With Jofra Archer in the World Cup, England will be a better team: Liam Plunkett

Against Pakistan on Sunday, Archer returned with the figures of 2-29 and pulled off a run-out (Reuters)

HIGHLIGHTS

• Jofra Archer was not included in the preliminary 15-member England squad for the 2019 World Cup
• Against Pakistan on Sunday, Archer returned with the figures of 2-29 and pulled off a run-out
• Andrew Flintoff has already said that England should include Archer at all costs

Terming Jofra Archer as a "class act", England pacer Liam Plunkett believes that the 24-year-old should be included in the squad for the upcoming World Cup beginning at the end of this month.

Archer was not included in the preliminary 15-member England squad for the showpiece event. However, he is making a late bid to make it during the ongoing five-match ODI series against Pakistan.

On his T20I debut against Pakistan on Sunday, Archer returned with the figures of 2-29 and pulled off a run-out as England won the match by seven wickets. And he continued with his fine display of fast bowling in the first ODI which ended in a no-result due to rain on Wednesday. In the four overs which he bowled, Archer picked up a wicket giving away just six runs.

"With him in your squad, you're going to be a better team," ESPNcricinfo quoted Plunkett as saying after the match. "He's obviously a class act. He showed that today. He's bowled really nicely with pace and smashed good areas. It looks easy for him. He ambles in, bowls 93 mph and makes it look effortless. It's something you don't see day in, day out," he added.

Pakistan and England will now lock horns with each other in the second ODI to be played on Saturday.

Former captain Andrew Flintoff has already said that England should include the Barbados-born cricketer at all costs.

"He's got to be in," Flintoff was quoted as saying by the BBC. "Who I would get rid of? Anyone. He's brilliant."

"He is unbelievable -- I was watching him bowl the other day and I found it so frustrating that a bloke can bowl so fast with what looks like so little effort," Flintoff said heaping praise on the bowler.

England will start their World Cup campaign against South Africa on May 30 at The Oval. Before that, they will also play two warm-up matches against Australia and Afghanistan.

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With Jofra Archer in the World Cup, England will be a better team: Liam Plunkett

Against Pakistan on Sunday, Archer returned with the figures of 2-29 and pulled off a run-out (Reuters)

HIGHLIGHTS

• Jofra Archer was not included in the preliminary 15-member England squad for the 2019 World Cup
• Against Pakistan on Sunday, Archer returned with the figures of 2-29 and pulled off a run-out
• Andrew Flintoff has already said that England should include Archer at all costs

Terming Jofra Archer as a "class act", England pacer Liam Plunkett believes that the 24-year-old should be included in the squad for the upcoming World Cup beginning at the end of this month.

Archer was not included in the preliminary 15-member England squad for the showpiece event. However, he is making a late bid to make it during the ongoing five-match ODI series against Pakistan.

On his T20I debut against Pakistan on Sunday, Archer returned with the figures of 2-29 and pulled off a run-out as England won the match by seven wickets. And he continued with his fine display of fast bowling in the first ODI which ended in a no-result due to rain on Wednesday. In the four overs which he bowled, Archer picked up a wicket giving away just six runs.

"With him in your squad, you're going to be a better team," ESPNcricinfo quoted Plunkett as saying after the match. "He's obviously a class act. He showed that today. He's bowled really nicely with pace and smashed good areas. It looks easy for him. He ambles in, bowls 93 mph and makes it look effortless. It's something you don't see day in, day out," he added.

Pakistan and England will now lock horns with each other in the second ODI to be played on Saturday.

Former captain Andrew Flintoff has already said that England should include the Barbados-born cricketer at all costs.

"He's got to be in," Flintoff was quoted as saying by the BBC. "Who I would get rid of? Anyone. He's brilliant."

"He is unbelievable -- I was watching him bowl the other day and I found it so frustrating that a bloke can bowl so fast with what looks like so little effort," Flintoff said heaping praise on the bowler.

England will start their World Cup campaign against South Africa on May 30 at The Oval. Before that, they will also play two warm-up matches against Australia and Afghanistan.

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Shoaib Akhtar backs Shahid Afridi's claims of harsh treatment by seniors in Pakistan team

Shoaib Akhtar and Shahid Afridi have both claimed to have been treated harshly by seniors in Pakistan team (Reuters Photo)

HIGHLIGHTS

• Shahid Afridi has made some sensational and controversial claims in his autobiography
• Afridi even wrote that ex-coach Miandad forced him to praise him during a presentation ceremony
• Some former Pakistan players have lashed out at Afridi for the claims he has made in the book

Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar has backed the claims made by his ex-teammate Shahid Afridi in his latest autobiography titled 'Game Changer'.

Afridi, in his autobiography, has claimed that he received harsh treatment from his seniors during his playing days. Citing one example, he said former Pakistan coach Javed Miandad did not let him participate in the batting practice session before the Chennai Test against India in 1999.

Backing Afridi's claims, Akhtar said he too received harsh treatment from senior cricketers during his playing days.

"I think Shahid Afridi has written less in his book about the harsh treatment he received from senior players during his playing days. I witnessed some of it with my own eyes and totally agree with him," The Express Tribune quoted Akhtar as saying while speaking during a show on a local sports channel.

Afridi, in his book, has written that Miandad even forced him to praise him during the presentation ceremony after which the former T20 captain lost all respect for Miandad.

Akhtar, while backing Afridi's claims, said that ten senior players had later asked the two of them for forgiveness for their behaviour during the playing days.

"Later down the years, ten of these senior players asked us for forgiveness, before leaving for Umrah, for the way they treated us," Akhtar said.

While talking about his past experiences, Akhtar said four players were about to beat him with a bat.

"Once during a tour of Australia, four players approached with the intention of hitting me with a bat," said the 43-year-old.

Earlier, out of favour Imran Farhat had lashed out at Afridi, saying the former all-rounder was a "selfish player" who ruined many careers for his own good.

In a series of tweets, Farhat said he was ashamed to know that Afridi, who lied for 20 years about his age, is naming and blaming some of the legendary cricketers of Pakistan.

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PM Narendra Modi seeking votes in name of fake nationalism: Arvind Kejriwal

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwa president of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of seeking votes in name of "fake nationalism" and said he has done nothing in the last five years except "jumlebaazi", foreign tours and lectures.

In response to Modi's comments that Delhi government brought "nakampanthi" (non-performance) model of governance, Kejriwal said his party has addressed issues related to education, health, electricity, and water and asked "what have you done".

In a tweet, Kejriwal charged, "Modi has done nothing in the last five years except jumlebaazi, foreign tours, and lectures and that is the reason he is seeking votes in the make of fake nationalism".

Kejriwal said, "the people of Delhi have sought answers of three questions from you for which you had no answers".

The Aam Aadmi Party chief on Wednesday sought an answer to three questions from Modi: "Why didn't the BJP pass an ordinance and stop sealing in Delhi? In 2014, PM Narendra Modi promised full statehood for Delhi. Why did the BJP not grant full statehood? Why is Imran Khan endorsing Narendra Modi?"

In the tweet, Kejriwal tagged Modi's tweet in which he said Delhi government brought in "nakampanthi" (non-performance) model of governance.

Modi Wednesday launched a blistering attack on the AAP in his first rally in the national capital, accusing the Arvind Kejriwal-led government of supporting the "tukde-tukde gang" and bringing in "nakampanthi" (non-performance) model of governance.

He said there are four models -- 'naampanthi' (dynastic politics), 'vaampanthi' (left politics) and dam and 'damanpanthi' (hooliganism) and 'vikaspanth' (those who believe in development).

"But Delhi is the only state where we learnt about the fifth model. Delhi has seen 'nakampanthi' (non-performance) which created anarchy and betrayed the people of the country," Modi said.

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IPL 2019: Under-21 players rise up to the occasion in DC vs SRH Eliminator

Prithvi Shaw started the run chase on a high note for Delhi Capitals as he hit 56 off 38 balls (Courtesy by BCCI)

HIGHLIGHTS

• Rishabh Pant (49) and Prithvi Shaw (56) helped Delhi chase down 163 vs Hyderabad
• Keemo Paul and Rashid Khan both made an impact for their teams with the ball
• Pant was adjudged man-of-the-match as DC booked a date with CSK in Qualifier 2

Young guns lit up the Vizag cricket stadium on Wednesday as Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad played out a thrilling match in the Indian Premier League on Wednesday. The IPL 2019 Eliminator was ultimately won by Delhi Capitals as they knocked out Sunrisers Hyderabad from the competition by registering a 2-wicket victory with a ball to spare.

There were four top performers in the match from either teams who were the main reasons why the match turned out to be one of the most exciting ones in this season.

Rishabh Pant (DC), Prithvi Shaw (DC), Rashid Khan (SRH) and Keemo Paul (DC) made it a contest to remember as Delhi chased down 163 in 19.5 overs to book the match against Chennai Super Kings in the second qualifier on May 10.

The four players in the spotlight here also have one thing common between them - they are all under 21 years of age.

ICC T20 World Cup

✔@T20WorldCup

The future is now!

Four players, all aged 21 or under, dominated the @IPL Eliminator between @DelhiCapitals and @SunRisers

Who was the star performer?

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While Rishabh Pant and Prithvi Shaw raised the bar with their batting, Rashid Khan and Keemo Paul delivered outstanding results with the ball.

"I was a bit nervous, but Ponting sir and Sourav sir believed in me, and I just went out there and played my natural game. I think Rishabh Pant just batted beautifully. (About Chennai Super Kings) We will have fun tonight, and then we plan from there. It's a big game, and we are going to prepare hard," Shaw said after the game.

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✔@IPL

.@PrithviShaw was pretty happy to find rhythm with a Fifty for @DelhiCapitals! He goes on to discuss his opening partnership with @SDhawan25 and mimic his signature step! By @RajalArora. #DCvSRH

Watch the full video - https://www.iplt20.com/video/189637 

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Shaw had started the run chase on a high note as he hit 56 off 38 balls but it was Pant's swashbuckling 49 off 21 balls which saw him bag the man-of-the-match award. Pant smashed five sixes and two boundaries during his knock.

"If you are set on a wicket like this, you have to finish the match for your team. I took it very close, but next time I will finish it for the team. (Pressure) I just try to be positive. If your mindset is negative, it doesn't help. Especially in T20s, you need 40 off 20 or so, then you have to attack one bowler. I don't see who's bowling. It's in our muscle memory, and that's why we practise so much. Today, that was special because I didn't try to hit the ball too hard. I was just watching the ball, and I was trying to time the ball," Pant said at the post-match presentation.

IndianPremierLeague

✔@IPL

.@RishabPant777 opens up to Shreyas Iyer about his power-packed batting in Vizag. Watch the @DelhiCapitals captain bring out some gully rap for 'bantai', Pant bhai By @28anand. #DCvSRH
Kya bolte hai @RanveerOfficial bhai, Shreyas ka rap kaisa laga?

-https://www.iplt20.com/video/189623 

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Rashid Khan's spell of 2 for 15 from 4 overs certainly made the job tougher for Delhi but they managed to prevail in the end as Keemo Paul hit a boundary off the penultimate ball of the game to finish the contest.

Paul was also the wrecker-in-chief in the first innings as he bagged 3 wickets for 32 runs to help Delhi restrict Hyderabad to 162 for 8 in 20 overs.

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Are Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif secretly in a relationship? Neha Dhupia reveals

Vicky Kaushal (L) and Katrina Kaif

Ever since Vicky Kaushal parted ways with his girlfriend Harleen Sethi, the grapevine has been abuzz with rumours of his budding romance with Katrina Kaif. In an interview with an entertainment website, Neha Dhupia was asked if there was any truth to the speculation, and she replied in the negative.

In one of the segments of the chat, Neha was asked to blink once if the statement was true and twice if it was false. The interviewer then asked if there was something brewing between Vicky and Katrina, and Neha blinked twice in response, shutting down the rumours.

Recently, on a chat show, Vicky revealed that when he was training to be an actor, one of the acting exercises he was given at his institute, had a connection with Katrina. Recalling the incident, which dates back to 2009, he said, "We had to look into the camera and dance on Teri Ore [from Katrina's film Singh is Kingg]."

The actress asked, "So you had to take the vibe of the song, and the camera is meant to be the girl?" She jokingly added, "One could say that in a small way, I've had a hand in crafting your skills."

On the work front, reports are doing the rounds that Vicky and Katrina have been signed on for a romantic drama. An entertainment website reported that they will be seen together in a love story that is inspired by real events.

"Apparently, the film which Katrina and Vicky are doing together will be produced by Ronnie Screwvala, who is known for his sensible, commercial successes. It's an intense love story, possibly inspired from real life and something along the lines of Kedarnath, which was again a big hit at the box office. Both the actors share amazing chemistry off-screen," a source revealed, adding that "the modalities, including dates, money and roles, first need to be worked out".

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Only vultures count bodies, not warriors: Rajnath Singh lashes out at Congress

Home Minister Rajnath Singh

HIGHLIGHTS

• Congress has weakened our fight against terrorism, said Rajnath Singh
• He also raised the issue of review of articles 370 and 35A
• Singh asserted that the Modi government is capable of protecting the nation

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday accused the Congress of weakening the fight against terrorism in the country.

He also raised the issue of review of articles 370 and 35A. Singh that when former chief minister Omar Abdullah had demanded a separate prime minister for Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP had promptly responded by saying that time had come for their review.

"I was shocked when the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir said that there must be two prime ministers in India. One should be for Jammu and Kashmir and the other for rest of the nation," Singh said.

"We responded promptly saying that time has come to review Article 370 and 35A, which give special rights to Jammu and Kashmir and whether we need to remove it or not. The time has come to review it," Singh said.

He was addressing a rally here to canvass support for party's West Delhi candidate Parvesh Verma.

Singh asserted that Naxalism will be eliminated by 2022-23, and the Modi government is capable of protecting the nation.

"The Congress has weakened our fight against terrorism," the Union home minister said.

He also lashed out at political parties for questioning the Indian Air Force over the number of terrorists killed in Balakot airstrikes in Pakistan that were carried out after the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed.

"...Only vultures count bodies, not the warriors," Singh said.

How can one give the number of terrorists killed in an air strike when the figure is too big, Singh asked. "We would tell if one or two persons were killed, how can I answer if the numbers are so big," he said.

He asked the Congress why Prime Minister Narendra Modi should not be credited for the successful surgical strike and air strike against terrorists as former prime minister Indira Gandhi was feted for the 1971 war by everyone, including former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Citing the achievements of the Modi government, the BJP leader said India is poised to become the third largest economy of the world.

It is for the first time after 2004 that price rise has not become a poll issue in general elections, he said.

"The rate of price rise in Pakistan is more than 9-10 percent while it remained in the 2-3 percent range in India. We have not allowed price rise to cross Wagah border due to our effective fiscal management," he said.

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Nushrat Bharucha quashes news of fight with Kartik Aaryan: I'm more than happy to work with him

Kartik Aaryan and Nushrat Bharucha

Kartik Aaryan and Nushrat Bharucha, who have worked together in films like Pyaar Ka Punchnama (2011), Akaash Vani (2013), Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2 (2015) and Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (2017), became quite the popular jodi. However, much to the disappointment of their fans, rumours were doing the rounds that the two cannot see eye to eye and do not want to sign any projects together in the future.

In an interview with Hindustan Times, Nushrat rubbished the news and said, "I'm more than happy to work with him. In fact, the whole team (who made all the four films), again and again. And I'm hoping we collaborate again, soon. We all have grown with these films and learnt so much. We will never be able to forget the experience we have had together," she said.

Though Nushrat and Kartik "might have had different paths and career graphs", she insisted that their "bond remains intact". The actress is puzzled by the rumours and cannot understand what could have sparked them.

"Kartik and I are working on different [film] sets, shooting for different projects, so we don't get time to chat or meet often. But that does not mean we are not on talking terms or we do not want to work together, again," she said.

On the work front, Nushrat will be seen next on the big screen in Hansal Mehta's Turram Khan, in which she will romance Rajkummar Rao. She also has Raaj Shaandilyaa's Dream Girl opposite Ayushmann Khurrana in the pipeline.

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Selfish Shahid Afridi ruined plenty of careers for his own good: Imran Farhat

Farhat also urged the cricketers who have been named and shamed in Afridi's book to "speak up and tell the truth" (Reuters Photo)

HIGHLIGHTS

• Shahid Afridi has been creating headlines ever since his autobiography got released
• Afridi has criticised many former players, including Javed Miandad, Waqar Younis and Gautam Gambhir in the book
• A petition has been filed in a Pakistan court to stop further publication of his book

Out-of-favour Pakistan batsman Imran Farhat has lashed out at Shahid Afridi, saying the former all-rounder was a "selfish player" who ruined many careers for his own good.

Afridi has raised many eyebrows with his latest autobiography titled "Game Changer". Be it his views on Kashmir and 2010 spot-fixing scandal or his age revelation, Afridi has been creating headlines ever since his autobiography got released.

He has criticised many former players, including Javed Miandad, Waqar Younis and Gautam Gambhir in the book which is co-authored by journalist Wajahat S. Khan.

In a series of tweets, Farhat said he was ashamed to know that Afridi, who lied for 20 years about his age, is naming and blaming some of the legendary cricketers of Pakistan.

"I am utterly ashamed from what I have heard and read so far regarding this new book of Afridi, someone who has lied about his age for 20 odd years now decides to come clean and name and blame some of our living legends," said the 36-year-old.

"I have a lot of stories to tell regarding this so called Saint we have had the pleasure of playing with. He sure is talented enough to become a politician," he added.

Farhat, who played 40 Tests and 58 ODIs for Pakistan, also urged the cricketers who have been named and shamed in Afridi's book to "speak up and tell the truth".

"I have a fair few stories to tell and I urge all the players who have been named and shamed to speak up and tell the truth about this selfish player who has ruined plenty of careers for his own good," said Farhat.

Meanwhile, a petition has been filed in a Pakistan court to stop further publication of his book.

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