ICC prez Abbas wants Pakistan players in IPL

Karachi, May 25 

International Cricket Council president Zaheer Abbas has said that he would ask the BCCI top brass to consider having Pakistani players in the IPL. Abbas, a former Pakistan skipper, will be in India on the invitation of BCCI president Anurag Thakur to watch the IPL final in Bengaluru on Sunday. 

Abbas said if Pakistani players were picked for the IPL, “it would raise the importance and status of the league”. Abbas also called for the revival of the bilateral ties between Pakistan and India. He said everyone wanted to see Pakistan and India play against each other as it’s the most-watched cricket contest in the world. “I think all hurdles in the way of having a bilateral series should be removed,” he said.

Arjun Tendulkar makes it to U-16 West Zone squad      

Mumbai: Sachin Tendulkar’s son Arjun Tendulkar is now part of the Under-16 West Zone squad for the inter-zonal tournament which will be played at Hubli, Karnataka, from May 24.  Snehal Parikh, the secretary of the Baroda Cricket Association, said the team was selected by the All India Junior Selection Committee.  

Selectors must keep an eye on Kuldeep: Gavaskar      

Former captain Sunil Gavaskar is impressed with chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav and wants the Indian selectors to keep an eye on the young spinner. Playing for Kolkata Knight Riders, the young spinner has turned in quite a few impressive performances in the last few outings. “He has been quite impressive and my honest advice to the Indian selectors will be to keep an eye on this young man,” said Gavaskar. “And the fact that he is a different kind of bowler, you have got to be a little patient with him,” said the former India skipper.

Stokes devastated on missing Sri Lanka series 

London: England all-rounder Ben Stokes has said he is “devastated” to miss out on the rest of the Test cricket series against Sri Lanka after undergoing a knee operation. The 24-year-old has been sidelined for six weeks. He injured himself while bowling in the first Test which England won by an innings and 88 runs. Stokes will miss the remaining two Tests, five One-Day Internationals and T20 International against Sri Lanka.

Great honour and privilege to be in IPL final: AB

Bengaluru: AB de Villiers has played in very few finals and he feels “honoured and privileged” to be featuring in the IPL summit clash “this season”.  “To be in the IPL final means much to me; I have not played in a lot of finals throughout my career,” said de Villiers. “It is a great honour and privilege.” 

“Lots of people were saying we were under-performing but a moment like this makes things worthwhile. Hopefully we will win this time,” he added.

Talking about the stunning win in the first qualifier, de Villiers said, “Dhawal Kulkarni bowled a fantastic spell, he had put the game in Lions’ pocket. But like Zaheer Khan always tells me, it is a funny little game and you are never out of it.” — Agencies