Shami's inspiring act, Gavaskar picks 3rd opener for WC and more - Cricket News Today, 18th February 2019

Welcome to the latest edition of Cricket News Today - a flagship segment which provides a crisp compilation of the day's top developments from the cricket world.

Indian pacer Mohammed Shami has set a brilliant example by coming to the aid of the families of the brave CRPF personnel martyred in the horrifying terror attack in Pulwama.

Legendary top-order batsman Sunil Gavaskar has come up with a left-field choice for India's back-up opener for the 2019 World Cup.

Here are all of today's significant news from the cricket world.

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PCA pulls down pictures of Pakistan legends in Mohali Stadium

Images of iconic players like Shahid Afridi and Wasim Akram were removed from the PCA stadium

In the wake of the terror attack at Pulwama, the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) has removed the pictures of iconic Pakistan players from the Mohali Stadium.

PCA Secretary RP Singla insisted, "To show solidarity with the country and honour the CRPF personnel, the Punjab Cricket Association decided to remove the pictures of Pakistani cricketers. It is a unanimous decision and we all stand with the country. If relations with Pakistan improve and the government changes its policy regarding playing against Pakistan, we will put up the pictures again.”

Read more on PCA's decision to remove the pictures of Pakistan legends here

At various locations inside the PCA IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali, there are close to 15 pictures of legendary Pakistan players such as Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram and Shahid Afridi.

PCA's move comes close on the heels of Cricket Club of India (CCI) covering the portrait of Pakistan's World Cup-winning skipper and Prime Minister Imran Khan in response to the Pulwama incident.

Rohit Sharma picks his all-time best Australian Test XI

Rohit Sharma has assembled a star-studded all-time Australian Test XI

India opener Rohit Sharma has picked his best ever Australian Test XI. The elegant right-hander assembled a dream cross-generational lineup comprising only those players whom he has seen in action.

On PlayersVoice's official Facebook channel, Rohit included plenty of players from the great Australian team of the early to mid-2000s in his star-studded lineup. However, his team did not have a place for modern-day run machine Steve Smith.

Read more on Rohit Sharma's all-time best Australian Test XI here

Ricky Ponting captains Rohit's greatest ever Australian Test lineup. Adam Gilchrist is the wicket-keeper of the side. From current players, only David Warner has found a spot in the dream team.

Rohit Sharma's all-time best Australia Test XI: Matthew Hayden, David Warner, Ricky Ponting (c), Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey, Shane Watson, Adam Gilchrist (wk), Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Glenn McGrath

Gavaskar backs Karthik to be India's back-up opener for World Cup

Dinesh Karthik has been left out of the squad for the upcoming ODI series against Australia

Iconic batsman Sunil Gavaskar wants Dinesh Karthik to be India's back-up opener for the 2019 edition of the World Cup.

The legendary opener has picked Karthik ahead of Rishabh Pant for the second wicket-keeper's slot due to the Tamil Nadu batsman's ability to play in the middle-order as well as the top-order.

Read more on Gavaskar's views on India's World Cup squad here

Speaking to Sports Tak, Gavaskar affirmed, "I have 13 names in my mind who will surely board the flight to England and they are Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav."

After picking Vijay Shankar as the 14th player, the veteran added, "There should be a flexibility in the team. Dinesh Karthik has opened in Test matches in the past so he can do it in ODIs too."

Interestingly, Karthik is not part of the Indian squad for the upcoming ODI series against Australia. Pant has earned a recall in the 50-over format as the selectors aim to look at all options before selecting the World Cup squad.

Mohammed Shami donates money to families of CRPF martyrs

Mohammed Shami is winning hearts both on and off the field

Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami has donated money to the families of the CRPF jawans who lost their lives in the terror attack in Pulwama. Aside from extending financial help, the pacer also expressed his wholehearted support to the grieving families.

"When we play for our country, they stand at the borders protecting it. We stand with the families of our jawans, we will always be there for them", Shami told ANI.

Shami joins national teammate Shikhar Dhawan and the Faiz Fazal-led Vidarbha team in offering financial support to the families of the CRPF martyrs. Virender Sehwag has offered to bear all education expenses of the children of the slain soldiers in his Sehwag International School.