Devoid of stars, West Indies selectors recall Kieran Powell
jinxed the gnomes before they vaporized! Grumpy wizards make toxic brew for the evil Queen and Jack.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) leg-spinner Rashid Khan has been an enigma in the ongoing IPL, destroying many top batsman with well-disguised googlies. But when he came on to bowl against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) on Monday night, opener Manan Vohra read his googly well and hit a slog sweep over the mid-wicket region for a six. That made the SRH captain David Warner express his admiration for the 23-year-old batsman. He could not stop himself from saying, “That’s a top shot man”.
The shot was a precursor of things to come. Manan went on to smash a 50-ball 95 and almost got KXIP to the finish line. However, they fell short by just five runs.
Speaking to Hindustan Times from Hyderabad, Manan said, “David Warner was kind enough to say encouraging words during the match. I promised Viru paaji that I will stay in the middle for 12-14 overs. I am happy to have done that and would like to make it a habit. I wish the team had won too. Viru paaji said later, “ab khada tha toe khatam karke aata (You should have hit the winning runs too after having stayed there for so long).”
David Warner was kind enough to say encouraging words during the match
I promised Viru paaji that I will stay in the middle for 1214 overs. I am happy to have done that
West Indies named uncapped batting pair Vishaul Singh and Shimron Hetmeyer and recalled Kieran Powell to face Pakistan in the first cricket Test, starting on Friday.
The 13-man squad for the first in the three-match series at Sabina Park in Kingston is captained by Jason Holder.
Three players missing were Marlon Samuels, Darren Bravo and Leon Johnson who toured the United Arab Emirates last year for three Tests against Pakistan. For Powell this marks a return to the Test stage for the first time since 2014.
He figured in the West Indies’ one day international series against England in March and Pakistan this month.
West Indies chairman of selectors Courtney Browne said: “We have a young Test squad, which was admirably led by Jason Holder during the last series and, though there are some noticeable absentees, we believe that the players will give a good account of themselves especially in their own backyard.”