When Shahid Afridi was asked who was the better captain between MS Dhoni and Ricky Ponting, the former Pakistan captain got straight to the point regarding it and picked the Indian wicketkeeper-batsman over the former Australian cricketer.
Dhoni and Ponting, ostensibly the two of the best captains throughout the entire existence of the game, brag of two World Cup titles each to their name. Dhoni drove India in winning the debut T20 World Cup in 2007 preceding guaranteeing the 2011 World Cup.
Dhoni remains the only captain to win all significant ICC trophies (50-over World Cup, T20 World Cup, and Champions Trophy).
In the interim, Ponting took already settled Australian group to two back to back World Cup titles in 2003 and 2007 and played a significant commitment to his side’s mastery well through the 2000’s.
In an intuitive Twitter meeting with his fans, Afridi picked Dhoni as the better skipper over Ponting for building a genuinely new team ‘loaded with youths’. Answering a fan’s question, Afridi said, “I rate Dhoni a bit higher than Ponting as he developed a new team full of youngsters.”
I rate Dhoni a bit higher than Ponting as he developed a new team full of youngsters
Afridi, who recently recovered from coronavirus after testing positive, also named Viv Richards as his favourite batsman, while he said Abdul Qadir was his all-time favourite spinner. Asked who he thinks is the best bowler in the world, Afridi picked Australia pacer Pat Cummins.
Shahid Afridi Reveals all Time XI of his Contemporary Players:
Nowadays It has become a trend among cricket experts to announce their favourite XIs for the different formats of the game. In that order, Shahid Afridi, former Pakistan captain and all-rounder, announced all-time XI of his contemporary players.
Former India batsman Sachin Tendulkar made his debut against Pakistan in 1989 in Karachi. But not many would know that Sachin once fielded for Pakistan in an exhibition match, and rubbed shoulders with some of the greats.
As a 13-year-old, Sachin took the field for Pakistan in Brabourne Stadium, when Javed Miandad and Abdul Qadir had stepped out of the field.
The 47-year-old recalled the incident in his autobiography, ‘Playing It My Way’. He even wondered if Imran Khan remembered the incident.
“I don’t know whether Imran Khan remembers this or has any idea that I once fielded for his Pakistan team,” writes Tendulkar.
He additionally proceeded to depict how he could have been engaged with Kapil Dev’s dismissal, and how he ran a significant distance to take his catch.
Watch Hemant Kenkre Narrates the Story Of this Incident:
Sachin Tendulkar Against Pakistan in 1999 Test:
Prior, Waqar Younis had discussed Sachin’s batting in the 1999 Chennai Test, where he made a Ton which couldn’t take India to a success.
“We took a new ball and first Nayan Mongia hit one in the air. I think he was in a rush or I don’t know what went through his mind,” Waqar said on The Greatest Rivalry Podcast. “He thought the game was over and they won that game, and they got a little complacent, especially Nayan Mongia. And once he got out, we were still sort of thinking, ‘That’s not going to happen, we are not going to win this game. Till the time Sachin is there, it’s not going to happen.'”
“The way he was batting, it was just out of this world. And then in the very next over, I think, to Saqlain Mushtaq, Sachin hit one in the air and that was it. That confidence, that belief started creeping in that now we will not allow them to get those 15-16 runs, whatever was required.”
Back in December 2000, former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin was given a real existence boycott for his supposed contribution in the match-fixing claims, which was later transformed into a 12-year boycott. Presently the dim stage is behind Azhar, as he heads the Hyderabad Cricket Association and is effectively engaged with cricket.
But even after so many years, he does not know why he was banned in the first place. Talking to the cricketpakistan.com website, Azharuddin said, “I don’t want to blame anyone for what happened. I really don’t know the reasons for banning me…”
“…But I had decided to fight it and I am grateful that after 12 years I got cleared. I felt very satisfied when after being elected president of Hyderabad association I went and attended the BCCI AGM meeting.”
Azhar played 99 Tests for India, but he never knew that would turn out to be his last in national colours. But he reiterates, that he holds no regrets.
“I am a firm believer in fate and whatever is in your destiny it happens. I look at this way that nowadays if a player is a class act he ends up playing more than 100 Tests. So I don’t think this record of 99 Test matches that I hold is going to be broken,” Azharuddin said.
“I played for around 16 to 17 years and I captained for around 10 years. What more can I ask for.”
He also talked about the time when Zaheer Abbas helped him come out of lean patch of form. And how he in turn helped Younis Khan end bad form.
“I was not sure about being selected for the Pakistan tour in 1989 as I was struggling badly for form. I remember in Karachi Zaheer bhai came to the ground to watch us practice. He asked me why I was getting out early. I told him my problems and he suggested I change my grip a bit.”
“Since I had nothing to lose and he had come himself to the ground and gave me this advice I said why not give it a try.
“The moment I changed my grip I felt more comfortable and confident and started playing freely. Eventually, it also helped me become a more aggressive batsman.”
Talking about Younis, he said, “He looked ugly in his batting and I felt bad that such a good batsman should play so ungainly. I knew him so I called him up and advised him to stay in the crease and try to play close to the body from inside the crease.
“I am just happy he took my advice and went on to score a double century in the final Test at the Oval.”
The Indian great also made it clear he remained a supremely good fielder and catcher because of his flexible body.
Watch the Exclusive News For the Reason for Azharuddin’s Ban:
The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2020 is good to go to start on August 18 with the final planned to play on September 10. The 33-match competition will be played in Trinidad and Tobago with only two arenas set to have the whole occasion.
While Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba will witness 23 matches including the semi-finals and last, the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain will have 10 matches.
CPL 2020 will occur away from public scrutiny in a bio-secure condition because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The season opener will see last year’s runner up – Guyana Amazon Warriors – play Trinbago Knight Riders while the subsequent game will be played between defending champions Barbados Tridents and St Kitts and Nevis.
Damien O’Donohoe, the CPL’s CEO, said: “This year will be a different CPL, but the standard will be higher than ever. We have seen the appetite for live sport since it has returned after a prolonged absence, and the interest in CPL will be higher than ever with it being the first franchise T20 tournament to return.”
Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2020: Full Schedule
Indian cricketer Suresh Raina who has not seen in blue jersey for a quite long period names Rohit Sharma as the next Dhoni. Raina is also a great admirer of MS Dhoni who plays along with him in IPL for Chennai Super Kings.
Raina points Rohit’s leadership quality which almost looks similar to Dhoni’s style. Raina described India’s limited over vice-captain as a leader who tends to back the youngsters and listens to everyone in the dressing room.
“I would say he is the next MS Dhoni for the Indian cricket team,” Raina was said on The Super Over Podcast.
“I have seen him, he is calm, he likes to listen. He likes to give confidence to the players and on top of that, he likes to lead from the front. When a captain leads from the front and, at the same time, he gives respect to the dressing-room atmosphere, you know you have it all,” ESPN Cricinfo quoted him as saying.
“He thinks everyone is a captain. I have seen him, I have played under him when we won the Asia Cup in Bangladesh. I have seen how he gives confidence to young players like Shardul [Thakur], Washington Sundar, and [Yuzvendra] Chahal.”
“Around him, players enjoy the intensity, they enjoy his aura. When you enjoy the aura of a player, you like to be positive and I think that is what he is good at,” Raina added.
“MS Dhoni was brilliant. He [Rohit] has won more [IPL] trophies than MS, but they both are very similar. Both of them, as captains, like to listen. When your captain is listening, you can solve a lot of problems, you can solve the mental aspects of the players. So in my book, they both are wonderful.”
In 2019, Rohit overtook Dhoni to become the most successful captain in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Where Mumbai Indians beat Dhoni’s CSK in the 2019 finals and lifts the trophy for the fourth time while CSK won the IPL trophy three times in total.
The 2011 World Cup win will consistently be unique and it was made considerably progressively glad after the group lifted Sachin Tendulkar on their shoulder doing a triumph lap.
Indian captain Virat Kohli has now uncovered why the group chose to lift the incredible cricketer on their shoulders. On April 2, 2011, India vanquished Sri Lanka by six wickets at Wankhede Stadium in the finals to lift their second ODI World Cup. After the success, the entire group had conveyed Sachin on their shoulder in a lap of respect.
The right-handed batsman was addressing Indian cricketer Mayank Agarwal in the Latest Episode of the ‘Open nets with Mayank’ when the captain was gotten some information about the ‘lap of respect’ given to Sachin.
Watch Sachin Tendulkar Lifts by Teammates After 2011 WC Victory:
“Firstly my feeling was of gratitude that we had won the World Cup. I felt absolute joy. But invariably everyone`s feeling was centered around `Paaji` (Sachin Tendulkar) because we knew this was his last chance to win the World Cup and whatever he had done for the country for so many years, n number of games he has contributed to India`s winning cause and given us all motivation and inspiration,” said Indian skipper during the candid chat with Mayank.
“This was that gift from all of those people for him because he kept giving, giving, giving for India and I thought what better way at his home ground to realise his dream and then he gets a lap of honour. So, we felt like this is the ideal thing to do for him, and we went ahead and did it,” he added.
Kohli and Mayank would soon be seen in action for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) respectively in the Indian Premier League (IPL) starting from September 19 with finals on November 8 hosted by Emirates Cricket Board (ECB).
Former India opener Gautam Gambhir accepts that the Virat Kohli-drove side has the bowling assault to shake the Australian batting line up including Steve Smith and David Warner, who were serving ball-tampering bans in the last series against India.
India is scheduled to tour Australia in November for an overwhelming four-Test series.
“Because India has got the bowling attack to rattle the Australian batting line-up even with David Warner and Steve Smith, but yeah, it’s going to be a different challenge than what it was last time around,” Gambhir said on Star Sports show ‘Cricket Connected’.
“So, you would want Virat Kohli to fire plus the bowlers as well because it’s the bowlers that will win you the Test matches,” added the southpaw.
India won the 2019 Test series Against Australia
Former India opener Gautam Gambhir accepts that the Virat Kohli-drove side has the bowling assault to shake the Australian batting line up including Steve Smith and David Warner, who were serving ball-tampering bans in the last series against India.
Last time in 2018-19, India enlisted their first win over Australia in the Test series where Australia missed the game changers, Smith and Warner, in their squad who missed the tournament as they were in a ball-tampering ban.
Gambhir, who was part of the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup-winning teams, said this time it will be a different challenge for the visitors.
“Whether it was his (Kohli’s) first tour, whether it was the second tour, this time around, obviously, he (Kohli) would be gearing up for it because it’s going to be a different challenge with David Warner and Steve Smith coming back into the Australian Test line-up,” he said.
The T20 World Cup deferment has opened a window for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to compose the current year’s Indian Premier League (IPL). Subject to endorsements, the competition will be played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where, in contrast to India, the COVID bend has straightened significantly. What’s more, there’s an outside possibility that some groups may be permitted at the settings.
The BCCI has kept in touch with the Indian government, looking for consent to sort out the IPL in the UAE. Subject to the administration’s endorsement, the Board will report the dates for the competition.
An IPL Governing Council meeting will be assembled soon to officially report the competition plan and the standard working strategy (SOP) for all the partners. The delay of the T20 World Cup has made a window for the T20 group from mid-September to early November.
As a CEO of an IPL establishment educated, the BCCI has verbally conveyed to the IPL groups that the competition will be played from September 19 to November 8. In the interim, the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) has affirmed that it has gotten the official Letter of Intent from the BCCI to have the 2020 release of the IPL.
IPL 2020 set to played in UAE
There may be a top on the number of onlookers.
Will the matches be held away from public scrutiny?
BCCI authorities state that the neighborhood organization is pondering on permitting some group at the scene—50 percent of the arena limit. They state that when the IPL begins, the circumstance would be far better in the UAE. Information put out by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that UAE has 58,562 affirmed coronavirus cases from January 29 to July 26, with 343 passings.
At 51,628, the recuperation rate is additionally truly high in the Emirates. By September, nearby games are required to start in Dubai. Likewise, Dubai will have the European Tour golf finale before the IPL. So there’s an outside possibility that a few observers may be permitted at the scenes for the IPL matches.
On the other hand, as an individual from the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) educated, the ECB is doing a recce of the three settings in the UAE—Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah—and looking over the section and leave focuses.
In the event that even 20-30 percent of onlookers are permitted, each setting needs to have sanitization passages and all other important measures according to wellbeing conventions.
Could fans travel to watch the matches?
Truly, they can in the event that they test negative for Covid-19. In the event that the matches are held in Dubai for instance, going fans need to either complete a PCR test inside 96 hours before setting out or take one in the wake of coming to there.
Just those tried positive will be isolated for 14 days. A Dubai Sports Council official, nonetheless, said that if abroad fans are permitted, they should experience an isolated period. Additionally, UAE is the main nation in the Middle East where global flights are routinely working.
Will the establishments endure misfortune if matches are held away from public scrutiny?
They will miss out on pay through entryway receipts. Entryway receipts shift for various establishments. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), for instance, appreciate high door receipts with a 67,000-seater Eden Gardens as their home setting and extremely high turnouts.
Establishments that have littler arenas as their home settings don’t procure high entryway receipts. Generally, door income is around Rs 250 crore, eight establishments joined. As per an official, each IPL establishment will lose at any rate Rs 15-20 crore if the competition is played away from public scrutiny.
Have the establishments begun getting ready for the IPL?
Truly, they have. Like a Chennai Super Kings (CSK) official stated, they have begun enquiring about inns in the UAE. A few establishments have additionally begun haggling with their supporters. Each group will have a camp before the competition, yet there’s still no lucidity on when the camps could be held.
An establishment official educated that they haven’t got visa affirmation for their outside players from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
CSK, for instance, are intending to send their Indian players for a camp in Dubai towards the finish of this current month or early August. Delhi Capitals, as well, will have a camp in Dubai, as indicated by an establishment official.
A couple of establishments, however, need a three-week camp for their Indian players at a far off spot in the nation, a city that falls under the green zone. Abroad players for all the establishments will legitimately check-in at Dubai, however, groups are as yet uncertain about when their remote players will turn up.
In nations like South Africa for instance, no global flight is working yet. So all things considered, outside players will come in groups.
Will the establishments lose sponsorship income?
Business achievement in the advanced game is dictated by the eyeballs on TV and computerized gushing. So from the perspective of the BCCI and host telecaster, it doesn’t make a difference much if the IPL matches are played before void stands.
The equivalent applies to the IPL establishments, as well. In any case, as an establishment CEO put it, “in a monetary downturn brought about by the pandemic, by and large, sponsorship income will descend by 10-15 percent”. As indicated by industry assesses, the eight establishments altogether are relied upon to acquire sponsorship income worth Rs 450-500 crore.
Things being what they are, an IPL in the UAE won’t be productive for the establishments?
It will have an effect on their income, yet for this situation, launching the IPL season far exceeds not having the competition by any stretch of the imagination. Overhead costs for an IPL away from home will be higher by in any event 10-15 percent.
It’s as yet not chose whether the BCCI will deal with the bio-security plans for the groups or the groups should do it all alone. Likewise, it’s not known whether the BCCI will remunerate the establishments for sponsorship and door income misfortunes.
But then, as an establishment official stated: “Without the IPL, we would have had zero income (communicate income, sponsorship income and so forth.) and no payouts moreover.” Roughly, establishments would have endured an income loss of Rs 250 crore each if the current year’s competition were dropped.
How significant is the IPL for the BCCI?
The BCCI’s income misfortune if there should arise an occurrence of a crossing out would have been in abundance of Rs 2,000 crore forthright. Star, the host telecaster, pays the Board Rs 3,270 crore for every year, which the last offers with the establishments in a 50:50 proportion. So the BCCI would have endured a communicated income misfortune north of Rs 1,500 crore.
Vivo, the IPL’s title support, gives the BCCI Rs 439 crore for each year, while Dream11, the IPL’s legitimate accomplice, forks out Rs 161 crore every year. The Board would have passed up that also. Considering all income streams, without the IPL, the BCCI had been gazing at a Rs 3,000-crore dark opening.
The BCCI conveys 70 percent of the communicate income from global cricket among its individuals, while 26 percent of that goes to cricketers. The IPL income fills the BCCI coffers and enables the Board to fabricate framework and take care of old enough gathering and residential cricket.
One of the fittest and greatest batsman of the current era Virat Kohli shares a photo of him sitting over a branch of a tree. The Indian skipper Virat Kohli performs actively in social media during the COVID-19 quarantine period.
Kohli took his Instagram account to post this special photo of him sitting over the branch of a tree.
The 31-year-old along with his lovely pic quoted as “Throwback to when you could just climb up a tree and chill 🤙😃”
With a huge fan following in Instagram Kohli’s post has gone viral and one of his teammate Mohammed Shami made a quick reply for Kohli’s post.
Mohammed Shami comment as “Oyyy bhai ye kis line main aa Gaye app 🤔🤔😆😆😆😆😆”
Kohli’s Favourite Workout:
Earlier Virat Kohli took the same social media platform to share his favorite workout which he would choose to do everyday.
The right-handed batsman shared a 26-second long video with a caption,” If I had to make a choice of one exercise to do every day, this would be it. Love the power snatch.”
Kohli shared another workout video, where he was seen doing flying clap push-ups, inspired by all-rounder Hardik Pandya.
India has not played any international cricket since March, their last series against South Africa was called-off due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Kohli will return to action after a gap of more than six months when he will lead Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which is set to take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in September.
India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took to Twitter and suggested that the authorities bring in a major rule change that stops a non-striker from leaving the crease before the bowler has released the ball. Ashwin’s reaction came a day after the ICC announced that TV umpires will call the front-foot no-balls in all the ODIs which are part of ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League.
The off-spinner even suggested a couple of ways to restore the parity between the bat and ball by disallowing the runs scored by the batsmen if he leaves his crease before the ball is bowled.
“Just hope that technology will see if a batsmen is backing up before the bowler bowls a ball and disallow the runs of that ball every time the batter does so!! Thus, parity will be restored as far as the front line is concerned. #noball #dontbackup,” tweeted Ashwin.
Just hope that technology will see if a batsmen is backing up before the bowler bowls a ball and disallow the runs of that ball every time the batter does so!!Thus, parity will be restored as far as the front line is concerned. #noball#dontbackup
Explaining the rationale behind his thinking, Ashwin wrote that current regulation does a grave injustice to the bowler in a game which hugely favors a batsman and it can cost a bowler some extra runs during a match which can eventually play a crucial part in determining the game’s outcome.
When a Twitter user presented a counter-argument to Ashwin’s suggestion, the off-spinner quickly made another way out, suggesting a free ball for the bowler on the very next ball every time the non-striker has backed up.
“Instead of Disallowing the run, maybe the bowler can get a free ball the very next one where the batsmen has backed up. Some fairness to start off maybe,” wrote the Delhi Capitals bowler.
This is actually something I don’t agree with. While I’m 100% onboard with running out a batsman if they step out of the non strikers crease, it is basically like stumping.
If a batter is outside the crease, run out. Same for a stumping. It’s a risk they’re willing to take
Ashwin was involved in a major controversy during IPL last year when he clipped the bails at the non-striker’s end after Rajasthan Royals’ Jos Buttler tried to steal some yards by backing up too much.
After a long coronavirus break, Ashwin will be back in action playing for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2020 which as per the IPL chairman Brijesh Patel will start on September 19, with the final scheduled for November 8 in the United Arab Emirates.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) launched the ODI Super League, a qualifier for the 2023 World Cup in India that aims to add context to the 50-over format.
Hosts India and the next top seven teams in the Super League will automatically qualify for the World Cup, the world body stated in a press release.
The competition begins with a series between world champions England and Ireland, beginning at Southampton on 30 July. The rest of the schedule will be unveiled later.
“The league will bring relevance and context to ODI cricket over the next three years, as a qualification for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 is at stake,” ICC’s GM Operation Geoff Allardice said.
With T20 cricket thriving and Tests remaining the ultimate challenge, former players such as Ricky Ponting have questioned the relevance of ODIs.
Featuring 13 teams, the 12 ICC Full Members and the Netherlands, who qualified by winning the World Cricket Super League 2015-17, the Super League will see each side play four home and four away three-match series.
The five sides which fail to qualify directly will play along with five Associate sides in the Qualifier 2023, with two teams making it to the 10-team World Cup in India.
“The decision last week to move the World Cup back to late 2023 gives us more time to schedule any games lost due to COVID-19 and preserve the integrity of the qualification process, meaning it will be decided on the field of play, which is important,” Allardice said.
Each team gets 10 points for a win, five for a tie/no result/abandonment, and none for a loss.
The qualification process for the 2023 World Cup
Teams will be ranked according to total points earned across the eight series. There are criteria in place to separate two or more teams on equal points.
“The start of the Super League was delayed due to COVID-19. As part of our contingency planning, we continue to work with Members to find windows where the rescheduled qualifying series can be safely and practically rescheduled,” the ICC stated.
A knock-out phase will not be needed as the league standings will determine the qualification for the World Cup.
England captain Eoin Morgan said the Super League fixture against Ireland marks the start of their journey for the 2023 edition.
“Given the situation, it will be quite different to the last time we played at home when we lifted the World Cup at Lord’s, but it’s nice to be starting our journey for the next edition of the tournament,” he said.
“I’m sure cricket fans all over the world will be excited to see white-ball cricket resume and we’re looking forward to the challenge. Ireland is a talented team that has shown over the years that they can beat the best on their day,” he added.
Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie is hoping to put a competitive show against the world champions.
“It is obviously going to be a huge challenge taking on the team that won the World Cup just a year ago but we have prepared well and have taken confidence from our form over the early months of 2020,” said Balbirnie.
“I hope international cricket’s return is steady during these challenging times,” he added
The Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council is likely to meet on August 2 to finalize the schedule of the tournament and other important arrangements to host the tournament in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) later this year.
“We are having the governing council meeting on 2nd of August and major issues related to the league will be discussed in this meeting,” a BCCI source privy to the development was quoted as saying by ANI.
The IPL 2020, which was scheduled to be played from March 29 this year, was earlier postponed to April 15 before it was suspended indefinitely due to the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, after the International Cricket Council (ICC) formally announced the postponement of the T20 World Cup, the BCCI capitalized on the opportunity to stage the IPL during the time the T20 World Cup was dated to take place.
IPL 2020 set to played in UAE
Apart from deciding the schedule, the governing council meeting will discuss the logistical issues including the standard operating procedures (SOP) to create quarantine facilities, bio-secured training facilities, and the traveling arrangements of the players, match officials, and others.
The logistics and operations team from the BCCI will also be traveling to the three UAE venues – Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai – to check if the preparations there. If the UAE airlines don’t start operations then all will fall back on chartered planes.
Earlier, the Governing Council chairman Brijesh Patel had confirmed that the 2020 edition of the IPL will be played from September 19 to November 8. He further said that the same has been communicated to the franchises and other stakeholders as well.
“We have had a discussion and we are looking at the September 19 to November 8 window for this edition of the league. We have informed the franchise about the same,” IANS quoted Patel as saying.
Meanwhile, on Monday the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that they had received the official ‘Letter of Intent’ from the BCCI to host the cash-rich tournament for the second time. The UAE had earlier staged the tournament in 2014.
“We have received the (official) letter and now wait on the decision from the Indian Government which will ink the final deal,” ECB Secretary-General Mubashshir Usmani was quoted as saying in the ECB statement.
