Copa America Final
Argentina vs Colombia result scoreless till halftime
The finals of the Copa America already had glimpses of a thrilling battle. That was also seen in the match. In the first half of the title decider, both teams fought evenly. But no one scored.
A largely uneventful first half comes and goes at Hard Rock Stadium. Both sides had a few looks on net, but there wasn't much else to speak of. Colombia started bright before Argentina tried to take the sting out of possession. Jefferson Lerma's long-distance effort which Emi Martinez saved is by far the biggest chance of the half.
It will be worth watching how Lionel Messi looks coming out of halftime after his injury towards the end of the 45 minutes.
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Rohit Sharma's tactical genius involving Jasprit Bumrah in T20 World Cup final questioned
On June 29, 2024, Rohit Sharma did something captains before him struggled to for the last 13 years – win a World Cup. Rohit, one of the most deserving candidates to end India's agonisingly long wait, made a billions dream come true when India beat South Africa by 7 runs to lift the T20 World Cup, ending years of misery and heartbreaks. Having come so close to winning the ODI World Cup at home last November, India needed this to wipe the pain of November 19, 2023. As the entire Indian team fell onto the ground after Hardik Pandya successfully defended 16 off the last over, it capped off the perfect end to Rohit and Virat Kohli's T20I careers and marked a fitting end to Rahul Dravid's tenure as India head coach.
In the final, Rohit took a gamble. With Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller going berserk, getting the equation down to 30 needed off 30 balls – regulation stuff given how T20s work, Rohit decided to bring on Jasprit Bumrah to finish his four overs. This meant that India wouldn't have him in the last two overs, but Rohit was aware that it was now or never. The skipper went with his gut instincts and what a masterstroke it turned out to be. Bumrah gave away just four wickets in the 16th over and just two more in the 17th, along with the wicket of Marco Jansen to put South Africa under pressure. Arshdeep Singh and Hardik then provided the finishing touches, but had it not been for those two overs of brilliance from Bumrah, India could have added 2024 as another example of what could have been.
That is Rohit for you. A dangerous batter but an even more instinctive captain. It was one of those calls that could have gone either way, but Rohit knew what Bumrah was capable of. In fact, Vikram Rathour, the former India batting coach, highlighted Rohit's tactical decisions as moments of brilliance, though he acknowledged that these moves often teeter on the edge of genius and sometimes drawing criticism.
"He is tactically very good as a captain. In the T20 World Cup final, he finished Bumrah's over early. A lot of people must have questioned that decision, but that decision put us in the situation, where 16 was needed in the last over. His tactical decisions on the field are spot on. Sitting outside It surprises you as a coach as well. We from outside sometimes think what he is doing but then you realise what he has done after a while," Rathour said on the podcast 'Find a way with Taruwar Kohli'.
'Never seen a captain who is as invested as Rohit'
Almost every youngster who has played under Rohit has nothing but positives to shower on the Indian captain. In the Test series against England, as many as five players made their debuts, and everyone – Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Akash Deep and Devdutt Padikkal already have their favourite Rohit Sharma story to narrate. As for the coaching staff, Rathour admits he is yet to come across a captain what is as involved as Rohit.
"His first quality is that as a batsman, he is a phenomenal player. I think he is someone who understands his game really well. He always has a clear game plan. Even as a leader, you will have to lead from the front. You have to perform to set the example. And since he has become the captain, he has always led by example," added Rathour.
"He is a player's captain. He is invested with the players heavily. I have never seen a captain, who is so invested in team meetings and strategies. He spends a lot of time on the team's strategy. He is part of the bowlers' meeting, batters meeting. He wants to sit with the bowlers and batters to try and understand what they are thinking. He invests a lot of time with the players."
Source: HT
Bangladesh face Sri Lanka tomorrow
Motivated Bangladesh U-20 national football team will start their SAFF U-20 Championship campaign when they face Sri Lanka in their opening group A match scheduled to be held tomorrow (Tuesday) at ANFA Complex in Nepal.
The match kicks off at 3.15 pm (BST).
Prior to the first match, the Bangladesh team found very much confident and the boys in red and green wants to start the tournament with win against Sri Lanka, who earlier lost their group opening match against host Nepal.
Ahead of the first match, Bangladesh head coach AKM Maruful Haque said: "Before arriving in Nepal we said we want to become champions in this tournament .... our team played final in the last tournament .... I have noticed the sacrifice hard work and dedication among the boys and I think we are still in the right track ... the boys already worked on weak and strong points of Sri Lanka and I shared our game plan and strategy with them. As the first match is always important, so I hope we'll able to make a winning start in the championship."
Bangladesh team captain Mehedi Hasan Srabon said the first match is always important and everybody expect to start the tournament with win.
Srabon said Sri Lanka is a good team and they are not taking their rival lightly. The Bangladesh skipper thinks that winning the first match take the team more close to the final.
He also hopeful to snatch a good result for the country and able to show maximum effort in the ground.
Bangladesh, the three times runners-up in 2017, 2019 and 2022 edition of the championship, will meet host Nepal in their ultimate group match on August 22.
Bangladesh U-20 team - Mehedi Hasan Srabon, Asif, Ismail Hossain Mahin, Imran Khan, Mohammad Azizul Hoque, Ananto, Shakil Ahad Topu, Rajib Hossain, Rostom Islam Dukhu Mia, Parvej Ahmed, Kamacai Marma Aky, Asadul Islam Sakib, Chandon
Roy, Ashraful Haque Asif, Mohsin Ahmed, Iftiar Hossain, Rabby Hossen Rahul, Razu Ahmed Zisan, Hossain Mohammad Arian, Asadul Molla, Iftasam Rahman Jidan, Mirajul Islam, Piash Ahmmed Nova and Moinul Islam Moin.
Source: BSS
Argentina announces World Cup selection team without Messi
Argentina will take on Chile in Buenos Aires on September 5 in the World Cup qualifiers. Four days later, the reigning world champions will play against the hosts in Colombia. However, Argentina will have to play these two matches without captain Lionel Messi.
Messi is still recovering from a right ankle injury.
The 36-year-old Angel Di Maria, who retired from the national team after winning the recent Copa America, is not on the list either.
Scaloni announced a 28-man preliminary squad for the two World Cup qualifiers. However, the regular captain of Argentina was not kept in that team. This decision by the Argentine Football Association (AFA) is still pending since Messi has not yet recovered from the injury sustained in the Copa America final.
Besides, goalkeeper Franco Armani and winger Di Maria are not in the team as they bid farewell to international football after the Copa America. In addition, Exequiel Palacios is not on the team. Defenders Marcos Acuna and Lucas Martinez Cuarta did not get a chance. Despite rumors, Paulo Dybala did not have a place in the team.
Lionel Scaloni announced two new faces in the 28-man squad – Valentin Castellanos and Matias Soule. Valentin Castellanos, a 25-year-old forward, plays for SS Lazio. Forward Soule, who has just joined another Italian club Roma, is 21.
Argentina's 28-member squad:
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Walter Benitez (PSV Eindhoven), Geronimo Rulli (Olympique Marseille), Juan Musso (Atalanta), Emiliano Martnez (Aston Villa).
Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel, Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Germn Pezzella, Leonardo Balerdi), Nicols Otamendi, Lisandro Martnez, Nicols Tagliafico, Valentn Barco.
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Guido Rodriguez, Alexis McAllister, Enzo Fernandez, Giovanni Lo Celso, Ezequiel Fernandez, Rodrigo De Paul.
Forwards: Nicolas Gonzalez, Alejandro Garnacho, Matias Sole, Giuliano Simeone, Valentin Carboni, Julian Alvarez, Lautaro Martinez and Valentin Castellanos.
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Guido Rodrguez, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernndez, Giovani Lo Celso, Ezequiel Fernndez, Rodrigo de Paul, Nico Gonzlez.
Forwards: Alejandro Garnacho, Matas Soul, Giuliano Simeone, Julin lvarez, Valentn Carboni, Lautaro Martnez, and Valentn Castellanos.
Pakistan announced a strong XI against Bangladesh
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced their playing eleven for their first Test match against Bangladesh Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday. The two-match Test series will kick off on August 21 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
The two Tests against Bangladesh will mark the first assignment of Jason Gillespie as Pakistan's Test coach. The second Test of the two-match series is set to be played from August 30 to September 3 in Karachi.
Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, and Mohammad Ali are the top four pacers for Pakistan who will play against Bangladesh in the first Test match. Meanwhile, Saud Shakeel and Salman Ali Agha will be the hosts' spin bowlers.
Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub will open for Pakistan, while captain Shan Masood and Babar Azam will be in action in the middle order.
Fast bowler Aamir Jamal has been released from the squad due to ongoing fitness issues which impacted Pakistan's lineup against Bangladesh.
Jamal, who suffered a back injury while playing County cricket in England earlier this year, was initially included in Pakistan's squad for the ICC World Test Championship series, pending a fitness clearance. However, the 28-year-old has not fully recovered from his back problem and has been sent to the National Cricket Academy in Lahore for rehabilitation.
Pakistan's playing XI for the 1st Test against Bangladesh: Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood (C), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel (VC), Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali.
Farooq Ahmed assigned as new BCB President
Farooq Ahmed has become the new president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
He was assigned to the BCB President post on Wednesday (August 21).
Former national cricket team captain Farooq Ahmed served as chief selector in BCB for two terms earlier.
Rumors in the sports arena for the last few days that Nazmul Hassan Papon is stepping down from the post of BCB president. And former Tiger captain Farooq Ahmed is going to replace him. That rumor came true on Wednesday with Papon's official resignation.
It should be noted that Farooq Ahmed served as the chief selector of BCB for two terms. He served in the first term from 2003 to 2007 and in the second term from 2013 to 2016. In the second term, he resigned due to a dispute with the board over the election process.
Mushfiqur's impressive knock gives Bangladesh 117-run lead over Pakistan
An impressive performance by Mushfiqur Rahim has helped Bangladesh to build a lead of 117 runs over Pakistan on Day 4 of the first Test against Pakistan on Saturday at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Rahim fell short of nine runs to complete his double century as he was caught out by Mohammad Rizwan at 191.
This was the first century by Raheem against Pakistan, while he scored his career's 11th century. Mehidy Hasan Miraz made 77 runs while Shoriful Islam scored 22.
Naseem Shah took three wickets while Shaheen Afridi, Khurram Shahzad, and Mohammad Ali claimed two wickets each.
Bangladesh resumed their first innings on day four at 316 runs for the loss of 5, trailing by 132 runs.
Bangladesh's opener Shadman Islam stood out with 93 runs, while Mominul Haque and Liton Das scored half-centuries.
Pakistan declared its first innings on 448 for the loss of six wickets. The innings saw Mohammad Rizwan’s unbeaten 171 runs while Saud Shakeel scored 141 runs.
Source: Dunyanews
PAK vs BAN / Bangladesh seal first-ever Test win against Pakistan
Bangladesh recorded their first Test win over Pakistan in their 14th attempt in Rawalpindi, having previously lost 12 Tests since their first meeting in 2001.
Bangladesh on Sunday scripted history as they recorded their maiden Test win over Pakistan at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Najmul Shanto's side beat the hosts by 10 wickets after being set a modest target of 30. Opting to field first, Bangladesh had started the Test on a high, leaving Shan Masood’s men reeling at 16 for three on the opening day. However, riding on middle-order batter Saud Shakeel (141) and wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan’s (171) rearguard centuries, Pakistan declared the first-innings at 448 for six.
Fielding an all-pace Test attack for the first time in 28 years, Pakistan were then put on the backfoot by Bangladesh as they racked up 565 in reply, earning a 117-run lead. Veteran Mushfiqur Rahim struck a 341-ball 191, backed by able fifties from Shadman Islam (93) and Mehidy Hasan (77) to fend off Pakistan.
The win marked Bangladesh’s first Test win over Pakistan in 14 attempts. They had previously lost 12 matches while securing a solitary draw since their first meeting in 2001. Bangladesh have now beaten nine of the 11-Test playing teams they met. They are yet to register a win over India and South Africa.
The win marked Bangladesh’s 20th Test victory across 143 matches and seventh away from home. The Tigers have previously won in twice in the Caribbean and Zimbabwe besides solitary wins in Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
Consequently, the Tigers also moved past Pakistan on the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 points table standings with their second win in five games this cycle. Pakistan slipped to the eighth spot following their fourth defeat in six games this cycle, shrinking their points percentage (PCT) to 30.55.
The teams will meet in the second Test at the same venue starting August 30.
Source: TIE