(ICC) – Page 164 – Newswire Pakistan

October 21, 2021

ICC names Dettol as hygiene partner for the Men’s T20 World Cup 2021

Dubai, October 21, 2021 (PPI-OT):As millions of fans across the globe eagerly awaited the return of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, the International Cricket Council and Dettol have joined forces to ensure world-class protection across the tournament with the power-brand announced as the Official Hygiene Partner.

As millions of fans across the globe eagerly awaited the return of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, the International Cricket Council and Dettol have joined forces to ensure world-class protection across the tournament with the power-brand announced as the Official Hygiene Partner.

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 is hosted by the BCCI and is taking place in the UAE and Oman from 17 October. The partnership will see Dettol provide world class disinfection products for thousands of cricket fans across the tournament.

Known for its commitment to innovation and excellence for more than 80 years and keeping people safe in more than 124 countries, Dettol is part of the Reckitt portfolio, which has a mission to protect, heal and nurture in the relentless pursuit of a cleaner, healthier world.

According to recent findings of a study published by the American Journal of Infection Control, the active ingredients in Dettol and Lysol are effective in breaking the chain of infection of COVID-19.

“Cricket is more than just a sport in this part of the world and hygiene has never been more important,” says Tahir Malik, Senior Vice President, Africa and Middle East, and Reckitt. “We are delighted to help play a crucial role in ensuring spectators can watch the world’s best players in action with the peace of mind that comes with the trusted protection of Dettol”

Anurag Dahiya, Chief Commercial Officer, ICC, “The safety of everyone connected with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 is of absolute paramount importance, and Dettol will play a critical role in ensuring this over the coming weeks.

We are grateful to have Dettol’s hygiene and sanitization products available at all World Cup venues, and to be supported by their broader expertise behind the scenes at this event.

It has taken an immense amount of effort to prepare for this tournament and the ICC is proud to be staging another global spectacle for our sport, one that we hope brings joy to communities and homes around the world during these difficult times.

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

October 21, 2021October 22, 2021

Mahmudullah marvels at better Bangladesh batting

Dubai, October 21, 2021 (PPI-OT):Bangladesh captain Mahmudullah hailed his batters for delivering under pressure after they comfortably beat Papua New Guinea to reach the Super 12s.

Mahmudullah top-scored for the Tigers with a 28-ball 50, while he was ably supported by Shakib al Hasan, Liton Das and Afif Hossain in their team total of 181 for seven.

PNG struggled in reply and lost four wickets in the first five overs before being bowled out for 97, with Shakib’s four for nine seeing him equal Shahid Afridi’s record of 39 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup wickets.

Bangladesh made a slow start to their Group B campaign but since losing to Scotland in their opener, they have vastly improved and Mahmudullah hopes it is a sign of things to come.

“It was much needed. That was the way we wanted to play and there was intent from the batters,” he said.

“If you compare to the last two games, I think we did much better so I think the batters did a very good job to get a 180-plus score.

“The bowlers did well to restrict them to less than 100, so it was a very good all-round performance.

“The two things we are concerned about are the first six overs with the bat and ball.

“If we can get a good start, we can capitalise on it and that is how we have been building up wins. We need to focus on those areas again and try to compete hard.”

Mahmudullah hit six boundaries in his half-century, his sixth score of 50 or better in T20 internationals, including three maximums.

But he admits they lack the power of some Super 12s sides and will need to be clever with the bat if they are going to compete.

“I have said it before, I think we are skill hitters rather than big hitters,” he added.

“If we can keep ourselves busy in the middle, we can try to find out which bowler we can take on that particular day.

“We then need to figure out and communicate with each other as batting partners and try to do well.”

In contrast, PNG’s first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is over after losing all three of their first-round matches.

And captain Assad Vala insists there are plenty of lessons they can take, including how to handle the pressure of playing on the biggest stage.

“We can take a lot from this, we need to execute our skills under pressure, both with the bat and ball, the key phases of the game,” he said.

“We weren’t good enough with the bat. We could have done well but you need to be at your best against this quality of opposition. We look forward to the next opportunity.

“They got the momentum towards the end of their innings but I thought we started well and had them at 40 for one in the powerplay. Their partnership in the middle was big but I thought we pulled it back really well, we just couldn’t execute our death bowling at the end.

“I think our powerplay batting has been costing us. We have to find a way through it, their bowling was very good but we are down on confidence and couldn’t get a good start.

“When you play against a very good side, you need to be up for it and sadly we weren’t.”

October 21, 2021October 22, 2021

Shakib: The pressure is gone, we can play freely

Dubai, October 21, 2021 (PPI-OT):Like so many before him, Hiri Hiri trudged back to the pavilion with a pained expression as he reflected on how he had been outfoxed by Bangladesh’s left-arm spinner.

But for most watching, both at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground and around the world, it was just another piece of Shakib Al Hasan mastery.

The 34-year-old all-rounder is used to making history and the wicket of Hiri was his latest milestone, as it moved him level with Pakistan legend Shahid Afridi on 39 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup wickets – the most ever.

Shakib already sits in a select group of three players to have scored 10,000 international runs and taken 500 wickets, alongside Jacques Kallis and Afridi.

He is also the only player to have scored 1,000 runs and taken 100 wickets in T20Is and is the all-time leading T20I wicket taker, surpassing Lasith Malinga in this very tournament.

He is a modern legend, yet somehow he continues to surprise and delight with each ICC tournament. At the ICC Men’s World Cup 2019, he scored a remarkable 606 runs in eight matches with the bat, only once failing to get past 50 – settling for a run-a-ball 41 against Australia.

In three matches here, he has nine wickets and two more player of the match trophies for his cabinet.

With a place in the Super 12s on the line against PNG, Shakib delivered yet another blistering spell of bowling. His four for nine proved defining for the Tigers, as they eased to an 84-run success that cements their place in the next round.

Hiri was his fourth victim of the day, a tossed up ball drew a top edge and landed safely in the hands of keeper Nurul Hasan. And in a warning to the rest of the competition, he said: “I think every game we play, the confidence grows. Obviously, losing our first game was a setback but in a T20 format, whoever plays well on the day will win.

“We need to play very well throughout this tournament to give ourselves a chance and now the pressure is gone, we can express ourselves and play with more freedom.”

A loose Shakib is a dangerous Shakib, and with the bat he again showed he’s in form.

Bangladesh struggled in their opener against Scotland, where they stumbled to 134 for seven and lost by six runs, and were all out for 153 against Oman second time around

Here, they lost a wicket with just the second ball of the innings but Shakib steadied the ship with a brisk 37-ball 46, helping to set the platform for a team total of 181 for seven.

“It is not easy to get back into form when you are not scoring runs but luckily for me, I am getting more opportunities to bat up the order here, so I need to make sure I stay on the wicket and give myself a chance to score runs for the team,” he added.

After a sluggish start, Bangladesh have steadily improved and can now attack the Super 12s, where they could be drawn with neighbours Pakistan, India and Afghanistan if they finish top of Group B.

It’s a potentially daunting group but with Shakib terrorising both batters and bowlers, anything is possible. “I am a little tired,” he said. “I am playing non-stop cricket for the last five or six months but hopefully we can pull this off.”

October 21, 2021October 22, 2021

Dutch aim to finish on a high against Sri Lanka

Dubai, October 21, 2021 (PPI-OT):The Netherlands go into Friday’s final Group A ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 clash against Sri Lanka aiming to finish the tournament with a bang after slipping to an early exit.

After losing to Namibia by six wickets last time out the Dutch could only watch on as Ireland’s defeat to Sri Lanka ended their chances of making the Super 12s.

Following David Wiese’s heroics against the Netherlands, Namibia will face Ireland in a straight shoot-out to see who progresses from Group A alongside Sri Lanka, who are already assured of their spot in the next round after two wins from two.

The former South Africa all-rounder smashed 66 not out from just 40 balls which was enough to take his side home despite Dutch skipper Pieter Seelaar bowling a wicket maiden to at one stage restrict Namibia to 52 for three, chasing 165 to win.

The Netherlands will hope to find some form in their final outing at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium after underperforming in the defeats to Ireland and Namibia.

Opening batter Stephan Myburgh admitted his side have failed to deliver their best cricket at the World Cup.

He said: “Unfortunately, we haven’t played very good cricket at this World Cup.

“I think we were below par in both games. Against Namibia maybe in our bowling, in the previous game in our batting, so we couldn’t put it together, and it just cost us.”

The Netherlands were bundled out for just 106 in their opening fixture against Ireland, a total that Myburgh concedes was always going to be hard to defend.

Speaking after the Namibia loss, he added: “The previous game, unfortunately, we lost a wicket with a run out second ball, and then four wickets in four balls, you’re always going to struggle to get back from there.

“The boys did a good job there, but you’re never going to defend 105 or 107, whatever it was.”

One bright spark for the men in orange has been the form of batter Max O’Dowd who clubbed consecutive half-centuries in losing causes and will look to make it a hat-trick against a dangerous Sri Lankan attack.

“Max is obviously a tremendous cricket player, and he’s been the key for Netherlands cricket the last couple of years, and he showed it again in these two games,” added Myburgh.

“That’s definitely something we talked about, we haven’t been able to rotate the strike as much as we would have liked.”

After a convincing 70-run win over Ireland and comfortable seven-wicket triumph over Namibia, Sri Lanka will look to maintain their 100 percent record after becoming the first team to qualify for the Super 12s, knowing that victory would clinch top spot in Group A and a place in Group 1 in the next round.

October 21, 2021October 22, 2021

Scotland secure historic qualification by topping Group B

Dubai, October 21, 2021 (PPI-OT):Kyle Coetzer produced a captain’s knock to steer Scotland to an eight-wicket win over Oman and book a place in the Super 12s at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021.

Scotland went into the clash with the hosts knowing that defeat could spell the end of the tournament, but this was a complete performance as the Scots clinched top spot in Group B with a third win out of three – a historic achievement for the side.

That earns Scotland a place in Group 2 in the Super 12, alongside the likes of India, Pakistan and New Zealand, while Bangladesh end up as runners-up in Group B and head to Group 1 as a result.

For Oman, there was to be no fairy tale at the Al Amerat Stadium, Jatinder Singh’s run-out off the second ball a sign of what was to follow. A total of 122 always felt a little short, and so it proved.

Coetzer had not yet fired for Scotland at this World Cup, but his 41 made it a comfortable chase, and even after he departed, Matt Cross and Richie Berrington did the rest.

Oman were always going to need a good start, with Jatinder their star batter in the first two matches, and when he was run out after a complete misunderstanding on the second ball, it left the rest of the team with an uphill battle.

Kashyap Prajapati followed soon after for three, but Aqib Ilyas started to find his groove, hitting three fours and two sixes in a brisk 37.

Oman needed him to kick on though, instead he picked out George Munsey on the boundary off the bowling of Michael Leask.

Mohammad Nadeem looked good in hammering Mark Watt for six over long on, but he was caught at short extra cover by Berrington off the very next ball for 25.

That left all the responsibility to skipper Zeeshan Maqsood, given one reprieve when he was caught of a full toss from Chris Greaves that was above waist height.

He went on to make 34 before departing in the final over, but the wickets continued to tumble at the other end, and the total of 122 all out was not enough.

That became clear as Coetzer took an attacking approach to his innings, complemented by the free-scoring Munsey at the other end.

Munsey was caught by opposite number Jatinder after making 20, but Coetzer pushed on with three maximums to settle any nerves.

Khawar Ali finally found a way through Coetzer’s defences, but it was too little, too late, as Cross and Berrington got the team over the line comfortably with the latter smashing one last six to seal the win in emphatic fashion.

Scores in brief

Scotland beat Oman, at Al Amerat Cricket Ground, Oman by eight wickets

Oman 122 all out in 20 overs (Aqib Ilyas 37, Zeeshan Maqsood 34; Josh Davey 3/25, Michael Leask 2/13)
Scotland 123/2 in 17 overs (Kyle Coetzer 41; Richie Berrington 31 not out; Fayyaz Butt 1/26; Khawar Ali 1/27)

Player of the Match: Josh Davey (Scotland)

October 21, 2021October 22, 2021

Ireland wary of threat posed by “absolutely devastating” Wiese

Dubai, October 21, 2021 (PPI-OT):Only Ireland’s very best will do in their Group A showdown with Namibia if they are to progress in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, insists head coach Graham Ford.

Ireland’s bid to reach the Super 12 stage suffered a setback last time out as Sri Lanka romped to a 70-run win to ensure their safe passage with a game still to play.

That victory meant Ireland’s final match of the first round against Namibia is now decisive after the debutants defeated Netherlands on the same day to keep their hopes alive.

And South African-born Ford is well aware of challenge that awaits his team if they are off the pace in Sharjah, highlighting the danger of match-winner David Wiese in particular.

“We didn’t really get to see too much [of Namibia’s win over Netherlands] because we had a long bus journey while the game was on and then sort of caught the end,” said Ford.

“They did hit the ball extremely well at the end. But we know that they’ve got some very dangerous players, and David Wiese who put on a show, and we caught the end of that show.

“He’s played for South Africa in the T20 World Cup before and I’ve seen him in South Africa and on the county circuit. He can be absolutely devastating, which he was.

“You know, they’ve got some dangerous players. They’ve got some very hardworking cricketers that quite a few of them have learnt quite a lot of their cricket in South Africa, as well.

“They pushed us close in the qualifying or the last game of the qualifiers. We know that they’re going to be tough. If we’re slightly off our best, we will struggle.”

Group A leaders Sri Lanka are the only side with two wins from two and, with Ireland facing Namibia in the final round of games, they are assured of a place in the Super 12s.

Sri Lanka also know that a win over Netherlands on Friday will see them top the table and join England, Australia, West Indies and South Africa in Group 1 as team A1.

That would leave Ireland and Namibia to face off in a mouth-watering match that will see the winners also qualify for the Super 12s as runners-up, going into Group 2 as team A2.

And when asked whether he would have taken Ireland needing to beat Namibia in their final group game to qualify before the tournament, Ford was emphatic in his answer.

“Of course,” he continued. “Obviously, you’re always greedy as a coach. You want to win everything and you want to have a nice easy last fixture and say, well, we’re already through.

“But realistically we’re still alive, we’re still in the competition, and that’s the important thing.”

Ireland came into the tournament ranked 12th in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s T20I team rankings, with their best previous performance coming in 2009 when they reached the Super 8s.

And while Ford admitted his team are “desperate” to progress to the next round, he believes even if the result doesn’t go their way there will be positives to take from their tournament.

“I think for us we come to this tournament with a slightly different view to some of the big countries in that we are gaining and learning with every single outing,” he added.

“We’re trying to make as much progress in our cricket as possible. So, every game is important as far as that’s concerned, to try and make the improvements.

“The little improvements here and there and become better at executing our skills. It was mentioned with the captain about the adapting to the extra pace and all of that.

“Win or lose, we are gaining and we are learning, so that’s a big plus for us. But quite obviously we’re desperate to go through to the next phase of the tournament, as well.”