Cricket

Pakistan's dismal performance against India in the ongoing T20 World Cup has drawn sharp criticism from former wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal. Akmal lambasted the team, calling them a "club team" and questioning their ability to handle pressure.After Naseem Shah's impressive bowling restricted India to 119, Pakistan seemed poised to chase down the target comfortably. However, a batting collapse triggered by Mohammad Rizwan's dismissal saw the team crumble. India's Jasprit Bumrah played a pivotal role in the victory, showcasing exceptional bowling skills.Akmal expressed his disappointment, stating that Pakistan's players appeared overwhelmed by the pressure. He emphasized that India would have chased the target effortlessly if they had been in Pakistan's position. "They were under pressure, and it felt like they didn't know how to play," Akmal said. "Very shameful performance from the Pakistan team."Akmal also praised India's Rishabh Pant, who played a crucial role in India's recovery from a middle-order collapse. Pant's 42 runs off 31 deliveries helped India reach a respectable total. Akmal used Pant's performance as an example to criticize Pakistan's selection process."You lost the chance to defeat a team like India just because of your mistakes," Akmal said. "The way Pant has come back is incredible. He worked hard, followed a process, and returned to the playing XI. This is how players should make a place in their team and not like ours."Akmal's comments highlight the growing concerns over Pakistan's performance in the T20 World Cup. With two wins from two matches, India is in a strong position, while Pakistan faces an uphill battle to qualify for the semi-finals.

Pakistani YouTuber Shot Dead by Security Guard in New York Ahead of India-Pakistan T20 World Cup MatchA tragic incident has occurred in New York City, where a Pakistani YouTuber named Saad Ahmed was shot and killed by a security guard on June 9, 2024. The incident took place in the lead-up to the highly anticipated T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan.According to reports, Ahmed was filming a video segment for his YouTube channel in Nassau County Stadium, where the match was scheduled to be played. He approached a security guard for an interview, but the guard refused to be filmed. Ahmed persisted, and the guard eventually lost his temper and shot him.Ahmed was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival. A friend of Ahmed's stated that he was the sole breadwinner for his family.CCTV footage from the area shows Ahmed interacting with the guard before the shooting. The guard has been arrested by the police and is reportedly claiming that he fired in self-defense.The incident has sent shockwaves through the Pakistani community and the cricketing world. Pakistan lost the match to India by 6 runs, and are now on the brink of elimination from the T20 World Cup.

Axar Patel, the unsung hero of India's thrilling victory over Pakistan in the T20 World Cup, played a pivotal role with both bat and ball, despite his contributions going largely unnoticed.Promoted to the unfamiliar No. 4 spot with India reeling at 19-2, Axar steadied the innings with a crucial 20 off 18 balls, providing a much-needed platform for the middle order. His innings was particularly impressive considering the challenging pitch conditions.With the ball, Axar followed up Jasprit Bumrah's brilliant 15th over with a stingy one of his own, conceding only two runs and putting immense pressure on Pakistan's batters. His ability to control the run rate and prevent boundaries proved crucial in the context of the match.Despite his impressive performance, Axar remains humble and downplays his contributions. "I don't think my over was the turning point," he said. "Every over was important, and the captain's changes seemed to be working."However, Axar's tactical acumen was evident in his bowling strategy. He bowled a couple of deliveries wide outside the off-stump, forcing the batters to shuffle in, before pushing one in that kept them guessing."It was important to play with their minds," Axar explained. "When I bowled outside, I knew they would come in, so I pushed it in."Axar's batting prowess has often been overlooked, but the team management recognizes his importance. In the practice sessions leading up to the Pakistan match, Rohit Sharma emphasized the need for Axar to improve his batting form."The captain has said that no position is fixed apart from the openers," Axar said. "We have to go up and down as per the need of the hour."With India playing only four specialist batters, the role of the allrounders becomes even more crucial. Axar, with his ability to contribute with both bat and ball, is a vital cog in the team's balance."It is about the balance," Axar said. "We have batting till No. 8 and seven bowlers to fall back on. Having options are crucial."

Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has launched a scathing critique of the team's management following their narrow six-run defeat to India in the T20 World Cup match on Sunday. Despite a strong bowling performance that restricted India to just 119 runs, Pakistan's batting lineup failed to capitalize, jeopardizing their chances of progressing in the tournament.Misbah pointed out critical errors in Pakistan's approach during the run chase, particularly the underutilization of middle-order batter Iftikhar Ahmed. Ahmed, the lone specialist batter in the middle order, came in to bat at No. 7, despite his proven ability to anchor the innings."There is no confidence in the middle order," Misbah said on Hum Sport. "We don't use them properly. Iftikhar is there, and whoever else plays in the middle order, we don't send them in when their number comes up, even if they're scoring at a run-a-ball. They only get a chance once or twice a year, and even then, we put them in difficult situations."Misbah questioned the rationale behind sending all-rounders ahead of Iftikhar on a challenging pitch in New York. He stressed that on such surfaces, where power hitting is less effective, situational assessment is crucial."Iftikhar is a batsman," Misbah said. "Imad [Wasim] went in before him, then Shadab [Khan] went in before him, and he was the last. You're sending him in at No. 7, and this has been going on throughout. On a pitch where you know power hitting is not needed, you need to assess the situation."Misbah also criticized Pakistan's inability to learn from India's innings, where their power hitters struggled to score."You saw India's innings," Misbah said. "Once you have to score over a run-a-ball in the last 10 overs, it's very difficult. We should have kept Iftikhar back. He wouldn't have been able to hit at the end. If you're not going to send him in when you're scoring at 6 or 7 an over, what's the point of sending him in when you're scoring at 9 or 10? If you had to send him in, okay, fine, Shadab was scoring at a run-a-ball, he performed well in the last match, so send him up. Then Iftikhar comes in."Misbah further questioned the decision to send Imad Wasim ahead of Iftikhar and criticized the team for playing fewer batters on a bowling-friendly pitch."You're sending in Imad, okay, that's fine, but this is not a pitch where you can hit at the end," Misbah said. "You sent in a left-hander, and he played a whole over of dot balls. Basically, you're building pressure and not giving your batsman any confidence. Then it's simple, you're playing with only three specialist batsmen on a bowling pitch. India played with six batsmen and two all-rounders. On a difficult pitch, who's going to be under pressure? The batting. We have fewer batting resources."Misbah's critique underscores the need for better tactical decisions and confidence in the batting order to optimize performance in crucial matches.

Pakistan Faces Canada in Crucial T20 World Cup ClashPakistan, reeling from their heartbreaking loss to India, will face Canada in a must-win match on Tuesday in New York. The 2022 finalists must regroup quickly to keep their tournament hopes alive.Canada, on the other hand, has impressed with their performances so far, boasting a balanced team with strong batting and bowling lineups. They will be looking to capitalize on Pakistan's vulnerability and secure a famous victory.Pakistan's Form and Team NewsPakistan's recent form has been disappointing, with three consecutive losses in the T20 World Cup. Their batting has struggled, particularly Babar Azam, who has averaged just 20.11 in the tournament.There are no fresh injury concerns for Pakistan, but they may consider changes to their lineup. Saim Ayub could return to the side, potentially replacing Usman Khan or Shadab Khan.Canada's Form and Team NewsCanada has shown resilience and quality in their first two matches. They have a strong batting lineup led by Nicholas Kirton, who has scored two half-centuries in the tournament. Their bowling attack has also impressed, effectively restricting Ireland in their previous match.Canada is likely to field an unchanged team following their win over Ireland.Pitch and ConditionsA fresh pitch is expected to be used for the Canada-Pakistan clash. The weather forecast is favorable, with no rain interruptions anticipated.Key Players to Watch* RizBar (Pakistan): Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan will be under pressure to deliver a strong performance after their slow start in the tournament.* Nicholas Kirton (Canada): The Barbados-born left-hander has been in excellent form and will be a key threat to Pakistan's bowling attack.Quotes"I was very excited by the bowling performance. Got better and better and we've tracked their stats over the last 15-odd games, and they've been an incredible bowling unit from overs 10 to 20." - Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten

Jasprit Bumrah's exceptional adaptability and unique skillset make him a crucial player for India's success in the T20 World Cup, believes legendary Indian cricketer Anil Kumble. Bumrah's ability to perform consistently, regardless of the conditions, sets him apart from other bowlers.In the highly anticipated match against Pakistan in New York, Bumrah showcased his match-winning capabilities by delivering a stellar performance, taking 3 wickets for just 14 runs. His efforts played a vital role in India's thrilling six-run victory over their traditional rivals.Despite India being bowled out for a modest 119 on a challenging two-paced track at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, the pace duo of Bumrah and Hardik Pandya (2/24) brought the team back into the game with their incisive bowling spells. Pakistan, in response, could only manage 113 for seven in their allotted 20 overs, falling short of the target."We saw that with that 15th over where he got that wicket (of Mohammad Rizwan), and then the 19th over, when you knew that in that over if he had given a couple of boundaries, then last over 10 runs, 12 runs, possible," Kumble said on ESPNCricinfo."But once it gets to that 18 runs, 19 runs, on a surface like this, (it's) impossible for the tail-enders to come and get those runs. So Jasprit Bumrah, if India go on to win this tournament, he would have to play a major role," Kumble said.Pandya's effective use of the short ball was complemented by Bumrah's crucial wickets in the latter stages of the innings. Bumrah removed the dangerous Mohammad Rizwan in the 15th over and followed it up by dismissing Iftikhar Ahmed in the penultimate over, which yielded only three runs.With Pakistan requiring 18 runs off the final six deliveries, Arshdeep Singh displayed remarkable composure under pressure to secure yet another memorable victory for India against their arch-rivals on the global stage.Kumble was full of praise for Bumrah, emphasizing his importance to the team. "Jasprit Bumrah should be your number one in your team list. Forget about the format, Jasprit Bumrah is your number one. Yes, this is a pitch where it was not easy for the bowlers but the variations and also the kind of pressure he puts on the batters..." Kumble said."Knowing that it's not going to be easy, forget the surface, any surface, we have seen that right throughout his career, it's not easy. Any batter coming in front of Bumrah knows that it's going to be tough, and on a surface like this, he just builds the pressure," he added.Bumrah's exceptional skills and adaptability make him a key player for India in the T20 World Cup. His ability to perform consistently, regardless of the conditions, gives India a significant advantage in their quest for the title.

Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten has defended the playing surface at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium following his team's narrow six-run defeat to India in a low-scoring T20 World Cup match.Despite India's modest total of 119, their lowest ever against Pakistan in a T20 game, Pakistan fell short in their chase, sparking discussions about the pitch conditions. The venue, featuring a 'drop in' square laid a month before the tournament, has seen all five games produce low scores, raising concerns about the pitch's quality.After India's previous win over Ireland, former Zimbabwe international and ex-England team director Andy Flower labeled the pitch "dangerous" due to its uneven bounce. However, Kirsten downplayed these criticisms, suggesting that the pitch, while challenging, was not hazardous."I think it wasn't dangerous, I mean the odd one rose up, but not many. Generally, it kept a little bit lower, it was difficult to score from both batting sides and also a fairly slow outfield so it was never going to be a big total," he stated.Kirsten acknowledged that a score of 140 would have been competitive, indicating that Pakistan had a strong chance to win after restricting India to 119. "I would have said 140 would have been a really good score on that pitch, so India didn't get that and so I thought we had the game," added the South African.He also emphasized that low-scoring games could be equally entertaining and offered a different kind of contest compared to the high-scoring encounters typical of T20 cricket. "We knew it was going to be tight, but you know sometimes it's fun seeing games like that as well, it's not always about sixes and hitting, getting 260 and 240's, you can actually have a really entertaining game on a 120 chase, so I don't think it's bad for the game," Kirsten explained.In response to the criticism, the International Cricket Council (ICC) admitted that the pitches at the venue had not met the expected standards and committed to improving them for the remaining matches. Three games remain at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, with the final match scheduled for Wednesday, when India will face co-hosts USA.

Pakistan's disappointing loss to India in the Asia Cup has been attributed to poor decision-making, according to coach Gary Kirsten. Despite having the upper hand for much of the match, Pakistan faltered in the final overs, allowing India to snatch victory.Kirsten acknowledged that the target of 120 was challenging, but he believed Pakistan had the game in control at 72 for 2 with six overs remaining. However, a series of poor decisions cost them dearly."Decision-making," Kirsten emphasized. "Maybe not so great decision making. You have got the game on, run a ball, eight wickets in hand, decision making at that point. That's the game. That's international cricket for you. You make mistakes like that, you are going to pay."Mohammad Rizwan's dismissal, trying to slog the first ball of a new Jasprit Bumrah spell, proved pivotal. Bumrah, who won his second Player-of-the-Match award in two matches, commended the calmness shown by India's bowling unit despite the easing batting conditions."The biggest positive for us was the calmness because when we were batting in the morning, there was a lot more help," Bumrah said. "And when we started bowling, the skies cleared up and the ball stopped seaming and there wasn't a lot of lateral movement. So, we had to be more consistent and more accurate and we as a unit were very calm and very clear on what we wanted to do."Bumrah emphasized the importance of staying focused and avoiding emotional distractions. "I was trying to focus on what is the best option over here on a wicket like this," he said. "How do I make shot-making difficult? What are the best options for me? So that way, I try to stay in the present and focus on what I have to do."Kirsten acknowledged that Pakistan's chances of reaching the Super 8s now depend on other teams' results. However, he stressed the need for significant improvement in their performance."We had that game for 35 of the 40 overs," Kirsten said. "We played good cricket, we did everything we needed to."Kirsten admitted that he needs time to understand the players and get the best out of them. "Everyone's responsible," he said. "We accept the loss and we take the heat because the team has not done well. And we will do what we can to try and rectify it."

Sunil Gavaskar Slams Indian Batters for "Arrogant and Reckless" Display in T20 World Cup Loss to PakistanLegendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has launched a scathing attack on the Indian batting lineup after their dismal performance in the T20 World Cup 2024 match against Pakistan. India was bundled out for a paltry 119, losing their last seven wickets for just 30 runs.Gavaskar, speaking on Star Sports during the mid-innings show, expressed his disappointment with the Indian batters' approach. "The performance was disappointing. I think they were arrogant and reckless," he said. "There was an arrogance in the way they started as they were looking to hit every ball. This is not an Ireland attack. This is not an ordinary attack."Gavaskar criticized the Indian batters for failing to adapt to the match conditions. "There should have been just that little bit of respect given when the ball is moving quite a bit," he said. "And then, getting out with one over left tells you that you are probably not in the right kind of thinking."Pakistan's bowlers were relentless in their attack, with Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf taking three wickets each and Mohammad Amir claiming two. Rishabh Pant was the only Indian batter to offer any resistance, scoring 42 off 31 deliveries.Gavaskar's criticism is a reflection of the growing frustration among Indian fans with the team's recent performances. India has struggled to find consistency in the T20 format, and their batting has been particularly vulnerable.The loss to Pakistan has put India in a precarious position in the tournament. They will need to win their remaining matches convincingly to have any chance of reaching the semi-finals.