Cricket

The T20 World Cup 2024 kicks off with a historic clash between North American neighbors USA and Canada on Saturday in Dallas. The rivalry between these two teams dates back to 1844, when they played the first-ever international cricket match.USA vice-captain Aaron Jones acknowledges the significance of the rivalry: "This has been something that's been going on for years and years. As it relates to the players, we're all friends, but as it relates to the fans, it's a bit of a rivalry."Despite USA's recent 4-0 T20I series victory over Canada and a historic series win against Bangladesh, Jones remains cautious: "The team we played against in that series is not the exact same team we'll be playing against tomorrow. It's a World Cup game, and there's going to be pressure on both teams."Canada captain Saad Bin Zafar is equally excited for the challenge: "We have had some great competitive cricket against the US in the past few years. We're hoping to play entertaining cricket."One player who will experience a unique perspective is batting-allrounder Nitish Kumar, who has played for both Canada and USA. Jones believes Kumar's experience will be invaluable: "He played against Canada the last time we played him and scored 64. He's been gelling well and is looking forward to playing against Canada."The match promises to be a thrilling spectacle, with both teams eager to make a statement in the tournament opener. The history, rivalry, and high stakes will undoubtedly create an electric atmosphere in Dallas.

The T20 World Cup 2024 is set to kick off on June 1st, with the host nation USA facing Canada in the opening match in Texas. However, in a peculiar decision, the grand opening ceremony of the tournament will take place before the second match of the season in Guyana, not the first. The curtain-raiser event is scheduled to occur before the West Indies vs. Papua New Guinea match on June 2nd.This marks the first time that a cricket World Cup, even partially, is being held on US soil. Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli, who arrived in New York on Friday, expressed his surprise at the prospect of playing cricket in the USA. "Honestly, I never thought we would be playing cricket in any form in the states (USA), but now it's a reality," Kohli said.Kohli believes that the T20 World Cup in the Americas will have a significant impact on the growth of cricket globally. "It's a great start. It's the ideal way to begin and it's going to have a huge impact. In starting off, a kind of a domino effect and I hope it carries on for a long period of time," he said.While India will begin their campaign on June 5th, the opening ceremony will take place on June 2nd. The ceremony will feature performances by several DJs and singers from the Caribbean, including David Rudder, Ravi B, Erphaan Alves, DJ Ana, and Ultra.The T20 World Cup 2024 Opening Ceremony will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network in India and its live streaming app, Hotstar.

The upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 is set to commence on Sunday, with India facing Ireland in their opening match on June 5. Former Indian cricketer Rahul Sharma has expressed his views on the team's bowling attack and spin department for the tournament.Sharma believes that Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh should lead the Indian bowling attack, with Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja providing support in the spin department. He emphasizes the importance of fielding a balanced squad, with four bowling options and two all-rounders.Sharma highlights the slow and turning drop-in pitches in the USA, which favor spinners. He believes that Jadeja and Kuldeep would be more effective than Axar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal, who are also part of the Indian squad.Regarding the finisher role, Sharma suggests Shivam Dube, who has impressed with his batting against spinners in the IPL 2024. He also acknowledges Rishabh Pant's ability to change the game's momentum.Sharma expresses confidence in the Indian bowling department, stating that they have the potential to dominate. He believes that the team's balanced squad will allow skipper Rohit Sharma to effectively utilize the bowlers.India will face Bangladesh in a warm-up match on Saturday before their opening match against Ireland. The highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash is scheduled for June 9 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in the USA.

Indian cricket team spinner Ravichandran Ashwin's daughters, Akhira and Aadhya, showcased their impressive cricket knowledge ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024. In a video shared by Ashwin on Instagram, the girls participated in a quiz where they answered questions about the tournament.They correctly identified the host countries (USA and West Indies), the city hosting the India vs Pakistan match (New York), and the captain of West Indies (Nicholas Pooran). However, they mistakenly stated that New York would host the India vs Pakistan game, which is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles.Meanwhile, the Indian cricket team has begun practicing in New York ahead of their warm-up match against Bangladesh on Saturday. They will face Ireland in their tournament opener on June 5, followed by the highly anticipated clash against Pakistan on June 9.The search for India's next head coach is underway, as Rahul Dravid's tenure will conclude after the T20 World Cup 2024. Reports suggest that the BCCI has approached potential candidates, with a focus on domestic coaches familiar with the Indian cricket scene.Gautam Gambhir has emerged as the frontrunner for the role, with Ashish Nehra and VVS Laxman also being considered. However, the BCCI is reportedly not in a rush to appoint a head coach.India's squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 includes:* Rohit Sharma (c)* Hardik Pandya* Yashasvi Jaiswal* Virat Kohli* Suryakumar Yadav* Rishabh Pant* Sanju Samson* Shivam Dube* Ravindra Jadeja* Axar Patel* Kuldeep Yadav* Yuzvendra Chahal* Arshdeep Singh* Jasprit Bumrah* Mohammed Siraj

West Indies' blistering batting display, led by Nicholas Pooran and Rovman Powell, propelled them to a commanding 35-run victory over Australia in their final T20 World Cup 2024 warm-up match in Trinidad.Pooran, the left-handed opener, unleashed a whirlwind 75 off just 25 balls, smashing three sixes in his first three deliveries. Powell, the skipper, followed suit with a belligerent 52 off 25, as the duo combined for 12 sixes. Sherfane Rutherford's unbeaten 47 off 18 balls added to the carnage, propelling West Indies to a formidable 257 for 4.Australia, fielding a depleted team with only nine players and coaches as sub fielders, struggled to contain the West Indies onslaught. Ashton Agar and Adam Zampa, Australia's main spinners, were particularly punished, conceding 120 runs from their combined eight overs.In reply, Australia's Josh Inglis struck a valiant 55 off 30 balls, but the absence of a full complement of batters proved insurmountable. Nathan Ellis, who had impressed against Namibia, continued his strong form, conceding 42 from his four overs.Gudakesh Motie stifled Australia's middle order, claiming the wickets of Inglis and David to finish with 2 for 31. Ellis and Zampa added some respectability to the total with a 51-run seventh-wicket stand, but Australia fell well short of the target, finishing on 222 for 7.This victory serves as a timely confidence boost for West Indies ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024, while Australia will be eager to regroup and address their batting concerns before the tournament begins.

India-Pakistan Clash at T20 World Cup 2024: ICC Plans for Double EncounterThe highly anticipated India-Pakistan rivalry is set to ignite once again at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled for June 9 in New York. However, former Pakistan batter Basit Ali has made a bold claim that the ICC is orchestrating a potential double encounter between the two arch-rivals.According to Ali, the ICC has strategically crafted the tournament schedule to allow for a second India-Pakistan clash in either the semi-final or final. This would mark the first time since 2019 that the two teams would face off twice in a single ICC event."The ICC wants India and Pakistan to have two matches in the World Cup," Ali stated on his YouTube channel. "They have made the schedule so the two teams can meet again either in the semi-final or final."The India-Pakistan rivalry is one of the most intense in world cricket, with matches between the two nations consistently drawing massive viewership and generating immense excitement. The last bilateral series between the two teams was held in 2012-13, and since then, they have only met at ICC and ACC events.India and Pakistan are both placed in Group A of the T20 World Cup 2024, alongside Ireland, Canada, and co-hosts USA. India will begin their campaign on June 5 against Ireland, while Pakistan will face the USA on June 6.The Indian squad for the tournament includes star players such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah. Pakistan, on the other hand, will be led by Babar Azam and will feature the likes of Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, and Haris Rauf.Ali believes that Pakistan's performance in the tournament will hinge on the form of Babar Azam, who he suggests should open the batting. "For Pakistan to perform well, Babar must open," Ali emphasized.The prospect of a double India-Pakistan encounter at the T20 World Cup 2024 has sent shockwaves through the cricket world. If Ali's claims prove true, it would undoubtedly be a major highlight of the tournament and a spectacle that would captivate cricket fans globally.

Nathan Lyon, the veteran Australian spinner, has made his predictions for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, and he believes that Australia and Pakistan will face off in the final. In a recent video, Lyon was asked to name the two teams he expects to reach the summit clash, and he毫不犹豫地选择了澳大利亚。Lyon admitted that he was biased towards Australia, but he also believes that Pakistan has a strong chance of making it to the final. He cited the quality of Pakistan's spinners and the presence of star batter Babar Azam as reasons for his prediction."For the T20 finals team, Australia obviously because I'm quite biased towards them. I think it will be I'm going to go with Pakistan. In those conditions, quality spin bowlers, but also electric batters like Babar Azam," Lyon said in a video shared by Prime Video Sports Australia.Lyon also predicted that this year's tournament could see a team posting the highest total in T20I history. He also backed Australia's T20I skipper Mitchell Marsh to have a brilliant tournament."I think early on in the tournament we may see the highest score in T20. I'm going to go, Mitchell Marsh, I think the power that he has with the bat but also the skill he has with the ball in hand as well. So, go well Mitch," he added.Lyon's predictions are in line with those of several other experts. Ambati Rayudu, Brian Lara, Paul Collingwood, Sunil Gavaskar, Chris Morris, Matthew Hayden, Aaron Finch, Mohammad Kaif, Tom Moody, and S Sreesanth have all picked India as one of the semi-finalists.

The 2024 Men's T20 World Cup is set to make history as it ventures into the United States for the first time. The tournament, scheduled to commence on June 2, will feature 20 teams vying for the coveted title.India, led by star players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, will kick off their campaign at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on June 9. They will face Pakistan in a highly anticipated clash, followed by matches against Ireland and the United States. India's final group game against Canada will take place at the Central Broward Park in Florida.The tournament will also mark the first time the West Indies has hosted a Men's T20 World Cup since 2010. Nine stadiums across the Caribbean and three in the USA will host the matches.However, two iconic Caribbean stadiums, Sabina Park in Jamaica and Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad, will not be part of the tournament due to high costs. Instead, the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad will host one of the semi-finals.The other semi-final will be played at Guyana's Providence Stadium, while the final will take place at the 28,000-seater Kensington Oval in Barbados on June 29.

The Indian cricket team's wicket-keeping position for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 has been a subject of intense speculation. After considering several contenders, the selectors opted for Sanju Samson and Rishabh Pant, leaving out KL Rahul, a prominent opener for Lucknow Super Giants.India's captain, Rohit Sharma, and chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, emphasized their preference for middle-order batters while selecting wicket-keepers, which led to Rahul's exclusion. Former Indian wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel weighed in on the debate between Samson and Pant for the playing XI in the T20 World Cup."Sanju Samson's leadership and run-scoring prowess in the IPL this season are undeniable. However, Rishabh Pant offers a different dimension. Our batting lineup needs a left-hander, and at this point, Pant seems to be the favorite. Both players are highly capable," Patel stated at an event in New Delhi.Earlier, former Indian batter Yuvraj Singh also expressed his preference for Pant over Samson. "I would lean towards Rishabh. Sanju is in excellent form, but Pant is a left-hander, and I believe he has the potential to win games for India, as he has done in the past, especially in Test cricket. He can be a match-winner on the big stage," Yuvraj told ICC.Yuvraj also highlighted the importance of Suryakumar Yadav's performance for India's success in the T20 World Cup. "Suryakumar Yadav is India's key player. He can change the game's complexion in just 15 balls. He is a crucial factor in India's chances of winning the T20 World Cup," Yuvraj said.