Big names miss out as Australia announce men's players to win new contracts

A quartet of experienced performers have missed out as Australia announced their list of men’s players to be offered national contracts for 2024-25. 

Cricket Australia (CA) released the names of the 23 players that have won new contracts on Thursday, with veteran all-rounder Marcus Stoinis the biggest name to miss out on a new deal.

Stoinis has battled back injuries in recent times, but was part of Australia's winning ICC Men's Cricket World Cup winning squad last year and remains firmly in their selection thoughts for June's ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

Stoinis is joined by fellow all-rounder Ashton Agar, opening batter Marcus Harris, pacer Michael Neser and recently retired star David Warner as players to miss out on fresh contracts, with CA instead opting to provide deals to a handful of new faces.

All-rounders Matt Short and Aaron Hardie win new deals after they were upgraded to the contract list during the summer as does fast bowler Nathan Ellis, while young right-armer Xavier Bartlett also wins a full-time contract after impressing with the ball against the West Indies earlier this year.

Cricket Australia selection chair George Bailey is confident that the players with new deals have long international careers ahead of them.

“Matt, Aaron and Xavier have been extremely impressive in the early stages of their international careers. Their performances and the way they have embraced the international stage has been exciting to watch," he said.

“The panel believes they have strong futures and are deserved of their contracts as they work towards striving to become regulars in the Australian setup.”

Cricket Australia contracted men's players 2024-25: Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Lance Morris, Todd Murphy, Jhye Richardson, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa

South Africa have revealed their contract list for the upcoming season with a few major absentees 😯 

In a significant move that has caught the attention of cricket fans and experts alike, Cricket South Africa (CSA) has announced its latest player contracts for the 2024/25 season, with fast bowling sensations Gerald Coetzee and Nandre Burger being included. However, the omission of a wicket-keeper from the list has raised eyebrows and sparked debate within the cricketing community.

Gerald Coetzee and Nandre Burger have been on the radar of selectors and fans for their outstanding performances in recent times. Coetzee, with his raw pace and ability to move the ball both ways, has emerged as one of the most exciting fast bowlers in South Africa. Burger, on the other hand, has impressed with his accuracy, seam movement, and ability to extract bounce from any surface.

Their inclusion in the CSA player contracts is a testament to their talent, hard work, and potential to be key figures in the South African bowling attack for years to come. It also reflects CSA's commitment to rewarding and nurturing young talent, ensuring a bright future for South African cricket.

However, the decision to omit a wicket-keeper from the contracts has raised some eyebrows. South Africa has a rich tradition of producing world-class wicket-keepers, with the likes of Mark Boucher and Quinton de Kock leaving a lasting impact on the game. The absence of a designated wicket-keeper in the contracts has led to speculation about CSA's plans for the wicket-keeping position.

It is possible that CSA is looking to explore other options or is confident in the depth of talent available in South Africa's wicket-keeping ranks. However, the decision is surprising given the importance of a reliable wicket-keeper in modern cricket, not just for their skills behind the stumps but also for their contributions with the bat.

The omission of a wicket-keeper from the contracts could mean that CSA is considering a different approach to the wicket-keeping role, perhaps looking at all-rounders or specialist batsmen who can keep wicket as well. Alternatively, it could indicate that CSA is satisfied with the options currently available and does not see the need to contract a specific wicket-keeper at this time.

Overall, the inclusion of Coetzee and Burger in the CSA player contracts is a positive sign for South African cricket, showcasing the depth and quality of fast bowling talent in the country. However, the absence of a wicket-keeper in the contracts raises questions about CSA's plans for that position and will be closely monitored as the season progresses.

 

Sharfuddoula becomes first Bangladeshi in ICC Elite Panel of Umpires

Veteran Chris Broad, however, is not in the Elite Panel of Match Referees

The ICC has appointed Sharfuddoula in its elite panel of umpires, making him the first Bangladeshi to be included into the group. The new panel of match referees, however, doesn't include veteran Chris Broad who has officiated in the third most number of international matches.

Broad, who has been in the elite panel since 2003, has officiated in 123 Tests, 361 ODIs and 135 T20Is. He was the match referee in the final of the 2009 T20 World Cup and the 2021 World Test Championship.

"Chris Broad has been a valuable member of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees over many years and has performed his role with distinction," Geoff Allardice, the ICC CEO said in an ICC release. "He was prepared to take difficult calls in the best interests of the game and was respected by players and officials from all over the cricketing world. On behalf of the ICC, I would like to thank Chris for his long and distinguished contribution to the game.

"I would also like to congratulate Sharfuddoula for his inclusion on the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, and to acknowledge his achievement of being the first umpire from Bangladesh to be selected on this panel. This is a well-deserved reward for many years of consistent performances in international matches and ICC tournaments."

Sharfuddoula, too, was delighted with his appointment at the highest level, something that he has been aiming for, for a very long time. A former left-arm spinner who played for Bangladesh in the 1994 ICC Trophy, Sharfuddoula took to umpiring in 2007. He made his ODI debut in 2010.

"It is a great honour to be named on the ICC Elite Panel. To be the first from my country on the panel makes it extra special and I look forward to justifying the faith shown in me," Sharfuddoula said. "I have had a fair bit of experience over the years and am ready for more challenging assignments. I would like to thank the ICC and the BCB for backing me and my other colleagues for all their help and guidance. I would also like to thank my family and friends for standing by and supporting me."

He has officiated in ten Tests, 63 ODIs and 44 T20Is in men's cricket. He has also featured in 41 women's international matches.

Last year, Sharfuddoula stood as an umpire in the ODI World Cup, becoming the first Bangladeshi to do so. He also stood in the Brisbane Test between Australia and West Indies earlier this year.

ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees: David Boon (Australia), Jeff Crowe (New Zealand), Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka), Andrew Pycroft (Zimbabwe), Richie Richardson (West Indies), Javagal Srinath (India)

ICC Elite Panel of Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka), Christopher Gaffaney (New Zealand), Michael Gough (England), Adrian Holdstock (South Africa), Richard Illingworth (England), Richard Kettleborough (England), Nitin Menon (India), Ahsan Raza (Pakistan), Paul Reiffel (Australia), Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid (Bangladesh), Rodney Tucker (Australia), Joel Wilson (West Indies)

 Vihari responds to ACA show-cause notice, asks for NOC ahead of next season

The Andhra Cricket Association had said earlier in the day that Vihari hadn't responded to the notice

India batter Hanuma Vihari has refuted Andhra Cricket Association's (ACA's) claims that he hadn't responded to a show-cause notice issued to him.

Vihari had lashed out during the 2023-24 Ranji season about political interference costing him his captaincy and that "he would never play for Andhra again". On March 25, the ACA had sent a notice to Vihari over email, calling for an explanation of his comments. In his response, seen by ESPNcricinfo, Vihari stated he had "put out the facts" about the "unfair" treatment meted out to him.

"I want to move out and play for another team. I've asked ACA for a no-objection certificate. I'm awaiting a response," Vihari told ESPNcricinfo.

On Thursday afternoon, PTI had reported that the ACA has served the notice, roughly a month after Vihari raised objections at the way he was ousted as Andhra captain, and that he hadn't responded.

"Yes, we have served him a show-cause notice and we are awaiting his reply," an ACA official told PTI on condition of anonymity. "This is just to find what made him react the way he did last month. He has not reached out to us, so this is a chance for him to come out with his grievances.

"After all, we value Vihari and his contributions to the growth of state cricket as he has played a big part in Andhra going up in the ranks in domestic cricket."

On February 26, Vihari had said he would "never play for Andhra" again, saying the treatment he had received at the hands of the ACA during the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy has left him "humiliated". He was speaking not long after Andhra had lost their quarter-final against Madhya Pradesh by just four runs.

In an Instagram post, Vihari alleged that he was forced to step down as captain following Andhra's opening-round game against Bengal in January. At the time, he had cited "personal reasons" for the decision, but said on Saturday that the truth was that the association had taken "action" against him because of political interference.

"I was captain in the first game against Bengal, and during the game, I shouted at 17th player, and he complained to his dad (who is a politician)," Vihari wrote. "His dad in return asked the association to take action against me. Although we chased 410 against last year's finalists Bengal [for a first-innings lead], I was asked to resign from captaincy without any fault of mine.

"I never said anything on a personal note to the player, but the association thought the player was more important than the guy who gave his body on the line last year and batted left-handed, took Andhra to the knockouts five times in the last seven years and played for India in 16 Tests."

The ACA issued a statement later on the same day, saying there were questions around Vihari's captaincy stint. "It has come to our attention that Mr Vihari personally verbally abused a specific player during the Bengal Ranji game in front of everyone," the statement said. "The affected player filed an official complaint with the ACA."

 

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Set to Reappoint Babar Azam as Captain in All Formats

In a move aimed at ensuring stability and continuity in the leadership of the national cricket team, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is set to reappoint Babar Azam as captain in all formats. The decision comes after a thorough review of the team's performance under Babar's leadership and discussions with key stakeholders.

Babar Azam, widely regarded as one of the best batsmen in the world, was appointed as Pakistan's captain across all formats in November 2019. Since then, he has shown great maturity and leadership qualities, guiding the team through some challenging times and leading by example with his performances on the field.

Under Babar's captaincy, Pakistan has achieved notable successes, including series wins against strong teams like South Africa and the West Indies. Babar's calm demeanor and tactical acumen have earned him praise from teammates, opponents, and cricket experts around the globe.

The decision to reappoint Babar as captain reflects the PCB's confidence in his abilities to lead the team in the upcoming series and tournaments, including the ICC T20 World Cup and the ICC Cricket World Cup.

Speaking about the decision, PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja praised Babar's leadership qualities, stating, "Babar Azam has shown exceptional leadership skills and has led the team from the front. His commitment to the team's cause and his ability to stay calm under pressure make him the ideal candidate to continue leading Pakistan in all formats of the game."

Babar, who has been a key figure in Pakistan's batting lineup for several years, expressed his gratitude for the PCB's decision, saying, "It is an honor to captain Pakistan, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue leading the team. I am confident that with the support of my teammates and the coaching staff, we can achieve great success in the upcoming challenges."

The reappointment of Babar as captain is likely to bring stability to the team, allowing the players to focus on their performances without the uncertainty of frequent changes in leadership. It also provides Babar with the opportunity to further enhance his leadership skills and continue to grow as a captain.

As Pakistan prepares for a busy schedule of international cricket, including series against England, Australia, and New Zealand, the PCB's decision to reappoint Babar Azam as captain in all formats sends a clear message of confidence and stability, setting the stage for an exciting period for Pakistani cricket fans.

 

Pothas in charge of Bangladesh for second SL Test as Hathurusinghe goes on leave

Hathurusinghe has travelled back home to Australia for "personal reasons"

Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe will miss the second and final Test against Sri Lanka, starting in Chattogram on Saturday. On the development, the BCB has only said that Hathurusinghe would be travelling back home to Australia because of "personal reasons". No return date has been confirmed.

Assistant coach Nic Pothas will charge for the duration of the match.

Bangladesh reached Chattogram from Sylhet after the first Test ended in a 328-run defeat for them on the fourth afternoon. Prior to the Test, Bangladesh won the ODI series while Sri Lanka won the T20I series by identical 2-1 margins.

Shakib Al Hasan, who hasn't played a Test match since April 2023 and has been treated for an eye condition recently has been brought into the Test squad as a replacement for Towhid Hridoy. The uncapped Hridoy was a part of the squad for the first Test but didn't get into the XI. In one more change, Hasan Mahmud has come in for the injured Musfik Hasan, who has a left ankle injury and will require rehab. Mahmud is also uncapped in Tests, like Musfik, but has played 39 white-ball internationals.

Hathurusinghe took up the Bangladesh job for a second time in February last year. Between the two stints with Bangladesh - the first one had run from June 2014 to October 2017 - he had been in charge of the Sri Lanka team and had also served as the batting coach at New South Wales in the Australian domestic circuit.

Pothas joined Bangladesh in April last year. The 49-year-old Pothas has previously worked as interim head coach for West Indies and Sri Lanka.

 

Hasaranga's Sunrisers debut to be delayed by at least a week

He is expected to travel out of Sri Lanka over the next week and consult doctors overseas about chronic pain in his left heel

Wanindu Hasaranga is expected to be unavailable for Sunrisers Hyderabad for at least another week as he consults doctors overseas about chronic pain in his left heel.

Although Hasaranga played in Sri Lanka's limited-overs series against Bangladesh in March, ESPNcricinfo understands he did so through substantial pain. Sri Lanka Cricket's medical staff have assessed him, and suspect the pain is down to musculo-skeletal apparatus in his left heel having become worn.

SLC's doctors have asked Hasaranga to seek further medical opinion on the exact nature of the injury, and how best to manage it. He is expected to travel out of Sri Lanka to do so next week.

In any case, he has not joined the Sunrisers squad yet, and there is no set date on when he will do so. The target, for both SLC and Hasaranga himself, is likely to be the T20 World Cup in June, where he is set to captain his national team.

If his condition requires further rest, treatment, or rehabilitation, his return to the IPL will likely be delayed further.

Hasaranga had a spectacular 2022 IPL season for Royal Challengers Bangalore for whom he took 26 wickets at an economy rate of 7.54. Sunrisers had paid INR 1.5 crore (approx USD $181,000) for him at the most-recent auction.

Earlier this month, Hasaranga was suspended from playing Sri Lanka's ongoing Tests against Bangladesh, after racking up eight demerit points for breaching article 2.8 of the players' code of conduct during the third ODI against Bangladesh. Had Hasaranga, who had just come out of Test retirement prior to the ban, been unavailable for the red-ball games, he would have missed the initial matches of Sri Lanka's next international assignment: the T20 World Cup in June.

SLC, however, dismissed claims that Hasaranga's return from retirement was a ploy to make sure he was available for the T20 World Cup, stating that he had informed them in an email on March 16 of his desire to be considered for Test cricket selection going forward, citing his improved fitness levels.

 

Kohli on his two-month break from cricket: 'A surreal experience not to be recognised'

"Just the ability to be together, the connections that you make with your older child, it's amazing."

Virat Kohli, after his match-winning 77 against Punjab Kings at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, opened up about his two-month break when his wife Anushka Sharma gave birth to their second child. Kohli missed India's home Test series against England as he and his family spent time away from the country.

"We were not in the country. We were at a place where people were not recognising us. Just time together as a family, just to feel normal for two months," Kohli said at the post-match presentation ceremony. "For me, for us as a family, it was a surreal experience.

"Of course, having two kids, things become totally different from a family perspective. So just the ability to be together, the connections that you make with your older child, it's amazing.

"I mean, I couldn't have been more grateful to God for the opportunity that I got to spend time with my family."

Kohli spoke about how he enjoyed not being treated like a celebrity.

"And yeah, just the place that we were in, I was telling the guys that when we came back, the voices back home felt that much louder," he said. "I couldn't look up because I was just not used to being called my name for two months. And then immediately you hear these loud noises and then you're back in it all again.

"But it was beautiful. It's an amazing experience to just be another person on the road and not be recognised and just carry on about life that normally people would on a daily basis," he said.

Kohli also spoke about the love he gets from the RCB fans, especially in Bengaluru, having played for the franchise since the inception of the IPL.

"It's been going on for years and you know, people talk about a lot of other things when you play sport. The achievements, the stats, the numbers. Look at the end of the day when you look back you're not going to think of the numbers and the stats. It's the memories that you create," Kohli said, before citing the Indian team head coach Rahul Dravid. "Famously Rahul bhai in the change room nowadays says exactly the same to us. When you play, you play your heart out because you're going to miss these times when you're with your friends in the change room playing in front of fans.

"So the relationship that's happened organically over so many years it's something that I can never ever forget. Just the love and the appreciation and the backing I've received for so many years that's been amazing."

Kohli, however, knows that he has to make changes to his game to keep up with the ever-evolving nature of T20 cricket.

"Well I mean you have to [make additions to your game]," he said while speaking about stepping out to fast bowlers and hitting them over cover, as opposed to playing the grounded cover drive that he is so famous for.

"People know I play the cover drive pretty well so they're not going to allow me to hit gaps and with guys like KG [Kagiso Rabada] and Arshdeep [Singh] as well, he's tall. So, I mean, if they're hitting length, you have to create some momentum in the ball.

"And once you're closer to the ball, you kind of negate the bounce that's going to happen. You meet it earlier.

"So, I mean, you have to come up with a game plan here and there and try to keep improving your game," Kohli said, before issuing a friendly reminder.

"I know my name is nowadays quite attached to just promoting the game in many parts of the world when it comes to T20 cricket. But, I've still got it, I guess."