Cricket News Today: Saurashtra's outgoing coach and Cheteshwar Pujara want Jaydev Unadkat playing for India, Brad Hogg backs Rohit Sharma to score a T20I double-ton and more - 16th March 2020

Hello and welcome to the daily round-up of all the major stories doing the rounds in the cricketing world today.

First up is Saurashtra's outgoing coach Karsan Ghavri and Cheteshwar Pujara wanting Jaydev Unadkat to play for India, followed by Brad Hogg backing Rohit Sharma to become first to score a T20I double-hundred. Lahore Qalandars' Chris Lynn heads home due to COVID-19 threat while PCB postponed the remainder of series against Bangladesh due to coronavirus outbreak. And lastly, Mohammad Amir citing fatigue as a major reason for Test retirement.

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Here is a look at all those stories in detail.

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#1 Ghavri and Pujara want Jaydev Unadkat playing for India

Cheteshwar Pujara

Ranji champions Saurashtra's outgoing coach Karsan Ghavri and India player Cheteshwar Pujara have expressed their hopefullness of seeing Jaydev Unadkat in Indian team colors pretty soon. Unadkat not only finished as the highest wicket-taker with 67 wickets but also played a crucial part while leading Saurashtra to their maiden Ranji title.

Unadkat played one Test, seven ODIs and 10 T20Is for India, claiming 22 wickets in the process. However, he went wicketless in the only Test he played against the Proteas in South Africa in 2010.

Also see – World Test Championship points table

Gharvi said:

"Yes it's true we have a great pace unit now. But I will say the national selectors can keep Unadkat in mind in case they want to rest somebody."

"All our pacers are right-handed. A left-hander thus provides you a different option. A right-hand left-hand combination often unsettles batsmen... He leads from the front and understands his role better."

Pujara said:

"I will be surprised if he is not picked in the Indian team."

Full article: Ranji Trophy 2019-20 | Saurashtra's outgoing coach Karsan Ghavri and Cheteshwar Pujara want Jaydev Unadkat playing for India

#2 Hogg backs Sharma to become first to score a T20I double-hundred

Rohit Sharma has scored four T20I hundreds, which are the most by any player in international cricket

Former Australia spinner Bradd Hogg has stated that India's Rohit Sharma remains the best bet in his eyes to break the double-ton-mark in the T20I format. Sharma, who boasts an unbelievable record of three double tons in ODIs and four tons in T20Is, has been tipped as the front-runner to scale the impossible according to Hogg due to his impeccable gameplay and good strike rate.

Replying to questions from fans on Twitter, Hogg reflected on the possibilities of players who could achieve the unimaginable mark, and Sharma topped that list.

Rohit Sharma at presently is the only player I think capable of it. Good strike rate, all timing, and plays cricketing shots finding six options all around the ground. https://t.co/WmHatsrJpO

— Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg) March 15, 2020

Full article: Brad Hogg backs Rohit Sharma to become first to score a T20I double-hundred

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#3 Lahore Qalandars's Chris Lynn heads home due to COVID-19 threat

Chris Lynn will head home from the PSL due to the coronavirus pandemic (Image: Twitter)

Australia's swash-buckling batsman Chris Lynn bid adieu to the ongoing PSL sooner than expected due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Lynn took to social media to reveal his decision, stating the current crisis as a matter of life and death. Despite saying goodbye, Lynn made sure he thanked the PCB and the fans for hosting him exceptionally well organising a great tournament.

Lynn scored a magnificent 52-ball century for Lahore Qalandars before leaving PSL, making sure his team qualified for their maiden PSL semi-finals.

Full article: PSL 2020: Massive blow for Lahore Qalandars as Chris Lynn heads home due to COVID-19 threat

#4 PCB postpone the remainder of series against Bangladesh

Pakistan Cricket Team

The Pakistan Cricket Board have postponed the remainder of the Bangladesh series due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Pakistan were due to play an ODI and one Test against Bangladesh in Karachi on April 1 and 5 respectively but had to take strong steps to tackle the increasing number of coronavirus cases in the sub-continent.

Pakistan defeated Bangladesh in the first Test by an innings and 44 runs in Rawalpindi.

Full article: Pakistan vs Bangladesh 2020 | PCB postpone the remainder of series against Bangladesh due to coronavirus outbreak

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#5 Amir claims fatigue led to Test retirement

Mohammad Amir has shed light on his retirement from Test cricket

Pakistan's Mohammad Amir reflected on his Test retirement last year, citing fatigue as the major reason for his shocking decision. Amir, who was plagued with the infamous spot-fixing scandal early on in his career, announced his Test retirement after the 2019 CWC held in England and Wales.

Amir stated that maintaining mental and physical fitness in all the three formats simultaneously was extremely difficult due to regular cricket being played as compared to earlier times.

"Fatigue was bound to happen, especially for fast bowlers. But now I am feeling much better, Alhamdulillah. When your focus is on one thing and you are mentally and physically fresh, you can deliver and perform better."

Full article: Mohammad Amir claims fatigue led to Test retirement