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End of the road for Zaheer Khan?

December 10, 2012
Zaheer-KhanKolkata, December 10: It's never prudent to write off someone who has been a class act over some time, knowing that all it takes for such talent to bounce back is rediscover pride and belief.

But, then, Zaheer Khan's omission from the Nagpur Test squad has come at a time when recovery and resilience have a very different ring to it for him.

It's not just the skills that have deserted him, it is becoming increasingly evident that his injury-wracked body is not holding up anymore. It has left him looking lethargic and disinterested on the field, and probably has something to do with the loss of 'bite' in his bowling.

What's wrong with Zaheer? His skipper was more gracious than blunt when the obvious question came up, but not before he hinted at disappointment about his hit-man performing well below expectations.

"It would be of a great help if we can find the solution as everybody is asking the same question. Maybe the batsmen are playing him better. From behind (the wicket), it looks like he's bowling in the right areas. He's bowling the same way, swinging it both ways. Maybe this is just a phase where he's not getting wickets," Mahendra Singh Dhoni contended, but not after saying that he had expected a little more from his seamers.

"Their fast bowlers bowled well (read better). When we took the second new ball, we couldn't get the sort of 'reverse' they got. It was more about the bounce (they got) and the length they bowled," Dhoni added as a veiled reprimand of the reverse-swing expert in his team.

On the 34-year-old's fitness, or the lack of it, Dhoni indicated indulgence, a longer rope to someone whose skills had lent an air of 'indispensability' about him. "As far as his fitness is concerned, he has been that way for the last few years. He's definitely not unfit," the skipper said.

Hamstring, ankle, groin and shoulder with a nerve twitch thrown in... Zaheer has been dogged by injuries right through his career, missing many matches. He has made many a comeback, only to be let down by his body again.


This is a different crisis. Possibly the biggest test for the 'comeback man'.

ZAHEER IN TESTS

Matches

Wickets

Average

Best

5WI

10WM

Strike Rate

Economy

Home

38

104

35.87

5/72

3

-

70.2

3.06

Away

50

191

30.43

7/87

7

1

53.9

3.38

Total

88

295

32.35

7/87

10

1

59.7

32.5

Last 10 Tests

10

24

36.95

4/77

-

-

77.3

2.86

Home

5

7

56.00

2/59

-

-

127.5

2.63

Away

5

17

29.11

4/77

-

-

56.6

3.08

- In 2012, Zaheer has claimed 15 wickets in eight Tests at an average of 49.26.


- Zaheer failed to produce a single instance of four wickets in an innings in eight Tests in 2012.


- Zaheer's strike rate of 97.9 this year is his worst ever in a calendar year.


- Zaheer's last five-wicket haul in a Test innings was 5/94 in the Mohali Test against Australia in October 2010.


- Zaheer has failed to capture five wickets in an innings in the last 15 Tests that he has played.


- Zaheer's strike rate of 132.7 in three Tests against England is his worst in a Test series when he has played at least three Tests in a series.


- Zaheer's bowling average of 53.25 is his worst in a series (minimum 3 Tests).



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Agencies
June 9,2020

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed interim changes to its playing regulations, which include the ban on the use of saliva to shine the ball and allowing home umpires in international series as per a release issued by the international body.

The ICC Chief Executives' Committee (CEC) ratified recommendations from the Anil Kumble-led Cricket Committee, aimed at mitigating the risks posed by the COVID-19 virus and protect the safety of players and match officials when cricket resumes.

COVID-19 Replacements

Teams will be allowed to replace players displaying symptoms of COVID-19 during a Test match. In line with concussion replacements, the Match Referee will approve the nearest like-for-like replacement.

However, the regulation for COVID-19 replacements will not be applicable in ODIs and T20Is.

Ban on Saliva on Ball

Players will not be permitted to use saliva to shine the ball. If a player does apply saliva to the ball, the umpires will manage the situation with some leniency during an initial period of adjustment for the players, but subsequent instances will result in the team receiving a warning.

Whenever saliva is applied to the ball, the umpires will be instructed to clean the ball before play recommences.

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News Network
February 21,2020

Sydney, Feb 21: Leg-spinner Poonam Yadav bowled a magical spell in her comeback game to steer India to a comfortable 17-run win over defending champions Australia in the opening match of the Women's T20 World Cup on Friday.

Put in to bat, India struggled to a below par 132 before Poonam (4/19 in 4 overs) foxed the Aussies with her googlies, turning the match decisively into her team's favour.

Australia, who have won the competition four times in six editions, were all out for 115 in 19.5 overs

"A bowler like Poonam is someone who leads from the front. We were expecting a great comeback from her. Our team is looking nice, earlier we depended on two-three players," India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur said after the match.

Poonam, who missed the preceding tri-series due to a hand injury, also got good support from other bowlers including pacer Shikha Pandey.

The 28-year-old from Agra was on a hat-trick but narrowly missed out as wicketkeeper Taniya Bhatia dropped a difficult chance.

The tournament-opener saw a record 13,000 plus attendance with a sizeable chunk supporting India.

India next play against Bangladesh in Perth on February 24.

"It was great for me to come back from injury and perform like this. It was the third time that I was on a hat-trick but satisfied that I was able to do the job for the team," said Poonam at the post-match presentation.

Australia were off to a good start to their chase with opener Alyssa Healy making a 35-ball 51, laced with six boundaries and a six.

However, Indian spinners led by Poonam triggered a collapse as Australia suddenly slipped to 82 for six.

Poonam (4/19) snapped four wickets, two in successive deliveries in the 12th over, to break the back of Australia's chase.

Ashleigh Gardner (34 off 36) tried her bit but didn't get any support from the other end.

Earlier, India squandered a flying start to end up with a below-par total.

Sixteen-year-old Shafali Verma took India to 40 for no loss in four overs with a typically aggressive 29 off 15 balls but her fall derailed the innings as the other batters disappointed.

Deepti Sharma made a composed 46-ball 49 in the second half of the innings but the firepower that India needed in the death overs was badly missing.

India were cruising initially with Shafali taking the opposition to the cleaners, hitting five fours and a six.

However, left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen (2/24) snapped two quick wickets, Smriti Mandhana (10 off 11) and Harmanpreet (2 off 5) to reduce India to 47 for three.

Deepti then shared 53 runs with Jemimah Rodrigues (26 off 33) to bring up the 100 in the 16th over.

For Australia, Ellyse Perry (1/15) and Delissa Kimmince (1/24) were the other wicket-takers.

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Agencies
August 1,2020

Colombo, Aug 1: Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has expressed his interest in playing the inaugural edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL), scheduled to start from August 28.

Pathan is among 70 foreign players to have shown interest in playing the LPL, ESPNcricinfo reported.

It is believed that Pathan has taken permission from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to take part in the competition. 

BCCI doesn't allow active players to participate in other T20 leagues but Pathan announced his retirement in January this year.

Former swashbuckling all-rounder Yuvraj Singh also played in a foreign league last year. He played for Maratha Arabians in the T10 League in Abu Dhabi.

According to ESPNcricinfo, Pathan will now be put in a player draft unless one of the five franchises choose him to be a marquee player. The details of the draft, and the franchise owners, are yet to be finalised and announced. 

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is also waiting on some government clearances even as it decides on franchise owners. The five franchises will represent Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Dambulla and Jaffna.

On Monday, SLC Executive Committee granted approval for the tournament.

"The 23 match League will be played on the four international venues of R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Rangiri Dambulu International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium and Suriyawewa Mahinda Rajapakse International Cricket Stadium. Five teams named after the cities of Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Dambulla and Jaffna will participate in the League," SLC said in a statement on Monday.

Sri Lanka has controlled the spread of COVID-19 better than many other cricket-playing nations.

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