Cricket

The newly-appointed acting chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Shah Khawar on Friday said frequent changes in the board are not responsible for the national team's poor on-field performances in the last one year. Addressing the media on Friday, Khawar asserted that there were several other reasons for the team's below-par showing. "I don't think changes in the board in the last one year have affected the team. It might be a minor reason, but there are other other factors and once the new board of governors is formed and the new chairman takes charge, they will look into this," he said. Khawar also insisted that there was no interference from the government in the cricket board's affairs. "It is a wrong impression that the ministry of inter provincial coordination or government interferes in cricket affairs or is taking decisions," he said. "The patron in chief of the board, as per powers vested in him and laid out in the PCB constitu...

The rollicking 80 that Yashasvi Jaiswal made against England in the first Test in Hyderabad is a validation of the team management's belief that the left-hander is India's next all-format opener. Jaiswal might have used a cliche - intent to play positive cricket - to describe his 74-ball blitz that gave India early momentum against the visitors, but the knock is certain to resonate more deeply within the walls of the dressing room. "I don't think it was any tactic (attacking England spinners early on Thursday evening), as I was just thinking to play well against certain balls, play some positive shots," Jaiswal humbly offered in his post-day press meet on Friday. But the positive mien Jaiswal showed in snatching the initiative from England would have reminded many of a certain Virender Sehwag, as he made his runs at a strike-rate of 108. Another school of thought will ascribe that innings to him being a child of the T20 era. Yes, the 22-year-old is a brilliant T...

Australia vs West Indies 2nd Test Day 2 Live Score Updates:  Australia look to strengthen their grip on the game on Day 2 of the second Test match against West Indies. At stumps, West Indies were 266 for the loss of eight wickets thanks to gritty knocks from  Kavem Hodge and Joshua Da Silva . The duo put on 149 runs for the sixth wicket after the visitors were struggling at 64-5. Mitchell Starc was the top performer for Australia with four wickets while Josh Hazlewood took two. ( Live Scorecard ) Follow Australia vs West Indies 2nd Test Day 2 Live Score Updates here - from NDTV Sports-Cricket https://ift.tt/oU1YWrK

India picked a total of three spinners for the ongoing first Test match against England at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad but Kuldeep Yadav still failed to make a cut into the team. On the other hand, Ravindra Jadeja , Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel were the ones who were included for the game. At the toss, Rohit informed that the team management had to take call between Axar and Kuldeep Yadav but the former got preference due to his batting ability. "It was a tough one (to leave out Kuldeep Yadav), we thought a lot about it. Axar (Patel), whenever he had played, he has done well and bats really well in these conditions. He got some really good score the last time we played against Australia. Probably the reason we went with Axar," said Rohit Sharma after England skipper Ben Stokes won the toss and opted to bat first. Meanwhile, Rohit put a lot of trust in his team and said the at the side is up for the England challenge. "A good series, I am p...

There continues to remain mystery behind India stalwart Virat Kohli 's decision to pull out from the first two Tests against England. Kohli decided to withdraw over 'personal issues' as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) advised against speculation on the matter. AB de Villiers , Kohli's former teamamte at Royal Challengers Banglore and a close friend, admitted that he too doesn't know what reason behind his exit is. But, he plans to find out soon. De Villiers said that the reason behind Kohli's withdrawal could be because he wanted some time off or it could be a family issue. De Villiers plans to soon find out be he isn't going to reveal it to the public as his friendship with Kohli is too important to him. "No one knows what has happened yet. I am sure we will get to know soon. If Virat talks about personal reasons, there must be a very good reason for that. Maybe he is also tired. He has been playing a lot of cricket. Could be family ...

Opener Ben Duckett believed that England's first innings total of 246 was above par and said they were not expecting Indian openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma to play belligerent cricket from the word go on the first day of the first Test on Thursday. At stumps, India were placed at 119 for one with Jaiswal making a quick, unbeaten 76 and he shared a fine 80-run stand with Rohit in just 12.2 overs. "I think we're over par. It was a tricky Day 1 pitch with consistent spin from earlier on. Stokes was fantastic. I just said come down Day 3, Day 4, that could be a match winning knock if that pitch keeps getting harder to bat on," said Duckett in the post-day press meet. Duckett was quick to give credit to the Indian openers for producing a rollicking stand, and also considered it as a hint to the gradually deteriorating nature of the pitch. "Credit to them. They played really well and were very attacking. You know, they don't always go about it like that...