation’s cricket board.

    CSA Gets in the List for the second time

    In fact, South Africa will also become the first country to be banned from international cricket for the second time. The country had been banned from playing any international sport between 1970 and 1990 due to the policy of Apartheid practiced by the Afrikaner-led government.

    Also read: Two South African Cricket Players Test Positive for COVID-19, Confirms Cricket South Africa

    MS Dhoni Hails Induction of Rafale Jets Into The Indian Air Force(IAF)

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    Times of Sports
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    Dhoni
    Dhoni

    Indian former cricketer MS Dhoni hails and praises the Indian Air Force(IAF) after they included the 4.5Gen fighter plane in the Indian army.

    Dhoni’s Passion Towards Indian Army

    MS Dhoni is widely known for his impressive glove and bat work in the cricket field. Almost everyone knows how much he loves the Indian army. If you don’t then let us remain how MS Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket in Military format on August 15(India’s Independence Day) 2020.

    Apart from the cricket records created by him, Lieutenant Colonel MS Dhoni became the first person to para jump from military transport. During this Dhoni completed five jumps, including a night jump and a jump from 1250 ft height.

    Dhoni Praised IAF

    “With the Final Induction Ceremony, the world’s best combat-proven 4.5Gen fighter plane gets the world’s best fighter pilots. In the hands of our pilots and the mix of different aircraft with the IAF, the potent bird’s lethality will only increase,” Dhoni, who is in the UAE for the upcoming season of IPL, tweeted on Thursday.

    He added, “Wishing The Glorious 17 Squadron(Golden Arrows) all the very best and for all of us hope the Rafale beats the service record of the Mirage 2000 but Su30MKI remains my fav and the boys get the new target to dogfight with and wait for BVR engagement till their upgrade to Super Sukhoi.”

    MS Dhoni said the induction is a strong message to the world and especially those who have raised an eye at the country. “Today, this induction sends a strong message to the world and especially those who have dared to raise an eye (at us). This induction is a very crucial step, considering the situation that has been created at the border,” the Defence Minister said, referring to the border tensions with China,” he said.

    “I want to congratulate the IAF that the presence of mind they showed during the unfortunate situation at the Line of Actual Control (de facto border between India and China) which shows their commitment,” he added.

    CSK Batting Coach Mike Hussey Surprised at Players Fitness Level

    By
    Times of Sports
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    Mike Hussey
    Mike Hussey

    Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batting coach Mike Hussey said that he expected his side’s players to be rustier and was pleasantly surprised at their good shape ahead of the upcoming IPL 2020.

    Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the game saw a long hiatus and several cricketers will only return to cricket in the forthcoming 13th edition of the IPL. While players from England, Australia, and West Indies have witnessed some cricket, the rest of the players will be returning to the fold after almost 6 months away from the game.

    CSK players
    CSK players

    Mike Hussey Praised CSK Players

    But Hussey, the former Australian batsman, heaped praise on his players as they trained well during the break and returned in good physical shape which has helped them to quickly get into the groove with less than 10 days to go for the CSK’s opening match.

    “I have been really impressed with the guys, the way they have approached their training has been great, all the guys are very keen and I must admit that I expected all the guys to be a bit rustier than they are,” Hussey said in a pitch-side interview, posted on the official Twitter account of CSK.

    CSK lost it’s Two Key payers

    The three-time winners, CSK, had a tumultuous start to their preparations as some of their players and staff returned positive results for coronavirus. As a result, CSK could only start their training from Friday (September 4). If that was not enough, senior players of the team like Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh opted out of the tournament for personal reasons.

    “Bit of a dodgy start, we had to quarantine ourselves for a bit extra, we are on the right track now, we have our negative COVID results, boys are now training hard and are looking forward to the IPL. They are getting rid of all the rustiness and they are looking in good form”

    Hussey, who is nicknamed Mr. Cricket, also spoke about the challenges of following the various health protocols which have been laid in order to tackle the novel coronavirus. He emphasized the mental preparation required for such a scenario.

    Mike Hussey
    Mike Hussey

    “We have stuck to the rules, we have got a good bubble around us, if we stick to the rules then we should be fine. I think it is going to be tough for every player and support staff. It is something we have not experienced before.

    We have experienced players in our lineup and they understand their game. We need to mentally deal with things. I think the mental side of the game would be really important. Dealing with isolation and being stuck in a hotel will be really challenging.”

    Hussey’s Achievements in IPL

    Hussey was a prominent player of CSK’s title-winning sides in 2010 and 2011. In a total of 59 IPL matches, Hussey scored 1977 runs at a phenomenal average of 38.76 and a strike-rate of 122.64.

    The 13th edition of the tournament was earlier scheduled to begin from March but had to be postponed due to the unprecedented outbreak of COVID-19. It has now been shifted to the UAE amidst the rising number of COVID-19 infections across India.

    The much-awaited tournament is set to take place between September 19 and November 10 across three venues in the UAE- Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. Chennai Super Kings will take on Mumbai Indians in the tournament opener on September 19, in what will be a repeat of last year’s final.

     

    Former Indian Captain Jhulan Goswami Praises WPL

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    Times of Sports
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    Jhulan Goswami
    Jhulan Goswami

    India cricketer Jhulan Goswami accepts that a full-fledged Women’s Premier League (WPL) will be a major accomplishment for the nation, particularly for the young players as they will get the opportunity to share the dressing area with “top-notch Indian and international talent”.

    Jhulan Goswami Praises WPL

    “As far as IPL is concerned, we do wish for the full-fledged tournament to start and we are all waiting for that. Women`s IPL will be a big achievement for the country and for young cricketers as they are going to share the dressing room with top-notch Indian and international talent,” Jhulan said during Sports Tiger`s show `Off-the-Field`.

    Watch Jhulan Goswami Interview in `Off-the-Field`

    Jhulan, who is the world`s highest wicket-taker in ODI cricket, also looked back at how her journey into the world of cricket began.

    “The 1997 Women`s World Cup was happening in India and I was lucky enough to get a ticket to be honest. I wasn`t 100% aware of the World Cup happening. But the West Bengal government sent across a few complimentary tickets to the girl`s school and as I was into sports I was fortunate enough to get those.

    “My dad took me for the match as it wasn`t possible for me to travel alone to Kolkata from my village. It was my first time at the Eden Gardens and I was standing in front of the main gate of the Cricket Association of Bengal and they pointed at me and said you are a ball girl,” she said.

    “It was the proudest moment of my life. You play the same sport as the boys hearing a lot of criticism and a lot of hard comments and seeing Australia and New Zealand girls playing in the final inspired me and I said that if I start playing this sport then I have to play for my country. This was the point I started to take the game seriously and decided to make my career in it,” Jhulan added.

    Jhulan Goswami

    The 37-year-old also feels that age is just a number and professional athletes never think about age.

    “As a professional athlete, you never think about age. You just go on with your passion, hard work, and love for the game. You just want to be on the ground as much as possible and that is the most satisfying factor for any athlete. And I am just enjoying myself,” Jhulan said.

    Jhulan Plays Key role in Women’s WC 2017

    India reached the ICC Women`s World Cup final in 2017 and Jhulan was a key member of the team but they fell short by nine runs in the decider.

    Reflecting on the same, she said: “It was a huge achievement to play in front of a full house at Lord`s in the final. We started the World Cup on a high note. It was an absolute team effort from the very beginning. Whether you speak about Smriti Mandhana, Mithali Raj, Ekta Bisht, Deepti Sharma, Shikha Pandey, or Rajeshwari Gayakwad everyone had contributed. As a team, we believed and performed.”

    Jhulan Goswami
    Jhulan Goswami

    She further said, “We reached the finals and it was only the last 10 overs where we lost the match. For the 90 overs we had dominated the match and it was only the last 10 overs of England`s bowling where we couldn`t handle the pressure. It is a pain but we have to move on.

    But the 2017 World Cup irrespective of everything was the year of revolution for women`s cricket in our country. I think momentum which was required for women`s cricket was set up by us. If you look at our team`s performance in the last three years 2017-20 we have been very consistent and only lost in the final whether it is ODI or T20I.

    “Jhulan also sounded very excited about her upcoming biopic and Anushka Sharma playing her role. She said, “I am very nervous about how people are going to react. I just hope it can motivate more young kids to take up sports. I am looking forward to it.”

    Yuvraj Singh Agrees to Makes a Comeback after PCA Request

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    Times of Sports
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    Yuvraj Singh
    Yuvraj Singh(Image: ICC)

    Former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh confirms to make his comeback in domestic games as per PCA request. He has agreed to resume for the State at least in the T20 format.

    PCA Request Yuvraj Singh To Make a Comeback

    The 39-year-old swashbuckling all-rounder announced his retirement in June 2019 from all forms of cricket. And last month, Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) secretary Puneet Bali approached him to come out of the retirement and mentor youngsters of Punjab, the home state of the cricketer, and the left-hander had started practice as well.

    Yuvraj Singh
    Yuvraj Singh

    Yuvraj Singh Accepts PCA Request

    Regarding this the world cup winning all-rounder expells as “Initially, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to take up the offer,” Yuvraj was quoted.

    “I was done with domestic cricket, though I did want to continue to play in other domestic franchise-based leagues worldwide if I got permission from the BCCI.

    “But I also couldn’t ignore Mr. Bali’s request. I gave it a lot of thought, for nearly three or four weeks, and it was almost as if I didn’t even have to make a conscious decision in the end.”

    Yuvraj Singh Mentors Young Punjab Cricketers

    While working with the young Punjab quartet of Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Prabhsimran Singh, and Anmolpreet Singh at the nets in the last few months, Yuvraj rediscovered his love and motivation for the game.

    Bali told PTI that the batsman has written to BCCI president Sourav Ganguly in this regard.

    “I know he has written a letter to BCCI president Sourav Ganguly wanting to come out of retirement,” he revealed.

    “We want him in the team and the way he mentored four young boys Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Prabh Simran Singh, and Anmolpreet Singh was exceptional. I told him that please give at least one more year of your life to Punjab cricket,” he said.

    Yuvraj Family Feels Honoured

    Yuvraj’s mother Shabnam Singh, a constant pillar of support in his life, said he still retains the passion for the game.

    Yuvraj Singh Family

    “He is coming back (from Dubai) in a couple of day time and then we are going to have a long chat around all of this. Whatever you are hearing must be true,” Shabnam told PTI.

    When contacted by PTI, his father Yograj Singh said, “He retired after 20 years of competitive cricket last year and it was his personal decision which I didn’t interfere. But even then I felt that he shouldn’t have retired.”

    “He is a giver. In these times, in the scorching heat, he trained Shubman, Prabh, and Abhishek for five hours each day.

    “The way he hit sixes at the new PCA stadium in Mullanpur, everyone wanted him to come back. If he plays at least three years for Punjab, he will give back at two 2 world-class players to Indian cricket. So he must play.”

    Also read: Yuvraj Singh Shows Interest To Play in Big Bash League(BBL)

     

    BCCI President Sourav Ganguly Travels to Dubai Ahead of IPL 2020

    By
    Times of Sports
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    Sourav Ganguly
    Sourav Ganguly

    Sourav Ganguly Reaches UAE

    Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly on Wednesday traveled to Dubai to attend the upcoming version of the Indian Premier League (IPL) there.

    IPL Governing Council executive Brijesh Patel is among other authorities who are now present in Dubai to ensure the arrangements of the cash-rich league are in order.

    Ganguly After reaching UAE

    “My first flight in 6 months to Dubai for IPL…crazy life changes,” Ganguly posted on his Instagram account with a photo in which he is wearing a mask and a face shield, part of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) while flying during the time of the pandemic.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    My first flight in 6months to dubai for IPL.. crazy life changes ..

    A post shared by SOURAV GANGULY (@souravganguly) on

    IPL 2020 Schedule

    Reigning champions Mumbai Indians will take on arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings in the opening match of the cash-rich T20 league(according to IPL 2020 schedule), which has been moved to the UAE due to the rising Covid-19 cases in India.

    All eight franchises have reached the United Arab Emirates and have begun training. There was a little hiccup as well when 13, members of the Chennai Super (CSK) squad were tested positive for COVID-19.

    The 2020 season of the IPL will be played for 53 days from September 19 to November 10 across three venues in the UAE — Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Dubai.

    IPL 2020 in UAE
    Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

    The final match will be played on a Tuesday, to make it the first-ever IPL to have its final on a weekday. The matches this season will also start 30 minutes before their original time of 4 PM and 8 PM.

    The IPL 2020, which was scheduled to be played from March 29 this year, was earlier postponed to April 15 before it was suspended again due to the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    However, after the International Cricket Council (ICC) formally announced the postponement of the T20 World Cup, the BCCI capitalized on the opportunity to stage the IPL during the time the T20 World Cup was dated to take place.

    But with the coronavirus situation escalating in India with each passing day, the Indian board decided to move the tournament out of the country. It is believed, UAE was chosen to keep in mind their prior experience of hosting a limited part of the tournament in 2014.

     

    Shoaib Akhtar Slams Pakistan Team Coach For T20 Loss Against England

    By
    Times of Sports
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    Shoaib Akhtar
    Shoaib Akhtar

    Former Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akhtar slams coach of Pakistan cricket team, Misbah Ul Haq for the loss against England.

    Shoaib Akhtar slams Pakistan cricket Coach

    The former cricketer had claimed that he inherited a T20 side that was already on a decline after Pakistan lost the series against England 2-1. As it is, Misbah has faced severe criticism as in his reign, in the past 12 months, Pakistan has won two Tests and lost three, won two ODIs and only three T20Is, out of 12 played.

    Shoaib Akhtar
    Shoaib Akhtar

    Akhtar in his quintessential style went on to say that Misbah shouldn’t make excuses and take the onus upon himself.

    “Honest and strong people don’t complain but take decisions. If I had been in his place, I would have said that it is my fault, I will set it right. That is the straight point. He should have said that what had happened earlier or not happened is left behind, and now that I am at the job, I will improve things,” Akhtar told Geo TV.

    “Playing around here and there is probably Misbah but this is not me. I am not like that. Whatever has happened, now that you are there, you need to say with confidence that you are there now, you will see how to set things right,” he added.

    When Misbah was appointed Pakistan coach, they were the top-ranked side in the T20Is and now have slipped to number 4. While in the Tests, they are struggling at no 7.

    Shoaib Akhtar Recalls The Worst Thing He Did to MSD

    Shoaib Akhtar reviewed the time he had intentionally tossed a beamer at Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

    Shoaib Akhtar bowls Beamer to Dhoni
    Shoaib Akhtar bowls Beamer to Dhoni

    The former Indian captain was in his peak form and had just hit Akhtar three boundaries in a single over. The pressure was developing and the fast bowler attempted to agitate him by bowling the beamer. The ball went for a wide eventually and the Pakistan cricketer has lamented the move from that point onwards.

    “I think I had bowled an eight-nine over spell in Faisalabad. It was a quick spell and Dhoni scored a hundred. I purposely bowled a beamer to Dhoni and then apologized to him,” Akhtar said in Hindi.

    Saying that it was the first time he had thrown a beamer “purposely”, Akhtar said, “I shouldn’t have done it. I regretted it a lot”.

    Also read: Shoaib Akhtar Claims MS Dhoni Will Play T20 WC For Sure in 2021 If “THIS” Happen

    Irfan Pathan Express His Feeling On Dhoni’s New Training Regime

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    Times of Sports
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    Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has expressed his feeling on seeing the new training regime of MS Dhoni in the UAE ahead of the IPL 2020.

    CSK Posted Dhoni’s Training Video

    From Friday evening, Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings came out to practice. Since then, CSK players have been sweating it out in the nets with a recent video showcasing Dhoni, Shane Watson, and the rest of the squad working hard.

    CSK recently posted a video on their social media handles where Mahi, along with Ravindra Jadeja, Piyush Chawla, Ambati Rayudu, etc can be seen putting a shift in ahead of the IPL 2020 kickoff.

    “Net. Set. Go! #StartTheWhistles #Yellove #WhistlePodu,” CSK captioned the video on Twitter.

    Irfan Pathan Praises Dhoni’s Training

    Those who are aware of Dhoni’s training pattern know that the former India captain never practices wicketkeeping in the nets, but has made an exception this time around. Soon Irfan Pathan made quick notes on his training session.

    “We have seen a new visual where we have seen MS Dhoni keeping the wickets. This never happens, this is something new for me because I have played cricket for so many years with him, whether it is for the Indian team or in the league with CSK, I have never seen him keeping wickets,” Pathan told Star Sports.

    Dhoni CSK
    CSK players in training

    “So this is because he has not played cricket for a long time. I guess there was some leg-spinner bowling, so he may be trying to check the new bowlers but it is good to see that he is doing keeping during practice.”

    Dhoni last played any form of cricket in July of last year – the semifinal of the World Cup against New Zealand which ended in heartbreak for Virat Kohli’s India. Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket on August 15 but Dhoni is keen to get back playing for a CSK, a side he has molded into one of the best IPL teams of all time.

    Irfan Pathan On CSK Players Withdrawl

    CSK will be taking on Mumbai Indians in the opener on September 19(according to IPL 2020 schedule) and the responsibilities he’ll share is, even more, this time around in the absence of Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh.

    “Absolutely, this had to happen. And these are good visuals because there has been some disruption in Chennai Super Kings after the withdrawal of two players with Suresh Raina coming back and Harbhajan Singh not playing,” Pathan said.

    “So, it is good news that practice has started and it is not a surprise that fans have reached there to see MS Dhoni. This has is happening for so many years and it is not a shock that it is happening now also. COVID is there but still, fans have reached there to watch MS Dhoni.”

     

    Virat Kohli Reveals The Reason For Not Carrying Any Baggage To UAE

    By
    Times of Sports
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    Virat Kohli interview on Bold diaries

    With less than two weeks away from IPL 2020, RCB skipper Virat Kohli reveals that he is prepared to lead RCB this season. BCCI releases the IPL 2020 schedule earlier this month which scheduled to begin from September 19.

    He also states that he is feeling best since the 2016 season of the cash-rich tournament.

    Virat Kohli Regarding His Squad

    “The 2016 IPL, we all loved to be a part of (it). Since then, this is the most balanced I have felt about (the) squad,” the Indian skipper said on RCB’s Youtube show ‘Bold Diaries’.

    Kohli added that both he and former South Africa skipper AB de Villiers are hopeful that the RCB would be able to turn the tables this season and perform better than previous seasons.

    Watch Virat Kohli Exclusive Interview on  RCB Bold Diaries

    “I (have) never felt so calm going into a season before. He (ABD) is coming from a very different space and he is enjoying his life and is very relaxed and fit as ever. I feel I am in a much better space, much more balanced, when it comes to the environment of (the) IPL,” the RCB skipper said, adding that this is the first time he isn’t carrying any baggage.

    “Disconnecting with things that have happened in the past and not taking that baggage, as we have done that way too many times. Just because we have a bunch of players that are so skilled, people like seeing them play is the reason people have had so much expectation as well,” Kohli noted.

    Virat Appreciates Management’s Decision

    The RCB skipper also welcomed the team management’s decision to rope Mike Hesson as the head of coaching staff, saying that Hesson can act as a bridge between “management and players”.

    Virat Kohli led RCB
    Virat Kohli led RCB

    “They (RCB owners) have had a great balance of knowing when to have a conversation and (also) knowing at times ‘, okay these guys (players) know what the are doing’,” he said.

    “The reason they got someone like Mike (Hesson) (as they know) that he can be a mediator. Communication is very nicely designated this time. I feel they (owners) are taking their responsibility and we as players will take our responsibility as usual. “I believe we won’t be overburdened this time around which is a great thing to know,” Kohli added.

    Also read: Analysis Of Virat Kohli Led RCB Team By Simon Katich

     

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