Cricket

Pakistan's cricket team faces a crucial test as they prepare for the ICC T20 World Cup, beginning on June 1. After a disappointing loss to England in the 2022 final, Pakistan has struggled to find consistency, winning only one of their six bilateral T20I series since then.Form and Talking Points:Pakistan's recent performances have raised concerns about their form and approach. The team's batting has been heavily reliant on captain Babar Azam and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, who have often played with conservative strike rates. The team's middle order has also struggled to contribute consistently.On the bowling front, Pakistan's pace trio of Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf has been impressive, but the team has lacked depth in their spin department. The return of Imad Wasim and pacer Mohammad Amir from retirement could provide some much-needed experience and variety.Key Performers:Despite their recent struggles, Pakistan boasts several talented players who could make a significant impact at the World Cup. Babar Azam remains one of the world's best batters, while Rizwan is a reliable wicketkeeper and opener. Fakhar Zaman has shown glimpses of his destructive potential, and Shaheen Afridi is a world-class fast bowler.Squad:Pakistan's squad for the World Cup includes:* Babar Azam (c)* Abrar Ahmed* Azam Khan* Fakhar Zaman* Haris Rauf* Iftikhar Ahmed* Imad Wasim* Mohammad Abbas Afridi* Mohammad Amir* Mohammad Rizwan* Naseem Shah* Saim Ayub* Shadab Khan* Shaheen Shah Afridi* Usman KhanOutlook:Pakistan's chances at the World Cup will depend on their ability to find consistency and improve their strike rate in batting. The team's bowling attack is strong, but they will need to find a reliable spin option to complement their pace trio. With a talented squad and a history of success in major tournaments, Pakistan remains a contender for the title.

Virat Kohli, the Indian batting maestro, stands tall as the only player to have won the prestigious "Player of the Tournament" award twice in the history of the T20 World Cup, claiming the honor in both 2014 and 2016. His exceptional ability to deliver match-winning performances under immense pressure has cemented his status as one of the greatest cricketers of all time.Kohli's hunger for success, coupled with his impeccable technique and mental fortitude, has earned him a place among the cricketing elite. His ability to adapt to different situations and his consistency at the top of the order have made him a vital cog in India's success.Other notable recipients of the "Player of the Tournament" award include Shahid Afridi (2007), Tillakaratne Dilshan (2009), Kevin Pietersen (2010), Shane Watson (2012), David Warner (2021), and Sam Curran (2022).Afridi, the flamboyant Pakistani all-rounder, etched his name in history with his explosive batting and crafty leg-spin bowling. His ability to single-handedly turn the tide of a match with his audacious strokeplay and clever variations was a sight to behold.Dilshan, the Sri Lankan batting maestro, was renowned for his innovative "Dilscoop" shot and aggressive batting approach. His ability to adapt to different situations and his consistency at the top of the order made him a vital cog in Sri Lanka's success.Pietersen, the swashbuckling English batsman, claimed the award in 2010. His ability to dominate any bowling attack with his array of audacious shots and sheer power made him a nightmare for opposition teams. Pietersen's fearless approach and ability to rise to the occasion in crunch situations set him apart from his contemporaries.Watson, the Australian all-rounder, was the deserving winner in 2012. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball made him an invaluable asset to his team. Watson's power-hitting and incisive bowling spells often turned the tide in Australia's favor, making him a true match-winner.Warner, the swashbuckling Australian opener, etched his name in the annals of T20 World Cup history by claiming the award in 2021. His blistering batting displays, coupled with his exceptional running between the wickets, made him a force to be reckoned with. Warner's ability to set the tone for his team with his aggressive intent was a sight to behold.Curran, the young English all-rounder, emerged as the surprise winner in 2022. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball, coupled with his composure under pressure, made him a standout performer. Curran's versatility and maturity beyond his years bode well for his future in the game.

England's IPL Absence: A Blessing or a Curse Ahead of T20 World Cup?England's decision to withdraw their players from the IPL 2024 playoffs to prepare for the series against Pakistan has sparked a debate among cricket pundits. Former England captain Michael Vaughan criticized the England Cricket Board (ECB), arguing that the IPL would have provided better preparation than facing Pakistan.However, former England captain Nasser Hussain has praised the IPL for its role in developing players for big games. "They're a very balanced side, they've played in a lot of big games," Hussain said on Sky Sports. "We don't talk enough about the IPL and how that obviously sets you up as a cricketer but also sets you up in big games. And under pressure and big crowds and that's what you need going into a World Cup."Hussain believes that England's IPL experience will be crucial in the upcoming T20 World Cup. "They've done all that they could do," he said. "They've just got to be better than they were at that 50-over World Cup. They went into that with a lot of hope and it didn't start well and they didn't react well. So they need to have a Plan B."Despite their IPL absence, Hussain believes England are well-prepared for the T20 World Cup. "They're in a real good place," he said. "They just got to go and do it."

Australia's T20 World Cup campaign will begin without the bowling services of skipper Mitchell Marsh, who is still recovering from a hamstring injury. Head coach Andrew McDonald confirmed that Marsh will play solely as a batter in their opening match against Oman on June 6.Marsh has participated in Australia's two warm-up games against Namibia and the West Indies, but he has not bowled in either match. Matthew Wade has taken over captaincy duties in Marsh's absence."For Mitch, (the warm-up games) was about ticking off where his body was at," McDonald said. "He fielded more overs tonight (in the warm-up against West Indies), he was able to move more freely, so he's building a little bit of confidence there. It looks as though he's all set for the first game."Marsh played only four matches for Delhi Capitals in the IPL due to a hamstring niggle. He returned to Australia in late April to continue his rehabilitation."The second part is just when the bowling comes back online... it won't be the first game," McDonald said.Australia's warm-up match against the West Indies exposed the absence of several key players, including Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Cameron Green, and Travis Head."It was by design, in terms of when we were getting people back after the IPL; we were well aware we weren't going to get the squad together until the first of next month," McDonald said."We've got some things in place where we'll bring the group together, we'll work through our plans leading into Oman and there's a bit of space between that game and (playing) England."Australia will face defending champions England in Barbados on June 9."We feel as though we have plenty of time to bring that group together. It's a familiar group, they've played a lot together. If they hadn't played a lot together then the prep might have looked different," McDonald added."We feel comfortable though as they know how to play with each other. It will just be finalising the XIs for the games, and the balances that we want. We've got plenty of options."

Nepal's star leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane faces a major setback as his US visa application has been rejected for the second time, jeopardizing his participation in the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024. The tournament is scheduled to take place in the West Indies and the United States.Lamichhane's initial visa application was denied last week, prompting the Nepali government and the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) to intervene. Despite their efforts, the application was rejected once again. CAN expressed disappointment in a statement, stating that despite diplomatic support from the government and various organizations, the US Embassy has declined to grant Lamichhane travel permission."Despite taking necessary initiatives, along with the diplomatic note, from the government of Nepal, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Youth and Sports, National Sports Council, CAN, and International Cricket Council (ICC), for cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane's visit to participate in the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup in the United States and West Indies, the US Embassy has expressed its inability to give travel permission (visa) to national player Lamichhane to play in the World Cup," CAN said.A spokesperson for the US Embassy in Kathmandu declined to comment on individual visa cases, citing confidentiality under US law. However, the embassy emphasized its commitment to facilitating visas for members of national cricket teams who qualify for the appropriate visa class.Nepal has been placed in Group D alongside Bangladesh, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands. They will kick off their campaign on June 4 against the Netherlands in Texas.The absence of Lamichhane, who is Nepal's leading wicket-taker in T20Is, will be a significant blow to the team's chances in the tournament. He has been a key player for Nepal in recent years, helping them achieve historic victories and qualify for major international events.The Nepali government and CAN have expressed their disappointment and are exploring all possible options to secure Lamichhane's visa. They have appealed to the US Embassy to reconsider its decision and grant him travel permission.

Former England cricket captain Eoin Morgan has expressed his preference for Shubman Gill over Yashasvi Jaiswal in India's squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. Jaiswal was included in the 15-member squad along with Rohit Sharma as designated openers, while Gill was named in the reserves.Morgan, who played alongside Gill in the Indian Premier League (IPL), believes that Gill's leadership qualities and ability to perform in big moments would have made him a valuable asset to the team. "The only decision I probably would have had differently if I was selecting a squad was - I have would have had Shubman Gill over Yashasvi Jaiswal," Morgan said during an interaction on Sky Sports."Because I played alongside Shubman Gill. I know how he thinks. I know how he works. For me, he is a future leader within that side and I think in big moments, you need the more leaders the better. Even if he is just sitting on the sideline, you need inspiration from here and there and everywhere," he added.Gill had a successful IPL 2024 season, scoring 426 runs for the Gujarat Titans. Jaiswal, on the other hand, scored 435 runs for the Rajasthan Royals. However, the selectors opted for Jaiswal, citing his recent form and ability to play spin bowling.Meanwhile, Rinku Singh, who was also overlooked for the World Cup squad, expressed his disappointment but vowed to continue working hard. "Yes, anyone feels a little bad if he is not selected despite good performance. However, this time I could not get selected due to the team combination. It is okay, one should not think too much about things that are not in one's hands," he told Dainik Jagran."Yes, I was a little upset in the beginning. Whatever happened is fine. Whatever happens happens for good. Rohit Bhaiya did not say anything special. He only said that just keep working hard. There is a World Cup again after two years. There is no need to worry too much. This is what he said to me," he added.

Aiden Markram, the captain of the South African cricket team, holds a unique distinction: he is the only South African captain to have led a team to victory in a World Cup. Markram's triumph came in the 2014 Under-19 World Cup, the only global cricket trophy won by South Africa.While Markram acknowledges the significant difference between a junior tournament and the men's Twenty20 World Cup, he draws upon his experience as a source of confidence. "There aren't so many eyes watching you in an age-group tournament," Markram said. "Now there is a lot more planning and preparation."Markram's leadership in 2014 was exemplary, as he scored 370 runs at an average of 123.33 and was named player of the tournament. He was also supported by the precocious fast bowling talent of Kagiso Rabada, who was the side's leading wicket-taker.However, South Africa's T20 results under Markram and coach Rob Walter have been less than impressive. The team has managed only two wins in eight matches, all played at home. Markram believes the results don't tell the full story, as South Africa has seldom fielded a full-strength team.Despite their low ranking, Markram is confident in his team's abilities. South Africa boasts a potentially powerful batting line-up, with players of the quality of Quinton de Kock, Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, and Tristan Stubbs.Coach Walter has selected bowlers who he believes can strike in the crucial early overs of a T20 contest. Anrich Nortje, the team's fastest bowler, is a key player but has struggled in recent matches.Markram, Klaasen, and Marco Jansen arrived at the team's training base in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday night after being involved in the IPL final in Chennai on Sunday. Markram believes the travel is a reality for many players these days and is focused on getting ready for Monday's match against Sri Lanka.

Cricket's global reach expands as the inaugural T20 World Cup in the United States kicks off on Saturday. This historic tournament marks the first major International Cricket Council (ICC) event to be held in part on American soil.The month-long festival of cricket's most explosive format will feature 20 teams competing in four groups of five. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Eight stage, with the semi-finals and final taking place in Barbados.While the bulk of the tournament will be played in the Caribbean, 16 group stage games will be held in the United States, including the highly anticipated clash between India and Pakistan in Long Island, New York.Organizers are realistic about the challenges of converting mainstream American sports fans to cricket. However, they expect large immigrant communities from cricket-loving backgrounds to fill the stadiums.The ICC sees the tournament as a platform to promote cricket's return to the Olympics in Los Angeles 2028. The T20 format will be used in the Olympic competition.The expansion of the tournament has provided opportunities for newer cricket nations to compete on the big stage. USA, Canada, and Uganda will make their T20 World Cup debuts, while Nepal, Papua New Guinea, and Oman will also be looking to make their mark.India, with its star-studded lineup from the Indian Premier League, is the tournament favorite. Australia, England, West Indies, South Africa, New Zealand, and Pakistan are also considered contenders.The T20 World Cup promises to be a thrilling spectacle of big-hitting and spectacular catches. With a diverse field of teams and the potential for upsets, the tournament is sure to captivate cricket fans around the world.

Rohit Sharma Eyes Shivam Dube's Seam-Up Skills for T20 World CupIndian captain Rohit Sharma is considering utilizing all-rounder Shivam Dube's seam-up bowling abilities more frequently in the upcoming T20 World Cup. This revelation came during India's first training session in the US, where Dube was seen receiving guidance from Rohit on bowling lengths.Despite playing 14 matches for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the recently concluded IPL season, Dube bowled only six deliveries. However, he impressed with his solitary over, taking a wicket while conceding just 14 runs.CSK primarily utilized Dube's batting skills, asking him to target spinners in the middle overs. With his left-handed batting and ability to score quickly, Dube amassed 396 runs in 14 innings, including three half-centuries.However, Rohit may have a different plan for Dube in the T20 World Cup. With the tournament being played on slow, spinning tracks in the US and West Indies, India may need an additional seam-bowling option. Dube's medium-pace bowling could provide the team with some variety and control.Rohit's decision to explore Dube's bowling skills is a testament to his versatility and the team's desire to find the best possible combination for the World Cup. India has been waiting for an ICC trophy for 11 years, and Rohit is determined to end that drought.