IT’S GREAT TO WIN THE $9 MILLION but I just don’t want to lose to him and give him the satisfaction because the bragging rights are what is going to be even “worse than the money,” AKMAL WAS SUSPENDED HOURS BEFORE HIS PSL team Quetta Gladiators was to take on Islamabad in the opening match of the SPORTS 08 2020 edition on Thursday. 21 February 2020 India Ready To 'Taste' Kiwi Flavoured Pace In Opening Test Press Trust Of India opposition has, we have to show more patience. We can't really prepare in WELLINGTON - India's battle-hardened a manner where New Zealand show PAKISTAN CRICKET BOARD cricketers are ready for their toughest more patience and put pressure on us," challenge of the World Test Champion- skipper Kohli made his intentions clear ship till date as they face formidable during a media interaction. hosts New Zealand on a spicy Basin While New Zealand are expected to SUSPENDS AKMAL PENDING Reserve track in the series-opener begin- go with four frontline pacers and may ning here on Friday. be a fifth seamer in all-rounder Colin Virat Kohli's top-ranked team, with de Grandhomme, the Indian team 360 points in its kitty, is certainly the management might be tempted to try ANTI-CORRUPTION INVESTIGATION favourite on paper but the Black Caps out Ravichandran Ashwin, who purely as under Kane Williamson are experts at a spinner, has more variety compared to Press Trust Of India related activity pending the the PCB added. expectations that came with ers, Sharjeel Khan and Khalid wearing down opposition with their left-arm orthodox of Ravindra Jadeja. investigation being carried out He is the younger brother of some fine performances early in Latif who were in the Islam- patience on pitches which turn flat as The wind factor in Wellington is an KARACHI - Umar Akmal's flatter- by PCB's Anti-Corruption Unit," former Pakistan wicketkeeper- his career. abad United franchise, were the game progresses. issue that captains need to deal with and to-deceive career took another the Board said in a statement. batsman Kamran Akmal, who Constant run-ins with the suspended and sent home under The last time New Zealand lost a series Kohli is no different as he will have to hit on Thursday when the Paki- "As this is an ongoing inves- played 53 Tests, 58 T20s, 157 authorities have also marred his the Anti-Corruption Code. at home was back in March 2017 and judiciously choose ends for his bowlers. stan Cricket Board suspended tigation, the PCB will not make ODIs, and cousin of current stop-start career. Later Sharjeel was banned for since then have won five (10 Tests) in "If breeze is blowing across the ground, the batsman with immediate ef- any further comments," it said. captain Babar Azam. Earlier this month, Akmal had five years (half of it suspended) familiar conditions. who is more effective with inswinger or fect, pending an anti-corruption Akmal was suspended hours The 29-year-old, who last escaped a PCB ban for alleg- for breaching five clauses of the For New Zealand, it is time to pick outswingers, these things you think as a investigation. before his PSL team Quetta played for Pakistan in October, edly making crude remarks to code and Latif was banned for 10 up pieces after their 0-3 drubbing in captain," said Kohli. The PCB, however, did not get Gladiators was to take on Islam- has featured in 16 Tests, 121 a trainer during a fitness test at years for similar offences. Australia while the current Indian The return of Trent Boult for New into the specifics of the breach abad in the opening match of the ODIs and 84 T20s, scoring 1003, the National Cricket Academy Sharjeel has now returned to team would love to reassert that they Zealand and Ishant for India, from their committed by Akmal. 2020 edition on Thursday. 3194 and 1690 runs respectively. in Lahore. cricket and is representing Karachi are the best when it comes to winning respective injuries will certainly bolster "The Pakistan Cricket Board "Quetta Gladiators are Akmal, who promised a lot The suspension of Umar is Kings in the PSL after completing in adverse conditions like they did in both the sides. today suspended Umar Akmal allowed to apply for Umar Ak- after making a hundred in New similar to what happened at the his ban period and fulfilling all Australia last year. For India, Cheteshwar Pujara, Kohli and with immediate effect...he mal's replacement in the HBL Zealand on his Test debut, has onset of the PSL's third edition in requirements of the PCB's reha- The open Basin Reserve ground has al- Ajinkya Rahane will have to be the foil cannot take part in any cricket- Pakistan Super League 2020," failed to live up to the high Dubai when two Pakistan play- bilitation program. ways been challenging for both batsmen around Shaw, Agarwal and Vihari with and bowlers due to cross winds. their techniques being tested. And the new opening pair of Prithvi "As a batsman, you need to think that Shaw and Mayank Agarwal will have ball might not travel in the air a lot more its task cut out against a top class seam when you are hitting against the wind. attack comprising Trent Boult, Tim So you need to be prepared to run a lot Southee, and Kyle Jamieson, who in all more which we experienced last time likelihood will make his debut. and if you have a light bat, you are in However, the absence of left arm trouble. speedster Neil Wagner, who could have "You need to be firm with your stance created awkward angles with his short and where your bat is as it can really balls, will provide some respite for the swing around," added Kohli, who is Indian middle-order. Wagner is on a India's best batsman by a mile. break to welcome his first child. Teams: New Zealand named their 12 on the India (First 12): Virat Kohli (captain), day and it will be a choice between Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, Chetesh- seamer all-rounder Daryl Mitchell or war Pujara, Ajnkya Rahane, Hanuma slow left-arm orthodox Ajaz Patel. Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ishant In an open ground with overcast Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit conditions expected, captain Kohli will Bumrah, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra not mind winning the toss and unleash Jadeja. Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma and Mo- New Zealand (12): Kane Williamson hammed Shami on the home team. (c), Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Colin Even Kohli admitted that his men de Grandhomme, Kyle Jamieson, Tom would need to have tons of patience Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, once the track eases out as Williamson's Ajaz Patel, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, BJ team is known to the play waiting game. Watling. "It doesn't matter how much patience Match Starts: 4 am IST. Peeling It Back: Williamson ROGER FEDERER PULLS OUT Promises Quintessential NZ Of French Open After Knee Surgery Agencies he underwent surgery in Switzerland on intended to avoid surgery if possible but team, I decided to have arthroscopic Approach To Handle Indian Pace Wednesday and would miss a string of the knee problem refused to go away. surgery in Switzerland yesterday." Paris - Roger Federer has undergone tournaments including the May 24-June "My right knee has been bothering "After the surgery the doctors con- New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson "It's taking some learnings from surgery to resolve a longstanding knee 7 French Open. me for a little while," said the world firmed that it was the right thing to on Thursday said his team will rely on that. But it's in some ways trying to problem and said Thursday he would be "As a result, I will miss Dubai, India number three who reached the Roland have done and are very confident of a its tried and tested patient approach peel back, (that's) the style of cricket out of action until after the French Open. Wells, Bogota, Miami and the French Garros semi-finals last year. full recovery. to tackle the Indian pace battery of we play in New Zealand and (we will) The 20-times grand slam winner Open," he said. "I hoped it would go away, but after "I can't wait to be back playing again Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami connect with that again," he added. revealed on his Facebook account that The 38-year-old explained that he had an examination and discussion with my soon, see you on grass!" (AFP) and Ishant Sharma in the Test series The Basin Reserve pitch, at least on starting here on Friday. the first two days, has a lot of juice Williamson said it will be "a lot dif- and Williamson was asked if India's ferent" to facing Australian speedsters batting line-up would be vulnerable in in their own den. New Zealand are these conditions. still reeling from a 0-3 thrashing in "I think if you can execute your plans their last away Test series in Australia on a surface that's going to provide where Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood some assistance then it's a challenge India Hope To Continue Fine Run and Mitchell Starc made life miserable for anybody," he explained. for the Black Caps batsmen. "But we've seen here on these surfac- Asked how different it will be facing es in NZ, that there is some assistance a quality Indian pace attack at home, early on but that can also, the pace and Against Australia In Fih Pro League Tie Williamson replied: "A lot of differ- some of the bounce you can get can ences I suppose, the conditions being provide opportunities for scoring.