Some interesting announcements on April 1st....

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">As part of our efforts to make the game more appealing to younger generations, the ICC will be applying both numbers and Instagram handles to kits from the beginning of the World Test Championship. <a href="https://t.co/XnvantQfc9">pic.twitter.com/XnvantQfc9</a></p>— ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1112588156438831104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">In further changes ahead of the World Test Championship, the tradition of the coin toss will be replaced by a <a href="https://twitter.com/Twitter?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Twitter</a> poll, allowing fans at home to decide who bats and bowls! <a href="https://t.co/7wOuB8psZJ">pic.twitter.com/7wOuB8psZJ</a></p>— ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1112590049412108288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Should the temperature reach 35°C, the ICC's updated playing conditions will allow all Test players the option to wear shorts ☀🌡 <a href="https://t.co/TEFHahhPkL">pic.twitter.com/TEFHahhPkL</a></p>— ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1112591933002657792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">In a move to bring fans even closer to the sport, broadcasters will have the option to position commentators on the field of play behind the slips cordon 🎙 <a href="https://t.co/l8FMdFcCZ9">pic.twitter.com/l8FMdFcCZ9</a></p>— ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1112593170360094720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2019</a></blockquote>
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[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">After taking a catch, the fielding team will be permitted to complete a 'Double Wicket Play' by running out the other batsman ✌ <a href="https://t.co/1XN6rAT9lD">pic.twitter.com/1XN6rAT9lD</a></p>— ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1112594952230502400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2019</a></blockquote>
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[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Two minor changes will be made to cricket terminology with no balls and dot balls to henceforth be known as 'Faults' and 'Aces'. <a href="https://t.co/3gFdhO4c59">pic.twitter.com/3gFdhO4c59</a></p>— ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1112597100360093696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2019</a></blockquote>
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[MenInG]

I think I like a few of these...

 

[SensiblePakFan]

The funny thing is that you know one of these is seriously being considered...

 

[BaankeJi]

Scary thing is that ICC is not joking!

 

[zn426]

They're mocking other sports (particularly baseball and tennis) with these changes.
However a twitter poll to decide the choice of batting or fielding would actually engage fans.

 

[ahsan17]

However a twitter poll to decide the choice of batting or fielding would actually engage fans.

Not really. One nation has more than twice as much population as rest of cricketing world combined.

 

[Arsalan Pro]

It's the 1st of April and they are making everyone a fool.

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: Somerset set to trial VAR in cricket using live streaming technology <br><br>&#55357;&#56570; <a href="https://t.co/KPVgd3zaqZ">https://t.co/KPVgd3zaqZ</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreSomerset?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreSomerset</a> <a href="https://t.co/iDwEFJFWqG">pic.twitter.com/iDwEFJFWqG</a></p>— Somerset Cricket &#55356;&#57295; (@SomersetCCC) <a href="https://twitter.com/SomersetCCC/status/1112628783490744320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2019</a></blockquote>
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[Titan24]

It's the 1st of April and they are making everyone a fool.

I hope so, as some of them like toss through twitter and commenators behind the slip corners are pretty comic.

 

[Abdullah719]

BREAKING : India pull out of World Cup amidst relentless border tension

With continuous tension at the border simmering to untenable proportions, BCCI has finally decided to pull out of the World Cup, which starts on May 5. India had previously contemplated the decision of forfeiting the match against Pakistan in the league stages before they pulled out altogether.

The political tension between India and Pakistan has been disrupting India’s cricket for long now especially with the government hellbent on cutting the sporting ties with their neighbouring country. However, not a single person in their wildest dreams would have thought that the nation would let go of a World Cup altogether, which isn’t happening for another four years now.

The press conference was glum one as well where Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli were present alongside Rahul Johri to reveal the shocking news.

“I think it’s best for the country at the moment. The families of the army, who sacrificed their lives in Pulwama, are yet to heal and we cannot indulge in playing a World Cup where Pakistan would also be playing solely for entertainment purposes,” said Virat Kohli, hiding his eyes under the cap.

For obvious reasons, ICC wasn’t happy with the decision at all and has called for a severance payment to BCCI for the enormous financial loss they would be caused by pulling out of the tournament.

“We’re helpless about the situation as we had made some long-term preparations for the tournament. But, nothing is more important than we sticking together as a country and as we all know, cricket is a part of the country. We stick by the Indian government’s decision,” said Johri.

“We won’t remain out of playing though, as the management is in talks to hold a full-on tour with Kenya in June that could include three Test matches, five ODIs and three T20Is,” added Johri.

This has unlocked a pandora’s box for Shastri though, whose contract with the Indian team was supposed to be till World Cup end. Now, with India forfeiting the tournament, BCCI would have to put a notice for a new coach on the website, Shastri’s chances of automatically getting reappointed also lurks in the darkness. His chances of proving his credential as a master tactician against Zimbabwe could hardly be taken into consideration.

This would surely be the boldest step taken by any nation at the face of political tension and India’s action could be long-lasting repercussions in smoothening BCCI’s ties with ICC in future. The world cricket body would be seriously hoping that all this was a prank by BCCI on the widely celebrated mock day of April 1st as we just did. This article meant no harm to any individual or group.

https://sportscafe.in/articles/cric...of-world-cup-amidst-relentless-border-tension

 

[Stewie]

In order to promote peace, the Pakistani kut has been modified with an additional slogan

“Ab ki baar phir Modi Serkar!”

 

[Asif321]

Lol fun from ICC

 

[UN talkz]