If Harbhajan can be recalled, why can't Ashish Nehra

May 27, 2015

New Delhi, May 27: If performance is the only benchmark and age just a number, then there is no reason to ignore what Ashish Nehra did in IPL 2015 to deserve a place in India's tour of Bangladesh.

nehra harbajan

Harbhajan Singh, 34, was rewarded with a Test comeback for his 18 wickets but the 36-year-old Ashish Nehra's 22 wickets for Chennai Super Kings were neither considered for Tests nor ODIs. If anything, the contrasting approach points at (a) different standards for different players and (b) quality bench strength of pace bowlers but not spinners. And in case of (b), it's a slightly worrying admittance for a country that is regarded as a traditional nursery of spinners.

While the rise in international-standard pacers in India's domestic circuit is a welcome news, national selection still depends on current form and performance. If that holds true for Harbhajan, it so does for others - and Nehra fits that block to perfection on the back of his IPL-8 heroics.

The selectors didn't need to buy an excuse to recall Nehra. Mohammad Shami is injured and Nehra is consistently back among the wickets. It was a straight pick, still the selectors favoured Ishant Sharma for Tests and Dhawal Kulkarni for ODIs on the Bangladesh tour.

Ishant is coming back from injury since being ruled out for the World Cup. In IPL 2015, the lanky pacer played just four matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad picking only one wicket. Kulkarni, on the other hand, took 13 wickets in 11 matches for Rajasthan Royals.

In comparison to Nehra's 22 sticks at a strike rate of 16.9, only Kulkarni's strike rate of 16.1 makes it to the merit list. But then Nehra bowled 62 overs and Kulkarni only 35. The thing that goes against Nehra is that he's a slow mover and at times a liability in the field. But then Harbhajan isn’t getting younger and has never been a stand-out fielder.

"I have got three or four Man of the Match awards this season and that says it all," Nehra said after his match-winning performance in Qualifier 2.

"When you pick wickets, people remember you more."

People surely do, perhaps selectors don't.

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News Network
February 11,2020

Dubai, Feb 11: Two Indian players-- Akash Singh and Ravi Bishnoi -- and three Bangladeshis have been charged by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for involvement in the quarrel just after the U-19 cricket World Cup summit clash in Potchefstroom, South Africa on Sunday.

Akash and Bishnoi and three Bangladeshi players -- Md. Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain and Rakibul Hasan -- were found guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct after a few players from both sides nearly came to blows after Bangladesh beat India by three wickets to win their maiden U-19 World Cup title.

"Five players have been found guilty of a Level 3 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Support Personnel ... (they) were charged with violating Article 2.21 of the code, whilst Bishnoi received a further charge of breaching Article 2.5," the ICC said in a statement.

"All five players have accepted the sanctions proposed by ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup Match Referee Graeme Labrooy," it added.

A near brawl broke out after Bangladesh’s historic win over India in the final. The Bangladesh players were aggressive during the Indian innings with lead pacer Shoriful Islam frequently sledging the Indian batsmen.

As soon as the match ended, Bangladeshi players rushed into the playing area.

"India's Akash accepted the charge of breaching Article 2.21 and has received a sanction of eight suspension points, which equates to six demerit points, which will remain on his record for two years," the ICC said.

Compatriot Bishnoi accepted the charge of breaching Article 2.21 and has received a sanction of five suspension points, which equates to five demerit points.

"Bishnoi also accepted a level 1 charge of breaching Article 2.5 for a separate incident during the match, where he used language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter following the dismissal of Avishek Das in the 23rd over," said the ICC.

"For this he received a further two demerit points meaning seven demerit points will remain on his record for the next two years."

Bangladesh's Towhid Hridoy accepted the charge of breaching Article 2.21 and has received a sanction of ten suspension points, which equates to six demerit points, which will remain on his record for two years.

Shamim Hossain accepted the charge of breaching Article 2.21 and has received a sanction of eight suspension points, which equates to six demerit points, which will remain on his record for two years.

Rakibul Hasan accepted the charge of breaching Article 2.21 and has received a sanction of four suspension points, which equates to five demerit points, which will remain on his record for two years.

All charges were levelled by on-field umpires Sam Nogajski and Adrian Holdstock, third umpire Ravindra Wimalasiri as well as fourth umpire Patrick Bongni Jele. Level 3 breaches carry a minimum penalty of four suspension points and a maximum penalty of 12 suspension points.

The suspension points will be applied to the forthcoming international matches the players are most likely to participate in at either senior or U-19 level. One suspension point equals a player being ineligible for one ODI or T20I, U-19 or A team international match.

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News Network
January 30,2020

Hamilton, Jan 30: Caught unaware about the Super Over scenario, Rohit Sharma took five minutes to “find” his abdomen guard after the third T20 International against New Zealand had ended in a tie on Wednesday.

The India vice-captain said the team had almost given up with New Zealand going great guns at one point.

“Everything was packed. All my stuff was inside my bag. I had to get it out. It literally took me five minutes to find my abdomen guard because I didn’t know where it was,” Rohit said.

“I mean we never thought it would go to the Super Over, the way they were batting at one point. It looked like they could easily win the game,” he added.

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News Network
January 8,2020

Indore, Jan 8: Skipper Virat Kohli struck an unbeaten 30 as India beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the second Twenty20 international in Indore on Tuesday.

The hosts rode a 71-run opening stand between KL Rahul, who hit 45, and Shikhar Dhawan, who made 32, to chase down their target of 143 in 17.3 overs and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series after the first match was rained off.

Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga took the wickets of the Indian openers but Shreyas Iyer, who scored 34 before falling to paceman Lahiru Kumara, and Kohli, who hit the winning six, got the team home.

The third match is on Friday in Pune.

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