Cricket

Babar Azam's reinstatement as Pakistan's captain ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup has sparked a renewed sense of optimism among fans and experts alike. The nation's premier batsman had resigned from captaincy in all formats after Pakistan's disappointing performance at the 2023 ODI World Cup. However, less than a year later, Babar finds himself back in the hot seat, carrying the hopes of a nation on his shoulders.Ricky Ponting, one of the most successful captains in cricket history, believes that Babar's second tenure as captain could be more fruitful than his first. Speaking to ICC, Ponting emphasized that captaincy is not always suited to the best players. "Captaincy sits better with some players more than others," said Ponting. He stressed that captains need to focus not only on their own performance but also on the improvement of the entire team.Ponting believes that Babar may have been a victim of this during his first tenure. "Babar, when he first started, I had the feeling his numbers went down on the back of it," he said. However, Ponting believes that Babar may have learned from his first experience as captain, which could pave the way for success in his second term.Pakistan's form in the lead-up to the 2024 T20 World Cup has been far from impressive. However, with India waiting for them on June 9, Babar has a golden opportunity to prove that the Pakistan Cricket Board has made the right choice in backing him again.

Mohammed Shami Unveils India's Playing XI for T20 World Cup Opener Against IrelandIndian pacer Mohammed Shami, currently sidelined with a knee injury, has shared his preferred playing XI for India's T20 World Cup opener against Ireland on Friday. In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Shami outlined his choices, providing insights into India's potential strategy for the tournament.Shami's XI features a formidable batting lineup, with captain Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli opening the innings. The middle order boasts the likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, and Hardik Pandya, who will also serve as the team's sixth bowling option.In the bowling department, Shami opted for a balanced attack with two pacers and two spinners. Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh will lead the pace attack, while Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal will provide spin support. Ravindra Jadeja, known for his all-round abilities, will be the fifth bowling option.Shami emphasized the importance of a left-arm, right-arm combination in the pace department, with Arshdeep Singh partnering Bumrah. He also highlighted the crucial role of spinners in the conditions expected in the USA."I would personally go for the left arm-right arm combination in the pace department with Arshdeep Singh partnering Jasprit Bumrah. Kuldeep, Chahal, and Jadeja will be the spinners, while Hardik will be the sixth bowler," Shami explained.Meanwhile, concerns linger over the weather conditions in Nassau County, where the match will be played. With the England-Scotland game washed out due to rain in Barbados, fans are hoping for clear skies for India's tournament opener.Despite the unfamiliar conditions, India captain Rohit Sharma expressed confidence in his team's ability to adapt. "The conditions are quite unknown for a lot of teams. That is the same for all. You just have to play good cricket," Sharma said.

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has extended his support to under-fire wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan, who has faced relentless online trolling for his weight and recent poor performances.Azam, the son of former Pakistan wicketkeeper Moin Khan, has been subjected to body shaming and derogatory remarks on social media. Latif, however, has condemned the online abuse and defended Azam's abilities."He is under immense pressure. He is being body shamed, is being trolled. Azam is an exceptional batsman in T20s. He is a clean hitter, plays spinners well, and has worked on his game against the pacers," Latif told The Indian Express.Latif acknowledged Azam's limitations as a wicketkeeper, attributing it to his lack of experience rather than his fitness. He suggested that Mohammad Haris would have been a more suitable choice as a third wicketkeeper."I will not blame the player. Mohammad Haris is fit, more agile and in good form. If you wanted a third ‘keeper, he should have been the ideal choice," Latif said.Latif expressed concern over the prevalence of body shaming in society, emphasizing that Azam's physical appearance should not be a subject of ridicule."We live in a racist society. If someone’s skin colour is black, we call them kaalu. If someone is fair, we call them gora. If someone is tall he is a lambu, if someone is skinny he is a patlu. I feel bad for the kid, he is only 25. He doesn’t deserve to be trolled like this," Latif added.Azam's recent performances have been disappointing, with a string of low scores in international matches. He has also dropped several catches behind the stumps. Pakistan lost the 4-game T20I series against England 2-0 before the T20 World Cup.Despite his struggles, Latif believes that Azam has the potential to be a valuable asset to the Pakistan team. He urged the public to support Azam and provide him with the confidence he needs to succeed.

Pakistan's all-rounder Imad Wasim will miss the team's opening match of the T20 World Cup against the United States on Thursday due to a persistent side strain, according to captain Babar Azam. Azam stated that Wasim has not fully recovered from the injury and is under observation."The medical staff is monitoring him, and he will be available for the remaining matches in the World Cup," Azam told the media.Wasim, a seasoned T20 specialist, was brought out of retirement two months ago in anticipation of the World Cup. The selectors believed his bowling style would be effective on the slow pitches in the Americas.Along with Wasim, left-arm spinner Mohammed Amir was also selected for the ICC event, but both players have been used sparingly in the lead-up series against New Zealand, Ireland, and England."The pitches appear good for pace bowlers, and we have a very good pace attack, so the pitches seem good for us," said Azam.Azam emphasized that the team has no issues with the facilities provided at the venues in the USA."It is okay. We have no complaints and have seen all this before. Not playing any warm-up games before our first match could have been a problem, but we have come here after playing some cricket. It is not an issue for us," he said.Babar recently became the second batter after Virat Kohli to surpass the 4000-run mark in T20Is. Kohli leads the chart with 4037 runs, while Babar is a close second with 4023 runs.However, the 29-year-old Lahore native stated that his focus is not on individual records but on playing according to the team's requirements and the match situation."We are here to try to win the World Cup. I am not here thinking about personal records. What matters is that the team does well and we succeed in winning the World Cup. We have learnt from our past mistakes," he added.In a lighter vein, Babar said the pressure on him for tickets for the match against India was more than the match itself."They are so many people asking for tickets, the pressure is immense," he said with a smile.

India Faces Pitch Challenge in T20 World Cup Opener Against IrelandThe Indian cricket team will face a stern test in their ICC Men's T20 World Cup opener against Ireland on Wednesday at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium. The pitch at the makeshift New York stadium has raised concerns due to its low bounce and slow nature, posing a significant challenge for the Indian batters.The warm-up match against Bangladesh on Saturday provided a glimpse of the drop-in pitches, but the real test awaits India in their first competitive match. In the opening match of the venue between South Africa and Sri Lanka, the latter were bowled out for a mere 77, highlighting the potential difficulties of batting on this surface.The Indian team, fresh from the grueling Indian Premier League (IPL) season, will be eager to get off to a winning start in their World Cup campaign. However, they will need to adapt quickly to the conditions and find ways to score runs on a pitch that is expected to favor the bowlers.The match against Ireland will also give India a clearer picture of their preparations ahead of their highly anticipated clash with arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday at the same venue. The two teams have a long history of intense rivalry, and the match is sure to generate immense excitement and attention.India will be relying on their experienced batting lineup, led by captain Rohit Sharma and star batsman Virat Kohli, to overcome the challenges posed by the pitch. The bowling attack, featuring Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Yuzvendra Chahal, will also need to be at their best to restrict Ireland's scoring.Ireland, on the other hand, will be looking to cause an upset and make a statement in their World Cup opener. They have a talented squad led by captain Andrew Balbirnie and will be determined to prove their worth on the big stage.The match between India and Ireland promises to be a fascinating contest, with both teams eager to start their World Cup campaigns on a positive note. The pitch conditions will undoubtedly play a crucial role, and it will be interesting to see how the teams adapt and overcome the challenges it presents.

Papua New Guinea and Uganda, two Associate nations, will face off in a historic T20 World Cup clash on Wednesday, June 5, in Providence. Both teams are seeking their first victory in the tournament, having lost their opening matches.PNG, who made their T20 World Cup debut in 2021, are a formidable force in the East Asia-Pacific region. Despite losing all four matches in their previous World Cup appearance, they nearly upset co-hosts West Indies in their first game this year.Uganda, on the other hand, is making their debut in any World Cup. They qualified for the T20 World Cup by defeating Zimbabwe in the Africa Region Qualifier last year. However, they were outclassed by Afghanistan in their opening match, scoring only 58 runs.Despite their contrasting experiences, both PNG and Uganda have a realistic chance of winning this match. PNG boasts a strong batting lineup led by Sese Bau, who scored a half-century against West Indies. Uganda, meanwhile, has a solid top-order batter in Roger Mukasa.The pitch at Providence has been slow traditionally, which could favor the spinners. Both teams have a mix of pace and spin options, so the match could be closely contested.PNG coach Phil Simmons praised his team's energy and enthusiasm, while Uganda coach Abhay Sharma acknowledged the team's lack of experience under lights. However, Sharma believes that Uganda has the potential to improve in the future.

Shahid Afridi, the former Pakistan captain and current T20 World Cup ambassador, has drawn a striking comparison between the India-Pakistan cricket match and the iconic Super Bowl in the United States. He believes that the upcoming T20 World Cup clash between the two arch-rivals on June 9 in New York will be a spectacle that will captivate American audiences and cricket enthusiasts alike.Afridi, who has experienced the intensity of India-Pakistan matches firsthand, emphasized the immense pressure and excitement that surround these encounters. He believes that the team that can handle the nerves and execute their game plan under pressure will emerge victorious."Against India, it is about handling the pressure of the occasion," Afridi said. "There is so much talent in both teams, they just need to put it together on the day. That will be the case in that game and in the tournament overall. The team that can hold its nerve will come out on top."Afridi also highlighted the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket, where even lower-order batters can have a significant impact on the outcome of a match. He believes that Pakistan has the potential to win the tournament, despite their recent inconsistent form."T20 cricket is so unpredictable, and teams can bat so deep now," Afridi said. "I hope that will be Pakistan this time around, but it is hard to pick a favorite."Afridi expressed confidence in Pakistan's bowling attack, which he believes will thrive in the Caribbean conditions. He also praised the American public's enthusiasm for sports and predicted that cricket will gain popularity in the United States in the coming years."This is also a huge tournament for American cricket," Afridi said. "People are going to love the support in the States. There is a great expat community over there which absolutely loves cricket. And the Americans absolutely love their sport, whether it is American football, basketball or baseball.""I really believe that cricket will hit the mainstream over there in the next few years, which is very exciting for up-and-coming cricketers," Afridi added.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma: A Dynamic Opening Duo for India's T20 World Cup CampaignAs India gears up for its T20 World Cup opener against Ireland, former New Zealand pacer Simon Doull has proposed a bold strategy: pairing Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as the team's opening batsmen. This move would capitalize on the exceptional form of both players and provide India with a formidable start to their innings.Kohli, despite limited experience as an opener in T20Is, has proven his prowess at the top of the order for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL. In the recently concluded IPL 2024, he emerged as the leading run-scorer with an impressive tally of 741 runs in 15 matches. His ability to anchor the innings and accelerate the scoring rate makes him an ideal candidate for the opening role.Sharma, on the other hand, is a seasoned opener with a wealth of experience in the format. His aggressive style and ability to hit boundaries from the outset would complement Kohli's more measured approach. Together, they form a formidable duo that could set the tone for India's batting performance.Doull's suggestion also addresses the need for a left-handed batsman in the top order. Rishabh Pant, who has been in impressive form, could slot in at No. 3, providing a point of difference and disrupting the opposition's bowling plans.The inclusion of Yashasvi Jaiswal as an opener is another possibility that has been discussed. Jaiswal has a solid track record as an opener for India in T20Is, but his inconsistency in the IPL 2024 raises some concerns. Doull believes that if Jaiswal is selected, it would likely come at the expense of Shivam Dube, which would be a surprising move.Doull's proposed batting order, with Kohli and Sharma opening, Pant at No. 3, Suryakumar Yadav at No. 4, Dube at No. 5, Hardik Pandya at No. 6, and Ravindra Jadeja at No. 7, offers a balanced combination of experience, power, and versatility.As India prepares for their first match of the T20 World Cup, the potential opening combination and batting order remain a focal point. Doull's suggestion of Kohli and Sharma as openers is a bold but intriguing move that could give India a significant advantage in their quest for the title.

Ian Bishop, a renowned cricket commentator, has strongly advocated for Yashasvi Jaiswal to open the batting for India in the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup. Despite concerns about Jaiswal's recent form in the IPL, Bishop believes his left-handedness and quality make him an ideal choice for the top order.Bishop's endorsement comes amidst speculation that Jaiswal may be overlooked in favor of experienced veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. However, Bishop argues that Jaiswal's left-handedness would provide diversity to the batting lineup and pose different challenges for opposing bowlers."If Jaiswal is in that XI, he brings quality when he is in form, and also the left-handedness. So you're asking different questions of the bowling opposition," Bishop explained.Bishop's opinion differs from that of Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar, who has suggested Jaiswal bat at number three. However, Bishop maintains his preference for Kohli as an opener."I like Virat Kohli at the top, I have said that for the last couple of years, not just for this tournament," Bishop said.Bishop also emphasized the importance of diversity in the batting order, selecting Rishabh Pant over Sanju Samson as the wicket-keeper batsman due to Pant's left-handedness. Despite Samson's impressive IPL performance in 2024, Bishop believes Pant's recent form and higher strike rate make him a more suitable choice.India's quest for a second T20 World Cup title begins on June 5 against Ireland in New York. Bishop's insights and analysis provide valuable perspectives on the team's potential lineup and strategies for success in the tournament.