Hosts Zimbabwe start as underdogs against India

July 24, 2013

Zimbabwe_startJul 24: The upcoming five-game ODI series against India at home presents Zimbabwe with a stiff challenge, considering that they have won just five matches against any team aside from Bangladesh and Associate members in the last five years. Since July 2008, Zimbabwe have won just five ODI series - two each against Bangladesh and Kenya and one over Ireland.

In that time, they have played 80 ODIs - winning 29 and losing 51. Of those 29 wins, ten each came against Bangladesh and Kenya. The other wins came over Ireland (3), India (2), Sri Lanka (1), West Indies (1), New Zealand (1) and Canada (1).

In the summer of 2010, Brendan Taylor's team beat India twice to reach the final of a tri-series at home which they ended up losing to Sri Lanka. During that tournament they also beat Sri Lanka. Earlier that year they snuck in a two-run win over West Indies before losing the next four matches of that ODI series. The last time Zimbabwe beat any side apart from Bangladesh or the other minnows was in October 2011 when they famously chased 329 with one wicket remaining against New Zealand at Bulawayo.

Now, even against a second-level Indian team, Zimbabwe are underdogs. With 138 matches, Taylor is the third most-capped player in the squad after Elton Chigumbura (145) and Prosper Utseya (144). Only two others, Hamilton Masakadza (121) and Vusi Sibanda (103) have played more than 50 ODIs.

Against India in ODIs, the breakdown of Zimbabwe's five most experienced players does not make for very promising reading. Taylor averages the best (46) from four matches against India, largely due to a top score of 81. In the same number of games, Masakadza averages 28 (best of 66); Sibanda has a best of 12 and averages 6.40 from five matches; Chigumbura has yet to be dismissed in two matches against India, from which he has scores of 16* and 24*; with the ball, offspinner Utseya has taken just three wickets from four games at an average of 52.

Lack of experience and exposure against top-level sides apart, Zimbabwe are also short of match-winning players.

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Agencies
March 15,2020

Chennai, Mar 15: Wicket-keeper batsman MS Dhoni has left the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) training camp following the postponement of the Indian Premier League (IPL) amidst the coronavirus scare.

The former India skipper had joined the CSK's camp earlier this month in order to practice for the upcoming IPL season.

CSK's official handle tweeted a video of Dhoni and captioned the post as: "It has become your home sir!" Keep whistling, as #Thala Dhoni bids a short adieu to #AnbuDen".

Thirty-eight-year-old Dhoni has been currently enjoying some time away from the game. He last played competitive cricket during the 2019 World Cup.

Dhoni had to face criticism for his slow batting approach during India's matches in the tournament.

Earlier this year, Dhoni did not find a place for himself in the BCCI's centrally contracted players list.

BCCI had released the list of central contract list of players for the period from October 2019 to September 2020.

On Friday, BCCI decided to postpone the IPL until April 15 as a precautionary measure against the coronavirus pandemic.

On Saturday, all the IPL franchises met in Mumbai to discuss as to how to go on with the tournament in the future.

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News Network
February 10,2020

Potchefstroom, Feb 9: Bangladesh clinched their maiden ICC U-19 World Cup title after beating favourites India by three wickets in the summit clash here on Sunday.

Set a revised target of 170 after a brief rain interruption, Bangladesh won the match with 23 balls to spare.

Sent in to bat, India's batting wilted under pressure as a superb Bangladesh bowling attack shot the defending champions out for a paltry 177 in 47.2 overs.

Yasashvi Jaiswal (88 off 121 balls) was once again a standout performer but not for once did he look like dominating the Bangladesh bowling unit whose new ball bowlers Shoriful Islam (2/31 in 10 overs) and Tanzim Hasan Shakib (2/28 in 8.2 overs) literally stifled the Indians for runs.

The third seamer Avishek Das (3/40 in 9 overs) was the most successful bowler in terms of figures but it was Shoriful's first spell with channelised aggression that put the Indians on the back-foot from the onset.

After a short rain break towards the end, the target was revised to 170 from 46 runs but Bangladesh reached 170 for 7 in 42.1 overs to win the match.

Opener Parvez Hossain Emon top-scored for Bangladesh with a 79-ball 47 while captain and wicketkeeper Akbar Ali was not out on 43 from 77 deliveries.

For the India U-19 side, Ravi Bishnoi was the most successful bowler with figures of 4/30 while Sushant Mishra had 2/25.

India thus missed out on a record fifth title in their seventh final appearance.

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Agencies
January 23,2020

Aurangabad, Jan 23: An FIR has been registered against three people including former cricketer Mohammed Azharuddin for allegedly duping a travel agent, Mohammad Shadab, of more than Rs 20 lakh.

However, Mohammad Azharuddin has refuted allegations and said: "I strongly rubbish the false FIR filed against me in Aurangabad. I am consulting my legal team and would be taking action as necessary."

Azharuddin's personal assistant Mujeeb lives in Augurangabad and has good relations with the travel agency of Shadab.

The travel agent alleged that Mujeeb asked him to book some flight tickets but did not pay the amount.

The police have booked the three under Section 406, 420 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.

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