India name playing XI for WTC final vs New Zealand

India announced their playing XI for the World Test Championship (WTC) final to be played in Southampton from Friday.

India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah

Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha, Mohammad Siraj and Umesh Yadav are the four members of the 15-member squad who have missed out from the playing XI.

Shakib fined Tk5 lakhs, banned for three DPL matches

Ace all-rounder Shakib al Hasan has been suspended for three matches and fined Tk5 lakhs for two Level 3 breaches in the ongoing Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League Twenty20.

Shakib was found guilty of abusing the match officials and vandalizing equipment during the game between Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited and Abahani Ltd at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium Friday.

Mohammedan captain Shakib has been found guilty of breaching the Bangladesh Cricket Board's Code of Conduct twice, which the cricketer accepted.

“We were waiting for the report from the playing conditions team, which involves match referee and match umpires. Based on the report there were two incidents, one during an LBW appeal in over 4.6 where Shakib had kicked the stumps (after umpire said not out). Another incident is from over 5.5 where the umpires had called the covers because of the rain. Here Shakib had removed the wickets,” said Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis chairman and technical committee member Kazi Inam Ahmed to the media during a press conference Sa****ay.

“For the two offences he [Shakib] has breached Level 3 twice. Based on that, he has been sanctioned a three-game suspension and fined Tk5 lakhs. We did not require a hearing on this issue with Shakib as he has admitted to the breaches, agreed to the sanction and has signed the papers,” the BCB director added.

Brazilian players and staff criticize Copa America in a public letter

Brazilian national team players and staff published a letter on their social media accounts Wednesday criticizing the organization of the Copa America tournament, but ****uring they would still parti****te should the tournament go ahead.

The championship, South America's biggest international football tournament, is set to start on June 13 in Brazil.
"We are a cohesive group, but with different ideas. For various reasons, whether humanitarian or professional, we are dissatisfied with the conduct of the Copa America by CONMEBOL [South America's Football Confederation], whether it was hosted later in Chile or even in Brazil," the unsigned do****ent read.
"All recent facts lead us to believe in an inadequate process in its realization."
The team, however, stressed that "at no time" did they want "to make this a political discussion."
"We are against the organization of the Copa America, but we will never say no to the Brazilian team," the statement concluded.

ENG vs PAK series won’t air in Pakistan as Indian company holds rights: Minister

Pakistan federal minister for information Fawad Chaudhry revealed on Tuesday that the upcoming six white-ball matches between England and Pakistan will not be telecasted in Pakistan as an Indian company holds the broadcasting rights in South Asia.

Pakistan are scheduled to play three ODIs and three T20Is against England in July 2021. According to Chaudhry, business with Indian companies will be conducted only after the Government of India revokes the decision taken on August 5, 2019.

It may be recalled here that India on the aforementioned date had revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and p****ed legislation to split it into two Union Territories.

British PM Boris Johnson wants ECB to reconsider Ollie Robinson suspension for racist tweets

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesperson on Monday said the PM is “supportive” of the culture secretary’s view that England and Wales Cricket Board should reconsider the suspension of pacer Ollie Robinson for posting racist and ****ist tweets back in 2012.

Oliver Dowden, the UK government’s secretary for culture, sports, digital and media, said the ECB has gone “over the top” in its punishment of Robinson.