Shaheen set to play BD Test series

Shaheen Shah Afridi has informed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that he is available for the two-match Test series against Bangladesh starting in August in Rawalpindi, as reported by a local news channel.

The training camp for the series will begin on August 6, and Shaheen is expected to participate.

Recently, Afridi made headlines due to a heated exchange with Mohammad Yousuf during Pakistan’s tour of England, just before the T20 World Cup 2024. Reports from Lahore indicated that some coaches had raised concerns about Shaheen’s attitude during the tour.

It was revealed that the disagreement occurred while Afridi was bowling in the nets at Headingley. Yousuf, the batting coach, pointed out that Shaheen was bowling no-balls repeatedly, which upset the fast bowler. Shaheen responded by telling Yousuf to focus on his own job.

Sources from the Pakistan cricket team confirmed that the incident was just a “heat-of-the-moment” issue and was quickly resolved. After the argument, senior manager Wahab Riaz spoke to Shaheen about his behavior, and the bowler apologiSed to Yousuf.

"This was nothing more than a routine case of a heated moment, and the matter was closed immediately," a source explained.

With the tension behind them, Afridi is now focused on preparing for the upcoming series against Bangladesh and looks forward to contributing to the team’s success.

Two ICC officials resign amid T20 WC controversies

Two senior officials from the International Cricket Council (ICC), Chris Tetley and Claire Furlong, have resigned from their positions, as per a media report.

Tetley was the ICC's Head of Events, and Furlong was the General Manager of Marketing and Communications. Their departures were revealed on Friday, just after the conclusion of the Twenty20 World Cup in the US and the West Indies, and shortly before the ICC's annual conference in Colombo.

The timing of their resignations has led to speculation that it is related to the organization of the recent World Cup. However, sources within the ICC suggest that these resignations were planned several months ago. A source mentioned that both Tetley and Furlong had intended to leave at the end of the last commercial cycle but stayed on to ensure the successful completion of the World Cup in the US. They will remain with the ICC for a few more months to ensure a smooth transition and will also attend the Annual Conference in Colombo from July 19 to 22.

The World Cup in the US, especially in New York, was a significant project for the ICC, with Tetley and Furlong playing crucial roles. There have been some concerns about the low-scoring games in New York due to the inconsistent pitches. An ICC board member has reportedly raised this issue in a letter to the other members, and it is expected to be discussed at the Colombo conference. Despite the pitch issues, the Indian team, which won the championship, did not comment on the conditions, stating that all teams had to play under the same circumstances.

The matches in the US were managed by T20 World Cup Inc, which constructed a modular stadium in Nassau County, New York, in record time. This stadium was dismantled after the New York games, which hosted eight out of the 16 games allotted to the US.