Cricket - Int News
Mickey Arthur asks players to go for a series win
BIPIN DANI
Sri Lanka's outgoing head coach Mickey Arthur was visibly happy at the end of the first Test match against the visiting West Indies team. The home team won the rain and bad-light affected match by a massive 187 runs.
The victorious team had no big celebration after the first Test. Maybe it is reserved for the series win. "The hotel made a cake for the winning Sri Lankan team and also arranged bottles of beer", one of the hotel staff speaking exclusively over the telephone from Galle, said.
"Only the foreign coaching staff drank the beer in a small quantity. The players did not taste it. They (the players) cut the cake made for them", the source added. Mickey Arthur in his speech asked the players to go for the series win rather than only being content with the first Test win or drawn series", the other source added.
The players are determined to win the second Test beginning on Monday and give a farewell gift to their head coach. The team was given a day off on Friday and the next training session is scheduled for Saturday.
Pakistan Vs Bangladesh (Day-1): Hosts reach 253 for 4
Chittagong (SB Report):-A brilliant maiden Test century by Liton Das’ lifted Bangladesh to 253 for four after they had been reduced to 49 for four on day one of the first Test against Pakistan at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Bangladesh on Friday.
The wicketkeeper-batter was unbeaten on 113 off 225 balls as he smashed 11 fours and a six during a solid 204-run undefeated fifth wicket stand with Mushfiqur Rahim, who was not out on 82.
The hosts found themselves in a spot of bother in the morning session when Pakistan removed top four batters in a span of 58 minutes. Those, however, were the only wickets to fall on the day, as the pair of Liton and Mushfiqur pushed back the opposition during a remarkable rearguard effort.
Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, Sajid Khan and Faheem Ashraf took a wicket each.
The play was suspended in the latter half of the evening session because of fading light as 85 overs were bowled and the second day’s play will begin 11 minutes before the scheduled start to make up for the lost time.
Scores in brief:
Bangladesh 253-4, 85 overs (Liton Das 113 not out, Mushfiqur Rhaim 82 not out)
CHRIS GAYLE: T10 CRICKET HAS RAISED THE BAR
Islamabad (Sports Desk):-Chris Gayle praised the Abu Dhabi T10 for its non-stop action, while criticising modern openers in the 20-over format for “killing the game” with a more cautious approach to power-plays.
With two ICC Men’s T20 World Cup winners’ medals to his name and more runs than any other player in the history of 20-over cricket, Gayle has been central to the rise of franchise cricket all over the world.
And now, while playing for Team Abu Dhabi in the Abu Dhabi T10, Gayle says cricket’s 10-over version is setting new standards when it comes to explosive batting and, ultimately, entertainment.
“I think, with T10 cricket, that’s how T20 cricket started. From the first over, batters used to go but T20 cricket has slowed down dramatically and T10 cricket has now raised the bar a bit,” said Gayle.
“They’re killing the entertainment in T20 cricket, straight up, because in those first six overs, we can get more as openers but guys are taking their own time. Sometimes they bat to get a score and they take away from the fire they should be bringing to the batting department in the first six overs, but T10 is spot on and hopefully we’ll see more T10 coming around.
“I don’t know why batters get so cagey during the first six overs. When T20 cricket started, guys were going from ball one, if you really check the history of T20 cricket looking back on it. I don’t like that fact, I think we should go hard, keep the entertainment that is within the game of T20 cricket and continue to keep that aggression in the first six overs.”
Team Abu Dhabi are currently top of the Abu Dhabi T10 table with five wins from five matches and Gayle is clearly having fun in his second year with the franchise.
Gayle is also confident that this could be the year that Team Abu Dhabi to lift their first T10 title. “Absolutely, I am enjoying my second year with Team Abu Dhabi and we’ve had a great start but anything can happen in T10 in such a short space of time,” he added.
“I’m happy with where the team is at the minute and hopefully this is Team Abu Dhabi’s year.”
Kaluwitharana declines team invitation to celebrate his birthday
BIPIN DANI
Sri Lanka's national selector Romesh Kaluwitharana, who turned 52 on Wednesday "politely" refused to celebrate his birthday.
As per the policy adopted by the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board, one national selector remains with the team and former wicket-keeper Kaluwitharana has been in the bio bubble and staying at the team hotel.
"The team members did wish him on his birthday and invited him to cut the cake prepared by the hotel. However, he politely refused the invitation", one of the hotel sources speaking exclusively, said.
"He does not like the present tradition of celebrating the birthday where the cake is applied all over the face and is only a waste of food".
"Keeping the distance from the players (so as to enable him to protect his face from being cake-painted), he straight away headed to his room after the completion of the fourth day's play of the first Test match".
PCB invites 21 Under-19 guys for training camp
Lahore (Sports Report):-The National Junior Selection Committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) invited 21 high-performing cricketers born on or after 1 September 2002 for a training camp that will be held in Lahore to prepare the side for the upcoming Under-19 Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates and the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup in the West Indies.
The camp will be staged from 26 November to 16 December before the 17-player squad departs for the UAE on 19 December for the Asia Cup to be played from 20 December to 2 January. Following the UAE event, the side will proceed to the West Indies on 3 January where the World Cup will be played from 14 January to 5 February.
For the World Cup, Pakistan will be based in Trinidad and Tobago where they will play their Group C matches against PNG (15 Jan), Afghanistan (20 Jan) and Zimbabwe (22 Jan).
If Pakistan finishes in the top-two of Group C, they will feature in the Super League, matches of which will be played in Antigua and Barbuda. In the scenario of Pakistan finishing third or fourth in Group C, their Plate Championship matches will be in Trinidad.
The 21 players have been selected based on their performances in the recently-concluded U19 tournaments, which were organised by the PCB. A few prominent top performers, such as Abdul Faseeh, Irfan Khan Niazi, Mehran Mumtaz, Haseebullah and Abdul Wahid Bangalzai graduated from the pathway events to feature in the seniors competitions, including the four-day Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, three-day Cricket Associations Championship and Cricket Associations Challenge.
Qasim Akram represented Pakistan Shaheens on their tour of Sri Lanka which concluded earlier this month.
During the training camp, the 21 players will have an opportunity to showcase their talent and potential when they will participate in a series of preparatory activities, including intra-squad matches at the Gaddafi Stadium.
Pakistan have featured in all 13 World Cups since its inception in 1988. Their best results were in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in 2004 and 2006, respectively when they lifted the silverware. Pakistan finished runners-up in 1988 and 2010, while they achieved third-place in 2000, 2008, 2018 and 2020.
From the current Pakistan Test squad, Abid Ali, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Fawad Alam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Nawaz, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi have made a name at the global stage after featuring in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup.
Names of players:
Abbas Ali (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Abdul Faseeh (Northern), Abdul Wahid Bangalzai (Balochistan), Ahmed Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Ali Asfand (Central Punjab), Arham Nawab (Central Punjab), Asif Ali (Sindh), Awais Ali (Central Punjab), Azan Awais (Central Punjab), Faisal Akram (Southern Punjab), Ghazi Ghori (Sindh), Haseebullah (Balochistan), Irfan Khan Niazi (Central Punjab), Maaz Sadaqat (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mehran Mumtaz (Northern), Mohammad Umer (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Shehzad (Southern Punjab), Qasim Akram (Central Punjab), Rizwan Mehmood (Sindh), Zeeshan Ahmed (Central Punjab), Zeeshan Zameer (Sindh)
Pakistan name 12 for first Test
Chittagong (SB Report):-Pakistan today announced their 12-player squad for the first Test against Bangladesh, which will be played at the Ch. Zahoor Ahmed Cricket Stadium, Chittagong from Friday. The match will start at 1000 local time. The second Test will commence from Saturday, 4 December at Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium Mirpur, Dhaka
Squad:
Babar Azam (Captain), Mohammad Rizwan (Vice captain & wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Abid Ali, Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan and Shaheen Shah Afridi
Grant Flower: Sunglasses stolen
BIPIN DANI
Sri Lankan batting coach Grant Flower's sunglasses were stolen from the Galle International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, it is learnt.
According to the sources, they were stolen when Flower was running with team physio during the rain break.
"They were kept on the wall next to the net-area where the additional five players, who are not part of the dressing room squad, were training", the source said.
The theft happened when the team coaching staff was busy training the additional five players (Ashita Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Roshen Silva, Kamil Mishara and Suminda Lakshan) at the nets adjacent to the ground.
Flower had not bought the expensive sunglasses but they were sponsored by Speed, the same sponsor as some of the Sri Lankan players including Dinesh Chandimal.
Flower is not lodging a police complaint. "He is not making a complaint but believes that whoever took them needs them more than Flower'', the source, aware about the theft, said.
A Senior Sports Journalist: Khalid Hasan Khan passes away
Karachi (Press Release):-Pakistan's top sports journalist and Daily Dawn Reporter Khalid Hasan Khan died in a local hospital on Monday.
A passionate cricket writer Khalid Khan was hospitalised after suffering a brain hemorrhage over two weeks of ago. Khalid Khan was senior member of Karachi Press Club and Karachi Union of Journalists.
He was 58 and left behind a widow and four daughters to mourn his death. Late Khalid extensively covered domestic and international cricket at home.
His last international assignment was in Rawalpindi where he flew to cover Pakistan Vs New Zealand ODI series which was cancelled due to mysterious security.
Late Khalid Khan was an authority on domestic first class cricket which he covered comprehensively for decades.
He started his career by contributing for famous monthly cricket magazine The Cricketer and later switched to daily journalism the News soon its launch in 1990. He later joined Dawn over a decade.
Khalid Khan was popular reporters at National Stadium Karachi Press Box. Khalid Khan's death is a great loss to sports journalism in Pakistan. May Allah Grant Him Highest place in Jannah.
PCB saddened with the passing of Khalid H Khan
Our reporter adds from Lahore: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has expressed its sadness at the passing of cricket writer Khalid H Khan. He was 59.
In a condolence message, PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja said: “Khalid was one of the most respected cricket journalists in the country who had a long and distinguished career with the iconic Dawn newspaper. In my interactions with him that spanned more than two decades, I found him very passionate and knowledgeable about the game.
“Khalid was widely respected and well-loved amongst his peers, players and administrators for his deep affection for domestic cricket and support for the emerging cricketers and leading performers. “My prayers and sympathies are with his friends and family on his sad and untimely passing.”
Michael father of Jeremy Solozano contacts doctor in Sri Lanka
BIPIN DANI
Prof. Arjuna de Silva, the chairman of the medical panel of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board was surprised when he received a call from Trinidad on Sunday late evening.
The unknown caller was Michael Solozano, the father of Jeremy, who was hit on the helmet off Dimuth Karunaratne's powerful shot while fielding at short leg minutes before lunch on the first day of the ongoing Test match.
The 26-year-old left-handed batsman was taken off the field on a stretcher and transferred to a Nawaloka Hospital from the Galle Stadium in an ambulance for scans. The family in Trinidad woke up with the news on TV.
"I spoke with the doctor (Prof. Arjuna de Silva. He (Prof.) is indeed a wonderful person. He said he (my son) is fine and when I was last updated in the morning (9.00 am Trinidad time, i.e. 6.30 pm Sri Lanka time), he was discharged from the hospital and was on his way to the team hotel", Michael Solozano, speaking exclusively over the telephone from Trinidad, said to the Reporter.
"Yes, I also got a call from him and he is better now", the father, who has been his mentor, added.
West Indies debutant Jeremy Solozano is "most-likely" to be out of the first ongoing Test match against Sri Lanka.
"He is better now and scan-reports are also normal. He was unconscious for a while and therefore these concussions tests were mandatory", one of the sources, speaking exclusively over the telephone from Colombo.
A neurosurgeon having specialty in neck pain , back pain and headache was looking after the player.
Jeremy Solozano, who wore a helmet while fielding at short-leg, but this has been his regular fielding position, informs his childhood coach David Furlone. "He fields at short-leg position for the Trinidad team also", he said over the telephone.
The coach got Jeremy's injury news from team's wicket-keeper Joshua Da Silva, who also plays for Trinidad.
Shoaib Malik misses 3rd T20
ISLAMABAD (Sports Desk):-Shoaib Malik will miss the third T20 against Bangladesh and will leave the national T20 squad due to illness of his son Mirza Azan Malik.
According to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) media department, Shoaib not be available for the third T20 International match against Bangladesh. Shoaib Malik will leave Dhaka for Dubai at 10 am local time tomorrow. He will leave Dhaka at 6.30 pm and return home via Dubai.
However, the National Twenty20 Squad will leave Dhaka via Dubai tomorrow at 6:30 pm. Spinners Emad Wasim and Usman Qadir will return home after staying with their families in Dubai for a few days. The national test squad will leave Dhaka for Chittagong tomorrow at 3 pm
The first Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh will be played in Chittagong from November 26. Bowling consultant Vernon Philander will leave the squad after the first Test. He will leave for South Africa on December 1. The second and final Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh will be played in Dhaka from December 4
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