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Muhammad Musa Khan, Khushdil Shah and Usman Qadir are the new faces in the T20I squad

Danyal Rasool in Lahore21-Oct-2019Not only is Sarfaraz Ahmed absent from the Pakistan Test and T20I squads bound for Australia, in a major shake-up, head coach and chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq has named a host of new faces in both the touring groups.

Pakistan squads

T20Is: Babar Azam (capt), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Musa Khan, Shadab Khan, Usman Qadir, Wahab Riaz
Tests: Azhar Ali (capt), Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Musa Khan, Nasim Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Yasir Shah

Muhammad Musa Khan, the 19-year-old seamer, has been included in both the squads. Khushdil Shah, the 24-year-old middle-order batsman, and Abdul Qadir’s son Usman Qadir, the 26-year-old legspinner, were the new faces in the T20I squad, to be captained by Babar Azam, while Azhar Ali’s Test side included Kashif Bhatti, the domestic veteran who bowls left-arm spin and is the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy this year, and Nasim Shah the 16-year-old fast bowler, who was a surprise pick. He rose to prominence with a six-wicket haul on his Quaid-e-Azam Trophy debut last year, and has fast become something of a regular for Central Punjab.ALSO READ – Usman Qadir: lost in Pakistan, found in AustraliaIn Pakistan’s post-World Cup shake-up, Sarfaraz had been sacked as captain of the Test and T20I sides and a decision on the ODI captaincy was put on hold, as Pakistan’s next 50-over assignment isn’t until July next year. Also out of the Test side are Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, who is nursing an injury, Shadab Khan, and Mohammad Amir, who had announced his retirement from the longest format earlier this year.In T20Is, there was no place for Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal, who were selected in controversial circumstances for the series at home against Sri Lanka recently, while Ashraf and Mohammad Nawaz were also left out.”A series to Australia has always been a challenge for Pakistan, and is very important, too,” Misbah said. “Being a player, it was always our wish to go to Australia and perform well, and win games and series there. because Australia, England and South Africa are places where it is incredibly difficult to win, and when you do, the world sits up and takes notice. We want to play competitive, aggressive, fearless cricket there, because this is the only way to beat them at home.”The team we have selected has been chosen with that in mind, and we have a number of surprise packages in our team that we feel confident will be able to challenge Australia. Be that T20Is or Test cricket, you will see young, exciting players. My message is clear: we want youngsters to get a chance, we believe in them and they are our future. If you go to Australia and want to compete, you have to have firepower in the fast-bowling department. We aren’t just going to compete, we are going to win, and we are confident these boys will perform.”There are a number of surprises in the squad, but the call-up of Qadir perhaps tops them all. Just last year, a disillusioned Qadir had declared that he didn’t want to play for Pakistan, and wanted to represent Australia instead.Less than a fortnight ago, Misbah rhetorically asked a packed press conference which legspinners he was ignoring in Pakistan cricket, indicating there was no one coming through, and Yasir Shah and Shadab Khan were the only options. When a journalist mentioned Qadir’s name, there was a ripple of laughter, and even Misbah joined in, and pointed out that Qadir hadn’t been playing domestic cricket in Pakistan.In another notable recall, Mohammad Irfan was named in a Pakistan squad for the first time since September 2016, with the previous coach Mickey Arthur deeming him incompatible with the high-performance fitness culture he believed was necessary to make Pakistan a modern-day limited-overs force. The 37-year-old paceman will be the oldest player in a side that’s otherwise notable for its youth.One of the less surprising – but still notable for its significance – changes was the introduction of Mohammad Rizwan to Pakistan’s T20I and Test squads as the first-choice wicketkeeper after a long wait on the sidelines. Between the start of 2017 and the start of 2019, Rizwan didn’t feature in a single international game but with Sarfaraz now out, the path for Rizwan to come back is clear. He has, however, only ever played a single Test match, which came nearly three years ago in New Zealand.Imran Khan, meanwhile, is also back in the side for the first time since Pakistan’s last tour of Australia in January 2017. Incidentally it was on that tour, under Misbah’s captaincy, that then coach Mickey Arthur publicly questioned the fitness of bowlers such as Imran and Sohail Khan – the former was not picked after that series. Three of his nine Tests have come in two separate series against Australia.Azhar and Babar will captain the Test and T20I squads respectively, with the T20I series a chance for Pakistan to bounce back from the 3-0 home defeat to Sri Lanka and reinforce their claims as one of the favourites for next year’s men’s T20 World Cup, to be held in Australia. The Test series will be the first assignment for Pakistan in the World Test Championship, and it could not have been a more challenging start; Pakistan have lost each of their last four series in Australia 3-0, representing 12 consecutive Test losses.The action in Australia begins with the first T20I on November 3 in Sydney, followed by games in Canberra (November 5) and Perth (November 8), before the Test matches take place in Brisbane (November 21-25) and Adelaide (November 29 to December 3).

David Willey revelled in his role as Yorkshire’s stand-in captain to leave a winner-takes-all clash against Notts on Friday night

ECB Reporters Network16-Aug-2018
Scorecard
David Willey and Adam Lyth delivered a crushing seven-wicket win for Yorkshire with over four overs to spare at Northamptonshire to keep the White Rose on course for the Vitality Blast quarter-finals.Set 163, Willey and Lyth shared 150 for the second wicket in 80 balls. Neither could see Yorkshire over the line as Willey fell for 79 from 44 balls and Lyth 66 in 41 but the damage was done as the visitors won with 27 balls to spare.Yorkshire now face Nottinghamshire in their final game at Headingley knowing victory will guarantee their place in the last four.Josh Cobb was the only batsman to show for Northants with 68 not out as the home side posted 162 for 8 having won the toss but not for the first time in the competition, the Northants’ attack struggled as Lyth and Willey hammered the bowling around Wantage Road.Lyth got down one knee to slog-sweep Ben Sanderson for six before taking 22 from the fifth over of the innings bowled by Richard Gleeson. He advanced down the wicket to lift a six then four over extra-cover, carved four over point, glanced another boundary past the wicketkeeper before driving four more past mid-on. It ensured Yorkshire raced to 74 in the Powerply for the loss of Tom Kohler-Cadmore caught at point first ball.

Yorkshire sign Ravel

Yorkshire have signed New Zealand international Jeet Raval for the final four Specsavers County Championship fixtures. He has also flown in early as cover for compatriot Kane Williamson who has been nursing a bruised finger on his left hand. Raval, 29, has made 11 Test appearances since 2016 and this will be his first stint in county cricket.
Yorkshire’s director of cricket Martyn Moxon said: “We are delighted that Jeet has agreed to join us, initially as cover for Kane Williamson. Jeet will take over from Kane after the Somerset match and be with the squad until the end of the season.”

Having passed fifty in 26 balls, Lyth again went down on one knee to this time slog-sweep Luke Procter for six but trying to finish the game, miscued a drive to extra-cover.Willey was again in great touch against his old county. He flashed his opening boundary off the back foot past extra-cover, pulled Hutton over deep-square for six and sliced Sanderson over point. He swung Cobb’s off-spin over long-on for six more and struck a third six down the ground off Seekkuge Prasanna.Yorkshire were cruising at 113 for 1 after 11 overs and Willey slogged Brett Hutton for consecutive sixes before slog-sweeping Graeme White for another maximum in an over that cost 21. But he pulled Sanderson to deep midwicket shortly before Gary Balance struck the winning runs.Yorkshire were on top from the start as Matt Fisher removed both Northants openers in his first over both for 16 and both to leading edges. With his first ball, Charlie Thurston edged to third man where Kane Williamson ran in to take a smart catch and with the final ball of the over, Ben Duckett edged to backward point where Lyth leapt above his head. The wickets ensured it was Yorkshire’s Powerplay as Northants reached 35 for 2.Cobb drove his opening boundary past extra-cover but then pulled off a top-edge perfectly between the wicketkeeper running back and long leg running in. At 50 for 2 after eight overs, Northants were bumping along and Cobb cleared his front leg to smash Tim Bresnan’s first ball over deep midwicket and, as Bresnan went too full, struck a second six over long-on as the home side reached the half-way point at 72 for 2.Alex Wakely, after a patient start, flicked Liam Plunkett wide of midwicket for four but chipped the same bowler later in the same over to mid-on to fall for 14. Steven Crook arrived and immediately struck both Lyth and then Plunkett straight down the ground for six, edged Plunkett for four but holed out to deep cover for 18. And when Prasanna swung and missed at a Jack Brooks slower ball and lost his leg stump, Northants were 106 for 5 in the 15th over.Cobb pulled Bresnan for four wide of long-on before heaving Willey for consecutive sixes out of the ground to pass fifty in 32 balls. He opened the blade to steer Bresnan for four to begin the 18th over which cost 16.But just when Northants had built some momentum, Willey bowled an extraordinary triple-wicket maiden in the 19th over. He had Procter caught behind and then White caught at deep square next ball before Hutton hooked at the fifth delivery and gloved it behind. Two sixes in the final over boosted the Northants total but it was nowhere near enough.

Rahul Dravid’s former team-mates, part of the Cricket Advisory Committee, will decide on whether or not to extent his contract as coach of India’s Under-19 and ‘A’ teams in the next “two or three days”

Arun Venugopal17-Jun-2017The BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) consisting of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman is likely to make a decision on whether or not to extend Rahul Dravid’s contract as the coach of India’s Under-19 and ‘A’ teams in the next few days. According to a BCCI official, there will be no need to invite fresh applications for the job if the CAC decides to renew Dravid’s two-year contract that ended in March.This is different to the protocol BCCI has followed in appointing a head coach of the senior team, where interested and qualified candidates were invited to apply even as Anil Kumble, the incumbent, was handed a direct entry. The different approach in Dravid’s case, the official said, is because his contract had an extension clause.”Dravid has a clause in the contract which facilitates extension by mutual consent,” the official told ESPNcricinfo. “If Rahul doesn’t want to renew his contract, then you have to pick someone else. But, if the CAC likes to retain him and if he is also willing, then you don’t have to call outside applications. But, that’s [going to be] a CAC decision.”The official felt the CAC would be predisposed to extending Dravid’s contract in a “day or two” given his good track record. Under Dravid, the India Under-19 team made the final of the junior World Cup last year and won a series against England recently. Dravid has also tasted considerable success with the India A team.”It is not that hard for CAC to take a decision on Dravid,” the official said. “Given his performance and his stature, I don’t think the CAC will have any problem with Rahul continuing as coach. So you don’t have to interview any other candidate.”The negotiations of the contractual terms might take a bit longer. I don’t know whether the BCCI has formulated the contract: how much he gets paid, I don’t think all that has been finalised.”Under the BCCI’s current arrangement, coaches and support staff of India’s senior and junior teams are given a ten-month contract that runs till the end of March. They are also free to sign a two-month deal in the IPL. However, according to the official, Dravid’s terms of reference – should he receive a new contract – would have to conform to the recommendations of the Lodha Committee.”It will mean that he won’t be able to coach both the national team and mentor the Delhi Daredevils franchise,” the official said. “He won’t get a 10-month contract. It will be a minimum two-year contract of 12 months each, but it will be a continuous one with no break.”Last week, Dravid had asserted that he wasn’t in a conflict of interest under the prevailing regulations, and called for greater clarity in the event of change in rules. He was recently invited by the BCCI to a meeting of the junior selection committee to pick the India Under-19 side to tour England. But Dravid declined because he didn’t have a coaching contract. The official, however, defended the board’s decision to invite him.”There is nothing that prevents him from being invited because he is not going to make the decision. He will only be asked to give his input,” he said. “Look, at the end of the day, he’s a senior member associated with a junior team. It has to be looked at holistically and not in isolation.”He has done a good job and I am pretty sure the CAC has no reason for them to say he shouldn’t be extended. So, in those circumstances, why not invite him when the team is being picked?”

Uncapped India players were big gainers in the IPL auction 2016. Here are Deepak Hooda, Karun Nair, M Ashwin and Ishan Kishan’s reactions

Arun Venugopal and Vishal Dikshit06-Feb-2016Deepak Hooda, Sunrisers Hyderabad, INR 4.2 crore
I didn’t follow it closely. When one of my relatives told me [that I was picked] I went blank for a while. I instantly hugged all my friends who were with me. I knew it would be a good auction for me. I was confident of being picked up, but didn’t expect this price. My mom told me I had to focus more and work even harder. I felt that, ‘people trust me so much, I need to live up to it.'[Playing the Mushtaq Ali Trophy before the IPL auction] was a good thing. But pressure [there was a lot of pressure] because I knew what had happened to Rajasthan Royals, and I needed to keep performing to attract a new team. Given my IPL experience, there is also naturally more expected of me when I play for Baroda. But automatically [everything panned out well].I think the Ranji Trophy last season was very important to me. Also, winning the best allrounder award in domestic one-dayers last season. Munaf treats me like his younger brother and he taught me what life is about really, its ups and downs. Rahul , Monty [Desai] and others in the IPL were hugely helpful because I would keep asking them a lot of questions on getting better.Karun Nair, Delhi Daredevils, INR 4 crore
Obviously, my heart is still pounding. Many people have been mocking me [about how] I was going to go for this much [money] or that much. When people keep telling you, it sort of gets to your head, so I stopped thinking about it. I didn’t expect so much. I was only hoping to get what I got at Rajasthan Royals last year [INR 75 lakh]. That was the bare minimum I expected.M Ashwin, Rising Pune Super Giants, INR 4.5 crore
I expected to be picked but not this price. I got picked by a team that I didn’t go for trials [Ashwin had auditioned for three teams – Kings XI Punjab, Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bangalore]. I was really nervous because my name came at the end and the purse was getting diminished. I sat in the same place with my dad from the morning [out of superstition]. I got excited even when I was bid for at the base price. I was happy at that time that some team had opted for me. I was not too keen on the money, but just wanted to play for an IPL franchise and gain experience.My wife, who was at her cousin’s place, was in tears when she heard the news. [The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy] before the IPL is a very big boost. It’s a great opportunity to come into the limelight. I saw it as a life-changing, life-altering tournament.Krunal Pandya, Mumbai Indians, INR 2 croreI am a left-arm spinner and he [Krunal’s brother, Hardik Pandya] is a seamer, but we are both hard-hitting batsmen. Both of us have played together from childhood, be it at More sir’s club or for Baroda. We had a dream to play at a competitive level together; that like Pathan brothers even the Pandya brothers should do well. For our parents, [it was the icing on the cake].Rahul Sanghvi sir and Kiran More sir [Mumbai Indians’ scouts] and Pravin Amre sir [Delhi Daredevils] would call me regularly to get updates about my progress [after a shoulder surgery last year]. That two big franchises were following my growth motivated me to get fit quickly.We struggled a lot financially. My father was the sole breadwinner but after he had three heart attacks there was no source of income. [our troubles didn’t end before Hardik made it to the IPL]. My father’s health improved after watching Hardik succeed.I always enjoyed Hardik’s success and he enjoyed mine. I told him on a lighter note that [I am a costlier player than you], and he responded: [get lost, I play for India].Ishan Kishan, Gujarat Lions, INR 35 lakh
I found out only after the match. But I’m not thinking much about it because it’s a kind of distraction and the mind gets diverted so just concentrating on the World Cup right now.[An IPL contract at this age] means a lot to a player, it gives a lot of happiness. You get confidence from it that you have to prove yourself in the World Cup so that people think that you’ve been picked for the right reasons.[On India Under-19s team-mate Rishabh Pant being bought by Daredevils for INR 1.9 crore] It’s a World Cup going on and semi-final is coming up so we are not seeing it individually that who got what in IPL. A lot of careers are yet to be made so we are trying to do our best in the World Cup.

Ray Strauss, the fast bowler who became the third Western Australia bowler to take 100 Sheffield Shield wickets, has died at the age of 85

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jul-2013Ray Strauss, the fast bowler who became the third Western Australia bowler to take 100 Sheffield Shield wickets, has died at the age of 85.Strauss, Des Hoare and Ron Gaunt formed a strong three-man pace attack during the late 1950s and Strauss collected 139 first-class wickets at 24.29.A bowler who swung the ball both ways, Strauss was unflagging on the field and almost became the first man in Shield history to bowl unchanged through an entire day, only to be taken off late in the afternoon by the Western Australia captain Ken Meuleman.

Middlesex left Essex rooted at the bottom of the Clydesdale Bank40 Group A table as they carved out a nine wicket victory at Chelmsford.

19-Jul-2012
ScorecardMiddlesex left Essex rooted at the bottom of the Clydesdale Bank40 Group A table as they carved out a nine wicket victory at Chelmsford. After the home side totalled 146 for 7 in a clash reduced to 25 overs per side because of rain, Middlesex achieved success with 15 balls to spare.Their crushing triumph was inspired by Chris Rogers and Dawid Malan who gathered runs with embarrassing ease. They were cautious at the outset, scoring just 16 from the first five overs against David Masters and Graham Napier. But then they increased the tempo considerably as the 50 was raised in the 10th over and 100 in the 16th.The only early blemish came when Rogers offered a chance to a leaping Tom Westley at slip when he had made 16, but the Australian made good his escape to reach his half-century from 48 balls. He had moved to 64 with the aid of two sixes and six fours, before he holed out to Masters off Tymal Mills having taken his side to within 11 runs of their target.Malan finished unbeaten with 76 from 68 deliveries that included seven fours and two sixes and fittingly it was he who took Middlesex to their target with two boundaries in an over from left-arm fast bowler Mills.Apart from Mark Pettini, the Essex top-order struggled to make an impact in the face of tight bowling backed up by fine work in the field. It was one piece of great work in the deep that brought Pettini’s innings of 44 from 43 deliveries to an end. Rogers was responsible for that as he threw down the stumps from deep mid-wicket as the Essex captain for the day attempted a second run.Pettini, who was leading the side because James Foster was excused duty as his wife is due to give birth, scored his runs from 64 balls before he departed in the 14th over.It was another six overs before the 100 was raised but much needed impetus was provided late on by Adam Wheater and Jaik Mickleburgh. They put together 53 in five overs, Wheater smashing three sixes in making 33 from 19 balls before he was caught in the deep while Mickleburgh’s unbeaten 22 arrived in 15 balls.Toby Roland-Jones was the pick of the Middlesex bowlers with 3 for 25 from his permitted five overs, an effort that enabled the visitors to keep alive their hopes of reaching the knockout stages in the competition.

Cobham Oval in Whangarei has become the latest addition to the rota of international cricket venues

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jun-2011Cobham Oval in Whangarei has become the latest addition to the rota of international cricket venues, benefiting from a push within New Zealand Cricket (NZC) to play Tests at specialist cricket grounds.While limited-overs and Twenty20 matches are largely the preserve of stadiums like Eden Park in Auckland, NZC has pursued the use of more traditional venues for Test cricket in recent times, meaning an increase in the number of Tests for grounds like Wellington’s Basin Reserve.Whangarei’s venue falls neatly within those parameters, with additional upgrade work having been done to appease the ICC match referee Alan Hurst when he made his inspection of the ground earlier this year.The ground was used for its maiden first-class fixture in March 2009, and has hosted eight in total, in addition to a tour match between Pakistan and a New Zealand Invitational XI in January 2011.Gary Bell, the chief executive of Northland Cricket, said the development of the ground had been done with plenty of care.”We are delighted to have gained ICC approval to host international cricket,” said Bell. “A lot of hard work has gone into the ground including creating a separate players’ pavilion with more space and comfort.”One large piece of work was increasing the grass net area and using the soil to reshape the embankment to increase capacity to 5,500. The decision is not only great for Northland Cricket but the region in general with additional visitors attracted to the region once we start hosting events.”New Zealand are scheduled to host Zimbabwe for two Test matches and three ODIs in January 2012.

England Lions continued their unbeaten run to win the A team tri-series in Worcester, beating India A by five wickets in a big chase

Cricinfo staff08-Jul-2010
Scorecard
Andrew Gale top scored with 90 in England Lions’ title win•Getty Images

England Lions continued their unbeaten run to win the tri-series in Worcester, beating India A by five wickets in a big chase. There were five half-centurions in a high-scoring encounter, but the two that stood out were Andrew Gale, who top scored with 90, and Darren Stevens, who smashed 68 off 53 balls to help seal victory with eight balls to spare.England’s decision to field seemed to backfire when openers Abhinav Mukund and Shikhar Dhawan delivered an attacking start by adding 68 in under ten overs. However, from there on, England, led by left-arm spinner Stephen Parry’s three-for on his Lions debut, kept India in check with timely breakthroughs, ensuring no partnership went past the 50-mark.Cheteshwar Pujara, who finished as the tournament’s highest run-getter, anchored the Indian innings with a knock of 87 off 89 balls, containing just six boundaries (four fours and two sixes). With some assistance from the lower order, he helped India post a competitive 278, but his bowlers failed in their defence.England lost captain Alastair Cook, returning after missing three games to a back problem, in the second over but recovered well. Opener Steven Davies struck 55, and added 76 for the second wicket with Gale. While India’s batsmen struggled to build partnerships, England showed no such difficulty.Gale received excellent support from Ravi Bopara in a stand of 68, followed by 71 more with Stevens, whose innings was laced with nine fours and a six. Gale fell in the 42nd over, but Stevens kept England ahead of the required rate and when he was dismissed with the score on 260 the rest just had to hold their nerve. James Taylor did just that in his unbeaten 19 and completed the formalities in the penultimate over.”This has been a really worthwhile series,” Cook said. “The most pleasing things is that every player has contributed at some stage over the series and helped us win. It’s a good opportunity particularly for the younger players to test themselves in this sort of tournament and to see how they measure up against touring sides.”

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Loads of Liverpool fans on Twitter absolutely loved it when Wolves striker Raul Jimenez dribbled it around Manchester United centre-back Harry Maguire in the early stages of the two clubs’ 1-1 draw at Molineux on Monday night.

The England international took away Reds star Virgil van Dijk’s record as the most expensive defender on the planet this summer when he joined the Red Devils in an £80m deal, which of course means he has plenty of eyes on him.

The Dutchman’s record of going 65 matches without being dribbled past – until Gabriel Jesus did it during the Community Shield earlier this month – was quite brilliant, but it happened to Maguire in just his second appearance for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men.

The former Leicester City player was left on the floor as Jimenez turned him inside out within 10 minutes, and it produced a quite predictable reaction from Liverpool supporters on the popular social media platform.

While the majority were laughing at the 26-year-old, one summed up the feeling when they said “you love to see it”.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

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Leeds United fans have been reacting on Twitter after former Yorkshire Evening Post writer Phil Hay and BBC Sport reporter Adam Pope said that midfielder Kalvin Phillips will face no further domestic repercussions following his straight red card against Cagliari at the weekend.

The 23-year-old was dismissed late on against the Italian side following a full-blooded challenge, and seemingly there were some concerns that being shown his marching orders could potentially affect his availability for the opening day Championship clash against Bristol City on Sunday.

The Whites star was of course a key component of Marcelo Bielsa’s team last season – he was named in the division’s EFL Team of the Year – as they finished in third position in the standings lost out in the play-offs, and he has also been the subject of interest from Premier League new boys Aston Villa, as well as Tottenham Hotspur during the summer transfer window.

Leeds supporters have been quick to react to the latest on the situation via the popular social media platform, and while some are clearly still fearful that they could be punished with some questioning the EFL having recalled how they have been on the wrong side of them in the past, others appear sceptical as to whether Phillips will still even be their player come the weekend.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

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