Cricket

Pakistani cricket legend and commentator Ramiz Raja has staunchly defended the opening partnership of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, dismissing calls for their replacement. Raja's comments come in response to former captain Shahid Afridi's suggestion that Fakhar Zaman should open for Pakistan in T20Is instead of Babar.Raja argues that while Babar and Rizwan may not possess the blistering strike rate of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, they provide stability and solidity to the team. He emphasizes the importance of establishing a long-term opening partnership, which takes time to develop."They (Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan) may not give you a strike rate of a Rohit (Sharma) or a Virat (Kohli), but, you know, at least they give you solidity," Raja said. "And this Pakistan team, with the kind of batting lineup that they've got, they've got to play within what they have got."Raja points to Pakistan's success in the 2022 T20 World Cup, where they reached the final with Babar and Rizwan as openers. He believes that breaking up this successful partnership would be a mistake."There's a reason why Pakistan made it to the final of the World Cup (in 2022)," Raja said. "Why break something that is working? This phobia of strike rate must end because Pakistan do not have the luxury of such skills and talent."Raja's comments highlight the ongoing debate surrounding Pakistan's batting approach in T20 cricket. While some argue for a more aggressive style, Raja believes that Pakistan should focus on their strengths and play to their own style.

England's defense of their Twenty20 World Cup title remained alive after a hard-fought victory over Namibia in a rain-affected match on June 15. The match, which was reduced to 11 overs and then 10 overs due to persistent showers, saw England rally to a score of 122-5 before restricting Namibia to 84-3.England's innings was anchored by Harry Brook, who remained unbeaten on 47 off 20 balls. Jonny Bairstow also contributed with 31 off 18 balls, while Moeen Ali and Liam Livingstone provided late impetus with 21 runs off the final over.Namibia's chase was led by Michael van Lingen, who scored 33 off 29 balls before retiring hurt. David Wiese, who had earlier taken two wickets for 12 runs, chipped in with 27 off 12 balls, but it was not enough to prevent England from securing a 41-run victory.The result meant that England advanced to the Super Eight stage of the tournament, where they will face Afghanistan on Thursday in Barbados. India, who had already qualified for the Super Eight as the Group A winner, had their match against Canada abandoned without a ball bowled due to a wet outfield.

Surrey's relentless performance propelled them to the top of the Vitality Blast South Group, dethroning Sussex Sharks with an impressive 54-run victory at Hove.Sussex, riding high on a four-match winning streak, faced a rude awakening as Surrey's potent attack dismantled their batting lineup. Australian import Spencer Johnson struck early, dismissing Harrison Ward and James Coles in the opening over. Sean Abbott then accounted for Daniel Hughes, leaving Sussex reeling at 24 for 3.Despite valiant efforts from John Simpson (25), Jack Carson (24), and Fynn Hudson-Prentice (23), Sussex's chase of 185 proved insurmountable. Surrey's bowlers maintained a relentless pressure, restricting Sussex to a mere 130 all out in 18.1 overs.Earlier, Surrey had posted a competitive 184 for 8, thanks to Laurie Evans' 41 and Jamie Smith's 45. Evans, facing his former county, shared a 67-run partnership with Dom Sibley, while Smith and Rory Burns added 69 for the fifth wicket. Danny Lamb emerged as Sussex's most effective bowler, claiming 3 for 36.Sussex's batting woes continued in their chase. Ward, who had scored 68 in their previous victory, was dismissed early by Johnson. Coles and Hughes followed suit, leaving Sussex in a precarious position. Simpson and Tom Alsop briefly steadied the ship, but Gus Atkinson and Ollie Lawrence struck to put Sussex on the back foot.Tom Curran's double-wicket over effectively ended Sussex's hopes, although Robinson and Carson added some respectability to the scorecard. Surrey's victory not only secured them the top spot in the group but also highlighted the gulf in class between the two sides.

Torrential rain has forced the abandonment of the North Group clash between Nottinghamshire Outlaws and Durham at Trent Bridge, with only five overs possible.The scheduled 2.30pm start was delayed due to wet weather, with the match eventually getting underway at 4pm with a reduced 17-over format. Outlaws skipper Joe Clarke opted to bowl first, and Durham openers Alex Lees and Graham Clark made a flying start, putting on 58 runs in just five overs.Clark was particularly aggressive, hitting two boundaries in Olly Stone's opening over and another two in his second, before pulling a huge six into the Fox Round stand. New Zealand left-armer Ben Lister completed the fifth over of the Durham innings, but rain returned with a vengeance, accompanied by thunder and lightning.The storm was short-lived, but it deposited so much water on the playing area that umpires Paul Baldwin and James Middlebrook had no option but to call the game off. The Outlaws, who had broken their duck for the season against Worcestershire on Friday night, take another point for a no-result.Bottom of the table with only three points at the halfway stage, the Outlaws' chances of qualifying for the knock-out stages appear slim. However, in an open group where no team apart from leaders Lancashire Lightning has more than six points, a string of wins in the second half of the season could still see them go through.The same applies to Durham, third from bottom but on five points, only one behind second-placed Yorkshire Vikings.

South East Stars secured a 19-run victory over Sunrisers under the DLS method in a rain-affected match at The Oval. The Stars' impressive total of 153 for 4 was built around Georgia Redmayne's patient 38, while Emma Jones (36), Phoebe Franklin (23), and Bryony Smith (21) provided the fireworks.Sunrisers' chase was anchored by Grace Scrivens' stylish half-century (62*), but with only Jo Gardner (23) offering meaningful support, they fell short of the target. Dani Gregory's 2 for 21 and Tilly Corteen-Coleman's wicket with her first ball kept the Sunrisers in check.The match was reduced to 18 overs per side due to rain, which delayed the start until 3:50pm. Smith's aggressive start, including four boundaries in one over, set the tone for the Stars' innings. Franklin continued the momentum with four fours, before Villiers dismissed her.Jones then took over, hitting two mighty sixes to boost the Stars' total. Redmayne played a supporting role, while Alice Davidson-Richards added a quickfire 16.Sunrisers' chase began disastrously, losing three wickets for 19 runs. Scrivens responded with a six and a half-century, but Gregory's double strike and Gardner's dismissal left the visitors with too much to do.

England and Namibia will face off in a crucial T20 World Cup Group B match in Antigua, with both teams vying for a spot in the Super 8s.England, despite their recent struggles, remain in contention for a playoff berth. A victory over Namibia is imperative, and if Australia defeats Scotland, their chances will improve significantly. Even a washout in the England-Namibia game could see Scotland advance.Namibia, on the other hand, has been eliminated from contention but will be eager to make a statement against the former world champions. Skipper Gerhard Erasmus is just three wickets away from reaching 50 in T20Is, while Moeen Ali needs one more to achieve the same milestone.England's massive net run-rate (NRR) jump from -1.8 to +3.08 has given them a significant advantage. They now only need a win against Namibia to secure their place in the Super 8s.After their record-breaking victory against Oman, England is confident and determined to dominate Namibia. They will be looking to build on their momentum and secure a spot in the playoffs.

India and South Africa will face off in a crucial ODI match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday, with both teams seeking to achieve their respective goals. India aims to stabilize its ODI form, while South Africa seeks vital qualification points for the 2025 ODI World Cup.India's recent ODI performances have been underwhelming, with only one victory in their last six matches. However, they will be bolstered by the return of Jemimah Rodrigues, who missed the recent T20I series against Bangladesh due to a back injury. Medium pacer Pooja Vastrakar is also fit to play.South Africa, on the other hand, comes into the contest after losing the T20I series against Sri Lanka and drawing the ODIs. They will also begin a new era without Hilton Moreeng, who served as head coach for over a decade.The Proteas will welcome back opener Tazmin Brits, who has recovered from a knee-ligament tear. With just six matches remaining in their qualification bid for the 2025 ODI World Cup, her return is a significant boost.The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has traditionally favored heavy-hitting batters due to its flat pitches and small boundaries. However, the weather may play a role, as the monsoon has taken a break on match-eve.

The T20 World Cup has witnessed a historic moment as newcomers USA have advanced to the Super 8 stage, eliminating Pakistan in the process. This remarkable achievement has been largely attributed to the exceptional performance of Saurabh Netravalkar, a left-arm pacer who has played a pivotal role in USA's success.Netravalkar, an AI engineer by profession, has seamlessly balanced his passion for cricket with his demanding career. After matches, he diligently works remotely for his employer, Oracle, from the comfort of his hotel room.Oracle's appreciation post for their star employee has sparked a wave of support from fans, who have urged the software company to grant Netravalkar leave during the tournament and reward him with a pay hike.Netravalkar, a Cornell University alumnus, has demonstrated an unwavering love for both cricket and coding. "When you love something, it is never a job for you," he remarked. "I love bowling and out-thinking batters on the field, and I love coding off the field."The US team has capitalized on their home advantage to make a stunning debut in this major cricket tournament. Their Super 8 appearance has also secured their automatic qualification for the 2026 edition of the T20 World Cup.Netravalkar's exceptional performance has not only propelled USA to the next round but has also earned him widespread recognition. His ability to juggle his professional and sporting commitments has inspired many, showcasing the power of passion and dedication.

India's women's cricket team captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, has expressed her support for the implementation of a points-based system in multi-format cricket series. She believes that such a system would enhance motivation and add significance to each match.In recent times, India has played multi-format home series against England and Australia without a points system. This will continue in the upcoming series against South Africa, which begins with ODIs on Sunday. However, Australia and England employ a points system in their women's multi-format Ashes series, ensuring that every match carries weight.Kaur emphasized the importance of a points system, particularly for Test matches. Unlike other formats, Tests lack a marquee championship like the World Cup to provide context. As a result, Tests often suffer from a lack of significance.India has recently achieved impressive victories in Tests against both England and Australia. However, the absence of a points system meant that India could not capitalize on these wins to secure an overall series victory.Kaur believes that a points-based system would address this issue. "I think it's totally a BCCI or ICC thing," she said. "But as players, if points are there, I think we are more pumped up. I think it will be more challenging and we will love to have them."The implementation of a points system in multi-format cricket series would not only enhance motivation but also provide a clearer indication of the overall winner. It would add context to each match and make the series more competitive and engaging for both players and fans.