Mudassar Nazar was UAE’s previous head coach on an interim basis

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Feb-2024Former India international Lalchand Rajput has been appointed head coach of UAE for a three-year term, taking over from interim head coach Mudassar Nazar.Rajput has previous experience of managing India during their title win in the 2007 T20 World Cup, and also coached Afghanistan when they received Test status in 2017. Most recently, he was Zimbabwe’s head coach from 2018 to 2022.”UAE has emerged as one of the stronger Associate Members in recent years and the players have put in some good performances in both ODIs and T20Is,” Rajput said in a statement from the Emirates Cricket Board. “The current batch is exceptionally talented and I look forward to working with them and further harnessing their cricket skills.”Rajput’s first assignment will be to oversee UAE’s League 2 tri-series campaign against Scotland and Canada starting February 28, a qualifying competition for the 2027 ODI World Cup. He takes charge of a team that most recently lost a T20I series 2-1 to Afghanistan.In November, UAE also lost their chance of making it to the 2024 T20 World Cup by losing to Nepal in the semi-final of the Asia-Pacific qualifiers.”We are confident that under his coaching UAE men’s cricket will flourish further,” Mubashshir Usmani – ECB general secretary said. “I also want to take this opportunity to thank Mudassar Nazar for his stellar work as the interim head coach. Mudassar will now return to his role as Head of the National Academy Programme where he will continue to identify and groom our future stars.”

Here’s how ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball commentary recorded his stunning cameo

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Apr-202419.1 Nortje to Shepherd, FOUR runs
Shepherd gets going now. Slower back of a length ball off, he flat bats it past the bowler, past the stumps and rockets into the fence between long-on and long-off19.2 Nortje to Shepherd, SIX runs
What a hit! Slower length ball outside off, he stands tall and deposits the ball flat and hard over long-on19.3 Nortje to Shepherd, SIX runs
WALLOPED! Length ball on middle stump, he hopped across and sends it soaring miles, miles over deep square leg19.4 Nortje to Shepherd, SIX runs
THREE IN THREE! Offcutter dug into the pitch outside off, he backs away, generates all the pace and thrashes him over deep cover19.5 Nortje to Shepherd, FOUR runs
FOUR MORE! Fuller and on pace on the stumps. Shepherd backs and powers it straight back past the bowler. He’s hit that so hard that there is no chance for long-on to get across19.6 Nortje to Shepherd, SIX runs
Thirty two runs off that last over. What a finish for Mumbai! What bat speed Shepherd is generating, what power! He finishes on 39 off 10 balls. Fuller on middle and leg, he clears his back leg and flicks it powerfully over long-on

Stoneman top-scores with 63 in low-scoring final-day nerve-shredder in Cardiff

ECB Reporters Network20-May-2024Middlesex secured a two-wicket victory over Glamorgan in their Vitality County Championship match in Cardiff with Mark Stoneman top-scoring in a win that came right down to the last few overs on the fourth day.Glamorgan were miles behind in this match before 48 runs and five wickets from Mason Crane took them close to victory in a thrilling finish on the final evening.Middlesex looked to be cruising to victory before a collapse of four for 15 put them in real danger of defeat but they managed to sneak home to claim the win thanks to a 52-run stand for the penultimate wicket between Tom Helm and Jack Davies. This win gives Middlesex 21 points from this game with Glamorgan securing just two bowling bonus points.As was the case in the first innings, runs from Zain-ul-Hassan and Crane kept Glamorgan in the hunt in this match. The pair had been the top-scorers in Glamorgan’s under-par batting efforts on day one, and here they put on a stand of 61 to take the lead past 200.Zain was the first to go when he turned a ball into the leg side for an easy catch for Ryan Higgins off the bowling of Ethan Bamber for 34, the same score he managed in the first innings.Crane looked to take the fight to Middlesex as he batted with Andy Gorvin. The pair had put on another 17 runs when Gorvin gave a catch to point off the bowling of Luke Hollman. It was also Hollman who claimed the final wicket when he dismissed Crane for 48 with a thick edge that was well taken by wicket-keeper, Davies.Middlesex started their chase brightly with Sam Robson and Stoneman putting on a stand worth 65. Robson was the first wicket to fall when he was dismissed by Andy Gorvin for 31. He chopped the ball on to his stumps, the sixth time this had happened in this match as the two-paced nature of this Cardiff surface continued to make an impact.Crane got the ball to turn big once he was introduced to the attack and he made the next breakthrough when he spun one past an attempted sweep from Max Holman to bowl him for 28.Crane had a huge shout for lbw against Leus du Plooy which was turned down, but Harris got him in the very next over when he struck his pads in front and the umpire gave the decision in the bowler’s favour.Crane had Higgins caught behind for 1 and as the game headed into the final session the match it was nicely poised with Glamorgan needing six wickets on a pitch that was getting increasingly hard to bat on and Middlesex still 93 runs short of their victory target.Crane made another breakthrough when he had Nathan Fernandes caught at slip but the moment that created this thrilling finish was when Gorvin got Stoneman caught by Cooke for 63.Two wickets in two balls from Crane to dismiss both Toby Roland-Jones and Luke Hollman without scoring left this game on a knife edge before the ninth wicket stand between Davies and Helm took Middlesex to victory with just five overs left in the match.

No play possible on days one and three after overnight rain saturates outfield

ECB Reporters Network26-May-2024Nottinghamshire batter Joe Clarke’s hopes of celebrating his 28th birthday with a century were frustrated by the weather on day three of the Vitality County Championship encounter with Worcestershire at Visit Worcestershire New Road.Former Worcestershire player Clarke was unbeaten on 73 overnight with Nottinghamshire 234 for three – a lead of 154.But heavy overnight rain left parts of the ground saturated and umpires Nigel Llong and Suri Shanmugam ruled out any play before lunch.A further inspection was planned for 3pm but another significant downpour as they were out in the middle ended hopes of play.Nottinghamshire now have to decide whether to play for batting bonus points if and when play gets underway on day four or to push for victory.They needed only 31.1 overs to dismiss Worcestershire for 80 on day two after a first day washout on Friday.

Afghanistan’s win over Australia means both teams stand an equal chance of making it to the final four

S Rajesh23-Jun-2024If Australia and Afghanistan winThree teams will finish on four points. If Australia win by a run, Afghanistan will need a 36-run margin against Bangladesh to move ahead of Australia on net run rate. If Australia win a run-chase off the last ball, Afghanistan will have to win their game in 15.4 overs or sooner (assuming first-innings scores of 160).Related

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India are sitting pretty with an NRR of 2.425. For them to get knocked out, both Australia and Afghanistan will have to win by big margins. Australia will need to beat India by 41 runs to go past them on run rate, while Afghanistan will have to beat Bangladesh by at least 83 runs.If India and Bangladesh winIndia will top the group with six points, while the other three teams will be tied on two each. In that case, NRR will decide the second team from the group. Australia, with a NRR of 0.223, are currently best placed among the three teams: even if Afghanistan lose by just one run, Australia will need to lose by 31 for their run rate to slip below that of Afghanistan.Bangladesh will need to win by 31 runs for their NRR to sneak ahead of Afghanistan’s, but they will also need Australia to lose by 55 runs, to finish second in the group.If Australia and Bangladesh winIndia and Australia will qualify for the semi-finals with four points, while Afghanistan and Bangladesh will finish on two.If India and Afghanistan winIndia and Afghanistan will qualify for the semi-finals with six and four points.

She holds a long-term view about returning to the South Africa national team, but as it stands, is not in consideration for the upcoming T20 World Cup

Firdose Moonda30-Jul-2024Former South Africa captain Dane van Niekerk will make her return to professional cricket this summer after signing for provincial side Western Province.While she has long-term hopes of making a return to international cricket, she told ESPNcricinfo she has “no timeline”. For now, she just wants to “play again and have fun.”That means van Niekerk is unlikely to be in consideration for South Africa’s squad, led by Laura Wolvaardt, at the upcoming T20 World Cup in Bangladesh. Van Niekerk’s wife, Marizanne Kapp, will play a key role in that tournament which van Niekerk is unlikely to be at, as she participates in domestic games at home.She confirmed she will play “all the fixtures, if I am able,” and hopes to get back into contention for higher honours. “My No.1 priority is to play again,” she said. “I have no expectations other than that. What will be, will be. I miss representing my country and playing at the highest level. It has nothing to do with anything other than that.”Van Niekerk has not played any cricket since The Hundred in August last year, which she was forced to leave early after fracturing her right thumb. Before that, she captained Sunrisers in the Rachel Heyhoe-Flint Trophy, where they finished fourth, and had a stint in the first edition of the WPL, where she was part of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru outfit. She has not played for South Africa since 2021 and retired from international cricket in March last year, shortly after she missed out on South Africa’s T20 World Cup 2023 squad because she was unable to meet Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) standards.At the time, South Africa required women’s national players to run a two-kilometre time trial in 9:30 and van Niekerk, who had recovered from a broken ankle, missed the mark by 18 seconds. CSA have since abandoned the rigid application of the time trial and skinfolds tests and left national selection to the coach’s discretion.Currently, South Africa do not have a confirmed permanent coach after Dillon du Preez took over in an interim capacity for the tour to India. Du Preez replaced Hilton Moreeng, who was in the role for almost 12 years. CSA are expected to announce a succession plan for the women’s coaching role ahead of October’s T20 World Cup but with no fixtures between now and then, and only two months, it is likely du Preez will continue, with a permanent appointment to be made ahead of the home season. South Africa host England this summer for an all-format tour including the first home Test in 22 years.

Kulasuriya, Athapaththu and Nisansala had combined to restrict Ireland to 122, which Sri Lanka crossed in 23.1 overs

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Aug-2024Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama made it a canter for Sri Lanka in the tour-ending third and final ODI against Ireland in Belfast, but their job was made simple by a strong bowling performance led by Achini Kulasuriya. Kulasuriya took three as Ireland, who had already taken the series 2-0, collapsed to 10 for 3 inside five overs. That became 28 for 5 not long after, but they recovered somewhat to post 122. But it was never going to be enough, not with Athapaththu shooting off the blocks.Athapaththu won the toss on this occasion and opted to bowl, but Sri Lanka wouldn’t have expected the rewards they got early on. Indeed, when Sri Lanka had opted to field in the last game, Ireland rode on half-centuries from Amy Hunter (66), Leah Paul (81) and Rebecca Stokell (53*) to put up 255 for 5, enough for a 15-run win. This time, though, quick bowler Kulasuriya struck off the first two balls of the innings, sending back Sarah Forbes and Hunter for ducks. Orla Prendergast, the captain, fell next, also to Kulasuriya, for 3. Inoshi Priyadharshani and Amy Kanchana chipped in with a wicket apiece, and it was 28 for 5 in the 15th over.The fightback came courtesy Paul and Arlene Kelly. It was slow going, painfully so at times, but they added 36 runs between them in just under 15 overs. Kelly was starting to pick up speed, but Paul fell to Sachini Nisansala for 19 (in 53 balls), and then there was a rush of wickets again. Canning became Athapaththu’s first wicket, Kelly the second, and between them Athapaththu and Nisansala finished the innings off.Chamari Athapaththu had a great game with bat and ball•Cricket Ireland

Priyadharshini returned remarkable figures of 10-5-7-1 with an economy rate of 0.70, second on the list of most miserly ODI spells by a Sri Lanka woman cricketer, behind Rose Dovey’s 1 for 5 (with eight maidens) against Pakistan back in 2002.It had been a quiet ODI series for Athapaththu, as she recorded scores of 0 and 22 in the first two games. Her opening partner Vishmi Gunaratne and No. 3 Samarawickrama took charge in Athapaththu’s place in those two games, scoring centuries, but Ireland were the superior side on both occasions.This time, Athapaththu dominated the opening stand of 32 with Gunaratne, and then put on a 62-run stand for the second wicket with Samarawickrama in 11-and-a-half overs, taking Sri Lanka to 94 with 32 overs left in which to score 29 runs. Athapaththu’s 48 came off 49 balls and included ten fours.The win was just around the corner, and Samarawickrama took Sri Lanka there with an unbeaten 48 in 56 balls, hitting seven fours of her own, with Kavisha Dilhari on 10 off 15 balls with her at the end, which came in 23.1 overs.Ireland won the ODI series 2-1, after the two-match T20I series had ended 1-1.

He helped Australia pille up 196 before Scotland were bowled out for 126 with Stoinis and Green picking up a combined 6 for 39

Karthik Krishnaswamy06-Sep-2024In conditions where every other batter from both sides struggled for timing, Josh Inglis struck the ball with remarkable fluency on his way to the fastest T20I hundred by an Australia batter. He brought up the milestone in 43 balls, beating the previous record – held jointly by himself, Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell – by four balls, and finished with 103 off 49.To put the innings in context, the rest of Australia’s top six scored 89 off 73 balls between them. His innings laid the foundation of Australia’s 70-run win over Scotland and also helped them take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.Sent in, Australia set Scotland 197 to draw level after their shellacking in Wednesday’s series-opener. The home side had their moments in the chase, particularly during a 42-ball 59 from Brandon McMullen, but they could never quite keep up with the asking rate. On an occasionally two-paced pitch that offered a bit of seam movement, Australia’s seamers used their height advantage expertly, bowling hard lengths and extracting every ounce of help they could find.Scotland managed the odd spurt of quick scoring – George Munsey whipped Xavier Bartlett for two leg-side sixes in the first over, and McMullen used his feet against the quicks and hit four sixes, the pick of them a front-foot pull over wide long-on off Aaron Hardie – but Australia kept chipping out regular wickets, bowling into the pitch and inducing miscues.When Sean Abbott employed this modus operandi to end McMullen’s charge in the 13th over, the contest was all but over. From there, the end was swift, with Scotland losing their last six wickets for just 20 runs and being bowled out for 126 in 16.4 overs.Take Inglis away, and Australia didn’t do a whole lot better with the bat. Jake Fraser-McGurk, who had fallen for a duck on T20I debut on Wednesday, got off the mark in the format with a first-ball four. But he struggled to middle the ball – and often failed to connect – as his aim-for-the-grandstand methods proved unsuitable for the conditions, particularly against McMullen’s nibbly new-ball medium-pace.Marcus Stoinis picked up 4 for 23 with his medium pace•AFP/Getty Images

He fell for a run-a-ball 16, and Travis Head, who had battered Scotland for 80 off 25 in the first T20I, was out for a first-ball duck, bowled by a peach of an inducker from left-arm quick Brad Currie. Currie was one of five players in Scotland’s XI who hadn’t played on Wednesday.Three of the incomers were bowlers, and the revamped attack continued to make the Australia batters not named Inglis work for their runs. Cameron Green scratched his way to 36 off 29, and Marcus Stoinis finished with an unbeaten 20 off 20. They would eventually have their revenge with the ball, picking up a combined 6 for 39 in 5.4 overs.Inglis, though, seemed to bat on another pitch, against another attack. Where his team-mates seemed to lack options if they were denied room to free their arms, Inglis kept finding the boundary by means of quick feet and quicker hands. He manipulated the field expertly with his movements around the crease and his use of the scoop and reverse-scoop. When the Scotland bowlers tried to cramp him by going short and into his body, he generated incredible bat-speed through his short-arm whips and pulls.Despite this, Australia had only got to 179 when Chris Sole ended Inglis’ innings in the 19th over. Sole, introduced only in the 11th over and bowling just three overs, was perhaps Scotland’s best bowler on the day, quicker than his colleagues and as a result more impactful when he used his pace variations.In the end, Australia got close to 200 thanks to a cameo from Tim David, who clubbed the first two balls of the final over, bowled by Brad Wheal, for six, the second one soaring well beyond the midwicket boundary and landing outside the ground.

Like the first four games of the tournament, the fifth match was also won by the side batting first

Danyal Rasool16-Sep-2024Panthers claimed their second successive win, thanks to contributions of 90 and 84 from Mubasir Khan and Haider Ali and an all-round contribution from their captain Shadab Khan. A 144-run fifth-wicket partnership between Mubasir and Haider powered the team to 283. Lions did look well-placed just before the halfway mark in their chase with Imam-ul-Haq’s second successive half-century guiding them to 127 for 3, before a collapse saw them lose their last seven wickets for 72 in 79 balls, giving the Panthers an 84-run win, and keeping Lions winless.Panthers won the toss and batted first; that has been a winning formula all tournament and it did not change in the only day game of this competition. Sirajuddin and Shaheen Shah Afridi gave Lions a perfect start with four early wickets, reducing Shadab’s side to 51 for 4, but a remarkable middle-order recovery got the innings back on track.The next 211 runs came at over a run a ball for the loss of just one wicket and Mubasir and Haider were on the path for well-deserved hundreds before falling short of that mark. A cameo from Shadab ensured Panthers posed an imposing total, even if a late mini-collapse saw them bowled out in under 47 overs.Mohammad Hasnain, enjoying a solid tournament, gave his side another good start with Sajjad Ali’s wicket in the first over. His contribution extended to the fielding, running-out Omair Yousuf to leave Lions 44 for 3. But a counterattacking knock from Imam got Lions back into the driving seat, as he went after spin and pace alike.But from the moment Shadab returned and drew an edge from the opener that Usman Khan latched onto, Lions’ resistance fell apart. Usama Mir and Shadab got stuck into the middle order, which could not replicate the role of their counterparts. Hasnain returned to clean Sirajuddin up to seal a convincing win and maintain the status quo of no chasing side winning in this tournament.

The Chennai pitch on which India played their first Test against Bangladesh was rated “very good”

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Nov-2024The outfield at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur, which hosted the rain-affected second Test between India and Bangladesh from September 27 to October 1, has earned an “unsatisfactory” rating from the ICC. The rating comes with one demerit point for the venue.Only 35 overs of play were possible on day one of the Test match, and there was no play possible on days two and three – this was despite no rain falling during the scheduled playing hours on day three. In the lead-up to the Test match, the state’s public works department had deemed one of Green Park’s stands unsafe, and had instructed the stadium authorities to open up only a limited number of its upper-level seats to spectators.The Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) uses the Green Park Stadium on the basis of an MoU it has signed with the UP government. The government owns the land but as per the MoU, the stadium and its upkeep are the responsibility of the UPCA.BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla, who hails from Kanpur, defended the venue after it came in for widespread criticism following the washout of day three but conceded that the ground, which has hosted Test cricket since 1952, was in need of refurbishment.After more than two-and-a-half days of the Test match were washed out, India put in a concerted effort to force a victory, picking up 20 Bangladesh wickets in the space of 121.2 overs, and scoring 383 runs in just 52 overs across two innings, at an unprecedented 7.36 per over.The pitch for this Test match, meanwhile, earned a “satisfactory” rating.The ICC rates pitches and outfields for all international games on a scale of very good to unfit: very good, satisfactory, unsatisfactory and unfit. One demerit point is awarded to venues for an unsatisfactory rating, and three for an unfit rating. If any ground receives five or more demerit points in a five-year rolling period, it is suspended from hosting any international cricket for 12 months.The rest of the venues that hosted India’s 2024-25 international season did not come in for any censure from the ICC. Of the pitches on which India played their five Tests, four – including all three that hosted the recently concluded series against New Zealand, in Bengaluru, Pune and Mumbai – earned “satisfactory” ratings, while the surface at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium, which hosted the first Test against Bangladesh, earned a “very good” tag.