Author: Sandip Pawar

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram said communication was important while making the decision to shift the 2023 edition of the Asia Cup from Pakistan to a neutral venue. He lambasted BCCI secretary Jay Shah for the lack of communication before on the venue change. Shah, who also acts as the president of Asian Cricket Council, announced earlier this week that India won’t travel to Pakistan for Asia Cup, and the tournament will be shifted to a neutral venue.  Outrage ensued amongst Pakistani fans and former cricketers. Akram expressed his disappointment as well, more importantly for the way the decision was…

The Kiwis will kick off their T20 World Cup 2022 campaign with a face-off against the hosts of the tournament on Saturday. The Trans-Tasman rivalry will open up the Super 12s stage of the biannual competition at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground.  That the two sides find themselves in one Super 12s group shall not surprise anyone. Their clash is one of the most anticipated aspects of the game, with the rivalry growing in stature over the years amidst the Kiwi’s rise into prominence on the global stage.  Despite a limited playing pool, New Zealand boast of runners-up tags at…

Alzarri Joseph was the architect of the West Indies’ ‘do or die’ win over Zimbabwe in their second game of the first round, which kept them alive in the ongoing T20 World Cup. Jason Holder, one of the experienced and key players for the team, lavished praises on Joseph following the match on Wednesday. West Indies had found themselves on the verge of an embarrassing first-round exit when Zimbabwe openers smashed 29 runs off the first two overs while chasing 154. But Joseph knocked over Regis Chakabva on his second ball to provide the Windies a much-needed opening. The fast bowler then…

England could be dealt with a massive setback to their T20 World Cup campaign with left-arm seamer Reece Topley potentially getting sidelined. The 28-year-old is likely to miss their opening match against Afghanistan in Perth on Saturday and potentially the entire tournament. The player sustained this injury during a fielding drill ahead of their warm-up game against Pakistan on Monday, when he rolled his ankle on a boundary marker while attempting a catch. According to the England and Wales Cricket Board statement, Topley will be monitored throughout the week. https://twitter.com/englandcricket/status/1582249989212114945 Topley has played 16 T20 internationals this year, picking 17…

Australia Test captain Pat Cummins threw his weight behind David Warner for the vacant ODI captaincy. The fast bowler said Warner has been one of the leaders in the side and he would be open to sharing captaincy responsibilities with Warner. Following Aaron Finch’s retirement from the fifty-over format, Australia needs to find a replacement for leading the side, less than a year away from the ODI World Cup. Speaking on the eve of Australia’s first warm-up game against India, Cummins acknowledged that playing every game in every format is not plausible for multi-format players and suggested having a leadership committee -…

Sri Lanka could suffer a big blow with the promising left-arm seamer Dilshan Madushanka likely getting ruled out of the T20 World Cup. The 22-year-old suffered a quadriceps tear hours before today’s tournament opener between Sri Lanka and Namibia. The player was sent to get an MRI scan after he hobbled off during a practice session on Saturday. It is unlikely that he can recover in time to play any part in the tournament and could be replaced in the 15-member squad. Madushanka made his international debut only recently during the Asia Cup, where he was mighty impressive, picking seven…

Australia T20 captain Aaron Finch was asked if he endorses running out batters at the non-striker’s end after his teammate Mitchell Starc warned England captain Jos Buttler for backing up during the third T20I on Friday.  The stigma around a lawful mode of dismissal – that is running out batters at non-striker’s end for backing up – does not seem to reduce as more players keep speaking against it. Finch is the latest name in the list, stating he does not personally like the mode of dismissal. Finch was asked about his thoughts on the matter after the third T20I against in…

Left-arm seamer Marco Jansen is set to join the South Africa contingent to travel to Australia for the upcoming T20 World Cup. He replaces all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius, who is set to miss the tournament after fracturing his left thumb during the third T20I against India. The 22-year-old Jansen has only played one Twenty20 International game for his national side – on the tour of India in June, where he picked a wicket and conceded 38 runs in four overs. Overall, he has played three ODIs and seven Tests for the Proteas. Jansen has played for Mumbai Indians (2021) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (2022) in the…

Pakistan received a big boost ahead of the T20 World Cup, with Shaheen Afridi completing his rehab in London after a knee injury. The fast bowler is set to join the Pakistan squad in Brisbane on October 15. The Pakistan Cricket Board revealed via a statement that Afridi will be available for selection for both warm-up matches on October 17 and 19, where they face England and Afghanistan, respectively. His match fitness will then be assessed for their opening T20 World Cup clash against India on October 23 in Melbourne. “I’m super excited at the prospect of rejoining the national…

Team India bowled out the Proteas in the third ODI for just 99 in just 27.1 overs and chased it down in 19.1 overs, making it the shortest completed ODI in India. South Africa’s hopes of winning the series and earning 10 crucial points for their ODI World Cup qualification diminished as they ended up losing the third ODI by seven wickets on Tuesday. India made light work of the visitors, winning the match in just 46.2 overs and clinching the series by 2-1. Kuldeep Yadav led the spin carnage with 4 for 18, while Washington Sundar and Shahbaz Ahmed bagged two scalps each as they…