Cricket

Ahead of their crucial clash against Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, Ireland coach Heinrich Malan expressed his concerns about the tournament's unpredictable nature. Ireland currently languishes at the bottom of Group A, having managed only one point from three matches. Their hopes of reaching the Super Eights have already been dashed.Malan admitted that the team's preparation has been hampered by a lack of training sessions since arriving in Florida. "We haven't trained at all since we've been down in Florida the last week," he said. "We've been having our unit meetings and preparation meetings, but we've had to rely on the plans we executed back home."Despite the challenges, Malan remains optimistic about his team's chances against Pakistan. "We played them a couple of weeks ago back home in Ireland," he said. "We can piggyback on that performance and hopefully do well again tomorrow."Malan also acknowledged the unusual nature of this World Cup. "It's been a pretty weird World Cup," he said. "We've tried to keep the lads busy as much as we can, but it's been a challenge from a preparation point of view."Despite their struggles, Ireland will be determined to end their tournament on a high note against Pakistan. They will need to produce a strong performance to avoid finishing bottom of their group.

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.

The T20 World Cup has witnessed a historic moment as newcomers USA have advanced to the Super 8 stage, eliminating Pakistan in the process. This remarkable achievement has been largely attributed to the exceptional performance of Saurabh Netravalkar, a left-arm pacer who has played a pivotal role in USA's success.Netravalkar, an AI engineer by profession, has seamlessly balanced his passion for cricket with his demanding career. After matches, he diligently works remotely for his employer, Oracle, from the comfort of his hotel room.Oracle's appreciation post for their star employee has sparked a wave of support from fans, who have urged the software company to grant Netravalkar leave during the tournament and reward him with a pay hike.Netravalkar, a Cornell University alumnus, has demonstrated an unwavering love for both cricket and coding. "When you love something, it is never a job for you," he remarked. "I love bowling and out-thinking batters on the field, and I love coding off the field."The US team has capitalized on their home advantage to make a stunning debut in this major cricket tournament. Their Super 8 appearance has also secured their automatic qualification for the 2026 edition of the T20 World Cup.Netravalkar's exceptional performance has not only propelled USA to the next round but has also earned him widespread recognition. His ability to juggle his professional and sporting commitments has inspired many, showcasing the power of passion and dedication.

Match 36 of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 pits Pakistan, currently ranked third in the points table, against Ireland, who sit in fifth place. The two teams will face off at the Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida on June 16th, 2024, at 08:00 PM IST.Pakistan has won three of their four matches so far, while Ireland has won one and lost one. In their last encounter, Pakistan defeated Canada by seven wickets, with Mohammad Rizwan emerging as the top fantasy player with 85 points. Ireland, on the other hand, lost to Canada by 12 runs, with Mark Adair being their top fantasy performer with 76 points.Pakistan will be relying on their star players, including Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan. Afridi, a left-arm pacer, has taken two wickets in his last two matches and will be looking to continue his wicket-taking form. Azam, the captain, has scored 90 runs in his last three outings and will be crucial to Pakistan's batting success. Rizwan, a wicketkeeper-batter, has scored 93 runs in the current World Cup and will be aiming to contribute both with the bat and behind the stumps.Ireland will be hoping for strong performances from Mark Richard Adair, Gareth James Delany, and Curtis Campher. Adair, a bowling all-rounder, has taken two wickets and scored 37 runs in this World Cup. Delany, a leg-break googly bowler, has taken one wicket and scored 29 runs in his past two matches. Campher, a batting all-rounder, has scored only 16 runs in this World Cup but will be looking to make an impact against Pakistan.The match promises to be an exciting contest between two evenly matched teams. Pakistan will be the favorites, but Ireland will be determined to pull off an upset and improve their chances of reaching the knockout stages.

Pakistan's dismal performance in their T20 World Cup clash against India has drawn sharp criticism from former fast-bowler Waqar Younis. Pakistan, despite bowling out India for a mere 119, failed to chase down the target, losing by six runs.Younis expressed his frustration, stating that Pakistan had been handed a golden opportunity to win but squandered it. He attributed the defeat to the team's poor batting, particularly the dismissal of wicketkeeper-batter Muhammad Rizwan against Jasprit Bumrah."The game was in their hands, it was run-a-ball," Younis said. "That shot from Mohammad Rizwan was very ordinary... I knew something special was going to happen because we know Bumrah and Siraj's capabilities."Legendary left-arm fast-bowler Wasim Akram echoed Younis's sentiments, criticizing Rizwan's lack of game awareness and the overall performance of batters Fakhar Zaman and Iftikhar Ahmed."They have been playing cricket for 10 years, and I can't teach them," Akram said. "Rizwan has no game awareness... Iftikhar Ahmed knows one shot on the leg side... Pakistani players think that if they don't perform well, the coaches will be sacked, and nothing will happen to them."Akram also revealed a rift between captain Babar Azam and left-arm fast-bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, claiming that they are not on speaking terms since the change of captaincy earlier this year."There are players who don't want to talk to each other," Akram said. "This is international cricket, and you play for your country. Make these players sit at home."Pakistan's defeat has put them on the brink of an early exit from the tournament. The team's batting woes and lack of game awareness have been highlighted as major concerns, and it remains to be seen if they can turn things around in their remaining matches.

Pakistan's T20 World Cup Super 8 hopes suffered a major setback after their disappointing loss to arch-rivals India in New York. Despite restricting India to a modest total of 119, Pakistan's batting lineup faltered, falling short by six runs.Former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja expressed his frustration over Pakistan's inability to chase down the small target. He believes India's poor batting performance inadvertently benefited Pakistan by preventing them from reaching a more challenging total.Raja criticized wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan for his reckless shot selection at a crucial moment. With Pakistan in control of the chase, Rizwan attempted a risky pull shot over midwicket, resulting in his dismissal.Raja emphasized the importance of temperament in such situations, stating that Pakistan only needed a solid partnership to secure victory. He believes Rizwan's unnecessary shot-making cost Pakistan the match.Pakistan now face a must-win scenario in their upcoming game against Ireland. A defeat would eliminate them from the group stage, while India needs a win against USA to advance to the next round.

Axar Patel's unsung heroics played a pivotal role in India's victory over Pakistan in the ongoing T20 World Cup. The allrounder's versatility and adaptability proved invaluable for the team.Patel's batting depth allowed India to promote him up the order to face the moving ball and protect more experienced batters. His crucial 20 runs off 18 balls in a partnership with Rishabh Pant helped stabilize the innings.Moreover, Patel's bowling flexibility was evident in the 16th over, where he effectively shut down a left-hand batter with the shorter leg-side boundary and favorable wind. His ability to bowl to both left- and right-hand batters gives India a tactical advantage.Patel's selection in the squad and starting XI was unconventional, as India typically opts for an offspinner instead of two left-arm spinners. However, the team's decision to field both Patel and Ravindra Jadeja has paid off, especially considering the limited number of left-hand batters faced so far.Despite Patel's impressive performances, the absence of Kuldeep Yadav, India's only left-arm wristspinner, has raised questions. Bowling coach Paras Mhambrey explained that Yadav's exclusion is not a reflection of his skills but rather a matter of team balance.The seam-friendly pitches in New York have necessitated the inclusion of three seamers, while the abundance of right-hand batters has reduced the need for a left-arm wristspinner. However, Mhambrey acknowledged that Yadav may be called upon later in the tournament, especially if India faces more left-hand batters or needs additional penetration in the spin department.The choice between Patel and Jadeja remains a difficult one. Patel's versatility as a T20 batter gives him an edge, but Jadeja's vast experience and proven match-winning abilities cannot be overlooked.

India's bowling coach, Paras Mhambrey, has emphasized the team's unwavering focus and intensity as they prepare to face the United States in the T20 World Cup. The team's remarkable victory over Pakistan, achieved through an exceptional bowling display, has set the tone for their upcoming matches.Despite posting a modest total of 119 runs in the first innings, India's bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah, orchestrated a dramatic turnaround in the low-scoring thriller against Pakistan. The six-run victory showcased the team's resilience and ability to defend even the most challenging totals.Mhambrey believes that India's bowling performance against Pakistan ranks among their finest to date. "In a game like this, especially when you have so much pressure in terms of the high intensity game, obviously a game against Pakistan is always going to be high intensity whatever you say," he said.While acknowledging that India could have accumulated a higher score, Mhambrey emphasized that the team's focus was on extracting the maximum performance from each bowler. "It's never going to be a normal game to be able to defend obviously when you're batting you expect in a situation that we were placed nicely to get more runs," he said. "But especially, when that doesn't happen, you're defending low scores and there's only way out there that you bowl at your best."Mhambrey cautioned against underestimating any team in the tournament, especially after the United States' thrilling Super-Over victory against Pakistan. "You can't take any game lightly. This is the World Cup," he said. "Every game matters. Your rhythm is important. Winning is a habit that you need to get into early. You need to get it early to form the context of the game. Every game is important."The Indian bowling coach acknowledged that the USA team might have an advantage due to their familiarity with the local playing conditions, but he emphasized that this factor would not create any significant disparity between the two sides. "We are used to the conditions like them. We have played enough out here. We know what kind of wicket it is," he said.Mhambrey expressed confidence in Ravindra Jadeja's batting abilities, stating that the team is not overly worried about his current form with the bat. "It's a team game, right? It's going to be eleven guys, you really don't expect all of them coming into form," he said. "It's a long tournament. Someone like Jadeja, who is so vastly experienced, he just needs a game of them to just kick his foot around and feel along and we know that the skills that he has and the the experience he's going to go ahead."Mhambrey remains unfazed by the differing characteristics of pitches and playing conditions between the Caribbean and the United States. "The good thing is that we have already been to the West Indies. We already had a couple of series out there prior to this," he said. "We know what kind of conditions you're going to encounter. As the team has so much experience, we will adapt, we know that. We have the skills, we have the temperament and the talent to adapt so I'm really not worried."Mhambrey conveyed his delight regarding the outstanding performance of Saurabh Netravalkar, who previously played for India U-19 and Mumbai, while representing the United States. "(I am) extremely happy. I've watched him play a couple Ranji Trophy games that he played. (It's) great for someone to leave out there, it must be a tough decision," he added.

The 2024 T20 World Cup has witnessed a remarkable journey for the United States, who have made their maiden appearance at the showpiece event. Their fairytale run began with an emphatic seven-wicket win over Canada, but it was their stunning Super Over victory against Pakistan that sent shockwaves through the cricketing world.USA's triumph over Pakistan is considered one of the biggest upsets in cricket history. After tying the match in regulation time, the Americans held their nerve in the Super Over, led by the heroics of Saurabh Netravalkar. Netravalkar conceded only nine runs and dismissed Iftikhar Ahmed, securing a famous victory for his team.As USA prepares to face inaugural T20 World Cup champions India, they will be buoyed by the performances of their top players. Aaron Jones has been in scintillating form, scoring an unbeaten 94 against Canada and playing a crucial role in the Super Over against Pakistan. Saurabh Netravalkar has emerged as a reliable bowler, while Andries Gous has contributed valuable runs at the top of the order.Former New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson brings international experience to the USA team. Although his contributions have been limited so far, he is expected to play a more significant role against India. Captain Monank Patel has also shown his batting prowess, scoring a half-century against Pakistan.India, who have also remained unbeaten in the tournament, will need to be wary of the threat posed by USA. The Americans have shown that they are capable of upsetting even the most formidable opponents. With a strong batting lineup and a reliable bowling attack, USA will be confident of giving India a run for their money.