Ravichandran Ashwin: What he said, really meant and definitely didn’t

Ravichandran Ashwin’s cheeky advice is not tested.

What he said:

“I probably gave him a cheeky idea to try a mankad in the end. We might have taken flak, but why not.”

India’s Ravichandran Ashwin claims that he wasn’t averse to his teammate Hardik Pandya running out his Bangladeshi opponents in the final over of the crucial group encounter played at Bengaluru last evening.

The controversial method of getting batsmen out has been in the news ever since West Indian Keemo Paul mankaded a Zimbabwean player in the recent Under-19 ODI World Cup.

Pandya didn’t have to resort to such an eventuality; his skipper ran out Mustafizur Rahman at his end to clinch the game for India by one run.

What he really meant:

“The Mankad’s not illegal and a win is a win by any legal means.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Hardik Pandya and I  wouldn’t take a running start at the bowler’s end were my team in the same situation.”

Stephen Mangongo: What he said, really meant and definitely didn’t

Stephen Mangongo is warily hunting the Bengal tigers on their home turf.

What he said:

“They are called the tigers, which is a tough animal; you mess around with a tiger, it kills you. We have to respect tigers, especially in their own forest.”

It is the battle of the minnows of Test cricket; Zimbabwe tour Bangladesh playing three Tests and five ODIs.

Although the South African nation has a winning record against the South East Asian country, their coach Stephen Mangongo is unwilling to underestimate their capabilities.

The Zimbabwean side are visiting abroad for only the third time since their return to Test cricket three years ago.

What he really meant:

 “I don’t care what the Bangladeshis are elsewhere; at home, they are a handful. Tigers at home are dangerous indeed.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“The Zimbabwean cricket squad wholeheartedly supports the WWF campaign: ‘Save Tigers Now.'”

Abul Hasan: What he said, really meant and definitely didn’t

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Related articles

• Who is Abul Hasan?(sportskeeda.com)

  ---

• The unforeseen case of Abul Hasan(sportskeeda.com)

  ---

• Bangladesh 365-8 at close in second Windies Test(sportskeeda.com)

  ---

• Abul Hasan century against West Indies 2nd test(icricketbuzz.com)

  ---

• Bangladesh’s Abul Hasan stuns West Indies with century on debut(guardian.co.uk)

  ---

Mohammad Hafeez: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

Mohammad “The Professor” Hafeez Doesn’t Utter Nonsense

What he said (via The Independent):

“The reason is very simple: I don’t really speak nonsense.”

Mohammad Hafeez is The Professor to his Pakistani teammates because—as he puts it—he doesn’t “really speak nonsense.”

He is—to his colleagues—the best analyser in the side.

The 31-year-old is the third ODI player after Jacques Kallis and Sanath Jayasuriya to achieve the double of 1000 runs and 30 wickets in a calendar year.

Hafeez, though, considers himself a batsman first—his bowling is a welcome bonus.

Hafeez said:

Sometimes I laugh on it when people asked me whether I am batting or bowling all-rounder. Basically I am a batsman. You know my bowling is just a natural in me because as a batsman I can understand the thinking of a batsman. That is reason I bowl much better in ODIs. I believe on dot balls and that’s what I do and get wicket.

What he really meant:

“If my teammates say I’m smarter than them, well then, I must be. Thank you so much.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“What came first—the chicken or the egg?”

Alan Butcher: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

"Now I know what it means when they say you smell like a brewery."

Alan Butcher does not mind reeking of liquor when it happens in a good cause (and celebration). Zimbabwe won their one-off Test at home against Bangladesh on Aug 8,2011, their first five day game in six years.

What he really meant:

“It’s the sweet, heady taste of victory. Can’t you scent it?”

What he definitely didn’t:

“I wish they would produce perfumed alcohol. Maybe a fruity brew next time. They do use alcohol in perfumes, don’t they? Why not vice versa?”

Alan Butcher: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

“Zimbabweans pride themselves on being hospitable. So even in this match, we keep throwing them a lifeline.”

Zimbabwean coach, Alan Butcher, throws up an innovative excuse for letting their opponents, Bangladesh, off the hook in the Test at Harare.

What he really meant:

“We do want the Bangladeshis returning for more. They’re  the only team we can beat regularly.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“We take pride in losing matches at home.”