The 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
23 December,2024 09:49 AM IST | Lahore | PTIHarmanpreet Kaur-led Team India achieved an elusive feat on Sunday with their mammoth 211-run win over West Indies in the first ODI match of the series at Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. According to ESPNcricinfo, the 211-run triumph over the Caribbeans is India's second biggest win by runs in women's ODIs, behind the 249-run win against Ireland in 2017. It was also the biggest defeat by runs for West Indies in the history of women's ODIs. India Women extended their dominance in white-ball cricket. The emphatic win on Sunday gave the Women in Blue an early lead in the ODI series. Recapping the match, West Indies, led by Hayley Matthews, won the toss and opted to field. However, Harmanpreet Kaur's team set a daunting target for the visitors in the first innings. Openers Smriti Mandhana (91 off 102 balls, 13 fours) and Pratika Rawal (40 off 69 balls, 4 fours) put together a solid 110-run partnership, laying a strong foundation for the hosts. The duo's superb batting kept the Caribbean bowlers under pressure, making it difficult for them to claim early wickets. Skipper Matthews eventually broke the opening stand in the 24th over, dismissing Pratika Rawal, but the damage had already been done. Harleen Deol (44 off 50 balls, 2 fours and 1 six) then joined Mandhana at the crease, building a 50-run partnership. Zaida James dismissed Mandhana in the 32nd over, briefly stemming the flow of runs. However, Harleen and Harmanpreet Kaur (34 off 23 balls, 3 fours and 1 six) added a 66-run stand, further solidifying India's innings. Though West Indies managed to remove Harleen and Harmanpreet, India's middle order stepped up with confidence. Richa Ghosh (26 off 13 balls, 4 fours and 1 six), Jemimah Rodrigues (31 off 19 balls, 3 fours and 1 six), and Deepti Sharma (14* off 12 balls, 1 four) propelled India to a formidable 314/9. Deepti and Priya Mishra (1* off 3 balls) remained unbeaten at the end of the innings. Zaida James led the West Indies' bowling effort, taking five wickets for 45 runs at an economy rate of 5.60. Matthews chipped in with two wickets in her 10 overs. Chasing 315, West Indies struggled to establish a partnership against the disciplined Indian bowling attack. Renuka Thakur Singh was the star with the ball, claiming five wickets and dismantling the Caribbean batting lineup. Priya Mishra picked up two wickets, while Titas Sadhu and Deepti Sharma each grabbed one. The Indian bowlers skittled out West Indies for just 103 in 27 overs, sealing a comprehensive 211-run victory. Afy Fletcher (24* off 22 balls, 3 fours) was the top scorer for the visitors, while wicketkeeper Shemaine Campbelle (21 off 39 balls, 2 fours) also made a valiant effort before falling to Renuka Singh's lethal spell. Renuka Thakur Singh was adjudged 'Player of the Match' for her brilliant five-wicket haul. 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
23 December,2024 09:49 AM IST | Vadodara (Gujarat) | ANIOpener G Trisha made a doughty fifty before the left-arm troika of Ayushi Shukla, Sonam Yadav and Parunika Sisodia spun web around Bangladesh batters as India scored a 41-run win to emerge champions in the inaugural Women’s T20 U-19 Asia Cup here on Sunday. On a spongy pitch, Trisha’s 47-ball 52 (5x4, 2x6) guided India to 117-7, but Indian spinners cut through the Bangladesh line-up to bundle them out for 76 in 18.3 overs. The biggest partnership in the match, was between Trisha and her skipper Nikki Prasad—a 41-run alliance for the fourth wicket. India batters struggled against pacer Farjana Easmin, who took four wickets. Despite that, India were restricted to a below-par total, and Bangladesh seemed well on track for a win once they reached 44-2 in the seventh over. However, Ayushi (3-17), Sonam (2-13) and Parunika (2-12) took over from that point as Bangladesh lost remaining eight wickets for a mere 32 runs. Brief scoresIndia W U-19 117-7 in 20 overs (G Trisha 52; F Easmin 4-31) beat B’desh W U-19 76 all out in 18.3 overs (J Ferdous 22; A Shukla 3-17) by 41 runs 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
23 December,2024 06:20 AM IST | Kuala Lumpur | PTIThe scheduled press match between the Indian and Australian media was cancelled after the Indian media reportedly boycotted a pre-arranged game, following a press conference row involving all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. The T20 game scheduled for Sunday at Junction Oval in Melbourne was cancelled after the Indian team’s media manager decided not to participate. This decision prompted several members of the travelling media contingent to withdraw as well, making it impossible to organise a formal match, a report in The Age quoted multiple sources. Also Read: Australia whip out the victim card...again! This comes after an incident at a press conference on Saturday involving Jadeja, where the spinner answered questions in Hindi. After a half-hour delay in the scheduled media appearance after India completed a training session at the ground. Jadeja began taking questions from Indian journalists. Following nine minutes of discussion in Hindi, the presser was ended as the team bus had to depart. Hence, the player couldn’t stay any longer, according to India’s media manager. However, some Australian media are claiming that Jadeja has refused to answer questions in English. “The Australian media were bemused and confused when the star all-rounder refused to answer questions in English. It was obviously an annoying situation for the journalists who made the effort to turn up,” Channel 7 said in its report. In reality, Jadeja never refused to answer questions in English. 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
23 December,2024 06:20 AM IST | Melbourne | PTITeam India batsman KL Rahul shares a significant connection with December 26, a date that has proven to be fortuitous for him. Rahul has two hundreds in Boxing Day Tests — at Centurion, South Africa, on the 2021-22 and 2023-24 tours. The opportunity for Rahul to score his third Boxing Day Test hundred comes in the form of Thursday’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The Karnataka man has emerged as the most consistent batsman for Team India in this series thus far. Following the inaugural practice session at the MCG on Saturday, uncertainty remains regarding whether Rahul will assume the role of an opening batter. Rohit has relinquished his opening position for Rahul in the previous two Tests, opting to bat at No. 6 instead. Regardless of if he opens the batting or comes in at No. 6, the team management and Rahul, will be hoping for his third Boxing Day Test hundred.
23 December,2024 06:19 AM IST | Melbourne | Amit ShahWith skipper Rohit Sharma struggling to decipher a way to score runs in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, former India coach Ravi Shastri says the stylish batter should go in with a clear mindset, change his tactics, and attack the bowlers. Rohit missed the opening Test Down Under to be with his family for the birth of his second child. He was expected to reclaim the opener’s spot but KL Rahul’s impressive 77 in India’s win at Perth prompted a rejig of the batting order with Rohit moving down to No.6. The change though has not been fruitful for Rohit as he has managed 10, three and six runs in the last three innings, while Rahul has encashed on the opportunity by notching up a fine 84 in the first innings at Brisbane in the third Test. “I would like to see Rohit Sharma, his tactics change a bit because he can still be extremely dangerous at that number [six],” Shastri opined on ICC Review.Shastri felt Rohit should shun the defensive mindset. “I think he’s got to be very clear in his mindset to go out there and take the attack to the opposition and not worry about anything else,” the cricketer-turned-commentator added. Rohit had made his Test debut in 2013 at No. 6 position, marking the occasion with a century. 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
23 December,2024 06:16 AM IST | Melbourne | PTIThe Indian cricket team are seemingly unhappy with the quality of practice pitches provided at the outdoor nets of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) as they prepare for the crucial Boxing Day Test. With the series tied at 1-1, tensions are high not only between the teams, but also among the media contingents, with recent local media coverage further fuelling the intensity ahead of the much-anticipated contest. The Indian team have had two practice sessions at the MCG so far. However, the four net pitches allotted to them have been slow, with minimal bounce and pace — characteristics starkly different from what they are likely to encounter during the Boxing Day Test. It is understood that these pitches were prepared primarily for Big Bash League (BBL) training sessions. Aussies given different pitches Sources suggest that practice wickets with more pace and a hint of grass are available, but have not been made accessible to the Indian team. This has led to speculation that the Australians may have exclusive access to those facilities when they begin training on Monday, raising concerns within the Indian camp. The sub-par quality of net bowlers has further compounded the challenges for the Indian team. Throughout the tour, the team management have sparingly used these bowlers, citing their inability to replicate the intensity required for practice sessions. Indian pacer Akash Deep voiced his concerns during his press conference on Sunday. “I feel these wickets are meant for white-ball cricket. The bounce was low, and it was difficult for batters to leave deliveries,” he remarked. Injury scare for Rohit Adding to the worries, skipper Rohit Sharma had an injury scare during a net session after being struck on his left knee by a throwdown specialist. Rohit appeared in discomfort and had to use an ice pack. Akash Deep himself also sustained a blow while batting in the nets, leaving the team’s preparation far from ideal ahead of the crucial Test match.
23 December,2024 06:15 AM IST | Mumbai | Sandipan BanerjeeYeh toh Kotla wicket jaise hai, he guffawed, as Rohit Sharma was forced to jab hurriedly at a delivery from Akash Deep that kept low at the Melbourne Cricket Ground practice facility on Sunday morning. Leading by example Even when he is not hunting batters down, Jasprit Bumrah is impossible to ignore. He has a word with everyone, he has time for his mates — exchanging fist bumps with Dhruv Jurel, indulging in banter with Abhimanyu Easwaran. A smile stays plastered as he begins his walk-in, then disappears once he explodes towards the bowling crease. In that little phase, he dons his game face; the result, more often than not, is devastating. Almost single-handedly, Bumrah has kept India alive in this Test series. Ahead of the first Test in Perth on November 22, had the Indians been offered a 1-1 score line heading into the last two matches, they would have gladly taken it. If they are in this situation today, it’s thanks to the paceman extraordinaire’s 21-wicket heroics, highlighted by his five-fer in the first innings of the first Test when India opened up a lead of 46 despite being shot out for 150. Bumrah has dominated every conversation in the last month. There is awe and reverence and perhaps even a touch of dread when the Australians speak about him, whereas with his teammates, you can clearly sense admiration and respect and a certain pride that he is on their side. Each one of India’s top-order batters, struggling for form and consistency, must be delighted that their only showdowns with him are in the practice nets and that ‘outs’ at training don’t count for a great deal beyond embarrassment. But then again, there is no shame in being ‘dismissed’ by the best in the business, is there? Nathan McSweeney might go on to become the best at some stage in the future, but he couldn’t have asked for a more demanding start to his Test career. The 25-year-old South Australian captain, essentially a No. 3 batter, was pitchforked into the vacant role of Usman Khawaja’s opening partner at the start of the series and now finds himself axed after a disappointing run translating to 72 runs from six innings. Bumrah has had his number four times in the 66 deliveries he has bowled to him, one of the reasons why McSweeney has been replaced by the 19-year-old Sam Konstas for the last two games, in Melbourne and Sydney. Konstas faces Jasprit challenge Konstas is an exciting, attacking batter who was part of the Australian U-19 World Cup-winning team earlier this year and who scored a fine century against Indians in the pink ball one-day game in Canberra at the start of the month. He has expressed a desire to pit his wares against Bumrah and his wish will come true at some stage over the next week. Australia will be hoping he has greater success against the Indian vice-captain than Khawaja, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, who Bumrah has packed off four, three and two times respectively in the first three Tests. Bumrah has the most ridiculously remarkable figures in this series — 21 wickets, average 10.90, economy 2.60, strike-rate 25.1. But even he has found the Travis Head challenge hard to overcome. That will be his immediate goal, to quickly outwit the Australian No. 5, who has been a giant thorn in India’s side all series long.
23 December,2024 06:12 AM IST | Melbourne | R KaushikAfter claiming her first five-wicket haul in the ODIs, Team India pacer Renuka Singh said that she just wanted to hit in the right areas during the first ODI match against West Indies. Smriti Mandhana's batting heroics and Renuka Singh's five-wicket haul helped India to register a 211-run win over West Indies in the first ODI match at the Kotambi Stadium. With this, the "Women in Blue" are now leading the ODI series against the Caribbeans. Speaking after the end of the match, Renuka Singh said that she felt very good and happy with her performance. She revealed that the wicket in Vadodara's Kotambi Stadium was helping the "Women in Blue". Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025: Dubai to host India's matches "Feeling very good. First five-wicket haul in ODIs and I am happy because everyone backed me so much (to get that five-wicket haul). I have worked a lot on my fitness and hence could bowl eight overs on the trot, and that proves my fitness (On the swing she was getting). The wicket was helping us, the weather got colder. I wanted to hit the right areas and I got assistance (from the pitch)," Renuka Singh was quoted by ESPNcricinfo as saying. Recapping the match, West Indies won the toss and decided to field first against India. Smriti Mandhana (91 runs from 102 balls, 13 fours) and Pratika Rawal (40 runs from 69 balls, 4 fours) opened for India and cemented a 110-run partnership, which helped the hosts to build confidence in the inning. India's middle order was riding on confidence. Top performances from Richa Ghosh (26 runs from 13 balls, 4 fours and 1 six), Jemimah Rodrigues (31 runs from 19 balls, 3 fours and 1 six) and Deepti Sharma (14* runs from 12 balls, 1 four) showcased a stunning performance on the crease and propelled India Women to 314/9 in the first inning. During the run chase, West Indies failed to form a match-winning partnership, as the visitors struggled to play in front of the Indian bowling attack. Renuka Thakur Singh's five-wicket haul rattled the Caribbean batting lineup. Priya Mishra also took two wickets. While Titas Sadhu and Deepti Sharma picked up one wicket each in their respective spells. The fiery spells from the Indian bowlers bundled out West Indies at 103 with 23 overs remaining and helped the hosts clinch a massive 211-run triumph. Renuka Thakur Singh was named the 'Player of the Match' following her fifer on Sunday. (With ANI Inputs)
22 December,2024 09:48 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentDubai has been finalised as the neutral venue for Team India matches for the Champions Trophy 2025 with a semi-final and the final set to be hosted in the UAE if the "Men in Blue" qualify for the knockouts. A reliable source in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that Dubai is the venue which is finalised after the meeting between PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi and his UAE counterpart Sheikh Nahyan Al Mubarak. Sheikh Nahyan, who is currently vacationing in the Ghotki region of Sindh and Naqvi, who is also the country's interior minister, met and finalised the logistical and administrative matters for the mega-event hosted by Pakistan. The discussions over hosting the Champions Trophy 2025 finally reached an end when the International Cricket Board (ICC) announced that all Team India matches for the event will be played at a neutral venue instead of Pakistan. Also Read: Smriti Mandhana, Renuka Thakur blow away West Indies in first ODI The "Men in Green" will get similar arrangements for tournaments to be held in India till 2027. It is now expected for the ICC to announce the final schedule of the Champions Trophy 2025. Pakistan will likely host nine to 10 matches with the final set to be played in Lahore if India doesn't qualify, added the source. The hybrid arrangement will apply to the Champions Trophy 2025 (Pakistan), next year's women's Cricket World Cup in India and the T20 World Cup in 2026 in India and Sri Lanka. India had refused to travel to Pakistan for the event scheduled in February-March due to security concerns. The Indians have not played in Pakistan since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks in which 150 people were killed. The two countries' last bilateral engagement was back in 2012. Travelling to Pakistan also requires the Indian government's clearance which has remained firm on the status quo. While BCCI's stance was always clear, the matter got stretched because of PCB's refusal to allow a "one-sided" arrangement of neutral venues. Led by Naqvi, the PCB was determined not to lose face in front of the local public. PCB, which had sent its team to India for the ODI World Cup last year, had categorically opposed the hybrid model but eventually agreed to it on reciprocal grounds. (With PTI Inputs)
22 December,2024 08:58 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentStylish opener Smriti Mandhana extended her purple patch with a classy knock before pacer Renuka Thakur excelled with the new ball as India outplayed a self-destructing West Indies by a record 211 runs in the first Women's ODI here Sunday.India posted 314 for nine after Mandhana made a fine 91 off 102 balls. The launch pad was provided by the left-handed opener for the middle-order to go big and that is what the likes of Harmanpreet Kaur (34 off 23), Harleen Deol (44 off 50), Richa Ghosh (26 off 12) and Jemimah Rodrigues (31 off 19) did to take India past 300. The West Indies were ordinary to say the least in their response as some of their batters gifted wickets to the dominating hosts. They were eventually all out for 103 in 26.2 overs with Renuka picking her maiden five-wicket haul in ODIs. It was India's biggest win over the West Indies in terms of runs. The second ODI of the three-match series will be played here on Tuesday. Also Read: Sam Konstas "excited" and "super confident" to face Jasprit Bumrah at Boxing Day Test Qiana Joseph was run out on the first ball of the run chase as she inexplicably struggled to complete a regulation single from the non-striker's end, leaving skipper Hayley Mathews in disbelief. Mathews too departed 12 balls later, nicking a wide delivery from Renuka who got the in-swing going in her first spell. When young pacer Titas Sadhu castled Rashad Williams, the West Indies slipped to 11 for four and the game was as good as over. Renuka's fourth wicket reduced the visitors to 34 for six as Shabika Gajnabi could not connect a full in-swinging ball. Earlier, Mandhana, who recorded a 50-plus score for the fifth time in as many innings, got the bulk of the runs in her 110-run stand alongside debutant Pratika Rawal (40 off 69). After dropping hard-hitting Shafali Verma, India have tried multiple batters to open alongside Mandhana and on Sunday it was the turn of Delhi cricketer Pratika, who batted at a strike rate of 57.97. The 24-year-old was also dropped at mid-off when she was batting on three in the 10th over. Her four boundaries came on the leg-side as she employed the sweep multiple times. Mandhana, at the other end, entertained the crowd with her trademark shots including a cover drive and pull. India changed gears after the arrival of fit-again skipper Harmanpreet who struck at close to 150 to give the innings a timely move on. The momentum was carried by Richa and Rodrigues who has been in top form of late. For the West Indies, the pick of the bowlers was left-arm spinner Zaida James who took five wickets for 45 runs in eight overs. India could have got a lot more in the death overs but the last three overs only yielded 20 runs with James picking three wickets in the final over. 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.
22 December,2024 08:33 PM IST | Vadodara | PTIADVERTISEMENT
