Cricket

Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto exudes confidence in his team's ability to reach the Super Eights stage of the ICC T20 World Cup. Ahead of their crucial Group D clash against the Netherlands, Shanto expressed optimism based on their strong performances so far in the tournament.Despite a narrow four-run loss to South Africa in their previous match, Shanto remains unfazed. He emphasized the team's collective strength and their determination to play to their potential. "We are very much confident that if we play to our strength, we should go to the Super Eights," he stated.Shanto addressed concerns about all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan's recent form, acknowledging that every player experiences fluctuations. He praised Shakib's work ethic and expressed confidence in his ability to bounce back. "He is trying his best and working hard. He is in a good condition already. I hope he will deliver well tomorrow," Shanto said.The skipper also clarified that Shakib's eyesight is not an issue and that he is practicing well. "Just one or two innings can go wrong in this format," Shanto added.Regarding the team's batting performance, Shanto highlighted the contributions of Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy. He emphasized the importance of batsmen finishing the game, regardless of their position in the order.Shanto acknowledged the favorable conditions in Kingstown compared to previous venues, but noted the challenge posed by the wind. "There is a little help for the bowlers, from what I understood after batting here," he said.In conclusion, Shanto expressed gratitude for the crowd support and urged fans to attend the upcoming match. He emphasized the team's determination to adjust to any wicket conditions and play to their best abilities.

The United States is embracing cricket, a top American diplomat said Wednesday as the country hosted T-20 World Cup matches for the first time, including the highly anticipated India-Pakistan and India-US matches in New York.Richard Verma, the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, expressed his enthusiasm at a reception hosted by the Department of State. "In cricket terms, I am truly bowled over. It is really a tremendous honor and privilege for the United States to be hosting the men's T20 World Cup for the very first time," he said.Verma acknowledged the growing popularity of cricket in the US, noting that the country is starting to embrace the sport. He highlighted the establishment of Major League Cricket and the increasing number of cricket leagues and players in the country.The reception, titled "From Bouncers to Boundaries: An Evening to Celebrate the Men's T20 World Cup and Cricket in the USA," was the largest dedicated event for cricket organized by the US government. Verma emphasized the global reach of cricket and the significance of the US hosting the World Cup."The 20 participating national teams highlight not only the skill of the world's best cricketers, but also the expansiveness of cricket's global reach," he said. "Having the US host the Cricket World Cup would have seemed unimaginable just 10 or 15 years ago."Sanjay Govil, owner of the Washington Freedom, a US Major League Cricket (MLC) team, spoke about the success of the national cricket team. "We beat Pakistan, we beat Canada, and we had a very close match against India today," he said.Geoff Allardice, CEO of the International Cricket Council (ICC), praised the efforts of the US in promoting cricket. "We've been having the T20 World Cup in Dallas, New York, and Florida. It's been a difficult challenge to get particularly the temporary venue up in New York, but it's all been worth it," he said.Allardice believes that the World Cup will have a lasting impact on cricket in the US. "When we reflect on the matches there and the impact it's had on cricket in the USA and raising the awareness of cricket here, it'll be looked back on as a pivotal moment for the sport in this country," he said.India defeated the US by seven wickets to enter the Super Eight of the T20 World Cup in New York on Wednesday. The tournament has generated significant interest in the US, with major news outlets covering the matches and over 200,000 cricket players registered in the country.

India Chases 111 in ICC T20 World Cup 2024 OpenerThe ICC T20 World Cup 2024 kicked off with a thrilling encounter between the United States and India. India, chasing a modest target of 111, found themselves in a spot of bother at 37/2 after 7.1 overs.Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant were at the crease, looking to steady the Indian innings. Yadav, known for his aggressive batting, played cautiously, defending and nudging the ball around. Pant, on the other hand, showed his characteristic flair, smashing a six over deep backward square leg.The Indian openers faced a disciplined bowling attack from the United States. Jessy Singh, in particular, impressed with his pace and accuracy. He bowled a tight line and length, making it difficult for the Indian batsmen to score freely.Despite the early wickets, India remained confident. They knew that the target was within reach if they could build partnerships and rotate the strike. Yadav and Pant were gradually finding their rhythm, and the Indian fans were hopeful of a strong comeback.The match was evenly poised at the end of the mandatory Powerplay, with India needing 74 runs from 84 balls. The United States bowlers were determined to keep the pressure on, while the Indian batsmen were looking to break free and accelerate the scoring rate.As the match progressed, the tension mounted. Every ball was crucial, and the crowd was on the edge of their seats. The outcome of the match hung in the balance, with both teams fighting tooth and nail for victory.

Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi has ascended to the pinnacle of the ICC T20I all-rounder rankings, while India's Suryakumar Yadav maintains his dominance as the top-ranked batter.Nabi's remarkable performances in the ongoing T20 World Cup have propelled him to the summit. The 39-year-old's all-round brilliance, including two wickets against New Zealand, has earned him the coveted no. 1 spot.In a significant shake-up, Nabi has leapfrogged Australia's Marcus Stoinis, who now occupies the second position. Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan, the previous no. 1, has dropped to fifth.Suryakumar Yadav's consistent brilliance has kept him at the top of the T20I batter rankings. Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz has achieved a career-high ranking of 12th, becoming the leading run-getter in the T20 World Cup with 156 runs.Pakistan's Babar Azam has moved up to third, while England's Jos Buttler has secured fifth place. Australia's Travis Head has entered the Top 10, rising six places to tenth.In the bowlers' rankings, England's Adil Rashid remains at the top, followed by Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga. Afghanistan's Rashid Khan and Fazalhaq Farooqi have moved to third and fourth spots, respectively, while South Africa's Anrich Nortje shares fourth place with Farooqi.Rashid Khan has six wickets in two matches, while Farooqi leads the tournament with nine wickets. Nortje is the second-highest wicket-taker with eight scalps.Bangladesh's trio of Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, and Rishad Hossain have made significant progress, moving to 13th, 19th, and 30th positions, respectively.

South Africa's Heinrich Klaasen has expressed mixed feelings about the low-scoring matches at the ICC T20 World Cup in New York. While acknowledging that the format may not be appealing to casual fans, he believes it enhances the competitiveness and entertainment value for cricket enthusiasts."For cricket lovers, it's still good cricket," Klaasen said. "But if you have to showcase it to the world and sell it, I don't think it's a great selling product."Klaasen's comments come after South Africa's thrilling four-run victory over Bangladesh in a match that went down to the final ball. The low-scoring affair highlighted the challenges of batting on the slow and bouncy pitches in New York.Despite the difficulties, Klaasen believes the format levels the playing field and makes every game a potential upset. "It brings the other teams and the higher teams very close to each other," he said. "So, the game is open to any team that does the basics of cricket very well."Klaasen also acknowledged the pressure that comes with playing in such tight matches. "For us, it's very nerve-wracking, because every game becomes a really big game," he said. "There are no easy games for us, especially in our group."Looking ahead to the Super 8 stage in the Caribbean, Klaasen believes that scores around 160-170 will be competitive on the more batting-friendly wickets there. He also expressed openness to expanding cricket to other countries, such as Argentina, Brazil, and Russia."I think there are a lot of places where cricket can go," Klaasen said. "We are open as cricketers anywhere as long as it's good conditions and we can play good cricket."

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has proposed February 19, 2023, as the start date for the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. The tournament is scheduled to run until March 9, with matches taking place in Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore.Karachi will host three games, including the tournament opener and a semi-final, while Lahore will host seven, including the final. The other semi-final will be one of five contests to take place at Pindi Cricket Ground.Several ICC officials have visited Pakistan to inspect arrangements for the first ICC tournament in the country since the 1996 World Cup. They have provided positive feedback on logistics and arrangements, allowing the PCB to proceed with its plans.However, the proposed dates mean that the last third of the tournament will be held during Ramadan, which could impact attendance. The PCB has previously tried to accommodate for this by moving start times to 9pm, but this will not be possible for the Champions Trophy, which is an ODI tournament.As previously reported, every game involving India at the tournament is slated to take place in Lahore. This means one semi-final will be moved from Karachi or Rawalpindi to Lahore should India qualify for the last four. Basing India in one city is thought to have been proposed to avoid logistical and security complications around their travel. Additionally, Lahore's proximity to the Wagah border crossing between India and Pakistan makes it easier for Indian fans to attend.The main question surrounding the event remains India's participation. The Indian team has not played in Pakistan since the Asia Cup in 2008, and there has been no bilateral series between the two since 2012-13. The BCCI has stated that the decision to travel to Pakistan rests with the Indian government.Every other side involved in the upcoming Champions Trophy has travelled to Pakistan since cricket returned to the country in 2015. Pakistan will also host an ODI tri-series featuring South Africa and New Zealand before the tournament.Pakistan are the defending champions, having won the last Champions Trophy in 2017.

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.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is reportedly planning to revive the Champions Trophy in 2023, with a 20-day window from February 19 to March 9 being proposed. The tournament, which features the top eight teams in the ICC's ODI rankings, was last held in 2017, with Pakistan emerging victorious.According to a report on Cricbuzz, the ICC has informed its member boards about the proposed dates. Pakistan is the official host of the tournament, but due to the Indian government's reluctance to allow its team to travel to Pakistan, the event may adopt a hybrid model similar to the recent Asia Cup, where India played all their matches in Sri Lanka.Pakistan has reportedly designated Lahore as the venue for all India matches to minimize travel time and facilitate fan attendance from the Wagah border near Amritsar. However, a final decision on the tournament's format and venues will depend on the Indian government and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).The ICC's annual conference in Colombo in July is expected to provide clarity on the Indian government and BCCI's stance. If the Champions Trophy does take place in 2023, it will mark the return of a prestigious tournament that has been on hiatus for six years.