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Dubai, Aug 21 (Ians) Some of the top cricket stars from all around the world will represent the six ILT20 franchises in Season 2 of UAE’s biggest domestic T20 league — the ILT20. Australia’s all-format opener David Warner (Dubai Capitals) is amongst the full list of superstars that the six teams have signed for Season 2.

Warner (350 internationals for Australia) is already a great of the game with his batting feats in the international arena. The left-hander has played 356 T20s around the world amassing 11695 runs with the help of eight centuries.

England fast bowler Mark Wood is set to raise the heat at the Dp World ILT20 Season 2 with his searing pace, Wood also joins the Capitals squad. Wood is rated amongst the fastest bowlers in the world and has produced some match-winning performances in the recent past.

Other than Warner and Wood, the Capitals have brought back Sri Lanka all-rounder...

Harare, July 1 (Ians) Two-time winners West Indies have been eliminated from the race to qualify for the 2023 Men’s Odi World Cup after suffering a thumping seven-wicket defeat to Scotland in the Super Six stage of the ongoing qualifiers tournament at the Harare Sports Club on Saturday.

West Indies were the champions of the first two editions of World Cups in 1975 and 1979 and finished runners-up to India in 1983.

The 13th edition of the Odi World Cup, to be held from October 5 to November 19 in India, will be the first tournament to be played without the West Indies.

The loss to Scotland means West Indies won’t be among the two teams to qualify for this year’s Odi World Cup. The saddening setback is a continuation of West Indies’ decline in Icc tournaments, coming after not making it to the Super 12 stage of the 2022 Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia,...

Bulawayo (Zimbabwe), June 27 (Ians) Sri Lanka were made to work hard for an 82-run win over previously unbeaten Scotland, making it four wins from four to top Group B in the Icc Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023.

Asked to bat first, Sri Lanka were bowled out for just 245 but on a tricky surface, that proved more than enough as Maheesh Theekshana (3-41) did the damage with the ball -– Scotland getting bowled out in just 29 overs.That means Sri Lanka take four points through to the Super Six, with the Scots taking two as the race for qualification intensifies.

In the other match of the day, Ireland picked up their first win of the campaign with a 138-run success against the United Arab Emirates, with Paul Stirling hitting form with a blistering 162.

Sri Lankan bowlers step up

For the first time in this tournament, Dimuth Karunaratne failed to make a half-century,...

Bulawayo, June 25 (Ians) Top-order batter Brandon McMullen’s 136 followed by 5/53 from leg-spinner Chris Greaves set up Scotland’s convincing 76-run win over Oman in their Group B match of Men’s Odi World Cup Qualifiers at the Bulawayo Athletic Club on Sunday.

Ireland’s 133-run defeat to Sri Lanka at Queen Sports Club had ensured that both Oman and Scotland made it to the Super Six stage. But Scotland will now have the added advantage of carrying two points from their win over Oman on Sunday in progressing to the next stage.

Bilal Khan gave Oman the perfect start when he trapped Christopher McBride lbw off the very third ball of the game. Scotland found the going tough against a disciplined new-ball effort from Oman, making only two runs in their first four overs. McMullen and Matthew Cross gradually settled in and added 82 runs for the second wicket partnership, with...

Bulawayo, June 23 (Ians) Richie Berrington produced a perfect captains knock while Safyaan Sharif and Chris Sole starred with the ball to help Scotland thrash United Arab Emirates by 111 runs in their Group B match of Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifiers at the Bulawayo Athletic Club, here on Friday.

After Berrington’s 127, followed by 44 not out from Mark Watt, steered Scotland to 282/8, Sharif took 4/20 and Sole picked 3/37 to bowl out UAE for 171 in 35.3 overs, as the Gulf nation were also knocked out of Odi World Cup qualification contention too.

Scotland didn’t have a rosy start as Junaid Siddique first trapped opener Christopher McBride lbw and then castled Matthew Cross. Ali Nasser and Zahoor Khan also provided great support to him, scalping the wickets of Brandon McMullen and Tomas Mackintosh respectively, as Scotland were left reeling at 48/4.

Berrington and Michael Leask, hero of Scotland’s one-wicket victory over Ireland, then...

Bulawayo, June 21 (Ians) All-rounder Michael Leask hit a four on the final ball of Scotland’s chase to secure a thrilling one-wicket win for Scotland over Ireland in their Mens Odi World Cup Qualifier Group B match at Queens Sports Club, here on Wednesday.

All-rounder Curtis Campher’s superb 120 and George Dockrell’s fine 69 helped Ireland to a total of 286/8, after being reduced to 70/5, thanks to Brandon McMullen’s 5/34.

In reply, Scotland were in trouble at 152/7. But Leask had other ideas, slamming a glorious unbeaten 91 off 61 balls, laced with nine fours and four sixes, to gain a thrilling win for Scotland.

Leask also shared a vital 82-run stand for the eighth wicket with Mark Watt (47), before stitching a 50-run stand with Safyaan Sharif (6). With this, Scotland have now won 13 of their last 14 ODIs batting second.

Scotland’s chase had a less than ideal start as Matthew Cross fell to Mark Adair in the second over.

Harare/Bulawayo, June 16 (Ians) Former World Champions West Indies and Sri Lanka and hosts Zimbabwe went won both their warm-up matches ahead of the Icc Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 Qualifier tournament with comfortable victories over the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Scotland and the USA respectively.

Netherlands and Nepal will also enter the group stages on the back of victories, with the Netherlands overcoming Ireland while Nepal beat Oman.

Powell powers West Indies to win

Rovman Powell’s rapid century helped the West Indies regain composure after they slipped to 198-7 midway through their innings against UAE.

Nicholas Pooran’s 74 had helped the Windies to a commanding position before three wickets in nine balls saw his side stutter.

But Powell combined with Keemo Paul to put on 139 for the eighth wicket, the former eventually dismissed for 105 from just 55 balls as the Windies posted 374 for nine, the Icc informed in a report on its website.

Harare/Bulawayo, June 13 (Ians) The opening set of warm-up fixtures ahead of the Icc Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe saw the home nation get off to a winning start thanks to an inspired performance by Sikandar Raza, while there were wins elsewhere for Ireland, Sri Lanka and West Indies.

Ten teams will compete in the qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe over the next month, with the final two spots up for grabs at the Icc Men’s Cricket World Cup in India later this year.

Sri Lanka beat the Netherlands by 3 wickets

The Netherlands got close to an upset win against tournament favourites Sri Lanka in Bulawayo.

Some friendly bowling conditions early on saw the Dutch side slip to 28/4, but a middle-order revival helped them to a total of 214 all out in 45.3 overs, with Teja Nidamanuru (41 from 62), Scott Edwards (35 from 48) and Saqib Zulfiqar (56 from 64) the main contributors.

Kasun Rajitha was...

Edinburgh, May 10 (Ians) Cricket Scotland on Wednesday announced the list of men’s and women’s players who will be awarded a professional contract for 2023-24.

Fourteen men’s players have been awarded a professional contract while nine women’s cricketers also make the list. This is the first time that women’s cricketers in Scotland have been awarded a professional contract following an announcement in November 2022.

The duration of the contracts will be from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024. The selection of players for the contracts was made by a panel and the process was conducted in February and March this year.

Men and women cricketers will continue to be awarded equal match fees, a practice which has been in place since 2021.

“We are thrilled to announce this year’s contracts, and for women’s cricket in Scotland in particular, this really is a landmark moment. I’m absolutely delighted that...

Glasgow, Sep 22 (Ians) Experienced batter Richie Berrington on Thursday was named as Scotland’s captain for the Icc Men’s T20 World Cup to be held in Australia from next month. Matt Cross will be the wicketkeeper and serve as Berrington’s deputy.

The 15-member side also includes leg-spin all-rounder Chris Greaves, who made his Scotland debut at last year’s T20 World Cup and came into limelight by scoring a match-winning 45 against Bangladesh in first round.

The squad also features the uncapped Brandon McMullen who impressed at the Regional series and A team matches with both bat and ball as a genuine all-rounder. He will provide the squad with an option to be versatile in any role. With the bat, apart from Berrington and Cross, George Munsey and Calum MacLeod will also hold the key.

“We are very pleased and excited to announce our 15 players for the T20 World Cup.