T20 SERIES LEVEL: The focus shifts to the ODIs with the Wanderers set to host the first of three matches on Sunday

By Sports Reporter

The stage is set for another thrilling contest as India carry the momentum from their T20 success into the One Day Internationals.

Riding on a sensational hundred from Suryakumar Yadav, coupled with a five-wicket haul from Kuldeep Yadav, India registered a dominant 106-run win over South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Thursday.

India’s victory ensures they manage to level the series 1-1 after going down 0-1 post a 5-wicket lost in Gqeberha.

While Suryakumar scored 100 off 56 balls which helped the visitors post 201/6, birthday boy Kuldeep Yadav produced figures of 5/17 to break the spine of the opposition and help India seal the game.

Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav’s century paved the way for a 106-run victory against South Africa in the decisive third T20 International at Wanderers Stadium.

Electing to bat first, India faced an early setback at 29-2 courtesy of Keshav Maharaj’s double blow, but an inspiring partnership between opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Suryakumar, who notched up his fourth T20I century, resurrected the innings. The duo’s 112-run alliance set the stage for a formidable total of 201-7.

Suryakumar’s innings unfolded as a tale of two halves. Initially restrained by some astute Proteas bowling, he unleashed a spectacular assault in the latter part, accumulating seven fours and eight sixes to reach the century milestone in just 55 balls. His final tally stood at 100, concluded by a stunning catch from Matthew Breetzke on the deep square leg boundary.

In pursuit of a challenging target, South Africa faltered against the relentless spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja. Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav’s career-best figures of 5-17 wreaked havoc, and Jadeja contributed with 2-25, dismantling the Proteas for a paltry 95 runs.

Celebrating his 29th birthday, Yadav exhibited his bowling prowess, claiming the last four wickets in a mesmerizing spell that spanned just 2.5 overs. The Proteas’ struggle was epitomized by captain Aiden Markram’s valiant effort of 25 runs and David Miller’s 35-run contribution, but the Indian spinners ensured a swift conclusion to the match.

This resounding win levelled the series at 1-1, following a rain-marred opener in Durban and South Africa’s triumph in the second match in Gqeberha.

Looking ahead, the focus shifts to the ODIs, with the Wanderers set to host the first of three matches on Sunday, featuring the traditional ‘Pink Day’ fixture. The stage is set for another thrilling contest as India carry the momentum from their T20 success into the One Day Internationals.

BATTING FOR FREEDOM OF SPEECH

PRINCIPLE:  Aussie cricketer Usman Khawaja to fight ban to wear shows branded with his “all lives are equal” humanitarian message

By Sports Reporter

Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja says he will fight the ICC’s ruling that stops him from wearing shoes with messages of support for Palestine amid the war in Gaza.

Australia batter Usman Khawaja was not allowed to wear shoes branded with his “all lives are equal” humanitarian message, so he wore a black armband instead on day one of the series-opening Test against Pakistan.  The International Cricket Council intervened on Wednesday after Khawaja indicated he planned to wear shoes during the match that featured messages to highlight the loss of innocent lives in the Israel-Hamas war .

The ICC’s policies for international cricket prohibit displays of political or religious statements on team uniforms or equipment.

Khawaja said he would abide by the ruling to avoid individual or team sanctions, but would challenge the ICC’s stance.  “Freedom is a human right, and all rights are equal,” Khawaja said in a social media post. “I will never stop believing that.”

Khawaja, who was born in Pakistan and is the first Muslim to play Test cricket for Australia, wore the black armband to show solidary with people suffering in Gaza.  He said what he had written on his shoes wasn’t political and he was not aiming to be divisive.  He scored 41 runs in a 126-run opening partnership with Warner before he was caught behind from the bowling of Shaheen Shah Afridi in the 30th over and had to leave the field. In earlier pre-game TV interviews, he said there’d been precedents where cricketers had been allowed to show support for other causes.

“I find it a little bit disappointing they came down hard on me and they don’t always come down hard on everyone,” Khawaja said.

Governing body Cricket Australia backed Khawaja’s right to express his support for the people of Gaza but expected him to conform to ICC playing equipment ruled.

“We support the right of our players to express personal opinions, but the ICC has rules in place which prohibit the display of personal messages which we expect the players to uphold,” Cricket Australia said in a statement. Captain Pat Cummins later told a media conference that Khawaja had decided against wearing the boots during the match.

“Uzzie doesn’t want to make too big of a fuss,” Cummins said. “On his shoes he had, ‘all lives are equal’. I think that’s not very divisive. I don’t think anyone can really have too many complaints about that.” England all-rounder Moeen Ali, who like Khawaja is a Muslim with Pakistani heritage, was banned from wearing wristbands featuring the slogans ‘Save Gaza’ and ‘Free Palestine’ by the ICC in 2014.

The ICC did, however, allow players to take the knee before international matches in support of the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement in 2020 and 2021. he opening batter was seen wearing cricket boots with “all lives are equal” and “freedom is a human right” written on them in the colours of the Palestinian flag during Australia’s training session prior to their Test series against Pakistan.

The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) rules do not allow players to display “non-compliant” wording or logos on clothing or equipment worn during international matches. It means that the batter will not be able to wear the boots during Australia’s first Test match against Pakistan, which started on Thursday, December 14.

Instead, the batter wore a black armband. “I will respect their view and decision, but I will fight it and seek to gain approval,” Khawaja said.

“I’m just speaking up for those who don’t have a voice, he told Al Jazeera.