Let us have a look at some of the most discussed cricket stories that were on the news on 11 May.
New Zealand cricketers likely to leave Maldives for the UK this weekend: Stead
The New Zealand cricketers who took part in the IPL are currently undergoing quarantine in the Maldives. They may fly to the UK this weekend. The group includes skipper Kane Williamson, Kyle Jamieson, Mitchell Santner and physio Tommy Simsek.
However, coach Gary Stead could not confirm if the Black Caps need to serve quarantine again after reaching the UK.
New Zealand will lock horns with England at Lord’s for a two-match Test series, starting on 2 June. Then they will head to Southampton to play the World Test Championship final.
Shakib to miss PSL for Dhaka Premier League
Shakib Al Hasan will not be taking part in the remainder of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2021 for Dhaka Premier League (DPL). He was roped in by Lahore Qalandars in the replacement draft in place of Rashid Khan.
Tarikul Islam Tito, a top official of the Mohammedan Sporting Club (MSC), told Cricbuzz that they have submitted a letter signed by Shakib to the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM) regarding the subject.
A week ago, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced that DPL 2019-20, postponed on 19 March last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will resume on 31 May.
Hetmyer, Pooran retained by Warriors in CPL
Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran and Brandon King are among the 11 players retained by Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) for the upcoming Caribbean Super League (CPL) season. The Warriors, who finished as semi-finalists last year, have also added Imran Tahir and Naveen-ul-Haq to their roster.
The tournament will begin on 28 August. All matches will be played at Warner Park in St Kitts and Nevis.
MCC to mull over ‘illegal’ bamboo bats
The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) turned down the idea of bats made from bamboo being used in professional cricket.
MCC said that bamboo bats will be ‘illegal’ under the current sets of laws. As per the existing laws, cricket bats need to be made of wood. Bamboo, on the other hand, qualifies as grass.
A study by Darshil Shah and Ben Tinkler-Davies of Cambridge University proposed bamboo bats are economically sustainable and ‘stiffer, harder and stronger’ than willow bats. They also have a ‘larger sweet spot closer to the toe of the bat’.
However, the MCC assured them they will discuss bamboo bats in their next Laws sub-committee meeting.
Watling to retire after England tour
BJ Watling has announced that he will retire from all forms of cricket after the England tour. He has featured in Tests 73 times so far, scoring 3,773 runs at 38.11.
Watling, now 35, made his debut in 2009 and holds the highest dismissal record of current Test wicketkeepers, with 249 catches and 8 stumpings. His career-best of 205 came against England in 2019, at the Bay Oval. Besides that, he notched up 8 tons and 19 fifties in the longest format of the game.
Watling has also played 28 ODIs and 5 T20Is for New Zealand.