Pakistan will debut in the third season of the Road Safety World Series tournament - a T20 league, which commences in September in England this year. The Road Safety World Series started three years ago in 2020, was played in India until now and will now feature in the UK. This multi-team event includes only retired players from each country to participate and has got approval from the ECB regarding Pakistan's participation.

The Road Safety World Series league began in March 2020, has completed two seasons, with the third one expected to get underway from early September for close to three weeks. Nine teams will participate this time, compared to eight in the previous edition.

While the first season was played across 2020 and 2021 – given the Covid-19 situation in the world, the second season took place in 2022.&nbsp; 
However, because of strained political relations between India and Pakistan over the years, the team from across the border didn't participate thus far but will debut in the third season.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pm-narendra-modi-lauds-indian-womens-compound-team-for-historic-gold-medal-win-world-archery-championship-622610">PM Narendra Modi lauds Indian Women's Compound team for historic gold medal win World Archery Championship</a>

Launched in March 2020, the first season saw teams from India, Sri Lanka, South Africa, West Indies, and Australia slated to participate. But with competition getting cut short after four games only due to the rise of Covid infection, it resumed next year in March in Raipur, where Australia pulled out because Covid-19 related travel restrictions. Bangladesh replaced Australia, while England also got added to the schedule.

For the next season, two teams from Down Under – Australia and New Zealand got added to the setup, while the tournament was played in Dehradun and Raipur during the September window.

In both editions, the Indian Legends defeated Sri Lankan Legends in the finals in Raipur.

This tournament has seen some of the greatest cricketers, like Sachin Tendulkar, Sanath Jayasuriya, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Yuvraj Singh, Shane Bond, Jonty Rhodes and Brian Lara, alongside others, plying their trades for their respective teams.

<h2>Cricket World gears up for 50-over spectacle</h2>

Amid ongoing franchise-based T20 leagues, the mega tournament - the 50-over World Cup, will get underway in October in India, with last-time finalists – England and New Zealand playing the opener at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 8.

The marquee clash between India and Pakistan, which per the previous schedule, was supposed to take place on October 15, will now be staged a day prior, on October 14. The BCCI, in consultation with the ICC, will announce the revised schedule in the coming days.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

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Pakistan will debut in the third season of the Road Safety World Series tournament - a T20 league, which commences in September in England this year. The Road Safety World Series started three years ago in 2020, was played in India until now and will now feature in the UK.

Pakistan will debut in the third season of the Road Safety World Series tournament - a T20 league, which commences in September in England this year. The Road Safety World Series started three years ago in 2020, was played in India until now and will now feature in the UK. This multi-team event includes only retired players from each country to participate and has got approval from the ECB regarding Pakistan's participation. The Road Safety World Series league began in March 2020, has completed two seasons, with the third one expected to get underway from early September for close to three weeks. Nine teams will participate this time, compared to eight in the previous edition. While the first season was played across 2020 and 2021 – given the Covid-19 situation in the world, the second season took place in 2022. However, because of strained political relations between India and Pakistan over the years, the team from across the border didn't participate thus far but will debut in the third season. ALSO READ: PM Narendra Modi lauds Indian Women's Compound team for historic gold medal win World Archery Championship Launched in March 2020, the first season saw teams from India, Sri Lanka, South Africa, West Indies, and Australia slated to participate. But with competition getting cut short after four games only due to the rise of Covid infection, it resumed next year in March in Raipur, where Australia pulled out because Covid-19 related travel restrictions. Bangladesh replaced Australia, while England also got added to the schedule. For the next season, two teams from Down Under – Australia and New Zealand got added to the setup, while the tournament was played in Dehradun and Raipur during the September window. In both editions, the Indian Legends defeated Sri Lankan Legends in the finals in Raipur. This tournament has seen some of the greatest cricketers, like Sachin Tendulkar, Sanath Jayasuriya, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Yuvraj Singh, Shane Bond, Jonty Rhodes and Brian Lara, alongside others, plying their trades for their respective teams. Cricket World gears up for 50-over spectacle Amid ongoing franchise-based T20 leagues, the mega tournament - the 50-over World Cup, will get underway in October in India, with last-time finalists – England and New Zealand playing the opener at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 8. The marquee clash between India and Pakistan, which per the previous schedule, was supposed to take place on October 15, will now be staged a day prior, on October 14. The BCCI, in consultation with the ICC, will announce the revised schedule in the coming days. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Pakistan set for Road Safety World Series debut in season 3, tournament set to commence in September

With cases rising in the India Legends team, who participated in the recently concluded Road Safety World Series, all the players from the Sri Lanka Legends team have been directed to undergo self-quarantine till next Saturday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The likes of Sanath Jayasuriya, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Rangana Herath among other prominent names from Sri Lankan cricket had participated in the Road Safety World Series which was played in front of a packed crowd in Raipur.&nbsp;&nbsp;

While other tournaments and series are mostly being played behind closed doors, Road Safety World Series persisted with having fans inside the stadiums. The move has backfired as four India Legends players have returned positive for COVID-19.&nbsp;&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-waited-for-this-opportunity-shahrukh-khan-aims-to-make-it-big-for-punjab-kings-in-ipl-2021-374299" hreflang="en">Exclusive: 'Waited for this opportunity' - Shahrukh Khan aims to make it big for Punjab Kings in IPL 2021</a>

India Legends captain&nbsp;Sachin&nbsp;Tendulkar, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, S Badrinath have so far tested positive for coronavirus after participating in the Road Safety World Series.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Given the rise in cases within the India Legends team, Sri Lanka Legends have been instructed by the health officials to self-quarantine till next Saturday.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/baffling-bangladesh-witness-dls-target-blunder-in-2nd-t20i-vs-new-zealand-374279" hreflang="en">Baffling! Bangladesh witness DLS target blunder in 2nd T20I vs New Zealand</a>

Sri Lanka Legends had locked horns with India Legends in the final of the Road Safety World Series in which the Tendulkar-led outfit ended up being victorious.&nbsp;&nbsp;

At the end of the Sri Lanka Legends’ quarantine phase, the players will be subject to RT-PCR tests again.&nbsp;

With cases rising in the India Legends team, who participated in the recently concluded Road Safety World Series, all the players from the Sri Lanka Legends team have been directed to undergo self-quarantine till next Saturday.

With cases rising in the India Legends team, who participated in the recently concluded Road Safety World Series, all the players from the Sri Lanka Legends team have been directed to undergo self-quarantine till next Saturday. The likes of Sanath Jayasuriya, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Rangana Herath among other prominent names from Sri Lankan cricket had participated in the Road Safety World Series which was played in front of a packed crowd in Raipur. While other tournaments and series are mostly being played behind closed doors, Road Safety World Series persisted with having fans inside the stadiums. The move has backfired as four India Legends players have returned positive for COVID-19. ALSO READ: Exclusive: 'Waited for this opportunity' - Shahrukh Khan aims to make it big for Punjab Kings in IPL 2021 India Legends captain Sachin Tendulkar, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, S Badrinath have so far tested positive for coronavirus after participating in the Road Safety World Series. Given the rise in cases within the India Legends team, Sri Lanka Legends have been instructed by the health officials to self-quarantine till next Saturday. ALSO READ: Baffling! Bangladesh witness DLS target blunder in 2nd T20I vs New Zealand Sri Lanka Legends had locked horns with India Legends in the final of the Road Safety World Series in which the Tendulkar-led outfit ended up being victorious. At the end of the Sri Lanka Legends’ quarantine phase, the players will be subject to RT-PCR tests again.

Sri Lanka Legends under self-quarantine after 4 India Legends players test positive for COVID-19

Former England pacer Ryan Sidebottom has achieved it all when it comes to playing international cricket. From making international debut at the iconic Lord's, picking up a Test hat-trick against New Zealand,&nbsp;to winning the ICC T20 World Cup in 2010, Sidebottom's achievements speak for themselves. A left-arm pacer who could swing it big and a fierce competitor on the field, Sidebottom is&nbsp;turning the clock back&nbsp;in the Road Safety World Series for England Legends – almost 11 years since hanging his boots from international cricket.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In an exclusive interview with WION, Ryan Sidebottom, who played 65 matches for England across formats, talked about his experience of playing in India against the legends of the game while also sharing his take on ongoing England's tour of India, the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup and who he feels is the best batsman in the world.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<img alt="Ryan Sidebottom" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8cd1be0e-ab22-4df1-81d2-1f2a69ac9ee0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_DV320060.jpg" />

With 50 per cent crowd allowed inside the stadiums for the Road Safety World Series, the fans have been at their best to cheer for the greats of the game. With the likes of&nbsp;Sachin&nbsp;Tendulkar,&nbsp;Brian Lara,&nbsp;Kevin Pietersen,&nbsp;Tillakaratne&nbsp;Dilshan, Jonty Rhodes among other&nbsp;legends&nbsp;participating in the tournament, the crowd has made sure to give the former stars a great reception on the ground.&nbsp;&nbsp;

When asked about his experience of playing in India, Sidebottom told WION: “It has been great! The people here are so welcoming and the hospitality is just unbelievable. To be able to play with and against some of the legends of the game is an&nbsp;honour. The crowd has been incredible. The noise level they produce in the ground is unmatchable. To be back on the field after many years with all other players feels great and to be able to play in front of crowd after a tough year for all is great.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Everyone here is in good spirits. We are playing for a good cause, to increase awareness around&nbsp;road safety. It is great to catch up with all the mates. We all want to play good cricket and entertain the crowd.&nbsp;Thank you so much for coming in and supporting us and other teams participating in the Road Safety World Series. It has been a surreal experience playing in front of the crowd. Keep coming and supporting us as we continue to play for a good cause.” the former England left-arm pacer added.

<img alt="Ryan Sidebottom" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="15d266e5-a070-490e-8b35-2e0d2e77629a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/EwbzphbUYA8Zbe5_0.jpg" />&nbsp;

The match between India Legends and England Legends has been hailed as the best match of the&nbsp;Road Safety World Series&nbsp;so far. While Kevin Pietersen smashed it all over the park for England Legends, the likes of Irfan Pathan and Manpreet&nbsp;Gony&nbsp;took the match to the last over of the match with Sidebottom successfully defending 19 runs – as he did against India in the T20 World Cup back in 2009.&nbsp;&nbsp;

WATCH:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/england-favourites-to-win-t20-world-cup-virat-kohli-369784" hreflang="en">England favourites to win T20 World Cup: Virat Kohli</a>

<h2 lang="EN-US" paraeid="{672403ec-1856-4a6d-a97a-eadbacb72e4e}{211}" paraid="189387817" >"Great to be back playing with some greats of the game"</h2>

"It was great. To play against greats like&nbsp;Sachin&nbsp;Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag among so many others is a huge&nbsp;honour. The crowd was going bonkers when we played against them. KP&nbsp;(Kevin Pietersen)&nbsp;did really well with the bat to put us in a strong position, Monty Panesar was superb with the ball. But to be honest my heart is still racing thinking about the hitting from Irfan and&nbsp;Gony.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"Thankfully, we won and it was great fun to be involved in such a high-octane match.&nbsp;The stats popped up after the match ended and the guys started to share on our chat group, it was a nice moment and we all had a good laugh,” Sidebottom, who has 79 Test wickets,&nbsp;said.&nbsp;

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Deja vu, boys are still buzzing from the amazing game last night. No wonder <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IPL</a> is the best T20 league in the world. India is the place to be. <a href="https://twitter.com/RSWorldSeries?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RSWorldSeries</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/sachin_rt?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sachin_rt</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/KP24?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KP24</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BrianLara?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BrianLara</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanSidebottom?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RyanSidebottom</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Hoggy602?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Hoggy602</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/jimmyt20?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jimmyt20</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/scho?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@scho</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/sonamakapoor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sonamakapoor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/karanjohar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@karanjohar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/KapilSharmaK9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KapilSharmaK9</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/IhInhtwUqz">pic.twitter.com/IhInhtwUqz</a>
— Monty Panesar (@MontyPanesar) <a href="https://twitter.com/MontyPanesar/status/1369518301420736512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Coming to international cricket,&nbsp;England suffered a 3-1 series defeat to India in the recently concluded four-Test series with Virat Kohli &amp; Co making a comeback after losing the opener by 227 runs. Sidebottom reckons India simply outplayed England on their home conditions&nbsp;while adding England simply didn't have answers for the way hosts played.&nbsp;&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20i-series-against-india-an-opportunity-to-prepare-for-world-cup-says-englands-eoin-morgan-369789" hreflang="en">T20I series against India an opportunity to prepare for World Cup, says England's Eoin Morgan</a>

<h2>"Credit to India for dominating the Test series"</h2>

“Credit to India, they were simply brilliant in their home conditions. I feel England could have done a lot better when they batted first. The first Test win was great but India got their basics right in the next matches to rightly win the series. England were dominated and outplayed, and for that, we have to credit the Indian players and not shift the focus on pitches because both the teams play on it and it is equal for everyone involved in that particular match. The likes of&nbsp;Axar&nbsp;and Ashwin were great&nbsp;with&nbsp;the ball and the Indian batters showed how to bat on those pitches in Chennai and Ahmedabad.&nbsp;

“Also, I feel it was a great opportunity for English players to be heroes and inspire&nbsp;millions as the Test series was on free-to-air television,” the former England pacer said.&nbsp;

Ongoing England's tour of India has seen the visitors being&nbsp;criticised&nbsp;for their rotation policy. While the likes of Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali among a few others couldn't play the complete four-match Test series due to England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) strict rotation policy, former players and pundits have&nbsp;not minced their words while&nbsp;criticising&nbsp;the&nbsp;rotation tradition. However, Sidebottom has a different take on the matter.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Look, I would have been against it had it been normal days for us as human beings. Bio-bubble life is not easy and different individuals react to certain conditions differently. For me, Test cricket is the&nbsp;pinnacle&nbsp;and then come other formats so I would always prefer the best players playing&nbsp;red-ball cricket. But with players staying away from their families for long periods and sometimes confined to their hotel rooms, you know it is not easy,” Sidebottom opined.&nbsp;

<img alt="Ryan Sidebottom" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="63617ead-3d55-4b0e-8e79-bea5d93f5ca3" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_Was2203549.jpg" />

After the completion of the four-Test series between India and England, both sides have started their preparations for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, scheduled to be hosted by India later in the year.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h2 lang="EN-US" paraeid="{816ae230-339f-4a54-bb58-ee46580cae80}{37}" paraid="1383505858" >England one of the favourites for T20 World Cup but don't rule out India: Ryan Sidebottom</h2>

Sidebottom feels England will&nbsp;be one of the&nbsp;favourites&nbsp;to win the T20 World Cup given the brand of white-ball cricket they have played in recent times. However, the former left-arm paceman has said that teams like India and Australia will be a force to reckon with in the much-awaited tournament.&nbsp;

“England&nbsp;will&nbsp;be one of the&nbsp;favourites&nbsp;to win the T20 World Cup. The way England have approached their limited-overs cricket is refreshing to watch and that helped them win the 50-over World Cup in 2019. But there are some great sides. Don't rule out India, Australia, the West Indies among others, they all have quality players at their helm,&nbsp;so I feel it would be a fantastic tournament to watch and the contest would be really tight. I hope, England would&nbsp;be able to win it.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<img alt="Ryan Sidebottom" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="032cc74e-cdcf-427f-9f8c-e647e0eb3d2f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_Was3085219.jpg" />

Sidebottom, whose career was cut short due to persistent injury issues, hailed the quality of pacer in international cricket while also lauding the fitness levels of today's cricketers.&nbsp;&nbsp;

When asked what does he make of the&nbsp;quality of&nbsp;pacers in international cricket, the 2010 T20 World Cup winner said:&nbsp;“There are some fantastic pacers going around. The likes of Pat Cummins, Jasprit&nbsp;Bumrah, Kagiso&nbsp;Rabada, Trent Boult,&nbsp;Jofra Archer&nbsp;so many good pacers.&nbsp;The quality of pace bowling which we have witnessed in the last few years have been top-notch. The fitness levels of today's players are on different levels&nbsp;and it is a great spectacle to see them steaming in and bowling with good pace across formats.”&nbsp;

<h2 lang="EN-US" paraeid="{dfdac813-8ee3-448c-b24d-6cac790aa659}{149}" paraid="1651370133" >"Virat Kohli the best in the business"</h2>

When asked who, according to him, is the best player currently, the former England pacer said: “When we talk about the best in the business, the name of Virat Kohli comes to my mind.&nbsp;He is pretty good, isn't he?”&nbsp;

Former England pacer Ryan Sidebottom has achieved it all when it comes to playing international cricket. From making international debut at the iconic Lord's, picking up a Test hat-trick against New Zealand, to winning the ICC T20 World Cup in 2010, Sidebottom's achievements speak for themselves.

Former England pacer Ryan Sidebottom has achieved it all when it comes to playing international cricket. From making international debut at the iconic Lord's, picking up a Test hat-trick against New Zealand, to winning the ICC T20 World Cup in 2010, Sidebottom's achievements speak for themselves. A left-arm pacer who could swing it big and a fierce competitor on the field, Sidebottom is turning the clock back in the Road Safety World Series for England Legends – almost 11 years since hanging his boots from international cricket. In an exclusive interview with WION, Ryan Sidebottom, who played 65 matches for England across formats, talked about his experience of playing in India against the legends of the game while also sharing his take on ongoing England's tour of India, the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup and who he feels is the best batsman in the world. With 50 per cent crowd allowed inside the stadiums for the Road Safety World Series, the fans have been at their best to cheer for the greats of the game. With the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Kevin Pietersen, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Jonty Rhodes among other legends participating in the tournament, the crowd has made sure to give the former stars a great reception on the ground. When asked about his experience of playing in India, Sidebottom told WION: “It has been great! The people here are so welcoming and the hospitality is just unbelievable. To be able to play with and against some of the legends of the game is an honour. The crowd has been incredible. The noise level they produce in the ground is unmatchable. To be back on the field after many years with all other players feels great and to be able to play in front of crowd after a tough year for all is great.” “Everyone here is in good spirits. We are playing for a good cause, to increase awareness around road safety. It is great to catch up with all the mates. We all want to play good cricket and entertain the crowd. Thank you so much for coming in and supporting us and other teams participating in the Road Safety World Series. It has been a surreal experience playing in front of the crowd. Keep coming and supporting us as we continue to play for a good cause.” the former England left-arm pacer added. The match between India Legends and England Legends has been hailed as the best match of the Road Safety World Series so far. While Kevin Pietersen smashed it all over the park for England Legends, the likes of Irfan Pathan and Manpreet Gony took the match to the last over of the match with Sidebottom successfully defending 19 runs – as he did against India in the T20 World Cup back in 2009. WATCH: England favourites to win T20 World Cup: Virat Kohli "Great to be back playing with some greats of the game" "It was great. To play against greats like Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag among so many others is a huge honour. The crowd was going bonkers when we played against them. KP (Kevin Pietersen) did really well with the bat to put us in a strong position, Monty Panesar was superb with the ball. But to be honest my heart is still racing thinking about the hitting from Irfan and Gony. "Thankfully, we won and it was great fun to be involved in such a high-octane match. The stats popped up after the match ended and the guys started to share on our chat group, it was a nice moment and we all had a good laugh,” Sidebottom, who has 79 Test wickets, said. Deja vu, boys are still buzzing from the amazing game last night. No wonder @IPL is the best T20 league in the world. India is the place to be. @RSWorldSeries @sachin_rt @KP24 @BrianLara @RyanSidebottom @Hoggy602 @jimmyt20 @scho @sonamakapoor @karanjohar @KapilSharmaK9 #Cricket pic.twitter.com/IhInhtwUqz — Monty Panesar (@MontyPanesar) March 10, 2021 × Coming to international cricket, England suffered a 3-1 series defeat to India in the recently concluded four-Test series with Virat Kohli & Co making a comeback after losing the opener by 227 runs. Sidebottom reckons India simply outplayed England on their home conditions while adding England simply didn't have answers for the way hosts played. ALSO READ: T20I series against India an opportunity to prepare for World Cup, says England's Eoin Morgan "Credit to India for dominating the Test series" “Credit to India, they were simply brilliant in their home conditions. I feel England could have done a lot better when they batted first. The first Test win was great but India got their basics right in the next matches to rightly win the series. England were dominated and outplayed, and for that, we have to credit the Indian players and not shift the focus on pitches because both the teams play on it and it is equal for everyone involved in that particular match. The likes of Axar and Ashwin were great with the ball and the Indian batters showed how to bat on those pitches in Chennai and Ahmedabad. “Also, I feel it was a great opportunity for English players to be heroes and inspire millions as the Test series was on free-to-air television,” the former England pacer said. Ongoing England's tour of India has seen the visitors being criticised for their rotation policy. While the likes of Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali among a few others couldn't play the complete four-match Test series due to England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) strict rotation policy, former players and pundits have not minced their words while criticising the rotation tradition. However, Sidebottom has a different take on the matter. “Look, I would have been against it had it been normal days for us as human beings. Bio-bubble life is not easy and different individuals react to certain conditions differently. For me, Test cricket is the pinnacle and then come other formats so I would always prefer the best players playing red-ball cricket. But with players staying away from their families for long periods and sometimes confined to their hotel rooms, you know it is not easy,” Sidebottom opined. After the completion of the four-Test series between India and England, both sides have started their preparations for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, scheduled to be hosted by India later in the year. England one of the favourites for T20 World Cup but don't rule out India: Ryan Sidebottom Sidebottom feels England will be one of the favourites to win the T20 World Cup given the brand of white-ball cricket they have played in recent times. However, the former left-arm paceman has said that teams like India and Australia will be a force to reckon with in the much-awaited tournament. “England will be one of the favourites to win the T20 World Cup. The way England have approached their limited-overs cricket is refreshing to watch and that helped them win the 50-over World Cup in 2019. But there are some great sides. Don't rule out India, Australia, the West Indies among others, they all have quality players at their helm, so I feel it would be a fantastic tournament to watch and the contest would be really tight. I hope, England would be able to win it. Sidebottom, whose career was cut short due to persistent injury issues, hailed the quality of pacer in international cricket while also lauding the fitness levels of today's cricketers. When asked what does he make of the quality of pacers in international cricket, the 2010 T20 World Cup winner said: “There are some fantastic pacers going around. The likes of Pat Cummins, Jasprit Bumrah, Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult, Jofra Archer so many good pacers. The quality of pace bowling which we have witnessed in the last few years have been top-notch. The fitness levels of today's players are on different levels and it is a great spectacle to see them steaming in and bowling with good pace across formats.” "Virat Kohli the best in the business" When asked who, according to him, is the best player currently, the former England pacer said: “When we talk about the best in the business, the name of Virat Kohli comes to my mind. He is pretty good, isn't he?”

Exclusive: England favourites to win T20 World Cup but don't rule out India - Ryan Sidebottom

The Road Safety World Series T20 has turned the clock back for not only legends of the game but also for all cricket lovers. With teams like India Legends, England Legends, Sri Lanka Legends, South Africa Legends among others participating in the tournament, former cricketers have left no stones unturned to bring their A-game to the field.&nbsp;

The much-awaited match between India Legends and England Legends didn’t disappoint the fans as it ended up being a last-over spectacle.&nbsp;&nbsp;

While the likes of Kevin Pietersen, Monty Panesar, Irfan Pathan and Manpreet&nbsp;Gony&nbsp;stole the show with their performances, there was a sense of Deja-vu as many witnessed legends lock horns in an intense battle. England Legends ended up winning the match by six runs after an onslaught by Irfan and&nbsp;Gony.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Deja vu, boys are still buzzing from the amazing game last night. No wonder <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IPL</a> is the best T20 league in the world. India is the place to be. <a href="https://twitter.com/RSWorldSeries?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RSWorldSeries</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/sachin_rt?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sachin_rt</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/KP24?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KP24</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BrianLara?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BrianLara</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanSidebottom?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RyanSidebottom</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Hoggy602?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Hoggy602</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/jimmyt20?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jimmyt20</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/scho?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@scho</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/sonamakapoor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sonamakapoor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/karanjohar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@karanjohar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/KapilSharmaK9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KapilSharmaK9</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/IhInhtwUqz">pic.twitter.com/IhInhtwUqz</a>
— Monty Panesar (@MontyPanesar) <a href="https://twitter.com/MontyPanesar/status/1369518301420736512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
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For England Legends, the star with the ball was Monty Panesar as the left-arm spinner scalped three wickets in his four-over spell while conceding just 15 runs. Panesar's wickets included the likes of&nbsp;Sachin&nbsp;Tendulkar, Mohammad Kaif and Yuvraj Singh as the England spinner bamboozled the India Legends.&nbsp;

Panesar, who had dismissed Tendulkar five times in international cricket&nbsp;(four&nbsp;times in Test cricket&nbsp;and once in ODI cricket), got the better of the Master Blaster once again in the Road Safety&nbsp;World&nbsp;Series T20&nbsp;and ended up silencing the crowd in Raipur.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-test-championship-final-to-be-held-at-hampshire-bowl-in-southampton-icc-369392" hreflang="en">World Test Championship final to be held at Hampshire Bowl in Southampton: ICC</a>

“It was an absolute pleasure to play against&nbsp;Sachin&nbsp;Tendulkar again. To watch him go about his things is education itself. He is the greatest athlete ever and to get him out one more time was a huge&nbsp;honour. I don’t have many words to explain how I felt bowling at him again. I am still having goosebumps,” Monty Panesar told WION in an exclusive interview.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<img alt="Sachin Monty" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3a6c20ca-7111-4f07-a6a4-73db11c94ace" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/EwDKo4YU8AUtQ97.jpg" />

“The way&nbsp;the crowd started cheering when India Legends&nbsp;were&nbsp;taking the field, it was phenomenal. Even when Kevin Pietersen was smashing it all over the park, the&nbsp;crowd&nbsp;was tremendous. It became a bit silent after early dismissals during India Legends but they&nbsp;found their voice back when Irfan Pathan and Manpreet&nbsp;Gony&nbsp;intensified the run-chase,” Panesar said about the crowd in Raipur.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“To play in India is always great. I always say it is the best place to play cricket. The crowd, the quality and intensity are unparalleled. The pitches here are so good for white-ball cricket. We as a bunch are loving it.”&nbsp;

Monty's fitness and bowling performances in the ongoing Road Safety World Series have been lauded by many. While in England Legends' first match against Bangladesh Legends, Monty bowled an economical spell of 4 overs and gave away just 15, he looked at his best against India Legends.&nbsp;

“I have to credit our skipper Kevin Pietersen for it. The way he has led the side in a composed manner&nbsp;and allowed me and other bowlers the freedom have to be applauded. I have watched a lot of cricket over the last couple of years and to bring that on the field again was a terrific feeling,” Panesar said.&nbsp;

<img alt="England Legends" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ca15f951-d3d1-4acd-9129-6954e954ac32" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/EwDMrSQXIAMv4GO.jpg" />

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-turned-to-rahul-dravid-and-asked-sam-billings-recalls-watching-rishabh-pant-for-first-time-369165" hreflang="en">'I turned to Rahul Dravid and asked...' Sam Billings recalls watching Rishabh Pant for first time</a>

When asked whether he would be available to play professional cricket again, Panesar said: “Yes, I would. I am fit enough to be part of franchise cricket and I feel I am in good rhythm as well. It would be great if an IPL franchise or some other team in the world pick me up. I am ready to prove myself if given a chance in professional cricket. I would be more than&nbsp;delighted,” Panesar&nbsp;quipped.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The England spinner, who&nbsp;has 167 wickets in Test cricket and in 50 appearances for England, thanked the crowd for coming in and supporting the Legends.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“It has been great to see the fans coming in and supporting us. I would just say keep supporting us but keep the COVID-19 protocols in mind. The fans have been tremendous so far and hopefully, we will keep on getting the love for the remainder of the tournament,” Monty concluded.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The Road Safety World Series T20 has turned the clock back for not only legends of the game but also for all cricket lovers. With teams like India Legends, England Legends, Sri Lanka Legends, South Africa Legends among others participating in the tournament, former cricketers have left no stones unturned to bring their A-game to the field.

The Road Safety World Series T20 has turned the clock back for not only legends of the game but also for all cricket lovers. With teams like India Legends, England Legends, Sri Lanka Legends, South Africa Legends among others participating in the tournament, former cricketers have left no stones unturned to bring their A-game to the field. The much-awaited match between India Legends and England Legends didn’t disappoint the fans as it ended up being a last-over spectacle. While the likes of Kevin Pietersen, Monty Panesar, Irfan Pathan and Manpreet Gony stole the show with their performances, there was a sense of Deja-vu as many witnessed legends lock horns in an intense battle. England Legends ended up winning the match by six runs after an onslaught by Irfan and Gony. Deja vu, boys are still buzzing from the amazing game last night. No wonder @IPL is the best T20 league in the world. India is the place to be. @RSWorldSeries @sachin_rt @KP24 @BrianLara @RyanSidebottom @Hoggy602 @jimmyt20 @scho @sonamakapoor @karanjohar @KapilSharmaK9 #Cricket pic.twitter.com/IhInhtwUqz — Monty Panesar (@MontyPanesar) March 10, 2021 × For England Legends, the star with the ball was Monty Panesar as the left-arm spinner scalped three wickets in his four-over spell while conceding just 15 runs. Panesar's wickets included the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Mohammad Kaif and Yuvraj Singh as the England spinner bamboozled the India Legends. Panesar, who had dismissed Tendulkar five times in international cricket (four times in Test cricket and once in ODI cricket), got the better of the Master Blaster once again in the Road Safety World Series T20 and ended up silencing the crowd in Raipur. ALSO READ: World Test Championship final to be held at Hampshire Bowl in Southampton: ICC “It was an absolute pleasure to play against Sachin Tendulkar again. To watch him go about his things is education itself. He is the greatest athlete ever and to get him out one more time was a huge honour. I don’t have many words to explain how I felt bowling at him again. I am still having goosebumps,” Monty Panesar told WION in an exclusive interview. “The way the crowd started cheering when India Legends were taking the field, it was phenomenal. Even when Kevin Pietersen was smashing it all over the park, the crowd was tremendous. It became a bit silent after early dismissals during India Legends but they found their voice back when Irfan Pathan and Manpreet Gony intensified the run-chase,” Panesar said about the crowd in Raipur. “To play in India is always great. I always say it is the best place to play cricket. The crowd, the quality and intensity are unparalleled. The pitches here are so good for white-ball cricket. We as a bunch are loving it.” Monty's fitness and bowling performances in the ongoing Road Safety World Series have been lauded by many. While in England Legends' first match against Bangladesh Legends, Monty bowled an economical spell of 4 overs and gave away just 15, he looked at his best against India Legends. “I have to credit our skipper Kevin Pietersen for it. The way he has led the side in a composed manner and allowed me and other bowlers the freedom have to be applauded. I have watched a lot of cricket over the last couple of years and to bring that on the field again was a terrific feeling,” Panesar said. ALSO READ: 'I turned to Rahul Dravid and asked...' Sam Billings recalls watching Rishabh Pant for first time When asked whether he would be available to play professional cricket again, Panesar said: “Yes, I would. I am fit enough to be part of franchise cricket and I feel I am in good rhythm as well. It would be great if an IPL franchise or some other team in the world pick me up. I am ready to prove myself if given a chance in professional cricket. I would be more than delighted,” Panesar quipped. The England spinner, who has 167 wickets in Test cricket and in 50 appearances for England, thanked the crowd for coming in and supporting the Legends. “It has been great to see the fans coming in and supporting us. I would just say keep supporting us but keep the COVID-19 protocols in mind. The fans have been tremendous so far and hopefully, we will keep on getting the love for the remainder of the tournament,” Monty concluded.

Monty Panesar: Sachin Tendulkar is the greatest athlete ever, to play against him is huge honour

The UnAcademy Road Safety World Series 2020 which was being held for a noble cause, to spread road awareness through cricket, has been called off due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. With the COVID-19 spreading like a wildfire, the organisers of Road Safety World Series 2020 have decided to postpone the tournament to May or October, subject to players' availability.&nbsp;

The organisers of Road Safety World Series had a long meeting with the players on Thursday evening and it was decided that it is in the best interest of everyone, including the players, fans and organisers, that the tournament should be called off for the time being, as per a report.&nbsp;

With the health ministry urging people to avoid public gatherings, the organisers of Road Safety World Series had decided to conduct the matches behind closed doors but with the situation deteriorating, it had to change its stance and postpone the tournament.&nbsp;

Some of the members of Sri Lanka Legends - Muttiah Muralitharan, Marvan Atapattu and Rangana Herath - have already left for Sri Lanka and the other overseas cricketers are expected to leave India by Thursday or Friday.&nbsp;

The Road Safety World Series has managed to create a frenzy among cricket lovers with some of the legendary names in world cricket like Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Brian Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Jonty Rhodes, to name a few, taking everyone to a nostalgic ride on the cricket field.

While immense anticipation and hype were surrounding the tournament, the ardent cricket loves will hope the situation improves and the remaining matches of the Road Safety World Series could be played later in the year.

The UnAcademy Road Safety World Series 2020 which was being held for a noble cause, to spread road awareness through cricket, has been called off due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The UnAcademy Road Safety World Series 2020 which was being held for a noble cause, to spread road awareness through cricket, has been called off due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. With the COVID-19 spreading like a wildfire, the organisers of Road Safety World Series 2020 have decided to postpone the tournament to May or October, subject to players' availability. The organisers of Road Safety World Series had a long meeting with the players on Thursday evening and it was decided that it is in the best interest of everyone, including the players, fans and organisers, that the tournament should be called off for the time being, as per a report. With the health ministry urging people to avoid public gatherings, the organisers of Road Safety World Series had decided to conduct the matches behind closed doors but with the situation deteriorating, it had to change its stance and postpone the tournament. Some of the members of Sri Lanka Legends - Muttiah Muralitharan, Marvan Atapattu and Rangana Herath - have already left for Sri Lanka and the other overseas cricketers are expected to leave India by Thursday or Friday. The Road Safety World Series has managed to create a frenzy among cricket lovers with some of the legendary names in world cricket like Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Brian Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Jonty Rhodes, to name a few, taking everyone to a nostalgic ride on the cricket field. While immense anticipation and hype were surrounding the tournament, the ardent cricket loves will hope the situation improves and the remaining matches of the Road Safety World Series could be played later in the year.