Showing posts with label West indies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label West indies. Show all posts
Monday, 2 March 2026
Tuesday, 17 February 2026
Saturday, 14 February 2026
Wednesday, 22 October 2025
STATS: PAKISTAN'S ASIF AFRIDI BECOMES THE OLDEST BOWLER TO BAD FIVE WICKETS ON TEST DEBUT, BREAKS 92-YEAR OLD RECORD IN RWALPINDI
PAK vs SA: Afridi broke a 92-year-old world record held by England's Charles Marriott who picked two five-wicket hauls on debut against the West Indies on successive days at the Oval in 1933.
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| Pakistan's Asif Afridi became the oldest bowler to pick five wickets on Test debut. (AP Photo) |
Pakistan left-arm spinner Asif Afridi on Wednesday became the oldest bowler in Test history to bag a five-wicket haul on debut, achieving the feat on the third day of the second Test against South Africa in Rawalpindi.
Afridi recorded the landmark when he dismissed South Africa spinner Simon Harmer leg-before on 10, reducing the visitors to 210 for seven in their pursuit of Pakistan’s first-innings score of 333.
Afridi broke a 92-year-old world record held by England’s Charles Marriott who picked two five-wicket hauls on debut against the West Indies on successive days at the Oval in 1933. Marriott was 37 years and 334 days old when he bagged the feat, nearly a year younger than Afridi who is 38 years and 301 days old as of Wednesday.
Afridi surpassed the Pakistan record held by his current teammate Noman Ali, who claimed figures of 5/35 against the Proteas during his Test debut in 2021.
The remarkable record for the oldest player to achieve a five-wicket haul in Test cricket belongs to the Australian spin bowler, Bert Ironmonger. He was 49 years and 311 days old when he accomplished this feat by taking 6 wickets for just 18 runs against South Africa in Melbourne on February 12, 1932.
38 YEARS OLD ASIF AFRIDI GETS A FIFER ON TEST DEBUT! 🤩🙌 pic.twitter.com/phz8KJqVdj
— PCT Replays 2.0 (@ReplaysPCT) October 22, 2025
Afridi’s teammate Noman also continues to hold the record as the oldest bowler to achieve a five-wicket haul for Pakistan. The spinner was 39 years and 5 days old when he claimed 6 wickets for 112 runs against South Africa. He set this mark during the first innings of the ongoing series’ first Test, played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
From ban to debut
Afridi’s selection by the PCB had raised eyeballs after the 38-year-old left-armer was once banned for two years for his involvement in spot-fixing in Pakistan’s domestic cricket. However, he was allowed to return after serving just over a year of the ban by the Pakistan Cricket Board, who had not given any reason for relaxing the suspension. This is Afridi’s first ever international appearance. He made his first class debut in January 2009 and has taken 198 wickets in 57 matches. List A matches and 78 wickets in 85 T20s.
- Sports Desk, The Indian Express
Wednesday, 13 August 2025
HOPE, SEALES HELP WINDIES END 34-YEAR DROUGHT AGAINST PAKISTAN
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| Courtesy of @wiplayers Man of the Match Shai Hope celebrates his century against Pakistan during the third and final One-Day International in Trinidad and Tobago yesterday. Hope scored an unbeaten 120 |
A SENSATIONAL, unbeaten century from skipper Shai Hope, followed by a devastating spell of fast bowling by Jayden Seales piloted the West Indies to a historic 202-run victory over Pakistan at the Brian Lara Cricket Stadium yesterday.
Their heroics ended a 34-year-long wait for a bilateral One-Day International (ODI) series win over Pakistan, having last defeated them in 1991, and was also their largest ever win over the visitors.
It also gave the West Indies their first ODI series win for 2025, following defeats to England and Pakistan and a drawn series against Ireland.
Player-of-the-Match Hope produced a master class of an innings in scoring 120 not out and was the main reason the home side posted a formidable 294 for six in their 50 overs after they were sent in to bat.
Seales, who was named Player of the Series after finishing with 10 wickets, then wrecked Pakistan’s top order on his way to the joint second-best figures (6-18) by a West Indies man in ODI cricket, to bundle them out for just 92 in 29.2 overs.
The West Indies were stifled by a slow start, and by the end of the 14th over, had progressed to 57 for the loss of openers Brandon King and Evin Lewis for five and 37, respectively.
Abrar Ahmed looked out of sorts for the second straight match before Abrar Ahmed dismissed him yet again for 17 from 45 balls, and when Sherfane Rutherford lost his wicket to Saim Ayub for a laboured 15 from 40 balls, West Indies fell to 113 for four in the 31st over, a run rate of less than four runs an over.
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| Courtesy of @wiplayers West Indies Player of the Series Jayden Seales (second right) celebrates with teammates after taking a Pakistan wicket during yesterday’s third and final One-Day International at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad and Tobago. Seales bagged six for 18. |
Hope found a useful ally in Roston Chase, and the pair added 64 runs in 10 overs to get the West Indies going.
During that period, Hope reached his half-century off 54 balls with a paddle sweep off spinner Mohammad Nawaz that brought him three runs.
Chase hit two huge sixes and three fours in his knock before he was undone by an excellent yorker from pacer Naseem Shah to leave the Windies 177 for five in the 41st over.
Gudakesh Motie only lasted seven balls before he was caught and bowled by Mohammad Nawaz, and the home side were in real trouble of being bowled out inside their allotted overs.
However, a 110-run partnership between Hope and Justin Greaves completely turned the innings around and left Pakistan’s bowlers shell shocked.
Hope began the carnage by blasting Mohammad Nawaz for consecutive sixes in the 44th over that yielded 15 runs and followed up by clobbering Ahmed for two sixes and a four in the ensuing over that went for 18, to move into the 90s.
He then brought up his 18th ODI century off 83 balls with a blazing cover drive off Shah that sped away to the boundary.
Greaves then got into the act, hoisting Hasan Ali for a six and a four in the 18th over that also cost 18.
Hope saved his best for the penultimate over, blasting Shah for a six and three fours, and he deservingly ended the innings by hitting Ali over point for another boundary.
In all, he faced 94 balls and struck 10 fours and five sixes while Greaves ended unbeaten on 43 from 24 balls with four fours and two sixes as the West Indies gathered 100 from the last seven overs.
Pakistan’s run chase suffered an early setback when Seales had Ayub caught behind with the third ball of the innings without a run on the board.
Things went from bad to worse for the visitors when the fast bowler had Abdullah Shafique caught at mid-on by Motie, also for a duck, and then bowled captain Mohammad Rizwan first ball with an inswinger that he left alone, to leave Pakistan in tatters at eight for three.
The match was essentially over when Seales trapped Babar Azam lbw for nine as Pakistan fell to 23 for four.
Hasan Nawaz and Salman Agha tried their best in a 38-run partnership for the fifth wicket, but once Motie had the former stumped as he tried to hit him out of the ground, the end came swiftly.
Hussain Talat was bowled by a quicker delivery from Chase, and Motie snapped up a sharp caught-and-bowled opportunity to dismiss Agha for the topscore of 30 to make the score 70 for seven.
Seales then returned to dismiss Shah and Ali cheaply, and Chase ran out Abrar Ahmed to finish the match and spark wild celebrations among the West Indies players and fans.
Monday, 21 July 2025
Tuesday, 15 July 2025
Saturday, 28 June 2025
CRICKET: AUSTRALIA CRUSH WEST INDIES IN BARBADOS
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| The Australian cricket team celebrate a win in the first test against the West Indies at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados, on June 27 2025. Photo: RANDY BROOKS |
Australia ruthlessly completed a 159-run victory over West Indies in the first test, with Nathan Lyon sweeping up the tail after Josh Hazlewood's five-wicket masterclass broke the hosts' resistance on a pitch that deteriorated into a bowler's paradise.
Lyon claimed the final two wickets in consecutive deliveries, ending Shamar Joseph's entertaining knock at 44 from just 22 balls, as West Indies were dismissed for 141 chasing an improbable 301 to hand Australia a 1-0 series lead.
"There was enough in the wicket, up-and-down from a length," said Hazlewood, who finished with figures of five for 43.
"It's just about hitting that area time and time again and being patient. I'm just enjoying cricket, tests at the moment. Good team, atmosphere.
"I think once we saw West Indies take the second new ball today, we thought things could happen, but not that fast. There's a few cracks on a length from one end, some went low and we got a few bowled and lbws."
Hazlewood's victims included John Campbell (caught behind attempting a scoop), Brandon King (edging to gully first ball), Roston Chase (popping to short leg) and Keacy Carty (bowled by vicious seam movement), before completing his 13th test five-wicket haul by having Warrican caught at slip.
Pat Cummins added Shai Hope's wicket with another delivery that kept fatally low, while substitute fielder Marnus Labuschagne's direct hit ran out Alzarri Joseph to underline Australia's superiority in all departments.
Earlier, Australia had methodically constructed their match-winning position through intelligent batting across three sessions.
Beau Webster (63) and Travis Head (61) forged the match's first century partnership before Head was left sprawled face-down by a Shamar Joseph delivery that scuttled beneath his bat.
Alex Carey's enterprising 65, featuring a spectacular six onto the stadium roof, effectively sealed the contest despite Joseph claiming his own five-wicket haul with a tireless display of seam bowling.
The day's dramatic shifts perfectly encapsulated test cricket's unpredictability, from morning resistance to afternoon collapse, with Australia demonstrating precisely why they remain the format's benchmark team.
- Reuters
Tuesday, 10 June 2025
NICHOLAS POORAN MAKES BOMBSHELL RETIREMENT CALL FROM INTERNATIONAL CRICKET
Nicholas Pooran, who made his international debut in 2016, retires as West Indies' leading run scorer and most-capped player in the shortest format of the game
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| Reuters |
In a shocking development, West Indies' premier batter Nicholas Pooran has announced his retirement from international cricket. The left-hander, arguably among the most destructive white-ball batters at the moment, leaves the game as West Indies' top run-scorer and most capped player in the shortest format of the game.
Pooran made the revelation through a statement on his Instagram account on Tuesday, June 10.
"To the fans - thank you for your unwavering love. You lifted me in the tough moments and celebrated the good ones with unmatched passion. To my family, friends and teammates - thank you for walking the journey with me. Your belief and support carried me through it all. Though this international chapter of my career closes, my love for West Indies Cricket will never fade. I wish the team and the region nothing but success and strength for the road ahead."
Pooran's decision comes at a time when he is at the peak of his powers in the shorter formats of the game, especially T20 cricket. In 2024, no batter hit more sixes than Pooran (170) in the shortest format, and it was a record that he replicated in IPL 2025 too, smashing 40 sixes to top the charts. With the 2026 T20 World Cup less than a year away, the southpaw was touted to lead West Indies' batting might at the premier tournament. Given his short yet impactful captaincy stint, Pooran's leadership will also be missed.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) responded to Pooran's announcement with a statement of courtesy. It must also be remembered that Pooran had opted out of the ongoing England tour to take a break following the rigorous IPL season.
"Cricket West Indies extends sincere gratitude and appreciation to Nicholas Pooran for his outstanding contributions to West Indies cricket," a statement from CWI said on Monday.
"We salute his achievements and thank him for the moments he has given fans across the region and beyond. We wish him all the very best in the next phase of his journey."
Pooran finishes his career with 2275 T20I runs at a strike-rate of 136 from 106 games. His ODI returns were also reasonable, given his style of play. From 61 games, Pooran aggregated 1983 runs at an average of 39.66 and an impressive strike rate of 99, including a fine 2019 ODI World Cup campaign. However, he was unable to replicate his T20I skills in ODIs. Apart from featuring in the T20 World Cup next year, the ODI World Cup in 2027 would have been a significant target in Pooran's roadmap.
The Trinidadian will continue to ply his trade in franchise leagues around the world, notably the IPL, CPL and BBL.
Saturday, 25 January 2025
PAKISTANI SPINNER NORMAN ALI TAKES HISTORIC TEST HAT-TRICK AS WINDIES COLLAPSE
Veteran Pakistan tweaker Noman Ali became the fifth male bowler from his country to take a Test hat-trick and the first male spinner of his nationality to do so in a destruction of the West Indies on Saturday.
The West Indies' tail-enders wagged in Multan to propel the touring side to 163 in the second match of the two-Test series, but at one stage the visitors were reeling at 7-38 and in danger of being skittled for their lowest total in Test history, which remains the 47 they were rolled for by England in Kingston in 2004.
Ali, a left-arm orthodox bowler featuring in his 19th Test at the age of 38, snared the first wicket of his hat-trick when he drew Justin Greaves forward and had him caught at second slip, removing him for 1.
The finger spinner took the second wicket of his hat-trick when he lulled Tevin Imlach into sweeping and trapped him lbw. The Pakistanis screamed at Australian umpire Paul Reiffel for a long time, but his finger eventually went up.
And Ali completed his hat-trick when he claimed the wicket of Kevin Sinclair, who perished in similar fashion to Greaves.
The hat-trick hero broke into a celebratory sprint with his hands thrust above his head as his teammates swamped him at Multan Cricket Stadium.
The only other Pakistani men who've taken a Test hat-trick are Wasim Akram (the legendary left-armer did so twice), Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Sami and Naseem Shah.
Shaiza Khan, a Pakistani leg-spinner in women's cricket in the 1990s and 2000s, also took a Test hat-trick.
The previous man of any nationality to take a Test hat-trick was England quick Gus Atkinson, who stunned New Zealand in Wellington in December.
In Multan on Saturday, the West Indies' No.9, No.10 and No.11 made the visitors' highest scores of the innings, with Gudakesh Motie chalking up 55, Kemar Roach 25 and Jomel Warrican an unbeaten 36.
The only other West Indies batter who reached double digits was No.4 Kavem Hodge, who lost his wicket for 21.
The West Indies collapsed from 2-32 to 7-38, then were bowled out for 163 in the 42nd over.
Ali finished with the figures of 6-41, but the best Test innings figures of his career remain the 8-46 he took against England at the same ground in October.
- Zachary Gates
Sunday, 19 January 2025
TEAMS TO TAKE 20 SPIN WICKETS IN A TEST: PAKISTAN'S 60/60 RUN SETS NEW WORLD RECORD
Pakistan secured a 127-run win over West Indies in the first Test in Multan, taking all 20 wickets through spin to set a new world record.
On day three of the first Test, after Pakistan set a target of 251 runs in the first Test against West Indies, off-spinner Sajid Khan removed West Indies' top five batters, adding to his tally of four wickets in the first innings.
Noman Ali chipped in with one wicket, trapping Justin Greaves lbw after he had taken five wickets in the first innings. Abrar Ahmed then took four wickets, demolishing the lower order in a hurry to help the hosts wrap up a 127-run win. He finished with five in the match.
20 wickets via spinners in a Test: Pakistan set new world record
In their last home series, Pakistan had hosted England for a three-Test series. After losing the first Test on a flat track by an innings, courtesy of a triple century by Harry Brook, the Pakistan management shook up their formula of seamer-friendly tracks and deployed extremely spin-friendly pitches in the remaining two Tests. Their spinners then ran riot, taking 40 out of 40 wickets in those two Tests to help the hosts win the series 2-1.
With another 20 wickets taken by spinners in this Test, Pakistan have now achieved the feat of taking 20 wickets via spinners for three straight home Tests, and five times in total including two instances from the 20th century. India held this particular record previously, with four instances.
The unique 60/60 wickets to spin record in Pakistan's last three home Tests has been led by Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, who have taken 26 and 28 wickets respectively. Abrar Ahmed has taken five, and Zahid Mehmood one.
Full list: Instances of a team taking 20 wickets through spin in a Test
Apart from the last three Test matches at home, Pakistan took 20 wickets via spinners against West Indies in Faisalabad in 1980 where Iqbal Qasim, Mohammad Nazir, and Abdul Qadir completed the rout.
In November 1987, it was England who fell victim to Pakistan's slow bowlers as Abdul Qadir took 13 wickets, Tauseef Ahmed took four, and Iqbal Qasim struck thrice in the second innings.
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have done this three times each, and England once. India are the only team ever to achieve this away from home, against New Zealand in Auckland, in 1976.
On that occasion, Erapalli Prasanna took 11 wickets, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar eight and S Venkataraghavan one to complete the set.
Thursday, 30 May 2024
T20 WORLD CUP A BOOST TO SPORT'S AMERICAN DREAM
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| Reuters |
Cricket begins a campaign for the hearts and wallets of American fans this week, as the T20 World Cup kicks off on Saturday in Dallas, bringing the best of the sport to less familiar territory.
The United States play Canada in the first match of the tournament co-hosted by the West Indies, while a temporary stadium in Nassau County, New York, hosts its first of eight fixtures on Monday. Lauderhill, Florida, will host four matches.
Cricket boasts billion fans around the globe but few adherents in the lucrative North American market, where fans are more accustomed to watching New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge picking up a bat than Rohit Sharma or Jos Buttler.
"This is the start of a journey," International Cricket Council (ICC) CEO Geoff Allardice told Reuters. "The awareness that we're bringing in more elite cricket to the USA is something that's been a strategic priority for us."
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| Reuters |
The journey started with Major League Cricket, which began play in the United States last year, and culminates with the 2028 Los Angeles Games, where cricket will be reintroduced to the Olympic programme for the first time since 1900.
"In the lead up to the Los Angeles Olympics, I think we'll be continuing to try and raise the profile of cricket, not just for the established cricket fans in the USA but for new fans," said Allardice.
The tournament, which counts Jamaican track hero Usain Bolt as an ambassador, is a dream come true for U.S. immigrants, who comprise much of the sport's U.S. fan base and are more used to watching the action on television than in their own backyard.
"I mean, (India have) got some of the biggest names in world sport as part of their team," said Allardice. "And to be able to get close to them and see them in action, I think it's an opportunity that's something that comes along (not) very often for cricket fans in the USA."
The ICC T20 World Cup runs from June 1-29.
- Amy Tennery
Tuesday, 27 June 2023
WORLD CUP TO BEGIN OCT. 5 | AHMEDABAD HOSTS FINAL
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| Reuters |
The Cricket World Cup will begin on Oct. 5 with England facing New Zealand in Ahmedabad and the same venue hosting the final on Nov. 19, organisers said on Tuesday, with the schedule for the showpiece in India also confirming Pakistan's participation.
The fixtures were revealed by the International Cricket Council during an event in Mumbai, less than four months before the start of the 50-overs tournament, with the delay partly due to sour political relations between India and Pakistan.
India's refusal to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup in August-September triggered the latest dispute between the bitter neighbours, who play each other only in multi-team events.
Pakistan responded by threatening to boycott the World Cup if they were not allowed to stage at least some matches of the Asia Cup on home soil.
The stalemate was finally resolved this month when Pakistan agreed to split matches with Sri Lanka, where India will play their Asia Cup matches.
South Asia's arch-rivals meet in the tournament's most anticipated match on Oct. 15 in Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium - the biggest cricket venue in the world by capacity.
However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) added a caveat saying they would still need government clearance for any tour to India, including World Cup match venues.
"We are liaising with our government for guidance," PCB Communications Director Sami Ul Hasan said in a statement.
"This position is consistent to what we had told the ICC a couple of weeks ago when they shared with us the draft schedule and sought our feedback."
India begin their campaign on Oct. 8 against five-times champions Australia in Chennai.
England's opener against New Zealand is a rematch of the 2019 final in which England prevailed via a now-scrapped boundary count rule.
Among other key fixtures, 1992 champions Pakistan meet Australia in Bengaluru on Oct. 20, while England take on South Africa the following day in Mumbai.
Australia captain Pat Cummins said he was looking forward to the atmosphere at the match with India in Chennai.
"You know there's going to be big crowds, but no bigger than playing India at home in a World Cup game, so that's going to be exciting for us," he said.
"It will be a huge challenge, they're a top-class team but if you want to win a World Cup you're going to have to be better than everyone else, so why not take on India straight up?"
The first semi-final will take place on Nov. 15 in Mumbai with Kolkata hosting the second the following day. Both games, as well as the final, will be day-night fixtures.
There will be a total of 10 venues for the 10-team tournament - Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Dharamsala, Delhi, Chennai, Lucknow, Pune, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Kolkata.
Apart from hosts India, the teams that have qualified include Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa.
Two more sides will join them following a qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe, which will conclude on July 9.
Twice winners West Indies have appeared at every tournament since it was first staged in 1975 but defeat by the Netherlands in the qualifying event on Monday leaves their chances hanging by a thread.
- Reuters
Monday, 27 March 2023
Sunday, 26 March 2023
Saturday, 6 March 2021
Saturday, 2 May 2020
Monday, 25 September 2017
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