Good morning cricket fans, and welcome to Wednesday’s live cricket blog.
The Sport360 team is in place bringing you the latest news from around the world .
2:30pm – Zazai aiming for bigger things after six sixes’ feat
Afghanistan batsman Hazratullah Zazai is the next big thing in franchise cricket. The hard-hitting left-handed batsman entered an elite club of batsmen when he smashed six sixes in an over batting for Kabul Zwanan against Balkh Legends in the Afghanistan Premier League at Sharjah in October.
Before that, Zazai had cracked 124 from 55 balls opening the innings against Nangarhar Leopards with nine hits over the fence.
In an exclusive interview with Sport360, the Afghan sensation has revealed his dreams and targets for the near future. Read what he had to say here.
Hazratullah Zazai. Image: Afghanistan Cricket Board/ Twitter.
1:00pm – Robin Singh aiming to take Dubai academy to next level
It has been one year since the former India all-rounder set up the Robin Singh Sports Academy in Dubai. He is one of three prominent Indian names to set up a coaching base in the UAE alongside MS Dhoni and Ravi Ashwin. And the journey that has largely been fruitful is set to take a major leap forward.
Singh is pleased by the progress his academy has made in a year and has big plans for the future.
Read what the former India international had to say about his his targets for the future in an exclusive chat with Sport360 here.
Robin Singh Sports Academy in Dubai is now in its second year.
12:00pm – Mickey Arthur dismisses reports of rift with Sarfraz Ahmed
Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur has showered praise on skipper Sarfraz Ahmed following his side’s big win in the second Test against New Zealand.
The Pakistan coach lauded the wicketkeeper-batsman and rubbished reports of a rift between the two.
Read Arthur’s comments in full here.
All is well between Mickey Arthur and Sarfraz Ahmed.
11:30am – Trevor Bayliss lauds ‘exemplary’ Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes has been lauded for his “exemplary” conduct by England head coach Trevor Bayliss, who believes the all-rounder has learned a lot during a difficult year.
Stokes played a typically whole-hearted role in the 3-0 series whitewash over Sri Lanka, bowling intimidating spells on pitches that neutered other seam bowlers, scoring a pair of half-centuries and producing moments of tide-turning magic in the field.
Read what Bayliss had to say on Stokes’ contributions here.
England all-rounder Ben Stokes.
11:00am – Day one of India’s warm-up clash washed out
Day one of the four-day warm up game between Cricket Australia XI and India in Sydney was called off without a single ball being bowled due to rain.
The four-day fixture is India’s sole practice match before they take on hosts Australia in a four-Test series which gets underway at Adelaide on December 6.
Read more on this development here.
No play was possible on day one at the SCG.
10:30am – Michael Clarke asks Australia to stop being ‘nice’
Former captain Michael Clarke has told the Australian team to stop trying to be the nice guys and concentrate on winning matches.
Australian cricketing has been battling an image problem since the ill-fated tour of South Africa earlier in the year. Read Clarke’s quotes in full here.
Justin Langer and Tim Paine.
10:00am – India refuse to travel to Pakistan for Emerging Nations Cup
Pakistan will host six matches of the upcoming Asian Emerging Nations Cup in December after the BCCI’s refusal to send the Indian team to the country over security concerns.
Read more on this developing story here.
PCB chief Ehsan Mani.
9:00am – Steve Smith signs up with BPL outfit Comilla Victorians
Australia batsman Steve Smith will turn out for the Comilla Victorians in the upcoming edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
The Australia star will have his first ever taste of the BPL action as he continues to serve his one-year ban from international and domestic cricket.
Read more on this breaking story here.
A maiden BPL stint for Steve Smith.
8:30am – Mortaza defends decision to enter politics
Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza defended his decision to enter politics after receiving criticism from some quarters.
Mashrafe created a stir when he announced he will contest the December 30 elections on an Awami League ticket.
Read what the Bangladesh ODI skipper had to say here.
8:00am – MS Dhoni gets Robin Singh’s backing for 2019 WC
Former India all-rounder Robin Singh believes wicketkeeper MS Dhoni should be a part of the side that will travel to England for the 2019 World Cup.
Over the last season, Dhoni’s spot in the limited overs set-up has come under scrutiny with the rise of young gloveman Rishabh Pant and the resurgence of Dinesh Karthik.
Read what Robin Singh had to say on Dhoni’s importance to the Indian team here.
MS Dhoni
