Associate cricket nations harbor ambitions to join the big boys

Associate cricket nations harbor ambitions to join the big boys
A Bangladesh fan cheers during the second one-day international cricket match between New Zealand and Bangladesh at Saxton Oval in Nelson on December 20, 2023. (AFP)
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Updated 21 December 2023
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Associate cricket nations harbor ambitions to join the big boys

Associate cricket nations harbor ambitions to join the big boys
  • Teams in Asia and Africa are showing what can be achieved by investment in the development of local talent

Cricket has produced some surprises of late. The most recent was the identity of the two finalists in the U-19 Asia men’s ODI Cup — Bangladesh and the UAE.

They beat India and Pakistan in the semi-finals respectively when the smart money would have been on those two triumphing. Despite being heavily defeated in the final, the UAE’s progress is both impressive and remarkable, justifying the strategy of investing in the development of local talent.

A prime example of this is Aayan Afzal Khan. Despite having only just turned 18, he has already played 46 times for the UAE and featured in the 2022 ILT20 tournament for the Gulf Giants, with whom he admits to having received rich learning. This substantial experience at such a youthful age is serving him well. In the semifinal, as captain, he contributed 55 from 57 deliveries to his team’s total of 193. He then conceded only 32 runs in his 10 overs, as the UAE triumphed by 11 runs in a nail-biting finish.

Another recent surprise occurred in the African regional qualifying tournament for the 2024 T20I World Cup in Namibia. A Test-playing nation, Zimbabwe, failed to qualify thanks to defeats at the hands of Namibia and Uganda. Both those teams progress to the World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the West Indies and the US.

Uganda’s success was unexpected outside of that country. Delve a little deeper and you’ll find its U-19 team qualified for the 2022 World Cup. Back in 2009, Uganda edged past Afghanistan in the International Cricket Council’s Division Three. Since then, Afghanistan has become a full member of the ICC, creating upsets in the 2023 ODI World Cup. Uganda has plateaued.

Although there are 54 countries in Africa, Uganda will be only the fifth African team to qualify for a T20I World Cup. South Africa and Zimbabwe are Test-playing nations, Kenya participated in the first competition in 2007, whilst Namibia qualified in 2021 and 2022.

Only four African nations have participated in ODI World Cups. Other than South Africa and Zimbabwe, only two others have qualified across 13 editions. Kenya did so four times between 1996 and 2011, famously reaching the semifinals in 2003, the same year Namibia made its only appearance. Now, there is another African country with aspirations of climbing the ladder. In the recently completed African qualifying tournament for the T20I World Cup, Nigeria finished fourth.

These aspirations are driven by the relatively new leaders of the Nigerian Cricket Federation. Its president, Uyi Akpata, who took on the role in late 2021, has decades of senior-level experience with an international accounting firm and has outlined his strategy for the development of cricket in Nigeria through a series of interviews. One profile-raising event was the two-day hosting of the ODI World Cup trophy in late August. During the visit, it was noted that the high growth rate of cricket in the country accorded it high priority by the ICC.

In terms of population, the NCF has plenty to work with. According to UN estimates, Nigeria’s population is around 224 million, making it the sixth most populated country in the world. Although there is no correlation between population and ICC rankings, half the people in Nigeria are aged under 19. It is not surprising, therefore, that one of the NCF’s main strategic pillars is focused on grassroots development through reaching out to at least 250,000 youths each year. Competitions for those aged under 15, 17 and 19 have been initiated, as have reach-out programs to women.

Last week, at senior level, the Nigerian women’s team narrowly missed out in the final phase of qualification amongst African nations for the women’s 2024 T20 World Cup. Uganda and Zimbabwe achieved that distinction.

In his interviews, Akpata is keen to point out that, in the recent African qualifiers, the Nigerian team had an average age four years below that of other teams. Three players aged 17 produced stand out performances and opportunities are being explored for them to experience development camps in South Africa. Since April, the NCF has had 20 male and 20 female contracted players who earn in excess of the minimum federal wage. The high-performance coach is Steve Tikolo, known for his role in Kenya’s successes 20 years ago. At senior level there are active leagues in six provinces and there are seven turf wickets in Nigeria, more than can be claimed by several other associate members.

Another pillar of the NCF’s strategy is to ensure good governance and financial integrity, as befits Akpata’s profession. In a pitch to potential private sector investors last month, he claimed “the NCF structure is the best he has seen around.” A recent boost to its hopes is the first-time inclusion of cricket in the African Games, which will be held in Ghana in 2024. The eight highest-ranked African teams will qualify. On top of that, cricket’s presence in the 2028 Olympics means the sport is rated differently by the government when applying for funding and facilities.

These new-found ambitions for Nigerian cricket embrace a desire to be able to compete equally with Zimbabwe, Namibia and Uganda. Creating appropriate pathways to attract and develop young players has been a major step forward. Coupled with top coaches, sustainable partnerships with sponsors and other stakeholders, quality playing facilities and infrastructure, the foundations to support these goals have been laid.

Cricket was introduced to Nigeria in the 19th century by British colonial administrators. Its appeal lasted until around 1970, after which football become a national obsession. Membership of the West African Cricket Federation (later Council) was held from 1960, until ICC Associate status was gained in 2002 and the subregional body was dissolved. The current resurgence of cricket shows what can be done with an appropriate strategy, a young population, determined leadership, funding and foresight. Nigeria is preparing itself to create its own surprises in cricket.


Deep takes two as Bangladesh totter in reply to India’s 376

Deep takes two as Bangladesh totter in reply to India’s 376
Updated 55 sec ago
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Deep takes two as Bangladesh totter in reply to India’s 376

Deep takes two as Bangladesh totter in reply to India’s 376
  • Bangladesh limped to 26-3 at the break after Jasprit Bumrah bowled left-handed opener Shadman Islam for two and fellow quick Akash Deep struck twice in two deliveries
CHENNAI: Bangladesh lost three quick wickets by lunch in reply to India after a commanding 113 from Ravichandran Ashwin took the hosts to 376 all out on day two of the first Test against Bangladesh on Friday in Chennai.
Bangladesh limped to 26-3 at the break after Jasprit Bumrah bowled left-handed opener Shadman Islam for two and fellow quick Akash Deep struck twice in two deliveries.
After Bumrah’s heroics in the opening over, Deep took centerstage as he bowled the left-handed Zakir Hasan for three and then rattled the stumps of another left-hander Mominul Haque for a duck.
Mushfiqur Rahim played out the hat-trick ball and was batting on four alongside skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, on 15, at the break.
Bangladesh fast bowler Hasan Mahmud finished with figures of 5-83 after rattling the Indian batting on day one, but a 199-run seventh-wicket stand between Ashwin and Jadeja powered a fightback from the hosts.
The pair resumed with India on 339-6 overnight but pace bowler Taskin Ahmed broke the stand early, with Jadeja caught behind without adding to his overnight score of 86.
Deep hit a quickfire 17 with four boundaries before being dismissed by Taskin, who soon got his third with the wicket of hometown hero Ashwin, caught by Najmul.
The 38-year-old Ashwin was given a standing ovation after a sixth Test ton, which included 10 fours and two sixes.
Hasan wrapped up the innings with his second five-wicket haul in just his fourth Test.
Ashwin had taken to the crease with India in trouble on 144-6 on Thursday and turned the attack on the opposition bowlers with the left-handed Jadeja for company.
Both men — India’s go-to spinners — blunted a Bangladesh bowling onslaught led by Hasan, who had reduced the hosts to 34-3 in the first hour of play.
India are looking to extend their lead at the top of the World Test Championship rankings as they begin a fresh Test season of 10 matches.
Bangladesh have never beaten India in a Test.

LIV golfers get green light for US Ryder Cup team, PGA Championship

LIV golfers get green light for US Ryder Cup team, PGA Championship
Updated 20 September 2024
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LIV golfers get green light for US Ryder Cup team, PGA Championship

LIV golfers get green light for US Ryder Cup team, PGA Championship
  • The PGA of America decision solidifies spots in events although several LIV players had been granted special invitations to certain majors in past seasons and Koepka was welcomed into the Ryder Cup squad
  • The move shows tensions could be easing in golf’s civil war even as talks continue between Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, LIV’s backers, and the PGA Tour about a merger agreement

WASHINGTON: LIV Golf players will be eligible for the Ryder Cup and the PGA Championship, the PGA of America announced Thursday in a move made to ensure access to top talent.

Since the early days of the Saudi-backed series, the US PGA Tour has banned LIV players from competing in its events, making it hard for LIV players to earn world ranking points and qualify for majors.

But PGA and LIV players have faced each other at major tournaments in recent years, with LIV’s Brooks Koepka winning last year’s PGA Championship for his fifth major crown and receiving a captain’s pick place on last year’s US Ryder Cup team.

“To ensure the PGA Championship will continue to deliver the strongest field in golf and that the US Ryder Cup team will continue to have access to the best American players, the PGA of America board has determined that LIV Golf players will be eligible for both,” the PGA of America statement said.

“Going forward, all LIV Golf players are eligible for the PGA Championship and any American player who qualifies for the Ryder Cup on points or is added to the US team as a captain’s pick is eligible to compete.”

The PGA of America decision solidifies spots in events although several LIV players had been granted special invitations to certain majors in past seasons and Koepka was welcomed into the Ryder Cup squad.

Some LIV players have been able to compete in majors thanks largely to wins before LIV began, many competing as past winners of specific majors.

The move shows tensions could be easing in golf’s civil war even as talks continue between Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, LIV’s backers, and the PGA Tour about a merger agreement, negotiations that have stretched well beyond their original deadline of the end of last year.

Talks were conducted last week in New York but among the sticking points remains how to punish former PGA players who defected to LIV should they return and what LIV’s future might become.


South Africa’s Buhai grabs LPGA Queen City Championship lead

South Africa’s Buhai grabs LPGA Queen City Championship lead
Updated 20 September 2024
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South Africa’s Buhai grabs LPGA Queen City Championship lead

South Africa’s Buhai grabs LPGA Queen City Championship lead
  • Buhai said her form had been solid, and after two weeks off she was ready to attack the Arnold Palmer-designed TPC River’s Bend course
  • With her two-putt birdie at 18 she had a one-stroke lead over Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul and China’s Liu Yan

LOS ANGELES: Ashleigh Buhai carded eight birdies in a 7-under par 65 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead in the LPGA Queen City Championship as she vies to finish strong in an injury-disrupted year.

“There has been a few things happened to me this year — back injuries, broken toe,” said the South African, who played the Paris Olympics with a piece of one shoe cut away because of her toe injury.

But Buhai, whose two LPGA victories include a major title at the 2022 Women’s British Open, said her form had been solid, and after two weeks off she was ready to attack the Arnold Palmer-designed TPC River’s Bend course, which is hosting the tournament for the first time.

“I think I was smart with when I could attack,” said Buhai, who had four birdies on the front nine and four on the back.

With her two-putt birdie at 18 she had a one-stroke lead over Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul and China’s Liu Yan.

Eight players shared fourth on 67, a group that included world No. 1 Nelly Korda and New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, the Paris Olympics champion.

“There were a few pins out there where you had to still try to be aggressive, and the greens got a little firm and ran through, but I then made some good up and downs to keep me in it,” Buhai said.

“I hit it great, putted well — that tends to add up to what it did.”

Liu, who has missed the cut in her last seven starts and is searching for a first top-10 of the year, started on the 10th and had two eagles — at the 18th and at the eighth — in her 66.

“Today my driver was very good,” said Liu, who played her last two holes in 3-under.


Ohtani makes Major League Baseball history with first 50-homer, 50-steal season

Ohtani makes Major League Baseball history with first 50-homer, 50-steal season
Updated 20 September 2024
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Ohtani makes Major League Baseball history with first 50-homer, 50-steal season

Ohtani makes Major League Baseball history with first 50-homer, 50-steal season
  • Ohtani officially established MLB’s 50-50 club with a seventh-inning homer in the Dodgers’ 20-4 victory over the Marlins in Miami
  • To cap a monster offensive performance, Ohtani added a third home run in the ninth inning, finishing the game with 51 homers and 51 steals so far this season

MIAMI: Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani made Major League Baseball history on Thursday, becoming the first player ever to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season.

Ohtani officially established MLB’s 50-50 club with a seventh-inning homer in the Dodgers’ 20-4 victory over the Marlins in Miami.

The win clinched the Dodgers’ post-season berth — a first for Ohtani, who never made the playoffs even as he earned two American League Most Valuable Player awards while with the Los Angles Angels.

The Dodgers had runners on the corners when Ohtani came to the plate with two outs in the seventh. He launched a curveball from Mike Baumann over the left centerfield wall.

His second home run of the contest gave him 50 for the season, after two stolen bases earlier in the game pushed his tally of steals to 51.

The Japanese standout had smashed his 49th home run of 2024 in the sixth, a 438-foot blast that tied Shawn Green’s record for most by a Dodger in a single season, set in 2001.

And to cap a monster offensive performance, Ohtani added a third home run in the ninth inning, finishing the game with 51 homers and 51 steals so far this season.

He had six hits in six at-bats, including two doubles for a total of five extra-base hits.

He drove in 10 runs and scored four and could only laugh as he returned to the dugout after his final blast, the cheers of fans at LoanDepot Park ringing in his ears.

“To be honest, I’m the one probably most surprised,” Ohtani said through a translator of the spectacular show. “I have no idea where this came from, but I’m glad I performed well today.”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, addressing his players in the clubhouse as they celebrated the victory, noted the achievement.

“This is a game that has been played for over 200 years,” Roberts said. “And this is something that has never been done.”

But Ohtani himself tried to keep the focus on the team.

“I’m glad that the team won,” he said, admitting that with so much attention focused on his 50-50 pursuit, it “was something I wanted to get over as quickly as possible.

“It’s something that I’m going to cherish for a very long time.”

Already the fastest player to reach 40 homers and 40 stolen bases in a season, Ohtani had nabbed his 50th steal in the first inning when he belted a leadoff double and stole third, his well-timed slide allowing him to evade a tag by Marlins third baseman Connor Norby.

Ohtani scored on a sacrifice fly and one inning later he notched his 51st steal, swiping second after a single.

With his 50th stolen base, Ohtani surpassed Roberts for the second most by a Japanese-born player in MLB history, a list led by Ichiro Suzuki, who stole 56 in 2001.

Ohtani had earlier this season become MLB’s all-time leader in home runs among Japanese-born players when he surpassed the 175 of Hideki Matsui.

The 30-year-old, who signed a record $700 million free agent deal with the Dodgers in the off-season, now has 222 career home runs.

Meanwhile, Ohtani is ramping up his rehabilitation from surgery on his throwing elbow. Unable to showcase his pitching prowess this year, he has been throwing bullpen sessions and could face hitters soon.


Head’s hundred seals Australia win over England in 1st ODI

Head’s hundred seals Australia win over England in 1st ODI
Updated 20 September 2024
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Head’s hundred seals Australia win over England in 1st ODI

Head’s hundred seals Australia win over England in 1st ODI
  • Australia, set 316 for victory, finished on 317-3 with six overs to spare as they went 1-0 up in a five-match series
  • Australia captain Mitchell Marsh hailed an “exceptional” team performance: The way we were able to pull it back (in the field) was great.

NOTTINGHAM: Travis Head’s superb career-best 154 not out saw depleted world champions Australia to a seven-wicket win over England in the first one-day international at Trent Bridge on Thursday.

Australia, set 316 for victory, finished on 317-3 with six overs to spare as they went 1-0 up in a five-match series to make it 13 ODI wins in a row against all opponents.

Earlier, Marnus Labuschagne was the unlikely hero with the ball as Australia fought back after losing the toss.

England, on 201-2 off 30 overs, were set for a colossal total as Ben Duckett eyed a hundred on his home ground.

But left-hander Duckett departed for 95 when caught and bowled by part-time leg-spinner Labuschagne, who also removed Harry Brook — out for 39 in his first innings as England captain — in similar fashion soon afterwards.

Labuschagne returned ODI-best figures of 3-39 as England, succumbing to spin, lost their last six wickets for 59 runs.

First-choice leg-spinner Adam Zampa marked his 100th ODI with 3-49 from his full 10 overs.

Labuschagne then completed a fine all-round display by making 77 not out off 61 balls in an unbroken partnership of 148 with fellow 30-year-old Head.

But the outcome might have been different had Head been caught early in his innings, with the player of-the-match telling Sky Sports: “I got lucky and Jofra (Archer) bowled a hell of a spell at the start. Glad I can continue.”

Australia captain Mitchell Marsh hailed an “exceptional” team performance by saying: “The way we were able to pull it back (in the field) was great.

“I think the calmness in the group has been great. There’s illness flying around, it builds resilience in the team.”

Brook, leading England in just his 16th match at the relatively youthful age of 25, accepted the hosts had posted a “below-par score.”

Australia lost Marsh early in their chase when he holed out off Matthew Potts.

Three balls later Head, the hundred hero of Australia’s World Cup final win over India last year, almost fell in single figures.

His slashing square-cut off Potts flew to deep point only for Brydon Carse, in too far off the boundary rope at Brook’s request, just failing to hold what would have been a spectacular leaping catch.

Fast bowler Archer topped speeds of 90 mph (145 kmh) in his first ODI after over a year out with injury.

But opener Head came through to completing a sixth century in 66 ODIs.

He went to exactly 150 by launching Liam Livingstone for a spectacular six over long-on, with the spinner’s nine overs costing an expensive 75 runs.

Head then surpassed his previous highest ODI score of 152, against England at Melbourne two years ago, with the left-hander facing 129 balls, including 20 fours and five sixes, in total.

After Brook won the toss, both Duckett and Will Jacks completed brisk fifties.

But Zampa struck when Jacks (62) holed out to cover to end a partnership of 120 with Duckett.

Test opener Duckett pressed on before chipping Labuschagne’s fourth delivery back to the bowler as a 91-ball innings, including 11 fours, ended tamely.

And when Brook fell the same way, England were 232-4 off 35 overs.

Australia have several players sidelined by illness and injury, including experienced fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.

The series continues at Headingley on Saturday.