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Misbah-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, has said losing the toss worked to his team’s advantage during its win over Sri Lanka in the first ODI in Pallekele

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jun-2012Misbah-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, has said losing the toss worked to his team’s advantage during its win over Sri Lanka in the first ODI in Pallekele. Mahela Jayawardene chose to bat but Pakistan’s bowlers put in a fine performance to restrict the hosts to 135 for 8 in a rain-affected game.”It was a difficult decision for any captain about what to do,” Misbah said at the post-match presentation ceremony. “It was a good toss to lose. There was a lot of moisture in the wicket and covers were on.”Pakistan’s seamers led the way, with Umar Gul nipping out the first three wickets – he ultimately won the Man-of-the-Match award – and Mohammad Sami providing excellent support in an economical spell during which he picked up three for 19 in six overs. Mohammad Hafeez was also miserly with his off-spin, taking 2 for 20 in 10 overs. “We have got world-class spinners and whenever the fast bowlers get the conditions [they need], they come good.”Pakistan reached their target with almost eight overs to spare, but lost two wickets early. Hafeez and Misbah steadied the innings with a 51-run stand before Umar Akmal made an unbeaten 36, steering his team home. “The conditions were really difficult for batting,” Misbah said, “but the way Hafeez and Umar batted, it was really handy.”We have to improve in these conditions – it’s a windy and open ground. It’s difficult to judge, so we have to work hard.”Jayawardene said a score of around 190 to 200 would have proved competitive. “It was important we put up a decent score,” he said. “But credit to Pakistan, they came strongly at us. We faced two new balls in Australia as well, but they have got a quality attack and we need to make sure we are careful.”The second ODI, on Saturday, will also take place in Pallekele.

Rahul Dravid has said the lack of experience in the Rajasthan Royals squad hampered the team’s performance but was confident of a better show in the next season

ESPNcricinfo staff18-May-2011Rahul Dravid has said the lack of experience in the Rajasthan Royals squad hampered the team’s performance but was confident of a better show in the next season. Rajasthan were top of the table midway through the season but four straight defeats have put them out of contention for a play-off spot.”Our side has got a little bit of inexperience,” Dravid said on Tuesday. “There are 10 teams and at the end of the day other teams probably had more experienced players in this competition.” While most of the other franchises picked up at least a dozen players in January’s auction of top cricketers, Rajasthan were content with buying only six players with international experience and building the squad with lesser-known Indians.Even a victory in Rajasthan’s final league match, against Mumbai Indians on Friday, won’t lift them above sixth spot. Dravid, though, said there were bright spots for Rajasthan in the campaign such as the performances of 20-year-old Ashok Menaria and 22-year-old Ajinkya Rahane.”We have some youngsters doing well for us. We can improve next year,” he said. “Happy to see some young players like Ajinkya Rahane and Ashok Menaria come through … they have shown a glimpse of what they can do. Rahane has done well for Mumbai in Ranji and domestic cricket while Menaria has done well for Rajasthan.”After the IPL, Dravid’s next engagement is the West Indies tour, with the Tests starting June 20. One of his career highlights was leading India to their first Test series win in the Caribbean in 35 years when they toured five years ago, and Dravid hoped the team could repeat that success.”We won the series there last time around, but I hope we will do better this time,” he said. “If the West Indies play their full strength side, they will be a tough team to beat. But it will be interesting to see if they have their full side.”

Shahid Afridi, the Pakistan captain, has asked his team-mates to be united on the field and off it as they left Karachi to take part in the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka

Cricinfo staff12-Jun-2010Shahid Afridi, the Pakistan captain, has asked his team-mates to be united on the field and off it as they left Karachi to take part in the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka. The tournament, involving Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will be the first assignment for Afridi’s team ahead of a busy summer in England, where they will play Australia and England.”What has happened cannot be changed,” said Afridi, referring to the turbulent last few months. “What we can do is ensure that past mistakes are not repeated. We cannot afford to be a bickering lot and the only way we can give our best is by staying united. What I want is that our team should be united on the field and off it.”I know the importance of having frequent team meetings. It’s also important for all the players to dine together as much as possible and discuss issues openly because these are the things that help boost team spirit.”The recent problems in the Pakistan team surfaced after their winless tour to Australia in 2009-10, following which, the PCB conducted an inquiry and punished several players. Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan were banned indefinitely, Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan for a year, while Afridi, Kamran and Umar Akmal were fined. No reasons for the penalties were forthcoming from the PCB at the time, but a leaked video later revealed the extent of discord within the team. However, all the players apart from Yousuf, who retired from international cricket, appealed against their punishments. The bans on Malik and Younis were overturned by an arbitrator; Afridi’s fine was removed while those of the Akmals were reduced. The selectors then included Malik, who had been slated for his attitude during the inquiry, in the squad for the Asia Cup, and recalled injury-prone fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar.Afridi said Pakistan’s squad for the competition in Sri Lanka was balanced. “We have a very solid bowling attack and the batting is also looking good. There is a lot of potential. What we need is to translate that potential into positive results and that’s only possible if each and every player gives his best for the team.”We have a long and challenging tour of England coming up but right now we are completely focusing on the Asia Cup, which is also an important assignment. A good showing in the Asia Cup would be a great start to our World Cup plans.”Pakistan’s first game of the Asia Cup is against Sri Lanka in Dambulla on June 15.

Jemimah Rodrigues and Pooja Vastrakar, both returning after injuries, are fit to play the first ODI on Sunday, Harmanpreet confirmed

Srinidhi Ramanujam15-Jun-2024India captain Harmanpreet Kaur is all in favour of the points system in multi-format series, saying that it will make things “more challenging”.India’s home series against South Africa begins with the first of three ODIs on Sunday in Bengaluru, following which a one-off Test and three T20Is will be played in Chennai. The points system is not in place for the exchanges.”It’s totally up to BCCI or ICC [to decide],” Harmanpreet said on the eve of the series opener. “But as a player, if these things are there, players are more into the game and players are more pumped up. If the points system is there, it’s more challenging and will be good to have.”Currently, the women’s Ashes series uses a points system with four points up for grabs for Tests (four for a win and two for a draw), and two for a limited-overs match. Whoever finishes with most points win the Ashes. This system was first introduced in the 2013 series in England to keep the whole series relevant.Related

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In 2021, the points system was also used for India’s tour of England, the first time it had been used outside of the Ashes. India lost the series 10-6 on points. India’s last all-format series – against Australia at home in December 2023-January 2024 – did not use the points system with each format treated as separate.It was also the last time India played an ODI as the focus has largely on the next T20 World Cup, to be played this October in Bangladesh.Sunday’s match will only be India’s seventh ODI since the start of 2023 . As far as the next year’s ODI World Cup is concerned, they have already gained automatic qualification as hosts. However, in order to shake off the rust in the format, India had two separate camps in Bengaluru and Mumbai in the lead-up to the South Africa series, playing a few practice games while at it.”We take it as an opportunity,” Harmanpreet said. “Nowadays we are playing more T20 games but ODIs are something that, as a player, you have more time to assess yourself and even the conditions. It’s good for us that we are getting more matches to express ourselves.”It’s good for us that we are getting more time in the middle and getting to play all three formats as players.”There was good news for India ahead of the first match with Harmanpreet confirming that both Jemimah Rodrigues and Pooja Vastrakar were fit for selection. Rodrigues missed the recent tour of Bangladesh with a back niggle, while the nature and status of Vastrakar’s injury were not clear when the BCCI announced the squad.

With no batting options on the bench, England will be banking on their limited squad to force the series into a decider

Mohammad Isam11-Mar-2023

Big picture

The Bangladesh-England tour reaches a critical point on Sunday. The home side is 1-0 up against the visiting world champions. They have the remaining two matches in the T20I bilateral series in Dhaka, traditionally considered as Bangladesh’s fort, even accounting for the fact that the shortest format usually throws up unpredictable contests where context sometimes takes a backseat. But all of a sudden, the marauding visitors find themselves under pressure on and off the field.England’s squad limitations have given them only 12 players to choose from. They didn’t name Will Jacks’ replacement, while Reece Topley is reportedly struggling with a niggle. It has left them with no batting options in the bench. At least they have Phil Salt and Ben Duckett as keeping options, otherwise it wold have kept captain Jos Buttler on the edge.Related

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England have a pretty strong bowling attack, but they need to get their act together. Adil Rashid will be the key bowler, with Jofra Archer, Mark Wood and Chris Woakes to provide the firepower at the other end. Moeen Ali have a good recent record at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, so he might come in hand with both bat and ball in the last two games.While England are all hands on deck, the home side have a fitter squad, with a number of performers already sitting out. But those who played in the first T20I, can expect to continue in Dhaka. Bangladesh have a balanced squad in respect to batting, bowling and fielding. Bangladesh would want a similarly quick partnership from Najmul Hossain Shanto and Towhid Hridoy, while Shakib Al Hasan and Afif Hossain will be expected to play the finishers’ role again. But Bangladesh fans would want Litton Das to get a big one after he got several starts in the last couple of series.Bangladesh’s bowling was good in the first game, but the likes of Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud and Shakib would be expected to bowl better in the first half of their 20 overs. Hasan nailed his yorkers well in the first game, with Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman providing him with great support in the death overs. England, on the other hand, need a comeback to keep themselves afloat in the T20I series.

Form guide

Bangladesh WLLWL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
England LWWWW

In the spotlight

Najmul Hossain Shanto‘s three half-centuries in England’s tour of Bangladesh, have all come in similar situations. But his 27-ball fifty in the first T20I was really the most attractive, and the most effective, of these knocks. Shanto played his shots, particularly down the ground, with a bit more power. The way he handled Mark Wood – hitting the fast bowler for four consecutive boundaries – showed Shanto’s growing confidence against top attacks.Jos Buttler played a blinder of an innings in the first game in Chattogram. His quickfire 67 included sixes pumped down the ground, but his lovely shots threading the off-side field balanced out the slogs. But this tour is getting tougher as England have a very limited squad. Buttler may have to play a more well-rounded role in the Dhaka matches, to ensure they can use up the full 20 overs with big-hitting shots. Buttler’s leadership, underrated nonetheless, has so far looked quite comfortable despite the limited resources in bowling.Jos Buttler reverse-sweeps during his half-century in Chattogram•Getty Images

Team news

Bangladesh traditionally don’t change winning line-ups. Beating England should be reason enough to continue with the same XI.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Rony Talukdar, 2 Litton Das (wk), 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4 Shakib Al Hasan (capt), 5 Towhid Hridoy, 6 Afif Hossain, 7 Shamim Hossain, 8 Nasum Ahmed, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Hasan Mahmud, 11 Mustafizur RahmanEngland’s lack of options may force them to continue with the same XI.England (probable): 1 Phil Salt, 2 Jos Buttler, 3 Dawid Malan, 4 Ben Duckett, 5 Moeen Ali, 6 Sam Curran, 7 Chris Woakes, 8 Chris Jordan, 9 Adil Rashid, 10 Mark Wood, 11 Jofra Archer

Pitch and conditions

The Shere Bangla National Stadium has a 164-run average score for the side batting first in the last five BPL matches this season. A 170-plus score should be enough for sides batting first. The weather continues to be warm and dry in Dhaka.

Stats and trivia

Rehan Ahmed three-for in the penultimate over helps England crawl out of difficult position

Sreshth Shah01-Feb-2022
The first semi-final between two sets of nervous teenagers had it all. Broken stumps, dropped catches, run-outs, six-hitting cameos, a five-ball over, and a catch off a no-ball. England, though, held their nerve, and despite all their errors, crossed the line to reach their first U-19 World Cup final in 24 years.Afghanistan, chasing a spot in their very first ICC World Cup final, lost out in key moments. After getting England six down for only 136, Afghanistan could not end the innings well with the ball, conceding 95 in the last 12 overs. Then, two of their top four batters were out for ducks in a chase of 231.But late in the contest, Afghanistan were offered a backdoor pass into the match when England seamer James Sales had a horrific start to the 44th over. At that stage, Afghanistan needed 43 in four overs, but Sales conceded 10 runs courtesy two no-balls – the first of which also cost him a wicket – before delivering a legal ball, and by the end of the over, the equation was down to 23 off 18.However, left-arm seamer Joshua Boyden bowled a tight 45th, and legspinner Rehan Ahmed took three wickets in the 46th to book England’s spot in Saturday’s final against India or Australia.It was a brave call from England captain Tom Prest to bat first in cloudy conditions, and the opener George Thomas rode on some good fortune to smack a 69-ball 50. He survived getting dropped by Noor Ahmad, but the Afghan left-arm wristspinner eventually got him out.Thomas’ wicket, though, was the fourth to go down, with England losing Jacob Bethell, Prest and James Rew for meagre contributions. Naveed Zadran and Nangeyalia Kharote had made the early breakthroughs, before legspinner Izharulhaq Naveed dismissed William Luxton for 11. A lengthy rain break gave England a chance to regroup, but when Rehan fell after a 44-ball resistance, England were 136 for 6 and in trouble.That’s when George Bell and Alex Horton linked up to drag England to 231. Bell was more orthodox of the two, and hit six fours in his unbeaten 56. Horton smacked a breezy 36-ball 53 to give England the momentum at the break.England’s defense of 231 – target adjusted after DLS – began in a near-perfect manner when Boyden had Kharote out for a duck. Known for swinging the new ball, Boyden’s cutter had the batter through his shot too early and his stumps were left flattened.However, Mohammad Ishaq and Allah Noor (60) led Afghanistan’s recovery with a 93-run stand hovering at around four runs per over. Even though they did hit five sixes and eight fours between them, the stand had its periods of slow cricket with pressure from England’s bowlers, especially spinner Bethell. Eventually the pressure of a rising required run rate finally broke the stand when Ishaq was run out on 43 while responding to a quick single.Afghanistan needed another good stand to follow, but Thomas Aspinwall got in their way. He took two wickets in his first spell, including that of Allah, to expose Afghanistan’s lower-middle order. Even though Bilal Ahmad hit 33 in 34 balls, Afghanistan’s last roll of the dice was the partnership between Abdul Hadi and Noor Ahmad to take them over the line.Noor quickly got down to clearing the boundary with his strong hits as England briefly lost their way. Then came the Sales over that razed 20 runs off the target, leaving Afghanistan needing 7.67 per over to win with three overs to go. Boyden, though, made his presence felt with a four-run over, and Rehan made the most of the rising pressure to run through the tail with three wickets in the 46th. With only one wicket in hand, 18 off Boyden’s final over was too much for Afghanistan to achieve.

All the buzz from the game between Steven Smith’s Rajasthan Royals and KL Rahul’s Kings XI Punjab

Sreshth Shah27-Sep-2020