Cricket news round-up – February 29: Rabada ruled out of Australia, India ODIs

South Africa will be without express pacer Kagiso Rabada for the ODIs against Australia and India after suffering a groin strain. Elsewhere, Mark Wood will miss the Tests in Sri Lanka with an injury, while the Asia Cup 2020 is set to be held in Dubai, according to BCCI president Sourav Ganguly.

Rabada ruled out of Australia, India ODIs with injury

South Africa paceman Kagiso Rabada will miss their upcoming ODI series against Australia and India after suffering a groin strain.

The 24-year-old will require up to four weeks of rest, according to CSA’s medical team, and South Africa are yet to name a replacement for the three ODIs against Australia.

“Kagiso (Rabada) sustained a groin muscle strain in the T20 series against Australia, he was assessed by the medical staff, assisted by an MRI scan. The significant injury means that he will take approximately four weeks to heal, which effectively rules him out of both the Australia and India ODI series,” said CSA’s chief medical officer Dr Shuaib Manjra.

Mark Wood ruled out of England’s Sri Lanka Test series

England paceman Mark Wood will play no part in their upcoming tour of Sri Lanka after suffering a side strain towards the end of their series in South Africa.

Wood underwent several scans to gauge the seriousness of the injury in the interim period, and it has been decided that he would miss the two-Test series against Sri Lanka.

Saqib Mahmood, the Lancashire paceman who has already made his ODI and T20I debut for England, has been called up to the Test squad as Wood’s replacement.

‘Asia Cup to be held in Dubai’ – Sourav Ganguly

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, ahead of the meeting with Asian Cricket Council, has stated that the 2020 Asia Cup would be held in Dubai.

The tournament was initially supposed to be hosted by Pakistan, but India weren’t willing travel there, and wanted a neutral venue.

Speaking to reporters at the Eden Gardens on Friday, Ganguly said: “Asia Cup will be held in Dubai and both India and Pakistan will play.”

Mushfiqur Rahim won’t change his mind on touring Pakistan

Mushfiqur Rahim has reiterated that he wouldn’t change his mind about skipping Bangladesh’s tour of Pakistan for the second Test in April, even though he is likely to face resistance from BCB president Nazmul Hasan, who has said Mushfiqur is contract-bound to travel with the squad.

“I made my stance clear about Pakistan, and they [BCB] has also accepted it,” Mushfiqur told NTV news channel. “They should have shown me respect for not putting my name in the PSL draft either. I think it is pretty clear. It won’t change in the future. I wish well to those who are going to Pakistan.”

Mushfiqur’s importance to the Test side was made clear in the one-off match against Zimbabwe, when he scored a double century. He was a huge miss earlier in the month in Rawalpindi when Pakistan steamrolled Bangladesh in the first Test.