When Younis Khan had announced his retirement from the T20 format of the game, there were many an expert who had expressed their surprise over his announcement. Some had graciously used the usual set of clichés in ‘retire when they ask why, rather than why not’, while there were others, most notably the cricket followers from the other countries who had smirked at the seemingly inexplicable decision.
All of a sudden, Pakistan became embroiled in a match-fixing controversy, where the captain Younis Khan tendered his resignation from the longer formats of the game as well, but was coaxed into continuing. As it turned out, Younis has now done a total U-turn, and expressed his intentions of returning back to the most condensed format of the game as well. And the reason, in Younis’ own words is, ‘if my country-men and my players want me to come back I will!’ Probably Younis Khan has been inspired by Imran Khan, who was convinced into taking the reigns of the side again and led them to a World Cup triumph.
Some things never change in Pakistani cricket, I guess.
Moving on, after a hiatus of almost 20 days, the T20 cricket resumes action when the South Africans take on England in a two match T20I series. At the best of times, it is difficult enough to predict favourites for matches in this format, but these games could be particularly close.
It is the South African bowling attack has been found wanting this season in both, the ODIs and T20Is. Especially on pitches which have not had too much for the bowlers, the likes of Albie Morkel and even the usually difficult to get away, Dale Steyn have had a problem or two. Of course, Charl Langeveldt’s return to the squad – and in all probabilities to the playing eleven – could mean good news for the Proteas, given that his bowling in the death overs has won his side many games.
The one other plus that the English side could possess is that their middle-order seems like it is T20I ready. The troika of Kevin Pietersen, Luke Wright and Jonathon Trott add a lot more spice to the batting and this you-blink-you-miss format seems to have been made just for them. Trott has yet to play in a single T20I but if his record in the T20s for his county side, Warwickshire, is anything to by, then he could be quite a handful.
My personal call for this will be 1-1, and the one batsman I would be most interested in watching would be Pietersen – especially after the statements of his team-mate, Graeme Swann, about how he needs to earn back his place, would spur him on.
To end this piece, just a spot of T20 trivia. Chris Gayle is the only cricketer so far to score a century in the T20Is and he had done it in the very first game of the ICC World T20 in 2007 against South Africa. The highest score by an Indian batsman is 75 by Gautam Gambhir, in the final game of the same tournament against Pakistan!
Jacques Rudolph, the South African cricketer, accidentally killed a pigeon while attempting to throw the ball to a team mate during a Twenty20 match. It was during a Twenty20 county cricket game between Yorkshire and Lancashire in England on the 29-May-2009. Lancashire won by five wickets.
Who: Delhi Daredevils v Deccan Chargers
When: May 22, 2009
Where: Centurion
Winner: Deccan Chargers won by 6 wickets (with 14 balls remaining)
2nd Semi-Final
Who: Royal Challengers Bangalore v Chennai Super Kings
When: May 23, 2009
Where: Johannesburg
Winner: Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 6 wickets (with 7 balls remaining)
The Grand Final
Who: Royal Challengers Bangalore v Deccan Chargers
When: May 24, 2009
Where: Johannesburg
The Winner of the Indian Premier League 2009 are the Deccan Chargers
40th Match: Deccan Chargers v Rajasthan Royals When: 11 May 2009 Where: Kimberly Winner: Deccan Chargers won by 53 runs
Well Done Chargers!
41th Match: Royal Challengers Bangalore v Kolkata Knight Riders When: 12 May 2009 Where: Centurion Winner: Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 6 wickets (with 4 balls remaining)
Well Done Challengers!
42th Match: Kings XI Punjab v Mumbai Indians
When: 12 May 2009
Where: Centurion
Winner: Mumbai Indians won by 8 wickets (with 22 balls remaining)
Well Done Indians!
43th Match: Deccan Chargers v Delhi Daredevils
When: 13 May 2009
Where: Durban
Winner: Daredevils won by 12 runs
Well Done Daredevils!
44th Match: Royal Challengers Bangalore v Chennai Super Kings
When: 14 May 2009
Where: Durban
Winner: Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 2 wickets (with 2 balls remaining)
Well Done Challengers!
45th Match: Mumbai Indians v Rajasthan Royals When: 14 May 2009 Where: Durban Winner: Rajasthan Royals won by 2 runs
Well Done Royals!
46th Match: Delhi Daredevils v Kings XI Punjab
When: 15 May 2009
Where: Bloemfontein
Winner: King XI Punjab won by 6 wickets (with 5 balls remaining)
Well Done Kings XI Punjab!
47th Match: Chennai Super Kings v Mumbai Indians
When: 16 May 2009
Where: Port Elizabeth
Winner: Chennai Super Kings won by 7 wickets (with 5 balls remaining)
Well Done Kings!
48th Match: Deccan Chargers v Kolkata Knight Riders
When: 16 May 2009
Where: Johannesburg
Winner: Deccan Chargers won by 6 wickets (with 0 balls remaining)
Well Done Chargers!
49th Match: Deccan Chargers v Kings XI Punjab When: 17 May 2009 Where: Johannesburg Winner: Kings XI Punjab won by 1 run)
Well Done Kings XI Punjab!
50th Match: Delhi Daredevils v Rajasthan Royals When: 17 May 2009 Where: Bloemfontein Winner: Delhi Daredevils won by 14 runs
Well Done Delhi Daredevils!
51st Match: Chennai Super Kings v Kolkata Knight Riders When: 18 May 2009 Where: Centurion Winner: Kolkata Knight Riders won by 7 wickets (with 0 balls remaining)
Well Done Riders!
52nd Match: Royal Challengers Bangalore v Delhi Daredevils When: 19 May 2009 Where: Johannesburg Winner: Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 7 wickets (with 6 balls remaining)
Well Done Challengers!
53rd Match: Kolkata Knight Riders v Rajasthan Royals When: 20 May 2009 Where: Durban Winner: Kolkata Knight Riders won by 4 wickets (with 3 balls remaining)
Well Done Knights!
54th Match: Chennai Super Kings v King XI Punjab When: 20 May 2009 Where: Durban Winner: Chennai Super Kings won by 24 runs
Well Done Super Kings!
55th Match: Delhi Daredevils v Mumbai Indians When: 21 May 2009 Where: Centurion Winner: Delhi Daredevils won by 4 wickets (with 15 balls remaining)
Well Done Daredevils!
56th Match: Royal Challengers Bangalore v Deccan Chargers When: 21 May 2009 Where: Centurion Winner: Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 12 runs
