March 2024 news tidbits that you might have missed otherwise…
March 18
NZ Women request Plimmer and Greig to fill in for them
Mikaela Greig and Georgia Plimmer have been called up by New Zealand Women to fill in for Sophie Devine and Melie Kerr, who are both ruled out of the opening Twenty20 International match against England due to WPL.
“Mikaela has been impressive for the Central Hinds all summer and deserves an opportunity to join the group for the first time,” stated Ben Sawyer, head coach of the team. We think she can make an impact if chosen for the starting XI tomorrow since she has demonstrated this season that she has the strength and hitting skills that are crucial in T20 cricket.”
Following tomorrow’s game, Plimmer and Greig will stay in Dunedin. On Thursday, they will reunite with the New Zealand A one-day team in preparation for Saturday’s first 50-over match against England A at University of Otago Oval.
Melie Kerr and Sophie Devine will train with the national team on Wednesday in preparation for Friday’s second Twenty20 International match against England at Saxton Oval.
Greig comes on board
March 17
Kerr and Devine will miss England’s first T20I
The inaugural Twenty20 International between New Zealand and England at the University of Otago Oval will be without Amelia Kerr and Sophie Devine. Although Kerr’s Mumbai Indians have already been eliminated, she won’t be able to return home in time for the opening game of the series due to travel issues. The WPL final between Devine’s RCB and the other teams is scheduled for March 17. She is anticipated to play in the second game of the series and will leave India right after the championship. Following their T20 match against England A, Georgia Plimmer has been called in as a replacement player, and one more player will be selected from the A squad.
Out of the last ODI is Tanzim Sakib
Before the third ODI against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh suffered a severe setback as their pacer Tanzim Sakib was ruled out due to a hamstring injury in his right leg.
“The physiotherapist has informed us that he will not be able to participate in the series’ final game. BCB head selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain told reporters on Sunday, “We are currently debating whether or not to bring in a replacement.
Tanzim was hurt in the opening match of the series when he left the field after bowling 8.4 overs, but he returned to the field and claimed three wickets. He bowled 10 overs for 65 runs and claimed one wicket in the second game of the series.
Tanzim and his teammates arrived for the practice on Sunday, March 17, when they warmed up and bowled in the nets. He is known to have had an injury while bowling in the nets.
After the home team won the first game of the series by taking six wickets, Sri Lanka tied the series with a three-wicket victory in the second game.
March 16
Litton was benched for Sri Lanka’s third ODI.
Litton Das has been left out of the 15-man team for the third ODI against Sri Lanka, according to BCB. The decision was made in response to Litton’s recent struggles in white-ball cricket. In the first two One-Day Internationals in the series, he was removed for ducks. In lieu of Litton, uncapped wicketkeeper-batsman Jaker Ali Anik has been added to the team. The National Selection Panel Chairman, Gazi Ashraf Hossain, stated, “We believe Jaker Ali’s addition will provide the team more options and flexibility in the middle order, especially with the series now hanging in the balance.” “Considering Litton’s recent performance in white-ball cricket, we opted for this change, mindful of the availability of two other capable openers within the squad.”
Australia’s ODI team for Bangladesh’s women has been announced.
The Bangladesh team will be captained by Nigar Sultana for the three-match ODI series against Australia, which gets underway in Mirpur on March 21.
Farzana Haque, keeper-batter, uncapped While Sanjida Akter and Shamima Sultana were unable to hold onto their positions, Lisa made a cut.
Captain Nigar Sultana Joty, Vice Captain Nahida Akter, Farzana Hoque Pinky, Fahima Khatun, Marufa Akter, Sumaiya Akter, Nishita Akter Nishi, Ritu Moni, Rabeya, Sultana Khatun, Fahima Khatun, Sobhana Mostary, Shorna Akter, and Ritu Moni Lisa
Lata Mondol, Shorifa Khatun, and Fariha Islam Trisna are ready.
T20Is will see Zimbabwe travel to Bangladesh.
Zimbabwe will play five Twenty20 Internationals against Bangladesh in May of this year. Arriving on April 28 is Zimbabwe, and the series is scheduled to start on May 3. The teams will play their first three games in Chattogram and their final two games in Mirpur. Two Test matches between the two sides were also planned, but those have been pushed back until 2025.
March 15
South Africa women’s team for their home T20I series against Sri Lanka is announced.
The fifteen players in the team for the forthcoming T20I home series against Sri Lanka have been released by Cricket South Africa (CSA). Karabo Meso, 16, a wicketkeeper batter who is uncapped, is one of the three players who have changed from the team’s last assignment in the shortest format. The team, which is captained by Laura Wolvaardt, will also welcome back Annerie Dercksen and Tumi Sekhukhune, who have both recovered from their injuries. Meso’s participation stems from her outstanding performance at the U19 Women’s World Cup held in her own country last year. Three ODIs that are a part of the ICC Women’s Championship will take place after the three-match T20Is.
March 13
Shami offers a heel surgery update.
Mohammed Shami has given an update on his surgery after it was determined that he will miss the 2024 Indian Premier League due to problems with his right heel:
“Hi to all of you! The pacer wrote on X, “I wanted to give you an update on my rehabilitation status. “My operation was fifteen days ago, and my sutures were just taken out. I look forward to the next phase of my healing journey and am grateful for the progress I have made.”
Du Plessis and Rashid will return for MLC 2024.
A wide array of elite athletes have committed to play in the second season of Major League Cricket in the United States in 2024, including Rashid Khan of MI New York and Faf du Plessis of the Texas Super Kings.
Star players Marco Jansen (Washington Freedom), Quinton de Kock (Seattle Orcas), Haris Rauf (San Francisco Unicorns), and Sunil Narine (LA Knight Riders) are among those who have also been confirmed to return.
After a thrilling final match between MI New York and the Seattle Orcas, the maiden season of MLC was won. Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Grand Prairie will host games again in 2024, in addition to other locations that will be announced later.
March 11
The English are stuck in Dharamsala
The England team is still in Dharamsala and is expected to return home on Tuesday evening. Their departure was originally scheduled for Tuesday, when the fifth Test ended in the scenic hill state of Himachal Pradesh. But the Test ended two days earlier than expected. Stokes’ men will leave Dharamsala on Tuesday afternoon for Delhi, where they will board an aircraft to London, according to information supplied by people arranging their journey. Tuesday night at nine o’clock is when they are expected to leave Delhi.
A number of the Indian team’s players are also stranded in Dharamsala in the interim. It is anticipated that Sarfaraz Khan, Mukesh Kumar, and Akash Deep will journey to Delhi this afternoon alongside the England team, after which they will separate to their own locations.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar, coach Rahul Dravid, and captain Rohit Sharma are just a few of the experienced players who have already left for home. Agarkar was seen watching the present Ranji Trophy final between Mumbai and Vidarbha on Monday afternoon at the Wankhede.
March 10
The ICC penalized Towhid for violating the rules of conduct.
After violating the ICC code of conduct, Towhid Hridoy of Bangladesh was assessed one demerit point and fined fifteen percent of his match fee. He was deemed to have behaved in a way that went against the spirit of the game, in violation of code 2.20 of the ICC code of conduct for players and support personnel.
The event occurred in Sylhet on March 9 during the fourth over of Bangladesh’s innings in the third Twenty20 International match versus Sri Lanka. After being dismissed, Towhid walked back towards the pavilion and angrily and inappropriately argued with the Sri Lankan players, according to an ICC release.
The accusation against Towhid was made by onfield umpires Sharfuddoula Saikat and Tanvir Ahmed, third umpire Gazi Sohel, and fourth umpire Masudur Rahman. Towhid agreed to the penalty suggested by match referee Andy Pycroft.
March 9
As the first bowler to reach 700 Test wickets, Anderson
In Test cricket, James Anderson became the first fast bowler to reach 700 wickets on Saturday, March 9. Reaching the landmark, the English seamen had Kuldeep Yadav caught off guard during an away-going delivery. In his 187th Test, the Burnley seamer—who made his Test debut in 2003—reached the milestone.
Currently, he is ranked third among all wicket-takers, with only Shane Warne (799) and Muttiah Muralitharan (800) ahead of him. Before retiring, Stuart Broad, the second-highest wicket-taker among pacers, amassed 604 wickets. With 379 wickets in 100 Test matches, Tim Southee of New Zealand is the closest pacer on this list among active cricket players.
8 March
For Sri Lanka, that phase has concluded. Halangoda on the dispute regarding umpiring
As they get ready to play Bangladesh in the series-deciding match at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on March 9, Sri Lanka’s team manager Mahinda Halangoda said on Friday that his team has moved past the contentious umpiring call against them in the second game and is waiting for the ICC to investigate the situation.
After the second game ended in a loss, Sri Lankan assistant coach Naveed Nawaz declared they will appeal the issue to the match referee because they believed Soumya Sarkar had been caught behind. However, TV umpire Masudur Rahman overturned the ruling at the SICS on March 6.
“I think we have moved on from what had happened in that match, we can’t undo it and there is a report being sent about umpires after every game,” Halangoda stated. “We have followed protocol, and whatever needs to be done needs to be done. The ICC will undoubtedly review the video and take necessary action. That episode is over for us. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has till to respond to us; nonetheless, I’m convinced they’ll investigate the events and take appropriate action. From our end, we have taken the necessary actions.”
March 6
Dates for Sri Lankan women’s white-ball trip of South Africa are set.
Beginning at the tail end of March, Sri Lanka will embark on a limited-overs tour of South Africa. Three T20Is and an equal number of ODIs will precede and follow the tour. The 50-over matches are a component of the ICC Women’s Championship, in which South Africa is presently ranked second, just behind Australia, the reigning global champions. Sri Lanka, however, remain mired two places above Ireland in the bottom part of the league.
Timetable
| DATE | MATCH | TIME | VENUE |
| 27th March 24 | 1st T20I | Night | Willowmoore Park, Benoni |
| 30th March 24 | 2nd T20I | Day | JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom |
| 3rd April 24 | 3rd T20I | Night | Buffalo Park Cricket Stadium, East London |
| 09th April 24 | 1st ODI | Day Night | Buffalo Park Cricket Stadium, East London |
| 13th April 24 | 2nd ODI | Day Night | Kimberley Oval, Kimberley |
| 17th April 24 | 3rd ODI | Day Night | JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom |
March 1
Out of the Bangladesh T20I series is Kusal Perera
After being sidelined by a respiratory virus, Kusal Perera did not travel to Bangladesh with the team. As a result, the Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed that he will miss the series. “Niroshan Dickwella has been selected by the Cricket Selection Committee to replace Kusal Janith Perera. Dickwella is scheduled to join the team tomorrow,” the board added.
