Connect with us
हिंदी اردو
Wednesday,22-January-2025
Breaking News

International

SA v IND: It’s a great opportunity to do well in these conditions, says Dravid

Published

3 years ago

on

India head coach Rahul Dravid has urged his team to grab the great opportunity of performing well in South Africa. He added that a large chunk of a players career is defined by the performances coming against good oppositions in their backyard. India begin the quest for a maiden Test series win in South Africa with the first match starting at SuperSport Park in Centurion from Sunday.

“It’s a great challenge. But I look at it as a great opportunity for anyone, whether you are in-form or out of form, it’s a great opportunity to do well in these conditions. It’s always something that we look forward to as a batsman. To be honest, playing in conditions away from home and having that opportunity to do well and test yourself against some really good opposition in their home conditions,” said Dravid in the pre-match virtual press conference.

“A lot of your career is defined by those kinds of performances. I think it is a good opportunity for everyone to step up and put in those kinds of performances that will help the team win. From an individual perspective, it is something that they and the people will remember them for,” added Dravid.

Dravid, who made 624 runs in 22 innings at a low average of 29.71 as a player in South Africa, is aware of the challenges in adjusting to conditions in the Rainbow nation. “It has always been a challenge because of the alien nature of the conditions. It does take a little bit of time to get used to the wickets. Especially when we start here in Centurion where even on the first couple of days in the nets you realise that it is slightly and considerably different to what you are used to.”

At the same time, he has expressed confidence in previous playing experience of the Indian team in South Africa to help in adapting quickly to the conditions. Cheteshwar Pujara, Ishant Sharma, and Wriddhiman Saha are on their fourth tour of the country. Captain Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Ajinkya Rahane, and Mohammed Shami are on their third tour while vice-captain KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah are on their second tour of South Africa.

“But I think there has been good quality and experience in this team as well. What we can take confidence from now is that a lot of our players have now been travelling quite extensively over the last few years. The team has been quite settled. In terms of batting and bowling, we have got some young players but we have also got guys with experience for whom this is not necessarily their first tour. They have been here before, so they are well aware of those conditions. Hopefully, they will be able to adapt quickly. We have done our bit in training, done our best and it is now about being able to best adapt to the conditions and execute when the game starts.”

Talking about the preparation, Dravid feels that India are well-prepared despite having no warm-up match in the lead-up to the series opener. “In the past, when India has done well in the series, you generally had a good lead-in time in terms of preparation leading into the series, particularly leading into the first Test match. Honestly, that’s the nature of the way things are at the moment in the kind of schedules we are working with. Also, with the kind of COVID situations we have and quarantines and bubbles, it’s not easy to get exactly what you want.”

“But I think the team has responded very well. We have had some really good quality practice over the last week. We had some really good centre-wicket sessions, probably the next best thing after a tour game. But we worked hard and trained over the week. In terms of the conditions, we couldn’t have asked for anything more. You put in six to seven good days of practice, net sessions, and quality work.”

“The bowlers have run in hard and are able to balance out the fitness work they are required to do as well. I think we are ready, prepared, and really happy with the way the guys have responded, the high intensity at our practice sessions, and how relaxed and calm the boys have been around the group. It’s been great,” concluded the 48-year-old.

Post Views: 62
Related Tags:

International

Champions Trophy 2025: Pakistan’s Cricket Stadiums Far From Ready, Tournament Could Be Moved To Dubai, Claims Report

Published

2 weeks ago

on

January 8, 2025

By

Problems seem to be mounting for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as they face a race against time to handover a proper stadium to the International Cricket Council (ICC) before the Champions Trophy gets underway. According to The Times Of India report, the construction and upgradation work is still underway at the National Stadium in Karachi, Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore and the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium

A source following the developments said,”It is a very disappointing picture. All three stadiums are far from ready and it’s not renovation or refurbishment, but proper construction which is underway. There is so much work left with seats, floodlights, facilities and even the outfield and playing surfaces,”

The report further states there is not much time left for the venues to be handed over and it’s not a surprise that there are discussions about moving the entire tournament to the UAE. 

The PCB has to hand over the tournament venues to ICC by February 12, however, the stadium work which was scheduled to be finished by December 31, is yet to be completed.

A team of from the ICC will leave for Pakistan towards the end of the week to do a status check and informal contingency discussions are underway in Dubai corridors.

What is the Current stadium of Champions Trophy venues?

Lahore and Karachi are the two centres where heavy construction work is underway and their multi-storied enclosures, which will have dressing rooms and hospitality boxes, are yet to enter the finishing stages. In addition to the new enclosures, there is fencing work, placement of floodlights and seats which is far from the finish line.

The source added, “The weather is not ideal for construction and finishing work to happen at a rapid pace. At Gadaffi, even the plaster work isn’t completed yet. And most of the time is taken by finishing work because we are talking about dressing rooms etc. They just can’t be random rooms/enclosures for an ICC event. ICC has a checklist which needs to be met. National Stadium has decided to not completely finish the new enclosure because there is no time,”

Post Views: 49,046
Continue Reading

International

AFC Asian Cup 2027 to take place in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar from Jan 7 to Feb 5

Published

2 weeks ago

on

January 7, 2025

By

Kuala Lumpur, Jan 7: The AFC Asian Cup 2027 will take place from January 7 to February 5 across three cities – Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar – in Saudi Arabia, the AFC announced on Tuesday.

A total of five stadiums in Riyadh will host the tournament’s matches; the King Fahd Sports City Stadium, the King Saud University Stadium, Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud University Stadium, Kingdom Arena and the Al Shabab Stadium.

Two stadiums have been confirmed for Jeddah – King Abdullah Sports City and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium – with a new state-of-the-art venue to be built in Al Khobar, completing the world-class infrastructure set to provide the backdrop for Asia’s top 24 national teams.

Saudi Arabia was announced as the host nation for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in 2023. This will be the first time Suadi Arabia will host the tournament.

“Confirming the dates and selecting the stadiums for the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ is a strategic milestone in our journey to host the tournament. This announcement goes beyond simply identifying locations and schedules; it reflects the ongoing high-level collaboration between us and the AFC as we work towards delivering an exceptional tournament that fulfills the aspirations of the entire Asian continent,” Saudi Arabian Football Federation chief Yasser Al Misehal.

Eighteen teams have already sealed their places at the AFC Asian Cup 2027. The remaining berths will be decided via the Qualifiers Final Round, which is scheduled to commence from March 2025 and features six groups of four teams – confirmed at last month’s draw – with the winners of each group making up the final cast.

India, aiming for its fifth appearance at the AFC Asian Cup, has been placed in Group C alongside Singapore, Hong Kong, and Bangladesh. The team will look to replicate or surpass its 2019 performance, where it showcased significant progress on the continental stage.

Post Views: 45,072
Continue Reading

International

Bumrah, Head nominated for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year

Published

3 weeks ago

on

December 30, 2024

By

Dubai, Dec 30: India’s premium fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is nominated for the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for Men’s Cricketer of the Year. Alongside Indian ace, who is also nominated for the Test Cricketer of the year, Australia’s Travis Head and the English batting duo of Joe Root and Harry Brook also made the list for the prestigious honour.

Bumrah nabbed 15 wickets from eight outings, including a couple in the final against South Africa, as India went unbeaten at the 2024 T20 World Cup.

India’s spearhead also had a memorable year in the longest format by picking 71 wickets in 13 Tests, the most scalps taken by a bowler this year.

In the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, Bumrah is leading the wicket-takers charts with 30 wickets at an average of 12.83. He also completed 200 Test wickets and became the first bowler to achieve the feat with an average less than 20.

Indian bowling attack’s nemesis Head also made the list after shining across all formats for his country. After playing a vital role in the 2023 ICC World Cup final, Head continued his form as he was the third highest scorer in the 2024 T20 World Cup with 255 runs in seven innings, with his highest score being 76 against India. The left-hander is also the leading run scorer during the ongoing BGT helping Australia get in a good position to solidify their spot in the 2025 WTC final.

Root, England’s premier batter, made 1556 runs from 17 Tests at an average of 55.57, his second-best annual run tally in Tests after amassing 1708 runs in 2021. It was also the fifth instance of Root scoring over 1000 Test runs in a calendar year.

With six Test hundreds to go alongside five fifties, Root’s impressive run saw him become the joint-fifth highest century maker in Tests (36) alongside Rahul Dravid. In addition to his batting exploits, Root impressed by picking a four-wicket haul in the Test series against India.

His teammate Brook scored 1100 runs in 12 Tests at an average of 55, comprising three fifties and four hundred-plus scores, including a maiden triple century coming in Pakistan, and became England’s breakthrough batter in the format.

Post Views: 49,224
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending