The Cricket.com Weekly - September 30th

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Controversies 

Dickwella slapped with three-year ban

Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batter Niroshan Dickwella has been slapped with a three-year ban for failing a doping test. The 31-year-old tested positive for cocaine during the Lanka Premier League (2024), where he captained Galle Marvels and led them to the final. 

The test was conducted by the Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency (SLADA) on July 14. The three-member disciplinary panel reached the conclusion after thorough deliberation and handed the ban, which is effective from August 13, 2024. They have also notified Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) of their decision.

Bangladesh fan deported back to his country after assault allegations

Bangladesh fan Robi-ul Islam, who alleged that he was assaulted by Indian fans on Day 1 of the second Test between India and Bangladesh in Kanpur, was deported to his country on September 28. This was done after he was found in India on a medical visa. 

The fan, popularly known as Robi Tiger, has been suffering from metastatic cancer. It came to light after he was found unconscious outside the Green Park Stadium at the end of Day 1. “He was found gasping for breath when he met a constable. He became unconscious before we could speak to him,” the Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) told PTI.

Heather Knight fined for racist social media post in 2012

England women’s team captain Heather Knight was fined £1,000 by the Cricket Discipline Commission of England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on September 23 for racist posts made on her behalf, way back in 2012. After the reprimand, she apologised for the said post. "I'm truly sorry for the mistake I made in 2012," she said in a statement issued by the ECB.

In the Facebook post, which was made by another person, Knight is seen having her face painted black, which indicates racist mocking of people of colour. She was participating in an ‘end-of-season fancy dress party at a cricket club in Kent’ according to a BBC report. 

Weekly recap

In the spotlight 

IPl retention rules announced

The Indian Premier League franchises can retain up to six players ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction, but the money will be deducted from their purse, which stands at INR 120 crore. The six players can be Indian or overseas, but at least one of them has to be uncapped. All six players can be retained ahead of the auction or by a combination of retention and RTM (Right to Match), or just via the RTM option.

The value of the first three retentions will be INR 18 crore, INR 14 crore and INR 11 crore. The next two will be INR 18 crore and INR 14 crore. As a result, INR 75 crore will be deducted from the INR 120 crore of the overall purse. As far as the uncapped player is concerned, he can be retained at INR 4 crore. Hence, the franchise could lose as much as INR 79 crore before entering the auction and could be left with just INR 41 crore.

Dhoni to be retained as uncapped player?

According to the rules for the IPL auction, MS Dhoni can be retained as an uncapped player by his franchise, Chennai Super Kings. This comes after the IPL decided to bring back the rule from 2008, where Indian players who had retired from international cricket at least five years before could go into the auction as uncapped players. 

However, the rule was never used and was scrapped in 2021, but the franchises were made aware that the rule had been revived. Dhoni, who played his last match for India in 2019 and officially retired in 2020, has played only in the IPL since then.

Dwayne Bravo retires from all forms of cricket

After a groin injury cut short his CPL appearance against Saint Lucia Kings, legendary Caribbean all-rounder Dwayne Bravo announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, ending a career that was tailor-made for T20 cricket.

Also read - Memorable moments from his illustrious T20 career

Performers of the week

Stat of the week

Editor's picks

IPL 2025: Which players will each franchise retain?

Ravindra Jadeja: an all-round GOAT whose legacy is already immortalised

Sandeep Sharma, Markande & others who can be retained as uncapped players

Sune Luus: Became an off-spinner to give the team some balance

Women's T20 World Cup: Who is each side’s most in-form player?

Dwayne Bravo: A T20 pioneer and one of the GOATs

Roston Chase Interview: 'There's still a place for anchors in T20 cricket'

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