Rangers sign Scotland forward Lawrence Shankland from Hearts

Windhoek, Dec 7 (IANS) Former India head coach Gary Kirsten has been appointed as a consultant for the Namibian men’s cricket team ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, which will take place in India and Sri Lanka in February-March.

Kirsten will work closely with head coach Craig Williams, contributing additional value to the team’s technical guidance and overall development.

“It is indeed a privilege to work with Cricket Namibia. I have been thoroughly impressed with the dedication and determination to create a high-performance cricket environment. Their new state-of-the-art cricket stadium is a testament to their commitment to making sure their national teams are competing with the best cricket countries in the world. Their senior men’s national team is performing well, and I look forward to adding value to their preparation for the T20 World Cup in February next year,” Kirsten said.

Namibia qualified for the last three T20 World Cups in 2021, 2022, and 2024, and are in the mix for the upcoming one too. Additionally, they are one of the three hosts for the 2027 50-over World Cup, alongside South Africa and Zimbabwe.

As a player, Kirsten enjoyed a distinguished international career for South Africa from 1993 to 2004, playing in 101 Test matches and 185 One-Day Internationals (ODIs). During that period, he amassed 7,289 Test runs, including a highest score of 275, one of the finest and most memorable innings in South African cricket history. In ODIs, he scored 6,798 runs.

After retiring from international cricket, Kirsten remained deeply involved in the game, taking on coaching and mentorship roles across various levels. His coaching career gained global recognition when he became India’s head coach in 2007, guiding the team to the number one Test ranking and leading them to their historic ICC Cricket World Cup victory in 2011.

He then coached South Africa from 2011 to 2013, leading the team to the top of the ICC Test rankings.

His coaching expertise also extended into franchise cricket, including roles in the Indian Premier League, one of the world’s leading T20 competitions. Most recently, he served as Head Coach of the Pakistan national men’s team in 2024.

–IANS

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New Delhi, May 14 (IANS) Former India opener Aakash Chopra believes Manish Pandey produced one of the finest catches ever seen in the IPL after the veteran pulled off a breathtaking one-handed effort during Kolkata Knight Riders’ recently concluded clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Raipur.

Although KKR eventually went down by six wickets as Virat Kohli struck a match-winning unbeaten century, Pandey’s stunning grab to dismiss Tim David became one of the defining visual moments of the contest.

Reacting to the effort, Chopra said the catch stood out even more in a season where dropped chances have repeatedly dominated conversations around fielding standards.

“It was a stunning catch by Manish Pandey. We have seen nearly 175 drops already this season. But once in a while, we get a gem like this one. Manish dived full stretch to his left and pulled off a blinder. The umpire had to check two things. First, whether the ball had touched the ground. Second, whether it was Manish Pandey or Glenn Phillips. Because we are so used to seeing Phillips take these kinds of screamers.

“But this time, it was Manish Pandey. It left everyone stunned. Tim David stood there in disbelief and said it was not possible. This catch will go down as one of the best in IPL history. Manish Pandey has now played all 19 IPL seasons. Only Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have done the same. MS Dhoni hasn’t played a match this season yet,” Chopra told while speaking on JioStar.

The pivotal moment came during the final delivery of the 18th over in RCB’s chase of 193. By then, Kohli had already established Bengaluru’s dominance with another calm, masterful chase, supported earlier by Devdutt Padikkal at the top. As RCB edged closer to victory, Tim David stepped in with the intention of finishing the game swiftly.

Kartik Tyagi delivered a sharp, skiddy ball outside off stump, prompting David to swing hard, aiming to edge the ball behind point. The sequence of events that followed left almost everyone in the stadium momentarily stunned.

Positioned at backward point, Pandey instinctively reacted as the ball sped low and fast toward his left. Stretching fully and diving, he managed to catch the ball just inches above the ground while still in midair.

For a few moments, there was doubt about the catch. Tyagi raised his hands above his head, while David stood still and looked at the umpire, uncertain if the catch was clean. At the non-striker’s end, Kohli’s surprised reaction showed the disbelief felt by players from both teams.

Television replays only highlighted the brilliance of the effort. From the shot’s speed to Pandey’s diving angle, each replay made the catch seem more unlikely on the big screen. Although Pandey delivered an exceptional fielding moment, KKR couldn’t prevent Kohli from reaching his unbeaten 105 off 60 balls.

RCB successfully chased the target with five balls to spare, reclaiming the top position on the IPL 2026 points table.

–IANS

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Perth, March 6 (IANS) Ellyse Perry and Annabel Sutherland shared an unbroken stand of 38 to guide Australia to 96/3 in 27 overs at stumps and trail India by 102 runs on day one of the one-off pink-ball Test at the WACA Ground on Friday.

After bowling out India for 198, Australia were forced to negotiate a tricky session under lights. Phoebe Litchfield fell cheaply to debutant pacer Kranti Gaud, while skipper Alyssa Healy managed only 13 in what could be her penultimate international innings.

Debutant pacer Sayali Satghare struck to remove Alyssa and Georgia Voll, as India managed to make early inroads. Ellyse and Annabel then steadied the innings by looking increasingly assured against the Indian bowlers.

Ellyse barely put a foot wrong since arriving at the crease to be unbeaten on 43 off 62 balls, laced with seven boundaries, while Annabel made 20 not out off 29 balls, studded with three boundaries. India will need to be at their best on Saturday to prevent Australia from taking a significant first-innings lead.

The final session began with Australia not conceding a boundary in four overs before Annabel had Sayali top-edging a pull to Beth Mooney, while Darcie Brown ended India’s innings two runs short of 200 when Kranti’s half-hearted pull was caught by first slip.

In response to India’s 198, Australia lost Georgia early. Sayali produced a sharp inswinger that breached her defence and bowled her for two. Ellyse joined Phoebe Litchfield and looked fluent in driving Sayali through cover for four, but India struck again when Phoebe’s scratchy stay ended at nine, as Jemimah Rodrigues took a brilliant low catch at backward point off Kranti.

Skipper Alyssa Healy, playing in her final international game, received a standing ovation from the Perth crowd but could not make it count as she edged away from the body of Sayali to Jemimah at backward point for 13. At 58-3, India’s seamers had their tails up, with Sayali and Kranti making the ball talk.

Ellyse, however, grew in confidence, cutting and driving with authority, while Annabel shone from the outset, with her crisp drive through extra cover and a pull behind square being the standout shots.

India went all-pace until the final over, when Sneh Rana was introduced, but Annabel and Ellyse negotiated her comfortably. Despite the early breakthroughs, India will rue not making deeper inroads, leaving Australia well placed to push for a first-innings lead on Saturday.

Brief scores:

India 198 all out in 62.4 overs (Jemimah Rodrigues 52, Shafali Verma 35; Annabel Sutherland 4-46, Lucy Hamilton 3-31) lead Australia 96/3 in 27 overs (Ellyse Perry 43 not out, Annabel Sutherland 20 not out; Sayali Satghare 2-24, Kranti Gaud 1-28) by 102 runs

–IANS

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