Afghanistan qualify for World Twenty20

 Afghanistan reached the 2012 World Twenty20 with a 47-run win over Namibia, a second successive appearance at the showpiece coming just four years after they were playing division five cricket.

In a battle of two undefeated teams, Afghanistan were bowled out for 146 in their 20 overs before Namibia were dismissed for 99 in the 19th over.
Despite the loss, Namibia will get a second chance of making the World Twenty20 when they face either Ireland or the Netherlands in tomorrow’s second qualifying final.

Afghanistan, who also played in the 2010 World Twenty20 in the Caribbean, saw openers Karim Sadiq (28) and Javed Ahmadi (24) give their side a flying start with a partnership of 57 by the seventh over.
But Namibia slammed the brakes on the scoring rate with skipper Sarel Burger taking 3 for 16.
However, the African side never recovered from a precarious 18 for four by the fourth over with seamer Dawlat Zadran boasting figures of 3 for 1 off his first two overs.

Burger and Nicholaas Scholtz, with 22 runs each, gave a little middle-order impetus, but Afghanistan were simply too powerful as they coasted to a place in the finals in Sri Lanka from September 18 to October 7.
Right-arm fast bowler Aftab Alam claimed 4 for 25, sweeping up the tail in the process.

“A second successive appearance for Afghanistan in a global ICC event after having only started to play internationally in the World Cricket League Division 5 in 2008, is very impressive,” said International Cricket Council Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat.

“I expect there will be lots of celebrations in Kabul and why not? By qualifying for the World T20 Afghanistan will get another chance to showcase its talents and passion for the game of cricket.”

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Pakistan won Asia Cup

 Pakistan claimed the Asia Cup with a thrilling two-run victory over a dogged Bangladesh on Thursday, breaking the hearts of the home support who saw their unfancied side take the game to the wire.

The visitors -- tournament winners in 2000 -- held Bangladesh to 234-8, agonisingly short of Pakistan's 236-9 despite impressive half-centuries from Shakib Al Hasan (68) and opener Tamim Iqbal (60).

Pakistan paceman Aizaz Cheema starred with the ball, grabbing three wickets, while fast bowler Umar Gul and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal each took two to strangle Bangladesh's run-chase.

The hosts, appearing in their first Asia Cup final, looked well placed to win the day-night match, watched by Bangladesh President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, but faltered in the final over.

Needing nine runs to win with three wickets in hand they could manage only six, as Cheema held his nerve to see out the game.

"It was a wonderful victory, well fought by all the guys. Sarfraz Ahmed's innings (46 not out) was a vital one for us," victorious skipper Misbah-ul-Haq said after the game.

"Bangladesh played wonderfully well. This is really a new Bangladesh team and they are really the winners."

Cheered by a capacity crowd, Bangladesh started their innings strongly, reaching 68 for the opening wicket through Tamim and Mohammad Nazimuddin (16), before Pakistan struck with three wickets in the space of 13 runs.

Tamim, who was initially dropped from the squad but later added as a 15th member, hit eight fours in his fourth successive half-century before being caught by Younis in the covers off Gul.

Shakib kept alive Bangladesh's hopes with an 89-run stand for the fourth wicket with Nasir Hossain (28), but his dismissal in the 44th over put the hosts under pressure.

"We fought in all the games and we achieved a lot in this tournament. We played good in the tournament I thought," said Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim.

"Shakib and Tamim were both set batsmen and their wickets were the turning point. We also gave away some runs (19) in the last over and that was crucial."

Bangladesh had earlier restricted Pakistan's free-scoring batsmen with tight bowling and a solid fielding performance.

Left-arm spinners Shakib and Abdur Razzak and paceman Mashrafe Mortaza bagged two wickets apiece for Bangladesh, with Ahmed leading Pakistan's innings with an unbeaten 46.

Having upset the odds to beat World Cup winners India and runners-up Sri Lanka in league matches, Bangladesh looked like they could repeat the trick after capturing three wickets in the opening 15 overs to have Pakistan at 55-3.

Mortaza struck in his third over when he had opener Nasir Jamshed (nine) caught by Mohammad Mahmudullah in the covers before seamer Nazmul Hossain trapped Younis Khan leg-before for one.

Bangladesh's fielders expertly supported their bowlers with Nasir running Misbah out with a direct-hit before Nazmul held a good catch at mid-on to account for Mohammad Hafeez (40).

Nasir had a hand in one more dismissal when he dived forward at long-off to take a superb catch to remove Shahid Afridi after the batsman had hit one six and four boundaries in a brisk 22-ball 32.

The hosts did not allow Pakistan to build a big partnership, the highest stand of the innings being 59 for the fifth wicket between Umar Akmal (30) and Hammad Azam (30).

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Ban vs Pak: Bangladesh need 237 to win Asia Cup

 Abdur Razzakl claimed his second victim in the form of Saeed Ajmal to give Pakistan ninth blow just after they crossed 200-mark in the Asia Cup final at Mirpur.

After inviting Pakistan to bat, Bangladesh new ball pair Mashrafe Mortaza and Nazmul Hossain dismissed Nasir Jamshed and Younis Khan early to give hosts early control.

Mashrafe Mortaza gave Bangladesh the first breakthrough by getting Jamshed caught by Mahmudullah in the fifth over.

Jamshed scored 9 runs before mistiming a slower delivery in the hands of Mahmudullah in the covers.

Pakistan lost their second wicket when Hossain trapped Younis plumb in front of the wicket.

Abdur Razzak struck to dismiss a well settled Mohammad Hafeez to give Pakistan fourth blow at the score of 70 in the 22 nd over.

Razzak got Hafeez (40), who tried hard to rescue his side from early setback, caught by Nazmul Hossain 15 runs after Nasir Hossain ran out Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq with a direct.

Misbah scored a 23-ball 13 before getting run out.

After a steady stand for the fifth wicket, Shakib Al Hasan removed Hammad Azam (30) to give Pakistan fifth blow at the score of 129. Before the visitors could recover from the jolt, Mahmudullah ended Umar Akmal's (30) challenge.

Hasan claimed his second victim in the form of Shahid Afridi to give Pakistan seventh blow at the score 178 in the 42 nd over.

Hasan got Afridi caught by Hossain after his fiery show. Afridi smashed 32 off 22 deliveries with the help of four boundaries and a six.

Mortaza then dismissed Umar Gul to give Pakistan eighth blow one short of the 200-mark in the 45 th over.

Bangladesh are unchanged and Pakistan have brought in Sarfraz Ahmed for Wahab Riaz.

Since their arrival into the big league in 1999, a place in the Asia Cup final is the biggest moment for Bangladesh cricket. It was mayhem on the streets on Dhaka on Tuesday night when they beat Sri Lanka to set up the final clash against Pakistan, and the dust is yet to settle.

The biggest challenge for the Bangladesh players now is to gather their thoughts, put their heads down and get ready for another big fight against Pakistan.

Post their wins against India and Sri Lanka, the belief in the Bangladesh camp is unbelievable and the feeling is that they can beat just about anyone. Asking-rates of eight plus are not bothering the players anymore and that's the confidence that they want to take into the final.

Bangladesh, though, lost to Pakistan in the group stage when they started off well only to falter at the crunch.

The confidence in the Bangladesh camp comes from the fact that the team is not solely dependent on Shakib and Tamim Iqbal anymore.

Playing a final at home under such pressure is not an easy job for an inexperienced side and the canny Pakistanis are looking to tighten the screws. They, of course, were in for a shock on Sunday when Virat Kohli ran away with the game, but that's history now.

Pakistan have an excellent bowling line-up led by pacer Umar Gul and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal. And there's Mohammad Hafeez too, and skipper Misbah-ul-Haq is sure to unleash them against Bangladesh's two big left-handers, Shakib and Tamim.

Teams:

Bangladesh: Mushfiqur Rahim (Capt.), Tamim Iqbal, Nazimuddin, Jahurul Islam, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Nasir Hossain, Mashrafe Mortaza, Abdur Razzak, Shahadat Hossain, Nazmul Hossain.

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Nita Ambani owned IPL team Mumbai Indians signs brand deal with Walt Disney

Disney characters are famous for executing all manner of unbelievable stunts, but so far they have never been seen around a cricket pitch. That will change soon.

Mumbai Indians, the IPL team owned by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, has signed a brand alliance with Walt Disney India, marking the first occasion that Mickey Mouse, one of the world's most recognisable brands, will be associated with cricket.

The runners-up in last year's IPL will be looking to exploit the connect which the world's most famous mouse - created in 1928 - has with children under 14 by putting its image on merchandise ranging from school bags to cricket bats.

"Last year there was a lot of cynicism as well as criticism around MI, including the name, and then we won the Champions League Twenty20. Today, we count over 2.8 million Facebook fans on our website, the largest amongst the franchisees. This brand alliance with a global, iconic family brand like Disney says it all with the trust and faith they have imposed in MI," said Nita Ambani, Mukesh's wife, who runs the company that owns the cricket team.

Mukesh bought MI for $111.9 million in 2008, making it the most expensive franchise. Breaking even is still far away. "We are trying even this year, but as I said, I have always believed we need to be a sustainable brand in ourselves, not funded by RIL," said Nita Ambani.

Big Deal for Disney India Head

Nita Ambani met with this reporter at her office on the 12th floor of Maker Chambers, the Nariman Point building that has for decades been the headquarters of Reliance Industries, India's largest private sector company by revenues and market capitalisation. For Ronnie Screwvala, managing director, Walt Disney India, the alliance is the first big transaction since he switched roles from being the entrepreneur-CEO of media and entertainment company UTV to heading the Indian unit of Disney.

"Disney has always been brand conscious and the business of licensing is only possible if you have a brand that can be a viable commercial venture which MI is because of Nita's vision of making it a 360-degree brand that explores multiple avenues on and off the field. Given Disney's licensing background, we can actually take this joint brand to another level. Right now the market size in licensing in the 4-14 age bracket is Rs 1,400 crore but with a huge potential for growth," Screwvala said.

The reason Disney, which owns sports channel ESPN, had not got into cricket, India's favourite sport so far, is there was no "brand play" till now, explains Screwvala. A team such as MI, which has icons like Sachin Tendulkar, is much more than a local team so the brand characters of Disney are also a good fit, said the Disney India head.

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