Kohli will break all records created by Tendulkar: Zaheer Abbas
Karachi, Jan 22 : Pakistan's legendary batsman Zaheer Abbas joined the badwagon of former greats terming Indian captain Virat Kohli as the best batsman in world cricket who will break all the records of Sachin Tendulkar.
Kohli currently has 39 ODI hundreds and is only 10 short of Tendulkar's 49 centuries.
Appearing on the Gsports show on GTV News channel, Zaheer advised cricket pundits to always keep in mind the era, conditions and opposition while assessing a batsman.
"I think at the moment Virat is the best. He will break all the records. But not only Virat, the Indian team has other top batsmen too. If you look at Rohit Sharma, you are just delighted to watch his strokes. One can only appreciate the beauty of his strokes. The variety of strokes in possession of Indian batsmen counts a lot," Abbas said.
It all boils down to skills said Abbas, who was considered a batting artist during his best years.
"Obviously, the confidence will come when you have so many strokes and when you know how to stay at the wicket. These skills don't come easily. It takes time and hard work and one needs to develop a system for this," he said.
Zaheer, who played 78 Tests and 62 ODIs. was also candid in stating that even top Pakistani batsmen Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq have still not reached that standard.
"They are our players and I want to see our batsmen do very well. But at this stage, they have not reached that standard that I can feel proud of. They haven't come up to world standards as yet," he said.
Abbas also said that there was a time when Pakistan used to beat India regularly but in recent times the neighbouring country's cricket structure has improved a lot and their system is producing some top quality players.
"Not only their batsmen but even their bowlers. They have improved a lot and this is because their board had the foresight to set up the MRF pace academy years back and get Dennis Lillee as their first coach to help groom their pacers," he said.
"India at this moment is a top side. Their standards have improved a lot specially after the IPL because they don't allow their players to go and play anywhere else. They are giving so much financial security to their players."
The former skipper also advised the Pakistani players and management to get over the Champions Trophy victory in 2017.
"I think we need to get over it and move on. Unfortunately, in our cricket culture success hides every weakness. We need to learn from our neighbours. Not only India but also Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka who have improved so much now."
The former ICC President also has no doubts that the top teams not touring Pakistan since 2009 (terrorist attack on Sri Lanka cricketers) because of security concerns had also put Pakistan cricket backwards.
"Home series are very important as it allows youngsters to watch their role models and learn from them. Tours by foreign teams allow our players to also get more exposure and experience of playing against international players."
He also appreciated how cricketers from around the world including Sunil Gavaskar had called up him to inquire about his health and wish him well after his recent heart surgery.
"I was surprised at the number of calls and messages we received after my health problem. But I am well now and enjoying life."
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CRPF dog killed in bee attack during Korgotalu hills anti-Naxal operation
Bijapur (Chhattisgarh), May 15 (PTI): Rolo, a two-year-old female sniffer dog of the CRPF, was the only casualty suffered by the security forces during their biggest anti-Naxal operation at the Korgotalu hills as the four-legged soldier was attacked and stung around 200 times by a swarm of bees.
Officials told PTI that the canine was tasked with sniffing out explosives and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) during the mega 21-day operation that concluded on May 11. Rolo was killed in action on April 27, they said.
The CRPF DG has awarded a commendation medal to the dog posthumously.
The security forces led by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Chhattisgarh Police units have claimed to have killed 31 Maoists, a "deadly blow" to the armed cadres of the Naxalites.
A total of 18 troops were injured, including some who underwent leg amputation due to blast injuries, in this operation that the forces said was the "biggest coordinated" operation against the Maoists till date.
The Korgotalu hills lie on the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border (Bijapur and Mulugu districts of the two states respectively) and are home to wild animals, including bears, insects and bees, apart from water bodies and natural caves. The dense jungle makes them an ideal hideout for the Naxals.
Rolo, a Belgian Shepherd, was carrying out a search operation when the party was suddenly attacked by the swarm of bees on April 27, a senior CRPF official said.
Rolo's handlers covered it with a polythene sheet but the bees slipped inside and bit it. Due to intense pain and irritation, the dog went berserk and came out of the cover, making it vulnerable to more stings, the officials said.
The dog was stung around 200 times and fell unconscious. She was evacuated from the spot and emergency treatment was given to her by the handlers, the officials said.
However, Rolo succumbed to the pain on the way to a medical facility on April 27 and was declared brought dead by the veterinarians of the force.
The dog was deployed for anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh in April last year after being trained at the CRPF canine training centre at Taralu near Bengaluru in Karnataka.
