Cricket

The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has announced that the finals for the next two years will be held in Guyana and Barbados. Guyana will host the final in 2025, marking the fourth consecutive year that the Providence Stadium will host the championship match. In 2026, the final will be held at Kensington Oval in Barbados for the first time ever.The CPL made the announcement in a press release on Friday, stating that it had agreed to one-year deals with the two venues. Guyana's President, Mohammed Irfan Ali, expressed his support for the Guyana Amazon Warriors, the defending CPL champions, and announced Guyana's hosting of the 2025 final.Barbados Royals, two-time CPL winners, will be eager to reclaim the trophy on home soil in 2026. CPL CEO Pete Russell praised Guyana and Barbados for their partnership with the league over the past 12 years and thanked the governments of both countries for agreeing to host the finals.The Amazon Warriors secured their berth in Sunday's final after defeating the Barbados Royals in the second qualifier. Quickfire knocks from Moeen Ali, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Shai Hope helped the Warriors chase down 149 runs in just 15 overs. The Warriors will now face the St Lucia Kings in the championship match on October 6.The CPL is one of the most popular cricket tournaments in the Caribbean, featuring some of the world's top players. The league has played a significant role in developing cricket in the region and has helped to promote the sport globally.

Rohit Sharma's iconic gesture of hoisting the Indian tricolour on the field in Barbados after India's thrilling T20 World Cup triumph has become a symbol of the team's historic achievement. The image of the Indian skipper planting the flag at the Kensington Oval has captured the hearts of the nation and has become his profile picture on his social media account.Rohit's decision to step down from T20 cricket after leading India to their second T20 World Cup title is a testament to his remarkable leadership. Under his captaincy, India has showcased their dominance by winning 10 consecutive matches, propelling them to the finals of both the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup in the previous year.Despite their impressive streak, India fell short in the ultimate showdown of each tournament. However, Rohit's legacy as a captain will be defined by his ability to inspire his team to achieve greatness.Rohit's decision to dance his way to the dais to collect the World Cup trophy during the team's interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a moment of pure joy and celebration. The idea, suggested by Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, perfectly captured the team's spirit and the magnitude of their achievement.As Rohit continues to lead India in the ODI and Test formats, the nation will be eagerly anticipating more iconic moments and historic triumphs under his leadership.

The Indian cricket team, fresh from their triumph at the T20 World Cup 2024, finally returned home to a hero's welcome after being stranded in Bridgetown, Barbados for three days due to a category 4 hurricane. The team departed on a chartered Air India flight from the Grantley Adams International Airport on July 3, arriving in Delhi on Thursday morning.The Indian squad, along with its support staff, players' families, and board officials, boarded the flight, which was arranged by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The team had been scheduled to leave on July 2 but was delayed due to the late arrival of the plane.The Boeing 777, which had flown in from New Jersey, USA, landed in Barbados around 2 a.m. local time. Airport staff stated that it was the largest aircraft they had ever seen at the Grantley Adams International Airport, which had resumed operations on Tuesday.The Indian team's victory in the T20 World Cup was a thrilling affair, with the team pulling off a seven-run win over South Africa in the final. The triumph ended an 11-year trophy drought for India.Upon their return, the players were greeted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries. Plans are also underway for a road show in Mumbai to honor the triumphant team.The Indian team's journey home was not without its challenges. Hurricane Beryl, which had caused the team's initial delay, was now headed towards Jamaica. However, the BCCI managed to secure a charter flight to bring the players home safely.The team's return marks a significant moment in Indian cricket history. The T20 World Cup victory is a testament to the team's hard work, dedication, and resilience. The players' triumph has brought joy and pride to the nation and has inspired a new generation of cricketers.

The triumphant Indian cricket team's departure from Barbados has been delayed due to the absence of their charter flight. The Air India special charter flight, designated as AIC24WC, was scheduled to transport the squad, support staff, family members, and media personnel back to India after their historic T20 World Cup victory. However, the flight has yet to arrive in Barbados.The Rohit Sharma-led team secured the title with a thrilling seven-run triumph over South Africa in the final on June 29. The flight, which departed from New Jersey, USA on July 2, was initially expected to land in Barbados around 2 a.m. local time. However, the flight's arrival has been postponed, and it is now scheduled to depart from Barbados at 4:30 a.m. (local time).The Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados resumed operations on July 2 after being closed due to Hurricane Beryl. The Indian team was originally scheduled to leave around 6 p.m. local time on July 2 and arrive in Delhi at 7.45 p.m. (IST) on July 3. However, the delays have pushed back their arrival time to 6 a.m. (IST) on July 4, assuming there are no further setbacks.The players are eagerly awaiting their return to India, where they will be felicitated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The schedule for this event has not yet been finalized. Meanwhile, Hurricane Beryl has weakened to a Category 4 storm and is moving towards Jamaica.

India's T20 World Cup Champions to Return Home on Air India FlightAfter their historic victory in the T20 World Cup, the Indian cricket team is set to return home on an Air India aircraft with call sign AIC24WC. The flight, which originated in New Jersey, will make a stopover in Bridgetown, Barbados, where the team will board.The aircraft is expected to touch down in Barbados at approximately 2 am local time. The team will then depart at 4:30 am, with an estimated flight duration of 16 hours. If all goes according to plan, the team is expected to arrive in Delhi on Thursday at 6 am Indian Standard Time (IST).The original departure time was scheduled for 6 pm local time on July 2, but was delayed due to Hurricane 'Beryl', which caused the cancellation of flights and the closure of the Grantley Adams International Airport.In addition to the team, the Indian media contingent that covered the tournament will also be on the same flight, as part of a special arrangement by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).The T20 World Cup final, held at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, saw India defeat South Africa by seven runs. The victory marked India's second T20 World Cup title, after their triumph in 2007.

The Indian cricket team, fresh from their triumph at the T20 World Cup, faced an unexpected delay in their return home due to Hurricane Beryl. The storm forced the closure of the airport in Barbados, leaving the team and their entourage stranded for two days.However, relief came on Tuesday evening when Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced that the airport was expected to resume operations within the next six to 12 hours. This news brought a sigh of relief to the Indian contingent, who have been eager to return home and celebrate their victory.The team's victory on Saturday was a historic moment for Indian cricket. After a title drought of 11 years, the Rohit Sharma-led squad defeated South Africa by seven runs in a thrilling final. The win sparked jubilation across India and cemented the team's status as one of the world's best.Despite the airport closure, the Indian team remained in high spirits, according to Prime Minister Mottley. She praised the team for their resilience and expressed her hope that they would be able to leave Barbados soon.The hurricane, which lashed Barbados and nearby islands on Monday, caused significant damage to coastal infrastructure. However, Mottley emphasized that the storm could have been much worse and expressed gratitude that it did not make landfall.The Indian team's departure from Barbados is now imminent, but they face a narrow window of opportunity as another hurricane is expected to approach on Wednesday. Prime Minister Mottley expressed her hope that the team would be able to leave before the next storm arrives.The Indian cricket team's victory at the T20 World Cup has been a source of immense pride for the nation. Their triumph has brought joy to millions of fans and has further cemented India's status as a cricketing powerhouse.

India's Triumphant Captain Rohit Sharma Celebrates T20 World Cup Victory on Barbados BeachOn the heels of India's exhilarating victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup, skipper Rohit Sharma took a moment to bask in the glory on the picturesque beaches of Barbados. The official photoshoot captured the skipper's jubilation as he posed with the coveted trophy, a testament to India's second triumph in the tournament's history.India's victory was hard-fought, with the team overcoming a spirited South African side in a thrilling final at the Kensington Oval on June 29. After posting a challenging 176 for 7, thanks to Virat Kohli's 76 and Axar Patel's 47, India's bowlers stepped up to defend the total.Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Arshdeep Singh combined to restrict South Africa to 169/8, with Pandya claiming three wickets and Bumrah and Singh taking two each. A crucial catch by Suryakumar Yadav on the boundary line to dismiss David Miller proved to be a turning point in the match.The victory marked a significant milestone for Indian cricket, as it was their first T20 World Cup triumph since the inaugural edition in 2007 under MS Dhoni's leadership. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared images of Sharma's photoshoot on social media, captioning it with a message of pride and accomplishment: "A billion dreams, a billion emotions, and a billion smiles! Mission accomplished. World Cup conquered. We are World Champions. Hey, Captain! You've done it."Sharma's leadership and the team's collective effort played a pivotal role in India's success. The victory is a testament to the team's resilience, determination, and unwavering spirit.

The T20 World Cup semifinals have been marred by inclement weather, with Guyana experiencing heavy rainfall during the India-England clash and Barbados, the venue for the final, facing a similar forecast.India's emphatic 68-run victory over England propelled them into the title match against South Africa, who comfortably defeated Afghanistan in the first semifinal. However, the teams' travel to Bridgetown, Barbados, for the final on June 29th, has raised concerns due to the gloomy weather outlook.Unlike the second semifinal, the final has a reserve day (June 30th) in place. However, the weather forecast for both days is far from ideal. Accuweather.com predicts "cloudy, breezy, and humid" conditions on Saturday (June 29th), with a high probability of showers and thunderstorms, particularly in the early hours. The cloud cover is expected to be 99%.The forecast for the reserve day (June 30th) is equally concerning, with "mostly cloudy and humid" conditions and a likelihood of rain and thunderstorms in the afternoon.The weather conditions could significantly impact the final, potentially forcing delays or even a postponement. The International Cricket Council (ICC) will be closely monitoring the situation and making contingency plans if necessary.Despite the weather concerns, fans remain hopeful that the final will be played in its entirety and that the tournament will conclude with a thrilling and memorable match.

The T20 World Cup 2024 has been plagued by logistical challenges, and the final between South Africa and the West Indies is no exception. A landing failure of a small private aircraft at the Grantley Adams airport in Barbados has stranded the South African team, their families, commentators, match officials, and ICC officials at the Trinidad airport.The Barbados airport was closed for inspections by the Civil Aviation Authority and the Barbados Police Service after the incident. Moments before the South African contingent was set to take off from Trinidad, the pilots received information about the runway closure in Bridgetown."It appeared that the landing gear of the private aircraft did not deploy, but it is currently on the runway at GAIA [Grantley Adams International Airport] safely," said Sharleen Brown, Corporate Communication Specialist with GAIA. She confirmed that all three individuals on board - two passengers and a pilot - were unharmed.Passengers on the flight from Trinidad to Barbados were told the tentative rescheduled time was 4.30pm, which would amount to nearly six hours of delay. All the boarded passengers had to return to the terminal, adding to the many delays endured by teams at the tournament.Sri Lanka had to spend a whole night at the airport when traveling from Florida to New York. Afghanistan, who finished their last Super Eight match in the wee hours of Tuesday, also had their flight delayed before playing their first T20 World Cup semi-final on Wednesday night.This is the first time South Africa has made a final of a men's World Cup. The final will be played on Saturday morning, as opposed to the usual tradition of playing on Sundays. That change meant the second semi-final, currently delayed because of inclement weather in Guyana, could not have a reserve day.Despite giving the two semi-finals the same amount of extra time to get a game in, the ICC has used different playing conditions if the matches needed to be shortened.