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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, May 19, 2017
Kapil Dev picks England to win … astonished W.I will not Champions Trophy be part of tournament MUMBAI, India, (CMC) – Legendary Indian all-rounder Kapil Dev said authorities should reconsider the rules of qualification for the ICC Champions Trophy, if it means West Indies will be . The former Indian captain and world record-breaking fast bowler was astonished that the Windies will not be part of the tournament which takes place from June 1 to 18 in England and Wales. For the eighth edition of the tournament, the top eight teams in the ICC ODI rankings on September 30, 2015, qualified for
Legendary Indian all-rounder Kapil Dev
the tournament. The Caribbean side fin-
Caribbean triumph unforgettable, says retiring Misbah
Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq pose with series trophy last Sunday at Windsor Park.
LAHORE, Pakistan, (CMC) Retiring Pakistan Test captan Misbah-ul-Haq says the historic 2-1 Test series victory in the Caribbean last Sunday will remain one of the highlights of his career. The 42-year-old, playing in his last international match before quitting the sport, led Pakistan to a dramatic 101-run victory over West Indies in the decisive third Test at Windsor Park. For Pakistan, it marked the first time they had beaten West Indies in a series in the Caribbean since the two teams began their rivalry in 1958. “It’s an honour for me, I’m grateful to the nation for all their prayers and support,” Misbah said on his return here Wednesday as a jubilant crowd gathered at the airport to welcome the team. “I am happy with my performance. Winning in the West Indies will be something I will always remember. “The credit for this accomplishment goes to the Pakistan Cricket Board, the players’ families, and the whole team.” Pakistan won the opening
Test in Jamaica last month by seven wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the series but then collapsed on the final day of the second Test in Barbados earlier this month, to concede a 106-run defeat. In the third Test that burst to life only over the last two days, Pakistan left it until late as Man-of-the-Series leg-spinner Yasir Shah removed number 11 Shannon Gabriel with the final delivery of the penultimate over of the match, to break the hosts’ stubborn resistance. Misbah said the Test series win needed to be held up as the standard of achievement for future Pakistan sides. “We have accomplished a feat many teams across the world only dream of,” said Misbah, who surpassed 5 000 runs during the series en route to being his side’s leading scorer with 271 runs. “These sorts of victories will help bring fresh talent into the spotlight. It is crucial that we keep succeeding like this.” The tour was a successful one for Pakistan overall as they also beat West Indies in the preceding Twenty20 and oneday series.
ished outside the top eight in ninth position on the cut-
off date and were nudged by Bangladesh, meaning they missed out on the tournament for the first time. “It’s very hard to believe that West Indies will not be at the tournament,” he said. “I always follow West Indies cricket very closely because that was the best team in our time. “If the West Indies team has declined in 20 or 30 years, we can say that the other teams have come up. It’s sad to see the West Indies decline from where it was. There is no shortage of talent though. The West Indies winning the Twenty20 World Cup last year in Kolkata was fantastic.
“When someone makes a rule, they don’t think of things like whether this or that team will qualify. I, as a cricketer, lover of the game, think that the West Indies should be there all the time, but again I don’t write the rules.” Kapil Dev has picked hosts England to prevail over the Bangladeshis, Australia, India, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Pakistan teams in the tournament which will be played at the Oval in London, Edgbaston in Birmingham and Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. “I think of England,” he said. “For the first time
in 40 years, England has given me the impression that it is producing players for one-day cricket. “They has a ruthless approach with players like Jason Roy, Jos Buttler, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan and Ben Stokes. They can win matches on their own.” He said: “That’s the sort of the team [India] had at one time – Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag. “For the first time though, I feel England has so many good players who on their own can win matches, so I make them the favourites.”
Thompson headlines galaxy of stars for Jamaica international meet
K I N G S TO N , J a m a i c a (CMC) – Olympic double sprint champion Elaine Thompson will be the headline act for the Jamaica International Invitational tomorrow when she lines up for the women’s 200 metres, the final event on the schedule. Thompson, winner of gold medals in the 100m and 200m at last year’s Olympics in Rio, has continued to stamp her authority on the sport this year. She won the 200m in a time of 22.19 seconds at the IAAF Diamond League meet in Doha, Qatar, and followed up with a 100m victory in 10.78 at the DL meet in Shanghai, China. Shericka Jackson, the 400m World and Olympic bronze medallist, has lowered her personal bests in the short sprints and could push her MVP clubmate, along with American challengers Shalonda Solomon and Candyce McGrone, as well as Bahamian Tynia Gaither. A ding-dong battle is expected when Olympic silver
Elaine Thompson
medallist Andre De Grasse of Canada faces La Shawn Merritt of the United States in the men’s 200m. De Grasse finished behind Usain Bolt last year in Rio and has had a cold start to the season, but he can expect to be pushed by Merritt, as well as local challengers Warren Weir, Nickel Ashmeade and reigning Commonwealth Games champion Rasheed Dwyer. Veteran sprinters Allyson Felix of the United States and Asafa Powell
of Jamaica are the notable names carded for the women’s and men’s 100m dash. Felix’s biggest challengers look to be Rio 100m finalists Michelle-Lee Ahye and Christania Williams, as well as IAAF World Indoor tour 60 champion Gayon Evans. Resurgent local hero Yohan Blake, American Mike Rodgers, fresh from his win in Guadeloupe last weekend, and compatriot Ronnie Baker, the only
man in the field under 10 seconds this season, look to be potential spoilers to Powell. T h e w o m e n ’s 4 0 0 m features a clash between Novelene Williams-Mills, Stephenie-Ann McPherson, Christine Day and Anneisha McLaughlin-Whilby of Jamaica and Americans Natasha Hastings, Ashley Spencer, Courtney Okolo and Phyllis Francis. Jamaica 400m champion Javon Francis will be under pressure to defend home turf in the men’s race with Tony McQuay of the United States looking to show his mettle. Other big names looking to leave their mark on the meet include reigning women’s world 100 hurdles champions Danielle Williams and her sister Shermaine of the United States, compatriot Bershawn Jackson in the men’s 400m hurdles, and two-time world and Rio Olympic triple-jump champion Caterine Ibarguen of Colombia who will make her season debut.