New Delhi, July 3 (IANS) Bangladesh’s veteran left-arm spin all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan said he is unsure of being a part of the side’s tour of India happening later this year.

Bangladesh are scheduled to play two Tests and three T20Is against India from September 19 to October 12, with Chennai, Kanpur, Dharamshala, New Delhi and Hyderabad being host cities.

Their trip to India will happen following their two-match Test tour of Pakistan in August. After playing in the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup, Shakib is set to play for the Los Angeles Knight Riders in the upcoming Major League Cricket (MLC) season two in the USA, beginning on July 5.

“I don’t have many plans. There are two T20 tournaments in front of me one is MLC and the other one is the Global T20 League in Canada and let me see where I stand after playing these two tournaments because I need to understand (how I feel).”

“There is international cricket and there is a series against Pakistan and I am planning till that point of time and not planning beyond that. Now I don’t have time to plan for three four years and so planning for three to six months is better and later will think about my next plan and so till now I am planning till the Pakistan series,” said Shakib to reporters at the Airport before departing for the USA.

Shakib also revealed fast-bowler Taskin Ahmed apologised to his teammates for missing the game against India after he missed the team bus and reached late for the Super Eights clash at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

Interestingly, on Tuesday, Taskin said to Dhaka-based newspaper Ajker Patrika that missing the team bus was not a reason for him missing the match against India. “The team bus starts at a certain point and there is a rule for cricketers that team bus does not stop for anyone and if anyone misses it in that case he comes in the next car.”

“The manager’s car or a taxi is there and the support of transport was difficult in the West Indies. When Taskin arrived it was five to 10 minutes before the toss and certainly it was difficult to pick him at that point in the team and it was difficult for him as well.”

“Taskin apologized to the team for that afterwards and everyone in the team took it normally because a man can mistake and anyone can commit unintentional mistake and he accepted it and the thing ended at that point of time,” concluded Shakib.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 3 (IANS) The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup-winning Indian team led by Rohit Sharma are set to arrive home as the players finally left for Delhi after being stranded in Barbados for three days due to Hurricane Beryl.

The T20 World Cup-winning squad, accompanied by its support staff, several BCCI officials, the players’ families, and 22 Indian journalists left Barbados around 6 am on Wednesday (IST).

Rohit Sharma, Shivam Dube, and Mohammad Siraj gave an update on ‘Instagram’ of their departure with a picture of them holding the T20 World Cup trophy with the caption, “Coming home.”

Upon their arrival in New Delhi, the Indian team will be meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi around 11 am. Soon after the meeting with the Prime Minister, the team will depart for Mumbai.

A source has confirmed to IANS that in Mumbai, the “BCCI has arranged an open-top bus ride followed by a function at the Wankhede Stadium.” The bus ride is expected to be around Marine Drive and is likely to start around 4 pm.

The World Cup winning team was originally scheduled to depart from Barbados at 11 am local time (8:30 PM IST) on Monday but the departure was delayed due to Hurricane Beryl, which intensified from category 3 to 5.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 3 (IANS) Former South Africa cricketer and SA20 league commissioner, Graeme Smith has praised the performance of the Proteas men’s team at the T20 World Cup and noted the increased positivity around South African cricket, both locally and internationally.

The Proteas lost narrowly to India by seven run in the Final as Smith wished to congratulate the team. “We are proud of the Proteas’ achievements at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.” he said.

“From the outset, the league, alongside cricket South Africa, has wanted to provide South African cricketers with the opportunity to be exposed to a higher level of domestic cricket where the players are able to rub shoulders and learn from some of the best the game has to offer.

“Coupled with a unique fan experience that has brought the cricket-loving public back to our stadiums to support our heroes on the field, there is now a bridge that joins provincial and international cricket. Players are exposed to high-pressure and competitive cricket and this experience stood them in good stead in the US and Caribbean,” he added.

Smith was particularly pleased to see the leading wicket-taker in the history of SA20 Ottniel Baartman having made his debut at a global showpiece and excelling.

“Ottniel is the epitome of a SA20 success story. A relatively unknown player that has transformed and grown in confidence due to experiences with the Sunrisers Eastern Cape is phenomenal. Despite playing in his very first T20 World Cup, he backed his skills under immense pressure. The four wickets against the Netherlands and the last over against Nepal definitely stands out,” he said.

The 43-year-old feels the Proteas’ results in the US and Caribbean plays directly into the hands of SA20’s overall objectives.

“People can be positive about cricket in the country again. These are things that are important to us. Together with cricket South Africa, we are committed to continuing to provide opportunities and platforms for our players to excel and inspire the next generation of cricketing talent in South Africa.

“Hopefully we have played a role in benefiting South African cricket through the SA20. It has been encouraging to hear players’ positive comments about the League throughout the T20 World Cup, with players crediting the opportunity it has created to contribute to South Africa’s cricketing talent,” said Smith.

He also wished to congratulate Proteas’ men’s T20 captain Aiden Markram on his superb leadership skills for the tournament.

“Aiden was particularly good during the tournament. He was tactically astute, had good plans and was brave enough to make the big calls and then get all his players to commit to it. We have of course seen Aiden captain in this manner before over the course of the past two SA20 seasons, leading the Sunrisers Eastern Cape to back-to-back championship titles, but now he has transferred this experience to the international arena,” said the former Proteas captain.

The entire Proteas T20 Cup squad are due to participate in South Africa’s premier T20 competition Season 3, which will commence on January 9 to February 8, 2025.

–IANS

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Silverstone (England), July 3 (IANS) The ripple effects of what transpired in the final ten laps of the Austrian GP is expected to be on full display at the Silverstone Grand Prix this weekend.

Three time World Champion, Max Verstappen and the only man who has shown any kind of threat to the Dutch, Lando Norris made contact at the Red Bull Ring which resulted in Norris having to retire the car.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has made comments on the event and how Verstappen will react this weekend stating “he is not going to change”.

“I understand they’ve (Max and Lando) spoken already, I don’t think there is any issue Certainly, from Max’s side, he’s not going to change. There’s an element, I think, of Lando learning how to race Max and they’re discovering that. Inevitably, there is going to be more close racing between the two of them as the cars look so close over the forthcoming races,” said Horner to Sky Sports.

Norris won his first ever race at the Miami Grand Prix earlier in the season and has constantly finished in the top three.

Mclaren as a team has drastically improved this season to the extent that Verstappen himself admitted that Red Bull may not be the fastest car on the circuit anymore.

Norris and Mclaren know that Red Bull is in a vulnerable position but they have failed to capitalise on their advantage as the team should be winning races more often and will hope Lando’s home race at the British Grand Prix falls in his favour.

“Max (Verstappen) is a hard racer – he’s probably one of the hardest racers on the circuit and everybody knows that if you’re going to race against Max, he’s going to give as good as he gets. I’m sure it’s going to be a partisan crowd for the British drivers as it is for Max in Holland, but I think whenever we go to those tracks there is always respect for the other drivers,” Horner added.

Verstappen has a comfortable lead in the drivers championship with 237 points to his name. Lando being his nearest competitor sits at 156 points, a gap which widened when Lando was forced to retire his car.

“He’ll have his head down and he won’t change. He’s the racer he is and I’m sure he’ll race just as hard this weekend,” concluded the Red Bull team principle.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 3 (IANS) Many were unsure how wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant would fare on his return to international cricket through the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies.

He had scored 446 runs in 13 matches on return to competitive cricket for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024 and looked at his best behind the stumps, an aspect where many had kept their eyes on, especially after his right knee was reconstructed and needed lengthy rehabilitation post injuries sustained in a life-threatening car-accident in December 2022.

But Pant thrived at his new number three position in the side, amassing 171 runs in eight innings, averaging 24.42 at a strike-rate of 127.61, as India went on to lift the trophy for the second time at Barbados.

He also impressed with his wicketkeeping skills, taking 13 catches and effecting a stumping to set the record for most dismissals by a keeper in any edition of Men’s T20 World Cup. From being in a period of utmost pain and uncertainty towards what future had in store, Pant now finds himself as a T20 World Cup champion.

Before departing for New Delhi from Barbados with the Indian team, Pant took to social media to reflect on the remarkable 18-month period of him being on crutches, doing all simple things like climbing stairs, shuffling and running to go all the way in lifting the T20 World Cup trophy at Barbados.

“Blessed, Humbled & Grateful. God has it’s own plan,” wrote Pant. In another post, Pant posed with his winner’s medal and captioned, “This medal hits you differently.”

From a life-threatening accident to becoming a T20 World Cup winner, it has been an absolutely incredible journey for Pant, which reinforces the belief of people in hardwork, perseverance and determination having the power of making life turn from any situation towards glory via hardwork, determination and perseverance.

–IANS

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