Rain forces abandonment of India''s match against Bangladesh; Rawal injury scare for hosts
Navi Mumbai (PTI): Incessant rains forced the abandonment of India's match against Bangladesh but the hosts suffered a major injury scare as opener Pratika Rawal hurt her ankle and knee while fielding in an inconsequential Women’s World Cup match here on Sunday.
In a rain-truncated 27 overs per-side contest, India were 57 for no loss in 8.4 overs after restricting Bangladesh to 119/9 when rains intervened again, forcing the officials to call off the game. India’s target was revised to 126 from 27 overs.
Smriti Mandhana was on 34 not out and makeshift opener Amanjot Kaur was unbeaten on 15 when the match ended, and the two teams shared a point.
India finished the league stage with three wins from seven matches and the washout gave them seven points along with a fourth-place finish.
Bangladesh leapfrogged Pakistan to move to the seventh spot despite having similar points (3). as their victory in their previous meet in the tournament putting them one place above.
Earlier, Rawal’s right foot got stuck into the turf on the final ball of the 21st over of the first innings when she ran in from deep midwicket to stop the ball, and collapsed immediately grimacing in pain.
Indian players ran towards their teammate while a stretcher was also taken to the spot, but Rawal walked off the field with assistance from the support staff and even sported a smile on her face.
All eyes will remain on Rawal’s recovery as India, chasing their maiden World Cup title, will take on formidable Australia in the semifinal here on Thursday.
The BCCI informed, “Team India all-rounder Pratika Rawal sustained an injury to her knee and ankle while fielding in the first innings against Bangladesh. The BCCI Medical Team is closely monitoring her progress."
In Rawal’s absence, chasing a revised target of 126 from 27 overs saw vice-captain Mandhana walking out in company of Amanjot, who opened the innings at this level for the first time.
Amanjot excelled in her responsibility playing a perfect second fiddle to Mandhana who flayed the Bangladesh attack, unleashing a string of boundaries to make 34 from 27 balls.
The outfield, including the spot where Rawal fell, here at the DY Patil remained exposed throughout the day as several interruptions of unseasonal rains saw a total of two hours and 15 minutes being lost.
The playing area was protected from one bowling end to another with the centre having multiple layers of covers, but the square boundaries on either side of the wicket were left exposed to rains.
Earlier, India restricted Bangladesh for a paltry 119 for nine in 27 overs after weather forced reduction of overs.
It did not take long for Renuka Singh to strike as she had Sumaiya Akhter caught by Shree Charani (2/23) at backward point off a wide delivery which the batter had went after.
Radha Yadav got rid of Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana (9) with a brilliant direct hit.
Sharmin Akhter (36), coming off a fine 64 not out in her last outing against Sri Lanka, appeared to be waging a lone battle for Bangladesh as India kept chipping away with regular wickets.
Sharmin’s charge ended after Arundhati Reddy, who came on as a substitute for Rawal, flung herself into the air running in from the deep midwicket to take an athletic grab off Charani.
Sobhana Mostary (26) tried to take the attack to the opposition but her resistance did not last long, with Harleen Deol taking a fine catch off comeback spinner Radha Yadav (3/30).
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LoP Ashoka targets CM govt over corruption, says being 'shameless' in public life not forgivable
Bengaluru (PTI): Targeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress government in Karnataka on corruption, BJP leader R Ashoka on Friday said, being foolish was forgivable, but being "shameless" in public life was not.
The Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly claimed that in just 30 months of its tenure, the Congress administration has broken every previous record on corruption-related controversies.
He was responding to Siddaramaiah's post on 'X' on Thursday hitting back at the BJP, stating that Upa Lokayukta Justice Veerappa's claims of "63 per cent corruption" were based on his report in November 2019, when BJP's B S Yediyurappa was the CM.
"But Ashoka, without understanding the Upa Lokayukta's statement properly, has ended up tying the BJP's own bells of sins onto our heads and has effectively shot himself in the foot," the CM had said, as he accused Ashoka of foolishness for trying to twist Veerappa's statement to target the current government.
Responding, Ashoka said, "it is one thing to be called foolish in politics, that can be forgiven."
"But in public life, especially in the Chief Minister's chair, one must never become shameless," Ashoka posted on 'X' on Friday addressing Siddaramaiah.
Noting that the CM himself had admitted on the floor of the Assembly that a Rs 87 crore scam took place in the Valmiki Development Corporation, he said that when a CM acknowledges such a massive irregularity inside the floor of the House, the natural expectation is immediate action and accountability.
"But instead of taking responsibility, you continue in office as if nothing has happened. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," he asked.
Pointing out that the CM's Economic Advisor and senior Congress MLA Basavaraja Rayareddy had publicly stated that under Congress rule, Karnataka has become No.1 in corruption, Ashoka said, "Yet, you still cling to the Chief Minister's chair without a moment of introspection. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness."
Senior Congress MLA C R Patil had exposed the "money for House" racket in the Housing Department and even warned that the government would collapse if the details he has were made public, Ashoka said.
"Despite such serious allegations from within your own party (Congress), you neither initiated an inquiry nor acted against the concerned minister. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," Ashoka asked the CM.
Highlighting the "40 percent commission" allegation Congress made against the previous BJP government, the opposition leader said, the commission that the Siddaramaiah government appointed concluded that the accusation was baseless.
"After your own panel demolished your own claim, what moral right do you have to continue repeating that allegation. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," he asked.
For the last two and a half years, Karnataka has been 'drowning' in corruption, scandals, irregularities and allegations across departments. Ashoka said, "If I begin listing every case that emerged under your government, even 24 hours would not be enough."
"And the most tragic aspect of your administration is this: the unbearable pressure, corruption demands and administrative harassment under your government pushed several officers and contractors into extreme distress - including the suicide of Chandrasekharan which exposed the Valmiki Development Corporation scam - a sign of how deeply broken the system has become under your watch," he said.
Instead of fixing this hopeless environment, the government has tried to bury every complaint and silence every voice, he charged.
"Being foolish is forgivable, but being shameless in public life is definitely not."
"When your own ministers admit scams, when your own advisors certify Karnataka as No.1 in corruption, and when your own MLAs expose rackets inside your departments - clinging to power without accountability is not leadership. It is shamelessness in its purest form." PTI KSU
Earlier on Thursday Ashoka had demanded that the corruption case and allegations in the state against the Congress government be handed over to a CBI investigation, citing a reported statement by Upalokaykta Justice Veerappa alleging "63 per cent corruption", following which Siddaramaiah hit back at the BJP leader.
