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West Indies batsmen must start strongly, says Simmons

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“West Indies coach Phil Simmons. ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – West Indies coach Phil Simmons said his batsmen must hit the ground running in England to give of a first-class game, in the run-up to the first Test, which starts in Southampton on July 8. The West Indies attack features Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel and captain Jason Holder, with Alzarri Joseph — tipped by Simmons to be a “big hit” also in the squad. But their batsmen have struggled to build big totals in recent years. The West Indies beat England…

Giles confident Pakistan’s England tour will go ahead despite positive virus tests

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“England cricket team chief Ashley Giles. ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – England managing director Ashley Giles believes Pakistan’s tour in August will go ahead even though three Pakistani cricketers have tested positive for coronavirus. The Pakistan Cricket Board announced on Monday that leg-spinner Shadab Khan, fast bowler Haris Rauf and teenage batsman Haider Ali had tested positive for COVID-19 despite showing no symptoms and would now go into self-isolation. Pakistan are due to play three Tests and three Twenty20 internationals against England, starting in August. More virus results from the…

SECOND update on Covid-19 tests

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COURTESY BY: https://www.pcb.com.pk/ Lahore, 23 June 2020: Following the announcement yesterday that three players had tested positive for Covid-19, the Pakistan Cricket Board on Tuesday confirmed that a further seven players and a player support personnel from a total of 35 have tested positive for Covid-19. The PCB had organised these 35 tests in Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar on Monday. Players who have tested positive are: Fakhar Zaman, Imran Khan, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan and Wahab Riaz Player who have tested negative are: Abid Ali, Asad…

Don’t ‘poke the bear’ – Warner says Aussies shouldn’t sledge Kohli

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“Virat Kohli will lead India in their tour of Australia this year. ©AFP” /> New Delhi (AFP) – Australia’s David Warner has warned against sledging Virat Kohli when India tour Australia this year, saying “trying to poke the bear” will only make the star batsman play better. As cricket slowly gets back into action after coronavirus suspensions, India are slated to tour Australia for four Test matches in December-January in what is set to be a highlight of the year. Warner, a lynchpin of Australia’s batting attack, said he is looking…

Pakistan bowler Irfan confirms he is ‘well’ after rumours of death

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“Irfan (L) is the tallest man to play international cricket. ©AFP” /> Islamabad (AFP) – Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Irfan had to confirm that rumours of his death spreading on social media were “fake news” on Sunday. The 38-year-old, known for being the tallest person to play first-class cricket at 7ft 1in (2.16 m), said false reports saying he had been in a car accident were “baseless”. “Some social media outlets have been spreading a baseless fake news about my death in a car accident,” Irfan wrote on Twitter. “This…

Former Bangladesh captain Mashrafe tests positive for virus

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“Mashrafe Mortaza (pictured during a 2019 Cricket World Cup match against the West Indies) and two other players have tested positive for the coronavirus. ©AFP” Dhaka (AFP) – Former Bangladesh cricket captain Mashrafe Mortaza and two other players said they have tested positive for the coronavirus as infections in the South Asian nation rise. Left-arm spinner Nazmul Islam and former opener Nafees Iqbal were the other two who revealed their positive test results. Mashrafe, who stepped down as the one-day international captain in March but remains available for selection, announced…

Army top brass reviews LAC situation amid tensions with China

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COURTESY BY: https://www.hindustantimes.com/ The army’s top brass on Monday made a detailed assessment of the ground situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, where Indian and Chinese forces have significantly beefed up their deployments in the extended region on both sides of the contested border, two senior officers said on the condition of anonymity. The developments along the LAC and the army’s operational readiness to handle any situation were discussed in detail at the army commanders’ conference, chaired by army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane, the first officer…

‘No restrictions on using firearms’: India gives soldiers freedom along LAC in extraordinary times

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COURTESY BY: https://www.hindustantimes.com/ A significant change in Rules of Engagement (ROE) by the Indian Army following the Galwan Valley skirmish that left 20 Indian soldiers dead gives “complete freedom of action” to commanders deployed along the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC) to “handle situations at the tactical level,” two senior officers said on Saturday on condition of anonymity. The commanders will no longer be bound by restrictions on the use of firearms and will have full authority to respond to “extraordinary situations” using all resources at their disposal, said one of…

China unveils new security law for Hong Kong, will supersede local laws

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COURTESY BY: https://www.hindustantimes.com/ China on Saturday unveiled details of the controversial new security law for Hong Kong amid international criticism that it will corrode the wide-ranging freedoms enjoyed by residents of the global financial hub. Details of the new law as listed by official news agency, Xinhua, includes setting up of a national security office for Hong Kong to handle crimes against national security. The local government must establish new institutions to protect national security and allow mainland agencies to operate in the city “when needed”. Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s…

Tayyip Erdogan says Turkey lost ground in coronavirus fight

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COURTESY BY: https://www.hindustantimes.com/ President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday Turkey had lost some ground in its battle with the coronavirus but a focus on hygiene, masks and social distancing will protect people and help the economy rebound in the second half of the year. This month, Ankara opened restaurants and cafes and lifted weekend stay-home orders and most intercity travel bans. But since June 1 new Covid-19 cases have doubled to nearly 1,600 per day, raising concerns of a re-emergence. “The numbers in recent days show that we have lost…