Latest News

T20 World Cup crisis: PCB writes to ICC supporting Bangladesh’s stance

Published

5 months ago

2026/01/21

Priyan

(Pic BBC)

On Tuesday, a day before the ICC is expected to take a final call on Bangladesh’s participation at the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup, the PCB wrote to the governing body stating that it supports the BCB’s stance on not wanting to play in India at a time of political turmoil in the neighbourhood. ESPNcricinfo has learned that that PCB also copied the members of the ICC Board in it.

It is understood that the ICC has called a Board meeting on Wednesday to address the matter of the BCB asking for Bangladesh’s matches to be shifted to Sri Lanka because of security concerns in India. It could not be ascertained if the PCB’s email led to the Board meeting being called.

The timing of the PCB email could raise eyebrows, but it is understood that it will not impact the ICC’s stance so far, of not changing the World Cup schedule and allowing Bangladesh to play in Sri Lanka, co-hosts of the tournament with India. The ICC has been firm on this and has conveyed the same to the BCB during its interactions last week.

The BCB, with the Bangladesh government’s support, has refused to travel to India for the team’s group-stage games.

The ICC and the BCB have met several times to discuss the issue, most recently in Dhaka last weekend. But neither side has shifted their stances – the ICC insisting matches must go ahead as planned and the BCB that it cannot send its team to India. January 21 – Wednesday – had been set as a deadline for a decision, less than three weeks before the start of the tournament.

The PCB’s late involvement in the matter comes on the back of a week of speculation around their possible ways out of the impasse. There were unverified reports that the PCB had offered to stage Bangladesh’s games in Pakistan and, more dramatically, that the PCB was reviewing Pakistan’s participation in the World Cup, contingent on what happens with Bangladesh.

The PCB has not commented publicly on the matter, or responded to ESPNcricinfo’s queries.

The stand-off began when the BCCI instructed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to remove Mustafizur Rahman from their squad for IPL 2026. The reasons for that have never been fully explained, though a worsening of political ties between Bangladesh and India has been cited. That prompted the Bangladesh government to formally state that the Bangladesh team would not play its matches in India.

The situation has spiralled since then, even leading to a player boycott in Bangladesh, which affected the ongoing BPL, after a senior BCB official spoke disparagingly of the country’s premier players when asked about the financial implications for the BCB if Bangladesh ended up staying away from the T20 World Cup altogether

(Cricinfo)

All News Advertisement

Latest News

Shanaka, Mishara fifties set up series-levelling win for Sri Lanka

Published

2 mins ago

2026/06/14

Priyan

Kamil Mishara and Dasun Shanaka put on a century stand that took Sri Lanka to 194 for 6 (Cricinfo)

Dasun Shanaka produced the batting ballistics, Kamil Mishara held the innings together, and Sri Lanka’s spinners dominated the middle overs, comfortably defending their 194 for 6. This 37 run victory brings Sri Lanka level 1-1 in the series against West Indies, with one match to play on Sunday night.

Sri Lanka had been struggling at 88 for 4 in the 13th over when Shanaka joined Mishara at the crease. The pair then blasted 103 off 42 balls together to propel Sri Lanka to a commanding score of 194 for 6, hitting seven sixes and nine fours between them

Although Sri Lanka struck twice with the new ball, West Indies had still looked confident in pursuit at 89 for 2, until Sri Lanka’s spinners went to work. A run out would spark a collapse that cost West Indies six wickets for 32 runs. They struggled to recover from 122 for 8 after 15 overs. Dushmantha Chameera, who had struck early in the innings and was effective in the other phases as well, closed out the match in the 19th over,n taking three wickets for 9 runs. West Indies were 157 all out, despite Rovman Powell and Shimron Hetmyer having put on 81 off 47 for the third wicket.

Although he arrived at the crease with Sri Lanka in some trouble, Shanaka was almost immediately aggressive, blasting Roston Chase’s offspin onto the roof of the Sabina Park stadium fourth ball, before crashing him for a four and thumping another six next ball. All three of these boundaries came through deep midwicket. He also struck a huge six down the ground, and hooked a ball over fine leg as well, as he stormed to a 19-ball fifty. This equalled his own record for fastest Sri Lanka men’s half century in T20Is. There were also five fours in his 58 off 24, the most memorable of which was a four over extra cover, also off the bowling of Springer.

Having come to the crease in the fifth over, Mishara remained unbeaten until the close. He took a while to get going as wickets fell around him. He only found his first boundary off the 16th ball he faced. But having sauntered to 22 off 23 after 15 overs, he took cues from Shanaka and unleashed some big hitting of his own at the death. He took a particular liking to the bowling of Matthew Forde, whom he walloped twice down the ground in the 17th over. He finished with 61 not out off 40.

Sri Lanka struck twice in the first 10 balls to have West Indies at 9 for 2, but Hetmyer and Powell soon revived the chase, striking judicious boundaries through the powerplay before looking to up the scoring rate in the middle overs. They looked like they were putting the hosts on track for a series win when they reaped 18 runs off the eighth over, bowled by Maheesh Theekshana, then 11 off the next one bowled by Wanindu Hasaranga. But on a track taking a little spin, they had some close calls, particularly Hetmyer who was bowled by Theekshana in the ninth over. However, that delivery turned out to be a no-ball.

It took a run out from Pavan Rathnayake to break the Hetmyer-Powell stand, but the spinners soon took the chase by the collar. Theekshana had Powell caught off the leading edge in the 10th over, then Hasaranga struck twice in two balls to remove Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd in the 13th over, his googly proving dangerous again. Dunith Wellalage and Chameera – who had both struck with the new ball – continued to strike. By the time West Indies arrived at the 16th over, they were already eight down, with a required rate approaching 15. Hasaranga and Chameera closed the innings out, finishing with three wickets apiece.

SCORES:

Sri Lanka 194 for 6 in 20 overs (Kusal Mendis 31, Kamil Mishara 61*, Kamindu Mendis 24, Dasun Shanaka 58; Matthew Forde 2-38, Shamar Joseph 3-32, Shamar Springer 1-40) beat West Indies 157 in 18.5 overs (Shimron Hetmyer 36, Rovman Powell 43, Sherfane Rutherford 13, Roston Chase 17, Akeal Hosein 14, Shamar Joseph 11*; Dunith Wellalage 2-28, Dushmaantha Chameera 3-09, Maheesh Theekshana 1-34, Wanidu Hasaranga 3-38) by 37 runs

(Cricinfo)

Latest News

India v Pakistan: The noise the World Cup had been waiting for

Published

35 mins ago

2026/06/14

Priyan

Expect Edgbaston to be packed on Sunday (Cricbuzz)

Three buses lined up at the City Street Station to ferry a long queue of cricket enthusiasts for the opening game of the 2026 T20 World Cup, barely a few miles away from the Edgbaston Cricket Stadium. The queue looked long; the laziness to count the number of people notwithstanding, David Hilbert needn’t be bothered.

Welcoming them at the stadium was the unmissable sight of a strong, six-foot man holding a banner to call out racism; a cause he has been standing up against the Warwickshire County Cricket Club since 2022, when he alleges being manhandled and unfairly thrown out of the stadium by the security, and his complaints of the mistreatment have fallen on deaf ears since. He turns up with his non-violent protest outside the stadium every time there is an ‘important’ game, hoping to be heard.

Giving him company were two Gujarati cap sellers, born on either side of the India-Pakistan border. Both haven’t had much success selling their wares, but at least they had company. One of them was bargaining with the distributor that vuvuzelas won’t sell, the other was trying to hold up his stall against the repeated spells of wind that carried the caps flying to the other side of the road. They had turned up on the street outside the stadium sensing a business opportunity.

The one who got the extra earning opportunity for the day though, was totally unaware why it had come his way. Down Edgbaston Street, 25-year-old Ismail was manning the traffic at the crossroads. A self-confessed cricket tragic who moved from Lahore a year ago, Ismail was stationed to offer security at the junction but was absolutely clueless when a man inside a car at the signal rolled down his window and asked, ‘Is there a match going on?’ For all his love for cricket, Ismail couldn’t care enough; he was just excited at the prospect of earning GBP 160 for this one-day makeshift duty – higher than his usual pay.

For varying reasons, they had all turned up – known or unknown to them – on that street because a ‘big event’ was happening. So did 14,000-odd spectators to welcome the World Cup back home.

Clearly, there is an enormity to this Women’s World Cup, and unlike London, Birmingham isn’t quite decked up in preparation. Well past 9 PM, the skies were still blue and bright; everything visible clear as day. But it was hard to fathom that this was the sight of a global extravaganza aiming to become ‘a movement, not a moment’. Across a dull landscape, the World Cup posters springing a mix of purple, pink and red should have ideally popped out. Instead, they merged with the rest of the advertising hoardings – from McDonald’s McFrape to 7UP – all colouring themselves in similar shades, the World Cup banners don’t quite disrupt the eye. Nor did the stadium’s sound – or the lack of it – draw any attention. Even as Danni Wyatt was pummelling the Sri Lankan bowlers to a record century, there wasn’t a decibel of noise outside that could turn heads on a quiet street to make someone even wonder if a match was being played inside.

If the World Cup needed some noise, colour and disruption, a charged Sunday desi-fest – India vs Pakistan in Birmingham – is coming. For all practical purposes, this isn’t quite the cricketing rivalry that advertisers and broadcasters would queue up for. Yet, it’s hard to miss the frequency with which the two teams have ended up in the same group over the past few years.

Clearly, this is with a purpose. Even if not for cricketing reasons, this is the contest the organisers would hope will intensify the appeal for the sport among the locals, fairly crowded by the South Asian diaspora. It’s cruel to minimise the popularity of a world tournament down to the eyeballs drawn by one contest, but its power even sans the external hype is hard to overlook.

On paper, the two sides don’t quite measure up at the same level. Yet, Pakistan have given India more than a few moments of scare beyond the two victories they clinched at the World Cups. And they are quite capable of doing that again, especially if captain Fatima Sana is fully fit.

While both teams are coming into the tournament having picked a fair few losses in the last month, unlike India’s experiments to find the perfect combination, Pakistan are clear with their limitations and a simplified game plan: attack. Whether they will be able to seize the pressure of the day or if their best can win them the contest is another question altogether. But if they manage to do that, there should be enough to make the contest riveting, and as a result, loud enough to be heard. For more than just some caps to sell; for the tournament to get its due.

Birmingham hasn’t been a high scoring venue, with the run-rate hovering around 6.55 in women’s T20s over the past four years at the venue. However, Danni Wyatt’s performance in the opening game would provide free-stroking batters some optimism.

In the lead-up to the World Cup, India haven’t quite cracked their best combination. A trail of losses against South Africa and England have offered India a much-needed perspective towards their weaknesses. The trial with the injury-returned Yastika Bhatia has delivered mixed results so far, and moreover sucked away some power from the lower middle order.

India Probable XI: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh, Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil/Nandni Sharma, Shree Charani, Renuka Thakur

Fatima Sana suffered an injury to her right knee during practice. Her availability for the contest remains uncertain. Another senior player, Aliya Riaz, too wasn’t spotted at practice.

Pakistan Probable XI: Muneeba Ali, Gull Feroza, Ayesha Zafar, Saira Jabeen, Aliya Riaz/Iram Javed, Eyman Fatima, Rameen Shamim, Fatima Sana/Diana Baig, Tasmia Rubab, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal

(Cricbuzz)

Latest News

Vinicus Jr recues draw for Brazil against Morocco

Published

6 hours ago

2026/06/14

Priyan

[pic BBC]

Vinicius Jr spared Brazil the embarrassment of defeat in an opening World Cup match for the first since 1934 as his spectacular solo goal earned a draw for the five-time winners against Morocco at the New York New Jersey Stadium.

Brazil fell behind in the 21st minute when Ismael Saibari lifted the ball over the onrushing Alisson Becker from outside the area following a lapse in communication between the Liverpool goalkeeper and his defenders, Gabriel and Marquinhos.

It was the first time the African champions had scored against South American opposition at the World Cup, having failed to do so against Peru in 1970 and Brazil in 1998.

Morocco continued to dominate and, by the 30th minute, had registered 12 shots – the most Brazil have faced in a World Cup match since their encounter with Mexico in 2018.

But as Mohamed Ouahbi’s side failed to capitalise on their advantage, Brazil drew level 13 minutes before the break through Vinicius.

Making his 50th appearance for the Selecao, he collected a ball from Bruno Guimaraes inside the area, cut inside, and unleashed a fierce strike past Yassine Bounou.

Former West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta almost put Brazil ahead in first-half stoppage time, but his acrobatic effort was tipped behind for a corner.

With several members of Brazil’s triumphant 2002 squad watching on in New Jersey – including Ronaldo, Kaka and Roberto Carlos – Carlo Ancelotti’s side began to move through the gears after the break.

And although chances were at a premium for both sides, Raphinha came closest to finding an elusive second when he narrowly failed to connect with Guimaraes’ low-driven cross across the face of goal.

The draw means Morocco’s wait to win their opening game at a World Cup goes on, while Brazil’s remarkable 92‑year unbeaten first-match record remains intact.

On a night full of history for Brazil, this lethargic display is unlikely to live long in the memory.

Brazil’s last World Cup game on US soil was also a forgettable performance, the only final to finish 0-0 after 120 minutes before they defeated Italy on penalties in 1994.

Now, 32 years on from that game in Pasadena, the Selecao are led by a foreign manager at the tournament for the first time as they look to win the World Cup for only the second time since then.

But if Ancelotti’s remit is nothing less than delivering a sixth World Cup success, he will have been far from satisifed with what he saw at MetLife Stadium.

Brazil started sluggishly and looked unusually open, struggling to retain possession or match Morocco’s intensity in the sweltering New Jersey heat.

It resulted in an underwhelming display that, for long periods, looked set to end Brazil’s remarkable 92-year unbeaten record in opening matches of the World Cup.

That was until they were bailed out by the individual brilliance of Vinicius – a sight supporters of the national team have demanded more of since his senior debut in 2019.

It is unlikely to be the last moment of magic we see from the forward this summer.

If Brazil are to reach the final on 19 July, Ancelotti may have little choice but to rely heavily on the man who helped deliver Champions League success during their time together at Real Madrid.

Morocco face Scotland at Boston Stadium on 19 June (23:00 BST), while Brazil take on Haiti at Philadelphia Stadium on 20 June (01:30 BST)

[BBC Sports]