Latest news with #CaribbeanPremierLeague
South Wales Argus
2 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Pakistan Super League needs marketing, says Mark Nicholas
A separate panel will debate the question of whether cricket is 'cool' – and Nicholas believes there is work to do in that regard. 'The answer is, currently, it is not cool enough,' he said. 'In its shortest format, certainly in India, maybe with The Hundred and the Caribbean Premier League, and probably with SA20, there is an increasingly younger audience and more examples of kids saying to their parents 'I want to go to the cricket' rather than the other way round. 'It's getting cooler again and I would say India and the IPL has driven that. 'People throw stones at marketing, but good marketing is unbelievably powerful. 'I would say that here (England) with the Hundred, South Africa, India, they do it well. 'I did two weeks of the Pakistan Super League, and one outstanding observation would be that they don't market as hard or as successfully as some of the other leagues.' World Cricket Connects, which brings together influential figures from across all aspects of cricket, was Nicholas' brainchild and is expanding to a two-day event in 2025 after a successful start last year. A 13-strong World Cricket Connects Advisory Board, chaired by Kumar Sangakkara, has been established since the inaugural forum was held and one of its members, Mel Jones, has had a significant impact in helping Afghanistan's displaced women's team find opportunities to play in Australia. The MCC founded the Global Refugee Cricket Fund earlier this year and its initial focus is supporting the Pitch Our Future campaign - an Australian-led programme that empowers and supports players from the former Afghanistan Women's Cricket Team – after the topic was raised at World Cricket Connects. 'People wanted action, they were horrified by what had happened to Afghanistan's women's cricketers,' Nicholas said. 'Once it became obvious there was a way to support it through our foundation, we were very quick to do so. 'One of MCC's great strengths is that we give back to cricket to an extraordinary level, a level that cuts our surplus every year in half. 'I feel we should always try and help initiatives like that, that's exactly where MCC can fit. I really feel that was in our wheelhouse.'
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Klaasen's SA retirement should ring alarm bells in international cricket
MUMBAI: Apart from India, one of the main attractions of the 2023 ICC World Cup was South Africa in the league stage of the competition. If it was India's pace bowling, South Africa's batting captured the imagination of fans. In a series of dazzling performances, the Proteas' batters entertained the Indian crowd with their power-hitting. Along with top-order batters Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen, there was the explosive Heinrich Klaasen to boost the middle-order. After starting the tournament with 428/5 in 50 overs against Sri Lanka, they lit up the event with 300-plus totals six times in 10 games in the run-up to the semi-final. When the bounce is true, there is no better sight than Klaasen in full flow. During the tournament, the pitches at the Wankhede Stadium helped bring the out the best in him as he smashed a 67-ball 109 (vs England) and a 49-ball 90 (vs Bangladesh) in back-to-back matches. Again, in the 2024 T20 World Cup, he was South Africa's impact player. He almost took the final away from India with a belligerent 27-ball 52. On Monday, the 33-year-old Klaasen announced a shock retirement from international cricket, the latest in a growing list of top all-format players seeking to concentrate on professional T20 leagues around the world. One of the game's most fearsome hitters, he is one of the most sought-after players on the T20 franchise circuit. Apart from the Indian Premier League (Sunrisers Hyderabad), Klaasen is signed up for the Major League Cricket (for Seattle Orcas) and The Hundred (Manchester Originals). 'It is a sad day for me as I announce that I have decided to step away from international cricket,' Klassen, who played four Tests, 60 ODIs and 58 T20Is, said in a statement. 'It took me a long time to decide what's best for me and my family for the future. It was truly a very difficult decision but also one that I have absolute peace with. 'To have played with the Proteas badge on my chest was and will always be the biggest honour in my career. I look forward to spending more time with my family as this decision will allow me to do so.' With a host of professional T20 leagues across continents paying big money, it's become a trend for top players to give them preference over international cricket. Due to a packed schedule, the clash of fixtures between T20 Leagues and bilateral series has players in a fix. Last season, South Africa faced an embarrassing situation when they were forced to take a Test squad without most frontline players to New Zealand because of a clash with SA20. There is a clash of schedules this season as well. South Africa play two Tests and a T20I tri-series in Zimbabwe in July and three T20Is and ODIs each in Australia and England in August and September. Those series, however, clash with MLC, The Hundred and the Caribbean Premier League. Klaasen is following in the footsteps of fellow South African Quinton de Kock. The dashing left-handed opener was the star of the 2023 ODI and 2024 T20 World Cups. De Kock had won over Indian fans in the 2023 World Cup by smashing four centuries. De Kock though chose to retire from ODIs after the tournament. In late 2021, he had announced a shock retirement from Tests. He has not played T20Is either after last year's World Cup final. Anrich Nortje and Tabraiz Shamsi have also opted out of central contracts but remain available for South Africa. After Australia, India and England, South Africa continues to produce exciting cricket talent. The latest example is Dewald Brevis, 22, who played for Chennai Super Kings this IPL season and is in big demand among franchises. It is seen in the results. SA play the World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord's this month, after finishing runners-up in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Players making a beeline to T20 leagues by ditching national teams should worry the International Cricket Council. West Indies and New Zealand players have also prioritised franchise cricket over internationals. In fact, New Zealand's premier batter Kane Williamson last year rejected a central contract. New Zealand's all-time leading Test run-scorer said he wanted to play for his country but wished to 'pursue an overseas opportunity' during the home summer. Left-arm pacer Trent Boult was among the first Kiwi players to opt out of a central contract. Missing such high-profile cricketers will affect the quality of international competitions as national squads get depleted. The concern is that soon the franchise teams will look stronger than most national outfits.
India.com
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet Tanvi Shah, hot and glamorous IPL 2025 anchor, was once No.1 Tennis player in India
In this collection of pictures we shall know the IPL 2025 anchor Tanvi who is as glamorous as any Bollywood actress and was once No.1 Tennis player in India. Let's dive in. Tanvi Shah has emerged as the prominent figure of Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025. Her graceful demeanor, self-assurance, and lively attitude during matches have turned her into a crowd favorite both online and in the stands. Tanvi didn't start her journey in the world of cricket broadcasting. Once ranked as India's top U16 tennis player, she even competed at the Junior Australian Open — making her shift from high-level tennis to prominent cricket media all the more remarkable. Tanvi Shah stands out from typical presenters by bringing real athletic background to the table. Her experience competing in junior Grand Slam tennis adds authenticity and a fresh perspective to her analysis during IPL broadcasts. Tanvi Shah's Instagram handle (@tanvishah91) offers followers a glimpse into her off-screen life-ranging from workout sessions to exclusive Gujarat Titans content. Her chic and athletic posts consistently keep her in the spotlight throughout the IPL season. Whether it's the Caribbean Premier League or the Abu Dhabi T10, Tanvi has regularly represented a small group of Indian women hosting top-tier international cricket events, connecting worldwide audiences with Indian fans seamlessly. Whether it's catching up with players before the action or delivering timely updates during the game, Tanvi serves as the pulse of GT's media game. Her lively presence and crisp presentation have struck a chord with fans. Staying fit is a core part of Tanvi's daily routine. She frequently shares clips of her workouts and yoga sessions, inspiring younger followers. Her mix of athleticism and style has positioned her as a lifestyle icon well beyond the cricketing world.
India.com
25-05-2025
- Sport
- India.com
This person holds record for fastest 50 in ODIs, not Gayle, DeVilliers, Sehwag, Kohli, Afridi, Dhoni, he is a bowler, not from India
Image credit: X Meet Matthew Forde, know all about him Matthew Forde, born on 29 April 2002 in Barbados, West Indies, is a right-arm fast bowler. Till date, his bowling was his identity, on the basis of which he dominated tournaments like Caribbean Premier League and Lanka Premier League in T20 cricket. On the basis of this, he got a chance to play in the ODI and T20 team of West Indies in December 2023 when he was 21 years old. So far, this bowler, who has taken 16 wickets in 10 ODIs and 8 wickets in 6 T20 Internationals, has updated his profile by scoring the fastest ODI half-century.
NDTV
09-05-2025
- Business
- NDTV
Best Window To Complete IPL 2025 Revealed - Report Lists Major Reasons
The currently suspended Indian Premier League's 16 remaining games can be completed during a 10 to 12 days window in September as the Asia Cup is now uncertain due to the rising armed hostilities between India and Pakistan. It would be a miracle if Asia Cup, which is supposed to be hosted by India (at a supposedly neutral venue), goes ahead given the raging conflict which was triggered by the killing of 26 people in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. The nearly non-existent sporting ties are unlikely to resume at any level till tensions ease. The Asia Cup was given a 19-day window in September where at least two Indo-Pak matches were to take place apart from the possibility of a final clash between the bitter rivals which would have assured the broadcasters of high advertising revenue. "It is extremely bad optics if cricket continues when there is a possibility of war with a rogue nation (Pakistan). Sports can continue when everything is normal. Plus it is very natural for foreign players and coaches to be wary and wanting to return home," a senior BCCI official told PTI on condition of anonymity after the league was suspended indefinitely on Friday. Incidentally, the Asian Cricket Council is now headed by Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi and the onus will be on him to deal with financial losses that the Asia Cup cancellation would cause. It is understood that the BCCI top brass' decision to suspend the league was well thought out call as only a handful of matches are left which can be completed in a 10-day window with possible double-headers. The options for BCCI? The IPL has a dedicated window from March end to May end during which no international cricket is scheduled allowing the best of world cricket to ply their trade in the league. Now that the schedule has gone haywire, the BCCI will have to explore the available options. The Indian team will be touring England from first week of June to first week of August and that schedule cannot be changed. The only period that looks good right now is between the second and fourth week of September where the BCCI can also negotiate with the various cricket boards to allow their players (except for freelancers who don't need permission) to come back and complete the assignment. Why not August? In August, India have a six-match white ball away series against Bangladesh which could have been stalled for IPL. However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)'s 'The Hundred' will be played between August 5 to 31 where most of the top T20 players, who also play in IPL, will be taking part. Most IPL franchise owners like Reliance and RPSG group have bought stakes in 'The Hundred'. Also Australia will be hosting South Africa for a six-match white ball series through the month of August so players from both countries won't be available. Why September is best option? From August 15 till September 22, the Caribbean Premier League will also be held where some of the top West Indies players are going to take part. But during the second week of September, a fair number of West Indies players can be made available for their respective IPL teams. England and South Africa have a six-match white-ball series from September 2 to 14. Given the cordial relationship that BCCI shares with both the ECB and Cricket South Africa, it can request them to allow the players important to their IPL teams to be released during the window. After All SA20 is also a league that runs on investment from IPL franchises. By end of September, India's WTC (World Test Championship) commitments against the West Indies and South Africa will commence followed by a white-ball tour of Australia in October-November. The IPL could also have been played in December but top Australian players like Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc, whose franchises are in play-off contention, will be busy with the Ashes along with some English players.
