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A coveted top-two spot seemed certain for Chennai Super Kings a week ago, but now they are being made to fight for it

The Preview by Siddarth Ravindran23-May-20142:52

Guha: Super Kings would want to regain momentum

Match factsSaturday, May 24, 2014
Start time 1600 local (1030 GMT)Chris Gayle gets one last chance to entertain Royal Challengers’ home crowd, who have had little to cheer all season•BCCIBig PictureWhen the two teams met the previous weekend, Chennai Super Kings seemed a well-oiled machine, dropping only two matches against the red-hot Kings XI Punjab in their first ten of the season to be gliding towards a top-two spot. Now, like a distance runner who began sprinting too early in the race, Super Kings are flagging as the finish line nears and three losses in a row have allowed Kolkata Knight Riders to catch up.That top-two spot is no more a foregone conclusion, and the bowling hasn’t been top notch in recent times, but it’s not all gloom. They are still guaranteed a playoff place, their mighty batting still scares most oppositions, and their final game is against the already eliminated Royal Challengers Bangalore.For the third season in a row, Royal Challengers have come up short, failing to make the playoffs. “I am sad and apologise to all amazing RCB fans for the teams poor performance in this IPL. It is heartbreaking that the star line-up failed,” their owner Vijay Mallya tweeted. Perhaps the one thing of interest for Royal Challengers fans is that the team will switch from its regular red-and-yellow outfit to a green jersey for this game as part of the franchise’s ‘Go green’ drive.Form guideRoyal Challengers Bangalore: LLWWL (completed games, most recent first)
Chennai Super Kings: LLLWWWhere they standRoyal Challengers Bangalore: Seventh, with 10 points after 13 matches
Chennai Super Kings: Second, with 16 points after 13 matchesPrevious encounterIn a low-scoring encounter on a ragged spinning track in Ranchi, an AB de Villiers cameo tilted the match Royal Challengers’ way when the two teams met last weekend.Watch out forOne of the troublesome spots for Super Kings has been the quick-bowling partner for Mohit Sharma. The regular has been Ishwar Pandey, who has been tidy but has only five wickets in 11 matches. The other fast bowler they have turned to often is Australia’s Ben Hilfenhaus, who has been expensive in his eight games. John Hastings was unimpressive in his first outing on Thursday, while Ashish Nehra also has had only one game. The other options they have are New Zealand’s Matt Henry and Karnataka’s Ronit More.Royal Challengers could experiment with their XI in a game of little consequence. There have a fairly small squad (21 players), but they still haven’t given a game to some of their lower-profile players. If the likes of Shadab Jakati and Sandeep Warrier aren’t given a go in this match, then when?Stats and trivia Mitchell Starc needs two more scalps to reach 100 Twenty20 wickets. If he gets there on Saturday, he will be the joint-second quickest to get there, in 66 innings, only behind Krishmar Santokie who needed only 54. Only two batsmen have more not-out innings than Dhoni’s 60 (out of 164) in T20 cricket – Kieron Pollard (61 in 205) and Albie Morkel (76 in 214)

Jesse Ryder scored his second hundred in as many Ford Trophy matches but this time it wasn’t enough to make up for the poor performances of his team-mates and Otago lost to Northern Districts by four wickets and a ball to spare in a thrilling finish at Seddon Park in Hamilton.Otago lost three wickets – two to Trent Boult – in the first ten overs after they were sent into bat before they were steadied by a 97-run stand between Michael Bracewell and Jesse Ryder. Bracewell fell for 67 off 69 balls and after that Ryder found no significant support. His 115 off 112 deliveries was the only reason Otago got to 277 in 49.4 overs. Offspinner Kane Williamson took 3 for 40, while Boult, Ish Sodhi and Scott Kuggeleijn took two each for Northern Districts.The hosts lost their captain Daniel Flynn early in the chase but 30s from opener Joe Carter and No. 5 Corey Anderson sandwiched half-centuries from Kane Williamson and BJ Watling. Williamson fell for 75 and Neil Wagner caused a slide when he took three quick wickets for Otago. Northern Districts went from 194 for 3 to 211 for 6. Watling, however, was still batting – he finished on 83 – and Jono Boult made 39 off 28 balls to seal victory off the penultimate ball of the game. Northern Districts needed six off the final over, and Ryan ten Doeschate dropped Boult off Jimmy Neesham, before Watling hit a match-winning six.A strong collective performance from Auckland’s batsmen helped them post a match-winning total against Central Districts at Saxton Oval in Nelson to record their second victory of the Ford Trophy. The key performer was Colin de Grandhomme, whose 78 off 52 balls led Auckland to 307, and fast bowler Mitchell McClenaghan, who took 4 for 45 to secure a 92-run win.After losing the toss, Auckland benefitted from their top four making useful contributions, though only Craig Cachopa converted his start into a half-century – a brisk 66 off 62 balls. The score was 198 for 5 in the 38th over when he fell, after which de Grandhomme took charge of the finish, helping Auckland score another 109 runs. Tarun Nethula was Central Districts’ most successful bowler, taking 3 for 64 in ten overs.The Central Districts top order made a start similar to Auckland’s but they lacked the sort of innings that Cachopa and de Grandhomme played. They fell away from 122 for 2 and were eventually dismissed for 215 in 39.1 overs. McClenaghan was supported by Michael Bates and Colin Munro who took two wickets each.The match between Canterbury and Wellington was washed out without the toss happening at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. Both teams took two points each.

MatériaMais Notícias

Jorge Sampaoli e Fernando Diniz são dois personagens curiosos no futebol brasileiro. Amados ou criticados, praticamente não há meio termo. Ou são admirados pelos torcedores que apreciam o seu estilo ou contestado pelo modelo. A certeza é que ambos carregam o ar de renovação e se enfrentarão, comandando Santos e Fluminense, respectivamente, nesta quinta-feira, às 19h15, na Vila Belmiro. A partidaterá transmissão em tempo real do LANCE!.

Sampaoli chegou ao Santos no início deste ano após campanha pífia pela Argentina na Copa do Mundo. Com atuações questionáveis, Messi e companhia foram eliminados nas oitavas de final do torneio mundial para a França.Por isso, a contratação do argentino foi considerada ousada por parte dos dirigentes do Peixe. Porém, nas primeiras partidas, foi evidenciado que Sampaoli não era aposta.

A contenção da posse de bola, a busca incessante ao gol e as variações táticas acarretando até um 2-5-3 foram destaques do treinador.As goleadas contra São Bento, Bragantino e Altos-PI, além de ótimas atuações de jogadores que eram criticados pela torcida, principalmente o meia Jean Mota, empolgaram a todos. O Peixe foi eliminado na semifinal do Paulistão, porém atacando o Corinthians por 25 vezes.

A vitória contra o Grêmio, por 2 a 1, em Porto Alegre, na estreia do Campeonato Brasileiro, impressionou. Sampaoli, de última hora, trocou seis titulares e apostou em jogadores que não vinham tendo sequência. Novamente, utilizou cinco defensores para inibir as ações de Everton e André. A performance colocou o Santos de vez como favorito na disputa por uma vaga na Libertadores 2020.

Já Fernando Diniz chegou ao Fluminense após uma passagem frustrante pelo Athletico-PR. Era cotado para ser um inovador no futebol brasileiro após o sucesso com o Audax (SP), mas a queda no clube parananense – aliado ao sucesso de Tiago Nunes – fizeram o seu trabalho ser questionado. Quando a maior dos clubes fechou as portas, o Fluminense apareceu com uma chance.

Diniz chegou sob desconfiança, mas a parte tática que implantou na equipe agradou. Mesmo sem ter um elenco com grande peças, fez com que o Tricolor jogasse de igual para igual contra todos – principalmente contra o Flamengo. Com toque de bola, paciência e movimentação, chegou a ganhar o prêmio de melhor técnico do Campeonato Carioca.Diante do Santos, encontrará o argentino com quem revelou ser um admirador.

– Não importa se o Corinthians ganhou do Santos, eu gosto mais do Santos. Não importa se o Tottenham ganhou do City, eu gosto mais do City (as equipes se enfrentaram pelas quartas de final da Champions League). O jogador brasileiro está clamando por ajuda. A gente tem que conviver melhor (com o resultado). Futebol não é um lugar para assassinar as pessoas – afirmou Diniz.

O início do torneio de Diniz foi bem diferente com relação a Jorge Sampoli: foi derrotado para o Goiás, no Maracanã. Internamente, o treinador segue bem avaliado, mas a lentidão no setor de meio-campo da equipe começa a ser criticada. Ainda sem poder contar com Paulo Henrique Ganso, o treinador segue na sua caminhada para se firmar no Campeonato Brasileiro.

India captain MS Dhoni knew Sachin Tendulkar’s retirement “was coming” and has lauded the batsman for delivering in the face of huge expectations for more than two decades

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Oct-2013India captain MS Dhoni knew Sachin Tendulkar’s retirement “was coming” and has lauded the batsman for delivering in the face of huge expectations for more than two decades. Tendulkar, 40, will play his farewell series against West Indies at home next month, with his last and 200th Test likely to be staged in his hometown Mumbai.”I knew it (retirement) was coming,” Dhoni said in Pune, ahead of the first ODI against Australia. “I am quite happy for him, for the kind of illustrious career he has had, for the time he was at the top throughout his career. For 23 years or so he was always at the top.”When you are the top batsman for your side for a considerable period of time, everyone scrutinises your performance when you score or don’t score runs. He had to carry the expectations of so many Indians. At times the Indian fans set very high level of expectations. To bear with all of that and to come up with the performances that he came up with is fantastic.”Stadium attendances for Test matches in India aren’t exactly healthy and Dhoni said in the unlikely case there weren’t full houses for Tendulkar’s last series, one could forget filling grounds for a long time to come. “I think at the moment we would rather enjoy the two Test matches to the fullest. It will give me an opportunity to see a house-full Test match. I have seen big crowds coming in, but it’s one chance I will see a house-full crowd hopefully in both the venues. If I am not able to then in the next 25-30 years I don’t think I will see a house-full Test match.”0:00

‘Learnt how to read the game from Sachin’ – Dhoni

وجه النادي الأهلي رسالة خاصة إلي لاعب وسط الفريق حمدي فتحي، الذي سينتقل إلى صفوف الوكرة القطري، خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية الجارية.

حمدي فتحي وصل إلى الدوحة صباح اليوم، تمهيدًا للانضمام إلي صفوف الوكرة القطري. طالع التفاصيل من هنا.

وكان محمد بن فهد آل ثاني المتحدث الرسمي باسم نادي الوكرة القطري أعلن عن اقتراب إتمام صفقة حمدي فتحي لاعب وسط الأهلي أمس الثلاثاء.

ونشرت الصفحة الرسمية للأهلي عبر موقع التواصل الاجتماعي “فيس بوك”: “شكرًا على كل شيء يا حمدي”.

حمدي فتحي انضم إلى صفوف الأهلي في موسم 2019 وحقق العديد من البطولات مع أبرزها 3 بطولات دوري أبطال إفريقيا مع 2 برونزية كأس العالم للأندية.

يذكر أن حمدي فتحي ثاني الراحلين عن صفوف الأهلي في الصيف الحالي، حيث أعلنت إدارة القلعة الحمراء رحيل البرازيلي برونو سافيو إلي نادي بوليفار البوليفي بصفة نهائية.

New Zealand’s need to regroup after their Test defeat against England before the Champions Trophy has been made doubly difficult by the possibility that they will lose Trent Boult for the tournament because of injury

David Hopps at Headingley28-May-2013New Zealand’s need to regroup after their Test defeat against England before the Champions Trophy has been made doubly difficult by the possibility that they will lose Trent Boult for the tournament because of injury.Boult has carried the fight for New Zealand with 19 wickets at 25.47 in five Tests, home and away, against England, but his side strain is not responding to treatment and he will have a scan in London on Wednesday to assess the damage.”He’s not looking great,” New Zealand’s captain, Brendon McCullum, lamented. “He is still not moving that freely which is a shame because he’s been a revelation for us this season.”Until a fateful Sunday at Lord’s, New Zealand had pressed England all the way, but their capitulation for 68 in only 22.3 overs against Stuart Broad and James Anderson was an experience from which they never recovered.”Right up until that point our self-belief was very high and that ripped our hearts out and just started to create some self-doubt among us, which is a horrible thing in this game,” McCullum said. “That’s what unfolded in this Test. We still had periods where we dominated but they didn’t last long enough and the periods of England dominating seemed to last a lot longer.”We saw in this Test match England flexing their muscles and us not being able to respond. It’s incredibly disappointing. If you look back on the last five Test matches we’ve played some good cricket and taken some strides forward but it’s fair to say this one was a step backwards.”McCullum has seen enough to favour England in the Ashes later this summer. “England are red-hot favourites at home, their ability to swing the Dukes ball is huge,” he said. “Any team that plays at home is familiar with the surroundings.”There will be no overreaction to New Zealand’s batting failures if McCullum gets his way. He insisted that he retained faith in the potential of the group that, until the past ten days, had begun to promise a brighter Test future.”If you fast forward 18 months, we’ve got the makings of a very good cricket team,” he said. “I’m a big fan of protecting the people who have performed for a period of time and that’s what we’ve seen from this group of players. We’ve got the right mix and the right balance in this group and we need to keep improving as a team and smooth out some of our rough edges.”Brendon McCullum’s early dismissal helped England push on for victory on the final day•Getty ImagesHe dismissed suggestions that New Zealand, six down overnight, were caught on the hop when they did not bother with morning nets before the Test resumed under sullen Leeds skies. The forecast had left Leeds on the edge of a bank of heavy rain but it only suffered light drizzle and a delayed start and a couple of interruptions were not enough to halt England’s charge to victory.McCullum, one of the not-out batsmen overnight, fell early to a superb return catch by Stuart Broad, who dismissed him in all four innings in the series. After that, Tim Southee and Doug Bracewell chose to counterattack – Southee seems to know no other way – and then Neil Wagner and Boult sought to block. As rain was a constant threat, it seemed an idiosyncratic approach towards trying to save a Test.New Zealand’s emphasis now turns to the Champions Trophy. They have eight squad changes but the first player McCullum needs to consider when it comes to reintegration is himself. Having stepped in as wicketkeeper because of an injury to BJ Watling, he now has to decide whether to continue in the role or hand over the gloves to Luke Ronchi.”I’ve always said I’d never have any regrets through my career and that doesn’t change,” he said. “Obviously I wasn’t as fluent as I would like to be, like when I was 21, and I wasn’t able to contribute with the bat as much as I wanted, but it was a decision we made and I’ll stand by it. It didn’t affect my batting, I’d love to say it was an excuse for why I didn’t get runs but I can’t claim that.”The keeping role is something we need to talk about in the next 24 hours before we start to nail down the one-day team. It’s definitely up for discussion. Luke is definitely going to play as an opener. We need to work out what’s comfortable for both of us and the team.”

Labuschagne makes duck on Glamorgan return as bowlers dominate opening day

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay16-May-2025Bowlers dominated the opening proceedings between Glamorgan and Northamptonshire as 13 wickets fell in a slow-scoring day one at Sophia Gardens.Northants fell from 99 for 1 at lunch to 185 all out including a period of 35 runs for six wickets being shared around by the Glamorgan seamers, Luke Procter was the only batter flying the flag for the visitors, as has been the story all season with 61.Overseas impact Asitha Fernando continued his form as did Andy Gorvin taking three wickets apiece. In reply, a similar story: a steady, watchful start ending with 82 for 3.Marnus Labuschagne made a disappointing return to his two-match stay at the Welsh County in preparation for the World Test Championship final. The Australian fell for a duck from his fellow countryman Harry Conway while Glamorgan’s top run scorer for 2025 – Colin Ingram – is rested.Both sides recorded their first win in the last round of fixtures to make for a tighter Division Two table after five matches than the initial anticipations from April. Glamorgan moved off bottom spot with a win inside two-and-a-half days while Northants, on the high of their bat-first win against Lancashire, decided to insert themselves after winning the toss on a dry, sun-hit pitch in Cardiff.The first session proved Procter’s decision at the toss to be the correct one as the new ball provided little for the Glamorgan all-seam frontline attack. It was a loose start demonstrated by 16 of the first 39 runs coming via four sets of leg-bye boundaries from the Glamorgan openers.Reliable medium-pacer Gorvin provided the only reason to celebrate, sending back Ricardo Vasconcelos after he had passed a personal milestone of 5,000 first-class runs in his short stay. Despite the positives it wasn’t all celebratory for the Northants captain; he was struck in a sensitive area on two occasions, while number three Goerge Bartlett looked unconvincing despite getting through to lunch unscathed.The form wasn’t long-lasting for the visitors as their top-five woes continued shortly after Procter passed 50. Timm van der Gugten led the way with a ball-on-a-string spell, taking his 300th first-class wicket in the process before the rest of the five-strong seam-attack all contributed for themselves with some smart catching in the slip cordon worth an honourable mention.Justin Broad and Calvin Harrison did resist for Northants as Glamorgan shuffled their bowlers but a loose shot on the brink of tea sent Harrison packing and 185 for 8 at tea wasn’t added to in the final session.Zain Ul Hassan backed up his wicket by coming out in stroke-making fashion, taking five boundaries in his stay for 25 before chopping on in a disappointing dismissal. Asa Tribe however went about his work in a much quieter fashion in the opening 46-run partnership. The Jerseyman was bogged down until his eventual dismissal after the tight spells from Ben Sanderson and Procter, who both found lateral movement with the ball.Captain Sam Northeast together with Kiran Carlson, on his birthday, remained not out at the end of play, surviving the final eight overs after a loss of three wickets for two runs, including Labuschagne who fenced low to Justin Broad at third slip for a seven-ball duck.

Preview of the Caribbean T20 final between Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago in St Lucia

The Preview by Nagraj Gollapudi20-Jan-2013Match factsJanuary 20, 2013
Start time 2000 (0000GMT)Christopher Barnwell helped power Guyana into the final with a six-wicket win over Chris Gayle’s Jamaica•WICB Media

Big PictureFittingly, the final of the last edition of the Caribbean T20 (due to be replaced by a franchise-based Caribbean Premier League) will be played by Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana, the two teams who have shared the title on the previous five occasions. They contested the 2006 final of the Stanford 20/20 (as the tournament was called in the first two years), with Guyana winning with a ball to spare. Guyana then regained the crown in 2010. T&T won the title for the first time in 2008 and have been the defending champions for the last two years.Yet both teams have taken contrasting paths to success over the years. Guyana have always surprised the form sheet with cavalier displays, like the determined effort from Christopher Barnwell against Jamaica on Saturday in the play-off. In contrast, T&T have subdued their opponents convincingly through consistent performances.T&T were the only team not to lose a single match during the preliminary round, which they topped with 21 points, to book a final berth about a week in advance. In contrast, Guyana had to sweat late into Saturday night. That only reveals their desperation right through, including two last-ball victories.T&T have looked more assured on both the batting and bowling fronts, with more than one match-winner in their ranks. Darren Bravo has been the tournament’s leading scorer, including three consecutive fifties, and has looked more dominant with every match. Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin and Kieron Pollard have played around him to consolidate later. Sunil Narine and Samuel Badree have posed many difficult questions to the opposition batsmen, bowling aggressive lines throughout to maintain the pressure built by the batsmen. For Guyana, barring Barnwell and Steven Jacobs, the rest have remained inconsistent.A big factor that could give T&T an upper hand is the fact that they enter the final on the back of a four-day break. Expect them to be more fresh and agile. In comparison, the final will be Guyana’s fifth straight match in six days but, having won their last three games, they may fancy momentum being on their side.Form guide(most recent first, completed matches only)Guyana WWWLL
Trinidad & Tobago WWWWWIn the spotlightDarren Bravo might be the tournament’s leading scorer but “young” Bravo, as he is popularly known, understands that he needs to show his spark in the biggest match, the final. He has spoken about the team management giving him the responsibility of playing until the end, so look out for him to play the finisher’s role. Bravo failed to accomplish the same for West Indies during the one-day series in Bangladesh and would like to play a more dominant role during the forthcoming ODI series in Australia.After Christopher Barnwell’s match-winning innings in the play-off, he galloped to No. 2 on the run charts, behind Darren Bravo. Powerful wrists allied to smart thinking have allowed Barnwell to throw opposition plans into disarray at important moments and he can be expected to stand up to a stiff challenge once again on Sunday. Even with the ball in hand, Barnwell has shown good presence of mind: he has been accurate without feeding the batsman’s strengths as he showed against Chris Gayle on Saturday.Team newsShivnarine Chanderpaul ran on to the field joyously to hug his team-mates after Guyana’s spirited victory against Jamaica to make the final. Does that mean Chanderpaul, who had pulled a leg muscle and had to abort his batting in the victory against Windward Islands on Friday, is fit for Sunday’s summit clash? If he is not Trevon Griffith, who shared a match-turning partnership with Barnwell should retain his spot.Guyana (probable) 1 Derwin Christian (wk), 2 Shivnarine Chanderpaul/Trevon Griffith, 3 Ramnaresh Sarwan, 4 Christopher Barnwell, 5 Narsingh Deonarine, 6 Leon Johnson, 7 Royston Crandon, 8 Steven Jacobs, 9 Veerasammy Permaul (capt), 10 Devendra Bishoo, 11 Ronsford BeatonT&T are likely to play the same team as in their final league match, barring any injuries.Trinidad & Tobago (probable) 1 Lendl Simmons, 2 Evin Lewis, 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Dwayne Bravo, 5 Denesh Ramdin, 6 Kieron Pollard, 7 Yannick Ottley, 8 Rayad Emrit, 9 Sunil Narine, 10 Samuel Badree, 11 Shannon GabrielStats and triviaGuyana’s victory against Jamaica was the biggest successful chase in the history of Caribbean T20 in six editions.T&T batsmen have scored five half-centuries, the most by any team.Sunil Narine is the most economical bowler in the tournament with an economy rate of 3.85 (more than two overs).Guyana have won the tournament twice and, coincidentally, both times they scraped past the finishing line with just one ball to spare.Quotes”We had a bad game in the earlier round against Trinidad & Tobago. Hopefully our bowlers will bowl in the right areas and restrict them to a right total. It is a big final.”
“The boys have been working on specific areas of their game over the last few days and the time away from matches has allowed us the time to assess our game again and see what we need to enhance.”

Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Wasim, Shahnawaz Dahani and Zahid Mahmood are all in line to make their 50-over debuts

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Sep-2021Pakistan have named four uncapped players – Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Wasim, Shahnawaz Dahani and Zahid Mahmood – in their 20-member squad for the three-match home ODI series against New Zealand.Iftikhar Ahmed and Khushdil Shah have been recalled while Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Sohaib Maqsood, who were part of the ODI series against England in July have been dropped. Haris Sohail, who withdrew from that series having sustained a hamstring injury, has also been left out.Related

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“The series against New Zealand is extremely important for Pakistan as the matches are part of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 qualification,” chief selector Mohammad Wasim said. “While we have tried to put together a formidable and a balanced unit, we have continued to ensure that we give opportunities to high performing players while looking into the future so that we can develop a strong bench-strength.”Wicketkeeper-batter Haris was impressive in the 50-over domestic Pakistan Cup, where he made 289 runs in nine matches playing for champions Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, at an average of 41.28, making a century and two fifties. Fast bowler Wasim, who made his Pakistan debut in the T20I series against West Indies recently, has now earned a call-up to the ODI squad too. He was particularly impressive in the first T20I where he picked up one wicket in two overs in the rained-out encounter.”Mohammad Rizwan remains the first-choice wicketkeeper, as such, it has been decided to include 20-year-old Mohammad Haris in place of Sarfaraz Ahmed. This is not only to reward Haris for his outstanding domestic performances in the previous season, but also to give him a taste and flair of international cricket along with its rigours and demands and to ensure that we continue to groom young wicketkeepers who are fit and ready to step up when the opportunity presents itself.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Legspinner Mahmood has been outstanding in the domestic circuit for Southern Punjab over the last two seasons. In 2020-21, he picked up 52 wickets in 10 matches in the first-class Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and 19 wickets in 10 matches in the Pakistan Cup. He was called up to the Pakistan squad for the T20Is against South Africa earlier this year, and in the solitary match he played, he picked up three wickets in his four overs.Dahani had a dream debut season in PSL 2021, taking 20 wickets in 11 matches. He seems to have impressed the selectors with his ability to provide breakthroughs in regular intervals, which also made him Multan Sultans’ trump card in the tournament.Meanwhile, Iftikhar returns to the ODI set-up for the first time since the Super Over encounter against Zimbabwe in November 2020 in Rawalpindi. Khushdil’s only ODI appearance was also in the same match.”Middle-order has remained our concern and, as such, after trying a few options, we have decided to give another run to Iftikhar Ahmed and Khushdil Shah,” Wasim said. “The two batters have played sufficient 50-over cricket at the domestic level and boast the required firepower to utilise the slog overs. We are optimistic they will come good in home conditions.”This will be New Zealand first tour of Pakistan in 18 years. The tour starts with three ODIs in Rawalpindi scheduled on September 17, 19 and 21 and culminates with five T20Is in Lahore. Crowds up to 25% capacity will also be allowed in the stadium, which means the ODIs taking place in Rawalpindi will be open to 4500 spectators each.

Mahela Jayawardene said the struggles of the debutant Isuru Udana turned out to be a blessing in disguise as his replacement, Thisara Perera, altered the course of the game

Abhishek Purohit in Hambantota24-Jul-2012Isuru Udana, the left-arm fast bowler, had a forgettable ODI debut. His opening over contained five wides and two boundaries and went for 16. It was also the over that was to completely alter the course of the game. With India racing to 31 for 0 in three overs and Udana struggling to cope with the stiff breeze across the ground, Mahela Jayawardene handed the ball to Thisara Perera in the fourth. Perera started with three wicket-maidens taking out Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina in each. Three successive wicket-maidens. Almost unbelievable. He could have had a double-wicket maiden but for a dropped catch. Almost ridiculous. India managed 138.Jayawardene said Udana’s waywardness turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Sri Lanka. “Isuru strayed all over the place in the first over,” Jayawardene said. “I felt he was a bit too nervous trying to fight with the wind. He bowled really well at practice yesterday.”The other experienced bowlers I had were Thisara and Angelo [Mathews] so I just gave him the ball because the other day he bowled well from that end and did the job for us. He’s improved quite a bit in confidence and I think the consistency is the most important thing which he is striving for. He’s been consistent for us in the last six months to one year. Every day he keeps improving and he is putting his hand up to play Test cricket as well.”Increasingly, there is hardly anything that Perera cannot pull off on a cricket field. He slams sixes so effectively that he has already been compared to Lance Klusener and Shahid Afridi, by no less than his coach and captain respectively. Increasingly, defending sides, even if they are ahead, don’t feel a total is safe against Sri Lanka till Perera is dismissed.Increasingly, he is turning out to be that deceptive kind of bowler who can seem innocuous as he runs in, but can easily run through sides. He already has a six-for in ODIs. And he is a big asset in the field. Sehwag fell to the latter quality today, as Perera hung on to an acrobatic return catch.There was not much swing in the air, but Perera bowled a difficult length, got bounce with his height, and managed some seam movement. Just enough to take Kohli’s and Raina’s edges.Perera is having a memorable 2012. He has won games with his batting and bowling, he was Player of the Series in the ODIs against Pakistan and he has shared the new ball in a Test. What has done the trick for him? Tips from Shaun Pollock, the former South Africa fast bowler and Mumbai Indians’ bowling coach.”I think he is a good learner but I will be correct if I say he has worked closely with Shaun Pollock on his action during the IPL time because he wasn’t playing much,” Jayawardene said. “Polly has given him some good tips with his action. Polly is a great bowler to discuss those kinds of things with. I think [it is] a great opportunity for him so with that and with fast-bowling coaches he has been working hard to get his pace, to get his accuracy.”Something that he lacked was accuracy in hitting the seam in that good area. He is a tall boy. If he can hit that good area he is always going to create opportunities so I think that’s been the change and at practices he is with the ball doing something or with the bat, batting nets, throw downs. He wants to learn so good to see young guys doing that.”Perera said Pollock had asked him to be more upright in his delivery stride so that he could put more force into his bowling and hit the seam with more control. As Jayawardene said, “The IPL sometimes does help some of the players.”