Cricket news round-up – 4 April 2019: Hardik gives Chennai first taste of defeat in IPL 2019

Hardik Pandya‘s superb all-round performance helped hosts Mumbai Indians defeat Chennai Super Kings; the Habib Bank Limited team has been disbanded; BCCI demanded a response to conflict of interest charges from Sourav Ganguly; and ICC announced that they will collaborate with Interpol to counter corruption in cricket.

Hardik ends Chennai’s streak

Hardik Pandya blasted an unbeaten 8-ball 22 to push Mumbai Indians to 170/5. Then he took 3/20 to help restrict Chennai Super Kings to 133/8. This was Chennai’s first defeat in IPL 2019, from four matches.

Mumbai’s innings was set up by Suryakumar Yadav (59) and Krunal Pandya (42), who added 62 for the fourth wicket. A late onslaught came from Hardik and Kieron Pollard (17* in 7); the pair added 45 in the last 2 overs.

Chennai were reduced to 6/2 in response and then 33/3. Kedar Jadhav batted well for his 58, but it was never going to be enough against Hardik, Jason Behrendorff (2/22), and Lasith Malinga (3/34). In fact, Malinga was the only Mumbai bowler who conceded more than 7 an over.

Cricket loses HBL for good

Habib Bank Limited, current champions of both the domestic First-Class and List A tournaments in Pakistan, has been disbanded. The player contracts have not been renewed. HBL had stopped investing in other sports in 2016; and now, on March 31, they have discontinued their cricket team.

Last season’s HBL team included international cricketers like Umar Gul, Umar Akmal, Imran Farhat, Faheem Ashraf, Junaid Khan, and Abdur Rehman, and young talents like Abid Ali.

Ganguly’s conflict of interest?

Sourav Ganguly, President of Cricket Association of Bengal, is currently advisor of Delhi Capitals. Subsequently, three Kolkata residents wrote to BCCI ombudsman Justice DK Jain, citing a possible conflict of interest for Ganguly, especially ahead of Delhi’s upcoming match at the Eden Gardens.

Justice Jain subsequently asked Ganguly for an explanation, to which the latter will respond by April 7.

Interpol arrives

In a press release, ICC announced that they will collaborate with Interpol to counter corruption in cricket. The agencies will be providing information to each other on the same.

The release stated: “The ICC has an excellent relationship with law enforcement agencies in a number of countries but working with Interpol means we are connecting with their 194 members. Our focus is on education of players and prevention and disruption of corruptors. Where our enquiries reveal criminal offences have been committed, we will refer this to the relevant law enforcement organisations and this makes Interpol an important partner for us.”