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ICC World Cup Qualifiers: West Indies aim to settle scores with Afghanistan in final

Agencies
March 25, 2018

The 2018 ICC World Cup qualifiers will come to an end on Sunday when the West Indies take on second-seeded Afghanistan in the final at the Harare Sports Club in Zimbabwe.

This is the West Indies' maiden appearance in the World Cup qualifying event after they failed to qualify directly for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 by finishing outside the top eight on the ODI Team Rankings at the September 30, 2017 cut-off.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan played in the qualifiers in 2009 in South Africa and finished fifth, but didn't compete in the 2014 qualifier after having progressed to the 2015 World Cup by virtue of finishing second to Ireland in the ICC World Cricket League Championship.

Sunday's winner will join Sri Lanka (1979), Zimbabwe (1982, 1986 and 1990), United Arab Emirates (1994), Bangladesh (1997), Netherlands (2001), Scotland (2005 and 2014) and Ireland (2009) to lift the silverware of one of the most competitive and keenly-contested tournaments on the cricket calendar.

Both the Caribbean side and Afghanistan have already qualified for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, to be staged in England and Wales from May 30 to July 14, but the final of the ongoing qualifying event is expected to be another cut-throat match for a number of reasons.

The West Indies, two-time former world champions, are yet to beat Afghanistan in this tournament, having lost their warm-up match by 29 runs after Dawlat Zadran's hat-trick, while in the Super Six encounter, Afghanistan prevailed over the Caribbean side by three wickets following Mujeeb Rahman's three for 33 and Rahmat Shah's 68.

Rashid Khan, the world number-one ranked bowler, is just one wicket away from becoming the fastest to 100 wickets. He presently has 99 wickets from 43 ODIs, while Mitchell Starc achieved the 100-wicket milestone in his 52nd ODI. On a head-to-head, Afghanistan lead the West Indies 2-1, while their one match in St Lucia was a no-result.

Looking ahead to the final, West Indies skipper Jason Holder said, "Obviously, it's a good opportunity to win the tournament. We felt we have done some really good things so far, we've obviously qualified for the World Cup, which was our first priority and obviously, coming into the final, it means a lot to us to finish off the tournament well and win it.

"I don't think we have played the perfect game as yet. We've done some really good things but I don't think we have strung together the performances in batting, bowling and fielding, so that is my challenge to get into this last encounter, to end this tour on a high and win this final."

Reflecting on the tournament, Holder said, "This has been a really good tournament, highly competitive, actually quite shocked by the level of competition here in the qualifiers. Most of the teams were quite evenly matched and we had some really close encounters and most of the games were thrilling. That is good for cricket, says a lot about world cricket and the standard of cricket."

Afghanistan captain Asghar Stanikzai said that Sunday's match was the biggest for his country and his side was looking forward to it very keenly. "A final against the Windies, a side we all followed as young kids. I don't think it can get any bigger for Afghanistan.

"For Afghanistan, the World Cup qualifier is a mini-World Cup and having now qualified for the World Cup, the target is to win this trophy and take it back to Kabul. The people of Afghanistan want to see this trophy in Afghanistan and we'll leave no stone unturned in our efforts to fulfil their wishes," he said.

Asghar said his team would like to carry the momentum against the Windies into the final. "We have beaten them twice in this tournament. We beat them once in their backyard. So, the momentum is with us and we'd like to take it into the final. The Windies are a great side, a side which has done more for cricket than any other cricket team. We have the highest respect for them, but at the same time, we will not be overawed by them and will try to win on Sunday.

"Our spinners are the best in the world. They not only showed their magic against the Windies in the Super Six, but in other matches. I think we lost matches in the tournament not because of them but because of change in captaincy due to my absence. Except once, I don't remember when any side chased down 250 plus against us, until Scotland did this in Bulawayo.

"I would have never returned to the side if we were not in this situation. I am still 50 per cent fit and yesterday was almost on the verge of collapsing because the internal wounds are still fresh and have not healed properly. But my return has helped the spinners as they now feel more comfortable, while Rashid can concentrate on his bowling rather than thinking about game plans."

Meanwhile, West Indies swashbuckling batsman Chris Gayle said Sunday's match will be his final appearance in Zimbabwe and he wanted to finish on a high. "It will be nice to actually finish playing in Harare to be honest. I hope it will be a full house and fans here in Zimbabwe are fantastic.

"The way they rock to the tunes in the stand and they cheer, I absolutely love it you know, one of the best fun zone or fun base that I have actually played in front of, I mean Zimbabwe, the South Africa dance and they love the beats, I have got to take back the music for sure," said Gayle, who has played 12 of his 280 ODIs at the Harare Sports Club, scoring 435 runs with 112 not out against Zimbabwe in November 2003 as his highest.

Gayle, the 38-year-old attractive batsman, made his Test debut against Zimbabwe in Port of Spain in March 2000, while his first Test century (175) was also against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in July 2001. Overall, he played in eight Tests against Zimbabwe, scoring 498 runs with 175 as his highest. "Don't worry I can dance, I will dance with them, I'll interact with the crowd on Sunday as well, I will have some fun for sure,' said one of the world's most destructive batsmen.

The two squads are as follows

Afghanistan: Asghar Stanikzai (captain), Dawlat Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Ihsanullah Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Mohammad Shahzad, Nasir Jamal, Javed Ahmadi, Mujeeb Rahman, Najibullah Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Rashid Khan, Samiullah Shenwari, Shahpoor Zadran and Sharafuddin Ashraf. Coach - Phil Simmons.

West Indies: Jason Holder (captain), Devendra Bishoo, Carlos Brathwaite, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Evin Lewis, Nikita Miller, Jason Mohammed, Ashley Nurse, Keemo Paul, Rovman Powell, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels and Kesrick Williams. Coach - Stuart Law.

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News Network
January 18,2020

New Delhi, Jan 18: There was not much rustiness but just the initial nervousness, which a “pleasantly surprised” Sania Mirza shook off to win a title in her first tournament in 27 months, capping off her comeback from a maternity leave in style.

Partnering Ukraine's Nadiia Kichenov, the trailblazing Indian tennis player annexed the Hobart International trophy with a straight sets win over second seed Chinese pair of Shuai Peng and Shuai Zhang.

She worked hard to get into shape but the way she moved, it seemed Sania was never away from the courts.

“It's something I did not expect totally, so to say, but I am excited to be able to do this in my first tournament on comeback," Sania told PTI in an exclusive interview from Melbourne.

“I honestly thought I would be a bit more rustier than I was. I was pleasantly surprised that I was not. But there are things I can improve and that is what makes a champion. You always want to get better in what you are doing, no matter how well you do."

The 33-year-old winner of six Grand Slam titles said she played without pressure, and insisted there was no secret to the swift success on comeback.

“There is no key, I wish I knew, there was one key to winning. I just enjoyed my game. You have to work hard, play your game. I was playing with a new partner, new gear after two-and-a-half years. There was no pressure and no expectations.

"The first match was the only one when I felt a bit nervous because I did not know how my body would react and how I would play. That match was difficult but it set the tone and momentum. I was happy to come though that one and after that things kept getting better and better," she said.

Sania said her body has certainly changed after giving birth to son Izhaan but she did not have to tweak her post-match recovery process much.

“It does change. I was dealing with a calf injury, from last month and I aggravated a bit today. I am still icing it as we speak but it should not be serious.

“The body is a lot different now. It recovers different. But recovery (process) has not changed so much, it's similar."

Asked if she could go for her shots as she was doing before the break, she said, “I was able to do enough, I can improve, no matter how I play."

"My serve was decent but I can improve. I the first match I was not serving that well and was not returning well on important points but by the time I was playing the final, I was doing both of those little better. It is a process, it does not happen overnight. It's something will keep working on."

Serena Williams set an example in 2018 when she came out playing highly competitive tennis after giving birth to her daughter Olympia. There are other tennis moms like Victoria Azrenka and Evgeniya Rodina.

Sania said she did not seek any input from tennis moms but their presence on the Tour is inspiring enough.

“I did not speak to anyone but it is inspiring to see so many moms around, playing well in different sports."

Sania will play the Australian Open mixed doubles with compatriot Rohan Bopnna after her original first-choice Rajeev Ram opted out due to health reasons.

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Agencies
January 5,2020

Mumbai, Jan 5: All-rounder Irfan Pathan on Saturday announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, ending an injury-ridden career that prevented him from realising his true potential.

The 35-year-old's retirement was on expected lines, considering he last played a competitive game in February 2019 during the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy for Jammu and Kashmir.

He did not even put himself in the IPL auction pool, last month.

The left-arm seamer's bowling was like a breath of fresh air when he made his India debut against Australia at the Adelaide Oval in 2003.

He never had express pace but his natural ability to swing the ball into the right-handers got him instant success, also drawing comparisons with the great Kapil Dev.

It seemed India had found the all-rounder they were looking for since Kapil left the scene. Pathan, who last played for India in October 2012, featured in 29 Tests (1105 runs and 100 wickets), 120 ODIs (1544 runs and 173 wickets) and 24 T20 Internationals (172 runs and 28 wickets).

He was part of the victorious Indian team at the 2007 World Twenty20 and was the man-of-the-match in the final against Pakistan.

One of his best performances came on the tour of Pakistan in 2006 when he became the second Indian after Harbhajan Singh to take a Test hat-trick, removing Salman Butt, Younis Khan and Mohammad Yusuf during the Karachi game.

He also played a big role in India winning a Test match against Australia on a tough Perth wicket, which offered steep bounce.

Injuries and lack of form troubled him thereafter and his ability to swing the ball deteriorated.

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News Network
April 27,2020

Lahore, Apr 27: Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal has been banned from all forms of cricket for three years for failing to report spot-fixing offers, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced Monday.

Umar, who turns 30 next month, pleaded guilty to not reporting the fixing offers which led to his provisional suspension on February 20 this year.

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