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Balochistan remain in fifth place, after their third loss in four games

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Sep-2021

Northern vs Southern Punjab, Rawalpindi

Captain Sohaib Maqsood did his bit with a 47-ball 75 and left-arm spinner Hassan Khan returned 2 for 13 from three overs, but the contributions weren’t enough for Southern Punjab to turn their fortunes around, as they lost by five wickets to Northern to record their fourth defeat in as many games in the tournament. For the winners, fast bowler Muhammad Musa was the brightest spot with the ball, returning 3 for 40, while Mohammad Nawaz starred with the bat with a 35-ball 56 not out to go with 1 for 9 from two overs with the ball.Asked to bat first, Southern Punjab did well, with opener Sohaib stitching together useful partnerships for the second and third wickets with Agha Salman (24) and Khushdil Shah (20) respectively to take the total to 125 before he was dismissed in the 15th over. The captain’s innings included eight fours and four sixes.After Sohaib and Khushdil fell in quick succession, Azam Khan’s 12-ball 18 and Aamer Yamin’s impressive nine-ball 23 seemed to have done enough to put Southern Punjab in a position from where they could get on the points table.It was, however, not to be, even though they put up a fight.Nasir Nawaz took control of the chase early, scoring the bulk of the runs in a 26-run opening stand with Rohail Nazir, who had been moved to the top of the order after Umer Amin suffered an injury. But Nazir was run out for 2, and though Nasir was dismissed not long after for a 15-ball 24, Haider Ali (40 in 27) ensured Northern got to three figures in the 12th over.The big hand, though, came from Nawaz, who hit six fours and two sixes from No. 5 to drag Northern past the line. And captain Shadab Khan, who had moved himself down to No. 6, chipped in with a valuable 20-ball 30 during a 67-run stand for the fifth wicket. The target was breached with five balls in hand, helping Northern get to second spot on the table with their second win in three games.

Sindh vs Balochistan, Rawalpindi

Zahid Mahmood celebrates a wicket with Anwar Ali and Shan Masood•PCB

Sindh made it three-in-three in Pakistan’s National T20 Cup with an enormous victory over Balochistan in their latest fixture, topping their opponents by 77 runs after bowling them out for just 98. While the batting was led by captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shahnawaz Dahani, Danish Aziz and Zahid Mahmood, the Player of the Match, shared nine wickets between them in a spectacular display to finish off the Balochistan resistance in just 16.4 overs.Batting first after winning the toss, Sindh got off to a good start courtesy Shan Masood (31) and Sharjeel Khan (34), the two putting on 52 in 6.2 overs before Sharjeel, the aggressor, fell. Khurram Manzoor couldn’t quite get going, but after Masood fell in the 11th over, Saud Shakeel (32) and Sarfaraz (41*) took control of the game, scored quickly, and set the stage for Anwar Ali to come in at the close and wallop an unbeaten 12-ball 22.That gave Sindh a score Sarfaraz would have expected his bowling line-up to defend without much fuss, and that’s exactly what happened.Imam-ul-Haq, the big name in the line-up, scored his 19 runs in 18 balls, and Abdul Bangalzai hit 29 in 23, neither quite able to wrest the initiative. The 46-run first-wicket stand was the best period with the bat for Balochistan, as the wickets tumbled after the openers were sent back by the end of the eighth over. Abdullah Shafique, who has moved from Central Punjab to Balochistan, made his much-anticipated debut on the day but only managed a 12-ball 8.Legspinner Zahid was the pick of the bowlers, with 3 for 18, while left-arm spinner Danish and medium-pacer Dahani struck key blows to never allow the batters to get on top.

England’s highest wicket-taker may have a novel way of confounding batsmen with his wrist position

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jul-2020Fast bowlers are widely known to use three different methods to get the ball to swerve through the air: conventional swing, contrast swing, reverse swing. James Anderson, however, can lay claim to a fourth method: reverse reverse swing.What’s that?According to no less an authority than Sachin Tendulkar, who faced him in 14 Test matches and was dismissed by him a record nine times, Anderson has a way of confounding batsmen with his wrist position while delivering the outswinger with the reverse-swinging ball.The conventionally swinging ball swings towards the rough side, and the reverse-swinging ball towards the shiny side. The ball’s orientation for the conventional inswinger, therefore, is the same as the one for the reverse outswinger. The two deliveries usually involve different wrist positions, but Anderson, Tendulkar noted in a chat with Brian Lara on the app, had the ability to deliver a reverse outswinger with the wrist position of a conventional inswinger. “With reverse swing, Jimmy Anderson was possibly the first bowler who bowled reverse swing also reverse,” he said. “What I experienced, over a period of time, [is] that he would hold the ball as if he was bowling [a reverse] outswinger, but [at] the release point, he would try and bring the ball back in, and [a] number of batters would look at the wrist position, and what he has actually done, he’s shown you that he’s bowling inswing, but the imbalance between both sides of the ball would take the ball away from you.”What he has done is, he’s got you to commit to play, for an [inswinger], and the ball, after covering almost three-fourths of the length of the pitch, starts leaving you. But you had already committed [to play], because you’ve seen that inswing position, and that is something which was new to me. Nobody had done that.”Now, [a] number of guys, you see their shine, and what they’re trying to do – I spotted even Stuart Broad trying to do that at some stage, but Anderson started this [a] long time ago. So I rate him very very highly. One of the best exponents of reverse swing.”One of Anderson’s best spells in reverse-swinging conditions came in Kolkata in 2012, when he took three wickets in each innings to help England take a 2-1 series lead. Anderson had Tendulkar caught behind for 76 in the first innings with a reverse outswinger, but it’s unclear whether that ball was a reverse-reverse outswinger.Nonetheless, if other bowlers can master Anderson’s seeming ability to deliver reverse reverse swing, it gives batsmen one more thing to worry about, particularly when the ball is at that stage of its lifespan when it’s transitioning from swinging conventionally to reversing.

The contracts of Ravi Shastri and his coaching staff, who were appointed in July 2017, will expire after the World Cup

Nagraj Gollapudi19-Mar-2019With the World Cup fast approaching, the question of whether Ravi Shastri and the rest of the Indian coaching staff will get an extension is becoming significant. The contracts of Shastri and his deputies, who were appointed in July 2017, will expire after the World Cup.ESPNcricinfo understands that the BCCI will advertise for the job soon, with the interview process likely to be conducted during the two-week window after the World Cup, which ends on July 14, and before India’s tour of West Indies which is scheduled to start late July.It is believed that based on the review of the pool of candidates, the BCCI will take a call on whether to appoint an interim coaching staff for the West Indies tour or whether to allow an extension to Shastri and his team comprising Sanjay Bangar (assistant coach), Bharat Arun (bowling coach) and R Sridhar (fielding coach).It is also understood that the BCCI will once again approach the three-man Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman to shortlist the candidates, carry out the interviews and make the final choice. It is likely that Shastri will be a direct entry into the final pool of candidates, assuming the BCCI follows the exact process put in place in 2017, when Anil Kumble’s one-year tenure as Indian coach came to an end.Back then, the Committee of Administrators (CoA), which has been overseeing the BCCI, stated that Kumble would be a “direct entry” into the final shortlist, but he still re-applied. The CAC said Kumble remained their preferred choice, but he resigned in controversial circumstances after being told by the BCCI that India’s captain Virat Kohli had “reservations” over his “style” and did not want him “to continue” as head coach.Shastri then entered into the fray and emerged as the winner from a five-man shortlist which also included former India batsman Virender Sehwag. Under his watch, Shastri has seen India climb to No. 1 in the Test rankings including winning an epic Test series in Australia recently, an achievement he considers to be greater than winning the 1983 World Cup. Kohli has credited Shastri for playing a significant role in his growth both as a batsman and as a captain.

A 19-run win ensured UAE pipped Canada and Namibia to second place on the basis of net run rate

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Feb-2018Half-centuries from Shaiman Anwar and Muhammad Usman laid the platform for UAE to beat Namibia by 19 runs and qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Windhoek by the narrowest of margins. UAE ended their WCL Division Two campaign with six points, the same as Canada – who narrowly lost their last match to Nepal – and Namibia, but with a better net run rate than either.Sent in to bat, UAE initially struggled to force the pace and were 97 for 4 in the 31st over when Usman joined Shaiman. They proceeded to transform the mood of the innings, putting on 120 in 103 balls before being dismissed in the slog overs. Usman made 59 off 57 balls, with three fours and two sixes, while Shaiman struck five fours and three sixes in his 77 off 59. JJ Smit was Namibia’s most successful bowler with figures of 3 for 57.Set 248 to win, Namibia slipped to 48 for 3 before Lohan Louwrens (43) and Craig Williams steadied them with a 50-run stand for the fourth wicket. Williams then put on 47 for the sixth wicket with Gerhard Erasmus before falling for 54 off 79 balls. It left Namibia six down and quite a way off the pace, with 94 still to get in 73 balls. They lost Smit soon after, too, but the in-form Erasmus and captain Sarel Burger (21) kept them in the hunt. When the offspinner Rohan Mustafa dismissed Erasmus for a 63-ball 58, Namibia needed 28 from 14.They had only two wickets left, however, and Amir Hayat and Mustafa – who finished with three wickets apiece – ended their innings in a hurry, Namibia eventually bowled out for 228.

Haseeb Hameed has been urged not to rest on his laurels following the impressive start to his Test career

George Dobell01-Dec-20163:08

Compton: Root should be a permanent No. 4 for England

Haseeb Hameed has been urged not to rest on his laurels following the impressive start to his Test career. While praising Hameed’s “remarkable” second-innings half-century in Mohali, Joe Root also encouraged his young colleague to respond to his early success by working ever harder.Having received widespread acclaim at the end of the Mohali Test – not least from India’s captain, Virat Kohli – Hameed now returns to England for an operation on his hand following a serious break of his little finger. But any danger that he might let the praise go to his head – and, to be fair, it doesn’t seem as if there was much danger – will have been dispelled by Root’s gentle words of warning and encouragement.”The only advice I gave was, make sure you don’t go back to county cricket at the start of the summer and rest on your laurels,” Root said. “Don’t think: I’m a Test cricketer now.”It’s an opportunity to prove to everyone in county cricket that you are there for a reason. You have opportunities to make some really big scores, to keep learning and to keep improving. He has the opportunity to put the good work he has done in India into his game and continue to develop the way he has done.”Root’s words are both well-intentioned and wise. As he found after an encouraging start to his own career, Test cricket is hugely demanding and the pain of being dropped at the end of the Ashes tour of 2013-14 continues to motivate him.So while Hameed’s start has been exciting, Root wants him to be ready for the challenges ahead and to know there is much, much more to achieve. He also warned that more will be expected of Hameed now and that will bring different challenges.Still, Hameed returns to England having made an excellent impression. It is not so much the runs he scored – two half-centuries in six innings does not look so special, after all – but the composure with which he batted under pressure and in conditions in which his colleagues have struggled. Aged 19, he already looks one of the more composed batsmen in the side.”The way he played with a broken hand the other day was remarkable,” Root said. “For such a young lad to show composure, to manipulate the strike and also hit some of the best spinners in the world for boundaries was very, very impressive.”For a 19-year-old lad to come into this environment and be so composed and mature… You watch him practice, and you would think he had played 60 or 70 games. It’s great to see someone come in with that attitude and hopefully, that stays with him for a long time.”He will have different expectations in the future and that might be a different challenge. But he has got a very good head on his shoulders and he should be proud of what he has done so far. Now it is about managing those expectations and being realistic: it’s going to take time to keep developing and it might not always go how he wants. But sometimes you have to have those little tumbles to get right to the top. I’m sure that if he does have some hard times, he’ll get through it.”It is revealing to study Hameed’s dismissals. Of the five of them, one was a run-out (for which he was largely blameless), one came as he tried to up the pace in a bid to set up a declaration in Rajkot, one came when he was the victim of a shooter in Vizag – a truly unplayable ball – and another came when he received a delivery that reared off a length in Mohali. There were one or two signs of weakness, mainly against the short ball, but his figures do not flatter him. He looked assured, elegant and ready.The ECB undertook some research a few years ago that underlined the impression that players who do well do so at the start of their Test career.There are notable exceptions either way, of course – Graham Gooch suffered a ‘pair’ on debut; David Lloyd had an average of 260 after two Tests – but it might be telling that, of the last England side to reach No. 1 in the Test rankings, four of the batsmen (Alastair Cook, Andrew Strauss, Jonathan Trott and Matt Prior) made centuries on debut and two others (Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell) made half-centuries. One of the bowlers (James Anderson) took a five-for on Test debut, too, while another (Graeme Swann) too two wickets in his first over.The confidence of those early experiences may well have laid the path to subsequent success. Whichever way you look at it, Hameed would appear to have a bright future.

The PCB has said BCCI president Shashank Manohar has conveyed “his regret” over the cancellation of his meeting with PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan

Umar Farooq and Amol Karhadkar29-Oct-20152:30

India-Pakistan series status continues to be in limbo

Ten days after the Shiv Sena, a right-wing political party, stormed into the BCCI headquarters before its president’s scheduled meeting with his PCB counterpart, the PCB says BCCI chief Shashank Manohar has conveyed “his regret” over the meeting’s cancellation. The PCB has also said that the BCCI has sought the Indian government’s directive with regard to the scheduled series between the two teams in December.”Chairman PCB, Mr Shaharyar M Khan, has received a letter from President BCCI, Mr Shashank Manohar, regarding the cancellation of their meeting in Mumbai,” a PCB statement said. “Mr Manohar has expressed his sincere regrets for the cancellation of the meeting between officials from the two boards. Under pressure from extremist elements, BCCI cancelled its meeting with PCB officials which was scheduled to take place in Mumbai.”It has also been conveyed that the BCCI has officially approached the Indian government to obtain definitive guidance on the Pakistan-India series.”While the BCCI hasn’t officially confirmed or denied having sent a communication either to the government or the PCB, it is understood, according to a BCCI official, that Manohar has written to Khan.India’s series against Pakistan has been in a state of flux ever since the two boards signed an MoU last year to play six bilateral series in the eight-year cycle from 2015 to 2023. Despite the MoU, the fate of the series hinges on the government’s clearance.Earlier this year, the series hit a roadblock when the BCCI opposed the involvement of Ten Sports, the PCB’s broadcaster for all its home fixtures, for the series. Since it was believed that the Zee network, who own Ten Sports, were exploring the possibility of rebel league against the ICC, the BCCI had objected to playing in a series telecast by Ten.Over the last couple of months, however, due to the political tensions between the two governments, the BCCI has been unable to make any clear statement about the future of the series. In July, BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur, a member of parliament of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, had said he didn’t see India playing Pakistan until the tension on the border was resolved.There had been murmurs ahead of the scheduled meeting between Khan and Manohar on October 19 of a possibility of India playing either a shorter bilateral series against Pakistan or a tri-series also featuring Bangladesh in the latter half of December. The fate of the series continues to remain in limbo until the Indian government makes its stand clear.

Azhar Mahmood, the Kings XI Punjab allrounder, was happy to contribute with the ball after failing with the bat, as his team edged Kolkata Knight Riders for a four-run victory in Mohali on Tuesday evening

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Apr-2013Azhar Mahmood, the Kings XI Punjab allrounder, was happy to contribute with the ball after failing with the bat, as his team edged Kolkata Knight Riders for a four-run victory in Mohali on Tuesday evening. Azhar had fallen for a first-ball duck, part of offspinner Sunil Narine’s hat-trick, but then took 3 for 21 as Kings XI reeled in Knight Riders in a chase they looked set to complete comfortably.Mahmood’s wicket haul included Jacques Kallis (whom he got early) and Eoin Morgan (who was well-set on 47), apart from Debabrata Das. The quality of the players he dismissed, left Mahmood pleased: “Kallis is one of the best allrounders in the world and Eoin Morgan, he is a finisher. I have played a lot of cricket against him so I know his strength and weakness. I bowled in the middle when it was crucial to get a wicket, and I got a wicket for my team,” he told the IPL website. “I am quite pleased with that after getting a duck.”Knight Riders had slipped from 106 for 2 (52 needed off 42) to 128 for 6 (30 needed off 12). Parvinder Awana picked up a wicket in the penultimate over, but conceded 19. That left seamer Praveen Kumar to bowl the final over, with the visitors needing 11.Mahmood, an experienced T20 practitioner, had advice for Praveen: “I used to bowl in the death, but Praveen hasn’t bowled in the death and I was telling him what to bowl and where to bowl because against tailenders sometimes it is different as compared to the regular top and middle order batsmen.”Kings XI had set Knight Riders a target of 158. That was a below par batting show, Mahmood said. “It is a brilliant win, but we didn’t play well enough. Our 157 was not good enough on this pitch. But as a unit we bowled really well and we got crucial wickets at crucial times.”That Kings XI even got to 157 was down to No. 8 Manpreet Gony, who slammed 42 off 18 balls after his side had been reduced to 99 for 6 in 15. Gony, who was bought by the team at the auction in February for US$500,000, was just the kind of lower-order big-hitter they were missing in their earlier games, Mahmood said. “He smashed the ball very well and that’s what we need in the lower-order. We were missing someone like him coming down the order and getting some quick runs, so quite pleased with his performance. He is a good asset for our team.”

Robin Peterson, who scored 15 off four balls against Kings XI Punjab and helped Mumbai win by four wickets, said he focused on staying calm during his match-winning knock

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Apr-2012Robin Peterson, who scored 15 off four balls in the penultimate over against Kings XI Punjab and helped Mumbai win by four wickets, said he focused on staying calm during his match-winning knock.Mumbai were chasing 168 and needed 32 from 12 balls when Peterson entered the fray. He reverse swept Piyush Chawla’s first ball for four, and then switch hit Chawla for another four off his second delivery. Peterson then slog swept his third ball for a six. His partner Ambati Rayudu continued the onslaught in the over by hitting Chawla for two sixes.”I just tried to hit it as hard and as far as I could. I realised that it’s best not to think too much in such situations and kept it really simple and stayed calm,” Peterson said. “Ambati must take credit for the way he played and the advice he gave me.”Peterson said that though Mumbai lost wickets they always felt they were in with a chance. “The outfield was quick and it was a venue where you could chase [such a target],” Peterson said. “We didn’t get the start we wanted but we thought we had players coming down [the order] that could make a difference. We were happy to chase anything under 180,” he said. “Last year, I hit the winning runs against India in the World Cup, it was the only match they lost [in the tournament]. So I have done it before in my career.”Kings XI’s coach and captain Adam Gilchrist, who didn’t play due to a hamstring injury, said that Peterson’s innings was the turning point. “We should celebrate the amazing cricket we saw. I must admit I thought we would get home but there was amazing batting from the last two guys at the end,” Gilchrist said.Gilchrist also defended Chawla saying that bowlers are bound to be hit for runs in the T20 format. “There should not be any focus on Piyush [who conceded 27 in the 19th over] but on Robin Peterson. Chawla is a legspinner in a T20 competition, on a tiny little ground. Of course he will get hit for sixes,” Gilchrist said. “He bowled very well in his first three overs [conceding 19], it was just those last six balls [that he got hit]. Looking at past records, I have been impressed with Chawla. David Hussey was right to show faith in him.”

There was no play possible on the second day of the match between South Africa A and Bangladesh A in Pietermaritzburg

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Apr-2011
ScorecardThere was no play possible on the second day of the match between South Africa A and Bangladesh A in Pietermaritzburg. South Africa A had worked themselves into a strong position at 233 for 2 on the first day, but will find it difficult to get a result out of the match now.

Jamie Clifford has been appointed as Kent’s new chief executive. He had been in an acting role since Paul Millman’s retirement last year

Cricinfo staff29-Mar-2010Jamie Clifford has been appointed as Kent’s new chief executive. He had been in an acting role since Paul Millman’s retirement last year.”Jamie has been a tremendous asset to the club over the last few years and his wealth of knowledge and experience will prove crucial as the redevelopment project starts to take shape,” said George Kennedy, Kent’s chairman. “Not only does he have a detailed understanding of our business but he possesses the necessary drive and determination to bring about further growth.”Clifford, 34, became director of cricket development at Kent in 2002 and later combined the role with that of director of business development. He will have tough job at running a county with severe financial problems, but has been a key figure in the club’s development plans.