Cricket

Pakistan's hopes of qualifying for the T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 were dashed after the match between USA and Ireland was abandoned due to rain on Sunday. India and USA emerged as the two teams to advance from Group A.Pakistan's path to the Super 8 became arduous after defeats to USA and India. The team's performance has drawn widespread criticism, with former England captain Michael Vaughan expressing concerns about their lack of "swagger.""They can't blame the weather. They should have beaten US and India. If they did, they would have been through to the Super 8s," Vaughan said. "I just don't see Pakistan at the moment as a great white-ball team."Vaughan questioned the quality of Pakistan's T20 players, suggesting that captain Babar Azam may not be a guaranteed starter in the T20 teams of top nations like India and England."I don't think they have the skill set of what I've seen in the past from Pakistan cricket in T20 cricket," Vaughan said. "I honestly don't think they've got many great T20 players."Vaughan also highlighted Pakistan's mental fragility against India, noting their inability to chase down targets against their arch-rivals."Mentally, they have no clue how to beat India. That's true. I could see it in the chase. They should have absolutely strolled that game," Vaughan said. "There's only one winner because India knows how to win, and they have the mentality to get over the line. For whatever reason, Pakistan just doesn't seem to have that kind of swagger."Pakistan's failure to qualify for the Super 8 has raised questions about the team's direction and the leadership of Babar Azam. The team will need to regroup and address these concerns if they are to regain their status as one of the top T20 nations in the world.

Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer has urged the team management to retain the opening batting combination of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for the Super Eight phase of the ongoing T20 World Cup. Despite their underwhelming performances in the tournament so far, Jaffer believes the experienced duo will bounce back and find their rhythm in the crucial matches ahead.Kohli, who entered the World Cup in impressive form after a stellar IPL 2024, has struggled to make an impact, scoring only five runs in three innings. Rohit, too, has been inconsistent, accumulating 68 runs in three matches with a solitary half-century against Ireland.However, Jaffer emphasized the importance of sticking with the experienced pair, even though they have encountered difficulties in their recent performances. He explained that altering the batting lineup could create additional issues and hinder the effectiveness of crucial players such as Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav."Now that you are stuck with both of them, I don't think it's gonna make sense because you're gonna split both of them up," Jaffer said. "You might probably think of playing Yashasvi Jaiswal. That's probably what you're thinking, and then Rishabh Pant, who has done so well at number three, he has to bat even lower down the order, probably at number four. Then where does Suryakumar Yadav bat? So it's going to mess up the whole batting order, so I think they'll probably stick with that."Jaffer stressed that Pant has excelled at the number three position, while Yadav performs best when batting higher in the order. He believes that altering the batting lineup could disrupt the team's rhythm and hinder the performance of key players."Rishabh has done well at number three. Suryakumar, you don't want to bat him any lower than that, so I think they'll stick with that. But yeah, they have to go really hard in the powerplay. We've seen when Australia have done that against England, they were so ahead in the powerplay, getting that 74 runs. That's where you can make a mark. So Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the way they are batting, you could see that happen in the powerplay in West Indies."India secured their spot in the Super Eight with a resounding seven-wicket victory against co-hosts USA. As they gear up for their Caribbean clash with a formidable Afghanistan side, the Men in Blue will heavily rely on the resilience and skill of Kohli and Rohit to regain their form and lead the team to success.

Veteran Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan silenced his critics with a match-winning knock against the Netherlands in their T20 World Cup group game on Thursday. Shakib's unbeaten 64 off 46 deliveries, studded with nine fours, propelled Bangladesh to a comfortable victory.However, Shakib's recent form had come under scrutiny, with former India batting great Virender Sehwag questioning his place in the current team. Sehwag had criticized Shakib's numbers in the shortest format, calling them "shameful" and suggesting that he should have retired from T20 cricket long ago.In response to Sehwag's comments, Shakib initially appeared to dismiss them, asking "who?" when asked about the former India opener. However, a subsequent video clarified that Shakib had misunderstood the question and was not intentionally disrespecting Sehwag.Instead, Shakib acknowledged that criticism is part of a player's life when they are not performing well. "When a player can't contribute, then naturally there would be discussions," he said. "I don't think it is a bad thing."Shakib's performance against the Netherlands was a timely reminder of his class and experience. His innings was a masterclass in controlled aggression, as he paced his innings perfectly and found the boundaries with ease.The victory was crucial for Bangladesh, who are aiming to reach the Super 12 stage of the tournament. Shakib's knock not only helped his team secure two valuable points but also silenced his critics and proved that he still has plenty to offer at the international level.

Ahead of their crucial clash against Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, Ireland coach Heinrich Malan expressed his concerns about the tournament's unpredictable nature. Ireland currently languishes at the bottom of Group A, having managed only one point from three matches. Their hopes of reaching the Super Eights have already been dashed.Malan admitted that the team's preparation has been hampered by a lack of training sessions since arriving in Florida. "We haven't trained at all since we've been down in Florida the last week," he said. "We've been having our unit meetings and preparation meetings, but we've had to rely on the plans we executed back home."Despite the challenges, Malan remains optimistic about his team's chances against Pakistan. "We played them a couple of weeks ago back home in Ireland," he said. "We can piggyback on that performance and hopefully do well again tomorrow."Malan also acknowledged the unusual nature of this World Cup. "It's been a pretty weird World Cup," he said. "We've tried to keep the lads busy as much as we can, but it's been a challenge from a preparation point of view."Despite their struggles, Ireland will be determined to end their tournament on a high note against Pakistan. They will need to produce a strong performance to avoid finishing bottom of their group.

Sanjay Manjrekar, a renowned cricket commentator and former India player, believes that the experience of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma could prove invaluable in the knockout stages of the T20 World Cup, even if they have struggled in the group stage.Manjrekar emphasized the importance of senior players delivering in crucial matches, stating, "You want to take your experienced players in World Cup to deliver when it really matters." He added that while it would be a bonus if younger players step up, the primary responsibility lies with the veterans.Regarding the future of Kohli and Sharma in T20 internationals after the World Cup, Manjrekar suggested that the decision would be made by the selectors and the players themselves. He noted that there is still a significant portion of the tournament remaining before such discussions begin.Manjrekar also commented on Shivam Dube's performance, expressing concerns about his ability to adapt to the Caribbean tracks. He highlighted the challenges of hitting through the line on pitches that may not be as conducive to power-hitting.Manjrekar praised the move to promote Rishabh Pant to No. 3, calling it a "brilliant move." He believes that Pant has been India's best batter in the tournament so far, showcasing his class on difficult pitches.Regarding India's spin bowling options, Manjrekar speculated that the team might opt for finger spinners (Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel) instead of wrist spinners (Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal) if the pitches in the West Indies offer significant turn. He explained that finger spinners are often more effective on rank turners.

Shubman Gill has refuted allegations of indiscipline following his departure from India's T20 World Cup squad. The young batsman took to social media to dismiss rumors, posting a photo with Rohit Sharma and his daughter, captioned "Sammy and I learning the art of discipline from Rohit Sharma."Gill was among four reserve players accompanying India's squad for the tournament. With the group stage complete, he and Avesh Khan are set to return home. Unconfirmed reports suggested Gill's departure was due to disciplinary issues, but India's batting coach Vikram Rathour has denied these claims.Rathour explained that the management team had pre-planned to release two reserve players after the Caribbean leg. "This was a plan from the beginning. When we come to the US, four players will come together. After that two will be released and two will travel with us to West Indies," he said.India's group stage concluded with a washed-out match against Canada. They topped Group A with seven points from three matches and qualified for the Super 8 stage. They will face Australia, Afghanistan, and potentially Bangladesh in the next round.Gill's departure has sparked speculation about his future with the Indian team. The 23-year-old has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League. He was expected to play a significant role in India's T20 World Cup campaign, but his exclusion from the squad has raised questions about his standing within the team.Despite the rumors, Gill remains a highly-rated prospect. His performances for Gujarat Titans in the IPL have earned him praise from experts and fans alike. He is likely to be recalled to the Indian team in the near future and will be determined to prove his worth.

Babar Azam's hopes of regaining the Test captaincy have suffered a significant setback following Pakistan's disappointing performance at the T20 World Cup. Sources within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have indicated that Shan Masood will retain the Test captaincy for the upcoming two-match series against Bangladesh in August.The decision to retain Masood as Test captain is reportedly based on the PCB's dissatisfaction with Babar's leadership abilities, particularly in the wake of Pakistan's early exit from the T20 World Cup. The tournament saw Pakistan suffer consecutive defeats to the USA and India, effectively ending their chances of reaching the Super 8 stage.Masood was initially appointed as Test captain after Babar relinquished the captaincy in all formats following Pakistan's disappointing performance at last year's ODI World Cup. Shaheen Afridi was subsequently named as the T20I captain, but his brief tenure ended in April this year after Pakistan's 4-1 series defeat to New Zealand.Prior to the T20 World Cup, Babar was reinstated as the white-ball captain in a move described by the PCB as a "strategic decision." However, the move failed to yield the desired results, with Pakistan crashing out of the tournament in the group stage.The PCB's decision to retain Masood as Test captain is a clear indication of their lack of confidence in Babar's leadership abilities. The upcoming Bangladesh series will be the first assignment for former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie as Pakistan's red-ball head coach.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 World Cup has witnessed several thrilling matches, but former Australian cricketer Ian Chappell believes that the tournament's success in the United States is hindered by the poor quality of pitches.The Nassau County International Stadium in the USA has come under fire for its inconsistent bounce and subpar performance, making batting extremely challenging. Scores of 100-120 runs have proven to be match-winning totals, with boundaries being a rarity. The sluggish outfield has also drawn criticism for limiting run-scoring, which is a key element of T20 cricket's entertainment value.Chappell, writing for ESPNCricinfo, expressed his concerns about the pitches in the USA, particularly the New York venue. "The pitches in the USA again generated controversy, particularly the New York venue, which attracted a lot of negative publicity and proved to be difficult for batters," he wrote.Chappell pointed out that the USA's reputation for "dodgy pitches" is not new, citing a five-match series in Los Angeles in 1999 between India A and Australia A. "The pitches on that occasion could only be described as 'ropey', especially when genuine pacemen like Brett Lee operated," he said.While Chappell acknowledges that no pitches should totally favor batters, he believes that dangerous surfaces are unacceptable. "There is a highly competitive cricket rivalry still to be played in the Super Eight - India vs Australia. This has become a blockbuster contest in recent years. Even if these two teams provide yet another exciting contest, it should not camouflage the USA problem," he added.Chappell emphasized that if cricket wants to make headway in the USA, it must improve its administration and pitches, while also convincing locally-born players that it's a game worth playing.

The 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8 stage is set to commence on June 19, with seven of the eight participating teams confirmed. India, the reigning champions, will face off against Australia in a highly anticipated rematch of the 2023 World Cup Final on June 24.India secured their Super 8 berth by topping Group A, winning three games and having their final fixture washed out. Bangladesh is poised to become the eighth team, with the Netherlands holding an outside chance.The Super 8s will witness India's relocation from the USA to the West Indies. All three of India's Super 8 matches will be played in the Caribbean. Their opening match will be against Afghanistan on June 20.Super 8 Format:The Super 8 groups were predetermined based on a seeding format for the top eight teams in the rankings. However, due to the elimination of Pakistan, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka, their spots will be filled by USA (A2), Afghanistan (C1), and Bangladesh/Netherlands (D2).The seeding format aims to provide fans with a clearer understanding of potential match locations in the tournament's later stages. The top two teams from each Super 8 group will advance to the semi-finals.Super 8 Groups:* Group 1: India (A1), Australia (B2), Afghanistan (C1), Bangladesh/Netherlands (D2)* Group 2: USA (A2), England (B1), West Indies (C2), South Africa (D1)India's Schedule:* June 20: vs Afghanistan, Kensington Oval, Barbados [8:00 PM IST]* June 22: vs Bangladesh/Netherlands, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua [8:00 PM IST]* June 24: vs Australia, Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, St. Lucia [8:00 PM IST]