Following a commanding performance by the youngsters in the opening match, India will eye another clinical display to seal the three-match series when they face Ireland in the second women’s ODI here on Sunday. Despite fielding a relatively inexperienced side, Indian women enjoyed a perfect day in the first ODI, registering a six-wicket win. Captain Smriti Mandhana continued her fine form, laying the foundation with a forceful 41, while the efforts of Pratika Rawal and Tejal Hasabnis, who shared a 100-plus partnership to steer the chase, were crucial. Young Titas Sadhu stepped up among the bowlers, striking in her first spell. Sayali Satghare also impressed, taking a wicket, while Saima Thakor bowled a tidy 10-over spell. Mandhana led the squad excellently. and the management might be pleased with the bench strength ahead of the home ODI World Cup later this year. However, India’s fielding was subpar. For Ireland, captain Gaby Lewis led from the front scoring 92, but lacked support. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
12 January,2025 08:14 AM IST | Rajkot | PTIFour-time champions Karnataka held their nerves to edge out hosts Baroda by five runs, while Maharashtra outplayed Punjab by 70 runs to enter the Vijay Hazare Trophy semi-finals here on Saturday. Teenager Arshin Kulkarni [107] struck a maiden List A century, while gloveman Nitin Naik hit a fifty [52*] to take Maharashtra to 275-6. Punjab never posed any threat to the total, losing wickets regularly as they were bowled out for 205. The Pace duo of Mukesh Choudhary [3-44] and Pradeep Dadhe [2-31] did the damage for Maharashtra. Meanwhile, Opener Devdutt Padikkal marked his return to domestic cricket with a century before Prasidh Krishna’s game-changing spell at the death saw Karnataka edge out Baroda. Padikkal [102] anchored the Karnataka innings, supported by KV Aneesh’s fifty [52], as they scored 281-8 in their 50 overs. Baroda seemed well on course to chase the target as opener Shashwat Rawat led the charge with a century [104]. However, Prasidh [2-60] turned the match on its head in the 47th over, by picking up two wickets, including Rawat. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
12 January,2025 08:13 AM IST | Vadodara | PTIAsitha Fernando and Maheesh Theekshana shared six wickets as Sri Lanka bowled out New Zealand for 150 runs in 29.4 overs to win the third one-day international by 140 runs here on Saturday. Fernando took 3-26 and Theekshana 3-35 to jointly knock the top off the New Zealand innings as the Kiwis chased 291 for victory. Eshan Malinga also contributed 3-35 as Sri Lanka completed a comprehensive victory. However, despite the crushing loss, New Zealand won the three-match series 2-1. Earlier, Pathum Nissanka made 66 in an innings of two parts–he was forced to retire hurt on 50 due to injury–as Sri Lanka compiled 290-8 after choosing to bat first. New Zealand then slumped to 21-5 inside seven overs as Fernando helped Sri Lanka unpick the New Zealand top order. Mark Chapman was the only Kiwi batter to stand against the chaos, scoring 81. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
12 January,2025 08:13 AM IST | Auckland | AP | PTIDevajit Saikia and Prabhtej Singh Bhatia will be officially elected as the BCCI secretary and treasurer respectively during the Special General Meeting (SGM) in Mumbai on Sunday. Saikia and Prabhtej were the only candidates in the fray for the vacant posts once BCCI electoral officer and former CEC of India, Achal Kumar Joti finalised the list on Tuesday. Saikia has been working as the BCCI interim secretary since Jay Shah took over as the ICC chairman on December 1. The BCCI constitution stipulates that any post lying vacant should be filled within 45 days by calling a SGM, and Sunday’s meeting is well within that period, holding on the 43rd day. Bhatia filed the nomination for the treasurer’s post after incumbent Ashish Shelar took oath as a cabinet minister in the Maharashtra government recently. While the election of the two important office-bearers is the main point on the agenda, ICC chairman Shah will attend the SGM as a ‘special invitee.’ Shah, the youngest to assume the ICC Chairman office, will be felicitated by the state units alongside the SGM. Shah had replaced Greg Barclay as ICC chief last month. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
12 January,2025 08:12 AM IST | Mumbai | PTIThe Wankhede Stadium, whose golden jubilee as an international venue is being celebrated by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) this month, has witnessed many memorable performances including an ODI World Cup win by India in 2011. And just like the cricketers who showcased their fighting spirit to win games across all formats, grit and determination played a role in the building of this iconic ground which became the city’s third Test venue after Bombay Gymkhana and Brabourne Stadium. Those qualities were brought to the fore by Sheshrao Wankhede, the then Bombay Cricket Association president, himself. The first Test at the Wankhede Stadium was held 50 Januarys ago when Clive Lloyd’s West Indies clashed with MAK Pataudi’s men. Wankhede’s daughter Ramola Wankhede Mahajani at her south Mumbai home. Pics/Atul Kamble Earlier this week, the late Wankhede’s daughter, Ramola Wankhede Mahajani, turned back the clock at her south Mumbai home and spoke to Sunday mid-day on how her father got the motivation to build a new stadium which would belong to the BCA through an argument with former India batsman Vijay Merchant, the then president of the Cricket Club of India. The Wankhedes are a sporting family. Sheshrao and his wife Kusumtai used to play tennis and were mixed doubles partners in Morris College team at Nagpur. Their elder daughter Kundatai was a badminton player, while Ramola was a track and field athlete and a table tennis player, who represented St Xavier’s College in Mumbai. Edited excerpts from a chat with Ramola Wankhede Mahajani. The refusal CCI had their own Brabourne Stadium and BCA had to depend on them to organise Tests. There was an agreement for CCI to give 1,500 seats to BCA during matches, but they didn’t give all. Once, a few young MLAs told my dad [then speaker in Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha and BCA president] that they wanted to play a friendly match at CCI. So along with Prof MV Chandgadkar, MW Desai, who was the BCA vice-president and dad went to meet Merchant at his home. When dad requested him to allow them to play the MLAs match at CCI, Merchant refused it. A heated discussion followed. Dad told him, “If you don’t allow us to play a single match and not consider our other demands, we [BCA] will build our own stadium.” Thrown a challenge Merchant said to my dad, “How can you Marathi people build a stadium?” Merchant had a grudge against Marathi people. My dad and the others left his home without saying anything more. But he told his BCA colleagues that they will now build their own stadium. The vital CM visit My dad went to then Maharashtra CM Vasantrao Naik and requested him to allot BCA a piece of land between Marine Drive and the railway tracks to build a stadium. Then he decided to build a stadium of 40,000 capacity just 500 metres away from the CCI. Shashi Prabhu, a young architect then, made a plan for the stadium. Under [Test player] Polly Umrigar’s guidance, pitches were made and later the stadium was constructed in record time. ‘Happy, satisfied, emotional’When stadium was fully constructed and ready for the Test, dad was very happy, satisfied and emotional after 14 months of continuous following. People wrote various things and criticised dad. People used to say that the stadium is going to collapse because it’s only a structure built with cement and steel. But, dad said, “it will never fall down because it is built with cement, steel and Wankhede. Honoured Merchant too My dad made Merchant a life member of the BCA and put his photograph in the BCA office. When people asked him why he did it for a man who had insulted him and BCA, dad said, “If he had not behaved with us in that manner, we wouldn’t have our own stadium today.” Modest NaikMy dad suggested naming the stadium after Vasantrao Naik saheb because he had given the plot to the BCA for the stadium. When Prof Chandgadkar and Desai went to meet CM saheb, he said: “I didn’t do anything. Whatever is done is done by Sheshrao, so his name deserves to be given to the stadium.” It was a big honour for dad to have the stadium named after him and that too while he was alive. Wankhede, the disciplinarian Dad [BCA president from 1963-64 to 1986-87] was very strict and never gave us any special treatment during international matches. We were not allowed to be in the President Box. We got only a couple of passes to watch matches and that too from the G Block. We were not even allowed to be on the outfield. He only allowed his granddaughter Mukta when she was little, to roam around.
12 January,2025 08:10 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh MayureAs Team India eagerly awaits an update on the nature and severity of their star pacer, Jasprit Bumrah's back injury, Mohammed Shami has taken to social media to share a clip of himself bowling in the nets, confidently declaring that he is fit to 'take on the world'. Shami has been representing Bengal in domestic cricket consistently since his competitive return in November of last year. Despite proving his match fitness, the 34-year-old was not considered for selection for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a series India lost 1-3. The last time Shami played for India was in the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup, before being sidelined for nearly a year due to an ankle injury. Precision, Pace, and Passion, All Set to Take on the World! ππͺ #Shami #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/gIEfJidChX — πΈπππππππ πππππ (@MdShami11) January 7, 2025 India is set to host England for a five-match T20I series, followed by three ODIs, before heading to Dubai for the Champions Trophy 2025 next month. Shami had undergone ankle surgery in February of the previous year and made his competitive return via the Ranji Trophy in November. Despite playing in domestic matches, Shami was not granted fitness clearance by the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. Reports also indicated that the 34-year-old had developed swelling in his knee, further delaying his return. Ahead of the Boxing Day Test against Australia in December, the BCCI officially ruled Shami out of selection for the remaining two matches. Former India head coach Ravi Shastri, however, has stated that he would have taken Shami to Australia regardless of his fitness situation, allowing him to continue his rehabilitation with the team. “I would have kept him part of the team and made sure that his rehabilitation was done with the team," Shastri remarked during an ICC Review. “And then if we thought by the third Test match that no, this guy can’t play the rest of the series, I would let him go.” (With PTI inputs)
11 January,2025 09:23 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentNearly 14 months after his last international appearance, veteran seamer Mohammed Shami made his return to the Indian team on Saturday for the upcoming five-match T20I series against visiting England. π¨ π‘ππͺπ¦ π¨Mohammad Shami returns as India’s squad for T20I series against England announced.All The Details π½ #TeamIndia | #INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBank https://t.co/jwI8mMBTqY — BCCI (@BCCI) January 11, 2025 The 34-year-old Shami's last outing for India was the 2023 ODI World Cup final against Australia at Ahmedabad on November 19, after which he was out of the team for a long time due to an ankle injury for which he underwent surgery last year. A swelling on his knee then prevented Shami from joing the Indian team for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, leaving Jasprit Bumrah to shoulder the bulk of the pace bowling load. Suryakumar Yadav will captain the 15-member squad for the series, which begins in Kolkata on January 22. Team for the series: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel (Vice-Captain), Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammad Shami, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper).
11 January,2025 09:16 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAhead of the Test series against West Indies, Pakistan has recalled opening batsman Imam Ul Haq as the regular opener Saim Ayub was ruled out of the series following an ankle injury. Imam Ul Haq last played a Test match for Pakistan in 2023-24 and he has been joined by uncapped pacer Kashif Ali in the squad. Imam Ul Haq also got a call as the selectors have dropped Abdullah Shafique who lost the form in recent tours to Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. The selectors have also added spinner Noman Ali and Sajid Khan who were snubbed from the side after Pakistan's 2-1 win against England, last year. Also Read: "ICC Cricket Committee looking to give leeway to bowlers on wides": Shaun Pollock The selectors have also included a third specialist spinner in Abrar Ahmed, indicating that spin pitches would be prepared. West Indies are playing Tests in Pakistan after 18 years. Both Tests would be held in Multan with the first beginning from January 17. The selectors also rested pace bowlers Naseem Shah, Muhammad Abbas, Mir Hamza and all-rounder Aamer Jamal who recently played in the Test series in South Africa that won the series 2-0 to qualify for the World Test Championship final. Ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is also very keen on Saim Ayub's return to the national squad. Saim Ayub was examined by two noted orthopaedic surgeons in London, Dr David Redfern and Dr Lucky Jeyaseelan. The source said that even after being advised to be on a six-week rest, Saim Ayub travelled to London for consultations with specialists. The official cricket board of Pakistan is very keen to see him play in the mega event, especially against India. Pakistan Squad: Shan Masood (Capt), Saud Shakeel (VC), Babar Azam, Muhammad Rizwan, Imam ul Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Muhammad Huraira, Rohail Nazir, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Muhammad Ali, Khurrun Shahzad and Kashif Ali. (With PTI Inputs)
11 January,2025 06:40 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSouth African legend Shaun Pollock feels that the ICC Cricket Committee is working towards giving bowlers a bit more freedom on wides as the current rule is very strict on them. In ODIs and T20Is, batsmen make movements in the crease to disturb bowlers' lines and lengths, following which they end up bowling wides. "I'm working on something. I'm obviously part of the ICC Cricket Committee and we're looking to come up with a bit more leeway for the bowlers on wides. I think it's very strict on them", Shaun Pollock told PTI on the sidelines of SA20. "If a batter jumps across (at the) last minute, it doesn't really work out for me. I think a bowler, at the start of his run-up, needs to know where he can bowl it." "The current rule tends to suggest that if he moves and it's that point of delivery where the batter is, and that's according to where the wide will be called, I want a little bit of a change", added Pollock. Shaun Pollock further stated that bowlers must know where they have to bowl when they're running towards the batsmen. "I want them to know exactly when they're running up why or how. How can a bowler be expected to change his game plan at the last second when he's bowling? He needs to have a clear idea where he can go", he said. "So it's in the pipeline, we're all discussing. We need to give a little bit back to the bowlers", he added. Pollock said the SA20 has gone from strength to strength like IPL has over the years. Also Read: Gautam Gambhir, BCCI officials to meet to review Australia tour, selectors to convene to pick CT squad "It's just gone from strength to strength. Some of the activities at the ground as well, the Catch 2 Million competition this year has been added", he said. "I know the young kids are taught, 'you've got to get to the ground' because we need some money these days with the economy the way it is. But it's definitely gone from strength to strength". "South African cricket needed this injection, there's no doubt about it. They needed something to create a bit of unbelievable interest in the game", he said. Ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025, Shaun Pollock wants South Africa to play on their players' experience in the subcontinent conditions. "You've got basically the similar players that were at that (ODI) World Cup (2023) where we got to the semifinal and lost to Australia", he said. "We've got a lot of IPL stars who play for South Africa. In those situations, everything looks good. The amount of IPL players, people like Klaasens, Millers, even de Kocks, all those guys who spend so much time over there, getting an understanding for conditions, that can only help South Africa." "They (have) got the ICC Test Championship now as well so it's been some good stuff and, hopefully, some younger individuals come up. We've seen it starting to develop in the Test arena", he added. Shaun Pollock said that he understands the T20 leagues around the world are moneymakers, but he wants players not to turn down their national duties for the leagues. "There's always cricketers (available) so you're going to be able to create leagues. It's the moneymaker for a lot of the cricket boards around the world", he said. "You can understand why these leagues are presenting themselves. If you can find windows for them, that's fine. But my biggest concern is where you've got international players who go away and play in these leagues and don't end up playing for their international teams". However, Pollock said he will not grudge players for making that choice. "Ideally, I would prefer that they make themselves available for their own international countries as often as possible. But you do understand it's an earning capacity". "It's a certain time where they can make money for the rest of their lives and you can't begrudge them on that", he signed off. (With PTI Inputs)
11 January,2025 05:08 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe future of stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be discussed in the meeting that head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Garkar are scheduled to hold with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officials to review the concluded tour of Australia. The two consecutive Test series defeats against New Zealand and Australia and the struggling phase with the willow of Rohit and Kohli, have put them under scanner. The PTI has learned that the powers that be will discuss in detail the future plan whether to activate the transition switch from next month's Champions Trophy or wait for the cycle to end with the ICC marquee event. Champions Trophy 2025 discussions However, it is expected that the senior batsmen will get another chance to redeem themselves at the Champions Trophy 2025. The mega event will be played with 50 overs, for each side and is the format in which the senior batsmen have always excelled. The fact that Rohit and Kohli have made their appearances in just three ODIs after the ODI World Cup 2023 will also be taken into consideration. Both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma endured different fortunes too in the series against Sri Lanka. While Kohli amassed 24, 14 and 20 in Colombo, Rohit walked away with scores of 58, 64 and 35 against the Lankans. But overall, Kohli has been a champion performer in 50-overs, his staple format and a good outing in the Champions Trophy could bring him, and Rohit too, back into a good frame of mind. Also Read: Rahul Dravid turns 52: Know the records of Team India's "Wall" However, their Test future is different. The next assignment is an away five-match series against England, and the mandarins will certainly assess the drying runs from Kohli and Rohit in the traditional format. In the most recent outing against Australia, Kohli, despite a hundred at Perth, could garner only 190 runs at an average of 23.75 while Rohit, who skipped the first Test and opted out of the fifth match, made 31 runs at 6.2. Those performances will certainly be mooted thoroughly while seeking Gautam Gambhir's views on their desire to continue playing the longest version of the sport. Similarly, it is possible that the performance of the Gautam Gambhir-led coaching staff too could be assayed, and asked about their vision to handle the transition period without any more hiccups. Apart from the review meeting, the selectors, led by Agarkar, will also convene on Saturday evening to pick the Indian squad for the Champions Trophy. India will play all its matches in the UAE and will open the campaign with a match against Bangladesh on February 20. However, it is unlikely that the team will be announced on this day itself, as the selectors have time till January 12 to release the squad. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami's fitness updates They will also take into consideration the fitness update of lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah and star pacer Mohammed Shami. Shami, who has not played since the ODI World Cup 2023 because of ankle surgery, is likely to get a green signal from BCCI's Centre of Excellence physics. The selectors are also expected to discuss and pick the India squad for the five T20Is and three ODIs against England for the home series, beginning from January 22. There could not be many surprises as the team that did duty in South Africa late last year could be picked up again for the T20Is. Shami could be included in the ODIs depending on the fitness certificate from CoE, which is understood to be positive though it will be assessed deeply before taking a final decision. Bumrah and fellow pacer Akash Deep, who will also be in CoE in Bengaluru for recovery from a back niggle, will miss the white ball series against England. There are high chances of Yashasvi Jaiswal featuring in at least one of the squads for the England series. Along with the left-hander, Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy who impressed in Australia might also receive the call-up. (With PTI Inputs)
11 January,2025 04:10 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentPakistan batsman Saim Ayub has completed his assessments with the surgeons in London for his ankle injury, but it will require a week to know if he can feature in the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025. Saim Ayub was examined by two noted orthopaedic surgeons in London, Dr David Redfern and Dr Lucky Jeyaseelan. A source close to the cricketer said the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wants Saim Ayub to be fit for the Champions Trophy 2025 match against Team India on February 23 in Dubai. Also Read: Rahul Dravid turns 52: Know the records of Team India's "Wall" "Even if the doctors say he will not have recovered from his injury in time for Pakistan's opening CT game against New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi but he could be fit for the India game, the selectors and PCB are willing to take the risk", the source said. The source said that even after being advised to be on a six-week rest, Saim Ayub travelled to London for consultations with specialists. The official cricket board of Pakistan is very keen to see him play in the mega event, especially against India. The PCB will get final reports and advice from the specialists by next week on Saim's recovery process and time but after initial examination, they have ruled out any invasive or non-invasive surgery to set the ankle right. "Their findings are that Saim can recover from his injury through physiotherapy, medication and rest but how long a rehab period they suggest will be known next week", he said. For the time being, the PCB will include Saim in the preliminary squad for the Champions Trophy as the selectors have until February 12 to make changes in it and finalise their 15-member squad. Saim Ayub will remain in London until next week to find out if he can rehab in Lahore at the PCB's high-performance centre or can get better care in London itself. (With PTI Inputs)
11 January,2025 02:50 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
