Dhoni blames batsmen for stunning New Zealand loss

Nagpur (India) – Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni blamed his batsmen for their shock 47-run loss to New Zealand in the opening World Twenty20 group match in Nagpur on Tuesday. New Zealand bowler Mitchell Santner celebrates during the World T20 cricket tournament match between India and New Zealand in Nagpur on March 15, 2016 © AFP Punit Paranjpe Full Scorecard: New Zealand vs India Match 13 World T20 2016 India’s…

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Under-fire Afridi clarifies ‘love for India’ comments

Kolkata: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has sought to clarify his comments he made after his side’s arrival in India for World T20, which attracted severe criticism from some of his countrymen.The flamboyant all-rounder remarked that Pakistani players received more love from Indian fans as compared to their Pakistani counterparts, which drew scathing comments especially from former skipper Javed Miandad. Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi © PCB Also Read: Pakistan coach backs…

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Morgan says confident England ready for World T20 challenge

London: England skipper Eoin Morgan said that his side are brimming with confidence and new energy ahead of their World T20 campaign, which starts against west Indies in Mumbai from Wednesday. England’s Eoin Morgan plays a shot © AFP File The 29-year-old, who believes that England are a different proposition at the moment, said that the T20 format’s pinnacle event would provide his side with a great opportunity to showcase…

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Kiwi gamble put India in a spin: pundits

Wellington – New Zealand media on Wednesday hailed as a “masterstroke” the bold selection behind the Black Caps’ stunning win over India in the World Twenty20 opener. The New Zealand Herald declared the Black Caps’ win as the best possible start to the tournament © AFP Punit Paranjpe “What a twist”, trumpeted Fairfax NZ’s stuff.co.nz website after New Zealand’s unheralded spinners tweaked the Black Caps to a 47-run victory over…

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Pakistan coach backs Afridi on India love row

Kolkata – Coach Waqar Younis stood by his skipper Shahid Afridi Tuesday over his declaration that Pakistan’s cricketers receive more love in India than back home, saying critics should stop stirring up trouble. Pakistan’s captain Shahid Afridi gestures as he addresses media representatives at a press conference at The Eden Gardens stadium in Kolkata on March 13, 2016 © AFP/File Dibyangshu Sarkar Former Pakistani captain Javed Miandad has been at…

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Morgan confident England will perform

Skipper Eoin Morgan is confident England’s youthful squad are capable of handling the pressure of an ICC World Twenty20 in India. Morgan has suffered disappointment in global tournaments since he was part of the England side that ended a 35-year wait for an ICC limited-overs trophy with victory at the 2010 World T20 in the Caribbean. England reached the quarter-finals of the 2011 World Cup and after exiting the last…

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Sammy tips Gayle to shine for West Indies

Captain Darren Sammy remains calm amid West Indies’ chaotic ICC World Twenty20 build-up – and has backed star batsman Chris Gayle to do likewise. Sammy leads a side shorn of spinner Sunil Narine, due to a ban for an illegal bowling action, and withdrawn duo Kieron Pollard and Darren Bravo as they provide England’s opening opponents tomorrow.  With the big-hitting Gayle at the top of the order, though, the Windies…

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'Martin Crowe would be proud'

With the Super 10 phase starting, there was plenty of excitement around. There was a shock right at the toss, when New Zealand left out their established pace pair of Tim Southee and Trent Boult and picked plenty of spinners. 3 spinners for New Zealand!!! I didn’t know there were that many spinners in the entire country#IndvsNZ — Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur) March 15, 2016 The game got off to a…

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NZ spin trio routs India on raging turner

New Zealand 126 for 7 (Anderson 34, Bumrah 1-15, Raina 1-16) beat India 79 (Dhoni 30, Santner 4-11, Sodhi 3-18) by 47 runsScorecard and ball-by-ball details Play 04:50 Highlights: Santner, Sodhi and McCullum catch India off guard For a long time, this New Zealand team was under the charge of a man who loved a gamble or two. But would even Brendon McCullum have been funky enough to go up…

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NZ spin trio hand India shock defeat

Toss New Zealand chose to bat v IndiaLive scorecard and ball-by-ball details Play 03:09 Styris: India are favourites for a reason New Zealand went for a horses-for-courses approach upon seeing a dry and cracked pitch in Nagpur, and their conviction was such that they left out their two best fast bowlers Trent Boult and Tim Southee to accommodate three spinners. The visitors made a far more orthodox call when the…

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