April 13
In an over, Dipendra Airee smashes six sixes.
In a T20I at Al Ameerat on Saturday, Nepali batsman Dipendra Singh Airee once again etched his name in history by smashing six sixes off Qatari medium pacer Kamran Khan. Airee became the third batter in the format to accomplish this feat, after Kieron Pollard (off Akila Dananjaya) and Yuvraj Singh (off Stuart Broad).
In an Asian Games match against Mongolia in October of last year, Airee made headlines when he smashed a 9-ball half-century. Yuvraj’s long-standing T20I record of scoring 50 runs in 12 balls was destroyed in that innings. Yuvraj had, incidentally, struck his six sixes in the same innings.
April 8
Mahmud no longer wants to play on the national squad.
Khaled Mahmud, the former director of the Bangladeshi squad, has expressed his desire to not rejoin the national team due to mistreatment during the 2023 World Cup. Mahmud said he was prohibited from offering any technical or cricket-related advice during the competition. His responsibilities were restricted to travelling with the squad and upholding discipline, especially after BCB appointed Sridharan Sriram as their technical consultant just before the World Cup.
“I think I’m no longer the answer. There are so many well-paid major coaches that have arrived. I believe it would be best for me to avoid being among them. I’m not the boy I was in my twenties anymore. I have to maintain my dignity. “I respectfully ask that Papon bhai (Nazmul Hassan, the president of the BCB) not ask me to do any work pertaining to the national team,” Mahmud said.
“I refuse to call it an insult. I enjoy playing cricket. There’s no use putting me in that capacity if my work changes after working at a certain position and doing so many trips. If I can’t complete the task correctly, why should I? I don’t travel with the Bangladeshi squad. I’d prefer not to be part of the tour group. I have travelled abroad quite a bit, but I don’t want to go there anymore. I believe I am done with this. I don’t care that Hathurusingha is the world’s greatest coach. In Bangladesh, I’m well respected, and I’m highly respected by cricketers. He remarked, “I don’t want to lose that respect.”
“I believe that I am no longer the answer for Bangladeshi cricket. Bangladesh offers considerably more superior remedies. I have no interest in accepting any of the national team’s responsibilities. I feel that my actions at the most recent world cup are not consistent with my cricket career. Perhaps my coaching skills are lacking and my knowledge of cricket is limited. Even yet, I believe I should be respected. During the last World Cup, I didn’t receive that respect. Thus, I’m done wanting to accomplish the task,” he declared.
Bangladesh’s World Cup performance was the worst it has had since 2003; they only managed to win two of their nine league games and ended eighth in the 10-team competition held in India. Prior to this, Bangladesh has won three games in the 2007–2011, 2015–2019 World Cups.
Australian Women’s Team Central Contracts List Announced by CA
A list of 17 centrally contracted women players has been released by Cricket Australia for the 2024–25 season, which is jam-packed with major competitions including the Ashes and the T20 World Cup.
Sophie Molineux’s presence on the contract list, which demonstrates her resolute comeback to international cricket, is one of its highlights. Molineux’s place on the esteemed list was guaranteed by her outstanding achievements during Australia’s most recent tour of Bangladesh. After signing a contract in 2018, the left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder endured setbacks from ailments, including a significant foot injury in 2022 and an ACL tear last year.
Cricket Australia has announced a 17-player list of centrally contracted women players for the 2024-25 season, which is packed with big tournaments like the T20 World Cup and the Ashes.
Among the highlights of the contract list is the inclusion of Sophie Molineux, marking her emphatic return to international cricket. Molineux’s stellar performances during Australia’s recent tour of Bangladesh secured her spot on the prestigious list. The left-arm spin-bowling allrounder, who had previously secured a contract in 2018, faced setbacks due to injuries, including a major foot injury in 2022 and a ruptured ACL last year.
The contractual list no longer includes Meg Lanning, who is retired at this time.
“After Soph’s successful return to the team this summer, we’re really happy to be able to offer her a contract,” stated Shawn Flegler, Head of Performance and National Selector for Cricket Australia.
She’s exhibited incredible tenacity in returning to optimal condition, and she’ll be crucial come summertime.
“We feel the list features a great deal of depth and a variety of skillsets that will come into play throughout the various series scheduled for 2024-25, including the T20 World Cup and multi-format Ashes series.”
A total of 12 upgrade points may be earned by players who were not selected for contracts during the year; five points are given for participating in a Test match and two points for participating in an ODI or T20I.
April 6
Maroof and Fatima are slightly hurt in an automobile accident.
In a vehicle accident on Friday night, legspinner Ghulam Fatima and former Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof both sustained minor injuries. The Pakistan Cricket Board said on Saturday that the two players were given prompt first aid and are now in the hands of the PCB medical staff.
In preparation for the next series against the West Indies, which is scheduled to start on April 18, both players are attending a training camp as members of the probables.
April 4
Mair will not play in the ODI series vs England.
Rosemary Mair of New Zealand will miss the rest of the ODI series against England because of a back issue. In Mair’s stead, Molly Penfold has been called up to the squad.
She was ruled out of the first ODI after experiencing back pain while training in Wellington last week, according to a media statement from New Zealand Cricket. It was decided that she would go home and start her recovery after she went with the squad for the next game but was unable to train because of her injury.
33-year-old Kaia Arua dies away
The former captain of the PNG women’s team, Kaia Arua, passed suddenly on Thursday, April 4. Arua, an all-rounder with left-arm spin, played in 47 Twenty20 Internationals for the Philippines. With her left-arm spin, she scored 347 runs at an average of 22.73 and took 59 wickets at an average of 10.20, including two fifers. Of these 39 games, the all-rounder captained PNG and won 29 games as captain.
Arua didn’t play in an international match for seven years after earning her PNG debut in 2010. She led her team to victory in the competition and qualification for the 2019 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier and the 2021 Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier. She was selected PNG’s full-time captain for the 2019 East Asia-Pacific T20 World Cup Qualifier.
April 2
Chandimal cancels his second test owing to an urgent family matter.
Due to a family medical issue, middle order batter Dinesh Chandimal of Sri Lanka left midway through the second Test match against Bangladesh at Chattogram and went home.
“Chandimal departed the team hotel this morning in order to go to the airport in time for his afternoon departure. He is returning home due to a family issue, a Sri Lankan liaison official told Cricbuzz on Tuesday.
In the first innings of the second Test, Chandimal amassed 59 runs off 104 balls, whereas he managed just seven runs in the second innings.
With 510 runs to lead when they declare for the second Test, Sri Lanka is well-positioned. The first Test of the two-match series, which is a part of the ICC Test Championship, was won by the visitors.
