Cricket

Pakistan's hopes of advancing to the 'Super 8s' stage of the T20 World Cup received a boost after India's victory over USA on Wednesday. Pakistan's chances of progressing are now dependent on favorable results in the remaining matches of Group A.Currently, India leads the group with six points, followed by USA with four points and a net run rate (NRR) of +0.127. Pakistan sits in third place with two points and an NRR of +0.191, while Canada and Ireland have two and zero points, respectively.Pakistan's qualification hinges on the outcome of the following matches:* USA vs Ireland (June 14): If USA wins, they will qualify for the 'Super 8s' along with India.* Ireland vs USA (June 14): If Ireland wins, Pakistan's chances will improve as USA's NRR will worsen, making the Pakistan vs Ireland match a direct shootout for a spot in the 'Super 8s'.* India vs Canada (June 15): This match will become irrelevant if USA beats Ireland on June 14. However, if Ireland wins, Canada must upset India to tie with USA at four points.* Pakistan vs Ireland (June 16): This result will be crucial only if USA loses to Ireland on June 14. A Pakistan win will take them to second place on the points table, edging out USA on NRR.A washout in the USA vs Ireland match will give USA five points, securing their qualification. A washout in the Pakistan vs Ireland match will result in Pakistan finishing with three points, allowing USA to advance even if they lose their last match against Ireland.Pakistan's fate now rests on the performances of other teams in Group A. A win over Ireland on June 16 will be crucial, but they will need favorable results in the other matches to secure a spot in the 'Super 8s'.

Canada vs Ireland: Maiden Win Ambitions Collide in T20 World Cup ClashIn a crucial Group A encounter at the T20 World Cup, Canada and Ireland will lock horns in New York, both seeking their first victory in the tournament.Ireland, who suffered an eight-wicket defeat to India in their opening match, will rely on their experienced batting trio of Andy Balbirnie, Paul Stirling, and Harry Tector to guide them to a much-needed win. Balbirnie, the captain, is known for his aggressive style, while Stirling and Tector are renowned for their consistency and ability to anchor the innings.Canada, on the other hand, will be eager to bounce back from a seven-wicket loss to co-hosts USA. The Canadian team boasts a blend of youth and experience, with young guns like Navneet Dhaliwal and Dillon Heyliger looking to make an impact. Veteran all-rounder Nikhil Dutta will be crucial to their chances, providing stability with both bat and ball.The match promises to be a close contest, with both teams desperate for a win to keep their hopes of reaching the Super 12 stage alive. Ireland will be favored due to their superior experience and batting depth, but Canada has shown that they are capable of upsetting the odds.The match will be played at the Queens Sports Club in New York, starting at 10:00 AM local time (3:00 PM GMT).

Heinrich Malan, the head coach of the Ireland men's cricket team, has signed a two-year contract extension, extending his tenure until mid-2027. This decision aligns with Ireland's goal of qualifying for the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be hosted by South Africa and Zimbabwe.Malan's appointment in January 2022 marked a significant shift for Ireland, as he became the first non-Irish coach to lead the national team. Under his guidance, Ireland has made notable strides, particularly in the T20 format. They have successfully qualified for the last two T20 World Cups and even defeated eventual champions England in the group stage of the 2022 edition.In February 2023, Ireland achieved a historic milestone by securing their first-ever Test victory against Afghanistan. This triumph showcased the team's growing competitiveness across all three formats of the game.Malan's extension comes at a crucial time for Ireland, as they prepare for the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean. He will work closely with captain Paul Stirling to lead the team in this prestigious tournament."I am delighted with the extension as it provides the squad and coaching staff a great deal more certainty as we build upon the foundations we have put in place over the last two years," said Malan. "We are now a three-format squad and - despite our smaller talent pool to draw from compared to other Full Members - we have been gradually building a sustainable structure that ensures we can continue to compete and improve on all three fronts."Richard Holdsworth, High Performance Director of Cricket Ireland, praised Malan's contributions to the team's development. "Over the last 18 months or so, the team has improved significantly in the T20 format which was our weakest format," said Holdsworth. "His research into what world-class looks like, and the data he has gathered around the T20 format globally, has led to the production of a blueprint for the Ireland Men's team."Ireland's players recently secured revised central contracts, including pay raises, after negotiations. This demonstrates the growing recognition of the team's achievements and the commitment to supporting their development.As Ireland embarks on the next phase of their cricketing journey, Malan's leadership and strategic planning will be crucial in guiding them towards their goal of qualifying for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

In a thrilling encounter in Dublin, Pakistan's captain Babar Azam etched his name into the record books, surpassing Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli's milestone in the third Twenty20 International (T20I) against Ireland.After losing the series opener, Pakistan bounced back with two consecutive victories to clinch the series. In the third T20I, they triumphed over the hosts by six wickets, thanks to a scintillating performance from Babar.The Pakistani skipper was in imperious form, smashing five maximums and six boundaries in his blistering 75 off just 42 deliveries. With this knock, he became the batter with the most T20I runs in excess of 50.Babar's 39th T20I fifty surpassed Kohli's tally of 38 and India captain Rohit Sharma's 34. The Pakistani star also became the first batter from his country to score 25 runs in an over. He achieved this feat by hitting four sixes off Benjamin White's over, adding a single to complete the remarkable feat.Babar and Mohammad Rizwan (56) shared a mammoth 139-run partnership for the second wicket, laying the foundation for Pakistan's victory. This was the 10th century partnership between the two Pakistani batters in T20Is, making them the first pair to achieve this milestone. They also became the first pair to accumulate 3,000 runs in partnership.In comparison, India's opening pair of Rohit and KL Rahul have five-century partnerships in the shortest format, while Ireland's experienced duo of Paul Stirling and Andrew Balbirnie have amassed 2,043 runs together.Pakistan will now head to England for a four-match T20I series, their final opportunity to fine-tune their squad before the World Cup. The series against England will commence on May 22 at Headingley Carnegie, with the final match scheduled for May 30 at The Oval in London.

Pakistan's skipper Babar Azam opted to field first after winning the toss in the crucial third T20I against Ireland. The match holds significance as it will determine the series winner.Pakistan made a strategic move by resting Naseem Shah and bringing in Hasan Ali for his first T20I appearance since September 2022. Ireland, on the other hand, introduced two changes to their lineup. Regular captain Paul Stirling and Gareth Delany were rested, making way for Lorcan Tucker as the new captain and the inclusion of Neil Rock and Ross Adair.This marks the first time Tucker will lead Ireland in any format. The match serves as a crucial preparation for both teams ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the USA. Ireland will participate in a T20I tri-series in the Netherlands, which also includes Scotland, while Pakistan will embark on a four-match T20I tour of England.

Former Pakistan cricket star Ramiz Raja has expressed his dissatisfaction with the coverage of the ongoing T20I series between Pakistan and Ireland. Raja criticized the lack of DRS and replays, which he believes is not befitting of a match featuring Pakistan."One thing which I don't like at all is the coverage of this match. It feels like a club game is being telecast. Only two cameras are there. There's no DRS, no replays, you don't get an idea of the boundary rope, you can't enjoy a good shot being played or good balls being bowled. This is extremely unfair to the Pakistan cricket product," Raja said on YouTube.Raja also questioned why the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) did not address the issue. "Someone should have figured it out earlier. If the coverage was going to be like this, whichever broadcasting company it was, should have taken the rights from Cricket Ireland. I know they have the rights, but it should have been taken away and the coverage should have been made much better for this series because this marks the beginning of our road to the World Cup."Raja compared the coverage of the Pakistan-Ireland series to the broadcast quality of matches featuring African teams. "We are not an African country that the coverage for our games can be this poor. This series is not telecast in England. It's not available on Sky. Primarily because it is being covered like this. This is unfair to Pakistan," he said.Raja's comments highlight the importance of high-quality coverage for international cricket matches. The lack of DRS and replays can significantly impact the viewing experience and make it difficult for fans to fully appreciate the action on the field. The PCB should take Raja's concerns seriously and work to ensure that future matches are covered in a manner that befits the stature of Pakistan cricket.

Pakistan's thrilling victory over Ireland in the second T20I leveled the three-match series at 1-1, but it was match-winner Mohammad Rizwan's heartfelt acknowledgment of Virat Kohli that stole the hearts of the Indian batting legend's fans.Rizwan, who played a pivotal role in Pakistan's comeback win, praised Kohli's influence on Pakistani batsmen. "We have learnt a lot of things from Virat Kohli; I respect him," said Rizwan, who is one of only two batters to average above 50 in T20Is.Pakistan's run-chase got off to a shaky start, but Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman launched a counter-attack, adding 140 runs for the third wicket. Rizwan's unbeaten 75 off 46 balls and Zaman's 78 off 40 balls powered Pakistan to a seven-wicket victory.Rizwan's admiration for Kohli highlights the respect and camaraderie that exists between the two cricketing nations. Kohli, who averages 51.75 in T20Is, has been a role model for many young batsmen, including Rizwan.The T20 World Cup is just around the corner, and both India and Pakistan are in the same group. Their highly anticipated clash on June 9 in New York is sure to be a thrilling encounter.Pakistan will play a decisive third T20I against Ireland on May 14 before heading to England for four T20Is. They will then fly to the US for the T20 World Cup, where they will face their arch-rivals India in a match that promises to be one of the highlights of the tournament.

Ireland's captain, Paul Stirling, took a playful jab at Pakistan after his team's triumph in the first T20I of a three-match series in Dublin on Friday. Former captain Andrew Balbirnie's impressive 77 guided Ireland to their first victory over Pakistan in 17 years. This was only Ireland's second win against Pakistan, following their surprising triumph at the 2007 50-over World Cup in the West Indies.In a post-match interview, Stirling took a swipe at the pitches in Pakistan, describing them as the "flattest decks in the world." He elaborated, "When you come here, especially from Pakistan, the flattest pitches in the world, ask them to bat first and see what they can get. We were happy to chase 180."After Ireland elected to bowl, Pakistan's captain Babar Azam and opener Saim Ayub formed a solid partnership, adding 85 runs for the second wicket. Babar top-scored for the tourists with 57, while Ayub contributed 45. Iftikhar Ahmed (37) and Shadab Khan (14) made valuable contributions down the order, helping Pakistan reach a total of 182/6.In response, Ireland chased down the target of 183 with a ball to spare. Ireland needed 40 runs from the last four overs, and Abbas Afridi dismissed George Dockrell for 24. With Ireland requiring 11 runs from the final over, Curtis Campher under-edged a boundary off Abbas and sealed the victory with a leg bye."I didn't watch the last over. (I) went to the tent and put a towel over my head. I felt it was my job to get the team over the line... Harry said if we could bat normally till the 13th over, we could get the runs. That was a partnership which set it up," said Balbirnie, who was dismissed in the 19th over.

Ireland's historic victory over Pakistan in their first T20I encounter in 15 years was a testament to the hosts' resilience and the brilliance of Andy Balbirnie. Balbirnie's masterful 77, coupled with Harry Tector's 36, laid the foundation for Ireland's successful chase of 183.The chase was far from straightforward, with Pakistan's bowlers putting up a spirited fight. However, cameos from George Dockrell and Curtis Campher proved crucial in guiding Ireland over the line. The final overs were a tense affair, with Ireland needing 40 runs from the last four overs.Pakistan's bowlers started the final overs well, but a recurring theme of conceding late boundaries kept Ireland in the hunt. Shadab Khan's missed chance to dismiss Balbirnie proved costly, as the Irish captain went on to score a match-winning knock.Naseem Shah's yorkers brought Pakistan back into the game, but Delany's crunching drive off a full toss kept Ireland's hopes alive. Shaheen Afridi's penultimate over was impressive, but Campher's audacious reverse ramp over the keeper left Abbas Afridi with a daunting task in the final over.Campher's composure under pressure was evident as he guided the first ball off the under-edge for four. He capitalized on a missed yorker to level the scores before sneaking a leg bye to seal a memorable victory for Ireland.This historic win marks a significant milestone for Irish cricket and will undoubtedly boost their confidence ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup.