Pakistan progress to Super 8s with 8-wicket win over B'desh

September 26, 2012
Pak_Win

Pakistan opener Imran Nazir smashed 72 off 36 balls to lead his team into the Super Eight stage at the World Twenty20 with an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Bangladesh on Tuesday.

Bangladesh needed to win by at least 36 runs to knock out Pakistan in the final Group D match, and Shakib Al Hasan's 84 off 54 balls in a total of 175 for 6 raised hopes an upset was possible. But they were dashed by Nazir smashing nine fours and three sixes in a 124-run opening stand off 81 balls with captain Mohammad Hafeez (45) as Pakistan cruised to 178-2 in 18.4 overs to recorded their highest ever run-chase.

Pakistan topped the group after also beating New Zealand by 13 runs.

Pakistan join India, South Africa and Australia in the seemingly more difficult Group 2 of the Super Eight stage. Defending champions England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and West Indies are in Group 1.

Bangladesh had a sniff of victory, but Abul Hasan dropped Nazir at mid-on in Shafiul Islam's first over with the batsman on 1.

But the life didn't change Nazir's style of smashing the ball around the field at Pallekele International Stadium.

His half-century took 25 balls — the quickest at this World Twenty20 — with seven fours and three sixes and he hit a further three boundaries.

Abul Hasan removed both openers in the 14th over when he had Nazir caught in the deep and Hafeez edged to wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim.

Nasir Jamshed, who scored a half-century against New Zealand at the same venue, added 52 with Kamran Akmal as Pakistan raced to the target with eight deliveries to spare.

Earlier, Shakib hit 11 fours and two sixes against some erratic bowling and poor fielding to record the highest individual knock by a Bangladesh batsman in the 20-over format.

After Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat first, Tamim Iqbal hammered five fours before he was run out for 24 and Shakib took charge.

Shakib added 68 with captain Mushfiqur Rahim (25), but both batsmen were dropped by Shahid Afridi and Sohail Tanvir in Yasir Arafat's (3 for 25) first over.

Tanvir, who bowled Mohammad Ashraful in his second over, was smacked for three boundaries by Shakib. But it was paceman Umar Gul who was the most wayward of the Pakistan bowlers, pitching too short to be hammered for 43 off his three overs without taking a wicket.

Shakib eclipsed Bangladesh's previous best of 81, made by Nazimuddin against Pakistan in 2007 at Nairobi, when he scooped Saeed Ajmal behind fine leg for three runs in the penultimate over.

Shakib departed in the last over when he failed to clear Umar Akmal at long-on, while Nasir Hossain (11) — also dropped by wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal on zero — was clean bowled on the last delivery.



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Agencies
June 23,2020

Belgrade, June 23: Novak Djokovic tested positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday after taking part in a tennis exhibition series he organized in Serbia and Croatia.

The top-ranked Serb is the fourth player to test positive for the virus after first playing in Belgrade and then again last weekend in Zadar, Croatia.

His wife also tested positive. “The moment we arrived in Belgrade we went to be tested. My result is positive, just as Jelena's, while the results of our children are negative," Djokovic said in a statement.

Djokovic has been criticized for organizing the tournament and bringing in players from other countries amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Viktor Troicki said Tuesday that he and his pregnant wife have both been diagnosed with the virus, while Grigor Dimitrov, a three-time Grand Slam semifinalist from Bulgaria, said Sunday he tested positive.

Borna Coric played Dimitrov on Saturday in Zadar and said Monday he has also tested positive. There were no social distancing measures observed at the matches in either country and Djokovic and other players were seen hugging each other and partying in night clubs and restaurants after the matches.

 “Everything we did in the past month, we did with a pure heart and sincere intentions,” Djokovic said.

“Our tournament meant to unite and share a message of solidarity and compassion throughout the region.” Djokovic, who has previously said he was against taking a vaccine for the virus even if it became mandatory to travel, was the face behind the Adria Tour, a series of exhibition events that started in the Serbian capital and then moved to Zadar.

He left Croatia after the final was canceled and was tested in Belgrade. The statement said Djokovic was showing no symptoms.

Despite the positive test, Djokovic defended the exhibition series. “It was all born with a philanthropic idea, to direct all raised funds towards people in need and it warmed my heart to see how everybody strongly responded to this,” Djokovic said.

"We organized the tournament at the moment when the virus has weakened, believing that the conditions for hosting the Tour had been met. “Unfortunately, this virus is still present, and it is a new reality that we are still learning to cope and live with.”

Djokovic said he will remain in self-isolation for 14 days and also apologized to anyone who became infected as a result of the series. Organizers of the Adria Tour said the third stage of the event, scheduled to held next week in Bosnia, has been cancelled.

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News Network
March 28,2020

Milan, Mar 28: Juventus star Paulo Dybala revealed how he "struggled to breathe" after contracting coronavirus which has killed over 9,000 people in Italy.

The Argentine international announced last Saturday he was one of three Juventus players to catch the virus along with Daniele Rugani and Blaise Matuidi, who both had no symptoms.

"I feel better now after some strong symptoms," the 26-year-old Dybala told JTV channel.

"A couple of days ago I was not well, I felt heavy and after five minutes of movement I had to stop because I was struggling to breathe.

"Now I can move and walk to start trying to train, because when I tried in the past few days I started to shake too much.

"I gasped for air and as a result I couldn't do anything, after five minutes I was already very tired, I felt the body heavy and my muscles hurt.

"Now I'm fine. My fiancee Oriana (Sabatini) has also overcome the symptoms."

Dybala has scored 13 goals in all competitions this season, including in league leader's Juventus's last game against Inter Milan before Serie A and all sport in Italy was suspended.

"The goal against Inter was the greatest emotion, (Aaron) Ramsey provided the perfect assist - it's a pity that there was no public," added Dybala.

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News Network
June 10,2020

Kingston, Jun 10: "Enough is enough", said West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo as he opened up on the raging issue of racism and called for "respect and equality" for black people, who have faced discrimination for years.

Bravo joined the likes of his former captain Darren Sammy and Chris Gayle in denouncing racism in the wake of African-American George Floyd's killing at the hands of a white police officer in the USA.

"It's sad to see what's going on around the world. As a black man, we know the history of what black people have been through. We never ask for revenge, we ask for equality and respect. That's it," Bravo told former Zimbabwe cricketer Pommie Mbangwa in an Instagram live chat on Tuesday.

"We give respect to others. Why is it that we are facing this over and over? Now enough is enough. We just want equality. We don't want revenge, war.

"We just want respect. We share love and appreciate people for who they are. That's what is most important."

The 36-year-old, who has played 40 Tests, 164 ODIs and 71 T20Is for West Indies, said he wants the world to know that they are powerful and beautiful people and gave the example of greats such as Nelson Mandela, Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan.

"I just want our brothers and sisters to know that we are powerful and beautiful. And at the end of the day, you look at some of the greats of the world, whether it is Nelson Mandela, Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan we have had leaders who paved the way for us," he said.

Two-time T20 World Cup-winning captain Sammy had earlier alleged that a racist nickname was used to address him during his IPL stint with Sunrisers Hyderabad and demanded an apology.

Sammy said he was called 'Kalu' while he was in India. 'Kalu' is a derogatory word to describe black people.

Gayle, who too plays in the IPL, took to Twitter to back Sammy, saying that racism does exist in cricket.

"It's never too late to fight for the right cause or what you've experienced over the years! So much more to your story, @darensammy88. Like I said, it's in the game!!," Gayle tweeted.

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