Tag: (ICC)

Dubai, October 25, 2021 (PPI-OT):Several records were broken as Afghanistan inflicted a 130-run defeat on Scotland in their opening match of Group 2.

For Afghanistan, the win marked their biggest victory in T20 internationals, for Scotland the opposite, their worst score in a T20I as they could only post 60 in reply to Afghanistan’s 190.

Afghanistan were as dominant with the ball as they were with the bat, as Mujeeb Ur Rahman took five for 20 on his T20 World Cup debut while Najibullah Zadran hit 59 from just 34 balls.

Afghanistan’s batting innings began with Hazratullah Zazai, a left-hander, and a Mohammad Shahzad, a right-hander, a theme maintained throughout the match and something which Mark Watt, Scotland’s most economical bowler, admitted was a challenge.

Watt said: “Before the game, we knew it was going to be a short boundary one side, so we’re just trying our best to protect it.

“But I thought Afghanistan’s left-hand hand-right hand combination out in the middle, we found it quite tough to protect the short boundary, but we tried our best.”

Zazai would soon claim the longest six of the Super 12s so far, smashing Brad Wheal a massive 101m.

By the end of the innings, that distance had been beaten with Zadran crashing a six 103m, which was one of five maximums to go over 97m in this innings, making up the top five so far in the Super 12s.

Afghanistan didn’t stop there, they made use of the shorter boundary eight times, as they chalked up 11 sixes in total, the most in the tournament.

But it wasn’t just boundaries where Afghanistan got their runs, they scored 73 of their 190 by running through the wickets.

The second left-right combination of Zadran and Gurbaz were particularly quick between the wickets even having two runs scratched off for being short of their ground at the turn.

With 190 on the board, Afghanistan’s highest score in a T20 and what would be Scotland’s biggest chase, Afghanistan looked to wrap up the game as quickly.

Mujeeb announced himself on the World Cup stage taking three wickets in his second over, including two in two balls.

Captain Kyle Coetzer was the first to go, clean bowled by Mujeeb for 10 before Calum MacLeod was dismissed off the next ball, trapped lbw, with a review giving him out on umpire’s call.

It was the same fate for Richie Berrington, who went for a duck, as did Matthew Cross and Michael Leask as Scotland became the first side to have batters from three to six all make ducks.

Mujeeb would also pick up opener George Munsey who top-scored with 25 and Watt to take five for 20 off his four overs.

Two of his wickets were lbw with Rashid Khan dismissing three batters leg before wicket, this saw Scotland match the Netherlands as having the most dismissals by lbw in men’s T20I cricket.

Khan took the final two Scotland wickets in two balls to collect four for nine from just 2.2 overs as Afghanistan moved top of Group 2 with a net run rate of +6.5 to cap a dominant display.

For more information, contact:
Headquarters,
International Cricket Council (ICC)
Street 69, Dubai Sports City,
Sh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +97-143828800
Fax: +97-143828600
E-mail: enquiry@icc-cricket.com
Website: www.icc-cricket.com

Dubai, October 25, 2021 (PPI-OT):South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada insisted there is no point dwelling on his side’s opening Super 12 loss to Australia ahead of the game against the West Indies.

Temba Bavuma’s men registered a below-par 118 for nine batting first at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi but almost managed to pull off an unlikely win before a match-winning partnership of 40 off 26 balls between Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade saw Australia home with two balls to spare.

South Africa now face the West Indies, who had an even tougher time of it against England in a repeat of the ICC Men’s World T20 2016 final after being dismissed for just 55 on their way to a six-wicket defeat.

“It’s just one game that we couldn’t get over the line. Tomorrow is another day. Why be negative about it? Be positive. Whatever happens, happens,” said Rabada, who scored 19 lower-order runs and took one for 28 in his four overs in his side’s first hit out in the competition.

“Yeah, it obviously wasn’t the ideal start with the bat, and rarely do you ever have a perfect cricket game, although you would want both departments to balance out or balance each other out.

“If you also have a look at Australia, as well, we bowled extremely well, but yeah, their bowling outshined their batting, too.

“So, I guess it was probably a day for bowling, but in saying that, it’s no excuse. We know that we have to perform well in all departments. We’ve analysed what we have needed to do, and the guys are on it at the training grounds.

“At the end of the day it’s just another game of cricket. However, we need to rock up with proper intensity and play close to our best.

“That’s what we’re here to do. We’re here to win the World Cup, otherwise why would we be here?”

Despite seeing the West Indies’ batting line-up collapse against England, Rabada insists South Africa will not be taking the defending champions lightly when they face off in Dubai on Tuesday.

“They’re a dangerous team. You can’t underestimate anyone. Tomorrow is a new day,” he added.

“We’re going to have to go and be as disciplined as we were in our first game [with the ball]. We cannot take anything for granted.”

West Indies assistant coach Roddy Estwick said making sure the players are enjoying themselves is the key to regaining form after the heavy defeat to England.

He said: “Well, one bad game doesn’t make a summer. We realise we had a bad game. We’ve had a chat about it. The players had some volleyball yesterday to help them to relax, to try to build some team spirit.

“The one thing you can do is, once you lose a game you can look for all the excuses in the world. You can nitpick all you want. You’ve got to back the players.

“Our job is to get the players up, make sure they remain confident, make sure they still believe in their ability. Make sure the dressing room is still a happy place and let them go enjoy the game of cricket, because that’s why they started playing.

“You start playing cricket because you enjoy doing it. They’re fortunate enough that they become international superstars and they are representing their country.

“But at the end of the day, it’s all about enjoyment. And once the enjoyment comes first and the attitude is right, then your skill level will remain high, and your discipline will remain very high.”

For more information, contact:
Headquarters,
International Cricket Council (ICC)
Street 69, Dubai Sports City,
Sh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +97-143828800
Fax: +97-143828600
E-mail: enquiry@icc-cricket.com
Website: www.icc-cricket.com

Dubai, October 25, 2021 (PPI-OT):Afghanistan will not get complacent despite their huge win over Scotland in Group 2 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, insists Naveen ul-Haq.

The seamer was the only other bowler to take a wicket with Mujeeb Ur Rahman (5-20) and Rashid Khan (4-9) reducing Scotland to 60 all out.

Their dominance with the ball came after a clinical batting performance which saw Afghanistan make 190 for four.

Naveen said: “Every tournament, the first game is very important so it was a good team effort and we needed that win to start our journey into the tournament.

“It was a good one. Our players were ready for it. We were well prepared. Lots of our players were playing and participating in different leagues, so all the boys were ready for this tournament and this match.

“We had this plan of the left-right combination, so for both the batsmen, it was easy to target the shorter side and we had this plan and we executed it well.

“We needed that win to start our tournament so we won’t be complacent about this win, we move forward.

“We will enjoy the victory, it was a great game, but looking forward into the tournament we have still four games.”

For Scotland, it was an evening to forget as they recorded their lowest total in a T20I and head coach Shane Burger believes it will be a difficult defeat to get over.

“It’s obviously a tough pill to swallow,” he said. “We’ve had really good momentum recently, so you get into a rhythm of what that feels like and that’ll be really tough to swallow.

“But this competition doesn’t allow you to think about it for too long. We’ve got another game in a couple of days’ time, we have to just regroup, reset and go again against Namibia.

“The game is all about small margins, fine margins at times, and we didn’t quite get momentum on our side this evening.

“They just showed that with a few of their world-class players, they were able just to pile on the pressure at the right times and in T20 cricket that can happen. It can go against you.”

Scotland saw the dangerous Calum MacLeod and Richie Berrington both dismissed lbw and reviews showed the wickets being decided by umpire’s call, with fine margins consigning Scotland to their fate.

“Sometimes those things can go your way and I’m not here to speak about decisions because I feel sometimes we make our own luck,” Burger added.

“But when those small and fine decisions go against you, it’s really hard to get back into the game and with the quality that they have, they just keep piling on the pressure.

“They keep coming at you and we’ll just learn a lot from that and we’ve got to be able to just manage those situations a little bit better.”

For more information, contact:
Headquarters,
International Cricket Council (ICC)
Street 69, Dubai Sports City,
Sh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +97-143828800
Fax: +97-143828600
E-mail: enquiry@icc-cricket.com
Website: www.icc-cricket.com

Dubai, October 25, 2021 (PPI-OT):New Zealand captain Kane Williamson insisted his side must remain focused on themselves as they begin their Super 12s campaign against an in-form Pakistan.

Williamson’s men are yet to get underway in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 and watched on as Pakistan strolled to a 10-wicket victory over India in their opening clash.

Shaheen Afridi’s devastating opening spell, accounting for India’s openers, set the platform before Pakistani skipper Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan smashed half-centuries to steer their side home without loss.

“For us, it’s about focusing on the style of cricket that we want to play, which is important to us as a team,” said Williamson.

“But we know we’re coming up against a very strong team in Pakistan, and I think every opposition that you play against, you prepare as well as you can to take them on at their best.

“We saw the best out of Pakistan in their last match against India, which was a fantastic performance.

“I think Pakistan have come to the T20 World Cup full of confidence, having played in these conditions more than most. They certainly put it on show and showed why they’re one of the favourites in the competition.

“Tomorrow I’m sure they’ll be very strong again, so for us, it’s focusing on the cricket that we want to play and trying to adjust to conditions.”

Williamson captained New Zealand to glory in the ICC Test Championship final in June and is hoping to add another ICC trophy to his collection in the shortest format.

And the skipper revealed that his troublesome elbow injury is showing signs of progress.

“Yeah, I mean, naturally different formats, but a great moment for cricket in our country and one that we truly cherished, and as we know with the schedule and the international format, it’s sort of always something else coming up,” added Williamson.

“We really enjoyed that moment, but also the focus changes and things are different with the different formats and a different side largely, as well.

“I believe everybody currently is fit or fit enough. My elbow is improving. It’s just been an ongoing sort of challenge to deal with it regarding loading and these sorts of things.

“It’s just a work in progress. But I think all in all, it’s showing improvement, which is good.”

Pakistan’s bowling consultant Vernon Philander reflected on a fantastic victory against India but insisted his side must remain grounded after just one game.

He said: “Yesterday was obviously a brilliant performance by the team. I think it also comes on the back of some hard work the last two and a half weeks. So, the boys are in a good space after a brilliant start last night.

“We had a meeting earlier where we highlighted the importance of really staying grounded. And last night was a massive win for all boys. Make no mistake about it.

“But we’ve also got a tournament at hand and the boys will stay focused. Really today’s talk was about putting last night behind us and focusing on what’s to come tomorrow.

“Tomorrow’s going to be another big game. And hopefully the boys will reset and be ready and focused for tomorrow.”

For more information, contact:
Headquarters,
International Cricket Council (ICC)
Street 69, Dubai Sports City,
Sh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +97-143828800
Fax: +97-143828600
E-mail: enquiry@icc-cricket.com
Website: www.icc-cricket.com

Dubai, October 24, 2021 (PPI-OT):Charith Asalanka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa fired superb half-centuries as Sri Lanka powered to a five-wicket win over Bangladesh in their Super 12s Group 1 opener.

Asalanka struck five sixes in his unbeaten 80 from 49 balls and Rajapaksa celebrated his 30th birthday in style with 53 from 31 as the Lions chased 172 to complete their highest successful run chase in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup history with seven balls to spare.

Half-centuries from Mohammad Naim and Mushfiqur Rahim had led Bangladesh to a challenging 171 for four and two wickets in the space of four balls for Shakib Al Hasan seemingly put them in the driving seat in the chase.

But the Tigers paid for costly drops, Liton Das putting down both Rajapaksa and Asalanka on the boundary in the course of a blistering 86-run stand which turned the tide in Sri Lanka’s favour.

Both sides made one change from their final qualifying group fixtures, with Sri Lanka plumping for the seam of Binura Fernando over the spin option of Maheesh Theeksana, who was nursing a slight injury, and opting to bowl first after winning the toss.

The Lions attack had mauled Netherlands on Friday, dismissing the Dutch for 44, but found Bangladesh openers Naim and Das in a determined mood in the powerplay.

The pair had struggled for fluency in their Group B fixtures, with opening stands of 8, 11 and 0, but successive free hits following Dushmantha Chameera overstepping allowed Naim to free his arms in the third over.

Naim lost his partner with the score on 40, bringing the influential Shakib to the crease, and he twice pierced gaps through the off-side before missing a straight one from Chamika Karunaratne, the pick of the Lions attack, to depart for 10.

Naim and Mushfiqur began their partnership by rotating the strike effectively, carrying the Tigers to 72 for two at the halfway mark, before moving through the gears in style.

Mushfiqur smashed the first six of the innings over deep mid-wicket in the 11th over before slog-sweeping Binura into the crowd to the delight of the vocal Bangladesh supporters, who were on their feet once more when Naim drove Kumara for a boundary which saw him to his second half-century of the tournament.

Mushfiqur kept up the charge following Naim’s dismissal, finding gaps behind square on both sides of the wicket, and his half-century arrived with 11 deliveries of the innings remaining.

A typically inventive scoop to the fine-leg fence then provided a fitting conclusion to a sparkling knock as Bangladesh set the Lions 172 to win.

Nasum Ahmed, playing his first match of the tournament, opened the bowling for the Tigers and got his side off to a perfect start by clean bowling Kusal Perera, attempting a slog sweep.

New batter Asalanka succeeded where his teammate had failed, heaving Nasum over deep mid-wicket for the second maximum of a productive third over in a sign of what was to come.

Pathum Nissanka also took a liking to spin, lofting a glorious straight six off Mahedi Hasan as Sri Lanka raced to 54 for one at the end of the powerplay – 13 runs better off than Bangladesh at the same stage.

Enter Shakib, so often the man with the golden arm, who removed Nissanka and Avishka Fernando to bring the game firmly back into the balance and move out on his own as the leading wicket-taker in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup history with 41, two clear of Shahid Afridi.

The pendulum swung further towards the Tigers when Wanindu Hasaranga sent a Mohammad Saifuddin slower ball straight to Naim at long-on but Rajapaksa’s clean hitting quickly brought the Lions right back into contention.

The batter lofted Afif Hossain over extra cover for six and survived a let-off later in the 13th over when Das misjudged a routine catching opportunity at deep square-leg.

Asalanka continued to look in fine fettle at the other end and having matched Mushfiqur in bringing up a half-century in 32 balls, he fired two sixes in one costly Mahmadullah over to keep his side ahead of the required rate.

Das then put down Asalanka at deep extra-cover and the pair cashed in on their good fortune, Rajapaksa blasting consecutive sixes off Saifuddin in a decisive 16th over which saw 22 added.

The Tigers turned to Shakib but Asalanka deposited him into the stands and Rajapaksa’s departure came too late to spark a change in fortunes.

Fittingly, it was Asalanka who sealed the deal with a dab to the third-man boundary to spark Sri Lankan celebrations at the end of a captivating contest.

Scores in Brief

Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah by five wickets

Bangladesh 171/4 in 20 overs (Mohammad Naim 62, Mushfiqur Rahim 57 not out; Chamika Karunaratne 1/12, Binura Fernando 1/27, Lahiru Kumara 1/29)

Sri Lanka 172/5 in 18.5 overs (Charith Asalanka 80 not out, Bhanuka Rajapaksa 53; Shakib Al Hasan 2/17, Nasum Ahmed 2/29)

Player of the Match: Charith Asalanka (Sri Lanka)

For more information, contact:
Headquarters,
International Cricket Council (ICC)
Street 69, Dubai Sports City,
Sh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +97-143828800
Fax: +97-143828600
E-mail: enquiry@icc-cricket.com
Website: www.icc-cricket.com

Dubai, October 24, 2021 (PPI-OT):Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan propelled Pakistan to a famous 10-wicket victory as they toppled old rivals India for the first time ever at an ICC World Cup event in Dubai.

The blockbuster Group 2 clash marked the two sides’ first T20 meeting since the 2016 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and set a competitive target of 152 to win, Babar’s side cruised to a history-making triumph under the lights.

Afridi starred with the ball as his spell of three for 31 – bolstered by Hasan Ali’s two for 44 – decimated the Indian top order and helped restrict Virat Kohli’s team to 151 for seven.

And despite Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Ravindra Jadeja all spearheading a star-studded Indian attack, Babar (68 not out) and wicketkeeper Rizwan (79 not out) delivered a run-chasing masterclass to inflict a first ever T20 ten-wicket defeat on India.

Babar inserted the Indians after winning the toss and with the atmosphere at fever pitch by the time Afridi steamed in for the first delivery, the skilful left-arm seamer got Pakistan off to a flyer.

He trapped the dangerous Rohit Sharma lbw with just the fourth ball of the match as his menacing, full and straight thunderbolt pinned the Indian opener on the crease.

That brought Kohli – and his stunning T20I average of 52.65 – to the middle but the Indian captain’s arrival did little to halt the rampant Afridi juggernaut.

The 21-year-old carried on where he left off in his second over as his sumptuous in-swinger proved too good for KL Rahul and bowled him through the gate.

The Indian top order rallied, however, with Suryakumar Yadav and Kohli pummelling two sixes in quick succession to extend a gripping opening period.

But Yadav soon followed Sharma and Rahul back to the pavilion as a fine diving catch by Rizwan – off the bowling of Hasan – had the Indians reeling at 31 for three.

Rishabh Pant led the Indian recovery as his enterprising innings of 39 – including two extraordinary one-handed sixes – helped steer Ravi Shastri’s side towards a defendable-looking total.

But with the left-hander motoring in the 13th over – and Kohli on a run-a-ball 29 at the other end – he succumbed to the leg spin of Shadab Khan as the Pakistan all-rounder held on to a steepler off his own bowling.

Kohli continued to keep things ticking with an intelligent middle-over innings as a steady stream of boundaries, coupled with some masterful manoeuvring, maintained India’s momentum and brought up his perfectly-judged 50.

But Pakistan then regained the initiative as Jadeja (13) was caught in the deep off Hasan and Kohli, who made 57 off 49 balls, was finally dismissed by the returning left-arm pace of Afridi.

And Hardik Pandya – hailed by Kohli for his finishing abilities before the match – soon followed his skipper in departing as he was caught by Babar off the bowling of Haris Rauf to leave India on 151 for seven at the interval.

Rizwan wasted no time kickstarting the Pakistan reply as he swatted Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a four and six in the very first over.

And with captain Babar’s cover drive functioning in typically-fluent – and aesthetically-pleasing – fashion at the other end, the 2009 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup champions had soon laid the foundations for a crack at India’s total in the blink of an eye.

With Pakistan on 43 for nought at the end of the powerplay, Kohli introduced the left-arm spin of Jadeja to initiate what felt like a crucial spell in the dynamic of the contest.

But Rizwan and Babar continued to masterfully navigate their way through the chase, with the skipper clubbing Jadeja for a monstrous six off the back foot before Rizwan survived a run-out opportunity at the non-striker’s end.

India continued to search for a breakthrough but Babar and Rizwan repelled all Kohli threw at them to leave 17 more runs required from the final three overs.

And they finished the job in style, with Rizwan launching Shami for two fours and a six to fire his side to victory and cap a historic day for Pakistani cricket at the Dubai International Stadium.

Scores in Brief

Pakistan beat India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, by 10 wickets

India 151/7 in 20 overs (Virat Kohli 57, Rishabh Pant 39; Shaheen Afridi 3/31, Hasan Ali 2/44)

Pakistan 152/0 in 17.5 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 79 not out, Babar Azam 68 not out; Ravindra Jadeja 0/28, Jasprit Bumrah 0/22)

Player of the Match: Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)

For more information, contact:
Headquarters,
International Cricket Council (ICC)
Street 69, Dubai Sports City,
Sh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +97-143828800
Fax: +97-143828600
E-mail: enquiry@icc-cricket.com
Website: www.icc-cricket.com