All 14 nations have arrived in Australia/New Zealand for the most exhilarating and exciting Cricket World Cup ever to be played. The month of February commenced with injury worries to few key players in the coming mega-event while few international spinners have been cleared by the ICC to resume bowling.
New Zealand seal 2-0 win over Pakistan
Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson scored centuries as New Zealand beat Pakistan by 119 runs at Napier and completed a 2-0 series win at McLean Park, Napier on 3rd February.
Centuries to Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, playing his 150th ODI, led the Blackcaps to a monumental 369-5 in the first innings, back up by 76 from Martin Guptill. In reply Pakistan got off to a strong start, but the pressure of the run-rate and persistence of the home side’s bowlers extinguished their hopes after 43.1 overs, bowled out for 250.
Injured Ishant Sharma out of World Cup
Injured fast-bowler Ishant Sharma has been ruled out of the Cricket World Cup and will be replaced in the Indian squad by Mohit Sharma. The loss of the experienced pace spearhead is a serious setback for the defending champions India as only a week is remaining from its World Cup opener against Pakistan in Adelaide.
Saeed Ajmal and Sohag Gazi cleared to bowl
Pakistan’s Saeed Ajmal and Bangladesh’s Sohag Gazi can resume bowling in international cricket, after the ICC cleared their bowling actions following remedial work and retests. At the retests, it was revealed that the amount of elbow extensions in both the off spinners’ bowling actions for all their deliveries was within the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted under the ICC regulations for the review of bowlers reported with suspected illegal bowling actions.
The umpires are still at liberty to report Ajmal or Gazi in the future if they believe they are displaying a suspect action and not reproducing the legal actions from the retests. Umpires have been provided with images and video footage of the bowlers’ significantly remodeled legal bowling actions.
James Faulkner ruled out of Australia’s World Cup campaign opener
Australia have confirmed star all-rounder James Faulkner will miss the start of the Cricket World Cup.
The 24-year-old picked up “a moderate grade abdominal muscle strain” during Sunday’s Tri-Series final victory over England in Perth and is likely to miss the rematch on the opening day of the World Cup, February 14. Cricket Australia physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said in a statement: “Scans on James Faulkner’s injured side have confirmed a moderate grade abdominal muscle strain which is consistent with a ‘typical’ fast-bowling side strain injury.
Injury rules Mohammed Hafeez out of World Cup
Pakistan opener Mohammad Hafeez has been ruled out of the World Cup after suffering an ankle injury, in yet another blow to the team before the mega-event. The 34-year-old suffered the injury during the second ODI against New Zealand in Napier last week and has been advised to take three weeks’ rest. “Hafeez has been ruled out of the World Cup and will return home with the first available flight and in his place Nasir Jamshed has been summoned,” a Pakistan Cricket Board spokesman told the Media.
Pragyan Ojha’s action cleared by BCCI
Indian left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha has been cleared to resume bowling in competitive cricket by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) after passing tests on his bowling action that had taken place at the ICC-accredited testing center in Chennai on January 30. Ojha had been banned from bowling in December after his bowling action was found to be illegal with the flex in his elbow exceeding the 15-degree limit as permitted by the International Cricket Council (ICC). He had subsequently been withdrawn from Hyderabad’s Ranji Trophy squad and released by IPL franchise Mumbai Indians.
Sledging to be punished at World Cup
The International Cricket Council (ICC) will crack down on excessive sledging between players at the World Cup, saying first offenders can expect heavier fines while repeat offenders face suspension from matches.
ICC chief executive David Richardson also said players with already poor records of on-field behaviour could face immediate match bans if found guilty of a single breach of the ICC’s code of conduct during the 44-day tournament.
