Latest news with #MohammedRizwan
Times of Oman
2 days ago
- Sport
- Times of Oman
Rizwan expects improved performances from part-timer bowlers following loss to WI in 2nd ODI
Tarouba [Trinidad and Tobago: Pakistan's skipper Mohammed Rizwan backed his part-timer bowlers to deliver a much better outing against West Indies in the third and final decider ODI following the team's five-wicket loss at Tarouba. 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 would not 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 as quoted by ICC. "Saim did not have the best day today, but he performed well in the T20Is. That is just part of the game." "Honestly, the weather forecast has been completely different from expectations, and it is hard to read. We are keeping our options open and will finalise the XI (for the series decider) after assessing the conditions," he concluded. The victory for the West Indies was their first over Pakistan in more than six years, with their most recent 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 seven-wicket 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. "We always speak about partnerships, and we just want to get better in every area, so I am happy with the win today," Hope said. "It was great to see our guys adapt in the middle overs, and credit has to go to Chase and Greaves for sealing the deal and to Sherfane (Rutherford) too, who gave us impetus," he concluded.
The Hindu
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
If Pakistan is kept away from the Asia Cup, a public outcry is unlikely
Don't mix sport and politics, says Pakistan cricketer Mohammed Rizwan. It is the kind of statement made by those who understand neither politics nor sport. History has shown that sport is often politics by other means. Perhaps Rizwan fears that owing to his country's politics, international cricket might come to a standstill there. And if India refuse to play Pakistan on neutral territory, there will be a question mark over World Cups too. National coach and BJP politician Gautam Gambhir thinks India should not play Pakistan anytime anywhere. In India's plans to isolate Pakistan, cricket is a useful tool. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has clarified that a decision has not yet been taken on the Asia Cup to be played here in September. But it's difficult to see either Pakistan coming to India or India accommodating Pakistan by playing in the UAE or Sri Lanka. It is too soon, and, as the government has said, Operation Sindoor is ongoing. The current cessation of hostilities is only a 'strategic pause.' For so long has cricket borrowed metaphors from the military that to see the traffic in the opposite direction (the IPL's 'strategic timeout') is startling. It might not be a bad idea to give cricket between the two countries a break from the jingoistic reactions either side of the border. In the current atmosphere, a public outcry is unlikely. Politics vs. commerce An Asia Cup without an India-Pakistan match is like Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark. It will be interesting to see the politics versus commerce argument unfold, since Sony has paid $170 million —for media rights for all Asian Cricket Council (ACC) tournaments till 2031. This includes men's and women's tournaments in the Asia Cup, Under-19 and Emerging Nations competitions, the last of which is scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka next month. So it is a question, as Rizwan might have realised by now, of mixing sport, politics and commerce. There is too the question of the ACC itself, currently headed by Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi who is the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board. The ACC, founded in 1983, was a useful body when Asia didn't have much of a voice in the International Cricket Council. But it might have overstayed its welcome. None of the full members seem to have the inclination of 'spreading the game' in the region with the kind of missionary zeal that was initially apparent. Fifteen per cent of the broadcasting income from the Asia Cup goes to each of the full members India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan. India apart, none can afford to let that amount go. If India refuse visas to the Pakistan team – other countries are unlikely to complain to the International Cricket Council now headed by the son of India's Home Minister — the television rights amount might have to be readjusted. Indians keen to send the message to other countries that you support the enemy at your own peril, have made it a patriotic duty to stop visiting Türkiye or Azerbaijan, with a popular booking website saying 'In solidarity with our nation, we have discontinued all promotions and offers for travel to Azerbaijan and Turkey.' In the same spirit, it is possible that the BCCI might cancel India's tour of Bangladesh in August. A retired army official there was quoted as saying, 'If India attacks Pakistan, Bangladesh should occupy the seven states of North-East India. I think it is necessary to start a discussion on a joint-military system with China.' Competitive patriotism is a major sport in South Asia. Pull outs The Asia Cup has been buffeted by political winds before. In 1986, India pulled out of the tournament in Sri Lanka as relations with that country were at a low ebb. Pakistan pulled out in 1990-91 when it was held in India as political relations between the two were strained. In 1993, the tournament itself was cancelled for the same reason. Cricket has a knack of muddling through violence, wrote Gideon Haigh recently, recalling political assassinations or terrorist attacks that have left ongoing cricket unaffected. But this feels different. India hold all the cards, and as recent events have shown, they are not shy of playing them.
Hans India
11-05-2025
- Hans India
Bike thieves held, 50 vehicles recovered
Vijayawada: Kankipadu police nabbed a four-member gang and seized 50 two wheelers, which the gang have stolen in five districts during the past few years. The gang stolen vehicles in Krishna, NTR, Guntur, Eluru and Bapatla districts, under the limits of 17 police stations and the approximate value of seized vehicles is Rs 21.46 lakh. The gang members are identified as Mohammed Rizwan of Nizam Pet, Machilipatnam; Kesana Suresh, Shaik Ibrahim Basha and Kola Krishna Rao from Koduru mandal, Krishna district. The gang members mainly target worship places like temples, churches, mosques, function halls, hospitals and other public places and open the lock with the duplicate keys. They always wear helmets during robbery. They robbed vehicles under the police station limits, Kankipadu, Pedana, Bandar Taluka, Chilakalapudi, Inaguduru, R Pet, Gudivada two town, Gudivada rural, Gudlavalleru in Krishna district. Bhavanipuram, Machavaram, Vijayawada two town police station in Vijayawada. Kothapeta and Mangalagiri police stations in Guntur district, Eluru in Eluru district and Repalle in Bapatla district. Police have booked 34 cases in five districts on vehicles theft. As per specific information, Kankipadu police have nabbed the gang in Kankipadu on Saturday. Following the orders of Krishna district SP R Gangadhara Rao and under the supervision of Gannavaram DSP C H Srinivasa Rao, Kankipadu CI J Murali and his team successfully nabbed the gang and confiscated 50 vehicles. Krishna district SP R Gangadhara Rao has congratulated the Kankipadu police for arresting the gang and confiscating the stolen two wheelers.
Khaleej Times
23-02-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Pakistan win toss, elect to bat against India
Pakistan skipper Mohammed Rizwan won the toss and elected to bat first against arch-rivals India in their second clash of Group A at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. Team India will lock horns against arch-rivals Pakistan in their second Group A clash at the Dubai International Stadium today in order to book their spot in the semifinals of the ongoing competition. The last time India and Pakistan clashed in a Champions Trophy event was during the 2017 edition's final, when Virat Kohli-led star-studded unit was humbled by Men in Green at the peak of star batters' run-chasing powers, being skittled out for 158 runs while chasing a mammoth 338 runs which Pakistan reached on the back of a century from Fakhar Zaman. Avenging this would be fresh on the minds of players who were part of this heart-wrenching defeat, and their fans would no doubt relish every moment of India dominating Pakistan with bat or ball. "Will bat first, looks like a good surface. Want to put up a good target. Every match is important in ICC events, we will keep things normal. The boys are familiar with these conditions, we have done well here and we want to do our best today. We lost our last game, but it is past for us now. One change - Fakhar is out, Imam is in," Rizwan said after winning the toss. Men in Blue skipper Rohit Sharma said that there is no change in the team for this match. "Doesn't really matter, they won the toss so we'll bowl first. Looks similar to the last game, the surface is on the slower side. We have an experienced unit in batting, so we know what we need to do if the pitches get slower. Need an overall performance from the team - with bat and ball. The last game wasn't an easy one for us, which is always nice. You want to be under pressure and test yourself. We are playing the same team," Rohit said. Teams:
Reuters
22-02-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Buoyant India, beleaguered Pakistan clash in Champions Trophy blockbuster
DUBAI, Feb 22 (Reuters) - The lop-sided nature of arguably cricket's fiercest rivalry in recent years notwithstanding, emotions in both countries will run high when bitter neighbours India and Pakistan clash in a Champions Trophy blockbuster in Dubai on Sunday. India prevailed in seven of the eight completed ODIs in the last decade against rivals they play only in multi-team events because of a strained political relationship between the two countries. India, who refused to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy citing government advice, will be playing all their matches in Dubai and kicked off their Group A campaign with a six-wicket victory against Bangladesh. Pakistan's title defence, meanwhile, look in disarray after their comprehensive defeat by New Zealand and the team led by Mohammed Rizwan need a drastic turnaround against Rohit Sharma's India. Hype has built around the match but India vice captain Shubman Gill sought to underplay it. "It doesn't change anything for us, honestly," the opener, who smashed a match-winning hundred against Bangladesh, told reporters on Saturday. "We play every match to win the match and this is no different for us." "India-Pakistan has a long history. It's an exciting contest when both these teams play. Everyone enjoys watching it." India arrived without Jasprit Bumrah but did not miss their pace spearhead as Mohammed Shami claimed five wickets against Bangladesh. Pakistan's batting mainstay Babar Azam drew flak for lacking intent even though he managed a fifty against New Zealand. Fellow opener Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out of the tournament after suffering an during that match. "It is a big match, but I think the biggest match would obviously be the final," Gill said. "By no means we are going to take them as a lesser side. I think they have got a good side and it is important for us to bring our A game tomorrow."
