Day: October 17, 2021

Dubai, October 17, 2021 (PPI-OT):It was a tale of two all-rounders in Oman – Shakib Al Hasan, the all-time great, and Chris Greaves, the international novice.

This felt like it would be an opportunity to crown Shakib, now the most prolific wicket-taker in the history of T20 internationals, particularly when he and Mahedi Hasan combined to leave Scotland in all sorts of trouble at 53 for six batting first.

But instead, it was Greaves who stole the show. Completely unfazed by playing his first international innings in just his second match and tasked with a rebuild against the unquestioned favourites in Group B, Greaves got stuck in and turned the game around. He would do it again in the second innings.

Linking up with spin twin Mark Watt, the 31-year-old played with composure against the spinners before using the pace of the quicks as he eased to a quickfire 45 from just 28 deliveries.

Still, when Shakib plucked the ball out of the night sky after Greaves could not quite connect with Mustafizur Rahman’s slower ball, it felt like the master would have the final word over the rookie.

That was even more the case when Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim came together during the chase, unhurried and untroubled with the exception of a couple of risky runs.

However, when Greaves entered the attack, Shakib tried to go after his very first delivery, failed to connect and picked out Calum MacLeod in the deep.

By this stage, Greaves was everywhere. If the ball can follow you around when you are struggling, this was the opposite. Twice in the next over he made important stops at point as Mushfiqur looked to up the scoring rate.

That pressure was rewarded when he bowled Mushfiqur in the following over, the decisive moment of the match in the view of Bangladesh skipper Mahmudullah, a view with which it is hard to disagree.

The World Cup offers a platform to players from associate nations who might not otherwise have the opportunity to play at the highest level.

Even by those standards, Greaves’s journey is an unlikely one. His only previous T20I was against Papua New Guinea at the start of the month.

It is only a chance meeting with Matt Prior that has led to Greaves being here. Back in 2010 he was part of South Africa’s Under-19s set-up bowling to the touring English at the Wanderers.

While he was brought up in South Africa, he had a British passport through his mother and having passed on her email address – he did not have one at the time – he was stunned to hear from Prior.

That led to a trial at Durham. It did not prove fruitful, but Durham’s loss eventually turned out to be Scotland’s gain as the all-rounder moved to Glenrothes and then Forfarshire.

The pandemic might have delayed his debut, but Greaves has made up for lost time in style. He may never match Shakib’s career achievements but on this occasion, the novice came out on top in the battle with the master.

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 17, 2021 (PPI-OT):Zeeshan Maqsood sees plenty of room for improvement for Oman after a comprehensive 10-wicket win over Papua New Guinea in the opening game of the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

The tournament co-hosts grasped the early momentum in Group B with victory over debutants PNG, who are ranked three places higher in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s T20I Team Rankings.

With the toughest test of their first-round campaign next up against Bangladesh, at Al Amerat on Tuesday, skipper Zeeshan knows exactly where his side need to step up.

“We have to look at our fielding, and minimise our mistakes, so we admit that and come back strong,” said the 33-year-old.

“We always use many bowling options, so that’s a good thing for us. Our catching is alright, but ground fielding has to be better due to nerves.

“We can’t take it easy and we need to correct our mistakes.”

Zeeshan, who shifted himself down to the middle order after taking over as captain in 2018, wasn’t required to bat as Oman chased down their target of 130 without losing a wicket.

Jatinder Singh was the chief aggressor in the run chase, clearing the ropes four times, ending unbeaten on 73 with Aqib Ilyas reaching his own half-century in the closing stages.

But Zeeshan was named Player of the Match on the strength of a crucial spell of left-arm spin, that started with him conceding 11 runs in his first over.

He took three wickets for one run in his second over, the 16th of the innings, with the first dismissal the pick of them, a beauty to clean bowl Norman Vanua.

“It was a crucial time for us, they were batting very well,” said Zeeshan.

“We got crucial wickets and didn’t allow them to put up a big total. I just tried to keep it tight, don’t bowl loose ones and bowl according to the field.

“The wicket was playing well, we just wanted to not give boundaries and loose balls, that run-out and then the wicket of Assad Vala was crucial for us to come back into the game.

“We know these conditions well, any score around 120, 140 can be chased well, the wicket was playing well, the ball was coming on nicely and the openers batted really well.

“I am really happy. Thanks to all our supporters and the family members.”

Meanwhile, PNG captain Assad Vala led by example with 56 from 43 balls but saw his side beaten heavily in their first-ever T20 World Cup match.

PNG lost wickets in clusters and Vala felt being reduced to 0/2 in the second over as crucial to the outcome of the game.

“It wasn’t a good start, and losing two wickets for no runs wasn’t great,” he said.

“We fought back really well and showed some character, but it was disappointing to collapse after and we couldn’t pick up wickets either, so they deserved the win.

“The middle order could have given us a good chance but we didn’t do well, and they picked up crucial wickets at the time.

“160 was par and it would have given us a chance to win. The way we bowled and fielded didn’t give us a chance.”

PNG face Scotland next, also on Tuesday, with Vala looking for an immediate response from within his group.

“Next two games, we just want to go back, talk about and reflect what we need to do,” he said.

“We just need to focus on ourselves and not worry about Scotland and Bangladesh at the moment, because it was down to us that we didn’t do well today because we didn’t execute our plans.

“We don’t want to think about them. We want to go back and reflect on what we need to do well and focus on ourselves at the moment.”

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 17, 2021 (PPI-OT):The Netherlands enter the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 with the greatest squad in their history, according to coach Ryan Campbell ahead of their opener against Ireland.

With all-time great Ryan ten Doeschate preparing for his swansong, and a host of English county cricket stalwarts, the Dutch will not lack belief in the UAE.

And while Campbell joked that his side will be underdogs as Associate members in a Group A that features full members Ireland and Sri Lanka, he is setting his sights on a place in the Super 12s – which will require a fast start against the Irish at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Campbell said: “I’ve put a tag on this squad as the greatest we’ve ever assembled in the Netherlands. With that comes its own pressures and it puts pressure on myself but that is the belief I have in this squad.

“We have two full members in our group, so of course they should go through. Us little fellas, the Netherlands and Namibia, we may be here to make up the group but let me tell you, we’ve got a bit of fight about us.

“If either of those teams don’t show up, they are in a lot of trouble. We’ve shown that against Ireland a number of times, the Netherlands have shown that we show up on the big stage, but we have our own pressures.

“We want to be known as one of the great teams around the world, we don’t want to be just an associate team. Our history says we win one game against England every now and again in a World Cup but we don’t want to known as a one-off wonder. We want to compete with everyone.

“So I think the pressure is also on us because we want to be in the final 12 and go up against the big boys.”

Ireland may be full ICC members these days, but that promotion actually means that the Dutch have the edge in terms of county experience, with Irish players now considered overseas players when it comes to the English domestic game.

While Paul Stirling has been doing his stuff in The Hundred and for Middlesex, as a whole, this Irish squad has not had as much chance to play top-level cricket as they might have done heading into previous World Cups.

And coach Graham Ford admits that is a disadvantage against a team like the Netherlands, albeit one that he believes his team can overcome.

He said: “Without a doubt, it’s a huge plus for them to have had seven or eight guys involved in The Hundred, they’ve got guys involved in county cricket which keeps them match sharp and keeps their skills sharp.

“So they have a big advantage there. It’s something we used to have so it’s quite disappointing to not have that. But it’s about how we go and play on the day. Our guys have worked really hard. They have gained something out of that (experience) but it doesn’t mean we can’t beat them.

“We have done a fair amount of homework looking at how the pitches have played over the IPL. The powerplay is always important, the powerplay and the death overs are massively important in T20 cricket. Start well and finish well and you’ve got a pretty good chance. They will be important, but every ball in 20-over cricket is a major event and if you’re winning every ball, you’ve got a.

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 17, 2021 (PPI-OT):Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus believes all of the pressure is on Sri Lanka as his side make their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup debut tomorrow.

The Eagles’s first match at the tournament comes against the 2014 winners, who have played more T20 World Cup matches than any other team.

And that is why Erasmus says Namibia have nothing to lose and everything to gain in Abu Dhabi.

“I think most definitely the pressure is on them to win,” said the 26-year-old.

“We are going in there with a permanent underdog tag and that is always nice, makes us nice and free.

“Maybe they are a bit under pressure because of recent results and that puts a team up for the taking, and if we do it well, we can take them down.

“We’ve played lots of T20 cricket against high-quality opposition, and we have travelled a bit so we are accustomed to playing in different conditions, playing against different skills.

“I am more than happy with our prep and if we can bring it together for these three games, I am confident we can go through.”

As Namibia makes its T20 World Cup debut, coach Pierre de Bruyn explained how the occasion is not lost on his players.

“It’s been a long wait and the players can’t wait to get going,” he said.

“These players have dreamt about this opportunity since they were five years old, six years old, and that dream is coming true tomorrow, so there is excitement as well as nervousness and pressure.”

Sri Lanka coach Mickey Arthur is leading a settled side into their seventh T20 World Cup campaign.

Working with Mahela Jayawardene, Arthur has crunched the numbers to decide the Lions’ best batting line-up with Avishka Fernando confirmed to be batting at four.

Arthur said: “I think we’ve prepared really well, we had 10 days in Colombo as well and then against Oman it was great for us and allowed us to look at different combinations.

“Players got into some really good form, we sorted out exactly the brand of cricket we wanted to play, and then coming here, we’ve just capitalised a little bit on that and so I couldn’t be happier.

“We have sorted out the number three position, Avishka is very comfortable at four. He’s done exceptionally well there.

“We had a bit of a brainstorming session, Mahela came with a plan, he had a look at the stats which he sent on to Dasun [Shanaka, captain] and myself and we had a look at the stats.

“It was pretty clear for Avishka that number four was a good fit for him in terms of the brand of cricket we wanted to play.

“We’ve got that sorted so Avishka will bat four tomorrow definitely and then we’ve got a plan for number three, so we’re very settled at the moment.

“Going into tomorrow, it was just the number three position, that was the one that was outstanding for us, and we made a decision today, so let’s hope that all goes well.”

Sri Lanka are in Group A in the first round of fixtures and as well as taking on Namibia, they will face Ireland and the Netherlands.

Only the top two progress to the Super 12s and Arthur is aware of how crucial an opening win could be

“It’s really important, this is a bit of a cutthroat little qualifier, you’ve got three games and you’ve got to hit the ground running without a doubt,” Arthur added.

“Oman got off to the perfect start today and hopefully we can go some way to replicating that 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 17, 2021 (PPI-OT):Oman captain Zeeshan Maqsood was asked at the toss which of his players were most dangerous to Papua New Guinea. He listed four names and then chuckled: “also, myself.”

Much is demanded of those who lead Associate nations – rarely out of the game, marshalling uneven resources, often shouldering the burden with willow and ball in hand.

Both skippers stepped up to the plate in an absorbing opening game of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, but Maqsood’s stunning spell of left-arm spin helped spark a 10-wicket win.

The first ball of the 13th over of the PNG innings was a dot ball, but it was the game’s narrative writ large. A clash of two strong-willed captains, Maqsood and Assad Vala, neither giving an inch.

With dangerman Charles Amini run out for 37 but counterpart Vala still going strong at the crease, Maqsood brought himself on to bowl.

With his very first ball, the 33-year-old leapt down to field off his own bowling and clattered into Vala, bringing him down and nearly seriously injuring his ankle. Game on.

But Vala emerged as clear winner of the first stanza, crashing Maqsood’s bowling through cover for four and then lifting him down the ground for six to bring up a half-century in 40 balls.

Maqsood didn’t waste time in reacting. He took himself out of the attack, going back to pace and it worked, with Kaleemullah returning to draw a leading edge from Vala and dismiss him for 56.

The next over, Maqsood came back and took three wickets in five balls. From 102/4, when Vala departed, they were 113/7 and Oman had the game at their mercy.

It was a masterclass in cricketing leadership. The skill of never being too proud to admit you are wrong, but never quick to underestimate your own ability.

From that point PNG would never reach a total to truly challenge Oman, with Sese Bau (13) the only batter other than Vala and Amini to reach double figures.

They set their hosts a target of 130 from 20 overs, about 50 runs shy of where they needed to be.

Oman came into the opening game as the Associate nation with perhaps the strongest claim on a Super 12 spot and that is how they leave it.

This was their second win at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and they are a far better team than the one that beat Ireland on their debut in 2016. They have risen from 29 to 18 in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s T20I Team Rankings.

It was a day to remember for all those who have been involved in that process. On Omani Women’s Day, an all-female marching band set the scene for a glorious day in Al Amerat.

But it wasn’t all sunshine and roses – the Oman squad came back from ‘hibernation’ and into intense training only five or six weeks ago, and it showed in their fielding which was ragged on occasion.

Duleep Mendis’s side will know that, given the high standards they now set. That’s a sign of how far they come – and on the strength of this display, how far they’re going.

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