Hooda to play for Rajasthan
Deepak Hooda has decided to shift his base to Rajasthan for the upcoming domestic season. He was suspended by Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) for leaving the bio-bubble after his fallout with Krunal Pandya.
Hooda alleged that he was frequently ‘bullied’ by Pandya. BCA secretary Ajay Lele confirmed that Hooda has already been granted a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the board.
Hooda featured in 46 First-class and 68 List A matches for Baroda since 2013. Former Baroda and India cricketer Irfan Pathan termed this move ‘utterly disappointing’ for the board.
How many cricket association will loose out on a player who is in the Indian team probables list? Deepak Hooda leaving baroda cricket is a huge loss. He could have easily given his services for another ten years as he is still young. As a Barodian It’s utterly disappointing!
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) July 15, 2021
Bracey, Hameed named in County Select XI against India
England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed the 14-member County Select XI that will be taking on India in a three-day practice match in Durham. Warwickshire captain Will Rhodes will lead the side.
Haseeb Hameed, who had played against India on England’s 2016/17 tour, has been rewarded for his impressive campaign with Nottinghamshire. Gloucestershire’s James Bracey has also been called up.
County Select XI squad: Will Rhodes, Rehan Ahmed, Tom Aspinwall, Ethan Bamber, James Bracey, Craig Miles, Liam Patterson-White, James Rew, Rob Yates, Jack Carson, Zak Chappell, Haseeb Hameed, Lyndon James, Jake Libby,
Pant tests positive for Covid-19
Rishabh Pant has tested positive for the coronavirus. He is under self-isolation and will not travel with the squad to Durham for a three-day practice match.
The Indian contingent was on a 21-day break following the World Test Championship final. Pant was present in Wembley Stadium for a Euro 2020 match. He will join the squad only after returning two negative RT-PCR tests.
The BCCI issued an official statement, as per which Pant is asymptomatic and near the completion of his mandatory quarantine. Apart from Pant, Dayanand Garani, a net bowler, also tested positive.
Rameez slams Pakistan after 3-0 loss to England
Rameez Raja lambasted the Pakistan cricket team for getting whitewashed by a depleted English side in the ODI series. Rameez questioned the mental fortitude of the squad after losing three successive matches.
‘An extremely painful and tough day for Pakistan cricket and its fans. The team has been whitewashed by a B-Grade England team. I’m not surprised by the results because it was on the cards,’ stated Raja on his YouTube channel.
Danish Kaneria and Shoaib Akhtar lashed out at the team team. Kaneria asked why they were playing if they could neither bat nor bowl properly, while Akhtar remarked that the board has failed in their duty.
Peter Wynne-Thomas passes away
Redoubtable cricket historian Peter Wynne-Thomas passed away in Nottingham, two weeks before his 87th birthday. A cricket writer, historian, and statistician, Wynne-Thomas had worked as archivist and librarian for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. He was a regular presence at Trent Bridge, particularly at the Wynne-Thomas Library named after him.
His most famous works include Give Me Arthur: A Biography of Arthur Shrewsbury, Sir Julian Cahn’s Team 1923-1941, William Clarke: The Old General; and Arthur Carr: The Rise and Fall of Nottinghamshire’s Bodyline Captain.