Cricket

England's Jos Buttler has hailed legspinner Adil Rashid as the team's "most important player" after their commanding eight-wicket victory over West Indies in the Super Eight match of the T20 World Cup 2024. Buttler also praised Jonny Bairstow for his "senior player's innings" that helped England chase down the challenging target of 181 with ease.England's victory was built on a solid bowling performance that restricted West Indies to a manageable total. Rashid played a crucial role, bowling a miserly spell of 4-0-21-1, including the crucial wicket of Andre Russell in the 17th over."We keep saying [Rashid] is our most important player, he really has been for a long time," Buttler said. "He's got so much variation and so much threat of taking wickets and also restricting runs."West Indies captain Rovman Powell admitted that his team was 15-20 runs short and strayed away from their plans against Salt. "We left 15-20 runs out here as a batting group," Powell said. "I will say that we should have put up a better display as a bowling group."England's chase was anchored by Phil Salt's unbeaten 87 and Bairstow's 26-ball 48 not out. The duo added 97 off 44 balls to see England home with eight wickets and 2.3 overs to spare."That was a really good performance from us," Buttler said. "We planned really well, we've been practising well and executed both with the bat and ball and deserved to win."Buttler was particularly impressed with Bairstow's innings. "He is a class player, he has been for a really long time," Buttler said. "That's what we decided to do, you just keep backing class players. He hasn't had many opportunities but today was an incredibly impressive innings. A really mature, senior player's innings. With a lot of power, he scored at a great gear when the game was just in the balance."England's victory puts them in a strong position to qualify for the semi-finals. They will face Australia in their next match on October 29.

Pakistan's dismal performance at the ongoing T20 World Cup has sparked a storm of criticism, with former wicketkeeper Atiq-uz-Zaman alleging rampant indiscipline within the team.Atiq, in a viral video, accused the team of excessive entourage and a lack of focus. He claimed that the traveling party included 17 officials and 17 players, with 60 rooms booked for their accommodation."You have gone there to play cricket or to holiday?" Atiq questioned.He also criticized the presence of families accompanying players during the tournament. "Why do you allow families in big events? They go out in the evening and focus shifts from cricket," he said.Atiq further alleged that players were not acting responsibly despite being well-paid by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). "Such a culture has been created in Pakistan cricket that nobody knows what is discipline," he said.The former stumper's revelations have opened a can of worms, exposing the alleged groupism and administrative failures within the PCB. The team's early exit from the World Cup has led to scathing criticism and calls for accountability.Pakistan, the 2009 T20 World Cup winners, finished third in Group A, behind India and USA. The top two teams from each group progressed to the 'Super 8s'.

Australia, the reigning T20 World Cup champions, will face Bangladesh in the Super Eight stage of the tournament. The match will be a significant test for both teams, as Australia aims to continue their dominance while Bangladesh seeks to upset the odds.Australia has been in impressive form throughout the tournament, winning all five of their group stage matches. Their batting lineup has been particularly strong, with Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, and Travis Head all contributing significant runs. The bowling attack has also been impressive, led by Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Adam Zampa.Bangladesh, on the other hand, has had a more challenging tournament. They lost their opening match to South Africa but recovered to win their next two matches and qualify for the Super Eight. Their batting has been inconsistent, with only Shakib Al Hasan scoring a half-century so far. However, their bowling attack has been impressive, with Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed leading the way.The match between Australia and Bangladesh is likely to be a close contest. Australia will be the favorites, but Bangladesh has the potential to cause an upset. The key for Bangladesh will be to find a way to contain Australia's powerful batting lineup. If they can do that, they will have a chance to pull off a surprise victory.

Ahead of Australia's Super Eights clash against Bangladesh in the 2024 T20 World Cup, all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has revealed the chaos that ensued in the England dressing room as their qualification hung in the balance.England's fate rested on Australia's victory over Scotland, and as the match reached its climax, panic set in among the English players. Maxwell disclosed that some players were frantically booking and canceling flights as the outcome remained uncertain."There was almost this interesting part where they dropped Tim David's catch when there were three runs required off three balls," Maxwell said. "When it gets down to the last two-three balls, who knows what is going to happen? Luckily enough, we got over the line and luckily enough, they got through. But I heard it was absolutely chaos."Maxwell also received messages from England players before the game, expressing their anxiety. "Yeah, just a couple of texts here and there (from England players)," he said. "It was actually quite funny. There was a lot of chat out in the ground like 'Are we doing this? Are we seriously going to let England back in?' It was a pretty interesting game."Prior to the match, Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood had stated that it would be in everyone's best interests if England were eliminated early. "In this tournament, you potentially come up against England at some stage again and...they are probably one of the top few teams on their day and we have had some real struggles against them in T20 cricket, so if we can get them out of the tournament that's in our best interest as well as probably everyone else," Hazlewood had said.Australia's victory over Scotland secured England's qualification for the Super Eights on the basis of net run rate. The defending champions will begin their Super Eights campaign against West Indies on Thursday.

England's dominance in the Super Eight of the T20 World Cup 2024 was showcased in their emphatic eight-wicket victory over West Indies in St Lucia. Phil Salt's blistering 87 not out and Jonny Bairstow's unbeaten 48 propelled England to a clinical chase of 181.West Indies, batting first, posted a competitive total thanks to Rovman Powell's late surge. Powell's 36 off 18 deliveries, including three sixes off Liam Livingstone, helped the hosts reach 180 for 4. However, England's spin duo of Adil Rashid (1-21) and Moeen Ali (1-28) restricted the West Indies batters throughout the innings.England's chase started cautiously, but Salt and Bairstow's 97-run partnership shifted the momentum. Salt, who was dropped on seven, played a calculated innings, reaching his half-century off 38 deliveries. Bairstow, batting at a strike rate of over 200, provided the impetus in the middle overs.Salt's brutal assault on Romario Shepherd in the 16th over, which yielded 30 runs, sealed the victory for England. The right-hander struck three fours and three sixes in the over, the joint-most expensive by a West Indian in a T20 World Cup.West Indies' fielding woes continued to haunt them, as they missed a half-chance to dismiss Salt early in the innings. The dropped catch proved costly as Salt went on to anchor England's chase.England's victory sends a strong message to the other teams in the Super Eight. Their clinical performance, coupled with their depth in batting and bowling, makes them a formidable contender for the title.

Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag has launched a scathing attack on Pakistan cricket, accusing chief selector Wahab Riaz of bias and favoritism. Riaz, a former Pakistan pacer, was appointed to the role in November 2022, coinciding with the return of veteran pacer Mohammad Amir to the national squad.Amir, who played alongside Riaz, was part of Pakistan's squad for the ongoing T20 World Cup but failed to impress, leading to widespread criticism of the team's performance and selection decisions. Sehwag believes that Riaz's personal connection with Amir has influenced his selection."Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Amir, these are two names who criticized Pakistan team on the same TV channel, giving their comments...Today, one of them is a selector (Riaz) and one is in the playing eleven (Amir)," Sehwag said on a Cricbuzz show."So the same persons who were criticizing, if today they have power, became the selector, what have they done first up? 'Mohammad Amir was with me, let's select him'. It's like if Ajit Agarkar is chairman (of BCCI selection committee) today, he will say 'come Viru, come Zak (Zahir Khan)', I will facilitate your comeback'," he added.Sehwag urged Pakistan selectors to prioritize the future of the team rather than personal connections. "You have become a selector, you have to look at the future. You have a job, make the right use of it, don't do favours. That hard step selectors will have to take," he said.Pakistan's disappointing performance at the T20 World Cup has raised questions about the team's fitness and selection policies. Sehwag's comments have added fuel to the fire, highlighting the need for transparency and objectivity in the selection process.

Former Pakistan cricket legend Wasim Akram has hailed India's wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant's remarkable comeback from a severe accident, calling it an inspiration for future generations.Akram, in an interview with Sportskeeda, expressed his admiration for Pant's resilience and determination. "The kind of performance Pant is giving after that accident, he is proving he is a super human," Akram said. "We were all worried in Pakistan [after the accident]. I was worried, actually."Pant's return to form has been nothing short of extraordinary. In the Indian Premier League (IPL), he averaged 40 with a strike rate of 155. In the ongoing T20 World Cup, he is the leading run-scorer for Team India, with 96 runs in three innings.Akram also praised Pant's achievements in Test cricket, highlighting his significant innings against Australia and England. "The way he performed in Test cricket, scoring a hundred in Australia and then batting against England, reverse sweeping [James] Anderson and [Pat] Cummins, he is special," Akram said.Beyond his cricketing abilities, Akram believes Pant's story is a powerful example of resilience and mental strength. "Especially what he has been through in that horrific accident and then making a comeback, it shows how mentally strong he is," Akram said. "That's a story to be told for generations to generations to motivate young people of the world."Akram also echoed former India captain Sourav Ganguly's view of Pant as a natural leader. "I agree with Ganguly that Pant is a natural, instinctive captain who takes decisions according to the situation, which is very important in T20 cricket," Akram said. "You can't plan everything in advance, you have to adapt to the situation. That's where I think Pant is good at."Pant's remarkable comeback and his potential as a leader have made him a beacon of hope for Indian cricket. His story is a testament to the indomitable spirit of the human being and an inspiration for generations to come.

Virat Kohli's recent struggles as an opening batter in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 have sparked a heated debate about his form and role within the Indian team. Traditionally a No. 3 batter, Kohli has faced calls to move down the batting order and allow someone like Rishabh Pant to take his place alongside skipper Rohit Sharma.However, veteran India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes that such a move would not damage Kohli's confidence. Ashwin, who is not part of India's squad for the T20 World Cup, feels that if Kohli is moved down to the No. 3 spot, he might get pumped up and prove his doubters wrong."There is no chance for a player like Virat Kohli to damage his confidence. He will say, 'you brought me down to number 3, I will show you who I am.' That's how he will bat, first of all. I am saying this because I know him," Ashwin said in a video on his YouTube channel.Despite Kohli's poor performances in the three matches he has played at the T20 World Cup, the question of him being dropped from the playing XI does not arise. Former India batter Robin Uthappa, who has had the chance to observe Kohli's physiology, feels that the man is still oozing with confidence."Virat Kohli's physiology, after the previous match, I saw a glimpse of it. Maybe five seconds. Him interacting with some of the players and talking to the support staff. When you see his physiology, you can tell that man is exuding supreme confidence. And that comes from a place of knowing about his own game and the confidence in his own ability. So, he knows that this is just a blip in the radar," Uthappa said during the chat with Ashwin.Kohli's struggles have coincided with India's poor start to the T20 World Cup. The team has lost two of its three matches and is in danger of being eliminated from the tournament. However, Ashwin believes that Kohli's experience and leadership will be crucial for India's chances of turning things around."Virat Kohli is a big player. He has been a big player for India for a long time. He has won many matches for India. He is a match-winner. So, I don't think we should be worried about him. He will come good," Ashwin said.

Brandon King's T20 World Cup campaign hangs in the balance after the West Indies opener suffered a side strain in their match against England. King, who has been a key player for the Windies, was forced to retire hurt after just 12 balls in the match.The injury occurred while King was attempting to hit Sam Curran through cover. He took one step and then crumpled to the ground, clutching his side. He received treatment from the West Indies medical staff but was unable to continue batting.Cricket West Indies (CWI) confirmed that King had been diagnosed with a side strain. "Brandon King has suffered a side strain and will not return to the field of play in this evening's match," CWI said.Side strains typically take several weeks to heal, making King a major doubt for the rest of the World Cup. The tournament ends in just 10 days, and the Windies have only one more match remaining in the Super Eight stage.King's injury is a significant blow to the West Indies, who are already without several key players. Rovman Powell is still at the IPL, while Andre Russell and Obed McCoy have been ruled out of the tournament with injuries.The Windies have five players on standby for the World Cup: Andre Fletcher, Kyle Mayers, Fabian Allen, Hayden Walsh Jr., and Matthew Forde. Mayers is the most likely replacement for King, having been widely considered unfortunate to miss the initial cut.The West Indies will travel to Barbados on Thursday ahead of their second Super Eight fixture against USA at Kensington Oval on Friday. They will be hoping to bounce back from their defeat to England and keep their hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive.