New Delhi, Feb 6 Australia pace bowler Mitchell Starc has not registered for the Indian Premier League (IPL) players' auction scheduled to be held on February 18 in Chennai while teammate Steve Smith, who was released by his former IPL franchise Rajatshan Royals has entered the auction with a base price of Rs 2 crore. Starc, who has played just two seasons of the T20 tournament in 2014 and 2015, had a lacklustre summer against India in Test series picking 11 wickets across four Tests at an average of 40.72. He was the only bowler in Australia camp to leak over three runs an over in the series against India. There was speculation that he would command a big price at this year's auction. But according to a report in ESPNCricinfo.com, the left-arm pace bowler has opted out. He may have done it to manage workload and prepare for the T20 World Cup in India and Ashes at home this year. Apart from Smith, England's Moeen Ali, former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and Aussie Glenn Maxwell too have registered in the Rs 2 crore bracket. Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who returned to cricket last month after serving a ban for failing to report corrupt approach, also registered himself in the same bracket. Former India pace bowler S Sreesanth, who also returned to cricket after serving out a ban, too has registered for the auction at a base price of Rs 75 lakh. England batsman Tom Banton, who was with Kolkata Knight Riders last year, but did not get to play much has not registered as he wants to focus on playing the County championship. As many as 1,097 players have registered for the 2021 IPL players' auction. Among these, 814 are Indians, and 743 of them are uncapped players who have never played in the IPL while there are 50 uncapped players who have played in the league before, said the Indian cricket board said in a statement. ians

Sharjah, Sep 28 While all the limelight was taken away by Rahul Tewatia during Rajasthan Royals' historic win over Kings XI Punjab, it was the incredible innings from Sanju Samson which laid the platform for the Steve Smith-led side during their chase at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Samson scored 85 runs as Royals chased down the target of 224 -- highest ever in history of the Indian Premier League -- with four wickets in hand and three balls to spare. His 42-ball knock was studded with four 4s and seven 6s. Taking note of Samson's innings on Sunday, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said on Twitter: "What an absolutely incredible win for Rajasthan Royals! I've known Sanju Samson for a decade and told him when he was 14 that he would one day be the next MS Dhoni. Well, that day is here. After his two amazing innings in this IPL, you know a world-class player has arrived." However, Gautam Gambhir and S Sreesanth don't want the 25-year-old to be compared with the former India captain. "Sanju Samson doesn't need to be next anyone. He will be 'the' Sanju Samson of Indian cricket," tweeted Gambhir replying to Tharoor. "He is not next Dhoni, he is Sanju Samson the one and only. He should have been playing from 2015 regularly in all formats. Please don't compare him, if he had given right opportunities then, he would have been playing like this for India and would have won World Cups," said Sreesanth while replying to the Congress MP. "I am sure he will still keep playing well and it's not just these two innings...He is gonna break a lot of records too and win many more world cups for our country. So please don't compare him to anyone...he is an amazing Malayali from our Gods own country. His best is yet to come," he added. The right-handed batsman had scored 74 runs off just 32 deliveries in Royals' first match of IPL 2020 which his side won against Chennai Super Kings by 16 runs. Rajasthan Royals brand ambassador Shane Warne had praised Samson and said it was shocking to see that a talent like Samson is not a part of Team India across all formats. "I have said for a long time and I think Sanju Samson is probably one of the most exciting players I have seen for a long time. I am surprised that he is not playing all forms of cricket for India," Warne had said in an Instagram live session done by the Royals before Sunday's game. "He is that good. He is an absolute champion, he has got all the shots, quality and class. So, hopefully he has a consistent year and helps Rajasthan Royals lift the IPL trophy and I hope to see in him Indian colours in all three forms of cricket," he had added. Samson has so far represented India in just four T20Is in which he has amassed 35 runs in total.               ians

Kochi, Sep 15 The desperation was written large on his face when fast bowler S. Sreesanth said, "call me and I will come and play cricket anywhere". Sreesanth, who was part of the 2007 World T20 and 2011 World Cup-winning Indian teams, made this statement after his seven-year ban ended recently. "I am speaking to agents in Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka as I want to play cricket at the club levels in these countries. My aim is to represent my country in the 2023 World Cup. Another wish is I want to play in a match at the Lords when the MCC plays the Rest of the World," he added. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had banned Sreesanth for life in August 2013 for his alleged involvement in the spot-fixing scandal that rocked the 2013 Indian Premier League (IPL). In 2015, however, a special court in Delhi acquitted him of all charges. In 2018, the Kerala High Court had struck down the life ban imposed on the cricketer by the BCCI and also quashed all proceedings against him. However, a division bench of the High Court restored the ban. Sreesanth then moved the Supreme Court against the order. And last year in March, the apex court upheld his guilt but asked the BCCI to reduce his quantum of punishment. The cricket board then reduced his life ban to seven years which came to an end on September 12 this month. The 37-year-old has so far played 27 Tests, 53 ODIs and 10 T20Is in which he taken 87, 75 and 7 wickets respectively.     ians

New Delhi,  It has been nine years since India won their second ICC World Cup title. Powered by Gautam Gambhir and M.S. Dhoni's knocks, India chased down a target of 275 against Sri Lanka with six wickets and 10 balls in hand. Six players in that team have officially announced retirements from all forms of the game since then and Virat Kohli is the only member of that squad who remains a regular in the Indian team. A number of players who were part of that team, however, spoke on their social media handles about the occasion. "World Cup winner 2011. what a great day it was for Whole India .proud moment (sic.)" said spinner Harbhajan Singh and tagged Sachin Tendulkar, Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan, Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Sreesanth and coach Gary Kirsten. "Words will never be able to describe what a moment for every Indian it was, this is what we live for !! jai Hind(sic.)" said Yuvraj, who was given the player of the tournament award for his all-round brilliance. Suresh Raina said: "Things end but memories last forever. Remembering the rush, excitement, thrill of it all, of the fantastic moments leading up to us lifting the world cup. Irreplaceable. Unforgettable. Thankful to have been a part of this iconic moment in the history of cricket. #worldcup2011 (sic.)" Sreesanth, whose life has been a roller coaster ride since then, said: "TODAY, IN 2011, THE 28-YEAR-OLD WAIT COME TO AN END #ThisDayThatYear #IndianWonWorldCupCricket #SreesanthThePrideOfIndia India lift the world cup after 28 years! A million emotions & a lot of find memories running through my mind..... A billion dreams fulfilled (sic.)" (IANS)

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has set aside the life ban imposed on Cricket player S Sreesanth by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in an alleged spot-fixing scandal during the 2013 IPL. The Court asked the board to consider a fresh punishment within three months after rejecting Sreesanth's plea that he could not be punished at all. The Supreme Court said that punishment and criminal case are different. Sreesanth's main request was to end his six years of distress and questioned the BCCI's ban in a 2013 case through his plea. The fast bowler complained before the bench of Justice Ashok Bhushan and KM Joseph that he is not able to play County Cricket despite having opportunities. IPL team Rajasthan Royals had imposed only a two-year ban and even the trial court agreed that the alleged spot-fixing was false. But the BCCI has taken a firm stand over the years saying Sreesanth was not able to wipe out the foul smells completely.  Sreesanth approached the top court after the Kerala High Court Division Bench unchanged the BBCI ban in 2017.