Day: October 24, 2021

Dubai, October 24, 2021 (PPI-OT):Virat Kohli admits Shaheen Afridi’s blistering new ball spell proved decisive after Pakistan ‘outplayed’ India and cruised to a history-making ten-wicket triumph at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021.

The 21-year-old paceman blew away the Indian top order as his figures of three for 31 restricted India to 151 for seven and laid the foundations for a ruthless Pakistani run chase.

Captain Babar Azam (68 not out) and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan (79 not out) guided Pakistan to a memorable victory as they lowered their old rival’s colours for the first time ever at an ICC World Cup event.

Kohli crafted a typically-classy 57 in his team’s first innings but after India were reduced to 31 for three by Afridi, the skipper said: “[Shaheen] bowled really well with the new ball and hit the right areas to pick up wickets.

“In T20 cricket you need good execution to pick up wickets with the new ball, and he certainly did that.

“Credit to him – he put our batsmen under pressure immediately, ran in with intensity and bowled in consistent areas.

“As batsmen, you are forced to be a bit watchful. That spell put us on the back foot immediately and from then on, to get those extra runs was really difficult.

“They definitely outplayed us – there’s no doubt about that.

“You don’t win by ten wickets if you don’t outplay the opposition – we didn’t even get any chances.

“They were very professional and you definitely have to give them credit. We tried our best, we tried to create enough pressure on them but they had the answers. There is no shame in accepting a team played better than you.

“They definitely deserve the credit for finishing the game strongly and not allowing us to put any pressure on them.”

Afridi dismissed Rohit Sharma – first ball – and KL Rahul with a pair of new ball thunderbolts to leave the Indian batters with considerable work to do.

Kohli’s well-judged half-century, bolstered by a swashbuckling 39 from Rishabh Pant, helped lead their recovery but after Afridi returned to remove the Indian captain – coupled with Hasan Ali’s two wickets in the middle overs – his side were only able to set their old rivals 152 to win.

Rizwan and Babar wasted no time getting the Pakistani response off to a flyer, with the wicketkeeper striking a four and six off the gentle pace of Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the very first over.

And they dealt with a bowling attack of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Ravindra Jadeja with remarkable efficiency to catapult their country to a famous win with 13 balls to spare.

It was Afridi who was awarded the ICC Player of the Match Award, however, and the game-changing left-arm seamer said: “We just tried to bowl in the right areas.

“It’s a really good feeling to win against India in the World Cup and it’s a special feeling for Pakistan – we planned and executed (this victory).

“The way Rizzy (Mohammad Rizwan) and Babar (Azam) finished the game and the way they played – credit goes to these two. It’s good for Pakistan to start well in our first game and we’re looking forward to more games.”

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):Thirteen may be unlucky for some but that number proved an unforgettable blessing for Pakistan at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Not in 12 previous attempts had Pakistan beaten old rivals India at an ICC World Cup tournament but in a heavyweight Group 2 clash in Dubai, Babar Azam and his side finally ended that drought in memorable style with a famous ten-wicket victory.

Azam (68 not out) and Mohammad Rizwan (79 not out) steered Pakistan to victory but it was seamer Shaheen Afridi who laid the foundations with a near-unplayable new ball spell.

Afridi, 21, sent down left-arm rocket after left-arm rocket to reduce the Indian top order to smithereens and set the wheels in motion for a history-making day.

After his captain won the toss and opted to insert Virat Kohli’s India, Afridi delivered an unequivocal masterclass in white-ball fast bowling to leave Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul perplexed.

The unique cricketing spectacle made for a raucous atmosphere under the Dubai lights and as Afridi stormed in for the bout’s opening delivery, his jet-heeled ambitions were clear.

One of world cricket’s most expert exponents of firing in full and straight thunderbolts, Afridi required just three balls to get his eye in before sending Sharma packing on his very first delivery.

Afridi delivered a menacing, fast-paced yorker to pin the Indian ace on his crease and leave umpire Chris Gaffaney with one of the easier LBW decisions he’d have had to make throughout his extended international career.

Incoming batsman Kohli – and his astonishing limited overs record – successfully survived the next two deliveries but it didn’t take long for Afridi, a considerably more experienced campaigner than his age suggests, to re-find that opening over rhythm.

He conjured up yet another sumptuous in-swinger that proved too good for Rahul as the fellow Indian opener, and his impressive T20I average of 40, was bowled through the gate to trigger chaotic scenes among the jubilant Pakistani contingent.

Kohli (57) and Rishabh Pant – who struck a swashbuckling 39 including two remarkable one-handed sixes – spearheaded the Indian recovery but it was that man Afridi who once again grabbed another crucial breakthrough, returning to the fray at the death to dismiss the Indian skipper.

Kohli had batted in characteristically classy fashion to haul his team towards a competitive total but when Afridi had him well-caught behind by Rizwan in the 19th over, Indian momentum was once again derailed.

Afridi’s brilliant three for 31 from four overs marked him out as the Pakistan star of the show and after watching Babar and Rizwan polish off the chase in under 18 overs, he said: “We just tried to bowl in the right areas.

“It’s a really good feeling to win against India in the World Cup and it’s a special feeling for Pakistan – we planned and executed [this victory].

“The way Rizzy [Mohammad Rizwan] and Babar [Azam] finished the game and the way they played – credit goes to these two. It’s good for Pakistan to start well in our first game and we’re looking forward to more games.”

Babar and Rizwan got the job done in style as they masterfully navigated their way through the run chase to cap a famous, history-making triumph in the Middle East.

But there was no doubt who emerged as the real hero of the day for the cricket-adoring nation, with Afridi’s thrilling opening spell getting the ball rolling and indelibly etching his name in Pakistani folklore.

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):Calum MacLeod insists Scotland’s approach will not change as they prepare for their Group 2 opener against Afghanistan in the Super 12 stage.

Scotland qualified in style, topping Group B courtesy of three consecutive wins including an eye-catching triumph over Bangladesh, and now have their sights set on causing further problems for full member nations.

Afghanistan have won all six previous T20Is between the sides – though the two nations have not met in this format since March 2016 – and MacLeod believes his ever-improving side can continue their momentum.

“The good thing of having the first round is that we’ve come in with confidence,” he said.

“We’ve obviously topped that group with three good hard games of cricket, so I think we’ll come into the game with confidence.

“Obviously it’ll be Afghanistan’s first game in the tournament, and we can also go in there and put some pressure on them.

“I said before the first round that we feel we’ve got a batting unit filled with some exciting, powerful players, and we just hope that we’ll be able to showcase that.

“Just because we’re now into the Super 12s, I don’t think that changes much for us. We’ll come and play the aggressive type of cricket we want to play.”

Afghanistan are in their fifth year of full ICC membership and their path is one Scotland are looking to emulate.

More performances in the manner of those which got them to the Super 12 stage could prove useful in accelerating that process and MacLeod has urged his teammates to seize the opportunities which lie in wait in the UAE.

“We want to be the leading associate, and we want to push our case to be the next full member,” he said.

“If you look specifically at the way Afghanistan and Ireland did it, they did it from doing well at World Cups, and we’ve now got five great opportunities to go out and show world cricket what this organisation and the team is about.

“For the players, it’s a great showcasing opportunity to show some of the T20 skills this group has and get them out there on the world stage.

“You never know what sort of opportunities can come on the back of this for some of the players if they have a good group stage.”

For Afghanistan skipper Mohammad Nabi, the tournament represents a chance to put smiles on faces amid a turbulent period back home.

Spin duo Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, third and fifth respectively in the MRF Tyres ICC T20I Bowling Rankings, will be crucial if Afghanistan are to mount a challenge for semi-final qualification and Nabi is looking forward to his side getting their tournament underway.

“Everyone knows that back home in Afghanistan there’s a lot happening and everything from the last few months,” he said.

“But from a cricket point of view, everybody is ready for that World Cup and we prepared well for this World Cup.

“The fans are really waiting for this because the only happiness in Afghanistan is cricket.

“If you’re willing to do well in the tournament and we win the games, the fans are really happy and there will be a lot of smiles on faces.

“We know each other very well from the last few years and we have played a lot of cricket in UAE. We know the conditions, how it’s worked and every player knows that as well.

“We are well prepared and we’ll try our best.”

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):Bhanuka Rajapaksa may have skipped his birthday breakfast but he had more than enough fuel in the tank to help inspire a memorable five-wicket Sri Lanka victory over Bangladesh.

On the first day of his 30s, Rajapaksa entered the fray to join Charith Asalanka with Sri Lanka on 79 for four and the required rate soon rose perilously above 10 an over.

It was a task the pair rose to with aplomb, Rajapaksa firing three fours and three sixes during an innings of 53 from 31 balls which swung the momentum back towards his side following the loss of three quick wickets.

The birthday boy appeared to be struggling with a knock towards the end of the run chase and fell just before the job was done but admitted it was nothing more than slight dizziness brought about by a lack of a pre-match meal as he heaped praise on his batting partner.

“It was a fantastic effort,” he said. “The way he [Asalanka] handled the situation and the tempo of the game was unbelievable.

“We’ve been struggling to find a proper number three batter. I’ve batted there myself and it’s not easy as you need to stay with the scoreboard.

“We lost a crucial wicket in the first over so he did a phenomenal job. It was amazing how he kept on scoring.

“He has a bright future for Sri Lanka and I hope he’ll be performing like this throughout the tournament.”

Sri Lanka eased into the Super 12s stage with three victories in Group A and this triumph over a side they have enjoyed several close contests with in recent years will only strengthen their confidence of springing a surprise in the coming weeks.

Rajapaksa was quick to hail the growing self-belief within the squad as a key factor behind their recent form and expects his side to pose plenty of problems to their remaining Group 1 opponents.

“We are a rebuilding side, we are quite young and we have started believing in ourselves – that’s one of the reasons we’ve been winning,” he said.

“We were underdogs before we entered the Super 12s but there are 22 million people hoping we’ll bring the cup back home.

“We have a couple of experienced guys, we have started believing in each other and we believe in all the boys.

“It’s a complete team effort, that’s how we’ve been consistent in all our games. It’s a massive win.”

Meanwhile, Mahumudullah was left to rue the missed opportunities in the field which cost Bangladesh when they were in a promising position.

Mushfiqur Rahim’s eye-catching unbeaten 57 from 37 deliveries, combined with 62 from Mohammad Naim, propelled the Tigers to 171 for seven but their chances of defending their total were dented when Liton Das put down boundary catches off both Rajapaksa and Asalanka.

The return of Shakib Al Hasan, who took two wickets in four balls earlier in the chase, came too late to stem the tide but Mahmudullah had no regrets around his side’s bowling plans.

“It was a really good batting track and both left-handers were set,” he said.

“We held [Shakib’s] bowling back a little bit so he could come back and bowl towards the end, he’s a champion bowler to bowl in the death overs.

“I don’t think it was a bad decision but we missed two crucial chances that cost us the game.

“Sri Lanka are trying to rebuild their structure as a team and playing good, consistent cricket.

“They have been quite successful against us in recent past but these things really motivate us as we feel we are really neck and neck.

“Today they played really well so they came out winning the match.”

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