<p>At least eight people died and 38 were injured when fans stormed a soccer stadium hosting an Africa Cup of Nations match in Cameroon`s capital on Monday, the government said. Images shared on social media, which Reuters could not immediately authenticate, showed a panicked crowd trying to squeeze through a narrow entrance gate at the newly built Olembe stadium in Yaounde that was hosting a round of 16 game between Cameroon and Comoros.<br />
One video showed dozens of fans scrambling over the stadium fence as a police officer walked by.</p>

<p>The stampede comes as a heavy blow for the tournament, which had grown in excitement on the pitch in recent days thanks to some match upsets but which was under scrutiny for a lack of readiness beforehand.<br />
COVID-19 and insecurity caused by a separatist insurgency also complicated preparations. Work on the 60,000-seat Olembe Stadium continued right up to the start of Africa`s top soccer tournament, prompting the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the continent`s soccer governing body, to hold an emergency meeting to discuss cancelling the competition altogether.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/at-least-six-killed-in-cameroon-stadium-stampede-447312"><strong>At least six killed in Cameroon stadium stampede</strong></a></p>

<p>"CAF is currently investigating the situation and trying to get more details on what transpired. We are in constant communication with Cameroon government and the Local Organising Committee," it said in a statement.</p>

<p><strong>THE SHOCK, THE WEIGHT</strong><br />
High school teacher Vanessa Tchouanzi had come to see the match on Monday. She was barely able to get her words out as she recounted her experience over the phone to Reuters.<br />
Tchouanzi tried to enter the stadium with a friend, but said that gate attendees were too overwhelmed by the mass of people to check tickets. As fans rushed the entrance, Tchouanzi and her friend were knocked to the ground. A bystander helped Tchouanzi escape, but her friend was trampled to death, she said.</p>

<p>"She couldn`t take the shock, the weight of all those people," Tchouanzi said through a flood of tears.<br />
The government did not give any information on the cause of the crush or whether fans were allowed into the stadium without tickets. It is not clear why the match went ahead after the disaster. Following a low turnout in the first round games at brand new stadiums, Cameroon authorities have thrown open stadium gates, organised mass transport and given out free tickets to lure fans.</p>


At least eight people died and 38 were injured when fans stormed a soccer stadium hosting an Africa Cup of Nations match in Cameroon`s capital on Monday, the government said.

At least eight people died and 38 were injured when fans stormed a soccer stadium hosting an Africa Cup of Nations match in Cameroon`s capital on Monday, the government said. Images shared on social media, which Reuters could not immediately authenticate, showed a panicked crowd trying to squeeze through a narrow entrance gate at the newly built Olembe stadium in Yaounde that was hosting a round of 16 game between Cameroon and Comoros. One video showed dozens of fans scrambling over the stadium fence as a police officer walked by. The stampede comes as a heavy blow for the tournament, which had grown in excitement on the pitch in recent days thanks to some match upsets but which was under scrutiny for a lack of readiness beforehand. COVID-19 and insecurity caused by a separatist insurgency also complicated preparations. Work on the 60,000-seat Olembe Stadium continued right up to the start of Africa`s top soccer tournament, prompting the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the continent`s soccer governing body, to hold an emergency meeting to discuss cancelling the competition altogether. ALSO READ | At least six killed in Cameroon stadium stampede "CAF is currently investigating the situation and trying to get more details on what transpired. We are in constant communication with Cameroon government and the Local Organising Committee," it said in a statement. THE SHOCK, THE WEIGHT High school teacher Vanessa Tchouanzi had come to see the match on Monday. She was barely able to get her words out as she recounted her experience over the phone to Reuters. Tchouanzi tried to enter the stadium with a friend, but said that gate attendees were too overwhelmed by the mass of people to check tickets. As fans rushed the entrance, Tchouanzi and her friend were knocked to the ground. A bystander helped Tchouanzi escape, but her friend was trampled to death, she said. "She couldn`t take the shock, the weight of all those people," Tchouanzi said through a flood of tears. The government did not give any information on the cause of the crush or whether fans were allowed into the stadium without tickets. It is not clear why the match went ahead after the disaster. Following a low turnout in the first round games at brand new stadiums, Cameroon authorities have thrown open stadium gates, organised mass transport and given out free tickets to lure fans.

Stadium stampede kills eight in Africa Cup of Nations soccer face-off

<p>The forthcoming IPL 2022 edition will see two more teams join the existing eight franchises, in the form of Lucknow Super Giants and the Ahmedabad franchise. While KL Rahul has been named the Lucknow skipper, local boy Hardik Pandya is set to debut as captain for the Ahmedabad line-up in IPL 2022.</p>

<p>Ahead of the new season, all eyes are on the upcoming mega auction, set to be held in mid-February in Bengaluru. For now, Lucknow have roped in the likes of Rahul, Marcus Stoinis and Ravi Bishnoi whereas Ahmedabad comprise Hardik, Rashid Khan and Shubman Gill.</p>

<p>Prior to the auction, Hardik revealed that he is set to return to his all-round abilities for the forthcoming IPL season and also hailed his former Indian captain MS Dhoni for grooming him.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/everyone-wants-someone-like-him-lucknow-captain-kl-rahul-eyes-star-foreign-player-ahead-of-ipl-auction-447441">'Everyone wants someone like him' - Lucknow captain KL Rahul eyes star foreign player ahead of IPL auction</a></strong></p>

<p>Speaking on&nbsp;<em>Backstage with Boria</em>, Hardik responded on being asked if he wants to be seen as an all-rounder. To this, he said "Yes, that’s my plan.&nbsp;I want to play as an allrounder. My preparation, hard work is all about playing as an allrounder. If something goes bad then I don’t know. I am feeling good, strong and eventually, time will tell."</p>

<p>Hardik, who made his international debut under Dhoni in early 2016,&nbsp;talked about the legendary skipper's role in grooming him as a leader.&nbsp; In this regard, he opined, "I have learned a lot from everyone, especially Mahi Bhai. When I went there [Indian team], I was a raw material. The way he groomed me --&nbsp;he&nbsp;gave me a lot of freedom. He wanted me to make my own mistakes and learn. I used to think why he is not saying a lot of things but later on, I realised that he wanted me to learn on my own so that I can survive more and harden."</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-shreyas-iyer-aakash-chopra-names-west-indies-all-rounder-who-should-replace-virat-kohli-as-rcb-captain-447439"><strong>Not Shreyas Iyer! Aakash Chopra names West Indies all-rounder who should replace Virat Kohli as RCB captain</strong></a></p>

<p>Hardik will be eager to make a mark as an all-rounder in the forthcoming IPL season. He hasn't bowled much in the international circuit since his back surgery in early 2020 and, hence, has lost his Test spot. He would be eager to make a resounding contribution in all departments and also take Ahmedabad to the playoffs in their maiden season.</p>


The forthcoming IPL 2022 edition will see two more teams join the existing eight franchises, in the form of Lucknow Super Giants and the Ahmedabad franchise. While KL Rahul has been named the Lucknow skipper, local boy Hardik Pandya is set to debut as captain for the Ahmedabad line-up in IPL 2022.

The forthcoming IPL 2022 edition will see two more teams join the existing eight franchises, in the form of Lucknow Super Giants and the Ahmedabad franchise. While KL Rahul has been named the Lucknow skipper, local boy Hardik Pandya is set to debut as captain for the Ahmedabad line-up in IPL 2022. Ahead of the new season, all eyes are on the upcoming mega auction, set to be held in mid-February in Bengaluru. For now, Lucknow have roped in the likes of Rahul, Marcus Stoinis and Ravi Bishnoi whereas Ahmedabad comprise Hardik, Rashid Khan and Shubman Gill. Prior to the auction, Hardik revealed that he is set to return to his all-round abilities for the forthcoming IPL season and also hailed his former Indian captain MS Dhoni for grooming him. ALSO READ | 'Everyone wants someone like him' - Lucknow captain KL Rahul eyes star foreign player ahead of IPL auction Speaking on Backstage with Boria, Hardik responded on being asked if he wants to be seen as an all-rounder. To this, he said "Yes, that’s my plan. I want to play as an allrounder. My preparation, hard work is all about playing as an allrounder. If something goes bad then I don’t know. I am feeling good, strong and eventually, time will tell." Hardik, who made his international debut under Dhoni in early 2016, talked about the legendary skipper's role in grooming him as a leader. In this regard, he opined, "I have learned a lot from everyone, especially Mahi Bhai. When I went there [Indian team], I was a raw material. The way he groomed me -- he gave me a lot of freedom. He wanted me to make my own mistakes and learn. I used to think why he is not saying a lot of things but later on, I realised that he wanted me to learn on my own so that I can survive more and harden." ALSO READ | Not Shreyas Iyer! Aakash Chopra names West Indies all-rounder who should replace Virat Kohli as RCB captain Hardik will be eager to make a mark as an all-rounder in the forthcoming IPL season. He hasn't bowled much in the international circuit since his back surgery in early 2020 and, hence, has lost his Test spot. He would be eager to make a resounding contribution in all departments and also take Ahmedabad to the playoffs in their maiden season.

IPL 2022: 'He wanted me to....'- Ahmedabad captain Hardik Pandya hails MS Dhoni for grooming him

<p>The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 edition is still over two months away. However, all eyes are on the mega auction, which is set to be held in mid-February in Bengaluru. The 15th edition is eagerly awaited as it will see two new teams joining the eight franchises, which also makes the forthcoming mega auction all the more important.</p>

<p>While the eight existing teams will face the challenge to revamp once again, the two new teams -- i.e. Lucknow and Ahmedabad -- will aim to create start from scratch and make the most of the auction proceedings. Ahead of the auction on February 12 and 13, Lucknow Super Giants' captain KL Rahul has lavished praise on Kagiso Rabada, who was not retained by the Delhi Capitals (DC), and hinted that the team management might aim to buy him.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/time-we-get-better-and-transform-our-white-ball-cricket-says-rahul-post-indias-listless-performance-vs-sa-447258"><strong>Time we get better and transform our white-ball cricket, says Rahul post India's listless performance vs SA</strong></a></p>

<p>"We have seen Rabada being a key bowler for the Delhi Capitals and played a huge part in their success. Every team would want a player like Kagiso Rabada. Come on, he bowls over 145kph and is a very smart cricketer. Everyone would want someone like that," said Rahul about the South African pace spearhead on India Today.</p>

<p>Rahul also heaped praise on Marco Jansen and Rassie van der Dussen, who made heads turn with their performances in the India-SA series, in the rainbow nation. "Marco Jansen played a few games for Mumbai Indians but he has come of his own now. He had a really good series with the red ball (during the India Test series in the African nation) and that makes a little bit of a difference with how people see him. He is someone who will do really well in international cricket with the red ball. We all spoke about it after the series as well that he is going to be the next big thing in international cricket," opined Rahul.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lucknow-super-giants-rpsg-group-owned-ipl-franchise-unveil-their-name-ahead-of-debut-season-447209"><strong>Lucknow Super Giants! RPSG Group-owned IPL franchise unveil their name ahead of debut season</strong></a></p>

<p>"Van der Dussen has been performing phenomenally and is someone who plays spin really well. That is key and a very important thing that a franchise looks at when you are picking a foreign batter. We play the IPL in India and teams tend to use a lot of spinners in the middle overs so you need to be a good player of spin to get into an IPL team," added Rahul.</p>

<p>For now, Lucknow have acquired the services of Rahul, Ravi Bishnoi and Marcus Stoinis. On the other hand, Ahmedabad franchise have named Hardik Pandya as the captain, along with claiming the services of Rashid Khan and Shubman Gill.</p>


The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 edition is still over two months away. However, all eyes are on the mega auction, which is set to be held in mid-February in Bengaluru.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 edition is still over two months away. However, all eyes are on the mega auction, which is set to be held in mid-February in Bengaluru. The 15th edition is eagerly awaited as it will see two new teams joining the eight franchises, which also makes the forthcoming mega auction all the more important. While the eight existing teams will face the challenge to revamp once again, the two new teams -- i.e. Lucknow and Ahmedabad -- will aim to create start from scratch and make the most of the auction proceedings. Ahead of the auction on February 12 and 13, Lucknow Super Giants' captain KL Rahul has lavished praise on Kagiso Rabada, who was not retained by the Delhi Capitals (DC), and hinted that the team management might aim to buy him. ALSO READ | Time we get better and transform our white-ball cricket, says Rahul post India's listless performance vs SA "We have seen Rabada being a key bowler for the Delhi Capitals and played a huge part in their success. Every team would want a player like Kagiso Rabada. Come on, he bowls over 145kph and is a very smart cricketer. Everyone would want someone like that," said Rahul about the South African pace spearhead on India Today. Rahul also heaped praise on Marco Jansen and Rassie van der Dussen, who made heads turn with their performances in the India-SA series, in the rainbow nation. "Marco Jansen played a few games for Mumbai Indians but he has come of his own now. He had a really good series with the red ball (during the India Test series in the African nation) and that makes a little bit of a difference with how people see him. He is someone who will do really well in international cricket with the red ball. We all spoke about it after the series as well that he is going to be the next big thing in international cricket," opined Rahul. ALSO READ | Lucknow Super Giants! RPSG Group-owned IPL franchise unveil their name ahead of debut season "Van der Dussen has been performing phenomenally and is someone who plays spin really well. That is key and a very important thing that a franchise looks at when you are picking a foreign batter. We play the IPL in India and teams tend to use a lot of spinners in the middle overs so you need to be a good player of spin to get into an IPL team," added Rahul. For now, Lucknow have acquired the services of Rahul, Ravi Bishnoi and Marcus Stoinis. On the other hand, Ahmedabad franchise have named Hardik Pandya as the captain, along with claiming the services of Rashid Khan and Shubman Gill.

'Everyone wants someone like him' - Lucknow captain KL Rahul eyes star foreign player ahead of IPL auction

<p>MS Dhoni remains a big name in world cricket. The former Indian captain had an amazing career at the highest level, ending with a total of 17,266 runs, 16 centuries, 829 dismissals, 359 sixes. He also signed&nbsp;off as the only skipper to win all three major ICC titles (to date).&nbsp;</p>

<p>In early 2018, Dhoni -- who was an active cricketer back then --&nbsp;received the Padma Bhushan award (India's third-highest&nbsp;civilian award). The wicketkeeper-batter&nbsp;also holds the rank of Honorary Lieutenant Colonel and, hence, wore his official uniform of the Territorial Army for the award ceremony. He was accompanied by his life partner Sakshi during the prestigious award ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. Here's the video of Dhoni&nbsp;marching past the various dignitaries present during the function before receiving the top honour from President Ram Nath Kovind:</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/throwback-when-kapil-dev-mankanded-peter-kirsten-during-indias-1992-tour-of-sa-watch-438727"><strong>THROWBACK: When Kapil Dev mankanded Peter Kirsten during India's 1992 tour of SA - WATCH</strong></a></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Dhoni receiving padma Bhushan <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/2Point0?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#2Point0</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kaala?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kaala</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BharatAneNenu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BharatAneNenu</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NaaPeruSurya?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NaaPeruSurya</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rangasthalam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Rangasthalam</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BajrangiBhaijaan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BajrangiBhaijaan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/saaho?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#saaho</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Raid?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Raid</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/race3?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#race3</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/zero?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#zero</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/thugsofhindostan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#thugsofhindostan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/dhoni?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#dhoni</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Thalapathy62?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Thalapathy62</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Viswasam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Viswasam</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Suriya37?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Suriya37</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NGK?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NGK</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RRR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RRR</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NOTA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NOTA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Padmaavat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Padmaavat</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GOLD?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GOLD</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSK?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CSK</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/October?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#October</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Baaghi2?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Baaghi2</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2018</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL11?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL11</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kesari?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kesari</a> <a href="https://t.co/cAq3UKO2CQ">pic.twitter.com/cAq3UKO2CQ</a></p>
— Dhoni's Fan (@himatej7) <a href="https://twitter.com/himatej7/status/980803198188474369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/simply-mindboggling-from-virat-kohli-ms-dhoni-to-ab-de-villiers-top-5-earners-in-ipl-history-443658#ms-dhoni---inr-152-billion-443644"><strong>SIMPLY MINDBOGGLING! From Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni to AB de Villiers: Top 5 earners in IPL history</strong></a></p>

<p>For the unversed, Dhoni received the Padma Bhushan on April 2, 2018; being the seventh anniversary of India's historic ODI World Cup win. Under Dhoni, India had become the first-ever host country to win the 50-over World Cup.</p>

<p>Dhoni continues to remain active in IPL and will now gear upto represent the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the forthcoming 2022 edition, to be held in India from late March to May. Dhoni-led CSK are the defending champions, having won the IPL for the fourth time during the last year's edition.</p>


MS Dhoni remains a big name in world cricket. The former Indian captain had an amazing career at the highest level, ending with a total of 17,266 runs, 16 centuries, 829 dismissals, 359 sixes.

MS Dhoni remains a big name in world cricket. The former Indian captain had an amazing career at the highest level, ending with a total of 17,266 runs, 16 centuries, 829 dismissals, 359 sixes. He also signed off as the only skipper to win all three major ICC titles (to date). In early 2018, Dhoni -- who was an active cricketer back then -- received the Padma Bhushan award (India's third-highest civilian award). The wicketkeeper-batter also holds the rank of Honorary Lieutenant Colonel and, hence, wore his official uniform of the Territorial Army for the award ceremony. He was accompanied by his life partner Sakshi during the prestigious award ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. Here's the video of Dhoni marching past the various dignitaries present during the function before receiving the top honour from President Ram Nath Kovind: ALSO READ | THROWBACK: When Kapil Dev mankanded Peter Kirsten during India's 1992 tour of SA - WATCH Dhoni receiving padma Bhushan #2Point0 #kaala #BharatAneNenu #NaaPeruSurya #Rangasthalam #BajrangiBhaijaan #saaho #Raid #race3 #zero #thugsofhindostan #dhoni #Thalapathy62 #Viswasam #Suriya37 #NGK #RRR #NOTA #Padmaavat #GOLD #CSK #October #Baaghi2 #IPL #IPL2018 #IPL11 #kesari pic.twitter.com/cAq3UKO2CQ — Dhoni's Fan (@himatej7) April 2, 2018 × ALSO READ | SIMPLY MINDBOGGLING! From Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni to AB de Villiers: Top 5 earners in IPL history For the unversed, Dhoni received the Padma Bhushan on April 2, 2018; being the seventh anniversary of India's historic ODI World Cup win. Under Dhoni, India had become the first-ever host country to win the 50-over World Cup. Dhoni continues to remain active in IPL and will now gear upto represent the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the forthcoming 2022 edition, to be held in India from late March to May. Dhoni-led CSK are the defending champions, having won the IPL for the fourth time during the last year's edition.

THROWBACK: When MS Dhoni received Padma Bhushan award from President Ram Nath Kovind in 2018 - Watch

<p>The mixed-doubles pair of Sania Mirza and Rajeev Ram bowed out of the ongoing Australian Open on Tuesday.The pair bowed out after losing the quarterfinal clash against Jason Kubler and Jamiee Fourlis here at the Margaret Court Arena.Kubler and Fourlis defeated Mirza and Ram 6-4, 7-6 in the quarterfinal clash. Mirza and USA`s Rajeev Ram lost the first set and they were not able to show any spark, letting the opponents dominate.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="wionews.com/sports/rafael-nadal-survives-denis-shapovalov-scare-in-five-set-thriller-to-enter-australian-open-semi-finals-447358"><strong>Rafael Nadal survives Denis Shapovalov scare in five-set thriller to enter Australian Open semi-finals</strong></a></p>

<p>Having lost the first set, Mirza and Ram were left with all to do in the next set. The Indian-American duo of Mirza and Ram managed to take a lead in the second set, but Kubler and Fourlis staged a comeback and the second set was nicely poised at 5-5. However, in the end, Kubler and Fourlis held their nerve to win the contest to progress to the semi-final of the ongoing Grand Slam. Earlier, Mirza had revealed that the 2022 season will be her last on the court and she would retire after that.&nbsp;</p>


The mixed-doubles pair of Sania Mirza and Rajeev Ram bowed out of the ongoing Australian Open on Tuesday.The pair bowed out after losing the quarterfinal clash against Jason Kubler and Jamiee Fourlis here at the Margaret Court Arena.

The mixed-doubles pair of Sania Mirza and Rajeev Ram bowed out of the ongoing Australian Open on Tuesday.The pair bowed out after losing the quarterfinal clash against Jason Kubler and Jamiee Fourlis here at the Margaret Court Arena.Kubler and Fourlis defeated Mirza and Ram 6-4, 7-6 in the quarterfinal clash. Mirza and USA`s Rajeev Ram lost the first set and they were not able to show any spark, letting the opponents dominate. ALSO READ | Rafael Nadal survives Denis Shapovalov scare in five-set thriller to enter Australian Open semi-finals Having lost the first set, Mirza and Ram were left with all to do in the next set. The Indian-American duo of Mirza and Ram managed to take a lead in the second set, but Kubler and Fourlis staged a comeback and the second set was nicely poised at 5-5. However, in the end, Kubler and Fourlis held their nerve to win the contest to progress to the semi-final of the ongoing Grand Slam. Earlier, Mirza had revealed that the 2022 season will be her last on the court and she would retire after that.

Australian Open: Sania Mirza-Rajeev Ram bow out, lose quarterfinal clash in straight sets

<p>Team India were thrashed in the three-match ODI series versus Temba Bavuma-led South Africa, in the rainbow nation. While the three Tests were extremely competitive, which Virat Kohli's India lost 2-1, the KL Rahul-led Men in Blue were whitewashed in the preceding ODIs.</p>

<p>Rahul &amp; Co. failed to chase down totals on two occasions whereas they also couldn't defend a competitive score in the second and penultimate ODI. With the series loss, India have now lost all their last bilateral ODI series in SENA countries (losing to England 2-1 in mid-2018, 2-1 to Australia in late 2020 and being whitewashed versus New Zealand and the Proteas). Thus, head coach Rahul Dravid opened up on the drubbing versus Bavuma &amp; Co. and hinted at a change of template on cards for Rohit Sharma-led India in the white-ball formats.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/there-is-a-rift-in-indian-team-virat-kohli-didnt-quit-test-captaincy-because-he-wanted-to-shoaib-akhtar-447351"><strong>There is a rift in Indian team, Virat Kohli didn't quit Test captaincy because he wanted to: Shoaib Akhtar</strong></a></p>

<p>Speaking in the post-match press conference Dravid opined, "We certainly could do better in the middle overs. We understand the template, and a large part of that template is dependent on the balance of your squad. Some of the guys who really help us balance out the squad and give us those all-round options at No. 6, 7 and 8 were not available for the selection. Hopefully, when they come back, it will give us a little more depth, which will allow us to play in a slightly different style."</p>

<p>"Having said that, even South Africa who batted first on two occasions scored 290 [296] and 280 [287]. If I think back to the 30th over [of the second innings] in both these games, we should have actually chased them down. We didn't because we played some poor shots and we didn't play smart cricket at critical situations," he further added.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/time-we-get-better-and-transform-our-white-ball-cricket-says-rahul-post-indias-listless-performance-vs-sa-447258"><strong>Time we get better and transform our white-ball cricket, says Rahul post India's listless performance vs SA</strong></a></p>

<p>For the unversed, the likes of limited-overs captain Rohit, all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya weren't part of the ODIs versus South Africa. It will be interesting to see the kind of changes in playing style and team combination India goes ahead with in the upcoming white-ball assignments.</p>

<p>Rohit &amp; Co. will now gear up for the limited-overs series versus West Indies at home. They will then host Sri Lanka in three T20Is before the action shifts to the IPL 2022 edition.</p>


Team India were thrashed in the three-match ODI series versus Temba Bavuma-led South Africa, in the rainbow nation. While the three Tests were extremely competitive, which Virat Kohli's India lost 2-1, the KL Rahul-led Men in Blue were whitewashed in the preceding ODIs.

Team India were thrashed in the three-match ODI series versus Temba Bavuma-led South Africa, in the rainbow nation. While the three Tests were extremely competitive, which Virat Kohli's India lost 2-1, the KL Rahul-led Men in Blue were whitewashed in the preceding ODIs. Rahul & Co. failed to chase down totals on two occasions whereas they also couldn't defend a competitive score in the second and penultimate ODI. With the series loss, India have now lost all their last bilateral ODI series in SENA countries (losing to England 2-1 in mid-2018, 2-1 to Australia in late 2020 and being whitewashed versus New Zealand and the Proteas). Thus, head coach Rahul Dravid opened up on the drubbing versus Bavuma & Co. and hinted at a change of template on cards for Rohit Sharma-led India in the white-ball formats. ALSO READ | There is a rift in Indian team, Virat Kohli didn't quit Test captaincy because he wanted to: Shoaib Akhtar Speaking in the post-match press conference Dravid opined, "We certainly could do better in the middle overs. We understand the template, and a large part of that template is dependent on the balance of your squad. Some of the guys who really help us balance out the squad and give us those all-round options at No. 6, 7 and 8 were not available for the selection. Hopefully, when they come back, it will give us a little more depth, which will allow us to play in a slightly different style." "Having said that, even South Africa who batted first on two occasions scored 290 [296] and 280 [287]. If I think back to the 30th over [of the second innings] in both these games, we should have actually chased them down. We didn't because we played some poor shots and we didn't play smart cricket at critical situations," he further added. ALSO READ | Time we get better and transform our white-ball cricket, says Rahul post India's listless performance vs SA For the unversed, the likes of limited-overs captain Rohit, all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya weren't part of the ODIs versus South Africa. It will be interesting to see the kind of changes in playing style and team combination India goes ahead with in the upcoming white-ball assignments. Rohit & Co. will now gear up for the limited-overs series versus West Indies at home. They will then host Sri Lanka in three T20Is before the action shifts to the IPL 2022 edition.

Rahul Dravid hints at change of template for Team India in white-ball cricket post South Africa ODIs

<p>Former Pakistan Test cricketer Aftab Baloch, who is remembered for his innings of 428 in a first class match in 1970s, died here on Monday. He was 68.</p>

<p>He is remembered for an innings of 428 runs (584 minutes, 25x4) he scored against Balochistan as captain of the Sindh team in 1973-74 in a first class match in Karachi.</p>

<p>Sindh declared their innings on 951 for 7 in the match. Baloch featured in two Tests for Pakistan. He made his Test debut at the age of 16 against New Zealand in 1969.</p>

<p><strong>Read Also |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/sports/time-we-get-better-and-transform-our-white-ball-cricket-says-rahul-post-indias-listless-performance-vs-sa-447258">Time we get better and transform our white-ball cricket, says Rahul post India's listless performance vs SA</a></strong></p>

<p>He scored 25 in his debut Test and had to wait for six years before playing for Pakistan again against the West Indies, scoring 12 and 60 not out.</p>

<p>He was never picked to play for Pakistan again. Baloch had also served in management positions and was a selector with the Pakistan junior and A teams.</p>


Former Pakistan Test cricketer Aftab Baloch, who is remembered for his innings of 428 in a first class match in 1970s, died here on Monday. He was 68. He is remembered for an innings of 428 runs (584 minutes, 25x4) he scored against Balochistan as captain of the Sindh team in 1973-74 in a first class match in Karachi.

Former Pakistan Test cricketer Aftab Baloch, who is remembered for his innings of 428 in a first class match in 1970s, died here on Monday. He was 68. He is remembered for an innings of 428 runs (584 minutes, 25x4) he scored against Balochistan as captain of the Sindh team in 1973-74 in a first class match in Karachi. Sindh declared their innings on 951 for 7 in the match. Baloch featured in two Tests for Pakistan. He made his Test debut at the age of 16 against New Zealand in 1969. Read Also | Time we get better and transform our white-ball cricket, says Rahul post India's listless performance vs SA He scored 25 in his debut Test and had to wait for six years before playing for Pakistan again against the West Indies, scoring 12 and 60 not out. He was never picked to play for Pakistan again. Baloch had also served in management positions and was a selector with the Pakistan junior and A teams.

Former Pakistan Test cricketer Aftab Baloch passes away at 68

<p>Colombian rider Egan Bernal suffered a crash in training and was taken to hospital on Monday, his Ineos Grenadiers team said. The 25-year-old, winner of the 2019 Tour de France and last year`s Giro d`Italia, was at a team training camp in Colombia.</p>

<p>"He was accompanied to hospital by team medical staff and was conscious upon arrival," a statement from the British team said. "He is stable and undergoing further assessment." No other details of the crash were available. Bernal recently extended his contract with Ineos Grenadiers to 2026.</p>


Colombian rider Egan Bernal suffered a crash in training and was taken to hospital on Monday, his Ineos Grenadiers team said. The 25-year-old, winner of the 2019 Tour de France and last year`s Giro d`Italia, was at a team training camp in Colombia.

Colombian rider Egan Bernal suffered a crash in training and was taken to hospital on Monday, his Ineos Grenadiers team said. The 25-year-old, winner of the 2019 Tour de France and last year`s Giro d`Italia, was at a team training camp in Colombia. "He was accompanied to hospital by team medical staff and was conscious upon arrival," a statement from the British team said. "He is stable and undergoing further assessment." No other details of the crash were available. Bernal recently extended his contract with Ineos Grenadiers to 2026.

Rider Egan Bernal taken to hospital after training crash in Colombia

<p>The Premier League said on Monday it had reported 16 new infections of COVID-19 in the previous week, continuing a downward trend in the number of positive cases for a fourth week.</p>

<p>The league recorded 33, 72 and 94 cases in the last three reports, while there were 103 positives -- a weekly record -- between Dec. 20 and Dec. 26.</p>

<p>"The Premier League can today confirm that between Monday Jan. 17 and Sunday Jan. 23, 6,221 COVID-19 tests were administered on players and club staff. Of these, there were 16 new positive cases," it said in a statement.</p>

<p><strong>Read Also |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/sports/premier-league-liverpool-fend-off-crytal-palace-fightback-to-close-gap-on-manchester-city-446977">Premier League: Liverpool fend off Crytal Palace fightback to close gap on Manchester City</a></strong></p>

<p>A total of 22 fixtures have been postponed since last month due to COVID-19 outbreaks at various clubs.</p>

<p>Burnley`s home game against Watford on Jan. 18 was the last Premier League tie to be postponed due to COVID-19, with a string of cases leaving the Burnley squad depleted.</p>

<p>That match was pushed back for a second time, after having been rearranged from December, when Watford had an outbreak of COVID-19 in their squad.</p>


The Premier League said on Monday it had reported 16 new infections of COVID-19 in the previous week, continuing a downward trend in the number of positive cases for a fourth week.

The Premier League said on Monday it had reported 16 new infections of COVID-19 in the previous week, continuing a downward trend in the number of positive cases for a fourth week. The league recorded 33, 72 and 94 cases in the last three reports, while there were 103 positives -- a weekly record -- between Dec. 20 and Dec. 26. "The Premier League can today confirm that between Monday Jan. 17 and Sunday Jan. 23, 6,221 COVID-19 tests were administered on players and club staff. Of these, there were 16 new positive cases," it said in a statement. Read Also | Premier League: Liverpool fend off Crytal Palace fightback to close gap on Manchester City A total of 22 fixtures have been postponed since last month due to COVID-19 outbreaks at various clubs. Burnley`s home game against Watford on Jan. 18 was the last Premier League tie to be postponed due to COVID-19, with a string of cases leaving the Burnley squad depleted. That match was pushed back for a second time, after having been rearranged from December, when Watford had an outbreak of COVID-19 in their squad.

Premier League reports COVID-19 cases falling for fourth consecutive week

<p>Defending champions Japan beat Vietnam 3-0 at the Women`s Asian Cup in Pune on Monday to book their place in the quarter-finals alongside Australia and South Korea.</p>

<p>Yui Narumiya scored twice, with her goals coming either side of an effort from former Asian Women`s Player of the Year Saki Kumagai.</p>

<p>Victory means Japan go into their final game in Group C against South Korea on Thursday guaranteed a top-two finish.<br />
Futoshi Ikeda`s side had to wait until the 38th minute to take the lead when Narumiya netted from close range, while Kumagai claimed a rare international goal from similar range five minutes into the second half.</p>

<p>Narumiya beat Vietnam goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh to her left in the 58th minute to put the seal on a comfortable win for the 2014 and 2018 winners.</p>

<p><strong>Read Also |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/sports/premier-league-reports-covid-19-cases-falling-for-fourth-consecutive-week-447241">Premier League reports COVID-19 cases falling for fourth consecutive week</a></strong></p>

<p>The result ensures South Korea also advance after their 2-0 win over Myanmar earlier in the day.<br />
The Koreans struggled to break down their defensively disciplined opponents but finally opened their account five minutes into the second half when Lee Geum-min netted following Cho So-hyun`s cushioned header.</p>

<p>Chelsea midfielder Ji So-yun was instrumental in the second goal six minutes from time when her header back across the target brushed against defender Tun Khin Mo Mo before crossing the line via the inside of the post.<br />
The Australians confirmed their place in the next round when a decisive second-half showing saw Tony Gustavsson`s side defeat Philippines 4-0 in Mumbai.</p>

<p>After a goalless first half, Sam Kerr opened the scoring with a 51st-minute header before Dominique Randle`s own goal two minutes later put the Matildas in control of the Group B encounter.</p>

<p>Emily van Egmond and Mary Fowler were also on target as the Australians defeated a Philippines side directed by former Matildas coach Alen Stajcic.</p>

<p><strong>Read Also |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/sports/premier-league-liverpool-fend-off-crytal-palace-fightback-to-close-gap-on-manchester-city-446977">Premier League: Liverpool fend off Crytal Palace fightback to close gap on Manchester City</a></strong></p>

<p>The win, coupled with their 18-0 thrashing of Indonesia on the opening day, means the Australians are guaranteed a place in the last eight ahead.</p>

<p>Thailand kept alive their hopes of a quarter-final place with a comfortable 4-0 win over Indonesia.<br />
Kanyanat Chetthabutr scored a hat-trick before Dee Makris scored her side`s fourth as the Thais moved level on three points with the Philippines, with Australia on top of the group.</p>

<p>The top two finishers in each of the three groups will advance to the knockout rounds along with the two third-place finishers with the best records.</p>

<p>The competition is doubling up as Asia`s qualifier for next year`s Women`s World Cup, with the continent awarded five guaranteed spots at the finals in Australia and New Zealand.<br />
Australia qualify for the World Cup as co-hosts while two other Asian nations will feature in an intercontinental playoff round.</p>


Defending champions Japan beat Vietnam 3-0 at the Women`s Asian Cup in Pune on Monday to book their place in the quarter-finals alongside Australia and South Korea.

Defending champions Japan beat Vietnam 3-0 at the Women`s Asian Cup in Pune on Monday to book their place in the quarter-finals alongside Australia and South Korea. Yui Narumiya scored twice, with her goals coming either side of an effort from former Asian Women`s Player of the Year Saki Kumagai. Victory means Japan go into their final game in Group C against South Korea on Thursday guaranteed a top-two finish. Futoshi Ikeda`s side had to wait until the 38th minute to take the lead when Narumiya netted from close range, while Kumagai claimed a rare international goal from similar range five minutes into the second half. Narumiya beat Vietnam goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh to her left in the 58th minute to put the seal on a comfortable win for the 2014 and 2018 winners. Read Also | Premier League reports COVID-19 cases falling for fourth consecutive week The result ensures South Korea also advance after their 2-0 win over Myanmar earlier in the day. The Koreans struggled to break down their defensively disciplined opponents but finally opened their account five minutes into the second half when Lee Geum-min netted following Cho So-hyun`s cushioned header. Chelsea midfielder Ji So-yun was instrumental in the second goal six minutes from time when her header back across the target brushed against defender Tun Khin Mo Mo before crossing the line via the inside of the post. The Australians confirmed their place in the next round when a decisive second-half showing saw Tony Gustavsson`s side defeat Philippines 4-0 in Mumbai. After a goalless first half, Sam Kerr opened the scoring with a 51st-minute header before Dominique Randle`s own goal two minutes later put the Matildas in control of the Group B encounter. Emily van Egmond and Mary Fowler were also on target as the Australians defeated a Philippines side directed by former Matildas coach Alen Stajcic. Read Also | Premier League: Liverpool fend off Crytal Palace fightback to close gap on Manchester City The win, coupled with their 18-0 thrashing of Indonesia on the opening day, means the Australians are guaranteed a place in the last eight ahead. Thailand kept alive their hopes of a quarter-final place with a comfortable 4-0 win over Indonesia. Kanyanat Chetthabutr scored a hat-trick before Dee Makris scored her side`s fourth as the Thais moved level on three points with the Philippines, with Australia on top of the group. The top two finishers in each of the three groups will advance to the knockout rounds along with the two third-place finishers with the best records. The competition is doubling up as Asia`s qualifier for next year`s Women`s World Cup, with the continent awarded five guaranteed spots at the finals in Australia and New Zealand. Australia qualify for the World Cup as co-hosts while two other Asian nations will feature in an intercontinental playoff round.

Women's Asian Cup: Japan advances to quarterfinals with win over Vietnam

<p>Team India ended their disastrous tour of South Africa on Sunday (January 23). While Virat Kohli-led India were 1-0 up after winning the tour opener, i.e. the Centurion Test, everything went downhill from thereon. Kohli &amp; Co. lost the Test series 2-1 and went onto be whitewashed by the Temba Bavuma-led South Africa in the preceding ODIs.</p>

<p>In limited-overs captain Rohit Sharma's absence, KL Rahul led the Men in Blue in the three ODIs. Under Rahul, India remained winless by putting up a listless performance in the 50-over leg. After the tour, Rahul believes India have done many things right in the limited-overs formats in the last few years but their white-ball cricket needs a transformation right now.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rahul-hardik-were-really-happy-watching-me-play-in-t20-wc-pak-pacer-recalls-his-time-as-indias-net-bowler-447247"><strong>Rahul, Hardik were really happy watching me play in T20 WC: Pak pacer recalls his time as India's net bowler</strong></a></p>

<p>Rahul told Sports Today in an exclusive chat, "It's a huge honour and it's a dream come true to represent my country and lead my country. Yes, the results didn't go our way but I think there were massive learning. We are at a stage right now where we have World Cups as the focus and we are working towards getting better as a team. I feel like we have played very good cricket over the last four or five years but it's also time for us to get better and transform our white-ball cricket."</p>

<p>During the three ODIs, Rahul's captaincy was heavily criticised. The 29-year-old's field settings and bowling changes were ineffective, when compared to his South African counterpart Bavuma. The star Indian batter has also not had much success as an IPL captain. Nonetheless, Rahul remains undeterred and feels he is learning and will only get better.</p>

<p>"I don't use that as an excuse for not winning, but I think we are a work in progress as a team. I learned so much while leading. Losses make you so much stronger than starting off with victories. My career has always been that way. I have always got everything slowly. I am confident in my leadership skills and I know that I can bring out the best from my players. I know I can do well for my country and franchise," Rahul added.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/why-stick-your-hand-out-and-hurt-yourself-salman-butt-slams-team-indias-poor-show-in-south-africa-odis-447218"><strong>Why stick your hand out and hurt yourself: Salman Butt slams Team India's poor show in South Africa ODIs</strong></a></p>

<p>After the SA tour, India will prepare for their home season, which starts with a limited-overs series versus Kieron Pollard-led West Indies. It will be followed by two Tests and three T20Is versus Sri Lanka before the action moves to the IPL 2022 edition. It will be interesting to see if Rohit-led India come out with a new approach in the white-ball formats after the SA drubbing.</p>


Team India ended their disastrous tour of South Africa on Sunday (January 23). While Virat Kohli-led India were 1-0 up after winning the tour opener, i.e. the Centurion Test, everything went downhill from thereon.

Team India ended their disastrous tour of South Africa on Sunday (January 23). While Virat Kohli-led India were 1-0 up after winning the tour opener, i.e. the Centurion Test, everything went downhill from thereon. Kohli & Co. lost the Test series 2-1 and went onto be whitewashed by the Temba Bavuma-led South Africa in the preceding ODIs. In limited-overs captain Rohit Sharma's absence, KL Rahul led the Men in Blue in the three ODIs. Under Rahul, India remained winless by putting up a listless performance in the 50-over leg. After the tour, Rahul believes India have done many things right in the limited-overs formats in the last few years but their white-ball cricket needs a transformation right now. ALSO READ | Rahul, Hardik were really happy watching me play in T20 WC: Pak pacer recalls his time as India's net bowler Rahul told Sports Today in an exclusive chat, "It's a huge honour and it's a dream come true to represent my country and lead my country. Yes, the results didn't go our way but I think there were massive learning. We are at a stage right now where we have World Cups as the focus and we are working towards getting better as a team. I feel like we have played very good cricket over the last four or five years but it's also time for us to get better and transform our white-ball cricket." During the three ODIs, Rahul's captaincy was heavily criticised. The 29-year-old's field settings and bowling changes were ineffective, when compared to his South African counterpart Bavuma. The star Indian batter has also not had much success as an IPL captain. Nonetheless, Rahul remains undeterred and feels he is learning and will only get better. "I don't use that as an excuse for not winning, but I think we are a work in progress as a team. I learned so much while leading. Losses make you so much stronger than starting off with victories. My career has always been that way. I have always got everything slowly. I am confident in my leadership skills and I know that I can bring out the best from my players. I know I can do well for my country and franchise," Rahul added. ALSO READ | Why stick your hand out and hurt yourself: Salman Butt slams Team India's poor show in South Africa ODIs After the SA tour, India will prepare for their home season, which starts with a limited-overs series versus Kieron Pollard-led West Indies. It will be followed by two Tests and three T20Is versus Sri Lanka before the action moves to the IPL 2022 edition. It will be interesting to see if Rohit-led India come out with a new approach in the white-ball formats after the SA drubbing.

Time we get better and transform our white-ball cricket, says Rahul post India's listless performance vs SA

<p>Haris Rauf was one of the top performers for Babar Azam-led Team Pakistan in the 2021 T20 World Cup, held in the UAE. Rauf returned with eight wickets in the showpiece event, with a best of 4 for 22 versus New Zealand. While he went wicketless and conceded at over ten per over in the semi-final clash versus eventual winners Australia, Rauf impressed overall with his raw pace.</p>

<p>Rauf's career took off after his maiden stint in the BBL 2019/20 season for the Glenn Maxwell-led Melbourne Stars. Not many know that the speedster was also a net bowler for Virat Kohli-led Team India during their 2018/19 tour of Australia for four Tests Down Under. Back then, he struck a chord with Kohli, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya and the likes. In a recent interaction, the 28-year-old revealed that Rahul and Hardik were very happy seeing his progress and play for his country when they met him during India-Pakistan's 2021 T20 WC face-off in Dubai.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/why-stick-your-hand-out-and-hurt-yourself-salman-butt-slams-team-indias-poor-show-in-south-africa-odis-447218"><strong>Why stick your hand out and hurt yourself: Salman Butt slams Team India's poor show in South Africa ODIs</strong></a></p>

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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BsHKy6LAMKe/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Haris Rauf (@harisraufofficial)</a></p>
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<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pak-better-than-india-akhtar-makes-bold-claim-predicts-men-in-green-to-win-2022-t20-wc-face-off-447142"><strong>PAK better than India: Akhtar makes bold claim, predicts Men in Green to win 2022 T20 WC face-off</strong></a></p>

<p>Talking to&nbsp;<em>paktv.tv</em>&nbsp;recently Rauf recalled the interaction he had with Rahul and Hardik and said, "When I was net bowler for India, I had bowled to them in Sydney in the nets. So I had told them once that I would one day bowl to them in an international game. And both Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul had told me that I have the potential to bowl at international level. They gave me a lot of confidence."</p>

<p>"Then when I met them recently at the T20 World Cup, they remembered all our conversations. We had a discussion over it as well and they were really happy for me watching me play for Pakistan. When you play with good players you learn all the good things. I always try to learn good things from such players," he further added.</p>

<p>Rauf returned with 1 for 25 in Pakistan's 10-wicket win over India in the 2021 T20 WC. He debuted for the Men in Green during early 2020, in a T20I versus Bangladesh. So far, he&nbsp;has impressed one and all in his 34 T20Is, taking 41 wickets at an economy rate of&nbsp;8.44. In addition, he has represented Pakistan in 8 ODIs, claiming 14 wickets at an economy rate of less than 6.</p>


Haris Rauf was one of the top performers for Babar Azam-led Team Pakistan in the 2021 T20 World Cup, held in the UAE. Rauf returned with eight wickets in the showpiece event, with a best of 4 for 22 versus New Zealand.

Haris Rauf was one of the top performers for Babar Azam-led Team Pakistan in the 2021 T20 World Cup, held in the UAE. Rauf returned with eight wickets in the showpiece event, with a best of 4 for 22 versus New Zealand. While he went wicketless and conceded at over ten per over in the semi-final clash versus eventual winners Australia, Rauf impressed overall with his raw pace. Rauf's career took off after his maiden stint in the BBL 2019/20 season for the Glenn Maxwell-led Melbourne Stars. Not many know that the speedster was also a net bowler for Virat Kohli-led Team India during their 2018/19 tour of Australia for four Tests Down Under. Back then, he struck a chord with Kohli, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya and the likes. In a recent interaction, the 28-year-old revealed that Rahul and Hardik were very happy seeing his progress and play for his country when they met him during India-Pakistan's 2021 T20 WC face-off in Dubai. ALSO READ | Why stick your hand out and hurt yourself: Salman Butt slams Team India's poor show in South Africa ODIs View this post on Instagram A post shared by Haris Rauf (@harisraufofficial) × ALSO READ | PAK better than India: Akhtar makes bold claim, predicts Men in Green to win 2022 T20 WC face-off Talking to paktv.tv recently Rauf recalled the interaction he had with Rahul and Hardik and said, "When I was net bowler for India, I had bowled to them in Sydney in the nets. So I had told them once that I would one day bowl to them in an international game. And both Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul had told me that I have the potential to bowl at international level. They gave me a lot of confidence." "Then when I met them recently at the T20 World Cup, they remembered all our conversations. We had a discussion over it as well and they were really happy for me watching me play for Pakistan. When you play with good players you learn all the good things. I always try to learn good things from such players," he further added. Rauf returned with 1 for 25 in Pakistan's 10-wicket win over India in the 2021 T20 WC. He debuted for the Men in Green during early 2020, in a T20I versus Bangladesh. So far, he has impressed one and all in his 34 T20Is, taking 41 wickets at an economy rate of 8.44. In addition, he has represented Pakistan in 8 ODIs, claiming 14 wickets at an economy rate of less than 6.

Rahul, Hardik were really happy watching me play in T20 WC: Pak pacer recalls his time as India's net bowler

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