Harmanpreet Scripts Name to History Books
Harmanpreet Kaur became the most-capped player in women’s international cricket on February 19 during the second T20I against Australia at the Manuka Oval in Canberra. The India captain surpassed New Zealand’s Suzie Bates to achieve the record. Mithali Raj now stands second among Indian players with 333 international appearances. Before the match, head coach Amol Muzumdar praised her contribution and called the moment special for Indian women’s cricket. After the brief ceremony, Harmanpreet acknowledged the milestone with a quiet gesture. Teammates Richa Ghosh and Amanjot Kaur congratulated her as the team marked the historic achievement. Numbers of Players in International Matches, Harmanpreet Kaur (IND) 356. New Zealand’s Suzie Bates stands with 355 matches, Australian all rounder Ellyse Perry secured 350 matches.
Bee Attack at Unnao Match Claims Life of Veteran Umpire
A tragic incident halted a local KDMA league match in Unnao on Wednesday. A swarm of bees suddenly attacked players and officials at Sapru Ground in Shuklaganj. Panic spread across the field within minutes. Amid the chaos, 65-year-old senior umpire Manik Gupta of the Kanpur Cricket Association lost his life. He was officiating the match between YMCC and Paramount along with fellow umpire Jagdish Sharma. Both umpires were in white on the field. Eyewitnesses said the bees circled around them for nearly ten minutes. Players and officials ran for cover as stings continued. Several cricketers and umpires suffered injuries. The match had to be stopped midway. Gupta was first taken to two private hospitals in Shuklaganj, Unnao. His condition kept worsening. Doctors then referred him to Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital in Kanpur. Later, he was shifted to the Laxmipat Singhania Institute of Cardiology. He was declared dead there. A resident of Pheelkhana, Gupta had served as a KCA umpire for almost three decades. The association expressed deep grief over the loss. Officials said he was a dedicated servant of the game and assured full support to his family. His last rites will be performed on Thursday. The shocking incident has shaken the local cricket community. Many are now demanding stronger safety measures at match venues.
Gavaskar Advises Abhisek Sharma To Play ‘Smart Cricket’
Sunil Gavaskar has sent out a clear message to Abhishek Sharma ahead of India’s Super 8 challenge. The batting legend believes the youngster must block out the noise and free himself from the burden of expectations. Gavaskar stressed that Abhishek does not need to chase big shots from the very first ball. Instead, he should focus on staying at the crease and building his innings. According to him, time in the middle will naturally bring confidence and runs. The advice comes at a worrying time for India. The world No. 1 T20I batter has endured a quiet group stage. Three matches. Zero runs. Only eight balls faced in total. While talking to Star Sports, Gavaskar stated “Maybe the expectations might be weighing just a little too heavily on him. He is a lovely guy. If he had got a flying start in the first game, things might have been different. But now, you can sense that the expectations of being the big guy, the six-hitter, the No. 1 batter in the team, might be weighing heavily on him.” “I think with the range of shots he has, he has to give himself a little more time in the middle. Not be looking to open his innings with a boundary or a six. If he gets it, then fine – but looking to play across the line for the big shot, no. Even if there are four dot balls, it does not matter because in the next four to eight balls he can make up for that.” Gavaskar further suggested Sharma to play ‘smart cricket”. “He has to play smart cricket. He has to get the circulation in his legs. He has to get off the mark. If you are playing for India, you have to get off the mark and everything will fall in place. The way he is getting out is very predictable.” “The mindset is such that, ‘I am being seen as somebody who hits at a 200 strike-rate, I have to live up to that.’ You don’t have to. It’s just natural – when you take a couple of singles, you get a sense of the pitch. He will get a big score once he gets set,” Gavaskar said.
