Cricket

The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is set to welcome a new franchise in 2024, the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons. The Falcons have made several high-profile signings, including Pakistan trio Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim, and Fakhar Zaman.Amir, a left-arm fast bowler, is a veteran of international cricket with over 250 wickets across all formats. Wasim, a left-arm spinner, is known for his economical bowling and ability to take wickets. Zaman, a hard-hitting opener, has been a key player for Pakistan in recent years.In addition to the Pakistani trio, the Falcons have also signed Australia offspinner Chris Green and Afghanistan allrounder Azmatullah Omarzai. Green is a T20 specialist with over 200 wickets in the format, while Omarzai is a rising star who has impressed in international cricket.The Falcons have also added West Indies' Brandon King and Fabian Allen to their squad. King is a destructive batter who has scored over 2,000 runs in T20 cricket, while Allen is a versatile allrounder who can contribute with both bat and ball.Rounding out the Falcons' signings so far is 17-year-old batter Jewel Andrew, who played in the Under-19 World Cup for West Indies earlier this year.The Falcons will need to sign five more players at the draft in July to complete their squad. Other big signings for CPL 2024 so far include Tim David and Jason Roy (Trinbago Knight Riders), Heinrich Klaasen (St Lucia Kings), and Wanindu Hasaranga and Tristan Stubbs (St Kitts and Nevis Patriots).The Antigua & Barbuda Falcons replace Jamaica Tallawahs at the CPL. Antigua previously hosted a CPL franchise named Antigua Hawksbills in the first two CPL seasons, but that was replaced by St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in 2015.The 2024 edition of the CPL will take place from August 28 to October 6 with games taking place in Antigua for the first time in ten years. Barbados, Guyana, St Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad & Tobago are the other venues. The National Stadium in Providence, Guyana, will host the final.

Former Pakistan captain and coach Mohammad Hafeez has made explosive allegations against the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), accusing them of prioritizing their own interests and engaging in negotiations with players such as Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim to ensure their inclusion in the 15-member team for the upcoming T20 World Cup.Hafeez, who was not included in the squad, claimed that the PCB had "brought them here out of greed" and made "deals" with players who had "ruined Pakistan's cricket." He questioned the selection of Amir and Wasim, who had both retired from international cricket but reversed their decisions in recent months."They (PCB) brought them here out of greed, made deals with such players (Amir and Wasim) who have ruined Pakistan's cricket. I was in the domestic circuit, but no one wanted to play domestic cricket. It is because they were telling me that 'any of us gets selected, we will take it.' How can it be that players who don't even play Pakistan's domestic cricket got selected," Hafeez said.Hafeez also criticized Amir and Wasim for their lack of commitment to Pakistan cricket, claiming that they had only returned to the team because there were no other leagues happening at the moment."When asked to play for Pakistan six months ago, they said they wanted to play in leagues. Since no leagues are happening these days, they are playing in the World Cup. They are playing in the World Cup as if it is just another league," he added.Hafeez's allegations have sparked a storm of controversy in Pakistan, with many fans and experts questioning the PCB's decision-making. The PCB has not yet responded to Hafeez's claims, but it is likely that they will face pressure to address the issue in the coming days.

USA Stuns Pakistan in Super Over Upset at T20 World Cup 2024In a thrilling encounter at the T20 World Cup 2024, the United States pulled off a stunning Super Over upset against Pakistan on Thursday. The Group A match at Grand Prairie, Dallas, went down to the wire after both teams finished with identical scores of 159 in their standard 20 overs.Batting first in the Super Over, USA scored 18 runs against Pakistan's veteran left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir. Seven of those runs came through extras, highlighting Pakistan's poor fielding performance. In reply, Pakistan could only manage 13 runs, handing the victory to the United States.The match took a dramatic turn in the final over of USA's chase. With Pakistan needing to defend 11 runs, Amir advised captain Babar Azam to continue with pace bowling. However, Azam opted to bring on spinner Shadab Khan, who conceded 11 runs and allowed USA to tie the match.In the Super Over, USA's openers, Sushant Modani and Monank Patel, played aggressively and put pressure on Pakistan's bowlers. Amir's poor fielding also contributed to USA's success, as he dropped a catch and conceded a boundary.Pakistan captain Babar Azam expressed disappointment after the loss, acknowledging that his team's performance in the first six overs and the middle overs with the ball cost them the match. He also noted the challenging pitch conditions, which favored pace bowling.The upset victory is a major boost for the United States, who are making their debut at the T20 World Cup. It also raises questions about Pakistan's form and their ability to compete with the top teams in the tournament.

Pakistan's experienced pacer Mohammad Amir has expressed confidence in his teammates Shadab Khan and Azam Khan, who have been struggling for form ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024. Pakistan will kick off their campaign against co-hosts USA at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on Thursday.Amir acknowledged that both Shadab and Azam are key middle-order players for Pakistan and are capable of turning their fortunes around quickly. "They are one game away - the kind of players that they are, they can single-handedly win the match for you," Amir said.Shadab has been particularly out of touch, scoring just three runs in two matches against England and failing to make an impact with the ball. Azam, on the other hand, managed only 11 runs in two innings.Despite their recent struggles, Amir believes that both players have the ability to regain their form and make a significant contribution to Pakistan's World Cup campaign. "I always say that the player who has performed and proved himself never doubts his ability," Amir said. "Yes, there is a bad patch in cricket. And this happens with every cricketer. All the legends also if you see in the past, sometimes even they can't perform well."Amir, who reversed his retirement to feature in the World Cup, will be a key part of Pakistan's bowling attack alongside four other pacers. The 31-year-old has been in good form in the build-up series against Ireland and England.Pakistan will be hoping that Shadab and Azam can rediscover their form in time for the World Cup opener against USA. The Men in Green have been struggling to find the right balance and combination in the team, and a strong performance from their middle-order will be crucial to their chances of success.

Pakistan's cricket team has announced its 15-man squad for the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup, with fast bowler Haris Rauf making a surprising inclusion despite fitness concerns. Rauf, who injured his shoulder during the Pakistan Super League in February, is expected to play in the second Twenty20 international against England on Saturday.The Pakistan Cricket Board's selection committee expressed confidence in Rauf's fitness, stating that he is "full fit and bowling well in the nets." The committee also noted that it would have been ideal for Rauf to have an outing in the first match at Headingley, but they remain optimistic about his progress.Pakistan is the 20th and final team to announce its squad for the World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States and West Indies from June 1 to June 29. The tournament will feature four groups of five teams, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the Super Eight Stage.Pakistan's Group A includes arch-rivals India, as well as Canada and Ireland. Pakistan will face the United States in their first match in Dallas on June 6.Fast bowler Hasan Ali, as well as batters Agha Salman and Muhammad Irfan Khan, were left off the squad. Fast bowler Mohammad Amir, the only survivor of Pakistan's 2009 Twenty20 World Cup triumph, is making a comeback after coming out of retirement two months ago.Amir is part of a strong pace attack spearheaded by Shaheen Shah Afridi, Rauf, Naseem Shah, and Abbas Afridi. Pakistan lost in the semi-final of the 2021 Twenty20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates and in the final in Australia in 2022.

Ireland vs Pakistan 2nd T20I: Pakistan Aims to Redeem Themselves After Series-Opening LossPakistan will be eager to make amends when they face Ireland in the second T20I of the three-match series in Dublin on Sunday, May 12. The hosts stunned the visitors in the series opener at the Clontarf Cricket Club, securing a five-wicket victory to take an early lead.Pakistan's disappointing performance in the first match has prompted them to consider changes to their lineup. Pacer Mohammad Amir, who missed the series opener due to a visa delay, is expected to make his debut for Pakistan in the second T20I.Ireland, on the other hand, will be looking to build on their momentum and secure a series victory. The hosts have been in impressive form, having won their last three T20I matches.Match Details:* Date: Sunday, May 12* Venue: Clontarf Cricket Club Ground, Dublin* Start Time: 7:30 PM ISTBroadcast Information:* TV: Not telecast in India* Live Streaming: FanCodeKey Players to Watch:* Ireland: Paul Stirling, Andrew Balbirnie, Josh Little* Pakistan: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad AmirAnalysis:Pakistan will be desperate to level the series and avoid a humiliating defeat. The return of Amir will bolster their bowling attack, but they will need to improve their batting performance.Ireland, meanwhile, will be confident of continuing their winning streak. They have a well-balanced team with experienced players and exciting young talents.The second T20I promises to be an exciting contest between two evenly matched teams. Pakistan will be determined to prove their worth, while Ireland will be aiming to secure a series victory on home soil.

Pakistan's Mohammad Amir Granted Visa for Ireland T20I SeriesPakistan cricket authorities have received a sigh of relief as the Irish consulate has granted a visa to Mohammad Amir, clearing the way for his potential inclusion in the team for the second T20I in Dublin on May 12.The opening match of the three-match T20I series is scheduled for Friday at the Clontaff ground. A source within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that they have been informed about Amir's visa approval and are currently arranging his travel from Lahore to join the squad.While the rest of the team departed for Dublin on Tuesday, Amir remained in Lahore awaiting his visa clearance. After a period of impasse, the breakthrough came following discussions between the PCB and Cricket Ireland regarding the delay in visa issuance.Although the Irish consulate did not provide a specific reason for the delay, the source indicated that it was due to technical issues, which have since been resolved."Obviously, the PCB was unhappy with the visa delay as it affects the team management plans for the (T20) World Cup and also has a bearing on the affected player who has returned from retirement to international cricket after four years," the source said.After the series against Ireland, Pakistan will move to England for four T20Is starting from May 22 at Leeds. Interestingly, Amir was readily issued a visa to play in Ireland's inaugural Test match against Pakistan back in 2018.Amir's inclusion in the team will be a significant boost for Pakistan, as he is a seasoned campaigner with a wealth of experience in international cricket. His return to the national team after a four-year absence has been met with much anticipation, and his presence in the squad will undoubtedly strengthen Pakistan's chances of success in the upcoming T20I series and the T20 World Cup later this year.

Mohammad Amir's absence from Pakistan's tour of Ireland has raised concerns about his participation in the upcoming T20I series. The left-arm pacer, who holds permanent residency in the United Kingdom, applied for an Ireland visa alongside his teammates. However, while the rest of the squad received their visas before departing for Dublin on Tuesday, Amir's application remained pending.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been in contact with Cricket Ireland regarding the issue, emphasizing that it is the host board's responsibility to facilitate and provide visas for the visiting team in a timely manner. Given the short duration of the tour, with Pakistan scheduled to play three T20Is from May 10 to 14, Amir's involvement in the series is now in jeopardy.As of now, there is no information on when Amir's visa is expected to be approved. Mohammad Yousaf, a member of Pakistan's management team, also experienced a delay in his visa approval but managed to receive it just in time to join the squad. It is unclear whether Amir's visa delay is related to the timing of his application, although the PCB maintains that he applied simultaneously with the rest of the team.Amir has previously visited Ireland as part of Pakistan's squad for the country's inaugural Test match in Malahide in 2018. After retiring from international cricket in 2020, he reversed his decision earlier this year and made his return in the recently concluded home series against New Zealand.The Pakistan squad is expected to arrive in Dublin on Wednesday morning, with all three T20Is scheduled to be played at the same venue. Following the Ireland tour, Pakistan will travel to the UK for four T20Is ahead of the World Cup in the USA and the West Indies.

Mohammad Amir, the enigmatic Pakistani pacer, is eager to prove his worth at the upcoming T20 World Cup after making a remarkable comeback to the national side. Despite a controversial past, Amir is determined to silence his critics and showcase his talent on the global stage.Amir's career has been marked by both brilliance and adversity. His involvement in the 2010 spot-fixing scandal led to a five-year ban from the International Cricket Council (ICC). However, upon his return in 2016, he played a pivotal role in Pakistan's ICC Champions Trophy triumph in 2017.Despite his past transgressions, Amir insists that he has paid his dues and moved on. "I have done penance for that big mistake," he said. "I have lost nine years of my career, but I accept it as God's will."Amir's return to the national side has been met with mixed reactions. Some former cricketers have questioned his selection, citing his lack of recent domestic cricket experience. However, Amir maintains that his performances in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) justify his inclusion in the T20I squad."Imad and I have played and performed in the PSL besides appearing regularly in other leagues," he said. "So what is wrong with selecting us for the T20 format?"Amir's determination to prove his worth is evident in his recent performances. In the second T20I against New Zealand last month, he took three wickets for 13 runs, demonstrating his ability to swing the ball and deceive batsmen.As Pakistan prepares for the T20 World Cup, Amir is confident that he can make a significant contribution to the team's success. With his experience, skill, and unwavering determination, he is poised to silence his critics and cement his legacy as one of Pakistan's greatest bowlers.