England, ’s Anderson to retire from Tests after Lord’s match
James Anderson, England’s fast bowler, will retire from Test cricket after the first Test against West Indies at Lord’s in July.
Cricket
Thorne questions benefit, impact of corporate tax reform bill – Barbados Today
Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne criticized the Mia Mottley administration for lack of clarity and transparency in the government’s corporate tax reforms through the Corporation Top-Up Tax Bill. He accused the administration of mismanaging taxpayers’ money and called for more precise information on whether the legislation would lead to a rise or fall in taxation. Thorne also urged the government to provide specific details about the tax legislation and its broader purpose, shifting the focus away from blaming external factors for economic challenges.
Social media platform X blocked in Pakistan over national security, ministry says
Pakistan’s interior ministry confirmed blocking access to social media platform X during February’s election due to national security concerns. This decision was made after X, formerly Twitter, failed to comply with government directives and address misuse of the platform. The ban was imposed to uphold national security, public order, and the nation’s integrity. Despite restrictions, some government officials, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, continue to use X through VPN software. The decision to block X was based on confidential reports from intelligence and security agencies, citing concerns of hostile elements on the platform aiming to create chaos and instability in the country.
England’s highest wicket-taking spinner Underwood dies at 78
Derek Underwood, former England bowler, has passed away at the age of 78. He played 86 test matches for England and took 297 wickets, making him the country’s highest wicket-taking spinner in the format. Underwood was ranked as the world’s number one bowler for nearly four years between 1969 and 1973. He played for Kent County Cricket Club for 24 years, retiring in 1987, and had 10 seasons where he took 100 or more wickets. Underwood was also inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame and served as the president of Kent Cricket and the Marylebone Cricket Club after retiring as a player.
Kavindu, Ruwan and Avinash star on busy cricket weekend
Sri Lanka Lions had a mixed weekend of cricket, beating Amdocs in the BAOFinancial 40 Over Cup before losing to MSN Punjab Lions in a T20 match.
More huge scores in Cyprus cricket leagues
Fact: Black Caps scored 401-4 in the 40 Over league match against Telugu 11 at Ypsonas cricket ground.
Pakistan court suspends Imran Khan’s jail sentence in graft appeal
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan had his 14-year jail sentence suspended by a Pakistani court after winning an appeal for his conviction for graft. The charges against him and his wife included unlawfully selling state gifts worth over 140 million rupees received during his premiership. Khan remains in jail on other sentences imposed before the national polls, which also disqualified him from holding public office for 10 years. The legal cases against Khan were seen as politically motivated to keep him out of politics, according to him and his party.
Wins for Everest and Sri Lanka Lions in Cyprus cricket leagues
Fact: Everest CC is the only club that has decided to play only in the 40 Over league and not the T20, and has reaped dividends with victories in their first two games.
Ashish Bam century helps Everest to superb opening win
The BAOFinancial 40 Over Cup saw Telugu 11 win against Everest with a remarkable 6-wicket victory, thanks to significant contributions from Sivannarayana Patti (73), Vinod Kumar (82), and Ashish Bam (110 not out). In the Spring T20 league, Al Fatah overcame Cyprus Knight Riders by 5 wickets, with notable performances from Umar Farooq (3-15) and Asif Mehmood (38 not out). Moufflons CC participated in the European Cricket League in Spain, facing challenges including flight issues and tough competition, but showcased individual talents such as Akila, Isidore, Burdekin, and Nalin Pathirana.
Punjab Lions win thriller against Sri Lankans
The new cricket season began with MSN Punjab Lions winning by 3 runs against Sri Lankans in the BAOFinancial T20 League. Neeraj Tiwari scored 67 for the Lions, setting a target of 199-6. Sri Lankans finished at 196-2, with Supan Delpathadu scoring 80 on debut and Chandana Prartana making 65. In another match, Punjabi Kings defeated Limassol Qalandars by 3 wickets, with Ravi Gill scoring 49 not out. Sri Lanka Lions scored the day’s highest with 248-6 against Napa Kings, featuring a partnership between Akila De Silva (85) and Srinath Rajith (81). Markhor won by 32 runs against Royal, overcoming an early setback to post 153-8, thanks to Shah Khalid’s 70. Royal was restricted to 121 all out in a reduced 16-over innings due to a late start, repeating their previous week’s issue.