Kandy, July 3 (IANS) The Colombo Strikers began their Lanka Premier League 2024 campaign with a convincing 51-run victory over the Kandy Falcons. The Falcons chasing a difficult target of 199 were dismissed for 147 in just 15. 5 overs.

Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan recorded a first-ever hat-trick of his career during a majestic display of 4-22 in his bowling attack against the Falcons. Also, making it a magnificent moment in the history of the Lanka Premier League (LPL), a second hat-trick was also recorded for the tournament.

“I am truly elated as it happens to be my first hat-trick in my career and I also wasn’t aware of it being Lanka Premier League’s second hat-trick in history. It’s an incredible milestone for any player where you want those types of things in your career so hopefully there are many more,” said Shadab Khan.

The Colombo Strikers are set to face off against the Galle Titans in Wednesday’s highly-anticipated Lanka Premier League (LPL) match. This clash promises to be a thrilling encounter as both teams have been preparing intensely and are eager to secure a victory.

The Colombo Strikers are managed by head coach Carl Crowe with help from assistant coaches Simon Helmot and Chaminda Vaas, who have faith in both their new players and their core group.

Improved performance in international cricket has been achieved by Colombo Strikers a team that is widely recognized as a dominant force in the sport.

“It’s just simple because Shehan Fernando bowled brilliantly in the last over, so I just try to back him up because the Kandy team wanted to take a boundary and we wanted to take a wicket as well so our plan was simple to not let them take the runs and we aim for our opening for a wicket,” added the Pakistani all-rounder.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 3 (IANS) Hardik Pandya’s impressive show in India’s triumphant 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup campaign has seen him become the top-ranked all-rounder in the latest ICC Men’s T20I Rankings update on Wednesday.

Pandya has risen two places to go level with Sri Lanka’s leg-spin all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga as the top-ranked men’s T20I all-rounder, the first time a player from India has achieved this landmark.

He made impactful cameos lower down the order with 144 runs at a strike-rate of over 150, including an unbeaten 27-ball fifty against Bangladesh at Antigua. He also took 11 wickets with the ball, and made a big contribution in the final by taking out Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller, as well as defending 16 runs in a tense final over to help India win the T20 World Cup title for the second time.

Fast-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who won the Player of the Tournament award at the T20 World Cup for his scintillating 15 wickets, moved up by 12 spots to be at 12th place, his highest position since the end of 2020.

Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav entered the top ten of the bowling rankings, moving up by three spots to joint-eighth. Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh has moved up by four spots to a career-best No.13 after topping the wickets chart at the T20 World Cup with 17 scalps.

Spinner Tabraiz Shamsi moved up by five positions to reach the top 15 in bowlers’ rankings. Anrich Nortje rose up by seven places to a career-best second spot to go just behind top-ranked Adil Rashid with 675 rating points.

Other movements in the top 10 of the men’s T20I all-rounder rankings include Marcus Stoinis, Sikandar Raza, Shakib Al Hasan and Liam Livingstone rising up by one spot, while Mohammad Nabi moved back by four spots to go out of the top five.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 3 (IANS) The People’s Armwrestling Federation of India (PAFI) on Wednesday announced to host the Asian International Cup later this year. The tournament will take place in Mumbai from October 19-26.

PAFI along with the World Armwrestling Federation (WAF) and the Asian Armwrestling Federation (AAF) will organise the event.

A total of 350-400 overseas talent and more than 800+ arm wrestlers from India will be taking part in this tournament.

The Asian International Cup, which will have have athlete participation from 15 Asian countries, will follow and have the same categories as the Asian and World Championship.

Preeti Jhangiani, president of the PAFI voiced her thoughts on India hosting the Asian International Cup and said, “It is a matter of great honour and pride for us at People’s Armwrestling Federation India (PAFI) to have received the mandate to host the prestigious Asian Armwrestling Cup. India will be hosting an International arm wrestling tournament after a huge gap.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 3 (IANS) World championships medallist wrestler Vinesh Phogat on Wednesday sought “urgent help” from Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, the Ministry of External Affairs, and other authorities after her visa for Spain got delayed. Vinesh, who will be competing at the Grand Prix of Spain 2024 in Madrid, has her flight scheduled for tonight (Wednesday night) but she has yet to receive her visa.

Taking to X, Vinesh requested the concerned authorities to oversee the matter. She tagged the Ministry of External Affairs along with the Sports Minister and the Consulate General of France in Bangalore in her post.

“Dear authorities, I’m requesting for urgent help. I applied for my Schengen visa in Bangalore on 24th June. I have to leave tonight for a competition in Spain on 6th July but have no information on my visa. Requesting @mansukhmandviya @BangaloreFrance @MEABharat to help,” she posted on X.

The competition in Spain is scheduled from July 5 to 7 with the women’s event slated to take place on July 6.

Vinesh Phogat is scheduled to attend a training camp in Madrid, Spain followed by a training camp in Boulogne sur-Mer, France.

–IANS

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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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