Sports Thursday, September 9, 2021 15

Good performances T20 World Cup: Ashwin makes India in IPL led to Ashwin’s selection: squad, Dhoni chosen as mentor Chetan Sharma ANI ANI “So as far as MS Dhoni New Delhi New Delhi is concerned, I spoke to him India when I was in Dubai so he was Team India chief selector The Indian national selec- okay with the decision and he Chetan Sharma on Wednes- tors on Wednesday picked the squad agreed to be the team men- day said good performances squad for the upcoming T20 tor for T20 World Cup only. I in the Indian Premier League World Cup to be hosted in Virat Kohli (c), Rohit discussed this particular issue (IPL) went in favour of expe- UAE and Oman. In a surprise Sharma (vc), KL Rahul, with my colleagues also, they rienced off-spinner Ravichan- move, R Ashwin has been Suryakumar Yadav, are all on the same page,” said dran Ashwin as he was picked included in the team which Rishabh Pant, Hardik Shah during a virtual press in the team for the upcoming will begin its campaign in the Pandya, R Ashwin, conference. T20 World Cup. showpiece event against arch- Bhuvneshwar Kumar, “I spoke to and The All-India Senior Se- rivals Pakistan. He had last Rahul Chahar, Varun, vice-captain as well as head lection Committee met on played a T20I against West Mohammed Shami, coach Ravi Shastri, they all Wednesday to pick the squad Indies in July 2017. Former India captain MS Dhoni. are on the same page so that is for the upcoming ICC Men’s Yuzvendra Chahal misses Axar Patel, Jasprit why we reached a conclusion,” T20 World Cup to be hosted out as MS Dhoni will be the with Round 1 matches run- Bumrah, Ravindra he added. by the BCCI from October 17 mentor of the team. ning till October 22. The top Jadeja, Ishan Kishan. Team India chief selector to November 14 in the UAE While the Board of Control two teams in each group will Stand-byes: Shreyas Chetan Sharma also explained and Oman. for in India (BCCI) has proceed to the Super 12 stage Iyer, Deepak Chahar, the reason why no left-arm In a surprise move, R Ash- the hosting rights, the tour- of the tournament, beginning Shardul Thakur. pacer was named in the squad. win has been included in the nament has been moved out on October 23. “Every time there is a thing team which will begin its cam- of the country with an eye on The second round of the on the mind of the selectors paign in the showpiece event the COVID-19 pandemic. In- tournament -- the Super12 that you need to have varia- against arch-rivals Pakistan. He dia and Pakistan will be lock- stage -- will get underway in tion, but at the end of the day, had last played a T20I against ing horns on October 24 in a Abu Dhabi on October 23, the in the UAE will be West Indies in July 2017. group-stage encounter. with the Group 1 contest be- slower so the selectors decided “Ashwin has been playing The tournament will get tween Australia and South Af- India’s Ravichandran Ashwin attends a team practice session ahead of the fifth Test against England at on three fast-bowlers with in the IPL regularly. He has underway from October 17, rica. This will be followed up Old Trafford in Manchester on September 8, 2021. (AFP) Hardik Pandya as the fourth performed well there. When with the final to be played in with an evening clash between pacer. Even if we wanted to you go into the World Cup, you Dubai on November 14. The England and West Indies in tween India and Pakistan in qualifier from Group A. Everyone is on same page have a left-arm seamer, we need an off-spinner, everyone meet will begin with the Round Dubai. Dubai on October 24. Paki- The first semi-final will be about Dhoni being would not have been able to fix has an idea that the wickets 1 Group B encounter between Old rivals England and stan then take on New Zea- held in Abu Dhabi on Novem- mentor: Jay Shah him in the squad,” said Chetan in the UAE will get slower as hosts Oman and Papua New Australia will lock horns in land in Sharjah on October 26, ber 10. The second semi-final The Board of Control for Sharma while replying to an IPL will also be played there. Guinea on October 17, with Dubai on October 30. It will in a tough start for the 2009 will be hosted by Dubai on Cricket in India (BCCI) sec- ANI query. Spinners will get assistance so Scotland and Bangladesh, the conclude on November 6 with champions. Afghanistan begin November 11. Both semi-finals retary Jay Shah said that he “T Natarajan was dis- having an off-spinner holds other teams in Group B, clash- matches between Australia their campaign on October 25 have reserve days. The mar- spoke with former skipper MS cussed but he has not played the key. ing in the evening match. and West Indies in Abu Dhabi, at Sharjah, taking on the win- quee clash of the tournament Dhoni on being the mentor for cricket for a long time, he is “Washington Sundar is Ireland, Netherlands, Sri and England and South Africa ners of Group B from the first will take place in Dubai on No- the upcoming T20 World Cup on the injury list and that is injured and Ashwin is an as- Lanka, and Namibia -- making in Sharjah. round. It will conclude on No- vember 14, Sunday, with Mon- and the current team man- the reason we stuck to the set for the team. He has per- up Group A -- will be in action Group 2 will commence vember 8, with India taking day acting as the reserve day agement is on the same page main guys which are our strike formed well in the IPL so that in Abu Dhabi the next day, with a heavyweight clash be- on the second-placed Round 1 for the final. about the decision. bowlers,” he added. is why he has found a place in the squad,” explained Sharma. When asked how much role IPL played in selecting the team, he said: “Best players Doha to host from around the world play in the IPL. So you come to know fifth round of Bangladesh hold nerves to seal about the performance of a player. “The standbys have been Swimming picked keeping in mind that the players can get injured.” World Cup “When it comes to first-ever T20I series win over NZ Shreyas Iyer, when a player stays away from the game for next month Agencies Mustafizur, trying to land a long period, the selectors Dhaka some lusty blows after a well- have their reservations, that QNA made 46. It would be back-to- is why he has been named in Doha The Bangladesh bowlers first back scalps for the pacer, as he the standby list. came up with a sizzling perfor- dismissed for 2, “He will get chances in the The Qatar Swimming Associ- mance with the ball to restrict as the visitors were bowled out IPL, his fitness can be looked ation has started preparations the visitors to 93 all out, be- for 93. at and that is why we have to organize the fifth round of fore skipper Mahmud Ullah’s Mustafizur would end with named him in the standby the 2021 Swimming World unbeaten 43 helped them take brilliant figures of 4/12. list.” Cup to be held from Oct. 21 an unassailable 3-1 lead in the In reply, the hosts did not About the opening options to 23 at the Hamad Aquatic series. have the best of starts chas- in the squad, he said: “We have Sports Complex. Opting to bat first, New ing the score down. The intro- three openers. KL Rahul, Ro- The first two rounds of Zealand had the worst possi- duction of Will McConchie in hit Sharma and Ishan Kishan. the tournament, which were ble start, losing opener Rachin the third over, did the trick as We back Ishan as an opener scheduled in China and Sin- Ravindra in the very first over. Finn Allen pulled off a terrific and in the middle-order as gapore last month, have been Against Nasum Ahmed, he at- catch to bring an end to Liton well. He can fit anywhere. Is- cancelled with the third round tempted a sweep shot but top- Das’ knock on 6. han Kishan is a flexible player, to be held in Berlin from Oct. edged it over the square leg After a brief partnership he has already opened. He is a 1 to 3, the fourth in Budapest fielder. between Mohammad Naim good player of spin as well so from Oct. 7 to 9, and the fifth He went back without and Shakib Al Hasan, the lat- he can be fitted in the middle- round in Doha from Oct. 21 to troubling the scorers, with the ter would walk back to the pa- order. We have three openers 23, and the sixth round in Ka- visitors losing their first wick- vilion as well. for now.” zan from Oct. 28 to 30. et without a run on the board. Premeditating his shot, “Virat has brilliant records His opening partner Finn Al- Shakib charged down the in the middle-order while bat- len would depart soon after, track but some clever piece ting in the T20s. attempting an outrageous of bowling by led “The situation will deter- shot against Ahmed, to be out to his stumping on 8. Patel mine who opens but as of now, for 12. would deliver another massive we have picked three openers With the spinners getting blow in the same over, bowling – KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, heavy perches off the pitch, Bangladesh’s (red) and New Zealand’s cricketers greet each other at the end of their fourth Mushfiqur Rahim for a duck to and Ishan Kishan.” the New Zealand batters were International at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on Wednesday. (AFP) leave the contest wide open. in all sorts of trouble, trying The rebuilding job was to rotate the strike and up the Scoreboard now left up to Mohammad ante. Naim and skipper Mahmud Chris Woakes Tom Latham and Will New Zealand Total: (All Out, 19.3 overs) 93 Mahmudullah Riyad 43 Ullah. And the pair did exactly The four rounds will be Young then had a steady part- Rachin Ravindra c Saifuddin b Nasum 0 Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Ravindra), 2-16 (Allen), 3-51 Afif Hossain not out 6 that, stitching together a vital Finn Allen c Saifuddin b Nasum 12 (Latham), 4-52 (Nicholls), 5-52 (de Grandhomme), Extras: (lb 2, w2) 4 re-enters top 10 held in the short course (25 nership, taking the Kiwis past Tom Latham st Nurul b Mahedi 21 6-72 (Blundell), 7-74 (McConchie), 8-91 (Patel), 9-93 Total: (For four wickets, 19.1 overs) 96 partnership of 34 runs to edge meters), as it will qualify for the 50-run mark in the 10th Will Young c Mahmudullah b Mustafizur 46 (Young), 10-93 (Tickner). Did Not Bat: Mahedi Hasan, Nurul Hasan, Mohammad Bangladesh ever so close to yet Chris Woakes made a bril- the World Championships in over. But just as they were Henry Nicholls b Nasum 1 Bowling: Nasum 4-0-10-4, Shakib 4-0-25-0, Mahedi Saifuddin, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman another historic series victory liant comeback into the Eng- short course swimming in its finding their rhythm, skipper Colin de Grandhomme c Nurul b Nasum 0 4-0-21-1, Mustafizur 3.3-0-12-4, Saifuddin 3-0-16-1, Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Liton), 2-32 (Shakib), 3-32 at home. land squad in the fourth Test Tom Blundell c Naim b Mustafizur 4 Mahmudullah 1-0-7-0. (Mushfiqur), 4-67 (Naim). fifteenth edition scheduled in Latham was off the Cole McConchie c & b Mustafizur 0 Bangladesh Bowling: Bennett 3-0-17-0, Patel 4-0-9-2, McConchie They could not take the against India at The Oval, per- the UAE capital Abu Dhabi in bowling of Mahedi Hasan by Ajaz Patel b Saifuddin 4 Mohammad Naim run out 29 3.1-0-34-1, Ravindra 4-0-8-0, De Grandhomme 3-0- hosts home though as Naim forming well with both the bat the month of December. keeper Nurul Hasan for 21. Blair Tickner c Mahedi b Mustafizur 2 Liton Das c Allen b McConchie 6 13-0, Tickner 2-0-13-0. was run out on 29, with the and the ball, and moving up in The World Swimming Nasum Ahmed would Hamish Bennett not out 0 Shakib Al Hasan st Latham b Patel 8 Result: Bangladesh win by six wickets score at 69/4. the MRF Tyres ICC Test Player Championships last year continue his brilliant perfor- Extras: (lb 2, w1) 3 Mushfiqur Rahim b Patel 0 Series Result: Bangladesh lead five-match series 3-1. Mahmud Ullah and Afif Rankings. 2020, was cancelled, in order mance during the contest, first Hossain kept their nerves Despite England losing to ensure the safety of athletes bowling Henry Nicholls on 1. overs. Ahmed would end with Blundell but was caught at would then york Ajaz Patel though, as the hosts chased the the contest on the final day, in light of the pandemic of the He then followed it immedi- exceptional figures of 4/10 in mid-on on 4. Rahman would for 4, leaving the visitors with target down with six wickets re- Woakes was a star performer emerging Corona virus (COV- ately with the scalp of Colin de his four overs. then pull off a brilliant caught a major task to cross the 100- maining to take an unassailable for the home side, scalping ID-19). Grandhomme, whose torrid A pacer finally struck and bowled in the same over run mark in their quota of 20 3-1 lead in the series. seven wickets in the match It is noteworthy that Doha time in the series continued, for the home side after 15.2 to dismiss Cole McConchie overs. The skipper top-scored in while also scoring a half-cen- has hosted one of the World as the visitors found them- overs, as Mustafizur Rahman for a duck. Young would also depart the innings with a crucial knock tury in the first innings. The Swimming Championships selves reeling at 52/5 after 11 induced a big shot off Tom Mohammad Saifuddin in the final over bowled by of 43*. performance in the match has annually since 2012, and also enabled him to jump into the hosted the 12th World Swim- top 10 in the Test rankings ming Championships in the for all-rounders, gaining two short course that was held spots up to No.9. in 2014, and witnessed the CO-HOST Oman announce experienced 15-member group for T20 World Cup In the bowling rankings breaking of 23 world records, for Test, James Anderson and this is the largest num- Oman, the co-host of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, announced their 15-member squad for the tournament on Wednesday. The squad will be led by the veteran Zee- dropped down two spots to ber ever recorded in the FINA shan Maqsood, and features the core group of the experienced line-up that helped them excel in the Qualifying tournament in UAE in 2019. Oman tasted the top level of T20I No.7. with Neil Wagner and championships for short dis- cricket in 2016, when they made the first round of the T20 World Cup in India. They will bid to go one better this time around, and are aiming for a top-two spot in Group B, Kagiso Rabada gaining one tances (25 meters). alongside Bangladesh, Scotland and Papua New Guinea. spot each, to jump up to No.5 Doha will also host the Full squad: Zeeshan Maqsood (c), Aqib Ilyas, Jatinder Singh, Khawar Ali, Mohammad Nadeem, Ayaan Khan, Suraj Kumar, Sandeep Goud, Nester Dhamba, Kaleemullah, Bilal and N.6 respectively. In the World Aquatics Champion- Khan, Naseem Khushi, Sufyan Mehmood, Fayyaz Butt, Khurram Khan. rankings for Tests, the ships scheduled for 2023. top.10 remained the same.