Cricket

The ICC's recent men's T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies has faced criticism from its broadcast partner, Disney-Star, raising concerns about the event's value and the overall return on investment.Disney-Star has expressed dissatisfaction with the scheduling of matches, particularly those that aired during unfavorable hours in the subcontinent, impacting viewership. The broadcaster also raised concerns about the drop-in pitches used at the Nassau County stadium in New York, which produced bowling-friendly surfaces and resulted in low scores.The first two pitches were deemed "unsatisfactory" by the ICC, while the pitch for the marquee India-Pakistan match was rated "satisfactory" despite Pakistan's failure to chase down a modest target. The semi-final pitch in Trinidad, where Afghanistan was dismissed for a mere 56, was also rated "unsatisfactory."Disney-Star's dissatisfaction is significant given its long-term partnership with the ICC, holding the rights to every ICC event since 2011. The broadcaster's concerns have implications for ICC members, who rely heavily on revenue from the rights deal.Discussions within the ICC to swap the USA-West Indies event with India or England in future years to provide more preparation time for venues were considered but did not progress.In addition to the pitch issues, the venue in Florida also faced criticism due to inadequate drainage and insufficient covers, leading to match abandonments.The ICC is currently conducting an audit of the event's handling after it emerged that the original budget for the US leg exceeded by up to USD 20 million. The dissatisfaction with the event has prompted suggestions to convert the 2025 ODI Champions Trophy to T20Is, although no developments have been made on this proposal.

South African Spinner Tabraiz Shamsi's Humorous Take on Suryakumar Yadav's Controversial Catch in 2024 T20 World Cup FinalSouth African spinner Tabraiz Shamsi has sparked a humorous debate on social media by revisiting the controversial catch that decided the 2024 T20 World Cup final between India and South Africa. In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Shamsi shared a video of an unconventional method of measuring a catch during a local village game, where ropes were used to determine if the ball had crossed the boundary line."If they used this method to check the catch in the World Cup final, maybe it would have been given not out," Shamsi quipped in his post.The catch in question occurred during the final over of the match, with South Africa needing 16 runs off the last six balls to secure their first T20 World Cup title. David Miller, known for his powerful hitting, launched a full-toss from Hardik Pandya down the ground, only for Suryakumar Yadav to intercept it with a remarkable catch.In a stunning display of athleticism, Yadav caught the ball near the boundary cushion, tossed it in the air as he crossed the rope, and quickly returned inside to complete the catch. The catch not only sealed India's victory but also sparked widespread debate and controversy.Social media was flooded with posts showing footage that appeared to suggest the boundary cushion had been intentionally moved further back, raising questions about the legitimacy of the catch. Despite the controversy, the catch remains a highlight of the tournament and is celebrated by Indian fans as a key moment in their team's triumphant campaign.Shamsi's humorous post has reignited the debate, with many fans and experts weighing in on the issue. Some have argued that the use of ropes in the village game provides a more accurate way of measuring a catch, while others have defended the decision of the umpires in the World Cup final.Regardless of the ongoing debate, Shamsi's post has brought a lighthearted touch to a controversial moment in cricket history. It also highlights the passion and humor that can be found in the sport, even in the most intense of matches.

The 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) witnessed a significant captaincy change at Mumbai Indians (MI), with Hardik Pandya replacing Rohit Sharma. This move sparked speculations of a rift between the two players. However, their performances and interactions during India's T20 World Cup victory have shed light on the true nature of their relationship.Veteran journalist Vimal Kumar revealed that Rohit and Hardik initially maintained distance during the first day of practice. However, on the second day, they engaged in a heart-to-heart conversation that resolved their differences. Kumar witnessed this interaction and described it as a defining moment for the team."When I went to the nets, on the first day I saw they were standing far apart and did not talk with each other. But by the second day, I saw them come over, one after the other, and sit together in a corner, talking for a long time. That moment for me defined this team," Kumar said.Kumar believes that this conversation played a crucial role in calming the atmosphere in the dressing room. He also praised India's then head coach Rahul Dravid for handling the situation effectively."The full credit goes to Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma for this. The way he handled the big guys - Virat, Hardik, Rohit - I think Rahul Dravid has a lot to do with it. Everyone gelled together. That was the leadership I had confidence in," Kumar added.India's T20 World Cup victory, with Rohit and Hardik making significant contributions, further solidified their bond. Their public displays of affection during the tournament put to rest any lingering doubts about their relationship.The captaincy change at MI may have raised questions, but the events during the T20 World Cup have demonstrated the strength of the bond between Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya. Their ability to resolve their differences and work together for the success of the team is a testament to their professionalism and commitment to Indian cricket.

The absence of bilateral cricket series between India and Pakistan has left fans yearning for the return of those thrilling encounters. The last such instance was in 2012-13, with the two teams only facing each other in multi-nation tournaments since then.Recently, Cricket Australia expressed interest in hosting an India-Pakistan series in Australia, but it didn't garner much interest from the two boards. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, India secured a narrow victory over Pakistan in the group stage, eventually winning the trophy.Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal has questioned the BCCI's reluctance to travel to Pakistan, highlighting that teams like Australia have done so. He emphasized the love and support Indian cricketers have received in Pakistan, and the mutual desire for a bilateral series.Akmal, who toured India several times, believes that political matters should be kept aside to allow cricket to flourish. He pointed out that Pakistan has worked hard to bring cricket back to the country, and that both governments should facilitate the resumption of bilateral series.The upcoming Champions Trophy in Pakistan is also in doubt due to political tensions. Akmal urged both governments to prioritize cricket over politics, allowing the tournament to take place in Pakistan.Regarding Pakistani players in the IPL, Akmal acknowledged the BCCI's rules but expressed that the debate would end if bilateral series resumed. He emphasized that Pakistan has its own PSL and is not dependent on the IPL.

South Africa's women's cricket team will embark on a crucial tour of Pakistan in September as part of their preparations for the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup. The Proteas will play three T20I matches against Pakistan in Multan from September 16 to 20, providing them with valuable match practice ahead of the global tournament.The tour will mark South Africa's second visit to Pakistan in just over a year, following their successful ODI and T20I series in September 2021. The Proteas emerged victorious in the ODI series, while Pakistan swept the T20Is.CSA director of cricket Enoch Nkwe emphasized the importance of the Pakistan tour for South Africa's World Cup preparations. "This T20I series against Pakistan is a critical part of our preparations for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup," Nkwe said. "It offers the team the invaluable opportunity to gain match practice, allowing us to refine our strategies and ensure that our players are in peak form."Nkwe also expressed gratitude to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for their collaboration in arranging the series. "We are incredibly grateful to the PCB for their collaboration and efforts in arranging this series," Nkwe said. "This series not only helps us prepare for the World Cup but also strengthens the relationship between our two cricket boards as the Proteas Women visit Pakistan for the second time in a year."The Women's T20 World Cup will be held in Dubai and Sharjah from October 3 to 20. Pakistan has been drawn in Group A alongside Australia, India, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka, while South Africa is in Group B with Bangladesh, England, Scotland, and West Indies.The South African team will arrive in Multan on September 13 and depart for the UAE on September 21, the day after the final T20I against Pakistan. The Proteas will be looking to build on their recent success in Pakistan and gain valuable experience ahead of the World Cup.

Despite his impressive performances for Team India, Rinku Singh was surprisingly omitted from the nation's T20 World Cup 2024 squad. However, the young batsman has revealed the encouraging words he received from captain Rohit Sharma after the setback."He (Rohit Sharma) came to me and said that it is okay, I'm still young, and there are many more tournaments to come. There is a World Cup every two years, so I shouldn't be disappointed by this but focus on my game instead," Rinku said in an interview.Despite winning the IPL with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Rinku was left out as India opted for four spin options. However, he was included as a traveling reserve.Immediately after the tournament, Rinku was included in India's T20I tour of Zimbabwe, where he played in every game as a middle-order batter. He then starred in the T20I series in Sri Lanka, impressing with the ball by picking up two wickets in the penultimate over of the final T20I to turn the game in India's favor.Presently, Rinku boasts an average of nearly 60 and a strike rate of 174 in 17 T20I innings for India. Remarkably, he has remained not out in 10 of those innings.Rinku also acknowledged Virat Kohli's style of leadership. "I like Virat Kohli as well because aggression is very important while leading a team. So, his captaincy was also very good," he said.Rinku had recently expressed his desire to play for Kohli's franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) if he is not retained by KKR.Currently, Rinku is playing in the Uttar Pradesh T20 League (UP T20), where he is captaining Meerut Mavericks. He has not been included in any of the four squads for the Duleep Trophy to be held in September.

India's women's cricket team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, is drawing inspiration from the men's team's recent T20 World Cup triumph as they prepare for their own campaign in the UAE in October. The women's team has yet to lift the T20 World Cup, coming close in 2020 when they finished as runners-up in Australia."We have been really inspired by the men's team, the way they won the T20 World Cup this year," Kaur said. "They worked really hard for this trophy and won some tough matches. We need to learn how they maintained their body language for such matches and how they approached such games."The women's team has faced heartbreak in recent major tournaments, losing the ODI World Cup final in 2017, the T20 World Cup final in 2020, and the Commonwealth Games final in 2022, all by narrow margins. They also suffered a disappointing defeat to Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup last month.However, Kaur is confident that her team has learned from their mistakes and is ready to challenge for the title in the UAE. "We are working extremely hard to live up to those expectations, we have been holding camps where all players are working hard. We have also worked on the mistakes we made the last time. Now we're ready with a positive mindset."India is placed in Group A with Australia, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and Pakistan for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Kaur acknowledges the pressure of facing these strong teams but emphasizes the importance of staying focused and playing to their potential."The World Cup is a kind of tournament for which all teams prepare differently," Kaur said. "So no team can be taken lightly and similarly no team should be overestimated either. We are working extremely hard to live up to those expectations."India's campaign will kick off on October 4 against New Zealand, before taking on Pakistan on October 6, Sri Lanka on October 9, and Australia on October 13. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals on October 17 and 18, with the final scheduled for October 20 in Dubai.

Harmanpreet Kaur, the skipper of the Indian women's cricket team, exudes confidence in her team's ability to clinch their maiden global title at the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup. She believes that the playing conditions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where the tournament has been relocated due to political instability in Bangladesh, could favor the Indian side.Despite the change in venue, Harmanpreet remains unfazed, stating that the conditions in the UAE are similar to those in India. "We have not played much cricket in the UAE, but the conditions are going to be similar to Indian conditions," she said. "We will see how the conditions play out and try to adjust ourselves as soon as possible."Harmanpreet emphasized the importance of a positive and assertive approach throughout the World Cup. "As a team, we learn from our defeats and break those barriers that are pushing us back. Hopefully, this time we can express ourselves in a more positive way in the World Cup," she said.She expressed confidence in the Indian bowling attack, despite their struggles in the recent Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka. "The bowlers are working really hard as a team and, hopefully, in this World Cup, we tick all the boxes," she said.Harmanpreet, who led Mumbai Indians to victory in the inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL), stressed the significance of staying focused on the present moment. "It is always important for us to play good cricket, keeping ourselves in the present. Whatever the situation is in front of us, we go there and evaluate it as soon as possible," she said.The Indian women's cricket team has consistently performed well in major tournaments, reaching the final of the 2020 T20 World Cup and the semifinals of the 2023 Women's T20 World Cup. Harmanpreet's leadership and the team's determination to break the final barrier and secure their first global title will be crucial in their quest for glory in the upcoming tournament.

Rinku Singh, India's promising batter, was surprisingly omitted from the main squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup, despite his impressive performances. However, he was named as a reserve player, sparking discussions among fans and analysts.Following the squad announcement, Singh revealed insights from his conversation with India's skipper, Rohit Sharma, who offered him words of encouragement. In an interview with News24, Singh shared Sharma's advice, emphasizing perseverance and the opportunities that the future holds."He came to me and made me understand that it was okay; you are still very young. There will be many World Cups in the future. Keep working hard. There is a World Cup every two years, so focus on that. Don’t be disappointed," Singh quoted Rohit.Sharma's message appears to have given Rinku a positive perspective on his future career. According to the young cricketer, Sharma stressed that age is on Rinku's side and that his chance to shine at the global level would come with ongoing effort and dedication.Even though he was not part of the main squad, Rinku expressed his admiration for Rohit’s style of leadership and his respect for Virat Kohli’s aggressive approach to captaincy. "I like Rohit Sharma's captaincy. I like Virat Kohli as well because aggression is very important while leading a team. So, his captaincy was also very good," Rinku stated.The Rohit Sharma-led Indian team successfully ended their 11-year ICC trophy drought by winning the 2024 T20 World Cup, further demonstrating the effectiveness of Sharma's leadership and the team's cohesion. Despite his exclusion from the main squad, Rinku Singh's positive attitude and respect for his leaders underline his maturity and potential as a future star in Indian cricket.