ICC team carries venue inspection at Mohali
chandigarh: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday gave a thumbs up to the facilities at the PCA Stadium here which will be hosting some matches of next year's ICC World Twenty20 Championships. led by ICC head of events, Chris Tetley, and BCCI Tournament Director M V Sridhar, a joint team which arrived here last night, reached the stadium in the morning. They carried out an inspection of the venue and held meetings with PCA officials. "The ICC-BCCI joint team arrived at the venue in the morning to carry out the inspection. They went around the stadium. They appeared to be quite happy with the overall maintenance, facilities and security aspects. "No shortcoming was pointed out. They were happy with overall set up. The only thing which they wanted was that there should be smooth changeover when Mohali hosts a double header of the event," venue manager and PCA's CEO, Brigadier G S Sandhu (retd) said.
Khawaja fitness doubt after Big Bash pullout
sydney: Australia batsman Usman Khawaja has pulled out of a Twenty20 game this week and faces a fitness check before the Boxing Day Test against the West Indies, Cricket Australia said on Monday. Khawaja, 28, was due to return from a hamstring injury in Thursday's opening Big Bash league match for the Sydney Thunder after being included in the 13-man Australia Test squad for Melbourne. But Cricket Australia medical staff have ruled him out of the clash against the Sydney Sixers. Khawaja will need to prove his fitness before Sunday's Big Bash game with the Melbourne Stars, which would be his only remaining fixture before the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. If he fails that test, selectors will be spared the onerous decision of trying to put him back into the Australian team at the expense of either Joe Burns or Shaun Marsh.
Pakistan players return home from BPl
Karachi: Many of the Pakistani players who went to Bangladesh to appear in the Bangladesh Premier league return home with bitter memories and unhappy at being sidelined by the team owners and management. Foremost among them is Pakistan's test captain Misbah-ul-Haq who was sidelined by the Rangpur Riders management for his team's last seven matches while preference was given to other foreign signings including Afghanistan's little known Muhammad Nabi. "I can't say much on this but I guess the team owners and coaches know what is required. But it is not easy sitting on the bench for so long," Misbah said just before his team's knockout game on Sunday night. Misbah clearly looked upset at his continued exclusion even for the knockout match against Barissal Bulls. His omission has surprised many in the Pakistan cricket circles while others like Kamran Akmal, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Akmal and Wahab Riaz have also returned home not happy at being given cold shoulder treatment.
Peshawar sign Andy Flower as mentor
karachi: Former England coach Andy Flower has been signed on as the batting consultant and mentor of the Peshawar franchise in the upcoming Pakistan Super league. And if the Peshawar franchise gun for England's discarded batsman Kevin Pietersen in the players draft this month it could be the first reunion between the two since Flower had to step down as head coach after the Ashes 2013/14. Pietersen has already made his intention of participation in the PSl clear via a video message and is said to be among a top favourite for the five franchises in the T20. The PSl is due to be held in Dubai and Sharjah in February and franchise has announced Muhammad Akram as their head coach and Flower as their batting consultant and mentor.