Top Stories: Things that made news in the cricket world today

Asia Cup 2018: Mickey Arthur feels Pakistan are suffering from a ‘confidence crisis’

• Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur feels his side is suffering from a ‘confidence crisis’ in the ongoing edition of the Asia Cup hosted by the UAE.
• Although Pakistan were favourites going into the tournament, the Men in Green haven’t been at their best of late.
• (Read more about the story)

Mohammad Shahzad approached by spot fixers to play below par in APL

• They have just started playing good cricket to impress the world but the ghost of spot-fixing has already started looming over them.
• Afghanistan’s wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Shahzad recently became a subject of a spot-fixing controversy as he was reportedly approached during the ongoing Asia Cup to underperform in the upcoming Afghan Premier League (APL) tournament – the inaugural edition – next month.
• (Read more about the story)

‘Have been made the scapegoat’ writes Angelo Mathews in resignation letter to Sri Lanka Cricket

• After a shocking exit from the ongoing Asia Cup, Sri Lanka have ousted skipper Angelo Mathews from the captaincy.
• Sri Lanka suffered two back to back defeats against Bangladesh and Afghanistan in the group stage, knocking them out of the tournament before they could even reach the Super 4.
• (Read more about the story)

The manner in which Pakistan lost is unacceptable: Wasim Akram

• Pakistan suffered their heaviest defeat against India batting first at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 23 and the pain has been excruciating for their former greats.
• Former captain Wasim Akram was one among them who flayed his country’s forgettable performance against an energetic Indian side, the second to happen in four days in the ongoing Asia Cup.
• (Read more about the story)

Windies team is being forced by the BCCI to train in the UAE

• The West Indies cricket team is being forced to carry out their training in the UAE ahead of their tour of India beginning October 4.
• The BCCI refused to grant the Windies players any training facilities in India in order to prepare for the upcoming series.
• (Read more about the story)

Waqar Younis wants India and Pakistan to perform well in overseas Tests

• India and Pakistan produce quality ODI cricket in the sub-continent, but often falter when it comes to repeating the same in overseas Tests.
• In the on-going Asia Cup, the two teams have met twice, in which Pakistan lost both the games, but if they beat Bangladesh in the virtual semi-final, then they will set up another meeting with India in the finals.
• (Read more about the story)

ICC assured of India-Pakistan Test series in 2021-23 cycle, claims PCB chief Ehsan Mani

• Newly appointed chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ehsan Mani has said that the International Cricket Council (ICC) assured him of a Test series between India and Pakistan in its 2021-23 cycle of World Test Championship.
• India and Pakistan haven’t played a Test series since 2007-08 when Pakistan toured India while their last bilateral ODI series was also played last time in 2012-13 when the neighbours travelled to India.
• (Read more about the story)

Cricket Australia shuts probe into racial slur against Moeen Ali

• Cricket Australia (CA) has shut down a probe into an alleged racial attack aimed at England cricketer Moeen Ali by an Australian cricketer.
• The 30-year-old batting all-rounder, who played a key role in England’s Test series win over India, said in a recently published excerpt from his autobiography that he was addressed as “Osama” by an unnamed Aussie player in Cardiff, during an Ashes Test in 2015.
• (Read more about the story)

Sourav Ganguly stands by Sarfraz Ahmed, says players like him aren’t born everyday

• Pakistan cricket captain Sarfraz Ahmed has been the one who has given his side a stability of sort at the top after a while but two humiliating defeats in five days in the ongoing Asia Cup has brought him under a rain of severe criticism.
• Both his captaincy and batting came under question, especially after the nine-wicket rout Pakistan faced against a clinical India in Dubai in a Super Fours game on Sunday.
• (Read more about the story)

This Pakistan team doesn’t have it in them to challenge India: Harbhajan Singh

• Pakistan have won more games against India in ODIs in history but in the recent times, the green shirts have tasted success against the Men in Blue as an exception.
• They have been comprehensively beaten by India twice in the ongoing Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates prompting Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh to say that the rivalry looks far too one-sided at the moment.
• (Read more about the story)