Cricket

Arshdeep Singh, the left-arm pacer, emerged as a standout performer in the T20 World Cup 2024, sharing the title of joint highest wicket-taker with Afghanistan's Fazalhaq Farooqi. With 17 wickets to his name, Arshdeep's impressive performance has garnered praise from cricket experts and former players.Beyond his wicket-taking prowess, Arshdeep's ability to learn and maintain composure under pressure has been particularly noteworthy. In the thrilling final against South Africa, Arshdeep delivered a crucial penultimate over, conceding only four runs and helping India secure a narrow seven-run victory.Former Pakistan skipper Ramiz Raja has lauded Arshdeep's willingness to learn from the world's best bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, without being overshadowed by his presence. Raja believes that Arshdeep's ability to challenge himself against Bumrah will significantly enhance his growth as a bowler.Arshdeep's versatility and adaptability have also impressed Raja. He highlighted Arshdeep's ability to bowl length balls, slower balls, and slower bouncers, providing his team with a wide range of options.The development of India's pace-bowling unit has been a remarkable story in recent years, and Arshdeep is a testament to the growing talent in the Indian domestic circuit. Raja emphasized the continuous improvement in skill level and the willingness to learn that characterize Indian bowlers.Arshdeep's performance in the T20 World Cup 2024 has solidified his position as a rising star in international cricket. His ability to learn, adapt, and perform under pressure bodes well for his future and the continued success of the Indian pace-bowling unit.

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has expressed his frustration over being dropped for the crucial T20 World Cup Super Eights match against Afghanistan, stating that he was not amused by the team management's decision. The 2021 T20 World Cup champions suffered a shocking 21-run loss to Afghanistan, which dealt a massive blow to Australia's chances of entering the semifinals.Starc was replaced by Ashton Agar for the match, but the left-arm spinner, despite tying down the Afghanistan batters, could not take any wickets. "No — two World Cups in a row," Starc was quoted as saying by Sydney Morning Herald on Willow Talk podcast when quizzed about his omission and whether he was amused by the decision. "Just the match-up, they (team management) saw previous games on that ground in St Vincent with spin playing a part and obviously Ash (Ashton) and the left-armer enticing them to make a change," he added.This was the second occasion in a row where the Australian pacer was dropped for a T20 World Cup match against Afghanistan, with the previous one being in Adelaide in 2022 where also the hosts failed to reach the last four stage. Agar and the two Australian pace spearheads, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, were unable to break the partnership between openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, who ended up making 118 runs."I think Ash bowled pretty well in the powerplay. They probably played the spin quite well and batting first probably assessed the conditions a little bit better than we did, and had a couple of stumbles that in the end cost us the game," said Starc. "It was probably the fielding that cost us again that game. That meant we had to win against India and we fell short there as well."Australia then went on to lose to India in Super Eights and were later eliminated from the competition. Starc also expressed his displeasure with the scheduling of the tournament and pre seeding that saw them advance to the pre determined group despite topping the group stage. "We finished ahead of England (in the group stage) and end up where we were pre-seeded as the second side. All of a sudden, you're in a different group.""The argument was it was because it was so hard to get around the West Indies, so fans knew where your team was playing. "So then why don't you have the chock-a-block tournament at the front... and then spread it out at the back end? We had the two night games and the third was a day game, so it wasn't the best preparation. We had a delayed flight out of St Vincent, it was a 90-minute drive from the airport to the hotel in St Lucia, and then we had a 10 o'clock toss. He added that the travelling between venues in the West Indies is always difficult. "I think that was probably maybe a misread [by organisers], the fact that the front half of the tournament was more spread out, and then you hit the super eights and … travel around the West Indies is probably not the easiest thing to do, certainly not to travel home from.”

Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian opener known for his passionate and disciplinarian approach to coaching, has been appointed as the new head coach of the Indian cricket team. Gambhir's appointment comes after Rahul Dravid's successful tenure ended with India's triumph in the T20 World Cup 2024.Gambhir, who has previously mentored Lucknow Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL), has a proven track record of success. He led KKR to IPL titles in 2012 and 2014, and guided the franchise to victory in the 2024 edition.The Indian cricket fraternity has welcomed Gambhir's appointment, expressing confidence in his ability to lead the team to further glory. The BCCI had approached Gambhir after his success with KKR, where he returned as mentor this season.Gambhir's era as head coach will begin with a white-ball series in Sri Lanka, where India will play three ODIs and as many T20Is starting on July 27. The former India pacer RP Singh praised Gambhir's journey from player to coach, highlighting his hard work and dedication.Gambhir's appointment has been met with enthusiasm by fans and experts alike. His passion for the game and his ability to inspire players are expected to be key factors in India's continued success on the international stage.

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has ignited a firestorm of controversy by leveling serious allegations against the current management of the Pakistan cricket team. Ali accuses the management of favoritism towards captain Babar Azam and a sinister plan to scapegoat star players Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan for the team's dismal performance in the recent T20 World Cup.In a video that has gone viral on social media, Ali claims that the management is preparing a report to pin the blame on Afridi and Rizwan for the team's failures. He warns that such actions could have disastrous consequences for Pakistan cricket."The report that is being prepared is against Shaheen Shah Afridi and Rizwan. They have formed a group, which is wrong. Those who are making this report, who have the intention of shifting their blame onto them, should not do so. Pakistan's cricket will be destroyed," Ali said.Ali emphasizes the gravity of the situation, stating that if Afridi and Rizwan are not on the same page with Babar, all three should be removed from the team instead of making two scapegoats and one a hero."I am saying this now because God forbid, if this happens, it will be your fault. If you believe that Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Babar Azam are not on the same page, then remove all three of them. Don't make two of them scapegoats and make the third one a hero," he added.Ali also criticizes Babar Azam's captaincy, not only in the recent T20 World Cup but also in previous matches. He highlights a controversial decision where Babar chose to bowl Nawaz in the final over in Melbourne."Babar's captaincy has been wrong. Not just in this tournament, but in the World Cup as well. The way he made Nawaz bowl the last over in Melbourne, didn't he have eyes then?" Ali remarked.Ali expresses empathy for Afridi, who was removed from the captaincy after just five matches, acknowledging the natural frustration such a decision would cause."Tell me, when a boy is removed from the captaincy after just five matches, won't he feel bad? Even if we are sitting on TV and our chairs are changed, we feel bad - 'why did you change my chair, am I not speaking correctly?' This is a natural thing," he said.These allegations come in the wake of Pakistan's early exit from the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, where they failed to progress beyond the Group Stage, suffering losses to the USA and India.

Pakistan's cricket team has been embroiled in a controversy involving star seamer Shaheen Shah Afridi, who is facing allegations of misconduct during the 2024 T20 World Cup. According to reports, Afridi's inappropriate behavior towards the national team's coaches and management has come under scrutiny, prompting an investigation into why no action was taken at the time.The incident was brought to light by former cricketer Wahab Riaz, who was recently removed from the national selection committee by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Riaz alleged that Afridi's behavior was unacceptable and that it had gone unpunished.The PCB has confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine the facts surrounding the allegations. The board has also announced plans to restructure the selection committee, with new details about its composition to be revealed soon.Riaz's removal from the selection committee has sparked further controversy. The former fast bowler expressed his disappointment on social media, stating that he had served Pakistan cricket with dedication and sincerity. He also praised the coaching staff, led by head coach Gary Kirsten, for their vision for the team.The PCB's decision to remove Riaz and Abdul Razzaq from the selection committee follows Pakistan's disappointing performance at the 2024 T20 World Cup. The team was eliminated in the Group Stage after defeats to the USA and India.The allegations against Afridi and the subsequent investigation have cast a shadow over Pakistan cricket. The PCB is under pressure to take swift and decisive action to address the issue and restore confidence in the team.

Shahid Afridi, the former Pakistan all-rounder, has called for the removal of Babar Azam as Pakistan's captain following the team's disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup. Afridi, who is currently playing for Pakistan Champions in the World Championship of Legends, believes that Babar has been given ample opportunities to prove himself as a captain but has failed to deliver."As far as Babar's captaincy is concerned, I have also captained, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, all have captained. No other captain has been given such an open chance. As soon as the World Cup ends, the captain is blamed. He has had 2-3 World Cups, 2-3 Asia Cups, T20 World Cup, he has had enough chances. Babar has been given enough chances. In our times the captain was under the knife. Now whatever surgery needs to be done, it needs to be done once, and whoever is coming new should be given full time," Afridi told Geo News.Babar had previously stepped down as Pakistan's captain following the team's poor performance in the ODI World Cup in India last year. However, he was reinstated by the Pakistan Cricket Board after his replacement, Shaheen Shah Afridi, was removed from captaincy after just one series against New Zealand.Pakistan's early exit from the T20 World Cup was a significant disappointment for the team and its fans. They suffered an upset defeat against the USA and lost to their archrivals, India, in the initial group stage of the tournament. Since Pakistan's exit, several former Pakistani cricketers, including Afridi and Shoaib Akhtar, have questioned Babar's credibility as the captain of the team.India went on to win the tournament undefeated, securing a seven-run victory over South Africa in the final and ending the nation's 17-year drought for the T20 World Cup.

Brett Lee, the legendary Australian fast bowler, has hailed Indian pace sensation Jasprit Bumrah as the "best" bowler across all three formats of the game. Lee's praise comes after Bumrah's stellar performance at the 2024 T20 World Cup, where he was named Player of the Tournament."Their batting order, which includes players who can dominate at every position from top to bottom, speaks volumes. Their middle-order is loaded with power and they have hitters who can put runs on the board quickly. In my opinion, Jasprit Bumrah is simply exceptional," said Lee.Bumrah's exceptional pace, swing, and control make him a formidable force in all formats. At the T20 World Cup, he showcased his leadership abilities, leading the Indian attack with 15 wickets at an average of 8.26 and an economy of just 4.17."He is the best bowler in all formats right now and leads the attack. Bumrah can keep up an amazing pace while shaping the new ball away. His tournament performance demonstrated his leadership abilities, taking about 15 wickets with remarkable economy. He is absolutely exceptional, and India is deserving of praise for their accomplishments," added Lee.Lee, who is currently captaining the Australia Legends team at the World Championship of Legends, also praised his country's performance after their first loss against Pakistan."It's obviously been a wonderful week for us. After our loss against Pakistan and then to have three wins in the tournament is fantastic. So, we are starting to find some form," he said.With legends like Dan Christian and Brett Lee driving the team, the Australia Legends are one of the most formidable teams in the tournament. They have advanced to the semifinals after a thrilling victory over India in the first season of the World Championship.

Suryakumar Yadav's gravity-defying catch in the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa has sparked a heated debate over its legitimacy. While many have hailed it as a stunning display of athleticism, others have questioned its fairness.In a recent interview, Yadav addressed the controversy surrounding the catch. He vehemently denied touching the boundary line during the catch, stating, "I didn't touch the line when I caught the ball in the final match against South Africa."Yadav explained that he had practiced such catches extensively and was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time. "I had practiced many times to take a catch like that one. During the match, my mind was calm. God gave me an opportunity to do well for the country," he said.The catch has drawn comparisons to the iconic catch taken by Kapil Dev in the 1983 World Cup final against the West Indies. Dev's catch, which involved running sideways from mid-on, is widely regarded as one of the greatest catches in cricket history.However, some social media users have alleged that the boundary cushion was deliberately pushed outside during the second innings to give India an unfair advantage. Yadav dismissed these claims, saying, "We can't keep everyone happy. I did what occurred to me as correct."Despite the controversy, Yadav's catch remains a defining moment in his career. It showcased his exceptional fielding skills and contributed to India's victory in the World Cup final.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his confidence in the Indian contingent for the upcoming Paris Olympics, stating that the team will showcase its strength on the global stage. India's participation in the Summer Games has witnessed a steady increase over the years, with the Tokyo Olympics marking a significant milestone with the largest contingent of 124 athletes. This contingent brought home seven medals, the highest tally for India in a single edition of the Summer Games.As of Sunday, 82 Indian athletes have qualified for the Paris edition, according to Olympics.com. With over two weeks remaining, India hopes to see more athletes secure their spots for the Games, which commence on July 26.PM Modi's unwavering support for the Indian contingent reflects his belief in their abilities. He emphasized that the team will demonstrate its strength and determination. "India is sending a great team to the Paris Olympics. You will see how the entire team and athletes will show their strength. This self-confidence of the youth is the real capital of India, and this youth power shows the biggest potential to take India to new heights in the 21st century," PM Modi said while addressing the Indian community in Moscow.PM Modi also lauded the Indian players for their exceptional performance in the T20 World Cup. India's dominance throughout the tournament, culminating in a thrilling victory over South Africa, showcased the team's resilience and commitment."You too must have celebrated the victory in the recent T20 World Cup. The real story of winning the World Cup is also the journey of victory. Today's youth of India does not accept defeat till the last ball and the last moment. Victory belongs to those who are not ready to accept defeat," PM Modi said, commending the players' unwavering spirit.Earlier on Monday, PM Modi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for an informal meeting. The Russian Foreign Ministry shared a video on Twitter capturing the warm greeting between the two leaders.PM Modi's visit to Moscow underscores the strong diplomatic ties between India and Russia. He was received by Denis Manturov, the first Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, at the Vnukovo-II airport and accorded a ceremonial welcome. The Indian community in Moscow also extended a warm reception to PM Modi.