Sandeep Lamichhane To Join Nepal T20 World Cup Squad In West Indies

Sandeep Lamichhane To Join Nepal T20 World Cup Squad In West Indies

Sandeep Lamichhane will join Nepal’s T20 World Cup squad in the West Indies after missing matches in the United States because his visa was denied, the cricket association said Monday. Nepal had originally wanted to select former skipper Lamichhane, who had an eight-year sentence for rape quashed on appeal, but his US visa was denied twice despite intense lobbying. The T20 World Cup is being co-hosted by the United States and West Indies. “Nepali player Sandeep Lamichhane will leave for the West Indies for the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup and join the Nepali national cricket team,” association secretary Paras Khadka said in a statement. Spin bowler Lamichhane, 23, was once the poster boy for cricket in Nepal, but was convicted for raping a young woman in a Kathmandu hotel in 2022. That was quashed last month. “I am now joining the national team for the last two matches in the West Indies and looking forward to fulfilling my dreams and the dream of all cricket lovers,” Lamichhane posted on X, formerly Twitter. “To all our cricket fans and people back home everywhere who prayed for me, I will forever be grateful for your blessings.” His social media posts with the announcement were welcomed by fans and filled with congratulatory messages.  Nepal lost to the Netherlands by six wickets in their World Cup opener. They play Sri Lanka on Wednesday in Florida, before group matches in the West Indies against South Africa and Bangladesh. Before his rape trial, Lamichhane’s success as a leg-spinner had dramatically boosted the sport’s profile in the Himalayan republic.  In 2022, when an arrest warrant was first issued, Lamichhane initially failed to return from Jamaica, where he was playing in the Caribbean Premier League.  He was dismissed as national captain and arrested, but Nepal lifted his playing ban when he was freed on bail.  It allowed him to keep playing, including at last year’s Asia Cup in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, until he was convicted in January. The conviction was quashed in mid-May. Cricket does not enjoy the same attention in Nepal as it does elsewhere in South Asia. But the sport has been growing in popularity, with Nepal given one-day international status by world governing body the ICC in 2018.  Lamichhane was a major part of the rise as the most sought-after Nepali cricketer in lucrative T20 leagues around the world.  The bowler’s big break came when he was snapped up for the Indian Premier League, the world’s richest cricket tournament, in 2018. (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Topics mentioned in this article

Read More
T20 World Cup 2024, Match 10: Australia vs Oman Players To Watch Out for

T20 World Cup 2024, Match 10: Australia vs Oman Players To Watch Out for

However, Australia’s recent form is impressive, having won four out of their last five games, indicating a robust preparation and a formidable lineup. Players to Watch Out For Oman 1. Aqib Ilyas: A key player for Oman, Aqib Ilyas is a top-order right-handed batter who has scored 113 runs in his last five matches. Additionally, he contributes with the ball, having taken 11 wickets with his off-break bowling in recent games, making him a valuable all-rounder. 2. Zeeshan Maqsood: Another vital player for Oman, Zeeshan Maqsood is a top-order left-handed batter who has scored 86 runs in his recent matches. He also offers an additional bowling option with his slow left-arm orthodox, having taken six wickets in his last five games. His dual skills add significant depth to the team. 3. Mehran Khan: Mehran Khan is a reliable right-arm medium-fast bowler for Oman. He has taken two wickets in his last five matches, showcasing his ability to deliver crucial breakthroughs. His consistency and wicket-taking ability will be crucial for Oman in this match. Australia 1. Adam Zampa: For Australia, Adam Zampa is a standout performer with his leg-break googly bowling. In his last five matches, Zampa has taken 10 wickets, highlighting his prowess as a key wicket-taker. His performance will be pivotal in restricting Oman’s batting lineup. 2. Travis Head: A top-order left-handed batter, Australia’s Travis Head will be looking to make a significant impact. Although he has scored only 34 runs in his last five matches, Head’s potential to deliver big innings makes him a player to watch. 3. David Warner: Another crucial player for Australia, David Warner is known for his explosive batting at the top of the order. In his last five matches, Warner has scored 79 runs and his experience and aggressive style will be vital for setting a strong foundation for Australia. Conclusion Considering the strong lineup and recent form, Australia are expected to have an edge over Oman. However, Oman’s early momentum in the tournament and key players in form could make this a closely contested match. Fans can look forward to a captivating game as both teams aim to strengthen their position in the tournament. (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Topics mentioned in this article

Read More
India vs Ireland Likely Playing XI, T20 World Cup 2024: Virat Kohli To Open With Rohit Sharma?

India vs Ireland Likely Playing XI, T20 World Cup 2024: Virat Kohli To Open With Rohit Sharma?

India (IND) are set to face off against Ireland (IRE) in Match 8 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, but there still remain some questions about the playing combination Rohit Sharma’s team will opt for. The opening pairing has been debated around a lot, with Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal competing fo the second opener’s spot. Sanju Samson and Rishabh Pant are also competing for the sole wicket-keeper’s spot while Shivam Dube’s role also remains in the spotlight. Ireland are playing their first game of the 2024 T20 World Cup season. They have had a decent run in the T20 format of late and have secured three wins and faced two losses in their last five matches. India too will be playing their first game of the 2024 T20 World Cup season. India have won four out of their last five matches, losing only one. But which players will be in the spotlight? India’s Predicted XI for T20 World Cup 2024 match against Ireland: Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh. Players to Watch Out For in India vs Ireland match: India 1. Virat Kohli A prolific right-handed top-order batter, Kohli has been in fine form, scoring 33, 47, 27, 92, and 42 in his last five matches, averaging 48.2 runs per game. He is a top player to keep an eye on in the match against Ireland. 2. Jasprit Bumrah The right-arm fast bowler has been a consistent wicket-taker, claiming 7 wickets in his last five matches at an average of 13.1. One of the best bowlers in the T20 format, he will be a big threat to opposition batters. 3. Kuldeep Yadav The left-arm wrist spinner has an impressive record against Ireland, with notable performances including 3 and 4-wicket hauls in recent encounters against them. He has taken 9 wickets in his last five matches. Ireland 1. Mark Adair The right-arm fast bowler has been a standout performer for Ireland, taking 11 wickets in his last five matches and Adair will be keen to provide breakthroughs for his team. 2. Barry McCarthy Another key bowler for Ireland, McCarthy has taken 2 wickets in his last four matches and is known for his effective right-arm medium pace. 3. Harry Tector A promising right-handed top-order batter, Tector has scored 17 runs in his recent four matches and will be looking to improve his form in the upcoming match. Topics mentioned in this article

Read More
West Indies Pushed To Limit By Plucky PNG In Their T20 World Cup Opener

West Indies Pushed To Limit By Plucky PNG In Their T20 World Cup Opener

Two-time champions West Indies were put under extreme pressure by a plucky Papua New Guinea unit before scraping through with a five-wicket win in their 2024 T20 World Cup opener here on Sunday. Left-hander Sese Bau (50 off 43) made a fine half-century to take PNG to 136 for eight after the associate nation lost their first four wickets for 50 runs. A power-packed West Indies should have chased down the below-par total comfortably but PNG made them work hard for the win despite their limitations. PNG’s spinners as well medium pacers did not allow the hard-hitting West Indies batters to cut loose on a slow surface. The tournament co-hosts eventually got home in 19 overs thanks to rearguard action from Roston Chase (42 not out off 27 balls) and Andre Russell (15 off 9). The West Indies’ innings was halted for 20 minutes due to rain but there was no loss of overs. The passing shower arrived with the home team at 8 for one in the second over and it would have been two down at the same score had right-arm pacer Alei Nao won a lbw review for the dangerous Nicholas Pooran. After trapping Johnson Charles off his very first ball, Nao got another one to seam back in from short of length to leave Pooran stranded but luck was on the latter’s side. However, his scratchy effort ended when he was caught in the deep off left-arm spinner John Kariko. PNG skipper Assad Vala made it 63 for three inside 10 overs when he deceived opener Brandon King (34) in flight and had him caught at deep midwicket. Nerves increased in the West Indies dressing room when it became 97 for five in 16 overs before Chase and Russell got hold of the proceedings. After PNG were sent in to bat, Bau made instant impact on the big stage with his spirited effort. PNG, playing their second T20 World Cup, were reeling at 50 for four before Bau shared a 44-run stand with Charles Amini (12) to save them the blushes. Expecting the pitch to turn, the West Indies picked three spinners and put the opposition in after winning the toss. The help for the spinners was visible as early as the first over bowled by Akeal Hosein. However, it was pacer Romario Shepherd who picked the first wicket by having Tony Ura caught behind in the second over of the game. The ball seamed away, inducing a thick edge from the batter. Hosein got rid of number three Lega Siaka with an arm ball before Alzarri Joseph sent back Vala (21 off 22 balls). Vala came up with a couple of crisp hits in the cover region before being caught brilliantly by Roston Chase at backward point. Vala’s six over extra cover off spinner Chase in the previous over was one of the highlights of PNG’s innings. Bau then ensured that the odd boundary kept coming as PNG tried to consolidate their innings. Bau, a leftie like Vala, smashed left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie for a six and couple of fours to give the innings much needed momentum. After his departure, the associate nation did rather well to get close to the 140-run mark.  Topics mentioned in this article

Read More
'If You Put Shubman Gill And Rinku Singh Out...': Ex-India Selector's Blunt Take On T20 World Cup Squad

‘If You Put Shubman Gill And Rinku Singh Out…’: Ex-India Selector’s Blunt Take On T20 World Cup Squad

Former BCCI chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar feels India have one of the strong teams heading into the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. India take on Bangladesh in their only practice match of tournament on Saturday against Bangladesh, days before kicking off their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland in New York on June 5. The Indian team, led by captain Rohit Sharma, arrived in New York earlier this week to begin their preparations for the tournament. Speaking at a recent event, Vengsarkar suggested that India have one of strongest squads in the tournament, despite the fact that they left out key players like KL Rahul, Shubman Gill and Rinku Singh from the 15 man squad. “The current Indian team, I think, is one of the best in the world, I would say. If you could, you know, put a Gill out or Rahul or Rinku Singh out, I’m sure it’s a very strong team. And I wish them all the success. Because, I think, it’s one of the best in the world at the moment”, Vengsarkar said at an event at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Gill and Rinku have joined the team as travelling reserves while Rahul was missing from both the lists. Vengsarkar also pointed out that due to the uncertain nature of the format, any player can be a match-winner on a particular day. “The key players would like to play an important role in this T20 World Cup. It’s very difficult to say in this format because everybody is a very important member of the team. But the thing is that, as you have seen in IPL, the first six were very important. How you give a good start in the first six was very important. And of course, in this format, anything can happen. But I can’t say X, Y or Z is a key player in the team. In this format, anybody can win the match at any time of the match,” he added. India are placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, Ireland, Canada and T20 World Cup co-hosts USA. Virat Kohli was absent from the team training this week as he is due to reach New York few hours before India’s warm-up match. Topics mentioned in this article

Read More
England Star Banned From Cricket For Three Months Over Betting Offences

England Star Banned From Cricket For Three Months Over Betting Offences

England paceman Brydon Carse has been banned from all cricket for three months for betting violations, it was announced Friday. The 28-year-old, who was called into England’s 50-over World Cup squad six months ago, was given a 16-month sanction — 13 months of which have been suspended — following an anti-corruption investigation by the English game’s Cricket Regulator. Carse, who signed an England central contract in October, accepted the charges of placing 303 bets on various cricket matches between 2017 and 2019, though not on games in which he was playing. As a result, the Durham quick still contravened integrity rules meaning no “professional participant” (player, coach or other support staff) is permitted to bet on any cricket anywhere in the world. South Africa-born Carse, a veteran of 17 white-ball internationals for England, will now be suspended immediately from playing in any cricket until August 28. But provided he does not commit any further anti-corruption offences over the next two years, Carse will not face any further sanctions. “Whilst these bets were several years ago, that is no excuse and I take full responsibility for my actions,” Carse said in a statement on Durham’s website. “I would like to thank the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board), Durham Cricket and the PCA (England’s Professional Cricketers’ Association) for their support during this difficult time for me. “I will be working hard in the next 12 weeks to ensure that I repay that support on the field when I am able to return to playing.” An ECB spokesperson said: “We take these matters extremely seriously and do not condone any form of anti-corruption breach in cricket. “We support the Cricket Regulator’s decision and their consideration of the mitigating factors in Brydon’s case. “He has co-operated and shown remorse for his actions. We are satisfied that Brydon has shown growth in the five years since this breach and has demonstrated a greater understanding of his responsibilities. “We are hopeful that his case can serve as an educational example for other cricketers.” Carse’s most recent appearance for England came during a one-day international against the West Indies in Antigua in December last year. His ban effectively rules him out of a Test debut this season, with the last of England’s six matches in the format in their home summer, against Sri Lanka at The Oval starting on September 6, commencing just over a week after Carson’s suspension ends. (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Topics mentioned in this article

Read More
"Things Change During World Cup": Ex-India Star Aheaad Of Pakistan Clash

“Things Change During World Cup”: Ex-India Star Aheaad Of Pakistan Clash

Former India pacer RP Singh believes there will be a lot of pressure on the players during the high-voltage clash between India and Pakistan in the upcoming T20 World Cup. The marquee event is set to kick off on June 1 in the USA and the West Indies. One of the greatest rivalries in the history of cricket, India and Pakistan, will write a new chapter in their story on June 9 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York. While India’s World Cup-bound players were engaged in the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season to prepare for the tournament, Pakistan played the T20I bilateral series against New Zealand, Ireland, and England. They drew the five-match T20I series against New Zealand (2-2), won the three-match series against Ireland (2-1), and lost the four-match series against England by 2-0. Despite Pakistan’s dwindling form, RP Singh believes that things change during the World Cup and the level of pressure will be different on the players. “Pakistan is also a good team. They played against Ireland and suffered a defeat. Things change during the World Cup. The match is always high-voltage so there is a lot of pressure on the players. Indians’ performance in the World Cup has always been good. We just lost one match last time, and were dominant throughout,” RP Singh told the media during the jersey launch of the World Championship of Legends team India Champions. The level of pressure on the players and the emotional connection of the fans were visible during their last encounter in the World Cup. In 2022, the Men in Green were far ahead in the game against India. The Men in Blue needed 28 runs off a mere 8 deliveries to walk away with a victory. With Virat Kohli on strike against Haris Rauf, the stalwart batter took a step back and struck a towering six right over the head of the Pakistan speedster. In an emotion-packed game, commentator Gerard Whateley delivered the iconic “That is a shot of an emperor” line to describe Kohli’s masterclass. He tonked another maximum on the next ball, which laid the foundation for a successful 160-run chase for India. The match lived up to its hype, and the fans will be expecting another cracker of a match. Before the epic clash between the two cricketing giants, India will take on Ireland in their tournament opener on June 5. Pakistan will meet the USA in their opening clash on June 6. The fans will be expecting a similarly intense clash between the two Asian Giants that keeps them on the edge of their seats. India T20 WC Squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj. Pakistan T20 WC Squad: 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.) Topics mentioned in this article

Read More
"Australia May Not Need Me": David Warner On Playing 2025 Champions Trophy

“Australia May Not Need Me”: David Warner On Playing 2025 Champions Trophy

Port of Spain : The seasoned Australia batter David Warner is aiming for a spectacular finish on his final lap as an international player, saying that Aussies will play “fearless” cricket during the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup to create a unique piece of history. The veteran opener also feels Australia may not need him for the 2025 Champions Trophy. Warner announced his retirement from the longer formats of the game, and he left the door open for a possible return to the next major ICC event if the Men in Yellow require an opening batter. Although he announced his retirement from the longer formats of the game, he left the door ajar for a potential return to the next major ICC event, should the Men in Yellow need an opening batter. After winning the World Test Championship and one-day World Cup in the previous 12 months, Australia is aiming for cricket’s grand slam at the T20 World Cup, which has been enlarged to 20 nations. It will be played in the West Indies and the United States throughout June, with all of Australia’s matches taking place in the Caribbean. The 37-year-old Warner is one of just four players with a chance of becoming the first team to win three International Cricket Council trophies at the same time, alongside Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Travis Head. “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 indicate that it may not be the end, citing the ICC’s revived Champions Trophy, a mini-World Cup slated for Pakistan next year. “They may not need me,” he added with a laugh. Warner was unable to complete this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) due to injury in his left hand but demonstrated his fitness with 54 from 21 balls in a practice match against Namibia in Trinidad last week. However, he will not play until Australia’s first match, against Oman in Barbados on Thursday. His farewell from the big stage has been quite a trip. Australia defeated India in India to win the ODI World Cup in November, he said goodbye to the conventional game at the Sydney Test in January, and he will most likely say goodbye to T20 internationals in the Caribbean. Whenever the star batter does go, Warner is bound to go out all guns blazing against any team face. “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 believes Australia’s emphatic World Cup victory over India late last year, followed by a great performance against South Africa in the semi-final, has given them a “upper edge” over other teams. “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. (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Topics mentioned in this article

Read More
Virat Kohli In New York But Might Miss India's Only T20 World Cup Warm-Up Game. Here Is The Reason

Virat Kohli In New York But Might Miss India’s Only T20 World Cup Warm-Up Game. Here Is The Reason

Virat Kohli’s participation in the practice match will depend on how he is feeling.© X (Twitter) India’s premier batter Virat Kohli arrived in New York on Friday for the T20 World Cup, five days after his other team members but it is still not clear if he would be playing the warm-up game against Bangladesh on Saturday. “Virat Kohli has checked in at the team hotel and after a long flight, he would be taking rest,” a senior BCCI source confirmed his arrival. Having travelled for 16 hours to reach the ‘Big Apple’, his participation in the practice match will depend on how Kohli feels and if he is willing to have a hit against the Bangladesh side at the Nassau County Cricket Ground. Kohli has scored 741 runs in 15 IPL games. He doesn’t need much match practice, and he will still get three quality net sessions before the first game against Ireland on June 5. There was an optional training session on Friday morning in which Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube and Mohammed Siraj sweated it out under the guidance of the support staff. The team management and the BCCI have often made exceptions about Kohli linking up with the national team. He was also permitted a break before the South Africa Test series when he arrived in the ‘Rainbow Nation’ only to leave for the UK for personal reasons before rejoining the squad. He skipped the entire England Test series at home in February-March for the birth of his second child. This time too, for the T20 World Cup, the first batch of players flew in on May 25 while the second group touched down on May 28. Kohli has so far missed three sessions of training but if one goes by what the team management feels, they understand that the legend knows his stuff and his routines won’t be tinkered with.  (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) Topics mentioned in this article

Read More
T20 World Cup: Want Jasprit Bumrah And Arshdeep Singh To Lead India's Bowling Attack, Says Ex India Star

T20 World Cup: Want Jasprit Bumrah And Arshdeep Singh To Lead India’s Bowling Attack, Says Ex India Star

Former India cricketer Rahul Sharma wants Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh to lead the Indian bowling attack in the upcoming T2O World Cup in the USA and West Indies with Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja in the spin department. The much-awaited T20 World Cup 2024 is set to begin on Sunday (as per IST) with co-host the United States taking on Canada in the tournament opener in Texas. India will take on Ireland in their T20 World Cup opening match in New York on June 5 before the high-octane clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on June 9. The Indian squad includes four spinners (Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel) and three pacers with two all-rounders. Chahal is making his comeback in the Indian team after July 2023 and was in red-hot form in the IPL 2024. With slow and turning drop-in pitches in the USA, Sharma thought that Jadeja along with Kuldeep would be a much better option than Axar and Chahal. “We don’t know how the pitches in the USA will behave but as far I know the conditions there and some of the reports that are coming I will field Kuldeep Yadav along with experienced Ravindra Jadeja in the spin department and will want Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh to lead the Indian bowling attack,” Rahul Sharma told IANS at the inaugural event of Team India Champions. “With four bowling options, and Hardik Pandya or Shivam Dube as all-rounder and fifth bowling option the Indian squad will look balanced and it will be easy for skipper Rohit Sharma to use the bowlers,” he added. When asked about who he would like to see as the finisher role for the Indian team, Rahul Sharma said, “Seeing the way Shivam Dube has batted in this edition of IPL, especially against spinners it was amazing to see and also, he can be used as a bowler too. He dominated against spinners, batted sensibly against pacers, and didn’t look in any trouble. “So, for me, he must be given the responsibility of finishing the matches. And also we have Rishabh Pant in the middle, who has the ability to change the match from any point, so I don’t think there is any concern in the bowling department, and I hope that they dominate,” he concluded. India will face Bangladesh in a warm-up match on Saturday at the newly-built Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in the USA, which is scheduled to host eight matches of the marquee tournament, including three games of India. The highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash, penciled for June 9, will also be hosted at this venue. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) Topics mentioned in this article

Read More