Sports

Cricket heavyweights joined by trio of sides out to impress

Published

2 years ago

2024/05/31

Group B preview:

Australia and England will be favourites to progress out of Group B at the T20 World Cup, but Namibia, Oman and Scotland have shown previously they are more than capable of causing an upset or two.

The two most recent champions along with three spirited associates make up Group B of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

England, the defending champions of the Men’s T20 World Cup, and Australia, the winners of the 2021 edition, are in Group B along with Namibia, Oman and Scotland. Only the top two teams will progress to the Super 8s phase of the event.

While all eyes will be on the big names from Australia and England, there’s enough potential in Namibia, Oman, and Scotland to make the group results interesting.

Despite not reaching the final four stage of their home T20 World Cup in 2022, Australia are among the favourites in this edition. The talented side have a history of doing well in ICC events, and the current unit features several players in rich form with recent ICC success.

Squad

Mitchell Marsh (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa

Fixtures

vs Oman – Wednesday, 5 June 2024 Barbados, 08:30 PM Local

vs England – Saturday, 8 June 2024 Barbados, 01:00 PM Local

vs Namibia – Tuesday, 11 June 2024 Antigua, 08:30 PM Local

vs Scotland – Saturday, 15 June 2024 St. Lucia, 08:30 PM Local

Key player – Travis Head

Travis Head has been Australia’s star performer in ICC tournaments of late, as shown through his stellar performances during the ICC World Test Championship final and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup semi-final and final.

Having won two ICC titles for Australia since June 2023, Head would like to make it a hat-trick for the men’s side with his dynamic display on the field.

Adding to his repertoire is his explosive form in the IPL, where he has scored more than 500 runs at a strike rate just below 200.

England

The defending champions, England, will yet again look to bank on the attacking style of play that has served them so well in the limited-overs format.

The return of pace spearhead Jofra Archer to the line-up is a big plus in a squad that seems to have all the key bases covered.

Squad

Jos Buttler (c), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonathan Bairstow, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, Mark Wood

Fixtures

vs Scotland – Tuesday, 4 June 2024 , Barbados, 10:30 AM Local

vs Australia – Saturday, 8 June 2024 Barbados, 01:00 PM Local

vs Oman – Thursday, 13 June 2024 Antigua, 03:00 PM Local

vs Namibia – Saturday, 15 June 2024 , Antigua, 01:00 PM Local

Key player – Mark Wood

Despite not featuring in the business end of England’s successful 2022 campaign, Mark Wood left his mark on the tournament with his propensity to rattle up opposition batters.

Raw pace serves a dual purpose in Wood’s armour, helping extract that extra zip out of the wicket while also clouding the batter’s shot-making ability by reducing the time available for shot selection.

Namibia

Namibia qualified for the T20 World Cup on the back of a stellar run at the Africa Regional Qualifier stage. They were undefeated in the tournament, securing wins over six teams including co-qualifiers Uganda and Test-playing Zimbabwe. Success over Test nations isn’t a new phenomenon for the Eagles, who stunned Sri Lanka in the last edition of the T20 World Cup, and they’d like to repeat the feat in the upcoming event.

Squad

Gerhard Erasmus (c), Zane Green, Michael Van Lingen, Dylan Leicher, Ruben Trumpelmann, Jack Brassell, Ben Shikongo, Tangeni Lungameni, Niko Davin, JJ Smit, Jan Frylinck, JP Kotze, David Wiese, Bernard Scholtz, Malan Kruger, PD Blignaut

Fixtures

vs Oman – Sunday, 2 June 2024 Barbados, 08:30 PM Local

vs Scotland – Thursday, 6 June 2024 , Barbados, 03:00 PM Local

vs Australia – Tue, 11 June 2024 Antigua, 08:30 PM Local

vs England – Saturday, 15 June 2024 Antigua, 01:00 PM Local

Key player – David Wiese

Since making his international comeback with Namibia, David Wiese has been living the dream. The 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup will be his third consecutive tournament this decade, and the all-rounder will be raring to go in all departments on the field.

His hammer-and-tongs approach with the willow and clever assortment of cutters and slower balls have served the Eagles well and the burly all-rounder will look to light up Group B with his performances.

Oman

The sole Asian side in the group, Oman, carry a fair mix of tournament experience in their ranks. This will be their third appearance in the T20 World Cup, and the side would love to leave their mark with a good showing. Their opening encounter on 2 June against Namibia, a side they’ve defeated twice in the past, could set the tone for their tournament.

Squad

Aqib Ilyas (c), Zeeshan Maqsood, Kashyap Prajapati, Pratik Athavale, Ayaan Khan, Shoaib Khan, Mohammad Nadeem, Naseem Khushi, Mehran Khan, Bilal Khan, Rafiullah, Kaleemullah, Fayyaz Butt, Shakeel Ahmad, Khalid Kail. Reserves: Jatinder Singh, Samay Shrivastava, Sufyan Mehmood, Jay Odedra

Fixtures

vs Namibia – Sunday, 2 June 2024 , Barbados, 08:30 PM Local

vs Australia – Wednesday, 5 June 2024 Barbados, 08:30 PM Local

vs Scotland – Sun, 9 June 2024 Antigua, 01:00 PM Local

vs England – Thursday, 13 June 2024 Antigua, 03:00 PM Local

Key player – Aqib Ilyas

Skipper Aqib Ilyas, a solid top-order batter and a top-draw spinner, will be key to Oman’s hopes in the T20 World Cup. He might be a newly appointed leader, but the presence of former captain, Zeeshan Maqsood, in the squad means that the all-rounder will have plenty of support on the field.

Aqib’s captaincy tenure has seen his numbers improve, with the batter averaging 42.5 at a strike-rate of 158.38, from his seven games.

Scotland

Richie Berrington’s Scotland have a number of players with a fair amount of global T20 cricket experience and will seek to bring that knowledge to best use in their group encounters in the West Indies.

The Scots have a proud cricketing history, which includes defeating neighbouring rivals England in ODI cricket in 2018. Their meeting on 4 June in Barbados will be the first-ever in T20I format, and Berrington’s side would be more than chuffed if they pull off a similar result to give their campaign a perfect start.

Squad

Richie Berrington (c), Matthew Cross, Brad Currie, Chris Greaves, Oli Hairs, Jack Jarvis, Michael Jones, Michael Leask, Brandon McMullen, George Munsey, Safyaan Sharif, Chris Sole, Charlie Tear, Mark Watt, Brad Wheal

Fixtures

vs England – Tuesday, 4 June 2024 Barbados, 10:30 AM Local

vs Namibia – Thursday, 6 June 2024 Barbados, 03:00 PM Local

vs Oman – Sunday 9 June 2024 Antigua, 01:00 PM Local

vs Australia – Saturday, 15 June 2024 St. Lucia, 08:30 PM Local

Key player – Mark Watt

Left-arm spinner Mark Watt has been Scotland’s go-to bowler for some time now. The tweaker makes good use of the crease, varying his delivery point depending on the batter and match situation, and fluctuates his speeds to keep the opponent guessing.

His spinning darters have stood up well against famed opponents, as showed against Sri Lanka and West Indies in last year’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe.

(ICC)

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Latest News

USA’s Ali Khan claims having been ‘denied’ India visa ahead of T20 World Cup

Published

13 hours ago

2026/01/14

Priyan

USA's Ali Khan was born and raised in Pakistan [Cricinfo]

Ali Khan the USA fast bowler of Pakistan origin, has claimed in a caption to a story on Instagram that he has been “denied” an Indian visa. USA are scheduled to play India in Mumbai on February 7, the opening day of the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Khan, who is currently in Colombo for a USA training camp, posted on Tuesday without giving any further details. ESPNcricinfo has approached the USA team manager for comment.

USA are yet to announce their squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup but it is expected the final 15 will be chosen from the 18 that are at the camp in Sri Lanka. It is understood that the squad will be picked by the USA coaching group, while the team administration and logistics are being overseen by the ICC, which took charge following the suspension of USA Cricket late last year.

Khan, 35, is one of three USA players of Pakistan origin currently at the camp in Colombo; Ehsan Adil – who has played three Tests for Pakistan – and Mohammad Mohsin are the other two. The ICC has made no official comment on the situation but is understood to be trying to facilitate the matter and is confident it will be resolved.

A number of associate teams in the tournament – Oman, UAE and Italy – will be looking on with interest, given their squads are likely to include a number of players of Pakistan origin, or with Pakistani nationality.

ESPNcricinfo understands that England’s two squad members of Pakistan heritage, Adil Rashid and Rehan Ahmed, are both still awaiting their visas. While the matter is expected to be resolved in time for the tournament, their situation is complicated by the need to apply in-person. Rehan is currently in Australia at the BBL, while Rashid is in Dubai.

Last September, the ICC had informed all participating teams that securing visas to India and Sri Lanka, the co-hosts of the T20 World Cup, would be the responsibility of the respective boards but it would facilitate paperwork if needed. In the case of USA, with the suspension of USAC, that responsibility would lie with the ICC.

Worsening diplomatic and political ties between India and Pakistan have made visas an complicated issue in recent years, even for players who are nationals of other countries. England’s Shoaib Bashir and Saqib Mahmood had faced delays in obtaining visas but were granted them eventually, as was the case with Australia’s Usman Khawaja. The visas for the Pakistan team were also delayed ahead of their travel to India for the 2023 ODI World Cup.

USA, who got a direct entry for the 2026 T20 World Cup after making the Super Eights stage in the 2024 tournament, are scheduled to play three of their four group A matches in India. Their first match is against defending champions India on the opening day (February 7) of the T20 World Cup in Mumbai, followed by Pakistan in Colombo (February 10) and then two matches in Chennai – against Netherlands (February 13) and Namibia (February 15).

[Cricinfo]

Sports

Kavith top scores as Maris Stella post 270 runs

Published

24 hours ago

2026/01/14

Sahan Weerasooriya

Under 19 Cricket

Kavith de Silva with a half century (78) and Hashmika Nethshan and Dasun Nethsara with valuable knocks of 40s helped Maris Stell post 270 runs against St. Aloysius’ on day one of the Under 19 cricket encounter at Karandeniya on Tuesday.

‎For St. Aloysius’ Dulsath Nimviru and Oshada Devinda took four wickets each.

‎Meanwhile the Under 19 Division I tier B match between Ananda and Isipatana ended in a no decision.

‎ Match Scores

‎Maris Stella post 270 at Karandeniya

‎Scores

‎Maris Stella 270 all out in 79.1 overs (Hansaka Perera 29, Kavith de Silva 78, Hashmika Nethshan 45, Dasun Nethsara 41, Ameesha Fernando 25; Dulsath Nimviru 4/100, Oshada Devinda 4/68)

‎St. Aloysius’ 54 for 2 in 16 overs

(Gimhan Hansaka 34; Savindu Sathsara 2/15)

‎

No decision at Ananda Mawatha

‎Scores

‎Ananda 204 for 9 decl. in 64.2 overs

(Danindu Sellapperuma 21, Himira Kudagama 43, Lithma Perera 28, Binara Umayanga 39, Rashan Dilaksha 29; Tharindu Naveen 2/21, Dasith Senal 3/56)

‎Isipatana 110 for 5 in 46 overs (Navindu Umeth 48, Dewshan Deneth 23; Himira Kudagama 4/23) (RF)

Latest News

Harmanpreet masterclass seals second-highest chase in WPL, Mumbai Indians go 8-0 against Gujarat Giants

Published

1 day ago

2026/01/14

Priyan

Harmanpreet Kaur led the chase of 193 from the front [Cricinfo]

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s unbeaten 71 off 43 balls powered Mumbai Indians (MI) to a seven-wicket win over Gujarat Giants [GG], as they chased down 193, the second-highest successful chase in WPL history.

Harmanpreet paced the chase to near perfection, finding support from Amanjot Kaur and Nicola Carey, as MI extended their perfect head-to-head record against Giants to 8-0. MI also maintained their remarkable streak of never losing a WPL match when Harmanpreet scores a fifty, this being the 10th such instance.

Giants began briskly after being put in, with Sophie Devine and Beth Mooney taking on the returning Hayley Matthews for four boundaries in the second over. Devine got an early reprieve, when Shabnim Ismail induced an edge in the opening over and wicketkeeper G Kamalini put down the chance. The miss proved inconsequential as Ismail struck again in the third over, this time having Devine nick behind for 8, with Kamalini holding on.

With Anushka Sharma sidelined through injury, Kanika Ahuja was promoted to No. 3. She ensured the momentum did not dip, getting off the mark with a powerful drive through the covers, and combining with Mooney to inflict damage. After Mooney’s departure, she continued the same alongside Ash Gardner. The pair carried Giants to 99 for 3 at the end of 10th over. Gardner fell in the 10th over and Ahuja followed in the 11th, but Giants had laid a solid platform by then.

MI clawed their way back into the contest after Ahuja’s dismissal. Ayushi Soni, brought in for Anushka, struggled to find fluency, while her partner Georgia Wareham continued to find the gaps regularly. Soni was on 7 off 10 balls at the end of the 16th over when she retired out, becoming the first player in WOL to do so. The move paved the way for Bharti Fulmali, who ensured it paid dividends.

Fulmali survived two lbw appeals in the 17th over from Amanjot, both overturned in her favour. She then launched a late onslaught, taking on Carey with two fours and a six in the 19th, before going even harder in the final over. Fulmali smashed two fours and two sixes off Amanjot as Giants plundered 39 runs across the last two overs, finishing on 192.

Hayley Matthews returned to the top of the order after missing the first two matches with injury. Despite losing her opening partner Kamalini in the third over, she ensured MI made a positive start. However, her stay was short-lived, ending on 22 off 12 balls. That dismissal brought Harmanpreet and Amanjot together, and the pair began to rebuild.

Amanjot soon found her rhythm, unfurling a flurry of boundaries against Wareham and Tanuja Kanwar, while Harmanpreet ticked along at better than run-a-ball through the first 10 overs.

Once set, Amanjot shifted gears, taking on Renuka Singh and Gardner with a series of cleanly struck sixes. The breakthrough for Giants came through Devine, whose slower ball accounted for Amanjot and ended a 72-run partnership.

Harmanpreet, though, remained unfazed and continued to dictate terms, with Carey joining her at a stage when MI required 84 off 48 balls.

Carey swung the momentum decisively in the 16th over, hammering five boundaries off Renuka, who continued to struggle for accuracy. The over slashed the equation to 39 needed off 24 balls.

Harmanpreet soon brought up her half-century off 33 deliveries, and Giants compounded their woes with a series of fielding lapses, putting down three chances of her.

Harmanpreet made them pay, pouncing on the width offered by wayward bowling to keep the chase firmly on track. With four needed off five balls, she sealed the contest by hitting a boundary, through the gap between deep square leg and deep midwicket.

Brief scores:
Mumbai Indians Women 193 for 3 in 19.2 overs (Gunalan Kamalini 13, Hayley Maththews 22, Amanjot Kaur 40, Harmanpreet Kaur 71*, Nicola Carey 38*; Renuka Singh 1-39, Kashvee Gautam 1-33, Sophie Devine 1-29) beat Gujarat Giants Women 192 for 5 in 20 overs (Beth Mooney 33, Kanika Ahuja 35, Ashleigh Gardner 20, Georgia Wareham 43*, Ayushi Sani 11, Bharti Fulmali 36*; Shabnim Ismail 1-25, Hayley Maththews 1-34, Nicola Carey 1-36, Amelia Kerr 1-40 ) by seven wickets

[Cricinfo]