Month: August 2019

Sharjeel says sorry in bid to resurrect Pakistan career

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Lahore (Pakistan) (AFP) – Disgraced former Pakistan opener Sharjeel Khan took the first step towards resurrecting his career Monday by apologising for indulging in the spot-fixing in 2017 that earned him a five-year ban. The 30-year-old met with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) anti-corruption officials who directed him to undergo a rehabilitation programme, putting him on track to return to the sport. “I offer my unconditional apology to the PCB, my teammates, fans and family for the irresponsible conduct that brought embarrassment to everyone,” Sharjeel was quoted as saying in a…

Three things we learned from the second Ashes Test

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London (AFP) – The second Ashes Test between England and Australia that ended in a draw on Sunday may have been badly affected by rain but it still produced plenty of exciting cricket. AFP Sport looks at three things we learned from a fascinating clash that preserved Australia’s 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Archer lays down Test marker All teams want a genuinely fast bowler because speed can beat the reactions of even the best batsmen, especially if accompanied by late movement. Jofra Archer, on the ground where he…

VP Qamar happy with US Open prep

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MARGATE: FL/USA – Vice president of operations at Cricket Council USA (CCUSA), Sofian Qamar is happy with preparations for the upcoming US Open T20 tournament thus far. Qamar, who has been working tirelessly since the end of the last US Open to prepare for this year’s tournament has been looking at all aspects of hosting and is happy with the current status. “Work for the US Open T20 begins the next day after one ends. We have been working all the while and I am confident that we will have…

‘Groggy’ Smith out of second Ashes Test final day with concussion

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London (AFP) – Australia’s Steve Smith has been ruled out of the last day of the second Ashes Test with concussion against England at Lord’s, saying he felt “groggy” on Sunday morning. Smith was felled when a Jofra Archer bouncer struck his neck on Saturday. “I started to feel a little bit of a headache coming on last night as the adrenaline got out of my system but I was able to get a good night’s sleep in, but I woke up feeling a bit groggy and with a headache…

A team that refused to lose

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Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on a group that knew how to bounce back Winnipeg Hawks are the GT20 champions for 2019. The team that won two matches in the league stage; the team that sneaked into the Playoffs thanks to their Net Run-Rate; the team that won an eliminator that they had no business winning – and then pipped the most consistent team in a last-ball finish – clinched the climactic final in a Super Over. They were this close to being eliminated the league phase. Now they are champions. At times…

Cecil Pervez and a tense final over

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Cecil Pervez of Brampton Wolves celebrates the wicket of Tobias Visee of Vancouver Knights during match 14 of GT20 tournament, between Vancouver Knights and Brampton Wolves played at the CAA centre in Brampton, Ontario on 4th August 2019. Photo by: Pal Pillai /Focus Sports/ GT20

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Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on a bowler who both lost and won Winnipeg Hawks need 13 runs to enter the GT20 final. The man whom Brampton Wolves have picked to bowl that over is a 35-year-old medium-pacer who plays for Canada, Cecil Pervez. Cecil plays for the Shahid Afridi Cricket Club in Toronto. He was in high school when Afridi first played for Pakistan, when he reeled off that madcap hundred off 37 balls. For the next few years, Cecil “wanted to be Shahid Afridi”. He moved to Canada in 2000 and…

An “8”, an extra umpire, and intentional drops

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Ish Sodhi of Brampton Wolves receives an award from Dean Jones during the post match presentation after match 6 of GT20 tournament, between Edmonton Royals and Brampton Wolves played at the CAA centre in Brampton, Ontario on 28th July 2019. Photo by: Pal Pillai /Focus Sports/ GT20

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Dean Jones on the four big evolutions he wants to see in T20 By Siddhartha Vaidyanathan Dean Jones approached one-day cricket in the mid-’80s like many others would in the ’90s. He was one of the best when it came to running between the wickets, and he understood the importance of accelerating in the middle overs instead of sitting back and waiting for the last ten. He wore sunglasses to help him take catches when the ball disappeared in the glare of the sun. And he experimented with oval bat…

A Dummies Guide to Cricket

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We respond to some Frequently Asked Questions by cricket newbies in North America Do they actually stop for tea? Do the players only wear whites? Do games really go on for five days? Do some games end without a winner? Our answer is always: Yes, yes, yes and yes but remember, this is true only for the oldest form of cricket. There are shorter versions of the game where these questions are irrelevant. Cricket has come a long way since when it was synonymous with the British empire. It is now…

A day that had (almost) everything

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JP Duminy of Winnipeg Hawks bats during the Eliminator match of GT20 tournament, between Toronto Nationals and Winnipeg Hawks played at the CAA centre in Brampton, Ontario on 8th August 2019. Photo by: Pal Pillai /Focus Sports/ GT20

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The moments that stood out on a wild, edge-of-the-seat Playoff Thursday It was a day packed with action. A day when Vancouver Knights booked a spot in the final, when Brampton Wolves braced themselves for a semi-final on Saturday, when Winnipeg Hawks just about qualified for the game on Saturday, and when Toronto Nationals were eliminated by a hairsbreadth. It rained a bit, then it rained fours and sixes. There were electric catches and magic deliveries. It’s now time to pick the best of the lot: Most inventive innings of…

Cricketing alumna selected as volunteer at the 2019 Cricket World Cup

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Sport enthusiast, Fizza Abid, recently returned to the UK to satisfy her dream of attending the Cricket World Cup. Fizza was selected by International Cricket Council (ICC) managers to represent her home country of Pakistan. During the World Cup event, which took place 30 May – 14 July 2019, she held volunteering roles across several teams, including spectator services. Fizza was also awarded the honour of carrying the Pakistan Globe at the World Cup Final match ceremony between England and New Zealand. Reflecting on the experience, she commented: “It was…