Cricket

The T20 World Cup semi-finals are set, with India and England facing off in a rematch of last year's final, while South Africa takes on Afghanistan in the other match.Afghanistan will make their T20 World Cup semi-finals debut in the first semi-final in Trinidad, which begins at 6 AM IST on Thursday. India's match against England will be played from 8 PM IST in Guyana, also on Thursday.There are different rules for the semi-finals and finals. While there is a reserve day in place for the first semi-final between South Africa and Afghanistan, the same is not the case for the India-England humdinger.This is because India's semi-final was pre-decided to be played in Guyana, which has no reserve day. However, it has an extra 250 minutes scheduled if needed since it is a day game as per local time.If the India vs England semi-final is washed out, India will advance to the final by virtue of their higher group standing. The same is the case with the other semi-final, with South Africa advancing if no play is possible.In case of a rain interruption on the day's play, there won't be a fresh start on the rain reserve day. For the first semi-final, there's an extra 60 minutes at the end of the day's play and a further 190 minutes on the reserve day.

India's emphatic 24-run victory over Australia in the Super Eights of the ICC T20 World Cup was a testament to their collective brilliance. After Rohit Sharma's scintillating 92 propelled India to a formidable 205/5, the bowlers stepped up to restrict Australia to 181/7.Arshdeep Singh, who has emerged as a key cog in India's bowling attack, attributed his success to the pressure created by Jasprit Bumrah. "Jassi is bowling like a video game," Arshdeep said, referring to Bumrah's exceptional economy rate. "He puts pressure on the batters, forcing them to take risks, which gives me opportunities for wickets."Kuldeep Yadav, who played a crucial role with his spin, explained his strategy against Australia. "I tried to read the batsman and what he was expecting," Kuldeep said. "I started with a fuller ball, a flipper, to induce a sweep shot. Then I introduced the wrong'un, confusing the batters."The turning point of the match, according to Kuldeep, was Axar Patel's stunning one-handed catch in the second over. "That catch opened up the game for us," he said.Arshdeep, who has taken 15 wickets in the tournament so far, praised the entire bowling unit for their collective effort. "Everyone is clicking very well," he said. "The other bowlers stop runs from one end and get wickets from the other end."India's victory was a collective effort, with Rohit's batting brilliance, Bumrah's economical bowling, and the spin duo of Kuldeep and Axar playing pivotal roles. The team's confidence is soaring as they prepare to face England in the semifinals on Thursday.

India's formidable bowling attack, led by the spin trio of Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja, is expected to give them an edge over England in the second semi-final of the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup. Former India all-rounder Robin Singh believes that India's current form and unbeaten record position them favorably against England, who have faced a challenging journey to the semi-finals.Singh highlights the depth and versatility of India's bowling attack, which suits the conditions at the Providence Stadium in Georgetown, Guyana. He emphasizes the importance of countering England's key bowlers, Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid, to make inroads into their batting lineup.India's recent performance against Australia, where their spinners registered combined figures of 3-45, demonstrates the effectiveness of their spin attack. Kuldeep Yadav, initially excluded from the playing eleven, has excelled in the Super Eights, taking seven wickets in three games.Singh emphasizes the collective effort of the bowling unit, stating that it's not about individual bowlers but about putting pressure on the batsmen as a team. He also praises the fast-bowling pair of Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, who have been formidable throughout the tournament.As the teams prepare for their high-stakes encounter, the focus will be on how India's versatile bowling attack measures up against England's strong batting lineup. With a spot in the final on the line, the match promises to be a thrilling contest.

ICC Urged to End Pre-Scheduled India-Pakistan Matches, Ensure Fairness in TournamentsFormer English cricketer and commentator David Lloyd has sparked a debate by calling on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to eliminate pre-scheduled matches between India and Pakistan in major tournaments. Lloyd argues that these fixtures, which have become a staple in ICC events since 2013, compromise the integrity of the sport.Lloyd's concerns stem from the belief that such practices amount to "fixing fixtures" and manipulating the game's outcomes for commercial gain. He contends that these pre-arrangements undermine the fairness and quality of the competition, as teams may be incentivized to perform differently based on the prospect of facing India or Pakistan."We talk long and hard about fixing in cricket. That's fixed. It's just fixed for a major event," Lloyd said on TalkSPORT. "You can't fix the game itself. And that's only part of what we fix. We fix loads of stuff. In this particular World Cup, you're just trying to manipulate. It's just wrong."Lloyd also criticized the scheduling of the ongoing 2024 T20 World Cup, particularly the lack of rest days for teams during the Super 8s stage. He noted that the tight schedule has adversely affected teams' performance and preparation time.Another concern raised by Lloyd was the inconsistency in semi-final rules, pointing out that the India vs England semi-final had no reserve day while the South Africa vs Afghanistan match did."It just isn't fair (to the teams)," Lloyd noted. "We're just manipulating the tournament for the benefit of a few."Lloyd and his fellow experts on the discussion outlined five critical points for the ICC to consider before the next World Cup:1. India and Pakistan should not automatically play each other in tournaments. Their matches should be determined by the draw and tournament progress, not pre-arranged.2. Uniform rules in the semi-finals, including provisions for reserve days for all teams.3. No predetermined teams should be set for the Super 8 and semi-finals. Teams should qualify based solely on their performance during the tournament.4. A fair distribution of matches and locations, ensuring no team plays all their matches at a single location while others travel extensively.5. No more fixed schedules that favor certain outcomes. The schedule should not be manipulated to promote specific results, thereby ensuring a fair and unbiased competition.These criticisms and proposed reforms reflect a broader call for fairness and integrity in the organization of international cricket tournaments. Lloyd’s comments aim to preserve the competitive spirit of cricket for all teams and fans.

Australia's T20 World Cup 2024 campaign came to an abrupt end after Afghanistan's thrilling victory over Bangladesh in their final Super 8 match. The Mitchell Marsh-led side had earlier suffered a shocking loss to Afghanistan, followed by a defeat to India, effectively eliminating them from the tournament.India's 24-run victory over Australia was a significant moment for their fans, who celebrated it as a form of "revenge" for their loss in the 2023 Cricket World Cup final in Ahmedabad. During the match, Australia's ODI captain Pat Cummins faced sledging from a fan as he walked back to the pavilion after his dismissal. The incident was captured on video and has since gone viral on social media.In the match between India and Australia, Rohit Sharma played a crucial role, scoring a brilliant 92 to guide India to a formidable total of 205 for 5. Travis Head was once again Australia's top scorer, but Arshdeep Singh's three wickets and Kuldeep Yadav's two wickets proved decisive in India's victory.After the match, Rohit Sharma expressed his satisfaction with India's performance. "We know the opposition and the threat they bring. As a team, we did well, kept doing the things we needed to do. Gives us good confidence as a team," he said.Rohit also praised Kuldeep Yadav's contribution, saying, "We know the strength he has, but we need to use him when necessary. In New York, there were seamer-friendly wickets."With Australia's elimination, India and Afghanistan have secured their places in the semi-finals. India will face England in the first semi-final, while Afghanistan will take on the winner of the match between Pakistan and New Zealand.

Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez has hailed India's skipper Rohit Sharma as the most deserving candidate to lift the World Cup trophy, citing his exceptional leadership and selfless approach to batting.Hafeez lauded Rohit's match-winning 92 off 41 balls against Australia in the T20 World Cup Super Eight, which propelled India to a 24-run victory and eliminated the defending champions. He emphasized Rohit's transformation from a talented player to a true great, attributing it to his unwavering selflessness."It was a Rohit show. We witnessed one of the best innings from a captain," Hafeez remarked. "Leading from the front, there was one thing that no one could overlook, and that was Rohit's quality of selflessness."Hafeez believes that Rohit's selfless approach has been a key factor in his success over the past year, including his standout performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup. "He has been planning this innings for over a year now, and he has executed it perfectly," Hafeez said. "In the last 50-over World Cup, he was the standout performer for India. He always played selflessly, regardless of the situation."Hafeez highlighted Rohit's clarity of goals, which extend beyond personal milestones to winning ICC trophies for India. "When you set your goals high, your pedigree increases," he stated. "In Rohit's case, India's leadership deserves to win this World Cup. The way he plays unconditionally, like a champion, is remarkable."Hafeez expressed his belief that Rohit's leadership and dedication make him the ideal candidate to bring World Cup glory to India. "Rohit is the only person at the moment who deserves to win this World Cup for India," he asserted. "His selfless dedication and leadership make him the perfect choice."

Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has ignited a fresh controversy by accusing the Indian cricket team of ball tampering during their T20 World Cup 'Super 8s' match against Australia. Inzamam's allegations stem from the unusual reverse swing extracted by left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, who was brought back for his second spell in the 16th over.Reverse swing typically occurs with an older ball, and Inzamam questioned how the Indian bowlers managed to achieve it with a ball that remains relatively new for the duration of an innings in a T20 game. "When Arshdeep Singh was bowling the 15th over (16th), he was getting reverse swing. With a (relatively) new ball, is it too early to get reverse swing? Was the ball ready for reverse swing by the 12th or 13th over? Because when he came to bowl, the ball started reversing. Umpires ko aanhein khuli rakhni chahiye (the umpires should keep their eyes open)," Inzamam said while talking on a Pakistani TV channel.Inzamam's claims have sparked a debate on the legality of India's bowling tactics. Reverse swing is a legitimate technique in cricket, but it requires the ball to be altered in some way, such as by scuffing it on the ground or applying a foreign substance. If the umpires believe that the ball has been tampered with, they can penalize the bowling team.The Indian team has denied any wrongdoing, and captain Rohit Sharma has dismissed Inzamam's allegations as "baseless." However, the controversy has cast a shadow over India's impressive performance in the tournament so far.India posted a formidable total of 205-5 in their 20 overs, thanks to captain Rohit Sharma's blistering 92 off 41 balls, and Suryakumar Yadav's rapid 31. Contributions from Shivam Dube (28) and Hardik Pandya (27 not out) further bolstered India's innings. Australia's bowlers, led by Mitchell Starc (2-45) and Marcus Stoinis (2-52), struggled to contain the Indian batsmen on a batting-friendly pitch.Chasing 206, Australia managed 181-7 in their 20 overs. Travis Head top-scored with 76. However, the Indian bowlers, particularly Arshdeep, who took 3-37, and Kuldeep Yadav, who claimed 2-24, kept the Australian batsmen in check. Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel also chipped in with crucial wickets, ensuring India maintained their grip on the match.With a strong all-round performance, India once again showcased their potential as tournament favourites and secured a place in the semi-finals, where they will take on defending champions England on Thursday at the Providence Stadium in Guyana.

In the lead-up to India's T20 World Cup opener against Ireland, captain Rohit Sharma displayed an uncharacteristic candor, shedding the burden of past defeats. He boldly declared that the opening partnership would remain unchanged throughout the tournament, signaling a shift in his approach.Rohit's newfound freedom was evident in his blistering 92 off 41 balls against Australia in St. Lucia. His onslaught, particularly the 28 runs he plundered off Mitchell Starc in the third over, set the tone for India's victory."He's a world-class player," said Josh Hazlewood, Starc's pace-bowling partner. "He targeted the boundary with the wind and then hit a few on the other side as well. He's a class act."Rohit's uninhibited style of play, a hallmark of his early career, has resurfaced in his twilight years. "The idea is to be not just one-dimensional," he explained. "I was thinking to hit the ball everywhere possible."Despite the challenging conditions in St. Lucia, Rohit's effortless batting kept the Indian dugout relaxed. "When he hits those long sixes, it doesn't feel like he is hitting the ball," said pacer Arshdeep Singh. "He handles the ball with love, yet it goes far."Rohit's relaxed demeanor and positive attitude have permeated the Indian team. "We just enjoyed it a lot," said Singh. "The pressure-cooker situation of opening and leading India in an ICC tournament hasn't bothered him."As India prepares for its final two matches, Rohit's leadership and batting prowess will be crucial. The team will look to him to continue his inspired form and guide them to a perfect ending to this World Cup drama.

India's captain, Rohit Sharma, has received widespread acclaim for his exceptional performance in the T20 World Cup Super Eight match against Australia. His blistering 92 off 41 balls, featuring eight towering sixes and seven boundaries, propelled India to a commanding total of 205 for 5. The Indian bowlers then restricted Australia to 181 for 7, securing a 24-run victory that played a pivotal role in eliminating the reigning ODI World Cup champions from the tournament.Rohit's innings was marked by an explosive over against Mitchell Starc, where he amassed 29 runs. Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif highlighted the significance of this over in shifting the momentum in India's favor. He emphasized Rohit's ability to perform on the big stage and his strategic batting against Starc."Rohit Sharma knows how to play an attacking game," Kaif said. "He played shots with a straight bat in the crucial match. The two cover drives for sixes off Starc were beautiful shots. There was precise timing, and they were played with a high elbow behind the ball. He didn't hit it hard; he played with the full face of the bat."India legend Sunil Gavaskar also praised Rohit's performance and leadership during the crucial juncture of the game. "Rohit Sharma, leading from the front, hitting those big sixes. Despite losing Kohli in the previous over, it just tells you the intent the captain of the Indian team has," Gavaskar noted.Rohit's influence and leadership have been instrumental in India's progression to the semi-finals, where they will face defending champions England. His ability to perform under pressure will be crucial as Team India continues its pursuit of the title.