Cricket

David Warner, the veteran Australian opener, has acknowledged that the infamous "Sandpaper-gate" incident of 2018 will forever tarnish his legacy as he contemplates retirement from international cricket.Warner, 37, has expressed his desire to conclude his career on a high note by winning the T20 World Cup in the United States and the West Indies, where Australia has advanced to the Super Eight round. However, he recognizes that his achievements on the field will always be overshadowed by the ball-tampering scandal that occurred in South Africa six years ago."I think it's going to be inevitable that when people talk about me in 20 or 30 years' time, there will always be that sandpaper scandal," Warner said, according to Cricket Australia.Warner, Australia's leading run-scorer in T20 cricket, has announced that his international playing career will end at the World Cup. He believes he has been unfairly singled out for the affair, as his time at the top was coming to an end."Whether it's people who don't like the Australian cricket team or don't like me, I've always been that person who has copped it," Warner said. "It's fine if they want to do that, but I always feel like I've taken a lot of pressure off a lot of guys as well and I think understandably I've been that person to be able to absorb that."Warner's involvement in the third Test scandal in Cape Town, where Cameron Bancroft used sandpaper to scuff the ball before clumsily attempting to hide the evidence down his pants, earned him a one-year ban, along with that of then-skipper Steve Smith. Cricket Australia demoted Warner from vice captaincy as he was the main conspirator.The batsman expressed his eagerness to retire from international cricket, stating, "One can only absorb (so much)." "For me, it's great to go out knowing I'm not going to cop it anymore."

Bangladesh's emphatic victory over Nepal in the T20 World Cup 2024 propelled them into the Super 8s. Despite a dismal batting performance, Bangladesh's bowlers turned the tide in their favor, securing a 21-run victory.Nepal's bowlers had initially restricted Bangladesh to a meager 106, with all their bowlers contributing equally. However, in the second innings, Bangladesh's bowlers dominated, dismissing Nepal for 85. Tanzim Hasan Sakib's career-best figures of 4 for 7, including 21 dot balls, led the charge. Shakib al Hasan (2/9) and Mustafzur Rahaman (3/7) also played crucial roles.Nepal's chase started promisingly, reaching 78 for 5. But Bangladesh's bowlers tightened their grip, taking the last five wickets for just seven runs. Nepal's skipper, Rohit Paudel, acknowledged their bowling prowess, stating, "Bangladesh bowled really well with the new ball. Losing 4 wickets in the powerplay put us under a lot of pressure."Despite their batting struggles, Bangladesh's bowling unit showcased their experience and determination. Paudel expressed confidence in his team's potential, saying, "We're up to the mark with our bowling and fielding. This team has great potential, we need to back each and every player, I feel we will do very well in the next World Cup."Bangladesh's victory highlights the importance of a strong bowling attack in T20 cricket. Their ability to restrict Nepal's batsmen, despite their own batting struggles, demonstrates their resilience and adaptability. As they enter the Super 8s, Bangladesh will be eager to continue their impressive bowling form and improve their batting performance to challenge the tournament's top teams.

The scourge of corruption in cricket continues to plague the sport, but a recent incident involving a former Kenya international and a Ugandan player during the ongoing T20 World Cup was swiftly dealt with by the International Cricket Council's (ICC) anti-corruption unit.According to sources, the incident occurred during the league stage matches in Guyana, where a former Kenya pacer repeatedly contacted a Ugandan team member from different numbers. The Ugandan player promptly reported the approach to ACU officials on site, adhering to the ICC's strict anti-corruption protocol.The development prompted the officials to raise a red flag against the former Kenya player and inform all associate teams about his suspicious behavior. Sources indicate that associate nations, compared to major teams, are often targeted by corrupt individuals due to their perceived vulnerability. However, in this case, the player's prompt reporting prevented any potential wrongdoing.Uganda ended their T20 World Cup campaign with a memorable victory over Papua New Guinea but suffered losses to Afghanistan, New Zealand, and the West Indies. The team played three of their four league games in Guyana, where the alleged approach took place.Another source emphasized that players are frequently approached, particularly from smaller nations. In major events like the T20 World Cup, scrutiny is heightened, and any reported approaches are thoroughly investigated by the ICC ACU.The ICC's anti-corruption code has been updated as of June 1 to empower the governing body and its member boards to proactively investigate corruption incidents and protect the integrity of the game. The code covers all cricket played under the auspices of the ICC and its members and applies to all participants, including players, coaches, managers, and officials.All international players are regularly briefed on potential threats and are well-versed in the anti-corruption code. Corrupt approaches at major events are not uncommon. In the 2011 ODI World Cup in India, Canada's then-20-year-old wicket-keeper Hamza Tariq was approached by alleged bookmakers but reported the matter to the authorities.The ICC's commitment to combating corruption in cricket is unwavering, and the swift action taken in this recent incident demonstrates the organization's determination to protect the sport's integrity.

Virat Kohli, India's star batter, is determined to improve his performance after a disappointing US leg of the T20 World Cup. During a practice session at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, Kohli faced off against Jasprit Bumrah, one of the world's best bowlers. Despite not scoring runs in the US, Kohli displayed a hunger to turn things around and make this World Cup his own.Kohli's batting coach, Vikram Rathour, expressed confidence in his ability, stating that he has been batting beautifully in the nets. Kohli's practice session included facing short balls aimed at his rib-cage, which he pulled ferociously, and driving pitched-up deliveries with precision.Another key player for India, Ravindra Jadeja, is also seeking batting form. He was one of the first to join Kohli in the batting nets and showed signs of improvement. The team management is confident in Jadeja's ability as a big-game player and wants him to be ready for the final leg of the tournament.In addition to batting practice, the Indian fielders also engaged in drills at the Kensington Oval. The green expanse provided an opportunity for them to hone their skills, which they missed out on due to damp conditions in the US.As India prepares for their first Super 8 game against Afghanistan on Thursday, Kohli and Jadeja are determined to make a significant impact. The team is confident in their abilities and is eager to prove themselves on the field.

Kane Williamson, the skipper of New Zealand's cricket team, has expressed uncertainty about his future in the T20I format after the team's disappointing exit from the T20 World Cup. Williamson, who will turn 34 in August, has been a cornerstone of New Zealand's successful white-ball team for over a decade, leading them to at least the semi-finals in seven of the ten consecutive World Cups he has played in across both 20- and 50-over formats since 2011.During this period, New Zealand has reached three finals, with Williamson's notable contributions including a Player-of-the-Tournament performance in England in 2019 and an impressive 85 runs off 48 balls in the defeat to Australia in Dubai in 2021. However, with his long-time teammate Trent Boult having already announced that this tournament would be his last T20 World Cup, Williamson acknowledges that a transition may be on the horizon.When asked if he would still be involved in New Zealand's T20I setup in 2026, Williamson responded, "Oh, I don't know. There's a bit of time between now and then, so it's about regrouping as a side. We've got red-ball cricket over the next year basically, so it's back into some other international formats, and we'll see where things land."New Zealand's most significant victory in recent years came in the Test format in 2021, when Williamson led the team to victory over India in the World Test Championship final in Southampton. The two teams are set to face off again in a Test rematch in India later this year, with New Zealand also scheduled for a three-match home series against England in December and a four-match tour of Australia in 2026-27.These upcoming fixtures could take precedence for Williamson, who played his 100th Test earlier this year alongside another long-standing teammate, Tim Southee. Williamson is on the cusp of becoming the first New Zealand batter to reach 10,000 Test runs, currently sitting at 8743 runs.Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming believes that Williamson will be given the time he needs to determine his next move, but his priorities may have shifted as he enters the twilight of his illustrious career. "It hasn't really been questioned over here, due to his genius with the bat, but he has to make a decision now after a disappointing World Cup," Fleming said. "What does his future hold? Is it all three formats, is it franchise cricket, is it family time? He will be getting to that point where he starts making decisions that have other influences, whereas before it was cricket and cricket only."Regarding the recent T20 World Cup campaign, Williamson admitted that New Zealand had been slow to adapt to the challenges they faced in the Caribbean, where Afghanistan and the West Indies proved to be formidable opponents in a competitive Group C. "It took a long time to start and then, in a matter of days, we were not in contention, which was frustrating," Williamson said. "We played against a couple of very strong sides who are very well equipped in these conditions and unfortunately that was the difference in our first two games."Despite the disappointment, Williamson believes there are valuable lessons to be learned for the players who will return to the Caribbean in the future. "All in all it's frustrating, but there'll be learnings for the players that come back to this part of the world. These conditions have been somewhat challenging, so they are some good experiences to have going forward."

India's transformation from a spin-reliant nation to a pace-bowling powerhouse is a testament to the country's unwavering commitment to cricketing excellence. During his illustrious Test career, Sunil Gavaskar, the legendary "Little Master," opened the batting in all but nine of his 214 innings. However, lesser known is the fact that Gavaskar also took the new ball in five innings, not because he possessed blistering pace, but rather to provide a brief respite before introducing India's formidable spinners.Fast forward to the present day, and India boasts a glittering array of pace-bowling riches, spearheaded by the "Kohinoor of fast bowling," Jasprit Bumrah. The rise of India's pace stocks began long before Bumrah's international debut in 2016. Mohammad Nissar and Amar Singh, two early pace pioneers, played pivotal roles in India's inaugural Test victory against England at Lord's in 1932. However, the dominance of spin bowling in India, coupled with the emergence of a succession of high-class spinners, overshadowed the importance of fast bowling.It wasn't until Kapil Dev's sensational arrival in the late 1970s that a growing tribe of young aspirants began to harbor ambitions of running in hard and attacking the bowling crease. Kapil's understanding that he needed to recalibrate his bowling and sacrifice some pace for longevity proved crucial. His arrival coincided with the decline of the spin foursome, bringing fast bowling back into focus.Kapil's success inspired a generation of young bowlers, including Javagal Srinath, who became the first true fast bowler in modern-day Indian cricket. Srinath's tall, lithe frame and whippy action enabled him to hurry and harry batters, especially with his ability to bring the ball into the right-handers and generate considerable bounce.Despite the emergence of Srinath and a few other promising pacers, India's fast-bowling stocks remained fragmented. There were only a handful of bowlers who could consistently top 140 kmph, and while there was no shortage of skill, raw pace was a different matter altogether.The arrival of Mohammed Shami in 2013 and Bumrah two and a half years later marked a turning point. Shami's sensational burst of reverse swing on his debut against West Indies ignited the latest revolution, while Bumrah's unconventional speed and accuracy convinced Virat Kohli and team director Ravi Shastri that he would be a huge success in the five-day format.The BCCI's mandate for a certain amount of grass on pitches for domestic cricket, along with the tireless efforts of Bharat Arun, the national team's long-serving bowling coach, bore fruit in the assemblage of an attack for the ages. Today, teams that once didn't think twice about laying out green carpets or bouncy decks when India came calling are caught in a dilemma. India's batters are skilled enough to come through demanding tests, but India's bowlers also possess sufficient quality and are numerically adequate to pay back in kind.The embarrassment of riches has spilled over to white-ball cricket as well. At the ongoing T20 World Cup, Bumrah and Siraj are being backed up by Arshdeep Singh, a left-arm swing exponent with a mean yorker and clever changes of pace, and vice-captain Hardik Pandya, who has a penchant for testing out the bounce in the surface.India's graduation from the land of spin to a nation with outstanding fast-bowling talent has been a remarkable journey. Quality has been backed up by depth, not just quantity, and even when Bumrah was out for a year with a stress fracture of the back, India didn't suffer hugely. Of course, they missed their spearhead, but they found ways to fill the giant void. In fact, such was their depth that they left Shami out of their World Cup XI until Pandya's ankle injury forced them to rejig their combination. Shami responded by picking up five-fors for fun.For all of Shami's virtuosity and Siraj's fire, it's Bumrah who is the unquestioned leader. His hyperextension of his right elbow gives him an advantage that he has made the most of. As Balaji said recently, Bumrah is a great example, like Wasim Akram, of using sport to bowl fast, not athleticism. "Most great fast bowlers build up momentum in their run-up, but Wasim bhai and Bumrah rely more on their upper bodies and do everything with their bowling arm, their wrist. That's why they are able to succeed on even docile tracks; they take the pitch out of the equation."There is a reason why India is No. 1 in the world in both limited-overs versions and No. 2 in Test cricket. It's not hard to see what that is.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) fans have always been vocal in their support for their team, even in unrelated sports events. This was evident once again at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 16, where a section of supporters erupted into chants of "RCB, RCB" during India women's emphatic 143-run ODI victory over South Africa.The chants were not entirely out of place, as two key contributors to RCB's recent Women's Premier League (WPL) triumph were on display. Smriti Mandhana, who captained RCB to the title, scored a magnificent 117-run knock, while leg-spinner Asha Sobhana claimed a four-wicket haul on debut.Mandhana's century was a testament to her determination and resilience. She had crossed the half-century mark 31 times in ODIs but had only reached three figures on five occasions. However, on a challenging pitch, she showed her class by overcoming mid-innings cramps and guiding her team out of trouble."I started off pretty well, and whenever you get two cover drives in the first over you always feel good," said the 27-year-old. "But whenever I thought of taking the game on, there was a wicket. Maybe that helped me stay at the crease."Asha, 33, also had a memorable outing. After playing a starring role in RCB's IPL triumph, she earned a maiden National team call ahead of the five-match T20I tour to Bangladesh in May. She played two matches there and the ODI debut has followed soon after."Back in 2017 or 2018, I remember looking at her in the Challengers, and thinking ‘Oh she can really turn the ball’,” said Mandhana about Asha. “Her last eight months have shown what hard work can do to a player.""The way she bowled [versus South Africa], turning the ball square, I am happy that she is in my team. Whenever I face her in the nets, it’s really hard to go over the top. I love (batting against) leg-spinners, but I can’t really do it against Asha. That shows her strength.”The victory was a resounding statement from the Indian women's team, who are preparing for the upcoming Women's T20 World Cup in South Africa. Smriti Mandhana and Asha Sobhana's performances will give the team a much-needed boost of confidence as they aim to make a strong impact on the global stage.

The T20 World Cup group stage has concluded, with all eight teams for the Super 8 stage now confirmed. Bangladesh's victory over Nepal in Group D sealed the final spot, joining South Africa, Afghanistan, India, and Australia in Group 1.The other group was determined on Sunday when Australia defeated Scotland, ensuring England's qualification. However, confusion has arisen among fans regarding group seeding and fixtures due to the ICC's newly introduced system.Despite topping Group A with seven points, India (A1) will face Australia (B2), who also finished first in Group B. This is because the ICC's pre-tournament seedings had already determined that India and Australia would meet in the Super 8s, regardless of their group standings.Similarly, Afghanistan (C1) and West Indies (C2) will face off in their final group match on Tuesday, with both teams undefeated. However, West Indies remains seeded C2 despite a potential victory, as New Zealand's failure to qualify for the Super 8s has resulted in Afghanistan being seeded C1.The ICC's pre-tournament seedings were as follows:* A1 - India* A2 - Pakistan* B1 - England* B2 - Australia* C1 - New Zealand* C2 - West Indies* D1 - South Africa* D2 - Sri LankaAs a result, the two Super 8 groups are as follows:* Group 1: India (A1), Australia (B2), Afghanistan (C1), Bangladesh (D2)* Group 2: England (B1), USA (A2), West Indies (C2), South Africa (D1)

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the legendary wicket-keeper-batsman, has been enjoying a well-deserved break after the conclusion of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. Dhoni, known for his low-key profile, has been spending quality time with his family at his Ranchi farmhouse.A recent video shared on social media has captured the Dhoni family in a playful mood with their pet dogs. The video shows Dhoni petting and fondling the dogs, while his wife Sakshi and daughter Ziva engage in playful interactions.Since retiring from international cricket, Dhoni has maintained a low profile, rarely engaging in public activities or social media. His only involvement in cricket has been through the IPL, where he led the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to victory in the 2023 season.However, in IPL 2024, Dhoni handed over the captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad. Despite CSK's failure to qualify for the playoffs, Dhoni had a successful season personally. Despite batting as low as number 8, he scored 161 runs at a strike rate of over 220.Dhoni's impressive form in the IPL has led to calls for his return to the Indian team. Former teammate Virender Sehwag has expressed his belief that Dhoni remains the best finisher in the game.While India has not yet felt the need for a specialist finisher in the ongoing T20 World Cup, Dhoni's experience and ability to handle pressure situations could prove invaluable in the latter stages of the tournament.