Pujara wants to open in ODIs
Mumbai: looking to cement his place in India’s One-day cricket team, batsman Cheteshwar Pujara on Thursday said that he would like to open the innings in the limited overs format. “I would like to bat top of the order. I can’t just say that I just would prefer to open the innings. It depends on the team’s requirement. Given an opportunity, obviously I would prefer to open the innings but even batting at number three or four, it is not deep down the order,” said Pujara. "If I am batting one to four, I am happy doing that," he added. Asked about the adjustments he would have to bring to his game if he wanted to play in the ODIs, Pujara explained, "In ODIs, there is not a major change, especially with the two new balls, you still want to play proper cricketing shots initially. And then once the ball gets old, you can start accelerating. "Being a top order batsman, I don't need to make too many adjustments in ODI format because there is a lot of movement. We all know there are two new balls and most of the matches are in overseas condition. "Initially you want to bat like what you do in Test format and even when I am set in a Test match, my strike rate has improved a lot. Once I cross 50 runs, after that I start playing the shots. In ODIs maybe, you can't have so much of time but what I need to do is that the way I bat in the Test match after scoring a 50, I can just do the same thing when I go into bat," he explained.
Hafeez quits T20 captaincy
Karachi: Pakistan’s influential all-rounder, Mohammad Hafeez today announced he was stepping down as captain of the national T20 team after its shock group-stage exit from the ICC World T20 tournament in Bangladesh. His announcement came after he came out of a meeting with the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Najam Sethi, giving rise to speculations that he was told to resign or face the axe. “I take responsibility for the team’s poor performance after the high expectations everyone had from us in the World T20,” Hafeez said. “No one has forced me to resign... I think this is the right thing to do because as captain I am responsible for the good and bad performances of the team,” he stated.
Sehwag Sizzles in Delhi victory Mohali:
Virender Sehwag smashed 67 off 35 balls to propel Delhi to a six-wicket win over Punjab in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy (North Zone) match here on Thursday. Put in to bat, Punjab scored a competitive 174 for seven in their allotted 20 overs, but thanks to Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir (40 off 25) and Sumit Narwal (42 off 23), Delhi overcame the target with 10 balls to spare. Sehwag and Gambhir set the tone for a successful chase before Narwal’s onslaught got their team over the line.
Pietersen keen to mentor players
london: Kevin Pietersen said he was looking forward to sharing the benefits of his experience with international stars of the future now that his own England career had been terminated. “It is good to come to the end of an international career and help others who are the start of an international career,” Pietersen told kiaoval.Com on Thursday. “I won’t be forceful in my knowledge. But I’ve got experience in training, the mental preparation that goes in to making you successful — which I’ve nailed well. “So it’s a case of handing over that knowledge, if someone wants it.”Pietersen also plans to take part in both English domestic T20 with Surrey and the Caribbean Premier league equivalent for an as yet to be decided franchise, even though the two tournaments overlap.