tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045171585680942892024-03-13T12:35:00.882-07:00Aadil BlogAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17028100143959752820noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904517158568094289.post-47169839182766169842014-02-06T09:42:00.002-08:002014-02-06T09:42:43.308-08:00A tale of hard work, fate and tears<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<img align="top" alt="Sharad Vesawkar smashed three sixes in six balls, Kenya v Nepal, ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier, Group B, Dubai, November 16, 2013" border="0" class="stryPhotoEn" height="394" hspace="0" src="http://www.espncricinfo.com/db/PICTURES/CMS/171400/171429.2.jpg" vspace="0" width="310" /><br />
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Sharad Vesawkar was instrumental in helping Nepal realise their dream <nobr>
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Players/Officials:
<a class="rltdBlue" href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/nepal/content/player/25967.html" style="font-size: 11px;">Paras Khadka</a>
| <a class="rltdBlue" href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/nepal/content/player/25977.html" style="font-size: 11px;">Sharad Vesawkar</a>
| <a class="rltdBlue" href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/nepal/content/player/524095.html" style="font-size: 11px;">Sagar Pun</a>
| <a class="rltdBlue" href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/nepal/content/player/48445.html" style="font-size: 11px;">Pubudu Dassanayake</a>
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Series/Tournaments:
<a class="rltdBlue" href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-world-twenty20-qualifier-2013/content/series/660011.html" style="font-size: 11px;">ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier</a>
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Teams:
<a class="rltdBlue" href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/nepal/content/team/33.html" style="font-size: 11px;">Nepal</a>
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<a href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-world-twenty20-qualifier-2013/engine/match/660121.html" target="_blank">On November 16</a>,
Nepal were chasing 183 against Kenya, who were favourites to win the
Group B encounter in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier in Dubai. They
needed 17 runs off the final over. In the middle were the captain, <a href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/nepal/content/player/25967.html">Paras Khadka</a>, and <a href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/nepal/content/player/25977.html">Sharad Vesawkar</a>. As soon as the tall Vesawkar hit the first of three sixes to win the match, his team-mate <a href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/nepal/content/player/524095.html">Sagar Pun</a>
began to cry. Pun, a 20-year-old batsman, was padded up because he was
the next man in, and he cried louder as Vesawkar took Nepal closer to
the target.
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"Matches like these only bring the emotions out easily. Imagine if a
wicket had fallen and he [Pun] was the next man in, what might have
happened," Khadka tells ESPNcricinfo from Abu Dhabi with a chuckle,
explaining Pun's reaction.
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"Everybody was so keen. Everybody was pushing themselves. Every one of us believes in fate. Every one of us believes in God."
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According to Khadka, his players have worked "double" the amount they
usually do, for this tournament. "The belief was always there. But in
the T20 format you just never know which way the game can swing," he
says. "There is no substitute for hard work, even if it might take
time. Three years ago, four years ago, five years ago if anyone had
asked us, do you want to play a World Cup, our answer would have been -
maybe yes. But how do we go about it?"
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On <a href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-world-twenty20-qualifier-2013/engine/match/660211.html" target="_blank">Wednesday afternoon</a>,
in the dry heat of Abu Dhabi, Vesawkar and Khadka found themselves in
the middle once again, with Nepal's fate in the balance. In the
quarter-final against Hong Kong, with a spot in the World Twenty20 at
stake, Nepal needed 26 off the last two overs. With 10 balls to go,
Khadka attempted a risky second run and was dismissed. Nepal now needed
13 off the final over, from medium-pacer Haseeb Amjad. Vesawkar started
the over with a straight six and then bottom-edged the next ball to the
fine-leg boundary. With one ball to go and scores level, all the Hong
Kong fielders were inside the circle. Vesawkar's powerful off drive
pierced the field to deliver the most important victory in the Affiliate
nation's history. Nepal had qualified for the 2014 World Twenty20 in
Bangladesh.
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Nepal's journey through the tournament in the UAE had been tense. They
might not even have made it to the knockouts, if not for a fractionally
superior run rate to Scotland. At the end of the group stage, Nepal and
Scotland were level on eight points. They were separated only by a net
run rate calculated to the fourth decimal: Scotland had 0.3792, while
Nepal had 0.3794. "I do not know how they calculated, but we had the
belief. We had the hunger," Khadka says, still unable to comprehend what
his team achieved.
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Vesawkar confesses that the significance of their performance has not
"sunk in" completely because it has been a long-cherished dream, and now
that they are there it feels almost unreal. "It is the proudest moment
of our lives," he says. "We wanted to play a World Cup. It was a dream
for us. Finally it has come true."
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Vesawkar started following cricket when he was eight, after watching
Sachin Tendulkar during the 1996 World Cup. "Sachin inspired me,"
Vesawkar says, recollecting the days spent playing street cricket with
tennis balls. He is happy he chased that dream.
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"We had no other choice other than going for it," Vesawkar says about
the final over against Kenya. "Yesterday [against Hong Kong] was very
important to us because it was a do-or-die match and we had to qualify
for the World Cup. There is so much [of a] following back home and the
expectations were really high. The Kenya game was equally important,
since the tournament could have gone either way, but I still feel the
Hong Kong match had more importance."
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In May this year, Nepal won the ICC World Cricket League Division Three title, <a href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/wcldiv3-2013/engine/match/628096.html" target="_blank">beating Uganda in the final</a>.
It was Vesawakar who hit the winning runs, completing a half-century in
the process. Nepal had lost their first two group matches but won all
the rest to claim the title. It was their biggest win at the time.
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According to Khadka, Nepal's Sri Lankan coach <a href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/srilanka/content/player/48445.html">Pubudu Dassanayake</a>
has "transformed" the team's progress and development. "The
introduction of our coach transformed everything. It has been the same
team, same players, but everyone has risen to the task."
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During the match against Hong Kong, Dassanayake, who joined Nepal after
leaving the Canada job following the 2011 World Cup, remained confident,
though he feared his batsmen had left themselves too many to get in the
final over. "That was the only hiccup," he says. "But we had already
been involved in last-over games."
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<img align="top" alt="Paras Khadka smashes one down the ground, Hong Kong v Nepal, ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier, quarter-final, Abu Dhabi, November 27, 2013" border="0" class="stryPhotoEn" height="306" hspace="0" src="http://www.espncricinfo.com/db/PICTURES/CMS/172500/172539.2.jpg" vspace="0" width="310" /><br />
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Paras Khadka: "Every one of us believes in fate. Every one of us believes in God" <nobr>
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Nations like Nepal struggle for proper cricket infrastructure and
resources. To prepare for the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier, they
travelled to Delhi in October to play practice matches. Amit Mathur, the
former BCCI administrator and currently consultant with the Delhi
Daredevils, helped organise the travel and practice games. "Six months
ago we went to Bharatnagar Cricket Academy, where we were smashed by a
couple of teams," Dassanayake says. "This time when we were there we had
victories against Under-25 sides from Railways and Delhi District
Cricket Association. That provided a shot of confidence and showed us
how much we had improved."
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Dassanayake says the dedication of Nepal cricketers must be admired, for
most of them rely on their board for basic needs, including their kit.
"The Nepal Cricket Association provided a kit to each of the 15 players.
The players give their full time to cricket but they do not benefit
financially." When Khadka, a former small-time school and college-level
coach, says the players "have dedicated" themselves to cricket "full
time," you realise how much they love the sport.
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The ICC played its part too, by promoting cricket in Nepal and providing
exposure to players. Dassanayake thinks that in a few years Nepal will
be on par with Associates like Ireland and Netherlands. "This is
beginning of another level but we have to do a lot of hard work," he
says.
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For Dassanayake, it is satisfying that Nepal have played the same brand of cricket in victory and defeat. "When we <a href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-world-twenty20-qualifier-2013/engine/match/660181.html" target="_blank">lost to Afghanistan</a>
in a seven-over rain-affected match, we had been confident we could
beat them and hence were upset. But we played good cricket and stuck to
our plans in front of strong crowd support for both sides." On Friday,
Nepal face Afghanistan again in the semi-finals of the tournament.
Vesawkar wants to beat the arch-rivals, another long-standing desire,
but for now he cannot forget the crowd that gathered at the Sheikh Zayed
Stadium to infuse the team with energy.
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After the victory against Hong Kong, as Khadka and his men sang the patriotic anthem <i>"Rato Ra Chandra Surya"</i>,
the crowd joined the chorus to make the moment that much more special.
"It is almost like a festival back home. There have been rallies,
candle-light functions and such from the moment we qualified," Khadka
says. "Our home minister called us to congratulate the team. People are
very excited. As a country we have been waiting for something to unite
us. I think cricket has become the unifying factor."
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When Khadka got out against Hong Kong, he saw Pun crying once again.
This time, even Khadka was counting prayer beads in his mind. "It was
crazy. When I was batting I was in the zone. You work so hard all your
life and it is right there in front you. And then I got out with 10
balls left." Khadka recollects the moment. He had removed his helmet and
gloves but he did not sit down. "I was standing there and praying.
Please, please, God, you cannot be cruel.
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"In the end it was fate. I believe in destiny. Honest work paid off."
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17028100143959752820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904517158568094289.post-16151931991703697722014-01-23T22:01:00.002-08:002014-01-23T22:01:14.282-08:00ICC CWCQ New Zealand 2014 to be streamed live on ICC website<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://icc-live.s3.amazonaws.com/cms/media/images/630x420/58840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://icc-live.s3.amazonaws.com/cms/media/images/630x420/58840.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced the
live-streaming schedule for the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier
New Zealand 2014 (CWCQ). For the first time ever, CWCQ matches will be
streamed live on the ICC’s official website, <a href="http://www.icc-cricket.com/">www.icc-cricket.com</a>.<br />
<br />
The tenth edition of the CWCQ is being staged across seven venues from
13 January to 1 February. It will see four matches (listed below)
streamed live at icc-cricket.com from the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in
Lincoln, allowing cricket fans across the globe to follow the live
action from the business end of the tournament, as it unfolds in New
Zealand.<br />
<br />
Ultra Motion cameras will be deployed for the first time ever in an ICC
qualifier tournament. The high quality coverage will be conducted using
nine high definition cameras and a full broadcast graphics package. Live
online polls and social media initiatives will also be run during the
broadcast and fans will be encouraged to join the conversation by using
the official hashtag #CWC15.<br />
<br />
This continues the support the ICC has shown for the development of
events featuring Associate and Affiliate members. A total of 34 matches
were streamed live by the ICC in 2013, these included matches from the
Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Championship 2013, ICC World Twenty20
Qualifier UAE 2013, ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier Ireland 2013
and the ICC Intercontinental Cup Final 2013.<br />
<br />
The live-streaming of CWCQ matches continues the ICC’s efforts to
highlight cricket outside the traditional Test-playing countries; and,
is aligned with the ICC’s Strategic Plan, of creating a <em>Bigger, Better Global Game</em>.<br />
<br />
Among the four matches that will be streamed live at the CWCQ is the
final. The two teams that feature in it will qualify for the ICC’s
flagship event, the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 (ICC CWC) which will be
staged in Australia and New Zealand from 14 February to 29
March. <br />
<br />
The side that wins the CWCQ final will join Afghanistan, Australia,
Bangladesh, England, New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Pool A of the ICC CWC
2015, while the runner-up will team up with India, Ireland, Pakistan,
South Africa, West Indies and Zimbabwe in Pool B.<br />
<br />
<strong>Notes to Editors:</strong><br />
<br />
<em>The live-streamed matches are:</em><br />
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<td style="width: 187px;"><strong><u>Date and time</u></strong></td>
<td style="width: 451px;"><strong><u>Match</u></strong></td>
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<td style="width: 187px;">26 Jan 2014 (1030 NZDT)</td>
<td style="width: 451px;">Scotland v Namibia, Match 25, Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln</td>
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<td style="width: 187px;">28 Jan 2014 (1030 NZDT)</td>
<td style="width: 451px;">PNG v Scotland , Match 30, Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln</td>
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<td style="width: 187px;">30 Jan 2014 (1030 NZDT)</td>
<td style="width: 451px;"> PNG v Hong Kong, Match 33, Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln</td>
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<td style="width: 187px;"> 1 Feb 2014 (1030 NZDT)</td>
<td style="width: 451px;">TBD v TBD, Final, Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln</td>
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<br />
<br />
Viewers in Southern and Sub-Saharan Africa can also visit <a href="http://www.supersport.com/">www.supersport.com</a> to watch the live coverage. <br /><br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17028100143959752820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904517158568094289.post-53249448441597201962012-12-11T02:45:00.001-08:002012-12-11T02:45:18.807-08:00Beginning 'in the name of Allah' is a miracle<em>"I will set him on high</em> <br />
<em>because he has known my name."</em> (Psalms 91:14)<br />
<em>"In that day shall there be one Lord</em> <br />
<em>and his name one."</em> (Zechariah 14:9)<br />
A branch of human knowledge is called <em>ethnology,</em> which is
concerned with the study of racial groups in their origin, distribution
and culture. It does not only cover the details of various branches
and tribal groups of these races, but also their relationship to one
another and their individual characteristics. The whole of mankind is
compared to a tree whose branches have spread all over the earth. The
Holy Quran has referred to this basic truth fourteen hundred years ago
when it declared:<br />
<blockquote>
"Mankind is a single nation." (2:213)</blockquote>
At another place it said:<br />
<blockquote>
"Say: O people of the Book, come to an equitable word
between us and you, that we shall serve none but Allah and that we shall
not associate any with him." (3:63)</blockquote>
An "equitable word", towards which the Quran has called all
the nations of the world, is something which is agreed upon by all.
The Quran has itself indicated what that equitable word is. It is belief
in God and obedience to Him. There can be nothing greater than this
just and equitable statement to create goodwill and unity among nations
-- that our God and your God is one. This is a great prophecy mentioned
in the revealed scriptures of the world in a different form. In other
words, the Prophet who knew the truth about the name of God and revealed
it to the world was going to appear at a certain stage in history.<br />
The oneness of humanity is a truth on which the Holy Quran lays the
greatest stress (1:1). They are sometimes told that they have been "created
of a single soul", again that they are all descended from the same
parents (11:13); still again, that they are, as it were, dwellers in
one home, having the same earth as resting-place and the same heaven
as a canopy (2:22). It thus lays down the principle of the oneness of
humanity in the clearest words. All people are but a single nation (10:19).
More than that, it emphasises that all the prophets of the world are
a single community (21:92).<br />
The basic principle of all religions taught by the prophets has been
one and the same in all ages and all countries, that Allah is the Lord
of all. He alone must be worshipped. Therefore all prophets are here
declared to be one community: they all led people to virtue through
service of God. But, as the next verse shows, their followers broke
off this unity:<br />
<blockquote>
"Surely this your community is a single community, and
I am your Lord, so serve Me. And they cut off their affair among them;
to Us will all return." (21:92-93)</blockquote>
Those who have studied the religious scriptures of the world and their
commentaries know that out of hundreds of names of God there is one
truly great and excellent Divine name in search of which Hindus, Jews,
Christians and Magians have kept themselves constantly busy. There is
no language in the world which does not contain a word denoting the
name of God. I have discussed 155 names of God in my book <em>Muhammad
in World Scriptures.</em> As God is one, His true name should also be
one. The languages of the world are different but the Creator and Lord
of all of us is one. It was the Last Prophet who told mankind the real
name of this Great Being. He not only told His real name but also offered
rational arguments in support of his claim and in practice he showed
complete reliance on Him and thus achieved all that a human being could
possibly achieve in his life. This was a practical demonstration of
the truthfulness of the Prophet's mission. Those who opposed him in
the name of other than God were completely humiliated in spite of their
superiority in number and armaments. Even after the lapse of fourteen
centuries the verdict recorded about him in history is that he was "the
most successful of all the prophets and religious personalities"
(<em>Encyclopedia Britannica,</em> 10th ed.). He was helpless and became
the master of his country. But that was not his real success. His real
success lay in the fact that there were thousands of his opponents who
became his friends and accepted the religion he advocated. This was
not something sudden and unexpected; the prophets of yore had foretold
his success. The prophet David sang:<br />
<blockquote>
"Because he has set his love upon me, therefore will
I deliver him. I will set him on high because he has known my name."
(Psalms 91:14)</blockquote>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17028100143959752820noreply@blogger.com0