Cricketwallah

Ayaz Memon, lawyer by qualification, journalist by profession, commentator and columnist on sports and other issues.

[Cricketwallah @cricketwallah]

Wordle 1,856 3/6

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[Cricketwallah @cricketwallah]

Becoming a pattern unfortunately Harsha

[Harsha Bhogle @bhogleharsha]

This whole business around Rohit Sharma, from an irresponsible leak to a high level clarification, is so damaging to Indian cricket and the atmosphere in the team.

[anju mahendroo @anjumahendroo]

Miss you my friend !!! It’s 14 years today !!

[Paushali Sahu @PaushaliSahu]

Mumbai is finally witnessing what governance looks like when an honest officer simply does his job with integrity.
Famous eateries such as K Rustom, Shalimar and others are being raided, unhygienic dairies like Parsi Dairy are being shut, and now Maharashtra has introduced stricter food safety rules - free drinking water, no newspaper wrapping, staff health checks, food safety training, stricter hygiene and more.

Makes you wonder, if every IPS, IAS and IRS officer worked with this kind of integrity, how different would India look!

If you still do not know who I am talking about, it is newly appointed FDA Commisioner Tukaram Mundhe. 🫡

[Cricketwallah @cricketwallah]

Lovely tribute

[anju mahendroo @anjumahendroo]

Great legend, great human being !!! Full of fun n humour and a super dancer !!! You were a good man Gary.. Rest in eternal peace…

[Ramachandra Guha @Ram_Guha]

This conversation featuring Gary Sobers and Malcolm Nash (the bowler he hit for six sixes in an over) is for the ages:
https://t.co/DcwvqhWtRJ

[Cricketopia @CricketopiaCom]

“I think he was unquestionably the best cricketer.”

~ Sir Don Bradman on Sir Gary Sobers

[Cricketwallah @cricketwallah]

Two GOATS in one frame

[Cricketwallah @cricketwallah]

RIP Sir Garfield Sobers the greatest cricketer ever. We may never see another of such wondrous allround skills again. Reposting piece I did on him in 2010. Ayaz Memon on an evening with Sir Garry | Cricinfo https://t.co/6ZYqTHzHE8

[Cricketwallah @cricketwallah]

RIP Sir Garfield Sobers the greatest cricketer ever. We may never see another of such wondrous allround skills again. Reposting piece I did on him in 2010. Ayaz Memon on an evening with Sir Garry | Cricinfo https://t.co/6ZYqTHzHE8

[Cricketwallah @cricketwallah]

Wordle 1,854 3/6

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[Cricketwallah @cricketwallah]

More on the genius of Messi

[Adi el Grande @icardo8]

🚨🗣️David Beckham sobre la derrota 2:1 de Inglaterra ante Argentina, dice que Messi es el MEJOR Jugador de todos los tiempos:

“El fútbol tiene una forma poética de completar sus propias historias. Inglaterra una vez vio la Mano de Dios… esta noche, presenció el Pie Izquierdo de Dios. Messi no solo jugó el partido, lo dirigió como un maestro liderando una orquesta. Cada toque era una frase, cada pase era una obra maestra, y esas dos asistencias fueron pinceladas en el lienzo más grande del fútbol.

La gente pasa sus carreras persiguiendo la grandeza. Messi ha pasado su carrera redefiniéndola. Cuando la presión alcanza su punto más alto, él se convierte en el hombre más calmado en el estadio. Ese es un don que no puedes entrenar, no puedes comprar, y ciertamente no puedes defenderte contra él.

He jugado con y contra algunos de los mejores jugadores que este deporte ha visto jamás, pero lo que Lionel Messi sigue haciendo en el escenario más grande está más allá de las estadísticas, es un legado escrito en tiempo real. Noches como esta no son solo victorias; son capítulos en la historia del fútbol.

Para mí, el debate ha terminado. Lionel Messi no es solo uno de los mejores jugadores de todos los tiempos… es el mejor jugador de todos los tiempos.”

—🎙️Mixed Zone

[SethOfficial @UTD_Seth001]

🚨Lionel Messi was asked why he was emotional after Argentina’s victory over England to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final.

🎙️ Reporter: “Leo, we saw you in tears after the final whistle. Why did this one mean so much?”

🗣️ Lionel Messi:

“Because this wasn’t an easy match. During the game, I could hear them telling each other, ‘Double up on him… go for his legs… don’t let him turn.’ They tried everything to make life difficult for me, and that’s football. I understand it.

England are a very strong team. They made us suffer for long periods. There were moments when it felt like every touch I took had two or three players around me.

But this Argentina team doesn’t know how to give up. That’s our greatest strength. Even when things become difficult, nobody drops their head. We keep believing until the very end.

When I looked at the scoreboard and saw there were less than ten minutes left, I felt a rush through my body. I told myself, ‘This is the moment. We have to find one more chance.’

That’s why I never stop asking for the ball. In matches like these, one pass, one movement or one decision can change everything.

The tears came because I know what this means to our people. I saw our supporters in the stands, I thought about my family and I thought about everyone in Argentina who has been with us through every high and every low.

Reaching another World Cup final is something very special, but our work isn’t finished. We didn’t come here just to reach the final. We came here to try and bring the World Cup back to Argentina one more time.”

[ᜰ 🇦🇷 @markklfc]

Thomas Tuchel on Lionel Messi’s masterclass against England.

🗣️ “I’ve coached against some of the greatest footballers in history, but nights like this remind you why Lionel Messi is different. We prepared for him all week. We had plans, we had markers, we had instructions… and none of it was enough. He punished us with two moments of absolute genius.”

“You can stop him for 85 minutes, but Messi only needs five seconds to destroy everything you’ve built. That’s what happened tonight. Two assists, no panic, no wasted movement just pure football intelligence. He doesn’t force the game. He waits… and when you make one mistake, you’re dead.”

“I was shouting from the touchline because I knew the danger every time he received the ball. My players knew it too. Yet knowing what Messi is capable of and actually stopping him are two completely different things. He sees passes that nobody else in world football even imagines.”

“People talk about speed and strength. Messi doesn’t need either. His brain is faster than every defender on the pitch. He dictates the tempo, manipulates space and tears teams apart without looking like he’s trying. That is what true greatness looks like.”

“As painful as this defeat is for England, I refuse to lie. We were beaten by a footballer who continues to redefine the game at 39 years old. Two assists in a World Cup semi-final, carrying his country into another final… that’s not normal. That’s history unfolding in front of your eyes.”

“Sometimes, as a coach, you have to accept an uncomfortable truth. We didn’t just lose to Argentina we lost to Lionel Messi. And if he plays the final like he played tonight, the rest of the world should be very worried.”

[Cricketwallah @cricketwallah]

Messi magic. Incredible!

[Irving Gatell @IrvingGatell]

MAGIA PURA.
Detén el video a los 2 segundos.
En el momento del pase hay una línea de 7 ingleses más el portero, todos con más de 1.85 de estatura, y el balón va a llegar exactamente al punto donde Lautaro (1.74) va tener la portería para él solo.
Messi.
https://t.co/3ZAAsNL8fT

[Adi el Grande @icardo8]

🚨🎙️ El capitán de Inglaterra, Harry Kane, tras la derrota de Inglaterra:

“No creo que alguna vez entienda lo que acaba de pasar ahí fuera, siendo honesto. Es realmente difícil de aceptar.

Todo nuestro enfoque esta semana pasada fue detener a Lionel Messi. Cada reunión, cada sesión — todo giraba en torno a limitar su impacto. Y de alguna manera, lo miras y piensas que lo hicimos… lo frenamos para que no marcara.

Pero esa es la cosa con él. Incluso a los 39, es simplemente increíble. Piensas que has hecho lo suficiente, y luego él va y produce dos asistencias — dos momentos decisivos que cambian completamente el partido. Ese es el nivel en el que está.

Pasar de ganar el partido a perderlo en los últimos siete minutos… es devastador. Absolutamente devastador. Teníamos el control, estábamos tan cerca, y luego todo se da la vuelta así.

Los chicos están dolidos. Todos estamos decepcionados porque sabemos lo importante que era esto. Pero a veces te enfrentas a un jugador que puede cambiarlo todo en un instante… y esta noche, esa fue la diferencia.”

[Cricketwallah @cricketwallah]

Messi inspires superb comeback by Argentina as England run out of steam trying to sit on 1-0 lead till full time

[Cricketwallah @cricketwallah]

Wordle 1,853 5/6

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[Pico Iyer @PicoIyer]

“Looking at a dollar-bill, one’s gaze may be possessive,” observes Huston Smith. “Looking at a sunset, it can’t be.” Or, as Thoreau has it, how eager we are to pick up a penny found on the street, how slow to pick up a wise and priceless thought.

[Cricketwallah @cricketwallah]

Splendid all-round performance by India. Significant contributions from several players. Most impressive — and important was Shubman Gill whi batted with finesse and lled smartly, with quiet authority. I venture his return to the T20 side is not far off if he maintains this form