Category: Sport

Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar has stated that Virat Kohli was forced to leave the captaincy of India. “Virat Kohli did not relinquish the captaincy himself. He was forced to do so… He is a great cricketer. I think he is going to come out of this,” he added.

Dubai: In a blockbuster T20 World Cup opener for India, the team was on Friday drawn to clash with arch-rivals Pakistan on October 23 at the iconic MCG as the International Cricket Council (ICC) released the fixtures.

India had lost to Pakistan for the first time in an ICC tournament when the teams clashed in last year’s T20 World Cup in Dubai.

India’s second Super 12 match in Group 2 will be on October 27 in Sydney against a qualifier (runner up of Group A) and will be followed by matches against South Africa (October 30 in Perth) and Bangladesh (Adelaide Oval on November 2).

The Men in Blue’s last Super 12 match is scheduled for November 6 against the winners of Group B at the MCG.

The Super 12s — round two of the tournament, with two groups — will begin on October 22 with hosts and defending champions Australia playing New Zealand at the SCG on October 22 in a re-match of last year’s men’s T20 World Cup final.

The Black Caps will also face England at The Gabba on November 1 in a re-match of their epic semi-final encounter at the 2021 event.

In Super 12s, Australia are in Group 1 with world number one England, New Zealand, Afghanistan plus the winner of Group A and the runner-up in Group B from the first round.

The semi-finals will be played at the SCG and Adelaide Oval on November 9 and 10, respectively. It will be the first time the Adelaide Oval will host a World Cup semi-final.

The MCG will host the final, which will be contested under lights on November 13.

In the first round, 2014 champions Sri Lanka and Namibia will play the opening match at Kardinia Park, Geelong on October 16. They’ll be joined by two qualifiers in Group A.

Two-time champions West Indies will also start in the first round, joined in Group B by Scotland and two qualifiers in Hobart.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super 12 stage.

ICC CEO Geoff Allardice said: “T20 is the global growth format for cricket and the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 will play a huge role in inspiring our next generation of players and fans as the world’s best players descend on Australia and showcase the very best of our sport.”

ICC T20 World Cup Local Organising Committee CEO, Michelle Enright said, “The release of the fixtures gives fans the opportunity to start planning their T20 World Cup experience, which is now just 268 days away.”

“By having matches spread across the nation in seven host cities and making tickets accessibly priced, we are hoping as many people as possible will be able to experience the incredible atmosphere that international fans bring to global sporting events, as well as the unique, fast-paced and unpredictable nature of T20 cricket.” PTI

Kolkata, Dec 28: BCCI president and former India captain Sourav Ganguly has been admitted to a city hospital after testing positive for COVID-19, the cricket board sources said on Tuesday.

Ganguly is double vaccinated and has been travelling extensively, taking part in all professional activities.

The 49-year-old was rushed to a hospital late on Monday night as a precautionary measure after his RT-PCR test returned positive.

“He was taken to Woodlands Nursing Home last night. He has been given medication and is currently stable,” a BCCI source, who is keeping track of Ganguly’s health, told PTI.

Ganguly was admitted to hospital twice earlier this year and underwent emergency angioplasty after having some cardiac issues.

His elder brother Snehasish Ganguly had also tested positive for COVID early this year.–(PTI)

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar late Saturday announced the demise of his mother.

The former pacer’s mother was rushed to the hospital after her health deteriorated, however, she could not survive, according to Geo News.

Taking to Twitter, Akhtar said: “My mother, my everything, with the will of Allah taala, has left for heavenly abode.”

The funeral prayers will be held in Islamabad’s sector H-8, the pacer said.

Akhtar is regarded as one of the fastest and fiercest bowlers in international cricket, as he possesses the record for the fastest delivery bowled in international cricket — 161 kph against New Zealand in 2002.

The former cricketer has represented Pakistan in 224 international matches — 46 Tests, 163 ODIs and 15 T20Is.

Two months after Shaheen Afridi ripped  through Indian batting line  up,  his would be father-in-law Shahid Afridi has revealed that he helped the pacer to overcome nervousness  before the crucial match in T20 World Cup.

The young pacer dismissed dangerous Rohit Sharma in the first over. He later took the wickets of KL Rahul and Virat Kohli.

However, former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi has revealed that Shaheen was nervous before the match.

“Before the first game against India, Shaheen video-called me and told me that I’m feeling a bit of pressure. We talked for about 11-12 minutes, I told him that god gave you the opportunity to go out and perform, you strike those wickets and become a hero. By god’s grace, he did exactly that,”  Afridi told a private TV channel.

Shaheen bowled magnificently well throughout the tournament and played a key role in Pakistan’s semi-final run.

Pakistan fast bowler Hasan Ali has apologised for his forgettable outing against Australia in the T20 World Cup semifinal, saying he is more disappointed than anyone else and pledged to come back stronger from this bad phase of career, PTI reported.

In the 19th over of the match, Ali dropped Matthew Wade off Shaheen Shah Afridi at deep midwicket and the error proved to be costly for Pakistan as the Australian stumper then hit three consecutive sixes to take his side into the final by registering a five-wicket win in Dubai on Thursday (November 11).

This ended Pakistan’s fabulous campaign in the tournament. The Babar Azam-led side had entered the semifinal clash with five consecutive wins under its belt.

“I know you all are upset because my performance didn’t meet your expectations but not more disappointed than me. Don’t change your expectations from me. I want to serve Pakistan cricket at the highest level possible, so back to hard work.

“This patch will make me stronger. Thank you for all the messages, tweets, posts, calls and duas (prayers) – needed them,” Ali tweeted.

Ali, a star of Pakistan’s 2017 Champions Trophy campaign, became a national villain following his dropped catch, with the pacer being subjected to a lot of trolling and negativity on social media.
Australia will take on New Zealand in the final of the T20 World Cup in Dubai on Sunday night.

PTI | TOI

Pakistan becomes the only team wining all ICC T20 World Cup 2021 qualifying matches

Playing international cricket since the last century, when some of his current teammates were not even born, Shoaib Malik on Sunday showed them the way with an astonishing 18-ball 54 to set up Pakistan’s 72-run mauling of Scotland in the T20 World Cup.

It was the tournament’s joint fastest half-century alongside India opener K L Rahul’s 18-ball 50, which also came against Scotland, as Pakistan stopped the Scots at 117 for six after posting an imposing 189 for four.

As his Indian tennis player wife Sania Mirza watched from the stands, Malik, 39, blasted six sixes during his whirlwind unbeaten knock, which overshadowed skipper Babar Azam’s fourth half-century of the tournament.

Batting first, Pakistan pummelled 129 runs in the back 10 after limping to 60 for two at the halfway stage.

With the ball, the in-form team did what was expected of them in their last Super 12 engagement to set up a semifinal date with Australia.

Pakistan blazed their way into the last four with five wins from as many outings, underlining their credentials as one of the firm favourites.

Thanks to Malik’s blitz, Pakistan scored 43 runs in the last two overs, including 26 in the final six balls bowled by Chris Greaves.

Coincidentally, it was at this very venue that Malik made his One-day International debut in October 1999, against West Indies. His first Pakistan captain, Wasim Akram, retired from the game nearly two decades ago.

Meanwhile Babar, who once again donned the role of the accumulator, became only the third batter to score four half-centuries in a T20 World Cup after former Australia opener Matthew Hayden and India captain Virat Kohli, who achieved the feat in 2007 and 2014 respectively.

Having struggled to 60 for two at the halfway stage, Pakistan got 129 runs in back 10.

Opting to bat first, Babar Mohammad Rizwan were off to a sedate start, as the Scotland bowlers managed to keep the run rate below six until the power play.

Having smoked Bradley Wheal for a gigantic six over deep mid-wicket, Rizwan was dismissed by Hamza Tahir, who drew the batter with a tossed-up delivery before getting an under-edge to the wicketkeeper.

The Scots deserves plaudits for the manner in which they kept a lid on the Pakistan scoring as they ended the power play at 35 for no loss, which became 35 for one in the first ball of the next over with Rizwan’s dismissal.

Pakistan were not so well placed at 60 for two at the halfway stage as Scotland managed to keep their opponents to a run a ball.

However, things changed completely as Pakistan entered the back 10 with both Babar and the veteran Mohammad Hafeez

 (31 off 19 balls) cutting loose to clear the ropes at regular intervals during a brisk 53-run third-wicket partnership.

Babar was his usual classy self when he played the ball along the ground, but at the same time, he did not hesitate to go over the top, the result of which were three sixes.

After Babar’s dismissal, the show belonged to Malik.

In a massive chase, Scotland lost the wickets of skipper Kyle Coetzer and Matthew Cross with just 36 runs in the board.

Scotland were never in the game as they struggled to 42 for two at the end of the first 10 overs.

Richie Berrington was the lone Scotland batter to shine with a 54 ball off 37 balls.

One of the biggest positives for Pakistan bowling was the manner in which Shadab Khan (2/140 bowled, getting his googlies and leg-spinners right ahead of the big semifinal against the Aussies. (PTI)

With inputs from TOI

India can no longer qualify for the semi-finals.

New Zealand’s win over Afghanistan means that India are out of contention for the 2021 T20 World Cup.

Well played New Zealand 🇳🇿 congratulations for reaching the semi finals 👏

— Mohammad Amir (@iamamirofficial) November 7, 2021

New Zealand are through to the semi-finals!

A comfortable victory over Afghanistan seals their place in the final four.

3rd Match, ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Americas Region Qualifier at Naucalpan, Oct 19 2021

ARG-W 12

BRA-W 13/2 (3.3/20 ov, tgt 13)

Brazil Women won by 8 wkts (99b rem)

He underwent a successful angioplasty on Monday

Pakistan’s former captain and most capped player Inzamam-ul-Haq had to undergo an emergency angioplasty at a private hospital here after complaining of heart-related issues and breathing difficulty.

A family member said that Inzamam felt uneasy and complained of having difficulty in breathing on Monday.

He was taken to a private hospital where, after several tests, it was revealed that he might have had a minor attack. Doctors advised him to undergo an emergency angioplasty and well-known heart surgeon, Professor Abbas Kazim, performed the procedure.

“Inzamam is now doing much better and will be released soon from hospital. He is okay now,” one family member said.

The 51-year old, who played 120 Tests and 378 One-Day Internationals during an illustrious career, also served as chief selector between 2016-2019 and it was in his tenure that Pakistan won the ICC Champions Trophy final against India in 2017.

He was, however, unceremoniously told to step down in late 2019 after the World Cup by a new Pakistan Cricket Board management.

The former top batsman also coached the Afghanistan team in the 2016 World Cup T20.