Joe Root joins England captain Ben Stokes in skipping next Indian Premier League

Joe Root has followed the lead of England Test captain Ben Stokes by skipping next year’s Indian Premier League.

It was confirmed on Wednesday that Stokes would not appear for Chennai Super Kings in the 2024 edition of the IPL, with the 32-year-old citing the need to manage his fitness and workload.

Root has now joined his red-ball skipper in sitting out the Twenty20 tournament, which will run from March until the end of May.

Rajasthan Royals secured the services of Root at the 2023 mini-auction and he featured three times for the franchise earlier this year, but will not join up with the group that contains England white-ball captain Jos Buttler next year.

Rooooooot! 🥺💗 pic.twitter.com/Ohm32aevHR

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) November 25, 2023

Royals director of cricket Kumar Sangakkara said: “During our retention conversations, Joe informed us of his decision to not take part in IPL 2024.

“Even in a short span of time, Joe was able to create such a positive impact on the franchise and the players around him.

“His energy around the group and the experience he brought to the Royals will be missed. We respect his decision totally and wish him success in everything he does.”

Root is set for a key role in England’s five-match Test series away to India, which starts on January 25.

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Abu Dhabi T10 League 2023 squads: Full team lists and injury updates for all eight teams

The seventh edition of the Abu Dhabi T10 League starts on November 28. Here are the complete squads for the Abu Dhabi T10 League 2023, including all eight teams’ full team lists and injury updates.

Deccan Gladiators are the defending champions owing to their 37-run clinical victory over the New York Strikers in the 2022 final. The two teams will reconvene in the first match of the 2023 season scheduled for November 28.

Apart from the two finalists from the last edition, Northern Warriors, Morrisville Samp Army, Bangla Tigers, Delhi Bulls, Team Abu Dhabi and Chennai Braves will lock horns against each other to compete for the silverware in the final on December 9.

The 12-day competition will be played in a similar format as the previous one, with the same number of matches (32) and a strict time limit of 90 minutes for each fixture. Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi will host all the seventh season of the Abu Dhabi T10 League matches.

Abu Dhabi T10 League 2023: Full squads and list of injuries

Bangla Tigers: Shakib Al Hasan (c), Saim Ayub, Iftikhar Ahmed, Kusal Mendis, Dominic Drakes, Reece Topley (injured), Carlos Brathwaite, Daniel Sams, Matheesha Pathirana, Matiullah Khan, Rohan Mustafa, Haider Ali, Abdul Ghaffar, Amartya Kaul, Rassie van der Dussen, Taskin Ahmed, Robin Uthappa, Josh Little, Jordan Cox, Shannon Gabriel, David Miller, Dasun Shanaka, Max Holden, Benny Howell, Avishka Fernando, Chris Lynn, Rohan Mustafa, Matiullah

Chennai Braves: Jason Roy (c), Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Obed McCoy, Sikandar Raza, Sam Cook, Imran Tahir, George Munsey, Kobe Herft, Richard Ngarava, Junaid Siddique, Aayan Khan, Vriitya Aravind, Kai Smith, Stephen Eskinazi, Hasan Ali

Deccan Gladiators: Nicholas Pooran (c), Trent Boult, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Fabian Allen, Joe Clarke, Josh Little, Zahir Khan, Waqar Salamkheil, Zahoor Khan, Mohammad Zahid, Nav Pabreja, Khawaja Nafay, David Wiese, Nuwan Thushara, Imad Wasim, Imad Wasim, Andre Fletcher, Dan Lawrence, Luke Wood

Delhi Bulls: Quinton de Kock (c), Rovman Powell, Dwayne Bravo, Naveen-ul-Haq, Rilee Rossouw, Fazalhaq Farooqi, James Vince, Usman Khan, Richard Gleeson, Dunith Wellalage, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Abhishek Paradkar (withdrawn), Ali Abid, Sufiyan Muqeem, Johnson Charles, Usama Mir (withdrawn), Abbas Afridi (withdrawn), Izharulhaq Naveed, Ravi Bopara, Wasim Akram

Morrisville Samp Army: Faf du Plessis (c), Jason Holder, Dewald Brevis, Moeen Ali, Maheesh Theekshana, George Garton, Bas de Leede, Andries Gous, Najibullah Zadran, Salman Irshad, Basil Hameed, Ansh Tandon, Muhammad Irfan, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Peter Hatzoglou, Monank Patel, Obus Pienaar, Karim Janat, Maheesh Theekshana

Northern Warriors: Wanindu Hasaranga (c), James Neesham, Hazratullah Zazai, Colin Munro, Romario Shepherd, Mohammad Hasnain, Tabraiz Shamsi, Kennar Lewis, Adam Hose, Ziaur Rahman, Rahul Chopra, Rameez Shahzad, Kaunain Abbas, Shamar Joseph, Ankur Sangwan, Abhimanyu Mithun, Angelo Mathews, Jaden Carmichael

New York Strikers: Kieron Pollard (c), Sunil Narine, Mohammad Amir, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Akeal Hosein, Odean Smith, Mohammad Haris (withdrawn), Lahiru Kumara, Chamika Karunaratne, Kusal Perera, Muhammad Waseem, Muhammad Jawadullah, CP Rizwan, Lasith Croospulle, Will Jacks, Ali Khan, Niroshan Dickwella

Team Abu Dhabi: Phil Salt (withdrawn), Kyle Mayers, Tymal Mills, Dwaine Pretorius, Alex Hales, Rumman Raees, Leus du Plooy, Mohammad Nawaz (withdrawn), Keemo Paul, Colin Ingram, Asif Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Ethan D’Souza, Allah Mohammad, Dilshan Madushanka (withdrawn), Noor Ahmad, Roelof van der Merwe, Tom Banton, Binura Fernando

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How does Saim Ayub fit into Pakistan’s Test starting XI against Australia?

Saim Ayub has been called-up by Pakistan for their Test tour to Australia next month, after breaking into international consciousness for his blistering performances on the franchise circuit and in domestic cricket over the last year. Here’s how he could fit into their starting XI.

At 21 years old, Ayub is an exciting prospect to bolster Pakistan’s batting lineup. He scored 341 runs across the 2023 PSL, which earned him a maiden international white-ball call-up against Afghanistan in March 2023. In his T20I debut at Sharjah, he scored 17 runs off 15 balls, before putting in his best international performance to date in the final match of the series, hitting 49 off 40 balls. His first-class performances, however, are what have secured him a Test call-up.

Pakistan Test squad for Australia: Shan Masood (c), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Agha Salman, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Afridi

From 14 first-class games to date, Ayub has scored 1,069 runs at an average of 46.47. In his most recent match in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final, Ayub scored 203 and 109 to help Karachi win the title. He finished the competition in the top ten run scorers with an average of 79.00 and three centuries.

His inclusion in Pakistan’s Test squad for Australia is not Ayub’s first in a Test playing group. He was included in the squad for Pakistan’s second Test match against New Zealand last year, with then-interim chief selector Shahid Afridi citing giving Ayub experience alongside more established players as his reasoning.

However, with the Pakistan side going through a widespread reset following their disappointing 2023 World Cup, there could be room for Ayub to make his Test debut.

Ayub plays as an opener for Karachi in domestic cricket, but he could find himself with limited opportunity to do so internationally at least for the start of the Australia tour. Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq have both been named in the squad and are currently in possession of the opener slots. Shafique scored a double-century in his most recent Test innings against Sri Lanka and has four hundreds from 14 matches in his Test career so far. Imam is also well placed to keep his spot for at least the start of the series, having passed 50 four times in his last eight Test innings, though the fact that he lost his ODI opening spot during the World Cup may indicate that his position could weaken with some low scores.

Shan Masood has been appointed Pakistan’s new Test captain and is the current occupier of the No.3 spot. His place, made secure by his new role rather than his previous performances, means there is no room for Ayub at the top of the order barring injury or a dramatic loss of form.

Babar Azam will continue to take up the No.4 slot, free from the burden of captaincy, with one of Mohammad Rizwan or Sarfaraz Ahmed required in the middle order to keep wicket. Pakistan will also be likely to field Saud Shakeel at No.5 given the incredible Test batting record he’s wracked up early in his career. That leaves the No.6 spot, but even there the competition is stiff, with Salman Ali Agha making a century in his most recent innings, and the temptation to field both Sarfaraz and Rizwan in the same team, with one playing as a specialist batter.

Given this, Ayub’s route into the side looks limited. However, Pakistan have a woeful Test record in Australia, having lost their last 14 consecutive matches there. Since 2010, only India have a better win percentage (7.5) in home Test matches than Australia (4.272). Despite a fresh start with a new captain and management structure in place, all the signs point towards this as likely to be a challenging assignment for Pakistan. For Ayub, down as the spare specialist batter in the squad, that could bring opportunity.

He also has the added bonus of being able to slot in anywhere in Pakistan’s order. While he plays domestic first-class cricket as an opener, his white-ball skills give him the ability to bat in pretty much any position. Should any of the batters falter, Ayub will be waiting in the wings to claim their place.

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Watch: Kevin Pietersen hits six sixes, rewinds clock with 48-ball 77 in Legends League Cricket

Watch: Kevin Pietersen turned back the clock, smashing 77 off 48 balls for India Capitals in a Legends League Cricket match against Urbanrisers Hyderabad at the JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi today (November 23).

Playing in his first game of LLC 2023, Kevin Pietersen displayed his entire range of shots in a nearly match-winning knock in a steep run-chase for India Capitals in Ranchi.

Having won the toss, the Capitals had elected to field first. They started brilliantly with the ball, dismissing Dwayne Smith and Martin Guptill inside the first three overs.

However, Gurkeerat Singh Mann (89 off 54 balls) and Suresh Raina (46 off 27 balls) took the early advantage away from them. Peter Trego (36 off 20 balls) then played a late cameo to take Hyderabad to 189-5 from their 20 overs.

Capitals had a horrible start to their run-chase. Gautam Gambhir was dismissed off the first ball while Hashim Amla followed in the next over.

Pietersen came into bat at No.4 as an Impact Player with the score reading 11-2. He found no support from the middle order, while carrying the run-chase on his own. Pietersen used his long levers to hit sixes both down the ground and square of the wicket.

He reached his 50 off 27 balls in the eleventh over. After the fall of Ricardo Powell’s wicket on the last ball of the 13th over, Capitals still needed 75 off seven overs with just five wickets in hand.

Ashley Nurse then joined Pietersen. The pair added 42 runs in 4.4 overs before Pietersen was eventually dismissed for 77 off 48 balls with Capitals still needing another 33 runs from 14 deliveries.

Pietersen’s knock comprised of four fours and six sixes. Nurse remained unbeaten on 41 off 25 balls in the end but it wasn’t enough as the Capitals fell agonisingly short by three runs.

Watch Kevin Pietersen light up LLC 2023 with a rapid 77 off 48 balls:

Pietersen's power play!#LegendsLeagueCricket #LLCT20 #BossLogonKaGame pic.twitter.com/HEu1PGOvrb

— Legends League Cricket (@llct20) November 23, 2023

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ICC transgender ban ‘a blunt instrument’ which sends ‘very negative message’

The ICC’s decision to ban trans cricketers from international competition is “a blunt instrument” that provides insufficient flexibility in the matter of transgender participation, according to the chair of one of the UK’s only LGBTQ+ cricket clubs.

The world governing body announced on Tuesday that it will no longer allow transgender players to compete in international matches, after Canada’s Danielle McGahey became the first player to reach that level in September.

McGahey featured in six T20 internationals at an International Cricket Council World Cup qualifying series hosted in Los Angeles, scoring 118 runs.

But under the new rules she will no longer be eligible to represent her country in women’s cricket, with any player who has gone through male puberty prior to transitioning now excluded.

Australia’s former World Cup winning captain Alex Blackwell shares her disappointment with ICC’s decision to ban trans athletes in cricket.#CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/FgZzE2YXri

— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) November 22, 2023

The England and Wales Cricket Board’s current regulations for domestic matches state participation of trans players is to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, though the policy is yet to be tested in elite county cricket.

Yet there are fears over the message that the ICC’s ruling will sent to young players starting out in the game and those competing at amateur level.

Lachlan Smith, chair of Birmingham Unicorns CC, one of only three LGBTQ+ cricket clubs in the country, told the PA news agency: “It came completely out of the blue. Nobody saw it coming at all.

“Relative to my understanding of how sport is addressing the question of trans participation, cricket and the ICC seem to have gone much further than any other sport. They’ve brought in a policy that feels like a very blunt instrument, and it’s disappointing to see that.

“If you’re a young person who identifies as trans and you’re playing cricket, I think it will be very disheartening to see this.

There has yet to be a trans cricketer in the elite women’s game in England, but under the ICC’s new rules they would not be eligible to compete internationally (Steven Paston/PA)

“Even if you don’t believe you’re good enough to be international standard, it’s just a very negative message to be receiving at a time when we’re trying to get more LGBTQ people involved in the game.

“We’ve had a lot of success in doing that including within the trans community. So we’re disappointed.”

Cricket Australia said on Thursday that its policy on trans participation remains unchanged and that players who have transitioned are still eligible to compete at elite level domestically.

That also remains the ECB’s stance, though consultations have taken place over the last year with stakeholders from across the game which could lead to an updating of the governing body’s position.

Last year, Rugby Union and Rugby League both took the decision to ban trans players from competing in the female-only from of the game, whilst swimming and cycling have taken similar steps.

Smith said that members of his club have been consulted by the ECB and that they had been satisfied with the process so far, but call for more transparency from the ICC on how its decision has been reached.

“The ECB are currently undertaking review of their trans participation policies,” said Smith. “They’ve worked with us and other LGBTQ stakeholders in the game on a consultation process. The talks with our members were quite constructive.

“That (outcome) is still to be seen, but I’m hopeful that it will be nuanced and will consider as many variables as possible, unlike the ICC.

“Other sports have been a bit more nuanced in considering things like testosterone levels, but these all feels very blunt. It would be interesting to know what research has been drawn on, particularly when there are such a small number of trans cricketers out there. The ICC haven’t been very forthcoming yet on that.

“Cricket is a unique sport. You may have a first XI that has a 14-year-old and a 70-year-old. You have such a breadth of ages and skill levels and things like that. So there is already a policy to prevent terribly uneven competition.”

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Ben Stokes pulls out of 2024 Indian Premier League

England Test captain Ben Stokes has made himself unavailable for next year’s Indian Premier League.

Stokes was purchased by Chennai Super Kings for GBP 1.65million last December, but struggled with his fitness and played only twice for his new franchise in the 2023 tournament.

A long-standing knee injury failed to stop Stokes from starring in the Ashes this summer, while he recently came out of 50-over retirement to feature in England’s unsuccessful defence of their World Cup crown in India.

🦁 NEWS FROM THE PRIDE🔔

Read More ⬇️

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) November 23, 2023

He is set for surgery on his knee injury to ensure he is fit for England’s five-match Test series with India which begins in January and has cited the need to manage his workload as a reason for missing the 2024 IPL, with the Twenty20 World Cup also on the horizon in June.

Despite Stokes being unavailable for defending IPL champions Super Kings, the management team of the franchise are supportive of the all-rounder’s decision to skip next year’s tournament, that is expected to again run between March and May.

“England Test captain, all-rounder Ben Stokes has made himself unavailable for IPL 2024 to manage his workload and fitness,” a statement from Chennai Super Kings read.

Ben Stokes has struggled with a knee injury (Nick Potts/PA)

“Stokes, 32, became a part of the Super Kings ahead of the successful IPL 2023.

“He recently participated in the ODI World Cup 2023, which he came out of retirement for.

“The Chennai Super Kings management is supportive of Ben in his decision to manage his workload with England playing a five-Test series in India before the IPL and then the T20 World Cup in June 2024.”

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‘Relax Australia’ – Mohammad Kaif takes indirect dig at David Warner, insists India was best team of World Cup

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has taken an indirect dig at David Warner‘s “perform when it matters” comment, insisting that India were the best team in the 2023 World Cup.

Kaif had said after India lost the World Cup final to Australia in Ahmedabad that despite the result, India were the best team in the tournament. Speaking to Star Sports, he said, “I can never accept that the best team has won the World Cup. The Indian team is the best team on paper.”

Warner responded to Kaif’s comment on X (formerly Twitter) yesterday. He said that performing when it matters is what is important, rather than who’s stronger on paper. “I like MK [Mohammad Kaif], issue is it does not matter what’s on paper,” wrote Warner.

“At the end of the day you need to perform when it matters. That’s why they call it a final. That’s the day that counts and it can go either way, that’s sports. 2027 here we come.”

I like MK, issue is it does not matter what’s on paper. At the end of the day you need to perform when it matters. That’s why they call it a final. That’s the day that counts and it can go either way, that’s sports. 2027 here we come https://t.co/DBDOCagG2r

— David Warner (@davidwarner31) November 22, 2023

The back and forth commentary didn’t end there though. Kaif has now made a post on X (Twitter), insisting on his earlier stance that India were the best team in the World Cup. He hasn’t responded directly to Warner, but has asked Australia to “relax”.

“Facts: It was Australia’s day in final, they won, they are World Cup winners. More facts: India comprehensively won 10 games, they lost 11th, they had the best bowlers and batters. They were the tournament’s best team. Both facts, on paper and on field. Relax Australia,” wrote Kaif.

Facts: It was Australia's day in final, they won, they are World Cup winners.
More facts: India comprehensively won 10 games, they lost 11th, they had the best bowlers and batters. They were the tournament's best team.
Both facts, on paper and on field. Relax Australia.

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) November 23, 2023

India stormed through the league stages and the semi-final of the World Cup before faltering at the final hurdle against Australia, whom they had beaten in their first match of the tournament.

Put in to bat first, India managed to struggle through to 240 on a slow surface which got better as the game progressed. Travis Head then knocked the wind out of India’s sail, scoring a match-winning hundred to take Australia to their sixth World Cup title.

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