Feisty Harbhajan Singh's redemption song

September 25, 2012

harbajan

It hasn't been easy being Harbhajan Singh over the last one year. From being the one who was supposed to carry the mantle of spin bowling from Anil Kumble' the 32-year-old off-spinner was reduced instead to a journeyman.

Not many were positive about a comeback. His former captain, Sourav Ganguly, though kept saying that the feisty Sardar was the kind of bowler he would always want in the XI. However, every time his replacement R Ashwin took wickets by the bucketful, you felt Harbhajan should start looking beyond an India cap.

His selection for the World T20 wasn't appreciated in all quarters since Harbhajan had a poor IPL and he often went wicketless while leading the Mumbai Indians. Being on the plane to Colombo' though, has given Harbhajan a second chance. And as he ran through a struggling English batting lineup on Sunday night, taking 4/12 the best bowling figures by an Indian bowler in T20 Internationals ), you could make out how desperate the man is to make the most of this 'lifeline.'

With Ashwin, now the No. 1 spinner in the side, rested for this game, he knew that this could be his only chance.


It was redemption of sorts for Harbhajan since it was the same Englishmen who took 287 runs in two Tests off him while giving away just two wickets, sending the bowler into oblivion. The second Test at Nottingham, in July 2011, was the last that Bhajji played for India before being given another chance here.

Skipper MS Dhoni, though, was guarded in his praise. "I believe I have seen Harbhajan bowl better, but under the current circumstances' it was a brilliant performance. He was making a comeback and got a chance to prove that he is good and under these conditions, one tends to get desperate. I would have been happy even if had got two for 24, but I believe he can bowl better.'

Dhoni added: "He didn't bowl any short deliveries and invited the batsmen to drive. He used the variations like the top spinner and the doosra effectively. He showed an aggressive mindset and wasn't bothered too about field placements. He was focused.'

Bhajji and Piyush Chawla's success has made things difficult for Dhoni. Does he continue with five bowlers? Will he play both Ashwin and Bhajji?

Where does he fit in off-colour stars Sehwag and Zaheer? Irfan Pathan was a bad choice as an opener, but pushing him up offers the option of an extra bowler.

"I don't know who all will play in the next game but obviously Harbhajan, with his ability to slog down the order, gives us an option of playing a batsman less,' Dhoni said.


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Agencies
March 14,2020

Sydney, Mar 14: New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson has been placed under 24-hour isolation amid the fears of coronavirus after he reported a sore throat following the first ODI of the ongoing three-match series against Australia in Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) which the hosts won by 71 runs.

"In accordance with recommended health protocols, Lockie Ferguson has been placed in isolation at the team hotel for the next 24 hours after reporting a sore throat at the end of the first ODI," said New Zealand Cricket in a statement.

"Once the test results are received and diagnosed, his return to the team can be determined," it added.

The first ODI of the Chappell-Hadlee series was played in front of empty stands as the spectators were not allowed to be at SCG as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier, Australian fast bowler, Kane Richardson was also tested for the coronavirus, after suffering from a sore throat on Thursday. That saw him left out of the squad for Friday's game but the test was negative.

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News Network
April 12,2020

New Delhi, Apr 12: As devotees across the world celebrate Easter today, former Sri Lanka skipper and current Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) president Kumar Sangakkara on Sunday condoled the demise of people who lost their lives during last year's Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka and said someone must seek answers to the questions which still remain unresolved.

"A year on we all share the pain of the families grieving lives lost, we stand with you and for you. We remember. So many questions still unanswered, but answer them someone must," Sangakkara tweeted.

On April 21, 2019, multiple blasts ripped through Sri Lanka when the Christian community was celebrating Easter Sunday.
The explosions rattled churches and high-end hotels across the country, killing 258 people and injuring over 500.

A local terror group called National Thowheeth Jama'ath had claimed responsibility for the devastating attacks.

The island nation was put under a state of emergency for a period of four months from April to August.

The Sri Lankan police had then said that 293 suspects were arrested in connection with the Easter Sunday bombings in the island country in April.

This year, most of the devotees would be offering the prayers from their homes as mass gatherings have been suspended in most countries due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Easter marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ following his crucifixion on Good Friday. It also marks the culmination of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting and penance.

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News Network
May 3,2020

New Delhi, May 3: In a startling revelation, India speedster Mohammed Shami has claimed that he thought of committing suicide thrice while battling personal issues a few years ago, forcing his family to keep a watch over him at all times.

He said his family members feared he "might jump" from their 24th floor apartment.

Shami, one of India's leading bowlers in recent years, opened up on his personal and professional life during an Instagram chat with teammate and limited overs squads' vice-captain Rohit Sharma.

"I think if my family had not supported me back then I would have lost my cricket. I thought of committing suicide three times during that period due to severe stress and personal problems," Shami revealed during the session on Saturday.

Now one of the mainstays of Indian bowling attack across formats, the 29-year-old was struggling to focus on his cricket, then.

"I was not thinking about cricket at all. We were living on the 24th floor. They (family) were scared I might jump from the balcony. My brother supported me a lot.

"My 2-3 friends used to stay with me for 24 hours. My parents asked me to focus on cricket to recover from that phase and not think about anything else. I started training then and sweated it out a lot at an academy in Dehradun," Shami said.

In March 2018, Shami's wife Hasin Jahan had accused him of domestic violence and lodged a complaint with the police, following which the India player and his brother were booked under relevant sections.

The upheaval in his personal life forced his employer BCCI to withheld the player's central contracts for a while.

"Rehab was stressful as the same exercises are repeated every day. Then family problems started and I also suffered an accident. The accident happened 10-12 days ahead of the IPL and my personal problems were running high in the media," Shami told Rohit.

Shami said his family stood like a rock with him and the support helped him get back on his feet.

"Then my family explained that every problem has a solution no matter how big the problem. My brother supported me a lot."

Speaking about another painful period in his life after his injury in the 2015 World Cup, Shami said it took him almost 18 months to get back on the field.

"When I got injured in the 2015 World Cup, after that it took me 18 months to fully recover, that was the most painful moment in my life, it was a very stressful period.

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