Latest news with #ICCWorldCup2019
NDTV
15-07-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
Virat Kohli Namedropped In Big Take On 'Sledging' Row At Lord's: "Forgive Me For Degrading..."
Former England captain Michael Atherton namedropped Virat Kohli while discussing the on-field spats during the Lord's Test between India and England. There were multiple occasions where players got into altercations and Atherton recalled Kohli's shoulder barge episode in Australia last year to give an example of the kind of incidents that should not happen on the cricket ground. The former England cricket team captain was referring to the spat between Mohammed Siraj and England batter Ben Duckett. In his column for The Times, Atherton pointed out that there should be some balance between passion as well as sportsmanship when it comes to Test cricket and such on-field spats should not happen. "Forgive me for degrading the report of a great match with this nonsense, but wouldn't spectators rather see players caring too much, rather than too little, about playing Tests. No one, of course, wants to see physical altercations on the field of play, or sustained nasty verbal abuse. There should be no place, for example, for the shoulder barge that Virat Kohli initiated in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne last Christmas, when he diverted from his path to deliberately walk into Sam Konstas. In a match where there was plenty of spice and niggle, tempers flared as Carse and Jadeja collided mid-pitch, although the impact was entirely accidental, after Jadeja had deflected the ball towards third man, with both players ball-watching rather than minding each other's path," he wrote. Atherton also mentioned England's historic ICC World Cup 2019 victory - exactly six years ago - and drew paralells between them with respect to Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer 's performances. "Six years ago to the day, Lord's had witnessed the most remarkable finish to any cricket match, when the World Cup final was decided on a boundary countback after a Super Over. Now the game delivered an extraordinary finish again, with two of the protagonists from that day, Stokes and Jofra Archer, taking centre stage," Atherton wrote in his column.
Express Tribune
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Muhammad Masroor confirms his departure as Pakistan's fielding coach
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has opted not to extend Mohammad Masroor's role as the national team's fielding coach, bringing his tenure to an end just weeks before the Asia Cup 2025. Masroor, who held the position on a series-to-series basis, confirmed his departure through a message on LinkedIn, thanking players, colleagues, and fans. 'Though my chapter with the team ends here, I'll always be a part of Pakistan cricket's story,' he wrote. 'I leave with no regrets, only pride.' The 49-year-old had been tasked with addressing Pakistan's long-standing struggles in fielding, an area that has often proved costly in major tournaments. Despite pockets of improvement, the team's performance in key moments, including the ICC World Cup 2019, T20 World Cups, and the Asia Cup, continued to draw criticism. Masroor, known for his work with Pakistan's Under-19 side and domestic teams, was seen as a coach with modern techniques and a strong developmental record. However, the PCB's decision reflects its broader move to restructure the coaching setup ahead of a demanding international calendar. As part of that restructuring, Australian coach Shane McDermott has been appointed as the new fielding coach. McDermott brings with him international experience from previous roles with Australia, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. In a related development, Grant Luden has returned as the team's strength and conditioning coach, a role he has filled in the past and is familiar with the players' fitness profile, as per media reports. Pakistan's preparation now shifts toward the Asia Cup 2025, scheduled to be held in India. With match-ups against India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and potentially Afghanistan, the tournament will serve as an early test of the revamped support staff's effectiveness.
