Let’s take a look at some important news from the world of cricket dated 22 June.
Younis parts way with PCB as batting coach
Younis Khan has prematurely terminated his contract with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as a batting coach for the senior men’s team, only six months after his appointment.
Younis had joined head coach Misbah-ul-Haq just before Pakistan’s tour to England last year. He had replaced Grant Flower, who worked in the same capacity for more than five years.
Pakistan will be without a batting coach when they tour England later this month for three ODIs and as many T20Is. Following that, Babar Azam’s side will be travelling to West Indies for another multi-format assignment.
England Women announce 16-member squad for India series
England Women have confirmed their 16-member squad for an upcoming three-match ODI series against India. The sides had featured in a one-off Test in Bristol that ended in a draw.
Sophia Dunkley, who impressed with an unbeaten 74 on her Test debut, has made a cut. Danni Wyatt has been axed after a series of ordinary performance against New Zealand. Georgia Elwiss is another notable exclusion.
England Women squad: Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Tash Farrant, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Nat Sciver, Emily Arlott, Tammy Beaumont, Anya Shrubsole, Mady Villiers, Fran Wilson, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Heather Knight Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Freya Davies
Kohli, Pujara see off tricky phase, India finish Day 5 on 64/2
Tim Southee struck twice, removing both Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, before Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli did well to survive testing conditions before stumps on Day 2. India dragged their lead to 32 runs after finishing the day on 64/2.
Earlier, Mohammed Shami put on a stellar display of fast bowling to skittle the Kiwi out for 249. Shami, probing in his line and length, finished with four wickets.
Ishant Sharma claimed three wickets, while R Ashwin got the better of Neil Wagner to pick his second wicket. Kane Williamson was unlucky to miss out on a fifty by one run. His hard-fought innings came to an end when Ishant had him caught by Kohli.
Boucher elated over South Africa’s Test series win in West Indies
South Africa head coach Mark Boucher is elated over his side’s all-round dominance in the recently concluded two-Test series against West Indies. They won the two Test matches by an innings and 168 runs, and 158 runs, to clinch the series 2-0.
South Africa have been hit by a host of high-profile departures in the last few years. Just the Test cricket list includes Dale Steyn, AB de Villiers, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander, Hashim Amla, and Faf du Plessis.
This was Dean Elgar’s first Test series as a full-time captain. Boucher said the whole unit had worked hard to reclaim its position among the pinnacles of cricket: ‘It’s not a relief. There’s been a lot of hard work that’s been done behind the scenes. When you have got a young team, the best place for them to learn to play cricket is in foreign conditions.’