In a shocking turn of events, West Indies star Nicholas Pooran has withdrawn from Sunday's Big Bash League (BBL) draft. Pooran, known for his explosive batting and wicket-keeping skills, was expected to be one of the top picks of the draft, having been elevated to Platinum status.
The West Indies cricketer's withdrawal, alongside Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan, has left BBL fans and team owners puzzled. Both Pooran and Rizwan were expected to be highly sought after in the draft, but their sudden decisions to opt out have raised questions about their availability for the entire season.
While the reasons for their withdrawals remain unclear, it's been revealed that Pooran is already contracted to a franchise in the UAE's ILT20 competition. This competition is scheduled to kick off on January 19, coinciding with the BBL finals, making it impossible for Pooran to participate in the Australian league.
As for Rizwan, who is set to play a crucial role for Pakistan in this summer's Test series against Australia, his availability for the BBL would have been delayed until after the conclusion of that series. Pakistan was scheduled to face New Zealand in T20 matches starting from January 12, further complicating Rizwan's participation in the BBL.
The withdrawal of these two explosive wicketkeeper-batters has left a void in the BBL draft. This year's draft has already seen other notable withdrawals, including South Africa star Dane van Niekerk, who is still recovering from an injury sustained while playing in the Hundred tournament in the UK.
The BBL draft is set to feature 495 players from both the BBL and WBBL, and it will be televised for fans around the world to witness. Among the 23 remaining BBL players elevated to Platinum status, only England quick Tymal Mills has confirmed his full availability for the regular season and finals.
The availability of several players has been affected by international commitments. England's T20 team is scheduled to tour the Caribbean, with the final match taking place on December 22. Meanwhile, the South African T20 competition is set to commence on January 10, and the UAE league further complicates the schedules of many players, resulting in most of them committing to "6-9 games."
With the draft just around the corner, fans and team owners will be keeping a close eye on the remaining West Indies players listed in the BBL draft. These players will have the opportunity to make a significant impact on the upcoming season and fill the void left by the withdrawals of Pooran and Rizwan.
West Indies players remaining in the BBL draft:
Fabian Allen, Alick Athanaze, Ronsford Beaton, Joshua Bishop, Nkrumah Bonner, Carlos Brathwaite, Shamarh Brooks, Yannic Cariah, Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Sheldon Cottrell, Dominic Drakes, Andre Fletcher, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Shai Hope, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Kofi James, Amir Jangoo, Evin Lewis, Kennar Lewis, Jair McAllister, Gudakesh Motie, Ashmead Nedd, Keemo Paul, Kieran Powell, Roshon Primus, Ray Reiror, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Ramon Simmonds, Kevin Sinclair, Shamar Spinror, Oshane Thomas, Chadwick Walton, Hayden Walsh Jr., Kevin Wickham and Nyeem Young.
West Indies Academy secures first win of the season with 22-run DLS method victory over CCC
The West Indies Academy recorded their first win of the 2024 CG United Super50 Cup season with a 22-run DLS method win over the Combined Campuses and Colleges at the Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground in St. Augustine on Monday.
CCC, who were also seeking their first win of the season, were first dismissed for 174 in 39.5 overs after winning the toss and batting first.
Experienced opener Kieran Powell top scored with 46 off 42 balls including eight fours while Shaqkere Parris made 40 and Johann Jeremiah hit 33.
Jediah Blades continued his good form with the ball this season with 3-23 from six overs and was well supported by Zishan Motara who took 3-31 from his 10 overs.
Joshua Bishop also bowled well with 2-25 from 6.5 overs.
In reply, the Academy were 167-7 off 40.5 overs, 22 runs ahead of the DLS par score when the rain brought an end to proceedings.
Andrew Rambaran and Johann Layne put together a crucial eighth wicket partnership, helping the Academy recover from 118-7 in the 29th over.
Rambaran finished 37* while Layne finished 25* off 28 balls including two fours and two sixes.
Earlier, Rivaldo Clarke top scored with 38. Romario Greaves was excellent with the ball for the CCC with 5-45 from his 10 overs while the other two wickets were split between Akeem Jordan and Abhijai Mansingh.
Full Scores:
Combined Campuses and Colleges 174 off 39.5 overs (Kieran Powell 46, Shaqkere Parris 40, Johann Jeremiah 33, Jediah Blades 3-23, Zishan Motara 3-31, Joshua Bishop 2-25)
West Indies Academy 167-7 off 40.5 overs (Rivaldo Clarke 38, Andrew Rambaran 37*, Johann Layne 25*, Romario Greaves 5-45).
Molineux stars with 64 as Melbourne Renegades Women win second match in a row
Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin’s Melbourne Renegades Women got their second win in a row in the Women’s Big Bash League thanks to a brilliant batting display from captain Sophie Molineux against Adelaide Strikers Women at the Junction Oval in Melbourne on Sunday.
The Renegades, chasing 158 for victory, found themselves 52-5 in the ninth over when Molineux came to the crease to join Dottin.
The pair put on a crucial 79 runs before Dottin fell for 20. Seven runs later, Molineux fell for a match-winning 32-ball 64 including nine fours and three sixes.
Eventually needing six runs off the final over, Nicole Faltum and Sarah Coyte guided the Renegades to victory.
Darcie Brown, Amanda-Jade Wellington and Jemma Barsby took two wickets, each, for the Strikers in their efforts to defend what looked like a match-winning total.
Earlier, captain Talia McGrath led the way with 64 off 44 balls including eight fours and a six while Orla Prendergast supported well with 31 as the Strikers made 157-5 from their 20 overs after winning the toss.
Molineux took 2-39 from her four overs while Georgia Wareham and Alice Capsey split two wickets. Matthews and Dottin when wicketless in seven overs between them.
Australia recover from middle-order collapse to win Pakistan opener
Australia rallied to overcome Pakistan by two wickets in the first of three one-day internationals between the teams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Roared on by vocal travelling support, Pakistan were in the ascendency when their pacemen dropped Australia from 113-2 to 115-7, with the hosts chasing 204 for victory.
Harif Rauf dismissed three while Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Hasnain also got in on the act to decimate the hosts' middle order.
Naseem Shah had earlier scored 40 off 39 balls to salvage a score of 203 all out for the tourists, but a crucial cameo from captain Pat Cummins got Australia over the line.
Cummins calmly came up with an unbeaten 32 from 31 balls as the hosts sealed victory with 16.3 overs remaining, with even Sean Abbott's error in being run out for 13 failing to inspire a change in the momentum.
Bowler Mitchell Starc told ABC Grandstand after the match: "We probably didn't like that Patty and I had pads on, but it's a positive start to the summer.
"A win is a win no matter how you get there."
Data Debrief: Cummins leads from the front
Cummins' unbeaten 32 may not go down as his most memorable knock in ODIs, but it did equal his best innings for Australia in the format.
That proved crucial after Matthew Short (1), Jake Fraser-McGurk (16), Marnus Labuschagne (16), Aaron Hardie (10) and Glenn Maxwell (0) disappointed with the bat.
Australia, who have won both of their ODI series versus West Indies and England since lifting the World Cup in 2023, can now seal a series triumph in Adelaide on Friday.
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