Sports
India, Pakistan headline exhilarating neighbourhood showdown
Two traditional rivals will face off in a crucial group at the T20 World Cup, while two further neighbours are joined by a talented European side.
Group A preview:
The Asian rivals will face still competition from co-hosts USA, Canada and Ireland in Group A of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 is just around the corner as 20 teams battle it out for the most coveted title in T20I cricket.
In Group A, a pair of neighbours – India and Pakistan along with the USA and Canada – will be joined by Ireland.
India
India enter the T20 World Cup with a burning desire to shatter their streak of near misses in world events, having come agonisingly close in recent tournaments only to falter at the final hurdle.
With a formidable squad at full strength, India now stands poised to reclaim the elusive title they last clinched in the inaugural edition back in 2007.
Under the seasoned leadership of Rohit Sharma, who embarks on his second stint as captain in the T20 World Cup, the team boasts a formidable top-order line-up featuring the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav.
Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson are currently in scintillating form, presenting a pleasant dilemma for Rohit and the team management in selecting the wicket-keeper for the World Cup campaign.
India’s all-round prowess is further bolstered by the likes of Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Shivam Dube, providing depth and versatility to the squad. The bowling department boasts formidable talent with the presence of Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav and others, ensuring a well-rounded line-up.
India take on Ireland in their tournament opener on 5 June before the focus shifts to the epic clash against Pakistan on 9 June in New York.
Squad
Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
Fixtures
vs Ireland – Wed, 5 June 2024, New York, 10:30 AM local time
vs Pakistan – Sun, 9 June 2024, New York, 10:30 AM local time
vs USA – Wed, 12 June 2024, New York, 10:30 AM local time
vs Canada – Sat, 15 June 2024, Florida, 10:30 AM local time
Key Player – Jasprit Bumrah
India will be bolstered by the return of Jasprit Bumrah, who was sidelined during the previous edition of the T20 World Cup in 2022 due to injury.
Since his comeback, Bumrah has reaffirmed his indispensable role in the team, showcasing his prowess with 20 wickets in 11 matches during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 held at home.
His T20 form has been sensational as well, picking up 20 wickets in 13 matches for the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League, despite the team struggling in the tournament.
Bumrah’s repertoire of skills knows no bounds, and in the unique conditions of the USA and the Windies, where India plays their group stage matches, his ability to vary his deliveries will prove instrumental.
Pakistan
Pakistan, much like their counterparts India, have been tantalisingly close to clinching an ICC trophy, having reached the semi-finals and final in the last two editions of the T20 World Cup.
With the disappointment of those near misses driving them, Babar Azam leads Pakistan into the upcoming tournament with a fervent desire to end their trophy drought.
Babar and Mohammad Rizwan have been linchpins of the Pakistan batting line-up for years and will be supported by Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman and Iftikhar Ahmed.
Pakistan have a variety of spin-bowling options in Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim and Abrar Ahmed to go with the abundance of riches in the pace bowling department.
Spearheaded by Shaheen Afridi, the team in green have an admirable pace battery with the presence of Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Amir and Abbas Afridi.
Pakistan take on co-hosts USA in their opening clash on 6 June before facing off against India in a much-awaited clash on 9 June.
Squad
Babar Azam (c), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan
Fixtures
vs USA – Thu, 6 June 2024, Texas, 10:30 AM local time
vs India – Sun, 9 June 2024, New York, 10:30 AM local time
vs Canada – Tue, 11 June 2024, New York, 10:30 AM local time
vs Ireland – Sun, 16 June 2024, Florida, 10:30 AM local time
Key Player – Babar Azam
Babar Azam has navigated through a turbulent period in recent months, beginning with Pakistan’s disappointing campaign in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, where they managed only four wins in nine games, leading to an early exit from the group stages.
He was since removed as captain and reinstated as well, tasked with the responsibility of leading Pakistan’s charge at the T20 World Cup under new leadership.
At the forefront of Pakistan’s batting line-up, Babar has been a consistent force, accumulating 3987 runs in 118 matches at an impressive average of 41.10 and a strike rate of 129.91. He has the experience of leading Pakistan in ICC events, taking the team to the semi-final and final in the last two editions under his leadership.
While scrutiny persists over his strike rate, Babar’s unwavering presence at the crease has often laid the groundwork for Pakistan’s successes in recent years, highlighting his importance to the team’s fortunes.
Ireland
For the eighth consecutive edition, Ireland have earned their spot at this year’s T20 World Cup, a testament to the nation’s evolving cricketing journey over the years.
Ireland will be under new leadership heading into the tournament, with veteran batter Paul Stirling taking over the reins of the team from Andrew Balbirnie, who had led the team in the last two editions.
The batting line-up revolves around the dynamic opening duo of the current and former captain, supported by the likes of Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ross Adair and Curtis Campher.
In the bowling department, Mark Adair and Josh Little headline the pace attack, complemented by Graham Hume, Campher, Barry McCarthy and Craig Young. Meanwhile, the spin duties are entrusted to the duo of Ben White and Gareth Delany, offering a balanced and varied bowling arsenal.
Ireland face a formidable challenge in their tournament opener against India on 5 June. However, a victory in this encounter could serve as a significant morale boost for the team, fueling their aspirations to progress beyond the group stage in the T20 World Cup for the first time in their history.
Squad
Paul Stirling (c), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Graham Hume, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Neil Rock, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young
Fixtures
vs India – Wed, 5 June 2024, New York, 10:30 AM local time
vs Canada – Fri, 7 June 2024, New York, 10:30 AM local time
vs USA – Fri, 14 June 2024, Florida, 10:30 AM local time
vs Pakistan – Sun, 16 June 2024, Florida, 10:30 AM local time
Key Player – Paul Stirling
A pillar of Ireland’s cricketing landscape, Paul Stirling assumes the leadership reins for the first time in an ICC event, marking a significant milestone in his already illustrious career.
Since his T20I debut in 2009, the 33-year-old has been a dynamic force at the top of the order, amassing 3589 runs in 142 matches at an impressive average of 27.60, with a striking rate of 135.43.
Stirling stands as Ireland’s leading run-scorer in T20Is, being the sole player from his country to surpass the 3000-run milestone in the shortest format.
His formidable partnership with Balbirnie has been instrumental in Ireland’s success, with Stirling’s explosive batting prowess setting the tone at the outset. As Ireland’s key player, his performances at the top order will play a pivotal role in the team’s quest for success in the T20 World Cup.
USA
USA embarks on a historic journey as they make their debut appearance at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, earning their spot as co-hosts of the tournament.
This marks their first foray into a major men’s ICC event since 2004 when they competed in the group stages of the Champions Trophy.
Monank Patel will lead USA’s charge in their historic campaign and will be a key part of their batting line-up along with Aaron Jones and Steven Taylor.
The inclusion of former New Zealand international Corey Anderson adds depth and experience to the middle order, further strengthening USA’s batting prowess.
The return of Ali Khan provides a significant boost to USA’s bowling attack, with support from Saurabh Netravalkar and Milind Kumar.
USA commence their T20 World Cup campaign against neighbours Canada on 1 June, aiming to set the stage for a successful tournament with a victory in the opening match.
Squad
Monank Patel (c), Aaron Jones, Andries Gous, Corey Anderson, Ali Khan, Harmeet Singh, Jessy Singh, Milind Kumar, Nisarg Patel, Nitish Kumar, Noshtush Kenjige, Saurabh Nethralvakar, Shadley Van Schalkwyk, Steven Taylor, Shayan Jahangir
Fixtures
vs Canada – Sat, 1 June 2024, Dallas, 7:30 PM local time
vs Pakistan – Thu, 6 June 2024, Texas, 10:30 AM local time
vs India – Wed, 12 June 2024, New York, 10:30 AM local time
vs Ireland – Fri, 14 June 2024, Florida, 10:30 AM local time
Key Player – Ali Khan
USA will be elated with the return of Ali Khan, who missed the recent five-match T20I series against Canada due to injury.
Khan has been a globetrotter in the franchise T20 circuit, playing in the Caribbean Premier League and Pakistan Super League. He burst onto the scene in the USA in late 2015 and shot to fame in 2016, picking up the wicket of Kumar Sangakkara off the very first ball he bowled for Guyana Amazon Warriors in the CPL.
Despite a career hampered by injuries, Khan has showcased his talent in the limited opportunities he’s had in T20Is for USA, claiming nine wickets at an impressive economy rate of 7.69 in just eight matches.
Armed with a lethal yorker, Khan now finds himself with a golden opportunity to make his mark on the international stage at the T20 World Cup, hosted in his home country, where he can showcase his prowess to the world.
Canada
Like USA, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 will mark the maiden appearance of Canada at the showpiece event.
However, Canada are no strangers to the big stage, having previously played the 50-over World Cup first in 1979 and then on three consecutive occasions in 2003, 2007 and 2011.
The veteran Saad Bin Zafar will captain Canada at the upcoming tournament in a side filled with experienced players, with only four players under the age of 30.
Uncapped batter Kanwarpal Tathgur, who has only played six List-A games, was a surprise inclusion in the team. Additionally, the return of pacer Jeremy Gordon and seasoned 39-year-old all-rounder Junaid Siddiqui further bolsters Canada’s squad depth.
Canada commence their T20 World Cup campaign on 1 June against co-hosts USA in Dallas, marking the beginning of their quest for success on the global stage.
Squad
Saad Bin Zafar (c), Aaron Johnson, Ravinderpal Singh, Navneet Dhaliwal, Kaleem Sana, Dilon Heyliger, Jeremy Gordon, Nikhil Dutta, Pargat Singh, Nicholas Kirton, Rayyankhan Pathan, Junaid Siddiqui, Dilpreet Bajwa, Shreyas Movva, Rishiv Joshi
Fixtures
vs USA – Sat, 1 June 2024, Dallas, 7:30 PM local time
vs Ireland – Fri, 7 June 2024, New York, 10:30 AM local time
vs Pakistan – Tue, 11 June 2024, New York, 10:30 AM local time
vs India – Sat, 15 June 2024, Florida, 10:30 AM local time
Key Player – Saad Bin Zafar
Saad Bin Zafar stands as the cornerstone of Canada’s campaign at the upcoming T20 World Cup, shouldering multiple responsibilities as captain, batter and bowler.
The second-most capped T20I player in the country, Saad brings with him a wealth of experience that would serve Canada greatly on the big stage.
A left-arm spinner by trait, Saad is the leading wicket-taker for Canada in T20Is with 43 scalps to his name. He is also quite handy with the bat, having scored 272 runs in 19 innings at an average of 22.66 at a strike rate of 133.99.
For Canada to have a memorable T20 World Cup debut, they will want Saad Bin Zafar to be firing on all cylinders at the upcoming tournament.
(ICC)
They may not have too many trophies to show for their efforts, but since the disappointment of finishing ninth at the 2023 World Cup — which shut the door on Champions Trophy qualification — Sri Lanka have moved on with a real sense of purpose, tightening screws in key areas of their white-ball game.
Fielding and fitness, long the Achilles heel, have been given a serious polish. During the recent Asia Cup in the UAE, the islanders looked the sharpest fielding outfit in the competition — diving, sprinting and cutting off boundaries with the zeal of men possessed. In the 50-over format, particularly, they’ve made giant strides, notching series wins over Australia and India within the last 15 months. Those efforts have hoisted them to fourth in the ICC rankings — a healthy climb up the ladder.
In the Asia Cup, played in the shorter 20-over format, they began with a bang — beating Bangladesh and knocking Afghanistan out of contention — but fizzled out in the Super Four stage, failing to reach the final. The tied game against eventual champions India was a timely reminder of their fighting spirit, with Pathum Nissanka’s sparkling hundred almost steering the former champions across the line.
“We have made a lot of progress in the last 15 months across all three formats, no doubt, but we know we can still be better,” Head Coach Sanath Jayasuriya told Telecom Asia Sport. “What we’re looking for during the Pakistan tour is greater consistency.”
Top-order batter Pavan Rathnayake, who has been setting the domestic circuit alight with a flurry of runs, is expected to make his debut in the three-match ODI series starting Tuesday in Rawalpindi.
Sri Lanka will also feature in a tri-nation T20 tournament with hosts Pakistan and Zimbabwe — a handy tune-up before the T20 World Cup, which kicks off in February with Sri Lanka and India as joint hosts.
Firepower has often been Sri Lanka’s missing link in the T20 format. To plug that gap, selectors have recalled the experienced Bhanuka Rajapaksa — a proven six-hitter who could give their batting a much-needed jolt. A solid showing in Pakistan might just book his ticket for the World Cup although his fielding remains a concern.
An injury to star pacer Matheesha Pathirana has opened the door for Asitha Fernando’s return to the T20I side — his first appearance this year.
Sri Lanka have also rung the changes in their backroom staff, replacing the fielding, spin-bowling and batting coaches. The most eye-catching appointment is England’s Julian Wood, the renowned power-hitting guru who has worked with IPL and county sides. His brief is simple: inject explosiveness into a batting line-up that has too often blown hot and cold.
(Telcom Asia Sport)
Latest News
Meghalaya’s Akash Kumar goes 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6 to smash fastest ever first-class fifty
Meghalaya batter Akash Kumar Chooudhary made cricket history on Sunday, becoming only the third player in First-Class history to hit six sixes in an over (where data is available), and also scored the fastest ever fifty in FC cricket.
Akash achieved the feat during the second day of Meghalaya’s Plate Group game in the Ranji Trophy, against Arunachal Pradesh, in Surat. He smashed six sixes off left-arm spinner Limar Dabi in the 126th over of Meghalaya’s innings, and in the process, joined an elite club that previously included only Ravi Shastri and Garry Sobers South Africa’s Mike Procter also hit six consecutive sixes, but spread across two overs.
Coming in at No.8, Akash began his innings with a dot and two singles, but smashed the next eight balls for six – no other batter in history had managed more than six in a row – to reach his fifty off just 11 balls. Akash’s half-century came one ball faster than the previous record holder – Leicestershire’s Wayne Knight made 50 off 12 balls in 2012, while Clive Inman struck his fifty off just 13 balls in 1965. While Akash broke the record for fastest half-century in terms of balls faced, he remains second on the list for fastest fifty by time, he took nine minutes to reach the mark, while Inman took only eight.
Akash, 25, has played 30 first-class matches since making his debut in 2019, scoring 503 runs at an average of 14.37
(Cricinfo)
The series that keeps on giving. After two humdingers in Auckland, the third T20I between West Indies and New Zealand in Nelson was shaping up to be a more sedate contest, with the visitors having slipped to 88 for 8 in 12.3 overs, chasing 178, staring at a comprehensive defeat. Surely game over, right?
Shamar Springer and Romario Shepherd, however, had other ideas. In a stunning rearguard action, the duo added 78 runs for the ninth wicket off just 39 balls to keep West Indies’ chase alive. From 90 off 45, they brought the equation down to 13 off seven. But New Zealand, just as they did in the second T20I, held their composure in the end.
Jacob Duffy pulled off a stunning return catch off the final ball of the 19th over to send back Springer. And with 12 needed of the final over, Kyle Jamieson stepped up for the second game running to dismiss Romario Shepherd. New Zealand won the third T20I by nine runs to go 2-1 up in the five-match series.
Electing to bat, New Zealand recorded 177 for 9 in their 20 overs on the back of Devon Conway’s 56 off 34 balls and Daryl Mitchell’s 24-ball 41. The final score was threatening to be a lot more, but three run-outs and Matthew Forde and Jason Holder’s two-fors denied New Zealand a late charge.
Ish Sodhi’s 3 for 34 and Duffy’s two-wicket opening over had West Indies on the mat, before the visitors threatened to pull off the improbable again. In the end, they fell short… again.
The game was done, the writing was surely on the wall, but Shepherd and Springer proved otherwise. When the duo got together, West Indies were in all sorts at 88 for 8 in the 13th over. Springer slog swept Sodhi over deep midwicket first ball. Shepherd soon joined him, smashing Duffy for six over fine leg and then slicing him over point. At the time, a comprehensive New Zealand win felt just two mis-hits away, but these mis-hits never came.
Both Springer and Shepherd found the boundaries regularly. Springer muscled Mitchell Santner over long-on, and then walloped Jamieson for back-to-back fours. By the time the 18th over from James Neesham was taken for 19, West Indies believed. With 24 needed of 12, it was their game to lose, especially when Duffy was sent out of the stadium for a 103m six over long-on by Shepherd.
But Duffy, who had struck two telling blows earlier, dove low to his left and plucked out a stunner as Springer fell for a superb 20-ball 39. Jamieson, who had defended 16 in the previous match, was now tasked with defending 12 in Nelson. He went the hard-length way, rattling Shepherd with the extra bounce. With the equation down to ten off two, Jamieson bowled a shin-high full toss that was miscued to only as far as Mitchell at long-off.
A third-straight last-over finish has now gone New Zealand’s way.
Much before the Shepherd-Springer mayhem, West Indies looked in complete disarray. Jamieson conceded three fours in his opening over, but as Duffy had all series, he kept at it. He bowled Amir Jangoo, chopping back onto his stumps first ball. Three balls later, he had Shai Hope caught at deep backward square leg. At the other end, however, Jamieson continued to bleed runs and also put down Alick Athanaze, as West Indies breezed past 50 in 6.3 overs.
Sodhi’s introduction flipped the script. He had Athanaze caught behind with a long-hop, while Michael Bracewell sent back Sherfane Rutherford. Sodhi then found Rovman Powell swinging for the hills, but Powell missed instead and saw his stumps in a mess. By the time Sodhi trapped Forde lbw for 4, West Indies had lost 6 for 35 in less than six overs.
At the time, the game was poised for an early finish, but Shepherd and Springer gave the visitors hope.
Earlier, Conway – managing to avoid his series nemesis Forde in the opening over – got into his groove, pumping Akeal Hosein over deep midwicket for a huge six. Forde himself was tight with his lines and conceded just 14 in his three overs in the powerplay. This spell included getting rid of Tim Robinson, who was looking to turn the fast bowler around the corner, but popped a straightforward return catch instead.
However, West Indies bled runs at the other end. Hosein’s two overs went for 21, while Shepherd conceded 11 runs, as New Zealand reached 47 for 1 after six overs.
Athanaze, more in the side for his top-order batting, had never bowled in any of his 11 T20Is before this game. The decision to introduce him right after the powerplay was surprising. Bowling with his cap on, Conway first pulled a short ball through midwicket, before lifting Athanaze inside-out over covers, on a delivery that also turned out to be a front-foot no-ball. While Conway couldn’t make use of the free-hit, Ravindra ended the over lofting Athanaze straight down the ground as New Zealand collected 16 runs in the seventh, giving their innings much-needed impetus.
By this time, Conway gotten a hang of the Nelson surface and brought out his repertoire of shots. He scooped Shamar Springer over short fine leg, before thrashing him past point to move into the 40s. He reached his 12th T20I fifty by mowing Hosein over cow corner, while Ravindra at the other end also got going nicely. He struck back-to-back fours against Holder, as New Zealand racked up 49 runs in the four overs after the powerplay.
At 96 for 2 after ten, New Zealand had their eyes set on 200, but poor running and effective West Indies bowling held them back. Ravindra’s sprightly knock was cut short by Shepherd, whose slower offcutter stopped on the surface and caught Ravindra’s leading edge to extra cover.
Conway was then undone by some Athanaze brilliance: Mitchell squeezed a fuller-length Springer delivery to the left of deep midwicket and called for two right away. Conway responded, but Athanaze sprinted to his left and fired a direct throw at the non-striker’s end to find the opener well short.
With the run rate slowing down, Mitchell took Hosein downtown for two sixes and a four in the 15th over before Bracewell was run out. Forde made a mess of Neesham’s stumps with a quick and full ball, while Santner sliced a low Springer full toss outside off to deep point.
When Holder removed Mitchell and Mitchell Hay in the 19th over, New Zealand had slid from 144 for 3 to 169 for 8 in 21 balls. The hosts managed only 35 runs in the last five overs, losing six wickets to fall well short of what they would have wanted at the halfway stage of their innings.
In the end, it was just enough.
Brief scores:
New Zealand 177 for 9 in 20 overs (Devon Conway 56, Tim Robinson 23, Rachin Ravindra 26, Daryl Mitchell 41, Michael Bracewll 11; Maththew Forde 2-20, Romario Shepherd 1-23. Jason Holder 2-31, Shamar Springer 1-36) beat West Indies 168 in 19.5 overs (Alick Athanaze 31, Ackeem Auguste 24, Romario Shepherd 49, Shamar Springer 39; Kyle Jamieson 1-35, Ish Sodhi 3-34, Jacob Duffy 3-36, Michael Bracewell 1-07, Mitchell Santner 1-29) by nine runs
[Cricinfo]
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