Cricket

New Zealand's T20 World Cup campaign has come to an abrupt end after a disappointing start to the tournament. Despite their proud cricketing history, the Kiwis have been unable to replicate their usual consistency in this edition of the World Cup.The team's early exit has been attributed to a sluggish start, with a couple of defeats in the opening matches proving costly. New Zealand's pride and determination were evident in the dressing room, but it was not enough to overcome their recent poor form.However, the team remains optimistic about the future, recognizing the immense talent within the squad and the promising players coming through the ranks. New Zealand's cricketing legacy is a source of pride for the nation, and the team is confident that it will continue to thrive in the years to come.In the upcoming match against Papua New Guinea, New Zealand will be looking to end their World Cup campaign on a positive note. The game holds special significance for Trent Boult, who has announced that this will be his last T20 World Cup for the country. The Kane Williamson-led side will be motivated to give their best in honor of Boult's contribution to New Zealand cricket.Despite their early exit, New Zealand remains a formidable cricketing nation. The team's pride and determination will serve as a foundation for future success, and they will undoubtedly be back stronger in the next edition of the T20 World Cup.

Pakistan's T20 World Cup campaign has come to an abrupt end after two consecutive losses to India and the United States. This disappointing exit has sparked outrage among fans and former players, including Danish Kaneria.Kaneria expressed his dismay at the team's performance, calling it "a shameful thing in the history of Pakistan cricket." He criticized the team's management for neglecting talented players and relying heavily on Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan."There are tons of players who have been making headlines with their performances but are not getting a chance to play for the national team," Kaneria said. "Players like Ahmed Jamal and Shahnawaz Dahani who performed well are not getting opportunities."Kaneria also questioned the appointment of Gary Kirsten as Pakistan's coach, arguing that he needs more time to understand the team's dynamics and the political landscape."Gary will need a lot of time to understand the politics and accordingly, he will start working," Kaneria said.He criticized the team's decision to refuse warm-up games in the United States, where the World Cup is being held."You are going to play the World Cup despite knowing the fact that it's in the USA, we have never played cricket here, and it requires a lot of time to get used to the conditions," Kaneria said.Kaneria expressed frustration with the team's reliance on Azam and Rizwan, who have failed to deliver in major tournaments."They only score runs against teams like Zimbabwe and Ireland, and then they start comparing Babar Azam with Virat Kohli," Kaneria said.Kaneria's comments reflect the widespread disappointment and anger among Pakistan cricket fans. The team's exit from the World Cup has raised serious questions about the future of Pakistan cricket and the need for significant changes in the team's management and selection process.

The T20 World Cup group stage has concluded, with all eight teams for the Super 8 stage now confirmed. Bangladesh's victory over Nepal in Group D sealed the final spot, joining South Africa, Afghanistan, India, and Australia in Group 1.The other group was determined on Sunday when Australia defeated Scotland, ensuring England's qualification. However, confusion has arisen among fans regarding group seeding and fixtures due to the ICC's newly introduced system.Despite topping Group A with seven points, India (A1) will face Australia (B2), who also finished first in Group B. This is because the ICC's pre-tournament seedings had already determined that India and Australia would meet in the Super 8s, regardless of their group standings.Similarly, Afghanistan (C1) and West Indies (C2) will face off in their final group match on Tuesday, with both teams undefeated. However, West Indies remains seeded C2 despite a potential victory, as New Zealand's failure to qualify for the Super 8s has resulted in Afghanistan being seeded C1.The ICC's pre-tournament seedings were as follows:* A1 - India* A2 - Pakistan* B1 - England* B2 - Australia* C1 - New Zealand* C2 - West Indies* D1 - South Africa* D2 - Sri LankaAs a result, the two Super 8 groups are as follows:* Group 1: India (A1), Australia (B2), Afghanistan (C1), Bangladesh (D2)* Group 2: England (B1), USA (A2), West Indies (C2), South Africa (D1)

Pakistan's T20 World Cup campaign ended in disappointment, with the team failing to qualify for the Super Eight stage. Following their underwhelming performance, skipper Babar Azam and five other players have opted to extend their stay in London before returning home.Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, and Azam Khan will join Azam in London for a brief vacation. The players intend to spend time with loved ones and potentially participate in local cricket leagues in the UK.Meanwhile, head coach Gary Kirsten and assistant coach Azhar Mahmood will return to their respective homes, as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has granted them leave due to the lack of upcoming engagements.Pakistan's T20 World Cup journey was marred by inconsistent performances. They suffered defeats to India and the United States before narrowly defeating Canada. Their tournament ended with a three-wicket victory over Ireland, but it was not enough to secure a Super Eight berth.India and the USA finished first and second in Group A, respectively, while Pakistan finished third with four points from four matches.Despite their disappointing World Cup campaign, Pakistan has a busy schedule ahead. They are set to host Bangladesh for a two-match Test series in August, followed by a tour of England in October.

Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has sparked a humorous debate by suggesting that Pakistan's struggling captain, Babar Azam, should be replaced by former Pakistan cricketer and ex-PCB chairman Ramiz Raja. Manjrekar's tongue-in-cheek remark came during a discussion on Star Sports about Pakistan's disappointing performance at the 2024 T20 World Cup, where they failed to advance beyond the group stage.Manjrekar's suggestion stems from Raja's successful tenure as PCB chairman from September 2021 to December 2022. Under Raja's leadership, Pakistan reached the semi-finals of the 2021 T20 World Cup and the final of the 2022 T20 World Cup. Manjrekar quipped, "Maybe he can become a CEO for the team, who knows? Babar Azam could be replaced by Ramiz Raja as captain. He still looks fit."Manjrekar's playful suggestion highlights the growing criticism surrounding Babar Azam's captaincy. Many experts have called for his removal, citing Pakistan's recent struggles and Azam's inconsistent performances.Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar also weighed in on Pakistan's unpredictable nature. "You can never tell what is going to happen (with Pakistan)," said Gavaskar. "Babar was the captain six months ago in the ODI World Cup, and then he was removed. Shaheen Shah Afridi came for about two or three months, but they didn't have a good tour of New Zealand, and Babar comes back again."The saga surrounding Pakistan's captaincy is likely to continue in the coming weeks. The team's disappointing performance at the 2024 T20 World Cup has raised questions about the future of Babar Azam as captain.

Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed mixed emotions after his team's qualification for the Super Eights of the T20 World Cup. While delighted with the achievement, he voiced concerns over the team's underwhelming batting performance.Despite securing a 21-run victory over Nepal, Bangladesh's batting woes continued, with the team being dismissed for a mere 106. Shanto acknowledged the team's struggles, stating, "Our batting is not up to the mark."The skipper dismissed suggestions that slow pitches were a contributing factor, emphasizing that the team should have been able to score at least 140-150 runs on the given wicket. He stressed the importance of a strong start and lamented the team's inability to capitalize on opportunities."The start is very important. We are not getting the start, and the lower-order batsmen are not finishing it well," Shanto pointed out. "We have to come out of this and think about how to come out of this."Despite their batting struggles, Bangladesh has managed to win three games, with their only defeat coming against South Africa. Shanto attributed this success to the team's bowlers, who have performed exceptionally well."The way our bowlers bowled in the last three-four matches, really happy," Shanto said. "I hope they will continue their form."Looking ahead to the Super Eights, Shanto acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead. Bangladesh has been grouped with India, Australia, and Afghanistan, all formidable opponents."All 20 teams are here to win. So now, we are going to play Super Eights. All matches will be competitive," Shanto stated. "There are no big teams or big names, I hope we'll have a good Super Eights."Bangladesh will face Australia in their Super Eight opener on Thursday, followed by India two days later. They will conclude their group stage campaign against Afghanistan on June 24.

Indian Cricketers Unwind with Volleyball on Barbados BeachThe Indian cricket team is enjoying a relaxed atmosphere in the Caribbean as they prepare for the Super Eights stage of the T20 World Cup. A video shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on their social media handles shows players like Virat Kohli, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, and Arshdeep Singh unwinding with a game of volleyball on a beach in Barbados.The video also features reserve player Khaleel Ahmed, who says, "We have pretty good players in our team (of volleyball) like Rinku Singh and Yashasvi Jaiswal."India advanced to the Super Eights stage of the T20 World Cup undefeated, with victories against Ireland, Pakistan, and the United States. Their last group match, against Canada, was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to a wet outfield at Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida on Saturday.The Indian team will hit the nets in Barbados on June 17 to prepare for their game against Afghanistan. They will face Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Australia in Barbados, Antigua, and St Lucia respectively in the Super Eights.The relaxed atmosphere and team bonding activities are a positive sign for India as they look to continue their winning ways in the Super Eights. The team has shown great depth and versatility, with different players stepping up in different matches.Kohli, who has been in excellent form with the bat, will be looking to lead from the front once again. Pandya has been a key all-rounder, contributing with both bat and ball. The bowling attack has also been impressive, with Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Yuzvendra Chahal all performing well.India will be confident of their chances in the Super Eights, but they will need to be at their best to overcome the challenges posed by Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Australia.

Singer Chahat Fateh Ali Khan, renowned for his viral hit "Bado Badi," has expressed his aspiration to become the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Khan believes that he can guide the team back to success after their disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup.The current PCB chief, Mohsin Naqvi, also holds the position of Interior Minister. Khan suggests that Naqvi should relinquish the PCB chairmanship to him, citing Naqvi's other significant responsibilities."I am confident that I can lead the PCB and the cricket team on the right path," Khan stated. "If appointed chairman, I would personally monitor player performances and coaching four days a week. Discipline will be paramount, and I will not tolerate any interference."Khan emphasized that his offer is not a criticism of Naqvi but rather a suggestion to delegate the PCB chairmanship to someone who can fully focus on the team's progress.Pakistan's T20 World Cup campaign ended with a narrow victory over Ireland, but the team's overall performance was underwhelming. Babar Azam's unbeaten 32 saved Pakistan from further embarrassment, but the team had previously suffered a shock defeat to the United States and a heavy loss to India.Khan's proposal has sparked mixed reactions. Some fans support his ambition, believing that his passion and determination could benefit the team. Others question his qualifications and experience in cricket administration.Regardless of the outcome, Khan's offer highlights the frustration and concern among Pakistani cricket fans. They are eager for a change in leadership and a return to the team's former glory.

DRS Controversy: Bangladesh's Jaker Ali Signals to Dressing Room Before ReviewIn a controversial incident reminiscent of Steve Smith's "brain fade" moment, Bangladesh's Jaker Ali has been accused of seeking guidance from the dressing room before requesting a review in the T20 World Cup match against Nepal.During the 14th over, Nepal's Sandeep Lamichhane bowled a delivery that struck Tanzim Hasan Sakib on the pads. Sakib initially walked off but then opted for a review. However, a video emerged showing Ali signaling to the dressing room before the review was requested.This action raised eyebrows, as the DRS system explicitly states that only the non-striker can consult with the batsman on a review. Additionally, the allotted 15 seconds for a review had already passed when the umpire signaled for the third umpire's decision.The ball-tracker ultimately showed that the ball would have missed off-stump, and Sakib was adjudged not out. However, Nepal gained justice on the next ball when Lamichhane bowled Sakib with a wrong-un.The incident has sparked debate about the integrity of the DRS system and the potential for players to circumvent the rules. It also highlights the importance of umpires strictly enforcing the regulations to ensure fair play.Despite the controversy, Bangladesh went on to win the match by 21 runs and secure a spot in the Super Eights. However, the incident has left a sour taste in the mouths of some fans and raised questions about the ethics of seeking external assistance during a review.