Pakistan welcome but where's the window: MS Dhoni

June 1, 2012

Doni


It goes without saying that the choc-a-bloc cricket calendar has taken its toll on players' fitness and also led to audience fatigue. This issue was once again highlighted by Indian captain MS Dhoni on Wednesday. While everyone at a media event here on Thursday seemed excited about the possible revival of Indo-Pak bilateral ties, Dhoni wondered how a series could be fitted in given the cramped schedule.

"It will be good if the Pakistan team comes here. At the same time, I am not sure where they (the administrators) will fit in. We are open to playing them," was Dhoni's reaction on Pakistan Cricket Board chief Zaka Ashraf's recent visit and his efforts to revive Indo-Pak cricket.

That aside, the Indian skipper, tongue firmly in cheek, made it clear how badly he needs the one and a half month's break. On being asked about his plans, Dhoni said: "We have played continuous cricket for three-four years now. I would not like the break to be cut down any further," Dhoni said and added that he would engage himself with his social commitments.

It has indeed been a long and tough year post World Cup for him with a series of disappointing results. Credit goes to him that he hasn't flinched during the period, hardly missing any game barring the Adelaide Test in January. It's apparent that it's his fitness and mental toughness that have helped him sustain the grind. Talking about his workload, Dhoni said: "Bulk of my workload is as a wicketkeeper. Keeping for 90 overs a day for such a long period isn't easy. Sometimes it becomes 190, specially in Sri Lanka. The reason I've been able to take the load is because I had started off training to become a footballer. That helped me develop strong legs."

Meanwhile, Dhoni, who was here for the launch of a sports gym, said he was surprised at Kevin Pietersen's retirement from the shorter formats of the game.

"It's surprising. This means he won't be a part of the T20 World Cup. While that is good news for a rival team's captain, I love his batting. One can't forget the impact he had in this year's IPL," Dhoni remarked.



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News Network
January 27,2020

Auckland, Jan 27: : K.L. Rahul made an unbeaten 57 Sunday to steer India to a seven-wicket win over New Zealand in the second Twenty20 international and to a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

Rahul and Shreyas Iyer put on 86 for the third wicket as India cruised past New Zealand's total of 132-5 with 2.3 overs to spare. Shivam Dube (13 not out) hit a six from the bowling of Tim Southeein in the 18th over to lift India to 135-3.

Iyer made 58 not out and Rahul 56 as India beat New Zealand by six wickets with an over to spare in the first match of the series.

New Zealand made 203-5 batting first in that match but on Sunday, on the same pitch, it struggled to achieve any real momentum. During the second match the pitch played much slower and India bowled expertly to restrict New Zealand's total.

Martin Guptill made 33 in a 48-run opening partnership with Colin Munro and Tim Seifert made an unbeaten 33 at the end of the innings but New Zealand wasn't able to reach a total that could stretch India's deep batting lineup.

Rohit Sharma (8) and captain Virat Kohli (11) were out relatively cheaply but Rahul and Iyer (44) sped India towards a comprehensive victory.

Dube came to the crease shortly before the end and quickly brought the match to a conclusion.

"I think we backed up the first match with a very good performance today, especially with the ball," Kohli said. "We demanded that the bowlers stood up and took control of what we wanted to do out there.

"I think our line and length and the way we wanted to bowl on that wicket, sticking to one side of the wicket and being shorter was a very good feature of us as a team and helped us restrict a very good New Zealand team."

New Zealand's total was inadequate, even on a slower pitch, and India almost toyed with the home side as it made its way to a comfortable win.

New Zealand named the same team that lost the first match of the series and batted after winning the toss, just as it batted when it was outplayed in the first match of the series.

The match raised further questions about the coaching and captaincy of the New Zealand team after its humiliating test series loss in Australia last month. New Zealand showed again Sunday it hasn't the talent to compete with the best teams in the world.

"As a batting unit we probably needed another 15 or 20 to make that total more competitive," said New Zealand captain Kane Williamson. "But credit to the way the India side bowled, they're a class side in all departments and they put us under pressure throughout that middle period."

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Agencies
February 13,2020

New Delhi, Feb 13: Sanjiv Chawla, a key accused in the match-fixing scandal involving former South African cricket team captain Hansie Cronje in 2000, was extradited from the UK on Thursday, Delhi Police said.

The 50-year-old British national, accompanied by a crime branch team from London, reached IGI Airport this morning, a senior officer said.

He is likely to be taken to the crime branch office for questioning, he added.

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News Network
May 18,2020

Karachi, May 18: Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan believes it is at least five years too early to compare Virat Kohli and Babar Azam as the Indian skipper has proven himself in "every kind of situation" and the latter has not.

"Virat Kohli is far more experienced than Babar. He has at least five years more experience of top cricket and he is at the peak of his career," said Younis, Pakistan's leading run-getter in Tests.

"Kohli has far more exposure than Babar and he has been in every kind of situation and proven himself. No one gets 70 international centuries like that and this are proof of his class and abilities. He has scored runs in every situation and all opposition."

Younis said said Babar still has a long way to go.

"Babar has been in top cricket for just around five years. He has got a very impressive batting average across all three formats and he is getting better by the day.

"You see him batting and you can see he has got the same qualities that Kohli had at the start of his career."

Besides amassing 70 international hundreds, 31-year-old Kohli averages more than 50 in all three formats. The India skipper has scored more than 20,000 runs while 25-year-old Babar has 6680 runs across formats though the Pakistan limited overs skipper has played significantly lesser number of games.

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