zimbabwe: Zimbabwe face T20 reckoning in bid to fend off obscurity

Boycotts, protests and sometimes surprising victories once ensured Zimbabwe’s place in the cricketing consciousness, yet they are now battling for relevance, taking on Singapore, Jersey and the United States for a World Cup berth this month. facing.

Earning a spot in the Twenty20 showpiece in Australia this October has become a significant effort for Zimbabwe, who have failed to make a World Cup appearance in either format since 2016.

To break the drought, the African nation will have to overcome the second and third tier teams during the qualifying tournament starting on Monday in Bulawayo.

“They are not automatically qualifying for the World Cup and these ICC (International Cricket Council) events,” former Zimbabwe bowler-turned-television commentator Ed Rainsford told Reuters.

“Now you’re going to go side by side with teams like Oman, Jersey, Uganda and the like in the hope that you’re going to qualify. It’s a dangerous place.”

Recent events suggest that it has become a fitting venue, although it has become a respectable venue for a relatively well-funded, test-playing organization against poorly-resourced, low-ranking amateurs. Struggling to compete.

Over the past five years, off-field corruption scandals have tarnished the legacy of Zimbabwean icons Heath Streak and Brendan Taylor, and on-field the team suffered humiliating series defeats to Ireland, Afghanistan, the Netherlands and Namibia.

They also lost matches they expected to win against Singapore, Scotland and the United Arab Emirates.

The team missed the 50-over World Cup in 2019 due to a loss to the UAE, underscoring the downfall of a side once known for punching above its weight.

‘too scary’

The political turmoil that Zimbabwe experienced under Robert Mugabe’s regime in the mid-2000s was linked to cricket.

It ended several playing careers, notably those of protesters Henry Olonga and Andy Flower, and left scars that never healed.

Test victories over Bangladesh and Pakistan in early 2010 gave fans some hope, as did ODI victories against India, New Zealand and Australia, but the side never progressed as weak development paths failed to churn out talent.

Now in their mid-thirties, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine, Regis Chakabwa and Sikandar Raza are the only remaining active players to have brought in three figures at the top level.

Zimbabwe’s domestic league has failed to score a single international century since 2007 with its first-class debut. Adding insult to injury, the English county club stripped down several young men who show promise, such as Nick Welch and Ed Byromes.

“As a Test playing country … you have to think progressively, you have to think about the next crop of players,” Rainsford said.

“It’s just gone astray during the last 10 to 12 years. Zimbabwean cricket has never been where they are now and it’s actually quite scary.”

As the team’s prospects dwindle, so has the interest in Zimbabwe from the global cricket fraternity.

“I think the cricketing world has said, ‘Zimbabwe need to do what they need to do, we can’t continue to tease them.

Originally published at Pen 18

View: It is too early to predict Virat Kohli’s T20I future

This is a debate that could not have been imagined till a year ago. The first name in the Indian line-up was that of Virat Kohli. With an average of over 50 and a strike rate of 138, Kohli was the frontrunner for India in the T20 format. However, with the decline in form and the likes of Deepak Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav and Ishaan Kishan providing interesting options among others,

Kohli’s place in the team has become a matter of serious discussion. Is Kohli fit for India’s T20 World Cup?

first eleven?

There is no answer in yes or no. Kohli is such a good player that he cannot be ignored. to say he didn’t score many

IPL and hence the time to look ahead of it is not appropriate. At the same time, with the fresh approach of Hooda and Yadav, and Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul settling on top, it makes sense to discuss Kohli’s position in the playing XI. It can never be about Kohli’s separation. Kohli batsman will walk in any team in the world. Yes, he needs runs under his belt, and it is important that he plays as much T20 cricket as possible to move ahead in the World Cup. keep

That being said, it is more about team balance rather than batsman Kohli.

The question needs to be asked: Can Kohli’s approach to T20 batting work for India with Rohit and Rahul, who both have very similar, opening batting? Can Kohli fit in the middle order and is there room for a skilled anchor in Australian conditions?’

The conservative approach towards batting in T20 cricket has not worked for India. It was refreshing to see India bat

The way he did in the first T20I at Southampton. This strategy of consistent aggression from the very first over ensured that run rate was never an issue even if wickets were lost in the end. this is some

Rohit said in the post-match press conference that he liked the intention from the very first ball and that India will play that way in the near future.

Can Kohli bat like this?

While there are no easy answers to these questions, it is pertinent to mention that the selection should be based on the current form. And here it is not about IPL form. It is about a batsman’s ability to handle the pressure of international cricket in critical situations. Imagine a scenario where the team has lost a few wickets at the top and someone needs to take things a little easier and set the game up.

It must be argued that Kohli is India’s best bet in such situations. In Australia’s larger grounds, a batsman in Kohli’s class who can swing the ball and use the gap could be crucial to India’s chances. He is still one of the best sprinters between the wickets and will make some saves on the field, not forgetting his ability to catch deep in the deep.

The concern about Kohli in T20 cricket in recent times is that he is not able to strike big even when he is well set up. while the first

20-30 runs come in good times, after that he slows down and finally ends up with a strike rate of around 120

Where Kohli needs to change his approach. And it may well define their future in the format.

Kohli has always been under scrutiny in his career but the next few T20 matches are very important for him.

He needs to score big runs to settle the debate. His batting position is also interesting. Kohli’s best position is at the top of the order and India can look at all three – Rohit, Rahul and Kohli – as openers considering the injury-prone nature of the other two.

What can work for Kohli is that he knows the team is no longer dependent on him. with match winners

around that, he can just be comfortable in the assigned role and work without thinking too much about the job

Result. Overall, it is too early to predict Kohli’s T20 future. Chances are we will see him in Australia and one can only hope that he will rediscover himself and play a stellar role for India. for one

Prime form is still better than the best in the world and the whole of India will rely on it.

Originally published at Pen 18

YouTuber Gaurav Taneja aka Flying Beast arrested after fans flock to Noida metro station to celebrate his birthday – Pen 18

Noida: YouTuber Gaurav Taneja aka ‘Flying Beast’ was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Police on Saturday after his fans came to a metro station in Noida to celebrate his birthday, news agency ANI reported. Police said Taneja was arrested after a large crowd gathered at the Sector 51 metro station of the Aqua Line in Gautam Buddha Nagar.Also read-Lucknow: Section 144 imposed in view of upcoming festivals, procession and worship in public places banned

Taneja had reportedly booked a metro coach to celebrate his birthday. The YouTuber’s wife Ritu Rathi Taneja had reportedly invited the followers to his birthday celebrations. After this, thousands of people gathered to meet YouTuber at Sector 51 metro station. Noida Sector 49 Police reached the spot and handled the situation. Also read- Uttar Pradesh: 24 people sick after eating food at wedding; Suspicion of food poisoning

Visuals from outside Noida Sector 51 metro station from earlier today. (Photo: ANI)

They were booked for allegedly violating section 144 of CrPC which is applicable in Noida and section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant). Gaurav Taneja was trending on Twitter just hours after his arrest. Also read- 22-year-old mother of two children brutally murdered in Delhi for refusing to have sex

Taneja’s wife posted Instagram stories about the event

Earlier in the day, Taneja’s wife Ritu Rathi Taneja, who has over 1.6 million followers on Instagram, told her fans that she would meet him around 1.30 pm for the birthday celebrations. An earlier Instagram story on Ritu’s account also said: “We will be limited to the maximum capacity of the Metro offered by NMRC! But most will meet you!” However, hours later, another post on Instagram Story reported that the ceremony was being canceled “due to some personal issues”.

Who is Gaurav Taneja?

Gaurav Taneja is currently one of the most popular YouTubers in the country with millions of subscribers on three YouTube channels- ‘Flying Beast’, ‘Fit Muscle TV’ and ‘Rasbhari Ke Papa’, where he makes fitness-related videos as well as Own your daily life vlogs and live streams.
A civil engineering graduate from the Indian Institute of Technology in Kharagpur, Taneja is currently pursuing law in the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi.

(with inputs from ANI)

$(document).ready(function(){ $('#commentbtn').on("click",function(){ (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1&appId=178196885542208"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));

$(".cmntbox").toggle(); }); });

Originally published at Pen 18

Amber Heard Moves Court Demanding Mistrial in Johnny Depp Defamation Case Says Wrong Juror Sat in Jury – Pen 18

Amber Heard demands mistrial in Johnny Depp caseThe Amber Heard-Johnny Depp lawsuit is one of the most talked-about and controversial defamation cases between the Hollywood couple. Amber, who lost to Depp in a Virginia court, has now claimed to be proven wrong in her defamation case against ex-husband Johnny Depp. Maber has moved the court because she wants a new trial ordered in the defamation verdict. Amber’s attorneys told a US court that the high-profile trial had “compromised due process” because a wrongful juror, who was not listed for duty, became part of the trial, and so the court was asked by June 1. The judgment should be set aside and ordered. fresh test.Also Read – Amber Heard Moves Court To Dismiss Defamation Case Against Her, Provides No Evidence To Support Johnny Depp’s Claim

Amber demands fresh hearing in defamation case

According to free media reports, Amber’s lawyers are now alleging that a wrongful juror was placed in the defamation suit. According to a report in Deadline, a 77-year-old man who was called to jury duty lives at the same address as a 52-year-old who had ‘the same surname’. The latter was the juror, who ended up sitting on the jury throughout the trial. Amber’s attorneys said in a partially amended new filing cited by Deadline, “Ms. Hurd had the right to rely on the original defense, as determined by Virginia Code, that the jury members in this trial would be persons whom was actually called to jury duty. In this case, it appears that jury member number 15 was not actually the same person who is listed on the jury panel. Thus, the 52-year-old who sat on the jury for six weeks- ( Revised) was never called for jury duty on April 11 and ‘did not appear on the list’ as required. Amber’s lawyer, Ellen Breidhoft, told a news portal, “Ms. So Hurd’s due process was compromised. In these circumstances, a false trial must be declared, and a new trial ordered.” Also read- Amber Heard was seen shopping at a discount department store after the defamation verdict, pictures went viral

Mabar’s team unhappy with the decision

Amber’s legal team previously alleged that Johnny was not entitled to any damages awarded to him by the jury, stating, “There is no evidence of Mr. Depp’s reputation being damaged because of Mrs. Heard’s op-ed.” A Virginia court jury ordered Amber to pay Johnny $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages, which were reduced to $3.5 million by the judge due to a cap in the state of Virginia. However, Johnny was asked to pay Amber $2 million after a defamation suit. The jury ruled that Amber had defamed her ex-husband in a 2018 article in which she said she was the victim of domestic abuse. Also Read – Amber Heard Says She ‘Still Loves’ Johnny Depp, Days After Losing Defamation Traces

Both Johnny and Amber have accused each other of domestic abuse. Johnny sued Amber for defamation in 2018 because of an op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post. In 2021, Amber countered Johnny for $100 million.

For more updates on the Amber Heard-Johnny Depp defamation lawsuit, visit this space at India.com.

$(document).ready(function(){ $('#commentbtn').on("click",function(){ (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1&appId=178196885542208"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));

$(".cmntbox").toggle(); }); });

Originally published at Pen 18

hs prannoy: HS Prannoy loses in Malaysia Masters semis, India’s campaign over

Star Indian shuttler HS Prannoy’s scintillating performance at the Malaysia Masters Super 500 tournament ended in a three-game loss to Hong Kong’s Ng Ka Long Angus in the men’s singles semi-final here on Saturday.

The Indian was yet again heartbroken in the semi-finals as he lost a game advantage to fight against Ng Ka Long for an hour and four minutes at the Axiata Arena here.

Proceeding into the match with a 4-4 career record, Prannoy, who had defeated Ng Ka Long in the last three meetings, won the toss and picked a good team.

He looked to be in strong control in the first game but came back to haunt him as he struggled with his length and sunk into a pool of unforced errors after converting the end.

After a strong start in the opening game, Prannoy made two brilliant cross court jump smashes to take a 5-3 lead.

The Indian did not try to play at a breathtaking pace, but instead focused on building rallies and punishing weak returns with pitch-perfect placements. He had a four-point cushion at the break.

Ng Ka Long tried to use his smashes to collect points but he was guilty of missing some easy chances as Prannoy maintained a four-point lead till 17-13.

Prannoy conceded two points with two foul shots before prevailing in the parallel exchange and soon grabbed four game point opportunities. He missed the first one before closing out the opening game with another perfect placement at the baseline.

However, after a change of sides, Prannoy struggled to control the shuttle in rough conditions, while Ng Ka Long showed better execution to maintain a firm grip on the rallies. The result was a six-point advantage at the mid-game interval.

With errors piling up, Prannoy soon fell far behind and the Indian decided to let the second game go to save his energy for the decider.

In the third game, Prannoy once again looked to take control of the proceedings as he quickly established an 8–3 lead, but the Hong Kong player scripted a sensational recovery, winning eight of the next nine points, a crucial one. entered the gap together. Two-point lead.

Ng Ka Long equalized with Prannoy first and then punished the Indian’s weak return.

After changing ends for the last time, Prannoy tried to speed up the rallies but Ng Ka Long managed to take a 16-12 lead. The fact that Prannoy lasted at least three times as long added to his anguish.

He met the turnaround hopes with the help of two body smashes to limit the lead to 16-17, but a relentless Ng Ka Long won a long rally and then grabbed three match points when the Indian made a net error.

He transformed it with a delightful block and jumped into the celebration.

Originally published at Pen 18

Dream11 finds novel ways to build team spirit

In early June, fantasy sports platform Dream11 sent about 700 of its employees to Switzerland, where teams from across the vertical spent close to a week on a slew of activities, including trekking, ziplining and skydiving.

For the startup, which grew from 260 employees pre-Covid, it was an opportunity to build rapport among team members who hadn’t really had a chance to bond in the nearly two years after the pandemic. “It was a great way for coworkers to collaborate without the pressure of work. In a different setting, a different country, the camaraderie spread through the teams,” said Kevin Freitas, chief human resources officer of its parent company, Dream Sports he said.

Team building through adventure sports and group activities – these are what companies are betting on to energize employees and build connections and engagement in the post-Covid situation in general. Even as many employees continue to work in remote/hybrid mode or are easing back into the office, more and more organizations are focusing on such activities so that the COVID-induced minimum in-person interaction To promote better bonding between team members.

Bajaj Finance, Mastercard, Philips, RPG Group, Bridgestone and P&G Health are among those who have recently chosen such programs to help employees bond outside the workplace. Companies specializing in such outdoor activities. Pepperfry through its Trek to the Top initiative has organized rappelling sessions for the employees at Garudmachi (near Pune). About 10 seasons have been held in teams so far. “In a hybrid work environment, it is essential for employees to be able to bond and we are looking for ways to help them do that,” said Aditi Pareek, Head of Human Resources.

Muddy Boots, an organization that promotes active leisure and adventure sports, said the demand from corporates has doubled from pre-Covid levels. “In the last two years, people were trapped in their own cocoons. As the situation returns to normal, companies want employees to be motivated back, and work as a team with strong bonds. Such sessions, which can last anywhere from half a day to three days, promote just that,” said Pradeep Murthy, director, Muddy Boots. The company has organized corporate getaways where people participate in team-building activities which include kayaking, rafting, ziplining, trekking, caving and much more.

High Location Management, which specializes in outbound/outdoor management development programs, had about 50 such clients with about 1,500 participants in the past three months. Its Chief Operating Officer Premjit Magdum said, “Our programs are being offered to meet a variety of organizational needs including team building, effective team players, leadership, management transformation and more.” Companies say that such activities are paying off. “While we have adapted very well to the virtual world and have adopted various means to stay connected over the years, we still miss the personal interactions that were core to our culture.

Over the past few months, many teams have organized their offsites to take a break from their day-to-day work and build team spirit,” Bhargavi Kakunuri, head of HR at P&G Health, told ET. The company, which incorporated Muddy Boots for some of these seasons, said that a session or offsite typically involved 5-20 employees, depending on the size of the team.

Originally published at Pen 18

Rafael Nadal News: Rafael Nadal leaves Wimbledon hurt, like Federer in 2021

It was impossible not to think about waiting for Rafael Nadal to sigh while he discussed how “very sad” he was about pulling out of the Wimbledon semi-finals due to a torn abdominal muscle.

It was impossible not to think about just a month earlier, when Nadal, at 36, became the oldest champion in French Open history, he expressed doubts about whether he was suffering from chronic pain in his left leg. Will also appear at the All England Club. Nerve numbing injections were required so that he could play in Paris.

And it was impossible not to think back on Center Court a year ago, when Roger Federer was knocked out after a Wimbledon quarter-final loss, clearly compromised by a balky right knee that soon required nearly 18 months. A third surgery would be required in the period. , Federer, who turned 41 in a month, has not played a match since then.

These two extraordinary athletes, forever linked as rivals and greats of the sport, may be at different stages of the end of their careers, but one cannot help but wonder whether Nadal’s recent difficulty is staying healthy. I have – he also lost time this season due to a rib injury, and his leg in the second half of last season – may affect how prepared he is to push his body.

At some point, both will leave the game. As was, at some point, another member of the so-called Big Three, Novak Djokovic, who defeated Cam Nori 2–6, 6–3, 6–2, 6–6– to reach his men’s-record 32nd Grand Slam title match. 4 on Friday which became the lone men’s semifinal.

Nick Kyrgios, who benefited from Nadal’s return and reached his first Grand Slam final, said: “I don’t think anyone is able to fill those shoes to be honest with you.”

“We’ll never see a competitor like Rafa again. You’ll never see someone wielding a racquet like Roger so easily. You’ll probably never see someone who just wins and just plays such a good game… Djokovic.”

Nadal holds a men’s record 22 Grand Slam titles, two ahead of the 35-year-old Djokovic and Federer.

“It’s going to be a sad day,” Kyrgios said, “when they leave.”

Nadal was asked if he made the right choice to continue playing against Taylor Fritz in Wednesday’s quarterfinal, despite feeling so much pain from the start of the first set, being there for five complete sets in about 4 1/2 hours. Hang on

He said some remarkable things in response.

He’s sure it makes sense to keep playing, because he could – reality proves possibility – and of course, he won.

He’s not someone who likes to quit playing once the match starts (he’s done it three times in 351 Grand Slam events, nine times in 1,275 in his entire career).

He is not someone who questions past choices, although he will try to learn from his mistakes.

He is proud that he finished that match, but once he got more details on Thursday about the extent of the injury, he called the decision “thinking about your health and your future.”

Nadal expects to return to groundstroke practice in about a week; Will need to wait to be served, but he still said that stomach problems could only put him off for a month. He feels he can stick to a schedule that includes the US Open, the last Grand Slam tournament of the year, which starts on August 29.

Nadal said, “As I always said, the most important thing for me is happiness, more than any title, even though everyone knows how much effort I have put in to get here.”

“But I can’t risk that match and stay out of the competition for two, three months, because it’s going to be a tough thing for me.”

He said he was not at all concerned with trying to advance to a calendar-year Grand Slam – 4 for 4 in the game’s four major championships – even though he won first at the Australian Open and French Open . 2022.

Instead, he insisted: “I thought about my daily happiness and my daily work.”

The question for him and for the rest of us is how long can he stay healthy enough to happily work out and compete.

Originally published at Pen 18