26/11 still casts a shadow on Indo-Pak cricket ties

July 17, 2012

indopakcricket


One of cricket's greatest rivalries is all set to resume as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has invited Pakistan to travel to India for a One Day International and T-20 series in December. The invitation by the cricketing body assumes significance because the bilateral ties between the neighbours have been in cold storage since the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai in November 2008.


The 26/11 terror strike in Mumbai not only altered its landscape, but also left behind a trail of devastation. And the fallout of the coordinated strike by terrorists from across the border also ensured cricketing ties between India and Pakistan were brought to a grinding halt.


However, it will change with the BCCI announcing that Pakistan will visit in December to play three ODIs and two T-20s. The mini series will be played between December 23 and January 9, 2013. While Chennai, Kolkata and Delhi will host the three ODIs, the two T-20 internationals will be played at Bangalore and Ahmedabad.

Reacting to the decision of the BCCI, Ministry of External Affairs sources said, "This is an in-principle decision of the BCCI and PCB. There remain security concerns. Both boards have to indicate the dates and locations for clearances including security issues."


Though no Ministry official came on record to say anything on the BCCI's announcement, in private they express their reservations citing Pakistan's failure to deliver on India's demands, including action against Mumbai terror accused.


Pakistan is yet to punish those involved in the 26/11 attack and that country has not conceded to India's demand for giving voice samples of the handlers and masterminds of the terror strike, they said.


The terror infrastructure across the border continues to flourish unabated while Pakistan-based militants groups keep sending their armed cadres to Jammu and Kashmir, they said.


The development did not appear to go down well with many other as well.


Former Indian captain and legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar said there was no urgency to invite Pakistan to play in the country. He said, "Being a Mumbaikar, I feel what is the urgency when there is no co-operation from the other side?"


The Maharashtra Congress too hit out at the BCCI over the decision. State Congress chief Manikrao Thakre said, "The country and the BCCI should be one. The BCCI can not go against country, and they should take a decision which the country wants."


The decision also provided some ammunition to the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to attack the government.


BJP leader Kirti Azad said, "It is not a problem with playing with anyone I just want to ask them that what new has happened. The government must answer this. We have provided all the evidences to them but they didn’t take any action."


"I accept that sports is a medium to improve ties but it cannot be misused… I don’t think it is a welcome step, this is a very serious issue," he further said.


The BJP also said that along with the players of the Pakistani cricket team, the terrorists involved in the 26/11 attack should also be brought to India.


BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said, "The Pakistan cricket team had come to India earlier for the World Cup. The team of terrorists involved in the 26/11 attack should also be brought to India."


However, the Home Ministry is yet to receive a formal communication from the BCCI on the proposed cricket series. However, a decision on extending an elaborate security cover for the visiting Pakistani team would be taken by the Home Ministry once it gets official intimation from the cricket board, officials said.


If the government takes a political decision, the machinery will implement it, they said.



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News Network
February 18,2020

Feb 18: Spinner Poonam Yadav claimed three wickets as India geared up for the ICC women's T20 World Cup with a thrilling two-run win over the West Indies in a low-scoring warm-up match in Brisbane on Tuesday. Electing to bat, India posted a lowly 107/8 in their stipulated 20 overs before returning to restrict the West Indies to 105/7. Chasing 108 to win, West Indies were comfortably placed at 57 for one in 13 overs when Deepti Sharma struck, cleaning up opener Lee-Ann Kirby (42) to trigger a collapse. Soon skipper Stafanie Taylor (16), Chedean Nation (0) and Deandra Dottin (1) were back in the hut as West Indies slipped to 67 for five in the 17th over.

Hayley Matthews (25) and Chinelle Henry (17) blasted three fours and a six in the 19th over to leave them with 11 to get off the last six balls.

Henry blasted Poonam for a four but the Indian dismissed Matthews in the fourth ball.

West Indies needed three runs off the last ball but Henry was caught by Veda Krishnamurthy.

Earlier, India's top-three failed to fire as they were reduced to 17 for three in 3.1 overs.

Opener Smriti Mandhana (4) lasted just six balls, while Jemimah Rodrigues (0) failed to open her account.

Young Shafali Verma blasted a couple of fours before being caught by Britney Cooper off Shamilia Connell (2/20).

Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (11), too, didn't stay long, while Krishnamurthy was cleaned up by Afy Fletcher (1/26), as India slumped to 52 for five in 11.2 overs.

Deepti Sharma made a 32-ball 21 before becoming a victim of Anisa Mohammed (2/16), while Pooja Vastrakar (13) was removed by Aaliyah Alleyne (1/9).

Stafanie taylor then got rid of Taniya Bhatia for 10. Shikha Pandey finally smashed a 16-ball 24 to give some respectability to the total.

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Agencies
February 5,2020

Hamilton, Feb 5: Ross Taylor and Tom Latham played knocks of 109 and 69, respectively, as New Zealand defeated India by four wickets in the first ODI of the three-match series here at the Seddon Park on Wednesday.

Chasing 348, New Zealand got off to a steady start as openers Martin Guptill and Henry Nicholls put on 85 runs for the first wicket, however, India finally got the breakthrough in the 16th over as Shardul Thakur dismissed Guptill (32).

Tom Blundell and Nicholls then put on 24 runs for the second wicket, but their vigil came to an end in the 20th over as Kuldeep Yadav had Blundell (9) stumped at the hands of wicket-keeper KL Rahul, reducing Kiwis to 109/2.

Nicholls then retrieved the innings for the hosts as he found support in Ross Taylor. The duo mixed caution with aggression to stitch together a partnership of 62 runs. But with their back against the wall, skipper Kohli lifted the side up as he ran out Nicholls (78) in the 29th over, reducing New Zealand to 171/3.

Skipper Tom Latham, came out to bat next, and he increased the tempo of the Kiwi innings. He took a special liking to Kuldeep and kept on sweeping him to pick easy boundaries on the legside.

Taylor and Latham put on a stand of 138 runs to take Kiwis closer to victory. But with 39 runs away from the target, Kuldeep dismissed Latham (69) to revive India's hopes of making a comeback.

Mohammed Shami removed Jimmy Neesham (9) in the 46th over while Colin de Grandhomme (1) was sent packing via a run-out to send cat among the pigeons in the Kiwi camp. In the end, Mitchell Santner and Taylor took the hosts over the line by four wickets and with 11 balls to spare.

Earlier, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul's knocks of 103 and 88, respectively, helped India post 347/4 in the allotted twenty overs.

After being put in to bat, India got off to a quickfire start as openers Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal put on 50 runs. Colin de Grandhomme finally provided the breakthrough to the Kiwis as he sent Shaw (20) back to the pavilion in the eighth over.

Agarwal (32) was also dismissed soon after by Tim Southee and the Men in Blue were reduced to 54/2 in the ninth over.

Skipper Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer then retrieved the innings for the visitors as the duo put on 102 runs for the third wicket. Kohli brought up his 58th half-century in the 28th over.

Ish Sodhi got the crucial breakthrough of Kohli (51) in the 29th over as he clean bowled him to reduce India to 156/3. However, Iyer continued to march on and brought up his maiden ODI century in the 43rd over.

KL Rahul, who came in to bat at number five provided the much-needed impetus to the innings. He along with Iyer put on a stand of 136 runs for the fourth wicket.

Iyer (103) was finally sent back to the pavilion by Southee in the 46th over, reducing India to 292/4.

In the final overs, Rahul and Kedar Jadhav hammered the Kiwi players to take India's score past the 340-run mark. Jadhav remained unbeaten on 26.

Brief Scores: New Zealand 348/6 (Ross Taylor 109*, Henry Nicholls 78, Kuldeep Yadav 2-84) defeat India 347/4 (Shreyas Iyer 103, KL Rahul 88*, Tim Southee 2-85) by four wickets.

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News Network
January 9,2020

Mumbai, Jan 9: Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan feels that the Men in Blue have the edge over Australia in terms of talent and confidence ahead of the two teams' three-match ODI series starting January 14 in Mumbai.

"In the past that wasn't the case because they were doing really well. We were trying to match that level. I feel that Indian cricket is a notch ahead in terms of talent, in terms of cricket and in terms of confidence," Star Sports expert Irfan Pathan said. "The only thing that will make it equal is the kind of pitches we are going to play in Australia because we do not have experience playing on those hard and bouncy pitches," said Pathan, who recently called time on his international career.

Recounting his favourite memory of playing against Australia, Irfan said, "It all started in Australia for me. The most memorable moment was getting my first wicket and helping India win a Test match in Australia after 21 years. Winning the Test in Perth and being named the Man of the Match is also a favourite memory for me."

Australia have already announced their team for the three-match ODI series with India. The team will be led by Aaron Finch. The other members of the team are Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschagne, Kane Richardson, D'Arcy Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Ashton Turner, David Warner, and Adam Zampa.

India are yet to announce their team but in all probability, it will be led by Virat Kohli who has been in phenomenal form over the last few years. All three ODIs are day and night affair. While the first match of the series is on January 14 in Mumbai, the second will be played at Rajkot on January 17 followed by the January 19 clash in Bengaluru.

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