IPL captains to meet today with BCCI
The IPL captains’ meeting with the Board of Control for Cricket in India is scheduled from 4.30 pm to 6 pm on Wednesday. Reportedly, Javagal Srinath and Nitin Menon, the heads of the BCCI’s match referees and umpires’ panels respectively will address the meeting that will cover a number of issues including the innings timer (60-second clock), the Impact Player rule, the concussion substitute clause and the code of conduct rules.
The playing conditions for the season shared by the BCCI with the franchises have a number of key modifications. The discussions are expected to be around the same with focus on the bouncer rule, bat checks, ball replacement, use of saliva and the retired-out provision. The agenda is getting the clarity on the modifications to be on the same before the league begins. The session will begin with an introduction by IPL COO Hemang Aming.
Mo Bobat talks about “congested cricket schedule” causing injuries
The IPL franchises have been affected by fast-bowling injuries with several bowlers either ruled out of the league or set to miss out a major part of the season following injuries. Mo Bobat, the Directo of Cricket, Royal Challengers Bengaluru spoke about the packed cricket calendar leading to the situation. Like other teams, RCB are dealing with injury issues of players, and they will start the league with Josh Hazlewood who continues to rehab with Cricket Australia.
“I guess it’s probably a symptom of a congested cricket schedule, isn’t it?,” Mo Bobat said at a press conference on Tuesday. “Any of us who follow cricket know how challenging that is. On a domestic level, but also on an international level. So it’s not ideal.” He added, “It’s not ideal for any of the teams that are losing players at this late stage because it impacts your planning. So I sympathise and empathise with any of the teams going through that. I mean, it’s not easy. I think from our perspective, we just try and control it.”
Habibul Bashar on Shakib’s comeback, “We will think in the long-term.’
The new chairman of BCB selection panel for Bangladesh men’s cricket team, Habibul Bashar spoke about the return of Shakib Al Hasan for the long term. “There is not much time left before the New Zealand series and I am not sure how much cricket Shakib has been involved with. From what I know about him, he is not a guy who will come tomorrow and play the day after. He needs preparation too. It’s not a place of emotion. Definitely if we are thinking about Shakib, we will think in the long-term.”
Bashar continued, “I don’t think about Shakib coming for a single series and then leaving. If we can get service from him, we will want that he provides that for a long time. In that regard, preparation is very important. First things first, he is definitely in the plans. You see there are talks about him in regards to the New Zealand series which is why I want him to come prepared for a longer time. I think he still has two years.
