WC: Pak players’ families not allowed to travel with team

KARACHI
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) rejected a suggestion from national team captain Sarfaraz Ahmed to have the players’ families travelling with them during the World Cup in England and Wales. “Yes there was a suggestion from the captain and the players that they should be allowed to have their wives and children with them in England during the World Cup but the board has not allowed this,” a source said. He said permission had been granted to the players that their wives and children could be with them during the ODI series against England but they would have to leave before the World Cup. The source said the board wanted the players to be totally focused on cricket during the World Cup. “The World Cup and our tour of England is a long one. I believe that it helps a player relax if his family is with him,” Ahmed said. “So I think if you have your wife and children you can focus on them and spend time with them and this helps you relax mentally for the next day as well,” he added. The board and team management has also decided to restrict the use of the social media for the players during the World Cup. 

New Delhi
Seven to play county cricket before World Test C’ship 

Seven of India’s Test specialists may play a few games for various English county sides to prepare for the inaugural World Test Championship series in July and August. The players that BCCI have zeroed in are Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Prithvi Shaw, Hanuma Vihari, Mayank Agarwal, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ishant Sharma. Pujara already has a three-year contract with Yorkshire and is set to play there again. Rahane is likely to sign a deal with Hampshire in the coming week and is waiting for the approval of the CoA. — Agencies