Cricket

The upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 is set to kick off in the United Arab Emirates, and the warm-up matches have been announced. All 10 qualified teams will participate in these practice games, with each side playing two matches.The warm-up fixtures will be held from September 28 to October 1, and will provide teams with an opportunity to fine-tune their preparations for the main event. The matches will be 20 overs per side and will not have international T20 status, allowing teams to field all members of their 15-player squad.Group A of the tournament features defending champions Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Group B includes England, South Africa, West Indies, Scotland, and Bangladesh.The warm-up fixtures will begin on September 28 with Pakistan taking on Scotland and Sri Lanka facing Bangladesh. Australia will face arch-rivals England the following day, while India will take on 2016 edition champions West Indies on the same day.The warm-up matches will be crucial for teams to assess their strengths and weaknesses, and to build momentum ahead of the tournament. The matches will also provide an opportunity for players to gain valuable match experience and to adjust to the conditions in the UAE.The ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 will be held from October 10 to 20 in Dubai and Sharjah. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, which will be held on October 17 and 18. The final will be played in Dubai on October 20.

India's T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav, renowned for his exceptional performances in the shortest format, harbors a deep-seated desire to excel in red-ball cricket. In a recent interview, he expressed his eagerness to stake a claim in the Test squad.Yadav's passion for the longest format stems from his formative years in Mumbai's maidans, where he honed his skills playing with the red cherry. He has participated in numerous First Class matches over the past decade and cherishes the opportunity to compete in this challenging format."Red-ball cricket has always been my priority," Yadav asserted. "I've played a lot of First Class matches and I still love it. I'm always looking for opportunities to play for Mumbai, whether it's in First Class or tournaments like the Buchi Babu."The Buchi Babu tournament provides Yadav with a valuable platform to prepare for the upcoming Duleep Trophy and, potentially, Test cricket. He believes that the experience of playing multi-day games in challenging conditions is crucial for his development."We don't get many multi-day games back home during this weather," Yadav explained. "But standing in the heat for six hours and doing that three or four days in a row is only possible through a game. That's very important going forward in the Duleep Trophy and, hopefully, in Tests."Yadav acknowledges the intense competition for places in the Indian Test side, but he remains optimistic about his chances. He recognizes that he must earn his spot through consistent performances."There are a lot of people who have worked really hard to earn their place," Yadav said. "I want to earn that spot again. I made my debut for India in Tests, but after that, I got injured. There were a lot of people who got an opportunity and have done well too. They deserve that opportunity right now.""Going forward, if I have to play, then I'll automatically play. That's not in my control. What's in my power right now is to play the Buchi Babu tournament, go on to play Duleep Trophy and then see what happens. But yes, I'm really looking forward. There are 10 Test matches lined up and I'm obviously excited for some red-ball fun."Yadav's determination to succeed in Test cricket is evident in his approach to batting. He understands the need to adapt his style to the demands of the longest format."It's necessary to adapt to the conditions well," Yadav said. "You have to be one step ahead in the challenging longest format and can't bat like how you would in a T20. But at the same time, intent is imperative. Everything else will take care of itself when you play."Yadav also values the opportunity to learn from his teammates, both senior and junior. He believes that there is always something to be gained from observing and interacting with others."I mean, not only Shreyas or Sarfaraz, the learning also comes from players who have not even played a single game for Mumbai till now," Yadav said. "You can observe them during training and there will be small things you grasp that can be added to your own routine.""There is no senior or junior in learning. It's all the same when you play this sport."

India-Pakistan Rivalry to Ignite Women's T20 World Cup 2024 in UAEThe highly anticipated Women's T20 World Cup 2024 has been relocated from Bangladesh to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with the tournament set to take place from October 6 to 20. The relocation was necessitated due to logistical challenges in Bangladesh.The tournament will feature 10 teams divided into two groups, with six-time champions Australia drawn in Group A alongside India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Group B comprises South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, and Scotland.The India-Pakistan clash on October 6 is expected to be one of the highlights of the tournament, given the historic rivalry between the two nations. The match will be played in Dubai, which will also host the final on October 20.Each team will play four group matches, with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals on October 17 and 18. The tournament will feature 23 matches across two venues, with 10 warm-up matches scheduled from September 28 to October 1.The Women's T20 World Cup 2024 promises to be an exciting and competitive event, with some of the world's best cricketers set to showcase their skills. The relocation to the UAE is expected to provide a safe and secure environment for the tournament, while also ensuring that fans from around the world can witness the action live.

Legendary Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his disappointment over Shikhar Dhawan's retirement from all formats of cricket, stating that the sport will be "poorer" without him. Gavaskar believes that injuries may have played a role in Dhawan's decision to step away from the game.Dhawan, affectionately known as "Gabbar," was a prolific run-scorer across formats for India and in domestic leagues. He made significant contributions to India's cricketing success over the years, amassing 6,793 runs in 167 ODIs, 2,315 runs in 34 Tests, and 1,759 runs in T20Is.Gavaskar noted that Dhawan's retirement is a reminder of the challenges faced by opening batters, who can be dropped from the team after a lean series or tournament. He also acknowledged that injuries have been a part of Dhawan's career in recent years, which may have influenced his decision to quit while still enjoying the game.Dhawan played a crucial role in several tournaments for India, including the victorious 2013 Champions Trophy campaign in England. He was also the leading run-scorer for India in numerous other major tournaments, such as the 2014 Asia Cup, 2015 ODI World Cup, 2017 Champions Trophy, and 2018 Asia Cup.Apart from his contributions with the bat, Dhawan also led India on occasions when senior players were unavailable. In domestic leagues, he represented several teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL), including Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Punjab Kings. Dhawan is the second-highest run-getter in the IPL, only behind Virat Kohli.Gavaskar believes that Dhawan can still bring joy to fans in various roles, such as through the Legends Cricket League and philanthropic ventures. He also noted that retired cricketers today have more opportunities to stay connected with the game.Dhawan's retirement marks the end of an era for Indian cricket. His cheerful demeanor and positive attitude will be missed by teammates and fans alike. However, his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of cricketers.

Vidarbha all-rounder Aditya Sarwate has made a significant move by joining Kerala for the upcoming domestic cricket season. The 34-year-old has obtained a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) and will become the third professional player for Kerala this season, alongside Tamil Nadu's B. Aparajith and Madhya Pradesh's Jalaj Saxena.Sarwate's decision to leave Vidarbha, where he spent nine seasons, was driven by his desire to play in all three formats of the game. Kerala's secretary, Vinod S. Kumar, confirmed that the association will soon sign a formal contract with the player."After Shreyas Gopal left for Karnataka, we were looking for a genuine all-rounder who could play in all three formats, and Aditya fitted the bill," said Kumar. "He has performed creditably for Vidarbha for the last nine seasons, and I think his experience and skill will be an asset for Kerala this season."As a left-arm spinner, Sarwate has taken over 250 wickets for Vidarbha and is expected to provide strong support for Jalaj Saxena, who has been Kerala's main strike bowler in recent seasons. However, Saxena will only play red-ball cricket for Kerala this season."We had informed Jalaj that he will be selected only for the Ranji Trophy this season," said Kumar. "He has been our strike bowler and leading wicket-taker in Ranji Trophy for the last few seasons, and we cannot ignore that. But we felt we needed to groom youngsters for the shorter formats and told Jalaj he was not in our plans for white-ball cricket."Sarwate's addition to the Kerala squad is expected to bolster their all-round capabilities and enhance their chances of success in the upcoming domestic season.

Pakistan's slow over rate during the opening Test match against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi has cost them dearly, with the International Cricket Council (ICC) docking six World Test Championship (WTC) points. The Shan Masood-led side was found guilty of being six overs short during the encounter, resulting in the penalty. Pakistan also lost 30% of their match fee after Masood pleaded guilty to the offenses and accepted the proposed sanctions.Bangladesh, too, faced consequences for their slow over rate, losing three WTC points and 15% of their match fee. Despite the setbacks, Pakistan remains in eighth place in the WTC standings, while Bangladesh has dropped to seventh. South Africa has moved up a spot to sixth.In a separate incident, Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was fined 10% of his match fee and given a demerit point for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct. Shakib threw the ball at Mohammad Rizwan during the 33rd over of the second innings.On the field, spinners Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan played pivotal roles in securing Bangladesh's historic 10-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first Test. Mehidy claimed 4-21, while Shakib took 3-44, triggering a Pakistan collapse on the fifth day. The home side was dismissed for 146 runs in 55.5 overs, leaving Bangladesh with a modest target of 30 runs.Openers Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam chased down the target in just 6.3 overs, with Zakir hitting the winning boundary. The victory marked Bangladesh's first-ever Test win over Pakistan, a significant milestone for the team.

Geoffrey Boycott, the legendary England opener, has urged promising off-spinner Shoaib Bashir to emulate the bowling techniques of Nathan Lyon, whom he considers the preeminent off-spinner in contemporary cricket.Since his debut in India earlier this year, Bashir has claimed 29 wickets in seven Tests. However, he failed to make an impact in the second innings of the series opener against Sri Lanka at Manchester, as the batters effectively countered his variations by advancing down the pitch.Boycott believes that Bashir possesses the talent to improve significantly. He highlights Bashir's height and fluid action, which can generate bounce on hard surfaces and impart natural loop to his deliveries. However, he suggests that Bashir needs to refine his line and length consistency."My impression is he is not clear on what line he should be bowling so he tries all sorts of deliveries searching for a wicket," Boycott wrote in his column for The Telegraph.Boycott recommends that Bashir study videos of Lyon's bowling. He notes that Lyon bowls close to the stumps, allowing him to drift the ball away from the batsman while aiming to pitch outside off stump and spin it back into the stumps."His straight-on ball brings slip in play and he has a short square leg for the bat/pad nick. That way he can beat right-handers inside and outside of the bat," Boycott explained.Boycott emphasizes the importance of matching line with length, as great bowlers must be able to control both aspects. He also advises Bashir to develop a stock ball that he can rely on to keep batters in check during Test matches."I think Shoaib has to learn that he can't always go searching for wickets, admirable as that is, because it can become expensive," Boycott wrote. "Sometimes when two opposition batsmen get set on a flat batting pitch the seamers are given the best end and the spinner the worst end. They are asked to bowl uphill or against the wind to do a holding job, keeping the batsmen quiet and runs to a minimum. That is why he needs a good stock ball."England currently hold a 1-0 lead in the three-match series against Sri Lanka. The second Test will be played at Lord's on August 29, followed by the series finale at The Oval on September 6.

Jay Shah, the current secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), is poised to become the next chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). According to multiple reports, Shah has emerged as the frontrunner to succeed Greg Barclay in the top post.To secure his nomination, the ICC requires a proposer and a seconder. England and Australia are reportedly backing Shah's candidature, further strengthening his bid for the position.If Shah is elected, he will become the youngest-ever ICC chief at the age of 36. His election would also make him the latest in a line of prominent Indians who have held the prestigious position, including Jagmohan Dalmiya, Sharad Pawar, N. Srinivasan, and Shashank Manohar.Currently, Shah serves as the BCCI-appointed ICC director and chairs the ICC's Finance and Commercial Affairs sub-committee, one of the most influential bodies within the ICC. His leadership in these roles, coupled with the strong backing from international cricket boards, places him in a favorable position to guide the ICC in the coming years.Meanwhile, the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) president, Rohan Jaitely, is reportedly the frontrunner to become the next BCCI secretary if Shah becomes ICC chairman. According to sources quoted by Dainik Bhaskar, Jaitely is leading the race among other candidates.The ICC has set a deadline of August 27 for current directors to submit their nominations for the chairmanship. Greg Barclay, who is eligible for a third term, has announced his decision not to seek re-election, paving the way for Shah's potential ascension.

Carlos Brathwaite's Outburst Sparks Controversy in Caribbean 2024 QualifierWest Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite has come under fire for his unsportsmanlike conduct during the Qualifier 1 match of the Max60 Caribbean 2024 tournament. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media, showing Brathwaite smashing his helmet and bat in frustration after being dismissed.The incident occurred when Brathwaite was facing a short ball from Joshua Little. The ball appeared to hit his shoulder before being caught behind the stumps. However, the umpire raised his finger, sparking Brathwaite's anger.As he walked back to the pavilion, Brathwaite took out his frustration on his helmet, smashing it with his bat. He then threw his bat towards the dugout. The act has been widely condemned by fans and pundits alike.Brathwaite's outburst overshadowed the New York Strikers' eight-run victory over the Grand Cayman Jaguars. The Strikers posted a total of 108 for eight, with Mitchell Owen and Brandon McMullen providing the early impetus. Captain Thisara Perera also contributed with a quickfire 16.In response, the Jaguars fell short by eight runs, despite Alex Hales' unbeaten 35 and Sikandar Raza's 27. Left-arm spinner Ansh Patel was the pick of the bowlers for the Strikers, taking two wickets for eight runs.Brathwaite's actions have raised questions about his temperament and professionalism. The incident has also highlighted the importance of sportsmanship in cricket. While it is understandable to be disappointed with a dismissal, it is never acceptable to resort to violence or unsportsmanlike behavior.