Cricket

Hasan Ali's hopes of representing Pakistan in the upcoming T20 World Cup have suffered a setback after he was released from the squad for the ongoing series against England. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Wednesday that Ali would resume his stint with Warwickshire in county cricket.Ali's release comes as a surprise, as he was initially selected as an injury cover for Haris Rauf. However, after a disappointing performance in the series decider against Ireland, where he conceded 42 runs in three wicketless overs, Ali has been deemed surplus to requirements.Pakistan's provisional squad for the T20 World Cup is expected to be announced soon, and Ali's omission from the squad is a significant blow to his chances of making the final cut. The deadline for submitting the final list of 15 players to the ICC is Saturday.Warwickshire, who were initially caught off guard by Ali's international recall, will welcome his return ahead of their County Championship fixture against Lancashire on Friday. Ali is also expected to feature in the T20 Blast, which starts next week, and will remain with the club until the end of July.Meanwhile, Ali's compatriot Aamer Jamal has struggled to make an impact at Warwickshire, taking just one wicket in his first two appearances. He has lost his place in the side to Michael Rae, who has impressed with five wickets in his debut match.With several other bowlers injured, Warwickshire have also handed a first-class debut to Barbados-born Che Simmons, who recorded match figures of 5 for 71 against Essex.

USA Opts to Bowl First in Inaugural T20I Against BangladeshIn preparation for the 2024 T20 World Cup, the United States and Bangladesh faced off in their first-ever men's T20I encounter in Texas. USA captain Monank Patel elected to bowl first, setting the stage for an intriguing contest.Bangladesh made two alterations to their lineup, bringing in Litton Das and Shoriful Islam in place of Tanzid Hasan and Mohammad Saifuddin. USA, on the other hand, made four changes, introducing Steven Taylor, Patel, Jasdeep Singh, and Ali Khan.The USA team, which has been building towards the World Cup, features a blend of experienced players and rising stars. Steven Taylor, a former West Indies international, brings a wealth of knowledge to the side. Monank Patel, the captain and wicket-keeper, is a key figure in the team's leadership and batting lineup.Bangladesh, a formidable opponent, boasts a strong batting order led by Litton Das, Soumya Sarkar, and Najmul Hossain Shanto. Shakib Al Hasan, the all-rounder, is a crucial player for the team, providing both batting and bowling depth.The match marks a significant milestone in the development of cricket in the United States. The USA team has been making steady progress in recent years, and this encounter against Bangladesh provides a valuable opportunity to test their skills against a top-ranked opponent.As the teams prepare for the World Cup, this T20I series will serve as a crucial platform to assess their strengths and weaknesses. Both USA and Bangladesh will be eager to make a statement and secure a positive result in this historic matchup.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has secured the services of legendary West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Bravo as their bowling consultant for the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup. Bravo, a two-time T20 World Cup champion with the West Indies, will join the Afghan team in St Kitts and Nevis for a ten-day preparatory camp ahead of the tournament.Bravo, who retired from international cricket after the 2021 T20 World Cup, brings a wealth of experience to the Afghan bowling attack. He is the leading wicket-taker in T20 cricket history, with 625 scalps in 573 games. In addition to his playing experience, Bravo is also the bowling coach of the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL).Afghanistan's decision to appoint Bravo as their bowling consultant is a testament to their ambition to make a significant impact at the 2024 T20 World Cup. The team has already arrived in the Caribbean and will begin their preparations under Bravo's guidance.Afghanistan will play two warm-up matches before the start of the World Cup, against Oman on May 29 and Scotland on May 31. They will then face Uganda in their opening match of the tournament on June 5 in Providence.Another former West Indian player, Kieron Pollard, will also be involved in the 2024 T20 World Cup as the assistant coach of England. Pollard, who retired from international cricket in 2022, will bring his experience and leadership qualities to the English camp.The 2024 T20 World Cup will be a highly competitive tournament, with some of the best teams in the world vying for the title. Afghanistan will be hoping to make a strong impression under the guidance of Bravo and Pollard, and they will be determined to prove that they are a force to be reckoned with in the shortest format of the game.

The Mumbai Indians' (MI) decision to reinstate Hardik Pandya as captain proved to be a costly mistake, according to former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh. The team failed to perform as a cohesive unit, leading to a disappointing season.After a successful two-year stint with Gujarat Titans (GT), where Pandya led the team to the title in their inaugural season, MI brought him back as captain. However, the move was met with criticism on social media, as Rohit Sharma was replaced.Pandya and the team faced intense backlash during their matches, with MI finishing at the bottom of the standings with just four wins. Pandya's performances were also underwhelming, failing to produce game-winning efforts.Harbhajan believes that MI's decision to reinstate Pandya was a mistake that caused the team to become disunified. He suggests that the timing of the decision may have been off, and that it could have been better received if made a year later."MI has a big team. I have played for it. The management is great and runs the team well. But this decision has backfired. Maybe the thinking was to look for the future. It seems that it did not sit well with the team as they did not look united," said Harbhajan.Pandya's statistics for the season were underwhelming, with 216 runs at an average of 18.00 and 11 wickets at an average of 35.18. However, fans will be hoping to see a different Pandya in the blue jersey for India at the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup.As vice-captain, Pandya will be a key component of Rohit Sharma's Team India. His all-round ability and penchant for performing under pressure will be crucial for India's success in the tournament.

Australian cricket team coach Andrew McDonald has added Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matthew Short as travelling reserves for the T20 World Cup in the Americas. Fraser-McGurk, a 22-year-old opener, impressed in his debut IPL season with Delhi Capitals, scoring four half-centuries in nine games at a strike rate of over 234. Short, an all-rounder, provides depth in the middle order and can also bowl spin.McDonald explained the rationale behind their inclusion: "Fraser is an out-and-out opener, while Short has grown into the team through the middle order and offers spin bowling ability. We feel like Short is a spinning all-rounder like Glenn Maxwell, and Fraser-McGurk is a top-order player."The coach emphasized that the reserves can only play if there is an injury in the squad. However, Australia has other options in Spencer Johnson and Xavier Bartlett, who are playing in the UK, in case of a bowling injury.Regarding David Warner's fitness concerns, McDonald stated that the 37-year-old is fully fit and available for selection. Australia's opening group stage match is against Oman in Barbados on June 6.

Rachin Ravindra, the New Zealand cricketer of Indian descent, made his Indian Premier League (IPL) debut for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the recently concluded season. Sharing the dressing room with legendary captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Ravindra had a memorable experience despite CSK's failure to reach the playoffs.In his maiden IPL season, Ravindra showcased his batting prowess, scoring 222 runs in 10 matches with a highest score of 61 and a strike rate of 160.87. The 22-year-old expressed his admiration for Dhoni, stating, "To be able to share a field with him and benefit from his wisdom off it is extremely valuable."Ravindra's Indian heritage stems from his parents, who migrated to New Zealand from Bangalore in the 1990s. His unique name, Rachin, is a tribute to Indian cricket icons Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar.Despite his Indian roots, Ravindra identifies himself as a Kiwi, having been born and raised in New Zealand. However, he cherishes his connection to India, saying, "I always loved coming to India. The people, food, and everything is amazing."Ravindra's next major assignment will be the T20 World Cup in Australia next month, where he will represent New Zealand. The young cricketer is eager to make a mark on the global stage and continue his journey in the world of cricket.

India's T20 World Cup Squad: Harbhajan Singh Raises ConcernsFormer Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has expressed his thoughts on India's squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024. While acknowledging the team's overall strength, he raised concerns about the absence of middle-order batter Rinku Singh and the inclusion of four spinners.Singh believes that Rinku, known for his explosive batting, could have been a valuable asset to the team. He highlighted Rinku's ability to chase down large totals quickly, making him a potential game-changer.Regarding the spin department, Harbhajan suggested that three spinners would have been sufficient. He expressed doubts about India fielding four spinners in any given match, predicting that Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Yuzvendra Chahal would be the most likely combination.Harbhajan also discussed the upcoming Super Eight phase of the tournament, where India will face formidable opponents like Australia and New Zealand. He emphasized the importance of the group stage clash with Pakistan on June 9, stating that a victory could set the momentum for India.While acknowledging Rishabh Pant's strong performance upon his return from injury, Harbhajan advocated for Sanju Samson to be given a chance. He praised Samson's consistent performances and improved batting average.

Rinku Singh, the rising star of Indian cricket and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), has set his sights on lifting a major trophy for his team at the senior level. Despite a modest performance in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season, Rinku remains optimistic and driven.Since his T20I debut in 2023, Rinku has amassed 356 runs in 15 matches for India, averaging an impressive 89.00 with a strike rate of 176.24. However, he has yet to secure a spot in the main squad for the T20 World Cup. Undeterred, Rinku is determined to achieve his goals."I have won trophies at the junior level, but not at the senior level," said Rinku. "I want to hold the World Cup trophy and lift it in my hands."Rinku's journey has been marked by both challenges and triumphs. He fondly recalls his five successive sixes against Gujarat Titans in the final over, which propelled KKR to a thrilling victory. This feat transformed his life, bringing him recognition and opportunities.As a middle-order finisher, Rinku emphasizes the importance of composure and reacting to the ball. "I have played at this number for a long time," he said. "The more you keep yourself calm, the easier it will be."KKR will face Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday, with a direct spot in the final at stake. Rinku is eager to contribute to his team's success and ultimately fulfill his dream of lifting a major trophy.

Mumbai Indians Boast Four Indian T20 World Cup Players, While Top IPL Teams Lack RepresentationAs the T20 World Cup approaches next month, the performance of Indian cricketers in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) has become a topic of interest. Surprisingly, the top two teams in the IPL standings, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), do not have any players in India's T20 World Cup squad.In contrast, the bottom-ranked Mumbai Indians (MI) have four Indian T20 World Cup players in their ranks: captain Rohit Sharma, vice-captain Hardik Pandya, batter Suryakumar Yadav, and bowler Jasprit Bumrah. Delhi Capitals (DC), currently ranked sixth, also have three players in the World Cup squad: wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, allrounder Axar Patel, and bowler Kuldeep Yadav.KKR, despite their impressive performance in the IPL, have only one player named in India's reserves: batter Rinku Singh. Other teams with no representation in the World Cup squad include Rajasthan Royals (RR), Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Gujarat Titans (GT), and Punjab Kings (PBKS).The absence of Indian T20 World Cup players in the top IPL teams raises questions about whether their performance in the league will have any bearing on their performance in the international tournament. Historically, players who have performed well in the IPL have often been rewarded with national team call-ups.However, the current situation suggests that the IPL may not be the sole determinant of selection for the Indian T20 World Cup team. Other factors, such as recent form, fitness, and team balance, may also play a role in the final selection.It remains to be seen whether the presence of four Indian T20 World Cup players in the Mumbai Indians squad will give them an advantage in the upcoming tournament. However, it is clear that the IPL is not the only factor that will determine the success of the Indian team in Australia.