Rohit Sharma appointed ODI captain as BCCI announces squad for South Africa tour

My mother is not judged for wearing Burqa: Ajaz Patel on how New Zealand’s inclusivity helped him grow

Ajaz Patel, who created history by becoming only the third bowler in the world to take 10 international wickets in an innings, believes that the inclusivity that New Zealand offers as a nation has helped him focus n the game and grow as a player and as a person. Talking about the maniac attack on the Mosque in Christchurch on a praying Friday in 2019, Patel a proud member of the Muslim community said that he was very devasted by it. "But the way Prime Minister, as well as the whole community, responded – with love – we felt included,” he added. The left-arm slow bowler, who plays for Central Districts in the New Zealand domestic set-up and has represented the country in 11 Tests and 7 T20Is so far, said that he has never faced racism and is rather overwhelmed by how his teammates and the board has gone overboard to accommodate him. “I won't say it doesn't exist, even though not so much in New Zealand. I actually, through my journey, felt quite comfortable in New Zealand," Ajaz said about racism and the recent Azeem Rafiq issue turning tides in English cricket. “As soon as I came in [teh team], they have been very respectful about my culture, beliefs, and rituals. Like for me, if I need halal food, they will source it from anywhere they have to. I need a place to pray or do my namaz, I remember in my debut season, they sent someone along with me to the masjid (mosque), so I could pray. "And also in the change room, if I have to pray in the change room, guys are very, very respectful and give me the space and the time to pray, so I have been very fortunate,” added the 33-year-old. Ajaz, who was born in Mumbai, India and migrated with his parents at the early age of seven said that New Zealand as a country has accepted him and his family with warmth. He also said that he would like to be a role model for the Asian community in the Kiwi nation by delivering for the country that has given them so much. "My mom is not judged in New Zealand when she walks out in a burqa. She can roam around without people saying anything. Our neighbours had placed a plant at the entry staircase of our in-construction house, knowing we are Muslims, with a note saying, 'we support you and you are a part of us'." he said. Talking about being the role model for young kids, Patel, who has so far picked up 54 international wickets said, “Being a spinner is one of the most difficult jobs when it comes to playing cricket in New Zealand. So hopefully, after my achievement, there are going to be more kids in New Zealand who want to become great spinners for New Zealand. I hope it (the 10-fer) inspires children from Asian communities and parents to say 'look there is a pathway here'.” “I love to be a role model to younger kids and I hope that by the end of my career that I look back on it and say 'I was a good role model'." Whether or not he would achieve all those things is yet to be seen, but he has achieved something that is achieved only once in a generation.

BBL 2021-22 | Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Sixers: Henriques, Tom Curran anchor SS to another win

Sydney Sixers continued their good form in the Big Bash League 2021 after clinching yet another win in the competition. The Moises Henriques-led side defeated Hobart Hurricanes by 14 runs in Launceston after defending a target of 145 runs in 20 overs. The Hurricanes had a decent start to the chase after Matthew Wade and D'Arcy Short put 38 runs on the board for the first wicket before Wade departed for 20 off 18. Later, Short followed him soon and the Hobart side were 41/2 before Peter Handscomb and Caleb Jewell joined hands to stitch a stand of 29 runs before the latter was sent back in the hut for 20 off 11. The Hurricanes then continued to lose wickets at regular intervals and were reduced to 118/6 before eventually getting restricted to 130/8. Tom Curran returned with figures of 3/27 in 4 overs while Hayden Kerr bagged a couple of wickets for 15 runs. Earlier, the Sydney Sixers were left tottering at 39/5 before Curran and Henriques came in for the rescue with a partnership of 62 runs for the sixth wicket. While Curran was out for a 21-ball 27, Henriques struck 73 off 48. The skipper talked about his knock and explained the process to build the innings. “I waited for the bad balls. Wanted a platform for the death overs. Tom Curran also put the pressure on the bowlers when he came into bat. I love trying to get better. I want to learn always and work on new things,” he said during the post-match presentation. The two teams will now face each other on Saturday in Sydney.

BAN vs PAK | 2nd Test: Babar Azam triggers Pakistan win with maiden Test wicket in thrilling encounter

Yes, you read the headline right, Babar Azam did trigger Pakistan win with the ball as he broke the game-changing partnership between Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, which was the last hope Bangladesh were clinging on to save the game. Babar introduced himself in the 76th over with Bangladesh comfortably placed at 198-6 and the partnership between Miraz and Shakib going past 50 runs and most importantly taking up 139 deliveries for it. With only 14 more overs to be played, which would have been reduced to 11 or 12 given the way the light was deteriorating. The off-spin from the Pakistan captain however did the trick as it made Miraz lose his concentration and he was trapped plumb in front of the wicket on the second ball of the over. Although the on-field umpire gave it not out, Babar reviews and the decision was reversed. This was the opening Pakistan needed and they got through the part-time off-spin of their skipper. As they say one brings two and it id. In the very next over, Shakib, who had by then faced 130 balls, lost his concentration too and was bowled by Sajid Khan to give him his ninth wicket of the game. From there on it was formalities only as Pakistan needed to get just two wickets and tailenders were only left. However, Taijul Islam decided to fight and stretched the match from the 76th over till the 85th over by losing just one wicket. And just when it seemed that light might be offered to Bangladesh if they could play just one over, Sajid struck again and Taijul’s 31 ball struggle came to an end. Earlier in the day, Bangladesh, starting from their overnight score of 76-7 were bundled out in the first session itself for a meagre 87. They were asked to follow on and lost their four wickets for only 25 runs before Liton Das and Mushfiqur Rahim took up the fight. After Rahim and Das’ dismissal, both of which were due to the batter’s own fault as Das hit a dolly straight to the fielder and Rahim’s bat was lifted instead of being ground in the case as he was run out, Shakib and Mehidy picks up the fight and gave hope that the Test could be saved. Among Shakib, Rahim, Liton and Mehidy, the four players played almost 70 overs while the remaining seven batters could hardly play 15 overs. Credit must also go to Pakistan for the way they managed to win a Test match which if seen in totality had only eight sessions of proper play. This victory by an innings and eight runs brightens its prospects in the World Test Championship 2021-23 points table. Pakistan are currently in the second position with three wins from four games while Sri Lanka is at the top with a 100% score, winning two in two.

Playing India in India is the ultimate challenge: Daryl Mitchell

New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell has said that playing in India is the ultimate challenge in Test cricket and that the Indian side is a world-class unit. “It’s probably one of the ultimate challenges in Test cricket - coming out to India and taking them on in their conditions. They are obviously world-class and they did show that in the Test. It was nice to fire a few shots and put them under some pressure. We obviously would have liked to do well here but it was not to be this time. We will take a lot of learnings from this experience and look forward to the next visit,” Mitchell said according to Cricket.com. The two sides had faced each other in a two-match Test series. The first clash in Kanpur had ended in a draw while the Blackcaps were totally outplayed in the second Test in Mumbai. The visitors were bowled out for 62 in reply to India’s 325 in the first innings and were then bundled out for 167 to suffer a defeat by 372 runs. While New Zealand lost the match, their spinner Ajaz Patel etched his name in the record books after he bagged a 10-wicket haul in the first innings and became only the third bowler to achieve the feat in Test cricket.