Test cricket in the foothills of the Himalayas: India, Australia reach their final destination : Cricket, News

Highlights

• Here are the first Test played in Dharamsala

• The first ODI was played in January 27, 2013

• The four-match series is currently tied 1-1

A string that began with plenty of promise has reached its very last stop in Dharamsala. The war which began in Pune and then captured fiercer in Bengaluru was accompanied by a dogfight of a fascination with Ranchi and has now reached the scenic Himalayas.

A series which has delivered from amazing cricket to a trademark off-field verbal brawls between the two media and teams has eventually come down to one of the most peaceful areas in the nation, an individual could say.

– BCCI (@BCCI) March 24, 2017

Dharamsala, the home of the Dalai Lama, is a place famous for its breathtaking scenery and instead scenic lifestyle. Located at the foothills of the Himalayas, it’s filled warm people and tiny cafes, with some beautiful Tibetan and Italian cuisine at the offering. They say it’s the ideal place to grab some beer and ‘chill’ amidst the grueling work schedules nowadays. People often say they visit the place to find inner peace.

It will now host its first Test match and in a ideal situation perhaps. Isn’t it?

After the heated exchanges in Bengaluru and sly digs in Ranchi, the teams arrived in the cold Himalayas to take on one another and go all out for the Border-Gavaskar trophy with the series being tied at 1-1.

– BCCI (@BCCI) March 24, 2017

The HPCA stadium is all set to host their first Test match since its inception back in the early half of the 2000s. The stadium is unique in India as it’s situated at an altitude of 1,457 m over the sea level and has the snow-capped Himalayan mountains in the background. The first international team who played within this ground was Pakistan, when they played a warm-up match against an India A side in 2005.

Himachal Pradesh play their domestic matches back their but it finally came into recognition once the 23000-seater hosted its first Indian Premier League match back in 2012, when they played host two of Kings XI Punjab’s home matches.

It received international recognition once the first ODI was played in January 27, 2013 between India and England which England won the match by 7 wickets. The HPCA hosted their first T20I on October 2, 2015 when Indian took on South Africa, which turned out to be a high scorer but eventually the visitors prevailed by seven wickets with two balls to spare.

Ultimately, after four decades of worldwide cricket, Dharamsala is all set to experience the oldest and the most testing form of cricket amidst its slow and soft paced locales – Test cricket.

– BCCI (@BCCI) March 23, 2017

Although, the spectators might miss out on watching Virat Kohli, as he is doubtful for the match as of now but they can totally anticipate some swashbuckling cricket and some much needed ‘heat’ perhaps in the cool temperatures.

source http://www.southwalescricket.co.uk/test-cricket-in-the-foothills-of-the-himalayas-india-australia-reach-their-final-destination-cricket-news/

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ICC to consider expelling US Cricket Association

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The International Cricket Council will look at substituting the U.S. federation at a meeting in June after a failed two-year procedure to merge the functioning of the sport in America.

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source http://www.southwalescricket.co.uk/icc-to-consider-expelling-us-cricket-association/

Cricket: Ravi Shastri named India’s head coach

NEW DELHI: Former captain Ravi Shastri was on Tuesday (Jul 11) named the new head coach India, ending weeks of speculation within the high-profile job after Anil Kumble’s dramatic exit. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) additionally appointed ex-paceman Zaheer Khan since the bowling coach and Rahul Dravid as the batting consultant for overseas tours. “The duration of the appointments would be until the World Cup 2019,” the BCCI said in a discharge.

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source http://www.southwalescricket.co.uk/cricket-ravi-shastri-named-indias-head-coach/

Pakistan Cricket Board against boycotting cricket ties with India : Cricket, News

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan has denied to follow in the footsteps of Pakistan Hockey Federation which declared that it would boycott future foreign events in India.

PHF secretary Shahbaz Ahmad has stated that so as to register its protest with the worldwide Hockey Federation (FIH) to dropping Pakistan from the Junior World Cup in India this month, it wouldn’t participate in any competition in India. ().

“Look, we won’t take such a choice because it’s going to be unfair to countless individuals who want to observe Indo-Pak matches. Second, whenever we perform against each other it implies enormous financial benefits for the boards and players and any boycott will only hurt us financially,” said Khan, who’d previously appointed threats of boycotting India in ICC events.

Khan said Pakistan was looking forward to having constructive talks with all the BCCI officials later this month throughout the Asian Cricket Council meeting in Colombo.

Khan explained the next meeting of the ICC had already been moved to Dubai from Mumbai as a result of connections between Pakistan and India.

“In future we won’t send our teams into India for almost any competition. The way we had been dumped from the Junior World Cup gets damaged our hockey since the tournament was important for all of us to prepare fresh players to our senior staff,” Ahmad said.

“It had been the obligation of the FIH to make sure we got visas. We are boycotting all events in India. They say we did not confirm our participation in time and made hotel bookings.

The fact is we had been awaiting the visas and second that the hotel asked us for a non refundable deposit of four thousand Indian rupees that we could not afford given our financial standing. We were not in a place to deposit such a large amount without being sure when we will find the visas,” Ahmad said.

India is due to host the hockey Asia Cup along with FIH World Cup at 2017 and 2018.

source http://www.southwalescricket.co.uk/pakistan-cricket-board-against-boycotting-cricket-ties-with-india-cricket-news/

Pakistan has done ‘significant’ work on security: International Cricket Council : Cricket, News

Pakistan has done a substantial amount of work on security, a visiting International Cricket Council official said on Saturday.

But Giles Clarke, who heads the ICC’s Pakistan Task Team, did not state whether he would urge key teams tour Pakistan for the first time since the mortal 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka team in Lahore.

“There is a appreciable amount of understanding that must be changed, and there’s a significant amount of information that has to be shared,” he explained.

Making a two-day trip, Clarke satisfied with Pakistan administration officials at Lahore, including a 35-minute meeting with chief minister Shahbaz Sharif along with other police officers from the state of Punjab.

“We’ve had a most interesting set of presentations,” Clarke explained. “We’ve been able to see quite substantial work … how security and safety will be possible for visiting international cricket clubs.

“I am here since the (Pakistan Cricket Board) believed strongly progress was made.”

Even the Federation of International Cricket Association warned foreign players this month it wasn’t safe to travel to Pakistan, especially for the final of Pakistan’s Twenty20 league at March at Lahore.

Clarke said he had talked with FICA.

“I haven’t read this statement in complete; I was much more enthusiastic about coming here for myself until I start that conversation, which will take place,” Clarke explained.

Regardless of FICA’s security warning to global players, the PCB was determined the final will go ahead in Lahore. The remaining portion of the championship, starting on Feb. 7, will be performed at the United Arab Emirates, which Pakistan uses as its house for international cricket.

Clarke endorsed the PCB plans.

“I am a security expert, but I really do on a personal basis strongly support the PCB’s efforts to get their very own domestic contest played in Pakistan with a dramatic and exciting final in the Gaddafi Stadium,” Clarke explained. “I completely realize that desire and I’d support their efforts to do that, but as I said I am not a security expert.”

Of the Test-playing teams, just Zimbabwe has toured Pakistan, in 2015 for 3 one-day internationals. They passed without incident.

Clarke stated its an ICC goal that most of its full members must host bilateral series within their own nations.

“For us to do this we want everybody to be both safe and secure,” Clarke explained. “It’s not only the players … we also want lots of supporters to develop here.

“You haven’t had the enjoyment of this Barmy Army for several years,” he added with a smile, referring to England’s supporters.

source http://www.southwalescricket.co.uk/pakistan-has-done-significant-work-on-security-international-cricket-council-cricket-news/

Exclusive: Sad and disappointed, says Mohammad Azharuddin after Hyderabad Cricket Association rejects nomination : Cricket, News

Rejecting his nomination, Returning Officer K Rajeev Reddy cited the ban imposed on Azhar from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to his alleged involvement in match-fixing.

But Azharuddin, in a private conversation with India Today, said he had been disappointed with the conclusion and that the returning officer had not given grounds for his or her nomination and demanded the same in writing.

The former batsman now intends to choose the legal path to battle the returning officer actions.

“I’m frustrated and unhappy. There was no reason for the nomination to be rejected. Have talked about my attorneys. The officer must come and explain to me, if he does not, we’ll have to take the legal path,” Azharuddin told India Today.

Azhar said he can’t be prevented from contesting the HCA elections as the court had struck down the ban . When reminded that the BCCI had not officially lifted its ban Azhar said the board did not challenge the court order.

“High Court stripped me of all fees. BCCI did not challenge the order. Therefore, the ban mechanically is lifted. Because my ban is lifted, I should be permitted to contest,” he explained.

Azhar stated his sole goal in the election was to contribute whatever he could to the marketing of the match but he was being prevented from doing this.

“These things happen whenever someone wishes to do good things for the game of cricket. I would like to make certain cricket of Hyderabad improve because it’s gone down. I want cricketers out of Hyderabad to perform for the nation. I need to do something for the country in where I belong to,” he explained.

source http://www.southwalescricket.co.uk/exclusive-sad-and-disappointed-says-mohammad-azharuddin-after-hyderabad-cricket-association-rejects-nomination-cricket-news/