Let us have a look at the important events from the cricketing world that took on Saturday, 29 May.
IPL 2021 to be played in the UAE, confirms BCCI
The remaining matches of the Indian Premier League 2021 will be played in the UAE, confirmed the BCCI, on Saturday, 29 May. The tournament was earlier postponed due to positive Covid-19 reports among cricketers and staffs.
Thirty-one matches, including four Playoffs, are yet to be played. Last year, three cities – Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi – across the UAE hosted the entirety of the IPL 2020.
The BCCI has also asked its office-bearers to seek extra time from the ICC to decide on the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place later this year in India.
Start winning games rather than complaining: Aravinda to Sri Lanka cricketers
Former Sri Lanka captain Aravinda de Silva has lambasted the men’s senior team for protesting against the central contracts, and advised them to focus on winning games. Sri Lanka, under the captaincy of Kusal Perera, suffered their first ever series defeat to Bangladesh.
Notably, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) offered annual contracts to 24 cricketers, divided into four categories. But the cricketers have refused to sign, citing lack of transparency and unfair wage structure.
Aravinda voiced support of the new contract system, according to which annual wages have been slashed but a performance-based bonus has been introduced. For instance, if they win the Test series, the board would pay them USD 150,000.
‘The most important fact is they should get into the middle and play positive cricket and start winning games for the country rather than complaining,’ said Aravinda.
ICC announce Covid-19 protocols for WTC Final
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released the bio-safety measure for the World Test Championship final, which will take place in Southampton, from June 18.
India will be arriving in the UK on 3 June. Following that, the entire contingent will have to undergo a mandatory solation at the on-site hotel at the venue.
New Zealand, meanwhile, are already in England for the two-Test series against the host, which starts from 2 June in the Lord’s.
Lack of finisher remains a headache for Australia: Ponting
Ricky Ponting admitted that the lack of a designated finisher in the T20 format has been a major concern for Australia for quite some time now. He cited how the likes of MS Dhoni and Kieron Pollard have batted at the same spot for different teams throughout their career.
Most major Australian T20 batters play in the top-four in the BBL. Marcus Stoinis, who has impressed as a finisher for Delhi Capitals, opens the innings for Melbourne Stars.
‘I saw Stoinis at Delhi last year; he has opened the last few years of BBL and done an excellent job for the Melbourne Stars, but I needed someone that could finish games for us, and he won two or three games off his own bat’, Ponting told cricket.com.au.