India’s men compound team clinch gold in Archery World Cup Stage-2
India’s men’s compound team won gold in the archery stage World Cup stage-2 in Shanghai on Saturday. India’s men’d team comprising Abhishek Verma, Ojas Deotale and young promising archer Rishabh Yadav delivered a perfect performance, defeating Mexico with a score of 232- 228 to ensure the gold medal in a thrilling encounter. In the women’s compound category Indian women, despite exhibiting a spirited show lost to Mexico and had to be content with a silver finally. Meanwhile Indian mixed team despite losing the match for reaching final, bounced back and secured a bronze medal trouncing Malaysia to make a podium finish. India have already won four medals in the Archery stage-1 world cup..
BCCI to wait for next few days before trying to resume IPL this may!
Amidst the rumors about resumption of the deferred IPL a new report by Cricbuzz has revealed that BCCI is committed to conducting the IPL in May and is on the watch-out for next three days. “We have suspended the league for one week. We are not looking beyond that at this stage,” a BCCI source on 9th May was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz. The source added, “We are serious about it. Watch out for the next three days.” The Cricbuzz report suggests that in case there is a ceasefire in the next few days, then BCCI will fast track the schedule of IPL with a few double headers. The availability of overseas players could be an issue during a resumed IPL, given most of these players have already departed for their country or are set to leave. Reportedly, BCCI will leave this matter to the franchises to handle. The Indian cricket board is not keen on cancelling the Bangladesh series in August to conduct the remaining leg of IPL, given that it would overlap with The Hundred (nine English players are part of IPL squads). Meanwhile, conducting the IPL in September would make it clash with the Caribbean Premier League (Eight West Indies players are currently in the IPL).
Malan predicts IPL will resume in September after the Test-series against England
Former England cricketer Dawid Malan predicts the remainder of the IPL can resume in September after the five-test series between India and England gets over. The ongoing Indian Premier League has been suspended due to tensions between India and Pakistan. However, this is not the first time IPL has been suspended mid-way through. During the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in 2021, the tournament was halted and resumed in September later in the year. Malan stated while speaking on Al Arabiya, “If it doesn’t happen in India or Sri Lanka in a week like that, I suppose they will start in September. They got a massive Test series coming up against England in a few months, and the IPL has to finish before that or start after that; logistically, it is quite a headache for the organizers. I guess they have to wait and see how next week plays out in terms of the safety concerns of players and people of both countries.” The five-match Test series is beginning on 20th June makes it one of the earliest starts for India in the English summer, with their last two Test tours mostly being played in the months of August. The five Tests will be played at Headingley, Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford and the Oval from 20th June to 4th August.
ECB says they are ready to host remainder of the IPL
The England Cricket Board (ECB) has agreed to host the remainder of the 18th season of the Indian Premier League in September, according to a report in The Guardian. The world’s most popular cricket league was suspended for a week on Friday amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan. Ahead of the league’s official cancellation, an IPL match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala on Thursday was called off as a precautionary measure. ECB chief executive Richard Gould has come forward and offered the BCCI his support if India fails to resume the IPL after a week-long suspension. The report goes on to say that there are currently no “active discussions” between the two boards. However, a similar offer was reportedly made by the ECB in 2021, when the IPL was suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the UAE eventually stepped in as the stand-in hosts. Meanwhile the former India captain, Sourav Ganguly is optimistic that BCCI will be able to complete the IPL despite it has been paused for a week. “I have seen today that the IPL is suspended for 7 days. The BCCI will complete this. They are efficient. During COVID, it was another emergency. I am sure the BCCI will complete it. A COVID-like situation is different. BCCI will work as per Indian government guidelines,” stated Ganguly while speaking to India Today.
Virat wants to retire from Test cricket also; BCCI reportedly asks him to rethink
Virat has told the BCCI that he wishes to retire from Test cricket ahead of the England Test series, but top officials have asked him to reconsider his decision! According to a report by The Indian Express, Kohli’s decision came just days after Rohit Sharma decided to retire from Test cricket. According to media reports, the selectors will be meeting in a few days to determine the squad for the five-match Test series against England, and if both Virat and Rohit are not available, they will have a huge task at hand. The report further claimed that Kohli has been contemplating retirement since the end of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where his disappointing show earned him a lot of criticism. “He has made up his mind and has informed the board that he is moving on from Test cricket. The BCCI has urged him to rethink as the crucial England tour is coming up. He is yet to revert on the request,” sources told the Indian Express. If Kohli doesn’t change his mind, and with Rohit out of the picture, it will leave India with a largely inexperienced middle-order to join forces with KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top, and Rishabh Pant later down the order. Besides, the team will be left without the guiding hands of two veterans who, between them, have led the Test team for nearly 11 years till now. Kohli became India’s Test captain in December 2014, followed by Rohit in February 2022.
