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Jason Roy fell narrowly short of breaking Robin Smith’s 23-year-old record for the highest ODI score by an England batsman but he is confident that one of the new generation will eclipse it before long

Alan Gardner at The Oval29-Jun-2016Jason Roy fell narrowly short of breaking Robin Smith’s 23-year-old record for the highest ODI score by an England batsman but he is confident that one of the new generation will eclipse it before long.Roy’s innings of 162 followed another record-breaking performance at Edgbaston last week – in which he and Alex Hales knocked off 256 without loss – as England sealed the series against Sri Lanka with a game to spare. However, he was dismissed with 27 still needed for victory on his home ground, and six to pass Smith’s 167 not out at Edgbaston in 1993.”Yeah, 100% someone could break that,” Roy said. “We’ve seen it at Edgbaston, seen it here today – that was obviously a great pitch, tough to defend. Credit to the Sri Lankans, they did bat well, it was just a remarkable evening.”Eoin Morgan, England’s captain, backed up that view after Roy led the way in a chase of 308 in 42 overs – only the fifth time England have overhauled a 300-plus target in ODIs, and the third inside 12 months.”Not to take anything from Jason’s innings today but certainly within our batting line-up I think we’ve guys who have enough talent and ability to push past that,” he said. “Certainly the other day, if we had batted first at Edgbaston and got off to a similar start, you’d think that one of them would go past it.”Jos Buttler probably doesn’t need as many balls as anybody else to go past it. Against New Zealand last year, we got 400, Rooty got a 72-ball hundred and could have kicked on past it. The way to look at it, with the ability and power in the side, we have a lot of match-winners, which is something to be proud of.”England were handicapped on this occasion by the loss of Hales to a back problem and saw his replacement at opener, Moeen Ali, dismissed early in the innings. But Roy, who made an unbeaten 112 in the second ODI, ensured Sri Lanka would remain winless despite posting their highest total of the series in a match disrupted by rain.”Part and parcel of being a successful international player is making form count and Jason epitomised that today,” Morgan said. “He showed the experience of a player way beyond his years, a lot of guys might have got 80-90 or even a hundred and then got out. To go on and get 162 and make a substantial match-winning contribution was outstanding.”The manner in which Jason and our batting unit plays is we do take risks but we’re minimising risk by training very hard and bridging the gap between taking a risk and failing. We have enough firepower to do that and the innings by Jason reinforces the confidence within the batting unit to do that.”Superlative England performances have started to come along with increasing regularity and Roy described the atmosphere in the dressing room as “incredible” as the team continue to embrace a no-fear style of play.”To back up the performance in Edgbaston was extremely special. Not many words to describe how I’m feeling now, I’m just excited to get back in the dressing room and see the boys and celebrate a series win,” he said.”It’s my home ground, I’ve got a few people in to watch, which was hugely special. Credit to the boys, they allow me to go out there and enjoy myself and play the way I want to play. I’ve got no worries about getting out in the first over because I know the guys are backing me. It’s an incredible dressing room to be part of at the moment.”Morgan said that a decision on whether Hales would be fit to play in the final match of the series, at Cardiff on Saturday, was “too early to call” and he would be assessed on Thursday afternoon.

Liam Dawson smashed a 68-ball century and Glamorgan were then blown away with the ball to lose by 186 runs in Swansea

ECB Reporters Network31-Jul-2016
ScorecardLiam Dawson thumped his way to a century from 68 balls•Getty Images

Liam Dawson smashed a 68-ball century and Glamorgan were then blown away with the ball to lose by 186 runs in Swansea. They slipped to 29 for 6 against the seam of swing of Gareth Berg and Ryan McLaren, the pair finishing with eight wickets between them to keep Hampshire’s hopes of a Royal London quarter-final alive.Forty runs came from the final two overs of Hampshire’s innings, with Dawson reaching an unbeaten hundred by hitting the last ball of the innings, bowled by Michael Hogan, for six. Having been 70 from 61, he cleared the ropes four times in six deliveries at the death to record the second List A hundred of his career.Glamorgan made a terrible start when David Lloyd was leg before to McLaren to the first ball of the innings and, despite the slow pitch, the Hampshire seamers repeatedly beat the bat, as Jacques Rudolph and Will Bragg edged balls to the wicketkeeper.Colin Ingram, who struck hundreds in both one-day competitions against Essex last week, was the next to go when he top-edged a hook to fine leg. When Graham Wagg was leg-before to a perfect yorker from Berg, the home team, playing the first day of the festival at St Helen’s, had lost five wickets for seven runs, with Berg taking 4 for 2 from 16 balls.There were ironic cheers from the sizeable crowd in the 15th over when Mark Wallace became the first Glamorgan batsman to reach double-figures by driving Brad Wheal to the boundary. Craig Meschede top-scored with 45 and his partnership of 30 with Tim van der Gugten enabled Glamorgan to pass three figures, but it was little consolation for the home side or their supporters.In complete contrast, Hampshire scored freely after winning the toss. Tom Alsop, who has struck a hundred and three fifties in the competition this season, made a fluent 35, before chipping Meschede to mid-on while Will Smith made the most of being dropped on 23 at midwicket off Andrew Salter to an anchor the innings with 84, putting on 61 with Joe Weatherley and 86 with Dawson to take Hampshire to 223 for 4 in the 43rd over. Dawson then hit the accelerator during a partnership of 60 in 34 balls with McLaren.Dawson, captaining the side in the absence of Sean Ervine, said: “The win sets us up nicely for the final game against Somerset on Tuesday, and a chance to qualify for the quarter-finals. We were undecided what to do after winning the toss, but knowing the history of the Swansea ground, it was a good decision, as the pitch doesn’t get any better in the second innings. We thought that around 270 would have been competitive, but to reach 316 was a massive bonus.”

Miguel Cummins, the West Indies fast bowler, has signed as Worcestershire’s overseas player for the final three rounds of the Championship

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Aug-2016Miguel Cummins, the West Indies fast bowler, has signed as Worcestershire’s overseas player for the final three rounds of the Championship. Cummins, who made his Test debut against India last month, replaces South Africa’s Kyle Abbott as Worcestershire aim to maintain their pursuit of the one promotion spot available in Division Two this season.Abbott was called up for South Africa’s Test series with New Zealand and, after two defeats in their last three matches followed by conceding 551 against Northamptonshire, Worcestershire have decided to strengthen their attack by bringing in Cummins.With one day of their ongoing match at New Road to go, Worcestershire sit fourth in the Division Two table, 56 points behind leaders Essex after they secured a three-day win against Leicestershire.Steve Rhodes, Worcestershire’s director of cricket, said: “We have signed Miguel for the last three games of the season. I am delighted not only to be getting someone who has been playing recently but also someone who has recently been playing international cricket and that says a lot for his quality.”He played in the West Indies-India series and was successful in the penultimate Test of that series. He is a young guy with no experience of county cricket or English conditions but he is hungry to do well, try and impress and make an impact and he has got this opportunity in the last three games and we are looking forward to having him on board.”He is a little bit quicker than any of our bowlers, with a bit of bounce, and he is well thought of by Ottis Gibson. I spoke to him and he gave a very good recommendation for him and when you look to give someone an opportunity, you want someone with a point to prove.”There is a lot of unavailability [of overseas players] towards the end of the season and we are very lucky to get Miguel.”Cummins, who took 6 for 48 in the St Lucia Test against India, has a career record of 125 first-class wickets at 22.44. He was the most successful pace bowler in this year’s WICB Professional Cricket League, with 33 at 20.69. He is expected to arrive at the club on Monday and be available to play Essex at Chelmsford, starting on Wednesday, followed by games against Sussex and Derbyshire.”I am relishing the chance to play county cricket for the first time,” Cummins said. “I am always keen to learn and broaden my cricketing knowledge and experiences and this is an ideal opportunity for me. Several West Indian players have played for the county and I hope I can make a significant impact and help the club towards its goal of trying to achieve promotion.”

Following the Supreme Court’s warning to the BCCI to follow the directive to implement the Lodha reforms, the board’s defiance seems to have given way to anxiety ahead of the SGM on Friday

Nagraj Gollapudi and Arun Venugopal 29-Sep-20162:25

Lodha proposes, BCCI disposes

Following the Supreme Court’s warning to the BCCI to “fall in line” and follow the directive to implement the Lodha Committee’s recommendations, the board’s defiance seems to have given way to a mixture of anxiety and uncertainty a day before its crucial special general meeting on Friday in Mumbai.The agenda for the SGM, the BCCI had pointed out last week, would be to “consider directions of Justice (Retd) Lodha Committee in connection with the formal adoption of the new Memorandum of Association and Rules for the BCCI.”The court asked the BCCI to respond within a week to the status report submitted by the Lodha Committee on Wednesday. If the BCCI fails to adopt the new Memorandum of Association and Rules at Friday’s meeting, the board risks facing further flak from the court. The BCCI could wait for the court to issue a directive based on the board’s response to the status order, but either way there were not many options left for the BCCI, keeping in mind the two sets of timelines drawn by the Lodha Committee, the first of which will expire on Friday, September 30.A number of board members ESPNcricinfo spoke to admitted to being clueless about the BCCI’s next course of action, and said it would be chalked out by president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke at the SGM. An experienced administrator termed it a “crisis”, but said it was not the end of the road for the BCCI. He felt if the court did not budge, it was time for a new wave of administrators to take charge.A BCCI office-bearer said the board was looking to drag things for as long as it could. “You should understand one thing: whatever needs to be done, we’ll do it,” he said. “The affidavit [filed by the BCCI] is just to prolong things as far as possible.”Some members were, however, wary of the aggressive stance taken by the Lodha Committee and the Supreme Court. The president of a south zone association said the BCCI’s response had to be measured, and people needed to be “careful” about what they said.Another office-bearer of the board, meanwhile, faulted the confrontational approach adopted by the BCCI so far, and said the members of the board were not apprised of relevant developments. “Nobody is kept in the loop. Only president and secretary know what’s happening,” he said. “The BCCI has always been [president and secretary-centric]; that’s the problem we have. All the members could have actually interacted individually with the Lodha Committee, but that was denied. From the beginning itself it has been derailed and we have never got an opportunity to put it on track. From there on, things are messed up.”Ever since the court approved the Lodha recommendations on July 18, the BCCI has resolutely opposed them. The main recommendations the BCCI does not agree with are the cooling-off period after a three-year term, imposing an age cap of 70 for administrators, and having an official of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the proposed Apex Council. The proposed Apex Council is itself contentious as it would replace the existing, and powerful, working committee and the one-state-one-vote proposal, which would bring Mumbai, Maharashtra, Vidarbha. Gujarat, Saurashtra and Baroda under one cluster and limit their voting power to just one vote by rotation.Most state associations, too, have continued to wait for the BCCI’s direction on amending their constitutions. So far, only the Vidarbha Cricket Association has decided to put to vote whether the Lodha recommendations can be adopted by the September 30 deadline set by the committee in its first set of timelines.From being unresponsive at the beginning to openly critical of the Lodha Committee, the BCCI has pursued a combative strategy. Last week, it asked three former India captains, Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev – all hired by the board as television commentators – to back its stance and ask the Lodha Committee to modify some of the recommendations through a dialogue.However, RM Lodha, the chairman of the Lodha Committee, made it clear that there can’t be any dialogue.”Our recommendations have merged with the July 18 judgment after the Supreme Court accepted them and ordered their implementation,” Lodha told the . “The recommendations are part of the judgment. Any attempt to impede implementation of the reform recommendations would be construed as non-implementation of the judgment itself.”

Dhananjaya De Silva’s second Test century and a serene 79 from Upul Tharanga helped Sri Lanka fight back from 112 for 4 to end the opening day of the second Test in Harare on 290 for 5

The Report by Shashank Kishore06-Nov-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsDhananjaya de Silva’s 143-run stand with Upul Tharanga helped Sri Lanka fight back from 112 for 4•Getty Images

It took Upul Tharanga multiple stints and close to 11 years after his first Test century to bring up his second. A week on, he looked set to add to that tally. He had progressed serenely to 79 during the course of a 143-run fifth-wicket stand with Dhananjaya De Silva and revived Sri Lanka after a top order wobble, before fading light brought about a slightly more circumspect approach that may have contributed to his dismissal. At the other end, Dhananjaya calmly waded through the 90s to bring up his second Test century as Sri Lanka nudged ahead on a see-saw opening day, ending it 290 for 5.Things could have been much better for Zimbabwe had they fielded and caught better. In the penultimate over of the day, Brian Chari’s underarm flick at the bowler’s end missed the stumps and reprieved Asela Gunaratne, who was on 10. Before that came a costlier miss, Peter Moor fluffing a chance down the leg side off Graeme Cremer to let Dhananjaya off on 64. That was the only uncertain moment in Dhananjaya’s innings, which showcased his ability to tailor his tactics to Sri Lanka’s situation.Happy to hit through the line against the seamers, he eliminated drives against Cremer’s legspin as the day wore on. That wasn’t to say he was completely guarded, for the bad balls were punished, at times with a touch of disdain.If Tharanga was an accumulator, Dhananjaya was the artist during the course of Sri Lanka’s highest fifth-wicket stand against Zimbabwe – they surpassed the previous best of 114 between Asanka Gurusinha and Hashan Tillakaratne at Sinhalese Sports Club (Colombo) in 1996. The pair batted through 50.3 overs on a surface that offered plenty of lateral movement.As the day progressed, there was even a hint of turn and inconsistent bounce, which further underlined the importance of the partnership. Dhananjaya, who walked in to bat with Sri Lanka 112 for 4, hit 11 fours and was batting on 100 at stumps.Zimbabwe, who were on the wrong side of several decisions in the first Test, were beneficiaries of the Decision Review System that was introduced for the first time in the country. Tharanga, initially given not out by umpire Simon Fry, had to walk back when replays suggested he had nicked the ball while driving away from his body at Cremer, before the ball bounced to slip off the wicketkeeper’s pads.Zimbabwe’s relief was palpable, and continued to attack with the seamers, taking the second new ball as soon as it became available, but Dhananjaya and Gunaratne saw out the rest of the day’s play.Choosing to bowl first, Zimbabwe were dealt an early blow when Carl Mumba, one of their three frontline seamers, left the field with knee trouble after bowling his first over. His absence, coupled with the waywardness of Christopher Mpofu, helped Dimuth Karunaratne and Kaushal Silva to rattle off 60 in the first hour.Hamilton Masakadza led Zimbabwe’s revival with his part-time seam after being summoned up to give Mpofu and Donald Tiripano a breather. It took him just 10 balls to break the 62-run opening stand, Dimuth Karunarate gliding an away-going delivery into the hands of Sean Williams at gully. In Masakadza’s next over, Kusal Perera swiped a full-length delivery to Mumba at long-on.The pressure Zimbabwe maintained thereon played a part in their next breakthrough, Mpofu trapping Kaushal Silva lbw with an in-dipper in the penultimate over before lunch. It was a dramatic dismissal. Given out by umpire Fry, Kaushal was denied a review by his own indecision – he took more than the prescribed 15 seconds before asking for it. Replays suggested Zimbabwe were lucky, with ball-tracking showing the angle taking the ball past leg stump.Two overs after lunch, Sri Lanka lost Kusal Mendis and were a precarious 112 for 4. Tharanga, who walked in at No 5, laced the first two balls he faced to the cover boundary and glanced his fourth ball for another four. Having gotten off to that turbocharged start, he progressed steadily. Early in his innings, Dhananjaya marked his arrival, splitting midwicket and mid-on with a whiplash flick off Mpofu. That was just one of several moments of class in his effort to lead Sri Lanka’s revival.

The Bangladesh team management have made Sabbir Rahman aware of the danger he faces of getting suspended after he accrued three demerit points under the ICC’s updated code of conduct

Mohammad Isam11-Oct-20161:07

Disappointed with Bangladesh’s celebrations – Buttler

The Bangladesh team management have made Sabbir Rahman aware of the danger he faces of getting suspended after he accrued three demerit points under the ICC’s updated code of conduct.He has been punished twice in the space of two weeks since the new system was introduced on September 22, and along with India allrounder Ravindra Jadeja, who is also on three points, will be on a good behaviour watch list for the next two years.This is because if they accrue one more point during this period (totalling four points), it will be converted into suspension points which will determine how many matches a player will then miss. The number of demerit points range from one to eight depending on the level of offence the player is charged with. Four points would equate to two suspension points which means they would miss one Test or a combination of ODIs and T20s.Bangladesh manager Khaled Mahmud said they have told Sabbir to be careful of his behaviour, especially with his celebration that brought him the second punishment.”We have already spoken to him about the risk that he is facing regarding the suspensions,” Mahmud said. “He is aware where he stands. After what happened in the last game, I think he has to tone down his celebrations, avoid doing what he did in that incident. He can obviously celebrate but within the appropriate limits.”Sabbir’s first incident was during the first ODI against Afghanistan on September 25 when he argued with umpire Sharfuddoula over a leg-before decision. The next offence was when he and Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza were penalised for “overstepping their celebration” against England.In another change from the old regulations, after serving a ban the player’s disciplinary slate will not be automatically rubbed clean in terms of the demerit points. The points under the 2016 regulations would hold for the next 24 months, and in case of further penalties, add up and will move onto five and above, reaching the next level of suspension – eight and above demerit points – which then make a player liable to be banned for two Tests. The demerit points would only be wiped clean after 24 months.Mahmud however said that the new system is easier for players to understand where they stand in terms of breaching the code of conduct.”I think the new system is quite helpful to the players,” Mahmud said. “They now know where they stand in terms of the demerit points. Previously he may have been suspended after the second incident but now he has another chance.”

Sachin Tendulkar has suggested that every Ranji Trophy game be played on two different pitches with two different balls to prepare the Test team for bigger challenges in overseas conditions

PTI03-Dec-2016Sachin Tendulkar has suggested that every Ranji Trophy game be played on two different pitches to prepare a better Test team for overseas assignments.He also suggested that bilateral Test series could be made more engaging by having back-to-back home-and-away rubbers so that the strength of two teams remains mostly constant but the varying conditions pose a bigger challenge.”I have thought a lot about neutral venues in Ranji Trophy [which is being tried this season],” Tendulkar said at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit in Delhi.”I have a suggestion which can be radical. When we go to places like Australia, New Zealand, West Indies and South Africa, we play with Kookaburra balls which swing early. Think about a young Ranji batsman playing with SG Test ball in India and then facing difficulty overseas.”Let us have the first innings on a greentop with Kookaburra balls, which would give openers a challenge. Even the bowlers will have something. Our spinners will also learn how to bowl with the Kookaburra on greentops.”Now let there be a pitch adjacent to the greentop which would be a rank turner. Now the second innings will be played on that track with the SG Test ball which would also help our batsmen play against quality spin bowling. We have been too focussed on playing pace in overseas conditions but we should not forget how to play spin bowling.”Tendulkar felt the use of two different pitches and two different balls would nullify the toss factor.”A captain would start thinking that winning the toss will give him only 10 percent advantage that is his right to choose first,” he said. “But if he chooses to bowl on greentop he should remember that he would need to bat on a turner in the fourth innings.”BCCI president Anurag Thakur was also among the audience.

When asked by Sky Sports if England had “stagnated” under his leadership, Alastair Cook responded: “That’s a fair shout, you can say whatever you want now

Andrew Miller20-Dec-2016Alastair Cook has conceded that England’s Test fortunes may have “stagnated” over the past 12 months, but confirms he will not rush any decision on the future of his Test captaincy, in spite of another humiliating defeat in the fifth and final match of England’s tour of India.Cook’s dismissal for 49 in the first hour after lunch was the catalyst for another dramatic collapse on the final afternoon in Chennai, as England lost ten wickets for 104 runs in 48.2 overs – including their last six for 15 – to slump to defeat by an innings and 75 runs, and a 4-0 series loss.The defeat was England’s eighth in 17 Tests in 2016, equalling their record number of losses for a calendar year, and they will finish the year at No. 5 in the Test rankings, some way below the levels they might have anticipated after winning both the Ashes and a memorable away series against South Africa last year.When asked by Sky Sports if England had “stagnated” under his leadership, Cook responded: “That’s a fair shout, you can say whatever you want now, if I turn around here and slag everyone off and use emotive language, I’m not doing my job. When you lose Test cricket, you get criticised. You have to take it on the chin.”The defeat was Cook’s 22nd in 59 Tests at the helm, meaning he has overtaken Michael Atherton as England’s most defeated captain in Test history. However, he confirmed he will wait until the dust has settled on the tour before deciding whether to carry on as captain, following an anticipated meeting with Andrew Strauss, England’s team director, in the New Year.”This is not the place to be standing asking me these questions,” Cook said. “I have to go away and do some thinking. I need to get back home and do it without the emotive side of what’s happened over the last nine weeks.”In his subsequent press conference, he added: “I need to go home first enjoy Christmas as much as I can do and then come back in January and look to plan with Straussy and see what’s the right decision for English cricket. I’ve got to go away and decide whether I am the right man to take England forward. It’s the wrong time to make those decisions as energy is low, energy is low and you can make foolish decisions as those times.”When there’s not a Test match for seven months it’d seem very foolish to stand here now and make a decision which either you regret or don’t. If there was a Test match in three weeks time you’d have to think. But while there is a bit of space why not use it?”The defeat at Chennai was England’s second by an innings in as many matches, and just as in Mumbai last week, they were blown away in spite of winning the toss and posting a large first-innings total – 400 at the Wankhede, 477 at Chepauk.”I don’t think we ran out of fight, all the guys gave their all, but weren’t good enough,” Cook said. “Whether that’s a culmination of the pressure being built up over a long period of time, or a bit of mental tiredness, people will look at that and say it’s an excuse, but we haven’t been good enough in these conditions.”I said at the beginning of the series, it was vitally important to stay in the contest as long as we can, because we’ve seen in previous tours here, it’s a hard juggernaut to stop – the India juggernaut at home, when they’re are playing as well as that. Once they get ahead, their confidence goes and it’s hard to stop that momentum.”Whether 4-0 is fair or not, it’s hard to say,” he added. “We’ve struggled to take 20 wickets and we haven’t got enough runs, so we probably didn’t deserve much more than that.”We’ve missed opportunities, we’ve been in games and had good fortune to win four out of five tosses, but we haven’t pushed home our advantages. Sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say we are not good enough in these conditions. We will have to be better when we come back.”

Jos Buttler has admitted that he is facing a clash of priorities between his IPL stint with Mumbai Indians and the home ODIs against Ireland in May.

Vishal Dikshit in Cuttack18-Jan-2017Jos Buttler has admitted that he is facing a clash of priorities in the build-up to England’s Champions Trophy campaign, with the scheduling of a two-match ODI series against Ireland in early May set to clash with the final weeks of his IPL stint with Mumbai Indians.Buttler, who participated in the full IPL season in 2016, said it was a “tough question” as to which of the two competitions would provide better preparation for the Champions Trophy, which takes place on home soil in June and represents a very good opportunity for England to claim their maiden 50-over title in a global event.”End of the day, you want to play for England and represent England,” he said. “Obviously, the management will make the call on the players and the availability for the Ireland games. I understand that it is a tricky sort of situation – the IPL is a great experience but playing for England is obviously a fantastic opportunity and a privilege as well. It’s a tough question.”The ECB last year relaxed their attitude towards overseas franchise leagues, seeing them as a vital part of their players’ preparations for international white-ball tournaments. With Buttler making his mark at the IPL, and others, such as Adil Rashid starring for Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash, England’s progression to the final of the World T20 in India last year was early proof that the new approach could bear fruit.However, with the schedule for England’s home summer focusing on one-day cricket from the outset, instead of the usual early-season Test series, the timing of the Ireland tour threatens to disrupt the availability of England’s IPL hopefuls. Two ODIs are scheduled for Bristol on May 5 and Lord’s on May 7, and the captain, Eoin Morgan, is one such player who is expected to have to make himself available for those matches instead of completing a full IPL stint.Buttler, who was retained by Mumbai Indians for the upcoming season, also hoped he would get to see more of his England team-mates participate in the IPL, but said it would be up to the individual players to decide.”I think it is always going to be a little bit of an individual decision. I can only speak from my own experience; I think the IPL is probably the best cricket experience I’ve ever had. I’ve learnt as much, not just about T20 but about myself, about all forms of cricket, about what it takes to become a top cricketer. It’s only the best experience I’ve had as a cricketer.”Whether other people will feel that, I don’t know. I could only have good things to say about it. So hopefully, from my point of view, there are more English guys involved in playing in these conditions, in front of these crowds, under the pressure of being overseas players. It can only stand you in good stead, looking forward to when you play for England, and when you play in different competitions and knockout competitions, I think it is a great experience to be part of.”

The PCB is looking to build upon the momentum of the Pakistan Super League by hosting a T20 series in the country against a team of foreign players in September this year

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Mar-2017The PCB is looking to build upon the momentum of a successful and incident-free Pakistan Super League (PSL) final in Lahore on Sunday, by hosting a T20 series in the country against a team of foreign players in September this year.It is unclear currently what the nature of the touring side will be. A senior PCB official said it would be a “commonwealth XI” but a report in the Guardian referred to a World XI.Giles Clarke, the ECB president, and head of the ICC’s Pakistan Task Force, is a driving force behind the venture. He visited Pakistan in January and was given briefings on security arrangements for visiting sides. It was his first visit to the country as head of the Pakistan Task Force and he met with senior officials of the Punjab government to assess the security arrangements. He then gave a presentation on his visit at the ICC board meeting soon after.On Monday, he congratulated PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan on the “successful staging” of the PSL final, calling it a “tremendous achievement”. Referring to the series, he said: “Very well played. We will be there in September.”According to the Guardian, the team that will visit Pakistan is expected to assemble in Dubai on September 17 before flying to Lahore for the matches on September 22, 23, 28 and 29.Among the international players to play in the PSL final were Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Chris Jordan and Morne van Wyk, who travelled in bullet-proof buses to the ground amid high security.Sammy, who captained Peshawar Zalmi to a 58-run win in the final, spoke in glowing terms about the experience.”To me it was more than just a game,” he said after the match. “When you have not been in a place you always have your doubts. You get different views, different opinions. But I spoke to Javed [Afridi, the Peshawar team owner] and Shahid Afridi and they influenced my decision to come here.”The fans here deserve to see their players playing as they haven’t seen it for quite a while. I am glad I came here. Being here felt like playing in St Lucia, playing in India or anywhere else in the world. And like I said at the toss, today I felt cricket was the winner.”