Let us look at some of the most-discussed cricket stories on the news on 31 August.
Mujeeb re-signs with Brisbane Heat
Mujeeb Ur Rahman will play for Brisbane Heat for the fourth successive season in the BBL. He has taken 29 wickets in 26 matches for Brisbane at an economy rate of 6.13. His best figures, 5-15, came against Hobart Hurricanes last season, at Gabba.
Mujeeb was Brisbane’s Player of the Year in his debut BBL season.
Rajasthan Royals sign Thomas, Lewis
Rajasthan Royals have signed the West Indians, Oshane Thomas and Evin Lewis, as replacement for Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes. Thomas had played for the Royals before, in 2019, when his four matches fetched five wickets at 7.90. His CPL team, Barbados Royals, are owned by the same franchise as Rajasthan Royals.
The big-hitting Lewis has 1,318 runs in T20Is at a whopping strike rate of 158. Along with Chris Gayle, he is the only West Indian to hit 100 sixes or two hundreds in the format. He currently plays for St Kitts & Nevis Patriots.
Akram denies reports of becoming PCB chairman
Wasim Akram rubbished all claims and speculations by tweeting that he was never interested in becoming the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
However, he has not made any comment on whether he was offered the position by the patron in chief of the board, Prime Minister Imran Khan.
BCCI issues tenders for two new teams
The IPL Governing Council has released the tender for owning and operating two new franchises. They have set the deadline of 5 October for submitting bids.
‘The detailed terms and conditions governing the submission and evaluation of bids including eligibility requirements, process for submissions of bids, proposed new teams' rights, and obligations, etc. are contained in the 'Invitation to Tender' (ITT) which will be made available on receipt of payment of non-refundable fee of INR 10,00,000 (Rupees Ten Lakhs Only) plus any applicable Goods and Services Tax,’ BCCI said in a statement.
The two new teams will take part in the next season, and from there, IPL will become the ten-team tournament.
Kashmir hosts Women Cricket Premier League
Women Cricket Premier League is taking place at Doru Stadium in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district, as confirmed by the officials to IANS. The eight-team tournament began on 30 August, and run till 11 September.
Yusuf Pathan was present in the inaugural match this season. This is the second edition of the competition.