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Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Lloyd expresses fears about West Indies languishing in World Test Championship second-tier for ‘100 years'
ANI St John's (Antigua) Former West Indies (WI) captain Clive Lloyd expressed his apprehensions about a possible, much-debated two-tier system for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC), saying that the team is 'just two years out of being in that group for 100 years'. If the two-tier WTC system comes in place in future, it is a possibility that WI cricket administrators are wary of and are hoping to have a say in it, as Cricket West Indies (CWI) chief executive Chris Dehring put it. 'All of that we have a role to play in, we have a seat at the table at the ICC,' Dehring said during the presser as quoted by ESPNCricinfo, organized after CWI's emergency meeting involving the team's legends over the years. This meeting took place in the aftermath of WI being skittled out for 27 runs, the second-lowest Test total ever, during the third Test against Australia last month. 'We have to just stay abreast as close as possible to all the changes that could happen, position ourselves, hedging our bets so to speak, to make sure we are in there as West Indies cricket, no matter which way the wind blows and try to take advantage of it,' he added. Last month, the International Cricket Council (ICC) formed a working group, led by former New Zealand cricketer Roger Twose, to look into, among many things, improving the WTC ahead of the 2025-27 cycle. A two-tier system for the same was discussed significantly during the body's annual conference in July. Twose, the New Zealand Cricket (NZC) representative on the ICC Board, is expected to make recommendations to the board. The debate about a two-tier WTC has been around even before the WTC was a proper league-based tournament with a title clash. This topic has proven to be a divisive one among Full Members of the ICC who enjoy the privilege of playing Tests. In all WTC campaigns so far, WI finished at eighth out of nine teams, having notched just 10 wins across these three editions in 39 Tests, losing 23 and drawing six. Llyod, invited to the meeting along with the legends from yesteryears like Brian Lara, Viv Richards and others, pointed his finger at the share of ICC money that member boards are given. He said that WI deserves consideration financially despite their falling standards over the years, given their status as a top team from the 1970s to the 1980s and an extremely competitive unit in the 1990s and 2000s. 'We have to look at what is happening at the ICC with the shareout of the money. India, Australia and England get 180 million and West Indies will get 80 million like Bangladesh and Afghanistan, and we are just two years out of being in that group for 100 years,' Lloyd said. 'To me, it is not right. We have to stand up. We have to go to the ICC and ask for special dispensation. Because when we were in the ascendancy, and we were playing so well, everyone wanted to play with us.' 'We were playing Australia very often, with England very often, and when we went to Pakistan or India, getting millions of people (to the grounds). We need to get a better share of the pie, because we were the cash cows for a long time. And we need to get some of that. I am hoping the board follows up on that recommendation where we can be adequately given the money that is needed,' he concluded.


Qatar Tribune
3 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
India qualify for AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup for the first time in two decades
AFC/ANI Yangon Shubhangi Singh paid credit to her teammates after India ended a 20-year wait by qualifying for the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup Thailand 2026 on Sunday. Midfielder Pooja's 27th minute strike earned India a 1-0 win over hosts Myanmar, confirming the South Asian team as the Group D winners, with Shubhangi playing the skipper's role to perfection for Joakim Alexandersson's side. 'I'm beyond happy. The way we worked as a team - especially in the second half. We gave it everything and it was totally worth it,' said the 19-year-old Shubhangi, who plays her club football for Gokulam Kerala FC. 'Playing in front of 7,000 fans came with a bit of pressure, but we told ourselves they were cheering for us, and that gave us a real boost.' The sides went into Sunday's encounter tied on four points, with India having drawn 0-0 with Indonesia and defeating Turkmenistan 7-0 in their earlier matches. 'I believe we were the better team, but credit to them, they played really well. We came in with a winning mindset, we went for it, and we came back with the victory. That's all that matters, and I'm very happy.' After a victorious campaign in Yangon, the Young Tigresses received a warm welcome upon their arrival in New Delhi on Monday morning. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced a reward of $25,000 for the U20 women's national team following their outstanding performance. Winger Neha was one of the few players who returned grieving from Vietnam two years ago and had an opportunity to redeem themselves this time in Myanmar. The relief on her face after the game was palpable. 'I feel ecstatic that I've done it for the first time, finally. Last time in Vietnam, we missed the qualifiers by just a goal. But this time, I feel proud. I would like to extend my gratitude to my father. Before the match, for the first time, he told me, 'Beta, go do something for Team India today', so I'm feeling very proud. The coach also noticed there's something good in me and supported me a lot. I would also like to thank my papa,' said the 19-year-old who provided the assist for Pooja's winning goal with a superb cross from the left flank. Head coach Joakim Alexandersson, who has trained this bunch since his appointment in December last year, had wet eyes after his first significant achievement in Indian women's football. 'This is very special for the girls. They've been preparing for many months now, and seeing how the senior women's team qualified in such a fantastic way gave them extra motivation. They had a great spirit and really wanted to achieve this too. Qualifying for the Asian Cup was our only goal when we arrived in Myanmar, and now we've done it,' said Alexandersson. Eyes will now also be on the India U17 women's team, who will aim to complete a hat-trick of Asian Cup qualifications for Indian women's football this year. The U17S haven't competed at the Asian Cup since 2005, which means ending another two-decade-long wait will be on the cards. In preparation for the Qualifiers, the U17S will play the SAFF U17 Women's Championship beginning on August 20. The Qualifiers will take place from October 13 to 17, where the Young Tigresses will face Uzbekistan and hosts, the Kyrgyz Republic.


Qatar Tribune
3 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Rizwan backs Pak bowlers to bounce back after ODI loss
Icc Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan is confident his bowling group can find form as his side's three-match ODI series against the West Indies heads into a deciding game. The West Indies proved too strong in the second ODI of the series in Trinidad, with Roston Chase and Justin Greaves combining for an unbeaten partnership of 77 to help the Caribbean side chase down the adjusted victory target of 181 in a rain-affected contest at Brian Lara Stadium. Chase and Greaves took a particular liking to Pakistan's part-timers of Saim Ayub and Salman Agha, with the pair each conceding 33 runs from their spell as the West Indies squared the series at 1-1 ahead of the final match at the same ground on Tuesday. While Rizwan wouldn't confirm the duo will retain their place in Pakistan's side for the series decider, he backed them to perform well should they win selection for the eagerly-awaited contest. 'You could say our fifth bowler gave away too many runs (today), but in recent years, Salman Agha and Saim Ayub have both bowled well for us,' Rizwan said post-match. 'Saim didn't have the best day today, but he performed well in the T20Is. That's just part of the game.' The victory for the West Indies was their first over Pakistan in more than six years, with their most previous win against the Asian side prior to this match coming at the 2019 edition of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup when they cruised to a 7-wkt triumph in Nottingham. The landscape is very different now for the West Indies, who missed qualification for the most recent 50-over World Cup in India in 2023 and are chasing a return to the major tournament in 2027 according to coach Daren Sammy and skipper Shai Hope. Sammy said prior to the series against Pakistan that the matches were serving as preparation for the next 50-over World Cup and Hope confirmed the West Indies are trying to improve in all facets of the game.