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Former USA wicketkeeper Rahul Kukreti passes away at age 43

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Photo credit: Usman Shuja/Umesh Kukreti Former USA wicketkeeper-batsman Rahul Kukreti (pictured second from left with former USA teammates Sushil Nadkarni, Aditya Thyagarajan and Usman Shuja), who represented the country in ICC tournament play from 2004 to 2008, has passed away at age 43 after a battle with a rare form of cancer. By Peter Della Penna (Twitter @PeterDellaPenna) Rahul Kukreti, who represented USA on two overseas tours between 2004 and 2008, has passed away at the age of 43. Kukreti, who lived in the Dallas, Texas area since migrating to the…

Rawlins sparks Bermuda to first win over USA since 2013

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Photo credit: Peter Della Penna Bermuda captain Terryn Fray celebrates after running out Monank Patel on a day when Fray led his side to a stunning upset of USA. By Peter Della Penna in Bermuda Sussex star allrounder Delray Rawlins made a spectacular return to his native Bermuda, top-scoring with 63 before taking 1 for 26 – including the prized scalp of Timroy Allen at the death – and two catches in a stunning all-round performance to help Bermuda upset USA by six runs at White Hill Field on Sunday…

Captain Karunaratne’s ton leads Sri Lanka to New Zealand Test win

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Galle (Sri Lanka) (AFP) – Captain Dimuth Karunaratne scored 122 as Sri Lanka chased down 268 for the loss of just four wickets to win the first Test against New Zealand at Galle on Sunday and take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. Karunaratne posted his ninth Test hundred along with enjoying a record-equalling opening partnership of 161 with Lahiru Thirimanne, who made 64, as Sri Lanka collected their first points of the World Test Championship. Former captain Angelo Mathews chipped in with an unbeaten 28 as Sri Lanka…

Sharjeel says sorry in bid to resurrect Pakistan career

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Lahore (Pakistan) (AFP) – Disgraced former Pakistan opener Sharjeel Khan took the first step towards resurrecting his career Monday by apologising for indulging in the spot-fixing in 2017 that earned him a five-year ban. The 30-year-old met with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) anti-corruption officials who directed him to undergo a rehabilitation programme, putting him on track to return to the sport. “I offer my unconditional apology to the PCB, my teammates, fans and family for the irresponsible conduct that brought embarrassment to everyone,” Sharjeel was quoted as saying in a…

Three things we learned from the second Ashes Test

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London (AFP) – The second Ashes Test between England and Australia that ended in a draw on Sunday may have been badly affected by rain but it still produced plenty of exciting cricket. AFP Sport looks at three things we learned from a fascinating clash that preserved Australia’s 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Archer lays down Test marker All teams want a genuinely fast bowler because speed can beat the reactions of even the best batsmen, especially if accompanied by late movement. Jofra Archer, on the ground where he…

VP Qamar happy with US Open prep

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MARGATE: FL/USA – Vice president of operations at Cricket Council USA (CCUSA), Sofian Qamar is happy with preparations for the upcoming US Open T20 tournament thus far. Qamar, who has been working tirelessly since the end of the last US Open to prepare for this year’s tournament has been looking at all aspects of hosting and is happy with the current status. “Work for the US Open T20 begins the next day after one ends. We have been working all the while and I am confident that we will have…

‘Groggy’ Smith out of second Ashes Test final day with concussion

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London (AFP) – Australia’s Steve Smith has been ruled out of the last day of the second Ashes Test with concussion against England at Lord’s, saying he felt “groggy” on Sunday morning. Smith was felled when a Jofra Archer bouncer struck his neck on Saturday. “I started to feel a little bit of a headache coming on last night as the adrenaline got out of my system but I was able to get a good night’s sleep in, but I woke up feeling a bit groggy and with a headache…

A team that refused to lose

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Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on a group that knew how to bounce back Winnipeg Hawks are the GT20 champions for 2019. The team that won two matches in the league stage; the team that sneaked into the Playoffs thanks to their Net Run-Rate; the team that won an eliminator that they had no business winning – and then pipped the most consistent team in a last-ball finish – clinched the climactic final in a Super Over. They were this close to being eliminated the league phase. Now they are champions. At times…

Cecil Pervez and a tense final over

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Cecil Pervez of Brampton Wolves celebrates the wicket of Tobias Visee of Vancouver Knights during match 14 of GT20 tournament, between Vancouver Knights and Brampton Wolves played at the CAA centre in Brampton, Ontario on 4th August 2019. Photo by: Pal Pillai /Focus Sports/ GT20

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Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on a bowler who both lost and won Winnipeg Hawks need 13 runs to enter the GT20 final. The man whom Brampton Wolves have picked to bowl that over is a 35-year-old medium-pacer who plays for Canada, Cecil Pervez. Cecil plays for the Shahid Afridi Cricket Club in Toronto. He was in high school when Afridi first played for Pakistan, when he reeled off that madcap hundred off 37 balls. For the next few years, Cecil “wanted to be Shahid Afridi”. He moved to Canada in 2000 and…

An “8”, an extra umpire, and intentional drops

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Ish Sodhi of Brampton Wolves receives an award from Dean Jones during the post match presentation after match 6 of GT20 tournament, between Edmonton Royals and Brampton Wolves played at the CAA centre in Brampton, Ontario on 28th July 2019. Photo by: Pal Pillai /Focus Sports/ GT20

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Dean Jones on the four big evolutions he wants to see in T20 By Siddhartha Vaidyanathan Dean Jones approached one-day cricket in the mid-’80s like many others would in the ’90s. He was one of the best when it came to running between the wickets, and he understood the importance of accelerating in the middle overs instead of sitting back and waiting for the last ten. He wore sunglasses to help him take catches when the ball disappeared in the glare of the sun. And he experimented with oval bat…