It’s not clear which formats he would be in charge of, with S Sriram understood to be at the helm of the T20I side

Mohammad Isam31-Jan-2023Chandika Hathurusingha has returned to the Bangladesh men’s national team as its head coach.Not long after Cricket New South Wales confirmed that Hathurusingha had parted ways with them, the BCB announced a two-year deal starting next month. It has, however, not been confirmed which formats Hathurusingha would be in charge of, with S Sriram also around and at the helm of the T20I side.ESPNcricinfo understands that discussions about the roadmap between Sriram and the BCB in Dhaka earlier this month didn’t provide clear answers. But the board had said in December last year that it wants Sriram to be the long-term T20I head coach. If that remains true, Hathurusingha might only be connected with the Test and ODI sides.Related

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“It’s an honour to have been given this opportunity to coach the Bangladesh national team once again,” Hathurusingha said in a statement. “I really loved the warmth of the people and the culture of Bangladesh. I’m looking forward to working with the players once again and enjoying their successes.”This is 54-year-old Hathurusingha’s second stint with Bangladesh after he had served as the head coach from 2014 to 2017. That included Bangladesh’s famous ODI series-winning streak at home, that included beating Pakistan, India and South Africa in consecutive months. Under Hathurusingha, the team also made the knockout stages of ICC events at the ODI World Cup in 2015 and the Champions Trophy in 2017, and also recorded their first Test wins against England, Australia and Sri Lanka.

BCB: Hathurusingha ‘a proven tactician’

During Hathurusingha’s time with the team, Bangladesh had a 40.20% success rate in 102 matches across formats. For the record, that’s lower than what his successors – and now predecessors – Steve Rhodes (51.11) and Russell Domingo (42.34) achieved.”Chandika’s experience and knowledge of Bangladesh cricket will be an advantage for him and will benefit the players,” BCB chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury said. “He is a proven tactician and we have seen his impact on the national team during his first assignment.”Following his time with Bangladesh, Hathurusingha went back to Sri Lanka, his home country, and took charge as the head coach of the national men’s team there, before moving to New South Wales in July 2020.

Ashwin calls Australia batter ‘once in a generation cricketer’ following his maiden Test century

Andrew McGlashan10-Mar-20232:01

Tait: A bit of Jacques Kallis about Cameron Green

Cameron Green admitted his relief at crossing three figures for the first time in Test cricket while he was lauded as a “once in a generation” cricketer by R Ashwin.Five times, Green had fallen between 74 and 84 in his embryonic Test career but shortly after lunch on the second day in Ahmedabad – after a somewhat uneasy interval sat on 95 – he was able to celebrate a significant milestone.”You feel more like a Test cricketer when you’ve got that monkey off your back, so it is nice to tick that off in a way,” he said. “It’s so special.”Green was eventually dismissed when he gloved a sweep down the leg side against Ashwin. The duo first came up against each other in Green’s debut series against India in 2020-21. Ashwin joked that you only had to look at the IPL auction to know what Indian cricket thought of Green and recalled his first experience against him when Green scored a century for Australia A.Related

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“I think he’s a fantastic player,” Ashwin said. “Just the raw materials for a person as tall as him, lovely levers, good batting sense, can bowl and really hit the deck well, moves pretty well in the field. These are once in a generation cricketers you are talking about.”I played a practice game against him at Drummoyne Oval in Sydney [on the 2020-21 tour]. From there on, I’ve been watching him bat, how well he moves to balls outside off, how well he comes down the pitch, how he sweeps the ball when he came to the subcontinent. As a bowler it’s my duty to keep a check on all these things and also try to make a plan to try and make it uncomfortable for him.”Meanwhile, Green praised the wise counsel of Usman Khawaja with who he shared a mammoth stand of 208 in 60 for the sixth wicket. Khawaja converted his overnight century into 180 before missing a flick against Axar Patel the first ball after tea. It meant he fell short of a double century for the second time in little more than two months after being left stranded on 195 when Pat Cummins declared against South Africa in Sydney.It was some early feedback from Khawaja that helped set Green up to drive so imperiously during his innings as he took a particular heavy toll on India’s two quicks.”I think speaking to Uzzy, it was probably the ball coming back in where you might get your leg caught in the way and that might be the way to get out,” Green said. “Having an experienced head down the other end, you can have these really in depth conversations and he gives you unreal info back.”So spoke to him pretty early on, he said he recommends batting on leg stump and using your bat and looking to play every ball, whether its swinging in or swinging out.”He’s an experienced head that’s played Test cricket for more than 10 years now, he’s so valuable for guys like myself and a few of the young guys in the team the way he goes about it.”After a maiden five-wicket haul against South Africa at the MCG, in the game he suffered a broken finger, this century is another early high point in a career that continues to trend upwards but Green was eager to keep things in perspective.”It’s my 20th Test so I’ve had a good chance to see the ups and downs of Test cricket, see it for what it is,” he said. “It’s an incredibly tough game, and when you get moments like that you really cherish them. I’ve seen how tough Test cricket is and I’m enjoying every second of it.”

Kohli tried to pacify Gambhir when the two got in each other’s faces but the chat soon turned hostile and other players had to step in

Sidharth Monga01-May-20231:59

Should KL Rahul have come out earlier?

Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir are not IPL captains anymore, but they were still involved in a heated exchange after Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Lucknow Super Giants by 18 runs. It was over 10 years after their altercation in the IPL during RCB’s match against Kolkata Knight Riders in Bengaluru. Kohli now plays for RCB as a specialist batter, and Gambhir is retired and works as the global mentor at LSG.While the players were shaking hands after the game, there seemed to be words exchanged between LSG bowler Naveen-ul-Haq and Kohli. This was followed by Gambhir pulling away his side’s opening batter Kyle Mayers from a chat with Kohli.Seconds later, Gambhir was seen approaching Kohli aggressively with his players, including the injured captain KL Rahul, restraining him. Once the two got in each other’s faces, Kohli seemed to be trying to pacify Gambhir with his hand on Gambhir’s shoulder, but the chat soon turned hostile and veteran spinner Amit Mishra stepped in between the two to separate them from each other.Related

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• Bowlers do the job as RCB defend 126 to go fifth

Kohli had seemed extra animated throughout the fielding innings as RCB successfully defended 126 in an away match that had more crowd support for the visitors than the hosts. He shushed the crowd after taking a catch to dismiss Krunal Pandya, which might possibly have been a response to Gambhir shushing the Bengaluru crowd after a last-ball win in the earlier fixture between the two sides. He even had a heated exchange with Naveen during the 17th over of the chase when the game was all but over. Mishra and an umpire had to intervene then.The match certainly seemed to have the air of a grudge match, which spilled onto the social media of both the sides. An RCB team insider immediately retweeted LSG’s tweet from after the last match that said, “Ladies and gentlemen, this how you… PLAY BOLD.” It seemed to be a mockery of RCB’s catchphrase. After this win, RCB’s official handle tweeted Kohli’s photo shushing the crowd with the caption: “What goes around comes around.”After this altercation, Kohli was seen having a long chat with Rahul, who had earlier injured his hip flexor badly. He also had amicable chats with LSG allrounder Marcus Stoinis.

Brain-melting 122* puts contest that was close for three-and-a-half days beyond doubt

Vithushan Ehantharajah16-Apr-2023Surrey 270 (Pope 91, Abbas 6-64) and 247 for 1 (Pope 122*, Sibley 79*) beat Hampshire 254 (Brown 95, Lawes 4-58) and 258 (Gubbins 84, Worrall 5-40) by nine wicketsSometimes, scorecards can lie. This one for the first meeting of Surrey and Hampshire in the 2023 County Championship is doing just that.Because this was a close game. No, really. At least for the most part. For the first three-and-a-half days, the back-and-forth between these two elite foes was straight out of a Tarantino flick. Unfortunately, so was the finish – a one-way slaughter inflicted by a sole protagonist.Neither had given much away, but Hampshire arrived at the Kia Oval on Sunday in possession of the better hand. Even when their lead of 182 was eventually capped at 242, Surrey’s task of knocking those off was far from certain against an international calibre attack on a pitch now scarred with indentations.And then Ollie Pope happened.There’s no wrong place to start with Pope’s brain-melting 122 not out, but we might as well go straight to the beginning of the evening session. Because, really, that’s what you’re here for – the brutality.That was when this suddenly became a one-sided, nine-wicket pasting. Maybe it’s unfair on Hampshire to describe it as such, but to see their XI powerless to stop an assault that saw the remaining 145 runs ticked off in 20.2 overs underlined the tectonic shift in proceedings. Pope was responsible for 100 of them in 70 deliveries, and who knows how many scars.Perhaps the most damaging offshoot of Pope’s innings was it made you forget how difficult cricket really is.He straight drove Mohammad Abbas for four, then cut him backwards of point the following over. With that, a thought – why don’t more batters try that against a bowler who averages 23 in Test cricket and 18.31 in the Championship?A single after that second boundary took him to 39, level with Dom Sibley’s score but from 54 fewer balls. And though you knew Sibley’s calmness was vital, particularly in an opening stand of 54 with Rory Burns, whose dismissal brought Pope to the crease with 189 left to get, there was a sense he didn’t need to grind so much. Dom, mate, just hit the ball hard in the areas where there aren’t any fielders. The opener did at least win the race to fifty, off 106 deliveries – his first of this homecoming after leaving for Warwickshire in 2017. Pope’s came from 60.Related

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Faced with a bouncer from James Fuller, Pope stepped out of the way and helped it over the keeper’s head, like it was a roll of toilet paper and he was trying to teepee the Pavilion. Given the risk associated with the pull shot – not least to your physical health – why don’t more players do that? This way looks easier and more fun, too.Even those in the stands, hooting and hollering throughout this 11th first-class century at the Oval like it was his first, started taking it for granted. In the last 15 minutes, a botched reverse paddle drew loud sighs from Surrey supporters now drunk on boundaries, as if it were a call for last orders. Pope sorted them out with ones for the road, finishing the match with back-to-back sixes off Felix Organ into the Vauxhall End.It’s important to note this was far more than England’s No.3 indulging in a rascal hand for the sake of it. There was as much application here as in his first innings of 91 in tough conditions across days two and three. The acceleration from a chilled start of 22 off 32 going into the tea break was very much governed by the light. When he and Sibley walked back out at 4pm, it did not look like it would hold until 6pm, which would have left around 16 overs unbowled. Both sides were shaking hands by 5:20pm.Sibley was far more than just a stagehand in Pope’s one-man show, by the way. He offered a useful counter-point for the 63 runs he provided to the match-sealing stand of 193, and a very different right-hander to bowl to. He riffed off Pope with some outrageous shots of his own, at least relative to the tucks to midwicket he had subsisted on before that final break. Beyond more intent with his shots, there was a bit of innovation when he pulled out a switch of feet but not of hands to sweep a rare boundary on the off side. The last 43 of his 79 runs came off 52 deliveries.The manner of the finish belies the situation hours earlier, when it really felt Surrey would need more of the 72 overs left in the day to chase their target of 243. That they had that many to work with was a testament to their bowlers, who polished off Hampshire’s second innings early enough for Burns and Sibley to have a 20-minute taster before lunch.Surrey needed just 22 overs to take the remaining five wickets, and did so with such control that only 45 was added to the overnight lead. That was ultimately achieved with the first dismissal of the day when Tom Lawes had Nick Gubbins caught by Sibley at first slip.Gubbins began Sunday with 79 from the night before, and was understandably watchful, leaving plenty of deliveries Lawes was angling across him. Rather than snare the left-hander with one that came back in, Lawes simply tweaked his line straighter. It was enough for Gubbins to offer the bat – and in turn, the edge – as the 20-year-old found enough seam movement with the old ball.After keeping tabs on the scoring until the new ball, Kemar Roach struck twice, removing the dangerous James Fuller and then knocking back Kyle Abbott’s off stump. At the other end, Dan Worrall rounded out a third five-wicket haul for the club, bouncing out Keith Barker and then finishing off Hampshire by claiming Abbas lbw.Those seamers spent the rest of the day with their feet up, getting on them to salute Pope’s century, which he got to with a four clipped through square leg off his 93rd delivery. They remained standing until the final blows confirmed a win achieved by more than just one man, even if he’s the only one we’re going to rave about.With that sizeable red ink, not only does Pope now average 99.62 for Surrey at his home ground, but he is also averaging 125.88 against Hampshire across 12 knocks. This was a sixth hundred at their expense.More importantly, Surrey are up and running in their title defence. Victory after last week’s stalemate at Lancashire takes them second and is a sizeable blow to a Hampshire outfit gunning for the crown after starting their own campaign with a comprehensive victory over Nottinghamshire.These two will meet again in the season’s final round, which was earmarked as a potential winner-takes-all encounter before the season began. This match does not change that on paper, but the manner of the result will test Hampshire’s resolve. As will the fact that, with Test cricket done by August and international white ball set-up strong enough to not need him, Pope will be back looking to lay it on them again.

Floyd Reifer and James Franklin will also join the coaching staff ahead of the ODIs against UAE and the World Cup Qualifier

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Jun-2023Former West Indies captains Carl Hooper and Floyd Reifer have been appointed as assistants to new white-ball head coach Daren Sammy ahead of West Indies’ three-match ODI series against UAE and the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe. Former New Zealand allrounder James Franklin has also joined the staff as an assistant coach.Hooper, who played 102 Tests and 227 ODIs, has worked at various levels of coaching in the Caribbean and Australia, where he is now settled. He was assistant coach of Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League (BBL) during the 2022-23 Australian summer, and has previously worked with Antigua Hawksbills and Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). He has also served as a mentor at the West Indies High-Performance Centre in Barbados.Related

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“When I was initially approached by Daren about the potential opportunity, I immediately confirmed my interest, as I really want to help with the challenge and make a meaningful impact,” Hooper said. “I firmly believe that it is time for West Indies Cricket to ascend, and I am confident in my ability, knowledge, and experience to aid in this endeavour.”Reifer, who played six Tests, eight ODIs and one T20I, has also served as West Indies’ interim head coach during the 2019 World Cup. He has held coaching roles with the West Indies A team and the senior men’s side, and was head coach of the men’s Under-19 team in 2021 and Jamaica Tallawahs in the CPL.Franklin, an allrounder who played 31 Tests, 110 ODIs and 38 T20Is for New Zealand, has served stints as head coach of the English county side Durham, assistant coach at Birmingham Phoenix in the Men’s Hundred, and fielding coach at MI Emirates in the ILT20.Meanwhile, former West Indies players Kenny Benjamin and Stuart Williams and the former Guyana fast bowler Rayon Griffith will be assistant coaches working alongside Test-match head coach Andre Coley. Benjamin and Griffith were part of the coaching staff for the tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa earlier this year, while Williams had previously worked as an assistant coach on various tours.CWI have said all new assistant coaches have been appointed on a short-term basis and will be “reviewed after the India series in August 2023”.West Indies are currently in Sharjah for the three-match ODI series against UAE, which is scheduled to begin on June 4, as they build up towards the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe.For the ten-team Qualifier, West Indies have been drawn in Group A, which also includes Netherlands, Nepal, Zimbabwe and USA, against whom they kick off their campaign on June 18.

NZ allrounder is set to undergo surgery in the UK and will be out of action for six to eight months

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Jun-2023New Zealand spin-bowling allrounder Michael Bracewell is expected to be out of action for six to eight months after rupturing his right achilles while batting for Worcestershire in the T20 Blast. He is set to undergo surgery in the UK on Thursday before starting a lengthy rehab which means he will also miss the 50-over World Cup in India in October-November.Bracewell was batting on 11 against Yorkshire on June 9 when he collapsed mid-pitch clutching his right leg and retired hurt in the 225 chase. His injury leaves New Zealand searching for batting options especially considering their captain Kane Williamson, who underwent surgery for a ruptured ACL, is in a race against time to make the World Cup.”Firstly, you always feel for the player when injury strikes and especially when it means they will have to miss a world event,” New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said. “Michael’s a great team man and has had a fantastic 15 months for the BlackCaps since his international debut. We’ve seen his exceptional skills in all three facets of the game and he was shaping as an important player for us at the world cup in India.”Michael’s naturally pretty disappointed, but also pragmatic in acknowledging that injuries are a part of sport and he’s now turning his focus to his rehabilitation.”Bracewell, 32, is equally handy with bat and ball, and has played eight Tests, 19 ODIs and 16 T20Is for New Zealand since his debut last year. He also played in the IPL this season, coming in as replacement for Will Jacks at Royal Challengers Bangalore, picking up six wickets in five matches. One of four from his family to represent New Zealand, including his uncle John and his cousin Doug, Bracewell shot to prominence during New Zealand’s tour of Europe in 2022. He did even better on a tour of India, smashing 140 off 77 to pull his team up from 131 for 6. New Zealand appreciated his ability to score quick runs in the middle-order and contribute with some handy offspin by naming him their ODI Player of the Year.Bracewell has been away from New Zealand since April after being called up to the IPL and won’t be able to fly home for a couple of weeks following surgery.A New Zealand Cricket release also said that the national team will be part of two winter training camps at Lincoln and Tauranga from July 26 to 28 and August 9 to 11.

The uncapped Dean Foxcroft and Adithya Ashok have been called up for the UAE tour

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Jul-2023Dean Foxcroft and Adithya Ashok have earned their maiden call-ups to the senior New Zealand men’s squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against UAE, which is scheduled to be played in Dubai from August 17 to 20. The squad is also notable for the return of Kyle Jamieson, who has been out of action since undergoing back surgery in February.New Zealand are travelling to the UAE with a somewhat second-string squad, which is without regulars Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips and Ish Sodhi.Related

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Those players, however, will return to the squad when New Zealand move to England for a four-match T20I series (August 30 to September 5) that immediately follows the UAE tour. Foxcroft, Ashok and five other players – Chad Bowes, Dane Cleaver, Cole McConchie, Henry Shipley and Will Young – will also travel to England, where they won’t be part of the T20I squad but will be in contention for the two warm-up T20 games against Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.According to the NZC release announcing the squads, allrounders James Neesham and Mitchell Santner, who have been picked on both tours, have secured short-term contracts that will allow them to play the closing stages of The Hundred in the UK between the UAE and the England T20Is.Kane Williamson (knee) and Michael Bracewell (achilles), who are recovering from injuries, were not available for selection.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Foxcroft, a 25-year-old batting allrounder who bowls offspin, was named domestic player of the year at the NZC awards in March. He was the top run-getter in the Super Smash T20 competition, scoring 424 runs for Otago at an average of 47.11 and a strike rate of 131.26, and also took nine wickets in the tournament with an economy rate of 7.15. Foxcroft also performed strongly in the Plunket Shield first-class competition, in which he was Otago’s top run-getter with 631 at 45.07 while also picking up seven wickets at 29.71.Ashok is a 20-year-old legspinner who was part of New Zealand’s squad at the Under-19 World Cup. He made his first-class debut in the 2022-23 season and made a significant impact, picking up 19 wickets for Auckland in the Plunket Shield at an average of 27.84.Both Foxcroft and Ashok were part of the New Zealand A squad that played two first-class matches against Australia A in Lincoln in April.”It’s always exciting to introduce new players to the BlackCaps environment and especially so when they’re on the younger side, as Adi and Dean are,” New Zealand coach Gary Stead said. “Dean’s been a really consistent performer domestically and that was acknowledged by the awards he picked up in March. He’s a talented and adaptable batter who also bowls useful offspin – so will add to our spinning stocks which is always valued in white-ball cricket.”Adi’s only in his second year of professional cricket, but we’ve been impressed with his consistency and attitude with the Aces and when he’s joined New Zealand A and the winter camps. With Ish Sodhi not on the UAE tour it’s an opportunity to develop our next legspinner.”Stead was also pleased with Jamieson’s return.”Kyle’s worked really hard and made great progress to be available for this tour and we’re delighted to see him return after such a challenging year,” he said. “We’re all aware of his world class skills and I know he’s really excited to get back with the group.”

Provisional World Cup squad due to be named soon with allrounder reportedly set to be included

Matt Roller15-Aug-2023Ben Stokes’ mooted return to ODI cricket will be top of the agenda as England’s selectors meet on Tuesday to pick a provisional squad for the upcoming World Cup in India.Matthew Mott, England’s white-ball coach, said in an interview with the that Jos Buttler, their captain, would “lead the way” on communication with Stokes, adding: “We will see if he’s keen. There has not been a clear direction on what he’s going to do yet, but we are still hopeful.”The reported on Monday that Stokes has indicated to England that he is willing to reverse his ODI retirement – which he announced last July – in order to help them defend their 50-over title in October-November, and he is now expected to be named among their provisional squad.England’s selectors meet on Tuesday and will select squads for upcoming T20I and ODI series against New Zealand, and an ODI series against Ireland. They hope to be close to full strength during the New Zealand ODIs, but will use the other series as an opportunity to test their depth. The ECB plan to name squads for the New Zealand series on Wednesday morning.They are not expected to announce their World Cup squad alongside it. The ICC requires teams to select a provisional squad by September 5 and to finalise their squads by September 28, leaving teams scope to make late changes. While England’s final squad will consist of 15 players, along with three travelling reserves, they may follow Australia’s lead in naming an initial 18-man group which they then trim down to 15 names closer to the start of the tournament.If Stokes does return, the main question facing England is whether his inclusion should come at the cost of a spare batter or a spare seamer.
All of their main white-ball seamers – including Jofra Archer, who is expected to be named in the provisional squad – have suffered injuries at some stage in the last two years, and picking Stokes alongside only five frontline seam options would be a risk.Stokes has struggled with a chronic left-knee injury and seems unlikely to be relied upon as a bowler in India, but even a part-time role with the ball would add further flexibility to a versatile squad that is likely to include several other allrounders in Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran and Chris Woakes.

Sultans franchise owner Ali Tareen says the franchise aims to hire three female coaches before the start of the following PSL

Danyal Rasool28-Aug-2023Multan Sultans will become the first T20 franchise in Pakistan with a female general manager, replacing the departing Haider Azhar with journalist Hijab Zahid. It will make Zahid, who presently works at Grassroots Cricket, one of the only female general managers of a T20 franchise anywhere in the world.Sultans, who have reached the final of the last three PSL editions and won the league in 2021, will undergo a change in ownership this year. Alamgir Tareen, who was the sole owner of the franchise, died last month. His nephew, Ali Tareen, who co-owned the franchise with Alamgir until 2021, will now take full control.Zahid, 28, will also become the youngest general manager at the PSL. She is currently the director of Grassroots Cricket, a position she has held since the start of the year. Zahid has a master’s degree in Project Management from the University of Hertfordshire, and has previously served as media manager for Islamabad United.Tareen told ESPNcricinfo that Zahid was “the most qualified general manager among all PSL sides”. He is also committing to hiring three female coaches before the start of the PSL, and plans to institute gender parity at the franchise.”Hijab was the first person that came to my mind,” Tareen says. “I knew she was much more capable than her current job demands of her, and I knew she was the first person I wanted to talk to.Zahid said she “only needed to think about it for a minute”, but has no illusions about the challenges the role brings.”It’s a lot harder to assert authority as a woman,” she said. “It’s culturally harder for men to take directions from a woman. We have people in this industry who haven’t interacted with women in their lives through no fault of their own, especially in this power dynamic.”So I expect we’ll have a lot of conversations and workshops about having a woman in a management role here. While people are used to having women in such positions in the corporate world in Pakistan, that is less true of the sporting world. In the future, we want to train people as analysts, presenters, media managers. It will open doors for a lot of women.”While there are a few instances of women who have worked as general manager at men’s T20 franchises, it remains rare, especially outside of the Big Bash League. At the BBL, former English cricketer Salliann Briggs holds a similar role for Hobart Hurricanes, while Sydney Sixers and Adelaide Strikers had Jodie Hawkins and Kate Harkness. In Pakistan, where this provides particular cultural challenges, Tareen says he is aware of the work still ahead of him and the franchise he has recently reacquired.”I will hire a firm for sensitivity training and media training for the management and the players,” he said. “Beyond just Hijab, we want to have more females in the management team as well. This is not some box-ticking exercise or quota system. It’s about equal opportunity. Normally for these roles, sides only interview men. We want more female candidates to apply for these roles too.”We have three male coaches, and we endeavour to hire three female coaches. We want to have them in place before the start of the PSL. I expect the female coaches to be foreign coaches for now, and when we have a women’s team, these are the coaches we expect to move on and help us out with the women’s team as well. This season onwards, I hope to achieve gender parity for all seasons as long as I’m owner.”Zahid praised her predecessor Haider Azhar, calling him a “one-man army” but says she’ll approach the job in a different way, and is unlikely to be seen in the dugout during PSL games. While she said others would have to get used to her, she had some on-the-job learning of her own to do.”Take our captain Mohammad Rizwan, who I’ve found incredibly respectful whenever I’ve interacted with him. So if he has strong beliefs around any point, I’ll always be respectful of that, and I’m hoping I’ll get that back in return. You don’t always get that back from everyone though, so that’s difficult. But I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time in the industry. I’m comfortable with dealing with players, the challenge is to make them feel comfortable.”Ultimately, though, according to Zahid, it’s about the job. “Just because I’m a female GM doesn’t mean I’ll only hire women for certain roles. It’s about bringing our work culture into the 21st century. The vision is not about being a woman, it’s about being a good administrator.”

Rohit’s 131 took him past Sachin Tendulkar for the most hundreds at the World Cup, as India made light work of a chase of 273

Danyal Rasool11-Oct-20231:45

What makes Jasprit Bumrah effective even in tough conditions for bowlers?

India vs Afghanistan was one of the closer encounters of the 2019 World Cup, but a blistering hundred from Rohit Sharma ensured there would be no double jeopardy in 2023. Any jeopardy at all was taken out of the game in the first ten overs or so of the chase, when Rohit, who went past Sachin Tendulkar for most hundreds at the ODI World Cup, took the attack to all Afghanistan bowlers, turning a potentially tricky chase of 273 into a net run rate boosting cakewalk. A half-century from Virat Kohli capped a near-perfect day for India as they eased to an eight-wicket win with 15 overs to spare, after a disciplined performance with the ball had restricted Afghanistan to a below-par total despite half-centuries from Hashmatullah Shahidi and Azmatullah Omarzai.Related

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• Shahidi's game awareness earns Afghanistan free-hit

• Virat Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq draw curtain on the mango episode

India’s top order, Rohit included, had missed out badly against Australia after the hosts fell to 2 for 3. Today, Rohit would ensure there was to be no repeat of that. A sedate first couple of overs were followed by Rohit’s first boundary, and the floodgates opened. Fazalhaq Farooqi was belted over long-off for a six followed up by a couple of fours. There was a repeat dose in his following Farooqi over, with Rohit speeding along to a lightning half-century, which he brought up with a boundary, off 27 balls. Another couple of sixes and a boundary followed, and by the end of the powerplay, India had rollicked along to 94, the highest of this tournament.With Ishan Kishan content to play a supporting role at the other end, Rohit let his languid arms loose. The spinners weren’t spared; Mujeeb-ur-Rahman leaking three boundaries in four deliveries to the opener, and before the end of the 18th over, the inevitable Rohit hundred was up. Coming in 63 balls, it was the fastest by an Indian at an ODI World Cup; that Rohit was the one that achieved that record was not in the least surprising.Rashid Khan removed Ishan Kishan at the other end, but Rohit just motored along with Kohli for a while. But Rashid, who came on to bowl later than his side perhaps needed him, finally cleaned him up with a flipper for 131, though by now India needed only to go through the motions. Kohli’s innings was little more than batting practice, and by the time he tonked the winning shot back down the ground, that net session, and India’s win, was complete.Rohit Sharma brought up his century in the 18th over of the chase•Getty Images

Afghanistan had won the toss and elected to bat first, but spent much of the innings playing too many dot balls interspersed with the occasional boundary. Jasprit Bumrah proved hard to get away, as ever, though Mohammad Siraj came in for some tap, leaking 76 in nine overs. Openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran fell cheaply, with Rahmat Shah falling to the golden arm of Shardul Thakur, leaving Afghanistan tottering at 63 for 3.Afghanistan’s best passage of play would follow. Shahidi and Omarzai compiled a 121-run partnership that rendered the spinners largely ineffective, forcing Rohit to bring the quicks back earlier than he might have wanted. Towards the back end, as both brought up half-centuries, Afghanistan were picking up boundaries at will, and appeared primed for a total in excess of 300.Once Hardik Pandya cleaned up Omarzai with an off cutter, though, things began to fall apart. Mohammad Nabi looked woefully out of touch, his knock of 19 off 27 robbing Afghanistan of momentum instead of giving it any, and the men that followed could never quite wrench control back. Shahidi plugged along, his 88-ball 80 vital in putting up a respectable score, but when he fell reverse-sweeping to Kuldeep Yadav, any hopes of 300 went up in smoke.It left Rashid, Mujeeb and Naveed to play dainty little cameos that pushed the score up to the 272 they managed, but as Rohit ensured, it was much too little in the end.