Latest news with #InternationalCricket
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Sport
- Express Tribune
PCB Chief Naqvi holds key meeting in Lahore
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi emphasised in Monday's meeting that strong domestic cricket structure is essential to bring forward top-quality cricketers. PHOTO: PCB An important meeting was held at the Gaddafi Stadium under the chairmanship of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official Mohsin Naqvi to review preparations for upcoming international and domestic cricket assignments. The meeting focused on planning and readiness for the Shaheens team's upcoming series and also initiated work on central contracts for players. Officials provided a comprehensive briefing on Pakistan's preparations for the upcoming home series against South Africa and Sri Lanka, as well as tours to the West Indies and Bangladesh. A significant decision was made during the meeting, requiring all Pakistani international cricketers to participate in at least one domestic tournament. The move aims to strengthen the domestic circuit and ensure the grooming of future talent. Mohsin Naqvi emphasised the importance of domestic cricket, stating: "Playing alongside international cricketers will help in grooming domestic players. A strong domestic cricket structure is essential to bring forward top-quality cricketers. Good backups for international players will emerge from domestic competitions." Director of International Cricket, Usman Wahla, gave a detailed briefing on the upcoming series and related logistics. The meeting was attended by key cricket officials and support staff, including Head Coach Mike Hesson, Chief Operating Officer Sameer Ahmed, Team Manager Naveed Akram Cheema, Director of International Cricket Usman Wahla, Director of High Performance Centers Aaqib Javed, and Pakistan team captain Salman Agha. Haris breaks Babar's T20I record Pakistan's wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Haris showcased an explosive batting display on Sunday, leading his team to a convincing 3-0 series sweep over Bangladesh with a thrilling victory in the final match at Gaddafi Stadium. Haris played a match-winning unbeaten innings of 107 runs off just 46 balls, featuring eight boundaries and seven sixes, at an extraordinary strike rate of 232.60. His stellar performance earned him the Player of the Match award. With this remarkable century, the wicketkeeper batter became Pakistan's second-fastest T20I centurion, surpassing both Babar Azam and Ahmed Shehzad. He reached his maiden T20I hundred in 45 deliveries, overtaking Babar Azam's previous record of 49 balls and Ahmed Shehzad's 58 balls. The fastest century for Pakistan remains Hasan Nawaz's 44-ball hundred, scored during the T20I series against New Zealand in March. In the third T20I, Pakistan faced a challenging target of 197 runs. The innings started nervously as opener Sahibzada Farhan was dismissed early, scoring only one run off four balls to Mehidy Hasan Miraz's bowling. However, Mohammad Haris and Saim Ayub quickly steadied the innings with a commanding partnership. The duo put together 56 runs for the loss of just one wicket in the first six overs, maintaining a strong scoring rate. Haris and Saim forged a 92-run partnership for the second wicket, showcasing aggressive and fluent stroke play to keep Pakistan in control. The partnership ended when Tanzim Hasan trapped Saim for 45 runs off 29 deliveries, leaving Pakistan at 100-2 after 9.5 overs. Despite the loss, Mohammad Haris continued to anchor the innings, reaching his half-century at 115-2 after 11 overs. Hasan Nawaz contributed quick runs with two boundaries before being dismissed for 26 off 13 balls by Mehidy Hasan, reducing Pakistan to 137-3 at 12.5 overs. Undeterred, Haris maintained his dominance over the Bangladeshi bowling attack, striking boundaries and sixes with ease. He brought up his century in just 45 balls, displaying sublime batting throughout the innings. Haris remained unbeaten on 107 off 46 deliveries, including eight fours and seven sixes, while captain Agha chipped in with a quick 14 off 11 balls as Pakistan comfortably chased down the target in 17.1 overs.
Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Joe Root rescues England and seals series with sublime century
One-day internationals can come and go, gone from the memory banks as quickly as some of the balls fly to the boundary, but sometimes they can linger. Sometimes an individual's brilliance, particularly when it goes against the grain of most modern thinking and hitting, will make a lasting impression, and that will surely be the case here after Joe Root's match-winning innings. It was that special; a magnificent unbeaten 166 (off only 139 balls), his 18th century in ODIs and 54th in total in international cricket, that, with its class and character, rescued England from a perilous position. It was clearly one of his finest innings, but all he would say was: 'It was good fun, I enjoyed it.' The 34-year-old went on to praise England's bowlers for restricting West Indies to 308 when 350 had looked likely at one stage. He had some luck early on, but the crispness and touch of his strokes — a back-foot punch and on drive, both off Jayden Seales, stand out most — and the calmness of his decision-making as the pressure grew were a joy to behold. We really are lucky to be able to watch a player of such greatness; such orthodoxy that can find its metier amid the muscle and the mayhem. And, given Root's age, we should cherish every moment of it. Root was superbly supported by Will Jacks, who is clearly revelling in his new role at No 7, in a partnership of 143 that helped England to an unassailable 2-0 series lead, ensuring tomorrow's finale at the Oval will be a dead-rubber match. 'The way that Jacksy played was exceptional,' Root said. 'In a position in which he has not batted a lot, to show the maturity, skill levels, calmness and clarity he did was really impressive.' It was the highest chase in an ODI at Cardiff and was scant reward for Keacy Carty's fluent fourth ODI century, but, without wishing to be too harsh and it was indeed pleasing to see West Indies competitive after Thursday's mauling at Edgbaston, Carty summed up where West Indies erred. Having been inserted on what turned out to be a good pitch, they really should have got so many more. They were bowled out with 2.2 overs of their innings remaining, and Carty will know that, with just under 15 overs of the innings left, he should then have gone for the kill rather than tamely being stumped off Jacks's off spin. It was hard too on Brandon King and Shai Hope, the captain, who both made half-centuries, as well as Alzarri Joseph, who bowled with pace and hostility. AP And England were actually poor in many areas. They were horribly sloppy in the field, dropping catches for fun, and, for all the excellence of Saqib Mahmood and Adil Rashid with the ball, they missed the injured Jamie Overton when attempting to intimidate West Indies with the short-ball ploy that had worked so well in Birmingham. With the bat they began horrifically and, though Harry Brook, the captain, sparkled briefly, it required something special from Root to take them to victory. The inexperienced West Indies opener Jewel Andrew got a duck but thereafter Carty and King put on a run-a-ball partnership of 141 that laid a solid foundation for the visiting team. Brydon Carse snared Andrew and could have had more immediately too but Ben Duckett failed to take two difficult catches at second slip, while Mahmood dropped King on 42 off Jacob Bethell. England could also have run either of Carty or King out when they were stranded mid-pitch after a mix-up, but Duckett chose the safe option of an underarm throw to the wicketkeeper from mid-on and, sadly, it was more of a lob and King made his ground. Inevitably it was the ever-reliable leg spinner Rashid who broke the partnership, persuading King to hit him to Carse at long-off. Shimron Hetmyer was trapped leg-before by Rashid and Justin Greaves went when Duckett at last had some success in the field, taking the catch at long-off to give Bethell a wicket. Brook took a brilliant tumbling catch to dismiss Matthew Forde and Roston Chase edged the next ball from Mahmood behind, and the end then came swiftly for West Indies, even if there was another fielding howler as Root dropped Hope before catching Gudakesh Motie the next ball off Rashid. Joseph slogged merrily, going six, four, out to Rashid, whose four wickets cost 63, before Hope was the last man out to Mahmood, who finished with three for 37. GETTY In reply England made the worst possible start, losing both openers for ducks, Jamie Smith edging a good ball from Seales in the first over, and Duckett completed a miserable day by slicing Forde to third man. And it could have been a third duck, as Root would have been a long way out from a direct hit when Brook called him for a single. And, on seven, Root was so close to being leg-before to Forde. The review just, and only just, fell in Root's favour. Next ball Brook, on 30, was dropped behind off Seales and Root could have been run out again on 30, before Brook top-edged Joseph to long leg. And a third duck did come, and it was a sketchy seven-ball one for Jos Buttler, bowled off his back elbow by Joseph. Root passed Eoin Morgan as England's leading runscorer in ODIs (he would take his record tally to 7,082) and made fifty from only 52 balls, but Bethell could not repeat his Edgbaston heroics, leg-before to Chase, and from the last 20 overs England required 142 with five wickets in hand. It was a tough ask, but Root pulled Motie for six to go to 96 and went to his hundred off 98 balls with a swept four next ball. Still 105 runs were needed, though, but three fours in a Chase over, including two reverse-sweeps, soon reduced that. With ten overs left, England, with Root on 132, required only 64. Root went to his highest ODI score (previously 133 not out) with a straight six off Greaves. 'It's a sign you're getting old,' he said afterwards with further typical modesty. West Indies seemed to delay Joseph's return to the attack too long, because, when he did reappear, he trapped Jacks leg-before for 49, with 33 still to win. On Root surged, though, passing 150 off 129 balls. Carse was bounced out by Joseph, who bowled a wicket maiden to finish off a valiant effort, but Root found further assistance from Rashid and, fittingly, the great man hit the winning runs, with seven balls remaining, with another beautiful on-drive. Simple and perfect.
Washington Post
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
England prepares for India with its first test against Zimbabwe in 22 years
For England, it's little more than a warm-up match ahead of much sterner examinations to come. For Zimbabwe, it means everything. Trent Bridge in Nottingham will host a four-day test match — something of a rarity for the usual five-day format but perhaps a sign of the future — from Thursday when England and Zimbabwe meet for the first time at international level in 18 years since a Twenty20 World Cup match in Cape Town.
Sky News AU
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Sky News AU
The cricket world has mourned the tragic loss of Ashes hero Bob Cowper, Australia's $100m batting icon
Cricket Australia has paid its respects to former Test icon and legend of the game Bob Cowper, who has died at the age of 84. Cowper, a superb left-handed batter who became Australia's most wealthy former Test cricketer died in Melbourne on Saturday morning after a lengthy battle with cancer. The Ashes hero played 27 Tests for Australia between 1964 and 1968 and has a special place in the pantheon of Australian cricket due to both his exceptional records and his famous decision to retire from the sport at the peak of his career at age 28. Cowper is survived by his wife Dale and his daughters Olivia and Sera. The Victorian batsman produced one of Australia's most memorable Test innings when he made 307 runs against England at the MCG in 1966 and served as the first Test triple century scored in Australia. That famous innings ultimately saw Australia retain the Ashes. Only seven other Australian's have achieved a triple century in a men's Test. "Bob was a wonderful batter who will always be remembered for his famous triple century at the MCG, as well as his strong influence in the Australian and Victorian teams of the 1960s," Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird said in a statement. "He was also a significant contributor to cricket in other roles including as an ICC match referee and his wisdom was always keenly sought. "On behalf of Cricket Australia, our deepest condolences to Bob's family, friends and former teammates at this very sad time." Better known to his mates as 'Wallaby', Cowper's batting average of 75.78 runs on home soil still remains the second highest of all time, rivalled only by Sir Donald Bradman The cricket doyen also held a stunning Test record, compiling 2,061 runs at an average of 46.84 and has five centuries to his name. Cowper also played 83 first class matches for Victoria and was immortalised into the Cricket Victoria hall of fame in 2018. However, he shocked his teammates and unexpectedly retired at age 28 to pursue business interests in the stock broking and merchant banking industry. Cowper went on to become Australia's most wealthy former Test cricketer. It was estimated in 1987 his total worth amounted to a staggering $100 million and for a significant portion of his life resided in the lavish microstate of Monaco. In retirement Cowper further served as an International Cricket match referee and represented Australia on the International Cricket Council. Cricket Victoria chair Ross Hepburn said Cowper had a "profound" impact on the game. "He was one of our greats – a player of technical excellence and great poise," he said. Cowper received a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2023.
