India crush UAE by 9 wickets – PCB wants security guarantee from Indian govt
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DHAKA, March 3, (AFP): India warmed up for the Asia Cup final against Bangladesh with a crushing nine-wicket win over minnows United Arab Emirates in Dhaka on Thursday, their last league match in the competition.
A disciplined Indian attack restricted the UAE to a meagre 81-9 before they reached 82-1 in just 10.1 overs to complete the rout, their fourth victory in as many matches in the tournament.
Opener Rohit Sharma made the highest 39 runs with 28 balls, hitting seven fours and six, while Yuvraj Singh made good use of his promotion in one-down position with an unbeaten 25.
“The wickets here have been challenging, not the easiest,” said man of the match Rohit. “I am glad we have put up a performance like that.
“Initially, you have to see the conditions. Once you get a hang of it, you can probably play your shots,” he added.
Rohit put on 43 runs in the opening stand with Shikhar Dhawan before he was caught by Mohammad Naveed of Qadeer Ahmed in third man area, in what turned out to be the UAE’s only success in the game.
Dhawan, who scored just three runs in his previous two matches in the tournament, carefully protected his wicket to remain 16 not out.
“I wanted that innings,” he said after the match. “I have spent some time in the middle. It was important to get the feel of the wicket for the final.”
Shaiman Anwar was the UAE’s top scorer, making 43 runs before he was the last man dismissed.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar claimed 2-8 playing his first match in the series, while all of the other bowlers used by India skipper MS Dhoni were rewarded with a wicket.
India rested Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ashish Nehra ahead of the March 6 final and brought in uncapped Pawan Negi, Harbhajan Singh and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
UAE captain Amjad Javed said they were looking for a total of around 120 runs.
“We were playing the favourites of the tournament and it was difficult for us,” he said.
“When you face top quality bowlers, it is difficult. They have got experience and they will come back hard.”
The league phase of the tournament will end with Pakistan facing Sri Lanka on Friday.
The Pakistan Cricket Board wants the Indian government to publicly guarantee security for the Pakistan team during the World Twenty20 in India.
The board reacted on Thursday to reported comments this week by the head of Himachal Pradesh state that he could not provide security for the Pakistan team, and its WT20 match with India should be shifted to another state.
“These latest threats need to be taken seriously,” PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said in Lahore.
“Political parties (in India) like Shiv Sena, and now even the Congress, has said they will not let us play, and they are the ones creating agitation.”
Khan said he’s asked the International Cricket Council to tell the Indian government it needed to issue a public statement welcoming Pakistan’s team in India.
The team was given permission by the Pakistan Interior Ministry last month to play in India, long before Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh spoke out.
Singh was reported in Indian media on Tuesday as saying the Board of Control for Cricket in India should shift the India-Pakistan match scheduled for Dharamsala on March 19 to another state because he couldn’t provide security for Pakistan.
Khan said BCCI officials have assured him “it’s all about internal politics,” and Khan said it’s too early to consider withdrawing Pakistan from the WT20.
Pakistan, at the Asia Cup in Bangladesh, was due to fly to Kolkata, India, on Monday, but will return to Pakistan on Saturday after it failed to reach the final. Pakistan finishes against Sri Lanka on Friday.
India vs UAE Scoreboard
DHAKA, March 3, (AFP): Scoreboard of the Asia Cup Twenty20 match between India and the UAE at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on Thursday:
UAE
Rohan Mustafa c Kohli b Pandya……………. 11
Swapnil Patil c&b Kumar…………………….. 1
Mohammad Shahzad c Raina b Bumrah……… 0
Shaiman Anwar run out…………………….. 43
Mohammad Usman c Harbhajan b Negi……… 9
Amjad Javed c Negi b Harbhajan…………….. 0
Muhammad Kaleem c Pandya b Yuvraj………. 2
Fahad Tariq run out………………………….. 3
Mohammad Naveed c Negi b Kumar………… 5
Ahmed Raza not out…………………………. 0
Qadeer Ahmed not out……………………….. 0
Extras (lb 2 w5)……………………………… 7
Total (nine wickets; 20 overs)………………. 81
Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Patil) 2-2 (Shahzad), 3-25 (Rohan) 4-51 (Usman), 5-53 (Amjad) 6-62 (Kaleem), 7-66 (Fahad), 8-80 (Naveed), 9-81 (Anwar).
Bowling: Kumar 4-2-8-2 (w1), Bumrah 4-0-23-1(w1), Pandya 3-1-11-1 (w1), Harbhajan 4-1-11-1 (w1), Negi 3-0-16-1, Yuvraj 2-0-10-1(w1)
INDIA
- Sharma c Naveed b Qadeer……………… 39
- Dhawan not out………………………….. 16
- Singh not out…………………………….. 25
Extras (w1 nb1)……………………………… 2
Total (one wicket; 10.1 overs)………………. 82
Fall of wickets: 1-43 (Sharma)
Did not bat: V. Kohli, S. Raina, H. Pandya, M. Dhoni, P. Negi, H. Singh, B. Kumar, J. Bumrah
Bowling: Naveed 3-0-17-0 (w1, nb1), Javed 2-0-18-0, Qadeer 2-0-23-1, Shahzad 1.1-0-14-0, Rohan 1-0-6-0
Result: India won by nine wickets
Toss: UAE
Umpires: Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid (BAN) and Shozab Raza (PAK)
TV umpire: Ruchira Palliyaguruge (SRI)
Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZ)
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