The scoreboard showed 74 for 3, with Australia needing a further 114 to take a 2-0 lead in the four-match series. As long as Steve Smith was out there, hope would float. But Umesh Yadav, who would turn out to be the best pace bowler on view in the series, had other ideas. He angled one in at Smith’s legs, and the variable bounce did the rest. As soon as the ball thudded into his pad, Smith must have known that his number was up. In despair, he stared at Peter Handscomb at the non-striker’s end. Would a review save him? As the two batsmen deliberated, they also made the mistake of looking in the direction of the dressing room.
Not a smart idea. Virat Kohli, India’s captain, was already on edge, with his desire to level the series further stoked by his controversial dismissal in the second innings. If he wasn’t going to influence the match with the bat, he certainly wasn’t going to let his counterpart get away with flouting accepted protocols. At the press conference a few hours later, not long after India had wrapped up a famous 75-run win, Kohli was still seething about Smith’s “brain fade.” “There are lines you don’t cross on the cricket field,” he said. “I don’t want to mention the word, but it falls under that bracket.”
When an Australian journalist asked if he meant the word “cheat”, Kohli replied: “I didn’t say that, you did.” Smith would go on to score 499 runs in the series, while Kohli tallied a miserable 46 from five innings before missing the final Test with a shoulder injury. But unlike the much-hyped-but-damp-squib Ashes, India-Australia truly was a heavyweight contest to savour.
The Pune loss to Australia — Smith, predictably, made a century — was India’s only one of the calendar year, as they won seven Tests to stretch their lead atop the rankings. They had the most ODI wins too, but suffered the mortification of having their thunder stolen by their noisy neighbors. Few gave Pakistan a chance going into June’s Champions Trophy, even less so once India dished out a real thumping in the opening game.
But when they’re hot, Pakistan can scorch the turf. And they duly did, seeing off South Africa and Sri Lanka to make the semifinal. Sri Lanka, once a fixture in the final stages of major competitions, upset the highly fancied Indians at The Oval, but then dropped some ridiculously easy catches to wave Pakistan into the final four.
Once there, they brushed England aside, with Hasan Ali, the new Punjabi fast-bowling sensation, taking a third successive three-wicket haul. With India breezing past Bangladesh in the other semi, the final that the ICC dreams of each time they draw up a tournament schedule was a reality.
India had won a World Cup quarterfinal (1996) and semifinal (2011), with the World Twenty20 triumph (2007) sandwiched between them. But more than two decades of bragging rights in the most intense of rivalries came to an end in what turned out to the polar opposite of their group-stage encounter. This time, Pakistan piled up the huge total. Fakhar Zaman, bowled off a Jasprit Bumrah no-ball early on, cashed in with some breathtaking strokeplay, and his teammates batted sensibly around him. R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, so instrumental in India winning the trophy four years earlier, could exert no influence, and there was cautious optimism in the green-and-white ranks at halfway.
That gave way to euphoria as Mohammed Amir winkled out India’s top three in no time. The key wicket was of course Kohli, chaser extraordinaire. Ali’s bustling pace mopped things up, even as Hardik Pandya blazed away in a bid to save some face. But after years of being at the wrong end of cruel barbs, this was one midsummer night’s dream Pakistanis would never forget.
On the subject of dusks, the gorgeous Adelaide Oval showed once again why day-night Test cricket is here to stay. Australia won, again, to tighten their grip on the Ashes, but the real headlines were made by the fans. As many as 199,147 made their way through the turnstiles to watch the pink-ball spectacle, a record aggregate for a venue that has hosted Tests for 133 years.
In a year when the long-mooted Test championship was finally given shape and form, both Adelaide and Bangalore, as well as the Champions Trophy final watched by hundreds of millions, brought home the importance of both context and contest. For supporters to part with their hard-earned money, you need rivalries that appeal to their primal emotions. In the absence of such a historical divide, you need the sort of edge-of-seat contest that India and Australia provided.
Test cricket may no longer enjoy the primacy that administrators love to talk about, but the Ashes crowds and those fans that created a Colosseum-like atmosphere on the final day in Bangalore certainly didn’t think they were watching a form of the game on its death bed. If you give them something worth watching, they’ll turn up. It’s just that no one wants to see painting by numbers.
In 2017, the two big boys of Asian cricket reigned supreme
In 2017, the two big boys of Asian cricket reigned supreme
ICC Champions Trophy schedule announced, matches split between Pakistan and Dubai
- The tournament is set to begin on 19 February in Karachi, with Pakistan taking on New Zealand
- ICC says Lahore will host the final match of the cricket contest on 9 March, unless India qualify
ISLAMABAD: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday unveiled the schedule for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which will take place from February 19 to March 9, with matches hosted across Pakistan and Dubai in a hybrid model.
The tournament’s structure follows a compromise decision after India refused to play in Pakistan, citing security concerns. Exercising its rights as the host nation, Pakistan designated Dubai as the neutral venue for India’s matches, ensuring all teams’ participation.
“The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 fixtures and groupings have been announced by the ICC ... with the tournament set to begin on 19 February in Karachi with the final on 9 March,” the global governing body of cricket announced in a statement on its website.
“The eight-team tournament will feature 15 matches, and will be played across Pakistan and in Dubai,” it added. “Lahore will also host the final on 9 March, unless India qualify, in which case it will be played in Dubai. Both the semifinals and the final will have reserve days.”
In Pakistan, Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi will host three group-stage games each. Lahore is also set to host the second semifinal.
Meanwhile, Dubai will host all three of India’s group matches and the first semifinal, should India qualify.
The tournament opener on February 19 will feature Pakistan taking on New Zealand in Karachi, while India will face Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20.
This will be the ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy and its return after an eight-year hiatus, the last tournament having taken place in England in 2017. The event will feature the top eight teams in world cricket competing for one of the sport’s most prestigious titles.
The hybrid model, while a logistical challenge, aims to strike a balance between accommodating geopolitical realities and ensuring the integrity of the tournament, which cricket fans worldwide await.
West Indies cricket team to arrive for first Test tour of Pakistan in 19 years on Jan. 6
- West Indies to play two Test matches against Pakistan in Multan from Jan. 17-29, says PCB
- West Indies last toured Pakistan for a Test series in November 2006 for three-match series
ISLAMABAD: The West Indian national men’s cricket team will arrive for their first Test tour of Pakistan in 19 years on Jan. 6, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on Tuesday, during which they will play two Test matches.
The last time the West Indies played a Test series on Pakistani soil was in November 2006, when they played three Tests. Their last Test away Test series against Pakistan was in the UAE in October 2016, which was selected as Pakistan’s home venue for cricket series after 2009 when a militant attack in Lahore scared away international cricket teams from touring the country.
The former two-time ODI World Cup champions have, however, thrice toured Pakistan since April 2018— one for an ODI series in June 2022 and twice for a bilateral T20I series in April 2018 and December 2021.
“The West Indies cricket team will arrive in Islamabad on 6 January and after playing a three-day match against Pakistan Shaheens from 10-12 January at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, they will take on Pakistan in back-to-back Tests in Multan,” the PCB said. “The first Test will be played from 17-21 January, while the second Test will be held from 25-29 January.”
International cricket teams refused to play cricket in Pakistan for years after militants attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team’s bus in Lahore in 2009, wounding six players and killing two civilians and six security officials.
International cricket and its stars, however, slowly returned to playing in the country as the security situation in Pakistan gradually improved. The South Asian country is gearing up to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 from February to March next year.
This will be the first time that Pakistan will be hosting an ICC tournament on its home soil since 1996 when it co-hosted the ICC ODI World Cup won by Sri Lanka.
Inter beat Como to keep in touch with leaders Atalanta
- Como, coached by Cesc Fabregas, slipped a spot to 16th and sit just one point clear of the relegation zone
MILAN, Italy: Inter Milan saw off Como 2-0 on Monday to stretch their unbeaten run in Serie A to 11 games and move back to within three points of leaders Atalanta.
Defender Carlos Augusto headed in from a corner early in the second half before Marcus Thuram wrapped up a fourth successive league win with a thumping finish in stoppage time.
Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer made a crucial save on the hour to deny Nico Paz an equalizer as Simone Inzaghi’s side showed signs of weariness at the San Siro in what was their third outing in a week.
Thuram’s goal was his 12th of the season and sent him level with Atalanta striker Mateo Retegui for the league lead.
“Marcus is a high-class player who always trains well and has adapted very quickly to the way we play,” said Inzaghi.
“You have to congratulate Como for coming here and giving it their all, but we stayed focused and showed great maturity.”
Third-placed Inter are a point behind Napoli but have played a game less than the top two teams after their match with Fiorentina was called off at the start of December following Edoardo Bove’s sudden collapse.
Reigning champions Inter visit lowly Cagliari this weekend and could put the pressure back on Atalanta, who are away to Lazio in the late game on Saturday.
Como, coached by Cesc Fabregas, slipped a spot to 16th and sit just one point clear of the relegation zone.
Fiorentina lost more ground in the title race after falling to a 2-1 home defeat by Udinese.
Moise Kean’s early penalty gave Fiorentina the lead as they sought to shake off last weekend’s loss to Bologna that snapped the club’s eight-match winning streak in Serie A.
However, Udinese equalized shortly after half-time through Lorenzo Lucca and former France international Florian Thauvin curled in the winner from outside the area.
“The most important thing for me is not the goal but the victory. These are three important points against a very strong team,” said Udinese captain Thauvin.
Udinese stayed ninth and are eight points off the European places.
Complete lineup for February UFC event in Riyadh announced
RIYADH: Organizers confirmed on Monday the complete list of fighters for the UFC Fight Night event in the Saudi capital on Feb. 1.
Israel Adesanya versus Nassourdine Imavov is the main event for the second UFC event held in the Kingdom.
The card features Dagestani fighter Said Nurmagomedov (18-3-0) will face Brazilian Vinicius “Lok Dog” Oliveira (21-3-0), while Tajik Muhammad Naimov (11-3-0) squares off against Australian Kaan Ofli (12-3-1).
In another bout, American Terrance McKinney (15-7-0) will clash with Denmark’s Damir Hadzovic (14-7-0), and Austrian Bogdan Grad (14-2-0) will meet Brazilian Lucas Alexander (8-4-0).
Highlighting Arab representation, Egyptian Hamdy Abdelwahab (5-0-0) will take on American Jamal Boggs (11-4-0), while Bahraini Shamil Gaziev (13-1-0) faces a tough challenge against American Thomas Petersen (9-2-0).
The excitement continues as Americans Jordan Leavitt (11-3-0) and Abdul Kareem Al-Selwady (15-4-0) battle it out, and Russian Sergei Pavlovich (18-3-0) faces Surinamese fighter Jairzinho “Bigi Boy” Rozenstruik (15-5-0).
Dagestani Ikram Aliskerov (15-2-0) will take on Brazilian André Muniz (24-6-0) in a blockbuster bout.
Adesanya, the Nigerian-born New Zealander, is one of UFC’s all-time greats, making a return after a title fight against Dricus du Plessis earlier this year. He is determined to reclaim his dominance with a decisive victory over Imavov.
In June the UFC hosted the first ever event in the Kingdom, bringing the premier fighting championship to Saudi fans of MMA.
Tickets are available for the event at the anb Arena on Jan. 3.
Saudi striker Saleh Al-Shehri out of remainder of Gulf Cup after injury in first match
- Loss of the player, a standout performer recently, after picking up a muscle injury in Sunday’s 3-2 defeat by Bahrain is a significant blow
KUWAIT CITY: Saudi national team striker Saleh Al-Shehri has been ruled out of the remainder of the 26th Gulf Cup after sustaining a muscle injury during the Green Falcons’ opening match against Bahrain on Sunday.
Head coach Herve Renard made the decision to send Al-Shehri home from the team’s training camp after medical reports confirmed the injury will require treatment and rehabilitation.
Saudi Arabia suffered a 3-2 defeat in the match against Bahrain. The loss of Al-Shehri, a key player and standout performer for the team in recent months, will be a significant blow for the squad as they attempt to get their Gulf Cup campaign back on track against Yemen at Jaber Stadium in Kuwait on Wednesday.
During a training session on Monday evening, Renard divided the squad into two groups, with the players who started on Sunday focusing on recovery exercises in the gym while the remainder of the squad trained on the pitch at Al-Nassr Club Stadium.