Cricket

The Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York is nearing completion ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024. The stadium's four drop-in pitches, cultivated with native Tahoma 31 Bermuda grass, have been installed, while the north and south premium hospitality and media pavilions are on track for imminent completion.Additional tickets for all matches at the stadium, including the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan clash, will be available through hospitality packages that include food and beverages. Fans can secure their place in history by purchasing tickets on the official T20 World Cup website.The Nassau County International Cricket Stadium will host its inaugural match on June 3, when Sri Lanka faces South Africa in their opening Group D encounter. The 34,000-capacity stadium will also witness the much-awaited clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan on June 9.Anticipation for the T20 World Cup continues to soar, fueled by the release of the official anthem, "Out of this World," performed by Grammy award-winning artist Sean Paul and Soca superstar Kes. The anthem has captured the excitement and global reach of the tournament.ICC Head of Events Chris Tetley expressed his delight at the progress of the stadium's construction. "As we reach the final stages of construction of the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, we are delighted to see a world-class facility ready for the best cricketers in the world," he said. "We can't wait to see fans experience their own bit of history, with hospitality options across all matches in New York, including India and Pakistan, we would encourage fans to book now before they sell out."The T20 World Cup is set to be a global spectacle, bringing together the world's top cricketers and passionate fans. The Nassau County International Cricket Stadium will serve as a fitting stage for some of the most thrilling and memorable matches in the tournament's history.

Virat Kohli's blistering 92 off 47 balls against Punjab Kings in IPL 2024 has reignited the debate over his ideal batting position for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly believes Kohli's exceptional form in the IPL makes him a prime candidate to open for India."Virat's phenomenal performances in the IPL suggest he's well-suited to open for India in the T20 World Cup," Ganguly said. "He's been in tremendous form, and his ability to score quickly and consistently at the top of the order would be a huge asset for the team."However, Australian batting legend Matthew Hayden initially expressed reservations about Kohli opening for India. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a right-left combination at the top of the order."No, they shouldn't do that," Hayden said. "You definitely need a left-right combination at the top."But Hayden quickly proposed an intriguing alternative: a reshuffle in the batting order."If you have to make a change in that combination, I would be very happy if you would tell me if I could open with Kohli and Jaiswal, I would have said absolutely yes," Hayden said.Hayden suggested Kohli open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, with Suryakumar Yadav at No. 3 and Rohit Sharma at No. 4. He highlighted Kohli's prowess in the powerplay overs and Rohit's success batting lower down the order."Look at his figures at No. 4, they are superb," Hayden said of Rohit. "Those are better than his opening numbers."As the T20 World Cup approaches, the debate surrounding Kohli's optimal batting position adds an intriguing dimension to India's strategy and selection discussions. With opinions divided among cricketing experts, it remains to be seen where Kohli will bat for India in the tournament.

Namibia has named a 16-member squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup, with Gerhard Erasmus leading the charge. However, the team will be without Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, who is currently facing disciplinary proceedings.Loftie-Eaton, who holds the record for the fastest T20I century, was sent back from Namibia's African Games squad in March due to disciplinary issues. Cricket Namibia has declined to comment on the matter until it is resolved.Another notable omission from the squad is batter Pikky Ya France. The squad includes experienced players such as David Wiese, Ruben Trumpelmann, and JJ Smit.Namibia has opted for a 16-member squad to accommodate the need for a larger player base during the four warm-up fixtures in the West Indies before the tournament.Namibia Squad for 2024 T20 World Cup:* Gerhard Erasmus (c)* Zane Green* Michael Van Lingen* Dylan Leicher* Ruben Trumpelmann* Jack Brassell* Ben Shikongo* Tangeni Lungameni* Niko Davin* JJ Smit* Jan Frylinck* JP Kotze* David Wiese* Bernard Scholtz* Malan Kruger* PD Blignaut

Ireland Hosts Pakistan in T20I Series OpenerIreland and Pakistan will kick off their three-match T20I series on Friday, May 10, at the Clontarf Cricket Club Ground in Dublin. The series marks Pakistan's first international outing since their underwhelming performance against New Zealand at home.Pakistan, led by Babar Azam, will be eager to bounce back from their 2-2 draw against the Black Caps. However, they will be without the services of pacer Mohammed Amir for the series opener. Ireland, on the other hand, will be missing their star pacer Joshua Little, who is recovering from an injury.Despite the absence of key players, both teams will be looking to make a statement ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup. Ireland, in particular, will be keen to impress as they prepare for the global tournament.Match Details:* Date: Friday, May 10* Venue: Clontarf Cricket Club Ground, Dublin* Start Time: 7:30 PM ISTBroadcast Information:* The match will not be telecast in India.* Live streaming will be available on FanCode.Key Players to Watch:* Pakistan: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi* Ireland: Paul Stirling, Andrew Balbirnie, Mark AdairSeries Preview:Pakistan will be looking to assert their dominance against Ireland, who they have defeated in all three of their previous T20I encounters. However, Ireland will be determined to upset the odds and prove their mettle ahead of the T20 World Cup.The series opener promises to be a thrilling contest between two teams with contrasting strengths and weaknesses. Pakistan's batting prowess will be tested by Ireland's disciplined bowling attack, while Ireland's batting lineup will need to find a way to overcome Pakistan's formidable pace attack.

Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has strongly advocated for the inclusion of Virat Kohli as an opener in the upcoming T20 World Cup. Ganguly believes that Kohli's exceptional form in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) warrants his promotion to the top of the order."Virat is playing exceptionally well. The way Kohli batted last night – 90 in quick time, you need to use him as an opener in the T20 World Cup," Ganguly told PTI.Ganguly expressed confidence in India's T20 World Cup squad, commending its balanced composition and expressing optimism about their trophy prospects after a 17-year gap."This is an excellent squad. I think they have picked the best possible squad. Apart from batting depth, bowling looks excellent," Ganguly remarked.Reflecting on the high-scoring nature of T20 cricket, Ganguly acknowledged the trend of power-hitting and its impact on the game's dynamics."This is going to be the trend in the years to come. T20 cricket has become a power-oriented game and that's what it is going to be," Ganguly observed.Ganguly identified the Impact Player rule and the aggressive mindset of modern-day batsmen as factors contributing to the surge in mammoth totals in the IPL."Now, in IPL we are seeing scores like 240, 250 regularly... That's how this game has gone and that's how the players have started approaching the game," Ganguly explained.Ganguly stressed the need for bowlers to upskill themselves to counter the dominance of batsmen in T20s, citing examples of skillful bowlers thriving across formats."I don't believe in formats. I believe in skills. These are exemplary players who will thrive in all formats," Ganguly noted.Referring to the selection of wicketkeeper-batsmen for the T20 World Cup, Ganguly backed the decision to prioritize Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson over Dinesh Karthik."Dinesh played well but there are better players than Dinesh. I don't think you can leave Sanju or Rishabh out," Ganguly remarked.Ganguly refrained from commenting on the public reprimand of Lucknow Super Giants skipper KL Rahul, citing the need for a comprehensive understanding of the situation."It is not fair for me to make a comment based on a TV grab... So, I leave it at that," Ganguly concluded.

Khaleel Ahmed, the Delhi Capitals pacer, has made a triumphant return to the Indian cricket team after a four-and-a-half-year absence. The 26-year-old left-arm pacer has been named as a standby for the upcoming T20 World Cup, a testament to his impressive performances for DC in the ongoing IPL.Ahmed has been in scintillating form this season, claiming 14 wickets in 12 matches. His ability to swing the ball both ways and generate pace has made him a formidable force in the DC bowling attack.Speaking on the DC Podcast, Ahmed expressed his delight at being recalled to the national team. "The way the past few months were going and the way the IPL started, I had the intuition that something good would happen," he said. "As the IPL matches progressed, my confidence continued to grow. I realized I was bowling well, and it has always been about moving one step ahead. Finally, when the name came, I was so happy, and it's a step ahead for me."Ahmed's last appearance for India was in a T20 match against Bangladesh in Nagpur in November 2019. Since then, he has endured a challenging period, missing out on selection for the national team."2019 was a long time ago. Every day, at the back of my mind, I missed that feeling of playing for the country," Ahmed said. "Every time I used to watch India play, I used to imagine what I would have done if I was there in the team. So, every day was like a battle and these kinds of conversations were going on inside my head."Despite the setbacks, Ahmed remained determined to regain his place in the Indian team. He took just a week's break after the last IPL and played all the domestic matches."It's tough as a fast bowler, but I made up my mind that irrespective of what happens to me, I'm going to play all the matches. I pushed myself mentally in the past year and have grown with it," he said.Ahmed believes that the current IPL season, which has been a nightmare for bowlers, is the perfect opportunity for fast bowlers to shine."If a bowler performs in tough situations like these, he will be considered a King, and I want to be that King. So, this is what my mentality has been about the current scenario," he said.Ahmed's return to the Indian team is a testament to his resilience and determination. He has overcome adversity to reclaim his place in the national setup and is now poised to make a significant contribution to India's T20 World Cup campaign.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the departure arrangements for the Indian team players participating in the upcoming T20 World Cup. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has confirmed that players whose IPL teams fail to qualify for the playoffs will depart for the World Cup in two stages.The first batch, consisting of players and coaching staff, will leave on May 24. The remaining contingent will depart after the IPL final on May 26. Shah emphasized that the IPL serves as a valuable platform for players to hone their skills, even for those whose teams do not make the playoffs."Look at how well Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma played the other day. If [Jasprit] Bumrah gets to bowl to Head, what better opportunity is there to practice?" Shah said during a media interaction.Shah also provided an update on Lucknow Super Giants' Mayank Yadav, who is currently sidelined with an injury. Shah acknowledged Yadav's impressive performance earlier in the IPL season and revealed that the speedster will be under BCCI supervision.Yadav joins a group of emerging pace bowlers without annual retainers, including Akash Deep, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Umran Malik, Yash Dayal, and Vidwath Kaverappa. These bowlers will receive continuous monitoring and support from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) medical staff, reflecting the BCCI's commitment to nurturing young bowling talent in India.

Former Indian cricketer Anil Kumble and ex-Australian all-rounder Shane Watson have heaped praise on Virat Kohli for his exceptional performances in the ongoing IPL 2024 season. They expressed confidence in his ability to maintain his prime form during the upcoming T20 World Cup.Kohli's scintillating knock of 92 off 47 balls, coupled with a collective bowling effort, propelled Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a resounding 60-run victory over Punjab Kings. Kumble commended Kohli's relentless pursuit of excellence, highlighting his remarkable contribution of 634 runs in the tournament."He's been in outstanding form. He had a break coming into this IPL, and since then, he's been relentless in his pursuit of excellence," Kumble remarked. He emphasized the importance of Kohli's performance in the T20 World Cup, saying, "For India's sake, you'd want his form to continue in the World Cup as well."Watson lauded Kohli's all-round impact and his ability to elevate the performance of his teammates. He acknowledged the significance of the opportunities presented to Kohli early on, allowing him to capitalize and showcase his batting prowess effectively."They got some opportunities early as Virat Kohli was dropped twice. This allowed him to get going in his innings and he batted so beautifully once he capitalized on those chances," Watson remarked.Furthermore, Watson highlighted Kohli's contribution in the field, particularly his electrifying run-out to dismiss Shahshank Singh. "In the field, they made a couple of little errors, but you could see the intensity crank up in the field when they needed it to. Some great catches and a great run-out from Virat Kohli to get Shashank out," Watson concluded.Kohli's exceptional performances have not only boosted RCB's chances of success but have also raised expectations for Team India in the upcoming T20 World Cup. His ability to maintain his prime form and lead his team to victory will be crucial for India's hopes of lifting the coveted trophy.

Pakistan's T20I captain Babar Azam is gearing up for the team's upcoming tours of Ireland and England, which will serve as preparation for the 2024 T20 World Cup. Pakistan has been placed in a group alongside India, USA, Ireland, and Canada for the marquee event.Azam was reinstated as captain after Pakistan's disappointing performance at the 2023 ODI World Cup. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has placed its faith in Azam to lead the team to glory at the T20 World Cup.However, former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has issued a peculiar challenge to Azam. Ali, likely referring to Azam's low strike rate in T20Is (129.41), stated that if Azam hits three consecutive sixes against top teams (excluding USA and Thailand), he will shut down his YouTube channel. Ali also suggested that if Azam cannot accept this challenge, he should not open the batting at the T20 World Cup.Azam has recently expressed that the team will be devising specific tactics to counter India's star batter Virat Kohli in their high-profile clash at the T20 World Cup. During their previous T20 Cup encounter in 2022, Kohli played a pivotal role in India's victory, scoring an iconic 82* off 53 balls.Speaking at a media conference, Azam acknowledged that while the team does not plan specifically against individual players, they will be preparing for Kohli, whom he described as "one of the best players.""We do not plan anything against one player. We plan for all 11 players. We do not know much about the conditions in New York and we will plan accordingly. He [Virat Kohli] is one of the best players and we will plan against him as well," Azam said.