Page 20 - Icc T20 World Cup

T20 World Cup 2024: Pakistan vs Canada Playing 11: Ayub replaces Iftikhar

PAK vs CAN Playing 11: Pakistan made one change to their playing 11 with a proper batter Sam Ayub replacing all-round and finishing option Iftikhar Ahmed

T20 World Cup 2024 IND vs USA Preview: Rohit and co eye better batting show

India's batting prima donnas would want to unchain themselves from the vagaries of a much-maligned drop-in track and chance their arms freely against an impressive-but-inexperienced USA in their group league game of the T20 World Cup here on Wednesday. India, who are classified as A1 (irrespective of points), need just one more win to ensure their Super Eight berth and despite the two-paced nature of the Nassau County track, they wouldn't like a repeat of the match against Pakistan where they lost their last seven wickets for 28 runs. Against USA, the approach could be a high-risk one like Pakistan but perhaps with higher dividends. Their dreams of wearing the India blues remained unfulfilled but when a sprightly bunch of Indian Americans take the field against their country of birth, the likes of Saurabh Netravalkars and Harmeet Singhs would once again like to be the proverbial David against the Goaliaths of the game. Even though the track has significantly bridged the gap between

T20 World Cup 2024: Azhar Mahmood denies rift between Babar and Shaheen

Pakistan assistant coach Azhar Mahmood has denied a rift between skipper Babar Azam and premier pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, stating that former captain Wasim Akram's recent assertion of the duo not being on talking terms is untrue. Mahmood also took a dig at everyone who feels that players shouldn't have a life outside cricket and remain confined in their hotel rooms brooding over their narrow defeat against India. It is often speculated that Pakistan team has two factions -- one led by skipper Babar, while the other group is under Shaheen's control. "Wasim must have said that, but I don't know. I didn't see it. Shaheen and Babar are definitely talking, they are good friends. They are both part of the Pakistan team. We have not lost because of anyone, it is our mistake too," Mahmood said referring to the team's six-run loss to India in which it failed to chase down a 120-run target. Asked why players aren't coming for press conferences to face the media, Mahmood said the support sta

NZ to AFG: Super 8 qualification scenarios of Group C teams | T20 World Cup

New Zealand's clash with West Indies will certainly decide Kane Williamson's chances for Super 8 Qualification. NZ vs WI match will take place on June 13 at 6 AM IST

SCOT to ENG: Super 8 qualification scenarios of Group B teams | T20 WC 2024

Scotland inflicted defeats to Oman and Namibia, thus topping the Group B ahead of England and Australia. Check ICC T20 World Cup 2024 Group B's Super 8 Qualification scenarios here

T20 World Cup 2024: Shahid Afridi suggests changes in Pakistan playing XI

Pakistan's struggle to find balance and the correct combination has led to their consecutive defeats in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024

T20 WC 2024: 'Not great selling product'- Klaasen criticises New York pitch

If the ICC wants to market T20 cricket in the USA, the pitch and outfield at the Nassau County Cricket Ground isn't a "great selling product", South Africa's flamboyant batter Heinrich Klaasen said joining the chorus of criticism against the venue. The new drop-in pitch at the ground located in the Long Islands has been dual-paced with uneven bounce, making batting very difficult. India and South Africa have been able to defend totals as low as 119 and 113 respectively on back-to-back days on this track. "Obviously, if you have to showcase it to the world and sell it, I don't think it's a great selling product, but for cricket, it's tight competition. It brings the other teams and the higher teams very close to each other," Klaasen, who scored 46 off 44 balls in team's four-run win said at the post-match press conference. The power-hitter said that all premier batters across teams would love to just get out of New York while the bowlers would love to stay put forever. The ICC has ..

T20 World Cup 2024: This DRS rule in controversy after SA vs BAN match

The on-field umpire's decision to adjudge veteran batter Mahmudullah Riyad LBW, which was subsequently overturned in a review, was a bad call that cost Bangladesh the match against South Africa, their young batter Towhid Hridoy has said. Bangladesh ended at 109/7 while chasing a target of 114 against South Africa. A contentious ICC rule saw them lose four leg bye runs when Mahmudullah was given out leg before by on-field umpire Sam Nogajski off an Ottneil Baartman delivery. The ball had crossed the boundary ropes but it was deemed dead as Mahmudullah opted for DRS and got the decision overturned. As per ICC rules, no extra runs (leg-byes or byes) can be given if on-field umpire gives a batter out LBW even if the decision is overturned by the third umpire. However, leg-bye runs can be awarded if the on-field umpire's decision of not out stays after a review. "Actually, to be honest, that wasn't a good call. It was a tight match. So, I think in my point of view, umpire gave out, but

IND vs PAK: Akmal apologises for inappropriate comments against Arshdeep

A day after being called out for making disrespectful comments against India pacer Arshdeep Singh, former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal apologised for his "inappropriate" remarks while analysing the recent T20 World Cup clash between the two sides in New York. In a viral video, Akmal was seen making fun of Arshdeep's Sikh religion, prompting a furious response from ace Indian cricketer-turned-commentator Harbhajan. "I deeply regret my recent comments and sincerely apologise to Harbhajan Singh and the Sikh community. My words were inappropriate and disrespectful. I have the utmost respect for Sikhs all over the world and never intended to hurt anyone. I am truly sorry. #Respect #Apology," Akmal wrote on X, tagging Harbhajan. Akmal's remarks came during the tense penultimate over of the clash, when Pakistan needed 17 runs in the last over in their chase of 120. Left-arm pacer Arshdeep performed the task to perfection, sealing a six-run win over the arch-rivals. Akmal, whi

T20 World Cup 2024: Super 8 qualification scenarios of PAK, ENG, NZ and SL

Pakistan's chances for Super 8 qualification hinges on India and Ireland. Check Pakistan, New Zealand and England Super 8 qualification scenarios here

SA vs BAN highlights, T20 World Cup 2024: Nortje, Maharaj win thriller for South Africa

T20 World Cup 2024 highlights SA vs BAN: It was deja vu in New York as Bangladesh, after dominating the entire game, lost in the last three overs, failing to chase down 114 and losing by 4 runs

Mumbai Cricket body head Amol Kale dies of cardiac arrest in New York

Mumbai Cricket Association president Amol Kale has died of a cardiac arrest in New York after attending the T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan. On Sunday, Kale was present at the Nassau County Cricket Stadium to watch the game between the arch-rivals along with other MCA officials including secretary Ajinkya Naik and apex council member Suraj Samat. The 47-year-old Kale had become the MCA president after defeating former India and Mumbai cricketer Sandip Patil in the elections held in October 2022. During his tenure, the MCA had taken some vital decisions including the move to match the BCCI match fee for all its red-ball players for the upcoming 2024-25 season.

T20 World Cup 2024: Kiwis looked rusty and disorganised feels Ian Smith

Former New Zealand cricketer Ian Smith has questioned the readiness of his country's team in the T20 World Cup, saying it looked rusty and completely disorganised in the humiliating defeat against Afghanistan. New Zealand suffered an embarrassing 84-run loss to Afghanistan in their tournament opener here on Friday. They were dismissed for 75 in their chase of 159, with Rashid Khan and Fazalhaq Farooqi grabbing four wickets each. The Kiwis are placed fifth and last in Group C and will next play the West Indies in Trinidad on Wednesday with the negative net run rate making their task of qualifying for the knockouts an uphill task. "They've got to beat the West Indies, and hope that they (West Indies) get beaten by Afghanistan, because New Zealand's run rate situation is so poor - we're going to be very behind the eight ball when it comes to that," Smith, who has played 63 Tests and 98 ODIs, told Sen Radio on Monday. "I just don't know they're going to get up to speed from the flat ..

T20 World Cup 2024: Demoralised Pakistan eye big win against Canada

Shocked by the USA and scarred by India, Pakistan have little to play for and everything to lose when they meet Canada in their penultimate group league encounter of the T20 World Cup here on Tuesday. If the Super Over loss against the co-hosts in their opening Group A match was not enough, Pakistan slumped to six-run loss at the hands of arch-rivals India in a low-scoring match here on Sunday. Pakistan's Super Eight qualification chance now hinges on winning big against Canada and Ireland, besides hoping that the Americans lose big to India and Ireland. Even in that scenario, both the teams will end on four points each and it will boil down to which team has a better net run rate. Hence Pakistan can only pray for divine intervention in best case scenario. USA after two wins enjoy a healthy run-rate of +0.626 and just a victory against Ireland would suffice while Pakistan with a dismal NRR of -0.150 would not only need to win but also by comprehensive margins. In the two matches s

T20 World Cup 2024: Bumrah refuses to live by people's ideas about his form

Jasprit Bumrah couldn't help but laugh at how the narrative about him has changed in a year's time -- from being someone whose career is finished to the one who is at the peak of his prowess. In 2022, Bumrah underwent surgery for a lower back stress fracture and missed the T20 World Cup in Australia. Just before his comeback in a home bilateral series, he developed a strain and was out for more than 10 months. As a result, people became sceptical of his ability to handle the workload of three formats. But Indian cricket's rare gem sealed the lips of 'Doubting Thomases' with 67 wickets across three formats in the last one year, including a match-winning 3/14 against Pakistan in the low-scoring T20 World Cup thriller on Sunday. "See a year ago, the same people were saying that I might not play again and my career is over and then now the question changed," he said taking a shot at all those who doubted his ability to fight back. India restricted Pakistan to 113/7 after posting a mere

T20 World Cup 2024: Malik accuses Imad Wasim of deliberately wasting balls

Former skipper Salim Malik has accused Imad Wasim of deliberately wasting balls in Pakistan's six-run loss to arch-rivals India in the T20 World Cup in New York. Chasing an underwhelming 120-run target, Pakistani batters consumed 59 dot balls to be restricted to 113 for 7 in New York on Sunday. Wasim took 23 balls to score his 15 runs in the losing cause. "You look at his (Wasim) innings and it appears as if he was wasting balls not scoring runs and making things difficult in the run-chase," Malik said on 24 News channel. Another former captain Shahid Afridi feels all is not well in the Pakistan dressing room and some players have issues with skipper Babar Azam. "A captain brings everyone together, either he spoils the team environment or he builds the team. Let this World Cup finish, and I will speak openly," said Afridi. "I have such a relationship with Shaheen (Afridi) that if I talk about him, people will say I am favouring my son-in-law," he added. Afridi's daughter is marr

T20 World Cup 2024: Pakistan lost the plot after 15 overs admits Kirsten

Perplexed by Pakistan's sudden disintegration in the T20 World Cup match against India here, the team's recently-appointed head coach Gary Kirsten said his batters "lost the plot" after 15 overs and are under pressure after failing to perform at their best. Pakistan are on the verge of being eliminated from the tournament after consecutive losses to debutants USA and arch-foes India. The loss to Rohit Sharma's on Sunday was a classic case of implosion with the side going from 80/4 in the 15th over to ending at 113/7 while chasing a modest 120. Kirsten emphasised the significance of strike rotation, particularly on challenging surfaces like the one here. He said his team failed to follow the strategy. "I think certainly on a pitch like that, it is really, really important to be able to rotate the strike. So, I agree with you that sometimes it's fun to watch a game like this where it's not only about hitting boundaries," Kirsten said in the post-match press conference. "But you also

T20 World Cup 2024: Pakistan team requires major surgery feels PCB chairman

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi came down heavily on the team management and said the Babar Azam-led side requires "major surgery" following its six-run loss against arch-rivals India in the T20 World Cup. Chasing an underwhelming 120-run target, Pakistani batters consumed 59 dot balls to be restricted to 113 for 7 in New York on Sunday. "I thought the team required minor surgery to start winning matches but now it appears that we have to go for major surgery," Naqvi was quoted as saying by the Pakistani media in New York. Naqvi also felt that it is time to start looking at players who are sitting outside the team for sometime now. "It is very disappointing the way we lost to the USA and now this loss to India. We need to now start looking at players beyond those in the team right now," he said. Naqvi, who took over as chairman in January and later also became the interior minister in the government, made it clear that the PCB had done everything to facilitate the ...

T20 World Cup 2024: Rohit wants genius Bumrah in this kind of mindset

Jasprit Bumrah's effort touched by genius confined arch-rivals Pakistan to a defeat here on Sunday, but India skipper Rohit Sharma wanted his lethal weapon to perform at the same level for the entire duration of the T20 World Cup. Bumrah was magnificent in India's six-run victory over Pakistan in which he had figures of 3/14 in four overs which included an astounding 15 dot balls while defending a paltry total of 119. He is going from strength to strength (Bumrah). We all know what he can do. Not going to talk too much about him. We want him to be in that mindset throughout the World Cup. He is a genius, we all know that, Rohit couldn't stop praising one of India's greatest fast bowlers. Rohit said India had the belief that they would win the match because the pitch was not that conducive for batting. With a bowling line-up like that you feel confident to do the job. Halfway through the stage when they were batting, we got everyone together and said that if it can happen to us, it

India vs Pakistan highlights, T20 World Cup 2024: Bumrah and co defend 119, humble PAK at NYC

T20 World Cup 2024 highlights, IND vs PAK: With 40 needed off 36 balls to win and 7 wickets in hand, Pakistan were firm favourites to win. But Bumrah bowled Rizwan and turned things around for India