August 21, 2024

Zaheer Khan in Talks with LSG to Take Over as Mentor

The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are interested in bringing Zaheer Khan into a prominent role within their coaching staff. They want to involve him in mentoring, scouting, and player development during the off-season. This move follows the departure of Gautam Gambhir, who was the team’s mentor before leaving to become the head coach of India.

Zaheer Khan, who previously served as the head of global development at Mumbai Indians and as their director of cricket from 2018 to 2022, is also being considered by two other franchises. Since Gambhir’s exit, LSG has been without a mentor. Morne Morkel, the former LSG bowling coach, has joined Gambhir in the Indian men’s team. LSG hopes Zaheer will help strengthen their coaching setup and player development efforts.

The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are currently led by Justin Langer, who took over as head coach from Andy Flower before the 2024 IPL season. Langer is supported by assistants Lance Klusener and Adam Voges. Despite making the playoffs in their first two seasons, LSG narrowly missed out on a top-four spot in 2024 due to net run-rate.

Zaheer Khan’s potential return to the IPL comes as teams prepare for a major auction. The IPL is expected to announce the retention rules by early September. During his playing career, Zaheer represented three franchises—Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Delhi Daredevils—playing 100 matches and taking 102 wickets. He last played in the IPL in 2017 as captain of the Daredevils before retiring.

In other news, the Punjab Kings are searching for a new Indian head coach to replace Trevor Bayliss. They were interested in VVS Laxman, but he will remain with the BCCI’s National Cricket Academy. Currently, Sanjay Bangar is the head of cricket development for the Punjab Kings.

Saud Shakeel and Saim Ayub Help Pakistan Redeem the First Day

Hasan Mahmud and Shoriful Islam gave Bangladesh an early edge by taking three quick wickets, but a strong partnership between Saim Ayub and Saud Shakeel helped Pakistan recover.

Bangladesh won an important toss and took full advantage of favorable conditions to dismiss three Pakistani batsmen early. However, Ayub and Shakeel’s fourth-wicket partnership of 98 runs stabilized Pakistan’s innings. By the end of the day, despite bad light stopping play, Pakistan was in a better position at 158 for 4. Ayub, in just his second Test, overcame a tough start to score his first half-century. Shakeel, now vice-captain, also made history by becoming the fastest Pakistani batter to reach 1000 Test runs in just 20 innings, equaling Saeed Ahmed’s record from 1959.

Both Saim Ayub and Saud Shakeel took a proactive approach against Bangladesh’s seamers, frequently stepping out of their crease to disrupt the bowlers’ lengths and limit their movement.

By the end of the day, Bangladesh had managed to break their partnership. Hasan Mahmud got Ayub out by tempting him to drive at a ball that wasn’t fully pitched. This was Mahmud’s second wicket, achieved with good length deliveries that forced Ayub to take a risk on a ball that wasn’t ideal for a drive.

After tea, Bangladesh had only one success in a 20-over period. Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan built an unbeaten 44-run partnership for the fifth wicket, ending the day with Pakistan at 158 for 4. Ayub, Shakeel, and Rizwan’s partnerships revealed a possible weakness in Bangladesh’s attack. While Pakistan used four frontline seamers, Bangladesh had three seamers and two spin-bowling allrounders.

Offspinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who was introduced in the 14th over with two left-handers at the crease, faced a strong counterattack and gave away 24 runs in four overs. Though he bowled well, the pitch offered little support for spinners, and Ayub and Shakeel exploited this by sweeping him effectively.

It wasn’t until the 39th over that Bangladesh brought on their second spinner, Shakib Al Hasan, who also struggled. Rizwan took advantage of Shakib’s early deliveries, hitting him for consecutive fours. Both spinners combined to give away 36 runs in six overs.

Fast bowler Nahid Rana, chosen over the more experienced Khaled Ahmed, also had a tough day. On a pitch that favored precise line and length, Rana was used as a key bowler but ended up conceding 48 runs in 10 overs.

The other two fast bowlers, Shoriful Islam and Hasan Mahmud, had a successful day, especially with the new ball. They maintained a good length and took advantage of the swinging and seaming conditions, with the ball occasionally lifting from damp patches on the pitch. They frequently beat the bat early on, and it wasn’t long before Bangladesh made a breakthrough.

The breakthrough came when Mahmud delivered a wide outswinger, not quite a half-volley, which Abdullah Shafique, who had scored just two runs off his first 13 balls, chased after. Shafique’s drive turned into an aerial edge, and Zakir Hasan made a stunning full-length catch to his right at gully.

Left-arm fast bowler Shoriful Islam put both Saim Ayub and Pakistan captain Shan Masood to the test with his accurate line, mostly swinging the ball away from the left-handers while occasionally bringing it back in. He managed to get Masood out in a controversial decision. Masood, attempting to defend with bat and pad close together, seemed to have the ball touch either his bat or pad before it reached the keeper, Litton Das. Despite not being given out initially, Bangladesh successfully reviewed the decision. TV umpire Michael Gough confirmed the dismissal after seeing a spike on Ultra-Edge, although there was some debate about whether the ball had hit the bat or just brushed the pad.

Following this decision, Bangladesh got another break when Babar Azam was dismissed for a duck. He edged an off-target inswinger from Shoriful down the leg side, where Litton Das, diving to his left, caught the ball brilliantly.