Surviving Wahab Riaz: Innings against Pakistan my most important in ODIs, says Watson

March 31, 2015

Mar 31: Australian all-rounder Shane Watson on Monday said his unbeaten knock of 64 against Pakistan in the World Cup quarterfinal is the “most important innings” of his ODI career as he was plain “lucky” to survive the hostile spell from Wahab Riaz.

Watson, who was not in the best of form going into the tournament, but ended up being a crucial cog in the wheel for Australia in the knockout stages as the hosts lifted their fifth World Cup trophy on Sunday.

Wahab Watson

“I thought about it as loud as it can get. I had a lot of luck specially to be able to get through that couple of overs in that spell. It worked well for me. It is the most important innings that I have played in ODI cricket as I said that I had a lot of luck through that phase because I was able to stay in win the match for my team,” an ecstatic Watson said at a media interaction after team’s victory celebration city’s Federation Square.

Watson has now been a part of two World Cup teams and said in jest that it can be associated with joys of having a second baby.

“Well I don’t have a second child yet but may be, it’s a feeling close to that. First time in West Indies was special but to win it second time in front of the home crowd is what dreams are made of. I feel very lucky to be born at the right time to play World Cup at home,” a beaming Watson said.

He was all praise for the team’s fast bowlers, who performed exceptionally throughout the tournament.

Asked to comment on the pacers’ performance, he said, “Incredible. I mean the fast bowling unit of 2007 was as good as they got but the way this group executed the plans is incredible.

“Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc along with Josh Hazlewood complemented each other very well. We executed our plans against big teams like India and Pakistan perfectly,” said Watson.

He was particularly impressed with Mitchell Starc, who was named Man of the Tournament.

“Starc has pace and swing. He has the variations to trouble the best batsmen in the world during death overs. He has the ability to bowl at different phases. And for someone so young and able to do that at big stage is a great thing,” Watson couldn’t stop gushing about his teammate.

He had some tough time in the early part of 2013 when he was sent home after the ‘Homework Gate’ scandal and he has come a long way since then.

“I hope selectors continue to pick me. It wasn’t the end of the road in any way (2013 controversy) as I was about to turn things around and close to doing that. I was lucky to get that opportunity,” said Watson.

Since Australia had to play 9 matches over six weeks, Watson is fresh and raring to go for his IPL Franchise Rajasthan Royals.

Asked if he needs a break during first phase of IPL, Watson said, “No, I will be fine. We have played only 9 games (World Cup) in 6 weeks whereas we normally play 9 matches in three weeks. There has been less pressure on the body and easy to go.”

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Agencies
March 26,2020

Karachi, Mar 26: Pakistan's centrally-contracted cricketers will contribute Rs 5 million to the national government's emergency fund to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ehsan Mani on Wednesday said apart from centrally-contracted players contributing Rs 5 million, the employees in the board, up to the senior manager level, will contribute their one day's salary.

Those employed as general managers or on higher posts will give two days' salary to the fund.

"The PCB will collect all these funds and deposit it to the government's coronavirus fund," he said.

Pakistan has recorded more than 1,000 positive cases of the deadly virus, which has claimed more than 19,000 lives all over the world.

"It is the history of the cricket board that we always stand by the government in difficult times," Mani said.

The PCB has already given its high performances centre in Karachi at the national stadium to be used by paramedical staff working at the special coronavirus hospital set up at the expo centre in the in the city.

Mani said though cricket has been disrupted by the virus outbreak but it was far more important for the nation to stand by the government and also take all precautionary steps during the pandemic.

Pakistan's centrally-contracted players are entitled to monthly salaries ranging from Rs 5 to 12 lakh besides match fee and other earnings.

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Agencies
April 12,2020

London, Apr 12: Former Formula 1 legendary driver Stirling Moss died at the age of 90 on Sunday.

"All at F1 send our heartfelt condolences to Lady Susie and Sir Stirling's family and friends," Formula 1 said in a statement.

Often referred to as the greatest driver never to win the world championship, Moss contested 66 Grands Prix from 1951 to 1961, driving for the likes of Vanwall, Maserati and Mercedes, where he famously formed a contented and ruthlessly effective partnership with lead driver Juan Manuel Fangio.

In his 10-year-long stint at the tracks, Moss took 16 wins, some of which rank among the truly iconic drives in the sport's history - his 1961 victories in Monaco and Germany in particular often held up as all-time classics.

Moss won the 1955 Mille Miglia on public roads for Mercedes at an average speed of close to 100mph, while he also competed in rallies and land-speed attempts.

Following an enforced retirement from racing (barring a brief comeback in saloon cars in the 1980s) after a major crash at Goodwood in 1962, Moss maintained a presence in Formula 1 as both a sports correspondent and an interested observer, before retiring from public life in January of 2018.

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News Network
June 2,2020

New Delhi, Jun 2: Manchester United's Paul Pogba on Monday paid tribute to George Floyd, stressing that violent acts of racism can no longer be tolerated and they have to stop.

Pogba took to Instagram to write: "During the past few days I have thought a lot about how to express my feelings about what happened in Minneapolis. I felt anger, pity, hatred, indignation, pain, sadness."

"Sadness for George and for all black people who suffer from racism Every day! Whether in football, at work, at school, Anywhere! This has to stop, once and for all! Not tomorrow or the next day, it has to end today! Violent acts of racism can no longer be tolerated," he added.

Protests erupted in Minneapolis and other US cities on Tuesday after Floyd, an African-American man, died following his arrest by the four officers.

A viral video showed a police officer, Derek Chauvin, pinning 46-year-old Floyd to the ground with his knee on his neck for nearly eight minutes. Floyd died at a local hospital shortly thereafter.

The four police officers were fired. Chauvin was also charged with murder and manslaughter, according to Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman.

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zaki ahmed
 - 
Wednesday, 3 Jun 2020

This photograph in the above mentioned article is of Floyd Mayweather Jr , the world welterweight & super heavy weight champion & wrongly menitoned as Pogba .

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