Cricket

The 2024 T20 World Cup has witnessed the early exits of two major teams, Pakistan and New Zealand, who failed to qualify for the Super 8s. Pakistan's elimination was sealed after the match between the USA and Ireland was washed out, while New Zealand's hopes were dashed by Afghanistan's seven-wicket victory over Papua New Guinea.The Super 8s stage serves as a gateway to the 2026 T20 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Sri Lanka and India. As per the qualification rules, 12 out of the 20 participating teams will automatically qualify for the next edition.The hosts, India and Sri Lanka, along with all Super 8 teams, will secure direct entry. India, having already reached the Super 8s from Group A, qualifies under two categories. South Africa (Group D), West Indies, Afghanistan (Group C), Australia (Group B), and the USA (Group A) have also earned their spots in the 2026 edition by advancing to the Super 8 stage.The remaining spot from Group D will be claimed by either Bangladesh or Netherlands, while Scotland and England are vying for the final Super 8 position from Group B. In total, nine teams, including Sri Lanka, will qualify directly, with three more joining them based on their ICC Men's T20I rankings as of June 30th, 2024.Currently, Pakistan holds the seventh position with 241 rating points, while New Zealand is sixth with 247 points. These two teams are well ahead of other contenders such as Bangladesh (9th, 226 points) and Ireland (11th, 195 points).The remaining eight spots will be filled through the ICC's regional qualification pathway, with two each from Europe, Asia, and Africa, and one each from the East Asia Pacific and Americas regions. In the current edition, Ireland and Scotland (Europe), Nepal and Oman (Asia), Namibia and Uganda (Africa), Canada (Americas), and Papua New Guinea (East Asia Pacific) qualified through this process. The USA secured their place as joint hosts.

New Zealand vs Uganda: A Tale of Contrasting Fortunes at the T20 World CupAs the T20 World Cup 2024 draws to a close, New Zealand and Uganda will face off in a match that holds different significance for both teams. For Uganda, it's a chance to showcase their progress on the world stage, while for New Zealand, it's an opportunity to salvage some pride after a disappointing tournament.Uganda, making their debut at the T20 World Cup, have had a mixed bag of results. They suffered heavy defeats to Afghanistan and West Indies but managed to secure a morale-boosting victory against Papua New Guinea. Their batting has been a concern, with their lowest total in T20Is being a paltry 39 against West Indies. However, they possess some decent bowling stocks, with Riazat Ali Shah emerging as a key player.New Zealand, on the other hand, have been eliminated from the tournament after losses to Afghanistan and West Indies. The Black Caps have been plagued by injuries and a lack of form, leading to questions about the end of their golden era. Tim Southee and Trent Boult, once formidable bowlers, have shown signs of decline, while the top order has struggled to provide enough firepower.Despite their contrasting fortunes, both teams will be eager to put on a strong performance in their final match. Uganda will be determined to prove that they belong at the top level, while New Zealand will be looking to restore some confidence before rebuilding for the future.

New Zealand's T20 World Cup campaign has hit a roadblock, with the team on the brink of elimination after a disappointing loss to West Indies. The Black Caps have struggled to adapt to the challenging conditions in the Caribbean, and their lack of match practice has been a major factor in their poor performances.After arriving in the Caribbean in late May, New Zealand had to wait until last Friday to play their first match due to the ICC's proposed warm-up fixture dates. Their proposed alternatives were also turned down, leaving them short on numbers and preparation time.Now, after just 75.2 overs of cricket, New Zealand are facing elimination. Unless Papua New Guinea can secure their first-ever T20 World Cup win by beating Afghanistan on Thursday night, New Zealand's final two fixtures will be dead-rubbers.Captain Kane Williamson admitted that the situation feels surreal, as it will be the first time in a decade that New Zealand have failed to progress from their initial group in a men's World Cup. Despite Williamson's denial, it does feel like the end of an era for an ageing team, with Mark Chapman, the fourth-youngest player in their squad, turning 30 this month.New Zealand's bowlers performed well against West Indies, but their batting line-up struggled once again. They have batted twice at this World Cup, and the biggest partnership they have put on is 23. Of the 14 players who have batted, only Glenn Phillips has faced more than 25 balls across two innings.Coach Gary Stead admitted that New Zealand were slow to adapt to the conditions, and that they need to find a batsman who can play the same role as Daryl Mitchell did for West Indies. Stead also expressed disappointment that the team's false start has cost them dearly.With their T20 World Cup hopes hanging by a thread, New Zealand will need to find a way to turn things around quickly. They face Ireland in their next match on Friday, and a win is essential if they want to keep their hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive.

Afghanistan is poised to secure a berth in the Super Eights of the T20 World Cup with a victory over Papua New Guinea in Tarouba. This triumph would also eliminate New Zealand, the 2021 finalists, who have suffered two consecutive defeats.Afghanistan's success has been driven by the exceptional performances of Rahamanullah Gurbaz and Fazalhaq Farooqi. Gurbaz leads the tournament in runs scored, while Farooqi has taken the most wickets. Their contributions have been instrumental in Afghanistan's impressive run in the competition.In contrast, Papua New Guinea faces an uphill battle against a formidable Afghanistan side. Despite their spirited efforts, they lack the experience and depth to overcome Afghanistan's all-round strength.Meanwhile, Pakistan's fate in the tournament hangs in the balance as they anxiously await the outcome of the USA-Ireland match in Lauderhill, Florida. A victory for the USA would end Pakistan's World Cup campaign, while a win for Ireland would keep their hopes alive.In a separate development, England's title defense is on the brink of collapse. They must win their remaining matches by a significant margin and hope that Scotland loses badly to Australia to have any chance of advancing.

New Zealand's disappointing performance in their T20 World Cup 2024 opener against West Indies has prompted skipper Kane Williamson to demand improvement from his team. The Kiwis fell short by 13 runs in a match where they struggled to chase down the Windies' total of 149/9.Williamson, who managed just 1 run before being dismissed by Gudakesh Motie, acknowledged the need to adapt to the conditions at the Brian Lara Stadium. "Conditions here are what they are and we can't make excuses," he said. "We need to keep getting better and keep finding a way."The Kiwi skipper emphasized the importance of learning from their mistakes and bouncing back in their next match. "The learnings are important and we need to pick ourselves up and go again," he added.West Indies' victory was largely due to the heroics of Sherfane Rutherford, who smashed an unbeaten 68 off just 39 balls, including six sixes. Nicholas Pooran also contributed with a quickfire 17.Trent Boult led the New Zealand bowling attack with three wickets, while Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson claimed two each. However, the Kiwi batters failed to capitalize on their efforts, with only Glenn Phillips (40) offering any significant resistance.Alzarri Joseph was the star of the Caribbean bowling attack, taking four wickets, while Motie chipped in with three. Rutherford's all-round performance earned him the Player of the Match award.Williamson acknowledged the need to improve their batting performance, particularly in the middle overs. "We need to find a way to get through those middle overs and build a platform," he said. "We're not far away, but we need to be smarter and execute better."The Kiwis will have a quick turnaround as they face Scotland in their next match on October 20. Williamson will be hoping for a much-improved performance from his team as they look to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

In a thrilling encounter at Tarouba, West Indies secured their berth in the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup with a hard-fought 13-run victory over New Zealand.Sherfane Rutherford emerged as the hero for the hosts, smashing an unbeaten 68 off just 39 deliveries. His innings, which included six towering sixes and two boundaries, propelled West Indies to a competitive total of 149 for 9 after they had slumped to 76 for 7 in the 12th over.In response, New Zealand's chase was derailed by the brilliance of Alzarri Joseph and Gudakesh Motie. Joseph, the pacer, claimed 4 for 19, while Motie, the left-arm spinner, returned with impressive figures of 3 for 25.New Zealand's openers, Devon Conway and Finn Allen, were dismissed cheaply in the powerplay. Motie then played a pivotal role, dismissing Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson in quick succession. Glenn Phillips kept the Kiwis in the hunt with a 33-ball 40, but Joseph's late burst of wickets extinguished their hopes.With three consecutive wins, West Indies have booked their place in the Super Eight stage. New Zealand, on the other hand, are on the brink of elimination after suffering back-to-back defeats.

New Zealand, a team renowned for its consistent performance in World Cups, faces the prospect of an early exit from the T20 World Cup after a disappointing start. The Black Caps, who have reached the semi-finals in all six recent editions of the ODI and T20 World Cups, find themselves at the bottom of Group C with a negative run rate of -4.2.Their dismal performance began with a stunning 84-run loss to Afghanistan in their tournament opener. New Zealand's batting lineup collapsed, with the team being bowled out for a mere 75 runs in 15.2 overs. The defeat has left them in a precarious position, with their hopes of advancing to the Super 12 stage hanging in the balance.To avoid an embarrassing group stage exit, New Zealand must deliver a much-improved performance in their upcoming match against tournament co-hosts West Indies. The match is a must-win for the Black Caps, who will be desperate to revive their campaign.New Zealand's batting woes have been a major concern. The team has struggled to find consistency, with only Devon Conway and Glenn Phillips showing any form. The bowling attack, led by Tim Southee and Trent Boult, has also been inconsistent, failing to provide the necessary support to the batsmen.West Indies, on the other hand, have enjoyed a more positive start to the tournament. They defeated Scotland in their opening match and will be confident of extending their winning streak against New Zealand. The hosts will be buoyed by the return of Andre Russell, who missed the Scotland game due to injury.The match between West Indies and New Zealand promises to be a thrilling encounter, with both teams desperate for a victory. New Zealand will be under immense pressure to avoid an early exit, while West Indies will be looking to secure their place in the Super 12 stage.

West Indies captain Rovman Powell believes his team has an advantage over an "undercooked" New Zealand side in their upcoming World Cup Group C clash. Both teams have faced disrupted preparations due to heavy rain and poor practice facilities at the Brian Lara Stadium.New Zealand's afternoon training session was cut short due to slippery practice strips, while West Indies' floodlit session was canceled altogether. The rainy season in Trinidad has brought adverse weather alerts, with thunderstorms likely.Powell sees this as an opportunity for West Indies to exploit New Zealand's lack of preparation. "If there's a good time to play New Zealand, I think it's now," he said. "They're a little bit undercooked. The pressure is really on them."New Zealand coach Gary Stead acknowledged the challenges his team has faced. "The practice wickets got wet out in the middle," he said. "The balls were going through the top of the surface, so we had a good fielding training instead."New Zealand's batters have struggled to face fast bowling in the nets due to the limited preparation. Stead expects a low-scoring game on Wednesday, unlike England's 267-run total at the same venue in December.Powell also hinted at a low-scoring match, citing the impact of rain on wicket preparation. "With the rain around, that can play a part in the scores," he said.New Zealand is expected to make changes to their lineup, with Ish Sodhi and James Neesham potential inclusions. Stead emphasized the importance of matching up well against West Indies' weaknesses.Despite their poor start, New Zealand needs to win their remaining three matches to qualify for the Super 8s. "We know what's in front of us: we have to win three games and win them well," Stead said. "We know things are stacked against us at the moment, but that's the challenge."

New Zealand's T20 World Cup campaign has hit a major roadblock after a disastrous 84-run defeat to Afghanistan in their opening match. The Black Caps, who had not played a T20I together since February, looked rusty and out of sorts in all three facets of the game.Captain Kane Williamson's dismissal, a dab straight to first slip, epitomized New Zealand's struggles. The team's fielding was uncharacteristically sloppy, with dropped catches and missed run-out chances. Their batting was equally shaky, with the ball swinging more under lights than expected.Afghanistan's bowlers, led by Rashid Khan, exploited the low bounce and skid of the Providence pitch to their advantage. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who had played for Guyana Amazon Warriors in the CPL, punished New Zealand's fielding lapses and scored a match-winning 80.Former New Zealand players and experts have criticized the team's decision to opt out of warm-up games. Mitchell McClenaghan and Mike Hesson questioned the logic behind not playing any practice matches, especially given the lack of recent game time for many players.New Zealand's poor net run-rate (-4.2) now puts them in a precarious position in the group of death. They face a must-win match against West Indies on June 12, who have a healthy run-rate (3.574).The Black Caps' hopes of reaching the Super Eights now hang in the balance. They will need to improve their fielding, batting, and overall intensity if they want to avoid an early exit from the tournament.