India, Pakistan may play cricket at neutral venue

July 7, 2012

INDPK

New Delhi, July 7: India and Pakistan will work on a money-sharing agreement to facilitate resumption of cricketing ties at a neutral venue, government sources confirmed to TOI. The development seems to be one of the biggest takeaways from the foreign secretary-level talks this week, which otherwise failed to produce any substantive breakthrough for the cricket-crazy neighbours.

It was Pakistan foreign secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani, who proposed before his counterpart Ranjan Mathai that the two countries play at a neutral venue. Jilani had said in the press interaction on Thursday that he had made some suggestions for resumption of cricketing ties, but did not elaborate.

Effectively paving the way for resumption, the government, sources said, would not come in the way of the cricket boards of the two countries coming to such an arrangement. While Jilani acknowledged that it may not be possible for India to tour under the current circumstances (Pakistan is forced to play at neutral venues as other teams have refused to tour the country), he said Pakistan would not benefit by touring India as all the money generated for such a high-profile series would go to the host nation or, more precisely, to the Indian cricket board.

Jilani said playing at a neutral venue was the most logical option, taking into account both countries' interests. This was when Mathai interjected, saying the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) would have to come into the picture as the Indian government cannot be involved in a money-sharing agreement.

The two cricket boards have flirted with the idea earlier, but Jilani took it to another level by taking it up strongly with Mathai. Government sources said they were looking favourably at Pakistan's proposal, but added that both BCCI and PCB would have to take the lead in deciding revenue sharing on telecast and other rights.

"The Pakistani side was categorical that it is not financially viable for them to send only their cricket team to India. Security issues will be looked at, but the ball for now is in the court of BCCI and PCB and we are not stopping them," said a source. He added, though, that the two countries had not agreed to any timeframe for resuming cricketing ties.

While the joint statement issued on Thursday made no mention of cricket, it did say that the two sides were looking to increase contact in sports. Under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who has twice invited Pakistani leaders to watch cricket matches in India - the last one at 2011 World Cup semifinal in Mohali - the government has been toying with the idea of resuming cricket ties for some time.

India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series since 2007. The 26\11 attacks in 2008 made any resumption all the more untenable.



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News Network
April 21,2020

New Delhi, Apr 21: India skipper Virat Kohli on Tuesday said people seem to have become more compassionate while coping with the COVID-19 pandemic and hoped the sense of gratitude towards frontline workers like doctors and police personnel remains even after the crisis is over.

Speaking in an online class organised by "Unacademy", Kohli and his actor wife Anushka Sharma spoke at length about the challenges they faced before tasting success.

"The one positive out of this crisis that we as a society have become more compassionate. We are showing more gratitude to the frontline workers in this war, be it police personnel, doctors or nurses.

"I hope it stays this way even after we overcome this crisis," said Kohli with Sharma seated next to her.

Kohli said the pandemic has taught the world a very important lesson.

"Life is unpredictable. So, do what makes you happy and not get into comparisons all the time. People have a choice now how to come out of this phase. Life is going to be different after this," said the skipper.

For Sharma, the pandemic has forced people to care about the basics in life.

"There is a learning in all of this. Nothing happens without a reason. If the frontline workers were not there, we would not have access to basics," she said..

"This has taught us that no one is special than the other. Health is everything. We are more connected as a society now," she added.

During the session, Kohli was asked about the moment when he felt most helpless.

"I felt nothing was working for me when I was not picked for the state team initially. I cried the whole night and asked my coach 'why did I not get selected'?" he responded.

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News Network
January 23,2020

Dhaka, Jan 23: Left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman, who is part of the Bangladesh squad traveling to Pakistan, posted a cryptic tweet before team's departure which raised a few eyebrows.

On Wednesday evening, Rahman took to Twitter to post a selfie along with his teammates before the team's departure and asked his followers to pray for them, writing: "Heading to Pakistan. Remember us in your prayers."

Bangladesh were earlier reluctant to travel to Pakistan. However, the officials of both the teams met in Dubai and it was after many deliberations, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) agreed to send their team for a cricket series.

Bangladesh will be playing three T20Is, two Tests and an ODI in Pakistan between January and April. The T20I series will be played from January 24-27 in Lahore, followed by the first Test from February 7 to 11.

Bangladesh will then return to Pakistan in April for the one-off ODI which will be played on April 3 and the second Test from April 5-9.

Senior players like Mushfiqur Rahim decided against traveling to Pakistan citing personal reasons. After that, five members of the Bangladesh coaching staff also pulled out of the tour.

Pakistan have also recalled the experienced duo of Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik, along with pacer Shaheen Afridi for the T20I series.

Squads:

Bangladesh: Mahmudullah (Captain), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Naim Sheikh, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Liton Kumer Das, MD Mithun, Afif Hossain Dhrubo, Mahedi Hasan, Aminul Islam Biplob, Mustafizur Rahman, Shafiul Islam, Al-Amin Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Hasan Mahmud.

Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Ahsan Ali, Amad Butt, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Musa Khan, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Usman Qadir.

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News Network
April 7,2020

Bengaluru, April 7: India batsman Robin Uthappa has said that he reckons he still has a World Cup left in him, despite being out of the team for than four years.

Uthappa had last played a match for the Men in Blue in 2015 on the tour of Zimbabwe.

"Right now I want to be competitive. I still have that fire burning in me, I really want to compete and do well. I honestly believe I have a World Cup left in me, so I'm pursuing that, especially the shortest format. 

The blessings of lady luck or god or whatever you call it, plays a massive factor," ESPN Cricinfo quoted Uthappa as saying.

"Especially in India, it becomes so much more evident. I don't think it is as evident when you're playing cricket outside of India. But in the subcontinent and India especially, with the amount of talent that we do have in our country, all of those aspects become evident," he added.

The 34-year-old Uthappa has played 46 ODIs and 13 T20Is for India and he was also a part of the T20 World Cup-winning squad in 2007.

Uthappa has scored 934 runs in ODIs at an average of 25.94, while in T20Is his numbers are 249 runs at an average of 24.90.

"You can never write yourself off. You would be unfair to yourself if you write yourself off.

Especially if you believe you have the ability and you know that there is an outside chance. So I still believe in that outside chance," Uthappa said.

"I still believe that things can go my way and I probably can be a part of a World Cup-winning team and play an integral role in that as well.

Those dreams are still alive and I think I'll keep playing cricket till that is alive," he added.

Uthappa had enjoyed great success with IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders. He went on to become their leading run-scorer in the 2014 edition.

However, he was released by the side after a below-par 2019 season, and last November he was picked up by the Rajasthan Royals for the 2020 edition.

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