Tuesday July 18, 2017
CWI announces player amnesty, preparing for WC qualifiers ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – The region’s stars are now likely to return to international cricket after Cricket West Indies yesterday announced a temporary player amnesty, the first step towards scrapping the contentious eligibility rule. CWI’s chief executive, Johnny Grave, said that a working group of the Cricket Committee were expected to present recommendations on the rule to the Board of Directors shortly, which would be discussed at a meeting in September. In the interim, Grave said, all “registered players” would be eligible for selection. “The agreement forms part of a wider strategy to be more inclusive and to improve player relations aimed at reengaging all players within our system so that they can perform at their best for the Windies Team,” Grave said. The move by CWI comes with West Indies almost certainly set to miss out on automatic qualification for the 2019 World Cup in England.
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They are currently ninth in the ICC one-day rankings with only hosts England and the remaining top seven nations in the world by September 30, assured of automatic qualification. Ten teams will then contest a qualifying tournament next year for the two remaining spots at the World Cup. West Indies have one more chance to achieve direct qualification when they face England in a five-match series in September but Graves said CWI were already preparing for the prospect of playing in next year’s qualification tournament in order to reach the World Cup. “We recognize that it is highly unlikely that we will now automatically qualify for the 2019 World Cup, so whilst the qualifying tournament has yet to be confirmed by ICC, we may only have eight (8) ODIs against England and New Zealand in the next six months to prepare,” the Englishman explained. “It is crucial that we can have our best performing
Windies players available for selection in these important games.” Without their marquee players, West Indies have struggled in the shorter format, winning just four of their last 21 matches – including an embarrassing loss to then ICC associate side Afghanistan in St Lucia last month. Superstar opener Chris Gayle has not played since the 2015 World Cup while allrounder Dwayne Bravo has not suited up since the controversial abandoned tour of India three years ago. Former Test, one-day and Twenty20 captain Darren Sammy and energetic allrounder Andre Russell have also sat on the sidelines for the last two years – even though the latter has been serving a one-year suspension for an anti-doping “whereabouts” violation since last January. Batsman Marlon Samuels was also barred from selection this year because he did not play the full Regional Super50.
The eligibility rule stipulates that players must make themselves available for the domestic tournament in which they wish to represent West Indies. However, those domestic tournaments usually clash with lucrative global T20 leagues. Recently, incoming director of cricket, Jimmy Adams, described the rule as unsustainable and said it “might not be helping our cricket in the short and long term.” Also yesterday, CWI said it would soon launch a registration process for all players – men’s and women’s in all age groups – in an effort to “identify the full slate and categories of players we have in the West Indies.” “This will show commitment on the part of the players to be available for the format/s of the game they wish to play; a commitment to participate in the regional set-up and to honour the system to be in place by then,” president Dave Cameron said.
Afghanistan A replace Australia A in tri-series
Afghanistan fans will see their A team tour South Africa for the first time © Peter Della Penna ESPNCRICINFO - Afghanistan A will join South Africa A and India A to play a seven-match, 50-over tri-series starting on July 26 in Pretoria. Cricket South Africa (CSA) had extended an invitation to the Afghanistan Cricket Board after they were informed that Australia A, who were originally scheduled to participate in the tri-series, pulled out over a long-standing pay dispute with their board.”We are very pleased to accept Cricket South Africa’s invitation to participate in the upcoming triangular series,” Afghanistan Cricket Board’s chief executive Shafiqullah Stanikzai said. “This will be our first-ever visit to South Africa and I am certain that this will give Afghanistan A team very good exposure to competitive cricket.” This came on the back of Afghanistan securing Test status at the culmination of the ICC board meetings in June and CSA chief executive Haroon Lorgat congratulated them on their rapid rise. Afghanistan also made their debut at Lord’s last week against MCC, but persistent rain led to play being called off midway. “Afghanistan were deservedly granted Full Member status at the ICC annual conference last month after showing impressive growth in recent years,” Lorgat said The ACB tweeted their squad for the tour and it features
11 men who have already played international cricket including the likes of openers Usman Ghani and Javed Ahmadi, middle-order batsman Najibullah Zadran and wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai. Ihsan Janat, Younas Ahmadzai, Nawaz Khan, Ibrahim Abdulrahimzai are the only uncapped players in the 15-member squad. Afghanistan A: Usman Ghani, , Javed Ahmadi, Rahmat Shah, Younas Ahmadzai, Nasir Jamal, Najibullah Zadran, Shafiqullah, Afsar Zazai (wk), Karim Janat, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Yamin Ahmadzai, Fareed Ahmad, Ihsan Janat, Younas Ahmadzai, Nawaz Khan, Ibrahim Abdulrahimzai. A team series schedule · Jul 26 - Afghanistan A v India A · Jul 28 - South Africa A v India A · Jul 30 - South Africa A v Afghanistan A · Aug 1 - Afghanistan A v India A · Aug 3 - South Africa A v India A · Aug 5 - South Africa A v Afghanistan A · Aug 8 - TBA v TBA · Aug 12-15 - South Africa A v India A · Aug 19-22 - South Africa A v India A
Jamaican Thompson breaks meet record in Rabat victory
Olympic champion Elaine Thompson. RABAT, Morocco, CMC – Olympic champion Elaine Thompson’s smooth build-up to next month’s London World Championships continued when she streaked to a new meet record in capturing the women’s 100 metres at the Rabat Diamond League here Sunday. The 24-year-old clocked 10.87 seconds to post her 17th consecutive 100m win and finish ahead of Cote d’Ivoire’s Marie-Josee Ta Lou in 10.90, with Trinidadian Michelle-Lee Ahye clinching third place in 11.02. Thompson, the heavy favourite ahead of next month’s showpiece, said she was exactly where she wanted to be in her preparation. “I’m pleased with my race. I came here last year and the organisers made a lot of effort for me,” the Jamaican said. “My races are going fine, I’m in the shape that I want to be in and I’m looking forward to the London World Championships.” Running out of lane five, Thompson was kept honest over the first 40 metres by countryman Christiania Williams in lane one and Nigerian Blessing Okagbare and Ta Lou, as they all challenged strongly. Ta Lou in lane six seemed to be getting the better of the last 40 metres but Thompson battled back superbly to pull away at the end. Bahamian Shaunae Miller-Uibo also tasted success when she raced to victory in the women’s 400 metres to clinch her 10thstraight win. Miller-Uibo, the reigning Olympic champion, clocked 49.80 to force Americans Natasha Hastings into second with 50.86 seconds and Quanera Hayes into third with 51.08. “This was actually a training race for me,” Miller-Uibo said. “This time is good but it is not very important for me now. What counts are the World Championships.” Jamaicans Novlene Williams-Mills (51.18) and Shericka Jackson (51.20) finished fourth and fifth respectively. In the men’s 200m, former Anguilla star Zharnel Hughes finished third in a season-best 20.22 as Canadian Andre de Grasse took the win in a meet record 20.03. Jamaicans Rasheed Dwyer (20.43) and Warren Weir (2.48) were sixth and seventh respectively.
Roger Federer up to ATP No. 3 after Wimbledon; Garbine Muguruza WTA No. 5 LONDON (AP) — Roger Federer’s eighth Wimbledon title has pushed him up two spots and back to No. 3 in the ATP rankings after he ended last season at No. 16. Garbine Muguruza’s first championship at the All England Club returns her to the WTA’s top 10 at No. 5 yesterday, a rise of 10 spots, while runner-up Venus Williams goes from No. 11 to No. 9. Karolina Pliskova becomes the 23rd woman to
be ranked No. 1, a debut guaranteed last week, based on results at Wimbledon. She had been No. 3, and swaps positions with former No. 1 Angelique Kerber. Serena Williams has not competed since January because she is pregnant, and by losing rankings points she earned last year by winning Wimbledon and reaching the French Open final, she drops to No. 15, out of the top 10 for the first time since April 1, 2012.