Cricket news round-up – 12 June: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka washed out, Dhawan to miss at least 2 matches, Stoinis out against Pakistan

Bangladesh’s World Cup clash against Sri Lanka was washed out without a ball being bowled in Bristol; Marcus Stoinis has been ruled out out of the Pakistan match with a side strain; Shikhar Dhawan has been sidelined for next two games due to hairline fracture in his thumb; Jemimah Rodrigues signs up for KSL.

No reserve day means another washout at World Cup

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh had to share one point each after their World Cup clash in Bristol was abandoned without a ball being bowled. No toss was possible due to persistent rain and the third washout at this World Cup – Pakistan v Sri Lanka and South Africa v West Indies were washed out as well – made this tournament as the one with the most number of abandoned games of all 12 editions.

Bangladesh coach Steve Rhodes was displeased with their being no provision for a reserve day: “We put men on the moon, so why can’t we have a reserve day, when actually this tournament is a long tournament? I know that it would have been difficult, but we have got quite a lot of time in between games, and if we have got to travel a day later, then so be it.”

Following criticism from many corners, the ICC responded with a statement from its CEO Dave Richardson: “Factoring in a reserve day for every match at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup would significantly increase the length of the tournament and practically would be extremely complex to deliver.

“It would impact pitch preparation, team recovery and travel days, accommodation and venue availability, tournament staffing, volunteer and match officials availability, broadcast logistics and very importantly the spectators who in some instances have travelled hours to be at the game. There is also no guarantee that the reserve day would be free from rain either.”

Stoinis ruled out of Pakistan clash

Marcus Stoinis has been ruled out of Australia’s match against Pakistan on June 12 due to a side strain. His future at the World Cup is in doubt. Mitchell Marsh, who was supposed to travel with the Australia A team to the UK later this month, has been flown in as a cover. A final decision on Stoinis’ participation in the tournament will be made after he is assessed in the lead up to Australia’s next game, against Sri Lanka on June 15 at The Oval.

Stoinis was injured during his fifth over against India at The Oval on June 9. He did come back to bowl two overs at the death but Aaron Finch said the bowler was “in some discomfort.” “Not exactly sure on how many games he’ll miss,” Finch said on the status on the injury. “That’s why Mitch is flying over. It’s still being assessed. And over the next couple of days we’ll have a clearer picture of what that looks like.”

Dhawan sidelined for at next two games

India received a big jolt when their opening batsmen and centurion in their last game against Australia, Shikhar Dhawan, who had injured his left thumb while batting in the match, had been ruled out of the next two games against New Zealand and Pakistan after he was found to have sustained a hairline fracture. Dhawan had travelled to Leeds to undergo scans and the BCCI revealed that Dhawan will remain with the squad under observation and “his progress will be monitored.”

Dhawan was hit on the thumb by a Pat Cummins delivery during the former’s knock of 117 at The Oval that helped set-up India’s second consecutive victory at the World Cup. No replacement has yet been named by the board, but if indeed Dhawan is ruled out of the tournament, he can only come back if there’s an injury to another player and the ICC’s event technical committee is satisfied with the replacement.

Jemimah Rodrigues signs up for KSL

Jemimah Rodrigues is set to become the third Indian to feature in the Kia Super League, after Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur.

Rodrigues has signed up with Yorkshire Diamonds for the fourth edition of the Kia Super League. She averages 30.40 and boasts of a strike rate of 123.57 in her short 25-match T20I career.

The upcoming edition of the six-team tournament will begin on August 6 with defending champions Surrey Stars taking on Diamonds and Western Storm, the finalists last season, clash with Loughborough Lightning. Lancashire Thunder take on Southern Vipers on the same day.