Former Team India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar opened up on skipper Rohit Sharma's poor run in Test cricket, by saying he has a lack of confidence and self-doubt. The 2024-25 Test season which started with the series against Bangladesh has been not the very best for Rohit Sharma. Not only did Team India lose their first home series against New Zealand in 12 years, but the skipper is also struggling to score runs. In seven Test matches, he is only able to score 152 runs with an average of 11.69 with one half-century and a highest score of 52 runs. In 13 Tests this year, Rohit Sharma has accumulated 607 runs at an average of 26.39, including two centuries and two fifties in 24 innings, with his highest score being 131. Also Read: Shocking snub of this Indian athlete from Khel Ratna nominees; ministry says no final list yet Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Sanjay Manjrekar described Rohit's performance in the New Zealand series as a "rude shock." He noted that the Indian skipper's defence was repeatedly breached on home pitches during the series. "The first obvious answer is a lack of confidence with self-doubts. And it was a bit of a rude shock when he played in that home series against New Zealand, where his defence was getting breached on Indian pitches," Manjrekar said. The former cricketer recalled Rohit's performance during the 2021 Test series against England, which he described as a turning point in Rohit's Test career. "I remember commentating on that series in 2021 against England and kept saying, 'This is Pujara-like,' the way he was grinding away. Somewhere, I thought it marked the rebirth of Rohit Sharma as a Test cricketer. He scored two hundreds in his first two Tests, and I felt this was his true calling--playing for time like a typical Mumbai batter," Manjrekar added. With the five-match Test series between India and Australia currently tied at 1-1, the third match ended in a draw. The fourth Test match will kick start on December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). India's BGT Squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (wicket-keeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar. Australia Squad: Pat Cummins (C), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Travis Head (VC), Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith (VC), Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster. (With ANI Inputs)
23 December,2024 10:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTeam India pacer Mohammed Shami has been ruled out of the remaining two Test matches against Australia as he has not yet fully matched his match fitness, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a release. Mohammed Shami last made his international appearance during the ODI World Cup 2023. According to the BCCI, the pacer made a comeback from his heel surgery during the Ranji Trophy. With the calls for his selection growing, Mohammed Shami featured in all nine matches for Bengal in the concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He was also added to Mumbai's squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy but did not participate in his side's opening match against Delhi. His fitness has been a subject of intense debate and speculation, so much so that India skipper Rohit Sharma had asked the physios at the National Cricket Academy to provide clarity on the matter following the Brisbane Test. Also Read: Vinod Kambli's health deteriorates, admitted to hospital Shami had developed swelling in his knees while playing the SMAT, and the clarification in that regard finally came on Monday. "Based on the current medical assessment, the BCCI Medical Team has determined that his knee requires more time for controlled exposure to bowling loads. Consequently, he has not been deemed fit for consideration for the remaining two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy," said the BCCI in a release. "Shami will continue to undergo targeted strength and conditioning work under the guidance of the medical staff at BCCI's Centre of Excellence and build his bowling loads needed to meet the demands of the longest format of the game. His participation in the Vijay Hazare Trophy will depend on the progress of his knee."The medical team said the veteran fast bowler has fully recovered from the heel injury that kept him out of action after the ODI World Cup. "The BCCI Medical Team at the Centre of Excellence has been working closely with Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami on his recovery and rehabilitation after his right heel surgery. Shami has completely recovered from this heel problem. "However, his left knee has exhibited minor swelling due to increased joint loading from his bowling workload. The swelling is on the expected lines, owing to the increased bowling after a prolonged period," the BCCI said. Shami bowled 43 overs in his comeback game in the Ranji Trophy. Following that, he played in all nine games of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), where he also "engaged in additional bowling sessions on the sidelines to build his bowling volume in order to get ready for the Test matches." The 34-year-old has taken 229 wickets in 64 Tests, 195 scalps in 101 ODIs and 24 wickets in 23 T20 Internationals. With India relying heavily on Jasprit Bumrah in Australia, Shami's presence in the bowling attack would have provided a much-needed boost. (With PTI Inputs)
23 December,2024 07:20 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFormer Team India cricketer Vinod Kambli has been hospitalized. According to an X post by IANS, Vinod Kambli has been admitted to Akriti Hospital in Thane. Vinod Kambli's most recent public appearance was during the inauguration of their late childhood coach Ramakant Achrekar's memorial. The inauguration took place in Mumbai's Shivaji Park. Along with Vinod Kambli, his childhood friend and batting legend Sachin Tendulkar was also present at the event. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and other cricketer also made their appearances at the inauguration event at Shivaji Park. This is not the first time Vinod Kambli has had struggles in his personal life. However, the former cricketer came into the spotlight a few months ago after a video of him went viral on social media platforms. Also Read: This Mumbai spinner replaces Ravichandran Ashwin in Team India ahead of fourth Test against Australia In the video, Vinod Kambli was struggling to walk, after which the passers-by came to his rescue. Making his Test debut for India on January 29, 1993, the swashbuckler played 17 Test matches in which he scored 1,084 runs. He also donned the ODI jersey in 104 matches. Kambli accumulated 2,477 runs in the 50-over format. Earlier, there were talks about Vinod Kambli being a more talented and gifted player than Sachin Tendulkar. But because of his inconsistencies and poor form, the left-hander was unable to cement his place in the national side. Late Australian Shane Warne against whom many world-class batsmen used to struggle scoring runs, Vinod Kambli was the man who used to smash boundaries with ease. On November 29, 2013, the former cricketer was admitted to Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital after he suffered a heart attack. While he was driving from Chembur to Bandra, he suddenly stopped the car. A policewoman, Sujata Patil who was on duty there noticed that he was unable to drive following which she took him to the hospital. He underwent an angioplasty on two of his blocked arteries.
23 December,2024 06:28 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMumbai-based spinner Tanush Kotian has received the maiden call-up for Team India ahead of the fourth Test match against Australia. The fourth match between India and Australia is set to kick start on December December 26 from 5.00 AM. Also Read: "You have to take 20 wickets": Cheteshwar Pujara reflects on India's bowling weakness Tanush Kotian has been picked as a potential replacement for Team India spin legend Ravichandran Ashwin. The veteran recently made the announcement of retiring from international cricket. Representing Mumbai, Tanush Kotian impressed in the 2024 edition of the Ranji Trophy. Having played 33 first-class matches, the spinner has already claimed 101 wickets. In List A cricket, Tanush has made 20 appearances so far, with 20 wickets under his belt. With the ability to turn the ball, Tanush Kotian is also handy with the willow. Featuring in 33 first-class games, the right-hander has garnered 1,525 runs with the best score of unbeaten 120 runs. He also has two centuries and 13 half-centuries to his name. In 20 List A matches, Kotian accumulated 90 runs. The five-match Test series between India and Australia is currently levelled at 1-1. With the third Test match already ended in a tie, the fourth match is scheduled to be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) from December 26. Ahead of the fourth Test, Team India will hope for skipper Rohit Sharma's recovery. He was hit on his left knee during the practice session at the MCG. Rohit coming in to bat down the order has not been very fruitful following which the question arises if he should retain his opening slot. But KL Rahul who is currently owning the top spot is having a decent run in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. With the series tied at 1-1, both teams will try to bring their A game in the Melbourne Test.
23 December,2024 05:52 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTeam India Test veteran Cheteshwar Pujara reflected on the visitor's bowling weakness in the ongoing Test series against Australia. He also said that the Indians need to take 20 wickets, reported Star Sports. The five-match Test series between India and Australia is currently tied at 1-1. As the third Test match ended in a draw, the fourth Test match will kick start on December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Team India's Jasprit Bumrah is the only pacer who shone in the ongoing Test series from the visitor's perspective. He is currently the highest wicket-taker in the series with 21 wickets with an average of 10.90. So far, he has two five-wicket hauls and one four-wicket haul in the series. Speaking exclusively to Star Sports, Pujara said that the Indian bowling attack is looking a little weak at the ongoing BGT series. Also Read: IND vs AUS 4th Test: Massive milestone hunt for Steve Smith, Pat Cummins ahead of Boxing Day Test "My biggest question and the reason for a little bit of concern is that the Indian bowling is looking a little weak. Batting is a little better, like the top five didn't do well, but the middle order and lower middle order, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitesh, and even tail enders, Bumrah and Akash Deep contributed with the bat," Cheteshwar Pujara was quoted in a release from Star Sports as saying. Cheteshwar Pujara highlighted that the three speedsters are very good but there is not enough support from the other two bowlers. "Now, there is a weakness in the bowling, so what will you feed the team? That is the biggest question, because you can't drop Nitish, you can't drop Jadeja, so what will be the team combination? Ashwin has taken retirement, so two spinners, I don't think they will play in Melbourne. So, how will you strengthen the bowling? Because the three seamers are very good, but their supporting role, fourth and fifth seamer, Nitish Kumar is the fourth seamer and Ravindra Jadeja is the fifth bowler," he added. He further added that the visitors need to bag 20 wickets in a game to win the match. "If you add both of them together, the bowling is not that good. We will have to think about that, because if you want to win a test match, then you have to take 20 wickets, and the ability to take 20 wickets is not that good, the supporting role of the other bowlers is not good, so we will have to improve that as soon as possible, and how that will be, I don't know, but that is a big question," he further added. India Squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (wicket-keeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar. Australia Squad: Pat Cummins (C), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Travis Head (VC), Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith (VC), Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster. (With ANI Inputs)
23 December,2024 05:08 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFormer cricketer Simon Katich has advised Australian batsmen to keep rotating strike and maintaining a solid defence to dominate against Team India's lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah. Simon Katich noted that since Jasorit Bumrah bowls loose deliveries, the Aussies should be strategically good in their approach. "I know all the talk is around having more positive intent, and I think that's all well and good and it is certainly something they have to be mindful of. But against someone like Bumrah intent is not about just blazing him for fours, because he doesn't bowl many bad balls," Simon Katich told SEN 1116. "So a lot of that intent has to be about rotating strike and being able to defend really well, because you're not gonna be able to play with any intent if you aren't there after the tenth over. That's the challenge for all of these guys," Katich added. To give a clear explanation, Simon Katich gave the reference of Australia's second innings in the third Test match, where the hosts attempted an aggressive approach but ultimately kept losing their wickets. "We saw it in the second innings in Brisbane. Australians came out with really positive intent, trying to score more quickly and look what happened, 7/80 in no time. Also Read: India given slower pitches, but fresh wickets for Aussies: Is the pitch really level? "It's not easy to do against the red ball that moves around off the seam in a wearing wicket which the Gabba was starting to become with cracks. "The top order has to be very careful and mindful of how they go about it. You're not going to score many runs if you're trying to take him on off the length, because he is so good," he added. For the remaining two Test matches, the Australian think tank has decided to give teenager Sam Konstas a chance by replacing Nathan McSweeney. "I know the young kid's (Konstas) got a lot of potential, and a lot of ability, but it'll be a challenge because not many guys around the world have been able to do that to that quality of bowling," Katich said. Simon Katich also felt Mitchell Marsh's inability to bowl the expected volume of overs suggests he isn't "100%" fit and should be replaced by uncapped rookie Beau Webster for the Boxing Day Test against India. Marsh has been dealing with recurring back stiffness since the white-ball tour of the UK in September. During the Perth Test, he bowled 17 overs in total, taking two wickets on the opening day but later pulled up sore. In Adelaide, he bowled four overs while in Brisbane he rolled his arm for two overs. "I've been saying for a couple Tests, Mitch Marsh has not been able to bowl the volume of overs that everyone expected of him. Given the conditions and given he is a wicket taker", Katich said on 'SEN Breakfast'. "We saw that in Perth, he bowled well on day one. Took some key wickets and then struggled to back up. I mean obviously the Aussie hierarchy know better then we do around where his fitness is at. "But for him to bowl two overs the other day after Josh Hazlewood went down, that to me indicates something's not 100% right with him." After Marsh had pulled up sore, 30-year-old Tasmania all-rounder Webster was added to Australia's squad."At the end of the day, Beau Webster deserves to be in that squad", Katich said. "He's done very well for Tassie in the last few years, he's a genuine all-rounder given what his role is for Tassie and he plays that dual role with bat and ball," Katich added. (With PTI Inputs)
23 December,2024 03:28 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThey prod and poke until you finally snap, and when you do, suddenly they are the innocent ones, claiming victimhood. No one excels at playing the moral high ground quite like an Australian who, just moments earlier, was the one stirring the pot. This tactic isn’t just limited to Australian cricketers, it is a tried-and-true strategy for their media as well. Just days ago, Virat Kohli found himself embroiled in a heated exchange with a few members of the media at Brisbane's airport following the third Test. Kohli, who prefers to keep his personal life under wraps, was reportedly displeased at the media’s intrusion on his family. According to reports, Kohli insisted he couldn’t be filmed without permission. “It was upon seeing the waiting cameras that Kohli became a little heated over what is largely a misunderstanding when he thought the media was filming him with his children,” Channel 7 reporter Theo Doropoulos said on 7NEWS. Fast forward to Saturday, and it was Ravindra Jadeja's turn to face the media circus. Much on the expected lines, the Australian media wasted no time in labeling the press conference as a 'strange and frosty' affair, with their headline conveniently focusing on the fact that Jadeja 'refused to answer questions in English'. "At the MCG on Saturday, India’s media team pointed to reporters who were allowed to ask questions and even acknowledged a few Australian journalists. But Jadeja only responded in his native language," read the report. The report indicated that Jadeja answering in his native Hindi was an inconvenience for the Aussie journalists, and to top it off, he allegedly wrapped up the press conference early. It also made sure to mention that 'India's media team insisted the conference was for 'travelling Indian media only even though Australian media were invited'. Also Read: Is Fox Cricket's poster a subtle nod to Australia’s long-loved psychological warfare? Amit Shah, a reporter from Midday, pointed out that many Indian journalists don’t always get the chance to ask questions due to time constraints, but instead of keeping their cool, the Australian journalists 'misbehaved' and 'argued' with the Indian media manager after the press conference. Shah, who regularly attends press conferences, noted that this kind of behaviour is uncharacteristic of the Indian press, who have never raised a fuss. "Their behaviour was inappropriate and uncalled for. I cover press conferences regularly, and even during Australian press conferences, many Indian journalists don't get a chance to ask questions due to time limitations, but we have never argued or misbehaved," he said. But of course, this is Australia. Their cricketing culture has always been a masterclass in ‘psychological warfare'. It is not enough to outplay the opponent on the field, they’ve made an art form out of getting inside your head. Whether it’s the infamous ‘mental disintegration’ tactics of the ‘90s or today’s more polished version of mind games, Australia has long been the pioneer in the field of psychological gymnastics. And Saturday was no different. This story was first published on December 21.
23 December,2024 02:56 PM IST | Melbourne | Srijanee MajumdarWhile Australia has undeniably been a dominant force in ICC events, securing the most titles, Indian cricket is often regarded as the sport's true breadwinner. Over the past two decades, Indian cricket has experienced tremendous growth, consistently challenging the Aussies and other cricketing giants across all formats. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has played a pivotal role in this rise, with its strategic management and investment in the sport. One of the most notable contributions by the BCCI is the establishment of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which has become one of the world’s most popular and lucrative franchise-based T20 leagues. The IPL has not only revolutionised the global cricketing landscape but also cemented India's position as a cricket powerhouse. The BCCI's influence has stretched beyond domestic cricket, shaping international cricket's commercial and competitive nature. As a result, even Australian cricketers have expressed admiration for the board. When asked for their thoughts on the BCCI, the ICC, and Indian cricket, Australian players had nothing but praise. In a recent social media video, a group of Australian cricketers was asked to define the BCCI, the ICC, and Indian cricket with a single word each. Their responses ranged from humorous to insightful, giving a glimpse into the respect India has earned in cricket. Pat Cummins, the Australian captain, described the BCCI, ICC, and Indian cricket with the words: "Big, Big, Big." Travis Head, the Australian middle-order batsman, offered "Rulers, second, strong" to define the BCCI, ICC, and Indian cricket. 🤭 Describe the BCCI, the ICC and Indian cricket in one word....Don't worry everyone, Smudge was just jokin! pic.twitter.com/AxJZJT15P8 — ABC SPORT (@abcsport) December 23, 2024 Usman Khawaja’s take was slightly different, opting for "Strong, ICC, Talented," which emphasised India's robust presence in the cricketing world, Nathan Lyon, another key player in the Australian side, went with "Big, Boss, Passionate," clearly recognising the BCCI’s vast influence. Glenn Maxwell used "Powerful, Boss, Fanatic" to describe the BCCI and Indian cricket. Matthew Wade took a similar route, calling the BCCI and Indian cricket "Powerful, Trophy, Powerful," while Steve Smith initially labeled the BCCI as "Powerhouse" and the ICC as "not as powerful," before revising his statement to "leaders," perhaps signaling a more diplomatic view. The most intriguing responses came from Head and Smith. While Head remained firm in his assessment of Indian cricket as the "rulers," Smith found himself second-guessing his initial reaction. His initial words were "a joke," but he quickly changed his stance, calling India’s influence in cricket "leaders". Currently, the Indian and Australian teams are locked in a gripping 5-match Test series, with both sides having won one match each. India claimed victory in the first Test in Perth, while Australia made a strong comeback in Adelaide. With the series now level at 1-1, the two teams will face off in Melbourne on December 26.
23 December,2024 02:54 PM IST | Melbourne | mid-day online correspondentTo quell the ongoing controversy surrounding pitches, Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) head curator Matt Page addressed concerns on Monday, stating that the pitch at the stadium has not been altered in response to the upcoming Boxing Day Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The Kookaburra ball used in Australia, with its less pronounced seam and tendency to soften more quickly, presents a greater challenge for bowlers compared to the Dukes ball, which is known for supporting seam and swing bowling. The series is currently level at 1-1, following India's hard-fought draw in the third Test in Brisbane. The Boxing Day Test is set to begin on December 26 at the iconic MCG. Page reassured that the pitch will provide opportunities for bowlers at various stages of the match, while also offering a fair contest for the batsmen, at the press conference. "Nah, so we haven't altered our pitches because of the balls. We've basically like I said, we sat down probably seven years ago, after 2017, and discussed where we wanted to go as an organisation and what we wanted to be renowned for, and that's produced in test matches that are going to provide a thrilling contest, I guess. It gives the bowlers an opportunity at various points in the game, but it also gives the batters a chance too, if you play well," he told the reporters. The head curator added that earlier they had played around with our grass lengths of the pitch and after that, they reached the level where they wanted to get. "So we then tried and played around with our grass lengths, our compaction levels, moisture levels, and that probably took us three years to where we wanted to get to, and then we've probably been, I would say the last two or three years, we've been quite consistent in what we've rolled out, and we leave a bit more grass on them now than what we used to, but it's provided thrilling contests, and that's what we want to do," he added. Significant difference between the practice pitches both teams have got in preparation for the Boxing Day Test.#bgt pic.twitter.com/MYyMKZpEGi — Sandipan Banerjee (@im_sandipan) December 23, 2024 Earlier last week, Australia made a couple of changes to its squad, addressing the absence of Josh Hazlewood and concerns in the top order. The hosts have added Beau Webster, Jhye Richardson, and Sam Konstas have been added to the squad before the fourth Test match of the series. After a mild side strain in the Perth Test which ruled him out of the second Adelaide Test, Hazlewood did return for the third match in Brisbane but faced a calf strain during the warm-up on the fourth day. He bowled one over and left the field for scans which confirmed the serious extent of his injury, ruling him out of the series. In the first Test at Perth, Hazlewood had taken five wickets, including a four-wicket haul in the first innings. Scott Boland will likely take Hazlewood's spot in Australia's playing eleven for the fourth Test, held at the MCG, starting from December 26 onwards.
23 December,2024 02:53 PM IST | Melbourne | mid-day online correspondentAs Team India navigates through a long, five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia, it faced another challenge ahead of the fourth Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) as players negotiated with the practice pitches allotted to them. During Sunday's practice session, a delivery from pacer Akash Deep kept low and hit skipper Rohit Sharma on his left knee. While dismissing any concerns over Rohit's fitness, Akash had revealed the low bounce on the pitch, saying that he felt that the practice surface was meant for white-ball cricket and kept low. "Such minor wounds are not anything unusual when you are playing cricket. It is not a big concern. But I felt the practice wicket was meant for the white ball and was keeping low. It was difficult to leave. But there are no concerns at all," the bowler had said as quoted by cricket.com.au. Significant difference between the practice pitches both teams have got in preparation for the Boxing Day Test.#bgt pic.twitter.com/MYyMKZpEGi — Sandipan Banerjee (@im_sandipan) December 23, 2024 With the series level at 1-1, both teams will be playing the highly-anticipated Boxing Day Test from December 26 onwards, with an aim to secure an all-important lead and an edge ahead of the final Test at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Also Read: India boycotts media match with Australia amid Jadeja press conference row Reports from Australia suggested that India was practicing on wickets that had been used for the Big Bash and were a bit worn out from use. Pictures from the MCG showed what appeared to slightly worn out wickets on which the Indian team had been doing its practice drills The practice wicket that had been marked for team Australia looked a bit fresher. However, on Monday morning, the MCG head curator Matt Page clarified that fresh pitches are only offered three days before the start of the match. "Yeah, so, for us, three days out, we prepare test match pitches for here. If teams come and train before that, they get what pitches we have had. So, today we are on fresh pitches. If India had trained this morning, they would have been on those fresh pitches. So, it is stock standard procedure for us, three days out," he said. (With agency inputs)
23 December,2024 02:01 PM IST | Melbourne | mid-day online correspondentThe Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has picked former Test all-rounder Abdul Razzaq to head a country-wide scouting program to find new talent for the national T20 squad. The program titled "Strike Force" aims to unearth hidden talent from all corners of Pakistan where T20 remains a popular format. An official of the PCB said that Razzaq has been given the task of initially spotting 50 players and shortlisting them so that some of them can go on to play for Pakistan. "We have been struggling in T20 cricket for a while and the idea is that with so much T20 cricket being played in the country, and Razzaq himself being a class hitter and all-rounder, can unearth some unknown talent," the official said. Pakistan is presently lagging in the eighth position in the ICC T20 rankings and has lost the recent T20 series in Australia and South Africa besides losing a match in Zimbabwe. Tape Tennis ball cricket matches in Pakistan are a big hit and some unknown players even command a good fee to appear in these local events and display their big hitting skills. "Pakistan is clearly lagging behind other countries when it comes to hitting sixes and fours and unconventional strokes and the idea is some of those players who are limited to playing in local events can be good enough to play in international cricket," the PCB official said. Razzaq was previously associated with the board as a national selector until a few months back. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
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