Page 46 - The Indian EYE 111221

SPORTS NOVEMBER 12, 2021 | The Indian Eye 46

Ravichandran Ashwin in action West Indies captain Kieron Pollard shakes hands with Rashid Khan appeals during the
during the match between India England captain Eoin Morgan after the toss during their match at Dubai match between India and Afghani-
and Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi (ANI) International Cricket Stadium (ANI) stan in Abu Dhabi (ANI)

out the entire tournament. It family is our place where being there for me,” he added. the last three, four overs, which
has been disappointing, it’s we can lean upon: ash- Ashwin was given his first they took the total to 210,” said
something we’ve seen over win game in the ongoing competi- Rashid during the post-match
and over and it’s something tion against Afghanistan and he press conference.
that hasn’t helped us.” he said. ndia off-spinner Ravichan- proved why people asking for his “Yeah, I think that was the
“We just have to accept dran Ashwin on Thursday inclusion in the side were right. kind of mindset of the players,
we weren’t good enough. The Iexpressed gratitude towards The off-spinner returned with that already the Indian team,
guys are disappointed, I am his family for always supporting figures of 2-14 in his four overs they struggled in the first two
disappointed myself. Hopeful- him during tough times. and he was the main reason why games in the batting department,
ly at the end of the campaign India will next lock horns Men in Blue managed to main- so we as a team just tried to at-
when it’s finally over, we’ll be against Scotland at the Dubai tain a stranglehold over the Af- tack in that department which
able to sort of give some infor- International Stadium on Friday ghanistan batting order. they struggled, and if we have
mation what we think or what and the side would hope to reg- success we can be on a winning
we thought might have gone ister a comprehensive victory to Defeat not going to make side. They played good cricket,
wrong,” he pointed. further boost their net run rate big difference: rashid and they just took the target to
The vaunted powerful in order to remain in the hunt for Khan 210, which was on this wicket a
West Indies batting line-up has the qualification for semi-finals. bit much, like 20, 25 runs. But
failed to fire thus far, with An- “I owe a lot to my family. Many fter suffering a 66-run yeah, credit goes to them,” he
dre Russell scoring seven runs times, when team the loses and defeat against India in added.
and Chris Gayle 30 in four we click photos with our fam- Athe Super 12 stage of When asked whether ex-
tournament innings. Pollard ilies, people go after us saying the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 pectations are taking a toll on
himself had to go from ball that we are on a holiday. We are World Cup, Afghanistan spinner Afghanistan, Rashid said: “I
one in the run-chase and went hardly on a holiday. When we Rashid Khan said that the result don’t think that there is a kind of
for a golden duck, bowled by back to our rooms after having would not affect them, and they pressure on us expectation-wise.
Wanindu Hasaranga to encap- a good or a bad day, the family are still filled with confidence. We know our skills. It’s all about
sulate his side’s struggles. is our only place where we can Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul playing against those big teams,
With one more game to lean upon,” said Ashwin during had played knocks of 74 and 69 it takes time. We have to play
come against Australia in Abu a virtual post-match press con- as India posted a total of 210/2 with them more in a year in
Dhabi on Saturday, Pollard’s ference. in the allotted twenty overs. Mo- order to get used to them, un-
final message was a resolute “They have played more hammed Shami and Ravichan- derstand them, their weakness,
one. than a small role in the last 8 dran Ashwin combined to take strong point. Then you work on
“Unless you are part of the months. We had some great re- five wickets as India registered your areas where you can come
decision that is going to get rid sults and also some not so good a 66-run win. “Looking to the back stronger. I think as a team
of me or fire me or retire me, results but that is what happens wicket it’s a wicket where you we hardly get the opportunity to
as I stand right now, I have no on the field. Off the field, we are can chase 170, 180, but that extra play with them, against India and
intentions of not playing in- also humans, we also have fami- 30 runs, it’s always like a good other good sides. We don’t get
ternational cricket,” said the lies and I am extremely grateful -- like in India they have a big that opportunity. We only play
34-year-old. to my wife and kids for always batting line-up so they try to use with them in the World Cup.”

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