Cricket

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has provided an update on the construction progress of the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, the venue for the highly anticipated T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan.Over the past month, significant strides have been made in the stadium's construction, with the East Stand framework taking shape. Cranes have been lifting the modular framework into place, and the stadium's outfield is also being prepared. Additionally, work has commenced on the north and south premium hospitality and media pavilions.The Nassau County International Cricket Stadium is set to host the T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan on June 9, which promises to be an electrifying encounter. India will also play against Ireland and the host country, the USA, at the stadium during the group stage.ICC Head of Events Chris Tetley expressed excitement about the progress made in the stadium's construction. "It is extremely exciting to see the progress made in the construction of the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York over the past month," he said. "Work on the outfield commenced in January and in the past few weeks the East Stand framework has really started to take shape."The following T20 World Cup fixtures will be hosted in New York:* Sri Lanka vs South Africa, June 3* India vs Ireland, June 5* Canada vs Ireland, June 7* Netherlands vs South Africa, June 8* India vs Pakistan, June 9* South Africa vs Bangladesh, June 10* Pakistan vs Canada, June 11* USA vs India, June 12The Nassau County International Cricket Stadium is expected to be completed in time for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, which will commence on June 1.

Pakistan's cricket team is set to embark on an intensive 10-day training camp in collaboration with the Pakistan Army from March 25 to April 8. The camp, announced by PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, aims to enhance the players' fitness and prepare them for upcoming international commitments.Naqvi expressed concerns about the team's fitness levels, particularly their lack of six-hitting ability. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive training plan to improve their physical capabilities. The camp will be held at the Kakul military academy, where the players will undergo rigorous training under the guidance of the Pakistan Army.The timing of the camp has raised concerns among players, as it falls during the holy month of Ramzan, when fasting from sunrise to sunset can impact physical performance. However, Naqvi believes the camp is essential to address the team's fitness issues.Naqvi also addressed the ongoing debate over players prioritizing T20 leagues over national commitments. He urged the players to prioritize Pakistan first, citing his own experience as caretaker chief minister of Punjab, where he made financial sacrifices to serve the country.The PCB is currently in the process of appointing a new coaching setup for the national team. Naqvi assured the players that the board is exploring all available options and will spare no expense in securing the best possible coaches.The camp is expected to be a crucial step in Pakistan's preparations for upcoming challenges, including tours of New Zealand, Ireland, and England, as well as the T20 World Cup. The collaboration with the Pakistan Army is a testament to the board's commitment to providing the team with the best possible training and support.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has yet to announce its squad for the T20 World Cup 2024, but rumors of Rinku Singh's inclusion have been circulating on social media. These speculations stem from the young batter's recent trip to Dharamsala, where India's Test team is preparing for the fifth and final Test against England.While Rinku has not officially joined the Test squad, sources suggest he was summoned for a pre-T20 World Cup photoshoot with the team. This timing coincides with the conclusion of India's Test assignments before the World Cup, making it an ideal opportunity for the BCCI to capture images of potential players.Rinku's impressive performances have also fueled the rumors. In T20Is, he boasts an exceptional average of 89, despite playing as a finisher. He has amassed 356 runs at a strike rate of 176.24, including two half-centuries.During his visit to Dharamsala, Rinku was photographed with England head coach Brendon McCullum, his former coach at the Kolkata Knight Riders. This reunion further fueled speculation about Rinku's potential inclusion in the World Cup squad.The BCCI selection committee is expected to finalize the roster midway through the Indian Premier League (IPL), which begins after the England series. This timing allows the selectors to assess players' form and fitness before making their final decisions.Rinku's inclusion in the World Cup squad would be a testament to his remarkable rise in Indian cricket. His ability to perform under pressure and his impressive batting average make him a strong contender for a place in the team.

Sri Lanka's selectors are prioritizing experience over youth as they finalize their squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup in June. This approach has led to the recall of Niroshan Dickwella for the T20I series in Bangladesh, following Kusal Perera's withdrawal due to a respiratory infection.The decision to favor experience means that promising young players like Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Dunith Wellalage, Lasith Croospulle, and Shevon Daniel may have to wait for further opportunities with the national team. Viyaskanth, in particular, has impressed with his performances in the recent ILT20, claiming eight wickets in four games for MI Emirates at an economy rate of 5.43.However, the selectors believe that Viyaskanth's limited experience in international cricket (just one T20I) makes him a risk to include in the World Cup squad. "In T20s, we need a wicket-taking option, which is why we opted for Jeffrey [Vandersay] over someone like Dunith [Wellalage]," explained Upul Tharanga, the chairman of selectors. "We felt that Jeffrey was more of an attacking bowler in T20s."The selectors also had a lengthy discussion regarding Viyaskanth and Vandersay, with differing opinions within the committee. Ultimately, they decided to go with Vandersay's experience, given the impending World Cup.A similar rationale was applied to Dickwella's selection ahead of Croospulle and Daniel. "We were looking for someone to play in the top order [with the injuries to Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera]," said Tharanga. "We looked at Shevon Daniel, Lasith Croospulle, and Dikka [Dickwella], but the first two are still quite young. It was difficult to pick them based purely on their most recent performances."Tharanga emphasized the importance of discipline within the team, acknowledging Dickwella's past disciplinary issues. "Discipline is very important. We spoke to Dikka. The team is playing well, and we really haven't had any issues with discipline in recent times. That's a very important thing, it shows the unity of the team as well. Discipline needs to be the number one thing."

India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2024 Tickets Skyrocket in Resale MarketThe highly anticipated T20 World Cup 2024 match between India and Pakistan has sparked a frenzy in the ticket market, with prices reaching astronomical figures on resale platforms.The official ticket sale offered prices ranging from $6 to $400, with the most expensive seats for the India-Pakistan encounter priced at $400. However, on resale sites like StubHub and SeatGeek, prices have soared to unprecedented levels.Tickets originally priced at $400 are now being sold for a staggering $40,000, with platform fees pushing the total cost to $50,000. This exceeds the average ticket price for Super Bowl 58 ($9,000) and courtside seats for NBA finals ($24,000).On SeatGeek, the costliest ticket for the India-Pakistan match has been listed for an astonishing $175,000. With platform charges and additional fees, the total cost balloons to approximately $1.86 crore.The high demand for tickets reflects the intense rivalry between India and Pakistan, which has made their encounters some of the most eagerly anticipated events in cricket. The fact that the two teams rarely play bilateral series due to political tensions further fuels the excitement and demand for tickets.The astronomical prices have raised concerns about accessibility for fans who may not be able to afford the exorbitant resale prices. However, the high demand is unlikely to diminish, as the India-Pakistan match remains one of the most sought-after events in the cricketing world.

The inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL) auction brought forth a unique set of challenges for England's star all-rounder, Nat Sciver-Brunt. While she secured a whopping £320,000 contract with Mumbai Indians, she had to balance her excitement with the reality of missing out on a T20 World Cup match and the potential impact on her England teammates.The scheduling conflict between the WPL and England's tour of New Zealand further complicated matters. Sciver-Brunt faced a difficult choice between financial gain and national duty. She ultimately decided to prioritize the WPL, acknowledging the financial implications and the opportunity to support her Mumbai team.England Women's head coach, Jon Lewis, also faced a dilemma as he had to manage the team's participation in the WPL while ensuring their preparation for the New Zealand tour. The situation highlighted the need for national boards to create a window for the WPL to avoid such clashes in the future.Sciver-Brunt's decision to join the WPL meant that she would miss the first three T20Is against New Zealand. However, she expressed confidence that this would provide an opportunity for other players to gain experience and showcase their skills. She also emphasized the importance of maintaining the focus on international cricket.The WPL auction also brought to light the issue of the terminology used to describe the process of acquiring players. Sciver-Brunt expressed discomfort with the term "being sold," highlighting the need for more appropriate language in the context of women's cricket.Sciver-Brunt's experience in subcontinental conditions, gained through her recent tours to India, is expected to benefit England in the upcoming T20 World Cup in Bangladesh and the 2025 World Cup in India. She also expressed her commitment to supporting her Mumbai team and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, drawing on her experience as a senior player in the England side.