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We have the players to surprise India: Mashrafe Mortaza

June 17, 2015

Mirpur, Jun 17: Bangladesh's ODI captain Mashrafe Mortaza is looking forward to the series against India and hopes that the youngsters in the team live up to the challenge and spring a surprise to upset the much-fancied two-time World Cup-winners India.

Mashrafe Mortaza

"It's always a big challenge to play against India. We have young players who are at their best and can surprise India in ODIs," said Mortaza in the pre-match press conference here on Wednesday ahead of the series opener.

There was a lot of concern about the Bangladesh captain's injury, which he suffered in a freak accident, and Mortaza sounded very optimistic on the status of his availability. "I'm feeling much better. I have bowled and batted yesterday. I am hoping to take the field tomorrow [Thursday]."

The first game in a three-match series is always important and right-arm bowler only reinstated that fact.

"We are thinking about tomorrow's game, [though we] Aren't thinking too far. We aren't taking pressure. We are moving step by step. Winning the first match is very important for us," the skipper reacted when asked about the team's thought process.

There is no doubt about the fact that India start as favourites and Mortaza felt winning against India will only enhance Bangladesh's growing ODI reputation: "Things have changed for Bangladesh cricket. But India are definitely the favourites. It's very important for Bangladesh to perform against the top teams to establish themselves," he reckoned.

India's World Cup win against Bangladesh in the quarter-finals did ignite a controversy over a no-ball but Mortaza says that is a thing of the past. "We always battle on the field. But I don't think any of the players are thinking about the World Cup controversy. I expect my players to forget about it."

Talking about Bangladesh cricket, it has certainly taken a step forward after their best showing (quarter-finals) in the World Cup and the 31-year-old thinks alike.

"We expect to take Bangladesh cricket forward. We have to take chances against India. World Cup performance has given us confidence. We have the bowling attack to unsettle any opposition. Since the World Cup, we are playing good cricket. The boys are very confident. Hope we will perform the way we are. Series win against Pakistan was a major boost," said Mortaza.

He further went on to add: "We are the fastest improving ODI side in the world right now. Bangladesh are definitely among the best in the world in ODIs."

Bangladesh medium-pacer Rubel Hossain gave Virat Kohli a real send off after dismissing him in the World Cup quarter-final. Kohli doesn't have a bad memory and fast bowlers love to rub salt into old wounds.

However, speaking about their on-field rivalry and the team combination, the Bangladesh captain said, "I am not thinking too much about Rubel and Kohli rivalry. It's better for us if Rubel gives his best. But overall our team has good players. We are still deliberating on our team combination," he said.

Rain has played spoilsport all throughout the series, and Mortaza was quick to point that. "We hope that rain stays away so that we can get a fair result," he concluded.

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News Network
February 13,2020

Feb 13: Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were buried in a private funeral service in Southern California last week, multiple outlets reported late Tuesday.

Citing Kobe Bryant's death certificate, Los Angeles Fox affiliate KTTV reported the remains of the former Lakers star and his daughter were transferred to Pacific View Memorial Park and Mortuary in Corona del Mar. Kobe and Brianna were laid to rest in a private ceremony there last Friday.

According to KTTV, the death certificate cited Kobe's cause of death as "blunt trauma" sustained in a "commercial helicopter crash." It also said his death was "rapid."

Corona del Mar is a community within Newport Beach, where the Bryant family lives.

Kobe, 41, and Gianna, 13, were among nine people killed when the helicopter they were in crashed on a hillside in Calabasas, Calif., northwest of Los Angeles, on Jan. 26. Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, 56; his wife, Keri; and their daughter Alyssa, 14 -- who played on the same club basketball team as Gianna Bryant -- also were killed. Christina Mauser, a 38-year-old who was the top assistant coach of the Mamba girls basketball team, was also killed in the accident, as were Sarah Chester, 45; her daughter Payton Chester, 13; and pilot Ara Zobayan, 50.

A public memorial service for the Bryants will be held Feb. 24 at Staples Center, beginning at 10 a.m. PT.

While the date -- 2/24 -- conveniently falls between two Lakers' home games, it still could have been chosen symbolically. Gianna -- one Kobe and Vanessa' four daughters -- wore No. 2 on her basketball jersey while Kobe was No. 24 for part of his 20-year-tenure with the Lakers, and his retired jerseys -- he also wore No. 8 -- hang at Staples Center.

The Los Angeles Times reported that "entry is expected to be severely restricted" at the venue despite Staples Center's capacity of about 20,000.

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Agencies
July 28,2020

New Delhi, Jul 28: 'Your character stood out for me than the number of runs you scored," said India skipper Virat Kohli while explaining his decision to give opening Mayank Agarwal a Test debut in the 2018-19 Australia series.

Mayank Agarwal had made his Test debut against Australia in the third Test of the four-match series.

Playing the third Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Agarwal managed to register a half-century in his very first innings in the longest format.

"I had seen you play for RCB, even then you played international bowlers with conviction and you would take them on. You were performing in first-class matches in a dominating way. That is something always stood out with you, I would say your character stood out for me than the number of runs. I knew you would be fearless without having any baggage," Kohli told Mayank Agarwal in a video posted on the official website of BCCI.

In the longest format of the game, Agarwal has managed to score 974 runs from 11 matches at an average of 57.29 with three centuries as an opening batsman.

The Indian skipper also explained as to what makes him notice in a player and added that it is important that guys in the team look to face new challenges and emerge triumphantly.

"For me, the biggest marker is how a person approaches the game, so for example when you opened and we made Vihari open with you. The first opportunity we presented Vihari to open the batting, he said yes to it and that matters me to the most," Kohli said.

"I opened in my first series for India, I said yes to this opportunity and things worked out fine for me. So, a guy who wants to get into tough situations will come out either holding his head high or learning from his mistakes," he added.

Kohli and Mayank would soon be seen in action for Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kings XI Punjab respectively in the Indian Premier League (IPL) starting from September 19 in the UAE.

The comparisons between Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar keep on growing and many have picked the current Indian skipper to break the records set by Tendulkar.

Tendulkar called time on his career after registering 100 international centuries, while Kohli currently has 70 centuries across all formats.

At present, Kohli is ranked at the top spot in the ICC ODI rankings while he is in the second place in Tests rankings. Kohli has so far played 86 Tests, scoring 7,240 runs with 27 centuries at an average of 53.62.

His knock of 254 against South Africa at Pune in 2019 remains his highest Test score to date. When it comes to ODIs, the current Indian skipper has played 248 matches and has 43 centuries.

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News Network
February 2,2020

Mount Maunganui, Feb 2: India registered a rare 5-0 whitewash against New Zealand after notching up a seven-run win in the fifth and final T20 International at Bay Oval here on Sunday.

Electing to bat, India posted 163 for three, riding on Rohit Sharma's 60 off 41 balls and a 33-ball 45 from K L Rahul.

The visitors then restricted the hosts to 156 for nine with Jasprit Bumrah claiming three wickets for 12 runs.

Chasing the target, the Black Caps were tottering at 17 for three in 3.2 overs.

Tim Seifert (50) and Ross Taylor (53) then added 99 runs for the fourth wicket as New Zealand recovered to 116.

Seifert clobbered a 30-ball 50 studded with five fours and three sixes, while Ross Taylor hit two sixes and five fours in his 47-ball 53-run innings.

However, once Seifert was dismissed in the 13th over, the hosts suffered a collapse, losing five wickets, including Taylor, for 25 runs to loss the plot in the end.

Brief Score:

India: 163 for 3 in 20 overs (Rohit Sharma 60; S Kuggeleijn 2/25)    

New Zealand: 156 for 9 in 20 overs (Ross Taylor 53, Tim Seifert 50; Jasprit Bumrah 3/12).

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