New Delhi: “I didn’t wake up feeling any different, but the five-wicket haul and the 50 not out are going to remain special,” Yuvraj Singh told The Telegraph.

Speaking briefly during Monday’s flight from Bangalore, Yuvraj, MoM on Sunday, added: “What’s important is that the team won (against Ireland)…”

Yuvraj praised Yusuf Pathan, with whom he shared an unbroken 43-run partnership for the sixth wicket.

It was a decisive stand

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Indian all-rounder Yusuf Pathan has been named as the Cricket World® Player Of The Week after his starring performances helped his side beat New Zealand 5-0 in their One-Day International series.

In the fourth ODI in Bangalore, Pathan returned three for 49 in nine overs, picking up the wickets of Scott Styris, Daniel Vettori and Kyle Mills as New Zealand made 315 for seven.

Then, coming to the crease with the score on 108 for four, he proceeded to make a blistering maiden ODI century to steer India to victory. He hit seven fours and seven sixes in an impressive innings of 123 not out in just 96 balls, forging a crucial partnership with Saurabh Tiwary to guide India past their target with seven balls to spare.

In the final match in Chennai, Pathan was again handy with the ball, taking two for 11 in three overs as New Zealand were dismissed for just 103.

Pathan again dismissed Vettori, as well as Nathan McCullum and the performance of India’s bowlers in limiting New Zealand to such a low score ensured he wasn’t required to bat again.

Other contenders for the weekly award included Pathan’s team-mate Parthiv Patel, who marked his return to the ODI side with a pair of half-centuries, Tamim Iqbal, who blasted 95 to help Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe 3-1 in their ODI series, and James Franklin, who scored a career-best 98 not out in the fourth ODI in Bangalore for New Zealand.
© Cricket World 2010

Yusuf Pathan’s astonishing onslaught that ambushed the Kiwis in Bangalore on Tuesday should end the debate on India’s No. 7 for the World Cup.

In the sub-continental conditions — the key factor really — he is a match-winner. India plays all except one duel — its opening game in Dhaka — on what are likely to be batsman-friendly tracks at home and Yusuf represents a clear and present danger to the opponents.

Horses for courses On these pitches, he is unlikely to be overly troubled by hostile short-pitched bowling from the quicks. And the pacemen are unlikely to achieve the sort of lateral movement that probes a batsman’s technique. We are talking horses for courses here.

The chances are that Yusuf’s incredible power-hitting could blow away opponents. He strikes the ball hard and clean between long-off and long-on, can cut and pull the lesser pacemen. The 28-year-old Yusuf’s stunning 96-ball 123 not out that sunk the Kiwis at the Chinnaswamy Stadium showcased his ability to swing matches from adverse situations.
This was an innings where he surfaced at No. 6 and caused havoc. When the big boys return, he is likely to be pushed to the No. 7 slot.

This is the right position for Yusuf. He could be destructive in the batting power play and catapult the innings to bulky totals in the final 10 to 15 overs. Not too many batsmen clear the ground as effortlessly as Yusuf does.

Bumpy ride
His ride in the ODIs, so far, has been a largely bumpy one. Yusuf, however, has, at least on two occasions, pulled his weight at No. 7 for India. His unbeaten 50 (off 29 balls) against England at Indore in 2008 and 59 not out (38b) versus Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2009 were influential blitzkriegs.

From a psychological perspective, Yusuf gives the side a mental edge in the sub-continent. Even when things go wrong, the side realises it has a game-changer in the hut. And the opposition is often wary.

Yusuf’s ODI record of 528 runs from 41 matches at 29.33 with one century could read a lot better in the crucial days to come. To their credit, the selectors and the team have backed him.

The lanky cricketer’s off-spin has proved useful in the abbreviated forms of the game. He is quicker through the air, does not provide the batsmen room to get under the ball for the big hits and can strike with bounce.

Yusuf has 27 scalps in the ODIs at 36.18. In the ongoing series, he has displayed greater consistency in his bowling; Yusuf has six wickets at an economy rate of 5.34.

India, clearly, does not have someone with better credentials for the No. 7 slot than Yusuf.
Meanwhile, the teams arrived here on Wednesday afternoon for the final match of the series on Friday. Both sides preferred to stay in the team hotel. With its confidence high, India seeks a 5-0 whitewash while the Kiwis remain in a seemingly endless tunnel.

Excellent drainage
While the threat of rain disrupting the contest looms large, the ground itself appeared dry. Tamil Nadu Cricket Association Secretary K.S. Viswanathan said: “The drainage facility at the ground here is excellent. In fact, when Andy Atkinson, the chief curator of the ICC, was here for an inspection he was lavish in his praise. Even if it rains hard, we can start the match within an hour of the downpour stopping.”

Viswanathan revealed, “Six of the new-look stands — A, B, C, D, E and F — are ready. But for the roof, the structure of stands G and H are complete. We will have seating in the lower bowl for these two stands. Each of the stands will have three tiers. Stand I is the only one where some more work needs to be done.”

Courtesy: Hindu Newspaper

Yusuf Pathan’s maiden ODI century gave India their fourth straight win over New Zealand in a high-scoring affair in Bangalore.

Pathan finished on 122 not out as India chased down a target of 316 with seven balls to spare for a five-wicket triumph. He shared an unbroken sixth-wicket partnership of 133 with Saurabh Tiwary (37no), who clinched the victory in style with a six off Nathan McCullum.

They said he couldn’t perform in international cricket. They said he was good only for IPL and domestic cricket. He proved them wrong tonight. Yusuf Pathan engineered an improbable win for India with a violent hundred, his first in ODIs, and perhaps sealed a World Cup berth for himself. It looked grim for India when they were tottering at 188 for 5 in the 34th over, after the fall of Rohit Sharma, but Pathan pulled off a heist. One game doesn’t guarantee a successful future of course, especially considering that this New Zealand attack wasn’t potent enough to test his weakness against short balls, but Pathan left his past behind with a potentially career-changing innings on a drizzly Bangalore night.

His century overshadowed a superbly-crafted 98 from James Franklin that had allowed New Zealand to reach a daunting total.

Pathan declared his intent with two brutal shots. The first came in the 37th over, when play resumed after a one-hour rain break that didn’t reduce any overs and left India needing 113 runs from 14. Yusuf launched a Daniel Vettori delivery into screaming fans beyond long-on and clubbed a length delivery from Kyle Mills over the roof at cow corner. A couple of quiet overs followed but Pathan roused himself in a violent 43rd over: he smashed Mills for three fours – a lofted hit overs cover and two flicks past short fine-leg – before crashing a length delivery for six over midwicket. And when he brought up his maiden hundred with a pulled six, off Andy McKay in the next over, the game was all but over. He found support in Saurabh Tiwary, who intelligently rotated the strike, and the pair gave India a 4-0 lead in the series.

It was an incredible effort considering India had lagged behind for a major part of the chase. McKay’s twin strikes to remove Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli in the 10th over and Nathan McCullum’s double-strike to dismiss Yuvraj Singh and Parthiv Patel, who hit his maiden fifty, had pushed India on the back foot. And when Tim Southee had Rohit Sharma hitting straight to mid-off, New Zealand would have been thinking about the win, but Yusuf crushed their hopes with a blinder.
As good as their batting was in the end overs, their death bowling nearly lost India the game. Franklin’s knock provided the perfect climax to New Zealand’s spirited approach; the openers attacked to take them to 91 for 2 in the 14th over and the middle-order adapted to the fall of wickets – rebuilding at a slower pace before Franklin’s final flourish.

Franklin looted 22 runs in the final over, bowled by Nehra, with some wickedly entertaining big hits: he smashed the second delivery to the straight boundary, the third over long-off, the fourth to midwicket, and the fifth to the wide long-off boundary. It was not, however, a knock of such fury and adrenalin from the start. He had built his innings with conventional shots, such as the one in 47th over, when he was batting with the tail and was under some pressure. He sashayed down the track to Yusuf Pathan, who had just picked up two wickets, and nonchalantly flicked him wide of the deep midwicket fielder. No manic rush or desperation, he simply carried on with his style, sweeping the spinners and flicking and square-driving the seamers to get to his fifty. Only in the final two overs did he explode. It seemed he had done enough to win the game for his team, especially after India’s top-order had collapsed, but Yusuf seized the day.

Courtesy: Cricinfo

Choose between his IPL 100 vs 123 Scored in the 4th ODI against Kiwis

or

Mumbai, Jun 17 (PTI) Big-hitting all-rounder Yusuf Pathan, omitted from the squad for the ongoing Asia Cup in Sri Lanka, today got the backing of his younger brother Irfan who said his elder sibling will return to the Indian team sooner than later.

“We are not disappointed (over Yusuf’s omission). A player of his caliber will return to the Indian squad soon,” Irfan told PTI here.

Irfan said his brother was an asset in the Indian team as he gives the final flourish while batting with his big hits and also chips in with right-arm off-spin.

“Yusuf may not have made too many big scores but he has a different role (to play) in the team. He bats at number seven where he does not get too many opportunities to score big.

courtesy:Press Trust of India

HARARE, Zimbabwe — A brisk unbeaten 37 from Yusuf Pathan led India to a six-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in a Twenty20 match at Harare Sports Club on Saturday.

Pathan needed just 24 deliveries as India reached 112-4 in response to Zimbabwe’s 111-9. His knock featured three boundaries and one six.

Virat Kohli also finished unbeaten, hitting 26 from 21 balls as India reached its target with five overs to spare.

“It was a good allround performance,” India captain Suresh Raina said.

“I am really happy for Yusuf Pathan because he has showed he is a really good stroke player. It’s still one more match to go and we still want to show Zimbabwe what we are made of.”

Zimbabwe defeated India twice in one-dayers during the recent tri-nations series with Sri Lanka, but was no match on Saturday.

The teams meet in a second Twenty20 on Sunday at the same venue.

Defending a total of 111 was never a likely task for Zimbabwe’s bowlers, but they had an early breakthrough when Chris Mpofu removed Murali Vijay (5) in the first over and Naman Ojha (5) in the fourth.

But their task proved too great when Pathan and Kohli came to the crease.

Raymond Price with 2-24 and Mpofu with 2-31 were the pick of the Zimbabwe bowlers in a losing cause.

After winning the toss and electing to field first, India restricted Zimbabwe to its modest total of 111 from 20 overs.

Spinner Vinay Kumar finished with figures of 3-24 and fast bowler Ashok Dinda returned 2-27.

Dinda removed Craig Ervine (30) and Raymond Price (2) in the final over.

Chamu Chibhabha top-scored for the hosts when he smashed 40 from 30 deliveries.

“I thought the toss was crucial,” Raina said. “The wicket gets better for the team batting second.”

Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura refused to blame the defeat on the toss.

“It (toss) did not matter because we started the match in the afternoon and it was a good batting wicket,” Chigumbura said.

“We failed to apply ourselves in the middle period. We did not rotate the strike well and put ourselves under unnecessary pressure by trying to hit some big shots every time.”

Courtesy: The Canadian Press.

Mumbai: When many in Team India are worrying about how to play on the slow, low, turning West Indian tracks and are nervous about short pitch deliveries, one man is unconcerned about those issues. He doesn’t want to complicate things and just wants to play his natural game.

Baroda’s Yusuf Pathan wants to keep things as simple and straight as his nature when India, the 2007 champions, start their journey to regain the World T20 crown in the Caribbean against Afghanistan on May 1.

“I am not thinking much about the wickets or anything… I just want to keep things simple and uncomplicated. If you start experimenting it becomes difficult, so I am not even thinking on those lines,” Yusuf told DNA before taking the long flight to the Caribbean.

Yusuf struggled against short-pitch deliveries in the IPL. He, however, claimed it’s not his weakness.

“It is not that I haven’t scored against short-pitch deliveries. I have hit boundaries and sixes against them. Yeah, there was a bit of a problem initially but I can handle them. I have worked against short-pitch deliveries during my preparation and I am confident of playing against them,” he added.

Yusuf has been bowling with the new ball for his team in the IPL and can do the same if captain Mahendra SinghDhoni asks him to.

“I am prepared for all the things my team wants me to do. I can bowl with the new ball if the situation demands or if I get an opportunity. I am ready for the challenge,” he said. He feels that the team has the potential and the chance to regain the trophy.

“We just want to enjoy our game and we are well prepared for the tournament. We have a balanced team. Everyone is doing well and there is no pressure on us. Everybody is confident. Inshallah we will get the World Cup back to India,” Yusuf signed off.

His IPL team Rajasthan Royals failed to make it to the semifinals. That gave him the much needed break and an opportunity to prepare for the World Cup. “I have got some good rest and time. I have trained hard and I am mentally and physically prepared for it which will automatically give me confidence to perform well,” Pathan added.

The elder of the Pathan brothers has been in good form in IPL 3, amassing 333 runs from 14 games including a 37-ball 100 against Mumbai Indians.

“IPL is over and I think I have done very well. I have also performed regularly in the last few months in one dayers, Duleep Trophy and Deodhar Trophy. Things are going good for me and Inshallah I will continue to perform in the same manner in the future as well,” he said.

Courtesy:Taus Rizvi / DNA

Yusuf Pathan joined the chorus to say that the Indian players were getting enough practice in the IPL for their ICC World T20 preparation.

Swashbuckling Delhi and India opener, Virender Sehwag had earlier played down concerns that India were walking on a thin rope- not playing a single warm-up game.

Now, he has a supporter in Yusuf Pathan. The Jaipur-hitter supported the Delhite’s views, saying, “Yes, we are getting very good practice. If we were not playing the tournament, we would have a 15-20 days camp before the world cup. We would have done everything that we are doing here. We are training, getting all the facilities we should have had during any camp. And more so, we are doing it in real matches. That makes the preparation better.”

But this is a long tournament where each of the franchises have to play at least 14 games. Will not the cricketers be fatigued, especially after working out day in and out under such scorchin heat for 14 matches? Isn’t the burn-out factor worrying?

The elder of the Pathan brothers was not ready to advocate the same. “Yes, we are playing 14 matches, but we don’t play it daily. We are getting adequate rest in between matches.

“And there is something called momentum. We are playing T20, not in 50-overs game. The ICC world cup will be for twenty overs. These matches will give us a good momentum. Sometimes, it is difficult to switch from the 50-overs mode to the 20-overs mindset. But as we are playing the same format of the game, it will be helpful for all of us to get the right momentum before the T20 world cup”, said Yusuf.

If you have the greatest leg spinner of the cricket history beside you, it is quite natural that the media persons would always ask more questions to him, rather than you.

So, Yusuf did not have to speak more, in presence of his captain and coach Shane Warne.

Yet, when his turn came, he was in the same jovial mood that oozed confidence. Like, when he was asked whether the bowlers had read his batting well, because, after that explosive start to the tournament (a 37-ball hundred against Mumbai), he had not done something special, Yusuf said, “If they took two IPLs to read my weaknesses, it’s their problem, not mine!”

And when he said that in Hindi, Warne could not understand a single word, but the laughter had forced him to enquire of Yusuf what was asked to him. Yusuf briefed him in his inimitable English and Warne broke into laughter, too.

The captain, however, was all praise for his ‘true match winner’. “He had opened the bowling against Deccan and got Gilly in the first or second delivery. And if there is one player who can change the course of the game single-handedly with his bat, it is Yusuf Pathan.”

But, Yusuf is currently coming late to bat. Will not it be better if he gets more balls to play?

Warne said, “Yusuf himself is a bit disappointed with his own form. But tomorrow is all about match winners and he will bat wherever the team would like to have him at his best. He can bat at 1-2-3-4-5-6-7, we should keep something up our sleeves. But he will do it for the team wherever he bats Saturday.”

By Kashinath Bhattacharjee