Time to think about the future of some senior players in T20s

October 3, 2012

time_to_think_india_cricketers

After failing to make it to the semifinals of the ICC World Twenty20 for the third time in a row, some serious introspection is required by the BCCI as far as identifying right players for the shortest format of the game is concerned.

With the team failing to make an impact again, the new selection committee under the chairmanship of Sandeep Patil will have to think seriously whether they want a complete overhaul of the T20 side or focus on easing out some of the senior players from this particular squad.


If one tries to dissect the team's dismal Twenty20 campaign, the repeated failures of two senior most cricketers -- Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan -- has dented India's chances to a large extent.


The mercurial opener played three matches in the tournament, scoring just 54 runs at an average of 18. He was rested for the England game and then dropped for the Australia game which was criticised by a lot of former players like Ravi Shastri and Aravinda de'Silva.

However, Sehwag never showed intent during the other three innings which raised serious questions as to whether he fits into this T20 side any more.

If someone of Sehwag's talent is in the side, one expects him to play atleast till the 15th over and take the match away from the opposition, just like Chris Gayle does it for the West Indies.

Sehwag had repeatedly got out playing rash shots and the age-old excuse of "playing my natural game" isn't good enough.

A more than capable off-spinner, it's also baffling to see why he doesn't bowl more often. Is it Dhoni's lack of faith in his bowling abilities or his troubled shoulder which had undergone surgery? In both cases then, his place in the team will come under increasing scrutiny.


On Tuesday, skipper Dhoni half-heartedly defended Sehwag saying that "whenever the team does badly, these questions are raised", but isn't it inevitable after repeated failures from the man who is capable of doing more.

The next curious case is Zaheer Khan. The 33-year-old pacer has manfully shouldered the burden of being the spearhead of the Indian attack for past few years but there are signs that his body is not ready to take rigours of all three formats.


If India's campaign went wary in the island nation, it's because Zaheer failed to deliver during the opening overs. An economy rate of over seven meant that his team didn't get the momentum their way while bowling.

Not to forget Zaheer's poor fielding. Age has slowed him down considerably and he looked a complete liability in the field. Whenever he chased the balls, the batsmen already had two runs in their mind. In T20s, where each run saved is each run scored, it is difficult to hide someone like Zaheer.

India still need a wily bowler like Zaheer in Test matches but it is certainly time to think about his alternative, not only in T20s but also ODIs.

The next is the sensitive issue of Yuvraj Singh. Having made a comeback after fighting the greatest battle of his life, the decision to include him was certainly an emotional one. In fact, one must applaud Yuvraj for his lion-hearted effort with the ball as he took eight wickets in the tournament at an economy rate of less than six runs per over.

However what India needs badly is 'Yuvraj Singh the batsman' more than the 'bowling all-rounder' that he has been in the tournament.

His batting has been a bit scratchy but more matches Yuvraj plays, more effective he will become as India needs a player like him more than ever.


Few months back, Gautam Gambhir was considered as a captaincy material who can replace Mahendra Singh Dhoni but his patchy form across all formats has been a cause of concern for the Indian team.

He hasn't scored a century in the Tests for the past two years and now his form in T20s has also deserted him. A meagre 80 runs from five matches meant that India never got the starts they desired as he only showed some stomach for fight in the match against England.

With the likes of Ajinkya Rahane knocking at the doors and the very talented Murali Vijay roaring back to form in the recently concluded Irani Trophy and Challenger Series, these are ominous signs for the left-hander from Delhi.

Irfan Pathan's performance has been sincere enough but with his mid-120's pace, even his swing is not able to save him from being hit.

Pathan's economy rate of over 8.5 is something that Indian team can't afford over a period of time.

Harbhajan Singh's case is also interesting. The senior off-spinner made a glorious comeback against England but dropping him against South Africa, who are susceptible to spin bowling, was a surprising decision. Had Harbhajan bowled in place of Rohit Sharma, who knows it could have been different a different story.

Rohit has had one good innings against England but then someone who has got the highest number of chances in the history of Indian cricket (over 100 innings across two formats), one can't necessarily praise him for one odd good show after 20 flop shows.


The last but not the least is skipper Dhoni. His tendency to keep himself for the last three overs meant India were always short by 20 runs as he is India's best batsman in this format.

After five years, his captaincy also looks a bit jaded but as there are no likely options to replace him and his possible successor Virat Kohli still some years away from taking full responsibility, the wicket-keeper batsman is likely to remain in the hot seat for some more time.



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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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News Network
May 9,2020

May 9: Filipina weightlifting star Hidilyn Diaz noticed live-streamed concerts were collecting money for coronavirus relief and was struck by inspiration: why not raise funds with an online workout?

Since then the Olympic silver-medallist -- and strong contender for her country's first Games gold -- has made enough money to buy food packs for hundreds of hard-hit families in the Philippines.

Diaz has done it all from Malaysia, where she was training to qualify for the now-postponed Tokyo Olympics when much of the world locked down against the virus in March.

"I thought (distribution) would be impossible because I'm not physically present," Diaz, 29, told news agency.

"It's a good thing that I have trusted friends and trusted family members who understand why we need to do a fundraising."

That circle of supporters has handed out the packages, which include vegetables, eggs and rice, to more than 400 families.

The food was bought with donations from about 50 people who joined sessions that lasted up to three hours, and gave them a rare chance to train with an elite athlete.

Diaz rose to fame in 2016 after snagging a surprise silver in the 53 kilogramme category in Rio, becoming the Philippines' first female Olympic medallist and ending the nation's 20-year medal drought at the Games.

Two years later, she won gold at the Asian Games in Indonesia.

However, her quest to qualify for Tokyo is on hold ahead of the Games' rescheduled opening in July 2021.

"I thought all the hard work would soon be over... then it was extended," she said. "But I'm still thankful I can still continue with (the training) I need to do."

Still, the lockdown broke her daily training regimen, keeping her away from weights for 14 days for the first time in her career.

"I felt like I was losing my mind already. I've been carrying the barbell for 18 years and all of a sudden it's gone. Those were the kinds of anxiety that I felt," she said.

But she got access to some equipment, and with her coach's urging, got back to work. She was relieved to find her strength was still there.

Instead of a Tokyo berth, the past months have been about a different kind of accomplishment for Diaz: helping her countrymen get through the coronavirus crisis.

Rosemelyn Francisco's family in Zamboanga City, Diaz's home town, is one of the first to get help from the athlete's initiative, and is deeply grateful.

Her family was not wealthy to begin with, and the pandemic has cost her husband his construction job.

"The food she donated has all everything we need, including eggs," said Francisco, 27.

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News Network
January 12,2020

Mumbai, Jan 12: India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah will receive the prestigious Polly Umrigar Award for his exploits in international cricket in the 2018-19 season, the BCCI announced on Sunday.

The world's leading pacer will be honoured during the BCCI Annual Awards here on Sunday.

The world's No. 1 ODI bowler made his Test debut during India's tour of South Africa in January 2018 and has not looked back since. He picked up a five-wicket haul in South Africa, England, Australia and the West Indies becoming the first and only Asian bowler to achieve the feat.

He played a stellar role in the historic 2-1 Test series win in Australia, India's first Down Under and which helped them retain the Border Gavaskar Trophy. While Bumrah nets the biggest prize in the men's category, Poonam Yadav will claim the top prize in women's section and will be awarded the best international cricketer.

The award will be another feather in the leg-spinner's cap who recently received the Arjuna Award. Former India captains Krishnamachari Srikkanth and Anjum Chopra will be presented with the Col CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award and the BCCI Lifetime Achievement Award for women respectively.

A member of the 1983 World Cup-winning team, Srikkanth took on the fearsome West Indies fast bowlers and scored an attacking 38, the top individual score in the low-scoring final at the Lord's. He also captained India and post-retirement served as the chief selector and it was during his tenure that the 2011 World Cup squad was picked.

Anjum is one of the finest batswomen and the first Indian to play 100 ODIs. In a career spanning 17 years, Anjum represented India in four 50-over World Cups and two T20 World Cup (played in one).

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly said, "The BCCI Awards is our way of recognising the finest on-field performances right from the age group to senior level and also honour our legends.

"It will be a special evening in Mumbai as we will also have the 7th MAK Pataudi lecture and I am delighted to inform that it will be Virender Sehwag, who will address the gathering."

Board secretary Jay Shah said, "The BCCI Awards are an important feature in India's cricketing calendar, a melange of aspiration and inspiration. "We wanted to make Naman bigger and better and have introduced four new categories – highest run-getter and wicket-takers in WODIs and best international debut men and women – from this year. A total of 25 awards will be presented."

Arun Singh Dhumal, the board's treasurer, said, "Right from domestic to international level, Indian Cricket has had a memorable 2018-19 season. We have started the year on the right note with Team India completing a convincing series win against Sri Lanka and they will be in attendance. The U-19 team is in South Africa for the World Cup and all eyes will be on the stars of tomorrow. It will be a special evening and I congratulate the award winners".

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