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

‘ICC should stop all countries from playing cricket in India’ – Javed Miandad calls India unsafe

• With Test cricket returning to Pakistan after a decade, which saw the home side beat Sri Lanka 1-0 in the two-Test series; the Pakistan Cricket Board has been inviting other teams as well to play matches in their home ground.
• They are however having a tussle with Bangladesh board, whose players are not ready to play Tests in Pakistan.
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‘He knows the bloke in the truck’ – Tim Paine takes a hilarious dig at Ross Taylor after the Kiwi batsman survives an LBW call

• It was another day of Australian domination in the Boxing Day Test at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.
• After having resumed the day at 4-277, the Aussies riding on the back of half-centuries from Steven Smith and skipper Tim Paine and a sumptuous second Test ton from Travis Head [114], posted a commanding total of 467 in the first innings.
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Mark Waugh reveals why New Zealand don’t stand a chance to win Boxing Day Test

• After beating England at home by 1-0, New Zealand flew to Australia with a positive intent to challenge the Aussies at Perth Stadium.
• However, all their efforts were to no avail as they were completely dominated by the hosts in all facets of the game.
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‘Bangladesh touring Pakistan will cause problems for India’ – Former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Khan

• Bangladesh Cricket Board have given a nod to play T20I series against Men in Green in Pakistan but they are insisting to play Test series on a neutral venue.
• However, PCB is stern to host the longer format series in their nation against the ‘Tigers’. And, now, the former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Khan has opened up saying that it might cause problems to India.
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Mitchell Santner could be out of the Kiwi Test scene soon, fears NZ media

• New Zealand left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner came in for heavy criticism during the ongoing second Test match against Australia in Melbourne for his ordinary display — both with the ball and the attire.
• The 27-year-old failed to keep up the pressure on the hosts after the pacers gave some early breakthroughs and conceded 82 runs in 20 overs without any reward.
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India U-19 kick off their tour of South Africa with a nine-wicket win over the hosts

• India U19 team touring South Africa, defeated the hosts by 9 wickets, getting a 1-0 lead in the three-match Youth One Day International series.
• The match that took place in London saw the two sides putting their best into the game, but in the end, it was the visiting team that had the last laugh.
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‘His strategy was submissive’ – Brendon McCullum criticises Kane Williamson’s decision to bowl Tom Blundell in MCG Test

• Former New Zealand wicket-keeper-captain Brendon McCullum has lashed out at his successor Kane Williamson over his strategy in the on-going second Test match against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
• Trailing the series 0-1, the Kiwis came hard at the hosts after Williamson won the toss and elected to field. But after taking a couple of early wickets, New Zealand could not capitalize and allowed Tim Paine’s side to post a massive total of 467 on Day 2.
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MSK Prasad reveals reason behind Rishabh Pant’s sloppy wicketkeeping

• India’s young wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant was on the receiving end of trolls and abuses for his mediocre form of late.
• The expectations are not always high every time Pant comes out to play for India because he is yet to carve out a reputation for himself as a viable keeper-batsman.
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‘Some of our star players don’t even want to play T20Is in Pakistan’ – BCB President Nazmul Hasan

• International Cricket returned to Pakistan after a hiatus of ten long years with the Sri Lankan team recently touring the terror-ravaged nation for a series of limited-overs Internationals in September followed by a historic two-match Test series in December.
• The two Test matches were played in Rawalpindi and Karachi and following positive feedback from the opposition captain in Dimuth Karunaratne and other senior Sri Lankan cricketers like Angelo Matthews, the Pakistan Cricket Board was confident that Bangladesh Cricket Board [BCB] would send its team to Pakistan for three T20Is and two Test matches, scheduled to be played in January, next year.
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PCB Chief Ehsan Mani confirms no Pakistan player will feature in Asia XI

• Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) in a press release had confirmed that it will grace the birth centenary of ‘Bongobondhu’ Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founder of Bangladesh, by staging two T20 fixtures in March between the Asia XI and the World XI.
• While the world cricket body ICC has given official status to these games, the fans from all across the world are eagerly waiting to see both the teams go all guns blazing.
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Nobody asked me to leave the dressing room: Devang Gandhi on Bengal dressing room incident

• National selector Devang Gandhi, on Thursday, gave a clarification on the incident of him being ousted from the Bengal dressing room at the Eden Gardens. Devang was in attendance when the hosts were taking on Andhra.
• And he soon found himself all over the news after reports suggested that he was ejected from the dressing room for breaking the rules.
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