Nasheman News : Breaking his silence on the “sexist comments” made by Hardik Pandya and Lokesh Rahul on a TV chat show, India team captain Virat Kohli on Friday denounced the statements and said the team management is still waiting for a decision on the duo.

Terming the comments as “inappropriate”, the 30-year-old skipper said the belief in the dressing room is completely different from the individual comments of the two young players.

“We as the Indian cricket team and responsible cricketers do not support such views,” Kohli said ahead of the first ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) here.

“The two concerned players have realised what has gone wrong and they have understood the magnitude of what has happened,” he said.

On Thursday, Vinod Rai, Chairman of the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) had recommended a two-ODI ban on the duo but fellow member Diana Edulji had pushed for a legal opinion before deciding on the quantum of punishment.

In such a scenario, both Pandya and Rahul’s participation in the first two ODIs against Australia is still not clear, which might disturb the playing combination for at least the opening match.

On being asked about the possible combination if the duo is banned, Kohli said: “From the combination and team balance point of view, yes, you’ll have to think about the combination you’ll need then.” 

“You don’t have control over these things so you have to address it the way it unfolds. That’s how we are looking at it, the combinations will have to be looked at when the decision comes out and from there on we’ll see what needs to be done about the whole situation.” 

Nasheman News : The participation of all-rounder Hardik Pandya and opener Lokesh Rahul in the three-ODI series against Australia, starting in Sydney on Saturday, has been thrown into jeopardy as the duo have been suspended for their controversial comments in a television talk show.

The decision comes after Diana Edulji, the woman member of the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA), advocated suspension of the duo until the quantum of sentence is announced.

CoA chairman Vinod Rai had earlier recommended a two-ODI ban for the duo but Diana decided to seek legal opinion before taking any action.

“Based on legal opinion and till the time the final procedure is laid down to address this issue, will recommend that a communication be sent to the concerned players and the team immediately,” Diana wrote in an email, accessed by media.

“It will be imperative that the players be put under suspension till a further course of action is decided for this misconduct,” the mail added. 

In this regard, a five-member Apex Council comprising the elected office bearers — President, Vice President, Secretary, Joint Secretary and Treasurer — has been formed to conduct the probe.

Under such a scenario, India will be compelled to take the field without Pandya and Rahul in the series opener at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

According to a BCCI source, Rahul isn’t in the first choice playing XI while Pandya is also out of at least the first ODI even as the team management is still awaiting a final call.

Earlier on Friday, breaking his silence on the allegedly sexist comments made by Pandya and Rahul, India skipper Virat Kohli denounced the duo’s statements and said the team management is still waiting for a decision on the duo.

Terming the comments as “inappropriate”, the 30-year-old skipper said the belief in the dressing room is completely different from the individual comments of the two young players.

“We as the Indian cricket team and responsible cricketers do not support such views,” Kohli said during the pre-match press conference in Sydney.

“The two concerned players have realised what has gone wrong and they have understood the magnitude of what has happened,” he added.

On being asked about the possible combination if the duo is banned, Kohli said: “From the combination and team balance point of view, yes, you’ll have to think about the combination you’ll need then.”

“You don’t have control over these things so you have to address it the way it unfolds. That’s how we are looking at it, the combinations will have to be looked at when the decision comes out and from there on we’ll see what needs to be done about the whole situation,” he added.

Nasheman News : After an enthralling league stage which witnessed some power-packed action, the Premier Badminton League (PBL) has narrowed down to the top four teams who will be battling it out in the semi-finals to get a step closer to the coveted trophy.

While the first semi-final will be played between table toppers Awadhe Warriors and hosts Bengaluru Raptors, defending champions Hyderabad Hunters will take on Mumbai Rockets in a bid to repeat last year’s success here on Saturday.

The Hunters have carried forth their sublime form from the last time around, garnering 24 points to finish second at the table. Led by the exquisite PV Sindhu from the front, the Hyderabad team has lost only one trump match in the season so far, winning 5 of their 6 trumps used and will be keen to extend it further. 

On the eve of their semis clash, Hunters skipper PV Sindhu said: “We are really excited to have made to the semi finals. Though the stakes are higher as a team we are playing well and we will be giving everything to keep ourselves in the title hunt.”

With the likes of Anders Antonsen and Sameer Verma, on the other hand, spearheading the Mumbai attack alongside the experienced Lee Yong Dae, the Rockets cannot be treated lightly either. Their line-up boasts of some serious firepower and the Hunters will have a task cut out for themselves when they face Mumbai Rockets on court.

Mumbai, who finished fourth in the table with 19 points, have enjoyed a very consistent season and will once again seek to strike the chord right and seal their place in the grand finale. 

Runners up in the first and second edition of the PBL, the Rocket’s will thus be extra-charged to make amends for their missed opportunity and give themselves a promising chance to earn their maiden PBL title. 

“This is a good opportunity for us; Hyderabad Hunters are the defending champions and we’d like to beat the best to be the best. We have a good chance and the team looks extremely confident. We have been training really hard. I am sure Bengaluru will be up for a great contest,” Mumbai’s icon player Lee Yong Dae said.

Nasheman News :  A spirited India dominated pre-game favourites the United Arab Emirates (UAE) before going down 0-2 in their second Group A match at the Asian Cup football tournament here on Thursday.

The Indians dominated the first-half and were unlucky to miss out on their second consecutive victory at the Zayed Sports City Stadium here.

The Blue Tigers, who beat Thailand 4-1 in their campaign opener, will next play Bahrain in their last match on Monday.

India are presently on three points from two matches, same as Thailand, with hosts the UAE currently topping the group with 4 points from two matches. The UAE had previously drawn 1-1 with Bahrain.

It was a day when the Indians hit the post twice in the second-half and muffed two in the first-half.

The UAE took the lead against the run of play when Khalfan Mubarak (41st minute) produced a well placed finish a short while before the break. The hosts got their second goal a couple of minutes before the end of regulation time when a long ball caught most of the Indian defence out of position and Ali Mabkho (88th) scored with a good finish.

The Indians created around half a dozen clear chances, most of which came off the woodwork but it just seemed like luck was not on their side. In the first-half, India could have almost sealed it. 

The Blue Tigers started with an attacking intensity, and although lacked possession, chances came in bright and plenty. 

India could have surged into the lead as early as the 8th minute when Sandesh Jhingan got a free-header off a corner kick but headed it wide. 

Three minutes later, the Arab custodian Khalid Bilal pulled out a world-class save to break Indian hearts and deny Ashique Kuruniyan’s shot from close range after Sunil Chhetri had put him through. If that wasn’t enough of a goal scoring chance, skipper Chhetri was handed a golden opportunity in the 23rd minute.

Chhetri was found in the box by Anirudh Thapa but his header went straight to the rival goalkeeper.

Had India taken these chances, the Blue Tigers would have been up 3-0 in less than 30 minutes — such was the intensity of their counter-attacks which was promoted through the defensive solidity at the back.

With India unable to take their chances, the UAE scored against the run of play in the 40th minute.

Khalfan Alhamsi took advantage of a slight miscommunication in the Indian defence and found the back of the net through a chip from a tight angle. India had another chance to open their goalscoring tally after the UAE defence fluffed a routine clearance providing Chhetri with a tight angle to score.

Chhetri’s placement went inches past the goal as India failed to capitalise and went trailing into the breather. 

Changing over, the chances kept coming for India. In the 53rd minute, Jeje Lalpekhlua, who was brought on as a substitute for Halicharan Narzay, tried to slyly chip past the goalkeeper from range after a failed clearance fell to his chest. His shot, however, went past the goal and the UAE goalkeeper. 

In the 55th minute, the visitors rattled the crossbar after Udanta Singh’s shot kissed the bar and went away, following a one-two with Chhetri inside the box. In the 73rd minute, however, the UAE skipper Alhammadi’s shot rattled the left post. But they had the last laugh when in the 88th minute, Ali Mabkhout breached India’s defence and found the back of the net to take it beyond India’s reach.

A desperate India went all out and the UAE had another close shave when Sandesh Jhingan’s header off a Rowllin Borges’ free-kick bounced back off the bar.

Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul are in troubled waters ever since the episode of Koffee with Karan talk show was aired on Television on Sunday. The former’s misogynist comments especially came under the scanner as he was lashed out by many social media. Even the BCCI had sent the duo a show cause notice and gave them 24 hours to respond to the same. However, the CoA chief Vinod Rai is not satisfied with the explanations and has recommended a two-match ban on the cricketers.

Hardik responded to the notice on Wednesday evening and stated that he was ‘sincerely regretful’ for his comments on the show. There was no news of Rahul responding despite the fact that he didn’t make any eyebrow-raising comments. But their responses haven’t satisfied Rai who clearly stated the same and is awaiting Diana Edulji’s approval over ban which looks likely to be imposed.

“I am not convinced with Hardik’s explanation and I have recommended a two-match ban for both players. However, the final decision will be taken once Diana gives her go ahead. Diana has sought legal opinion whether the duo can be banned. So, obviously, a decision will be taken once she gives her nod. As far as I am concerned, the comments were crass, in bad taste and unacceptable,” Vinod Rai was quoted as saying by the Free Press Journal.

The cricketers are currently in Australia gearing up for the ODI series. Both of them were the part of the Test series as well which India won creating history. But little did they know that the interview which they gave before travelling to Australia will create a huge negative impact back in India once aired on the Television.

If the decision is taken with immediate effect then India’s team combination for the first couple of ODIs will definitely change as Pandya is the vital cog of the team. Ravindra Jadeja will most probably walk into the playing XI in that case.

Nasheman News :  Australia will begin their India tour with a Twenty20 International (T20I) in Bengaluru on February 24 and will also play five ODIs from March 2, it was announced on Thursday.

The home series comprises two T20Is and five ODIs.

The first T20I will be held on February 24 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The second will take place on February 27 at the Y.S. Rajashekhar Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam.

The ODI series will begin on March 2 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad. Nagpur will host the second ODI on March 5 at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium.

Ranchi’s JSCA International Stadium Complex will see the third ODI on March 8, followed by Mohali (
March 10) and Delhi (March 13), the the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said. 

 Nasheman News : Following the expulsion of USACA a couple of years ago, the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday welcomed USA Cricket as its newest member.

According to an ICC statement, USA Cricket’s application to become the 93rd Associate Member in accordance with the ICC Constitution was approved by ICC Members following the Membership Committee’s recommendation to the ICC Board late last year and is implemented with immediate effect.

As a Member of the ICC, USA Cricket is now eligible to receive funding in accordance with the ICC Development Funding Policy and can sanction domestic and international cricket in the United States.

Welcoming the new body, ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said: “This is the culmination of a great deal of hard work and I would like to congratulate the Chair of USA Cricket, Paraag Marathe, and the Board, on this important milestone and wish them all the very best for the future.”

USA Cricket Board Chair Paraag Marathe said: “USA Cricket was established to bring together the cricket community in the United States, develop the game and unlock the sport’s undoubted potential for growth. Today’s confirmation that it is the ICC’s newest member is a significant staging post on that journey.”

 Nasheman News : After India scripted history by winning its first series on Australian soil, edging past the hosts 2-1, an elated Virat Kohli termed the victory as his “best achievement’.

After winning the Adelaide and Melbourne Tests, India scored 622 for 7 in their first innings before bowling out Australia for 300 and later enforced follow-on in the fourth and final affair here.

However persistent drizzle washed out the fifth day as the contest ended in a draw.

Speaking at the post-match presentation, Kohli said: “Firstly I want to say, I’ve never been more proud of a team than this one. The culture we’ve been able to build over the last 12 months.”

“Only one word to say, I’m proud. To lead these players is an honour and a privilege. By far this is my best achievement. Has to be on top of the pile,” he added.

Kohli also showered praise on Cheteshwar Pujara, who was instrumental in India’s historic win with three tons in the series and a total of 521 runs.

“Want to give a special mention to Pujara. Especially after the kind of series he had the last time he came here. He’s one guy always willing to accept things. Takes it in his stride and works on his game,” the Indian skipper expressed.

“He (Pujara) is the nicest man around. Special mention to Mayank Agarwal too. To come in on Boxing Day and play like that against a high quality attack in their conditions speaks volumes of the belief he has,” Kohli added.

Meanwhile, Pujara, who was adjudged player of the match and series, said: “It’s a great feeling for all of us. We’ve been working really hard to win a series overseas. And especially doing it in this country, it’s never easy.”

“First hundred was special, scoring it in Adelaide and going 1-0 up is something which we were all aiming for. When you do that, there’s a good chance of winning the series. So that hundred was special,” he pointed out.

[Nasheman news] Sydney The Virat Kohli-led Indian team registered its name in history books after winning their first-ever Test series in Australia here on Monday.

After the visiting team won the Adelaide and Melbourne Test of the series, the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) here ended in a draw as no play was possible on the last day due to continuous downpour and India clinched the series 2-1.

Opting to bat in the final Test, India took a commanding position as Cheteswar Pujara and stumper Rishabh Pant’s scintillating 193 and 159-run respective knock guided India to a massive 622/7 in their first innings. 

India then rode chinaman Kuldeep Yadav’s fifer to bundle out the home side on 300 runs before enforcing a follow-on.

Australia were six for no loss in their second innings and play wasn’t possible on the final day of the Test, thanks to the continuous rains as the contest ended in draw.

Earlier, wet conditions had forced an early finish on day three and allowed less than two hours play on day four, before completely washing out the final day on Monday.

Pujara was one of the main reason behind India’s historic series win as the Saurashtra batsman accumulated 328 runs from three games, averaging 54.67. Meanwhile, Pujara also slammed three tons in the crucial Border-Gavaskar series. Kohli also effectively supported with 259 runs from three games.

In the bowling department, pacer Jasprit Bumrah turned out to be the most effective bowler for the visitors after bagging 21 wickets from four games while his partner Mohammed Shami also scalped 16 wickets.

Brief Score: India 622/7 d (Cheteshwar Pujara 193, Rishabh Pant 159 not out; Nathan Lyon 4/178) draw vs Australia 300 all out and 6/0 (Usman Khawaja 4 not out, Marcus Harris 2 not out)

Sydney, Jan 5 (IANS) Australia were left struggling at 236/6 in their first innings, trailing India by 386 runs at stumps on the third day of the fourth cricket Test here on Saturday.

At the close of the day’s play, Peter Handscomb was batting on a patient 28 while Pat Cummins was on 25 at the other end.

The day belonged to the Indian bowlers as they completely dominated the Australian batsmen, putting the visitors in a very good position to push ahead for a win.

The Australians will thank the weather gods for some respite as poor light and rain forced the umpires to take the players off the field before calling it a day around an hour before the scheduled close of play.

After a somewhat quiet opening session, the Indians took the upper hand after lunch as the Australians lost wickets at regular intervals.

Kuldeep Yadav was the most successful bowler for India with figures of 3/71.

Fellow Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja also took two wickets.

Resuming the day at the overnight score of 24/0, Australia lost their first wicket when Usman Khawaja was dismissed by Yadav.

Khawaja, who was batting slowly and steadily, scored 27 runs off 71 balls with three hits to the fence.

He gave good support to fellow opener Marcus Harris who was in good form at the other end.

The two of them put together an opening partnership of 72 runs to give the Australian innings a steady start.

The Australians were forced onto the back foot in the second session as the Indian bowlers started to dominate.

Harris was the first to depart after lunch when he was bowled by Jadeja.

Harris scored 79 runs with eight boundaries studding his 120-ball stay in the middle.

Jadeja bagged his second wicket soon after when he sent Shaun Marsh back to the pavilion.

Marnus Labuschagne seemed to be in good touch before Ajinkya Rahane pulled off an excellent catch off Mohammed Shami’s bowling.

Travis Head fell to a superb caught and bowled effort by Yadav shortly before tea as the hosts plunged into further trouble.

The Australians ran into even deeper trouble in the very first over after tea as Tim Paine was bowled by a flights delivery by Yadav.

But Cummins and Handscomb ensured that the Australians lost no more wickets before the close of play.

Brief scores:

Australia (first innings): 198/5 (Marcus Harris 79; Kuldeep Yadav 2/50, Ravindra Jadeja 2/51) vs India (first innings): 622/7 declared at tea on Day 3.