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The 19-year-old dreams of representing Pakistan in all formats and scoring big hundreds like his idol

Danyal Rasool18-Jun-2020Pakistan may currently be coached by two of their most famous batsmen, but for inspiration, the newest member of their squad is looking slightly east. The Attock-born Haider Ali, who rose to national prominence after scoring a half-century for Pakistan in an otherwise painfully one-sided defeat to India in the Under-19 World Cup semi-final earlier this year, views India’s Rohit Sharma as his main inspiration.”As far as role models are concerned, mine is Rohit Sharma,” Haider said in a video press conference. “I really like him as a player, and want to give the side an aggressive start at the top, and hit the ball cleanly like him. He is a man for all three formats, and he can adapt his game to all three formats. And the thing I like best is when he crosses 50, he moves on to a 100, and then he’s thinking of 150, and even 200. That’s what I want to do: to think about getting big scores, and when I get there, aim for even bigger ones. He finishes the game off for his side, and is a real match-winner.”Haider emerged as one of Pakistan’s most promising young batsmen by excelling in all three formats over the past few months. Having only made his first-class debut in September last year, the 19-year-old had a splendid opening season which culminated in a second-innings 134 for the unfancied Northern side in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final. It was his second hundred of the season, in addition to three half-centuries as he finished with an average a shade below 50.Haider Ali’s balance and cover-driving reminds Ian Bishop of Babar Azam•Getty Images

At the Under-19 World Cup, his performances caught the eye of Ian Bishop, who said he reminded him of Babar Azam. Haider would soon earn a contract with Peshawar Zalmi at the Pakistan Super League, where his meteoric rise continued, his reputation enhanced by a string of steady scores at the blistering strike rate of nearly 160. Only five Pakistan batsmen scored more runs than his 239, and just two – Shadab Khan and Kamran Akmal – could boast a superior strike rate. Having shown form like this across formats, Haider wants to be a part of the Pakistan side in all three forms.”I started my cricket in Attock as a tape-ball player in 2015. In 2016, I began to play hard ball and play for the Under-16 side and then Under-19,” Haider said. “In my family, my cousin is the only one who played cricket, and no one else. Watching him, I began to get interested in the sport.”My aim was to represent Pakistan. My aim is to play all three formats, and my preparation for all three formats is great. Recently in the domestic first-class competition, I did well, and before that there was the U-19 World Cup. I then played the PSL, so I’ve had practice in all three formats. As soon as I get the chance, I’ll give my best.”I always wanted to play under the coaching of Younis Khan, and I’m glad I will get the opportunity this time. I want to learn as much as possible from this tour and ask lots of questions of both Younis and Misbah [-ul-Haq]. I want to learn how to play all three formats and what mindset to approach all three formats with. I’m very excited about how much I can grow over these next three months.”When I moved up from U-19 to the PSL, the coaches, Shoaib Malik, and Kamran Akmal gave me plenty of inspiration. They said it is essentially the same cricket, nothing too difficult. The coaches told me not to be scared, and to make the best use of my talents. And so I played my natural game and thankfully the performances followed. Even on the England tour, we have legends for coaches and I look forward to following their advice, and hopefully it works out for me.”Haider Ali has been called up to add meat to the middle order•ICC via Getty

That Haider made his preference for a top-order role evident may put some additional pressure on Fakhar Zaman, who currently occupies that slot in the Pakistan T20I side alongside Babar Azam. Zaman has struggled for consistency over the past two years and has held onto that opening slot for lack of an appropriate replacement more than anything else. Haider, however, insisted that he was happy to fill in wherever given the chance for now.”The fans and crowd can’t be there, so we have to cope with the conditions. Where I bat is up to our management. My role is to give my best where I am assigned to bat. Some players can play in the top order and struggle lower down. At club level, I can play both up or down the order. I’d like to bat higher up, but retain the flexibility to do a job where I’m required. I’m very excited. For England, my personal prep is complete. Whenever I get the chance, I’ll give my best and hopefully make a contribution to the team.”He also reflected on the third anniversary of Pakistan’s victory over India in the 2017 Champions Trophy final, saying it birthed in him a desire to be a part of the Pakistan side and enjoy its highs. “I wanted to represent Pakistan at that moment. It was an unbelievable feeling. When we play against India, it is very crucial, and the fact Pakistan won in such a one-sided match was a very unbelievable feeling.”Last year, after Pakistan limped to an 89-run defeat against India at the World Cup in England, Sharma, who had scored a century, was asked what tips he had for Pakistan’s batsmen. “If one day I become coach of Pakistan, I’ll tell them,” he had replied. “What shall I tell them right now?”Whatever he has to say, there’s at least one player in Pakistan’s side who’ll listen with rapt attention.

England batsman gives first in-depth interview since controversy in IPL opening fixture

George Dobell in Jaipur03-Apr-20192:27

Buttler’s mankading overshadows Punjab’s win

Jos Buttler believes it was “probably the wrong decision” to give him out in Rajasthan Royals’ first game of the IPL season but feels the current wording of the Laws governing run-outs at the non-striker’s end is “wishy-washy” and requires further clarification.Buttler was run-out backing-up – or Mankaded, as it is often termed – by the Kings XI Punjab captain R Ashwin at a crucial moment of a match that Rajasthan went on to lose. And, while he accepts there has to be a place for such dismissals in the game, Buttler feels the dismissal set “a bad precedent at the start of the tournament”.In his first in-depth interview since the incident, Buttler also admitted the incident had proved “distracting” in subsequent days and played on his mind in his two next innings. But he insisted he was now “relaxed” about the episode and adamant that, having already been dismissed in that fashion in an ODI against Sri Lanka in 2014, he would “make sure it never happens again”.”Of course a Mankading has to be in the Laws of the game because a batsman can’t just run halfway down the pitch trying to get a headstart,” Buttler told ESPNcricinfo. “But I do think, the way the law is written, there is a bit of a grey area in that saying ‘when a bowler is expected to release the ball’. That is a bit of a wishy-washy statement.”The current wording of Law 41.16 states: “If the non-striker is out of his/her ground at any time from the moment the ball comes into play until the instant when the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball, the non-striker is liable to be run out.”In the case of Buttler’s dismissal, that key phrase “expected release” was a major factor in his downfall. Ashwin, the bowler at the time, approached the crease in normal fashion, but at no stage raised his arm to deliver the ball and instead seemed to pause while Buttler backed-up out of the crease before dislodging the bails. An MCC official subsequently told ESPNcricinfo, they “felt the pause was just too long and therefore not within the spirit of cricket.”While Buttler is reluctant to argue his case on the basis of the spirit of cricket – “it’s different for everyone, isn’t it?” he says – he does suggest there is at least some ambiguity as regards the specific Law.”If you look at the footage, probably the wrong decision was made because at the time he was expected to release the ball I was in my crease,” Buttler said.Jos Buttler and R Ashwin have an exchange after the mankading incident•AFP

“At the time I was really disappointed with it. I didn’t like the style of it. I just thought it was a bad precedent at the start of the tournament. For the tournament itself. It was a really disappointing way to start the tournament.”So, I didn’t like what happened and I didn’t agree with it, but what can you do? After a day or so I was pretty relaxed about it and I’ll make sure it never happens again. It won’t happen again.”The incident appeared to play on Buttler’s mind. He had made six half-centuries in his seven previous IPL innings at the time of his dismissal, but subsequently suffered two single-figure scores against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings. He returned to form with an innings of 59 from 43 balls on Tuesday, however, and feels he has now moved on from the episode.”What was more disappointing is that suddenly, over the next two games, I found myself being really conscious of it and it is quite distracting,” he said. “It is so rare that you’re not normally thinking about it. I must be the only person to get out twice in that way.”It distracted me for the next couple of games which is why it was nice to get some runs in the win and get back to thinking about batting and not worrying about how I back up at the non-striker’s end.”In fact, Buttler is not the only man to be dismissed twice in such a way. Vinoo Mankad, after whom the dismissal is colloquially known, dismissed the Australian Bill Brown twice in such fashion in 1947-48. But while Buttler claims to be one of a dwindling number of “walkers” in the game – batsmen who do not wait for the umpire’s decision if they have edged a ball to the keeper – he accepts the sport is full of grey areas that might, at times, be hard to define, and hopes that professional players remain mindful of their responsibility as “role models to young kids”.”I do generally walk,” he said. “That is something else where the spirit of cricket is involved. Is it in the spirit of cricket to not walk? Most people’s take is that the umpire’s there to make a decision and that is how it should be.”I’d hope, whether it was a written thing or not, that players – as custodians of the game, role models to young kids and professional people – would carry themselves in a certain way.”Buttler received another useful reminder about his impact on the next generation of spectators in recent days. An email from his sister to the BBC show Tailenders jogged memories of an incident, almost 20 years ago, when a request for an autograph was declined by a prominent England player of the time. At a stage when he finds himself handling almost endless demands for selfies, it was a reminder of the disappointment that declining such a request could cause.”It’s hard to satisfy all requests for selfies,” Buttler said. “But it is useful to remember that experience. To someone it could be a great moment. It can be quite meaningful. So I’ll try to remember that when I get a bit annoyed with it. And it doesn’t take two seconds, really.”

Aaron Finch pinpointed Australia’s middle-overs game as an area of improvement, as their tendency to lose wickets in clumps has often hurt their ability finish off innings strongly

Daniel Brettig10-Jan-2018If 4-0 was a clear statement about the gap between Australia and England during the Ashes, then another figure says plenty about the fact that Steven Smith’s team have a lot of work ahead of them to become genuine contenders for the 2019 World Cup. Last year, Australia won only five of 15 ODIs, endured a winless Champions Trophy, where two of their three games were washed out, and slid to No. 3 in the ICC rankings.Aaron Finch, a fixture in the team for most of the past five years, witnessed a pattern of batting collapses over that period, in New Zealand, England, and then in India. With the benefit of a few months’ worth of reflection, he reasoned that this was the key area Australia had to address in order to start building for the next global tournament.On the selection front, the replacement of Matthew Wade and Glenn Maxwell with Tim Paine and *insert name here* appears to be directed at addressing those mid-innings wobbles, something Finch said had prevented the team from building the sorts of high totals now considered non-negotiable, given the hyper-aggression shown by teams such as India and England.”Being still 18 months out, there’s quite a lot of cricket to come before that World Cup, so I’m sure there’ll be a little bit of experimentation with the key seven, eight or nine of the squad going forward,” Finch said. “Probably still going to be in and around the squad anyway. When you look at guys who are bankers in the side, Smith obviously, Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood, Davey (David) Warner, who no doubt will be there in the future, but I think there’s a chance to tinker with a few things and make sure we get our balance right.”In the Champions Trophy, we probably didn’t put enough partnerships together with the bat. A lot of back-to-back wickets, and we know how important that is in stalling run rates and creating momentum. So we were probably losing too many early wickets through that middle period of the game and not allowing us a real big platform to take into that last 10-15 overs to put a real assault on the opposition.”When we were playing in India, a similar thing happened, we’d lose clumps of wickets. And we know playing India in India is very tough, starting against spin on some wickets that had a bit of turn in them. That’s one part we can improve and probably through that middle part just bank it a little bit more and really load up for the back 15 overs.”The balance of the squad intrigues, given the inclusion of both Mitchell Marsh, after his standout batting displays during the Ashes series, and Marcus Stoinis, following a series of stout performances in losing efforts in New Zealand and India last year. At the same time, the ambiguity over Maxwell’s future, given that the selectors are yet to decide on the replacement for Chris Lynn after his withdrawal with a calf injury, had Finch describing how he had seen his fellow Victorian prepare with the sort of diligence Smith has asked for.”He’s disappointed, he backs his ability and game to be very successful in international cricket,” Finch said of Maxwell. “He knows that averaging 22 over his last 20 games wasn’t what the side needed from him. But he’s gone back and he’s in great form, he’s peeled off runs and that’s all you can do. They say make runs and make a statement, and he certainly has done that.”He’s playing some really good cricket at the moment. The way he’s batting is as good as I’ve seen in terms of his tempo and stuff like that. He’s changed a little bit from being all guns blazing from the first ball to giving himself a little bit of time, and I suppose the Stars have been losing a few early wickets, so it’s allowed him to bat for that little bit longer before he has to take a risk. If the opportunity comes, he’ll take it with both hands.”In the lead-up to the Shield season, his training was fantastic. I think his results have reflected that over the last couple of months in terms of his pure output of runs in that format. Now he’s getting runs in the T20s as well, consistent runs, which has been one part he would’ve liked to address a bit earlier, and just make sure when he is in good form he’s backing that up. You can’t really argue with a couple of 60s, a 290 and then a 96 in three back-to-back games in the Shield.”England, meanwhile, went on their own journey of reinvention after failing to contend for the World Cup, won by Australia at home in 2015, settling on a more heavy-hitting style that Finch said had been a subject of plenty of interest among Smith’s men, not least when they were soundly beaten during the Champions Trophy. “They’ve played some great one-day cricket in the last couple of years, a different leader with Eoin Morgan leading their side,” Finch said.”I think the one-day and T20 formats really suit the way they play: ultra aggressive. Beating us in the Champions Trophy, there’s still a few scars there for the boys. But, overall, they’re a pretty good side, plenty of guys who can give it a smack with the bat, so I’d expect them to play hard. We’ve played them a few times over the last couple of years, and the structure of their side hasn’t changed a hell of a lot. They’ve got similar players, and anyone who’s come into the side has played a similar-type role to the ones that have gone out.”You have guys like Hales and Roy and Bairstow at the top of the order, who can give it a smack. They’ve got a side that takes risks their whole innings and looks to put the foot down for a long period of that 50 overs with the bat. With the ball, they’ve been very similar for a long time now. So we do have a lot of knowledge there, but there’s always a chance to continue learning and come up with some new plans for different players.”

South Africa’s Tabraiz Shamsi and Australia’s Matthew Wade have both been fined 25 percent of their match fees after a verbal exchange and subsequent physical altercation during the fourth ODI

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Oct-2016South Africa’s Tabraiz Shamsi and Australia’s Matthew Wade have both been fined 25 percent of their match fees after a verbal exchange and subsequent physical altercation during the fourth ODI at Port Elizabeth on Sunday.The incident occurred in the 17th over of Australia’s innings when Wade pushed a single to long-on off the South African spin bowler. The pair, who had a verbal exchange earlier in the over, made physical contact as Wade ran down the pitch for a single. After the run was completed, South Africa captain Faf du Plessis complained to the umpires after which on-field umpire Nigel Llong spoke with both Shamsi and Wade before play continued.Both the players were found to have breached Article 2.1.1 of the ICC code of conduct which relates to “conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game”. The charges were levelled by on-field umpires Adrian Holdstock and Nigel Llong, third umpire Joel Wilson and fourth umpire Shaun George.Wade admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by ICC match referee Chris Broad. However, Shamsi pleaded not guilty and, as such, a formal hearing took place in the team hotel in which video evidence was also used.In addition to the fine, one demerit point has been added to Shamsi and Wade’s disciplinary records. If either of the two are given four demerit points within the next two years then that will be converted into at least two suspension points which carry a ban from one Test or two ODIs or two T20 internationals, depending on the fixture schedule.

Pat Cummins has suffered a stress fracture in his back and will be replaced by allrounder James Faulkner in Australia’s squad for the two-Test series in Bangladesh in October

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Sep-20151:28

Quick Facts – An injury-plagued career

Fast bowler Pat Cummins has again succumbed to a serious back injury and will be replaced by allrounder James Faulkner on Australia’s Test tour of Bangladesh next month.The injury is a major setback for Cummins, whose career has been plagued by back and foot problems since he made his Test debut in South Africa in 2011 at the age of 18. Cummins was Man of the Match in that game but at 22 he is yet to add to that one Test cap – in fact he has played only eight first-class matches in his career – and now faces another long period on the sidelines.”Pat Cummins experienced lower back pain during the last ODI match in the UK and this pain continued upon his return to Australia,” Cricket Australia physiotherapist David Beakley said. “He subsequently underwent an MRI scan yesterday which unfortunately has revealed a new early stage lumbar bone stress fracture. Consequently Pat will be unable to participate in the Bangladesh Test series and will now enter into a lengthy rehabilitation program.”Australia will still hope Cummins has a big international career ahead of him, but with each new injury the concerns for his future have grown. He suffered a back stress fracture in the Sheffield Shield final in March 2011 and later that year succumbed to a stress fracture of the foot, soon after his remarkable Test debut in Johannesburg.A further back stress fracture in November 2012 and a recurrence in August 2013 on Australia A’s tour of South Africa meant he missed a third consecutive home season. Although Cummins was able to play last summer and was part of Australia’s World Cup-winning squad early this year, he has mostly only been used in the shorter formats.Cummins has not played a Sheffield Shield match since the final in March 2011 and if the latest injury rules him out of the summer the gap between his Shield appearances may stretch towards six years. National selection panel chairman Rod Marsh said Cummins had been impressive in the recent ODIs in England.”This is really unfortunate for Pat and I know how disappointed he will be,” Marsh said. “He is a young bowler with a bright future for Australia and we were really pleased with how he bowled in the UK. We have opted to replace him with James Faulkner. James comes back into the Australia Test side having only played the one Test, but he is an exciting young bowler who could be very handy in the conditions we are likely to see in Bangladesh.”Like Cummins, Faulkner has played only one Test, having debuted in the dead rubber at The Oval in 2013. Faulkner will join Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc and the uncapped Andrew Fekete as Australia’s frontline pace options for the two-Test tour of Bangladesh.Australia were already without the injured David Warner for the tour of Bangladesh, while Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood have been rested. Also missing from the squad that set out on the Ashes tour this year are Michael Clarke, Ryan Harris, Shane Watson, Chris Rogers and Brad Haddin, all of whom have announced their Test retirements.

Jim Allenby scored an unbeaten half century to put Glamorgan in a handy position at the end of the second day of their match against Worcestershire in Cardiff

18-Apr-2013
ScorecardJim Allenby ensured Glamorgan built a useful lead on the second day•Getty Images

Jim Allenby scored an unbeaten half century to put Glamorgan in a handy position at the end of the second day of their County Championship Division Two match against Worcestershire in Cardiff.Allenby scored 71 not out with the Welsh county finishing on 235 for 7 – a lead of 112 – after Worcestershire were bowled out for only 123 on the first day. There were also useful contributions from opener Ben Wright (40) and Marcus North (48) in a low-scoring contest, while Worcestershire seam duo Alan Richardson and Gareth Andrew claimed three wickets apiece.An hour’s play was lost to rain in the middle of the morning session and when the players returned to the middle Andrew made the breakthrough by bowling Will Bragg to leave Glamorgan 22 for 1. Andrew was on target again after lunch, trapping Stewart Walters in front straight after the right-hander had cover driven the bowler for 4.North and Wright gave the Glamorgan innings some impetus by putting on a valuable 59 for the third wicket. Glamorgan had reached the 100-mark but, in the next over, Wright pushed forward and edged behind to give Richardson his first wicket.Former Sussex batsman Murray Goodwin still has to make double figures at the start of his Glamorgan career and he went for only 1 when he was caught at point by Neil Pinner to leave the home side 114 for 3.Allenby duly dispatched David Lucas for successive fours through the covers as
Glamorgan went into the lead just before tea. Resuming the evening session on 134 for 4, North looked certain to get his half century but he was two short of the target as he went leg before to Richardson.Glamorgan skipper Mark Wallace only made one from 11 balls before edging Andrew
behind. But the Glamorgan seventh-wicket pair of Allenby and Graham Wagg proved more
useful. Allenby registered the first 50 by a Glamorgan player this season and also brought up his side’s first batting point of the summer.The second new ball accounted for Wagg who top-edged Richardson to Lucas ending
a 63-run partnership with Allenby. Dean Cosker did a good job of guiding Glamorgan to the close with no further scares as the first innings lead went to three figures.

The BCCI will solicit the views of current Ranji Trophy captains and coaches on senior domestic cricket at a meeting in Mumbai on March 22, the board has said

Tariq Engineer13-Mar-2012The BCCI will solicit the views of current Ranji Trophy captains and coaches on senior domestic cricket at a meeting in Mumbai on March 22, the board has said. The board used to hold an annual meeting at the end of each season with players and coaches, but the practice had been discontinued for a few years.The meeting will give the players and support staff the chance to air their views on the domestic game, potentially ranging from the kind of ball that is used (Kookaburra or SG) to the quality of pitches to whether Ranji games should be played over four or five days. “The views of the captains and coaches, with regard to senior domestic cricket, will be discussed during the conclave,” Sanjay Jagdale, the BCCI secretary, said in a statement.The meeting comes at a time when the BCCI’s technical committee has recommended a number of prospective changes to domestic cricket. The committee, chaired by the former India captain Sourav Ganguly, has recommended a revamp of the domestic calendar, including advancing the Duleep Trophy to the beginning of the season, playing the Ranji Trophy knockouts over five days and revising the points system in the case of incomplete matches where a team fails to take the first-innings lead. The recommendations still need to be approved by the board’s working committee, if they are to be implemented.Sairaj Bahutule, the captain of Vidarbha, welcomed the board’s decision to revive the meeting this year. “Players and coaches are getting involved, this interaction is very good,” he told ESPNcricinfo. Bahutule, who has also captained Mumbai, said it was important for the players to have the opportunity to present their idea and opinions on the game. He also felt it would give the representatives of teams in the Plate league a chance to draw attention to their concerns and possibly put forward ideas that could improve their standard of cricket.