Shahid Saeed Ansari’s life is a juggle… and a struggle! By day, the wheelchair-bound cricketer, who represents the Indian team, practises his batting and wicketkeeping skills, and by night (7 pm to 11 pm), he negotiates the busy Malad traffic as a Zomato delivery agent. Ansari, 44, has played around 40 international matches for India since 2017, scoring one half-century besides numerous stumpings and sharp catches. Shahid Saeed Ansari has always been in love with cricket despite losing sensation in both feet after a severe bout of fever at the age of one. His mother Shamim, 73, excitedly illustrates how he would crawl, climb and then jump over a three-foot wall adjoining their home to get to a nearby ground to play with his friends when he was a kid. “He would always say he’ll play for India one day, but we thought it was impossible,” Shamim tells mid-day in their modest 10 feet by 20 feet tenement in the narrow bylanes of Malwani, Malad. India wheelchair cricketer Shahid Saeed Ansari plays one on the off side during a practice session in Malwani, Malad, yesterday. Pics/Nimesh Dave Could not afford school Also Read: Satwik-Chirag sail into Rd 2 Ansari’s story is one of sheer grit and determination. He studied at Queen Mary HS in Malad till Class IV after which he had to leave school due to financial constraints. A few years later, he enrolled for a technical course at the Yashwantrao College in Borivli, but had to give that up too due to lack of funds. That’s when he started doing odd jobs to survive. “I began stitching clothes at an outlet in the 1990s. A few years later, I repaired electric appliances at home. Then came the mobile revolution in the 2000s and I learnt how to repair phones. This continued till 2015 even as I kept playing gully cricket with friends, not knowing wheelchair cricket even existed. In 2015, I got to know of it and started training. In 2017, there was a selection trial in Agra, where I got picked for the Bangladesh series and made my India debut,” explains Ansari, who plays as an all-rounder in the Maharashtra state team. Ansari is proud of his lone half-century in 40-odd internationals. “There are no official statistics for Indian wheelchair cricket, so I can’t give you numbers, but that 60 was a match-winning effort against Bangladesh in Dhaka during a three match T20I tour there in 2017-18,” says Ansari. Ansari with his collection of trophies and medals at his modest home in Malwani Asia Cup coming up Currently, Ansari is training hard for the 3rd Asia Cup to be held in Pakistan this April followed by an eight-team World Cup (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Australia, Kenya) also to be held in the neighouring nation. His cricket journey though hasn’t been financially rewarding. “Agra-based Divyang Cricket Control Board is our parent body, but with the Board of Control for Cricket in India not considering us for affiliation, funding is our biggest problem. We India players are not paid. Only if we win a tournament, the prize money, which maybe a couple of lakh rupees, is split between all of us,” says Ansari, which is why he decided to rent an electric wheelchair around a year back to work as a food delivery agent. Ansari heads out for a Zomato delivery in Malad yesterday “Zomato have been kind. Initially, they would pay Rs 18 per delivery, so monthly I earned just Rs 6,000 to Rs 8,000. But recently, they increased the amount to R80 for wheelchair agents. Now I earn Rs 15,000 to Rs 18,000 per month of which 30 per cent goes towards rent for my electric wheelchair. A new electric wheelchair costs around R1 lakh which is obviously unaffordable for me. But the good thing about this job is that I work in the evenings [7pm to 11pm] so I can do my cricket practice in the morning or afternoon,” says Ansari. Mounting expenses The income is clearly insufficient as he has cricket equipment to purchase regularly besides four mouths to feed. “My daughter Huraina is three and will start school next year, so my expenses will increase. I hope to get a private or a government job that offers stability,” he says. But Ansari is not one to sit around and sulk meanwhile. He is preparing to organise a national-level three-team (Maharashtra, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh) Wheelchair Cricket League in the city and is spreading the word among promising wheelchair-bound cricketers and also approaching sponsors. As fate would have it, one of his Zomato deliveries took him to Malad-based restaurateur Ronnie D’Souza, who also runs UK United Sports, where players are coached in disciplines like horse riding, football, hockey and basketball. “When Shahid approached me, I was touched and promised to help him. I hope and pray the wheels of fortune keep turning for him from now on,” says D’Souza. Those interested in helping Shahid Saeed Ansari can get in touch with him on 7977987417 Shahid Ansari’s international career highs 2017Made his international debut in a three-match T20I bilateral series against Bangladesh in Dhaka. 2018Played in a three-match T20I bilateral series against Bangladesh in Mumbai. 2018Played in a T20I triangular series in Kathmandu, Nepal (involving the hosts and Bangladesh). 2019Played in the first edition of the Wheelchair Cricket Asia Cup T20I tournament in Kathmandu, Nepal 2023Played in the 2nd Wheelchair Cricket Asia Cup T20I tournament in Kathmandu, Nepal
22 January,2025 08:13 AM IST | Mumbai | Ashwin FerroMumbai Cricket Association president Ajinkya Naik has hailed umpire Anil Dandekar, who will officiate in his 100th first-class match tomorrow when Tamil Nadu take on Chandigarh in the Ranji at Salem. “This achievement is testament to your hard work, dedication, and passion for the game,” said Naik in a message. Also Read: 'Sky is the limit' According to a report on the BCCI website, Dandekar has officiated in 87 Ranji Trophy matches, four Duleep Trophy matches, two Sheffield Shield matches, two Sunfoil Series matches and four tour matches. He has also officiated Test, ODI, and T20 International cricket as a reserve umpire.
22 January,2025 07:42 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentBig guns Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will not fire for India anymore, the two having retired from T20 Internationals after the World Cup last year. But, then, that’s far from the talking point before Suryakumar Yadav and his men take on England at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday. No, it’s not about the two’s terrible batting form in recent months, but the manner in which India have approached cricket’s shortest format post the Caribbean conquest. The new mantra seems to be ‘SKY is the limit’ with batters quickly imbibing the spirit of their new skipper. A team that was already pushing the boundaries in aggressive batting has found a new gear. T20’s record-breaking year had ended with ridiculous run-rates. Big contest For T20 fans, it’s just as well that the hosts will be up against England in the five-match series that begins here. Jos Buttler & Co have arrived with the material and mood to make this a real contest. At the Eden, with its perfect pitch and short boundaries, the teams could well set the tone with a rollicking run-feast. Also Read: Gill’s appointment as vice-captain is forward-thinking move: R Ashwin If the likes of Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma and SKY promise to provide the perfect launch to the innings, England have their men in Phil Salt, Ben Duckett and Buttler. Both Salt and Buttler have happy memories of the ground from last year’s IPL. Seven in the visitors’ squad enjoy this familiarity factor. In a match loaded in favour of batsmen, the impact of bowling units could well decide the outcome. The Indians have the arduous task of delivering without Jasprit Bumrah’s incisive pace and fit-again Mohammad Shami, Harshid Rana and Arshdeep Singh will have to rise to the occasion. KKR’s Varun Chakravarthy, among wickets here and in SA, will be back to familiar conditions. Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi and Washington Sundar add nice variety to the spin department while Hardik Pandya’s pace is a handy option. Pace aces England’s pace bowling has the more ominous look. The likes of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood will enjoy the bounce and ‘carry’ of the Eden strip but Adil Rashid’s maturity as a leg-spinner could well thrust him into a crucial role. It could be a good toss to win with dew usually playing a big role at this time of the year. India, reigning World T20 champions, had knocked out England in the semi-finals, an outcome that has had heads rolling. It has left both teams with just that whiff of the ‘new.’
22 January,2025 07:39 AM IST | Kolkata | Arup ChatterjeeRavichandran Ashwin has backed the Indian team management’s decision to appoint Shubman Gill as vice-captain for the Champions Trophy as a “forward-thinking move”, saying the top-order batter’s place in the side is more or less settled and he can be groomed as a future leader. Also Read: "I did not allow my self-confidence to go down": Mohammed Shami Off-spinner Ashwin, who retired during the recent Australia tour, seemed to suggest that there were not a lot of options available for the job. “Think about who else in the current squad could be considered for the vice-captain role. I’m not saying whether the decision to make Shubman Gill vice-captain was right or wrong, but the point raised is valid, especially since he was the vice-captain in the last series as well,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel on Sunday. “I could be mistaken, but I believe he’s also had some vice-captaincy experience in Test cricket. This could be a forward-thinking move, as the management might be considering who could take on the leadership role in the future,” he added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 January,2025 07:35 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIMohammed Shami has put his injury layoff in perspective, stressing that injuries are part and parcel of sports. “If you have hunger for success, you can make a comeback. I kept telling myself this while I was injured. I did not allow my self-confidence to go down and just concentrated on the rehabilitation schedule,” the India fast bowler said during a function organised by the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) on Monday when the state’s women’s team was felicitated and Wednesday’s inauguration of the Jhulan Goswami Stand was announced. Also Read: "I think it’s great to be able to have families on the tour with you": Jos Buttler amid new BCCI diktat Meanwhile, Sourav Ganguly stated that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will do well in the forthcoming Champions trophy. “I thought after getting a hundred in the Perth Test, Virat will score heavily in the series, but all cricketers have to go through lean form, He has scored 80 international hundreds so far. These statistics will give him the confidence to come back to form. I am sure if Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami can bowl to the best of their ability, India will dominate in the Champions Trophy,” said Ganguly, who led India in the 2002 and 2004 editions of the Champions Trophy. India shared the honours with hosts Sri Lanka in 2002.
22 January,2025 07:32 AM IST | Kolkata | Debasish DattaAs Indian players gear up for reduced time with families during lengthy tours abroad owing to a BCCI diktat, England captain Jos Buttler on Tuesday said having partners and children on long overseas assignments is “really important” and does not affect the game “too much”. Limited time with family members on tours was a contentious clause in the BCCI’s recently-circulated 10-point disciplinary policy for players. India’s Test and ODI skipper Rohit Sharma has already voiced his apprehension with the clause that allows families no more than two weeks on tours exceeding 45 days. Also Read: "My relationship with Hardik is great": Team India skipper Suryakumar Yadav “...that’s a loaded question, isn’t it?” Buttler said on the eve of the five-match series against the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian T20 side, seemingly well aware of the turmoil here following a disastrous Test tour of Australia. “I think it’s important. We live in a day and age now, which is a very modern world, and I think it’s great to be able to have families on the tour with you and try and enjoy that,” he added. “There’s a lot of cricket, people spend a long time away from home, and I think post-COVID all that’s been highlighted as well. Absolutely, I don’t think it affects the cricket too much.” Buttler also asserted that the presence of families does not interfere with professional commitments and can be managed effectively. “I think it’s something that is very manageable. Personally, from my point of view, I think it’s really important to try and be able to share that with your family and lighten the load on being away from home,” he explained. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 January,2025 07:24 AM IST | Kolkata | PTIIndian cricket is in flux, and the pace of change has quickened. Change demands adaptability and Hardik Pandya has had to get used to the new circumstances. Skipper at Mumbai Indians, the all-rounder was deputy to MI teammate Suryakumar Yadav, who was appointed skipper of the T20 team following the retirement of Rohit Sharma after the World Cup last year. With Axar Patel’s elevation to the vice-captain’s position, what is Pandya’s role? “He’s (very much) part of the leadership group,” responded SKY to a question on the eve of the first T20 International against England here. “When we sit we decide what to do with team going forward. My relationship with Hardik is great. We’ve been playing together for a long time. It’s just the added responsibility I now have. When we go back to franchise cricket, I can relax a little,” he added. Is he hurt not to find a place in the ODI teams? Also Read: Sanju Samson's father claims KCA’s bias led to Champions Trophy omission “There’s no reason to be hurt. I’m not in those teams because I haven’t done well. What hurts is that I haven’t done well. If I had, I would’ve been there. The squad looks really good, all in it have done well and are deserving.” Rather than think too much about the next World T20, SKY wants the players to enjoy the journey to it. “One series at a time,” he reminded. England skipper Jos Buttler, drawn to the much-debated issue of players spending time with family while on tours, said: “We live in a day and age now (where) it’s great to be able to have families on the tour with you and try and enjoy that. Enjoy, not just for you as a player but to live that life out with your family as well. Cricket people spend a long time away from home, and I think post-COVID all that’s been highlighted as well. I don’t think it affects the cricket too much. I think it’s something that is very manageable.”
22 January,2025 07:18 AM IST | Kolkata | Arup ChatterjeeFormer England spinner turned broadcaster Alex Hartley has claimed that several senior players gave her cold shoulder and Sophie Ecclestone even refused a TV interview with her during the ongoing Women's Ashes because she criticised fitness standards of a few players after their early exit from T20 World Cup. Having gone down in three ODIs and the opening T20, England have already lost the Ashes. Following England's defeat in the opening T20 on January 20, Hartley said she was ignored by players. "Sophie Ecclestone refused to do a TV interview with me today," she told the BBC's TMS podcast. "I've been hung out to dry by the England team: none of them will talk to me on the boundary edge. "The reason I said that they were not as fit as Australia is because I want them to compete with Australia, I want them to be better than Australia, and I want them to win Ashes and World Cups. I'm giving my opinion, and I've been given the cold shoulder from the England team ever since." Hartley however clarified that she remains on talking terms with some of the current players. "Not all of them have given me the cold shoulder. I don't want to say that they've all been the same, because they haven't. Some of the players have been absolutely outstanding: I've spoken to them in the street, at the ground, wherever. But a few individuals - coaches, players - they literally haven't looked at me." Hartley played 28 ODIs and four T20s for England. (With agency inputs)
21 January,2025 10:29 PM IST | London | mid-day online correspondentInternational Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Jay Shah has held discussions with International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach ahead of the Extraordinary IOC Session in Lausanne from January 30, as the sport's inclusion at the Summer Games beyond the 2028 edition continues to gather pace. The ICC posted images from the meeting of the two leading administrators on social media on Tuesday. "Momentum continues to build around cricket's inclusion as an @Olympics sport at the @LA2028 Games and beyond, with ICC Chair Mr. JayShah meeting International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Mr. Thomas Bach in Lausanne, Switzerland this week," the ICC posted on X. Shah attended a seminar involving LA 2028 International Federations at the Olympic House here. He was joined by ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice with the "meeting focusing on key areas of collaboration between the ICC and the IOC in the build-up to the Los Angeles Games". “This was the first time Mr Shah was meeting with Mr Bach and they explored potential avenues for collaboration in promoting the Olympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect within the cricketing world,” the ICC said in a statement. “It is an exciting time for cricket with tremendous opportunity to engage with existing and new fans ahead of the LA 2028 Games, paving the way for potential future collaborations with the Olympic movement that will benefit athletes, fans, and the global sporting community,” it added. Shah said the meeting was an important milestone ahead of cricket's return to the Olympics after 128 years. "...It was a productive meeting and an important milestone on the road to LA 2028. The inclusion of cricket in the Olympic Games represents a watershed moment for our sport and a real opportunity for transformative growth for 2028 and beyond,” Shah said. “We discussed a range of critical issues and continued to build relationships with our friends across the Olympic movement. We look forward to the next three and half years working in collaboration with the IOC and LA 2028.” Shah, who was elected as ICC chairman last year and took over the role on December 1, has been actively pushing for cricket's inclusion in the Olympics. He was in Brisbane last month during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and met 2032 Brisbane Olympic Organising Committee head Cindy Hook and Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley with an aim to convince them to include cricket in the 2032 Olympics. The sport is not yet confirmed for the 2032 edition in Brisbane. The sport's T20 format was confirmed for the 2028 LA Games at the 141st IOC Session in 2023 which took place in Mumbai. Cricket last featured in the Olympics at the Paris Games in 1900. (With agency inputs)
21 January,2025 08:57 PM IST | Lausanne (Switzerland) | mid-day online correspondentThe absence of wicket-keeper batter Sanju Samson from India’s ICC Champions Trophy squad remains one of the most perplexing decisions made by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee. Despite boasting impressive statistics in the 50-over format, Samson was overlooked in favour of Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul, the two preferred wicket-keepers for the tournament. Samson’s exclusion from Kerala's Vijay Hazare Trophy squad is believed to have played a significant role in his omission from the Champions Trophy. This has prompted his father to launch a vehement criticism against the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA), suggesting that certain officials may harbour a personal bias against his son. Samson was absent from Kerala's preparatory camp, which led to his exclusion from the Vijay Hazare Trophy squad. While Samson contended that he had notified his unavailability well in advance, KCA President Jayesh Jeorge expressed dissatisfaction with receiving only a brief 'one-line text' from the wicket-keeper batter. “There are people within KCA who have something against my child. We’ve never spoken out against the association before, but this time it has gone too far. Sanju isn’t the only one who missed the camp, yet other players in the same situation were selected,” Viswanath, Samson’s father, was quoted as saying by Mathrubhumi English. Samson himself, however, remains eager to engage in dialogue with the KCA to resolve the issue, emphasizing that he simply wants his son to be given a fair opportunity to play. “It’s not about Jayesh George (KCA President) or Vinod S Kumar (Board Secretary); it’s the smaller individuals in between who are poisoning everything over trivial matters. We are sportspeople, not involved in the business side of sports. All I want is for my son to be given a fair chance. If there’s any mistake, we are open to discussion and willing to resolve it,” he added. In response, KCA President George stated that Samson would be eligible for selection again provided he attends the state's camps. "Sanju is currently in Kolkata and will be playing against England. There is nothing more to add on this matter. However, he will be included in the Kerala team again if he attends the camps. If he misses the camp, he will be excluded," George said. (With agency inputs)
21 January,2025 05:02 PM IST | Thiruvananthapuram | mid-day online correspondentIndia opener Smriti Mandhana inched closer to the top position, climbing to the second spot in the latest ICC women's ODI batting rankings following a stellar series against Ireland. Mandhana, the only Indian in the top 10, had blasted 135 in the third ODI, besides scoring 41 and 73 in the opening and second game. The 28-year-old currently has 738 points to her name, while South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt (773 points) is at the top, followed by Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu (733) in the third place. Jemimah Rodrigues, who scored her maiden hundred in the second ODI against Ireland, jumped two place at the 17th spot, while skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who missed the series, is at the 15th spot. Deepti Sharma, with 344 points, is placed at the sixth spot in the allrounders' list which is headed by Australia's Ashleigh Gardner, who claimed four wickets and scored 146 runs in the Ashes to claim the top spot from South Africa veteran Marizanne Kapp. In the bowling rankings, headed by Sophie Ecclestone, Deepti also improved a spot to fourth with 680 rating points. Gardner was productive with both bat and ball, as the Aussies claimed all three ODIs against England down under. She scored her first ODI ton against England, compiling a run-a-ball 102 in Hobart. That performance followed another Player-of-the-Match effort in the first One-Dayer at North Sydney Oval, where she took 19-3 off 6.1 overs before hitting 42 not out off 44 balls to steer Australia home and help the hosts get off to a strong Ashes start. The Aussie is now up to a career-high 469 rating points in the All-Rounder ODI Rankings, 25 points ahead of next-best Kapp. She has also set a new career-best of 648 rating points as a batter, having climbed five spots to break into the top 10 of the list. (With agency inputs)
21 January,2025 04:44 PM IST | Dubai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
