Shubman Gill during practice ahead of India's World Cup clash against Pakistan in Ahmedabad. Reuters
Shubman Gill during practice ahead of India's World Cup clash against Pakistan in Ahmedabad. Reuters
Shubman Gill during practice ahead of India's World Cup clash against Pakistan in Ahmedabad. Reuters
Shubman Gill during practice ahead of India's World Cup clash against Pakistan in Ahmedabad. Reuters

Shubman Gill and spinners in spotlight for India and Pakistan World Cup showdown


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India opener Shubman Gill could make the cut for the World Cup match against Pakistan in Ahmedabad on Saturday, with captain Rohit Sharma stating that he is close to being fully fit.

Gill, who has been India's best ODI batsman in 2023, missed India's wins against Australia and then Afghanistan as he recovered from dengue.

The right-handed batsman returned to the nets and batted for extended periods, raising hopes of reuniting with captain Rohit at a venue where had plundered runs in white-ball cricket. “99 per cent he is available,” Rohit said of Gill.

In Gill's absence, Ishan Kishan opened against Australia in Chennai when he scored a first-ball duck and then fell three runs short of a half century against Afghanistan in New Delhi.

India fielded tree spinners in Chennai where they bowled out Australia for 199. Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav are in excellent touch – making a better combination than the quicks – and Rohit did not rule out repeating the combination by bringing back Ashwin.

“Depending on what kind of conditions we face, if there is a change or two we need to make, we will be ready with that and the guys have been informed well in advance about these kind of changes,” he said.

“I don't think it's going to be any issues for the players. If the requirement is there for us to play three spinners, we will play three spinners.

Rohit said the team has momentum after they won the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and then beat Australia in a three-match series.

“Rhythm is very important. If you look at it in other terms, it is called momentum,” Rohit added.

“We have played seven or eight matches in India and before that in Sri Lanka and here too we played two matches of the World Cup.

“The bowlers have shown very good performances. Whether it is spinners or seamers, whenever they have got a chance to put pressure on the batsmen, they have done so. All the batsmen have scored runs.”

Pakistan, meanwhile need to decide quickly on the structure of their team for the rest of the tournament.

Their bowlers failed to impress on the flat pitches in Hyderabad, despite the team securing two victories over Netherlands and Sri Lanka, by 81 runs and six wickets respectively.

Their spinners Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz have been far from convincing or consistent, propping up leg-spinner Usama Mir in the process.

Their dip in slow bowling has also coincided with below-par spells from fast bowlers. Shaheen Afridi is down on pace while Haris Rauf also looks uncomfortable, leaking runs with ease.

Batting wise, Muhammad Rizwan has been in fine scoring touch, hitting 68 in the win over the Dutch and then an unbeaten 131 against Sri Lanka which saw Pakistan chase down a record run chase of 345.

World Cricket League Division 2

In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.

UAE fixtures

Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final

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Why your domicile status is important

Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.

Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born. 

UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.

A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.

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Who was Alfred Nobel?

The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.

  • In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
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  • In 2014, she became the first woman to lead the US Federal Reserve 
  • In 1999, she became the first female chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers 
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Who has been sanctioned?

Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.

Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.

Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.

Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.

Updated: October 13, 2023, 6:01 PM