Cricket

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the match officials for the Super 8 stage of the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024. Rodney Tucker and Paul Reiffel will officiate the opening Super 8 match between India and Afghanistan in Barbados on June 20. David Boon will serve as the match referee.For India's crucial clash with Australia, Richard Kettleborough and Richard Illingworth will be the on-field umpires, with Jeff Crowe as the match referee. The match will be played at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in St Lucia on June 24.Chris Gaffaney and Richard Kettleborough will oversee the USA's historic first-ever knockout match at an ICC Men's T20 World Cup against South Africa on June 19. Joel Wilson will be the TV umpire for this match, and he will also stand as an on-field umpire alongside Gaffaney when the USA faces England in Barbados on June 23.Allahudien Paleker, making his senior men's tournament debut, will act as the fourth umpire for the USA-South Africa match. He will also be the TV umpire for England's meeting with the West Indies on June 19.Nitin Menon and Ahsan Raza will be the on-field umpires for England's match against the West Indies, while Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid will be the TV umpire. Ibne Shahid will also act as an on-field umpire alongside Chris Brown for England's second Group 2 game against South Africa on June 21.Jeff Crowe, who has overseen more T20Is than anyone else, will be the match referee for England's clashes with the West Indies and South Africa, as well as Australia's match against India.

Smriti Mandhana, India's vice-captain, has ascended two positions to claim the third spot in the ICC Women's ODI batting rankings. This surge follows her match-winning century in India's 143-run victory over South Africa in the recently concluded three-match series.Mandhana's impressive performance, which included a maiden century on home soil, has propelled her to a total of 715 points. She now trails Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu, who has slipped to second place, and England's Natalie Sciver-Brunt, who has regained the top spot after scoring an unbeaten 124 against Pakistan last month.India's all-rounder Deepti Sharma has also made significant progress, climbing three places to 20th in the batting rankings. Pooja Vastrakar has similarly moved up three positions to 38th.Vastrakar has also made a notable jump in the ODI all-rounders' rankings, rising four places to 18th. South Africa's Marizanne Kapp remains the undisputed No. 1 ODI all-rounder.In the bowling department, Deepti Sharma has moved up one place to fourth after her economical performance in the series opener, where she claimed figures of 2/10. England's Sophie Ecclestone continues to dominate the ODI bowlers' rankings, maintaining a comfortable lead at the top.This surge in rankings for Indian players reflects their impressive performances in the recent series against South Africa. Mandhana's century and Sharma's all-round contributions have been instrumental in India's success.

Pakistan's qualification for the 2026 T20 World Cup has been confirmed despite their disappointing performance in the ongoing edition. Former pacer Shoaib Akhtar's suggestion that Pakistan might have to play qualifiers proved incorrect.According to ICC rules, 12 teams automatically qualify for the 2026 tournament. Co-hosts India and Sri Lanka received direct entry, while the top eight teams from the Super 8 stage of the current edition also secured their berths. These teams include India, Sri Lanka, Australia, England, West Indies, Afghanistan, South Africa, and Bangladesh.The remaining three automatic slots were allocated based on the ICC Men's T20I rankings as of June 30, 2024. As a result, New Zealand, Ireland, and Pakistan qualified.Pakistan's qualification is a relief after their early exit from the ongoing tournament. They were stunned by USA in the group stage and failed to beat India, which would have guaranteed their progression.The Super 8 stage of the current edition begins on June 19, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals. The groups are as follows:* Group 1: India, Australia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh* Group 2: England, USA, West Indies, South AfricaThe remaining eight slots for the 2026 T20 World Cup will be determined through regional qualifiers.

Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez has raised concerns over star batter Babar Azam's performance in ICC events, questioning whether the burden of captaincy is affecting his game. Hafeez's remarks come after Pakistan's disappointing exit from the T20 World Cup, where Babar failed to lead the team to the Super 8 stage.Despite Pakistan's victory in their final group match against Ireland, Babar's cautious approach during the chase raised eyebrows. Chasing a modest target of 107, Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals, but Babar remained at the crease, scoring a slow 32 not out off 34 balls.Hafeez expressed his disappointment over Babar's form in ICC events, suggesting that the captaincy may be weighing him down. "I feel sorry for Babar Azam. For a quality player like him, to have a major dip during ICC events is a big concern. And only Babar Azam can answer this. Is it because of his captaincy?" Hafeez said on PTV Sports.Hafeez emphasized that only Babar can explain his struggles at ICC events. "I want him to be the highest run-getter for Pakistan and he has that capacity. But when it comes to bilateral series, Babar is on top but in ICC event he is so low down. So this big dip in form is cause for concern and only Babar can answer it or maybe someone else," he added.Hafeez praised Babar's knock against Ireland, acknowledging his responsibility as a senior player to guide the team to victory. However, he also highlighted the need for a major shake-up in the team and management following Pakistan's dismal performance at the World Cup.Fans and analysts have criticized the team management for selecting the wrong players for the tournament. Pakistan's fall from grace is particularly striking considering their impressive run to the final in the previous World Cup two years ago.As Pakistan prepares to host the Champions Trophy next year, there are calls for a thorough review of the team's strategy and personnel. Hafeez's comments have added fuel to the debate, raising questions about Babar Azam's suitability as captain and the need for a fresh approach to ICC events.

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.

India holds a pivotal role in safeguarding the future of Test cricket, particularly in regions like the West Indies, according to Cricket West Indies (CWI) CEO Johnny Grave. Despite a demanding schedule, Grave commends the BCCI's unwavering commitment to the format. However, he emphasizes the need for the ICC to take proactive measures to protect Test cricket beyond the traditional strongholds of India, England, and Australia.In the current World Test Championship cycle, only three of the nine ICC Full Members (India, England, and Australia) will engage in five-match series. Three teams (Ireland, Afghanistan, and Zimbabwe) have yet to participate in the championship since its inception in 2019.Grave believes India's influence and resources position them as a leader in promoting Test cricket. He highlights their support for the reintroduction of cricket into the Olympics, a move that has significantly benefited Associate nations.Regarding the financial challenges faced by the CWI, Grave advocates for centralized travel costs within the World Test Championship. He argues that the burden of travel expenses should be shared among participating teams, fostering a sense of unity and reducing the financial strain on individual boards.The upcoming T20 World Cup, co-hosted by the West Indies and USA, is expected to provide a significant economic boost to the region. Grave estimates a potential revenue of US$300 million, which will contribute to the CWI's financial stability.Grave also emphasizes the importance of equitable revenue sharing within the ICC, particularly regarding the distribution of hosting rights for major events. He believes that spreading these events across multiple nations will not only provide financial benefits but also create a more level playing field.

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)

Pakistan's dismal performance at the Twenty20 World Cup has resulted in their earliest-ever elimination from the tournament. The 2009 champions suffered a humiliating first-round exit after the USA-Ireland match was abandoned due to rain.Pakistan's campaign began with a shocking defeat against the debutant USA team, leaving fans and experts in disbelief. Their struggles continued as they succumbed to a loss against arch-rivals India.Former India opener Virender Sehwag has criticized Pakistan's performance, highlighting their inability to win against first-timers and chase down 120 against India. "You can't blame the rain. Even if you had won, you didn't deserve to go ahead," Sehwag said.Sehwag also questioned the ICC's strategy of keeping India and Pakistan in the same group during World Cups. "In 2007, neither India nor Pakistan qualified for the second round. We were in different groups back then. Now, ICC will rethink on keeping India and Pakistan in a group," he said.The ICC's decision to group India and Pakistan together is influenced by the massive television audience that tunes in to watch these high-stakes matches. However, Sehwag believes that the ICC needs to reconsider this strategy to ensure that teams that perform well are not eliminated early.Pakistan's early exit from the tournament has raised questions about the team's preparation and strategy. The team's inability to adapt to different conditions and play consistently has been a major factor in their poor performance.As Pakistan looks ahead to the next T20 World Cup in 2024, they will need to address these issues and make significant improvements to their team if they want to avoid a similar fate.

Namibia vs England: A Clash of Titans in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024Match 34 of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 promises an enthralling encounter between Namibia and England at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua, on June 15. Both teams have showcased impressive performances in the tournament so far, setting the stage for a captivating clash.Namibia's ResurgenceNamibia, currently ranked fourth in the points table, has demonstrated resilience despite a recent setback against Australia. Gerhard Erasmus has emerged as a key player, amassing 50 fantasy points with his consistent batting and bowling contributions. David Wiese and Ruben Trumpelmann have also played pivotal roles, providing all-round strength to the Namibian squad.England's DominanceEngland, ranked third in the points table, enters this match with a commanding victory over Oman. Adil Rashid has been a standout performer, accumulating 134 fantasy points with his exceptional bowling skills. Mark Wood, Jos Buttler, and Philip Salt are other key players who have contributed significantly to England's success.Key Players to WatchNamibia:* Gerhard Erasmus: A versatile all-rounder with a knack for scoring runs and taking wickets.* David Wiese: A reliable batsman and experienced bowler who offers versatility to the team.* Ruben Trumpelmann: A left-arm fast bowler with a proven track record of taking crucial wickets.England:* Mark Wood: A pacey fast bowler who can generate bounce and trouble batters.* Jos Buttler: An explosive batsman and sharp wicketkeeper who plays a pivotal role in England's success.* Philip Salt: A top-order batsman who provides quick starts and builds a solid foundation for the team.Match PredictionBoth Namibia and England possess talented squads capable of producing a thrilling contest. Namibia will look to capitalize on their momentum and upset the more fancied English side. England, however, will be determined to maintain their winning streak and secure a crucial victory. The match promises to be a close and exciting affair, with either team having the potential to emerge victorious.