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

ICC assures BCCI of taking all measures to address security concerns at the World Cup

• While the tension between India and Pakistan escalated with the Indian Air Force conducting a strike on terror camps across the LoC, effects were also seen in cricket.
• On Wednesday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) assured the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that it ‘will do’ everything that addresses India’s security concerns during the upcoming World Cup in May-July following the Pulwama terror attack of February 14.
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I deserve chances more consistently: Ajinkya Rahane

• While Ajinkya Rahane continues to be one of India’s most important batsmen in Test cricket, the same cannot be said about him when it comes to One-Day Internationals and T20 Internationals.
• The Test vice-captain has fallen down the pecking order in ODIs as well as T20Is.
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Sir Alastair Cook refuses to rule out England Test return

• Sir Alastair Cook received his knighthood from The Queen at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday for his remarkable services to the game.
• Cook became the first England cricketer to receive a knighthood since Sir Ian Botham in 2007 and the first since New Zealand’s Sir Richard Hadlee in 1990 to do so while being an active player.
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No regrets over retiring at 33: former South Africa captain Graeme Smith

• One of the game’s longest serving captains, former South Africa batsman Graeme Smith feels he could have continued playing for a few more years but doesn’t regret his decision to retire at the age of 33 five years ago.
• Smith, who took over the captaincy of the Proteas at the age of 22, excelled both in the roles of the captain and batsman.
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Mahela Jayawardene reacts to ICC banning Sanath Jayasuriya for two years

• Former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya has been handed a ban of two years by the International Cricket Council (ICC) from all forms of activities related to cricket for breaching two counts of its Anti-Corruption Code (ACC).
• Although the 49-year-old claimed innocence in the matter, another former Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene asked: “why not cooperate?”
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India took Australia lightly in first T20I and paid price, feels Sunil Gavaskar

• India disappointed in the first home assignment of the year on Sunday when Australia shocked them with a three-wicket win in the first T20I in Visakhapatnam.
• The loss in the first of the two matches means India will not be able to win the series and can look to redeem some pride by drawing the series in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
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CSA not happy with Duanne Olivier signing Kolpak deal with Yorkshire

• The cricketing fraternity was literally stunned after South Africa’s fast bowler Duanne Olivier signed a Kolpak deal with Yorkshire on Tuesday.
• He was the major reason for the team’s success recently against Pakistan and was also in line to make it to the World Cup squad.
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Kusal Mendis will end up as the classy player in world cricket: Steve Rixon

• Sri Lanka stunned South Africa in their own backyard in the recently concluded two-match Test series.
• If Kusal Perera was the hero to scrip the unlikeliest win for the Islanders in the series opener, it was a comprehensive show against all the odds from the visitors in the second match to seal the contest 2-0.
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World Cup 2019: PCB prepared with a counter if BCCI decides to boycott the India-Pakistan game

• The tensions are soaring between India and Pakistan ever since the Pulwama attack has taken place on February.
• The IAF attack on the terrorist camp in the wee hours of February 26 in response has led to Pakistan also thinking of responding now.
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Moeen Ali rested for Windies T20Is ahead of IPL, Sam Curran named replacement

• England are bracing up for one of their most important summers in recent years and are making sure that their main players remain fit and sound for the gruelling season.
• England will host this year’s World Cup, where they are one of the favourites to win the title, before they take on arch-rivals Australia in the all-important Ashes.
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