Umar is presently serving a three-year ban for not reporting spot-fixing approaches but has appealed against the decision with an independent tribunal of the Pakistan Cricket Board. The date of the hearing is yet to be finalised.

"Off the field activities are nothing new in Pakistan cricket. Team management and captain should know how to deal with such players. Look at the way Inzi bhai (Inzamam-ul-Haq) handled Shoaib (Akhtar), (Mohammad) Asif and Shahid (Afridi). If the same was done with Umar Akmal, things would have turned out differently," he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan website.

Kamran also voiced his unhappiness at being kept out of the national team despite good performances in domestic cricket.

"I have been performing in domestic cricket and PSL (Pakistan Super League) during the last five years but despite that I have not been given a chance to play for Pakistan," he said.

"In the recent past, a couple of coaches did not like me which is why I remained on the sidelines.

"It's unfair to keep me out of the Test and T20I side, especially, because I can play solely as a batsman. If Matthew Wade can make a comeback with an average of 18-20, why not me who averages nearly 60," he added.

Kamran last played for Pakistan in 2017 in the West Indies despite having a successful career in the national team during a career spanning 53 Tests, 157 ODIs and 58 T20s.

Kamran also advised the national selectors to pick players on the basis of performances in domestic cricket rather than just the PSL, while also drawing parallels with Indian Premier League (IPL).

"Players are selected on performance in PSL, while those who have been doing well in domestic cricket are ignored. That's not how you make good teams," he said.

"If India started doing this, they would have the entire team selected from IPL.

"Tournaments like IPL and PSL are good for exposure and confidence but the performances that count come from four-day cricket," he concluded.

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Former captain Jayawardene played as many as 652 international matches across formats during a career spanning close to two decades.

At the peak of his career, international cricket was flooded with world-class bowlers, something many feel is not the case now.

"We are yet to see if the current crop of bowlers will hit the numbers that their predecessors did... The present bowlers are probably up against better batting units," Jayawardene said during an ESPNcricinfo videocast with Sanjay Manjrekar.

On facing bowling attacks across two decades, the legendary batsman said, "If you look at the top 10 wicket-takers in modern day cricket all of them played in that era (first half of his career).

"I missed out on Walsh and Kapil as I started just after that.

"There was (Mutthiah) Murali ( Muralitharan), (Shane) Warne, (Glenn) McGrath, Anil (Kumble), Bhajji (Harbhajan Singh), Saqlain (Mushtaq), Wasim (Akram), Waqar (Younis), their numbers speak for themselves.

"The bowlers I faced in my career improved tremendously over the years."

Jayawardene revealed that he started out in cricket as a fast bowler cum batsman and recalled the time when he was allowed by his parents to skip his exams to play in Hong Kong Sixes, a six-a-side slam-bang tournament in the pre-T20 era.

"I was really proud of my parents as that became my stepping stone because I performed well in that tournament.

"In school cricket I was a fast bowler and batted at number three, but unfortunately, like all youngsters that time we were not put though proper training and fitness programme...

"... so later on when I improved and started playing first-class cricket, I had to give up fast bowling because I had some issues with my back. The advice was that I need to concentrate on my batting and not so much on my bowling, so I became a slow off-cutter."

Speaking further on his move to give up fast bowling, he said, "I took the decision to give up bowling to have an effective career. I was fortunate to not miss a series because of a serious injury. No modern player plays without some type of niggle or other."

Asked about the illustrious former teammate Muralitharan, Jayawardene said the spin great was a difficult bowler "to convince to do something he didn't want to".

"Murali was a champion bowler even though he went about his game differently to others. Warne probably didn't have the variety that Murali had. Murali knew exactly what he was doing and believed in grinding a batsman down."

Initially, Murali refused to bowl from around the wicket to right-handers, but once he tasted success from bowling around the wicket, we couldn't stop him from doing it."

As the discussion turned to his long-time colleague Kumar Sangakkara, Jayawardene had only words of appreciation.

"He changed the way he batted over the years. The last six-seven years the numbers that he put on the board was phenomenal. I don't think any modern day cricketer has done that."

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While Kohli’s calibre as a player has never been questioned, his leadership skills have often come under the radar as the Indian team is yet to lift a major trophy under the current Indian skipper.

Kohli took over the Test captaincy from MS Dhoni in 2014 and since then the Indian team have established themselves as a force to reckon with in the longest format of the game. In 2017, Kohli took over the skipper’s role in all formats, but though they have reached the knockout stages of major tournaments, they are yet to win a trophy.

While Kohli has received both praise and criticism for his captaincy, his deputy, Rohit Sharma, has also established himself as a good leader. In Kohli’s absence, Rohit has donned the skipper’s hat in some major series, and he has proved himself fit for the role.

With India not laying their hands on any major trophies under Kohli’s leadership, many former players and critics have questioned his skills as a captain. On Tuesday, former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra also voiced his opinion and stated that the Indian team was lucky to have two natural leaders in the team, as both Kohli and Rohit have led the team from the front.

But Chopra also added that if Kohli fails to lead to Indian team to any major trophy over the next couple of years, the Indian team might need a change in captaincy.

During an interaction with sports presenter Sawera Pasha on Youtube, Chopra said, “India is blessed. If India feels six months or one and half years down the line that we need a change of guard, I don’t think Kohli’s performance will get affected.

“He has reached that level wherein he won’t come down from there. His performances will be unaffected regardless of whether he is the captain or not.”

This year’s edition of the ICC T20 World Cup hangs in the balance due to the coronavirus pandemic and the next edition of the event is set to be held in India. Chopra feels that if India fails to lay their hands on a trophy in these two big events, then the Indian board might look to change the leadership.

Chopra went on to add that Rohit was a good alternative, but he still backed Kohli, stating that he was improving as a captain. “But as a team, sometimes you want a different direction. If you reach that stage, then Rohit Sharma is a readymade choice available. But till then, you need to persist with Kohli, he is improving as a captain,” said Chopra.

“If he has a good bowling attack, like the one he has in Tests, he is a fine captain who knows how to handle the bowlers well. But if he doesn’t have good bowlers, just like the case at RCB, then he is also not that aggressive. For the next 10-12 months I think it will be Kohli. But after that if you are looking for a change of guard.. I wish India wins an ICC event soon because after 2013 we haven’t won anything,” added Chopra.

Chopra added the T20 World Cups will be Kohli’s chance to lay his hands on a major trophy. “There is a T20 World Cup in India as well. Hopefully, India should win one of these two. If they don’t win, then you may start thinking 'let’s look for a change in leadershop and find a different tone now’,” signed off Chopra.

India have not won any major ICC trophy since 2013 when Dhoni led the Indian team to Champions Trophy glory.

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While Kohli’s calibre as a player has never been questioned, his leadership skills have often come under the radar as the Indian team is yet to lift a major trophy under the current Indian skipper.

Kohli took over the Test captaincy from MS Dhoni in 2014 and since then the Indian team have established themselves as a force to reckon with in the longest format of the game. In 2017, Kohli took over the skipper’s role in all formats, but though they have reached the knockout stages of major tournaments, they are yet to win a trophy.

While Kohli has received both praise and criticism for his captaincy, his deputy, Rohit Sharma, has also established himself as a good leader. In Kohli’s absence, Rohit has donned the skipper’s hat in some major series, and he has proved himself fit for the role.

With India not laying their hands on any major trophies under Kohli’s leadership, many former players and critics have questioned his skills as a captain. On Tuesday, former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra also voiced his opinion and stated that the Indian team was lucky to have two natural leaders in the team, as both Kohli and Rohit have led the team from the front.

But Chopra also added that if Kohli fails to lead to Indian team to any major trophy over the next couple of years, the Indian team might need a change in captaincy.

During an interaction with sports presenter Sawera Pasha on Youtube, Chopra said, “India is blessed. If India feels six months or one and half years down the line that we need a change of guard, I don’t think Kohli’s performance will get affected.

“He has reached that level wherein he won’t come down from there. His performances will be unaffected regardless of whether he is the captain or not.”

This year’s edition of the ICC T20 World Cup hangs in the balance due to the coronavirus pandemic and the next edition of the event is set to be held in India. Chopra feels that if India fails to lay their hands on a trophy in these two big events, then the Indian board might look to change the leadership.

Chopra went on to add that Rohit was a good alternative, but he still backed Kohli, stating that he was improving as a captain. “But as a team, sometimes you want a different direction. If you reach that stage, then Rohit Sharma is a readymade choice available. But till then, you need to persist with Kohli, he is improving as a captain,” said Chopra.

“If he has a good bowling attack, like the one he has in Tests, he is a fine captain who knows how to handle the bowlers well. But if he doesn’t have good bowlers, just like the case at RCB, then he is also not that aggressive. For the next 10-12 months I think it will be Kohli. But after that if you are looking for a change of guard.. I wish India wins an ICC event soon because after 2013 we haven’t won anything,” added Chopra.

Chopra added the T20 World Cups will be Kohli’s chance to lay his hands on a major trophy. “There is a T20 World Cup in India as well. Hopefully, India should win one of these two. If they don’t win, then you may start thinking 'let’s look for a change in leadershop and find a different tone now’,” signed off Chopra.

India have not won any major ICC trophy since 2013 when Dhoni led the Indian team to Champions Trophy glory.

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Stokes vows to continue aggressive approach as England captain

Regular skipper Root will leave the team's training camp on Wednesday to be with his wife, Carrie, who is expecting their child later this week.

Due to coronavirus protocol, Root will need to self-isolate for seven days once he leaves the hospital, meaning he will miss the start of the first Test, which begins on July 8.

All-rounder Stokes, who is normally the vice-captain, will therefore fill in for Root as the skipper for the first of the three Tests.

Root is due to return to the role for the second Test, which begins in Manchester on July 13.

The opening Test will be the first Root has missed since he was appointed skipper in 2017. It will be the first time Stokes has captained his country, with ex-skipper Kevin Pietersen having expressed his concerns about one of England's key men having even more on his plate.

However, speaking on Monday, Stokes expressed his excitement about the possibility of deputising for Root. "Getting the opportunity to captain England is a huge honour," Stokes had said.

"Even if it's only the once, you can still say that I've captained England. It's a huge honour."

Jos Buttler will step up to be vice-captain for the first Test in Southampton.

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The incident prompted the BCCI to call a meeting of the IPL Governing Council to review Chinese sponsorships ahead of IPL 2020 but that meeting is yet to take place.

On Monday (June 30), India banned 59 Chinese apps. "We should do it (sever ties with Chinese sponsors in IPL) for the sake of the nation. Country comes first, money is secondary. And it is the Indian Premier League, not the Chinese Premier League. It should lead by example and show the way," Wadia told PTI.

"Yes, it would be difficult to find sponsors initially but I am sure there are enough Indian sponsors who can replace them. We must have all the respect for the nation and our government and most importantly for the soldiers who risk their lives for us," he said.

Chinese mobile phone maker Vivo is the IPL title sponsor and it pays the BCCI Rs 440 crore annually for the five-year deal ending in 2022. Other companies involved in the IPL -- Paytm, Swiggy, Dream 11 -- have Chinese investments.

Not just the IPL, the teams too attract Chinese sponsorship. While Wadia made his stance clear, other teams, including Chennai Super Kings, said they will be happy to go with whatever the government decides.

"It will be tough to replace them initially but if it has to be done for the sake of the nation, we should do it," a CSK source told PTI. Another team owner said: "Let the government decide first, whatever they decide, we will follow".

However, Wadia said it is not right to await government's directive on the controversial subject as "it is our moral responsibility to stand with the nation at this hour".

"If I was the BCCI president, I would say find me an Indian sponsor for the upcoming season. Indian companies need to step up and see the same benefits and opportunities that Chinese companies have seen in the IPL, which is the best T20 league in the world."

Asked about the Chinese sponsorship in IPL teams, Wadia said: "The teams too should be given time to replace their Chinese sponsors. As I said, there are enough Indian companies which can replace them."

Wadia also welcomed the Indian government's decision to ban Chinese apps citing national security. "If India plays its card right, it can really be the superpower it desires to be," he observed.

"Personally, I don't like to buy Chinese products because they are sub-standard. The focus has to be on making Indian and buying Indian. China produces such large volumes and suffocates the world, it has to stop. We should put all our efforts on making India a manufacturing hub.

I travel around the country a lot. If we don't stop the influx of cheap Chinese goods and are not firm in what we are doing, Indian manufacturing will die," said Wadia.

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But there was this Test at Adelaide against Australia in 2014 when India did not quite manage to walk past the post, but Kohli still rate that match as a milestone for the Indian team. In fact, Kohli, who took over as India captain in that series from MS Dhoni, made twin centuries in that Test. Why exactly did Kohli did think so? Let's find out!

"Throwback to this very special and important Test in our journey as the Test team that we are today. Adelaide 2014 was a game filled with emotion on both sides and an amazing one for people to watch too," Kohli said in an Instagram post.

"Although we didn't cross the line being so close, it taught us that anything is possible if we put our mind to it because we committed to doing something which seemed very difficult to begin with but almost pulled it off. All of us committed to it. This will always remain a very important milestone in our journey as a Test side," he said.

In that particular Test match, Australia made a mammoth 517 for 7 in their first innings, courtesy hundreds by David Warner, Steve Smith and Michael Clarke. India replied rather strongly with a 444 with Kohli making a 115 and received strong support from Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara and Murali Vijay, all made fifties.

Australia batted well in the second innings as well to declare at 290 for five and Warner made his second hundred of the match and Smith a half-century.

Asked to chase 364, an improbable one in fourth innings, India made a bold attempt through Kohli (141) and Vijay (99) but there was not much contribution on either side of the knocks and India were bundled out for 315 and lost the match by 48 runs.

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