After 116 days, cricket commences with a prayer to those who lost their lives due to this COVID-19 pandemic.

After 116 days, cricket commences with a prayer to those who lost their lives due to this COVID-19 pandemic

Ben Stokes

 Cricket is ready to initiate its appearance after a lengthy 116-day period due to the coronavirus lockdowns imposed throughout the world. West Indies cricket team will take on England in a three-match Test series that commences at the Rose Bowl Cricket Ground in Southampton on Wednesday. Ben Stokes will lead the home team in the vacancy of Joe Root facing Jason Holder’s Caribbean side.

Before the commencement of the match, cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara talked about the series during the chat on Master Blaster`s app `100 MB`. During the discussion, Tendulkar described Holder as the most underrated all-rounder in cricket.

“Jason Holder is the most under-rated all-rounder, because on the field, maybe you will look at Kemar Roach or Shannon Gabriel, but Jason Holder only when you look at the scoreboard, you realise that he has come in and taken three wickets,” Tendulkar told Brian Lara during the talk on Master Blaster`s app `100 MB`.

Tendulkar also spoke about another all-rounder, Stokes, and his new position as the captain of the team. He continued that Stokes would be known as one of the best all-rounders who performed for England. “For Ben Stokes from what he has been through in the recent past to where he is today it is a total transformation and it can happen only to someone who is mentally strong. When I first looked at him a few years ago, I could see his body language it was so positive and vibrant and that energy is infectious.”

“I felt that he was one of those players where in time to come you look back and say Ben stokes, (Andrew) Flintoff, Ian Botham these are the leading all-rounders who played for England. I really rate him highly and his impact on the field is a major one.”

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LUNCH 🥪 Shamarh Brooks and Roston Chase see West Indies to the break after an eventful morning session.

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As of the present circumstance, ICC has allowed the Windies cricket team to play with the logo 'Black lives matter' below their shirt collar. Before bowling the first ball of the first test match, all the players and the umpires placed one of their knees on the ground to display their support, and exhibit condolences for those who died in the coronavirus pandemic and also for west indies famous Sir Everton Weekes meanwhile the Windies players raised their hands too. They also wrapped a black band on their right hand.

PCB demands ICC to get written assurances from the BCCI.

PCB demands ICC to get written assurances from the BCCI

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)

 The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has requested the ICC to obtain written assurances from the BCCI that its team would suffer no problems getting visas to perform in the 2021 T20 World Cup and the 2023 50 over World Cup in India.

“We are also looking at the fact that the ICC World Cups are to be hosted in India in 2021 and 2023 and we have already asked the ICC to give us written assurances from BCCI that we will not face any problems getting visas and clearance to play in India,” PCB CEO Wasim Khan stated in an interview on the Youtube Channel.

According to a senior official, the PCB has requested ICC to report the BCCI to get the assurances from their government in the following months. The official also confirmed that the ICC executive board would determine at its next meet whether the next World T20 Cup would be hosted by India or Australia.

Khan stated it was doubtful the World T20 could be held this year in Australia. “The big question now is when the World T20 is held in 2021 will it be hosted by Australia or India as India has the hosting rights for the already scheduled World T20 Cup in 2021,” he stated.

Khan denoted out that in recent times that numerous Pakistan sports squads were not permitted by the Indian government to play in India. “That is why we have asked for the advance assurances. But eventually it is an ICC event and it is their responsibility to ensure we as a full member and signatory of the participants agreement go and play in these ICC events.” 

“We have a good relationship with the BCCI but we know realistically a bilateral series is not possible in the foreseeable future,” he stated.

Saurav Ganguly

When questioned what would be PCB’s position if BCCI chief Saurav Ganguly decided to compete for the post of ICC Chairman when the sitting Chairman Sashank Manohar steps down next month, Khan stated so far no candidate including Ganguly or England’s Colin Greaves had declared their intentions clear.

“We are getting mixed signals and we don’t know if Ganguly will decide to stand for the ICC post,” he told. PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani’s name has also been considered as a powerful candidate to replace Manohar but he recently in a media interaction made it clear that he was assigned to Pakistan cricket for the next three years.