Tendulkar, Lara honored with gates at Sydney Cricket Ground

India’s Sachin Tendulkar (L) and West Indies’ former player Brian Lara (R) at the presentation after the Lord's bicentenary match between the MCC and Rest of the world at Lords Cricket ground in London on July 5, 2014. (AFP/FILE)
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Updated 24 April 2023
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Tendulkar, Lara honored with gates at Sydney Cricket Ground

  • All visiting cricket teams will enter playing arena through Lara-Tendulkar gates at iconic Australian stadium
  • Tendulkar, a retired batting legend in India, averaged 157 in the five test matches he played at the SCG

SYDNEY: Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara have been honored with gates at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

All visiting cricket teams will enter the playing arena through the Lara-Tendulkar gates in future at the iconic Australian stadium, Cricket Australia announced Monday.

Tendulkar had an average of 157 in the five test matches he played at the SCG and said it’s his favorite ground outside of India.

“I have had some great memories at the SCG right from my first tour of Australia in 1991-92,” Tendulkar said in a statement. “It is a great honor to have the gates ... named after me and my good friend Brian.”

Lara’s 277 at the SCG in 1993, his fifth test, was the first of his 34 test centuries for the West Indies. Lara’s average of 54.85 in four tests at the SCG was also above his career average of 52.88 in 131 test matches.

The gates were unveiled on April 24 to mark Tendulkar’s 50th birthday.

“This is a fitting and timely gesture by the SCG to recognize Sachin and Brian Lara as two legends of the international game with exceptional records at the SCG,” Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley said. “Their feats will no doubt

be an inspiration to not only visiting international teams, but all players fortunate enough to walk onto the hallowed turf of the Sydney Cricket Ground.”

Three Australian cricket greats have long been honored with entrances named for them at the SCG.

The Australian cricket team enters the field of play via the Don Bradman Gates, while the Arthur Morris and Alan Davidson gates are at the entrance to the stadium.

The SCG is the traditional venue for Australia’s first test match of the year.

Tendulkar is a record-setting cricketer who played 200 tests for India, scoring 15,921 runs at a career average of 53.78. Three of his 51 test centuries were posted at the SCG.

Lara played 131 test matches for West Indies and his 400 not out against England in 2004 remains the highest individual score ever in a test innings.

“I’m deeply honored to be recognized at the Sydney Cricket Ground, as I’m sure Sachin is,” Lara said in a statement. “The ground holds many special memories for me and my family.”

 


Malaysia triumph in Quadrangular series final with gritty 18-run win over Saudi Arabia

Updated 02 May 2025
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Malaysia triumph in Quadrangular series final with gritty 18-run win over Saudi Arabia

  • Malaysia successfully defended a total of 135 for 7, bowling Saudi Arabia out for 117 in 19.2 overs

KUALA LUMPUR: Saudi Arabia faced Malaysia in the final of the Malaysia Quadrangular at Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur on Friday, and it was a surprise when the hosts chose to bat first, given that both previous encounters between the two strongest teams in the tournament had been convincingly won by the side chasing.

But the decision proved inspired, as Malaysia successfully defended a total of 135 for 7, bowling Saudi Arabia out for 117 in 19.2 overs to secure an 18-run victory.

Honors had been even in the earlier meetings between the sides. In the first match, Malaysia defeated Saudi Arabia by five wickets, thanks largely to an unbeaten 93 from Virandeep Singh. But Saudi Arabia hit back in the second encounter, chasing down their target with a seven-wicket win driven by a brilliant opening stand of 100 in 9.1 overs from Faisal Khan and Abdul Waheed.

In the final, Saudi Arabia’s opening bowlers quickly put their side in control with a superb burst using the new ball. Ishtiaq Ahmad brought his experience, while his partner Imtiaz Khan, playing just his third T20I, struck with the final ball of his first over to bowl Aslam Khan and claim his maiden international wicket.

Malaysia were 13 for 1 after two overs when Ishtiaq removed Syed Aziz, caught by Faisal Khan. Imtiaz then took the key wicket of Virandeep Singh, who was caught behind for just one off five balls, leaving Malaysia struggling at 21 for 3 in the fourth over.

Amir Khan and Ahmed Aqeel led a steady recovery, guiding the hosts to 62 for 3 at the halfway stage. The fourth wicket fell at 97 in the 15th over when Amir was dismissed by Zain Ul Abidin for 38, ending a 76-run partnership spanning 11.1 overs. Zain struck again, bowling Sharvin Muniady for a dangerous 20 off nine balls.

Imtiaz returned to bowl the 19th over and took his third wicket by dismissing Vijay Unni, finishing with figures of 3 for 26. Ishtiaq delivered an excellent final over, removing Ahmed Aqeel for a vital 44 off 42 balls and returning 2 for 18 from his four overs, as Malaysia closed on 135 for 7.

Despite the strong bowling performance, the match was finely poised. Aqeel and Amir’s stand had given Malaysia something to defend, and early wickets would be key.

Perhaps it was the modest target of 136 that led to a cautious start from the Saudi openers, though Abdul Waheed did strike a six to end the second over. Faisal Khan managed only two singles from seven deliveries before being bowled by Syed Aziz.

Waheed launched into a flurry of boundaries while his partner Waji Ul Hassan remained scoreless. Waji was the third wicket to fall, lbw to Virandeep Singh, and Saudi Arabia found themselves in deep trouble when Waheed was also trapped lbw for 44 off 26 balls, leaving the score at 50 for 4.

Saudi Arabia slumped further to 71 for 7 in the 13th over, with Pavandeep Singh and Vijay Unni taking two wickets apiece. However, Zain Ul Abidin and Nawazish Akhtar revived hopes with an eighth-wicket stand of 43 in 5.3 overs.

With 23 runs needed from the final two overs, Ishtiaq Ahmed joined Zain at the crease.

But Virandeep Singh bowled a brilliant 19th over, conceding just three runs, leaving 20 required from the final six balls.

Ishtiaq was run out from the first ball of Rizwan Haider’s over as he ensured Zain retained the strike. But Zain was caught by Virandeep next ball for 32 off 30, and Saudi Arabia were bowled out for 117 in 19.2 overs.

The hosts claimed the Malaysia Quadrangular title by 18 runs in a tournament marked by eye-catching batting displays but ultimately decided by quality bowling. Rizwan Haider finished with 2 for 11 as Saudi Arabia lost their final three wickets for just three runs.

Ahmed Aqeel was named Player of the Match for anchoring Malaysia’s innings from a perilous 21 for 3, scoring 44 off 42 with two fours and a six. In the end, the hosts edged Saudi Arabia, who had pushed them hard across all three contests.

Both sides proved far too strong for Singapore and Thailand, with the former finishing third after beating Thailand by 30 runs in the play-off.


Cricket still able to accommodate old traditions and new styles

Updated 01 May 2025
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Cricket still able to accommodate old traditions and new styles

  • A generation that grew up with the rise of T20 cricket may be unaware what declaration cricket means

LONDON: In cricketing history, the exploits of Vaibhav Suryavanshi are assured of a prime place. At 14 years of age, he scored a century in 35 deliveries for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League on April 28, 2025.

The outing was only his third IPL match, having memorably hit the first ball he received on his debut for six. The century was the second-fastest in IPL history. The attack Suryavanshi plundered for 11 sixes and seven fours contained established internationals such as Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan. 

Suryavanshi has also shown his talents with a 58-ball hundred for India U-19s against Australia U-19s in an unofficial Test in Chennai last October. He has scored half-centuries at U-19 level against Sri Lanka and the UAE, as well as 71 off 42 balls for Bihar against Broda in India's domestic 50-over competition. This is good to hear in an era when T20 cricket is fast becoming cricket’s dominant format, threatening to obscure the longer formats.

It occurred to me that the generation that has grown up with the rise of T20 cricket may be unaware what declaration cricket means. Declarations are not usually a feature of short-format cricket but they are available in Test match and first-class cricket matches in which both teams can bat twice. A declaration is a strategic tool, when the batting team decides to end its innings before all players are out. There are various circumstances when this may be relevant, but it is usually to try and enforce a victory.

A common reason for declaring is to set a target for the opposition to chase. By declaring at a certain point, the captain aims to give the opposition a difficult, but achievable, target in the time remaining. This encourages the opposition to take risks while chasing the score, increasing the likelihood of them losing wickets. Several variables need to be taken into account by the captain who is considering a declaration. These include the time remaining in the match, pitch conditions — if it is deteriorating, for example — strength of the opposition, weather forecasts and the level of team support for the decision.

A recent example of a declaration that did not work out satisfactorily was that made by Nottinghamshire against Warwickshire in the County Championship. The latter were bowled out for 97 in their first innings. Nottinghamshire then amassed 367, but rather slowly at the end of the innings. Warwickshire, trailing by 274 on first innings, entered the fourth and final day on 163 for six in their second innings.

But rain, which was forecast, prevented play until 15.45, leaving Nottinghamshire’s bowlers just 36 overs to bowl out their opponents on a benign pitch. They failed to do so against some obdurate batting and were left to rue a failure to press home their advantage through an earlier declaration.

Declaration is both an art and a science. Vast amounts of data are available in today’s game to analysts to determine optimum times for declaration, but the ultimate decision rests with the captain and coach.

Three hundred years ago, it rested with the captain, based upon his assessment of prevailing conditions, perhaps with input from trusted colleagues. Declaration was the buttress of the game. It remained so, in my experience, in southern England into the early 1970s before league cricket, with its limitations or prohibition on declarations, became the norm, spreading from the north and midlands.

Throughout this period of change there has been a resistant strand. Perhaps, on reflection, not resistant but a desire to carry on an ageing tradition of declaration cricket, unaffiliated to formalised league cricket. Recently, I was able to witness an example of this. Tim Peters, a member of the cup-winning Drifters team in Chiang Mai, invited me to attend a match between the Royal Household Cricket Club and a wandering team, the Invalids, for whom he was playing.

This arcane, fascinating, part of cricket’s ecosystem, is far removed from Suryavanshi’s IPL feat. The setting was pastoral, in the shadow of Windsor Castle, adjoined by paddocks where the previous monarch’s horses pranced at will. After negotiating security, I wondered, on approaching the ground through long leafy driveways, if the match would be declaration based. Surely it would be, in time-honored tradition.

The Invalids CC is a wandering team. It has no home ground. There are a decreasing number of such fascinating clubs. The oldest one is I Zingari, founded in 1845 by a group of young aristocrats whose intention was to own no cricket ground of their own, but sought to foster and spread the spirit of amateur cricket at any country house where the hosts would provide hospitality and generosity. In recognition of this, the hosts would not be asked to provide any “professional,” paid bowlers, as was the custom at the time.        

The origins of the Invalids CC were different. It was founded in 1919 by J.C. Squire, poet, critic and editor of the London Mercury magazine. The name was given in honor of several players wounded in the First World War, while the chosen club colours, inspired by army officers’ hospital pyjamas, were hospital blue and old gold. A pair of crossed crutches was chosen as the club’s crest. In the early days, Squire assembled a team of writers, journalists and actors, whose thirst for the game exceeded their abilities.

Their opponents were mainly village sides and this is still largely the case today. Although the Royal Household ground is not a part of a village it carries a similar ambience. The club was founded in 1905 by King Edward VII. Its pavilion displays photographs and autographs of famous players, artifacts from previous matches, tours and visiting teams. One of these was the Vatican Cricket Club. In a moment of serendipity, a frame enclosed a bat signed by Pope Francis hung on the wall. It was the day of his funeral.

On the field, the match was declaration based. The Royal Household declared on 119 for nine wickets on the stroke of the cut-off time when tea was to be taken. After a fine English tea, the Invalids collapsed to 14 for four. A recovery was achieved and 35 runs were required from the last six overs, only two Invalids wickets remaining. At this point the home team adopted a field setting in which almost all fielders were on the boundary.

Those who know only of T20 cricket would have been puzzled. In that format, there is a limit on the number of boundary fielders and a stipulation that there must be a certain number of fielders within a 30-metre circle drawn from the centre of the pitch. This is a restriction that has crept into most league cricket but has been resisted by those seeking to preserve old traditions. At Windsor the old tactic worked for the home team as the remaining Invalids batters failed to outmanoeuvre the cunning field settings, losing the match by a few runs. 

The combined runs in the match amounted to 231 scored from close to 500 deliveries. The contrast with Suryavanshi’s feat is stark. Cricket has a rich and long history. At Windsor a part of that was being preserved, but societal change has created very different environment in which the game’s new history is being written by prodigies such as a 14-year-old Indian.


Flintoff proud as Afghan refugee protege plays for Lancashire second team

Updated 01 May 2025
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Flintoff proud as Afghan refugee protege plays for Lancashire second team

  • The Afghan refugee was the breakout star of Flintoff’s television reality show
  • Miakhel scored 25 not out batting at number 10 in the first innings

LONDON: Andrew Flintoff has revealed his pride at seeing ‘Field of Dreams’ protege Adnan Miakhel, a refugee from Afghanistan, make his first appearance for Lancashire’s second team.
The former England cricket captain, who made his name in cricket as a hugely talented all-rounder while playing for Lancashire, his native county, has been back in the public eye lately following the release of a new documentary detailing the painful recovery from his life-changing car crash.
The program sees Flintoff speaking about how returning from show business to cricket has helped him gain fresh meaning in life, with Miakhel’s appearance in a three-day friendly against Yorkshire — the traditional arch-rivals of northwest county Lancashire — uniting the worlds of entertainment and sport.
The Afghan refugee was the breakout star of Flintoff’s television reality show about a scratch team of would-be cricketers based in Preston, Lancashire, and was awarded asylum in the United Kingdom after his mentor wrote to the Home Office (Britain’s interior ministry) supporting his application.


Flintoff, reflecting on Miakhel’s elevation from Lancashire’s Under-18s last season to the second string this year, posted on X: “Some journeys are longer and harder, I’m so proud of this fine young man.”
Miakhel scored 25 not out batting at number 10 in the first innings and dismissed first-teamers Jonny Tattersall and Matt Revis as he claimed figures of 2-72 from 13 overs.
The game at Liverpool’s Northern Cricket Club is a friendly match which does not restrict teams to the usual standard 11 players and Miakhel is not listed to bat in the second innings.
Rossall School, which awarded Miakhel a scholarship, paid its own tribute, adding on X: “Amazing to see current Y13 and 1XI (first team) cricket Captain Adnan M being presented with his 2XI (2nd XI) cap as he made his debut against Yorkshire.
“It is fantastic to see all of the hard work Adnan has put in paying off and we wish him all the success in the future with @lancscricket,” added the message from Rossall, whose former pupils include Liam Botham, the son of England cricket great Ian Botham, who also played cricket and both codes of rugby at a professional level in his own right.


Time to be positive about the Pakistan Super League, says Sameen Rana

Updated 30 April 2025
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Time to be positive about the Pakistan Super League, says Sameen Rana

  • Co-owner and COO of the Lahore Qalandars spoke to Arab News about the decade-old league and the challenges of biking a team

DUBAI: Viewed from several perspectives, it is a real achievement that the Pakistan Super League has reached its 10th year intact. It has survived COVID-19, regular changes in leadership at both Pakistan Cricket Board and political level, on-going unrest, spot-fixing, the rise of competing leagues, security issues and a seeming indifference to it outside of Pakistan.

The original contract between the PCB/PSL and the franchises contained a clause to review their value after 10 years. This now a bone of contention. It was revealed as such during an interview conducted by Arab News with Sameen Rana, co-owner and chief operating officer of the Lahore Qalandars. In a wide-ranging discussion, the motivation for the initial purchase was highlighted, followed by the challenges of building a team and an identity, concluding with a consideration of future prospects.

Rana was clear that the original motivation was “love of the country because the business model did not make sense. It was not something that was going to make money. At time of set up, the Indian Premier League was excluding Pakistani players — for us it was very much a national cause, and we wanted to do it for the country.”

It is apparent from comments made by owners of the other four original franchises that this was a common motivation. Together, the original five paid $93 million for 10 years, in a range of $5 million to $25 million.

Having made their investments, the owners were faced with building a squad of players, coaches and support staff. Rana admitted that this was a challenge. The first year was played in the UAE and, from a personal view he did not like it “as it was not the Pakistani tournament, playing in empty stadiums with small crowds who were brought in via the networks of the franchises.” However, there were “logistical benefits for the overseas players and it also meant that it allowed domestic players to play at a time when international cricket was not being played in Pakistan.”

In 2017, the PSL was played again in the UAE, but the final was played in Lahore. This was a highlight for Rana, seeing the stadium in Lahore jam-packed. The owners “had invested for the country, for the cause, and that that only became live when played in Pakistan.” Yet, that euphoria was tempered by the realities of running a cricket franchise. Rana openly emphasized that he, his brothers and others involved were businesspeople, new to cricket.

“We had no background in cricket at all. This meant we had to learn on the job. Looking back at the first year of the draft, we were unlucky in terms of the emerging category, because we had the last pick. This meant that we could not pick the players whom we wanted and the squad was not up to scratch.”

Lahore Qalandars struggled in the early years, being eliminated in the group stages. Rana revealed that they “felt disadvantaged in building a competitive squad because the more successful franchises were able to retain up to 16 players.” This meant that the top players were unavailable to the Qalandars. A different strategy was needed to build a core squad.

Rana said: “All we were hearing from various players and cricket stakeholders was that there is no talent. So, we decided to challenge that by going into the streets of Pakistan, initiating a player development program, supported by a lot of personal resources, providing player salaries, facilities for development and sending them abroad to play and learn. In this way, we have found new talent and provided the youth of Pakistan with an opportunity to make their career and to achieve their dreams through a fast-track program.”

The strategy worked to such good effect that the Qalandars finished runners-up in 2020 and champions in both 2022 and 2023. Now, there are new challenges to face, as the PSL prepares for its second decade. Disquiet has been expressed publicly by Ali Tareen of the Multan Sultans, suggesting that “the PSL’s marketing has declined, and the excitement around the tournament has also diminished compared to previous years.”

Rana disagrees with any suggestion that the PSL has lost its momentum. He takes the view that, whilst there are challenges to be faced and overcome, the PSL has been a force for good. “Ten years ago, there was no Lahore Qalandars, there was no PSL, there were no opportunities for the younger players to earn financially or to showcase their talent. There were no foreign players coming, there was no competitiveness. We were only dependent on the domestic T20 tournament, which few people watch. So, we have come a long way.”

However, he highlights a key challenge which is being faced. This is the new contract with the PSL. It seems that what the PSL has put on the table is renewal at either the current price, plus 25 percent, or the current price plus a new valuation of each team. At present, the new valuation is not available. Rana’s concern is that this potential hike in fee fails to recognize the part which franchises have played in building the brands.

He argues that “if you have worked hard to do this for the betterment of the PSL, then you are ending up paying more money as a fee, rather than getting credit for the work done. If Lahore Qalandars had not undertaken a player development program, then our valuation would be lower. This contradiction is a fundamental problem in the contract and against the objective of any contract, because it is encouraging the investor to do nothing.”

Franchises have revealed that it has taken years to overcome losses and not all of them have yet done so. A public statement from the owner of the Karachi Kings, Salman Iqbal, suggested that “if teams are still not generating profits in the current environment, the problem likely lies with their own operational models rather than the league itself.”

What must be galling for the franchise owners is that during 10 years of building loyal fanbases, enhancing commercial strategies and honing marketing strategies, the body which has consistently made money is the PSL and, by extension, the PCB.

A detailed financial analysis is beyond the scope of this column but such an analysis would reveal that the PSL has bankrolled the PCB for years. Only the return of international cricket to Pakistan, which has generated ICC and ACC revenues, has changed the balance. It is understandable that the franchise owners might feel under appreciated. The PSL was born in exile, nurtured amid political chaos, and sustained by franchise owners who have lost money. They invested for Pakistan. The PSL survived and gave creditability to Pakistan’s cricketing reputation.

Rana requests that “everybody remains positive and not create a culture of negativity, which can only damage Pakistan. The PSL has the future of players attached to it, plus a range of economic activity, so that should not be destroyed.”

In that context, it might be assumed that now is the time for the PCB to recognize the debt they owe to franchise owners, rather than run the risk of alienating them.

It is fair to say that the PCB/PSL stands at a crossroads. The return of international cricket provides an opportunity for the PCB to see the contribution which the franchises have made to that outcome. The love which they have displayed for the country through their PSL investment amounts to an act of faith. Whether that faith will be reciprocated in the negotiations to come or whether the PCB will seek, or be forced, to lever increased value for the rights to franchise is a matter now being played out. Once again, the PSL’s future is under pressure and Rana has pinpointed the central issue.


Saudi Arabia beat hosts by 7 wickets to top table at Malaysia Quadrangular

Updated 30 April 2025
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Saudi Arabia beat hosts by 7 wickets to top table at Malaysia Quadrangular

  • Final on Friday is against Malaysia, who finished second in the standings

KUALA LUMPUR: Saudi Arabia will face Malaysia in the final of the Malaysia Quadrangular in Kuala Lumpur on Friday, May 2, after beating the hosts by seven wickets.

Openers Faisal Khan and Abdul Waheed set up the victory in posting an opening stand of 100 in just nine overs.

Earlier in the week Saudi Arabia had repeated their victories over Thailand and Singapore in the second round of the tournament to set up a match against Malaysia that would decide first and second in the league table.

Saudi Arabia had recovered from 90 for four against Thailand thanks to a partnership of 80 in 5.2 overs from Waji Ul-Hassan and Manan Ali. Ul-Hassan then became the third Saudi Arabian to take five wickets in T20I cricket with five for nine as the Kingdom won by 39 runs.

Against Singapore, three wickets apiece for Ishtiaq Ahmed and Zain Ul-Abidin, restricted the opponents to 112 for seven. Although Khan suffered his second duck in two matches, Waheed made 42 from 28 deliveries, with Saudi Arabia winning by seven wickets inside 15 overs.

The Saudi team had won four matches out of five to stand on eight points, just one point behind Malaysia, who had a no-result against Singapore because of rain.

Hence, the winner of the second encounter between the two teams would determine the group winner. Malaysia had chased down Saudi Arabia’s score in their previous match, so the Saudis chose to bowl first.

Virandeep Singh had carried Malaysia to victory with four wickets and a brilliant unbeaten 93 in the previous match, so it was an important breakthrough when Ul-Hassan dismissed him, caught behind for 21 from 21 balls.

Syed Aziz reached his 50 from 38 balls on the way to 67 from 49 balls but Malaysia only made 160 for six, despite Sharvin Muniady hitting the last two balls of the innings for six.

Saudi Arabia’s opening partnership was likely to be key as Khan and Waheed had often provided an exciting launch pad for the innings.

Khan played out two dot balls and then was away with a six over mid-wicket, racing to 30 from 12 balls out of the 50-run partnership in 3.3 overs. He made 50 inside the first six overs, needing only 20 balls to reach the landmark, hitting six sixes and three fours.

Saudi Arabia’s score stood on 80 for no wicket after six overs. Then Singh was introduced in the attack and the field spread out, allowing singles to be easily taken as the openers changed gear. Khan did hit another six before 100 was posted in just nine overs.

He was dismissed for 66 from 32 balls and his partnership with Waheed was exactly 100 in 9.1 overs when he was caught by Singh, off the bowling of Pavandeep Singh. In the tournament he maintained a strike rate close to 200 and hit a total of 14 sixes.

Pavandeep claimed a second wicket, but the required rate was down to five runs an over. Waheed completed his 50 from 39 balls with five fours and had played a fine supporting role to the explosive Khan.

He was third out with 27 runs needed, captain Ul-Hassan guiding his side to victory with an unbeaten 22 from 18 balls, and Saudi Arabia winning by seven wickets with 2.1 overs to spare.

The two sides will meet again in the final on May 2, while Singapore will play Thailand in the third-place playoff.