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Daily Mail
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Aussie cricket stars face dilemma on India and Pakistan return after fleeing to Australia because of safety concerns
Australia 's cricketers are in a state of flux, uncertain whether the Indian Premier League will resume and some questioning if they will return regardless. Players boarded flights out of India on Saturday, after the tournament was postponed on Friday due to the escalating conflict with Pakistan. Australians featuring in the Pakistan Super League were also planning trips home, after plans to move the rest of that tournament to the UAE were abandoned. But as players began making their exits with most on multi-leg flights, it emerged both tournaments could potentially resume after a ceasefire between the two countries. Reports of explosions have since been reported in border towns in the Kashmir region in the hours after that ceasefire, prompting further questions on whether a resumption will be possible. AAP understands that there is a genuine question from some players whether they would want to return to play out the tournament, after being left shaken by the situation over the past week. If the IPL was to resume, shifting all games to southern parts of India, well away from the Pakistan border would appear the most likely option. The Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings are already out of finals contention, with each only having one or two games left. Pat Cummins, Travis Head and Nathan Ellis are Australians playing for those three lower-ranked teams. The IPL window is also meant to close on May 25, with Australia set to begin preparations for the World Test Championship final against South Africa starting on June 11. Australians from the Pakistani Super League are also unsure if that tournament could resume, and whether they would be able to go back and play due to logistics. Channel 7 presenter Erin Holland, who has been reporting from Pakistan, spoke of the dash back Down Under. 'I'm just really, really sad,' she told Sunrise. 'I visit both (countries) very frequently, working in cricket, and have a lot of love for everyone.' 'I had six Aussies with me on the plane, Aussie cricketers who came out, so everyone's just looking forward to getting home to their families. '(I'm) kind of lost for words to be honest. It's been a really difficult time.' Grace Hayden, daughter of cricket legend Matthew Hayden, is presenting for broadcaster Star India and remains in Mumbai, while her father has travelled from Dharamshala to Delhi as part of efforts to get home. 'It was pretty scary last night at studio watching the game and they called it off so we all just watched what was going on there,' Grace said. 'Dad is okay, they got him and everyone out safely. They are handling it really well. We are taking it minute by minute so it feels pretty foreign right now.' Grace, who has been working with the IPL for four years, echoed Holland's emotional response. 'I have a deep love for both countries,' she said. 'To watch this unfold is heartbreaking, just horrible. I understand I am extremely privileged and I have options. It is all very sad.' Players in Pakistan narrowly avoided being caught up in the drama on Friday, flying out of an airbase in Islamabad hours before it was struck by missiles. The safety of players in the IPL was thrown into the spotlight on Thursday night, after a game between Dharamsala was abandoned mid-match with air raid warnings in the area. The match ended up being the last one played before officials met the next day to postpone games for at least a week, with that hold set to be lifted on Thursday. Another option for Indian officials would be to move games overseas, with South Africa and the UAE having previously hosted games. The English and Wales Cricket Board are also reported to be open to assisting by hosting matches, with 12 regular-season games still scheduled to be played and four finals.
Express Tribune
01-03-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Aus in CT semis, rain hits Afg chances
Australia's Nathan Ellis (R) celebrates with teammates after dismissing Afghanistan's Gulbadin Naib (L) in the ICC Champions Trophy match at Gaddafi Stadium on Friday. PHOTO: AFP Australia qualified for the Champions Trophy semi-finals on Friday after their Group B match against Afghanistan ended without a result in persistent rain in Lahore on Friday. Chasing 274 for victory at Gaddafi Stadium, Australia were 109-1 in 12.5 overs when rain stopped play, giving them four points in their three games. Afghanistan, who have three points from two games, need England to beat South Africa by a big margin in Karachi on Saturday to sneak into the last four on net run-rate. Afghanistan's -0.99 net run-rate is inferior to South Africa's 2.14 despite beating former world champions England by eight runs in Lahore on Wednesday. Australia were well placed to chase down the target with opener Travis Head not out after a 40-ball 59 not out spiced with nine boundaries and a six. Steve Smith was unbeaten on 19 after Matthew Short was dismissed for 20. Heavy rain stopped play and as water pooled in the stadium the umpires ended the match at 20:55 (1555 GMT) Afghanistan had totalled 273 all out in 50 overs after they winning the toss and batting. Sediqullah Atal hit 85 and all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai 67 as they sought a win to seal a semi-final berth. In overcast conditions, Afghanistan lost opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz for nought in the first over to Spencer Johnson. Ibrahim Zadran, hero of Afghanistan's win over England in the first match with the highest-ever Champions trophy score of 177, added 67 for the second wicket with Atal before he fell for 22 to spinner Adam Zampa. Atal and skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi (20) put on 68 for the fourth wicket before Australia fought back with four wickets for just 40 runs. Atal's 95-ball innings included six fours and three sixes. At 199-7 Afghanistan were in danger of being dismissed for a below-par total, but Omarzai held the innings together, smashing five sixes in a 63-ball knock and adding an invaluable 74 runs with the last three wickets. Rashid Khan chipped in with a 17-ball 19 with two boundaries. Ben Dwarshuis was the best Australian bowler with 3-47. Zampa took 2-48 and Johnson finished with 2-49. Buttler resigns as England white-ball captain Jos Buttler said on Friday he is to step down as England's white-ball captain after a disastrous Champions Trophy campaign ended with them failing to reach the semi-finals. "I'm going to stand down as England captain, it's the right decision for me and the team," the 34-year-old said at a press conference. "And hopefully somebody else can come in and work closely alongside (Brendon McCullum) to take the team back to where it needs to be." AFP
Int'l Cricket Council
14-02-2025
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Steve Smith optimistic about Champions Trophy despite series loss to Sri Lanka
Australia have been ravaged by selection issues, with Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Marsh all ruled out of the tournament with injuries. With pacer Mitchell Starc unavailable for selection and all-rounder Marcus Stoinis announcing his retirement from the format earlier this year, it was a much-changed Australia lining up for the ODIs against Sri Lanka. The team suffered consecutive losses in the two-match series. In the first ODI, Australia were bowled out for 165 in a chase of 215, while in the second clash, Australia once again struggled, being snuffed out for 107 chasing a target of 282. The absence of their frontline pacers has been a problem for Australia, with Sri Lanka's batters making merry, but Smith threw his weight behind the replacements – Nathan Ellis, Ben Dwarshius and Spencer Johnson. "I think they've all got their own unique skills," he said. "For me, captaining them, it's about me communicating with them and trying to get the right option out of them at the right time. 'They all do it differently, Ben Dwarshius and Spencer Johnson up-top trying to swing the ball back down the line. Sean (Abbott) has terrific lengths, Nathan Ellis has change-ups.' With spin expected to be a factor in Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, Smith pointed out that Australia are well-stocked in that regard. 'Yeah, we've got a couple of spinners as well with (Adam) Zampa and Tanveer (Sangha), who's got a good skill set," he said. "[In] Maxwell and Short, we've got plenty of part-time options." WATCH: Yuvraj Singh arrives in style | Sobha Realty Greatest Moments | Champions Trophy 2000 Yuvraj Singh arrives in style | Sobha Realty Greatest Moments | Champions Trophy 2000 Smith was also asked for his assessment on Jake Fraser-McGurk, who was one of the players brought into Australia's Champions Trophy squad on Wednesday. He is known for his flair and aggressive batting, and though the 22-year-old couldn't get going against Sri Lanka, scoring 2 and 9, Smith backed him to come good. "He's obviously a very aggressive player. He's got all the shots around the ground," Smith said. "It's just about picking the right time to play them. WATCH: Shastri, Ponting preview the epic ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 Shastri, Ponting preview the epic ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 | The ICC Review 'He hasn't quite gotten going yet, but he played a couple of nice shots out there and we know the talent he possesses. "That's why he's in this squad. He's dangerous, and the wickets in Pakistan suit him." Australia begin their ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 campaign against England in Lahore on 22 February. ICC Champions Trophy, 2025 Australia Steve Smith 10/18/1961 News
BBC News
12-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Australia's Starc opts out of Champions Trophy
Australia seamer Mitchell Starc has opted out of the Champions continues a disruptive build-up for the two-time winners, who had already lost captain Pat Cummins, seamer Josh Hazlewood and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh to injury, plus the sudden ODI retirement of all-rounder Marcus Stoinis. Starc, 35, will not be sharing a reason for his decision and has asked for privacy. The left-armer, who has taken 244 wickets in 127 one-day internationals, was the only Australia seamer to play in all seven Tests against India at home and Sri Lanka away between November and February. It leaves Spencer Johnson, Nathan Ellis, Sean Abbott and Ben Dwarshuis, who have played in 37 ODIs between them, as Australia's frontline pace options."We understand and respect Mitch's decision," chair selector George Bailey said."Mitch is deeply respected for his commitment to international cricket and the priority he places on performing for Australia."His well-documented ability to play through pain and adversity, as well as forgoing opportunities in other parts of his career to put his country first should be applauded."His loss is of course a blow for the Champions Trophy campaign but does provide an opportunity for someone else to make a mark on the tournament."Steve Smith has been appointed captain ahead of Travis Head in Cummins' Champions Trophy starts on 19 February and Australia's first game is against England on 22 February. Australia's Champions Trophy squad Steve Smith (captain), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa. Travelling reserve: Cooper Connolly.
