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Watch: USA not taking any chances with Virat Kohli’s security at T20 World Cup | Cricket News

Danijones5 months ago5 months ago03 mins

Virat Kohli is arguably the biggest name visiting the United States these days and the co-hosts of the ICC T20 World Cup are taking no chances with the security of the legendary Indian cricketer. The security arrangements for the tournament, especially for Kohli and the Indian team, have been understandably heightened after multiple reports of security threats to the tournament from militant organizations.In a video circulating on social media, Kohli could be seen arriving at the ground surrounded by officials and armed guards. WATCH VIDEO The local authorities in and around New York specifically have heightened security measures, as NY will host the much-anticipated India vs Pakistan Group A clash on June 9 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium. The governor of the state of New York, Kathy Hochul, said in a statement from her office: “I have also directed the New York State Police to engage in elevated security measures, including an increased law enforcement presence, advanced surveillance and thorough screening processes. Public safety is my top priority and we are committed to ensuring the Cricket World Cup is a safe, enjoyable experience.” India played their only warm-up game against Bangladesh in New York, and the match was marred by an instance where a fan breached security to run up to India captain Rohit Sharma. The fan was soon overpowered by security officials and taken away. India will play their opening match against Ireland on June 5 in New York, followed by the games against Pakistan and USA at the same venue, with the concluding group fixture against Canada in Florida. USA and the Caribbean islands (West Indies) are co-hosting the June 2 to 29 tournament.

T20 World Cup: Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya star in India’s easy win over Bangladesh in warm-up game | Cricket News

Danijones5 months ago04 mins

NEW DELHI: Rishabh Pant and all-round Hardik Pandya hogged the spotlight as India brushed aside Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup warm-up match in New York on Saturday. In the comfortable 60-run win, India had several positive aspects, with Pant’s fifty being the most significant. Pant’s impressive performance (53 off 32 balls, including 4 fours and 4 sixes) and Hardik’s valuable contribution with both bat and ball (40 not out off 23 balls, with 2 fours and 4 sixes) propelled India to a solid 182 for five after choosing to bat first.Defending the total proved to be a straightforward task as left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh-led India restricted Bangladesh to 122 for nine. Despite a brief resistance from Mahmudullah Riyaz (40 retired out; 28b, 4×4, 1×6) and Shakib Al Hasan (28), who added 75 runs for the sixth wicket, Bangladesh could only manage to reduce the margin of defeat after being reduced to 41 for five.As It HappenedArshdeep, who had a subpar IPL season with Punjab Kings, struck twice within the Powerplay, dismissing Soumya Sarkar and Litton Das. Mohammed Siraj added to Bangladesh’s woes by removing skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (0), leaving them reeling at 10 for three in 3.5 overs. The Indian bowlers showcased their skills in exploiting the slow pitch and sluggish outfield, with pacer Shivam Dube also contributing two wickets (2/11).Bangladesh’s lackluster batting performance highlighted the significance of Pant and Hardik’s innings. Pant’s knock has likely secured his position as the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter for India in the World Cup, giving him an edge over Sanju Samson.Samson, who opened the innings with skipper Rohit Sharma (23, 19b, 2×4, 1×6) in place of Virat Kohli, struggled to adapt to the pitch conditions and was dismissed for a 6-ball 1 by left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam.Suryakumar Yadav (31, 18b, 4×4) and Pandya (40) also made valuable contributions to India’s competitive total. Pant’s exceptional touch, which he displayed during the IPL 2024 for Delhi Capitals, continued in this match as he played his characteristic shots and brought up his fifty in just 32 balls. Hardik, who was dropped on 26, provided the necessary acceleration by smashing three consecutive sixes off left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam, showcasing his power and execution. His innings and confidence might have immensely pleased the team management and himself after a modest outing as Mumbai Indians’ captain in a season where he was subjected to intense professional and personal scrutiny.Bangladesh also suffered an injury scare as Shoriful walked off just before bowling the final ball of the innings, as Tanzim Hasan completed the over. (With inputs from PTI)

ICC Twenty20 World Cup: West Indies aim for solid start against Papua New Guinea; USA to face Canada

Danijones5 months ago09 mins

More than eight years after Carlos Brathwaite’s four sixes at Eden Gardens gave them their second T20 world title, a wounded West Indies will look to redeem themselves at home when they begin their campaign in the event’s ninth edition by taking on Papua New Guinea, in Georgetown on June 2. Brathwaite had slammed Ben Stokes for four successive sixes in the final over to pull off one of the most astonishing chases that made the West Indies the first team to win the T20 World Cup twice. Their maiden triumph was in 2012. But what followed was years of agony as the team found itself lost in transition. In 2021, they endured four defeats in five games to make a Super 12 exit. Worse was in store in the 2022 edition in Australia when they failed to qualify for the main round after shock defeats to minnows Scotland and Ireland. It’s been 2982 days since the memorable night at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, something they would be desperate to reclaim especially when the tournament is at home. Darren Sammy as coach Their two-time T20 World Cup winning skipper Darren Sammy is back as a coach and the Rovman Powell-led side already made its intention clear with a ruthless win over Australia in a warmup match. But that Australia was a depleted side as only nine players from their squad were available for the match. Nicolas Pooran will play a pivotal role in the middle-order, but West Indies boast additional firepower with Powell, Andre Russell, Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, and Romario Shepherd, making them one of the most formidable batting line-ups in the tournament. Russell has been in exceptional form, both with bat and ball, after aiding Kolkata Knight Riders in clinching their third IPL title recently. West Indies will also be looking to become the first team to win a T20 World Cup at home. They have replaced the experienced but injured Jason Holder with left-arm fast bowler Obed McCoy. McCoy was the leading wicket-taker during the West Indies A’s recent tour to Nepal, grabbing eight wickets in five matches. Papua New Guinea loaded with all-rounders Assadollah Vala-led PNG will make their second appearance after 2021 after sealing their spot via the East Asia-Pacific regional final in July 2023. Vala is one of 10 players from their 2021 campaign, with that edition’s reserve member Jack Gardner picked in the 15-player group this time. Leg-spinning all-rounder CJ Amini will be his deputy. The side boasts no fewer than eight recognised all-rounders, with both right and left-arm bowling options. Left-arm quick Sema Kamea and Kabua Vagi Morea both enjoyed qualifying action, with the latter taking a hat-trick in the game against the Philippines. Teams (from) West Indies: Rovman Powell (c), Alzarri Joseph (vc), Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Obed McCoy, Gudakesh Motie, Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd. Papua New Guinea: Assadollah Vala (c), Alei Nao, Chad Soper, CJ Amini, Hila Vare, Hiri Hiri, Jack Gardner, John Kariko, Kabua Vagi Morea, Kipling Doriga, Lega Siaka, Norman Vanua, Sema Kamea, Sese Bau and Tony Ura. Match starts: 8 pm IST. USA favourites vs Canada A team full of expatriates, tournament co-hosts USA, coached by former Australian batter Stuart Law, will promise some surprises when it kicks off the T20 World Cup taking on qualifiers Canada in a battle of debutants. Members of the USA team. They start favourites during their opening game in the ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2024 against Canada on June 2, 2024. | Photo Credit: Getty Images The USA have proved that they will be no pushovers, having beaten the full-member side Bangladesh 2-1 in the build up to the tournament. They will also have the edge having beaten Canada 4-0 recently. 2015 WC finalist Corey Anderson in USA squad The side will be boosted by former New Zealand player and 2015 World Cup finalist Corey Anderson. The hosts will be led by wicket-keeper batter Monank Patel. Born in Anand, Monank played for his home state at age-group level before making the US his home in 2016. He was the top-scorer in the World T20 Americas qualifier 2018 with 208 runs from six innings and made his T20I debut against UAE in 2019. The team will also feature some familiar names in former Mumbai and Rajasthan Royals left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh and ex-Delhi and Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter Milind Kumar. They also have Saurabh Netravalkar, the most capped USA player, Aaron Jones, and opener Steven Taylor, their highest run-scorer in international cricket. Tearaway quick Ali Khan is also fit for the tournament, shaking off a hamstring injury which kept him out of the Canada series. Batting all-rounder Nitish Kumar, who played 18 T20Is for Canada from 2012 to 2019, has now switched sides and will be seen in the USA jersey. He made his T20I debut for the USA against Canada in April this year. Left-arm orthodox spinner Saad Bin Zafar brings a wealth of experience to the Canada team, with top-order batter Aaron Johnson and left-arm seamer Kaleem Sana also expected to feature heavily in a side with just four players under the age of 30. Teams (from) USA: Monank Patel (c), Aaron Jones (vc), Andries Gous, Corey Anderson, Ali Khan, Harmeet Singh, Jessy Singh, Milind Kumar, Nisarg Patel, Nitish Kumar, Noshtush Kenjige, Saurabh Nethralvakar, Shadley Van Schalkwyk, Steven Taylor and Shayan Jahangir. Canada: Saad Bin Zafar (c), Aaron Johnson, Ravinderpal Singh, Navneet Dhaliwal, Kaleem Sana, Dilon Heyliger, Jeremy Gordon, Nikhil Dutta, Pargat Singh, Nicholas Kirton, Rayyankhan Pathan, Junaid Siddiqui, Dilpreet Bajwa, Shreyas Movva and Rishiv Joshi. Match starts: 6 am IST (June 2).

French Open 2024, Day 7, Order of Play: When will Sabalenka, Djokovic and Zverev play?

Danijones5 months ago04 mins

Day 7 of the Roland Garros will witness several big names in action on the clay. In women’s singles, Aryna Sabalenka will face Paula Badosa to continue her 3rd Grand Slam quest. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev will feature in the men’s draw. The day promises to be of high-quality action with a packed schedule as some of the biggest stars will bid to keep their challenge alive in Paris. In the women’s singles, World No. 2 Sabalenka will take on Badosa in the third round on Philippe-Chartier, and fourth seed Elena Rybakina will face Elise Mertens. French Open 2024: Full Coverage Sabalenka has looked impressive on the clay so far, defying all the challenges to power her way to the third round. Sabalenka, the second seed, secured her spot in the French Open third round with a dominant 6-2 , 6-2 victory over Japanese qualifier Uchijima. Rybakina faced a stiff challenge as she moved to the third round by defeating Aranxta Rus 6-3, 6-4. There were doubts over Djokovic ahead of the 2nd Grand Slam of the year but the Serbian has made serene progress so far on the Paris clay. He is yet to drop a set in victories over Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Roberto Caraballes Baena. However, he will not be overlooking Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti as the 30th seed is also yet to lose a set. Medvedev had breezed into the third round of the French Open as his Serbian opponent, Kecmanovic, retired from their match due to injury on Thursday. COURT PHILIPPE CHATRIER – FROM 2:30 pm IST Elise Mertens (25) v Elena Rybakina (4)Paula Badosa v Aryna Sabalenka (2)Alexander Zverev (4) v Tallon Griekspoor (26) From 10:45 pm IST Novak Djokovic (1) v Lorenzo Musetti (30) COURT SUZANNE LENGLEN – FROM 1:30 pm IST Varvara Gracheva v Irina-Camelia BeguBen Shelton (15) v Felix Auger-Aliassime (21)Tomas Machac v Daniil Medvedev (5)Madison Keys (14) v Emma Navarro (22) From 7:30 pm IST Tomas Martin Etcheverry (28) v Casper Ruud (7) COURT SIMONNE MATHIEU – FROM 2:30 pm IST Qinwen Zheng (7) v Elina AvanesyanHubert Hurkacz (8) v Denis ShapovalovBianca Andreescu v Jasmine Paolini (12)Jozef Kovalik v Holger Rune (13)Taylor Fritz (12) v Thanasi Kokkinakis COURT 14 – FROM 2:30 pm Alex de Minaur (11) v Jan-Lennard StruffZizou Bergs v Grigor Dimitrov (10)Elina Svitolina (15) v Ana BogdanFrancisco Cerundolo (23) v Tommy Paul (14) Published By: Diya Kakkar Published On: Jun 1, 2024

Pakistan targets right T20 combination against understrength New Zealand | Cricket

Cricket in uncharted territory as T20 World Cup starts in Texas

Danijones5 months ago07 mins

Cricket ventures into uncharted territory on Saturday as the first ever major tournament to be staged in the United States gets under way in Texas with the opening game of the T20 World Cup. Cricket in uncharted territory as T20 World Cup starts in Texas A month-long festival of the fastest and most explosive form of the sport which is being shared between venues in Texas, Florida, New York and the Caribbean begins with the US taking on Canada at the Grand Prairie Stadium on the outskirts of Dallas on Saturday. Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now! It marks the opening skirmish of the first ever major International Cricket Council event to be held in part in the United States. While the bulk of the tournament will be played out in the Caribbean, 16 group stage games in the 20-team tournament will be played on American soil, including the highlight of the group stage a clash between India and Pakistan. That match is due to be played at a 34,000-capacity temporary venue in Long Island, New York on June 9. The rest of the tournament will be held in the West Indies, including the Super Eight stage, the semi-finals and the final, which will be played at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. While cricket is widely played at a recreational level in the United States, with strong presences in all three of the states that have been chosen for games, organisers are realistic about the chances of “converting” mainstream American sports fans. USA batsman Aaron Jones said the hosts are aiming to impress American fans both on and off the field. “Obviously what you do on the field is very important,” Jones said. “We want to get a lot more support from the American born-and-raised people. “I think we could only do that by playing good on the field and obviously interacting with the fans or the growing fans off the field as well.” The ICC also sees the tournament as a launch pad towards the sport’s return to the Olympics for Los Angeles 2028, when the T20 format will be used. Major League Cricket, a T20 tournament, was launched last year and also stands to benefit from any growth in interest in the big-hitting, spectacular shortest form. But it is not only the American market that the ICC is focused upon the expansion of the tournament has opened up opportunities for newer cricket nations to compete on the big stage. In recent years, the sport has been able to expand outside of its traditional strongholds with Ireland and Afghanistan earning places in the 12-strong elite with full Test status. But the ICC see the T20 format as the perfect vehicle for growing the game and this year’s edition will feature three T20 World Cup debutants in the USA, Canada and Uganda. Nepal, Papua New Guinea and Oman are among the other nations who are relatively new to the big stage and who will be looking to make their mark and grab some attention with an upset win. With the teams drawn in four groups of five teams, with just the top two advancing, none of the smaller nations are expected to progress beyond the group stage and there is a danger the pool stage could mainly be a ‘weeding out’ process. India, winners of the first edition in 2007, are the favourites, with their lineup packed with players from the annual Indian Premier League. Australia, winners of the ODI World Cup last year along with the World Test Championship, opted to leave out their veteran batsman Steve Smith but big-hitting David Warner and pacemen Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins provide plenty of experience. Other possible contenders include defending champions England, who will be without the star of their 2022 triumph Ben Stokes, who is managing his fitness after a knee operation. England warmed up for the tournament with a seven-wicket rout of Pakistan in London on Thursday. Co-hosts West Indies won the tournament in 2012 and 2016 and are hoping that they can benefit from familiarity with the surfaces in the region. South Africa, New Zealand and Pakistan will all fancy their chances of making an impact in a tournament which always produces surprises. sev/rcw/js This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

Can Dravid extract the best out of the Men in Blue and bow out on a high?

Danijones5 months ago05 mins

Real test: The experienced Indian squad has its task cut out as it sets out to break a decade-long drought in ICC tournaments. | Photo Credit: X@IMRO45 It was in November 2021 that Rahul Dravid, then the newly appointed India head coach, stated that his side needed to focus on three “big events” — the 2022 T20 World Cup, the 2021-23 ICC World Test Championship, and the 2023 ODI Cricket World Cup. To claim an ICC trophy was paramount for Dravid and his men, having faced a drought since the exploits of M.S. Dhoni’s side in the 2013 Champions Trophy. So here we are, nearly three years later, approaching the end of Dravid’s reign. The three big events have come and gone, and India is yet to scale the highest peak. The 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup presents Dravid the last chance to add that exclamation point to his coaching tenure. Much like Dravid, captain Rohit Sharma cannot escape a world event without repeatedly being reminded about India’s long empty cabinet. Rohit came closest to achieving the dream last year, disrupted only by a ruthless Australia in the final of the 2023 ODI CWC. Rohit also led the charge at the previous edition of the T20 mega event, where eventual champion England thumped India by 10 wickets in the semifinal. Rohit will have much of the same personnel from two years ago on duty here. Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav, the highest and third highest tournament run scorers in 2022, come in hot again on the back of good performances in IPL 2024. The presence of Jasprit Bumrah, who missed the festivities in 2022 due to a back injury, makes the line-up far more potent. Bumrah’s yorkers and pinpoint accuracy can pull the team out of desperate times. The team management will do well to implore the players to learn from a grave mistake committed in the 2023 final. The batters were much too cautious at Ahmedabad — a mistake that can sound the death knell in modern-day T20 cricket. Attack, attack, attack, and live with the consequences — this is the only way to go. It would be no exaggeration to state that India has received a favourable draw. It faces no banana skin in Group A, with Pakistan being the only major threat. At least on paper, Ireland, USA, and Canada should be easy pickings. India’s progress to the Super 8s — reserved for the top two teams in each group — is virtually guaranteed. No World Cup is complete without a marquee India-Pakistan game. It is the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York which will play host to this highly-anticipated game on June 9. Kohli’s majestic straight six off Haris Rauf at Melbourne is still fresh in the memory. The occasion demands another highlight for the ages. The bigger tests await in the Super 8s, which will be held in the West Indies. India, and Dravid in particular, will not carry good memories from the last time the Caribbean hosted a big event. Visuals from the 2007 World Cup shock group-stage exit, under the captaincy of Dravid, is best buried and forgotten. Thankfully, this group of players bear no scars from that horror. And thus another quest begins. Dravid, Rohit & Co. will be desperate not to return empty-handed.

World Cup 2024 News, Live Updates Today June 1, 2024: T20 World Cup schedule is a bit of a googly

Danijones5 months ago03 mins

June 1, 2024 12:00 AM IST T20 World Cup News on Crickit. Tune in for all the latest updates and headlines on T20 World Cup 2024. With our comprehensive coverage, stay updated about the latest news, updates, articles, stats, commentary, and much more from the ICC tournament. Latest news on June 1, 2024: Broadcasters having a major say in the scheduling of an ICC tournament is a given these days but this time the ICC has really left no stone unturned. At Crickit, we bring to you T20 World Cup cricket news live, from injury updates and match previews to post-match analysis and records created and broken. The 2024 T20 World Cup gets even more exciting with our insightful articles and analysis around the key matches, players’ performances and team strategies. The team dynamics, composition, probable 11 and venue details provide great insights into each match of the T20 World Cup 2024. Crickit’s T20 World Cup 2024 coverage gets more comprehensive with an in-depth stats data pool, also featuring player profiles, points table standings, top performers, and historical data of the tournament. Moreover, experience the thrill of the T20 World Cup 2024 with our live commentary and match coverage. Join us as we bring you ball-by-ball updates, expert analysis, engaging commentary, photo galleries, and video stories. Follow us for all the latest T20 World Cup News, T20 World Cup News Live, T20 World Cup Cricket News Live, articles, player stats, commentary, and other exciting content related to the T20 World Cup.…Read More Disclaimer: This is an AI-generated live blog and has not been edited by Hindustan Times staff. Follow all the updates here: June 1, 2024 12:00 AM IST Cricket Live Updates Today : T20 World Cup schedule is a bit of a googly The formatting doesn’t really do justice to the paying public seeking a sense of thrill in the overall competition Read the full story here

French Open: Stefanos Tsitsipas reaches 4th round to setup Matteo Arnaldi clash

Danijones5 months ago03 mins

Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas continued his march in the French Open as he aims to secure his first Grand Slam of his career. The Greek sensation dominated his match against China’s Zhang Zhizhen at the French Open, securing a comfortable victory with a scoreline of 6-3, 6-3, 6-1. This win marks Tsitsipas’s sixth consecutive entry into the fourth round at Roland Garros. Tsitsipas, who reached the final in 2021, displayed his prowess on the court by unleashing over 30 winners throughout the match, which lasted a brisk 91 minutes. He now sets his sights on a clash with Matteo Arnaldi of Italy, who caused a stir by defeating the sixth seed, Andrey Rublev, earlier in the day. Zhang Zhizhen, who made history last year as the first Chinese man in 86 years to win a main-draw match at the French Open, couldn’t replicate his previous success. Throughout the match, he struggled to create break-point opportunities, ultimately unable to mount a significant challenge against Tsitsipas’s dominant performance. How did Tsitsipas dominate Zhizhen? From the outset, Tsitsipas asserted his authority by claiming the first three games of the match. He maintained this momentum, breaking Zhang’s serve early in the second set. Tsitsipas showcased flawless tennis, committing only three unforced errors in the second set while consistently pressuring Zhang’s serve. As the match progressed, Zhang’s forehand faltered, leading to crucial errors that allowed Tsitsipas to capitalize and secure breaks, particularly in the third set. With Zhang unable to find his rhythm, Tsitsipas seized control and closed out the match convincingly. Overall, Tsitsipas demonstrated his class and determination, setting himself up for a promising continuation in the tournament as he aims for further success at Roland Garros. The Greek star will face Arnaldi on June 2, Sunday. Published On: May 31, 2024

UEFA Champions League final free live streaming, broadcast – India TV

Danijones5 months ago04 mins

Image Source : GETTY Jude Bellingham and Marco Reus ahead of the UCL 2024 final Real Madrid will be looking to further extend their extraordinary title record when they face Borussia Dortmund in the final of the UEFA Champions League 2023-24 at Wembley Stadium on Staurday, June 1. The German heavyweights eye their second UCL title after stunning win against PSG in the last four. The Los Blancos recorded a late 2-1 win over Bayern Munich in the second leg of the semifinal game to enter the final for the record 18th time. The Spanish champions have won six of their 14 meetings agaist Dortmund in tournament history and registered two wins in group stages in their last meet in the 2016-17 season. German side finished fifth in the Bundesliga season with just 18 wins in 34 matches but enjoyed a memorable campaign in the European competition. Dortmund beat French giants PSG by 2-0 on aggregate in the semifinal and will be featuring in the final for third time in their history. Here are all the details you should know related to the free live streaming of Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund in India: When is the Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund match? The Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund match will be played on Sunday, June 1. At what time does the Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund match begin? The Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund match will begin at 8:00 PM Local Time (London, England) and 12:30 AM IST (June 2). Where is the Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund match being played? The Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund match will be played at Wembley Stadium in London. Where can you watch the Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund match on TV in India? Fans can watch the Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund match on TV on Sony Sports Network channels in India. Where can you watch the Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund match online in India? Indian fans can watch the Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund match online on the SonyLiv app and website. Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund Possible Playing XIs Real Madrid starting XI: Thibaut Courtois; Dani Carvajal, Anotonio Rudiger, Nacho, Ferland Mendy; Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, Toni Kroos; Jude Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr. Borussia Dortmund starting XI: Gregor Kobel; Julian Ryerson, Mats Hummels, Nico Schlotterbeck, Ian Maatsen; Marcel Sabitzer, Emre Can; Jadon Sancho, Julian Brandt, Karim Adeyemi; Niclas Fullkrug.

Aiden Markram believes South Africa are one title away from multiple ICC World Cups – India TV

Danijones5 months ago04 mins

Image Source : GETTY South Africa T20I captain Aiden Markram. South Africa and their dream of a World Cup crown is a heart-breaking story. The Proteas have boasted several match-winners over the past few decades, but have agonisingly fallen short of a World Cup trophy. South Africa’s only ICC title is the 1998 Champions trophy and despite coming close on several occasions, they have fallen short without that elusive title, giving them the tag of a choker side. However, team captain Aiden Markram believes that the Proteas are just one World Cup away from winning multiple trophies. Speaking in a press conference ahead of the World Cup, Markram said that this Proteas side has it in itself to go all the way in a World Cup. “I definitely think we have what it takes and it’s a World Cup it’s a really high level of cricket. I think this group has now been together for quite a few years. We’ve shown through many performances in the past few years that we’re able to beat the best in the world. “So, I’m quietly confident that this team has what it takes to win the World Cup. I think once we’re able to get that first elusive one I think potentially quite a few could follow after that,” Markram said in a press conference. The Proteas had a great chance to reach the semifinals of the T20 World Cup 2022 but their shocking loss to the one team no one which no one expected ended their hopes for the last four. The Proteas suffered a shocking loss to the Netherlands and were knocked out of the tournament. They could not qualify for the T20 World Cup 2021 due to an inferior Net run rate in the Super 12 stage of the tournament. They needed a top-two finish to qualify for the semis but had an inferior NRR than the second-placed Australia, who became the champions ultimately. The Proteas justified their chokers of losing in the semifinals once again when they lost to Australia in the last-four clash in the ODI World Cup 2023. They were blown away by the Aussies in the ODI WC 2007 semifinal too. South Africa are placed in a tough group in the T20 World Cup 2024. They find themselves in Group D alongside Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Netherlands and Nepal.