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“It’s so bad for their cricket. They’ve got too much talent in that team”

Andrew McGlashan22-Oct-2022Ricky Ponting has called West Indies’ early exit from the T20 World Cup a “disgrace” after their heavy defeat to Ireland meant the two-time champions lasted just three matches in this tournament.After an opening loss against Scotland in Hobart, West Indies gave themselves a chance with victory over Zimbabwe which left their final group game as a winner-takes-all contest. In the end, they could only muster 146 for 5 which Ireland hunted down for the loss of just one wicket.Related

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The reaction was swift with CWI president Ricky Skerritt blaming the batters and promising that a “thorough post mortem” would be carried out.The build-up to the tournament had included the much-debated omission of Andre Russell from the squad then the axing of Shimron Hetmyer after he missed his flight to Australia.”It’s a disgrace,” Ponting said at the SCG ahead of the opening Super 12s match between Australia and New Zealand. “It’s so bad for their cricket. They’ve got too much talent in that team and in West Indies cricket not to be able to make it through to the next stage of a World Cup.”And even one of their main players not making it to the flight to get over here for a World Cup… To me this sort of sums up probably how little these events mean to the West Indies players and if you look at the way that they played you’d say the same thing. [Nicholas] Pooran and these guys, they’re much better players than what we’ve seen over the last couple of weeks so no doubt there’ll be some soul-searching done when they get back.”They’ll be as disappointed as anyone, it’s easy for me to stand here and say that it’s a disgrace that they haven’t made it, but they’ll be hurting as much as anybody. They would have had big thoughts and dreams coming here and they haven’t played anywhere near well enough to even progress. So they have got some work to do.”West Indies return to Australia next month for a two-Test series with what will be a very different-looking side. Ponting was already concerned about how competitive those matches in Perth and Adelaide may be although he did note West Indies have been more competitive at home. But in Australia, where they last played a Test series in 2015-16, they have not won in the format since 1997.”I didn’t need to see that to make me more worried about the first couple of Test matches,” Ponting said. “But what’s interesting with that, they’ve actually found a way, mainly at home I guess, in the last few years to be reasonably competitive on the Test front with Brathwaite… and Holder, he’s done a really good job in Test cricket for them.”But they’re going to have to find a few lengths if they’re going to compete against the Aussies with the current group that the Australians have got. If you just line them up on paper, there’s no way you think that they could compete. Cricket’s a funny game, but they’re going to have to play out of their skins I think to make the first two Tests entertaining.”

Hasnain and Rauf picked up three early wickets but the target was too modest

Andrew Fidel Fernando09-Sep-2022Yes, it was another chasing side winning in Dubai, the venue now having seen 17 victories for chasing sides in the last 20 T20Is. But this time, Sri Lanka’s bowlers had arguably put the legwork in for the victory, before the second innings could even begin.Pakistan’s innings could never quite achieve lift-off, and when the middle overs came, Wanindu Hasaranga put in his first big performance of the tournament, taking 3 for 21. After his strikes, Pakistan’s horizons contracted substantially, despite the best efforts of Mohammad Nawaz, who seemed to be striking well in the 26 he made off 18, before he was run out. Eventually, Pakistan succumbed to 121.Sri Lanka were rattled by Pakistan’s pace in the powerplay, slipping to 29 for 3 at one stage. But so modest was the target, they could afford to take it slow. Pathum Nissanka anchored the chase, hitting an unbeaten 55 off 48. Thanks to less substantial but more aggressive innings from Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Dasun Shanaka, Sri Lanka ambled home with 18 balls and five wickets to spare.Hasaranga’s googly dominates the middle overs
Perhaps it is because Pakistan had not played Hasaranga since 2019 (he has been a much-improved bowler since then), that they appeared especially powerless against his primary weapon – the ball that turns into the right-hander. He conceded just six runs in his first two overs. When Babar Azam, who had moved to 30 off 28, finally came down the track and took a chance, he was beaten comprehensively – Hasaranga slipping a straighter one beneath his bat, and onto the wickets.Iftikhar Ahmed hit a six off the fourth ball of Hasaranga’s last over, but the bowler made a roaring comeback. Not only did he bowl Iftikhar with a googly, he also got Asif Ali out first ball as the batter attempted nothing more ambitious than a defensive shot, and still managed to play inside the line of a googly that clipped off stump. Pakistan were 91 for 6.Babar Azam was cleaned up for a 29-ball 30•AFP/Getty Images

Sri Lanka control the early overs
That spell had been set up by Sri Lanka’s tight bowling in the powerplay. On a worn track, Sri Lanka conceded only a single boundary off the bat in the first five overs – seamers Pramod Madushan (on debut) and Dilshan Madushanka, largely keeping things tight, while fingerspinners Maheesh Theekshana and Dhananjaya de Silva also contributed decent overs. The sixth over went for 12 runs, but thanks in part to Hasaranga, Sri Lanka kept a tight lid on the scoring.In fact, from balls 5.5 to 14.3 (a stretch of 53 deliveries) Pakistan did not hit a boundary off the bat – five wides the only occasion on which the ball crossed the rope. This put huge pressure on the second half of the innings, and batters got out trying to hit big. Pakistan lost their last nine wickets for 58 runs.Hasnain and Rauf rip out three wickets
Pakistan’s bowlers had an even better powerplay than Sri Lanka’s, thanks largely to Mohammad Hasnain and Haris Rauf who picked up three early wickets, and provided hope. Hasnain got one to bounce on Kusal Mendis second ball, the batter edging that to slip. Extra bounce also helped Rauf take Danushka Gunathilaka’s outside edge next over, with Mohammad Rizwan diving acrobatically to his right to pouch the chance.Hasnain could have had Dhananjaya in his next over had he held a tough return chance, but Rauf got him before long anyway, beating him for pace with a ball on the stumps, which de Silva mis-hit to mid-off.Nissanka and Co settle things
That was as good as it got for Pakistan, though. Rajapaksa hit a couple of sixes off Usman Qadir early in the middle overs to get Sri Lanka well ahead of the required rate. Nissanka accumulated safely at the other end. They hit occasional boundaries, and though Rajapaksa got out with 42 still to get, they had 51 balls to get them in.Nissanka completed the seventh fifty of his T20I career and helped massage the chase home, with Hasaranga hitting the winning runs.

Deepti Sharma, Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu selected for women’s competition

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Jun-2022Pakistan quick Mohammad Hasnain and Australia batter Ben McDermott are among the top men’s Hundred overseas wildcard picks for this year’s competition, with India allrounder Deepti Sharma and experienced New Zealand pair Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu selected in the women’s draft.Hasnain has only just been passed as fit to bowl again after having his action reported during the 2021-22 Big Bash. He has been signed by Oval Invincibles, while McDermott, who has been in form for Hampshire after being left out of Australia’s plans, joins London Spirit.Ashton Turner and Daniel Sams, two others on the fringes of Australia’s T20 squad, were also picked up as overseas wildcards, along with New Zealand batter Finn Allen, Namibia allrounder David Wiese, Afghanistan wristspinner Noor Ahmed, and former South Africa legspinner Imran Tahir.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

“I’m overjoyed to be joining Oval Invincibles,” Hasnain said. “The Hundred looked like great fun last year and I can’t wait to get involved. The opportunity to play alongside stars like Sunil Narine, Jason Roy and the Curran brothers is hugely exciting. I’m really looking forward to getting back out on the field again.”The wildcard draft, which sees a fourth overseas player added to each squad, was brought in for the 2022 season as an attempt to offset the disruption caused by players coming and going due to international commitments or injury. Teams in the Hundred will still only be able to field three overseas players in their XI.In the women’s competition, Sharma moves to Birmingham Phoenix, having played for Spirit in the inaugural season; Bates has joined Invincibles, and Tahuhu signed for Manchester Originals. Elyse Villani and Nicola Carey, who were among the Australian contingent who withdraw due to Covid travel restrictions in 2021, were selected by Trent Rockets and Welsh Fire respectively.”I’m really excited to be heading to Welsh Fire,” Carey said. “We’ve already got a strong Aussie contingent with Rachael Haynes and Annabel Sutherland and combine that with Tammy Beaumount as skipper and we’ve got the makings of a really strong squad. I’ve never played at Cardiff before and I’m looking forward to seeing the Welsh Fire fans making lots of noise at Sophia Gardens.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Australia allrounder Heather Graham, who impressed for Rockets as a replacement last year, was picked up by Northern Superchargers, while Australia spinner Molly Strano and New Zealand seamer Jess Kerr complete the overseas wildcard line-up.Women’s teams remain able to make signings up until the end of June, while men’s squads will be completed when Vitality Blast wildcard picks are made on July 7.Sanjay Patel, managing director of the Hundred, said: “It is brilliant news to welcome 16 more international stars to the Hundred. Players from seven countries have been selected and it’s great to welcome the likes of Mohammad Hasnain, Deepti Sharma and Suzie Bates to the Hundred this year. This continues to take the quality of cricket to another level and we can’t wait for a second summer of incredible sporting action.”

Hundred overseas wildcard draft

Birmingham Phoenix Deepti Sharma (India) Imran Tahir (South Africa)
London Spirit Jess Kerr (New Zealand) Ben McDermott (Australia)
Manchester Originals Lea Tahuhu (New Zealand) Ashton Turner (Australia)
Northern Superchargers Heather Graham (Australia) David Wiese (Namibia)
Oval Invincibles Suzie Bates (New Zealand) Mohmmad Hasnain (Pakistan)
Southern Brave Molly Strano (Australia) Finn Allen (New Zealand)
Trent Rockets Elyse Villani (Australia) Daniel Sams (Australia)
Welsh Fire Nicola Carey (Australia) Noor Ahmad (Afghanistan)

The Barbados and West Indies captain had no idea that Dottin was going to retire in the middle of the Commonwealth Games

Valkerie Baynes04-Aug-2022Barbados and West Indies captain Hayley Matthews has said she had no warning that Deandra Dottin was planning to retire from international cricket midway through the Commonwealth Games, and is planning to discuss the matter with her team-mate now that their campaign in Birmingham is over.Matthews, who was appointed as West Indies captain in June, said she was as surprised as anyone by Dottin’s shock announcement via Twitter on Monday, citing concerns over the team environment.Related

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“Thankful to Deandra for everything she’s done for West Indies cricket,” Matthews said when asked about her reaction to Dottin’s decision. “She’s obviously been a wonderful player for us over the last couple of years, and it’s sad to see her go, but at the same time if it’s something that she’s ready for, then supporting her 100%.”Matthews said she hadn’t spoken to Dottin before the announcement and that she had “no interpretation” of Dottin’s comments about the team culture and environment.”[I’m] obviously down here representing Barbados and everything, so probably not looking to speak too much on that at the moment,” Matthews said on Wednesday after her side suffered a 100-run defeat against India in their final Group A game. “But yeah, I definitely would have a chat with her and see how things go.”Barbados won their opening match of the Commonwealth Games against Pakistan by 15 runs before losing by nine wickets to gold-medal favourites Australia on Sunday.The following day, Dottin published a letter addressed to Cricket West Indies on Twitter announcing her “formal retirement from the senior women’s West Indies team effective 1st July 2022”. Dottin, who has a contract to play in the Hundred for Manchester Originals and will captain Trinbago Knight Riders in the Women’s CPL, also said that she was “looking forward to playing domestic cricket around the world”.Deandra Dottin in her retirement note said she was looking forward to play domestic cricket around the world•BCCI

“There have been many obstacles during my cricket career that I have had to overcome, however, the current climate and team environment has been non-conducive to my ability to thrive and reignite my passion,” Dottin wrote in her announcement. “With much sadness but without regret, I realise that I am no longer able to adhere to team culture and team environment as it has undermined my ability to perform excellently.”Dottin, the scorer of the fastest century in Women’s T20Is and West Indies’ most-capped international cricketer, having played 124 T20Is and 143 ODIs for them, had a lacklustre Commonwealth Games. She played three T20Is for Barbados, scoring 8, 8 and 0, and taking 1 for 65 from six overs in the tournament.When she juggled a catch running from point to short cover, the ball bouncing out of her hand and onto her chin before she held on at the second grab to dismiss India’s Taniya Bhatia off Matthew’s bowling on Wednesday, the Barbados team-mates shared a laugh and a warm hug.While Matthews said she was “a bit disappointed with the result” against India, she was proud of what her team had achieved with a mix of seven West Indies-capped players among a clutch of players without prior international experience.”I think we put up a really good fight,” Matthews said. “The highlight was our first game against Pakistan and winning one out of three I think is better than a lot of people expected us to do. So although we didn’t have the result we wanted today, I still think we had a great tournament, and the girls were able to learn a lot for sure.”Hopefully spurs West Indies and the entire Caribbean to want to put more into women’s cricket within the Caribbean. I think they’re doing a great job now. We just had our regional tournament, and if over the next couple of years we can continue to grow our domestic set-up, hopefully, we can see some younger players that we had today being able to compete at the highest level.”Having had her first taste of international captaincy with Barbados, who secured a place at the Commonwealth Games on the strength of being T20 Blaze champions in 2019, Matthews was keen to carry on with West Indies.”I would have learned a lot just throughout these three games, taking responsibility and working with a lot of the younger players who weren’t as experienced at this level,” she said. “The support I’ve gotten from the team has been amazing.”You probably think that the pinnacle of the career is if you can lead out your nation or your country, so I think [it was] definitely something I eyed up. But [I’m] just grateful that I’ve been given the opportunity to lead not only Barbados but the region as well and really humbled by it.”

ECB formally advertises for two new head coaches after Chris Silverwood’s post-Ashes sacking

Matt Roller26-Apr-2022England will revert to a split-coaching structure for the first time in eight years after the ECB formally advertised for two new head coaches: one for their Test team, the other for white-ball cricket.The decision to split the coaching role in two had been widely anticipated since Rob Key’s appointment as managing director of men’s cricket and has now been officially confirmed, with candidates invited to apply for their desired role by May 6 and first-round interviews scheduled for May 9 and 10. England’s next Test is against New Zealand on June 2, and their next limited-overs series starts on June 17 in the Netherlands.Andy Flower (Tests) and Ashley Giles (ODIs and T20Is) previously split the role from 2012 to 2014 and had a difficult relationship, with England’s best players routinely rested from limited-overs series, but the level of expectation for England’s white-ball teams is significantly higher now.Chris Silverwood, who was sacked after the Ashes defeat in Australia, missed multiple limited-overs series due to the demands of the schedule. The fixture list is equally punishing over the next 12 months: there are six separate England tours scheduled for the 2021-22 winter, while the Netherlands ODI series takes place during the gap between the second and third Tests against New Zealand in June, necessitating separate squads.Related

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• Graham Ford emerges as key contender as England's new Test coach

ESPNcricinfo revealed on Saturday that Graham Ford, who formed a strong working relationship with Key at Kent from 2005 to 2009, has emerged as a contender for the Test job, while Gary Kirsten, Paul Collingwood, Simon Katich and Tom Moody have also been mentioned as potential applicants.Collingwood was in charge of both the T20I and Test tours to the Caribbean earlier this year on an interim basis but both series ended in defeat and his closeness to the players as an assistant coach may count against him following England’s poor run of results.The job specifications suggest that the ideal candidates for the roles should be “accomplished strategists with clear and ambitious plans for how they will develop and build success for English cricket moving forward” who will show that they can “create a winning culture and world-leading teams”.Key will be formally unveiled to the media at Lord’s on Thursday, just over a week after starting his new role, and is expected to present a clearer outline of his vision to revive the England teams after a disappointing winter which saw the Test team go winless across eight games and the T20I side beaten in the semi-finals of the World Cup in the UAE.While working as a pundit for Sky Sports, Key was critical of his predecessor Giles’ decision to make the position of national selector redundant and hand those duties to Silverwood. He is yet to confirm whether he will appoint a single selector, but the advertisement for the coaching roles stipulates that the each new head coach will play “a central role in selecting the team for their respective format alongside a national selection panel”.

Following the instructions of the Supreme Court of India, the dispute between the BCCI and N Srinivasan over the latter attending BCCI meetings has come to an end

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Oct-2015Following the instructions of the Supreme Court of India, the dispute between the BCCI and N Srinivasan over the latter attending BCCI meetings has come to an end. While the BCCI’s plea seeking clarification over Srinivasan’s attendance at a working committee meeting in August has been disposed off, Srinivasan has withdrawn the perjury case against board secretary Anurag Thakur. The court, however, has asked the BCCI to stick to its stand of not allowing Srinivasan to attend the meetings due to his alleged conflict of interest.The BCCI counsel KK Vengugopal stated that despite the transfer of shares of Chennai Super Kings from its original owners India Cements Ltd to Chennai Super Kings Cricket Ltd, Srinivasan is still involved in conflict of interest. The India Cements Ltd, while transferring the controversial IPL team ownership to a trust [Chennai Super Kings Cricket Ltd], had valued the team at Rs 5 lakh. The BCCI termed the whole process as a “sham” in the court.Justice TS Thakur, who was instrumental in appointing the Lodha commission to set punishments for Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals and suggest administrative reforms for the BCCI, then asked the board to continue with its stand and not seek a court directive before every meeting.On August 28, the BCCI hierarchy was unsure of the legal issues arising from Srinivasan’s attendance at the meeting, and the then president Jagmohan Dalmiya adjourned the meeting sine die and sought the apex court’s opinion.As a result, in a plea filed by secretary Anurag Thakur, the BCCI accused Srinivasan of barging into the meeting enclosure and insisting on attending the meeting.However, with Thakur’s plea mistaking Srinivasan for his namesake, a chartered accountant, as a trustee of Chennai Super Kings’ new owners, Srinivasan slapped a perjury case on the BCCI secretary. Both parties withdrew their respective cases on Monday.The developments on Monday came after newly-appointed BCCI president Shashank Manohar stressed that the BCCI will not be vindictive towards any of its 30 member associations, including Srinivasan’s Tamil Nadu Cricket Association.

England all-rounder David Willey has signed a three-year contract with Yorkshire as the club that has led the way in producing its own players has pulled off a spectacular signing

David Hopps19-Aug-2015England all-rounder David Willey has signed a three-year contract with Yorkshire as the club that has led the way in producing its own players has pulled off a spectacular signing to help address its disappointing limited-overs form.Willey produced the performance of the season when he struck a matchwinning century against Sussex at Hove in the NatWest Blast quarter-final, including 34 off an over from the former England slow left-armer Mike Yardy.Yorkshire will now seek to build a young, predominantly homegrown one-day team around him, in both 20 and 50-over formats as they seek to match their renewed authority in four-day cricket which is poised to bring them a second successive Championship title.It remains to be seen whether Willey is considered for the vacant captaincy role in one-day cricket – Andrew Gale having stood down earlier this month and Alex Lees taking charge on a temporary basis.Yorkshire’s director of cricket, Martyn Moxon, delighted to have won the race to sign Willey in a crowded field, stressed, however, that he can have an impact in all competitions.”He is a highly talented all round cricketer and will be a great addition to our current squad,” Moxon said. “He will play a big part in helping us be competitive in all forms of the game and hopefully we can play our part in helping him realise his ambition of playing Test cricket for England.”If Willey’s signing will be seen by many in Yorkshire as a regrettable weakening of their reliance on home-produced players, there is something about his no-nonsense, uncomplicated, cricketing manner that will immediately endear him to spectators in the Broad Acres. Like his father, Peter, before him, he is a straightforward man who does not have much time for fripperies.Yorkshire’s NatWest Blast crowds have grown substantially this season despite a second-bottom finish in North Group because of later start times after the installation of floodlights. Despite considerable drum beating about the emphasis on T20, the side – the likes of Jonny Bairstow apart – seemed unable to break the shackles with the bat and produced some of the worst death-bowling spells in the country with the ball.David Willey dispenses with Sussex’s challenge in the NatWest Blast quarter-final•Getty Images

Next season’s marketing campaign will have Willey, non Yorkshireman or not, at its core. If they look back long enough in his family tree they can surely find a half cousin from Osbaldwick.Willey, 25, has become an integral member of the England’s one-day side is expected to add to his four caps when England take on Australia in next month’s Royal London One Day International series. He hankers, though. after being taken seriously in the longer form of the game and with the stalwart career of another left-arm quick, Ryan Sidebottom, entering its still potent final phase, he is well placed to become his successor.He has the chance to make a glorious farewell for Northants on NatWest Blast Finals Day at Edgbaston at the end of the month. It is a club that he has been connected with since childhood. When he made his Northants debut in 2009, he followed Peter, also a former England all-rounder, who played 17 years for Northants and England.”I am really excited to be joining Yorkshire and being part of a progressive side,” Willey said. “I’m looking forward to working with Jason Gillespie and the rest of the Yorkshire lads.”This has been a tough decision to make because of my personal attachment to the County Ground. I came here many, many times as a boy and dreamed of playing for Northants. I will always be grateful for the years of coaching and mentoring that I have received which gave me the best start to my career.”However, I feel that the time is right to move on, to experience a new approach to training and to broaden my cricket education. Yorkshire gives me the best opportunity to challenge myself working alongside some of the best players in the country.Willey has been a somewhat late developer, as his career one-day stats testify. The left-hander currently averages over 23 with the bat in all List A matches with a top score of 167 and has taken 60 wickets at an average of just over 33.In the first-class arena, Willey has played 58 matches with a top score of 104 not out at an average of 28.50. With the ball, he has taken 148 wickets at an average of just under 30.He first sprung to national attention in T20 cricket in 2013 when, virtually single-handedly, he took Northants Steelbacks to a T20 title success in 2013 with an all-round display in the final that included the fastest half-century of the season, a direct-hit run-out from the deep and a hat-trick to finish off the match.If Yorkshire will feel their close-season work is as good as done, life looks tougher for Northants, whose financial woes could yet lead to more players leaving the county before next season dawns.

The ODIs will now be played on July 18, 20 and 23, followed by the T20Is on July 25, 27 and 29

Shashank Kishore10-Jul-2021India’s limited-overs series against Sri Lanka is now set to begin on July 18 as the BCCI and SLC announced a revised schedule “on the basis of health advisory after the Sri Lankan contingent detected two COVID positive cases.” The ODIs will now be played on July 18, 20 and 23, followed by the T20Is on July 25, 27 and 29.On Friday, Sri Lanka’s data analyst GT Niroshan was the second Covid-19 case in the Sri Lankan camp after batting coach Grant Flower had tested positive on Thursday, after their arrival from England.SLC has put together two back-up squads, one group isolating in Colombo and another in Dambulla, as part of their contingency measure to ensure the India series goes ahead. A player from the back-up squad in Colombo also tested positive for Covid-19 on Saturday, but it remains to be seen if it will affect Sri Lanka’s preparations.Related

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Meanwhile, players currently in Colombo have been forced to isolate for two more days after Niroshan and Flower tested positive for the Delta variant of the virus. This extended isolation period would have left Sri Lanka with no outdoor session before the first ODI had the series begun on July 13.”We understand that circumstances are extraordinary, but the BCCI would like to extend its full support to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) during these tough times for the smooth conduct of the upcoming series,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in a media release. “Our medical team is in constant touch with the team of doctors at SLC and together following all safety protocols that will help the series to get underway. We are confident that both nations will put up a spirited show in the days to come and we are in for some exciting cricket.”The Sri Lankan team returned home from England after a short limited-overs tour early last week. The India series postponement is the latest issue SLC has to grapple with, even as they abruptly announced captaincy switch from Kusal Perera to Dasun Shanaka on the back of a messy contracts stand-off between the players and the board.

Kusal Perera hit the second-fastest ODI fifty in history, but Pakistan still made Sri Lanka huff and puff to run down a target of 288

The Report by Alagappan Muthu15-Jul-2015
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details1:27

Kusal Perera blitz sees Sri Lanka home

It was the tale of two lefties in Pallekele. Kusal Perera hammered Sri Lanka’s joint fastest fifty in ODIs, which made a target of 288 look like a cakewalk. But when Pakistan’s tenacity brought them back and put the game on a razor’s edge – 92 runs needed off 112 balls with only four wickets left – debutant Sachith Pathirana produced a decisive cameo -33 off 28 – to help the hosts square the series with an action-packed two-wicket victory.Sri Lanka have lately struggled to find batsmen down the order who can handle the pressure of a chase, or that of a top-order collapse. From his first impression, Pathirana seems a good bet. Although known more for his ability with the ball, hence his batting position at No. 8, he displayed excellent mettle under fire.Pathirana allowed himself a few balls to get used to the pitch, and the wisdom of that decision became apparent very soon. From 4 off 11, he produced a smart late cut to shift gears. He smashed anything short either side of the pitch, and was even able to pick Yasir Shah’s googlies. One of those shots was calmly lofted over mid-off’s head. It must have helped though that he had a very composed Dinesh Chandimal for company, as the pair added 52 runs off 49 balls.Pakistan deserve credit for finding their senses after Kusal bashed them silly. He reached his half-century off 17 balls, filled with pick-up shots over the leg side very much like the one who’s record he equaled, Sanath Jayasuriya.Mohammad Irfan’s extra bounce posed little threat; Kusal’s smashed him at a strike-rate of 242.85. Kusal v Rahat Ali was another no-contest as well – 26 runs off eight balls. Even Mohammad Hafeez, with his penchant for dismissing left-handers, was carted around at a strike rate of 242.85. Kusal faced Anwar Ali for only three balls, but it included a flat, hard, vicious six over square leg. The innings lasted only 25 deliveries, but yielded 68 runs. By the time he creamed one of the bevy of length balls that Pakistan paraded for him down the throat of deep square leg, Sri Lanka were 92 for 1 in the ninth over. At the same time, the visitors had been 27 for 0. Slow and steady does have a history of winning the race, but it was the hare’s day today.The tortoise, of course, did not throw it away. Even with three runs required off 18 balls, Anwar got a leading edge from Thisara Perera to settle in point’s hands. But as that was happening, Chandimal had made sure to cross. Chandimal, who had produced a fine half-century four days ago but ended up on the losing side, did not want to feel that disappointment again. He struck 48 off 63 balls and was there until the end, as per his new role as a finisher, and sealed the third-highest chase in Sri Lanka.The fortunes of both teams changed frequently and somewhat drastically. Pakistan won a good toss, but their top order was not allowed to capitalise because Sri Lanka’s bowlers were extremely tight. At one point Angelo Mathews, who trusted himself to take the new ball and bowl in the death, strung 24 dot balls in a five-overs spell. But the other bowlers could not maintain their levels through the innings and Pakistan took advantage of that – 88 runs in the last 10 overs. There were also several catches dropped – Pathirana dropped two in the space of four balls – and umpteen misfields – Nuwan Pradeep on the boundary was a terrible liability. Those lapses contributed to Pakistan getting off the hook.Azhar Ali had laid the foundation with his fifth fifty-plus score in eight ODIs. He was 8 off 23 balls, but got going with a well thought-out loft over long-on. Singles and twos fed his innings until a less clever swipe towards cow corner cost him his wicket for 79 off 104 balls.That’s when Shoaib Malik took over with a run-a-ball fifty. With his experience, he was quick to assess the Pallekele pitch was rather slow. Brute force only worked against the bad balls, so until they came, Malik used the spinners’ pace to pick his gaps. Fifteen runs were collected behind point, and 26 more belted into the leg side. Finally Mohammad Rizwan hit 52 off 38 balls, and pasted Lastith Malinga around for 20 runs in the 47th over to leave Pakistan with an excellent chance to extend the lead they had coming into this game. As it stands, Sri Lanka have squared it 1-1.Although not without huffing and puffing. They lost four middle order wickets for only 19 runs, and a lot of them were ugly. Upul Tharanga was caught napping by an indipper from Rahat. Tillakaratne Dilshan dragged on for 47 off 63, Angelo Mathews called for a single and was halfway down the pitch before he realised Lahiru Thirimanne was not interested. The Sri Lanka captain could do little more than just give up. Then Thirimanne added to the slide by slicing a catch to deep third man. Pakistan became favourites at this point. But they had not accounted for Chandimal’s resilience.With the required rate always at manageable levels, Chandimal understood that the key to Sri Lanka’s victory was for him to stick around. And so he did. Thirty-two of his 43 runs came from singles. He did not let the pressure suck him into the big shot. Nor did he let the occasion of Sri Lanka’s victory suck him into a glory shot. It was a delicate little glance to long leg and up came the arms and out came a roar. It would seem that Chandimal had decided to mature.

He joins Litton Das, Shakib Al Hasan and Taskin Ahmed in the list of players in the top category

Mohammad Isam21-Jan-2023Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s all-round performances throughout 2022 have earned him an all-format BCB contract for the period January to December 2023. He joins Litton Das, Shakib Al Hasan and Taskin Ahmed in the list of players with all-format contracts, while Mushfiqur Rahim and Shoriful Islam, who had full contracts in 2022, have one fewer format in their portfolio this time.Mushfiqur, who retired from T20Is last year, now has a Test and ODI contract while Shoriful Islam has an ODI and T20I contract. Tamim Iqbal, like Mushfiqur, has a Test and an ODI contract, and are the only two in this category.Mehidy previously had a contract for Tests and ODIs only, but proved himself in all three formats to get a promotion. He scored 637 runs at 24.50 in 29 games across formats, and took 59 wickets at 30.55 with his offspin. He was particularly effective in ODIs, with 330 runs at 66 and 24 wickets at 28.20, including a Player-of-the-Series showing against India in December. In the Dhaka Test later on that tour, he took a second-innings five-for to push India all the way in a chase of 145.Related

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The BCB have given out central contracts to 13 Test cricketers in all – one fewer than last year. Zakir Hasan was given a Test-only contract, alongside Mominul Haque, Taijul Islam, Ebadot Hossain and Khaled Ahmed.Mahmudullah has been put on a single-format contract – being cut from T20Is – while Najmul Hossain Shanto and Nurul Hasan were promoted to contracts spanning Tests and T20Is. Hasan Mahmud and Mosaddek Hossain were the new faces among the group who got T20I-only deals.However, there was no room for Shadman Islam, Yasir Ali, Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Mohammad Naim in any category.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

BCB’s cricket operations chairman Jalal Yunus said that Zakir and Mahmud were rewarded for their improvement in the previous year, while the board is hopeful that Joy, who broke through in the early parts of 2022, will take it up a notch to secure a contract next year.”[Zakir Hasan and Hasan Mahmud] were rewarded for their performance from last year. Hasan Mahmud did well last year. We are encouraging fast bowlers,” Yunus said. “We have always noticed Zakir Hasan’s improvement through his time in the High Performance squads. His hundred against India definitely showed that he has the guts and ability.”We tried Mahmudul Hasan Joy a lot last year. It is not a discouragement, but we want him to earn back the place. We are not discarding him. He can come back, but he has to work hard. Non-contract players are obviously available [for selection].”As is the norm, the BCB didn’t reveal the players’ salaries, but ESPNcricinfo understands that all 21 cricketers will get a slight hike in their monthly pay this year. It is also unlikely that the BCB didn’t raise the match fees, as these are usually increased once every two years, so a raise was due this year.

Full list of BCB central contracts

All formats: Litton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Mehidy Hassan Miraz
Test and ODIs: Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim
Test and T20Is: Najmul Hossain Shanto, Nurul Hasan
Tests only: Mominul Haque, Taijul Islam, Ebadot Hossain, Khaled Ahmed, Zakir Hasan
ODIs only: Mahmudullah
ODIs and T20Is: Mustafizur Rahman, Afif Hossain, Shoriful Islam
T20Is only: Nasum Ahmed, Mahedi Hasan, Mosaddek Hossain, Hasan Mahmud