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Express Tribune
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Namibia to play South Africa for first time
Namibia will host South Africa for a historic first meeting between the two sides to mark the official opening of their new ground in Windhoek. The one-off T20I will take place on October 11. Importantly, it will commemorate the opening of Cricket Namibia's first official stadium - previously internationals took place at the Wanderers, also in Windhoek, which is a club ground. The new ground will host the matches during the 2026 Under-19 Men's World Cup and the 2027 Men's ODI World Cup. Namibia is the co-host for the Under-19 World Cup with Zimbabwe and for the ODI World Cup with Zimbabwe and South Africa. The ground has been under construction since 2021 and will have a capacity of 7000. It is also the home of Namibia's high-performance centre. "This truly is a memorable occasion," Johann Muller, Cricket Namibia CEO, said in a statement. "The new ground has been a dream for the last four years and has finally materialised. A match against our neighbours, and one of the top cricketing countries in the world, is the perfect way to open this world-class facility." Despite being neighbours, South Africa have never played an international against Namibia, at bilateral or tournament level, and the trip across the western border indicates the growth in relations in cricket on the continent. South Africa and Zimbabwe are both playing a significant role at the African Cricket Association and there are talks of increased fixtures, such as this one, to grow the game. South Africa will also travel to Zimbabwe for the first time in 11 years later this year to play two Tests and a T20I tri-series. "We are honoured to be part of this historic occasion," Pholesti Moseki, CSA CEO, said. "Namibia are a competitive side, and this fixture reflects the growing strength of cricket on the continent. As a fellow African cricketing nation and the host of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027, we are proud to support the official opening of this new cricket ground, which will be one of the host venues of the tournament." By the time the match takes place, Namibia will have also competed in the Africa T20 World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, where there are two spots available for next year's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Namibia have played in the last three T20 World Cups, and their highest profile win was over Sri Lanka in Geelong in 2022.
Express Tribune
16-04-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
ICC may revise two-ball rule in ODIs
The two-ball rule is being changed to restore balance between bat and ball. Photo: AFP/File The International Cricket Council (ICC) is considering changes to the existing two-ball rule in One Day Internationals (ODIs) in an effort to restore balance between bat and ball. During meetings held in Harare this week, the ICC Men's Cricket Committee, led by former India captain Sourav Ganguly, recommended that only one ball be used from the 35th over of an innings. Currently, two new balls are used in ODIsone from each endthroughout the innings. According to the new proposal, both balls would still be used for the first 34 overs. But after that point, the fielding side would choose which of the two 17-overs-old balls they want to continue with for the remainder of the innings. The unused ball would be kept as a spare in case it is needed later. The committee had earlier discussed switching to a single ball after 25 overs, but it was felt that allowing both balls to be used for 17 overs provided a more reasonable balance. Member boards are expected to submit their feedback on the proposed change by the end of April. If a consensus is reached, the new rule could be adopted at the ICC's annual general meeting in July. Since it is a change to playing conditions, it does not require board-level approval. The current two-ball rule was introduced in October 2011. Before that, ODIs included a mandatory ball change after the 34th over, using a cleaner but similarly used ball to help batters better see the white ball, which often lost visibility over time. In addition to the two-ball rule discussion, the ICC is also seeking feedback on the possibility of introducing a 60-second stop clock in Test cricket to tackle slow over-rates. A similar rule is already in place in T20Is and ODIs, where delays are penalized by placing an additional fielder inside the 30-yard circle. The cricket committee also explored the idea of converting the Under-19 Men's World Cup from a 50-over format to T20s. However, there was no strong support for this change, and any such move would require formal board approval. There were also early discussions about awarding bonus points in the World Test Championship. However, most members felt that such a system would be too complex to implement effectively. Player of the Month Star Indian batter Shreyas Iyer has been named the ICC Men's Player of the Month for March 2025, beating out New Zealand's Jacob Duffy and Rachin Ravindra for the prestigious honor. Iyer was the highest run-scorer during the month, accumulating 243 runs and playing a crucial role in India's triumphant ICC Champions Trophy campaign. His win marks the second consecutive Player of the Month award for India, following Shubman Gill's recognition in February. Iyer played a vital role in India's middle order throughout the tournament, helping the team navigate the middle overs with his composed stroke play. His ability to anchor the innings and build crucial partnerships was instrumental in India's successful run. Upon receiving the award, Iyer said: "I'm truly honored to be named the ICC Men's Player of the Month for March. This recognition is incredibly special, especially in a month where we lifted the ICC Champions Trophy - a moment I will cherish forever. "Being able to contribute to India's success on such a big stage is something every cricketer dreams of. I'm grateful to my teammates, coaches, and support staff for their unwavering support and belief. "A heartfelt thank you to the fans as well - your energy and encouragement keep us going every step of the way." The 30-year-old scored 172 of his 243 runs across three matches in March, averaging 57.33 with a strike rate of 77.47, featuring several notable performances.
