August 29, 2023 – https://bhartiyanews24x7.com

29Aug

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Buttler welcomes ‘superstar’ Stokes back into England ODI fold

England’s Ben Stokes announced his intention to play ODI cricket again earlier this month. File | Photo Credit: Reuters England limited-overs captain Jos Buttler hailed "superstar" Ben Stokes following his decision to come out of one-day international retirement.Stokes called time on his 50-over career last year due to concerns over his punishing workload and a knee problem.However, the England Test skipper announced his intention to play ODI cricket again earlier this month and has been named in the squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand, with the World Cup in India looming in October.Also Read | Paine hits out at Stokes for coming out of ODI retirement to play in World CupEngland, world champions in both white-ball formats, play the Black Caps in four T20s and four ODIs a...

29Aug

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Babar Azam wishes entire Asia Cup could have been held in Pakistan

Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam speaks during a press conference on the eve of their Asia Cup cricket match against Nepal at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan on August 29, 2023. | Photo Credit: AFP Pakistan captain Babar Azam doesn't want to make a hue and cry about the hybrid model of hosting the Asia Cup but said it would have been nice to have hosted the marquee tournament in his country in its entirety.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have hosting rights for the Asia Cup but the Asian Cricket Council headed by Jay Shah opted for the hybrid model where Sri Lanka became the co-hosts after it was clear that the Indian cricket team won't travel to Pakistan.Also Read | Asia’s cricket giants square up ahead of World Cup"If you ask me, it would have been good if the whole tournament wo...

29Aug

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Asia Cup: A mock exam ahead of the main test in October

For the first time, the Asia Cup and the World Cup are being held in the same year, and within days of each other. Pakistan begin the tournament as the No.1 team in the world, and while India would like to win it, the focus will be on the bigger challenge commencing at home on October 5. There are still slots to be filled, permutations and combinations to be tried out. India, currently No. 3, cannot claim to have a settled team for the World Cup, which explains 18 players in Sri Lanka for their opener against Pakistan. Sanju Samson adds to the game’s lexicon as a ‘travelling substitute’, set to replace K.L. Rahul if the latter doesn’t recover fully from a niggle he picked up while recovering from his thigh injury. Also returning from injury is Shreyas Iyer, but it might not be a bad ide...

29Aug

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Ons Jabeur overcomes physical struggles to reach U.S. Open second round

Ons Jabeur overcame breathing difficulties to secure a gritty 7-5 7-6(4) first round win over Colombia’s Camila Osorio on Tuesday at the U.S. Open where the Tunisian fifth seed is hoping to end a run Grand Slam near misses. Jabeur, in her first Grand Slam since suffering “the most painful loss” of her career in the Wimbledon final and a day after turning 29, showed a warrior’s mentality in a two-hour battle at Louis Armstrong Stadium played in humid conditions. “It wasn’t an easy match, she plays unbelievable and I’m not feeling my best today,” Jabeur said in her on-court interview before the crowd sang “Happy Birthday” to her. “I know at some point I didn’t have the best attitude on the court but I was trying, you know, to get to play. “It’s not easy also playing her. She was trying t...

29Aug

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Asia Cup is cricket’s Copa America, India-Pakistan is El Clasico

The writer Venkata Krishna B is currently in Pallekele to cover Asia Cup 2023 Thick, dark and fast moving clouds over from the Indian Ocean obscure the bird’s eye-view of Colombo. The Island nation—its topography resembling the drop of a tear—is a different country these days. The long civil war has ended, though some scars might remain, last year’s economic crisis has eased up. You don’t spot people queuing up outside fuel stations or grocery shops; there is no chaos like when Australia landed on these shores last year. Instead, the Bandaranaike International Airport is buzzing with Europeans and Southeast Asians, an encouraging sight for a tourism-dependent economy. Out on the streets, honks are nonexistent, traffic signals are rare, there is an un-subcontinent discipline. Poya, the c...

29Aug

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Before Asia Cup opener against Nepal, Babar says Pakistan needs to fulfill expectations

Under normal circumstances, the Asia Cup is little more than a pretext to schedule as many India-Pakistan fixtures as possible, but the proximity of the 2023 edition to the World Cup provides teams an opportunity to see where they stand, analyse their major opponents, and tie up any loose ends. The tournament that begins in Multan on Wednesday, to be played in a ‘hybrid model’, involves five teams that are quite familiar with the conditions expected during the World Cup, and whoever corners the continental bragging rights will go into the mega event in India with renewed vigour. Pakistan, technically the hosts for the Asia Cup, play Nepal in the opener on home soil, with the major portion of the tournament to be staged in Sri Lanka due to BCCI’s unwillingness to send its team across the...

29Aug

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Relay star Rajesh Ramesh vomited for an hour after being stretchered off with cramps

After their historic sub-3 minute race in the heats of the World Championships, the relay team members Muhammed Anas, Amoj Jacob and Muhammed Ajmal Variyathodi suddenly noticed their anchor leg star missing. Rajesh Ramesh, who ran the race of his life, snapping at the heels of American Justin Robinson to help India break the Asian record, wasn’t anywhere to be seen on the team bus they had boarded at Budapest.“We didn’t even realise for a while that Ramesh hadn’t joined us. But when we realised, we rushed back to look for Ramesh. He was being carried off on a stretcher. We asked him if he was okay. He just kept saying lactic, lactic (build-up of acid in the muscles during intense exercise),” recalls Amoj.Although it isn’t uncommon for professional runners to feel uneasy and cramp up aft...

29Aug

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Would love to see Virat Kohli play T10 format: Robin Uthappa | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa expressed his desire to witness Virat Kohli participating in the T10 format of the game.While representing the Atlanta Riders in the US Masters T10 League, Uthappa conveyed his perspective that the T10 format contributes a significant level of value to the realm of T20 cricket."I think T10 is here to stay. I think this version of the game is extremely entertaining for the viewer. Secondly, I think it opens up a different aspect of cricket that would add a lot of value to T20 cricket. So, I do hope that at some point, it gets introduced in India and the current cricketers can play this format of the game," said Uthappa."I certainly would love to see the Virat Kohli's of the world playing this version of the game. Because I think it would a...

29Aug

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Dutch prosecutors demand 12-year sentence for Pakistani cricketer for call to kill lawmaker Wilders

Dutch prosecutors demanded a 12-year prison sentence Tuesday for a former Pakistani cricketer accused of incitement to murder firebrand anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders. The suspect, identified by Wilders as Khalid Latif, is accused of offering a bounty of some 21,000 euros ($23,000) to anybody who killed Wilders. Latif did not appear in the high-security courtroom near Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport for the trial. He is believed to be in Pakistan. Prosecutors did not name Latif, but said in a statement that a video posted online in 2018 showed a famous Pakistan cricketer offering the money for killing Wilders. The lawmaker has lived under round-the-clock protection for years because of repeated threats to his life sparked by his fierce criticism of Islam. The threat came after Wilders s...

29Aug

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Sunil Gavaskar appeals Indian fans ‘to show a bit more understanding’ | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The legendary Sunil Gavaskar on Tuesday recognised the significant weight of "expectation pressure" that will rest upon India during the upcoming Asia Cup and World Cup. He expressed his wish that the team manages to avoid any unfavorable outcomes during the knockout matches.Commencing their journey in the Asia Cup, India are scheduled to engage in a high-profile encounter against Pakistan on Saturday in Pallekele. Notably, these two historic rivals are anticipated to cross paths again in the later phases of the tournament."I don't think there's any other cricket team in the world which is under as much pressure of expectations than the Indian team," Gavaskar said in Mumbai at the release of veteran cricket administrator Amrit Mathur's book 'Pitchside: My Life in Indian Crick...

29Aug

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‘MS Dhoni groomed bowlers and left…’: Ishant Sharma | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Seasoned Indian pacer Ishant Sharma believes that former Indian skipper MS Dhoni developed the country's bowlers and gave his successor Virat Kohli a "complete" bowling lineup.From 2007 to 2017, the two-time World Cup champion captain led the Indian white-ball teams and then captained the Indian Test team from 2008 to 2014 before handing over the reins to Kohli.Pacers like Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar made their Team India debuts under Dhoni's leadership."When Virat was captain, bowling was complete. When we were playing under Mahi bhai, we were in a transition phase. At that time, Shami and Umesh were new, and only I was there. Everyone else would rotate. Bhuvi was also new. There is no match for Mahi bhai as a communicator.""But, what he did was groom t...

29Aug

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Virat Kohli reveals his love for this format, says it brought the best out of him | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Weeks before the commencement of the ODI World Cup, Indian batting legend Virat Kohli revealed his love for the format, claiming it "always brought out the best" in him.The World Cup begins on October 5 in Ahmedabad, and despite not having won an ICC trophy in the previous ten years, hosts India will be among the favourites.Talking to Star Sports, Kohli emphasised the technical difficulties and strategic decision-making skills required to excel in the format, as well as the agility required during the game."I love playing ODI cricket. I think for me, ODI cricket is probably the one format that tests your game completely. Your technique, composure, patience, playing the situation, and playing differently in different phases of the game," he said."So, I think it tests you as a ...

29Aug

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Cricket team for World Cup will be a balanced one with a potential to win, says Roger Binny

The pressure to win has been there ever since India lifted the 1983 World Cup, but fitness, both mental and physical, holds the key, says Roger Binny. | Photo Credit: File Photo The process of selecting the cricket team for the 2023 World Cup is on, and it will be a very well balanced side with a potential to win the cup, says BCCI president Roger Binny. Mr. Binny, a former cricketer who was a part of the team that had lifted the 1983 Prudential World Cup, was interacting with select media persons here on August 29 (Tuesday).“We have in place a team for the ensuing Asia Cup. We have a few good batsmen in the form of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill as our mainstay, and good fast bowlers, all-rounders and good spinners. Even our tail-enders can chip in with the bat, if require...

29Aug

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Toufik Uddin Mondal (Bengal, 90 & 4/37) | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Vaibhav Yadav (Bengal, 5/63 & 3/43) | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Shashank Singh (Bengal, 68 & 59) | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement TIRUNELVELI Bengal coach Pranab Roy asked for TNCA XI coach Lakshmipathy Balaji to give a pep talk to his squad at the end of day’s play on Monday and Balaji obliged. The young squad was all ears to Balaji who delivered a strong dosage of motivation.On Tuesday, Bengal seemed pumped up throughout as fine bowling efforts from off-spinner Toufik Uddin Mondal (four for 37) and left-arm spinner Vaibhav Yadav (three for 43) enabled it to bowl out TNCA XI for 138 in its second innings and clinch a morale-boosting 68-run win on day three of the Group-D match in the B...

29Aug

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Labuschagne reveals Warner’s reaction on controversial Bairstow run-out | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The Ashes 2023 were marred by several contentious incidents, with one of the most prominent being the run-out of Jonny Bairstow by Alex Carey. Bairstow, anticipating a short-pitched delivery, left his crease prematurely, only to find himself run-out by Carey's quick reflexes.This particular run-out sent shockwaves throughout the cricketing community, prompting both former cricketers and pundits to engage in animated discussions. Opinions were divided, as some defended the run-out as a legitimate move, while others interpreted it as a test of the spirit of the game.English skipper went on to say, "I wouldn't want to win a game in that manner."In a video posted by 7Cricket on X, previously Twitter, Labuschagne relived the moment and revealed David Warner's reaction when Bairsto...

29Aug

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‘Home advantage significantly reduced due to IPL’, feels Rahul Dravid ahead of ODI World Cup | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Team India head coach Rahul Dravid perceives a noticeable decline in the advantage of playing on home turf for subcontinental teams. This shift is attributed to the fact that foreign players, due to their exposure in the Indian Premier League (IPL), have developed a heightened ability to adeptly navigate the intricacies of Indian playing conditions.With the ODI World Cup slated to be held in India in October-November, Dravid feels that the home advantage is a thing of the past."The whole thing of home advantage on the sub-continent has reduced to a large extent over the past 10-12 years. People come and play here so much, especially tournaments like the IPL. They are here for two-three months getting used to conditions. It will be a tight tournament," former Indian skipper sa...

29Aug

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Rishabh Pant visits India”s training camp ahead of Asia Cup

Stationed at the National Cricket Academy here for his recovery and rehabilitation work, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant made a visit to India’s training camp ahead of the Asia Cup. Pant, who is on a long comeback trail with no set timeline of return, is making strong recovery from the injuries suffered in the horrific car accident last December. In a video shared by the Indian cricket board on social media, Pant can be seen grinning ear to ear as he enters the field and meets his teammates Kuldeep Yadav and Shardul Thakur, before heading for a chat with the head coach Rahul Dravid. Recently, the explosive batter was seen batting in a recreational event here during the Independence Day. The little shimmy down the pitch might have come as a confidence booster for the batter as well ...

29Aug

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Watch: Rishabh Pant visits India’s training camp ahead of Asia Cup | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Recovering and undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Alur, wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant paid a visit to India's training camp ahead of the Asia Cup.Pant, who is in the midst of a determined return journey without a definite timeline, is displaying remarkable progress in recuperating from the injuries he sustained in a distressing car accident last December.A video, disseminated by the Indian cricket board on social media, captures Pant's infectious grin as he steps onto the field, reconnecting with teammates Kuldeep Yadav and Shardul Thakur. Following this cheerful reunion, he engages in a conversation with the head coach Rahul Dravid.Recently, the explosive batter was seen batting in a recreational event during the Independence Day.The little shim...

29Aug

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‘I could have told you 18-19 months ago…’, asserts Team India head coach Rahul Dravid | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: India had solidified their choices for the number four and number five positions for the upcoming ODI World Cup almost 18 months ago. However, their plans were abruptly disrupted due to a series of injuries to key batters, as highlighted by coach Rahul Dravid in Bengaluru on Tuesday.Dravid emphasised that the injuries sustained by prominent players such as Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pantcompelled the team management to explore alternative options in the middle-order during recent times.He clarified that these changes were not driven by mere experimentation, but rather a necessity dictated by the circumstances."The No. 4 and 5 spots are discussed a lot and give the impression that we didn't have clarity on who is going to be there. I could have told you 18-19 months ag...

29Aug

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‘India vs Pakistan is bigger than….’, reckons former Australian cricketer | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Amidst mounting anticipation for the much-awaited cricket showdown between India and Pakistan scheduled for the Asia Cup 2023, Tom Moody, a former Australian cricketer, has shared his expert perspectives on the groundwork of the Rohit Sharma-led Indian team and the hurdles they could encounter.In an interview with Star Sports, Moody delved into the intricate dynamics shaping the preparations of the Indian squad under the captaincy of Rohit.He also took the opportunity to contemplate the immense significance of the India-Pakistan clash, drawing parallels with the renowned Ashes series. Moreover, Moody engaged in a comprehensive analysis of the strengths inherent to both teams and the various factors they must consider as they brace themselves for this monumental and much-antic...