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Bangladesh are allowed to feel some Schadenfreude when hearing Pakistan ask for more time to develop as a team. It used to be Bangladesh’s go-to phrase for years

The Preview by Mohammad Isam21-Apr-2015Match factsWednesday, April 22, 2015
Start time 1430 local (0830 GMT)1:40

Isam: Teams will take dead rubber seriously

Big pictureBangladesh are allowed to feel some Schadenfreude when hearing Pakistan ask for more time to develop as a team. It used to be Bangladesh’s go-to phrase for years. Ahead of the third ODI, both teams are in uncharted waters: there have been plenty of dead rubbers between these sides but Pakistan were never on the wrong end of one.In the first two matches, Bangladesh had good starts with the bat and that translated into a smoother time for the middle order. Their lower order hasn’t needed to contribute yet. Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim had two century stands, with Tamim making a brace of hundreds. Mushfiqur also continued his rich form, collecting a hundred and a fifty. Soumya Sarkar is promising to build on his starts, but Mahmudullah will want a big innings in the third ODI.The home team’s spinners have also taken grip of the two contests. Shakib Al Hasan and Arafat Sunny did it by varying their pace, while Nasir Hossain was accurate. Mashrafe Mortaza will also rely on Rubel Hossain and Taskin Ahmed to continue giving him breakthroughs. The young pair has outbowled their opposite numbers.Pakistan’s pace attack has disappointed, especially Junaid Khan. He has just one wicket in two games and looked listless. Rahat Ali’s hamstring niggle meant Umar Gul could be back after his last playing in December. Saeed Ajmal has also been disappointing but he is feeling his way back into international cricket with his remedied action, while Mohammad Hafeez will be relieved to be given the green-signal by the ICC just before Wednesday’s game.The batting has also failed. Azhar Ali and Sarfraz Ahmed have been poor as openers while Hafeez and Fawad Alam are senior batsmen without runs. Instead it has been Mohammad Rizwan and Saad Nasim, the two newcomers, who have shown glimpses of their talent.Form guideBangladesh WWLLW (last five matches, most recent first)
Pakistan LLLWWIn the spotlightTamim Iqbal will have restored most of his lost confidence after scoring two successive hundreds. His approach in this series has been like the Tamim of old, when he freely charged the bowlers. A third big score can be expected.There was hue and cry to include Sarfraz Ahmed in Pakistan’s XI during the World Cup. He repaid the faith back then, but he has been unsuccessful in this series. With the team desperate for runs at the top, there is pressure on him to get a big score.Team newsIf Bangladesh are going for a 3-0 victory, they will not want to change the line-up. However, if they rest one of their senior players, Mominul Haque or Rony Talukdar could get a game.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Soumya Sarkar, 3 Mahmudullah, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Sabbir Rahman, 7 Nasir Hossain, 8 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), 9 Arafat Sunny, 10 Taskin Ahmed, 11 Rubel HossainPakistan are likely to bring in Umar Gul in place of Rahat Ali. Zulfiqar Babar could come in to add to the spin attack though with Hafeez now allowed to bowl, they could go with Ajmal as the only specialist spinner.Pakistan (probable): 1 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 2 Azhar Ali (capt), 3 Mohammad Hafeez, 4 Haris Sohail, 5 Mohammad Rizwan, 6 Fawad Alam, 7 Saad Nasim, 8 Wahab Riaz, 9 Junaid Khan, 10 Saeed Ajmal, 11 Umar GulPitch and conditionsThe pitch is expected to behave similarly as the ones used for the first two games, with the side batting first targeting a 300-plus score. Weather could worsen in the early evening with forecasts showing 88% chance of rain at around 5:00pm.Stats and trivia After Mashrafe Mortaza in the previous game, it is now Shakib Al Hasan’s turn to play his 150th ODI. Bangladesh have won nine ODI series via a whitewash.Quotes”We had two near-perfect performances in the first two games. If we continue in this manner, we have a chance to make it 3-0.”

“We have a new team with plenty of youngsters. It is a matter of one good innings and one very good spell can turn everything. We will play hard and positive cricket.”

If there is a David vs Goliath battle in the quarter-finals, it is this one – the defending champions Karnataka versus Group C toppers Assam. Karnataka, however, will need to guard against complacency

The Preview by Amol Karhadkar15-Feb-2015Match factsFebruary 16-20, 2015
Start time 0930 ISTBig pictureIf there is a David vs Goliath battle in the quarter-finals, it is this one – the defending champions Karnataka versus Group C toppers Assam. Karnataka, however, will be aware of what happened last year when, at the same stage, last season’s Group C toppers Maharashtra ousted defending champions Mumbai in the round of eight. Naturally, there will be no room for complacency for Karnataka.Karnataka have lived up to their billing by topping Group A. Vinay Kumar’s boys, however, had a little slip-up towards the end of the league stage once their qualification was assured. They nearly lost to Baroda and then conceded the first-innings lead to Mumbai in their last league game.Resting KL Rahul and Karun Nair against Mumbai has also created a sweet selection dilemma for them, with R Samarth and Shishir Bhavane grabbing the opportunity at Wankhede Stadium. Despite the recent hiccups, Karnataka look all set to cruise into the semis.If Vinay Kumar and Co’s juggernaut has to be halted, then Assam will need captain Dheeraj Jadhav to get back to scoring big runs. The left-hander has dropped himself down the order, letting the new import KB Arun Karthik open the innings, but hasn’t scored a hundred so far. Still, Jadhav has lead the Assam side well by helping them return to the top tier after a five-year struggle in the Plate group.The only eastern outfit to have made it to the knockouts, Assam have been as consistent in the lowest rung as Karnataka were in Group A. In fact, they tallied the most number of points across all three groups in the league stage. It may still not be enough to keep their campaign alive after this weekend.In the spotlightAssam’s Swarupam Purkayastha had a forgettable first stint when he was dropped five years ago after his action was questioned. The offspinner made a strong comeback this year. He took five consecutive five-wicket hauls and followed that up with a hundred against Andhra.Karnataka captain Vinay Kumar reiterated in Mumbai last week that Shreyas Gopal was picked primarily for his leg-break bowling. But the legspinner surprised everyone by amassing 574 runs with the bat, second only to Robin Uthappa’s run tally in the Karnataka squad. In eight games, he has taken 18 wickets at an average of 31.44. As happy as they are with his batting exploits, Karnataka will be hoping Gopal can strike more with the ball now.SquadsKarnataka: Vinay Kumar R (capt), CM Gautam (vice-capt, wk), Robin Uthappa, R Samarth, Manish Pandey, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shreyas Gopal, Udit Patel, A Mithun, S Aravind, HS Sharath, J Suchith, Shishir Bhavane, Kunal Kapoor.Assam: Dheeraj Jadhav (capt), Abu Nechim, Arup Das, Gokul Sharma, KB Arun Karthik, Krishna Das, Pallavkumar Das, Sibsankar Roy, Swarupam Purkayastha, J Syed Mohammed, Tarjinder Singh, Arlen Konwar, Dhiraj Goswami, Kunal Saikia, Pritam Das.Stats and Trivia Swarupam Purkayastha is third in the list of highest wicket-takers of the season, with 36 dismissals so far. Rishi Dhawan (40) and Basant Mohanty (37) lead the list. Karnataka have been unbeaten in the Ranji Trophy for 24 games now. Their last loss was well over two years ago, when they lost to Odisha by 65 runs in November 2012.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAhmed Shehzad was hit wicket after being felled by a bouncer from Corey Anderson•Getty Images

The Pakistan batsmen continued their plunder in the UAE, their relentless accumulation spanning 171 overs snuffing out New Zealand’s hopes of victory and ensuring the visitors would face a severe trial by spin to save the first Test in Abu Dhabi. Their performance was the first time in Test cricket that all of the top-five batsmen made more than 80 in an innings; three of them went on to score hundreds that flattened a flagging New Zealand attack.The home side’s achievements were numerous. Ahmed Shehzad improved his best Test score, and his 169-run stand with Azhar Ali made it the first time Pakistan had had two 150-plus partnerships for the first two wickets. Azhar went past 50 for the fourth time in five innings, Younis Khan made his fourth hundred in five innings, and Misbah-ul-Haq completed a hat-trick of centuries. Pakistan ended on 566 for 3 – the first time they had declared in four successive Test innings – and gave the weary New Zealand openers seven overs to survive.Brendon McCullum, who was opening for New Zealand once again instead of Hamish Rutherford, and Tom Latham were able to negotiate a varied attack from Pakistan’s four specialist bowlers, but that did not take anything away from it being the home side’s day.Pakistan had reason to celebrate in the first half-hour of the second day, as Shehzad pushed Trent Boult through cover to bring up the century stand with Azhar, who then clipped Tim Southee through midwicket to pass fifty. With no assistance for the seamers, McCullum turned to offspinner Mark Craig in the sixth over of the day, and it wasn’t long before Shehzad advanced and lofted him over the long-on boundary.McCullum deployed unusual fields to try and conjure a wicket. During his second spell, Southee bowled with a slip, a short backward-point a silly mid-off and a short cover, and sometimes a silly mid-on too. He got the ball to reverse a bit, but Shehzad found the gap at cover with his drive to pass 150. While Shehzad had his aggressive moments, Azhar’s accumulation was serene. He swept, flicked and drove, scoring consistently against pace and spin.New Zealand nearly completed their third wicketless session out of four, but in the final over before lunch Corey Anderson bowled a bouncer despite the wicketkeeper BJ Watling standing up to the stumps. Shehzad ducked under it. Two deliveries later, Anderson once again bounced Shehzad, who tried to hook and missed. The ball crashed into the right side of his helmet and caused Shehzad so much pain that he dropped his bat on the stumps as he wheeled away and collapsed to the ground. It was a while before he was able to get up and walk off to concerted applause from the sparse crowd, having made a career-best 176. Shehzad was taken to hospital where a CT scan revealed a minor fracture to his skull.New Zealand had to wait 53 overs for their first wicket, another 63 for their second, but the third did not take as long. Azhar was on 87 when Ish Sodhi drifted a legbreak on to leg stump, beat the batsman in the length, and spun it sharply past the forward defence to hit off stump. It was an inspirational delivery, but it could not galvanise New Zealand, and their standards slumped further.Younis glanced the seamers when they drifted on to his pads, swept Sodhi when given time to get down low and free his arms and pulled dismissively off the back foot when he dropped short. Seven of Younis’ first eight boundaries were between fine leg and deep midwicket.Misbah went after Sodhi too, slogging him over the midwicket boundary, but the bowler was unlucky not to dismiss the Pakistan captain. After being swept for four, Sodhi induced a mis-hit from Misbah, but watched Craig mis-judge the catch at point. In his next over, Sodhi drew another miscue from Misbah, but Jimmy Neesham put down an absolute sitter at cover. Misbah responded by pulling the legspinner through midwicket and mid-on for boundaries, and even played a reverse sweep.Pakistan scored 124 runs in the second session, and after tea Misbah and Younis motored unperturbed towards a declaration total. They were neck and neck in the race to a hundred – both were on 99 at one point. Younis got his off 141 balls, Misbah off 162, and they trooped off the ground with seven tired New Zealanders in tow.

India allrounder Irfan Pathan is confident of making a “comeback” to the national side, and has said he will focus on using the Ranji Trophy matches to make his presence felt

PTI28-Aug-2014India allrounder Irfan Pathan is confident of making a “comeback” to the national side, and has said he will focus on using the Ranji Trophy matches to make his presence felt. Irfan has not played for India since 2012 due to injury.”Irfan will return very soon. For that my focus is on the forthcoming Ranji matches,” Irfan said. “I will play all the Ranji Trophy matches and if you play four-day cricket, it would be easier to play one-day cricket.”Before or after the World Cup, I am sure that I will soon be playing for team India.”Irfan, who represents Baroda in the Ranji Trophy, said: “I am very excited about Ranji Trophy matches. I will contribute towards bowling and batting as well. The experience that I have gained in so many years is an advantage. I will use that advantage and try my best to make a comeback.”When asked about the India’s Test performance in England, he said: “It will not be proper to comment about it, but seeing the performance during the last one-day game, I hope the team will continue to perform like this.” He also backed the out-of-form Virat Kohli. “I think Virat will definitely get his form back. He is an excellent and confident player. Neither we nor his fans should bother about Virat’s performance during a particular season. I am very confident that what has been happening to him will make him a better player.”

ScorecardRoss Whitely struck three sixes as Worcestershire got up with two balls to spare•Getty Images

It’s often a strategy, in rain-truncated games, to evaluate the conditions by bowling first. Worcestershire captain Daryl Mitchell had no hesitation in doing just that, following a two-hour delay, and his methods paid dividends as his side timed their tricky chase to perfection to move top of the North Group.It’s hardly surprising, on the back of another winter of submersion, that New Road’s pitches aren’t conducive to deliveries whistling past the batsman’s helmet or bowlers thrusting it down with great speed but it makes for compelling viewing nonetheless.With sixteen required to win off the final over, in a game reduced to 13 overs per side, Worcestershire were indebted to some clean striking – something that was rare hitherto – from Gareth Andrew and Ross Whiteley to ensure they made it four consecutive wins in the shortest format.While Worcestershire exhibited all their pluckiness to get across the line from an unlikely position, Durham had only themselves to blame. Having batted first on a stodgy surface that was under the covers for much of the day, Durham learnt what methods were efficacious. They duly took note, reducing the hosts to 58 for 4 in the ninth over but let it slip when victory was within their grasp.At the interval, Jack Shantry described Durham’s total of 105 for 3 as par. The visitors, however, went about proving it was above that on a wet outfield and two-paced track. Usman Arshad bowled with great variation, taking all the pace off, and along with John Hastings proceeded to strangle the Worcestershire chase. That was until Andrew, only playing because of the shortened game, armed with his long-levered bat demonstrated that batting wasn’t as arduous as others had may it out to be. Only Calum MacLeod played with any sort of fluency for Durham as their innings struggled to gain the momentum and impetus expected in such a short game.Chris Russell took two wickets in as many balls to highlight the deviant nature of conditions. Mark Stoneman could only pull straight to deep square leg before, next delivery, Phil Mustard could only glove one that unexpectedly lifted through to Ben Cox.If the shortest format requires thinking outside of the box, Worcestershire certainly meet that criteria. Their bowling attack is as unorthodox as it comes. Mitchell took all the pace off the ball – regularly clocking just 48mph – and although he went wicketless, Saeed Ajmal ensured there would be no Durham acceleration.MacLeod, who scored an unbeaten 43 which included three sixes, was the standout performer as he propelled his side, alongside Gordon Muchall, past the 100 mark with an unbeaten stand of 72 off just 42 balls. But it should have been a partnership of 74. Richard Oliver, patrolling the leg side boundary, managed to cling onto a towering MacLeod swat but landed on the boundary cushion before releasing the ball. A four was given and despite video evidence clearly showing it should have been a six, the decision couldn’t be changed.In truth, it didn’t matter. For much of their innings, Worcestershire plodded along, losing wickets at regular intervals as Durham’s bowlers utilised conditions brilliantly. When New Zealander Colin Munro fell lbw to Hastings, giving the bowler his third wicket, the contest seemed all but over. Andrew, though, had something of a point to prove after being left in the shadows in recent weeks. He lofted a full toss from Chris Rushworth down the ground, then swatted a boundary to the leg-side before falling trying to repeat the trick next ball. Whiteley proceeded to finish off the job.

James Faulkner has put himself up for selection for Australia’s next World T20 game against West Indies on Friday

Mohammad Isam26-Mar-2014James Faulkner is likely to be available for selection for Australia’s next World T20 game against West Indies on Friday. If picked, this game will be the allrounder’s first competitive match since he underwent an arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on January 28. Faulkner, who aimed to make a return in the World T20s, missed the first game of the tournament against Pakistan on Sunday as George Bailey didn’t want to risk him.”Everything has been on track so far,” Faulkner said. “It is now about going to training tomorrow and getting through that session. I will train with the best of my ability and putting my case up for selection.”Injuries are frustrating but I have had a good run in the last couple of years. It is good to be in a position now when everything is coming along and progressing as I would like.”Faulkner shot to fame through his bowling in the IPL, and with the bat for Australia recently. In the 2013-14 season, he averaged 82 with the bat with one century – an incredible 73-ball 116 against India in November last year.Hoping to regain his old lower-order position in the batting line-up, Faulkner was confident of doing well in the subcontinent and was prepared to be used at any point in the game. But first, he wants to finish training on Wednesday on the right note.”I have played a fair bit of cricket in the subcontinent, and it is not too foreign to me,” he said. “If I do slot in, it would be at seven or eight where I normally do and bowl in the positions where George wants to use me.”There’s a little bit of water that has to go under the bridge for that to be the case. I have to get through training 100%. I am looking forward to the next 48 hours to see I am playing or not. So it is exciting,” he said.

MatériaMais Notícias

Com duas vitórias em dois jogos, o Santos segue animando o torcedor com boas atuações. Por isso, o lateral-direito Victor Ferraz espera colocar o Peixe entre os sete primeiros colocados até a Copa América, que começa em junho.

Ate lá, o Santos terá mais sete confrontos pela frente. Quatro em casa (Vasco, Internacional, Corinthians e Atlético-MG) e três fora (CSA, Palmeiras e Ceará).

– Queremos ficar no pelotão de cima, pelo menos entre os seis, sete primeiros. Se formos líderes, melhor, mas queremos ficar no pelotão da frente para depois dar um sprint e por que não sonhar com o título? Não custa a gente sonhar, trabalhamos para isso. Vamos lutar por isso – afirmou o camisa 4.

Victor Ferraz começou a partida contra o Fluminense no banco de reservas, porém entrou logo após o intervalo e participou do primeiro gol do Santos na vitória por 2 a 1, na Vila.

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Ferraz também relembrou as últimas campanhas do Santos em Campeonatos Brasileiro. O Santos não conseguia engatar duas vitórias consecutivas nos dois primeiros jogos do torneio nacional desde 2005.

– Muito importante começar assim. Estou há seis temporadas, sempre iniciamos mal. Temos feito diferente agora. Segundo turno é mais difícil, todas as equipes encaixadas. Agradecemos a Deus por esses pontos e temos outra dobradinha, CSA e Vasco. Temos que pontuar. Precisamos estar na melhor forma, com quem estiver mais perna. Jogo às 16h, em jogo fofo, com 3h30 de viagem. Sampaoli é fera e colocará os melhores – falou o lateral-direito.

O Santos se reapresenta na tarde desta sexta-feira, no CT Rei Pelé. Terceiro colocado da competição nacional, o Peixe encara o CSA, neste domingo, às 16h, em Alagoas.

MatériaMais Notícias

أعلن نادي إنتر ميلان الإيطالي، تجديد عقد مدافع الفريق، أليسادرو باستوني حتى يونيو 2028، بعد اهتمام كبير من الأندية خارج إيطاليا بضمه.

صاحب الـ24 عامًا تألق مع إنتر ميلان خلال المواسم الماضية، رغم أن بعد ضم النيرازوري له في 2017 قادمًا من أتالانتا تمت إعارته لنفس الفريق وبارما، وبعد ذلك تم الاعتماد عليه مع المدرب أنطونيو كونتي وكذلك خليفته سيموني إنزاجي، بداية من 2019.

طالع أيضًا.. تقارير تكشف كلمات باستوني لـ إبراهيم دياز بعد اشتباكهما في مباراة ميلان وإنتر ميلان

قيمة اللاعب السوقية وصلت 60 مليون يورو، ولكن إنتر ميلان رفض العروض المقدمة لضمه، ليجدد عقده ويعلن في بيان رسمي استمراره حتى 2028.

أليساندرو باستوني سجل 4 أهداف في 164 مباراة في الدوري مع إنتر ميلان، وارتبط بالعديد من الأندية مثل مانشستر سيتي وتوتنهام، لكن أولويته كانت تمديد عقده مع النيرازوري.

كان عقد اللاعب من المفترض أن ينتهي في يونيو 2024، ولكنه قرر التمديد الآن ليحصنه إنتر ميلان من أعين الأندية الأوروبية الأخرى.

Harry Gurney’s hat-trick and runs for James Taylor and Ed Cowan put Notts in a position to press for victory on day four at Hove

Vithushan Ehantharajah at Hove02-Jun-2013
ScorecardHarry Gurney took his maiden hat-trick in first-class cricket•Getty Images

If there is a formula for the perfect pitch, then there’s a good chance that Hove’s head groundsman, Andy Mackay, has found it. Regardless of how this game ends up – and it could well be a draw, with Nottinghamshire taking a lead of 354 into the final day – the surface on which both sides have battled for the first three days has given them the opportunity and incentive to play some high quality, attacking cricket. Perhaps the best part of it is at the Sea End.Harry Gurney was first to reap rewards bowling into it, as he took a maiden first-class hat-trick to bring the Sussex innings to a close, before Chris Jordan bent his pack to produce a blistering spell of short bowling that snared James Taylor, Samit Patel and Steven Mullaney. Chris Nash then got one to shake, rattle and roll out of the foot marks.But Ed Cowan and Taylor’s 151 partnership for the third wicket, and an unbeaten run-a-ball 56 from Paul Franks – which included two lavish extra-cover drives off Magoffin coming in from the Cromwell Road End – showed that runs can still be scored.Sussex’s early progress towards Nottinghamshire’s total was nipped in the bud, first by the ungainly run out of Jordan, and then by Gurney, who hacked off the tail in three blows. He tempted Ben Brown into a flamboyant waft with a short and wide delivery, before bringing his length forward, tightening his line and getting enough away movement to find the outside edge of James Anyon and then Monty Panesar.It was the first hat-trick for a Nottinghamshire bowler since Charlie Shreck performed the feat against Middlesex in 2006 and gave Gurney four wickets in the match, and saw them take a lead of 50 into their second innings.But when Alex Hales departed for a golden duck to Magoffin, who then tied down Michael Lumb before getting him to push at one that slid across him – the catch taken by a diving Brown – Sussex sensed there was an opening for them to exploit.The way the game had been progressing, it looked like only a major gaffe could separate the two sides. But Ed Cowan and James Taylor made sure this was not it, as they guided their side into lunch without any further damage.In the afternoon session they began extending the lead with the sort of calculated determination you would associate with both these players. Both Taylor and Cowan can be filed under “gritty”, but it’s their intelligence that turns that grittiness into runs and, together, they blunted the Sussex attack. Once their partnership had moved into three figures they manoeuvred the field well and tested the resolve of the fielders, who had to constantly readjust after each single, as the pair exploited their left-right combination.Taylor was quick to pounce on even the smallest shortening of length from Jordan – shifting his weight onto the back foot and whipping his hands through the shot. It would end up bringing about his demise after tea, on 97 – the second time he has fallen on this score this season – as Jordan produced a delivery with a bit of extra zip. But he could be forgiven for going for the stroke given the number he had played successfully in that general direction, one of which included a maximum off the same bowler.Cowan, still searching for his first Championship hundred of the campaign, came as close as he has done so far, reaching 81 before under-edging Nash’s gentle offspin onto his stumps. He cut a forlorn figure as he traipsed off but he has played a vital role in setting up this game for his side. One mistimed hook aside – even that went for six – his shots carried little to no risk and, when it looked like he was perhaps being too respectful, he made James Anyon’s ninth over his own with a trio of cracking fours.Franks’ end of day theatrics has put the game in Nottinghamshire’s hands, but with just one wicket remaining and the forecast set to allow a full day’s play, it would be foolish to rule out a home win. All thanks to you, Mr Mackay.