Absence of Indians irks SA T20 League owners
CAPETOWN: Former Pakistan fast bowler Aaqib Javed, who is director of cricket operations for Durban Qalandars in South Africa’s T20 Global League, is miffed with the absence of Indian cricketers in the tournament.
Not only Aaqib, the T20 league’s franchise owners are upset as well. Javed Afridi, owner of Benoni Zalmi, thinks Indian cricketers in the league would have been ideal but fans will see India-Pakistan rivalry when Shah Rukh Khan’s Cape Town Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils’ GMR group’s Jo’burg Giants will face-off.
“Unfortunately, India and Pakistan cricketers won’t be playing against each other in the Global League and it would be left to Pakistan owners versus Indian owners. Shah Rukh has roots in Peshawar. People are looking forward to see his team take on Benoni Zalmi. After the success of the PSL, there is a buzz regarding the Global T20 League,” said Afridi.
Former South Africa skipper Graeme Smith has been appointed head coach of Gauteng franchise, Benoni Zalmi, who will be led by Quinton de Kock. Posters of Benoni vs Cape Town being ‘the league’s version of ‘Pak vs India’ and carrying photographs of Afridi and Shah Rukh are doing the rounds on social media.
Fawad Rana, owner of Durban Qalandars, thinks the BCCI would eventually allow its players to compete in the T20 league and he would be the first to buy Virat Kohli.
“I would have loved to buy Virat for my team. I feel eventually the Indian Board will allow its players to play in foreign leagues,” said Fawad.
TRADITIONAL RIVALRY Aaqib says he is longing for IndiaPak cricket to make a comeback. The 22-Test and 163-ODI veteran said, “There is traditional rivalry between the two countries when it comes to cricket. Matches between India and Pakistan, along with Ashes can lift Test cricket. The governments should keep sport aside of political tension and let fans relish top-class cricket. Imagine how big the next India and Pakistan match would be after the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 final. The ICC should look into this and push the Indian Board to show some relaxation.” SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS: Lewis Hamilton celebrated his 200th Formula One race in style on Sunday with a pole-to-flag Belgian Grand Prix victory for Mercedes that halved Sebastian Vettel’s championship lead to seven points. The Briton’s fifth success in 12 races this season, and 58th of his career, came a day after he equalled Michael Schumacher’s all-time record of 68 pole positions. “Sebastian put a great fight on but this is what I said I was coming to do so I did it,” Hamilton told the crowd from the podium.
Vettel finished second for Ferrari, 2.3 seconds behind, after pushing his rival all the way without being able to get close enough to make a move stick in what amounted to a two-horse race of relentless pressure.
“It was really intense because every lap I was waiting for Lewis to do a mistake. He didn’t,” said Vettel, whose next race is Ferrari’s home Italian Grand Prix at Monza. He was probably waiting for me to make a mistake. I didn’t,” added the German, who set a race lap record of one minute 46.577 seconds in the closing stages. With eight races remaining, four-times champion Vettel has 220 points and Hamilton 213.
RICCIARDO THIRD Australian Daniel Ricciardo took third place for Red Bull after a storming re-start following a late safety car period that had closed the gap to the frontrunners and triggered a flurry of pitstops.
Ricciardo, on fresh ultra-soft tyres, passed Hamilton’s team mate Valtteri Bottas to surge into the top three, with the Finn also losing out to the Ferrari of compatriot Kimi Raikkonen as he ran wide.
Germany’s Nico Hulkenberg finished sixth for Renault, Romain Grosjean was seventh for Haas and Brazilian Felipe Massa took eighth.
“It’s pretty much for all the Dutch here, so thanks for hanging around,” said Ricciardo, whose teenage team mate Max Verstappen retired shaking his head in sheer frustration after eight laps. It was his sixth retirement in 12 races.