Basil Thampi will soon represent India, says WI all-rounder Dwayne Bravo
KOLKATA: West Indies’ World T20-winning allrounder Dwayne Bravo is mighty impressed with uncapped Kerala speedster Basil Thampi, saying he could soon represent India.
Both Bravo and Thampi are turning out for Gujarat Lions in the ongoing Indian Premier League.
“Basil Thampi is a very, very talented youngster. I would say he will get the opportunity to play for Team India in a year or so. He has the talent, obviously, but he also has a lot of heart, pace and the skill. He’s always willing to learn,” Bravo said on Wednesday.
During Gujarat Lions’ match against Mumbai Indians, the tall pacer impressed everyone by consistently bowling yorkers.
On Tuesday, when Royal Challengers Bangalore took the Gujarat Lions attack to the cleaners, Thampi returned economical figures of 1/31 and bowled the maximum (11) dot balls.
Thampi’s maiden IPL wicket came in the form of Chris Gayle, after the opener had smashed a 38-ball 77. The bowler set it up with a yorker and trapped him next ball with another full-length delivery.
An excited Bravo, who is recovering from a hamstring injury, went straight to the Kerala pacer and said he would like to take him under his wings.
“He’s willing to learn. He asks the right questions. I think India cricket is in right direction when you have someone like him.
“Bowling 140-plus, like Indian speedsters Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Shami, Thampi has the skill and is really good. I really wish him all the best from the bottom of my heart.”
Bravo is ever ready to offer tips to the 23-year-old.
“I follow him very closely, I try to give him a lot of confidence and experience, explain to him, break down the game to him. He’s still in a learning phase.
“He has the raw natural talent and ability. It’s a matter of playing more games, give him more experience and exposure.”
Talking about himself, Bravo has said he’s “a game or two away” from returning to action.
Bravo had taken 17 wickets from 15 matches last season and his absence is hurting the team, which is struggling at the bottom of the table with just a win from five matches. KARACHI: Exactly a year after forcing him to step down as chief selector, the Pakistan Cricket Board has brought back former Test batsman, Haroon Rasheed in a more powerful position in the PCB.
The PCB has announced the appointment of Haroon as Director Cricket Operations and will be reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, Subhan Ahmad.
The board said in a statement that Haroon has been picked for the post after the PCB interviewed a total of three candidates including former Test spinner, Iqbal Qasim and Haroon met all the required credentials for the job.
Ironically soon after Pakistan were eliminated early in the World T20 last April in India, a fact-finding committee formed by the PCB recommended the sacking of the entire selection committee which was headed by Haroon Rasheed.
Even otherwise Haroon, who has also remained chief coach and manager of the Pakistan senior and junior teams besides serving as Director game development in the board, has been either removed or forced to step down in different capacities.
“It is clear that the decision to bring back Haroon has the full backing of Najam Sethi who is tipped to take over as Chairman of the board from Shaharyar Khan in a few week time, a reliable source in the board said.
He said the only reason Haroon’s appointment as Director Cricket Operations was delayed since last year was due to the resistance put up by Shaharyar who didn’t want him back in any position.
But soon after the PCB confirmed Haroon’s appointment this week, Shaharyar also changed his tune and insisted Haroon’s poor show as chief selector didn’t have any bearing to his new assignment.
“That was a different job and we went for changes after the World Cup based on recommendations of the fact-finding committee but this job is different and Haroon has the experience and credentials to do it successfully,” Khan said.
It is no secret that with Shaharyar on his way out after completing three years in the board, Sethi, who heads the executive committee, is now increasingly calling the shots on cricket affairs. JOHANNESBURG: Indianorigin left-arm spinner, Keshav Maharaj has been included in the 15-man Proteas squad for the ICC Champions Trophy, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced on Wednesday.
The squad will play three ODIS against England starting with the first match at Headingley in Leeds on May 24th, before their first group match of the ICC Champions Trophy against Sri Lanka at the Oval on June 3.
The 26-year-old Maharaj has had an impressive debut season for the Test squad, and comes into the squad to bolster the spin options alongside Imran Tahir.
Morne Morkel makes a return to the limited-overs format after nearly 10 months, adding experience to the pace bowling group featuring Kagiso Rabada, Wayne Parnell, Chris Morris, Dwaine Pretorius and Andile Phehlukwayo. CSA convener of selectors, Linda Zondi, says the selectors have picked a strong squad which covers all of the combinations and conditions on offer for the eighth edition of the eight-team event. “We have been working with this group of players for the last two seasons where our key emphasis has been consistency in selection,” Zondi commented.
“That has shown in how this group has performed over the last while, which has resulted in winning three consecutive ODI series.
“We feel we have a squad that covers every scenario that we could possibly be faced with on the tour. Most importantly, every player knows and understands their role and value within the squad.