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Home , Jason Roy, Shahid Afridi, Sunil Narine

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016 SPORTS

NAGPUR: New Zealand’s Ish Sodhi (down) celebrates the of India’s Ravindra Jadeja during the ICC World 2016 match at the Vidarbha Cricket Association stadium in Nagpur yesterday. — AP West Indies’ ‘Gayle Storm’ set to hit England MUMBAI: Controversial batsman Chris bowler and has thrived in the Indian Sammy said of the left-handed batsman Gayle will be looking to ensure the West Premier League (IPL). But in the enigmat- last week. But the second-ranked Indies’ troubled build-up to the World ic Gayle they possess a batsman capable Windies, who are looking to add to their Twenty20 becomes a distant memory of destroying whatever bowling attack 2012 World T20 title, face a tough when they open their campaign against he faces and single-handedly winning prospect at Mumbai’s Wankhede England in Mumbai yesterday. The any match, providing he stays clear of Stadium in the shape of a new, attack- Windies are out to prove they are still a off-field controversy. minded England side. ’s force in the shortest form of the game The Jamaican, nicknamed “Gayle team have turned their fortunes around despite their declining Test status, while Storm”, faced allegations of sexism after since they were dumped out of the 2015 England want to atone for a humiliating he asked an Australian TV presenter for a World Cup by Bangladesh, adopting a early exit from last year’s 50- World date live on air in January during the Big more aggressive attitude which has seen Cup. Bash League. He also lit up the tourna- them up their run rate. In Morgan, all- A pay dispute cast doubt over the ment for the right reasons, hitting a 12- rounder , opener West Indies’ appearance in India and ball half-. Gayle, 36, holds the and classy right-hander , while the row was resolved at the 11th record for the highest ever score in T20s, England have strength in depth but they hour, relations between players and the 175 off 66 balls, and hit the format’s first will miss injured fast bowler . country’s cricket board remain tense. international century during the inaugu- England, who won the 2010 World T20, Their preparations have also been hit by ral World T20 in 2007. “To me he is the enjoyed a six-wicket win over New the withdrawal of all-rounder Kieron best T20 batsman, the most destructive Zealand in a warm-up game on MUMBAI: West Indies’ warms up duringa practice session ahead of Pollard and off-spinner , one in this game so he knows his game Saturday. “The confidence we take from their ICC Twenty20 2016 Cricket World Cup match in Mumbai. —AP who is T20 cricket’s top-performing inside-out,” West Indies Darren that is massive,” said Roy. —AFP

Buoyant Bangladesh bid ’s coach backs to turn screw on Pakistan on India love row : Bangladesh will look to com- this month when Bangladesh clinched a KOLKATA: Coach Waqar pound the misery of beleaguered five-wicket win over Pakistan in Dhaka, Younis stood by his skipper Pakistan today in their opening group sealing a place in the final of the Asia yesterday over match of the World Twenty20, fresh Cup which they lost to India. his declaration that Pakistan’s from humbling their arch-rivals in the Bangladesh was part of Pakistan cricketers receive more love in . Despite their recent improve- before a brutal 1971 war of separation, India than back home, saying ments in 50-over cricket, Bangladesh and matches between the sides there- critics should stop stirring up have a rotten record in the World T20 fore always have an extra edge to them. trouble. Former Pakistani - and have never beaten Pakistan in the Mashrafe Mortaza’s side can expect tain has been premier tournament of cricket’s shortest strong support from their fellow at the forefront of the outrage format. But they will fancy their chances Bengalis in what is the capital of the over Afridi’s comments at the like never before at Kolkata’s Eden Indian state of West Bengal. But Afridi weekend shortly after the Gardens against a team who are on a has been making his own overtures team’s delayed arrival for the miserable run and whose preparations towards the locals by claiming his team World Twenty20 being played have been hit by their late arrival in has received more “love” from fans in KOLKATA: Pakistan’s takes part in a training session ahead in India. India in a row over security. India than back home, comments that of their first WT20 match against Bangladesh at in Kolkata.—AFP But Younis said Afridi’s crit- Bangladesh cruised through last incensed former Pakistan skipper Javed ics were making something week’s preliminary round and know that Miandad. bowling great also backed the big-hit- in comparison to the dramas in out of nothing and he should a victory over Pakistan will set them up ting Afridi to rediscover the kind of form Pakistan’s camp. But after seeing off not be criticized for wearing nicely if they are to make the semi-finals Backing for Boom Boom with the bat that earned him the nick- Oman, the Netherlands and Ireland in his heart on his sleeve. “This is for the first time. Star batsman Tamim Pakistan coach said name Boom Boom. “It takes less than a the preliminaries, Mortaza knows the something he felt. It’s his emo- Iqbal is in the form of his life, scoring that the team’s troubled build-up to the minute to lose form and to get it back as hard work now begins in a group that tions,” the former fast bowler Pakistan’s Captain Shahid Afridi Bangladesh’s first ever international T20 tournament did not mean they should well. includes India, Australia and New told reporters in Kolkata on century in Sunday’s victory over Oman be written off. “We’re the kind of team T20 cricket is like that, we’re hoping Zealand. “In that group you can’t make the eve of Pakistan’s opening match in the World Twenty20 against after scores of 83 and 47 in the first two that once we get the momentum going, that he’s one innings away from getting any mistakes, you have to be up to the Bangladesh. “I believe we should leave it at that rather than creating a games. Fans in the cricket-mad nation we can surprise people,” Younis said in a back his old form,” said Younis. mark everywhere,” said the veteran controversy out of nothing. We are here to play cricket, to beat teams,” held impromptu street parties earlier pre-match press conference. The former Bangladesh’s build-up has been serene bowler.— AFP he said ahead of Pakistan’s opening rubber against Bangladesh. “My message to the boys is just leave everything behind. This is about play- ing some quality cricket and playing for the nation.” In a press conference in Kolkata on Sunday, Afridi said that Pakistan England’s Morgan feels for suspended Narine had always enjoyed playing in India and “have been loved by Indians crowds more than crowds back home in Pakistan.” The comments raised MUMBAI: England skipper Eoin Morgan skipper said he felt for his former team- larly bamboozled opponents. “He’s here,” said Sammy. “Yes we’ll miss them, eyebrows as Pakistan’s build-up to the tournament has been embroiled voiced sympathy yesterday for West mate. bowled the same way since he was but it creates another opportunity for in controversy over whether they would be allowed to travel to arch- Indies spinner Sunil Narine after the “I think it’s a very touchy subject. I probably 15 or 16 years old. The fact he’s somebody else to step up to the plate.” rivals India. They agreed to take the trip only after negotiations with number one-ranked bowler pulled out know Sunil. I’m not pleased to see what got to this stage in his career and it’s Despite not playing since November, India over security arrangements and the shifting of their match of the World Twenty20 following his sus- he’s going through. I wouldn’t wish it only being looked at now is probably Narine is still way ahead of his nearest against the hosts to Kolkata from Dharamsala. pension for a suspect action. The West upon anybody,” Morgan told reporters disappointing from his point of view,” rivals in the T20 international rankings. Diplomatic tensions between the two countries have meant that the Indies’ hopes of winning the tourna- in Mumbai. The 27-year-old Trinidadian said Morgan. “But there are set rules in Narine was a key member of the West two teams have not played any bilateral series for more than three ment were dealt a severe blow last was suspended in November after place that are being applied.” Indies team which won the 2012 World years, and their rivalry is restricted to multi-national tournaments such month when Narine withdrew from the being cited during a match in Sri Lanka West Indies skipper Darren Sammy T20, taking three for just nine runs as the World T20. India’s great Sunil Gavaskar on Tuesday said squad, saying he was not ready to for a suspect bowling action, the second acknowledged in his pre-match press in the final against Sri Lanka in Colombo. Afridi’s comments would help dull the hostility of the usually raucous return to the international fold after time he has been reported for an illegal conference that Narine would be a big He is one of a number of leading bowlers home crowd at Eden Gardens, the venue for the much-awaited India- work to remodel his action. But while action. loss, along with allrounder Kieron who are absent from this year’s tourna- Pakistan tie on March 19. “Emotions run high whenever India play Narine’s absence from the World T20 is Morgan and Narine have played Pollard who also pulled out of the squad ment, including Pakistan’s former world Pakistan,” Gavaskar told the NDTV news network. “He (Afridi) said nice something of a relief for Morgan’s team together for the in after an injury setback.”It’s always really number one who has strug- things-maybe you need it, maybe you don’t. It will help as far as the who play the West Indies in their open- the (IPL), a com- difficult to replace someone like Narine gled with a remodeled action after being crowd is concerned. It has ensured the crowds won’t be overly hostile ing match on Wednesday, the England petition in which the spinner has regu- or Pollard who have so much experience reported in 2014.— AFP to him and the Pakistani team.” —AFP