Page 22 - Asia Cup

World Cup: Ravi Shastri bats for three left-handers in India's middle-order

Former head coach Ravi Shastri feels three left-hand batters in the top seven will bolster India's middle-order ahead of the Asia Cup and subsequent ODI World Cup at home. Shastri said India can have two more left-handed batters alongside all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. "There are three other positions where I think two left-handers have to come in. Now, this is where the selectors' role comes in because they are watching. They know who's the guy who's hot. If Tilak Varma is hot, bring him in. If you think (Yashasvi) Jaiswal is hot, bring him in," Shastri told Star Sports. Two right-handers, K L Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, are expected to make a comeback from injury in the Asia Cup beginning August 31, making it tougher for the management to include three left-handers in the playing eleven. Shastri also backed Ishan Kishan to come good. "If you have persisted with Ishan Kishan for the last six to eight months, and he's going to keep wickets, he comes in, in any case. But, get two ...

Playing K L Rahul in Asia Cup would be asking for too much: Ravi Shastri

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri would not include K L Rahul in the playing eleven for the Asia Cup as it would be asking for "too much" from a player who has not played competitive cricket for close to four months. Both Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, who are undergoing injury rehabilitation at the NCA in Bengaluru, are expected to regain full fitness before the Asia Cup starting August 31. "When you are talking of a player who has not played and is recovering from injury. To think of him in the playing eleven of Asia Cup, you are asking little too much of the player himself. "And then you are talking keeping when the guy has come from a knee injury, the range of movement, things like (that). That is a no, no straight," Shastri told Star Sports in a panel discussion referring to Rahul. He also warned against rushing back players from injuries. "You can't rush players back from injuries. You did that with Jasprit Bumrah, not once, twice but thrice and he has been out for 14 months ...

Asia Cup unleashes grandest stage for IND vs PAK rivalry: Ravi Shastri

Former India coach and captain Ravi Shastri feels that Asia Cup will set the stage for the India-Pakistan World Cup rivalry

Asia Cup 2023: Rohit Paudel, Sandeep Lamichhane key names in Nepal squad

Nepal on Monday announced a 17-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup with all-rounder Rohit Paudel as captain of a team that also features former Delhi Capitals spinner Sandeep Lamichhane. The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) took to its social media handles to announce the squad for the tournament that will be jointly organised by Sri Lanka and Pakistan. CAN also said that the team would be undergoing a week-long preparatory camp in Pakistan, where it would be playing matches against PCB-designated teams. The tournament will be played between August 30-September 17. It will comprise six teams, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh and India. Nepal has been clubbed in Group A, alongside India and Pakistan. It plays its opening game against the hosts on the first day of the competition in Multan before playing India on September 4 in Kandy. The event will be played in the One-Day International format and would act as a dress rehearsal for the Asian teams ahead of the 2023 ICC World

Iyer, Rahul ready for comeback? Pant shares video of their batting practice

Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul were captured by Rishabh Pant at the NCA, sweating out during a practice match to prove their fitness ahead of the all-important Asia Cup squad announcement

Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan appoints sports psychologist Maqbool Babri

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed sports psychologist Dr Maqbool Babri to counsel the men's team during ODI series against Afghanistan in Sri Lanka followed by the high-profile Asia Cup before the marquee World Cup comes calling. "Yes, Dr Maqbool Babri who has worked in the past with counselling of some of our players will be accompanying the squad," a PCB source said. He said the board wanted to facilitate the players in every way possible so that they were able to focus completely on their cricket and matches. Babri has in the past also worked with some players helping them understand how to handle pressure situations and get through bad performances and personal issues. A source in the PCB said that Babri was being sent with the team so that the players can always have a qualified psychologist to sit down with and discuss any issues instead of bottling up their feelings. The PCB announced on Sunday that a pre-Sri Lanka departure camp for the players in Pakistan wil

Asia Cup 2023: Bangladesh announce squad, Tanzid Hasan replaces Tamim Iqbal

Opener Tanzid Hasan received his first call-up to the national team as the Bangladesh Cricket Board announced a 17-member squad for the Asia Cup on Saturday. He will be considered along with Mohammad Naim as one of the two opening spots vacated by Tamim Iqbal after Tamim was ruled out of the Asia Cup due to a back njury. Tanzid has been brilliant in the last couple of years and has played tremendously well in the recently concluded Emerging Asia Cup, BCB chief selector Minhajul Abedin said. He is an attacking opener and could put up runs briskly. We have high hopes on him. Veteran Mahmudullah, who was dropped after the ODI series against England in March, continued to be overlooked despite being called into the fitness camp. There was long discussion regarding Mahmudullah, Abdein said. Team management has given a future plan. So considering all the factors, we have to exclude Mahmudullah. The Asia Cup starts on Aug. 30. Bangladesh, drawn in Group B, will play its first match again

Not True, says star batter Virat Kohli on reported social media earnings

Star India batter Virat Kohli on Saturday clarified that a report of his earnings from his official Instagram handle is "not true".With around 256 million followers, Kohli is one of India's and the world's popular sportspersons in terms of his online presence.He often updates fans about his life and cricket through pictures/videos that potray him of sweating it out in nets or matches, pictures with his wife Anushka Sharma, who is a Bollywood actress and inspires many through the pictures and videos of his tough fitness regime. This popularity makes him an extremely dependable face for various brands and Kohli is often involved in brand promotions/advertisements on his social media pages. The earnings through these promotional posts has always been a curiosity for his fans.Recent media reports suggested that he had made crores of rupees -ranging from Rs 9 crore to Rs 15 crore per post through his social media accounts.On Saturday, Kohli took to 'X' (formerly known as Twitter) to post, .

Rohit admits No. 4 slot in ODIs issue for India ahead of Asia Cup, WC

No batter has succeeded in settling into the vital number four slot in the Indian ODI team since the retirement of Yuvraj Singh, captain Rohit Sharma said on Thursday, rasing serious concerns before the World Cup. With the 50-over World Cup less than two months away, India are struggling to find a batter for the No. 4 slot, something that has also troubled them in the previous edition in 2019 in England. Shreyas Iyer, who is on a comeback trail after a long injury layoff, did well in his 20 matches at No. 4, scoring 805 runs at 47.35 with two centuries and five fifties. "Look, No. 4 has been an issue for us for a long time. After Yuvi (Yuvraj Singh), nobody has come and settled themselves in. "But, for a long period of time, Shreyas (Iyer) has actually batted at No. 4 and he has done well his numbers are really good," Rohit told reporters on the sidelines of a La Liga event here. "Unfortunately, injuries have given him a bit of trouble; he has been out for a while and that is ...

The Tilak Varma question: Ashwin, Jaffer want him Indian team for World Cup

Premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has urged the national selectors and team management to show faith in talented Tilak Varma and include him in the World Cup squad as he could possibly be the answer to India's middle-order woes with multiple batters still recovering from injuries. There is a strong buzz that in case Shreyas Iyer doesn't recover before the Asia Cup, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee could pull Varma out of Asian Games squad and get him ready for the World Cup by playing him in the continental event beginning August 30. Ashwin's comments were also backed by former chairman of selectors MSK Prasad, who wouldn't mind seeing Varma in the final 15, provided Shreyas Iyer fails to make the cut. The 20-year-old stylish Hyderabad left-hander has impressed one and all with scores of 39, 50 and 49 not out in three T20I games in the West Indies and not for once looked out of place at the international level. "This is neck-and-neck with respect to the World Cup. So,

Pakistan's Asia Cup 2023 squad: Faheem Ashraf, Tayyib Tahir surprise picks

While Tayyib Tahir was rewarded for his performance in the recently concluded Emerging Teams Asia Cup final against India. Fast bowling all-rounder Faheem Ashraf has been called back

How to deal with pressure of Indo-Pak game? Anil Kumble's key suggestions

India are set to play Pakistan in the Asia Cup and the World Cup in the coming two months, and legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble said on Tuesday that the key will be to take it as just another game of cricket. The former India captain has an outstanding record against Pakistan in both Tests and ODIs, having taken 81 wickets from 15 Tests, including snaring all 10 wickets in an innings (10/74) in 1999 at New Delhi. In 34 ODIs against Pakistan, Kumble has grabbed 54 wickets. "In our times, the word was 'lose even to Kenya but not to Pakistan'. There was pressure and expectation on the players. "That's how the matches between India and Pakistan are being played and the key is to treat it as just another match," Kumble said here while speaking during the launch of Pitchside, the memoir written by veteran cricket administrator Amrit Mathur. The function was also attended by former India batter and the current NCA chief VVS Laxman and former India wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani. The 10-wick

After retirement reversal in ODIs, Tamim steps down as Bangladesh captain

Left-handed batter Tamim Iqbal has decided to step down as Bangladesh ODI captain after a recurring back injury ruled him out of the upcoming Asia Cup. The continental ODI tournament will be held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka from August 31 to September 2. The 34-year-old, who had announced his shock retirement from ODIs during the home series against Afghanistan before withdrawing his decision, will be eyeing the rubber against visiting New Zealand to get back into reckoning for the World Cup in India. "I will step down as captain and concentrate as a player and try to give my best whenever the opportunity comes," Tamim said during a press conference on Thursday. "I believe injury is an issue. I took an injection (on July 28), but it is like a hit or miss. I have told them (the board) about the problem. I have always kept the team over everything else. So keeping that in mind, stepping down is the best possible decision." Tamim had withdrawn his decision to retire the last time after

Rahul, Iyer fitness update: Shreyas, KL likely to miss Asia Cup 2023

Though KL Rahul has started keeping, it remains to be seen whether he can don the wicket-keeping gloves for full 50 Overs after recovering from a hamstring injury.

IND vs WI 3rd ODI: Jadeja makes big comment on Team India's combination

It is on management and the captain knows what combination they want to go with, says Ravindra Jadeja ahead of India vs West Indies 3rd ODI

Emerging Teams Asia Cup Final: Tahir shines as Pakistan A beat India A

Pakistan A, the winners of the 2019 edition, won the final match of this edition by a whopping 128 runs against India A. The win came courtesy of a Tayyab Tahir century and collective bowling effort

Asia Cup 2023: PCB miffed with ACC president Jay Shah's schedule reveal

BCCI Secretary Jay Shah announced the schedule of the Asia Cup on July 19, 2023, half an hour ahead of a proposed ceremony for its announcement by the PCB

Pandya, Gill could be rested for Ireland T20s ahead of Asia Cup, World Cup

India's T20 captain Hardik Pandya could be given a break from the three-match series against Ireland starting August 18 as part of workload management in a busy year including the Asia Cup and the big-ticket ODI World Cup at home, BCCI sources said. Even Shubman Gill, who is now an automatic pick across three formats, could be rested keeping the global event in mind. The 29-year-old Pandya is one of the key members of India's ODI team and his all-round prowess adds necessary balance to the side and hence the team management and the national selection panel is expected to deal with him cautiously. "Nothing is finalised yet and it will also depend on how Hardik is feeling after the one-dayers and T20s in the West Indies. There is travelling involved and only a short turnaround of three days before one flies from Florida to Dublin. "With World Cup being of primary importance, one has to factor in his workload. Let's not forget he will be Rohit's deputy in the World Cup," a BCCI source

WATCH: Here's what Rahul Dravid said on IND vs PAK final in Asia Cup 2023

That will be a great contest (India vs Pakistan final) and great for us and we certainly aim to do that, says India head coach Rahul Dravid

Asia Cup 2023 schedule: India vs Pakistan on September 2 in Kandy

As many six teams, including India, Pakistan, Nepal, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, will play the 50-over format of Asia Cup 2023