Ind vs Pak: India suffer humiliating ODI series defeat to Pakistan

January 3, 2013

New Delhi, Jan 3: India witnessed another batting collapse as Pakistan bundled out hosts for 165 to clinch massive 85-run victory in the second ODI and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Suresh Raina and skipper MS Dhoni tried to revive India innings but could not get going when Mohammad Hafeez dismissed the former to leave India in spot of bother.
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Umar Gul joined the party, removing Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh to turn the momentum in Pakistan's way. Sehwag was edgy throughout his innings, making 31 off 43 balls before caught plumb in front of the wicket.

Pakistan pacer Junaid Khan dismissed Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli in quick succession to rock Indian chase. Left-armer continued his dream run, giving India second blow by dismissing Virat Kohli to reduce them to 55/2 in 12 overs.

Kohli attempted to flick the wide down the leg side but only managed to play it with the inside half of the bat behind the stumps where Kamran Akmal dived full to his left to take a spectacular catch.

India got off to cautious start with Sehwag and Gambhir negotiated Pakistan pacers well and added 42 for the first wicket before the southpaw got his inside edge onto the stumps.

Earlier, opener Nasir Jamshed struck his second consecutive century to give Pakistan a solid start but a middle-order collapse saw India bundle out Pakistan for 250 in their must-win second match.

Under overcast conditions, Jamshed scored a fluent 106 from 126 balls (12x4, 2x6) and along with Mohammad Hafeez (76 from 74b; 10x4) put up a handsome 141-run opening partnership.

But India made a dramatic comeback riding on left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja's 3 for 41 as Pakistan were bundled out in 48.3 overs.

After giving the first breakthrough, Jadeja took two wickets -- Jamshed and Kamran Akmal -- in one over to trigger a collapse, as Ishant Sharma (3/34) polished off the tail.

From 141 for no loss, Pakistan lost 10 wickets in 25 overs as India made a spectacular comeback in their must-win match.

Put into bat, in-form Pakistani opening duo of Hafeez and Jamshed were at ease against the Indian pace attack up front and got off to a watchful start.

The inexperienced Indian attack of Ashok Dinda and Bhuvneshwar Kumar could not make use of the overcast conditions like skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni would have expected after winning the toss.

On the other hand, it was intelligent cricket on display from the opening duo as they cleverly bisected the field to steal a boundary almost every over in the first Power Play to go almost six an over.

In his 'home' debut, Dinda was wayward with his bouncers, conceding three wides -- two in his second over -- while Bhuvneshwar too lacked the bite as the Pakistani duo went scotfree.

Against an ordinary Indian fielding that saw the ball flying past the fielders, it just made the task easier for the Pakistani opening duo.

The 23-year-old Jamshed continued from where he had left in Chennai, while Hafeez made up for his duck with a sensible batting display and rotating the strike.

The duo never panicked and such clinical was their approach that they put on 100 runs in exactly 100 balls -- incidentally, Pakistan's first century stand by any opening pair at the Eden.

Hafeez completed his 15th half-century from 50 balls with a single to deep square leg.

After two overs, Jamshed followed suit notching his seventh half-century hammering Ashwin for a boundary over long-on.

The New rules -- that stipulate five players inside the 30-yard circle for full 50 overs -- added to India's misery as Pakistani batsmen were not deprived of the boundaries.

Part-time spinner Jadeja finally gave the breakthrough almost at the midway stage when Hafeez missed the ball trying to break free to end the glorious opening wicket stand.

Azhar Ali (2) continued his poor run when he was run out after being sent back by Jamshed from the striking end as Pakistan lost their second wicket in four runs.

They quickly lost a third, when Younus Khan (10) was unlucky to be adjudged leg before despite a bat-pad as the Indians managed to arrest the free flowing Pakistani run-rate.

Jamshed, however, kept his cool in his elegant innings to bring up his second consecutive century, third overall, all against India.

Jamshed clobbered Jadeja over his head for a straight overboundary to move to 96 and retained the strike taking a single on the last ball with a cool-headed demeanour.

The left-hander straight drove one uppishly in the mid-off boundary region to bring up yet another century against India.

But he could not carry his innings through as he became Jadeja's second victim.

Jadeja claimed Kamran Akmal (0), his third, in the same over to bring in the Pakistani middle order collapse.

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News Network
April 8,2020

New Delhi, Apr 8: Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar on Wednesday proposed a three-match ODI series against arch-rivals India to raise funds for the fight against the Covid19 pandemic in both the countries.

The two nations have not played a full-series since 2007 due to the terrorist attacks on India by Pakistan-based outfits and the resultant diplomatic tension. They only play each other in ICC events and Asia Cup.

"In this time of crisis, I want to propose a three-match series in which for the first time, the people of neither country would be upset at the outcome of the games," Akhtar told PTI from Islamabad.

"If Virat (Kohli) scores a hundred, we will be happy, if Babar Azam scores a hundred, you will be happy. Both teams will be winners irrespective of whatever happens on the field," he said.

"You are bound to get massive viewership for the games. For the first time, both countries will play for each other. And whatever funds are generated through this can be donated equally to the government of India and Pakistan to fight this pandemic," added the 44-year-old.

No idea of logistics

With both countries in a lockdown amid the fast-spreading pandemic, the games can only be organised when things improve. However, Akhtar feels the sooner they are held, the better it would be but could not tell how the logistics of such an initiative would be worked out.

"Everyone is sitting at home at the moment, so there will be a massive following for the games. May be not now, when things start improving, the games could be organised at a neutral location like Dubai. Chartered flights could be arranged and the matches could he held.

"The whole world will tune into it, so much money can be raised to deal with this crisis. In difficult times, the character of the nation comes forward."

Start of a new era?

"It could even lead to resumption of bilateral cricketing ties and relations of both countries improve diplomatically. You never know," said the 'Rawalpindi Express'.

In these extraordinary times, Akhtar feels both countries should help each other. "We can only propose the matches. The rest is up to the authorities (to decide)."

India cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh were recently trolled for asking their social media followers to donate to Shahid Afridi's charity foundation which is doing its bit in Pakistan's fight against the deadly virus.

"It was inhuman to criticise them. It is not about countries or religion at the moment, it is about humanity," he opined.

India memories

Akhtar has spent a lot of time in India as a commentator. He fondly recalled his days in Mumbai during the World T20 in 2016, the last time he came to India for work.

"I am forever grateful about the love I have received from the people of India. For the first time I am revealing this, whatever I used to earn from India, I made a significant amount there, thirty percent of it, I used to distribute among the low income staff who used to work with me in the TV," he remembered.

Akhtar used to visit the city's slum areas with his face covered to hand out financial help to elder women there.

"From drivers, runners to my security guys. I took care of a lot of people. I was like if am earning from this country, I have to help my colleagues also.

"I also remember visiting slums of Dharavi and Sion in the wee hours to meet people I worked with," added Akhtar.

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News Network
January 29,2020

New Delhi, Jan 29: Badminton champion Saina Nehwal joined the ruling BJP today and is likely to campaign for the party ahead of the February 8 Delhi election.

"I have won medals for the country. I am a very hardworking and I love hardworking persons. I can see Prime Minister Narendra Modi does so much for the country, I want to do something for the country with him," the shuttler said, wearing the BJP scarf.

"I draw a lot of inspiration from Narendra sir".

Haryana-born Saina Nehwal, 29, is a major acquisition for the party in the middle of the Delhi poll campaign; she is one of the most popular sportspersons in India with a huge fan following and brand value. She is preparing for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

A former world number 1, she has been honoured with the country's top sporting awards like the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award. She was also awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2016.

The Badminton player has won over 24 international titles. In the London Olympics, she won a bronze. She was world number two in 2009 and number one in 2015.

With her tweets praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Saina Nehwal was widely seen to lean towards the BJP.

One of her tweets became controversial when it was found to be identical to several others in praise of a PM Modi speech last year. Saina was trolled on Twitter with screenshots of the identical tweets. She was also among the sportswomen who put up identical tweets on Diwali thanking PM Modi for his initiative to empower women, with the hashtag #bharatkilaxmi.

The BJP roped in many famous personalities last year, including cricketer Gautam Gambhir, who was elected MP from Delhi in the national election, and wrestler Babita Phogat. Just before the Haryana assembly polls, the party roped in wrestler Sushil Kumar, Babita Phogat and former Hockey team captain Sandeep Singh. Sandeep Singh won the election and was appointed minister.

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News Network
January 28,2020

Hamilton, Jan 28: No one sits on the seat that Mahendra Singh Dhoni made his own in the team bus, revealed India leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, saying that the talismanic former skipper is missed by the side.

In a video shot inside the team bus while it was on its way to Hamilton for the third T20 International against New Zealand, Chahal is seen talking to several members of the squad including Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul.

Towards the end of the video, he moved to the rear of the bus and pointed to an empty seat which, he said, was the former captain's preferred spot before he went on a sabbatical last year.

"Yeh woh seat hai jahan ek legend baithate the. Mahi bhai. Abhi bhi yaha koi nahi baithata. Hum unhe bohot miss karte hai (This is the seat that used to be occupied a legend. MS Dhoni. No one sits here now. We miss him a lot)," Chahal said in the video posted on 'bcci.tv'.

The-38-year-old Dhoni has not played a competitive game since the World Cup semifinal loss to New Zealand on July 9. Earlier this month, Dhoni was dropped from the BCCI's list of centrally contracted players, raising fresh doubts on his future.

However, on the same day, Dhoni returned to training, batting fluently in the Jharkhand team nets.

Head coach Ravi Shastri has hinted that the celebrated wicketkeeper-batsman might retire from ODIs soon but will be in contention for a T20 World Cup berth provided he does well for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL.

The Indian team lead the five-match T20 series against New Zealand 2-0.

Virat Kohli's men will take on the hosts in the third T20 here on Wednesday.

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