In today’s cricket sports news, learn more about the Pakistani cricket official and former ICC elite umpire Asad Rauf, who played 231 international matches between 2000 and 2013, died of a heart attack in Lahore on Sunday at the age of 66. Meanwhile, India’s Virat Kohli and Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga were awarded for their Asia Cup dominance by MRF. ICC Men’s Rankings. Lastly, to win the County Championship match against Yorkshire in three days at Headingley, Essex needed only one wicket, and Shane Snater’s courageous unbroken 65 was the key. Read on to discover more about this here at cricketeurope.
Former Pakistani Umpire Asad Rauf Dies at Age 66
Original Source: Asad Rauf, former ICC elite umpire from Pakistan, dies aged 66
Former ICC elite umpire Asad Rauf died of a cardiac arrest in Lahore after officiating 231 international matches over 13 years. 66 Rauf, who began umpiring in 2000, was promoted to ICC’s elite panel in 2006 and became one of Pakistan’s most prominent umpires over the next seven years.
Along with Aleem Dar, Rauf’s emergence gave Pakistan’s umpiring panel a new identity and improved its reputation, which was let down by its poor standards for years. Rauf made his IC debut in 1998 and his ODI debut two years later. In 2004, Rauf joined the ODI panel and officiated his first Test the following year.
Rauf officiated top matches until 2013, when he was implicated in the IPL spot-fixing scandal. Rauf was a ‘wanted accused’ by the Mumbai police, which ruined his career. The BCCI banned Rauf in 2016 for corrupt practices and disrupting the game. Accused of accepting gifts from bookies and being involved in the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal. The year before, a Mumbai model accused Rauf of sexual exploitation after he backed out of a marriage promise.
Before becoming an umpire, Rauf was a good Pakistani domestic cricketer. In the 1980s, Rauf scored 3423 runs in 71 First-Class games and 611 runs in 40 List-A games. In 1986-87, Rauf scored 673 runs at 35.36, including five fifties and one century. Due to poor form, he could only play cricket for another year before umpiring.
This year, a video of Rauf selling shoes at Pakistan’s Landa Bazaar went viral. After 10 years since his last ODI, Rauf has lost interest in cricket and wants to excel in his new role.
“This is for my staff, I work for them. I’ve umpired so many games, I can’t see anyone now. I’ve been out of touch with the game since 2013 “In June, Rauf told Pakistani news channel Paktv.tv.
“My habit is to excel at everything I do. I started as a shopkeeper and am at my peak. I played cricket; I won. As an umpire, I told myself I had to reach the top. I don’t want. I’ve seen money and the world with protocol. A son of mine is special. The other just graduated in America (US).”
Kohli, Hasaranga Move Up in Rankings
Original Source: Kohli, Hasaranga among big movers following latest rankings update
India’s Virat Kohli and Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga have risen in the latest MRF Tyres ICC Men’s Player Rankings after dominating at the Asia Cup. A new No.1 all-rounder has been crowned in the shortest format of the game.
Kohli scored his first international century in three years at the Asia Cup. His efforts helped him rise 14 spots to 15th in the T20I batter rankings.
Hasaranga’s rise was just as impressive. The Sri Lanka match-winner jumped three spots to sixth on the bowler rankings and seven spots to fourth on the all-rounder list.
Sri Lanka’s all-rounder took nine wickets in the tournament, including three in the final against Pakistan. His form helped the island nation win its sixth Asia Cup.
Hasaranga could top both rankings if he performs well at the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year.
The 25-year-old is now 100 rating points behind Australia’s Josh Hazlewood for T20I bowlers, and the gap is even smaller for all-rounders.
Shakib Al Hasan is the No. 1 T20I all-rounder after overtaking Mohammad Nabi after the Asia Cup.
Hasaranga’s recent rise has him at 184 rating points, with Shakib (248) and Nabi (246) in his sights.
Kohli has a ways to go before he’s back in contention for the top T20I batter ranking, but he’s moving in the right direction after his Asia Cup performance.
The champion right-hander was the big mover near the top of the T20I batter rankings, with India teammate Lokesh Rahul (up seven places to 23rd) and Sri Lanka star Bhanuka Rajapaksa (up 34 spots to 34th) also making good ground on those near the top.
Mohammad Rizwan remains atop the T20I batter rankings, while Aiden Markram overtakes Babar Azam for second place.
India’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar (up four spots to seventh) and Pakistan’s Haris Rauf (up nine places to equal 25th) and Mohammad Nawaz (up seven spots to 34th) were among the biggest movers after the Asia Cup.
After their recent three-match series, England and South Africa players jumped up the latest Test player rankings.
England right-hander Ollie Pope moved up 17 places to 29th overall on the batters list, while teammate Ollie Robinson jumped 11 spots to 15th on the bowlers list after his five-wicket haul in the first innings of the third and deciding Test at The Oval.
While South Africa lost 2-1 to Brendon McCullum’s side, they were buoyed by Marco Jansen’s performance in the final Test.
Jansen’s five-wicket haul helped him move up eight spots to 26th in the Test bowler rankings and six spots to equal 12th in the all-rounder rankings.
Australia’s 3-0 sweep of the Chappell-Hadlee series altered the latest ODI player rankings, with Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc benefiting.
Smith scored 167 runs in the series and jumped 13 spots to 10th in batter rankings.
While Starc’s rise wasn’t as dramatic, the experienced left-armer will be pleased with his three-place jump to ninth overall.
Trent Boult remains the top ODI bowler after finishing the Australia series with 10 wickets.
Essex Beat Yorkshire by One Wicket
Original Source: County Championship: Essex beat Yorkshire by one wicket
In Yorkshire’s second innings, the visitors took eight wickets in the first half of the day, including three from leg-spinner Matt Critchley and seamer Jamie Porter (4-64).
Chasing 162, they went from 51-2 to 64-6 in 13 balls as Steve Patterson struck three times for the hosts.
Patterson, who hasn’t been offered a new contract after 17 years of first-team cricket, took 5-46, including the ninth wicket with the scores tied.
Snater hit Ben Coad through midwicket for his team’s sixth win of the season.
Snater turned Essex’s defense into attack during a nail-biting finish. Essex trail Lancashire by four points with two games left.
Battling Yorkshire lost for the fourth time this season and are still in relegation danger. Thursday’s Warwickshire-Somerset match will clarify their position.
The White Rose started the day trailing by four, 87-2.
Coad’s third-day batting was just as important as Patterson’s in keeping this game close.
The seamer, who played his 200th first-class match in this match, hit 69 off 70 balls with 10 fours and a six over midwicket.
Yorkshire was 158-7 with a 69-run lead after Critchley took two wickets in the morning.
Fin Bean’s maiden first-class fifty came in only his second game.
Coad changed everything. He dominated an 80-run eighth-wicket stand with Matthew Revis.
Critchley then bowled Coad, leaving Essex with 52 overs to bat before the end.
Yorkshire’s hopes remained high despite Essex’s early caution.
Before tea, Jordan Thompson caught Nick Browne at third slip, and Tom Westley sliced Patterson to backward point. The score was 35 for 2 in the 20th over.
Patterson turned at Howard Stand End and Coad at Kirkstall Lane.
Patterson yorked Dan Lawrence playing to leg and held a one-handed diving return catch.
Coad lbw’d Feroze Khushi, and Patterson caught Sir Alastair Cook slipping. Essex lost by 98 runs.
Essex realized they needed to attack and did so. George Hill caught Adam Rossington at short midwicket.
Snater hit Patterson over long-on and twice guided Thompson to the third-man fence.
Snater faced 51 balls, dominated an eighth-wicket partnership of 63 with Ben Allison, and reached a 38-ball fifty when Essex needed only 20.
Coad caught Allison behind and Patterson dismissed Sam Cook, leaving Essex 161-9. Snater hit the winning run.
Ottis Gibson:
“Coady’s innings today saved us. Above 150, we were in the game, and it almost was.
“Losing is frustrating, but I like how the guys fought. Never quit.
“Patterson bowled well. He’d been in similar situations throughout his career. He used his experience well and did well. I hope he and Coady taught the kids a lesson.”
Essex’s Shane Snater:
“I took some chances and got lucky. But we made it. I tried to be as offensive as possible on a difficult pitch. I wanted to attack before they did.
“Ben Allison did well, too. He persisted and played well.
“It was a great game from day one. Good bowling, guys.”
Summary of today’s Cricket/Sport News
To put it simply, Asad Rauf, the former ICC elite umpire from Pakistan died at age of 66 due to a cardiac arrest in Lahore. Rauf started officiating in the year 2000. In 2006, he was put on the ICC’s elite panel, and over the next seven years, he became one of Pakistan’s most famous umpires.
Meanwhile, India’s Virat Kohli and Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga have risen in the current MRF Tyres ICC Men’s Player Rankings after dominating in the Asia Cup. Kohli made 276 runs at the Asia Cup, his first century in three years. He rose 14 ranks to 15th in T20I batter rankings. Hasaranga jumped three positions to sixth on the bowler rankings and seven slots to fourth on the all-rounder list after winning the Asia Cup.
Finally, Shane Snater’s unbeaten 65 led Essex to a one-wicket win over Yorkshire in three days. The visitors got eight wickets in the first part of the day to knock Yorkshire out for 252. Matt Critchley and Jamie Porter each took three for 4-64. Chasing 162, they fell from 51-2 to 64-6 in a 13-ball twilight stretch in which Steve Patterson struck three times.