All posts by h716a5.icu

Shakib Al Hasan has denied making any threat to retire from Tests and ODIs to Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha, but he apologised to the coach for a spat regarding his return from the CPL

Mohammad Isam06-Jul-2014Shakib Al Hasan has denied making any threat to retire from Tests and ODIs to Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha, but he apologised to the coach for a spat regarding his return from the CPL. He said that BCB’s cricket operations chairman Akram Khan had given him the green signal to leave for Barbados on July 2.”I did not make this comment, it was the coach’s comment,” Shakib told reporters at the Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. “Why should I say something like this? If I get angry and tell my father that I don’t want to eat, will it come out in the news? It is a simple issue. If I didn’t wish to play for Bangladesh, would I have returned today? I would have left without telling anyone. I want to play for Bangladesh at least till the 2023 World Cup.”Later in a separate press briefing at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, he said that he had apologised to the coach for the spat they had had. Shakib had wanted to stay in the Caribbean till the end of the CPL (August 16) and join the Bangladesh team in West Indies before the first ODI on August 20, while Hathurusingha wanted him to play till July 30 and return to Dhaka and join the Bangladesh team.”I was angry and I said a few things that I shouldn’t have, but I said sorry and he accepted that as well,” Shakib said. “Because I was on a flight for ten hours I couldn’t talk to him and that’s why he probably complained in a letter. I didn’t have time to talk to him. I tried to reason with him and explain that should I come back for just ten days? He told me that look this is a team game and asked me to stay in the camp. He showed his logic and I showed mine. At the end of the day it went his way.”Shakib said that before he left for Barbados, he had spoken to Akram after speaking to two other BCB officials on July 1 and 2. Back in December, Shakib obtained a No Objection Certificate for playing in the MCC-Rest of the World match, and he had thought it was the same NOC for CPL.”I have always obtained the NOC before going to all these leagues,” Shakib said. “Tamim [Iqbal] and I took NOC for the ROW-MCC game. I thought it was the same NOC for CPL, but Sabbir bhai [cricket operations manager Sabbir Khan] told me that it wasn’t the CPL’s NOC.”The day before I left, I asked Sabbir bhai what to do. He told me to call [acting CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury] Sujon bhai. But he was in Malaysia from where he told to speak to Akram bhai, who said he was in Chittagong so he won’t be able to sign the NOC. He said, Leave the NOC with Sabbir, I will sign it. Go to CPL, play well. This is what happened.”Shakib has pleaded innocent, and hopes to get the BCB’s clearance to play in the CPL. “I can’t say any further because I have to speak to the board, but I think it is a matter of miscommunication,” Shakib said. “I think it will all be clear after I talk to Papon bhai [BCB president Nazmul Hasan]. I don’t think there is any mistake from my side. But the board will decide about me. If I am given permission, I will go.”

Nick Compton’s hopes of featuring in the Ashes have been thrown a lifeline by the England selectors after it was confirmed that he will play for Worcestershire against the touring Australians

George Dobell and Daniel Brettig at Taunton26-Jun-2013Nick Compton’s hopes of featuring in the Ashes have been thrown a lifeline by the England selectors after it was confirmed that he will play for Worcestershire against the touring Australians in a four-day match starting next Tuesday.On his 30th birthday, 48 hours after he was omitted from the England team to play Essex in the pre-Ashes warm-up match, Compton’s defiant 81 for Somerset against the Australians made plain his fervent desire not to be left out. The England selectors have proved they remain interested in fulfilling Compton’s wish by facilitating his availability to face the tourists for a second time ahead of the first Investec Ashes Test, which begins on July 10.ESPNcricinfo understands that the England management have requested Somerset release Compton from Friends Life t20 duty – a competition in which he was not necessarily going to feature anyway – and that Worcestershire have agreed to find room for him in their side.While Geoff Miller, the national selector, had stated that England saw Joe Root as “currently the best opening partner” for Alastair Cook when announcing the England squad to play Essex, the move to involve Compton in next week’s tour match is a sign that the door has not been closed on him entirely.At Taunton, with Miller’s words ringing in his ears, Compton began unsteadily against James Pattinson’s outswing but reeled off a string of pleasant shots in an innings that fell 19 runs short of a timely century when Michael Clarke took an agile, juggled catch from the spin of Nathan Lyon. Compton was steely in approach but did not appear restricted by his intensity, as in recent times, scoring his runs at a brisk pace off front and back foot.As telling as any of Compton’s aggressive strokes was a moment of defensive composure to dig out a Mitchell Starc yorker that was screeching towards leg stump before his bat jammed down. Starc’s subsequent success with the second new ball showed how sharp Compton had needed to be at that moment.Lyon’s dismissal of Compton was deserved, for it was the offspinner who had come closest to defeating him earlier when a beseeching lbw appeal was declined. Compton had offered no shot to an offbreak that spun back from outside the line of the stumps.When dismissed Compton swished his bat in frustration, as much at Clarke’s successful juggle as missing a century. But even as he trudged off the ground, perhaps fearing that the England career he had won for himself little more than six months ago was slipping inexorably away, moves were afoot to give him another chance against Australia’s bowlers.

Sanjay Bangar, the former India allrounder, has retired from first-class cricket, bringing to an end a career that spanned over 20 seasons

Amol Karhadkar01-Jan-2013Sanjay Bangar, the former India allrounder, has retired from first-class cricket, bringing to an end a career that spanned over 20 seasons. He announced this decision when his team Railways failed to qualify for the quarter-finals after defeating Bengal in their final Group A match in Kolkata.”At the start of the season, I thought about giving it another shot. But having not qualified for the quarterfinals, that was it for me. Winning Ranji would have been ideal. We missed out narrowly on making it to the knockouts. But it has been a very satisfying season and a satisfying journey,” Bangar, who is the oldest player in the Ranji Trophy this season, told ESPNcricinfo from Kolkata.He shocked his Railways teammates by breaking the news after their victory against Bengal. “The decision was made today. After we came to know about the Saurashtra result, which meant that even a victory won’t be enough for us to progress, then I made up my mind,” Bangar said. “When I told the teammates, they were not ready for it. They were slightly taken aback but that’s fine.”Bangar played 12 Tests and 15 ODIs between 2001 and 2004. Besides playing a crucial role in securing Railways’ maiden Ranji title in 2001-02, and then repeating the feat in 2004-05, Bangar was instrumental in converting the team from also-rans to serious title contenders in the domestic circuit. The man from rural Maharashtra, who shifted base to Mumbai only to pursue his dream of playing cricket as a teenager, had, thus, no regrets looking back at his career.”Overall, it’s been a very satisfying journey. Played for the country, contributed to winning Test matches away from home. Winning five [domestic] championships for Railways. Making Railways a force to reckon with. I cannot ask for more. No regrets at all,” Bangar said. “It’s ended on a good note as well. Even though it was disappointing to have missed out narrowly on qualifying for the knockouts, it feels nice to have crossed the landmarks of 8,500 runs and 300 wickets [in first-class cricket].”Though it was “too early” for him to mull over his future, Bangar promised to be involved in the game. “I will surely be associated with cricket in some way or the way. Let’s see how it turns out.”

Real Madrid-bound Endrick pulled out the 'floss' Fortnite dance during Palmeiras' clash against Fluminense.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Endrick pulls out the Fortnite dancePalmeiras beat Fluminense 1-0Palmeiras on verge of winning Brazilian leagueWHAT HAPPENED?

Palmeiras edged out Fluminense by a solitary goal thanks to a strike from Breno Lopes in the 30th minute – which has maintained their three-point lead at the top of the Brazilian league.

Real Madrid-bound Endrick featured in the team's starting lineup and played for 71 minutes. During the match, he was seen performing the famous 'floss' dance made famous by the Fortnite video game.

AdvertisementWATCH THE CLIPCesar Greco/PalmeirasTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The Verdao currently have 69 points from 37 matches and are on the verge of sealing their second consecutive Brazilian Serie A title. A draw against Cruzeiro in their final game of the season on December 7 will seal the title in their favour

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyWHAT NEXT FOR ENDRICK?

The teenager has enjoyed a successful season with the Brazilian club in 2023, as he has scored 13 goals in 52 appearances across all competitions and provided one assist. He is set to join Los Blancos in July 2024 when he turns 18.

Three Rajasthan Royals players, Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila, have been taken by police for questioning over an investigation into their alleged involvement in corruption in the IPL

ESPNcricinfo staff16-May-2013

Wriddhiman Saha has said he rates his innings of 35 in the Adelaide Test two years ago higher than his century in the IPL final

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Jun-2014Wriddhiman Saha has said he rates his innings of 35 in the Adelaide Test two years ago higher than his century in the IPL final. In the final Test of a wretched tour of Australia for India, Saha put on 124 with Virat Kohli and helped him score his maiden Test century. The IPL century, he said, would have “tasted sweeter” had his innings won the final for Kings XI Punjab.”Although the context was completely different, I would rate the innings of 35 in the Adelaide Test and a century stand for the sixth wicket with Virat Kohli closer to my heart,” Saha told . “I am proud of the century in IPL final but that was a Test match. Virat was batting brilliantly and I could support him in his bid for the maiden Test hundred.”Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle bowled during that phase. I played 94 balls and it was my second Test match. Till I got out, I wasn’t uncomfortable against pace and swing, which gave me confidence that I can play at the highest level. This IPL century would have tasted sweeter but need to accept that KKR collectively batted better than us. We could never stop them from maintaining that run-rate.”During his innings against Kolkata Knight Riders, Saha was severe on Sunil Narine, scoring 35 off 18 balls against the West Indian offspinner. Saha said he made no attempt to try and read Narine’s variations from his hand.”Since I was playing Narine for the first time, I decided that I won’t try to pick him from his hand,” he said. “Rather, I decided to stay on the backfoot and wait for that extra split second so that ball does what it intends to do. Rocking back helped me execute those slog pulls effectively.”Saha has been MS Dhoni’s long-time understudy in the Test squad, and his form in the IPL – in which he scored 362 runs at a strike rate of over 145 – has now given him a chance in the ODI team, with Dhoni rested for the tour of Bangladesh. Despite earning his place on the back of his batting form, Saha said he remains a wicketkeeper-batsman rather than a batsman-wicketkeeper.”I am a specialist wicketkeeper whose job is to also do well with the bat,” he said. “Keeping was, is and will remain the top-most priority. For example, in this upcoming tour of Bangladesh, I will not bat higher than No. 6 or No. 7. I am practical about the fact. I won’t bat before Ajinkya (Rahane), Cheteshwar (Pujara) or Suresh (Raina). So I would rather see myself as a keeper-batsman than other way round.”

AB de Villiers has said that South Africa are not the underdogs going into the series, pointing at India’s poor record away from home

Firdose Moonda in Johannesburg04-Dec-20130:00

‘We’re under pressure here’ – AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers’ most explosive expressions are usually seen when he is at the crease. The cheeky lap shot, the powerful smack down the ground, and the crisp drive are his way of composing lyrics, scribbling sentences, and doodling dreams.It’s rare for de Villiers to use the spoken word with the same kind of fierceness, more so in his role as South Africa’s one-day captain. Usually his public statements are motivational, complimentary and courteous. But on the eve of his team’s biggest ODI assignment since the Champions Trophy, that changed.De Villiers launched an unusually aggressive attack against the visitors, warning them that South Africa will not be taken lightly despite the difference in rankings between the two teams.”Some of the knowledgeable people will say we are underdogs but there is no way we are going to stand back and allow that to happen in home conditions,” de Villiers said. “If we play to our full potential, there is no one in the world who can stop us here. We must remember we are playing against a subcontinental team in our conditions and they have a very bad record here.”He has a point. India have won only five matches out of the 25 they have played against South Africa in this country, and they have never won a bilateral series here. Although Pakistan last week became the first team from the subcontinent to beat South Africa in an ODI series at home, de Villiers still considers it their fortress. South Africa have won 68% of matches they played at home.De Villiers believes they can extend that record over the World Cup and Champions Trophy winners, even though the current South African ODI squad has struggled to dominate any opposition in the last two years. “We are under pressure here in our own country,” he said. “We just lost a series so confidence is not hugely high but I still have confidence in the guys that we can beat the No.1 team.”Conditions are being prepared to allow South Africa to show off their strongest suit – fast bowling – with what de Villiers called “a lot of grass” on the pitch the day before the match. That strategy has backfired on South Africa in the past, with the opposition quicks enjoying the surfaces as well, but de Villiers does not think it will happen this time because of the lack of strength in India’s pack.”They are certainly not the best bowling attack in the world,” he said. “It’s an area where we feel we can get on top of them.” Numbers back de Villiers up on that. India’s bowlers conceded over 300 in five of their last eight ODIs, and over 260 twice. They failed to defend 303 against Australia, and 288 against West Indies. Their seamers in particular, took a beating.But the other side of that argument is that the Indian batsmen have been consistently excellent this year, so much so that they have often made up for their bowlers being hit for big scores. Their totals have soared as high as 383, with their powerful line-up proving that almost anything is chaseable. De Villiers, however, predicted that there will be no such overflow of runs in the upcoming series owing to South African conditions, in which even the hosts have struggled sometimes.South Africa have not crossed the 300-mark in their last 16 ODIs as they have grappled with trying to get combinations in the top-order right. That’s not a statistic that concerns Villiers. “It’s not a worry that we haven’t gone over 300 because I don’t believe we have played on the grounds that have allowed us to do so.”South Africa have played on slow surfaces in the UAE and Sri Lanka most recently and at home, where de Villiers has repeatedly pointed out that the size of the grounds makes big totals more difficult to rack up. While that may be the reality, it does not paper over South Africa’s problems when posting totals, especially when chasing. Their penchant for losing wickets, just when they are getting going, as well as their struggle for sizeable partnerships are issues that need immediate sorting.When the series against Pakistan ended, de Villiers blamed a “lack of care” for those shortcomings, and he expects South Africa to put that right this time around. Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis are the likely anchors, while Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, David Miller and de Villiers himself are the big hitters in the side.”We’ve got a couple of guys who know their roles really well. One or two need to bat for as long as possible and the rest of us are attacking,” he said. “The balance is there, we just have to get it right. We showed we can be very dangerous as a team, when we have wickets in hand.”India have done the same, but on surfaces with good bounce and carry, de Villiers seems to think they will come off second best and in saying that, he has laid down the gauntlet for what could be a short, but hotly contested series.

A tense final day is in prospect after Derbyshire built a lead of 161 with three wickets remaining against Surrey

Vithushan Ehantharajah at The Oval31-Aug-2013
ScorecardChris Tremlett benefited from uneven bounce to claim two wickets•PA PhotosWhen they talk of the calm before the storm, this “calm” has nothing peaceful about it. A fretful period in which little can be done but speculate of the toll of the ensuing chaos, this time is best spent preparing to endure. As for life beyond it, like the man who stockpiles seeds in his nuclear bunker, just make sure you survive it first.Today, 218 runs scored for the loss of seven wickets in 94 overs, as both sides foraged for their Division One lives ahead of a fourth day that will fray the nerves of all involved. Both sides performed admirably, but Derbyshire will go into tomorrow as favourites by virtue of having runs on the board.As expected, the pitch has deteriorated sufficiently over the last two days to shift the balance towards the bowlers. However, this assistance is skewed towards the Pavilion End, which has displayed some drastic variable bounce.It started, rather alarmingly, at the end of the seventh over of the day, when the left handed Ben Slater tried to tuck a good length delivery on leg stump from Tim Linley behind square on the leg side. The next thing he knew, the ball had somehow managed to take the leading shoulder of the bat and loop to point for the first wicket of the day.Soon after Wayne Madsen was on the receiving end of a sharp uppercut, as Linley found the same spot to daze the Derbyshire captain. But Madsen took the count before rallying to see things through to tea, by which time he had passed fifty and helped build a lead of 84, with the further wickets of Paul Borrington – Linley’s 150th first class scalp for Surrey – and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who fell lbw to Gareth Batty.Madsen could not hold off the demons for much longer, as Chris Tremlett, who had looked innocuous earlier in the day, shot out both he and Alex Hughes with identical balls from the Vauxhall End that kept low and clattered the pads. On both occasions, the batsmen were already turning to the dressing room – having given the offending area of the pitch a stern stare – before the umpire’s finger was in full view.Surrey’s decision to delay taking the new ball (eventually making an appearance in Tremlett’s hand in the 93rd over) was a wise one considering how much joy they were getting from an older, softer one. Batty was the last to benefit from it when he coaxed Peter Burgoyne forward and took his outside edge with Zander de Bruyn taking a smart catch low to his right at first slip.Surrey’s captain deserves some plaudits for the way he marshalled the field and his bowlers. He even displayed some impressive self-restraint after a host of unsuccessful lbw shouts, some of which were mighty close. After one particularly visceral appeal was turned down, he stood still, baffled, before returning to the bottom of his mark to reconvene with an extra grumbling skip in his step. Having missed the FLt20 Finals Day for a breach of discipline, he is all too aware that any further displays of dissent will elicit further sanctions, regardless of how vindicated he might be.But some handy contributions late on from Richard Johnson and Tim Poynton, as well as a more unconvincing one from the David Wainwright, mean that Derbyshire will start day four with a lead of 161, already ensuring a tricky fourth-innings chase. The surface will play more unpredictably, and with the pace of Mark Footitt and the turn and bounce of Wainwright (who looks more like the bowler who took 44 wickets last season) to come, it won’t be easy going.For one team, defeat will mean all but the end of their stay in Division One.

Mary Earps congratulated Manchester United loanee Grace Clinton after the 20-year-old marked her Lionesses debut with a goal.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Earps sends message to Clinton on debut 20-year-old bags goal in Austria United keeper benched as Hampton given chance GettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The goalkeeper had an unusual vantage point for England's 7-2 thrashing of Austria in Andalusia on Friday night with manager Sarina Wiegman opting to give Chelsea's Hannah Hampton some international experience.

But Earps was delighted by what she saw from the sidelines, in particular with Clinton, who earned a call up after some impressive performances on loan at Tottenham Hotspur this term.

AdvertisementWHAT MARY EARPS SAID

"So buzzing for you Grace Clinton. What a debut," posted the England number one.

Instagram @1maryearpsGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

While Earps sat out Friday night's romp in southern Spain, Wiegman made it clear that she will keep the gloves when England return to competitive action.

After a stellar year during which Earps swept up a bewildering number of individual trophies, England's number one has regularly paid tribute to Wiegman, emphasising the role that Dutch manager played in restoring her confidence after being dropped by the previous management team.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

WHAT NEXT FOR MARY EARPS?

The Lionesses face Italy in another friendly on Tuesday in Algeciras. Fans will be keen to see if Wiegman picks another experimental team or goes back to something resembling a full-strength line up.

Trisha Chetty and Dane van Niekerk both stroked half-centuries, paving the way for South Africa Women’s 35-run win against West Indies Women in East London

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Feb-2016
ScorecardFile photo: Dane van Niekerk slammed 55 off 48 deliveries•Getty ImagesTrisha Chetty and Dane van Niekerk both stroked half-centuries, paving the way for South Africa Women’s 35-run win against West Indies Women in East London. Victory was not of much significance, though, as West Indies had already sealed the three-match series having won the first two ODIs.South Africa, opting to bat, compiled a score of 235 for 6, built on the back of two big partnerships. First, Chetty (55) and Mignon du Preez (43) added 72 for the second wicket, before Marizanne Kapp (39) and van Niekerk provided the innings late impetus by stringing together a 64-run fifth-wicket stand. Van Niekerk slammed 55 off 48 balls before being run out.West Indies, in reply, lost their opener Hayley Matthews early in the chase, but Shaquana Quintyne and Kyshona Knight led a recovery with a 57-run partnership for the second wicket. However, just when they seemed steady, the visitors lost wickets in a cluster to soon fall to 118 for 5. Merissa Aguilleira and Shemaine Campbelle offered the team some hope by adding 52 for the sixth wicket, but Aguilleira’s wicket in the 43rd over left the lower order with too much to do, as West Indies could only muster 200 for 8 from their 50 overs.Masabata Klaas and Sune Luus snared two wickets apiece, while Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka and van Niekerk chipped in with one each.”It was definitely a much better performance today,” du Preez said after the game. “We’re still not at 100%, maybe 80 or 90% there in terms of the way that we executed our skills. Something that we’ve been talking about is the fact that the top order needs to score more runs and I think everyone that went in (to bat), chipped in somehow and Trisha (Chetty) and Dané’s (van Niekerk) half-centuries really set up a nice total for our bowlers to defend.”