She retires as the leading women’s run-scorer for South Africa in T20Is, and the second highest in ODIs

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jul-2022Lizelle Lee, the hard-hitting South Africa opening batter, has announced her retirement from international cricket with immediate effect. In a statement shared by CSA, she said she would continue to play domestic T20 cricket around the world.”It is with a lot of mixed emotions that I announce my retirement from international cricket,” Lee, 30, said on Friday. “From a very young age, I have lived cricket, and wanted to represent my country at the highest level. Over the past 8 years, I was able to live that dream, and I feel I have given everything I could to the Proteas.”I feel that I am ready for the next phase in my career, and will continue to play domestic T20 cricket around the world.”Lee’s announcement came ahead of South Africa’s ODI series in England starting next week. South Africa drew the one-off Test ahead of the white-ball series, where Lee returned scores of 0 and 36.She made her international debut against Bangladesh at home in 2013, and went on to play exactly 100 ODIs – the last of which was against England in the World Cup semi-final earlier this year. She also played 82 T20Is in addition to two Tests. Lee scored her ODI best score – an unbeaten 132 – which was her third century in the format, against India in Lucknow last year when South Africa won the series 4-1.”It has been an incredible journey, and it would not have been possible without everyone who has supported me during my international career,” Lee said. “I want to thank my family, especially my wife Tanja for all the sacrifices they have made for me to live out my dream to represent my country.”Thank you to CSA, SACA and all stakeholders involved for the opportunities and support you afforded me to make my dreams of playing for the Proteas come true. My fellow Proteas teammates, thank you for the wonderful memories we have made together. You have made this journey incredible, and I could not have done this without you. I will always be supporting you; we will always be rising together.”Lastly to my fans, I am the person I am because of the love and support you have given me throughout my international career. I look forward to continuing this journey with you in the different leagues around the world.”Laura Wolvaardt and Lizelle Lee formed a fantastic opening pair for South Africa•BCCI/UPCA

During the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2020, Lee became the second from her country to score a century in women’s T20Is [Shandre Fritz was the first], and the first to do so in the global event. She retired as the leading run-scorer among South African women in T20Is with 1896 runs, and second-highest from her country in ODIs with 3315 runs.”It is with great sadness that we have to bid farewell to a titan of South African cricket at a relatively young age,” Enoch Nkwe, CSA director of cricket, said. “However, we wholeheartedly respect the individual’s decision and her desire to move onto the next chapter of her playing career.”Lizelle has given this nation countless memorable moments on the field of play, most notably in 2021 when she was leading from the front with the bat towards being named the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year in an effort to help South Africa soar to second place on the ICC ODI Rankings. We wish her and her young family nothing but the best from here onwards.”Lee is the second high-profile South Africa player to call it quits following the World Cup after Mignon du Preez also hung up her boots from ODIs and Tests.Lee will play for Manchester Originals in The Hundred this season as her next assignment, having also represented them in the inaugural season in 2021.

Players not being able to sustain the amount of cricket they’re being expected to play will force changes, ICC chair believes

Osman Samiuddin27-Jul-2022The growing, unsustainable burden on players could eventually force boards into making the global cricket calendar a more manageable one, according to ICC chairman Greg Barclay.Barclay was speaking after the conclusion of the ICC’s AGM where the Future Tours Programme (FTP) has been going through the final stages before it is published, and where a major thread of discussion among members has been around the balance in the calendar between T20 leagues and international cricket.More relevantly, he was speaking just over a week after Ben Stokes, the England Test captain, decided to retire from ODI cricket, at just 31, blaming what he said was an unsustainable workload. Stokes’ decision came 16 months out from England’s defence of their World Cup title, which he was vital in securing in 2019.Related

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• New FICA report highlights T20 shift from country to club

• Full Members concerned over idea of nine overseas players per XI in UAE league

• ICC: 'The volume of ODIs and T20Is in the calendar is very much up to every member'

• ICC FTP: Bangladesh land Test and ODI jackpot in 2023-2027 cycle

The new FTP, from 2023-2027, has not been made public yet, though ESPNcricinfo has a copy of a near-complete draft. The calendar, as it stands, is marked by an unrelenting schedule of ICC events and bilateral cricket and, increasingly, unofficial windows which are being earmarked by boards for their own T20 leagues; that is apart from a two-and-a-month window for the IPL, which is all but formalised.”The fact is that we have a limited amount of time in the calendar,” Barclay said. “There’s 365 days in a year, there’s more cricket being played through ICC events, through bilateral cricket, a proliferation of T20 leagues so there is a lot of pressure on that calendar. Are we at a tipping point?”I’m not sure but it is an issue for members to work their way through. There’s a lot of cricket to fit in there and it’s simply not all going to fit. It’s not an issue so much for this organisation [the ICC], but certainly for members to try and work their way through optimum outcomes is going to be a challenge.”What they also need to take into account is that the players themselves will simply not be able to sustain the amount of cricket they’re probably going to be expected to play so that’s going to force some changes as well.”The ICC believes it has witnessed a strong commitment to the international game among members at this AGM. But for a growing number of members that commitment is clearly tussling with a newfound zeal for their own domestic products, whether a T20 league or the Hundred. Both CA and ECB have carved out – or tried to – little windows for the BBL and the Hundred in this FTP.”There are a number of members who are putting particular attention on their domestic leagues,” Geoff Allardice, the ICC CEO said. “The one thing over the last few days is the commitment to international cricket and bilateral cricket is as strong as it has ever been. But each of them has to manage that balance between domestic competitions, their international schedules and the management of their players. Each of those boards is in a slightly different situation. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to that balancing situation and each country attacks it slightly differently.”If something does eventually give way, the speculation has been on ODI cricket. Without the context of the Super League in the next cycle, the format is back to being a bilateral staple. But that has not been evident just yet, and not in the draft version of the FTP.”We talked a fair bit about the structure,” Allardice said. “One of the things about the three formats and the way they are incorporated in the FTP is that members and fans in countries have slightly different preferences for formats. At this stage, there was some discussion about the mix of formats, not specifically ODIs in the calendar. Countries are still scheduling a healthy number of ODIs as well in their FTPs, so in the FTP you won’t see significant changes to the number of ODIs, or proportion being played.”The Super League has been scrapped because the 2027 World Cup has been expanded into a 14-team event; that has rendered a 13-team Super League redundant. The current cycle of the league has been hit by severe disruptions because of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has prevented it from really taking off.That might be rectified as we approach the end of league, with nine months still left, a number of series still to be played out and a number of big-name teams potentially having to play a qualifier to get into the 2023 World Cup.One of those could be South Africa, who did not help their own cause by pulling out of a three-match ODI series against Australia, in order to get their own T20 league off the ground. The ICC had no say in the fate of that series, and is not yet clear on how points will be awarded, but is looking forward to a tight fight for qualification towards the end.”We’ve still got nine months in the window available to complete the Super League,” Allardice said. “The ICC’s role in that competition is to say here are the eight teams you are playing against. The timing of those series and how those series are scheduled is between the two members to resolve.”We saw the announcement by CA and CSA and as we head to the end of the competition we will deal with that. Whether Australia and South Africa have come to some arrangement around making up some series – there may be some discussions still going on – the competition still has nine months to run and we’ll be dealing with [how the points are to be awarded] towards the end.”The ODI Super League was a way to provide context to ODIs. It has another nine months to play out and I’m sure as we approach cut-off date, the last couple of spots in 2023 will become quite exciting.”

Court to allow consecutive two consecutive terms of three years at BCCI and state separately

Nagraj Gollapudi14-Sep-2022The Supreme Court has relaxed the cooling-off period rule in the BCCI constitution, which will allow the current set of office-bearers led by board president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah to stand for re-election for another term, until 2025. A two-judge bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Hima Kohli passed orders to this effect on Wednesday – the formal judgement has not yet been made public -modifying its 2018 judgement.The court agreed to tweaking the existing rule on the cooling-off period by allowing an office bearer to hold office for two terms at one place – the state association or BCCI – while removing the clause of combination of both. Ganguly and Shah had already served one term each at the state and BCCI levels and would have been disqualified under the existing rule. They can now serve an additional term at the BCCI.In 2018, the BCCI adopted a newly drafted constitution, which was finalised post the court’s judgement by Justice Chandrachud, that an office bearer who has held any post for two consecutive terms (six years) either at a state association or in the BCCI, or a combination of both, shall not be eligible to contest any further election without completing a cooling-off period of three years. During the cooling-off period, the person cannot serve in any capacity at both the BCCI or state level.In 2019, the BCCI administration approached the court seeking several significant amendments to the board’s constitution, which if approved by the court would roll back the sweeping reforms passed by the court in 2016 on the basis of the RM Lodha Committee recommendations. The changes sought by the BCCI comprised: tweaking the cooling-off period of the board’s office bearers, modifying the disqualification criteria, giving unprecedented powers to the BCCI secretary, and stopping the court from having any say if the board wants to alter the constitution.In its 2019 plea, the BCCI said the existing cooling-off period was a “restriction”, which was “proving to be a big blow to selecting talented and experienced hands”. The BCCI said the cooling-off period must be applied only after the individual has finished six years at one place – the BCCI or the state association, separately.That clause, it said, would be applicable to its two most senior office bearers: the president and secretary. As for the three remaining office bearers – treasurer, joint-secretary and vice-president – the BCCI said those three should be allowed to finish the maximum tenure of nine years (three terms), instead of having to take the three-year break after two consecutive terms (six years) in the job.”Existing position is by using the word combination, even if you have done one term in state and one term in BCCI then you are out,” Justice Chandrachud said in the hearing. “But what we are proposing is that if you have done six years at the state level then you are subject to a three-year cooling-off period (at state). If you have not done six years at the same level then you are not subject to a cooling-off period.”Justice Chandrachud said another “format” the court could “possibly consider” was “a person can be a member at the most for two consecutive terms either at the state or at the BCCI. But if you have two completed two consecutive terms each of three years at the state and BCCI then you must have a cooling-off period of three years. That is two different proposals. Our first proposal was three in state, six in the BCCI (or) six in the state three in the BCCI, after which cooling-off period will apply.”Second, we are giving a more liberal thing: you can do six in the state, you can then immediately do six in the BCCI because they are two different levels. But after completing two consecutive terms at two different levels then take a break of three years.”Justice Chandrachud also said that once the person had finished six years at one place – state or BCCI – he could not return to the same for three years. And in case the person had finished 12 years at a stretch – six each at state and BCCI – he could not return for a period of three years to either.Justice Chandrachud pointed out that these were his observations at this stage before he and Justice Kohli put out the order. Both justices agreed that such an approach would be more “balanced”.If the court does pass the same in its judgement, that would allow the current BCCI office bearers to continue for another term of three years. It was in October 2019 that former India captain Ganguly was elected as BCCI president and Shah, who is the son of India Home Minister Amit Shah, as secretary. Arun Dhumal, brother of former BCCI president Anurag Thakur, who is also the Indian Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, was elected as BCCI treasurer while Jayesh George took charge as joint secretary.The BCCI is due for fresh elections, which was originally scheduled for the end of this month, but eventually postponed as the board wanted to wait for the court take a call on the amendments sought.Justice Chandrachud added the main reason for having a cooling-off period was to avoid any “vested interests” because “you don’t form a clique with undesirable elements for undesirable purposes.” He said that it was “too stringent” to ask the office bearer to take a three-year break if he had served six years through a combination of state and BCCI or served just six years at state level or BCCI level.Justice Chandrachud said that while he had the “highest respect” for the RM Lodha Committee which had recommended originally a cooling-off period of three years after every single term of three years for an office bearer or administrator, he felt it was important to remember the court was “regulating affairs” as an autonomous body and it was important to give BCCI “sufficient” freedom “so long as they are not defeating the purpose” of the judgement.”The (court’s) object is to prevent undesirable monopolies in cricket or in any sports association. You have to balance two things – you have to balance to need for continuity with the need for to ensure there are no undesirable affiliations. Instead of having two terms at two different levels (BCCI and state) as a bar, one term at two different levels as a bar, we are saying that you can’t have more than two terms at one level.”

Marsh will return at No. 3 against West Indies but initially as a batter-only after an ankle injury

Alex Malcolm04-Oct-20222:48

Hodge: Green might go on to become one of the best Australia has produced

Mitchell Marsh is set to return at No. 3 for Australia but as a batter only in the first T20I against West Indies as he continues to recover from his ankle injury, while Marcus Stoinis is expected to be fit for Sunday’s opening T20I against England, with the pair of allrounders vital to the balance of their World Cup side.Captain Aaron Finch confirmed that both men were tracking well for the World Cup after missing the recent tour of India meaning that it looks unlikely there will be an opening for Cameron Green.However, Finch did note that Stoinis’ absence from this two-game series against West Indies and Marsh’s inability to bowl could change the structure of the side in the short term, given they will have fewer bowling options in their top seven, but he was adamant Marsh would play as a specialist batter.Related

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“Hundred percent, yeah,” Finch said. “He’s made that No. 3 spot his own in T20 cricket and I think the way that he played in the lead-up and then through the World Cup [last year] is so important for the way that we want to play and gives us a lot of flexibility through that middle order.”I think he had his second bowl yesterday and he felt really good. He pulled up well from it. So that’s a really positive sign. I think for the balance of the side, it’s better when they’re both bowling because you can get caught a little bit short if you go in with five bowlers. But we’ll work that out.”Marsh last played on August 28 in an ODI against Zimbabwe. He missed the three-match series against New Zealand and the three T20Is against India and did not bowl at all while recovering in Perth in September.Finch explained that the decision to leave Stoinis in Perth was a logistical one given the short turnaround time between the two matches against West Indies in Queensland. The second game is at the Gabba on Friday while the first of three matches against England is in Perth on Sunday. The team will have a five-hour flight across the country on Saturday after playing on Friday night.”He’s at a level where we think that he’ll be fully fit for that first game against England,” Finch said. “We were just conscious of the travel with a quick turnaround…it can be quite a high-risk game for some guys with some soft tissue injuries so he’s just still planning and preparing there. He’s such an important part of our side and the make-up of it, especially with his bowling.”Mitchell Marsh was back with the Australia squad•Getty Images

The Green question is a vexing one for Australia. He is currently not in the 15-player World Cup squad but is with the team in Queensland and available to play on Wednesday. If Stoinis and Marsh are fully fit there is almost no chance he can come into the 15, according to Finch.”I don’t think so,” Finch said. “It’s just one of those things. He had a really good tour of India. It was good for him to get an opportunity to open the batting so he’ll get more opportunities. I think he’ll get an opportunity at some point in this series. Obviously his batting is exceptional and he shows a lot with the ball. He keeps improving every time he gets an opportunity but over the next few weeks, he’ll get a run no doubt.”It leaves Australia contemplating playing five specialist bowlers at Metricon Stadium on Wednesday. It is something they have barely done since abandoning the strategy ahead of last year’s World Cup. But Glenn Maxwell is the only genuine bowling option in the top seven with Marsh unavailable to bowl and Stoinis absent, unless either Green, Daniel Sams or Sean Abbott slot in.If that does happen it would need to be the expense of Steven Smith or Tim David, given David Warner will return to the top to partner Finch and Marsh is at No. 3.”It’s never easy when you’re trying to balance up the side, particularly when the allrounders aren’t fully fit at the moment,” Finch said. “So that gives us an opportunity to keep tinkering with the squad. We feel as though we’ve got our best XI in the back of our mind, but it’s just not everyone’s 100% fit at the moment.”But we’ve still got a little bit of time for that over the next two and a half weeks. There’s five games plus the warm-up game against India. I think it’s important that we keep making sure that we’re giving ourselves enough options, because if something does happen in the World Cup the last thing you want is to be caught short in playing only one style of team or only one structure of team.”Mitchell Starc is fully fit after resting from the India tour due a minor knee issue. Ashton Agar remains in Perth with Stoinis as he also recovers from a side issue. Kane Richardson is back training with the squad but won’t play against West Indies.

India’s captain also conceded that his players were “a little poor in the field” and “gave too many chances”

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Oct-2022South Africa needed 25 from 18 balls with six wickets in hand when India captain Rohit Sharma decided to bring R Ashwin on for his final over.The Perth surface had assisted fast bowlers throughout the game, but India had one over of spin left to squeeze in. David Miller took advantage of that and hit Ashwin’s first two balls for two sixes to all but seal the game.Related

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While Ashwin trapped Tristan Stubbs lbw with his fourth ball, his over left South Africa needing a run-a-ball 12 off the last two overs, which Miller and Wayne Parnell knocked off with two balls to spare.After the game, Rohit said his decision to give Ashwin the 18th over was influenced by how spinners had fared in the final over at the 2022 T20 World Cup. In India’s opening game, Pakistan left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz had failed to stop India from scoring the 16 runs they required to win.”I have seen what happens in the last over with spinners, so I just wanted to go the other way and see if I could finish Ash and not keep him for the last over,” Rohit said at the post-match presentation. “I just wanted to make sure that the seamers were bowling the right overs but honestly, when you have options like that, you have to use them at some point. I thought given the new batter [Stubbs] came in, it was a perfect time for him to bowl. But things like that can happen. Miller played some good shots as well.”Ashwin finished with figures of 1 for 43 from his four overs, at an economy rate of 10.75. He was hit for four sixes and was the most expensive bowler on either side. After the match, Aiden Markram was asked if South Africa had pre-decided to attack Ashwin.”I think naturally that’s how our game would pan out when the seamers are all that difficult to get away,” Markram said. “We expected them to take on Keshav [Maharaj]. I’m sure they expected us to take on Ashwin as well, just because of the nature of the wicket, because the seamers were so difficult to get away.Rohit: “We gave too many chances on the field and we were not quite clinical”•Getty Images

“It almost got to a stage where we had to target someone because they bowled so well initially in the first ten overs up until the drinks break. It got to the stage where we had to pick someone. It could be anyone on any night. And sometimes you execute, sometimes you don’t.”You pick those match-ups according to who you’re most comfortable against on the night. You get to different conditions and those match-ups would change completely. Yeah, it was a discussion we had at the drinks break to pick one of the bowlers and commit to that, and if it comes off, then it might give us a chance.”Earlier, India scored 133 for 9 on a fast, bouncy surface before having South Africa 40 for 3 after ten overs. They had a couple of opportunities to press home the advantage but Virat Kohli put down Markram in the 12th over. In the next over, Rohit missed a run-out chance that could have sent Miller back. Markram and Miller made India pay for their mistakes, adding 76 off 60 balls to shift the momentum.”Honestly, when you see that score [40 for 3], you will always think you are in the game because the pitch is such that a wicket can come at any time for the seamers,” Rohit said. “But I felt that was a match-winning partnership from their perspective from Markram and Miller.”We were a little poor in the field as well. We gave too many chances on the field and we were not quite clinical. We have played in such [cold] conditions before so that was not an excuse at all. We were not just good enough.”The last two games we played, we were pretty good in the field and we want to continue to be consistent in that department. But unfortunately we couldn’t hold our chances, a few run-outs we missed, including myself. But we need to keep our heads high and think about what’s coming for us and take learnings from this game, what we need to do in games like that.”

Renegades fought back from a poor start to the chase but the target was always out of reach

AAP30-Oct-2022A rejuvenated Alyssa Healy blasted the Sydney Sixers to a comprehensive 37-run victory over the Melbourne Renegades in Ballarat and to the top of the WBBL points table.Healy thumped three sixes in her 78 off 54 balls while fellow opener Suzie Bates crunched 66 off 47 to steer the Sixers to 3 for 188 at Eastern Oval.Healy, who entered the fixture with just 53 runs at 10.60 this season, combined with Bates for a match-winning 151-run first-wicket stand, before both fell to Renegades captain Sophie Molineux.Bates was grassed twice before finally holing out to Shabnim Ismail on the deep midwicket boundary, before Molineux struck again two balls later, bowling Healy around her legs.But Molineux’s double-strike failed to slow Sixers, who plundered 36 off the last three overs, through Ash Gardner, Erin Burns and captain Ellyse Perry.”It was nice to spend some time out there,” Healy said. “I’ve been waiting seven years to have a really good partnership with Suzie Bates.”The fact we could do that today and get our team off to a good start was really pleasing. I’ve been praying to some sort of higher power for a bit of luck and I got it today.”Renegades’ unlikely pursuit of the imposing target started poorly when English spinner Sophie Ecclestone, the world’s No.1 T20 bowler, sent Hayley Matthews and Courtney Webb packing early.When Lauren Cheatle enticed Molineux to Stella Campbell at mid-off, the hosts were reeling at 5 for 38, before a WBBL record sixth-wicket stand of 81 off 52 balls between Carly Leeson and Rhiann O’Donnell gave them an unlikely sniff.They were aided by a burst of shoddy bowling from Sixers after the drinks break, with Campbell sending down five straight wides to concede 22 off the 11th over and Perry carted for 24 off the 13th.Perry made amends with a spectacular, high-leaping catch at cover to send O’Donnell packing, ending Renegades’ resistance.

Only 48.4 overs were possible, with New Zealand on 14 for 1 in reply to Bangladesh’s 157 for 7 when the game was called off

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Dec-2022No result Rain had the final say in Napier as the second women’s ODI between New Zealand and Bangladesh was washed out after 48.1 overs of play.Batting first, after rain had reduced the contest to a 44-overs-a-side affair, Bangladesh batted through to reach 157 for 7. In reply, New Zealand lost their captain Sophie Devine to a run-out before the clouds opened up after just 4.1 overs and eventually forced an abandonment.Bangladesh lost Dilara Akter in the fifth over of their innings to Hayley Jensen, but Sharmin Akhter and Fargana Hoque provided some much-needed resistance. The two held fort for 13.5 overs, adding 36 runs for the second wicket, before Hannah Rowe got rid of Sharmin for 16. Her wicket resulted in a mini collapse as Bangladesh lost Hoque and Lata Mondal, both falling to Fran Jonas, followed by Nigar Sultana.Ritu Moni and Fahima Khatun then dug in. They stitched a 49-run stand for the sixth wicket. Moni top-scored with 32, hitting a six and a four in her innings, while Fahima scored 25. The two fell in the space of three balls late in the innings, but made sure Bangladesh played out their quota of overs.New Zealand lead the three-match ODI series 1-0 after taking the opening game by eight wickets. They had earlier swept the T20I series 3-0. The third and final ODI will take place in Hamilton on Saturday.

They will face Brisbane Heat in the Eliminator on Friday after a rocky chase against Melbourne Stars

AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff26-Jan-2023Returning allrounder Jason Sangha believes Sydney Thunder can cause some trouble in the BBL finals after sneaking into the top-five.Thunder locked in the last spot in the BBL finals with a tense three-wicket win against the lowly Melbourne Stars at the MCG on Wednesday night.The unconvincing victory allowed the Thunder to jump into fourth to secure a home final, knocking Hobart down to sixth. Thunder will host Brisbane at Sydney Showground Stadium on Friday night.Related

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“Looking back at our season, it has been a bit of a rollercoaster,” Sangha said. “The one good thing is we’ve managed to find a way in those tight situations, we’re just finding ways to win.”In the finals series, all you need is a couple of things to go your way. For us going forward is just recognising those key moments in a game.”The clash with Thunder was Sangha’s first game since he broke his collarbone on December 18. Despite being named captain for this season, the captaincy was left with Chris Green after the spinner had done the job for most of the tournament.But Thunder are likely to be without paceman Gurinder Sandhu against Heat after the 29-year-old suffered another calf injury. However, David Warner, who has yet to leave a mark on the tournament, will be available and would also play the Knockout if Thunder qualify before flying out to India with the Test squad.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Thunder’s appearance in the finals looked shaky at numerous stages throughout the campaign, with the low-point coming when they were all-out for a T20 record low of 15 against Adelaide Strikers.The winner of the clash between Thunder and Heat will back up on Sunday night for another sudden-death match against Melbourne Renegades.Top teams Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers will battle on Saturday night in front of up to 50,000 fans at Optus Stadium.The winner of that match will earn hosting rights for the final on February 4, with the loser to play the winner of Sunday night’s match at Marvel Stadium.

Brothers Union and City Club remain winless after playing three matches each

Mohammad Isam22-Mar-2023Defending champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club are among the four clubs who have claimed full points with wins in all of their respective matches in the first week of this season’s Dhaka Premier League. The other teams who have gone unscathed are Abahani Limited, Prime Bank and Legends of Rupganj.Abahani climbed to second place after their six-wicket win over old rivals Mohammedan Sporting Club at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Wednesday.Brothers Union and City Club remain winless after playing three matches each.

Best batters of the week – Mohammad Naim and Irfan Sukkur

Left-hand batters Mohammad Naim and Irfan Sukkur are currently on top of the batters’ charts. Naim’s unbeaten 110 was decisive in Abahani’s big win over Mohammedan. Brothers Union’s Tanzid Hasan made a run-a-ball 142 against Legends of Rupganj.Mominul Haque, playing for Rupganj Tigers, smacked a 41-ball 74 against Mohammedan.

Best bowlers – Elias Sunny and Alauddin Babu

Left-arm spinner Elias Sunny took a five-wicket haul against newcomers Dhaka Leopards, while Alauddin Babu took his five-for, which included a hat-trick, against Gazi Group Cricketers. Fast bowlers have had a good run so far – four other four-wicket hauls have all been by quick bowlers.

The close match – Legends of Rupganj vs Brothers Union

Legends of Rupganj beat Brothers Union by three wickets in a high-scoring match at the BKSP-3 ground. Rupganj chased down the target of 300 with eight balls to spare, with Chirag Jani top scoring with 94. Earlier, Tanzid scored 142 to take Brothers Union to 299 for 5.

Players to watch

Akbar Ali, the much-talked-about Under-19 World Cup-winning captain, started this DPL season with a fifty for Gazi Group Cricketers. He is the only big name from that 2020 batch to have not made it to the Bangladesh senior side yet, so Akbar will be looking at maximising his opportunities this season.

Baig and Raza blaze with the bat to extend Gladiators’ disastrous campaign

Danyal Rasool21-Feb-2023Quetta Gladiators’ campaign continues to leap from one disaster to the next. Hours after it was confirmed their Platinum pick, Sri Lankan allrounder Wanindu Hasaranga, would miss the entire PSL, they turned in a wretched performance against a ruthless Lahore Qalandars, succumbing to a 63-run defeat. The 2019 champions were never in the chase of 199 against the defending champions, and the lopsided scorecard didn’t flatter Gladiators in the slightest.It was Shaheen Shah Afridi who spearheaded his side with the ball, knocking Gladiators out of the contest early on in the chase, and sometimes, knocking batters quite literally off their feet. Unplayable inswinging yorkers stung the toes of several top-order batters; one saw Jason Roy end up flat on his stomach. There was, of course, the mandatory first-over wicket, Abdul Bangalzai dismissed for a golden duck. There was a sensational diving catch from him to get rid of Mohammad Hafeez. There was a lovely deception of pace that fooled Odean Smith all ends up. It was a Shaheen Afridi masterclass.Haris Rauf had an off day, but aside from him, there was no aspect of this Qalandars bowling line-up that wasn’t on song. Rashid Khan, playing his first game this year, was at his masterful best, having shaken off a poor spell in the SA20. It was his wicket of Roy, who scored a 30-ball 48 laced with 5 sixes, that snuffed out realistic hopes of a chase, and figures of 4-0-17-1 were well merited. Even David Wiese found himself among the wickets, taking 3 for 23 in his full quota. Brief flashes of resistance from Gladiators’ batters were precisely that, and the outcome was a foregone conclusion long before the final delivery was bowled.Signs of the direction this game was headed in were evident from the outset when Tahir Baig and Fakhar Zaman got Gladiators off to a blazing start. Mohammad Hafeez opened the bowling for the Gladiators, and Baig immediately went after him, clobbering him for two fours and a six in that first over. Even Naseem Shah – who was off-colour – wouldn’t be spared, with Baig picking up two boundaries on either side of square in the powerplay.The partnership had flown along to 49 in 27 balls before Fakhar nicked off to the keeper. But Qalandars continued in that vein throughout, a 56-run stand between Shai Hope and Kamran Ghulam forming the backbone of the middle overs. A cameo from Hussain Talat and an unbeaten late flurry from Sikandar Raza, who smashed 32 in 16, ensured Gladiators were never quite able to find breathing room, powerless to prevent Gladiators from surging towards 200.Well, with one notable exception. Mohammad Hasnain was heroic in defeat against Peshawar Zalmi 24 hours earlier, and today would be an encore. He was sensational once more, particularly at the death, mixing up the lengths and speeds expertly, the only bowler who was truly able to stop Lahore in their tracks. Bar his two death overs, which allowed just 14 runs, Qalandars’ score, as well as Gladiators’ margin of defeat, would have been much greater.Tonight’s game looks to have demonstrated that Qalandars’ defeat against Karachi Kings was an aberration, while Gladiators’ showing only appeared to confirm their victory against that same opposition was exactly that, too.