Cricket
"Satyanash Kar Diya Hai": Ex-PCB Chief On Pakistan After England Series Loss
May 31 : Former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja slammed the management following Pakistan’s 2-0 T20I series defeat against England just before the T20 World Cup. At Kennington Oval, England outplayed Pakistan in all facets of the game by chasing down 158 with more than four overs to spare in the 4th T20I. Pakistan lacked firepower in their middle order and missed the magic from the pacers while defending their target. Ramiz has voiced his concerns regarding the experimentation in Pakistan’s white-ball setup. Once again he lambasted the management for the consequences that the decision to experiment has led to. “They should stop experimenting with the team. Go into a game with a proper combination. You need to get out of the phobia of strike rate because you don’t have that kind of players. Aapne is team ka satyanash kar diya hai (You have completely made a cock-up of this team),” Ramiz said on his YouTube channel. Ramiz has been quite vocal about the introduction of Saim Ayub in the opening slot. The record-breaking opening duo of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan was broken during Mohammad Hafeez’s short-lived stint as Pakistan’s director of cricket. Ayub’s time in the opening slot hasn’t fared well since he came in at the top of the order. Along with the opening slot, Pakistan’s middle order has struggled to muster up runs in critical conditions. “You have ruined the team by breaking the opening pair (of Babar and Rizwan). The role of the middle order is not defined. You have put all-rounders in the middle and two wicket-keepers are playing. You are changing the fast bowlers. Your spinners don’t spin the ball and don’t have the confidence. You put Imad Wasim out of the playing XI. There is no sideways movement and you have completely dismantled the team just before the T20 World Cup,” he added. Ayub struggled to put up runs against New Zealand in the T20I series last month but he showed signs of improvement with a quick-paced knock of 45(29) in the first T20I. In four matches against the Blackcaps, the 21-year-old scored 52 runs at an average of 14.25 with 32 as his highest score in the series. Before Ayub, Babar and Rizwan were the designated openers for the Men in Green. They were one of the most prolific openers in the T20I set-up for Pakistan. The seasoned duo recorded a record-breaking 105-run stand which was their third-century partnership in the last edition of the Men’s T20I World Cup in 2022. Pakistan are placed in Group A alongside arch-rival India, Canada, USA and Ireland. The Men in Green will begin their campaign against the co-hosts USA on Thursday at the Grand Prairie Stadium, Texas. Pakistan squad for T20 World Cup: Babar Azam (c), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan. (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hardik Pandya’s injury scare touched upon as 2007 T20 World Cup winner sets all-rounder’s bowling workload
Hardik Pandya is among the Indian players in New York gearing up for the start of the 2024 T20 World Cup and there are possibly more eyes on him and how he performs than any of his teammates. Pandya, who captained India in T20Is for much of 2023, had a horrific 2024 season in the Indian Premier League (IPL), which was also his first season as captain of the Mumbai Indians. Hardik Pandya bowled sparingly for much of the first half of the IPL(AFP) A host of off-field issues resulting from his replacing Rohit Sharma as captain of MI in his first season back with the franchises led to the fans at the Wankhede Stadium, and almost every other stadium in the country, turning on him. This seemed to affect his own and the team’s performance as well, with the five-time champions finishing bottom of the table with just four wins in 14 matches. Pandya picked 11 wickets in 14 matches but also had an economy of 10.75. He scored just 216 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 143.05 and average of 18.00. Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now! The all-rounder was picked in the Indian team for the 2024 T20 World Cup despite this form and former fast bowler RP Singh has said that Pandya will have to bowl his full quota of four overs in the tournament. “Hardik bowled in the IPL and bowled four overs so there’s no injury scare. Hardik’s bowling will be important and he will have to bowl all his quota of 4-overs,” he said. There was renewed speculation over Pandya’s fitness in the first half of the IPL when he bowled sparingly. However, he picked up his bowling workload as the tournament progressed. ‘If Dube bowls it’ll be added advantage for India’ Singh also said that Shivam Dube bowling for India would be an added advantage for the 2007 champions. “If Shivam Dube bowls too, then it will be an added advantage for India ahead. Shivam may not play some matches initially but whenever he plays, he will perform well and score runs for India,” he said. Pandya had to deal with boos and jeers in almost every stadium of the country, particularly in Mumbai where fans seemed to have never accepted him as a replacement for Rohit Sharma. Pandya had been traded by the Gujarat Titans, whom he had led to the title in their debut IPL season and the runners-up position in the next, to the Mumbai Indians in the most high-profile before the auction last year. However, there was widespread anger among MI fans over him replacing Rohit as captain Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crick-it, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Quizzes, Polls & much more.Explore now !. Stay updated with the latest cricket news, T20 World Cup 2024 updates, and match highlights. Explore the World Cup Schedule 2024, track the World Cup Points Table, follow Virat Kohli’s performance, and stay ahead with the stats on World Cup Most Wickets and World Cup Most Runs on the Hindustan Times website and app. News / Cricket News / Hardik Pandya’s injury scare touched upon as 2007 T20 World Cup winner sets all-rounder’s bowling workload
‘Team ka satyanash kar diya hai’: Ramiz Raja pulls no punches after Pakistan’s T20I series loss against England | Cricket News
NEW DELHI: Ramiz Raja, the former chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), criticized the team’s management after their 2-0 loss in the T20I series against England, which took place right before the T20 World Cup.In the 4th T20I at Kennington Oval, England dominated Pakistan in every aspect of the game, successfully chasing down a target of 158 with more than four overs remaining.Pakistan’s performance was hindered by a lack of power in their middle order and the absence of magic from their pace bowlers while defending their target.Ramiz expressed his worries about the experimentation within Pakistan’s white-ball setup. He once again castigated the management for the repercussions that have resulted from their decision to experiment.“They should stop experimenting with the team. Go into a game with a proper combination. You need to get out of the phobia of strike rate because you don’t have that kind of players. Aapne is team ka satyanash kar diya hai (You have completely made a cock-up of this team),” Ramiz said on his YouTube channel.Ramiz has openly expressed his views regarding the decision to introduce Saim Ayub as an opening batsman. This change in the batting lineup disrupted the highly successful partnership between Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, which was implemented during Mohammad Hafeez’s brief tenure as the director of cricket for Pakistan.Since Ayub’s inclusion at the top of the batting order, his performance has been underwhelming. Moreover, Pakistan’s middle-order batsmen have also encountered difficulties in accumulating runs during crucial moments of the game, further compounding the team’s batting woes.“You have ruined the team by breaking the opening pair (of Babar and Rizwan). The role of the middle order is not defined. You have put all-rounders in the middle and two wicket-keepers are playing. You are changing the fast bowlers. Your spinners don’t spin the ball and don’t have the confidence. You put Imad Wasim out of the playing XI. There is no sideways movement and you have completely dismantled the team just before the T20 World Cup,” he added.In the recent T20I series against New Zealand, Ayub faced a tough time finding his form initially. However, he displayed promising improvement by delivering a brisk innings of 45 runs off 29 balls in the first match. Throughout the four matches against the Blackcaps, the 21-year-old managed to accumulate 52 runs at an average of 14.25, with his highest score being 32 in the series.Before Ayub’s inclusion, Babar and Rizwan had been the mainstays as openers for the Pakistani team, forming one of the most formidable opening partnerships in T20Is. Their partnership reached new heights during the last Men’s T20I World Cup in 2022, where they notably shared a record-breaking 105-run stand. This was their third century partnership in the tournament, highlighting their exceptional chemistry and batting prowess.Heading into the upcoming tournament, Pakistan finds itself placed in Group A, alongside notable competitors like arch-rival India, as well as Canada, USA, and Ireland. Their journey kicks off with a match against co-hosts USA at the Grand Prairie Stadium, Texas, scheduled for Thursday.(With ANI inputs)
India vs Bangladesh Match Prediction, Betting Tips & Odds
Get to Know Who will win IND vs BAN match and toss Prediction with Head to Head stats, CBTFJSK Tips, Dream11 Prediction, Betting Rates, Live score & winning percentage. 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 : India vs Bangladesh𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄 : Jun 01, 2024𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 : 20:00 IST / 14:30 GMT𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐔𝐄 : Nassau County Int. Stadium – East Meadow, United States𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 : T20 World Cup Warm Up 2024 India vs Bangladesh Betting Tips The top batter for India will be Suryakumar Yadav who tried to get into the rhythm in the IPL 2024 after recovering from an injury. Suryakumar has more than 2000 runs in the T20Is at an average of 45 and strike rate of 171. Kuldeep Yadav will be the top bowler as he will get some turn on this hard surface. He has also been in good form in the IPL 2024 picking 16 wickets.Bangladesh’s top batter will be Towhid Hridoy who performed well in the USA T20I series and he was the top run scorer in the BPL 2024 edition. Among the bowlers, Mustafizur Rahman will be the top bowler and he is in confident form after IPL 2024 and the USA series.India has a strong batting line-up and they will not give a wicket easily in the powerplay. India total runs before the 1st dismissal will be over 24.5. India vs Bangladesh TV channels: The fans can watch the match live on Hotstar Live Streaming: Live streaming of the match will be available on the FAFA191 Cricket Exchange India and website. IND vs BAN Match Prediction & Betting Tips The 15th and last warm-up match of the T20 World Cup 2024 will take place between India and Bangladesh. The match is scheduled to be held at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on 1st June 2024, starting at 8:00 PM IST. India will be playing its first and only warm up match while Bangladesh’s first warm up match against the United States was abandoned due to bad weather in Dallas, Texas. The Indian side will be led by Rohit Sharma while Bangladesh will have Najmul Hossain Shanto at the helm for the first time in an ICC event. Take a look at the detailed predictions for the 15th warm up match between IND and BAN. IND vs BAN Match Toss PredictionIt looks like a good batting track at this new venue. We expect the toss winner to choose bowling first on this track. IND vs BAN Pitch ReportThe pitch at the Nassau County International Stadium will offer a good batting track. Although not enough matches have taken place to judge its characteristics but from the look of it we can expect plenty of runs. Spinners will be able to pick wickets here. The average innings score is around 170. New York Weather ReportThe weather report shows a sunny and clear day in New York on Saturday. The temperature will hover around 21-26°C. Read on for team previews, betting tips, latest odds, and match prediction for India vs Bangladesh 2024
‘Parting Ways With Rohit Sharma And…’: Ex-India Star On 2 Players Mumbai Indians Might Release
Aakash Chopra feels Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan might not play for MI next season.© BCCI Former India batter Aakash Chopra feels star batter Rohit Sharma and young wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan might not play for Mumbai Indians (MI) in the next season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). There has been an uncertainity over Rohit’s future at MI ever since he was relieved of his captaincy duties by franchise. MI appointed Hardik as captain for IPL 2024 but the five-time champions endured a disastrous season, finishing at the bottom of the 10-team points table. Sharing his views on MI’s possible strategy for IPL 2025 mega auction, Chopra suggested that Rohit might’ve played his last game for the franchise. He also added that keeper-batter Kishan might be released by the team due to his price tag. However, he suggested that MI might use the ‘Right to Match’ card on Kishan if needed. “I think they will let Ishan Kishan go. They might use the ‘Right to Match’ card because 15.5 crores is just too much money. I don’t think Ishan will be retained,” the ex India cricketer said on his YouTube channel. “I think Rohit Sharma has played his last match for the Mumbai Indians, whether he doesn’t want to be retained or the franchise lets him go,” he added. “Either way, I see them parting ways. I don’t think you will be seeing Rohit Sharma in the Mumbai Indians jersey again. That’s just my understanding. I might be wrong but I feel, either which way, Rohit Sharma will not be playing for the Mumbai Indians when you start the next season,” he further explained. The next assignment for Rohit will be to lead the Indian cricket team in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. India will face Ireland in their tournament opener on June 5. Hardik’s inclusion in the squad was a matter of discussion among experts but the selectors decided to show trust in the all-rounder as he was appointed the vice-captain. Topics mentioned in this article
‘They may not need me’: David Warner on playing 2025 Champions Trophy | Cricket News
NEW DELHI: The experienced Australian batsman David Warner is determined to end his international career on a high note, stating that the Australian team will adopt a “fearless” approach during the T20I World Cup in their pursuit of creating history.While Warner has announced his retirement from the longer formats, he has not completely ruled out the possibility of returning for the 2025 Champions Trophy if the Australian team requires an opening batsman.However, he believes that the team may not need his services for that particular event.The T20 World Cup, which has been expanded to include 20 teams, will be hosted by the West Indies and the United States in June. All of Australia’s matches will take place in the Caribbean. The tournament presents a unique opportunity for Australia to achieve a remarkable feat in cricket.The 37-year-old Warner is among a select group of four players, including Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Travis Head, who have the chance to become the first team in history to simultaneously hold three International Cricket Council trophies, having already won the World Test Championship and ODI World Cup in the past year.“Being part of that potential history, you only sit back and reflect on those things when you’re completely done and dusted,” Warner, who is in Trinidad, said as quoted by The Sydney Morning Herald. “I did an interview with the ICC recently asking me about it and all the tournaments I’ve been a part of, and I can’t remember them all, but it’s been great,” he added.However, he continues to hint that it may not be the end, referencing the ICC’s revived Champions Trophy, a mini-World Cup scheduled to be held in Pakistan next year.“They may not need me,” he added with a laugh.Warner was forced to miss the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) this season due to an injury to his left hand. Despite this setback, he showcased his readiness by scoring an impressive 54 runs off just 21 deliveries in a practice game against Namibia held in Trinidad last week.Warner, however, will not be participating in any matches until Australia’s opening encounter against Oman, which is scheduled to take place in Barbados on Thursday.Warner’s journey towards bidding farewell to the grand stage has been quite remarkable. In November, Australia emerged victorious against India in India to clinch the ODI World Cup title. Later, in January, he bid adieu to traditional cricket during the Sydney Test match. It is highly anticipated that he will make his final appearance in T20 internationals while playing in the Caribbean.Regardless of when the star batsman decides to hang up his boots, one thing is certain: Warner will undoubtedly give his all and go out with a bang, no matter which team he faces in his final moments on the cricket field.“We’ve always played fearless and I think that’s why we’ve been so successful over the last few years. We don’t care about our spot in a team, we just care about doing the best that we can, and making sure that whatever we’re doing, we’re trying to be that match winner,” he said.“And the fortunate thing is that we’ve got so many of them. One might come off one day, the next day someone else will come off. So we just know that one person in that top six, if they can get anywhere between 60 to 80 runs at a good strike rate, we know we’re always going to post a good total. It’s the same with the new ball. If Starcy [Mitchell Starc] is swinging the ball, we’ll get early wickets, and that brings the spinners into the game,” he added.Warner is confident that Australia’s resounding triumph against India in the World Cup late last year, coupled with their impressive showing versus South Africa in the semi-final, has provided them with a psychological advantage over their competitors.“If you look at the way that we performed with our backs up against the wall after the first couple of games [losing badly to India and South Africa], you just never count us out,” he said.(With ANI inputs)
T20 World Cup Group D Preview: Bangladesh-Sri Lanka Battle Resumes, South Africa Aim To Impress
Dubai : Former ICC Men’s T20 World Cup champions Sri Lanka find themselves in Group D alongside South Africa, Bangladesh, Netherlands and Nepal for the upcoming tournament. This group promises thrilling matches with rivals Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, South Africa and Netherlands pitted against one another. While Nepal gears up for their second appearance in the marquee event, the group boasts no clear-cut favourite with history bearing witness that each team carries the potential to beat the other. Let’s run through the teams in this group and what we can expect from them. Bangladesh: Bangladesh enters the T20 World Cup with a bit of uncertainty as they continue to look for their strongest XI. Experienced opener Litton Das has been out of form of late with an average of 13.16 this year in six matches. Although teammate Tawhid Hridoy is confident that Das will make a strong comeback in the tournament. Another concern is the injury to vice-captain Taskin Ahmed and his fitness will be monitored prior to Bangladesh’s first contest against Sri Lanka on 7 June after he suffered a side strain before the final match of the recent series against Zimbabwe. The Tigers have backed experience. Other than Das, they have former Bangladesh skippers Mahmudullah and Shakib Al Hasan who can provide Najmul Hossain Shanto much-needed support as he undertakes his first ICC tournament as the new captain. Squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Taskin Ahmed (Vice Captain), Litton Kumer Das, Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Shakib Al Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mahmud Ullah Riyad, Jaker Ali Anik, Tanvir Islam, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib. Travelling reserves: Afif Hossain, Hasan Mahmud Fixtures: 7 June: Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh, Dallas 10 June: South Africa vs Bangladesh, New York 13 June: Bangladesh vs Netherlands, St. Vincent 16 June: Bangladesh vs Nepal, St. Vincent Players to watch out for: In conditions that are expected to be slow with some assistance from spinners, Mustafizur Rahman’s skill set including deceptive off-cutters can turn out to be useful. Mustafizur has time and again proven to be a match-winner for Bangladesh. His control in the middle overs and effectiveness in the final overs with a recovering Taskin Ahmed make him a priceless inclusion. Nepal: Nepal will feature a young side at the T20 World Cup, with 21-year-old Rohit Paudel leading the team as captain. Paudel’s recent form against West Indies A in the lead up to the tournament is a big positive with scores of 112, 71*, and 82 in the series. Gulshan Jha, who appeared at the U19 World Cup earlier in the year, along with 19-year-old Pratis GC are the other young stars expected to bring fireworks. Sompal Kami, the fast bowling all-rounder, is the sole player from Nepal’s inaugural 2014 squad to feature in the 2024 edition, with veteran Karan KC joining him as the team’s senior member. This will mark Nepal’s second appearance in the tournament making them the least experienced side in the group. Squad: Rohit Paudel (c), Aasif Sheikh, Anil Kumar Sah, Kushal Bhurtel, Kushal Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, Lalit Rajbanshi, Karan KC, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Pratis GC, Sundeep Jora, Abinash Bohara, Sagar Dhakal, Kamal Singh Airee Fixtures: 4 June: Netherlands vs Nepal, Dallas 11 June: Sri Lanka vs Nepal, Florida 14 June: South Africa vs Nepal, St. Vincent 16 June: Bangladesh vs Nepal, St. Vincent Players to watch out for: The latest entrant in the six sixes club, Dipendra Singh Airee, comes in with a hard-hitting reputation. Dipendra bludgeoned six sixes in the ACC Men’s T20I Premier Cup clash against Qatar becoming only the third men’s player to do so in T20Is after Yuvraj Singh (2007) and Keiron Pollard (2021). He also is the current record holder of the fastest T20I fifty. The right-handed batter achieved this feat in nine balls, breaking Yuvraj’s record of 12 deliveries. The 24-year-old’s contribution in the middle overs can help Nepal put up a strong challenge in the group. Netherlands: The Netherlands have often brought the element of surprise in an ICC tournament. They have the edge over Proteas, beating them in the last two ICC Men’s tournaments – in the 2022 T20 World Cup and the 2023 Cricket World Cup. They will face South Africa again on 8 June in New York with the aim to complete a hat-trick of wins. 20-year-old Michael Levitt has found a place in the absence of Colin Ackermann after an impressive hundred against Namibia earlier this year. The Dutch have restored their core players for this edition with captain Scott Edwards, Bas de Leede, Logan van Beek, Max O’Dowd, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Vikram Singh and Wesley Barresi bringing the experience. Squad: Scott Edwards (c), Aryan Dutt, Bas de Leede, Daniel Doram, Fred Klaassen, Logan van Beek, Max O’Dowd, Michael Levitt, Paul van Meekeren, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Teja Nidamanuru, Tim Pringle, Vikram Singh, Viv Kingma, Wesley Barresi. Reserve: Kyle Klein Fixtures: 4 June: Netherlands vs Nepal, Dallas 8 June: Netherlands vs South Africa, New York 13 June: Bangladesh vs Netherlands, St. Vincent 16 June: Sri Lanka vs Netherlands, St. Lucia Players to watch out for: Bas de Leede has been instrumental for the Netherlands with both bat and ball. For his impressive performance last year, de Leede was awarded with the ICC Men’s Associate Cricketer of the Year. However, the 24-year-old all-rounder has played little T20I cricket of late, with his recent appearances in the tri-series with Scotland and Ireland being his first matches in the shortest format since 2022 at the most recent edition of the T20 World Cup. De Leede was one of the Netherlands’ best at the event where he finished as their leading wicket-taker with 13 scalps. South Africa: Perhaps the strongest side in this group and the tournament, South Africa have put together a strong squad. The batting line-up consists of experienced Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller and Reeza Hendricks who can bludgeon bowling attacks with Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs…
This T20 World Cup, cricket is going truly global
This is a T20 World Cup of a few noteworthy firsts. For the first time ever, American audiences (though a large majority will probably be Southeast Asians) will get an intimate glimpse of cricket’s superstars at the biggest stage as the initial part of the marquee event — US and West Indies are co-hosts — passes through the plush streets of New York, Texas and Florida. Uganda players celebrate(ICC) The ninth edition of the T20 World Cup is also the first time that 20 teams are taking part. That means this tournament is longer in duration than any previous T20 World Cup. While the shortest format is the most amenable to the grand endeavour of growing the game to newer territories, the expansion to 20 teams — they have been placed in four groups of five each — is likely to come at the cost of some drab, one-sided contests early on. For that to not be the case, the nine Associate members participating will have to punch considerably above their weight. Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now! Widening the cricketing landscape are newcomers in Uganda, Canada and United States. While the United States’ entry is by virtue of being co-hosts, Uganda and Canada have made the cut from regional qualifiers in Africa and Americas respectively. Uganda’s journey to the global stage is particularly heartwarming, for never has a team from the East African country, rife with poverty and human rights issues, played a World Cup in any sport at the senior level. It was in November last year that the historic feat was accomplished, sparking scenes of unbridled joy, song and dance among the Ugandan players that circulated widely on social media. The qualification was thoroughly deserved — they finished second to Namibia in the campaign — once they were able to get the better of Zimbabwe and Kenya. As skipper Brian Masaba said then, three years of planning went into their efforts. “We came into this tournament trying to seal a World Cup slot,” Masaba, a 32-year-old bowler who works as a procurement manager in Kampala to make ends meet, had told HT. “We firmly believed that it was possible. We had put in a lot of work. The association in Uganda was very keen to get us here by organising a lot of games and tournaments. We have played maybe 40-50 T20Is over the last three years. It’s not a mistake that we are going to the T20 World Cup.” That the Ugandans will be rubbing shoulders with players from Afghanistan, New Zealand, West Indies — they are in Group C where Papua New Guinea is the fifth team — is an opportunity of a lifetime. “This opens a lot of doors for cricket back home. It is going to popularise the sport in the country. It puts Ugandan cricket on the map. Just sharing a field with guys that we have seen playing on television, hopefully we can interact and learn from the best,” Masaba said. Unlike most Associate teams that rely heavily on players from the subcontinent, the composition of Uganda’s squad suggests that cricket has a presence among the native black population. Simon Ssesazi is their leading run-getter with 2072 runs in 78 matches while Henry Ssenyondo, with 94 scalps in 77 matches, has taken the most wickets. The Indian angle cannot be negated either given that Dinesh Nakrani, Alpesh Ramjani and Ronak Patel are integral members of the squad. The Indian connect has also been bolstered by the appointment of Abhay Sharma as coach. Sharma, a former Delhi and Railways wicketkeeper, has worked as a fielding coach with the Indian men’s and women’s teams in the past. US and Canada, home to a sizeable number of expatriates from this part of the world, also have quite a few players of Indian origin in the mix. In United States’ case, left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh and batter Milind Kumar plied their trade in India’s domestic circuit before making the switch across the Atlantic. Harmeet, 33, played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) besides turning out for his state team Mumbai, and earned praise for his classical bowling approach from eminent names like Dilip Sardesai and Ian Chappell in his early years. He was also part of the India U-19 team that won the U-19 World Cup in Australia in 2012. Milind learned the game in Delhi, but his headline act came for Sikkim when he topped the run-scoring list in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy season with 1,331 runs in eight matches. As recently as in the 2020/21 season, he played 50-over games for Tripura. Left-arm pacer Saurabh Netravalkar, a software engineer working at Oracle, was the leading wicket-taker for India in the 2010 U-19 World Cup in New Zealand. All-rounder Corey Anderson, once an integral member of New Zealand’s white-ball teams and the holder of the record for the fastest ODI ton (36 balls), is also adding muscle to the American middle-order. Having played 13 Tests, 49 ODIs and 31 T20Is for the Kiwis — the last of which was in 2018 — Anderson moved to the US in 2021. His considerable international experience may just come in handy when they begin their campaign against Canada in Group A, which also includes India, Pakistan and Ireland. Neither of these newbies, of course, are expected to do anything more than make up the numbers. But you hope that they benefit from this exposure and make strides by the time the next T20 World Cup is held in India in two years’ time.
T20 World Cup: RP Singh explains how IPL Impact Player rule hampered Rinku’s prospects
Former India pacer Rudra Pratap Singh has explained how the IPL Impact Player rule has hampered Rinku Singh’s prospects of making it to the India squad for the T20 World Cup 2024. Rinku Singh’s omission from India’s 15-man T20 World Cup 2024 squad raised a lot of eyebrows. Rinku Singh’s amazing performance in IPL 2023 catapulted him into the spotlight and quickly made him a household name because of his talent. The KKR batter received his first India call following a great IPL season, and his strike rate stayed quite high. The Ajit Agarkar-led India selection panel chose to go with more recent performances, and selected Shivam Dube in the 15-member squad, while Rinku Singh will be on the reserve list. “Rinku Singh should have definitely been there. I think he was unfortunate to miss out. If the Impact Player rule was not there, I think Rinku would have made it,” RP Singh said during a promotional event where the Indian team’s jersey was unveiled for the inaugural World Championship of Legends. The 25-year-old Uttar Pradesh batter was in sensational touch for India in T20Is before IPL 2024. His ability to bat at different gears and execute the finisher’s role to perfection reminded fans of vintage MS Dhoni. Rinku averages 89 in his nascent T20I career, having scored 356 runs at a staggering strike rate of 176. Never has Rinku fluffed an opportunity in the Indian blue. Yet, the young man was left out of the squad and named in the reserves. Amid the great buzz surrounding his removal, Rinku Singh broke his silence and confessed that he was at first disappointed. The KKR batter agreed that his absence was more down to team dynamics than performance, and he emphasised that making the reserve list is also a significant accomplishment given where he comes from. Published By: Saurabh Kumar Published On: May 31, 2024 Tune In