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Hindustan Times
a day 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.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Seattle Orcas' rollercoaster ride: From runners-up to rock bottom in two MLC seasons
Seattle Orcas Seattle Orcas have experienced the full spectrum of fortunes in Major League Cricket (MLC), going from topping the table and reaching the final in the inaugural 2023 season to finishing at the bottom in 2024. The dramatic rise and fall over two seasons highlight the unpredictability of the league. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 2023: Dream debut ends in final heartbreak The Orcas made a flying start to their MLC journey in 2023, emerging as the most consistent team in the league stage. They opened their campaign with a 5-wicket win over Washington Freedom and followed it up with a 35-run victory against San Francisco Unicorns. Their dominance continued with a commanding 8-wicket win over Texas Super Kings, giving them a hat-trick of wins. Who's that IPL player? Their only hiccup came against LA Knight Riders, who edged them out by two wickets. But the Orcas bounced back by defeating MI New York in their final league match to finish as table-toppers with four wins from five matches. In the playoffs, they overwhelmed Texas Super Kings again, this time by 9 wickets in the Qualifier, storming into the final as favourites. However, their title hopes were crushed by a record-breaking 137* from Nicholas Pooran as MI New York claimed the trophy. Quinton de Kock (264 runs) and Heinrich Klaasen (235 runs) led the batting charge, while Cameron Gannon and Andrew Tye (11 wickets each) and Imad Wasim (10 wickets) powered the bowling unit. More Than a Team: The Rise of CSK & the Whistle Podu Army 2024: From contenders to bottom-dwellers The 2024 season was a stark contrast. Orcas failed to replicate their previous form, finishing with just one win in seven matches. They began with a 6-wicket defeat to MI New York but bounced back briefly with a 9-wicket win over LA Knight Riders — their only success of the campaign. A string of five consecutive losses followed: to Washington Freedom, San Francisco Unicorns (twice), LA Knight Riders, and Texas Super Kings. With a 1-6 record, they finished last on the points table. From league leaders and finalists to wooden spoon holders, the Orcas' fall has been steep and swift, leaving them with major rebuilding to do ahead of the 2025 season. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
India.com
18-05-2025
- Sport
- India.com
IPL 2025 Resumption: List Of Star Overseas Players Who Might Not Be Available For CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, PBKS, GT, LSG, DC, RR, SRH
photoDetails english Updated:May 18, 2025, 02:11 PM IST Spencer Johnson, Quinton de Kock (KKR) 1 / 10 Australian fast bowler Spencer Johnson and South Africa's Quinton de Kock, who have not featured in KKR's recent playing XIs, might opt out of the tournament as KKR is nearly out of playoff contention. Josh Hazlewood, Romario Shepherd (RCB) 2 / 10 Josh Hazlewood has been RCB's standout bowler this season, playing a key role in their success. However, the Australian pacer has been dealing with injury issues and he may prefer to focus on staying fit for national duties rather than risk further setbacks in the IPL. Additionally, Romario Shepherd has international commitments and might also choose to prioritize those over the IPL. Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Reece Topley (MI) 3 / 10 MI may lose Afghan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman and England left-arm pacer Reece Topley. While both have not been regular starters, their presence adds depth to MI's bowling unit. Mitch Starc, Fraser McGurk (DC) 4 / 10 Mitch Starc has been a key part of DC's bowling unit and impressed in the first half of IPL 2025. However, the long tournament has taken a toll, and the injury-prone pacer looked fatigued in recent games. He has now flown back to Australia . With only a few matches left and DC's playoff chances uncertain, a quick return seems unlikely especially for a player who has consistently prioritized national duties over the IPL. Meanwhile, Fraser-McGurk, currently out of form, may also opt not to return. Mitchell Marsh (LSG) 5 / 10 LSG's experienced all-rounder Mitchell Marsh could also be unavailable. The Australian star might pull out due to personal safety concerns, and he might skip IPL Phase 2. Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson (PBKS) 6 / 10 PBKS could be without South Africa's Marco Jansen and New Zealand's speedster Lockie Ferguson is already out of the tournament due to injury. Jofra Archer (RR) 7 / 10 RR's pace department could be heavily impacted if Jofra Archer decides not to travel but because Rajasthan Royals is already out of the tournament they can try some new pacers for their rest of the matches. Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins (SRH) 8 / 10 Two key overseas stars Heinrich Klaasen (South Africa) and Pat Cummins (Australia) might not return as they have been already eliminated from the tournament. Jos Buttler, Glenn Philips (GT) 9 / 10 Jos Buttler, now 34 years old, was reportedly among the first group of players to leave India when tensions escalated. With a young family back home, it's highly unlikely that he would be mentally prepared to return to India just days after his departure. Glenn Philips is already out of the tournament and will not return. Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra (CSK) 10 / 10 CSK could suffer a double blow as Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra, two vital players from New Zealand, may decide not to return for the second phase. As CSK is already eliminated from the competition it will not affect them much.
India Gazette
14-05-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
IPL 2025: Quinton de Kock set to rejoin Kolkata Knight Riders squad ahead of RCB clash
New Delhi [India], May 14 (ANI): South Africa wicketkeeper batter Quinton de Kock is set to rejoin the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders squad in Bengaluru on Thursday ahead of the resumption of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 on May 17, according to ESPNcricinfo. There was uncertainty over de Kock's involvement in the remainder of the tournament until Tuesday evening, but since he has confirmed his availability for the rest of the tournament, which will resume with Kolkata squaring off against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday. According to ESPNcricinfo, most overseas players, including left-arm quick Spencer Johnson, whose return to India was uncertain, have confirmed their availability. Last week, the BCCI suspended the tournament for a week due to the cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan. KKR's Caribbean stars Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Rovman Powell and team mentor Dwayne Bravo were in Dubai since the tournament was suspended for a week. According to ESPNcricinfo, Narine and Russell boarded a flight to Bengaluru from Dubai and are set to arrive on Wednesday afternoon. South Africa tearaway Anrich Nortje will join KKR in Bengaluru from the Maldives. According to ESPNcricinfo, KKR's Indian players and support staff will arrive in batches in Bengaluru on Wednesday evening. The defending champions are in a precarious situation regarding their title defence. The beleaguered Kolkata side is in the seventh spot, hanging in the playoffs race by mathematical calculations. KKR is sixth in the standings with 11 points, and their remaining two fixtures against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru are do-or-die affairs. If the Knight Riders stand triumphant with two wins, they will move to 15 points and will hope for other results to fall in their favour to keep their title defence alive. For their upcoming fixture against Bengaluru, ESPNcricinfo reported that KKR will hold two training sessions at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Thursday and Friday evening. (ANI)
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Business Standard
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Business Standard
IPL 2025 revised schedule: KKR matches timetable, live time, streaming
With IPL 2025 back in action after a one-week break, teams are gearing up as the league approaches its crucial final stretch. The race to the playoffs remains intense, with seven teams still in contention for the top four spots and only 15 league matches left to play. The Kolkata Knight Riders face a challenging path ahead in their quest to secure a playoff berth. Sitting at 11 points from 12 matches, KKR will need strong performances in their remaining three games to reach 17 points and boost their chances of qualification. Every match now carries immense weight, and a winning streak could turn their season around. KKR will return to the field on May 17, facing a resurgent Royal Challengers Bengaluru side at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. With RCB currently in strong form, it promises to be a tough but pivotal match for the Knight Riders. KKR's playoff scenario: With two games left for Kolkata Knight Riders to play in the league stage, they are barely alive in the quest to earn a playoff spot as even a single defeat would see them out of the contention this year. They need to win both of their games in the league stage, starting with a win away from home against RCB in Bengaluru. KKR squad for IPL 2025: Quinton de Kock(w), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane(c), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Spencer Johnson, Vaibhav Arora, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Manish Pandey, Moeen Ali, Anrich Nortje, Rovman Powell, Anukul Roy, Mayank Markande, Chetan Sakariya, Luvnith Sisodia Kolkata Knight Riders IPL 2025 revised schedule and live streaming details When will Kolkata Knight Riders play their first game post the resumption of IPL 2025? KKR will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their first game after the resumption on May 17. How many matches will KKR play in the league stage before the start of the playoffs? KKR have to play 2 matches in the league stage and aim to secure a spot in the top 4. Who all will KKR play in the IPL 2025 league stage matches? KKR will play RCB and SRH in their remaining 2 matches in the league stage. Where will the live telecast of KKR IPL 2025 matches be available in India? The live telecast of KKR matches in IPL 2025 will be available on the Star Sports network. The live streaming of KKR matches in IPL 2025 will be available on JioHotstar.
