Cricket Australia Archives

Australia bans former Sri Lanka Test cricketer for 20 years

Former Sri Lankan Test cricketer Dulip Samaraweera was banned by Cricket Australia on Thursday from holding any position for 20 years over “inappropriate behaviour”.

The 52-year-old, who played seven Tests and five ODIs in the 1990s, was appointed head coach of the Victoria state women’s team in May.

But his tenure was short-lived after alleged inappropriate behaviour towards a woman player.

Cricket Australia’s Conduct Commission banned him “from  holding any position within CA or a state or territory association (including any W/BBL team) for 20 years ”.

In a statement, it cited a serious breach of their code of conduct. Cricket Victoria chief Nick Cummins commended the bravery of the victim for speaking up.

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“We strongly support the decision taken by the Code of Conduct Commission today, banning Dulip Samaraweera for 20 years,” Cummins told cricket.com.au.

“It is our view that the conduct was utterly reprehensible and a betrayal of everything we stand for at Cricket Victoria.

“The victim in this case has demonstrated incredible strength of character and courage in speaking up.

“We will not tolerate any behaviour which compromises that position, or our people, and will always support our culture of speaking up.

“From an organisation perspective, the safety and wellbeing of everyone at Cricket Victoria is paramount. We will not tolerate any behaviour which compromises that position, or our people, and will always support our culture of speaking up.”

READ: Ben Stokes to undergo hamstring scan ahead of Pakistan Tests

Nick Hockley to quit as Cricket Australia CEO

Nick Hockley, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cricket Australia (CA) will relinquish his post in March 2025, the Australian cricketing body confirmed Tuesday.

Hockley was appointed as the interim CEO of CA in June 2020 and then became permanent 11 months later.

He oversaw the affairs of the CA in the tough period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under his leadership, Hockley guided CA to a new five-year strategy and seven-year media deals with Seven West Media, Foxtel Group and Disney Star in India.

“This was a difficult decision, however following what promises to be a blockbuster summer and with our five-year strategic plan well progressed, this is the right time to pursue another challenge, while giving the Board plenty of time to find its next CEO to build on the strong foundations now in place,” said Hockley.

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“This is not the time for goodbyes, as I remain completely focussed on the season ahead and supporting the Board on succession and a smooth transition,” he added.

CA Chair Mike Baird further confirmed that Nick Hockley had advised the Board that next summer would be his last as the CEO.

“As CEO, Nick navigated the sport through a period of unprecedented challenge during the pandemic and has delivered significant growth and stability. Under Nick’s leadership, several major deals are now in place – many for the next seven years – and the game is set up for continued success.

“As Nick says, his full focus is on delivering another successful summer for our fans, players, broadcasters, partners and the whole of Australian Cricket and there will be time to celebrate his legacy and achievements when he steps down from the role next year.

“The timing of Nick’s decision allows the Board to ensure a smooth transition and we will begin the process of finding and appointing his successor shortly.”

READ: Pakistan women cricketers to partake in skills and fitness camp

Cricket Australia proposes hosting tri-series with Pakistan, India

Cricket Australia (CA) Chief Executive Nick Hockley on Wednesday expressed the desire to host a tri-series involving arch-rivals Pakistan and India.

During a Zoom meeting with Pakistan and Indian media, Hockley acknowledged the hype around the clash between the neighbouring countries. He proposed hosting a triangular as well as a bilateral to help revive the series between the two nations.

“Pakistan and India are traditional rival teams; there is a lot of excitement for their matches,” said Hockley. “We are ready to support both teams for a bilateral and a tri-series.”

“We would be happy to play a role in the revival of the Pakistan vs India bilateral series,” he added.

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It is worth noting that Pakistan and India haven’t played a bilateral series since the 2013 ODI series due to the long-standing political tensions between the two neighbouring countries.

Since then both teams have played each other only in ICC events and Asia Cups. They recently squared off in the high-octane T20 World Cup 2024 clash in New York, where India clinched a narrow victory.

“Nassau County Stadium [in New York] was a house full during the T20 World Cup [2024]. We witnessed a similar excitement at the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia,” stated Hockley.

However, the Cricket Australia chief was of the view that such plans could only become a reality if the respective cricket boards and governments of both countries co-ordinate on the matter.

WATCH: Pakistan players perform fielding drills using old mattresses

T20 World Cup 2024: Cricket Australia unveils Team of the Tournament

Cricket Australia (CA) has unveiled the Team of the Tournament ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 final on Saturday.

India and South Africa will square off in the final of the 20-team event in Barbados later today. The Team of the Tournament includes three players from India and one player from South Africa.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s captain Rashid Khan has been named as the captain of the team, which also includes his teammate Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Overall the team features two players from Australia, three from India, two from Afghanistan and one each from the United States, West Indies, South Africa and Bangladesh.

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Cricket Australia Team of T20 World Cup 2024

Travis Head (Australia) – Runs: 255, SR: 158.38
Rohit Sharma (India) – Runs: 248, SR: 155.97
Nicholas Pooran (West Indies) (wk) – Runs: 228, SR: 146.15
Aaron Jones (USA) – Runs: 162, SR: 135
Marcus Stoinis (Australia) – Runs: 169, SR: 164.07, Wickets: 10, Ave: 15.10
Hardik Pandya (India) – Runs: 139, SR: 149.46, Wickets: 8, Ave: 21.37
Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) (c) – Wickets: 14, Ave: 12.78
Rishad Hossain (Bangladesh) – Wickets: 14, Ave: 13.85
Fazalhaq Farooqi (Afghanistan) – Wickets: 17, Ave: 9.41
Jasprit Bumrah (India) – Wickets: 13, Ave: 8.15
Anrich Nortje (South Africa) – Wickets: 13, Ave: 5.64

READ: Aiden Markram believes South Africa ‘can win from any position’

Cricket Australia to set up Pakistan fan zones for white-ball series

Cricket Australia (CA) has announced plans to set up dedicated Pakistan fan zones for the upcoming white-ball series scheduled in November.

The five venues in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Hobart and Adelaide will feature fan zones designated for Pakistani fans.

This exciting initiative aligns with CA’s Multicultural Action Plan, aiming to foster inclusivity and provide brilliant experiences for cricket fans from diverse backgrounds.

CA will set up designated seating areas for Pakistan fans, where they can comfortably watch the high-intensity action while enjoying halal food, and desi cuisines. Pakistan fan zones will also have designated prayer areas for fans.

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The details of ticket sales for the fan zones will be announced soon, encouraging Pakistani fans to seize the chance to enjoy the high-action series in a vibrant atmosphere.

For the unversed, CA has recently announced a similar initiative to create fan zones for the Indian audience at all venues during the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar series later this year.

Pakistan and Australia will play a three-match ODI series, starting on November 4 at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), followed by three T20Is from November 14.

Pakistan last played a T20I in Australia in 2022 during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final.

Series schedule:

4 November: 1st ODI, MCG, Melbourne (D/N)

8 November: 2nd ODI, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (D/N)

10 November: 3rd ODI, Perth Stadium, Perth (D/N)

14 November: 1st T20I, The Gabba, Brisbane (N)

16 November: 2nd T20I, SCG, Sydney (N)

18 November: 3rd T20I, Bellerive Oval, Hobart (N)

READ: Pakistan to skip warm-up matches for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024

Cricket Australia to set up India Fan Zones during Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Cricket Australia (CA) on Tuesday announced the plan to create dedicated fan zones for the Indian audience at all venues during the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar series later this year.

The five venues in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide will have dedicated seating areas for Indian fans.

The plan to establish fan zones aligns with Cricket Australia’s Multicultural Action Plan, aiming to create an inclusive environment for Indian cricket fans.

CA will soon announce details of ticket sales for the fan zones, encouraging Indian fans to seize the chance to enjoy the high-action series in the vibrant atmosphere.

Fans will be allowed to bring traditional musical instruments such as the Dhol in the fan zones.

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CA took a similar initiative last year during Pakistan’s tour of Australia, setting up a dedicated space for Pakistan cricket fans labelled as the ‘Pakistan Bay’ in Perth Stadium for the first Test match.

‘Pakistan Bay’ consisted of two stands surrounding the Pakistan team’s dressing room. Pakistani tea, halal food, and desi cuisines were also available for Pakistan cricket fans.

The Border-Gavaskar series will kick off on 22 November in Perth, followed by the Day-Night Test in Adelaide on 6 December.

The Gabba in Brisbane will host the third Test, while the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) will host the Boxing Day Test.

The series will conclude in Sydney with the Pink Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG)

READ: Bangladesh announce squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024

Cricket Australia postpones Afghanistan series over women rights

Cricket Australia (CA) has postponed the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, citing restrictions on women’s rights in Afghanistan.

The CA made the decision in consultation with the Australian Government and will continue to engage with the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) in “anticipation of improved conditions for women and girls in the country”.

“Over the past twelve months CA has continued to consult with the Australian Government on the situation in Afghanistan. The government’s advice is that conditions for women and girls in Afghanistan are getting worse. For this reason, we have maintained our previous position and will postpone the bilateral series against Afghanistan,” stated CA.

“CA continues its strong commitment to supporting participation by women and girls in cricket around the world and will continue to actively engage the International Cricket Council and work closely with the Afghanistan Cricket Board to determine what actions could be taken to support the resumption of bilateral matches in the future.

“We again thank the Australian Government for its support.”

For the unversed, the three-match T20I series between Australia and Afghanistan was scheduled to take place in August this year.

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This is the third time Australia have cancelled a bilateral fixture or a series with Afghanistan since the Taliban took control of Kabul in August 2021.

Earlier they postponed the one-off Test against the side scheduled to be played in Hobart in November 2021 before withdrawing from an ODI series against, supposed to be played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in March 2023.

READ: Wanindu Hasaranga comes out of Test retirement for Bangladesh Tests

Cricket Australia sees surge in South Asian representation

MELBOURNE: A significant rise in South Asian representation was witnessed in Cricket Australia (CA) as “Singh” surpassed “Smith” as the most registered surname.

According to the statistics shared by the cricketing body, Singh was the most registered surname with 4262 entries while 2364 Smiths were registered.

Further indicating the growth, South Asian surnames such as Khan, Patel, Sharma and Kumar are among the Top 16 out of 494 registered players’ surnames on CA’s players registration portal “Play HQ”.

The development comes at a time when the CA is actively pursuing strategies to integrate diverse communities into their cricket structure.

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Australian Cricket’s Multicultural Action Plan, launched in December by Usman Khawaja and Lisa Sthalekar, is a significant element of their commitment to fostering inclusivity within the sport.

James Quarmby, CA’s Head of Participation said: “The continuing growth of registrations from multicultural communities is a testament to the progress being made toward our goal of being a Sport for All.

“We want people from multicultural communities to play a major role in all parts of the game at community and elite level, whether that is as players, coaches, officials, administrators or fans.

“With Pakistan coming for a white ball series and India’s men’s and women’s teams both in Australia next summer, we hope the surge in registrations from multicultural communities will be reflected in even bigger attendances at those matches.”

READ: Australia’s Matthew Wade announces retirement from red-ball cricket

Cricket Australia makes neck guards mandatory against pace bowlers

SYDNEY: Australian batters will have to wear neck guards on their helmets when facing fast or medium-pace bowlers for the 2023/24 season, Cricket Australia announced Thursday.

The governing body has recommended neck guards be used since Australian batsman Phillip Hughes’ death after a bouncer hit him in the neck during a game in Sydney in 2014.

Stars such as Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith and David Warner had resisted wearing them but neck guards will be mandatory in men’s and women’s matches when the new season starts in early October, Cricket Australia said.

“Protecting the head and neck is extremely important in our sport,” Cricket Australia’s head of operations Peter Roach said in a statement.

He said the decision was based on “a lot of advice and consultation with a wide range of experts and stakeholders”.

The decision comes a week after Australian all-rounder Cameron Green had to leave the field with a concussion after a bouncer hit the side of his helmet during his team’s win over South Africa in a one-day international match.

Other changes announced included the scrapping of six runs being awarded automatically during Big Bash League matches to batters who hit the roof of Melbourne’s Docklands Stadium.

READ: Afghanistan announce squad for ICC ODI World Cup 2023

Australian women cricketers get hefty pay rise

MELBOURNE: Australia’s women cricketers secured a huge pay increase Monday, with the top contracted player on course to earn more than Aus$1 million (US$666,000) a year.

Payments for professional women will rise 66 percent under a new five-year deal between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association.

They will share in a pool worth Aus$133 million, up from Aus$80 million in the previous agreement, rewarding not only members of Australia’s world champion team but significantly increasing the value of Big Bash League and state contracts.

According to the deal, the top CA contract holder who also has a WBBL contract — believed to be national captain Meg Lanning — could now earn more than Aus$800,000 a year.

That could break the Aus$1 million mark with further earnings in India’s Women’s Premier League and The Hundred in England.

The next six contracted players will earn an average Aus$500,000.

Those who do not play for Australia, but compete in the Women’s National Cricket League and WBBL, will be paid more than Aus$151,000 annually.

“I am particularly pleased this MOU (memorandum of understanding) represents another major step forward in the rise of women’s cricket,” said CA chief Nick Hockley.

“(There are) significant increases in remuneration for the inspirational role models of the world champion Australian women’s team and the WBBL who are driving substantial growth in female participation.

“Cricket now clearly offers the best earning opportunities of any team sport for elite female sportspeople.”

The deal will also see the number of CA men’s contracts increase from 17-20 to 20-24, recognising the number of players now selected across various formats.

The value of those contracts will increase 7.5 percent in the first year and two percent thereafter to an average Aus$951,000 plus match payments in 2023-24.

READ: Markram onslaught takes South Africa to verge of World Cup