Cricket

Inzamam-ul-Haq's allegations regarding India's reverse-swinging tactics in the T20 World Cup have sparked a heated debate. The former Pakistan captain questioned how India, particularly Arshdeep Singh, managed to reverse-swing the ball in the 16th over of Australia's innings.Rohit Sharma, India's skipper, dismissed Inzamam's claims, stating that reverse-swing is a natural occurrence in hot and dry conditions. However, Inzamam has retorted, cautioning Rohit not to lecture Pakistan, the originators of reverse-swing, on the technique.Inzamam clarified that he never accused India of ball-tampering, but rather intended to alert the umpires to the unusual reverse-swing. He emphasized that umpires should remain vigilant, as reverse-swing can occur even in the early overs.Meanwhile, India has advanced to the final of the T20 World Cup after defeating England by 68 runs in the second semifinal. South Africa, who defeated Afghanistan by nine wickets, will face India in the championship match.

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has heaped praise on Indian captain Rohit Sharma, calling him a "selfless captain" who prioritizes the team's interests. Akhtar's comments came after India's convincing 68-run victory over England in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2024.Sharma led from the front with a crucial 57-run innings off 39 balls, including 6 fours and 2 sixes. His knock helped India set a challenging target of 171/7. Other notable contributions came from Suryakumar Yadav (47 runs from 36 balls), Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja.Akhtar, in his analysis on his YouTube channel, expressed his support for the Indian team, suggesting they were deserving of the T20 World Cup title, especially under Sharma's captaincy."Rohit Sharma has repeatedly said he wants to make an impact and win the trophy and so, deserves to win the cup. He is a big player, and it should end on a big note. He is a selfless captain, plays for the team and is a complete batter," said Akhtar.Akhtar also shared his disappointment over India's failure to secure the ODI World Cup in 2023, indicating his ongoing support for the team in international tournaments."I was always in favour of India winning the tournament. I was hurt last year when India could not win the World Cup as they should not have lost it because they deserved to win," he added.England's chase was hampered by a lack of adaptation to the pitch conditions, culminating in a total of 103 all out in 16.4 overs. Harry Brook and Jos Buttler were the main contributors for England, but their efforts were insufficient against the Indian bowling lineup. Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav were instrumental for India, each taking three wickets, with Jasprit Bumrah also adding two wickets to the tally.Akhtar's praise for Sharma is a testament to the Indian captain's leadership qualities and his ability to inspire his team to perform at their best. With Sharma at the helm, India will be confident of their chances of lifting the T20 World Cup trophy.

India's captain, Rohit Sharma, has praised the exceptional performance of his spin duo, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel, in their semi-final victory over England in the ongoing T20 World Cup.After England's Jos Buttler had aggressively hit Arshdeep Singh for three boundaries in the third over, Axar Patel turned the tide with his first delivery. Patel dismissed Buttler by spinning the ball away from his usual skidding style, forcing the English skipper to attempt a reverse sweep that resulted in a catch for Rishabh Pant.Patel continued to trouble the English batters, while Kuldeep Yadav joined the fray to further increase their woes. Patel's influential spell of 3/23 included the removal of the opening order, while Kuldeep provided excellent support with figures of 3/19, effectively neutralizing England's middle order.Rohit Sharma lauded the left-arm spin duo, revealing their strategy to counter England's aggressive approach. "They (Axar and Kuldeep) are gun spinners. When the conditions like that are in front of them, it's difficult to play some shots. The pressure is on them as well to come and execute those balls, but they were calm and knew what to bowl. We had a little chat after the first innings - try and hit the stumps as much as possible, keep the stumps in play," Rohit said in the post-match presentation.The spinners played a crucial role in England's downfall, with Jasprit Bumrah adding the finishing touches. England, aiming to replicate their 2022 World Cup semi-final triumph, fell short and saw their title defense crumble.The challenging nature of the pitch, with some deliveries staying low and others taking flight, further hindered England's chase of 172. Rohit Sharma emphasized the importance of adapting to the conditions, which paved the way for India's first appearance in the final in ten years."Very satisfying to win this game. We worked really hard as a unit. To win this game like that was a great effort from everybody. We adapted to the conditions really well. The conditions were a little challenging, we had to adapt, and that's been the success story for us so far till this game. The bowlers and the batters, if they play according to the conditions, things fall in place, and that's exactly what happened for us today," Rohit said.After losing Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant early in their innings, India relied on Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav to build a competitive total. The duo's 73-run partnership took India to a respectable 171/7."Very pleasing to see how we came through this game. At one stage, we were feeling 140-150, and as the game went on, we got some runs in the middle, me and Surya. We got that partnership. I can set the target in my mind, but I don't want to let anyone know about it, to the batters ... because ... they are instinctive players, and I want them to go out there and play freely without thinking too much about what's the par score. We bat well, we understand the condition well, we will get to a good score, and that's exactly what happened. We got to 170, which I thought was a very good score on that pitch, and then the bowlers were fantastic," he added.England's failure to comprehend the pitch's nature led to their eventual collapse, with the team managing only 103 runs in 16.4 overs. The T20 World Cup final is now set to be a thrilling clash between the unbeaten sides, India and South Africa, in Barbados on Saturday.

The T20 World Cup is poised to surpass the 50-over World Cup as the most coveted ICC event among players worldwide, according to a recent survey conducted by the World Cricketers Association (WCA).In 2019, 85% of players ranked the 50-over World Cup as the most important ICC event, while only 15% chose the T20 World Cup. However, in 2024, the preference shifted dramatically, with only 50% selecting the 50-over World Cup, compared to 35% who opted for the T20 World Cup and 15% who chose the World Test Championship.Among players under 26, the trend is even more pronounced. In 2019, 86% picked the 50-over World Cup, while only 14% chose the T20 World Cup. In 2024, just 49% said the 50-over World Cup, while 41% picked the T20 World Cup and 10% chose the World Test Championship.The survey also revealed a broader shift in preferences across the game. Five years ago, 82% of respondents picked Test cricket as the most important format, while 11% chose T20. This year, only 48% of players chose Test cricket compared to 30% who said T20.The WCA's survey included responses from around 330 professional players from 13 different countries, the majority of whom are current internationals. The data is skewed by a higher proportion of female respondents in 2024, but the WCA says the trends hold true when isolating responses from male players.Tom Moffat, WCA's chief executive, believes that the rapid evolution of the game presents challenges of leadership and scheduling. He emphasizes the need for collective discussions involving players to address these issues."The players drive and are invested in the game's success, and their decisions are shaping its future," Moffat said. "The WCA and the ICC recently renegotiated players' squad terms for the next four years of ICC events, which cover commercial and image rights. A deal was struck in the days leading up the T20 World Cup after many months of negotiations and the WCA believe the new collective model will benefit players from smaller nations."

South Africa's maiden T20 World Cup final berth has been secured after a dominant nine-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the semifinals. Despite the challenging pitch at the Brian Lara Academy stadium, the Proteas' quicks delivered a stellar performance, bowling out Afghanistan for a mere 56 runs.Captain Aiden Markram expressed his relief at not having to play on the same pitch again, acknowledging its unpredictable nature. However, he praised his team's ability to adapt and find a way to win on a difficult surface."It's hard to tell that a wicket is not good because it can't just always be a batter's game," Markram said. "But finding a way to win is probably the most important thing."The Proteas' victory was built on a strong bowling performance, with Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje leading the charge. Afghanistan's batters struggled to cope with the movement and pace, managing only 56 runs in 10.4 overs.Markram highlighted the importance of winning close games in the group and Super Eights stages, which boosted their confidence. He also acknowledged the team's past failures in global events but emphasized that the current squad is focused on the present opportunity."We feel and believe that we can compete with the best in the world and we can win trophies," Markram said. "It's nice for us to now have that opportunity."The Proteas will now face either India or England in the final in Barbados. Markram emphasized the need to adapt to the different conditions and play to their strengths."We'll try to find ways to always take wickets with the ball and from a batting point of view try to get to a score that's defendable," he said. "Both teams have to play on the same wicket."Markram also praised Afghanistan's impressive run in the tournament, acknowledging their talented players and the inspiration they have provided."They have some of the best (players) in the world at the moment," Markram said. "I'm sure it's not going to be the end of them making knockout cricket."

India's star pacer Jasprit Bumrah experienced an amusing moment after India's triumph over England in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2024. A viral video captured Bumrah's awkward attempt to shake hands with the umpire, who inadvertently overlooked him. The incident sparked laughter among fans on social media.Bumrah's performance in the tournament has been exceptional, earning him accolades as the "best player in the team." The video of his handshake mishap has gone viral, providing a lighthearted moment amidst the intense competition.In the match, England elected to field first, but India's openers Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav put up a formidable partnership, scoring 57 and 47 runs respectively. Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja also contributed to India's total of 171/7.England's chase faltered as they struggled to adapt to the pitch conditions, managing only 103 runs in 16.4 overs. Harry Brook and Jos Buttler were the only notable performers for England.Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav were the standout bowlers for India, claiming three wickets each. Bumrah also chipped in with two wickets, helping India secure a convincing 68-run victory.The T20 World Cup final will witness an exciting clash between undefeated India and South Africa in Barbados on Saturday.

Former England captain Nasser Hussain has hailed Indian skipper Rohit Sharma as a "brutal elegance at its best" for his explosive knocks in the ICC T20 World Cup. Hussain believes that a shift in India's game and mentality in T20Is occurred after their ten-wicket loss to England in the 2022 T20 World Cup semis.Rohit's 92 against Australia in the Super Eights match was a testament to this change. He smashed Pat Cummins for a 100m six on the first ball of the fifth over and took 29 runs off Mitchell Starc in the third over, including four sixes.Hussain praised Rohit's focus on the team's score and strike rate rather than a potential maiden T20 WC century. He also admired Rohit's takedown of Australian pacers, calling it "elegant, absolute brutal elegance at its best."Rohit's 92 helped India post 205/5 and restrict Australia to 181/7, despite Travis Head's counter-attacking 76. Australia's elimination from the tournament after Bangladesh's loss to Afghanistan highlights the impact of Rohit's leadership and the team's newfound aggression.In six matches of the tournament, Rohit has scored 191 runs at an average of 38.20, with a strike rate of 159.16 and two half-centuries. His best score is 92.

The T20 World Cup semifinals have been marred by inclement weather, with Guyana experiencing heavy rainfall during the India-England clash and Barbados, the venue for the final, facing a similar forecast.India's emphatic 68-run victory over England propelled them into the title match against South Africa, who comfortably defeated Afghanistan in the first semifinal. However, the teams' travel to Bridgetown, Barbados, for the final on June 29th, has raised concerns due to the gloomy weather outlook.Unlike the second semifinal, the final has a reserve day (June 30th) in place. However, the weather forecast for both days is far from ideal. Accuweather.com predicts "cloudy, breezy, and humid" conditions on Saturday (June 29th), with a high probability of showers and thunderstorms, particularly in the early hours. The cloud cover is expected to be 99%.The forecast for the reserve day (June 30th) is equally concerning, with "mostly cloudy and humid" conditions and a likelihood of rain and thunderstorms in the afternoon.The weather conditions could significantly impact the final, potentially forcing delays or even a postponement. The International Cricket Council (ICC) will be closely monitoring the situation and making contingency plans if necessary.Despite the weather concerns, fans remain hopeful that the final will be played in its entirety and that the tournament will conclude with a thrilling and memorable match.

Axar Patel's masterful bowling performance in the fourth over of England's chase of 172 proved pivotal in India's victory in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup. Patel's captain, Rohit Sharma, had informed him of the pitch's low and skidding nature, making big shots difficult.Patel's plan was to keep things simple and force the batters to take risks. His first delivery, a reverse sweep attempt by England captain Jos Buttler, resulted in a wicket. Patel then dismissed Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali in quick succession, leaving England reeling at 46 for 4.Patel's strategy was based on the difficulty of batting on the pitch. He knew that the batters would try to attack him early on, so he opted for accuracy and consistency. His first delivery to Buttler was not particularly quick, but it was accurate and skidded on with low bounce, knocking over the off stump.Patel's third wicket came after he had conceded just 11 runs in his first two overs. Moeen Ali attempted to clip a delivery off his pads but only deflected it towards wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, who whipped off the bails.Patel's performance was a testament to his skill and adaptability. He recognized the conditions and adjusted his bowling accordingly, forcing the England batters to make mistakes. His 3 for 23 earned him the Player-of-the-Match award.