Cricket news roundup – 19th March 2019: BCCI to become NADA-compliant

The BCCI has decided to comply with anti-doping agency NADA on a six-month trial basis, while Afghanistan has secured their maiden Test win.  Elsewhere, Dimuth Karunaratne emerges as a surprise name for Sri Lanka’s World Cup captain.

BCCI to become NADA-compliant

BCCI will conform to the global anti-doping policies, it was confirmed on Monday. Initially, they will comply on a six-month trial basis.

The decision was made after a meeting between ICC chairman Shashank Manohar and the BCCI committee of administrators.

“It will be a six-month tripartite agreement between ICC, BCCI and NADA wherein the samples of our registered pool of players will be going to the National Dope Testing Labaratory (NDTL) through NADA, unlike now when Sweden-based IDTM does the sample collection. If we are not convinced, we won’t renew the agreement,” a BCCI official told PTI.

Afghanistan secure maiden Test win

Afghanistan made history on Monday, 18 March, when they reached their 147-run target in no time on the fourth morning to secure their maiden Test victory by seven wickets.

Rahmat Shah and Ihsanullah Janat scored half-centuries to help Afghanistan reach the mark within a session. In doing so, Afghanistan became the only team, apart from England and Pakistan, to secure a Test victory within just two matches.

Afterwards, Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan said: “Happy for today, it’s a very historic day for Afghanistan, for Afghanistan people, for our team, for our cricket board. We are very happy.”

Dimuth Karunaratne to captain Sri Lanka at World Cup?

Dimuth Karunaratne last played ODI cricket in 2015, but he is remarkably now in contention to captain Sri Lanka at the World Cup 2019.

That has much to do with Sri Lanka’s poor limited-overs form – they were swept 5-0 by South Africa in the ODIs, with the visitors barely causing the hosts any trouble.

Karunaratne is understood to have been asked to remain in Sri Lanka to play a domestic one-day tournament – something of a test to ascertain his ODI skills.

“The selectors haven’t confirmed anything, but they’ve told me to keep in mind there’s a possibility I could become one-day captain,” Karunaratne told ESPNcricinfo. “They’ve asked me to stay back for the provincial tournament. If I get picked for the World Cup squad, there will be camps and training after that as well.”

Karunaratne famously led Sri Lanka to a historic Test win earlier on their tour – they became the first Asian side to do so.

Jones helps England seal series 2-0

England secured a series win against Sri Lanka with a comfortable six-wicket victory, leading 2-0 with a game to play.

Sri Lanka put up a better batting effort – Harshitha Madhavi scored a 46-ball 42 and with the rest of the batters chipping in, they put up 187/9 in 50 overs.

However, Amy Jones, the opener, scored a 39-ball 54 to dash any Sri Lankan hopes. With Tammy Beamont and Lauren Winfield scoring 40s, England coasted to victory in 33.3 overs.