Any match against India is always special: Hafeez

May 21, 2013
Karachi, May 21: Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez is all geared up for the upcoming Champions Trophy clash against India, and said any encounter between the traditional rivals on the cricketing field is "always very special".

hafeezHafeez told Pakistani reporters in Ireland, where the team is preparing for a One-Day series against the hosts, that the players were eagerly awaiting for the match against India as it would also determine their chances of qualifying for the knockout stage of the tournament.

Pakistan and India will clash on June 15 at Edgbaston in one of the most awaited fixtures of the ICC event.

"A match against India is always very special and as usual we are awaiting for the match. But we will be trying to to play every game in the tournament in the same manner and with same passion," Hafeez, who is Pakistan's T20 captain, said.

"The match against India should be electric and I always enjoy playing against India because the atmosphere is different and the environment is charged. Both the teams give more than 100 per cent to do well," he added.

He said he was expecting a exciting clash against India in the Champions Trophy and it would be a different experience playing in English conditions.

Hafeez said the good thing about the present Pakistan team was that most of the players had previously played in England either in league or county cricket or for the national team.

"That experience will come in very handy for us and it is good we are already playing Scotland and Ireland prior to the tournament in England," Hafeez said.

He recalled that when Pakistan last toured England in 2010, they had done well in the ODI that followed the spot-fixing scandal.

"The good thing was that despite everything the people were always supporting us at every ground. The good thing about playing in England is that we have a large Pakistani community supporting us strongly," he said.

The 32-year old said despite the absence of senior players like Umar Gul, Shahid Afridi and Younis Khan, the Champions Trophy-bound team was a good blend of youth and experience and the bowling attack was its strongest point.

"I think Junaid Khan and Mohammad Irfan will prove to be handful in English conditions with the new ball and than we have great backup and a quality spinner in Saeed Ajmal," he noted.

Hafeez also said that by the time the tournament started, Pakistan's batting will also settle down as the side had some very talented players like opener Nasir Jamshed, whom he described as special.

"The good thing about Nasir is that he is a very good timer and always tries to play cricketing shots," he said.

Pakistan are placed in Group B in the Champions Trophy along with West Indies, South Africa and India.

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June 25,2020

Jun 25: After asserting that the 2011 World Cup final was "sold" by "certain parties" in Sri Lanka to India, the island nation's former sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has now called his claim a "suspicion" that he wants investigated.

The Lankan government has ordered an enquiry into the matter and a special Police investigation unit recorded Aluthgamage's statement on Wednesday. He told the team that he was only suspicious of fixing.

"I want my suspicion investigated," Aluthgamage told reporters.

"I gave to the Police, a copy of the complaint I lodged with the International Cricket Council (ICC) on 30 October 2011 regarding the said allegation as then Sports Minister," he said.

Aluthgamage has alleged that his country "sold" the game to India, a claim that was ridiculed by former captains Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene who demanded evidence from him.

Set a target of 275, India clinched the trophy thanks to the brilliance of Gautam Gambhir (97) and then skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (91).

"Today I am telling you that we sold the 2011 world cup, I said this when I was the sports minister," Aluthgamage, who was the sports minister at the time, had stated.

Sangakkara, the captain of Sri Lanka at that time, asked him to produce evidence for an anti-corruption probe.

"He needs to take his 'evidence' to the ICC and the Anti corruption and Security Unit so the claims can be investigated thoroughly," he tweeted.

Jayawardene, also a former captain who scored a hundred in that game, ridiculed the charge.

"Is the elections around the corner...like the circus has started...names and evidence?" he asked in a tweet.

Aluthgamage said that in his opinion no players were involved in fixing the result, "but certain parties were."

Both Aluthgamage and the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa were among the invitees at the final played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Following his allegations, Aravinda de Silva, the former great who was the then chairman of selectors, has urged the BCCI to conduct its own investigation.

De Silva has said he is willing to travel to India to take part in such an investigation despite the current COVID-19 threat.

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June 20,2020

Dhaka, Jun 20: Former Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza on Saturday tested positive for coronavirus.

The skipper had gone for a coronavirus Test last week, and now his reports have come back as positive, ESPNCricinfo reported.

As per a report in ESPNCricinfo, it is not known how Mortaza contracted the virus.

Mashrafe, also a member of the parliament from Narail 2 constituency, had stepped down as the ODI captain of the country in March this year.

Covid-19 cases have crossed 1,00,000 mark in Bangladesh and the government is now planning area-wise lockdown.

Bangladesh was slated to face Sri Lanka in July in a three-Test series and the side would have later hosted New Zealand in August, but both series look unlikely now.

The Asia Cup, scheduled for September, is also uncertain due to the coronavirus.

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January 28,2020

Columbo, Jan 28: The Sri Lanka Cricket Board on Monday announced the 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Women`s T20 World Cup, slated to commence from February 21. The board also announced five standby players for the ensuing tournament.

The squad members are -- Chamari Atapattu (captain), Harshitha Madavi (vice captain), Anushka Sanjeewani, Hansima Karunaratne, Shashikala Siriwardene, Nilakshi De Silva, Ama Kanchana, Kavisha Dilhari, Udeshika Probodhani, Achini Kulasuriya, Hasini Perera, Sathya Sandeepani, Umesha Thimashini, Sugandika Kumari, Dilani Manodara.

The standby players are -- Sachini Nisansala, Prasadani Weerakkody, Oshadi Ranasinghe, Tharika Sewwandi, Inoka Ranaweera.

Sri Lanka will take on New Zealand in their opening encounter on February 22.

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