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

Azhar Ali retires from One-Day Internationals

• Pakistan cricketer Azhar Ali has decided to call it a day from the ODI format of the game with immediate effect.
• He hasn’t been considered to play since the New Zealand tour earlier this year where he couldn’t muster many runs.
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Sachin Tendulkar backs MS Dhoni, says he knows exactly what to work on

• MS Dhoni is one of the most scrutinized sports personalities in India, and lately, he’s come under more scrutiny than ever before due to his lack of form with the bat.
• Although a World Cup-winning captain and a leader par excellence – three ICC trophies in his cabinet speak volumes about his success – Dhoni has not exhibited the capabilities with the bat that once made him one of the most feared batsmen.
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BCCI was forced to reschedule matches due to unavailability of match officials

• The Ranji Trophy 2018-19 season gets underway on November 1, but state units received a letter from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) just a day ahead of the tournament, asking them to make adjustments.
• On the eve of the start of the domestic first-class event, state associations were requested to make changes to their logistics and travel arrangements of their teams in three different events.
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Shikhar Dhawan salutes Virat Kohli for his unbelievable willpower

• He shouldered a major responsibility in the batting order when Virat Kohli was not around in the Asia Cup and slammed two centuries to help India win the tournament for a record seventh time.
• But dashing opener Shikhar Dhawan has been modest enough to express his respect for the regular captain for his tireless run with the bat.
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Reports: Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza’s son will not be granted Pakistani citizenship

• A report in the Pakistani media has suggested that Indian tennis player Sania Mirza and Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik’s son will not be granted Pakistani citizenship.
• This report has surfaced two days after Mirza gave birth to the couple’s first child, a boy. Sania had got married to Shoaib in April 2010.
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Possible for Bangladesh to win World Cup, feels Shakib Al Hasan

• They have failed to cross the final hurdle on six occasions so far, the latest being in the final of the Asia Cup played in the UAE in September.
• But fans of the Bangladesh cricket team have started believing that even their favourite team can go on to win the world title.
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Discarded Shikhar Dhawan determined to earn his Test spot back

• Indian opening batsman, Shikhar Dhawan has vowed to put up a good display and pile on the runs in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy after he was dropped from the Windies Tests and the upcoming Australia tour.
• India are scheduled to play four Tests against Australia after the limited-overs leg with the first Test starting in Adelaide on 6th of December and the subsequent tests to be played in Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney.
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Farokh Engineer urges Pakistan PM Imran Khan to mend India-Pakistan cricketing ties

• Former India cricketer Farokh Engineer has urged Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to make use his position to help restore cricketing ties between the two Asian countries.
• Khan, who recently assumed the post of Prime Minister after a surprising victory in the general elections, had earlier led Pakistan to its only World Cup title.
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India vs Windies: Ashley Nurse ruled out of the T20I series

• India and Windies will be soon taking the field in the fifth and final One-Day International in Thiruvananthapuram. The visitors have opted to bat first making two changes to their side.
• One of the best performers for them in this series, Ashley Nurse is not playing the game and at the toss, their captain Jason Holder informed that the off-spinner has been ruled out of the entire tour.
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Everyone has to definitely pass the yo-yo test: Bharat Arun

• Yo-Yo test has come under the scanner more than ever in the recent times in Indian cricket.
• It has been made mandatory for the players to clear the fitness test in order to make it to the national side and the selectors along with the team management and players are on the same page.
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Sunil Gavaskar feels India’s only worry at the moment is Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s rusty form

• The Brabourne Stadium, known for its batting friendly wicket, proved to be a run-fest in the first innings as local boy Rohit Sharma smashed a brilliant 162.
• He was joined by Ambati Rayudu in the list of centurions, and the duo propelled the hosts to a mammoth 377.
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Virat Kohli is one of the leading players of all time: Sachin Tendulkar

• Virat Kohli, with the way he is playing at the moment, is likely to break all the records of his idol Sachin Tendulkar.
• Parallels are being drawn between the two cricketers and clearly, the Indian captain is matching the master blaster.
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MS Dhoni is still an integral part of the team: Virat Kohli

• There has been a lot of talk about MS Dhoni’s place in the ODI team after he was sidelined for the T20I series against Windies and Australia.
• Moreover, his waning batting skills have come under the scanner. He endured one of the poorest years with the bat and has now played his last international game this year.
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