Cricket - Int News
T10: Phil Salt's spicy innings sets up Team Abu Dhabi for big win
Sports Bulletin ReportAbu Dhabi (UAE): Abu Dhabi: A power-packed performance from Team Abu Dhabi skipper Phil Salt gave a scintillating start to the Season 8 of Abu Dhabi T10 at Zayed Cricket Stadium on Thursday. Continuing his roaring form in the white-ball format, the right-handed batter smashed 52 runs in 18 balls, helping his side to a memorable 9-wicket win over the new franchise on the block, Ajman Bolts.To kickstart the proceedings on the first day of the new season, the players stood together to sing the National Anthem, and the game began after the players were energized by a special address from Shaji Ul Mulk, Chairman, T Ten Global Sports Founder and Chairman. Motivating the citizens of UAE, he highlighted the significance of journey taken by T10 Global over the past decade and the impact created by the format all around the world.As the match began, a fiery innings from young Sri Lankan batter Shevon Daniel put the hosts on the backfoot. But Mark Adair and Zeeshan Naseer tested the opposition's top-order with short balls, and Ajman lost quick wickets in succession. Bopara provided much needed respite for the Bolts, but speedster Kadeem Alleyne ended their resistance, and picked up two crucial wickets. With momentum swinging away, Bolts could only muster 79 runs on board, finishing with a total of 79/8 in 10 overs. Chasing 80, the hosts suffered an early setback with Paul Stirling hitting the ball straight to cover on the first ball. England explosive hitters Jonny Bairstow and Salt stitched a partnership to settle down the nerves. Salt started leading from the front, hammering six sixes and two fours in his innings to score a brisk 17-ball fifty. Bairstow delivered the winning runs, playing the perfect supporting role with 22 runs in 14 balls as Team Abu Dhabi began the season in roaring form.
Sumair appointed ICC Champions Trophy Tournament Director
Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the appointment of Sumair Ahmad Syed, Chief Operating Officer of the PCB, as the Tournament Director for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to take place in Pakistan.PCB Chair Mohsin Naqvi said: “Sumair is an exceptionally organised professional with a wealth of administrative expertise. Coupled with his unwavering passion for cricket, I am confident he will deliver an unforgettable ICC Champions Trophy 2025 for players, officials and fans alike. The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 promises to showcase Pakistan’s ability to host world-class cricketing events, welcoming players and fans from around the globe to experience the country’s passion for the game and renowned hospitality. This tournament marks a historic milestone as the biggest sporting event in Pakistan’s recent history. With Sumair leading the way, the global cricket community can rest assured that the event will meet the highest standards of excellence synonymous with Pakistan.”Tournament Director Sumair Ahmad Syed said: “I am deeply honored and excited to take on this significant responsibility for a tournament that holds immense importance for the Pakistan Cricket Board, our fans and supporters. Preparations are already well underway, with stadium upgrades nearing completion and crucial discussions ongoing with the International Cricket Council. Our experienced events team, which has successfully planned and executed nine multi-team HBL Pakistan Super Leagues, including last five in Pakistan, will play a vital role in ensuring the tournament’s success. I am committed to working closely with them as well as the International Cricket Council, leaving no stone unturned to exceed the benchmarks set by previous ICC Champions Trophy editions.”
IV-Day, Pakistan A vs Sri Lanka A match ends in Draw in Rawalpindi
Sports Bulletin ReportRAWALPINDI: Sonal Dinusha and Pavan Rathnayake ended the two four-day matches series with sparkling centuries as Pakistan Shaheens and Sri Lanka ‘A’ match ended into a draw at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.Dinusha returned unbeaten on 116 and Rathnayake remained 100 not out as Sri Lanka ‘A’, resuming their second innings at 157 for four, declared their second innings at 260 for four to set Pakistan Shaheens a target of 284 in 60 overs. When the match ended, Pakistan Shaheens were 156 for three in 45 overs.Dinusha, who had scored 85 not in the first innings, had started the day at 51 and added another 65 runs on the final day to finish at 116 not out. His fourth first-class century in 41st match came off 141 balls and included nine fours. Overall, he faced 184 balls and hit 10 fours.Rathnayake had started this morning at 64 and finished on 100 not out, his seventh first-class century in 38 matches. He faced 198 balls and hit eight fours.The two batters had come together when Sri Lanka ‘A’ were tottering at 46 for four. Their 214 runs unbeaten fifth-wicket stand came off 369 balls and not only steered the ship to safety but also allowed Sri Lanka ‘A’ to set the home team a stiff 284 runs target in 60 overs.When the match was called off, Pakistan Shaheens had recovered from 67 for three to 156 for three. Mohammad Suleman was the top-scorer with 66 not out (121b, 3x4, 1x6), while Haider Ali scored 43 not out (68b, 3x4, 1x6) as the two batters put on 89 runs for the unfinished fourth wicket. Ali Zaryab contributed 31.The two sides will now feature in a three-match 50-over series to be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on 25, 27 and 29 November.Scores in brief (day 4 of 4):Match drawn, Pakistan Shaheens win two-match series 1-0Sri Lanka ‘A’ 310 all-out, 79 overs (Sonal Dinusha 85 not out, Wanuja Sahan 63, Isitha Wijesundara 51, Pavan Rathnayake 35, Ahan Wickramsinghe 30, Dinura Kalupahana 30; Khurram Shahzad 6-30, Ahmed Safi Abdullah 2-100) and 260-4d, 76 overs (Sonal Dinusha 116 not out, Pavan Rathnayake 100 not out; Ahmed Bashir 2-65)Pakistan Shaheens 287 all out, 98 overs (Abdul Faseeh 59, Mohammad Suleman 40, Ahmed Safi Abdullah 39, Haider Ali 35, Ali Zaryab 32, Hussain Talat 25; Wanuja Sahan 5-74) and 156-3, 45 overs (Mohammad Suleman 66 not out, Haider Ali 43 not out, Ali Zaryab 31).
Border-Gavaskar series to be a Bower's Paradise: Mark Waugh
BIPIN DANIFormer Australia captain Mark Waugh, on his social media page has shared his predictions and insights for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series. He anticipates a 3-1 victory for Australia, with the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) match likely to be washed out, as is often the case.Waugh expects Steve Smith to be the top run-scorer for Australia, despite not foreseeing a high-scoring series overall. He believes Smith will find his form and contribute significantly. In the wickets column, Waugh places his bets on either Josh Hazlewood or Nathan Lyon to lead the charge. He also mentions that Mitchell Starc could perform well with the pink ball under lights, and Pat Cummins will also play a crucial role. Waugh suggests that it might be beneficial to rotate the pace attack for one of the matches.Regarding India, Waugh acknowledges that they have a strong chance, especially after their recent loss to New Zealand, which might have sparked a renewed determination. However, he notes that both teams are dealing with aging line-ups, and it will be interesting to see which veterans can still deliver top performances.Waugh predicts that the series will be dominated by bowlers, as has been the trend in recent summers. The new Kookaburra ball and subpar batting techniques have led to lower scores, and he believes that to beat Australia, teams need to bat long and push the game into the fourth or fifth day for a competitive contest.He also speculates that if either Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma fail to perform, it could lead to their retirement from international cricket.Waugh's parting words, "Get ready kunts," are a colloquial and somewhat provocative way of urging everyone to brace themselves for an intense and competitive series. It's his way of saying that the upcoming matches will be fierce and demanding, and both players and fans should be prepared for the challenges ahead. The 5-Test match series commences from Friday with the first Test at Perth.
New York Strikers, Ready to Defend the Crown of Abu Dhabi T10
Abu Dhabi (PR): Sri Lankan pace sensation Matheesha Pathirana and New Zealand all-rounder Doug Bracewell have voiced their enthusiasm about joining forces with the reigning champions New York Strikers for the upcoming Abu Dhabi T10 seasonPathirana, who is set to play a pivotal role in the Strikers' Abu Dhabi T10 campaign expressed his enthusiasm about returning to defend the title: "I am proud to be a part of New York Strikers' squad. I am hopeful and looking forward to picking the cup for my team."New Zealand all-rounder Doug Bracewell shared his excitement about joining the defending champions: "It feels great to be participating for New York Strikers team this season's Abu Dhabi T10. I’m eager to contribute to the team and excited to play."Team owner Sagar Khanna also shared his excitement while sharing, " Our squad keeps getting bigger and we are sure to win a lot of support and excitement from Strikers Fan Club. We are aiming to do well and make it big in this campaign."The New York Strikers made history by clinching the Abu Dhabi T10 championship in their inaugural season, demonstrating exceptional cricket throughout the tournament. These strategic signings reflect the team's commitment to maintaining their championship standards and building on their remarkable success.
IV-Day Match: Sri Lanka 'A' sit in Driving Seat at the end of third day game
Sports Bulletin ReportRAWAPINDI: Sri Lanka ‘A’ were 180 runs ahead in their second innings after they had managed 157-4 in 45.2 overs by close of play on day three in the second four-dayer against Pakistan Shaheens at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.After Sri Lanka earned a 23-run first innings lead, they slipped to 46-4 in 15 overs as Ahmed Bashir snapped two wickets while Hussain Talat and Kashif Ali picked up one wicket each.Pavan Rathnayake (64 not out, 109b, 6x4s) and Sonal Dinusha (51 not out, 87b, 4x4s) stitched an unbeaten 111-run partnership for the fifth wicket off 183 balls to help Sri Lanka ‘A’ recover from the initial setbacks.Earlier in the day, Pakistan Shaheens resumed their first innings from the overnight score of 212-5, trailing by 98 runs, before being bowled out for 287 in 98 overs. After Hussain Talat (25, 61b, 1x4) and Mohammad Ghazi Ghori (15, 36b, 1x4) fell early, Ahmed Safi Abdullah and Kashif Ali put on a crucial 53-run eighth-wicket stand to erase much of the deficit.Ahmed Safi hit five fours in his 61-ball 39 before falling to Wanuja Sahan in the 96th over. Sahan picked up his 12th first-class five-wicket haul returning figures of 5-74 in 27 overs.Scores in brief (day 3 of 4):Sri Lanka ‘A’ lead by 180 runsSri Lanka ‘A’ 310 all-out, 79 overs (Sonal Dinusha 85 not out, Wanuja Sahan 63, Isitha Wijesundara 51, Pavan Rathnayake 35, Ahan Wickramsinghe 30, Dinura Kalupahana 30; Khurram Shahzad 6-30, Ahmed Safi Abdullah 2-100) and 157-4, 45.2 overs (Pavan Rathnayake 64 not out, Sonal Dinusha 51 not out; Ahmed Bashir 2-44)Pakistan Shaheens 287 all out, 98 overs (Abdul Faseeh 59, Mohammad Suleman 40, Ahmed Safi Abdullah 39, Haider Ali 35, Ali Zaryab 32, Hussain Talat 25; Wanuja Sahan 5-74)
IV-Day Match: Pakistan A score 212 for 5 at stumps on day 2
Sports Bulletin ReportRAWALPINDI: Pakistan Shaheens were 212 for five at stumps on the second day of the four-day match against Sri Lanka ‘A’ at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The visitors had earlier been dismissed for 310 on Tuesday morning.Hussain Talat (18 not out) and Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (5 not out) will resume Pakistan Shaheens’ innings on Wednesday, with the home side trailing by 98 runs.Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka ‘A’ added 17 runs to their overnight score of 293 for eight before being bowled out for 310. Sonal Dinusha, who resumed on 81, remained unbeaten on 85, while Isitha Wijesundara contributed a strokeful 51, which included seven fours and three sixes. Wijesundara had started the morning on 38 before falling to Kashif Ali.Fast bowler Khurram Shahzad, who had taken an impressive six for 30 on Monday before splitting his right-hand webbing during the second session while attempting a catch, did not bowl on Tuesday and has been ruled out of further participation in the match. Ahmed Safi Abdullah finished with figures of two for 100, while Kashif Ali and Ahmed Bashir claimed one wicket each on the second morning.In reply, Pakistan Shaheens saw solid starts from their top-order batters but none could convert them into substantial scores. Abdul Faseeh top-scored with 59 off 108 balls, including seven fours, while Mohammad Suleman made 40, Haider Ali scored 35 and Ali Zaryab contributed 32.The most notable partnership of the innings so far has been between Abdul Faseeh and Ali Zaryab, who added 86 runs for the second wicket off 165 balls. Another key stand came for the fourth wicket when Suleman and Haider put together 54 runs off 96 deliveries. Wanuja Sahan followed up his 63 in the first innings by bagging two wickets for 53 runs.Scores in brief (day 2 of 4):Sri Lanka ‘A’ 310 all-out, 79 overs (Sonal Dinusha 85 not out, Wanuja Sahan 63, Isitha Wijesundara 51, Pavan Rathnayake 35, Ahan Wickramsinghe 30, Dinura Kalupahana 30; Khurram Shahzad 6-30, Ahmed Safi Abdullah 2-100)Pakistan Shaheens 212-5, 71 overs (Abdul Faseeh 59, Mohammad Suleman 40, Haider Ali 35, Ali Zaryab 32; Wanuja Sahan 2-53).
Cricket Meets Cradle: Stars Prioritizing Paternity Leave Over Pitch
BIPIN DANIIndian cricket captain Rohit Sharma, who became a father for the second time (his wife delivered a baby-boy) in a local hospital in Mumbai on Friday and may miss the first Test match against Australia in Perth beginning next week. Rohit had communicated to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that he wishes to stay back with his family and 2nd newborn for a few more days. He is likely to be available for selection for the second Test of the series.This decision by Rohit Sharma has sparked a debate on balancing professional commitments with personal milestones, highlighting the varied perspectives within the cricketing community on leadership and family priorities.Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has weighed in on Rohit's decision, suggesting that if he misses the first Test, he should continue to participate as a player for the remainder of the series rather than as captain. Gavaskar proposed that Jasprit Bumrah should take over the captaincy duties for the entire series, emphasizing the need for continuity in leadership.Former India pace bowler, Karsan Ghavri has backed Gavaskar's views. Speaking exclusively, he says, "Better Rohit Sharma takes a break. He will not be able to concentrate and do justice to both the places. National duty comes 1st. On the war field soldiers' mothers/ father, wife/ sister / child pass away, but they don’t run away from war. Gavaskar himself saw his 1st born son Rohan after a month (after the West Indies tour was over in 70s). However, former spinner, Maninder Singh is not ready to buy doesn't buy tyese arguments. "The birth of a child is always an emotional moment in anyone's life and if Rohit wanted to be with his wife during this period, he should be given this opportunity. How many times he or anyone else would get this moment in his life? She will be the best person to support his wife at the time. If I were at his place, I too would have sought a break. I was not on cricket duty but stood behind my wife at the time of delivery of my two children (son and daughter)", Maninder added. Adding further, Maninder said, "Rohit is an international professional cricketer and can easily be adjusted to the match conditions once he reaches Australia for the remaining matches. It will be upto the selection committee and the coach (Gautam Gambhir) whether to make him captain for the remaining Tests. It will be a dicey situation if the new captain succeeds in his absence but it is generally the senior player, who regains his place if he misses out any match for injury or illness or for any reason". Former Australian captain Aaron Finch has shown his support for Rohit Sharma's choice. Finch emphasized the significance of staying home with one's family during such a special time, considering it a beautiful moment that deserves to be cherished.Virat Kohli had twice chosen family over cricket. In January 2021, he missed three Tests in the Border-Gavaskar series against Australia to welcome his first child, Vamika, with his wife, Anushka Sharma. Kohli’s second paternity leave came in February 2024, when he skipped England’s Test series to welcome his son Akaay in London, showing his commitment to family life.Star pacer Jasprit Bumrah celebrated the arrival of his first child, Angad, in September 2023. Bumrah left the Asia Cup midway to attend the birth, later rejoining the team during the Super Four stage. His absence was managed effectively by Team India, but Bumrah’s prioritisation of family over cricket earned praise from fans.
IV-Day match: Sri Lanka ‘A’ make 293 for 4 on first day, Khurram grabs 6 wickets
Sports Bulletin ReportRAWALPINDI: Fast bowler Khurram Shahzad continued his remarkable run from injury as Sri Lanka ‘A’ reached 293 for eight at stumps on the opening day of the second four-day match against Pakistan Shaheens at the Pindi Cricket Stadium Rawalpindi on Monday.Khurram, who last week recorded match figures of nine for 102 in Pakistan Shaheens’ seven-wicket victory in the first four-dayer, delivered another outstanding performance with figures of 10-2-30-6. Despite his fiery spell that redcued Sri Lanka ‘A’ to 35 for five and later 150 for seven, a rearguard action, led by Sonal Dinusha, helped the visitors post a respectable total.No.7 batter Dinusha came to his side’s rescue with a resilient knock of 81 off 169 balls, laced with seven fours. No.9 batter Wanuja Sahan provided invaluable support with a brisk 63 off 79 balls, including six fours and a six, as the duo stitched a crucial 98-run partnership for the eighth wicket. Dinusha was also involved in three other useful stands.He shared a 59-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Pavan Rathnayake (35), followed by a 56-run stand for the seventh wicket with Dinura Kalupahana (30). An unbeaten ninth-wicket stand with No.10 Isitha Wijesundara had so far yielded 45 runs, with Wijesundara blazing his way to 38 not out off just 26 balls, including four fours and three sixes.Apart from Khurram, Ahmed Safi Abdullah was the only other bowler to make an impact, finishing with figures of 2 for 100.Scores in brief (day 1 of 4):Pakistan Shaheens won the toss and elected to field firstSri Lanka ‘A’ 293-8, 75 overs (Sonal Dinusha 81 not out, Wanuja Sahan 63, Isitha Wijesundara 38 not out, Pavan Rathnayake 35, Ahan Wickramsinghe 30, Dinura Kalupahana 30; Khurram Shahzad 6-30, Ahmed Safi Abdullah 2-100)
Aqib Javed confirmed interim white-ball head coach
LAHORE (PR): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today announced the appointment of Aqib Javed, a former international fast bowler, as the interim head coach of the Pakistan men’s cricket team until the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.During this tenure, Aqib will continue to serve as a senior member of the men’s National Selection Committee, and will be assigned additional responsibilities following the conclusion of the eight-team tournament.Meanwhile, the PCB will initiate the recruitment process for a permanent white-ball head coach, aiming to complete the appointment by the end of the ICC Champions Trophy scheduled from 19 February to 9 March.The white-ball coaching role had become vacant following the resignation of Gary Kirsten. Red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie had coached the side during the recent tour of Australia, who will now rejoin the side for the upcoming two-Test series in South Africa.The Pakistan men’s side is scheduled to play three ODIs and three T20Is in Zimbabwe (24 November – 5 December) and as many white-ball matches in South Africa (10-22 December). In the lead up to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Pakistan will host New Zealand and South Africa for an ODI triangular series from 8-14 February.
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