Cricket

It was a balmy June evening in 2024 when the cricketing world held its breath in anticipation. The stage was set, the lights were bright, and the air was thick with tension as India and Pakistan, the age-old rivals, prepared...

The highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash at the 2025 Champions Trophy has sparked excitement among cricket enthusiasts worldwide. According to reports, the two cricketing giants are scheduled to face off in Lahore, Pakistan, during the tournament.The draft schedule, submitted to the International Cricket Council (ICC), suggests that the 50-over event will take place from February 19 to March 9. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has proposed Karachi and Rawalpindi as venues, while Lahore will host India's matches.However, India's participation in Pakistan remains uncertain. The PCB's proposal requires approval from the Indian government, which has historically been reluctant to allow its team to travel to Pakistan due to political tensions.The PCB has reportedly suggested that India play all its matches in Lahore, including a potential semi-final. The tournament will feature a total of 15 matches, with seven scheduled in Lahore, five in Rawalpindi, and three in Karachi.The opening match will be held in Karachi on February 19, while the semi-finals will take place in Karachi and Rawalpindi. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Lahore.The BCCI has yet to respond to the proposed venues. The board requires permission from the Indian government to travel to Pakistan, and the current political climate makes it unlikely that such approval will be granted.If India does not participate in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, it would be a major disappointment for fans and a setback for the PCB's efforts to host international cricket.

Nepal's controversial cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane has been cleared to join his national team in the West Indies for the ICC T20 World Cup. The 23-year-old spin bowler was initially denied a visa to enter the United States, where the tournament's opening matches were held. However, after his visa applications were denied twice, the Nepal Cricket Association (NCA) announced on Monday that Lamichhane would be joining the team for the remaining matches in the West Indies.Lamichhane's return to the national team is a significant boost for Nepal, who have struggled in his absence. The team lost their opening match of the tournament to the Netherlands by six wickets and will face Sri Lanka in Florida on Wednesday before heading to the West Indies for matches against South Africa and Bangladesh.Lamichhane's inclusion in the squad brings experience and skill to the team. He is one of Nepal's most successful cricketers, having played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Big Bash League (BBL). His return is expected to provide a much-needed boost to Nepal's chances of progressing to the Super 12 stage of the tournament.However, Lamichhane's return to the team has also been met with some controversy. In 2022, he was convicted of raping a young woman in a Kathmandu hotel and sentenced to eight years in prison. His sentence was quashed on appeal last month, allowing him to rejoin the cricketing scene.Despite the controversy surrounding him, Lamichhane remains a popular figure in Nepal. His return to the national team has been welcomed by many fans, who believe that he can help Nepal achieve success in the T20 World Cup.

Indian batter Suryakumar Yadav faced intense criticism on social media following his underwhelming performance in India's T20 World Cup 2024 match against Pakistan in New York. Yadav's meager score of seven runs off eight balls contributed to India's dismal total of 119 at the Nassau County International Stadium. This lackluster display came on the heels of his equally disappointing two-run outing in India's tournament opener against Ireland.Yadav's failure against Pakistan sparked a torrent of criticism from fans, who took to social media to question his ability to perform in high-pressure matches. Many pointed to his impressive record in T20 cricket but argued that he consistently falters when it matters most."Suryakumar Yadav should only focus on Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Paytm series," tweeted one fan, highlighting Yadav's tendency to perform well against weaker opposition.Another fan drew comparisons between Yadav and South African batter Aiden Markram, known for his struggles under pressure. "Suryakumar Yadav is a carbon copy of Aiden Markram," the tweet read.The criticism extended to Yadav's batting technique, with some fans suggesting that he lacks the temperament and composure required to succeed at the international level."People judge you on your performances against your rivals," tweeted one fan. "Suryakumar Yadav, for all his greatness in T20 cricket, has not learned the art of performing under pressure."Despite the barrage of criticism, Yadav remains a key member of the Indian team. His ability to play unorthodox shots and score runs quickly makes him a valuable asset in the middle order. However, his recent performances have raised questions about his consistency and ability to handle the pressure of big matches.

Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has expressed his long-held admiration for bowling and his disinterest in high-scoring run-fests following India's nail-biting six-run victory over Pakistan in their ICC T20 World Cup clash. Bumrah's stellar performance, featuring a miserly three-wicket haul, played a crucial role in India's defense of their modest total, keeping their World Cup hopes alive with two group stage games remaining.In a packed Nassau County Stadium, Bumrah's precise bowling applied relentless pressure on the Pakistani batters, while Rishabh Pant's counter-attacking knock bolstered India's position. The match, witnessed by a record crowd, highlighted Bumrah's skill and strategic approach to bowling.During the post-match press conference, Bumrah expressed his satisfaction with the recognition the bowlers received for their efforts. He highlighted India's preference for batting and how the recent Indian Premier League season was heavily tilted towards the batters."We are very happy that we did not come here with that baggage (of IPL being batter friendly) and when we are getting help here, we were trying to use it. I have played a lot of cricket in my young years—when the bat and ball challenge is good it is more interesting to watch the match. When it is bat vs bat, I switch off the TV. I have been a fan of bowling since childhood. When there is a challenge between bat and ball, that is the game I like. No complaints. I am very happy," Bumrah said.Reflecting on the victory, Bumrah emphasized the importance of maintaining a balanced approach between controlling the run flow and taking wickets, especially in conditions where seam and swing had diminished. He discussed the need to avoid desperation for a "magic ball" and instead focus on accuracy and utilizing the large boundaries to their advantage."Even when there is help, you can be desperate, and you can try to go fuller and try to pull that magic delivery. I tried not to do that but when we came, the swing and seam had reduced. So, we had to be accurate because if we go for magic deliveries and try to be too desperate, run-making becomes easy and they know the target. So, we had to be very mindful of not overdoing it and yes add up the pressure, use the big boundaries, try to use things to our advantage. That is what we were doing. So, in that we created pressure and everybody got wickets," he explained.Bumrah also opened up about his recovery from injuries last year and his journey back to top form, delivering remarkable performances in the 50-over World Cup, IPL, and now the T20 World Cup. He emphasized his focus on controlling the controllable and staying present, despite external pressures and noise."I try to stay in the present and focus on what I have to do. Because if I look at the outside noise, if I look at people and pressure and emotion take over, then things do not really work for me. So, I was trying to do that, trying to create my own bubble, and trying to focus on that and try to put my best foot forward," Bumrah added.He appreciated the support from the largely Indian and Asian crowd at the Nassau County Stadium, which made the team feel at home and boosted their energy levels."A lot of emotion does come in and it does not feel like we are not playing in India because the support that we get, wherever we go, we get a lot of support and fans come in large numbers. So that does help with the energy part of the setup that we have. So yeah, very happy with the support and we were happy that we were able to give them a win as well," he said.

India's historic victory over Pakistan in the Men's T20 World Cup on Sunday was a testament to their resilience and tactical brilliance. Defending a modest target of 120, India became the first team to successfully defend such a low score in a 20-over game at the tournament.The target of 120 was also the lowest India had ever successfully defended in a full 20-over game in men's T20Is. The previous lowest was 139 against Zimbabwe in 2016.Pakistan's inability to chase down the target was particularly surprising given that they had eight wickets in hand with eight overs remaining. However, India's bowlers executed their plans flawlessly, conceding only 48 runs in those final overs.This victory marked India's seventh win against Pakistan in the Men's T20 World Cup, the most by any team against an opponent. It also extended India's unbeaten streak against Pakistan in the tournament to eight matches.India's victory was particularly impressive considering that they were bowled out for 120 in 19 overs. It was only the sixth time a team had won a T20I match after being bowled out while batting first.Despite their low score, India's bowlers kept Pakistan under pressure throughout the chase. The average runs scored per wicket in the last ten overs by both teams was just 7.23, the second-worst in a men's T20I between Full Members.India's victory was a testament to their ability to adapt to challenging circumstances and execute their plans under pressure. It was a historic moment for Indian cricket and a significant boost to their hopes of winning the Men's T20 World Cup.

Middlesex emerged victorious in a thrilling Vitality Blast encounter against Kent Spitfires at Canterbury, securing a four-wicket triumph after a remarkable fightback in the field.Kent's innings got off to a shaky start as Tom Helm dismissed Zak Crawley early on. However, Daniel Bell-Drummond and Marcus O'Riordan steadied the ship with a rapid 66-run partnership. Ryan Higgins broke the stand by trapping O'Riordan lbw, and Sam Billings' attempt at a reverse sweep against Luke Hollman resulted in his dismissal.Bell-Drummond continued to anchor the Kent innings, but his departure to Hollman's bowling triggered a collapse. Joey Evison and Joe Denly fell cheaply, and Kent managed only 10 runs in overs 15 to 17. Hollman and Tom Helm restricted Kent to 173 for 8, with Hollman claiming 2 for 18 and Helm taking 2 for 24.Middlesex's chase began with a setback as Joe Denly trapped Martin Andersson lbw. However, Stephen Eskinazi and Higgins counterattacked with a series of boundaries, including Eskinazi's first sixes of the match. Higgins' dismissal to Xavier Bartlett sparked a brief Kent resurgence, with Bartlett also removing Leus du Plooy.Max Holden and Hollman kept Middlesex in the hunt, but Holden's dismissal left them needing 11 runs off the last two overs. Jack Davies chipped in with a six, and Josh de Caires' boundary brought Middlesex within one blow of victory. With three runs required off the final six, Hollman sealed the triumph with a six over cow corner.

India's Batting Collapse Costs Them Dear in T20 World Cup Match Against PakistanIndia's hopes of a strong start to their T20 World Cup campaign were dashed on Sunday as they suffered a dramatic batting collapse against arch-rivals Pakistan in New York. After losing the toss and being put into bat, India's openers Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli failed to make a significant impact, leaving the team in a precarious position.Despite a promising start from Axar Patel and Rishabh Pant, India's middle order crumbled under pressure. Suryakumar Yadav's dismissal at 89 in the 12th over triggered a collapse, with wickets falling at regular intervals. Hardik Pandya, India's last hope, failed to make a substantial contribution, resulting in India posting a modest total of 119 runs in 19 overs.Pakistan's pace attack, led by Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, delivered a stellar performance, living up to the expectations of their captain, Babar Azam. The duo set the stage by dismissing both Indian openers early in the innings. Naseem struck again after the Powerplay, but Pakistan struggled to control the flow of runs and displayed some lapses in their bowling. However, when called upon to break a thriving partnership, Haris Rauf stepped up and provided Pakistan with a crucial breakthrough.Naseem Shah and Mohammad Amir soon joined the wicket-taking spree, and the trio maintained the pressure on the Indian batting lineup. Despite a hint of complacency creeping into their fielding towards the end, they managed to bowl out India for the first time in a T20I match, preventing them from staging a recovery.India's batting collapse was a major disappointment, as they had been expected to put up a strong fight against their arch-rivals. The team's inability to build partnerships and capitalize on their starts proved costly. Pakistan, on the other hand, showed great discipline and execution with their bowling, setting the tone for a potentially successful tournament.

Sunil Gavaskar Slams Indian Batters for "Arrogant and Reckless" Display in T20 World Cup Loss to PakistanLegendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has launched a scathing attack on the Indian batting lineup after their dismal performance in the T20 World Cup 2024 match against Pakistan. India was bundled out for a paltry 119, losing their last seven wickets for just 30 runs.Gavaskar, speaking on Star Sports during the mid-innings show, expressed his disappointment with the Indian batters' approach. "The performance was disappointing. I think they were arrogant and reckless," he said. "There was an arrogance in the way they started as they were looking to hit every ball. This is not an Ireland attack. This is not an ordinary attack."Gavaskar criticized the Indian batters for failing to adapt to the match conditions. "There should have been just that little bit of respect given when the ball is moving quite a bit," he said. "And then, getting out with one over left tells you that you are probably not in the right kind of thinking."Pakistan's bowlers were relentless in their attack, with Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf taking three wickets each and Mohammad Amir claiming two. Rishabh Pant was the only Indian batter to offer any resistance, scoring 42 off 31 deliveries.Gavaskar's criticism is a reflection of the growing frustration among Indian fans with the team's recent performances. India has struggled to find consistency in the T20 format, and their batting has been particularly vulnerable.The loss to Pakistan has put India in a precarious position in the tournament. They will need to win their remaining matches convincingly to have any chance of reaching the semi-finals.