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Benny Howell made a breezy 41 for Chattogram Challengers, who set a paltry 126 target

Mohammad Isam21-Jan-2022How the match played outZiaur Rahman fixed Fortune Barishal’s ways with a big finish against Chattogram Challengers. His unbeaten 19 off 12 balls helped Barishal win by four wickets with eight balls to spare, despite slipping to 92 for 6 in the 15th over, chasing 126.Ziaur smashed Mukidul Islam for 18 runs in the 17th over, striking fours through square-leg and extra cover, and a carved six over cover. Dwayne Bravo finished unbeaten on 12 off 10 balls with one boundary, as they took Barishal home.Ziaur’s big hitting helped Barishal recover from the loss of three wickets in the 15th over. Player of the Match Mehidy Hasan Miraz had Shykat Ali caught at deep midwicket, Irfan Sukkur lbw, and then Salman Hossain run out, with Afif Hossain affecting a direct hit from the covers.Earlier, Chattogram reached a mediocre 125 for 8, thanks mainly to No. 9 Benny Howell’s 41. Alzarri Joseph took three wickets while Nayeem Hasan took two wickets.Big hitHowell struck three fours and three sixes in his 20-ball knock. It was a relief for Chattogram after they were stunted by Shakib Al Hasan’s four tight overs that went for just nine runs. Joseph took 3-32 on his BPL debut.Chattogram captain Miraz then stepped up with his maiden four-wicket haul in T20s, finishing with 4 for 16 after taking two of the three wickets to fall in his last over.Big missBarishal, however, could have finished the game much earlier had Shakib batted longer. Instead, the captain fell for 13 after hitting twoboundaries. Shykat’s dismissal for 39 started the mini collapse in the 15th over.For Chattogram, Shamim Hossain was the big disappointment. He made 14 off 23 balls, falling to a Joseph short ball, trying to swat the ball.

Kranti Goud picked up 3 for 20 to continue her rapid rise with India’s ODI side

Shashank Kishore05-Oct-20254:12

Goud, Deepti, Ghosh make it two from two for India

Kranti Goud, 22, was informed of her India debut at the R Premadasa Stadium in May 2025. She had largely been picked as an apprentice, with India waiting on two senior players – Renuka Singh and Pooja Vastrakar, both injured and in rehab.It was an unremarkable debut, for figures of 5-0-22-0. But among the many things she did right was hitting Chamari Athapaththu, a ferocious puller of the cricket ball, on her ribs. That tiny moment, lost amid Smriti Mandhana’s century and Sneh Rana’s four-for, encouraged India’s selectors to take a punt on her for the England tour.When she picked up a six-for in Durham, hooping the ball and leaving England’s top order gasping en route to an impressive series victory, it was fairly evident Goud had sealed her World Cup spot, irrespective of whether the injured senior pacers returned. Renuka has, Vastrakar hasn’t, but Goud has made herself undroppable after just two outings.Related

• India need to fix flaws ahead of tougher challenges in World Cup

• Harmanpreet: 'It wasn't an easy pitch to bat'

• Muneeba Ali run-out in unusual circumstances against India

• Goud, Deepti seal another big win against Pakistan

• Bugs halt play between India and Pakistan in Colombo

A week after she opened the 2025 World Cup with 1 for 41 in India’s win over Sri Lanka, Goud stung Pakistan’s top order in a fiery new-ball spell. She finished with 3 for 20 in India’s 88-run win in Colombo, one that her neighbourhood watched on a giant LED screen they’d installed back in Ghuwara, a town in rural Madhya Pradesh.”The talk is about focusing on line and length only,” Goud said after winning the Player-of-the-Match award. “I haven’t thought of doing much extra. Variations like bouncer or slower balls, those depend on the situation. The coaches told me to pull my lengths back a little based on the conditions and surface, that’s what I did.”It wasn’t merely Goud listening to her coaches that did the trick. She also got the captain to give her the fields she wanted most times. In the 12th over, with the ball losing some of its shine, Harmanpreet Kaur pulled out Deepti Sharma from the slips, only for Goud to wheel her back to where she’d been.The result? Aliya Riyaz was defeated by late movement to get a healthy edge through to Deepti at second slip. A jubilant Goud immediately turned to her captain, who ran towards her to acknowledge her contribution.”The ball was swinging early on, I couldn’t understand what was happening,” Goud said with a chuckle when asked about her first spell. “One ball came in a long way. Then when the ball was old, Harman wanted to take the slip off, but I said, ‘no didi, let’s keep the slip for this over.'”I had that feeling from within that I could get a wicket, and I got it off the first ball. They found it tough to play our pacers. Because the ball was moving in and out, that’s why I had a lengthy first spell.”Goud bowled six unchanged overs with the new ball. The other small contribution she made to India’s win was her crucial lower-order runs with Richa Ghosh. Coming in with India 226 for 8, the ninth-wicket pair added 21 to haul India to 247.Goud’s contribution was 8 off 4 balls, including two fours: a cover drive off her first ball, against left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal, and then a boundary off Diana Baig when she got inside the line to help a short delivery past short fine leg.”Richa told me, if there’s a ball to be hit, go for it. But if you’re not able to, just give me a single,” Goud said. “Because only a few overs were left, we needed to score as many as we could. First ball itself was hittable, so I hit a four. Then she told me, play like this only. The second [boundary] was a short ball, so I went for it. Look forward to playing well like this.”Goud would perhaps acknowledge tougher tests await, but the stage on Sunday wasn’t to be scoffed at, even if India did come in with a 11-0 record over Pakistan in women’s ODIs. With the men’s Asia Cup having been played in an environment far from the bonhomie the teams have shown in the past, the focus was on the women’s game to see if some of the hostilities would spill over. It didn’t, even though the teams didn’t shake hands before or after the match.But the off-field noise was far from Goud’s mind. “I wasn’t thinking of India-Pakistan or other things,” she said. “My duty is to bowl, and I was doing just that.”

Players to get three-year deals, along with increased monthly retainers and a percentage of the PCB’s revenue

Danyal Rasool27-Sep-2023The PCB and the Pakistan men’s team players have reached a landmark agreement on central contracts, ending several months of deadlock and uncertainty. For the first time in Pakistan, three-year contracts have been put in place – rather than the standard 12 months – along with a significant increase in player earnings, as well as a fixed share of revenue from the PCB’s earnings from the ICC.The agreement comes nearly three months after the most recent central contracts expired on June 30. Ever since, Pakistan’s players had been playing without receiving any retainers or other financial compensation. ESPNcricinfo understands the PCB offered the players the option to continue the payment structure of the old contracts until the new deal was struck, an offer the players turned down.As such, there was an impasse between the two parties, with the Test series in Sri Lanka, an ODI series against Afghanistan, and the Asia Cup all played by players without active contracts. It looked inevitable that Pakistan would play the World Cup without contracts too, with the captain Babar Azam offering no indication that an agreement was close during his pre-departure press conference.Related

• Shaheen Afridi in talks with Canada's Global T20 after pulling out of the Hundred

• Usama Mir's predicament underlines the need for a Pakistan players' association

• Cricket Australia chief: Context vital for bilateral ODIs

• Pakistan players and PCB close to reaching common ground on new contracts

• Pakistan players set to receive 'historic' hike in new contracts

While the players and the board were far apart in terms of what they were willing to agree to for much of the last few weeks, the deal that has been struck is more generous for players than any in recent history. The monthly retainer was never really a sticking point, with Category A players receiving PKR 4,500,000 (USD 15,590), a more than four-fold increase over the previous year. The PCB had initially offered Category A players the option to play just one T20 league aside from the PSL, but agreed to allow all centrally-contracted players two additional leagues regardless of category of contract.By far the biggest sticking point, though, was the possibility of revenue sharing. The players demanded a percentage of the revenue the ICC pays annually to the PCB, something the board was reluctant to agree to. In the end, the parties agreed to the players receiving a 3% share of revenue, which amounts to around USD 1 million (the PCB is set to earn USD 34 million per year from next year as a share of ICC revenue). This will be paid to players over and above their monthly retainers and match fees, which are also set to increase by 50% in Tests, 25% in ODIs and 12.5% in T20Is. While it is a far cry from Cricket Australia’s 27.5% revenue-sharing deal with its centrally-contracted players, or the BCCI’s 26%, the Pakistan players were keen to agree to any percentage, however small, to set a precedent.”This deal signifies our commitment to improving the financial health of our players, acknowledging their hard work and dedication to the game,” Zaka Ashraf, the PCB management committee chairperson, said. “We firmly believe that a financially secure and motivated team is more likely to excel on the field.”As we move forward, the entire nation stands behind these players to do well in the upcoming ICC Men’s World Cup. We have faith in their abilities, and we are confident that they will make the nation proud with their outstanding performances.”The main reason the players managed to get the PCB to agree to most of their terms was a collective bargaining position. It is understood the four players leading the negotiations – Babar, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shadab Khan – put up a united front for these talks, and retained the trust of the rest of the team to negotiate on everyone’s behalf.”It is by far a historic deal,” Babar said. “I am extremely happy and satisfied that we have reached an agreement with the PCB. It has been a lengthy and, at times, challenging negotiation process, but I believe we have reached a fair and beneficial agreement for both parties.”The decision to extend these contracts to three years also provides all parties with medium to long-term certainty. This does not mean all players currently offered central contracts will keep them for the next 36 months, or even that they cannot be demoted. The contracts will be subject to annual review, with players potentially coming in or dropping out, but the infrastructure and framework of the contracts is set to remain unchanged till 2026.Pakistan arrived in Hyderabad in India earlier today, where they play their warm-up games against New Zealand on September 29 and Australia on October 3. Their first game of the World Cup is also in Hyderabad, against the Netherlands on October 6.

List of centrally-contracted players

Category A: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi
Category B: Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah and Shadab Khan
Category C: Imad Wasim and Abdullah Shafique
Category D: Fahim Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmad, Saud Shakeel, Shahnawaz Dahani, Shan Masood, Usama Mir and Zaman Khan

The South African was part of India’s support staff between 2008 and 2011, a stint that culminated in the World Cup victory

Nagraj Gollapudi and Shashank Kishore26-Jul-2022India have roped in South African mental conditioning expert Paddy Upton to work with the players ahead of the T20 World Cup in Australia this year. ESPNcricinfo learned that Upton joined the India squad on Monday and will begin his role ahead of the third ODI against West Indies in Trinidad on Wednesday.Upton, 53, comes with extensive experience of working with the Indian team and players. Between 2008 and 2011, he was an assistant to India coach Gary Kirsten, a stint that culminated in the World Cup victory under MS Dhoni. Upton then teamed up with Kirsten once again and helped South Africa become the No. 1 Test team in 2013.It is understood that Upton was approached by India’s head coach Rahul Dravid with the specific brief of helping the players stay mentally charged for the T20 World Cup in October and November. Upton’s appointment had the support of India captain Rohit Sharma, who arrived in the Caribbean on Monday for the five-match T20I series starting on July 29.Another key reason for the swiftness of Upton’s appointment is that Dravid was keen to have an expert who could immediately work with players – especially the younger ones – on mental conditioning, having played in biosecure environments for over two years during the Covid-19 pandemic. With the relentless schedule of international cricket, Dravid wants his players in the best frame of mind ahead of the T20 World Cup, after India had failed qualify for the semi-finals of the 2021 tournament in the UAE.Upton has been on the T20 coaching circuit for several years now, most recently as the team catalyst for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2022. He also worked with Dravid at the Rajasthan and Delhi franchises, and was part of Sydney Thunder’s support staff when they won the BBL title in 2015-16.Upton is known for his unique methods as a mental-conditioning expert. He has used activities such as extreme sports, mountain climbing and canoeing, improvisation theatre, and breath-holding techniques to test the endurance of players when put under stress and help them realise that “fear on the cricket field is very small as compared to these activities.”In the past, India have also used the services of other mental-conditioning experts such as Rudi Webster prior to the 2007 World Cup, and Sandy Gordon in the 2003 World Cup. More recently, sports psychologist Mugdha Bavare was part of the India women’s support staff for the 2022 World Cup.

Arun Dhumal, currently the BCCI treasurer, will take over as the IPL chairman from the outgoing Brijesh Patel

Nagraj Gollapudi11-Oct-2022Roger Binny, the former India allrounder, is set to become the new BCCI president, replacing Sourav Ganguly, who is not expected to have a position in the board any longer. Binny will assume charge on October 18, when the BCCI annual general meeting will be held, in Mumbai.Jay Shah, son of India’s home minister Amit Shah, will continue as BCCI secretary, the most influential position in the board. Rajiv Shukla will also stay on as the board’s vice-president.Along with Binny, there will be two first-timers in the new administration: Ashish Shelar, who served as Mumbai Cricket Association president between 2017 and 2019, will be the treasurer, and Devajit Saikia, currently secretary at Assam Cricket Association, will be the joint secretary.Another key appointment is that of Arun Dhumal, who is set to take over as the new IPL chairman, a post held since 2019 by Brijesh Patel, the former India batter, who will be forced to vacate the seat as he turns 70 soon [on November 24]. That is the maximum permitted age limit for an office bearer or administrator in the BCCI’s constitution.Dhumal, who became a BCCI functionary during the Ganguly administration, is the brother of former board president Anurag Thakur, the current sports and youth affairs minister in India’s central government.As a formality Dhumal will initially need to contest for a position for being a IPL governing council member. Also joining the governing council will be Avishek Dalmiya, son of former BCCI and ICC bigwig Jagmohan Dalimya. Avishek, who is the Cricket Association of Bengal president, will replace Khairul Majumdar, who will be nominated as the BCCI’s general body representative on board’s Apex Council.Binny, 67, has a lot of experience in cricket administration. He has served in different positions at the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) over the years, and has been its president since 2019. Prior to that, Binny also was part of the KSCA administrations led by Patel and Anil Kumble (2010-12).Brijesh Patel will have to give up the IPL chairmanship because of the age-cap of 70 years•AFP

ESPNcricinfo has learned that Binny was the sole candidate for the BCCI president’s post so far with the deadline for filing nominations ending on Wednesday for the five office-bearers’ positions, which were meant to be contested at the board elections on October 18. As things stand, there will be no elections for any position after the top brass of the BCCI, including Ganguly, along with senior past and current administrators from prominent state associations, finalised a shortlist of people that will occupy key positions in the BCCI over a series of meetings in Delhi last week and one on Monday evening in Mumbai.Among those present at these meetings included former BCCI president and ICC chairman N Srinivasan, former BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah, former BCCI treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry, and Delhi & Districts Association president Rohan JaitleyThe age-cap rule, which has led to end of Patel’s run, will also restrict 1983 World Cup-winner Binny’s tenure to one term of three years.This, despite the Supreme Court recently diluting several RM Lodha Committee recommendations. Including the big one, that any office-bearer who had held any post for two consecutive terms in the BCCI shall not be eligible to contest any further election in the BCCI without completing a cooling-off period of three years. Also, if a person has served two consecutive terms each in a state association and in the BCCI, or vice versa, without any break [12 years in total], such a person shall not be eligible to contest any further election in a state association or in the BCCI, without completing a cooling-off period of three years.That was a modification of its 2018 judgment, where it had ruled that an office-bearer would need to serve a three-year cooling-off period once they had served six years at a state association and/or the BCCI.If that rule had not been amended, the entire set of office-bearers in the Ganguly administration would have become ineligible to carry on in any capacity in the BCCI.However, the likes of Shah can now continue till 2025. He had taken over as BCCI secretary in 2019, when Ganguly was elected president, after board elections were held for the first time since Supreme Court mandated a new constitution, drafted as per the Lodha Committee recommendations, which were meant to overhaul the structure and running of BCCI.

England’s tone-setting opener feared the worst when suffering a hamstring injury but is now ready to make an impact on their World Cup semi-final

George Dobell07-Jul-2019Jason Roy is no stranger to dealing with setbacks. He was out to the first ball of England’s limited-overs revolution in 2015 and he was dropped ahead of their last visit to the semi-final stages of a global ODI tournament two years ago.But even he was struggling to contain his frustration when he succumbed to a hamstring injury during the early stages of this World Cup. Having battled back from the disappointment of the Champions Trophy in 2017, having established himself as a key part of the side, and having skipped the IPL to ensure he was fit, he admits his latest injury setback was hard to deal with.He also admits that, for a while after he was forced off the pitch during England’s victory over West Indies, he feared his tournament was over.ALSO READ: England not scared of chasing in World Cup semi – Bayliss“I’ll be honest there was a bit of a fear I might be out,” Roy says. “Initially we thought I’d be back for the Australia game, but then the scan came back and it was a little bit worse that we had thought, so I needed more time.”There was a bit of a scare there. But I needed to stay positive around the group. I was staying around the lads and travelling with them so I had to keep giving out positive vibes and try to help where I can.”But having been dropped in the Champions Trophy and then working my backside off to get here for the World Cup and being in good form only to then get injured, I was like ‘give me a break!'”I thought I was having no luck. It was frustrating and a bit hard to deal with.”While he remains some way off full fitness, Roy has been able to return to the side with some success. He made 66 and 60 in the two innings since his return – both victories for England – and is now facing the prospect of a World Cup semi-final saying he is “mentally and physically” in the right place.Jason Roy got off to a flying start•Getty Images

“I’m as close to 100 percent as I’m going to be,” he says. “It was a decent injury, which was a shame, but I was overworking it a touch and these things happen. The doctors and physios have been incredible to get me to the stage I’m at now where I’m at match fitness and I’ll be able to get through the next two games for sure. But I might not be back at point for a little bit; I’m quite enjoying being at mid-off.”I’m right where I wanted to be, both mentally and physically. This is the reward for the hard work and sacrifices we all make. I didn’t put myself in the IPL auction, I did everything I possibly could to get myself to this point I’m at now.”I’m ecstatic with where I’m at with my cricket and it just goes to show that all the hard work and dedication that goes in really helps.”It is nice to be in a completely different place to where I was in Cardiff [where he was dropped for the Champions Trophy semi-final], but to be honest I think I’ve been here for a while now, since I came back into the side. It has been a really positive journey for me since returning to the England team and it is great that it is still going strong into a World Cup semi-final.”It’s hard to imagine Roy being dropped these days. But, back in 2017, he had failed to pass 20 in nine innings in a run that included six single-figure scores. He owed his return to the decision to omit Alex Hales following the incident in Bristol and performed so well in partnership with Jonny Bairstow, that England’s new opening pair was established.”There’s no secret to it apart from the fact that we both work hard and love batting together,” Roy says of their partnership. “We enjoy each other’s company out in the middle and we just go to work really. There isn’t much rocket science behind it. He’s obviously a great player.”Roy struggled for runs when he first came into the ODI side. He failed to reach 40 in that first series against New Zealand and, after 13 innings, he was averaging a modest 27.69. But the team management had spotted some characteristics they liked, not least a commitment to the newly defined aggressive approach and a selflessness to the team cause. For those reasons, they stuck with him through that underwhelming start.And, up to a point, that might be why they are likely to draft him into the Test side in the coming weeks. While there is an acceptance he has spent most of his first-class career in the middle-order – his county coach, Michael Di Venuto, recently expressed his reservations over the idea of him opening in Test cricket – it is increasingly apparent that he will be given an opportunity to bat in the top three, probably as an opener, during the Ashes.”Yes, there has been a bit of chat about it,” he says. “Playing Test cricket and playing in the Ashes has been an ambition of mine for years. It hasn’t just come about in the last couple of months.”If the call comes, then great it comes, but if it doesn’t then so be it. Of course my ambition is to play Test cricket and see how I go.”When you’re young you don’t understand a huge amount about batting, you just go out there and bat. But now I feel like I know myself a lot better as a batsman.Jason Roy fired up Surrey’s innings•Getty Images

“Most of my batting in first-class cricket has been at No.4, No. 5 or No. 6, but I played at No. 3 twice last year so I’m happy wherever they want to put me. They can put me at No. 9 if they want, although I can’t bowl a few overs! I think I’m better off at the top of the order and then I can give it a go from there.”If I get the chance then I’d like to think I’ll be able to cope, but I don’t want to speak too soon because there is plenty that goes on. You get analysed a lot more in Test cricket. They are long days and the media have got to talk about something which will be interesting.”I’ve played a lot of white-ball games for England so if I get a chance then that should hold me in good stead. Everyone knows what I’m about so if I get caught at fourth slip driving at a ball that maybe a ‘traditional’ Test cricketer wouldn’t drive at, then people hopefully won’t be too outraged by that.”He learned early that, for him at least, that absence of traditional thinking may be one of his greatest strengths. In his second ODI – against New Zealand in June 2015 – he had spent so long thinking about Trent Boult’s skills that when a “juicy half-volley” greeted him, he wasn’t expecting it and edged a drive to point.”I over-analysed my first game by thinking about Trent Boult and how he hoops the ball in,” he says. “I thought I had to watch that front pad.”Instead he gave me a juicy half-volley that didn’t swing at all and I wasn’t expecting it. So since then I haven’t over-analysed bowlers because on the day things can be different. I just play each ball as it comes.”That day was a disaster for me. But now I’ve got a World Cup semi-final to look forward to. It’s unbelievable.”

Former Australia allrounder Watson also played a key role in Australia’s eventual trip

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Mar-2022Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley said Australia’s pre-tour reconnaissance trip during West Indies’ visit in December was “the pivotal moment” that set the wheels in motion for Australia’s first visit of Pakistan since 1998. Calling the hesitation surrounding the visit to Pakistan “a fear or anxiety of the unknown”, Hockley said the security arrangements had given everyone great confidence.An hour out from the first ball, Hockley, Pakistan Cricket Board CEO Faisal Hasnain, ICC chairman Geoff Allardice and Australian Cricketers’ Association CEO Todd Greenberg held a joint press conference, reaffirming their support for Australia’s tour.Faisal Hasnain called it a “delight and a privilege” to welcome Australia, saying Hockley, Allardice and Greenberg being present demonstrated their support for the tour. “I, and the people of Pakistan also welcome Pat Cummins and the entire Australian squad to Pakistan,” he said. “And I thank them for their individual decisions to tour Pakistan. There are many, many people on both sides that have worked tirelessly, over many, many months to make this tour a reality. This tour also sends out a strong and positive message to the entire world. And I’m confident that when the Australian team returns home, they will leave with fond memories.”Greenberg admitted there had been concerns about touring Pakistan from the players a few months ago, but they had all been put to bed by Pakistan’s security arrangements. He named Shane Watson as a proponent of the tour, saying he had spoken to a number of players to assuage their concerns.”Watson provided great context, clarity and confidence for that tour and spoke to a number of the players. And we’ve had individual conversations with not just players, but their families, and we’ve taken them on a long journey with lots of information. The more information you can share the better informed they are, the better decisions they can make. Which is why that anxiety has turned to excitement because they are genuinely excited to be here. There’s a generation of Australian cricketers that have missed the opportunity to play Test cricket in Pakistan.”I spoke to Steve Waugh only a couple of days ago who, when he last played on this ground, scored a hundred. Now there’s a lot of Australian cricketers who have not had the opportunity since then, and our modern-day players you’ll see today now get that chance. Cameron Green wasn’t born the last time we played a Test match here that’s not lost on this playing group, the great privilege that it is to play Test cricket here in Pakistan.”Allardice paid tribute to both cricket boards for working out a way to make sure the series took place in Pakistan. “I’m looking forward to the contest between the two teams. I have seen over the last four or five years the efforts that the PCB and the various authorities in Pakistan have gone to bring cricket back to the fans in Pakistan. And this is yet another step in that journey. And well done to both PCB and to Cricket Australia for making this happen. I think when you think about the almost the generation of Australian players who haven’t had the opportunity to experience Test cricket in Pakistan, you know, I think the excitement among the players today is very, very telling.”

The new policy includes three weeks leave for partners and support for children up to four to be brought on tour

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Oct-2019Cricket Australia has launched a parental leave policy, which guarantees players who become pregnant 12 months of paid leave along with three weeks for partners and other support including additional funding for tours.CA and the Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) have been working on the policy for two years and it came into action earlier this year. Alongside 12 months of parental leave, players who fall pregnant will be guaranteed a contract extension for the following year. Other points include:

• Players who have a partner who gives birth will be entitled to three weeks paid leave upon the birth or adoption of a child
• At any time after giving birth, the player can return to the game subject to medical clearance
• Travel support for players who are primary carers including flights, accommodation and other applicable travel expenses for the child and a carer will be available until the child is four years of age.

“Were a woman cricketer to become pregnant, it typically signalled the end of their career,” Alistair Nicholson, the chief executive of the ACA, said. “The travesty of this is that so many great athletes have not been given the chance to reach their true potential, denying the rest of us the opportunity to enjoy and admire their talent.”A key figure in bringing the policy together was former Australia player Clea Smith who is now general manager of member programs at the ACA.”This policy is the combination of three years of collaboration within Australian Cricket, the ACA and the players, and we’re delighted with the outcome,” she said. “This is a world-leading, player-centred policy providing balance in the lives of all players. The policy is designed to keep female players in the game for longer which will have a positive impact at all levels of the game.”Sarah Elliott, who scored a Test century against England in 2013 at the time she was breastfeeding her first child, was also consulted about the policy.”Probably the bit that jumps out is the support afterwards,” she told the . “It takes out that stress of who’s going to pay for flights, accommodation, transport and logistics. I felt like I was always causing trouble, kind of like a squeaky wheel and that everyone was tippy-toeing around me.”It was an uncomfortable space, whereas now that policy really lays it out clearly. The players and coaching staff know exactly what they can expect and everything is laid out.”There was controversy in 2016 when it was revealed that Cricket Australia asked female players to declare if they were pregnant when signing central contracts.Earlier this year New Zealand captain Amy Satterthwaite announced she was pregnant and would be taking time away from the game. Under NZC’s policies she will retain her central contract.

The opener broke the record for most balls faced by an Indian Test debutant and gave his team a lead of 162

Hemant Brar13-Jul-20231:29

Yashasvi Jaiswal continues his dream red-ball debuts

Centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma put India in a commanding position on the second day of the first Test at Windsor Park. At stumps, India were 312 for 2, leading West Indies by 162 with Jaiswal unbeaten on 143 and Virat Kohli 36.Having started the day on 80 for no loss, Jaiswal and Rohit showed great patience throughout their 229-run partnership. It was the first time in Test cricket that India took a first-innings lead without losing a wicket.Run scoring wasn’t easy, though. India managed only 232 in 90 overs on the second day despite losing just two wickets. West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite used nine bowlers with Rahkeem Cornwall being the most threatening. However, Cornwall had to leave the field in the first session with a chest infection and did not return.Jaiswal was the first to bring up his hundred, becoming the third Indian opener after Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw, and the 17th Indian overall, to do so on Test debut.Rohit followed shortly afterwards with a four off Alick Athanaze. It was his tenth century in Test cricket, and only second outside India in 27 matches. But off the very next ball, he gloved the spinner onto his thigh and Joshua Da Silva caught the rebound.Before this Test, Shubman Gill had told India’s coach Rahul Dravid that he wanted to bat at No. 3. The move didn’t bring immediate success for Gill, though, as he edged Jomel Warrican to second slip for 6.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

With the spinners getting turn and bounce, West Indies delayed taking the second new ball until the 101st over. In their desperation for another wicket, they also burnt two reviews against Kohli but India survived that period.In the third over with the second new ball, Kemar Roach rapped Jaiswal on the pads but Richard Kettleborough turned down the lbw appeal. West Indies had no reviews left and replays showed the ball would have gone on to hit the leg stump.The second new ball was just eight overs old when Brathwaite brought back Warrican. It was only then that Kohli, having faced 80 balls, scored his first boundary with a cover drive. He celebrated with an air punch and a big smile. By stumps, he and Jaiswal had added 72 for the third wicket.In the morning, Jason Holder and Roach stuck to a good length outside off, conceding just 19 in the first nine overs of the day. The first boundary off the bat came in the tenth when Jaiswal pulled Joseph to bring up his half-century. The shot also brought up India’s first opening century stand in 23 innings, since KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal added 117 against South Africa in Centurion in December 2021.After the first drinks interval, Rohit reached his half-century as well. He also had some advice for Jaiswal whenever the youngster looked impatient or played a loose shot.Cornwall was getting assistance from the surface and had challenged both of Jaiswal’s edges before the break. On the other side of it, he pinged him on the helmet with extra bounce as the left-hander failed to connect a sweep. Warrican, much quicker through the air than Cornwall, also found big turn to beat Rohit’s outside edge, but a wicket eluded West Indies.At the start of the second session, Jaiswal tried to raise the tempo. He skipped down the pitch a couple of times against Warrican but didn’t have much success. It was Rohit who showed the way by chipping Holder down the ground for a four. In Holder’s next over, Jaiswal also threw his bat around to pick up two fours, the first of those coming off an outside edge.West Indies moved to plan B after that, with Alzarri Joseph bowling the short stuff. With the ball coming slower off the surface, Rohit twice miscued the pull but was lucky both times. From the other end, Warrican found Rohit’s outside edge but it fell short of the slip fielder.Jaiswal played the short ball much better, even pulling Joseph behind square leg for four. Having taken 16 balls to open his account on day one, he took just 31 deliveries to move from 70 to 100, displaying the versatility that was the hallmark of his innings.

Quetta quick had initially arrived at the tournament hotel in Lahore with a non-compliant PCR test

ESPNcricinfo staff27-May-2021After releasing Naseem Shah from the PSL only three days ago, the PCB has made a U-turn by allowing him to enter the team hotel in Lahore. The Quetta Gladiators fast bowler will be in isolation before flying to Abu Dhabi along with the contingent left behind by the first flights that carried 202 personnel on Thursday.Shah had initially arrived at the tournament hotel in Lahore with a negative Covid-19 test, but there was a problem. As per the Covid-19 protocols for the remaining PSL matches, all those traveling through chartered flights from Karachi and Lahore were directed to assemble at the team hotels on May 24 with negative reports from PCR tests taken not more than 48 hours prior.Related

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However, Shah presented a PCR report from a test that was conducted on May 18. So, upon the recommendation of the independent medical advisory panel for the PSL, the PCB released him from the competition.At the time, Babar Hamid, the director and commercial head of PSL 6, said “the PCB will not compromise on any violations and will expel the player or player support personnel irrespective of his stature and standing in the game if they are found to be flouting the prescribed protocols or regulations.” Things have changed a bit since then.After a meeting between the PCB and the PSL franchises, there has indeed been a compromise with Shah offered a way back to the PSL. All he has to do is clear a pre-isolation Covid-19 test, which will allow him to re-enter the team hotel, and then return back-to-back negative tests, which will give him the green light to board the flight to Abu Dhabi.