Kaif retires from cricket at 37

NEW DELHI: Indian batsman Mohammad Kaif on Friday retired from all forms of cricket — nearly 12 years after he last stepped out to play an international match for his country.

Kaif, who played 125 One-day Internationals during his six-year career, is famous for his match-winning 87 in the NatWest final against England at Lord’s in 2002.

The 37-year-old Kaif, a lightning quick fielder and a useful middle-order batsman, decided to quit on the same day he hit the memorable knock — July 13.

“It was 16 years back on this day — July 13 — that we won the NatWest Trophy and I played an important role. So it’s apt that I retire from all forms of cricket on this day,” Kaif said in a video message on Twitter. “It’s been a while since I last played for India, so people think that I am already retired but I was busy playing domestic cricket. But it’s time to thank all those who helped me along this journey, my family, and team-mates.”

Kaif anchored India’s 326-run chase during his 121-run partnership with Yuvraj Singh to give his team a two-wicket win in the last over.

Kaif, who played just 13 Tests for India, last featured in an ODI against South Africa in November 2006 before falling off the selectors’ radar. He scored 2,753 runs in one-day cricket and 624 runs from 13 Tests.

Kaif rose to prominence after captaining India to their first Under-19 World Cup title in 2000. He is now a cricket analyst and a popular Hindi commentator.—AFP

James Taylor appointed England selector

LONDON: Former England batsman James Taylor has been appointed as a national team selector, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Friday.

Taylor will be part of a new selection panel which includes former batsman Ed Smith, who was appointed as a national selector in April, and team coach Trevor Bayliss.

The 28-year-old Taylor played seven Tests and 27 ODIs for England but retired from professional cricket in 2016 after being diagnosed with a heart condition.

“He [James Taylor] can bring his recent experiences and insights to selection, as we seek to identify the best players to drive forward England’s teams in all formats,” Smith told the cricket association’s website. “I know that James wants to channel the dedication that shaped his playing career into the new challenge of Talent ID and selection.”

Taylor, who also played for Leicestershire from 2008 to 2011 and Nottinghamshire from 2012-16, expressed his delight at the appointment.

“I’m thrilled to be taking up this role with the ECB and once again supporting the England set-up,” the right-handed batsman said.—Reuters

Farhan, Versha top STA rankings

KARACHI: Farhan Altaf retained his top position in the mens singles event with an accumulated 90 ranking points while Versha Das became top ladies singles player for the very first time in her tennis career with an accumulated 70 ranking points in the half-yearly rankings issued by Sindh Tennis Association on Saturday after various ranking events played since January to June 2018.

Farhan, son of former Davis Cupper and Asian Games silver medallist Altaf Hussain, retained his first position while young Versha, who belongs to the famous Das family in Pakistan. Versha learned her initial tennis in Dubai from his father Ajay Das who works in UAE as a tennis coach at a reputed tennis academy.

STA Rankings (top four in each category):

Mens Singles: 1. Farhan Altaf 90 pts; 2 Robin Das 85 pts; 3. Vinod Das 75 pts; 4. Muhammad Ali 65 pts, Ladies Singles: 1. Versha Das 70 pts; 2. Eraj Batool, 60 pts; 3. Zainab Ali 45 pts; Varisha Das 40 pts, Juniors Under-17 Singles: 1. Muhammad Ali 135 pts; 2. Zubair Raja, 80 pts; 3. Asim Gul 65 pts; 4. Mujahidullah Khatak 55 pts

Under-15 Singles: 1. Yahya Ehtisham 100 pts; 2. Taha Aman 75 pts; 3. Mahatir Muhammad & Rayyan Jawad 50 pts each; 4. Ashar Mir & Ghufran Faiz 40 pts each.

Under-13 Singles: 1. Taha Aman 100 pts; 2. Ayan Yousuf 85 pts; 3. Zain Ehtisham 75 pts; 4. Mahatir Muhammad & Ashar Mir 50 pts each.

Under-11 Singles: 1. Ahsan Ahmed 60 pts; 2. Duraf Das & Ayan Yousuf 50 pts each; 3. Nadir Mirza 40 pts, Under-9 Singles: 1. Duraf Das 50 pts; 2. Ibrahim Qureshi 40 pts; 3. Samir Zaman 35 pts; 4. Eshmal Khan & Ahsan Ahmed 30 pts each.—Agencies

Danish, Ismail shine as Zone-VI win

KARACHI: Brilliant unbeaten centuries in each innings by left-handed all-rounder Danish Aziz and deadly bowling by Mohammad Ismail helped Zone-VI crush Zone-IV by 128 runs in PCB Senior Inter-district Cricket Tournament at Lawai Cricket Stadium in Naya Nazimabad on Thursday.

Danish scored 106 (nine fours and two sixes) and 103 (six fours and five sixes) while Ismail captured 5-40.

Zone-VI, after being put into bat, scored 260-9 in stipulated 83 overs of the first innings.

In reply, Zone-IV were dismissed 135 before Zone-VI closed their second innings at 174-5.

Chasing 300, Zone-IV were bowled out for 171.

Summarised scores:

ZONE-VI 260-9 in 83 overs (Danish Aziz 106 not out, Ali Asad 73, Ahsan Ali 28; Waleed Ahmed 5-107, Sohaib Khan 2-63) and 174-5 declared in 54.2 overs (Danish Aziz 103 not out, Ali Asad 29; Asadullah Hamza 3-49); ZONE-IV 135 in 57 overs (Sohaib Shakil 43,Yasir Mushtaq 36 not out, Mohammad Ismail 5-40, Ghulam Mudassar 3-24) and 171 in 69 overs (Haris Ali Khan 56, Yasir Mushtaq 49; Ghulam Mudassir 3-33, Raza-ul-Hasan 3-58).

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2018