The legend of Sarfaraz Khan as a domestic doyen is growing from strength to strength as his authoritative double hundred for Mumbai not only put Rest of India under immediate pressure in the ongoing Irani Cup but will also keep the seasoned KL Rahul on toes when the Indian team embarks on the Test tour of Australia next month. Sarfaraz (221 batting, 276 balls) became the first-ever cricketer to score an Irani Cup double hundred for Mumbai, with the 42-time champions reaching 536 for 9 at the end of the second day. Wasim Jaffer (Vidarbha), Ravi Shastri, Praveen Amre, and Yashasvi Jaiswal (all for Rest of India) are double centurions in the Irani Cup. It has been a tough week for Sarfaraz as his younger brother Musheer, who was also supposed to play the game, was ruled out of competitive cricket for 16 weeks after a road accident. If his brother and father Naushad's car accident had perturbed him, it didn't seem so in his batting as he went hammer and tongs at the Rest of India bowling attack. He played 160 dot balls but still maintained a 80 percent strike-rate, largely due to his 25 boundaries and four sixes. Skipper Ajinkya Rahane (97 off 234 balls) missed out on a 40th first-class hundred but the second day belonged to Sarfaraz, who was in a mood to punish pacers and spinners alike. His 15th first-class century will certainly dispel all doubts about his slot as reserve middle-order batter for the remainder of the Test season (8 games). Rahul, who got back his middle-order slot from Sarfaraz, did well in Kanpur but the team management and even the Karnataka batter knows that the stockily built Mumbaikar is breathing down his neck. Also Read: Bumrah regains top spot in ICC Test rankings, Jaiswal jumps to 3rd The Ekana Stadium track had underlying moisture on the second day and the dampness contributed to ball seaming around initially and the extra bounce made it challenging for batters. His driving on the off-side was regal while there is nothing more to add to his footwork against spinners. He was brutal, especially against left-arm spinner Manav Suthar (0/137 in 37 overs), who looked clueless. After a certain point, he employed the negative leg-stump line and Sarfaraz would either slightly go inside out or bent down on one knee to slog sweep it for maximums. Along with Tanush Kotian (64), he added 183 for the seventh wicket, which demoralised the Rest of India bowling unit to a large extent. Once he completed his double hundred, he let out a roar and kissed the Lion's crest on his shirt before hitting his best shot of the day. A hooked six over deep fine leg off Prasidh Krishna and a ramp shot earlier in the day using the extra pace and bounce were fitting answers to his critics who have raised doubts about his game on these kind of tracks. Brief Scores: Mumbai 1st Innings 536/9 decl (Sarfaraz Khan 221 batting, Ajinkya Rahane 97, Mukesh Kumar 4/109, Yash Dayal 2/89, Prasidh Krishna 2/102) vs Rest of India. (With agency inputs)
02 October,2024 06:42 PM IST | Lucknow | mid-day online correspondentAs the 10 teams prepare for the start of the Women's T20 World Cup 2024, Mid-Day takes a look at six players who are at the forefront of their team's hopes of lifting the trophy on October 20. Australia Beth Mooney - The seasoned Australia opener is top of the ICC's T20 batter rankings going into the Women's T20 World Cup 2024 and the six-time champions will be relying on her once again at the top of the order. A key member of the sides that won the last three editions of the T20 World Cup, Mooney was named 'Player of the Series' in 2020 after nailing an unbeaten 78 in the final as the Aussies saw off India. Having clattered 50 from 30 balls in the warm-up win over England in Dubai, there is every reason to think the 30-year-old is primed to add to her two T20I hundreds. England Sophie Ecclestone - The 25-year-old left-arm spinner from Cheshire made her international debut eight years ago. She is now the highest-ranked bowler in the ICC's T20 and ODI rankings and in June she became the youngest bowler to take 100 ODI wickets. Nearly six feet tall, Ecclestone brings accuracy, economy and guile to the attack, making her a key weapon for skipper Heather Knight. "I love captaining her," says Knight. "The control she gives you as a captain and the attacking threat she gives you on both edges is really cool." India Deepti Sharma - Notorious to some for her controversial 'Mankad' dismissal of England's Charlie Dean in an ODI two years ago, Deepti Sharma is celebrated more widely for the all-round excellence of her game. The 27-year old, who bats left-handed and bowls right-arm off-spin, is ranked second among T20 bowlers worldwide and the third-best all-rounder. India have never won a women's World Cup and Sharma believes victory in the UAE could change the sport at home: "If we win the World Cup things will really change from every perspective and each woman will want to play cricket after that, so I'm hoping for the best," she told Cricinfo. Also Read: World Cup fever fuels competition for top spot in player rankings South Africa Sune Luus - A year after leading South Africa to their first-ever white-ball final, Sune Luus is in the ranks in the UAE as a batter who also bowls off-spin, having switched from leggies. The 28-year-old had a terrible white-ball series against Sri Lanka earlier this year, making just 22 runs in the T20Is and 43 in the ODIs but bounced back with 65 and 109 in a losing cause in a one-off Test in Chennai, following that with 53 not out in a T20I against Pakistan in Multan in a three-match series where her strike rate was 136. "You always want to score and contribute," she said. "But I think before the World Cup, just having those performances gave me that confidence to know that you can still hit the ball." Sri Lanka Vishmi Gunaratne - Only just turned 19, Vishmi Gunaratne is a great player in the making. Thus far the young opener's figures since coming on to the senior international scene aged 16 do not stack up with the very best - in 43 T20Is she averages 20, at a strike rate of 92, with three fifties. She does, however, have an ODI hundred to her name. The fact that it came against Ireland in Belfast last month a week before her birthday - becoming only the second Sri Lankan after veteran skipper Chamari Athapaththu to hit a ton - suggests she is running into form at the right time. Maybe this is the tournament where Gunaratne shows off the full potential that was so evident when she hammered a 128-ball 417 in an Under-19 women's tournament in Sri Lanka two years ago. West Indies Hayley Matthews - As an 18-year-old, Hayley Matthews gave early notice of her talent, clubbing 66 off 45 balls as West Indies chased down 149 to halt the Australian juggernaut and win the 2016 T20 World Cup. Not surprisingly, she was named Player of the Match with the game acting as a springboard for a career that has seen her playing franchise cricket across the world. In 96 T20Is, the West Indies captain averages 25 with two centuries with the bat (at a strike rate of 112) and has taken 99 wickets with her off-spin. Now 26, Matthews is under no illusions about the task ahead: "We're going in as underdogs again and there's no doubt about that," she said. (With agency inputs)
02 October,2024 05:03 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAhead of the Women's T20 World Cup 2024, cricketers eye to reach the top of the ICC Women's T20I Player Rankings. The tournament will kick off on Thursday in the United Arab Emirates, with 10 countries battling it out to be crowned world champions. The final match of the prestigious tournament will take place on October 20. While full focus will be on powering their teams to glory, some players will also have their eyes on topping the ICC batting, bowling, and all-rounder rankings come the end of the month. Just 22 points currently separate the top five batters, with West Indies' Hayley Matthews leading the charge to become the first non-Australian in three years to reach the summit. She will have to get past Australia's Beth Mooney and Tahlia McGrath to do so, with Mooney currently leading the way on 757 points, nine ahead of her compatriot and former No.1 McGrath. Mooney showed why she is the one to beat with an impressive 30-ball half-century in Australia's warm-up match against England last week. Matthews is a further two points behind with a career-high 746, with India's Smriti Mandhana also in contention on 743, while Laura Wolvaardt is not far behind on 735. Big performances from any of the top five could shake up the individual standings with so little to choose between each player. There are six countries represented in the top ten, with Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu just nine points off the 700-point barrier while New Zealand pair Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine are ninth and tenth respectively. Also Read: Women's T20 WC: All-round performances help India beat South Africa in warm-up Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana makes it seven countries in the top 13 batters; she is the first female Bangladesh batter to accrue over 600 points. The bowling rankings are similarly hotly contested, with just 12 points between first and fourth. England's Sophie Ecclestone leads the way with 757 points, but she is just two ahead of India's Deepti Sharma. The top four are all spinners, with Pakistan's Sadia Iqbal on 750 points and England's Sarah Glenn a further five back on 745. Indeed, 13 of the top 15 ranked bowlers are spinners, with Renuka Singh Thakur and Lauren Bell the only seamers amongst that group. Thakur is fifth with 722 points, 35 off the summit. Bell is 11th on 676 points and is one of four England bowlers in the top 15, alongside Ecclestone, Glenn, and 13th-placed Charlie Dean. Only Australia has more bowlers in the top 20, with five; Ash Gardner leads the way for the defending champions in ninth place, while Georgia Wareham's form has helped her climb six places into 14th. There are eight nations represented in the top 20. Sri Lanka's Inoshi Fernando leads those looking to break the 700 mark this month with 691 points in seventh, while Bangladesh's Rabeya Khan is 10th with 677. The all-rounder rankings see West Indies' Hayley Matthews boast a comfortable 109-point lead over Australia's Ash Gardner thanks to her total of 524. The top six all-rounders all hail from different nations, with India's Deepti Sharma and New Zealand's Amelia Kerr both just below the 400-point threshold. Sri Lankan Chamari Athapaththu is the only other all-rounder above 300, with 330, while Pakistan's Nida Dar rounds out a top six demonstrative of the diverse strength with bat and ball set to be on show at the upcoming Women's T20 World Cup 2024. (With agency inputs)
02 October,2024 04:54 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThere are no shortcuts to beating Australia and every team has to give its best if it aspires to overcome the six-time world champions, said India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana ahead of the Women's T20 World Cup 2024 which begins on Thursday. Australia's dominance in the global showpiece has been unrivalled with the team winning the last three editions of the tournament. With charismatic former skipper Meg Lanning calling it a day following the victory in South Africa about 18 months ago, Alyssa Healy has taken over the captaincy as Australia aim to maintain their dominance in global events. "Every game in the World Cup is important, and you have to give your 100 per cent in each one. New Zealand and Sri Lanka are strong teams, but with Australia, you know you can't afford to make mistakes," said Mandhana as India gear up to take on New Zealand in a Group A match here on Friday. "You have to bring your best game on that particular day to get the better of them. There's always excitement when facing Australia because they're such a good team, and beating them is a great challenge," added the India vice-captain. She added that the clash against Pakistan always brings out a lot of passionate response from the players. The arch-rival will lock horns here on October 6. "I think the India-Pakistan rivalry is more about the emotions of the fans than anything else. It's not like the players don't talk to each other; it's the emotions from both nations that make it so intense," Mandhana said. "For me, every World Cup match is special, and we put the same amount of effort into each game. But there's definitely a lot of emotion attached to the India-Pakistan games," said the veteran of 141 T20Is. Also Read: Rodrigues pledges to give everything for India’s glory Mandhana said that playing Pakistan in the afternoon heat of Dubai would be challenge and that her team had a couple of sessions lined up to acclimatise to the conditions. "The afternoon game is going to be a challenge due to the heat, but when you play for India, there are no excuses. You have to prepare well, and I think we have a couple of afternoon sessions lined up to help us get used to the conditions. "By the time we face Pakistan, I'm sure we'll be ready. Mentally, we need to stay strong and keep pushing, staying hydrated is key," she said. PTI AM SSC SSC AM 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
02 October,2024 03:57 PM IST | Dubai | mid-day online correspondentIndia's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is back at the summit of the ICC Test bowling rankings following his match haul of six wickets in the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur. The 30-year-old replaced his India team-mate Ravichandran Ashwin - Player of the Series against Bangladesh - at the top of the chart. Spinner Ravindra Jadeja maintained his sixth place, while fellow spinner Kuldeep Yadav stayed in 16th. In batting, Player of the Match from the Kanpur Test, Yashasvi Jaiswal, moved to a career-high third position after just 11 Tests. Jaiswal played scintillating knocks of 72 and 51 and helped India win the rain-marred match by seven wickets. With 792 rating points, the 22-year-old is behind second-placed Kane Williamson (829) and Joe Root (899). Also, veteran Indian batter Virat Kohli is back in the top 10, gaining six places to rise to the sixth position after knocks of 47 and 29 in Kanpur. Also Read: England's ‘Bazball’ meets identical twin in India’s ‘Gamball’ Rishabh Pant, too, remained in the top 10, dropping three spots to ninth, with skipper Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill on 15th and 16th, respectively. As for the all-rounders, there has been no significant change in the rankings, with Jadeja holding the top spot, followed by Ashwin at second and Axar Patel at seventh. In team rankings, India were in the second spot with 120 rating points, separated from leader Australia by four points, while England remained in the third place with 108 points. Meanwhile, the Indians continued to rule the World Test Championship (WTC) table, having a point percentage of 74.24% after 11 fixtures, above second-placed Australia (62.50% in 12 Tests). (With agency inputs)
02 October,2024 03:38 PM IST | Dubai | mid-day online correspondentMI Cape Town head coach Robbie Peterson was happy with the three picks that MI Cape Town made at the auction on Tuesday ahead of the 2025 season. Peterson said the team mainly wanted to add a few experienced heads who could also provide leadership. MI Cape Town bought three South Africa internationals in Reeza Hendricks, Colin Ingram and Dane Piedt and the promising Tristan Luus as the rookie pick. Speaking about the acquisitions, Peterson said, “Reeza Hendricks adds a lot to the group in terms of his skill. He is an international, quality cricketer with lots of experience at the top of the order. Colin Ingram’s career speaks for itself. He has always done well in South African T20 cricket.” MI Cape Town’s major signings for this season ahead of the auction included England Test captain Ben Stokes and speed merchant Trent Boult. Peterson felt Stokes would be a big hit among the fans, while Boult will bring his knowledge of winning T20 leagues in various countries. Also Read: ‘SA20 is exciting, but my priority is playing for NZ’ “Having Ben Stokes in any dressing room in the world is great. He will have a lot of influence in the dressing room. He is the type of player Cape Townians flock to watch. We very excited to have him. Boulty is a legend. He comes with a lot of pedigree. Wherever he goes, he seems to win titles. We have a history of working together in MI New York.” Peterson placed his faith in the players retained by the franchise and emphasised the importance of continuity. “We have shown a lot of faith in the guys we have retained. We want them around. We’re just happy we retained them and added a few pieces around them to make it successful. 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
02 October,2024 03:32 PM IST | Cape Town | AgenciesIndian Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma was on Tuesday seen driving his striking blue Lamborghini home after returning to Mumbai from the second Test against Bangladesh. Although Rohit had a quiet outing with the bat, the hosts demonstrated resilience, securing a victory despite two days of rain interruptions. Meanwhile, former India captain Virat Kohli flew back to London following his participation in the now-concluded series. The 35-year-old was photographed at the airport after India clinched a dominant seven-wicket win in Kanpur on Monday. CAPTAIN ROHIT SHARMA IS BACK IN MUMBAI...!!!! 🌟- The Hitman Rohit Sharma has reached his Home in Mumbai and left in his Lamborghini. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/LadIye1djj — NewsSpectrumAnalyzer (The News Updates 🗞️) (@Bharat_Analyzer) October 2, 2024 Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant at Kanpur airport pic.twitter.com/I2lbMeynGW — Ratan Choudhary (@_cricket_club) October 2, 2024 Kohli struggled in the first Test, managing only 23 runs across two innings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. However, he rebounded in the second Test, scoring 47 in the first innings and an unbeaten 29 in the second at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur. A video of Kohli at the airport has since gone viral. Kohli became the fourth player in history—after Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, and Kumar Sangakkara—to amass 27,000 runs in international cricket, achieving this milestone faster than anyone else, in just 594 innings. This surpassed Tendulkar’s record, which took 623 innings. Also Read: England's ‘Bazball’ meets identical twin in India’s ‘Gamball’ In the first innings of the second Test, Bangladesh was bowled out for 233, with Mominul Haque scoring an impressive 107 not out. India responded with an aggressive declaration at 285/9 in just 34.4 overs, driven by half-centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal (72) and KL Rahul (68). Bangladesh struggled in their second innings, folding for 146 and setting India a modest target of 95 runs. Jaiswal contributed a crucial 51, helping India secure a convincing seven-wicket victory. The second Test was heavily impacted by rain, with Day 1 lost after only 35 overs, and both Days 2 and 3 completely washed out. However, India adopted a bold approach in the remaining days to secure the win. Rohit noted in the post-match presentation the team’s readiness to embrace risks to capitalize on the opportunity, emphasizing the bowlers’ efforts on a challenging pitch. India and Bangladesh will face off again in a three-match T20I series, starting October 6 in Gwalior.
02 October,2024 01:52 PM IST | Kanpur | mid-day online correspondent
The much-ballyhooed term is none other than ‘Gamball’, inspired by head coach Gautam Gambhir. India’s flamboyant style of play may have been wildly at odds with the genteel surroundings of Test cricket, but its revolution is no gimmick. On Tuesday in Kanpur’s weather-hit Green Park ground, the strategy notched up a triumph that not many could foresee. The hosts made mincemeat of Bangladesh for a meager 146 that had seemed nearly out of reach for the Bangla Tigers. Chasing a modest target of 95 post-lunch, India breezed to 98 for three in a mere 104 balls during the second session. Scoring at such a breakneck pace undoubtedly requires some rather unconventional stroke play, and India have resorted to deploying shots typically reserved for the adrenaline-fueled circus of T20 cricket. Prior to this whimsical ‘Gamball’ philosophy, one could have expected the second Test to meander to a dull draw, eliciting groans from critics lamenting Test cricket’s tediousness. At least now, none can deny that the thrilling escapades by Rohit Sharma's men were a delightful breath of fresh air for red-ball. Interestingly, Jatin Paranjape, member of BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) and co-founder of KheloMore, offered another perspective. “India's batters are not doing anything out of their natural games. Right from Number 1 to Number 8, each and every batter is by nature attacking and freely scoring. Now under captain Rohit, they have been given a license to play the red-ball game as they approach a white-ball game. In a way, it is a war cry before the Australian series. It is as if the team is saying ‘we are coming to get you in the same way’ (sic),” he told Mid-Day. If there is anyone who embraced ‘Gamball’ to its fullest, it would be none other than Jaiswal, besides his captain. The ‘junior’ Mumbaikar reached his second half-century of the match in only 43 balls, peppering the field with eight fours and a six before falling victim to Taijul Islam, which mercifully ended his 58-run partnership with Virat Kohli. Also Read: Pakistan cricket just died a thousand deaths Kohli, ever the steadying influence, contributed an unbeaten 29, remaining at the crease as Rishabh Pant sealed the deal with a boundary. Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan Miraz made his mark by dismissing Sharma for a mere eight runs and Shubman Gill for six, showing that even the best can fall in the face of mediocrity. This series victory not only solidified India’s dominance at the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) rankings but also left Australia in a distant second place. India's commanding performance was fueled by Jaiswal's explosive 72-run blitz in the first innings, effectively forcing a result in a match that saw zero action on Saturday as well as Sunday due to relentless rain and a sodden outfield. Bangladesh resumed their second innings at a dismal 26-2 on the final day, trailing by 26 runs. Unsurprisingly, their batting lineup crumbled in the first session, with opener Shadman Islam managing to top-score with a rather uninspiring 50. Also Read: Cricket needs an indoor revolution to combat weather woes Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah were all in on the act, each snaring three wickets as Bangladesh's batting woes reached comical proportions. Mushfiqur Rahim, the last man standing, took his sweet time before finally succumbing to Bumrah for 37, delaying lunch and the inevitable with the kind of defiance that seemed destined for what else but drama! Ashwin kicked off the day’s proceedings by dismissing first-innings centurion Mominul Haque, who was caught at leg slip by KL Rahul for a paltry two runs. That was, you see, only the opening act. Left-arm spinner Jadeja, who had already celebrated reaching his 300th Test wicket just the day prior, struck gold in his very first over of the day by sending captain Najmul Hossain Shanto back to the pavilion for a lackluster 19. One can only wonder how the Bangladeshi captain felt watching his teammates fold like a house of cards. Shadman, initially looking promising, reached his fifty off 97 balls but promptly fell to fast bowler Akash Deep, leaving the team’s hopes hanging by a thread. Jadeja then showcased his prowess by catching and bowling the veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan for a zero, possibly marking his last Test appearance. Shakib, at the ripe age of 37, had announced his international retirement ahead of the match, which might just become his swansong if he can't make it back for a scheduled series in South Africa. Also Read: Bazball is out, Bossball is in The first innings saw Bangladesh bowled out for 233, and India, clearly in a hurry to reach the finish line, declared at a staggering 285-9 off just 34.4 overs. With the T20 series on the horizon, the teams now shift focus, ready to face off in a three-match extravaganza starting this Sunday in Gwalior. As the dust settles on this match, one can't help but reflect on the disparity between the two teams. India has once again proven their mettle, dispatching Bangladesh in what feels like a mere six sessions after losing two entire days to rain. Bravo! What a display of dominance! The gulf between the two sides has never been clearer, and one can only wonder what the future holds for a Bangladeshi side that appears to be stuck in a perpetual rebuilding phase.
02 October,2024 12:47 PM IST | Mumbai | Srijanee MajumdarFine middle-order batting by Jemimah Rodrigues (30), Richa Ghosh (36), and Deepti Sharma (35 not out) and all-round good bowling helped India Women beat South Africa Women by 28 runs in a warm-up match ahead of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup at the ICC Academy here on Tuesday. With the middle-order holding the fort, India Women posted a modest 144/7 in 20 overs before coming back to restrict South Africa to 116/6 to win the match by 28 runs. Asked to bat first after South Africa won the toss, India Women lost explosive opener Shafali Verma for zero and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur for 10 as they slumped to 18/2 in the fourth over. But Smriti Mandhana (21) and Jemimah took the score to 58 before the former was caught by Nadine de Klerk off Nonkululeko Mlaba. Jemimah, who scored 30 off 26 balls, too departed as India slumped to 67/3 before Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh raised 70 runs for the fifth wicket. Richa struck 36 off 25 balls, studded with two fours and two sixes. Deepti hammered 35 not out off 29 balls, hitting two fours, as India posted a decent total. In reply, openers Laura Wolvaardt (29) and Tazmin Brits (22) raised 37 runs for the first wicket partnership before Asha Sobhana gave India the breakthrough by dismissing Tazmin. Also Read: England's ‘Bazball’ meets identical twin in India’s ‘Gamball’ Deepti Sharma accounted for Anneke Bosch (3) and Shreyanka Patil sent back Wolvaardt to make it 56/3 before Sobhana struck again, removing Sune Luus for 3 as South Africa slumped to 66/4 in the 12th over. Chloe Tryon (24) and Annerie Dercksen (21 not out) raised some hopes but South Africa found the going tough and were restricted to 116/6/ For India, Sobhana finished with 2-31 off her three fours while Renuka Singh bowled a brilliant spell to concede 16 runs in four overs. Deepti Sharma (1-2), Harmanpreet Kaur (1-2), Shafali Verma (1-12) Shreyanka Patil (1-21) were the other wicket takers for India Women. (With agency inputs)
02 October,2024 12:43 PM IST | Dubai | mid-day online correspondentAmid Babar Azam's struggles with the bat, the Pakistan star has become a constant target for trolls on social media. As the batter stepped down as the captain of Pakistan's ODI and T20I team, social media was abuzz with brutal messages. Babar took to X to announce resigning from the post in ODIs and T20Is, adding that he had informed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the team management of his decision in September. Following this, a number of fans started trolling the cricketer. "Babar Azam stepped down from ODI & T20I captaincy. (sad day for other cricket teams)," wrote one. Another said, "Babar Azam resignations: 2. Babar Azam Trophies Won in 6 Tourn: 0" "Babar Azam stepped down as Pakistan captain again. He Is looking for his personal growth , not the Team's growth," added one user. Notably, it is the second time in less than a year that Babar has resigned from the captaincy of the senior national men's team. Babar stepped down as the captain of all three formats after Pakistan's dismal performance in the ODI World Cup in India in October-November last month. Also Read: England's ‘Bazball’ meets identical twin in India’s ‘Gamball’ Earlier, Babar said captaincy added a 'significant workload' and that by stepping down, he would channel his energy into contributing to the team with the bat. "Dear Fans, I am sharing some news with you today. I have decided to resign as captain of the Pakistan men's cricket team, effective as of my notification to the PCB and Team Management last month," Babar said in a late-night post on X, formerly Twitter. "It's been an honour to lead this team, but it's time for me to step down and focus on my playing role. Captaincy has been a rewarding experience, but it's added a significant workload. I want to prioritise my performance, enjoy my batting, and spend quality time with my family, which brings me joy. "By stepping down, I will gain clarity moving forward and focus more energy on my game and personal growth. "I'm grateful for your unwavering support and belief in me. Your enthusiasm has meant the world to me. I'm proud of what we've achieved together and excited to continue contributing to the team as a player. Thank you for your love and support," he added. 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
02 October,2024 12:40 PM IST | New Delhi | IANSSkipper Ajinkya Rahane concentrated hard as his unbeaten 86 off 197 balls took Mumbai to 237-4 against Rest of India on a weather-curtailed opening day of the Irani Cup. The veteran of 5,000 plus runs in 85 Tests, who is not on national selectors’ radar, dug deep into his reservoirs of concentration to keep Mumbai on even keel against an impressive duo of Mukesh Kumar (3-60 in 14 overs) and Yash Dayal (1-46 in 15 overs). Shreyas Iyer (57 off 84 balls) and Sarfaraz Khan (54 batting, 88 balls) were tad a more adventurous in trying to get a move on in the 68 overs of play possible on Tuesday. Also Read: Bazball is out, Bossball is in In fact, Rahane played the second fiddle during his 102-run fourth wicket stand with Iyer after Mukesh had reduced them to 37-3. At stumps, Rahane had the company of Sarfaraz and the duo had 98 runs for the fifth wicket and would like to consolidate on the second day. Brief scoresMumbai 237-4 (A Rahane 86*, S Iyer 57, S Khan 54*; M Kumar 3-60) v Rest of India 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
02 October,2024 07:49 AM IST | Lucknow | PTIADVERTISEMENT
