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

There will be no opening ceremony for the IPL 2019: Vinod Rai

• The much awaited 12th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to commence on March 23.
• The defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will lock horns on the opening night.
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Sarfaraz Ahmed disappointed to see cricket being targeted after Pulwama attack

• The recent dastard attack in Pulwama which took the lives of 44 CRPF Indian soldiers has led to severe outrage in the nation.
• While the already sour relations between India and Pakistan have affected more, Cricket is also likely to take a hit if the developments in the last few days are to be believed.
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Reports: ICC unlikely to entertain BCCI’s proposal to ban Pakistan from World Cup

• The Indian cricket board has found itself in a tricky situation on the issue of playing Pakistan in the upcoming World Cup in the wake of the terror attack in Pulwama on February 14.
• While there is an increasing pressure over the officials to boycott the clash with Pakistan at the Old Trafford and even approach the ICC seeking ouster of them from the tournament, not many are convinced that such measures will pay off.
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Cash-for-selection scandal rocks Jharkhand cricket; two district officials terminated

• A major corruption scandal has hit Jharkhand cricket as two top district cricket body officials were found accepting cash offer in lieu of picking players and they were terminated from their respective posts and their life membership is suspended.
• The two accused officials — secretary of Ranchi District Cricket Association (RDCA) Mohammad Wasim and that of Latehar District Cricket Association (LDCA) Amalesh Kumar — were exposed by a sting operation conducted by a local Hindi news channel following which the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) took the decision on Thursday.
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It seems Sourav Ganguly is eyeing elections, says Javed Miandad over ‘boycott Pakistan’ call

• The last week has seen quite a turmoil in India’s cricketing circles courtesy a dastardly terror attack on a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
• A number of Indian cricketers – current and former – have lashed out at Pakistan, even demanding to boycott the World Cup clash with them on June 16.
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I would personally hate giving Pakistan two points in World Cup: Sachin Tendulkar

• Will India play Pakistan in the World Cup? The question is in the minds of the fans as there have been calls to boycott the game in the wake of the Pulwama terror attacks on February 14.
• The BCCI is awaiting the Government’s decision while the cricketing fraternity has differed significantly in its opinion.
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We are sending a letter to ICC raising our concerns about Pakistan, says Vinod Rai

• On Thursday, there were reports of the BCCI drafting a letter to send it to the International Cricket Council (ICC) requesting a ban on Pakistan from the World Cup.
• There have also been calls for the Team India to boycott the clash against Pakistan on June 16 in the mega event in England and Wales.
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If the Indian Government decides, will not play against Pakistan in World Cup 2019: Ravi Shastri

• It seems that the Indian Government is the one which will take the final call whether to boycott Pakistan in the upcoming World Cup or not.
• The arch-rivals are scheduled to face each other on June 16 in Manchester at the Old Trafford but the recent Pulwama attacks have put the future of the clash in the doldrums.
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ICC will not accept this foolish and childish move by BCCI, says Javed Miandad

• The Pulwama attack last week has led to the former cricketers from India and Pakistan making fiery statements now.
• The likes of Harbhajan Singh and Sourav Ganguly have come up with strict statements with the latter also suggesting to cut off all sporting ties with Pakistan.
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IFTDA pass a resolution to take pledge of not working with Navjot Singh Sidhu

• The former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu and popular face on the Television show, The Kapil Sharma Show, has found himself in trouble for his comments on Pulwama attack.
• Soon after the unfortunate incident last Thursday, Sidhu defended Pakistan saying that a nation should not be blamed as terrorism doesn’t have nationality and religion.
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D’Arcy Short eyes good bowling exploits in upcoming series against India

• Australia’s dashing left-hand opening batsman D’Arcy Short is back into the national team after a while and will be looking to utilise the opportunity in the upcoming limited-over series against India to brighten his hope of playing in the World Cup.
• Short’s capacity to hit the ball is already known and his chinaman bowling can be an added asset for captain Aaron Finch in the series to kick off on February 24.
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Kapil Dev and Co. ‘unhappy’ with pay for sharing their stories of World Cup 1983

• They had made the country immensely proud on June 25, 1983, by winning India’s first-ever World Cup in cricket by humbling the mighty Windies in the final at Lord’s.
• Currently, a film is being made on the historic feat of Kapil’s Devils that had gone on to change the course of the game in the country.
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Team India will abide by decision taken by BCCI on playing Pakistan in World Cup: Yuzvendra Chahal

• India leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who was one among the many to express anger over the attack on CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir last week, now has said that team will abide by whatever decision the BCCI will take in its meeting on Friday.
• The board’s Committee of Administrators (CoA) will discuss India’s stand vis-à-vis the ICC World Cup due to begin in England on May 30.
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I am not surprised, says Cheteshwar Pujara after scoring his first T20 century

• Cheteshwar Pujara, on Thursday, did manage to surprise quite a lot of people by scoring a T20 century.
• While he continues to be one of the best Test batsmen in the world, the same cannot be said about him in T20s.
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