Sehwag promises attacking cricket in IPL 7

Agencies/New Delhi

Relinquished to domestic cricket for more than a year, the path for Virender Sehwag’s return to the Indian team may well pass through IPL 7, but donning a different kit won’t make any difference to the brand of cricket Sehwag has played.

No longer a Delhi Daredevil, Sehwag was bought by Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) at the 2014 IPL players’ auction and the Delhi dasher hopes to repay the faith that his new franchise has put in him.

Sehwag last donned an India jersey in the Test match against Australia in March last year and recognises that only through runs and consistent performance he can push his case for a comeback. “Last season I did not score runs; but if I do well in the IPL, I may get a chance to come back in national team. It depends on my performance,” he said a few days back.

8,586 runs in 104 Tests and 8,273 in 251 ODIs is the stuff of legends, and a Sehwag comeback can’t be ruled out if his body allows and he puts his mind to work. And the good thing is that Sehwag acknowledges that.

“If my body permits, I want to continue to play for two-three years. Then I will take a call,” he said, hinting that he isn’t retiring anytime soon.

Sehwag will be the senior-most member in the Punjab squad, but he isn’t keen on leading the side, which he made clear to his franchise right from the outset, after which they appointed Australia’s George Bailey as the skipper.

“I was asked [by KXIP franchise] if I want to be the captain; but I said if there’re other options, I would prefer to be just a player,” he said, elaborating on his role. “My role will be the same with what I have been doing in the Indian team. I will guide the youngsters and try to motivate them.”

Australia return to Zimbabwe for one-day tournament

Australia will return to Zimbabwe for the first time in a decade later this year to take part in a triangular one-day international tournament, Zimbabwe Cricket said yesterday.

The Australians have not toured the country since May 2004, but will open the triangular tournament - which also includes South Africa - on August 25 against the host nation at Harare Sports Club. All six round-robin matches will be played in Harare, as well as the final on Sept 7.

South Africa will play one Test match and three ODIs before the arrival of Australia. The Test between Zimbabwe and the Proteas will be played in Harare from August 9-13, followed by three 50-over matches to be staged in Bulawayo.

Wasim wants boot camp for Pakistan World Cup hopes

 Former Pakistan great Wasim Akram yesterday said players heading for the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand should sweat it out at a boot camp to boost their chances of victory. Pakistan are in Group B of the World Cup alongside arch-rivals India, South Africa, the West Indies, Ireland United Arab Emirates and Zimbabwe.

They open their campaign against India at Adelaide on February 15. To prepare for the challenges ahead, Wasim suggested a boot camp. “Since Pakistan have no cricket until October (against Australia in the United Arab Emirates) they must hold a boot camp on hilly areas just like Australia do when they go into an Ashes series,” Wasim told AFP.

The former skipper said that the country’s cricket administrators need to concentrate on improving fielding and fitness. “For me the only worry is the 2015 World Cup will be totally different as grounds in Australia and New Zealand require great expertise and good preparation,” Wasim said.

Declared player of the tournament for his 18 wickets in Pakistan’s World Cup triumph in Australia and New Zealand in 1992, Wasim said it would be best to go to Australia early. “I remember we went to Australia three weeks before the event and it helped us a lot,” said Wasim. “The grounds in Australia need adapting to because if you are not used to them you tend to injure yourself.”

Wasim said Pakistan also need to improve their fielding. “When I am away I always ask experts to help Pakistan and recently I talked to Jonty Rhodes who is ready to help Pakistani players in fielding for a short period,” said Wasim of the South African, regarded as one of the best fielders of his time.

Wasim also added that Pakistan should forget the panic over their World Twenty20 flop in Bangladesh recently. “Australia and England also lost in the Super-10 stages but there was no panic like here in Pakistan. We took it to our hearts and the captain had to step down,” said Wasim, referring to Pakistan’s Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez’s resignation.