Cricket

Amidst the ongoing T20 World Cup, former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has criticized the accusations of favoritism towards India by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Butt argues that India's success in reaching the final is a result of their superior cricket and professionalism.Butt dismisses the claims of ICC bias, stating that India's performance on the field has been exceptional. He highlights the team's clarity of roles and professionalism, which have contributed to their consistent success across formats.In contrast, Butt points to Pakistan's lack of planning and organization. He cites the team's botched up scheduling ahead of next year's Champions Trophy as an example of their haphazard approach.Butt emphasizes that India's success should not be attributed to favoritism but rather to their hard work and dedication. He urges Pakistan to adopt a more positive mindset and acknowledge India's achievements.Butt's comments come in response to criticism from former England captain Michael Vaughan and Pakistan's Inzamam-ul-Haq, who have accused the ICC of favoring India. Inzamam specifically alleged that India was "working on the ball" to generate reverse swing during the tournament.However, Butt maintains that India's success is a result of their superior cricket and professionalism. He believes that Pakistan should focus on improving their own game rather than making excuses.

Virat Kohli, the talismanic Indian batter, has endured a disappointing run in the ongoing T20 World Cup, with a string of single-digit scores in seven outings. This has raised concerns about his suitability for the shortest format of the game.Kohli, known for his dominance and consistency, has struggled to adapt to the bowler-friendly conditions in the United States and West Indies. The opening batsman has been uncharacteristically aggressive, attempting wild swings and failing to play late on sticky surfaces.His dismissal against England, where he was bowled after walking down the track and heaving across the line, highlighted his struggles. Kohli's inability to adjust his batting style has led to questions about his effectiveness in T20 cricket.However, head coach Rahul Dravid remains optimistic about Kohli's form. "I don't want to jinx it, but I think there's a big one coming up," Dravid said after India's semifinal victory over England.Kohli's return to form is crucial for India's chances in the final against Pakistan on Sunday. In the previous edition of the tournament, Kohli played a memorable knock against Pakistan, silencing critics who doubted his ability in T20 cricket.To regain his old form, Kohli needs to revert to his strengths of timing and neat batsmanship. These qualities were evident in his match-winning innings against Pakistan in the previous edition. Only a repeat performance can silence critics and prove his worth in the shortest format of the game.

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.

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."

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has meticulously planned a series of seven red-ball matches for the Bangladesh Test team, signaling a shift in focus from T20Is to the World Test Championship (WTC) for the remainder of the year. Bangladesh has four crucial Test series remaining in their 2023-25 WTC cycle against Pakistan, India, South Africa, and West Indies.To prepare for these challenging encounters, the Test cricketers will engage in three four-day matches in Chattogram next month. These home matches will be followed by two four-day fixtures against Pakistan A in Darwin from July 19 to 29. The Bangladesh A team will then embark on a tour to Pakistan in August for two additional four-day matches against the same opponents. New Zealand A is also expected to tour Bangladesh in August or September.In addition to these matches, Bangladesh players have been diligently participating in training camps in Chattogram and Sylhet since May. BCB's cricket operations chairman, Jalal Yunus, expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the Test players in these camps. He emphasized that the four-day games against formidable opponents will provide invaluable experience ahead of the WTC matches."We aim to provide the best possible preparation for our players before the demanding Test schedule in the coming months," Yunus stated. "The rest is up to the players. I have been closely monitoring the Bangladesh Tigers camp, and I am pleased with their progress."The Bangladesh senior men's team is expected to depart for Pakistan on August 17 for two Tests, with venues and dates yet to be announced. Following the Pakistan series, they will face India in two Tests in Chennai and Kanpur, accompanied by three T20Is.Bangladesh may potentially tour India twice in three months if the BCB accepts the Afghanistan Cricket Board's revised schedule for two white-ball series in late July. The ACB has proposed playing three ODIs and three T20Is in Greater Noida. This tour was initially postponed in March due to Bangladesh's busy schedule in 2024, but with the Champions Trophy now on their agenda, the BCB is considering the tour, given that they have only three ODIs scheduled between now and next February.Sources indicate that the series is still under discussion, as the BCB has reservations about playing in Noida during July due to unfavorable weather conditions.After the bilateral series in India in September, Bangladesh will host South Africa for two home Tests in October. They will then tour West Indies for a full series in November and December.

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup in the United States and West Indies witnessed a shocking turn of events as former champions Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and regular contenders New Zealand failed to advance to the Super Eight stage.Pakistan, alongside India, was expected to comfortably qualify from Group A. However, a Super Over loss to the host nation USA and a failed run chase against India left them one point short of qualification. Sri Lanka and New Zealand, on the other hand, found themselves in groups with multiple favorites. Sri Lanka was grouped with Bangladesh and South Africa, while New Zealand faced two-time champions West Indies and Afghanistan.Subpar performances and tactical blunders contributed to the downfall of these heavyweights. Pakistan's benching of Tim Southee, the all-time leading wicket-taker in T20Is, in a crucial encounter against Afghanistan proved costly. New Zealand's death-over bowling collapse against West Indies effectively eliminated them from the tournament after two losses in their opening games. Sri Lanka, after two losses and a No-Result against Nepal, finished third in their group with three points.The precarious nature of the pitches in the United States became a point of contention. Pakistan and Sri Lanka felt undone by the bizarre wicket at Nassau County Stadium in New York, believing that different circumstances could have yielded different results. Rain also played spoilsport, denying Sri Lanka and Pakistan their crucial fourth game, which may have altered their fortunes.Despite the setbacks for these established teams, the tournament has highlighted the rise of cricket in associate nations. The host USA defied expectations by beating Pakistan and qualifying for the Super Eight with five points, thanks to a spirited performance from Saurabh Netravalkar.

Pakistan's T20 World Cup campaign ended in disappointment as they crashed out of the tournament despite a consolation victory over Ireland. Captain Babar Azam expressed regret over the team's mistakes in crucial matches against India and the United States.Babar played a key role in Pakistan's chase of 107 against Ireland, remaining unbeaten on 32. However, the pursuit was far from smooth, with Pakistan nearly squandering the opportunity to secure the win."We made few mistakes in the matches against the USA and India. When you lose wickets, the pressure is on you," Babar said. "We couldn't finish off close games, and as a team we weren't good."Pakistan's tournament started with defeats against India and the USA, but they managed to bounce back with wins against Canada and Ireland. Despite the early setbacks, Babar expressed satisfaction with his team's performance, particularly their ability to conclude the tournament on a positive note."We took early wickets with the ball. But with the bat, we didn't finish well. We lost back-to-back wickets, but got over the line in the end."Babar acknowledged that Pakistan need to bounce back swiftly from this setback. However, he remained uncertain about his future as the team's skipper."Let's see, what team needs, I'll be okay with it. We have a good bunch of players, we've to go home, chat and see where we lacked, and then come back," he added.Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, who received the player of the match award, admitted that throughout the tournament, the team failed to exhibit the appropriate style of cricket that was expected of them."We haven't played the kind of cricket our country demands, have a few areas to improve on. It's tough (the result)," said Afridi.Ireland captain Paul Stirling admitted that the team struggled to find the optimal combination of players throughout the tournament."It's getting that balance right. T20...we probably haven't got that this time around. It's been a difficult couple of weeks. We'll go back, regroup and see if we can come back stronger," he noted.

Pakistan, led by Babar Azam, opted to field first in their final T20 World Cup match against Ireland in Lauderhill, Florida. The match marked the only T20 World Cup game to be played in Florida during this tournament.Pakistan made one change to their lineup, bringing in fast bowler Abbas Afridi for Naseem Shah. Ireland also made a single substitution, with Ben White replacing Craig Young.Both teams' hopes of advancing to the Super Eight stage were dashed after the washout between USA and Ireland confirmed the hosts' qualification. Pakistan had only one victory, against Canada, while Ireland remained winless after losses to India and Canada.Pakistan's batting lineup featured Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Amir.Ireland's batting order included Andy Balbirnie, Paul Stirling, Lorcan Tucker, Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Josh Little, and Ben White.The match commenced with Ireland batting first, aiming to post a competitive total against Pakistan's formidable bowling attack. Pakistan, on the other hand, sought to restrict Ireland's scoring and secure a victory to end their tournament on a positive note.

Pakistan and Ireland will face off in their final match of the 2024 T20 World Cup, with both teams eliminated from contention for the Super 8 stage. Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and elected to bowl first, hoping to salvage some pride after a disappointing tournament.Pakistan has endured a dismal campaign, losing to India, South Africa, and New Zealand. Former players have called for changes to the team and captaincy, but Azam remains determined to finish on a high note. "As a professional, you need to prepare for every match. We'll look to play our best today," he said.Ireland, meanwhile, is seeking its first win of the tournament. They lost to India and Canada and had their match against the USA washed out due to rain. Captain Paul Stirling is eager to end the tournament on a positive note.The match is a dead rubber, but both teams will be keen to prove their worth. Pakistan will be looking to build momentum for future tournaments, while Ireland will be hoping to gain valuable experience.