Dhoni backs his top-order despite a poor show in Chennai – Cricket News Roundup – Part II – December 31, 2012
Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has backed his top order batsmen after a poor show in the first One Day International against Pakistan in Chennai on Sunday, saying they all got out to some really good deliveries.
After putting India into bat in the series opener under overcast conditions at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, southpaw seamer Junaid Khan skittles the hosts to 29 for 5 inside the first ten overs of the match, with India’s top five batsmen all back in the dugout for single digit scores. All top four batsmen, Virender Sehwag (4), Gautam Gambhir (8), Virat Kohli (0) and Yuvraj Singh (2), were bowled out, while Rohit Sharma (4) was caught by Mohammad Hafeez at slip, off Junaid Khan.
“It will be really unfair if we say those balls weren't good,” said the home skipper at the post-match press conference after his side’s six-wicket defeat. “Their bowlers bowled in the right areas and they exploited the conditions. They invited the batsmen to drive, almost all of them (India batsmen) were bowled which means that the deliveries were good. You can't really question the talent of our top order," insisted the Ranchi wicketkeeper batsman, who walked away with the Man of the Match award for his unbeaten 113.
Bangladesh Cricket Board is likely to put its national team’s next month’ proposed tour to Pakistan due to security concerns.
Bangladesh had earlier this month agreed in principle to play a short limited-overs series – comprising a One Day International and a T20 International – against Pakistan at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore, the same venue where gunmen had attacked the visiting Sri Lankan team bus in March 2009. However, the BCB president Nazmul Hasan, on Monday told media reporters that his team will only tour the troubled country if the security situation there improves.
"...there is concern among us about the country's security situation, it has deteriorated in fact. We don't think it will be wise to visit Pakistan at this time," Nazmul said. "We have sent them [the PCB] a letter three days ago, telling them of our stance. We will again contact them when their security situation improves. And we will go in the future, because we are committed to go there," he added further.
India have named their 15-member squad for the next month’s ICC Women’s World Cup, to be held in Mumbai between January 31 to February 17, 2013.
Mithali Raj has been retained as the captain of the side, which also includes wicketkeeper batsman Karu Jain and all-rounder Thirush Kamini.
Squad: Mithali Raj (captain), Harmanpreet Kaur (vice-captain), Ekta Bisht, Karu Jain, Jhulan Goswami, Reema Malhotra, Mona Meshram, Sulakshana Naik, Nagarajan Niranjana, Rasanara Parwin, Poonam Raut, Amita Sharma, Shubhlakshmi Sharma, Thirush Kamini, Gouher Sultana