Cricket

India and Pakistan to Clash in World Championship of Legends FinalArchrivals India and Pakistan will face off in the highly anticipated final of the World Championship of Legends on Saturday at Birmingham. The two teams emerged victorious in their respective semi-finals on Friday, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown.In the first semi-final, Pakistan displayed their dominance by defeating West Indies by 20 runs. The Pakistani bowlers led the charge, restricting West Indies to a modest total of 150 runs. In response, Pakistan's batters chased down the target with relative ease, securing their place in the final.The second semi-final witnessed an emphatic performance by India, who crushed Australia by a massive 86 runs. India's bowlers were in top form, dismissing Australia for a mere 114 runs. The Indian batters then showcased their prowess, amassing a formidable total of 200 runs.The final promises to be a captivating encounter between two of the world's top cricket teams. India and Pakistan have a long-standing rivalry, and their matches always generate immense excitement and passion. The stakes will be even higher in this championship final, as both teams will be eager to claim the coveted title.The match will be played at Birmingham's Edgbaston Stadium, starting at 9:30 pm IST on Saturday. Fans around the world are eagerly anticipating this epic clash, which is sure to produce thrilling moments and unforgettable memories.

Middlesex emerged victorious in their Vitality Blast encounter against Glamorgan, securing a six-wicket triumph in a rain-affected match at Cardiff. The contest was reduced to 10 overs per side, with Luke Hollman's exceptional bowling and crucial runs from Leus du Plooy and Martin Andersson proving decisive for Middlesex.Glamorgan's innings got off to a promising start, with openers Will Smale and Kiran Carlson amassing 27 runs in the powerplay. However, Hollman's devastating spell turned the tide, claiming four wickets in quick succession. Experienced batters Chris Cooke and Marnus Labuschagne fell victim to Hollman's accuracy, leaving Glamorgan reeling at 51 for 6.Despite Timm van der Gugten's late surge, Glamorgan could only muster 88 for 9 from their allotted overs. Mason Crane's unbeaten 18 provided some solace for the home side, but it was ultimately an underwhelming total.Middlesex's chase began with a solid opening partnership between du Plooy and Andersson. They accumulated 55 runs in the powerplay, putting their team in a commanding position. Du Plooy's dismissal for 28 brought Jack Davies to the crease, but he and Andersson departed in quick succession.With Middlesex needing 14 runs from the final two overs, Hollman's towering six off Labuschagne brought them within sight of victory. Despite Jamie McIlroy's late wicket, Joe Cracknell's boundary sealed the win for Middlesex with three balls to spare.Glamorgan's hopes of progressing in the competition now hang in the balance, as they will need to win all their remaining fixtures and rely on favorable results elsewhere. For Middlesex, despite this victory, qualification may be out of reach, as they can only accumulate a maximum of 13 points.

Worcestershire Rapids stunned Birmingham Bears, the leaders of the Vitality Blast North Group, with a dominant 55-run victory in a rain-shortened 17-over-per-side match at Edgbaston.The Rapids' innings was ignited by Kashif Ali's blistering 46 off 30 deliveries, which included an audacious six over mid-wicket off George Garton. Ali shared a 56-run partnership with Josh Cobb before departing to a wide long hop from Moeen Ali.Matthew Waite provided a spectacular conclusion to the Rapids' innings, smashing 34 runs off Garton's final over, including six consecutive boundaries. Waite's late heroics propelled the Rapids to a formidable total of 187 for 6.The Bears' chase was derailed from the outset as they lost both openers for ducks. Tom Taylor's inswinging delivery bowled Alex Davies, while Rob Yates spooned a catch to Josh Cobb. Dan Mousley's valiant 68 off 44 balls proved insufficient as the Bears' middle order crumbled.Waite continued his impressive performance with the ball, claiming four wickets for 29 runs. Taylor also contributed with three wickets for 27 runs, leaving the Bears reeling at 132 all out in 15.2 overs.The Rapids' victory keeps their slim hopes of knockout stage qualification alive, while the Bears' third defeat in 11 games leaves them with work to do to secure a home quarter-final.

ICC Official Resigns Amid Scrutiny of T20 World Cup PitchesA senior official of the International Cricket Council (ICC) has resigned following the conclusion of the T20 World Cup, which was marred by concerns over the quality of pitches used at the Nassau County stadium in New York.The resignation comes just a week before the ICC's annual conference in Colombo, where members were expected to raise the issue. The exact reason for the official's departure remains unclear, but it is believed to be related to the scrutiny of the matches hosted in the US.The pop-up stadium in New York, which was demolished after the group stage, drew criticism for its uneven and difficult-to-bat-on drop-in pitches. The highest total scored at the venue was a mere 137 for 7, while the highest successful chase was 111 for 3.The Nassau County International stadium hosted eight matches in total, including the high-profile India vs Pakistan clash. After the match, the ICC issued a statement acknowledging the poor quality of the pitches and promising to improve the surfaces for the remaining games.The T20 World Cup, which was held from June 1 to 29, was jointly hosted by the US and the West Indies. The tournament was won by Australia, who defeated New Zealand in the final.

Leicestershire Foxes secured a crucial three-wicket victory over Northamptonshire Steelbacks in a thrilling Vitality Blast encounter, keeping their quarter-final hopes alive.New Zealand allrounder Jimmy Neesham played a pivotal role for the Foxes, smashing a blistering 67 off just 34 deliveries. His innings included five boundaries and four maximums, providing the impetus for Leicestershire's successful chase of 184.Northamptonshire had earlier posted a competitive total of 183 for seven, thanks to contributions from Ravi Bopara (61) and Saif Zaib (50). However, Ben Mike's impressive bowling performance (3-17) restricted the Steelbacks in the latter stages of their innings.Leicestershire's chase got off to a flying start, with Sol Budinger hitting five sixes in his 25-ball 45. The Foxes reached 60 for one in the powerplay, but the Steelbacks fought back with three wickets in quick succession.Neesham and Louis Kimber then combined for a crucial 40-run partnership, keeping Leicestershire in the hunt. Despite losing Neesham with 10 runs still needed, Arron Goldsworthy and Mike guided the Foxes home with five balls to spare.The victory lifts Leicestershire to 12 points from 12 matches, keeping them in contention for a quarter-final berth in the North Group. The Steelbacks, who have one more match remaining, will be looking to secure a win in their final fixture to enhance their own chances of reaching the knockout stages.

Somerset's Tom Kohler-Cadmore played a pivotal role in their six-wicket victory over Surrey in the Vitality Blast South Group match at Taunton. Chasing 183, Somerset reached the target with six balls to spare, thanks to Kohler-Cadmore's match-winning half-century.Kohler-Cadmore's 51 off 32 balls, including three sixes and three fours, was the cornerstone of Somerset's chase. He shared a crucial 67-run stand with Tom Abell for the third wicket. Debutant George Thomas also impressed with a 25-ball 40, while Sean Dickson's unbeaten 20 at the death sealed the victory.Surrey's innings was built around a 107-run partnership between Sam Curran and Rory Burns. Curran scored 59 off 42 balls, while Burns top-scored with 62 off 44 deliveries. Jamie Overton's quickfire unbeaten 30 at the death added impetus to Surrey's total.Somerset's chase got off to a flying start, with Tom Banton hitting three boundaries in one over. Thomas continued the momentum, taking Dan Worrall for a six and three fours. Surrey fought back, but Kohler-Cadmore's six off Chris Jordan and two fours off Tom Lawes kept Somerset in control.Kohler-Cadmore reached his half-century off 28 deliveries, and he and Abell raised a 50-run partnership off 31 balls. However, Surrey's Jordan and Jacks removed both batsmen in quick succession. Dickson and Gregory then combined for an unbroken 34-run partnership to guide Somerset home.

Mohammad Nabi, the veteran Afghanistan all-rounder, has set his sights on continuing his international career until the 2026 T20 World Cup. The 39-year-old, who is currently leading the Dambulla Sixers in the Lanka Premier League (LPL), believes his body is still capable of performing at the highest level.Nabi has been a key figure in Afghanistan's rise as a cricketing force since making his debut in 2009. He has played a pivotal role in the team's success in limited-overs cricket, particularly in T20Is.While Nabi plans to continue playing T20Is for the foreseeable future, he is considering retiring from ODIs after the Champions Trophy. He believes that the next T20 World Cup will be a fitting end to his illustrious international career."I am still running fast, fielding well, and bowling well," Nabi said. "I am trying to keep myself fit for as long as possible. The Afghanistan team needs me at this stage, but the Champions Trophy may be my last 50-over tournament."Nabi's longevity in the game is a testament to his dedication and commitment to fitness. He follows a strict diet and training regimen to maintain his peak performance.The all-rounder also credits franchise cricket for helping Afghanistan players improve their skills and gain valuable experience. He believes that the exposure to different leagues has contributed to the team's recent success in the T20 World Cup."Franchise cricket gives us a lot of experience that we can bring to the national team," Nabi said. "Afghanistan's performance in the World Cup was really good. We beat big teams and reached the semi-finals for the first time."Nabi's experience and leadership will be crucial for Afghanistan as they look to build on their recent success. He remains a vital cog in the team's plans and is determined to continue contributing to his country's cricketing journey.

After leading Team India to a historic T20 World Cup 2024 triumph, skipper Rohit Sharma has embarked on a well-deserved vacation with his family in London. The victory marked an end to India's 11-year ICC title drought, with the team defeating South Africa by seven runs in a thrilling summit clash.Following the triumph, Rohit, along with star batter Virat Kohli and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, announced their retirements from T20 cricket. The India skipper is now enjoying his time off in London, where he was spotted attending the Wimbledon men's singles semi-final match between Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev.Rohit's presence at Wimbledon was met with admiration and excitement. The official Wimbledon Twitter account welcomed him, while cricket fans shared images of the World Cup-winning captain soaking up the atmosphere.Meanwhile, former India cricketer and National Cricket Academy (NCA) chief VVS Laxman expressed his belief that Rohit, Kohli, and Jadeja will continue to make significant contributions to Indian cricket in the longer formats."I'm sure that they will continue to prepare the way they did so far in their career and continue to bring laurels to the country," Laxman said. "So big congratulations for excellent T20I career, but I'm sure that they're going to contribute in the longer version of the game and the 50-year format of the game."Rohit's vacation in London is a testament to the team's hard work and dedication that led to their T20 World Cup victory. The skipper's presence at Wimbledon further highlights the growing popularity of cricket and its global reach.

Avesh Khan, the promising Indian pacer, has lauded the coaching style of Gautam Gambhir, who is set to take over as Team India's head coach. Khan, who has worked under Gambhir's guidance at Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL, shared his insights into Gambhir's approach, emphasizing his focus on winning and extracting the best from his players."Whatever I have learned from him is about the mindset that you should always look to get the better of your opponent and give your 100 per cent," Khan said in a press conference ahead of India's fourth T20I against Zimbabwe in Harare.Gambhir's coaching style is characterized by clear communication and a strong emphasis on teamwork. "In team meetings, as well as one-on-ones, he would speak less but would convey his point as to what is to be done," Khan explained. "He would assign tasks and roles to players and he has always been a 'team coach', he always wants to win and everyone to give their 100 per cent."Khan has been impressed with Gambhir's ability to motivate and inspire his players. "He has a way of making you believe in yourself and your abilities," Khan said. "He always pushes you to go the extra mile and never gives up on you."Khan's performance in the ongoing T20I series against Zimbabwe has been commendable, with the pacer taking six wickets in three matches. He attributed his success to the varying conditions at the Harare Sports Club, which have allowed him to showcase his versatility."We have played on different wickets here," Khan said. "We played the first two matches on the same deck, there was good bounce in the first match but in the second it had flattened out. The conditions are good, since it is an open ground the ball also swings a bit."Khan also highlighted the importance of adaptability as a bowler. "As a bowler, I always think of providing that as an option, bring in new elements such as developing a slow bouncer or a leg-cutter from outside off-stump or near the wide line," he said.Khan expressed his admiration for Jasprit Bumrah's clarity of thought and execution as a bowler. "Like Virat bhai said, he is once in a generation bowler, it is true and we all believe so," Khan said. "His style of bowling and his mindset are different, but main (thing) is his execution, for which we all practice."Khan is eager to emulate Bumrah's approach and believes that Gambhir's guidance will help him achieve his goals. "Whenever I speak with him, he tells me to focus on the execution," Khan said. "If you are thinking of sending down a yorker, then it has to be a yorker; it cannot be a full toss or a half volley, a bouncer has to be on the shoulders; a length ball has to be (aimed at) the top of off (stump)."