Ronchi, Shadab seal Islamabad's second PSL title

Ronchi, Shadab seal Islamabad's second PSL title

  March 26, 2018    Unknown

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Islamabad United 154 for 7 (Ronchi 52, Farhan 44, Asif 26) beat Peshawar Zalmi 148 for 9 (Jordan 36, Dawson 33, Shadab 3-25)

In a nutshell

Luke Ronchi v Kamran Akmal was billed as the deciding mini match-up in the PSL final. Kamran failed, but Ronchi continued showing the dazzling form that will be the trademark of this year's PSL. His 26-ball 52 helping Islamabad United steer ahead and then overcome a proper collapse to their second title in three years.

Islamabad looked like romping home when Ronchi and Sahibzada Farhan put on 96 for the opening partnership in under nine overs, in chase of 155. But an extraordinary collapse resulted in them losing six for 20. All of a sudden, scoring a run became a gigantic task.

Then, a moment that will live in Kamran's memory as a bitter rejoinder to a memorable PSL came when Asif Ali attempted an audacious - and immeasurably daft - pull shot off Umaid Asif with Islamabad needing 30 off 33 balls. Kamran raced almost towards fine leg in a desperate attempt to snare a catch he would have done better leaving to the outfielder. He misjudged it and let it through his gloves. Then Sameen Gul picked up the ball and threw it at the stumps, only to miss and concede four overthrows.

That sudden reprieve and the six runs to boot, released the tension in the warm Karachi air, and Peshawar were suddenly deflated again. Asif Ali smashed three sixes on the trot off Hasan Ali, while Faheem Ashraf hooked Wahab Riaz for six with just one required. Eventually Islamabad completed a win that - but for a chaotic 31 balls - had never appeared in any doubt.

Peshawar had, in truth, not played their best game. Perhaps a little jaded after winning four do-or-die encounters on the trot, they came out not looking quite as sharp as they needed to be. The in-form Kamran was out lbw for 1 off 8, with Samit Patel inflicting the early damage. It required a gritty fourth-wicket fifty-partnership between Chris Jordan and Liam Dawson to ensure Daren Sammy's men weren't blown away. Even so, Shadab Khan, who bowled better than he has in an otherwise slightly off-colour tournament, took three wickets to set Peshawar back once more, and the 148 they mustered owed a massive debt to a priceless cameo from Wahab, who whacked 28 off 14 to take his side to a total that was enough in last year's PSL final.

Where the match was won

Ronchi's consistency has made him a potent asset for Islamabad, far more than they could have imagined at the draft - no matter how well-researched the signing was. He broke the back of a modest target very early on, smashing five sixes in the first five overs as he stormed to 45 off just 15 balls. For a while, the game looked like a replica of the one Islamabad played last week against Karachi to qualify for the final, when Ronchi and Farhan - who played his own part with 44 off 33 balls - took Islamabad to 97 at over 11 runs per over. His timing off world-class bowlers, and the confidence he has shown in backing himself against them, has been one of the surprises of this tournament, and he had one final attack in him to sting Peshawar in Karachi.

The men that won it

After a breakout season in last year's PSL and a fairytale beginning to his Pakistan career, Shadab Khan has had an indifferent PSL this time around. He hasn't had the best luck, but consistency has been missing from his game, with his varieties not quite as well disguised as they can be. He's cut a frustrated figure with the bowl at times, but on the biggest domestic stage of all, the legspinner - still only 19, lest we forget - rose to the occasion.

He got rid of Andre Fletcher just as the West Indian began to look menacing, with a variation doing the trick, a quicker ball darting into his pads to trap him in front. At the death, he ripped the heart out of Peshawar's powerful lower middle order, bowling Sammy a beautiful googly that trapped him as plum in front as could be. The very next ball Umaid Asif was on his way, also lbw, as Shadab's focus on hitting the stumps brought him rich rewards. Ronchi and co. would be thanking him for needing to chase significantly fewer runs than they might otherwise have required.

Source ESPN

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Man-of-the-Series award a 'painful reminder' - Raza

Man-of-the-Series award a 'painful reminder' - Raza

  March 25, 2018    Unknown

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Heartbroken allrounder Sikandar Raza used his platform while accepting his Man-of-the-Series award at the World Cup Qualifier in Harare that the trophy would be a "painful reminder" of how Zimbabwe could not make it to the 2019 World Cup, which will feature 10 teams compared to 14 teams of the 2015 event.

After accepting the award at the post-match presentation - one that included ICC chief executive David Richardson - following Afghanistan's win over West Indies in the final, Raza poured out his emotions while also throwing his support behind the Associates teams.

"Certainly, not happy at all," Raza said in response to commentator Pommie Mbangwa asking if he was "happy" with the award. "I think this trophy will serve as a painful reminder of the dreams that we had and we couldn't get it done. This trophy will also serve as a reminder for the 15 million dreams that we crushed.

"When I started playing cricket, I thought it was to unite countries, players of different background coming together to play this beautiful sport. Unfortunately, you'll see that's not going to happen in next year's World Cup. It's certainly quite a tough pill to swallow."

After winning two of their four matches in the Super Sixes stage of the tournament, Zimbabwe had to win what turned out to be their last match, against UAE, to seal a World Cup berth along with West Indies. They restricted UAE to 235 for 7 in 47.5 overs but a rain interruption revised Zimbabwe's target to 230 from only 40 overs. Zimbabwe came agonisingly close to lose by only three runs.

Rather than reflect on his own performances during the tournament - which included 319 runs at 53.17, a team-best 15 wickets at 17.60 and three Man-of-the-Match awards - Raza went on to praise the hard work of some of the Associate teams and captains who also bowed out of the tournament.

"This trophy will also serve as a reminder of the hard work that Peter Borren and his Dutch players, Kyle Coetzer and his Scottish players, Rohan Mustafa and his UAE players, and all the other countries that came and couldn't make it to the World Cup," he said.

The heartbreak of Scotland's slim loss to West Indies by five runs was also magnified in their chase of 199 by an iffy lbw decision of top-scorer Richie Berrington when he was given out just before a rain break which placed Scotland behind the par DLS score.

"Yes there were some good things as well," Raza said. "Congratulations to Nepal and to have their ODI status for the first time but this trophy will also serve as a painful reminder that two of our brother countries lost their ODI status as well and I wish them the very best of luck. Not much to say to be honest, Pommie, just a whole lot of emotions. Just a painful reminder to be honest."Raza, however, hailed Nepal's rise to ODI status at the tournament as a result of their eighth-place finish, but called attention to the fact that Papua New Guinea and Hong Kong had lost ODI status. This is in part due to the ICC's recent decision to limit ODI status to 16 countries. Since 2005, a minimum of six Associate countries had maintained ODI status, but the decision meant that now only four countries have that designation and Papua New Guinea and Hong Kong were stripped of that status due to finishing in the bottom two of the World Cup Qualifier.

The 2019 World Cup will be the first time that Zimbabwe will not participate in a World Cup since 1979. As an Associate nation, Zimbabwe qualified for the World Cup in 1983, 1987 and 1992 by winning the respective ICC Trophy tournaments for Associate countries that preceded each of those World Cups. After being elevated to Test status, Zimbabwe received automatic entry to the following six World Cups beginning in 1996 through 2015.

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Smith, Warner could face life ban from CA

Smith, Warner could face life ban from CA

  March 25, 2018    Unknown

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An ICC suspension from the final Test against South Africa may be just the start of sanctions for Australia's captain Steven Smith, who alongside his deputy David Warner faces anything up to a life ban for cheating under Cricket Australia's code of behaviour.

While Australia slid towards their heaviest defeat to South Africa since readmission, the problems raised by another batting surrender were nothing next to the potential ramifications from the ball tampering attempted on the third day of the Test.

Smith, Warner and Cameron Bancroft all fell amid the rush of ten Australian wickets for 50 runs to end a match that had long since ceased to be a contest of any recognisable form, so hijacked had the visitors been by the ball-tampering fiasco. Each was roundly booed upon their arrivals at the batting crease, then given still louder rebukes upon their departures, with fans rushing to vantage points either side of the players' race to deliver invective at close range.

As CA's head of integrity Iain Roy and team performance manager Pat Howard travelled to Cape Town to commence an investigation, the CA Board bowed to pressure from the Australian Sports Commission to strip Smith and Warner of their leadership roles for the remainder of the Newlands Test, following their roles in orchestrating the ball tampering attempt that also involved Bancroft.

The focus has sharpened on Smith and Warner, after it was clarified that the lunchtime discussion did not involve the full "leadership group," which has also featured Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon, but was instead undertaken by "senior players".

The CA chief executive James Sutherland also issued a public apology to Australian followers of the game, with the Board at a delicate point in the multimillion dollar television rights negotiations for the next five years with the Nine, Ten and Seven networks and the pay television network Fox Sports.

"To our Australian Cricket Fans, we are sorry," Sutherland said. "We are sorry that you had to wake up this morning to news from South Africa that our Australian Men's Cricket team and our Captain admitted to conduct that is outside both the Laws of our game and the Spirit of Cricket. This behaviour calls into question the integrity of the team and Cricket Australia."

The outraged response of the Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who spoke to the CA chairman David Peever the moment he touched down on his return from South Africa, was given further heft by the joint call from the ASC chair John Wylie and chief executive Kate Palmer for Smith and Warner to be stood down immediately from leadership until Roy's investigation is complete.

"The ASC condemns cheating of any form in sport. The ASC expects and requires that Australian teams and athletes demonstrate unimpeachable integrity in representing our country," the ASC said in a statement. "The Australian cricket team are iconic representatives of our country. The example they set matters a great deal to Australia and to the thousands of young Australians playing or enjoying the sport of cricket and who look up to the national team as role models.

"Given the admission by Australian captain Steve Smith, the ASC calls for him to be stood down immediately by Cricket Australia, along with any other members of the team leadership group or coaching staff who had prior awareness of, or involvement in, the plan to tamper with the ball. This can occur while Cricket Australia completes a full investigation."

That investigation will likely feature interviews with Smith, Warner, Bancroft and the Australian coach Darren Lehmann, and will determine how many players and staff will be charged under the code of behaviour. Once Roy has recommended charges, a code of behaviour hearing would be held with an independent commissioner, who would then decide on the guilt or otherwise of the players and staff concerned and the penalties to be imposed.

A charge of conduct contrary to the spirit of the game includes the clause "any conduct that is considered 'unfair play' under Rule 42 of the Laws of Cricket or against the spirit in which the game of cricket should be played". The maximum penalty available to the code of conduct commissioner is a life ban from the sport, with factors to be taken into account including "the seriousness of the breach" and "the harm caused by the breach to the interests of cricket".

CA's decision to stand down Smith and Warner was announced minutes before the start of play on day four. "Following discussions with Steve Smith and David Warner they have agreed to stand down as Captain and Vice-Captain respectively for the remainder of this Test match," Sutherland said. "This Test match needs to proceed, and in the interim we will continue to investigate this matter with the urgency that it demands.

"As I said earlier today, Cricket Australia and Australian cricket fans expect certain standards of conduct from cricketers representing our country, and on this occasion these standards have not been met. All Australians, like us, want answers and we will keep you updated on our findings, as a matter of priority."

The CA chairman David Peever said the appointment of Paine followed an emergency Board meeting. "The Board of Cricket Australia has endorsed Tim Paine to step in as Acting Captain for the remainder of this Test," he said. "Both Steve and David will take to the field today under Tim's captaincy. The Board fully supports the process for an immediate investigation into what occurred in Cape Town. We regard this as a matter of the utmost seriousness and urgency. We will ensure we have all information available to make the right decisions for Australian cricket."
Source ESPN

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Mohammed Shami back in BCCI contracts list

Mohammed Shami back in BCCI contracts list

  March 22, 2018    Unknown

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The BCCI has included Mohammed Shami in Category B of its annual contracts list. The board had earlier withheld the fast bowler's name pending investigation into various allegations made by his wife Hasin Jahan.

While the Kolkata Police is investigating criminal charges filed by Jahan against Shami and his family, including attempt to murder, the BCCI had concerned itself with particular allegations pertaining to the provisions of its code of conduct. The Supreme-Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA), which is currently supervising the BCCI, had asked the board's anti-corruption unit to investigate if Shami had collected money sent to him by a UK national through a Pakistani woman in Dubai.

"We are only concerned with what the Anti Corruption Unit is investigating, not his [Shami's] personal life," Rajiv Shukla, the IPL chairman, had said on Wednesday at a press conference in Mumbai.

On Thursday, the BCCI stated in a press release that "no further actions/proceedings under the BCCI anti-corruption code are warranted in this matter", after Neeraj Kumar, a former police commissioner of Delhi and the head of the board's anti-corruption unit, had submitted his report to the CoA.

Shami joined KL Rahul, Umesh Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Hardik Pandya, Ishant Sharma and Dinesh Karthik in Category B of the BCCI's contracts list, and will earn INR 3 crore for the period between October 1, 2017 and September 30, 2018.

Source ESPN

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Rain spoils another session after Nicholls, Watling stretch NZ lead

Rain spoils another session after Nicholls, Watling stretch NZ lead

  March 22, 2018    Unknown

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Dinner: New Zealand 229 for 4 (Williamson 102, Nicholls 49*) lead England 58 by 171 runs

New Zealand's best Test batsman Kane Williamson brightened up a gloomy afternoon in Auckland with his 18th Test hundred, passing Martin Crowe and Ross Taylor to become the country's leading century-maker. He eventually fell for 102 shortly after the tea break, lbw to James Anderson, England's only wicket of the day as rain allowed only 23.1 overs in the first two sessions.

Williamson reached the landmark with a trademark glide towards gully. In the company of Henry Nicholls, Williamson added 22 runs in 10 overs prior to heavy rain forcing an early tea 40 minutes into the first session.

Under cloudy skies, Anderson found some movement with the new ball after the break. In the fourth over since resumption, Williamson had shuffled too far across against a prodigious inswinger from Anderson. An optimistic review didn't save him.

Nicholls, at the other end, showed admirable patience and a tight defensive technique, repeatedly leaving balls outside off stump he didn't need to play, and only venturing into an attacking shot if the bowlers erred in his areas.

BJ Watling, after missing the West Indies Tests due to a hip injury, struck three fours in his unbeaten 17, helping New Zealand stretch their significant first-innings advantage to 171 before another burst of rain wiped out the rest of the middle session.

Source ESPN

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Stokes must be on 'best behaviour' to avoid ban - Root

Stokes must be on 'best behaviour' to avoid ban - Root

  March 21, 2018    Unknown

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Joe Root has conceded that Ben Stokes will have to be on his "best behaviour" when he makes his comeback to Test cricket against New Zealand in Auckland on Thursday, amid the very real threat of more time on the sidelines if he steps out of line.

Stokes, who missed the Ashes after being arrested in Bristol in September and subsequently charged with affray, resumes his Test career with three active ICC demerit points to his name. He is therefore just one transgression away from triggering an automatic one-match ban, an issue that was brought back into focus this week by Kagiso Rabada's disciplinary hearing during the South Africa-Australia Test series.

Stokes' points, which stay on a player's record for 24 months, stem from three previous on-field incidents. In October 2016, he was sanctioned for an altercation with Bangladesh's Sabbir Rahman, and then picked up two further Level 1 offences, against India at Mohali in November 2016, and West Indies at Headingley in September 2017.

"You're always aware of that," said Root. "You want to make sure, not just that [your players' behaviour] is sitting well with you, but they're able to be on the field for the next game and next series.

"I'm sure there might be a bit of noise about that after what's happened [to Rabada] - about demerit points and missing games. He'll have to be on best behaviour."

Stokes' disciplinary status had been hanging over him even before his Ashes omission, with opposition teams beginning to realise that his hot-headed nature was liable to boil over if provoked. And, to judge by the events of Australia's subsequent series, a flashpoint would surely only ever have been a matter of time.

On Tuesday, Rabada was cleared to play in this week's third Test at Newlands, after successfully appealing against a Level 2 charge, and two-Test ban, imposed in the wake of his shoulder-brushing incident with Steven Smith, the Australia captain, at Port Elizabeth.

However, the nature of Rabada's original punishment has highlighted a potential flaw in the ICC's demerit point system, in that players with previous blemishes on their records are likelier to find themselves in repeated hot water.

Radaba had already served a one-Test ban during last summer's tour of England, after being caught swearing on the stump microphone after taking the wicket (of Stokes, as it happens) during the Lord's Test in July.

However, arguably the biggest incident of the Australia-South Africa series to date was David Warner's off-field outburst against Quinton de Kock, which was caught on CCTV as the teams left the field during a break in play at Port Elizabeth. Warner was charged with a Level 2 offence and handed three demerit points - but because he had not previously attracted the attention of the ICC match referee, he did not automatically cross the four-point threshold for a ban.

"It is a perception thing, I suppose, isn't it," said Root, "because no one really knows what's said out in the middle. You can see what you think is going on. But I suppose the consistency of things has to be there. It's certainly got people talking about Test cricket, hasn't it? That's one thing, for sure.

"There's always been that cloud of recent times between Australia and 'the line' - where theirs is compared to everyone else's," Root added. "But I'm sure they'll come back and say they're probably disciplined less than anyone else around world cricket - in terms of bans and fines.

Asked if it was the captain's responsibility to uphold a team's standards of behaviour, Root said: "For me, it's your team and you want to make sure you're heading up this team, and if it's portraying an image of something you don't like then I suppose that's on you."

James Anderson last week insisted there was still a place for "emotion" on the field, in the wake of Rabada's admission that he needed to curb his temper out in the middle, and Root agreed that there needed to some leeway for players to get their juices flowing during an intense passage of play.

"I suppose you want to make sure you're getting the best out of your players and they feel they can maximise their game - if they like to get in a little one-on-one battle with the batter, then they're able to do so.

"But [it's] to a point which does not exceed your own line. That's where I'm at with it. It has to sit well with me - and generally I think we're very good at it."

Root hoped, however, that it was not the case that opposition teams were starting to target certain players in an attempt to trigger a reaction.

"I wouldn't want to go into a series as captain and my players be trying to get someone banned," he said. "You want to beat the best team. That [would be] detracting from the game.

Source ESPN

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Real Madrid legend Raul set to take first coaching role at Spanish giants

Real Madrid legend Raul set to take first coaching role at Spanish giants

  March 21, 2018    Unknown

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Real Madrid legend Raul is all set to start coaching as he prepares for the next phase of his professional career.

According to Spanish media outlet Marca, the 40-year-old has been spending a lot of time studying the youth set-up of Los Blancos ever since returning to the club in 2017.

The player with the most appearances in their history is set to complete his coaching badges next month through the Spanish FA elite course, a special programme designed for former international players and those who have spent 10 years in the top flight.

Following a similar path to current Los Blancos manager Zinedine Zidane, Raul will take over the Real Madrid Juvenil B team upon completing his coaching badges. Current Juvenil B manager Alvaro Benito will be promoted to the A team to accommodate the former Spain international.

Zidane led the Castilla from 2014-16.

In his long and distinguished stint at the Bernabeu, Raul won six La Liga titles and three Champions League trophies with the Spanish giants, establishing himself as a firm fan favourite.

After spending 18 years at the club, the former striker left Real Madrid for Schalke in 2010, spending two seasons at the Bundesliga outfit before moving to Qatar’s Al Sadd. Raul retired from competitive football in 2015 after spending a year with the New York Cosmos.

Source Sports360

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Rabada not guilty of Level 2 offence but guilty of conduct contrary to the spirit of the game

Rabada not guilty of Level 2 offence but guilty of conduct contrary to the spirit of the game

  March 20, 2018    Unknown

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South Africa paceman allowed to play international cricket with immediate effect, available for selection for Newlands Test against Australia.

South Africa bowler Kagiso Rabada has been found not guilty of the charge of making inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with a player following a hearing before the Right Honourable Michael Heron QC yesterday.

Rabada was, however, found guilty of conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game, an offence under Article 2.1.1 of the Code. As such Mr Heron imposed a sanction of a fine of 25% of his match fee and one demerit point. This brings the player’s demerit points to a cumulated total of 7 and he is free to play with immediate effect.

In his summary, Mr Heron outlined his findings:

“The key issue is whether Mr Rabada made ‘inappropriate and deliberate physical contact’ with Mr Smith. I am not ‘comfortably satisfied’ that Mr Rabada intended to make contact and I therefore find him not guilty of the charge under 2.2.7.

“I am entitled, however, to consider whether the conduct involved constitutes a lower level offence. I consider the conduct was inappropriate, lacked respect for his fellow player and involved non-deliberate and minor contact. The actions contravened the principle that a dismissed batsman should be left alone.

“I consider a penalty of the imposition of a fine of 25% of the applicable match fee to be the appropriate penalty for the breach of Article 2.1.1. As a consequence, 1 demerit point accrues. Mr. Rabada will be well aware of the consequences of any further breaches of the code.”

ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said: "The ICC wholly accepts today’s decision and I would like to thank Mr. Heron for overseeing the hearing in a short time frame before the next Test starts in South Africa.

“This is perhaps an opportune moment to remind all players of their responsibilities to maintaining a standard of behaviour which sets a good example to players at all levels of the game, especially the young players. We want to see the game played with skill, passion and respect for the opposition, the match officials and the laws.”

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CWI offering players '$25,000 to tour Pakistan'

CWI offering players '$25,000 to tour Pakistan'

  March 19, 2018    Unknown

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Cricket West Indies (CWI) is offering its contracted and non-contracted players major pay hikes as an incentive to play the series of three T20 internationals in Pakistan next month.

West Indies will announce a 13-man touring squad to tour Pakistan when the ongoing World Cup Qualifier concludes. CWI did not confirm or deny the amount but it is being suggested that the touring squad are being offered around US$25,000 each for the three matches in Karachi on April 1, 2 and 3.

Depending on the contract status of players, that means they will be getting anywhere between 70% more and double what they would ordinarily be paid. Under the new CWI contracts announced in January, many of non-contracted T20 specialists got a raise of US$1725 to US$5000 per game, along with double match fees for all three formats.

Though CWI will be paying the players, the money for that to happen has come from a payment made by the PCB to CWI for this series - as it is outside the Future Tours Programme (FTP) as it stands. According to a PCB official, that payment to a touring side by the host board is standard for non-FTP series and one the PCB benefited from in a 2013 ODI tour to South Africa.

"Pakistan are looking to play more cricket at home, by playing half of the PSL in Pakistan next year and a number of matches in upcoming bilateral series under the current FTP," CWI CEO Johnny Grave told ESPNcricinfo. "However what they can't continue to do is pay international players additional fees to tour Pakistan or PSL.

"So, considering this tour is outside the Future Tours Programme, the PCB have made a payment to CWI that is being fully utilised. CWI isn't making any money from the series, just supporting cricket going back to Pakistan."

The issue of paying players extra to tour Pakistan, which hasn't hosted regular international cricket since the March 2009 terror attacks on the Sri Lanka team, is a delicate one for the PCB. They paid Zimbabwe's players US$12,500 each for a tour in 2015, the first by any international team to Pakistan since 2009.

Foreign players were also offered extra money on top of their contracts to play in the PSL final in Lahore last year. The players that toured Lahore as part of a World XI last September were also paid by the PCB.

It is an extra cost the board could easily do without but, because the aim is to bring back cricket to Pakistan, it is seen as a long-term investment. The PCB gradually wants to end the practice - no extra money was paid to Sri Lanka when they played a single T20 in Lahore last year, although it was a heavily depleted squad that came.

Grave did confirm that the boards have a separate agreement to play T20 matches in USA and Canada. According to an ESPNcricinfo source, CWI has reserved dates at the Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill, Florida for the weekend of August 4-5 to play a pair of T20Is. This is the last weekend ahead of the start of the Caribbean Premier League, for which all West Indian players were announced to be available from August 8-September 16 since it does not clash with any FTP requirements.

"As a trade off for this, we have their agreement to play regular T20 games in USA or Canada outside of the FTP to try and build interest in cricket in our timezone," Grave said. "We [CWI] have been very up front with players and told them all money we are getting for this series they will be getting."

It is unclear which members of the current squad in Zimbabwe will tour Pakistan, however. According to sources close to players none of five of the Bravo brothers, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine and Andre Russell - whom chief selector Courtney Browne attacked for choosing PSL over the World Cup Qualifier - were selected. There will also likely be no place for Darren Sammy

ssell and Dwayne Bravo are currently injured, while Narine also elected not to visit Pakistan, even before doubts resurfaced over his action after he was reported in the PSL.

According to his representatives, Pollard does not feel comfortable traveling to Pakistan at the moment. He had already decided not to travel with his PSL side, Multan Sultans, if they had made it through from the group stage.

Whether Darren Bravo was contacted about playing is unknown, but some likely squad members include veteran legspinner Samuel Badree, Rayad Emrit and potentially a recall for Denesh Ramdin.

Badree is set to visit Pakistan with Islamabad United and has the experience of going there with the ICC World XI last year. Emrit, who was recalled for the January T20 series in New Zealand for the first time in a decade, also visited Pakistan for the PSL final in 2017.

Source ESPN Cricinfo

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Messi: Russia will be the last chance for this group to win a World Cup

Messi: Russia will be the last chance for this group to win a World Cup

  March 18, 2018    Unknown

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The Argentina star knows that the pressure is on his side to finally emerge victorious after several close calls

Argentina star Lionel Messi said the upcoming World Cup in Russia is the last chance for the nation's current group of players to win a World Cup. 

Messi and Argentina have suffered heartbreak in three consecutive major international finals: the 2014 World Cup and the 2015 and 2016 editions of the Copa America. 

"I cried many times because of games like these, for lost finals, for what they mean and for not being able to achieve the dream of a country," Messi told Argentine television program "La Cornisa."

"They [the three finals] were tough blows, Messi continued. "It seems like having reached three finals doesn't help us at all."

With Messi now 30, the Barcelona star realizes that time is ticking away on his and his team-mates' chances of achieving something special together. 

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner turns 31 in June, and key contributors Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, Angel Di Maria, Nicolas Otamendi and Javier Mascherano will all be 30 or over when the World Cup kicks off. 

"We depend on the results, unfortunately," Messi said. "We feel that if we are not champions ... we will not have another."

The Barcelona star admitted that he dreams of lifting the trophy in Russia, after his country fell in extra-time to Germany in the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil

"I imagine being able to be in that game, to win it, to be able to raise the cup," Messi said. "It's the dream I have always had and every time a World Cup comes it gets even stronger.

"I want to tell people that I hope it's a great World Cup for us, that my wish is the same as all of you and that we can live something similar to 2014, which was an unforgettable experience, and that the result is similar but this time raising the cup is everyone's dream."

Argentina will take on Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria in group play at the World Cup, which kicks off in June. 

Source GOAL

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Cristiano Ronaldo nets four as Real Madrid thrash Girona

Cristiano Ronaldo nets four as Real Madrid thrash Girona

  March 18, 2018    Unknown

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La Liga, Santiago Bernabeu - Real Madrid 6 (Ronaldo 11', 48', 64', 90', Vazquez 59', Bale 86') Girona 3 (Stuani 29', 67', Juanpe 88')

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the 50th hat-trick of his career, and four goals overall, as Real Madrid beat Girona 6-3 in La Liga to boost their chances of finishing second.

The Portuguese netted the first as his team took a 1-0 lead after only 11 minutes before Girona, in seventh place at the start of the match, hit back through a Cristhian Stuani header. That set the tone of a match which swung back and forth over the course of the 90 minutes.

Ronaldo notched another three strikes - with Lucas Vazquez and Gareth Bale also getting in on the act - to give Zinedine Zidane’s men the three points and move them up to third, a point ahead of Valencia.

A second from Stuani after 67 minutes, and late goal from Juanpe could not dent Real’s domination. However, Ronaldo and Co are still 15 points adrift of Barcelona, but Atletico Madrid’s defeat to Villarreal has given them a chance of catching their city rivals in second.

TALKING POINT - Does it matter that Karim Benzema isn’t scoring?

Once again, Karim Benzema turned in another impressive performance, playing his part in what was a rampant display by Real Madrid’s frontline. But once again, the Frenchman failed to find the net. Goals have been hard to come by for Benzema of late, but does that matter if he is playing well? This is the question that Zidane must ponder as Real Madrid prepare for a Champions League quarter final against Juventus.

MAN OF THE MATCH - Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

Toni Kroos, Marco Asensio and Karim Benzema all shone for Real Madrid, but the Man of the Match award could hardly go to anyone other than Ronaldo. The goalscoring achievements of the Portuguese forward are now verging on the ridiculous, with his haul against Girona taking his tally to 17 in his last eight games, 20 in his last 11. Not so long ago, many questioned whether Ronaldo was finished. His answer has been emphatic.

Source EUROSPORTS

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India clinch title with Karthik's stunning last-ball six

India clinch title with Karthik's stunning last-ball six

  March 18, 2018    Unknown

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India 168 for 6 (Rohit 56, Karthik 29*) beat Bangladesh 166 for 8 (Sabbir 77, Chahal 3-18) by four wickets

When Dinesh Karthik came to the crease, India required 34 off 12 balls. Mustafizur Rahman had just delivered perhaps the over of the tournament. A profoundly deflated Vijay Shankar was batting at the other end. What unravelled was a scarcely believable finish that saw Bangladesh fritter away their chance at the title, and Karthik - phenomenally cool at the crease - seized ruthlessly on their string of mistakes.

He punished Rubel Hossain in the penultimate over, as the bowler continually missed his yorkers. The first ball, a full toss, disappeared over Rubel's head. Later in the over, overpitched balls would be smashed over cow corner and blasted past square leg. Twenty-two runs were hit off that over, but Karthik's best moment came at the end of the next. India now needing five off the last ball, he drilled a wide half volley from Soumya Sarkar over the extra cover rope. An India-supporting Khettarama crowd, a phenomenon without precedence in the 21st century, was tipped into euphoria. His own team-mates flew out of the dressing room to greet him, engulfing him in a frenzied huddle.

Bangladesh, who had already triumphed in two thrillers, doing so much to prove they had rid themselves of the many hang-ups their 2016 World T20 defeat to India had spawned, were almost inconsolably distraught at the end of this match, now having collected a second haunting loss at the same opponent's hands. They had bowled so beautifully in defense of their 166 for 8 - a total that seemed perhaps 15 runs light. They had bowled four consecutive boundary-less overs in the middle, conceding only 16 during that spell, and consequently raising India's required rate from 7.81 at the end of the ninth over to 10 at the close of the 13th. Rohit Sharma, who had helped set up the pursuit with 56 off 42, was dismissed soon after, and both Manish Pandey nor Shankar were chased into a corner by a proliferation of Bangladesh dot balls.

But all through this tournament, India have found special performers even from among this second string of players. After Mustafizur had bowled a wicket maiden in his final over the tournament, Karthik was India's human adrenaline shot, reviving an innings that had seemed doomed to a quiet death. His only stroke of fortune was that he had Sarkar to face in the last over, a result of Bangladesh's refusal to give Mehidy Hasan a second over after his first had been hit for 17 in the Powerplay.

Elsewhere in the game - though so much will be forgotten in that scintillating last-ball finish - there was a 77 off 50 balls from Sabbir Rahman that held the Bangladesh innings together, and outstanding spells from Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar, the former claiming 3 for 18, the latter 1 for 20.

In fact, the two India spinners had combined to deck the opposition top order as early as the fourth over of the game. The openers had been watchful in Sundar's first over, but the moment one attacked him a wicket resulted - Liton Das caught at square leg after having attempted a slog sweep. Next over, Chahal's first, provided two more wickets. Tamim Iqbal advanced, but although he sent the ball high into the Colombo night, he could not clear the field - Shardul Thakur plucking the ball above his head at long-on and expertly keeping his balance to avoid contact with the boundary. Four balls later, Sarkar swept Chahal straight to square leg, and Bangladesh were 33 for 3.

Sabbir was involved in rebuilding work with the seniors, putting on 35 in Mushifqur Rahim's company, then 36 in Mahmudullah's. Bangladesh would probably have got themselves to a better score had Sabbir not run Mahmudullah out in the 15th over - Mahmudullah marooned at the striker's end after Sabbir had sprinted to the keeper without taking note of his partner's reluctance. Sabbir then took it upon himself to club a few more leg-side boundaries, before being dismissed himself. Mehidy Hasan provided a final fillip, scoring 18 off the last over, bowled by Thakur.

India appeared to have the measure of this chase early, as after only 13 balls they had already struck 30. But then Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina fell in successive overs, and the innings slowed down. Rohit, who had made 39 in the Powerplay, scored only 13 runs in the six subsequent overs, When he holed out to Nazmul Islam - the original keeper of the Nagin dance - Pandey and Shankar were brought together. It was their dithering partnership, which was worth only 35 off 28 balls, that left India requiring the kind of furious finish that Karthik provided.

Source ESPN

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Lahore Qalandars skipper Brendon McCullum tells Umar Akmal to learn from brother Kamran

Lahore Qalandars skipper Brendon McCullum tells Umar Akmal to learn from brother Kamran

  March 18, 2018    Unknown

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Umar has had a forgettable campaign in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) for McCullum’s side, scoring only 57 runs in five innings before being dropped from the line-up.

On Friday, Kamran Akmal scored the first century of the 2018 edition of the PSL to power Peshawar Zalmi to a seven-wicket over the Lahore Qalandars.

The senior Akmal made 107 off just 61 deliveries and McCullum has advised Umar to follow his brother’s blueprint.

“Based on his point of view, he has a lot of years in front of him, he can finish his career really strong. Today, he got a great blueprint of what he should do from his brother and I am sure he sat back and thought he could be in a situation like this in the future. But he has to make sure that he is performing to get those opportunities,” the former New Zealand skipper said.

27-year-old Umar was at one point poised to have a bright future with the Pakistan national team when he made his debut in 2009. However, inconsistent performances and a lack of application has seen the right-handed batsman fall out of favour.

His last outing in Pakistan colours came in January last year in an ODI against Australia where he had registered a 40-ball 46.

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Mane, Firmino and Salah confirm status as Premier League's best striking trio

Mane, Firmino and Salah confirm status as Premier League's best striking trio

  March 17, 2018    Unknown

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No other attack in the top flight can match the seven assists Liverpool's forward stars have provided each over the course of the current season
Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah were once again on the same wavelength on Saturday as Liverpool beat Watford 5-0.
Salah hit the Reds' first two goals of the weekend against the hapless Hornets, before his Brazilian strike partner swooped to make it three before the hour mark. The Egypt international went on to complete his hat-trick in the 77th minute and added a fourth before the end as Jurgen Klopp's side strolled to three points.
Firmino's strike, moreover, was assisted by none other than Salah, while two of the Egyptians goals came courtesy of Mane, cementing the trio's reputation as one of the Premier League's finest forward partnerships.

The only duo that can match Salah and Firmino's record of seven assists between each other is Mane and Salah, while the rest of the league lags behind.
Firmino has fed Salah three times, while the Egyptian's latest assist means he has repaid the favour on no less than four occasions.
Mane, meanwhile, teed up his team-mate twice on Saturday to make it six assists for him overall, with Salah providing for the Senegal international once.
Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta and Alvaro Morata and Man United pairing Romelu Lukaku and Anthony Martial lie in second place with six mutual assists.
Source Goal

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