Asia Cup 2023, India vs Pakistan Super Fours: India’s match against Pakistan moved to the Reserve Day after rain ruined any chance of play. Pakistan, who had won the toss, decided to field as India reached 147 for 2 in 24.1 overs before rain forced the players off the field.
Prasad went on to add that it would be fair if rain played spoilsport on both days of the India vs Pakistan match and the “malicious plans” didn’t succeed.
Former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad came down heavily on the Asian Cricket Council for keeping a reserve day only for the India vs Pakistan Super 4 match while there is a rain threat looming large over all the matches of the tournament to be held at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The ACC made the announcement on Friday. “If adverse weather suspends play during the Pak vs India game, the match will continue on 11th September 2023 from the point it was suspended,” a statement said.
The arch-rivals are scheduled to play in Colombo on Sunday but thundery showers are forecast for the Sri Lankan capital over the weekend. As soon as the news became public, it was meted with harsh criticism on social media. Prasad launched a no-holds-barred attack on the organisers, calling the move “absolutely shameless” “a mockery” and “unethical”.
“If true this is absolute shamelessness. The organisers have made a mockery and it is unethical to have a tournament with rules being different for the other two teams, Prasad tweeted.
The former pacer did not stop there. He went on to add that it would be fair if rain played spoilsport on both days of the India vs Pakistan match and the “malicious plans” didn’t succeed.
Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka made resolute fifties after Matheesha Pathirana’s hostile bowling as Sri Lanka slayed Bangladesh by five wickets in their Asia Cup opener in Pallekele on Thursday.
Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka made resolute fifties after Matheesha Pathirana’s hostile bowling as Sri Lanka slayed Bangladesh by five wickets in their Asia Cup opener in Pallekele on Thursday. Pacer Pathirana’s 4 for 32 restricted Bangladesh to 164. The home side then rode on Samarawickrama’s 54 off 77 balls and Asalanka’s unbeaten 62 off 92 balls to overhaul the target in 39 overs. Samarawickrama is going through a career rejuvenation this year after fading from the scene.
He earned a recall to the Lanka Test side after five years against Ireland this July, and he also made a return to their ODI unit after a gap of four years during the home series against Afghanistan in June.
Samarawickrama made his Test return count with a hundred in the second match against Ireland. On Thursday, his fifty was the cornerstone of Lanka’s crucial win over Bangladesh.
But Lanka had to overcome a few uncomfortable moments before that.
Bangladesh bowlers had reduced Sri Lanka to 43 for three in 9.2 overs, dragging their side back into the match after their batsmen’s shoddy effort.
In Lankan cricketing circles, Samarawickrama has always been known as a stylish batsman.
Even on a slowing down pitch, the right-hander produced some sparkling shots using a wafer-thin bat and supple wrists.
His ability to find gaps around the field was visible when he drove pacer Shoriful Islam through covers with disdain for four, and later flicked left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan through mid-wicket for a boundary.
Samarawickrama had an equally composed partner in Asalanka as they produced 78 crucial runs for the fourth wicket.
The left-handed Asalanka, who has been in fine fettle this year in ODIs, was never hesitant to take the odd risks for a boundary, and it helped Samarawickrama to bat assuredly at the other end.
But off-spinner Mahedi Hasan snapped the partnership.
Hasan had Samarawickrama stumped by Mushfiqur Rahim with a tossed-up delivery that beat the batter.
Bangladesh did get a couple of quick wickets, but they just did not have enough runs on the board to defend.
For that, Sri Lanka should thank their bowlers who worked around a resilient fifty by Najmul Shanto, who made 89 off 122 balls with seven fours.
However, other batsmen did not pick up any hint from Shanto as Pathirana and spinner Maheesh Theekshana (2/19) combined to strike at regular intervals after Bangladesh opted to bat first.
Skipper Babar Azam hit a delightful 151 while Iftikhar Ahmed smashed his maiden ODI century as Pakistan thrashed minnows Nepal by 238 runs in the opening match of the Asia Cup
Skipper Babar Azam hit a delightful 151 while Iftikhar Ahmed smashed his maiden ODI century as Pakistan thrashed minnows Nepal by 238 runs in the opening match of the Asia Cup in Multan on Wednesday. Babar and Iftikhar played pivotal roles in powering Pakistan to 342 for six after opting to bat. Babar (151 off 130) was involved in two crucial partnerships after a sedate start — first stitching 86 runs with Mohammad Rizwan (44 off 50) and then sharing a whirlwind 214 runs for the fifth wicket with Iftikhar (109 not out off 71 balls) — to take Pakistan to an imposing total.
Babar decorated his knock with 14 fours and four sixes, while Iftikhar, who was at his destructive best, struck 11 boundaries and four hits over the fence.
This was after Pakistan made an unimpressive start to their innings as they lost both the openers early.
It was always going to be a Herculean task for Nepal and it turned out to be so.
Kushal Bhurtel made a brave start to Nepal’s chase with consecutive boundaries off Shaheen Shah Afridi on the opening two balls, but it was shortlived as the ace left-arm made a superb comeback to dismiss him and Nepal skipper Rohit Paudel in the last two balls of the over.
Naseem Shah then got into the act in the next over and induced an outside edge from Aasif Sheikh which was pounced by Iftikhar in the first flip as Nepal slipped to 14 for 3.
Aarif Sheikh (26) and Sompal Karmi then tried to steady the ship with a 59-run fourth-wicket stand, before Haris Rauf went through the defence of the former.
Rauf then dismissed Nepal’s top-scorer Sompal (28) an over later to reduce the Himalayan nation to 82 for 5.
Thereafter, wickets fell like nine pins as Nepal batters failed to produce any resistance, eventually bundling out for 104 in 23.4 overs.
Leg-break bowler Shahdab Khan cleaned up Nepal’s tail to return with impressive figures of 4 for 27.
Earlier, while Fakhar Zaman (14) showed intent initially but failed to carry on as he was brilliantly caught by a diving Nepal wicketkeeper Aasif Sheikh off the bowling of Karan KC in the sixth over.
Pakistan suffered yet another blow soon when Imam-ul-Haq was found short of the crease while attempting a single that was not for the taking. A direct throw from Nepal captain Rohit Paudel ended his innings.
Babar was then joined at the crease by wicketkeeper-batter Rizwan and the duo stabilised Pakistan’s innings.
While Babar played the role of an anchor, Rizwan showed his attacking instincts during the 86-run stand for the third wicket which came off 111 balls.
But the start of their partnership was far from rosy as the duo struggled to keep the scoreboard ticking initially with Pakistan reaching 50 in the 12th over.
Rohit Sharma’s epic reply to the reporter’s question won the hearts of fans across the nation. India is set to fly to Sri Lanka next week for the 2023 Asia Cup. India will open their campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on September 2 in Kandy. Rohit will be looking to win the Asia Cup for the second time as captain.
The incident happened at the Mumbai airport, where Rohit was seemingly getting ready to take a flight. ‘Asia Cup ka wait rahega,’ a reporter is seen telling the Indian captain. ‘Jeetege,’ replied Rohit in his typical witty fashion, as his reply won the hearts of fans desperate to see India lift silverware.
https://twitter.com/DankShubham/status/1694251231928356901?s=20
The Indian team is set to hold a week-long camp at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru before flying to Sri Lanka. While there was no confirmation of the same, Rohit must be flying there, as the team is expected to assemble there over the next couple of days.
