New Pakistan star Haider finds inspiration from old India foe Sharma

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“Haider Ali in action against against India in the semi-final of ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in South AFrica in early 2020. ©AFP” /> Karachi (AFP) – Pakistan’s new batting star Haider Ali said Thursday that Indian cricketing great Rohit Sharma is his role model. The praise comes even though bitter rivals India and Pakistan seldom play each other, and as political tensions remain high over Kashmir. “Rohit Sharma is my role model because of the way he gives the Indian team a start.It’s amazing,” the 19-year-old Haider told reporters.…

Coronavirus may force IPL out of India, chairman says

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“South Africa hosted the IPL in 2009. ©AFP” /> New Delhi (AFP) – The Indian Premier League could be moved out of the country if the coronavirus pandemic next month or two and then take a call accordingly,” said Patel, adding that options included staging the cash-rich tournament abroad. Pandemic cases have surged in the nation of 1.3 billion people.India now has the fourth highest caseload in the world, concentrated in major cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai which are cricket hubs. The world’s wealthiest Twenty20 tournament has twice been…

No saliva, no sweat, says India pace bowler Shami

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“India’s Mohammed Shami is known for his reverse swing. ©AFP” /> New Delhi (AFP) – India fast bowler Mohammed Shami says he will be able to reverse-swing the ball even if saliva is banned during the coronavirus pandemic. The International Cricket Council (ICC) is expected to next week order a temporary ban on using saliva, as part of measures to get the sport started again while reducing the risk of spreading the virus. Bowlers traditionally get the ball to move in the air, deceiving the batsman, by shining one side…

India’s Kohli says father refused to bribe way into team

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“Virat Kohli lost his father at the age of 18. ©AFP” /> New Delhi (AFP) – India captain Virat Kohli has told how his late father refused to pay a bribe to get him into a Delhi state junior team when he was a teenager. The world’s top ranked one-day batsman did not identify who had demanded the bribe but said he was rejected by the team, a rebuff that left him “broken”. “In my home state…sometimes things happen that are not fair,” the Times of India newspaper and other…

Saliva on ball, neutral umpires set to be axed due to virus

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“Former Australia bowler Ryan Harris shines the ball. ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – Cricketers are set to be banned from using saliva to shine the ball due to the coronavirus pandemic, following recommendations by the International Cricket Council. The ICC’s influential cricket committee met via conference call on Monday and made the recommendations after a briefing from the governing body’s medical advisory committee. It was unanimously agreed that the “elevated risk of transmission” caused by polishing the ball using spit meant the traditional method must be shelved for now, though…