Cricket news round-up – April 19: India Women qualify for 2021 World Cup

India Women became the fifth team to qualify for next year’s World Cup; CSA have extended Graeme Smith’s stint as Director of Cricket, following which he announced that Quinton de Kock will not lead them in Test cricket; and the Cricket Australia staff are likely to take a pay cut of 80%.

India Women qualify for next year’s World Cup

The bilateral series between India Women and Pakistan Women could not be played following the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic. As a result India became the fifth tea to qualify for next year’s World Cup, after New Zealand (who, as hosts, qualified automatically), Australia, England, and South Africa.

Had Pakistan been given a walkover by ICC, they, and not India, would have qualified automatically. Pakistan will now have to play the qualifiers.

CSA extend Smith’s tenure

Cricket South Africa have extended Graeme Smith’s stint as Director of Cricket till March 31, 2022. Smith, who had been appointed in December as a short-time answer to their crisis, was expected to take a break to work as a commentator during the IPL.

“I have become invested in the position and started to care about the responsibility to the game, sorting it out, getting us back to the top of performance and the business of the game. It created that feeling for myself that I want to get stuck in and try and make a difference,” Smith told ESPNCricinfo.

De Kock won’t lead in Test cricket

Following his appointment as Director of Cricket, Graeme Smith announced that Quinton de Kock will not be leading his country in Test cricket. De Kock currently leads South Africa and opens batting in both limited-overs formats and keeps wickets in all three formats.

“We want to keep Quinton fresh and playing well. I’ve always believed, having been in the job myself, that captaining all three formats is challenging. We’ve seen a number of nations trying to figure out what’s best and I think across three formats, it probably doesn’t work,” explained Smith.

CA staff to take upto 80% pay cut

Cricket Australia will not be hosting this year’s T20 World Cup. Despite their best attempts, the home Test series against India, too, seem unlikely. CA are now eyeing a significant revenue loss in the upcoming season – perhaps even 50%.

As a result, they have been forced to postpone the announcement of fresh contracts to their cricketers. Cricket South Australia have already let go 23 members of their staff. In a recent development, as reported by ESPNCricinfo, CA staff are likely to an 80% pay cut.