BCCI

‘Will send team to Pakistan only if…’: BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla on India’s Champions Trophy participation | Cricket News

Danijones8 months ago06 mins

NEW DELHI: Rajeev Shukla, the vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has clarified that the Indian team’s participation in the ICC Champions Trophy next year, scheduled to be held in Pakistan from February to March 2025, is contingent upon receiving approval from the central government.The statement comes amidst speculation regarding India’s potential absence from the tournament.Tensions between India and Pakistan have significantly impacted cricketing relations between the two nations since 2008, following the Asia Cup. Bilateral series between India and Pakistan have been suspended since December 2012-January 2013, with ICC tournaments and the Asia Cup serving as the primary platforms for their cricketing encounters.The decision to send the Indian team to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy hinges on various factors, including the prevailing diplomatic and security situation between the two countries. Given the history of strained relations and security concerns, any decision regarding India’s participation will be subject to careful consideration and consultation with relevant authorities.Speaking to the ANI, Shukla said, “In the case of the Champion Trophy, we will do whatever the Government of India will tell us to do. We send our team only when the Government of India gives us permission. So we will go according to the decision of the Indian government.” Pakistan resorted to a hybrid strategy during the hosting of the Asia Cup last year due to logistical and security challenges, notably hosting all of India’s matches, including potential encounters against Pakistan, in Sri Lanka. This decision was made in the interest of ensuring the smooth conduct of the tournament while accommodating security concerns and diplomatic sensitivities.Contrastingly, when it came to the possibility of adopting a similar hybrid approach for the ODI World Cup hosted by India the previous year, Pakistan did not seriously consider such a strategy.Instead, they participated in the tournament in India, playing all their matches at various venues across the country. Despite initial discussions regarding the feasibility of a hybrid approach, Pakistan ultimately competed in the tournament in India, albeit facing challenges in the group stages and being eliminated early on.It’s worth noting that Pakistan holds the distinction of being the defending champions of the ICC Champions Trophy, with their triumph in the last edition held in 2017. As they gear up for future tournaments, Pakistan will undoubtedly aim to replicate their past success on the global stage.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has designated Lahore as the only location for India matches for the Champions Trophy that Pakistan has been awarded for the next year, as ESPNcricinfo reported earlier in May.According to ESPNcricinfo, PCB has locked three locations–Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi–to host the two-week Champions Trophy. India’s draft schedule calls for them to play all of their games at Lahore, which is also the location of the final.It is said that the idea of putting India in a single place was put forward to avoid potentially significant logistical and security issues related to their travel. Additionally, it gives Indian fans a comparatively easier choice to visit because it is headquartered in Lahore, which is near the Wagah border crossing between the two countries.PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said earlier that the board had sent a draft schedule of the tournament, likely to be staged in mid-February next year, to the ICC. Discussions on it involving the eight participating members will take place, with the major sticking point likely to be whether the India team travels or not.(With ANI inputs)

Mayank Yadav won’t take any further part in IPL: Justin Langer | Cricket News

Danijones8 months ago04 mins

NEW DELHI: Lucknow Super Giants head coach Justin Langer confirmed on Saturday that pace sensation Mayank Yadav will miss the rest of the Indian Premier League due to a lower abdominal tear.The news of the 21-year-old Delhi man being ruled out of this IPL due to a grade 1 side strain was earlier reported on May 1, coinciding with his inclusion in the BCCI‘s pace bowling contract list.Asked about Mayank’s fitness status, Langer said, “No, we’ll be praying that he can play, hopefully, in the play-offs, but I am a realist as well. It’ll probably be difficult for him to get up for the back-end of the tournament.”Mayank, known for his thunderbolt deliveries clocking at 155 km/h, featured in four IPL matches, claiming seven wickets.However, in two of those games, he was unable to finish his allotted overs due to injury.During the first instance against Gujarat Titans, Mayank suffered a side strain after bowling just one over and had to leave the field.Following a four-week rehabilitation period, Mayank returned to play against Mumbai Indians. However, he suffered another breakdown after bowling 3.1 overs, resulting in strong criticism from Brett Lee, a former teammate of Langer.Langer informed the media that Mayank sustained a tear at the same area where he was injured earlier.“He’s (Mayank) had a scan. He’s got a small tear in a similar area to where his last one (injury) was. So, it’s very unfortunate. We saw the impact he had when he came back into the game,” the former Australia opener and head coach said.Langer said even the great Jasprit Bumrah has spoken about how fast bowlers will have to cope with injuries.“There will always be a lot of discussion about fast bowlers, and I know he spoke to [Jasprit] Bumrah after the game and he reassured him that if he’s going to be a fast bowler, a part of his journey as a young fast bowler, he’s going to get injuries.“So, in my experience, every young fast bowler, probably until they get to 25 or 26, is going to experience different injuries. It’s the most unfortunate. He’s got huge potential,” he said.While Lee had questioned LSG’s handling of Mayank’s injury, the head coach sounded different.“His rehabilitation was excellent. He went into the game [against MI], had a couple of bowls before the game.“He was completely pain free. So, it’s very sad for him and it’s disappointing for LSG as well that he might not play (the rest of the tournament).”(With PTI inputs)

Rishabh Pant: EXCLUSIVE – ‘If India wants to win…’: Former World Cup winner reveals the X-factor of Rohit Sharma-led team at T20 World Cup | Cricket News

Danijones8 months ago04 mins

NEW DELHI: After BCCI unveiled the 15-member Indian team for the upcoming T20 World Cup on Tuesday, former Indian cricketer Madan Lal has named the potential game-changer in Rohit Sharma‘s side. India could dominate in the World Cup, set to be hosted in West Indies and USA between June 2 and June 29, if they can perform well in the initial overs upfront.In an exclusive chat with TimesofIndia.com, the 1983 World Cup winner hailed Rishabh Pant, dubbing him as the team’s X-factor. Lal stated, “In a word, it (Pant’s comeback) is superb. If India wants to win (the T20 World Cup), he needs to perform well. It is as simple as that. He is a class act. At the moment, he is one of the top batsmen in the world. It depends on him, what position the team gives him, and how they use him.” Having seen Shivam Dube flourish in the Indian Premier League this season, Lal has supported the selection of the Chennai Super Kings all-rounder over Rinku Singh, who has failed to make the headlines, somewhat due to limited opportunities, at Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2024.Thus, Lal stated, “I think Shivam Dube has done quite well recently. And thus, the selection is ideal for me. He is the best hitter of the ball (at the moment). And that’s why I think they have picked Dube ahead of Rinku Singh.” Despite questioning KL Rahul’s complete exclusion from the T20 World Cup squad, Lal has expressed his satisfaction with Sanju Samson‘s selection as he told TimesofIndia.com, “I am happy with Sanju Samson’s selection because he has worked quite hard. He has been very consistent. The only thing that has gone against him is that he has not had enough chances at the international level. Otherwise, look at his batting, he is quite strong. KL is also very talented, and there is no doubt about that. It (not selecting Rahul) is another mysterious case.”“The game is won on the front when the top batsmen and bowlers play well. For the bowlers, if you don’t get wickets early on and then allow opponents to score runs against you, then that haunts you all the game. The same goes with the batsmen. The first six and last three-four are very important overs. That is the position where you would have to cash in. If you are not good during that phase, you may pay the price,” opined the former all-rounder.India’s schedule for the T20 World Cup 2024 includes matches against Ireland (June 5), Pakistan (June 9), the USA (June 12), and Canada (15), all to be played in New York and Florida.

‘I was surprised by the selection of…’: Former Australian captain on India’s T20 World Cup squad | Cricket News

Danijones8 months ago03 mins

NEW DELHI: Former Australian captain Aaron Finch conveyed his “surprise” regarding the composition of the Indian squad announced by the BCCI for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.The squad includes four spinners: Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav, among the 15 selected players set to represent India in the tournament taking place in the West Indies and USA from June 1 to 29.Sharing his thoughts, Finch said, “I was surprised by the four spinners as well. I had Rinku in there and only two spinners.”“In my initial squad, I had the extra quick because I think, because of the inconsistency that we have seen with everyone bar Jasprit Bumrah with the ball, especially in the powerplay, I wanted the extra cover of that quick. And if they want to play three spinners in the game, one of them has to be prepared to bowl in the powerplay, and I don’t see any of those guys doing it consistently, so I think they’ve backed themselves into a corner slightly,” Finch told Star Sports.However, former West Indies cricketer Ian Bishop expressed his approval of the selection, noting the potential behavior of pitches in the West Indies and the USA during the T20 World Cup.Bishop remarked that having four spinners in the squad could be considered a luxury rather than a necessity, indicating their adaptability to varying pitch conditions.“I guess spin will play a part in the tournament. The only concern I have is that the pitches for the World Cup may be slightly different from the ones we have seen in bilateral series or domestic tournaments. So I think it’s a luxury to have four spinners rather than it being a necessity.”(With IANS inputs)

Hardik Pandya: Hardik Pandya’s inclusion in T20 World Cup squad depends on IPL bowling performance: Report | Cricket News

Danijones8 months ago03 mins

NEW DELHI: India captain Rohit Sharma recently held a meeting with head coach Rahul Dravid and chief selector Ajit Agarkar in Mumbai during the ongoing IPL 2024 season, according to a media report. The primary agenda of the meeting, which took place at the BCCI headquarters, was to discuss the squad composition for the upcoming T20 World Cup.According to a report by The Indian Express, a crucial decision was made regarding Hardik Pandya‘s inclusion in the team.The trio decided that bowling regularly during the IPL 2024 will be key to Pandya’s chances of making the cut in the squad.IPL 2024: POINTS TABLE | ORANGE CAP | PURPLE CAPThe meeting focused significantly on the selection of fast bowling all-rounders for the T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the USA and Caribbean islands in June. However, the selectors face a challenge due to the limited quality options available. Despite this, they are closely monitoring Shivam Dube, who has been impressive with the bat but has only been utilized as an Impact Player by his franchise, Chennai Super Kings, due to their abundant bowling resources. Hardik Pandya, who is also leading the Mumbai Indians this season, has been struggling with his bowling form. In six games, he has bowled 11 overs, taking three wickets but conceding runs at an alarming economy rate of 12 per over. The Indian team management hopes that Pandya can find his rhythm, as his seam bowling adds balance to the playing XI, and his powerful hitting provides depth to the batting lineup.Reports suggest that the Indian selection committee is set to meet later this month to finalize the squad for the T20 World Cup, with the performance of the hopefuls in the ongoing IPL expected to play a significant role in their decision-making process.

Watch – ‘A trip down memory lane’: MS Dhoni with 2011 ODI and 2007 T20 World Cup trophies | Cricket News

Danijones8 months ago02 mins

NEW DELHI: The legendary MS Dhoni was back in Mumbai for Chennai Super Kings’ IPL 2024 match against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday.IPL ORANGE CAP | IPL PURPLE CAP | IPL POINTS TABLEOn Saturday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had released three pictures of the former India captain visiting the board headquarters at the Wankhede and admiring the ODI World Cup trophy he had won for the country on April 2, 2011.On Sunday after the MI-CSK match, BCCI released a heart-warming video that shows Dhoni at the headquarters.Dhoni signed a photograph of himself hitting that iconic six in the final against Sri Lanka to win the ODI World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium. Dhoni also signed another photograph of himself playing a Test match and then was seen admiring the 2007 T20 World Cup trophy that had capitulated him to stardom.The heart-warming video shows Dhoni with a smile as he roamed about the room filled with nostalgia. In the match against Mumbai Indians, Dhoni scored 20 runs off four balls, and that proved to be the exact margin of victory for Chennai Super Kings.