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

Rift stories won’t stop, but Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will step out to win matches for India: Sunil Gavaskar

• Over the past few days, especially after India’s exit from the World Cup, there have been rumours surrounding the alleged rift between Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
• Following the mega event where the Men in Blow couldn’t progress beyond the semis, it was learned that the team has been divided into two figments, one supporting Virat, the skipper, and the other in favour of Rohit.
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Ekana Stadium in Lucknow allotted as Afghanistan’s new home ground

• The Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) has now allotted the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow as the new home ground of Afghanistan.
• The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has helped their cricket over a number of instances. Previously, the Afghans had a couple of more home venues in India.
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India cricketers will be tested by National Anti-Doping Agency

• Over the last few days, there has been a lot of commotion after Prithvi Shaw was handed over the backdated eight-month suspension.
• The youngster was found guilty of ingesting a prohibited substance, Terbutaline, which is generally found in cough syrups.
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Sri Lanka vs New Zealand: Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews recalled for first Test

• Earlier the board named a 22-man preliminary squad for the series. Meanwhile, the likes of Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal have earned Test recalls.
• Chandimal last played in the format against Australia and then was left out for the series versus South Africa due to poor form.
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Ramiz Raja surprised by Mohammad Hasnain’s exclusion from Pakistan’s central contract

• The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday announced the central contracts for the 2019-20 season.
• Previously, there were 33 players in the contract, which has now been pruned to only 19.
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IPL: Brendon McCullum set to become Kolkata Knight Riders assistant coach

• He is set to return to the Knight Riders setup, this time as the assistant coach.
• Head coach Jacques Kallis also left the Dinesh Karthik-led team after joining KKR as a player in 2011.
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Ashes 2019: Graeme Swann wants England to drop Moeen Ali for the Lord’s Test

• After the highs of the World Cup, England have found themselves 0-1 down in the ongoing Ashes series.
• Australia looked well prepared in the series opener at Edgbaston and won the game by a mammoth 251 runs.
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I always looked to leave Dale Steyn’s bouncers because it was never in my control: Rahul Dravid

• Then came Dale Steyn, who wreaked havoc and created chaos with his whirlwind pace, aggression and perfect length deliveries.
• Dravid played Steyn for some handful Test matches and the former had to face the heat created but the Proteas pace beast.
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