In today’s Cricket sport news, learn about how Pakistan breaks the heart of Afghanistan and knocks out India in Asia Cup. In addition, a heated argument breaks out between Pakistan’s Asif Ali and Afghanistan’s Fareed Ahmed clashed during Wednesday’s Asia Cup match in Sharjah. Meanwhile, Cricket South Africa revealed their roster for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022. Lastly, Mastercard will sponsor all international (women’s and men’s) home matches, domestic (Irani, Duleep, and Ranji) BCCI matches, and junior (U19 and U23) matches in India.
Pakistan beat Afghanistan, knocked India out of Asia Cup
Original Source: Pakistan break Afghanistan hearts, knock India out of Asia Cup
This Asia Cup is full of drama. The last over decided a fourth straight game. After Pakistan limited Afghanistan to 129/6, a Pakistan-Sri Lanka final seemed likely for Sunday. Pakistan won by one wicket over defiant Afghanistan, whose players were in tears.
Pakistan’s aspirations ended when Asif Ali left in the 19th over. Naseem Shah and Mohammad Hasnain had five T20 international runs between them. Naseem hit Fazalhaq Farooqi’s first two balls for sixes to seal Pakistan’s victory. The first ball was a full-toss yorker. He swung the bat fluidly over long-off. Second stroke was a replica—a failed yorker and a nice blow over long-off. Afghanistan’s captain told Farooqi to bowl a yorker or slow bouncer, but he missed.
Pakistan shouldn’t be in this precarious position because of its own self-destructive tendencies. After a rocky start, the chase was moving nicely at 87 for 3 in 15.2 overs when Ifthikar Ahmed departed. They lost six wickets for 23 runs, fueling dreams of a memorable upset win that would have kept India and Pakistan in the hunt.
Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz were protagonists. Both bowl spin, can bat, and are great fielders, which has made them rivals for the same slot in Pakistan’s white ball sides, Pakistan A, and the Edmonton Royals. They are good friends, collaborators, and have bagged more than half of Pakistan’s wickets in this tournament.
They’ve taken 15 wickets; the quick bowlers have 12. Shadab conceded 5.79 and Nawaz 6.29. Pacers have leaked over 8 runs per over.
Afghanistan was 34/0 in 3.5 overs before losing their openers. Babar debuted his control-focused spinners. Loose balls are rare, semi-rare balls are rarer; they’re always coming at you, changing trajectory, speed, and variations. They apply pressure, incite desperation, and force batsmen to take risks. After being gagged and locked up, Nawaz tried to escape, as Karim Janat testified. His last resort—a slog sweep he couldn’t connect on.
Shadab dismissed Najibullah Zardan, who hit him over midwicket. Zardan mistimed Shadab’s seam-up full ball that clocked 110kph to long-on.
Shadab trusts his leg-break, bowling it more than other T20 leg-spinners. PSL footage show him giving Babar Azam a mini Gatting-Warne moment by flicking off-stump. Extra rips turn the goofy. He also bowls seam-ups with subtle in-swing and yorkers. He drove 77-115 kph on Wednesday.
Nawaz generously tosses the ball up when he has to, spins it away from the right-hander, and has both a flat rapid arm-ball and a floater. He bowls seam ups and yorkers like Shadab. Unsurprisingly, they play well together. Shadab’s 26-ball 36 was as important as Nawaz’s 20-ball 32. This tournament keeps delivering twists, turns, and drama.
A heated argument breaks out during an exciting Asia Cup match.
Original Source: ‘This is stupidity’: Tempers flare in thrilling Asia Cup clash
Pakistan’s Asif Ali and Afghanistan’s Fareed Ahmed clashed during Wednesday’s Asia Cup match in Sharjah. Tempers flared in the last over of the T20 match after Ahmed removed Ali for 16 with a bouncer top-edged to short fine leg, where Karim Janat caught it.
The dismissal left Pakistan requiring 12 runs from nine balls with one wicket, giving Afghanistan the lead. Before Ali entered the dugout, Ahmed pumped his fist and yelled with joy. Right-handed hitter shoved Ahmed before walking to sheds, but Afghan bowler offered advise. Ahmed spun around and raised his bat, threatening to hit his opponent in scenes reminiscent of Javed Miandad and Dennis Lillee in 1981.
The pair fought again until Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai interfered. Former Afghanistan captain Dulbadin Naib tweeted, “This is idiocy at extreme level by Asif Ali. Any bowler has the right to celebrate, but being physical is not acceptable.” Reports say Ali and Ahmed will be penalized under Level 1 of the ICC’s Code of Conduct.
Pakistan won by one wicket with Naseem Shah’s two sixes in the final over.
“It was a tight dressing room,” Pakistan captain Babar Azam remarked after the game.
I was in the locker room I assumed it was cricket and I’d seen Naseem bat like this, so I believed.” The result means Pakistan will face Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final, knocking India and Afghanistan out.
“The players were excellent with the ball and in the field, but we didn’t finish,” Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi said. “We lost it at the end. We handed the bowlers slower balls and yorkers but couldn’t execute them.
On Wednesday, spectators threw chairs after Shah’s winning runs at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Fans attack other patrons with plastic chairs in the unpleasant video, which circulated Thursday AM AEST. Ali was chosen up by the Hobart Hurricanes in last month’s Big Bash League Draft, along with spinner Shadab Khan and all-rounder Faheem Ashraf.
“Shadab and our first couple picks were precisely what we wanted,” said Hurricanes head of strategy Ricky Ponting. “We were surprised Shadab made it. We required a three-dimensional spinner for our team. We wanted a strong middle order.
We have a terrific top order with Short, Wade, and McDermott, so we wanted to reinforce our middle order around Tim David. I think we did that well today.
South Africa’s T20 World Cup Cricket Team Has Been Announced
Original Source: Cricket South Africa announce T20 World Cup squad
Cricket South Africa revealed their roster for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 on Tuesday. Rassie van der Dussen’s finger injury has kept him out of South Africa’s T20 World Cup team. Temba Bavuma is set to lead the Proteas in a second World Cup in a row after recovering from an elbow injury.
CSA Convenor of Selectors Victor Mpitsang said, “This was a tough squad to select because so many players were in terrific form”
Tristan Stubbs, who wasn’t in contention a year ago, has done well to force his way into the mix. His selection should be an inspiration for every young player out there. Temba Bavuma’s return from injury will further galvanize the team.
He continued, “These guys showed off their skill and talent when they beat England recently.” This bodes well for our World Cup chances. Overall, we’re happy with the selections and look forward to watching them in Australia.
Quinton de Kock, Heinrich Klaasen, Reeza Hendricks, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Wayne Parnell, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Rillee Rossouw, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs.
Sponsorship of BCCI’s home games has been purchased by Mastercard.
Original Source: Mastercard acquires BCCI title sponsorship rights for all home matches
Mastercard will be the title sponsor for all international (women’s and men’s) home matches, domestic (Irani, Duleep, and Ranji) BCCI matches, and junior (Under 19 and Under 23) matches in India.
This sponsorship and related activations aim to strengthen Mastercard’s relationship with cricket fans nationwide and beyond. Mastercard’s association with the BCCI adds to its distinguished portfolio of sponsorships, which includes the UEFA Champions League, the Grammys, the Cannes Film Festival, and the Australian and French Opens.
BCCI President Sourav Ganguly remarked, “Mastercard is the BCCI’s Title Sponsor for 2022-23 home cricket matches. Along with international home series, BCCI domestic events are vital to India’s international success. BCCI appreciates Mastercard’s support for Indian cricket. Our sport is a way of life, and we hope to bring creative experiences to fans and value to Mastercard through this partnership.”
Jay Shah, BCCI Honorary Secretary “BCCI is proud to partner with Mastercard. We have Australia and South Africa coming over for white-ball series before the T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy early next year, and domestic cricket has a crowded calendar with the Duleep Trophy and a full-fledged Ranji Trophy season. The 2022-23 season will feature action across age levels, and I’m convinced this will be a fruitful cooperation.”
Mastercard’s CMO remarked, “Cricket combines sports and entertainment to create precious experiences. Our “Priceless” platform lets us satisfy cardholders, customers, and partners worldwide. Cricket is a unifying force in India and several other countries. We bought the title sponsor rights for all BCCI home international and local cricket matches.”
MS Dhoni, Mastercard’s ambassador for four years, said, “I owe everything to cricket. Mastercard sponsors all BCCI home matches, including domestic, junior, and women’s. Today’s Ranji and junior players will play for India tomorrow and represent 1.3 billion Indians.”
Mastercard aims to expand its international sponsorship base with Indian ones. Mastercard has worked to amplify this passion area with the signing of MS Dhoni, the former Indian cricket captain, as its brand ambassador over four years ago. Mastercard’s partnership with Indian Cricket will benefit the sport, its fans, and the brand.
Summary of today’s Cricket/Sport News
Overall, The twists, turns and drama game between Pakistan and Afghanistan is one of the most exciting match in Asia Cup 2022.
Furthermore, during the last few minutes of Wednesday night’s exciting Asia Cup match, Pakistan’s Asif Ali and Afghanistan’s Fareed Ahmed got into a heated argument. In the second-to-last over of the T20 game, tensions rose after Ahmed got rid of Ali for 16 with a bouncer that was top-edged to short fine leg, where Karim Janat caught it.
Meanwhile, Cricket South Africa has announced its team for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022, which will be held in Australia. Rassie van der Dussen is not included because he is still struggling with his finger injury. Temba Bavuma has recovered from an elbow injury and is ready to lead the Proteas in a second World Cup.
Finally, Mastercard and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) established a partnership to expand Mastercard’s strategic outreach to Indian audiences. Mastercard hopes to strengthen its relationship with cricket fans across the country and around the world through this sponsorship and the related activations.