Cricket

The upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 is set to kick off in the United Arab Emirates, and the warm-up matches have been announced. All 10 qualified teams will participate in these practice games, with each side playing two matches.The warm-up fixtures will be held from September 28 to October 1, and will provide teams with an opportunity to fine-tune their preparations for the main event. The matches will be 20 overs per side and will not have international T20 status, allowing teams to field all members of their 15-player squad.Group A of the tournament features defending champions Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Group B includes England, South Africa, West Indies, Scotland, and Bangladesh.The warm-up fixtures will begin on September 28 with Pakistan taking on Scotland and Sri Lanka facing Bangladesh. Australia will face arch-rivals England the following day, while India will take on 2016 edition champions West Indies on the same day.The warm-up matches will be crucial for teams to assess their strengths and weaknesses, and to build momentum ahead of the tournament. The matches will also provide an opportunity for players to gain valuable match experience and to adjust to the conditions in the UAE.The ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 will be held from October 10 to 20 in Dubai and Sharjah. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, which will be held on October 17 and 18. The final will be played in Dubai on October 20.

Australia's captain, Mitchell Marsh, aims to gradually return to bowling towards the latter stages of the T20 World Cup, initially focusing on his batting role. Marsh is still recovering from a hamstring injury that sidelined him from the Indian Premier League earlier this year.In the warm-up matches against Namibia and West Indies, Marsh did not bowl, but he is optimistic about his progress. "I won't be bowling early in the tournament," Marsh stated. "I hope I won't bowl late in the tournament either, but I'll gradually work on it over the next 10-12 days and hopefully be available at the back end."Australia faced a shortage of players in the warm-up matches, with only nine out of their 15-member squad available. They even resorted to using substitutes from the coaching staff, including head coach Andrew McDonald, batting coach Brad Hodge, fielding coach Andre Borovec, and national selector George Bailey.Marsh confirmed that Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, and Marcus Stoinis will soon join the squad, making all 15 players available for their opening match against Oman on June 5.Marsh emphasized the importance of family time for the players, especially after their involvement in the IPL playoffs. "We value family time," Marsh said. "The guys have been at the IPL, which is great preparation for the World Cup, but seeing their families and getting a good night's sleep is crucial."Regarding the warm-up matches, Marsh expressed satisfaction with the team's performance. "We got what we needed," he said. "Hodgey won't be available for selection, but for the guys who had time off, it was important to get some game time. We feel ready to go now."

Australia A to Host India A in Four-Day Series Ahead of Border-Gavaskar TrophyIn preparation for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Australia A will face India A in a two-match four-day series. The matches will serve as a crucial opportunity for players from both sides to showcase their skills and stake their claim for Test selection.The series will commence at Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay from October 31 to November 3, followed by a second match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) from November 7 to 10. Following the A series, the entire Indian squad will engage in an internal warm-up fixture at the WACA from November 15 to 17 before the opening Test at Optus Stadium in Perth on November 22.For Australia, the A matches will coincide with the ODI and T20I series against Pakistan. Selectors will need to determine if any players involved in the white-ball teams could potentially feature for the A side. The A matches may also clash with Sheffield Shield fixtures.The T20Is against Pakistan are unlikely to involve any of Australia's Test players due to their proximity to the India series. While Steven Smith is expected to remain as an opener, the structure of Australia's batting order remains a topic of debate. The A matches could provide an opportunity for Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris, and Matt Renshaw to impress.In the past, Pakistan faced the Prime Minister's XI, effectively an Australia A team, in Canberra ahead of the Test series. During India's previous tour of Australia in 2020-21, they played two warm-up matches against Australia A before the Test series, which India won 2-1.The India women's team will also tour Australia for three ODIs in early December, which will be played around the second men's Test in Adelaide.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the schedule for the warm-up matches ahead of the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the West Indies and the USA. India, the inaugural champions of the tournament in 2007, will face Bangladesh in a warm-up match on June 1 at a venue yet to be determined in the USA.The warm-up fixtures will be held across various venues in the USA and Trinidad and Tobago from May 27 to June 1. A total of 17 teams, including South Africa, who will play an intra-squad match on June 29 in Florida, will participate in the warm-up games. These matches will not carry international T20 status, allowing teams to utilize their entire 15-player squad.In a departure from previous cycles, teams now have the option to play up to two warm-up matches, depending on their arrival time for the main event. Notably, the warm-up match between the West Indies and Australia at Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago on May 30, will be open to fans.Tickets for the matches can be purchased from the official ticketing website or at designated box offices starting from May 16. The 2024 Men's T20 World Cup will kick off on June 1 with a match between co-hosts USA and neighboring Canada.The tournament will feature matches at iconic cricket venues like Kensington Oval in Barbados and Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad. This marks the first time the USA will host an ICC tournament.The tournament will begin with the 20 teams divided into four groups of five each for the initial round. The top two teams from each group will progress to the Super Eight stage, where they will be divided into two groups of four each. Teams maintaining their seeding from the first round will compete in the Super Eight, provided they qualify.The top two sides from each group in the Super Eight will advance to the semifinals, scheduled to be held in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago on June 26 and 27, respectively. The final showdown is set to take place in Barbados on June 29.