Jasprit Bumrah's effort touched by genius confined arch-rivals Pakistan to a defeat here on Sunday, but India skipper Rohit Sharma wanted his lethal weapon to perform at the same level for the entire duration of the T20 World Cup. Bumrah was magnificent in India's six-run victory over Pakistan in which he had figures of 3/14 in four overs which included an astounding 15 dot balls while defending a paltry total of 119. "He is going from strength to strength (Bumrah). We all know what he can do. Not going to talk too much about him. "We want him to be in that mindset throughout the World Cup. He is a genius, we all know that," Rohit couldn't stop praising one of India's greatest fast bowlers. Rohit said India had the belief that they would win the match because the pitch was not that conducive for batting. "With a bowling line-up like that you feel confident to do the job. Halfway through the stage when they were batting, we got everyone together and said that if it can happen to us, it can happen to them." The skipper, however, did admit that they should have batted better after being 89 for 3 at one stage. "We didn't bat well enough. Halfway through our innings we were in a good position. We didn't put enough partnership there and fell short with the bat," Rohit said about losing 7 wickets for 28 runs. "We spoke about every run matter on a pitch like that. There was enough on the pitch. It was a good wicket to be honest, compared to the last game." "Little contribution from everyone can make a huge difference." Bumrah, who has now won back-to-back man of the match awards, felt that pitch was slightly easier for batting in the second half as sun came out. But he said the entire bowling unit was very disciplined in its effort. "It feels really good. We felt we were a little under and the wicket got a little better after the sun came out. We were really disciplined so it feels good." Since it was a two-paced wicket, the idea was to hit the seam and get some lateral movement, offered Bumrah. "Tried to hit the seam as much as I could, tried to be as clear as I could with my execution and it all came out well so I felt happy," he said. Both Rohit and Bumrah acknowledged the vociferous support that they received at the Nassau Cricket County Ground. "Felt like we were playing in India, really happy with the support and that gives us energy on the field. We focus on the now. "We've played two games and played really well. You stick to your processes and look to play well." Dot balls cost us the match Pakistan skipper Babar Azam felt that the 59 dot balls conceded during their chase became the turning point. "We bowled well. In the batting, we lost back-to-back wickets and consumed too many dot balls. Again, we weren't up to the mark in the first six," he said. Asked about the strategy, Babar said it was about playing normal cricket. "Tactics were simple to play normally. Just strike rotation and the odd boundary. But in that period, we had too many dot balls. Can't expect much from tail-enders." Babar had a contrarian view on the surface unlike many who felt the ball wasn't coming onto the bat. "Pitch looked decent. The ball was coming on nicely. It was a little bit slow, and some balls had extra bounce." Pakistan will have to win against Canada and Ireland by big margins and hope that USA don't beat one among Ireland or India to enter the Super Eight. "Have to win the last two matches. Will sit and discuss our mistakes but looking forward to the last two matches." This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 June,2024 08:09 AM IST | New York | PTIJasprit Bumrah showed why he’s one of the best bowlers in the world through his sensational spell of 3-14, including 15 dot balls, as India successfully defended 119 to beat Pakistan by six runs in a highly-anticipated Men’s T20 World Cup match at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. After fast bowlers Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf took identical figures of 3-21 as Pakistan bowled out India for just 119 in 19 overs, with Rishabh Pant top-scoring via 42 off 31 balls, India clawed their way back in, thanks to Bumrah’s heroic spell, starting from him taking out Mohammad Rizwan. He also got excellent support from Hardik Pandya, who took 2-6 from two overs after conceding 18 in his first two overs. Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel took a wicket each to ensure Pakistan, who were 80/3 at one point, were restricted to 113/7, as India successfully defended their lowest total ever in T20Is in a remarkable low-scoring heist. Chasing 120, Babar Azam began with a punchy on-drive off Siraj, while Muhammad Rizwan was dropped on seven by long leg off Bumrah. Azam authoritatively pulled Bumrah for four, before the fast-bowler had the last laugh when his back of the length ball got extra bounce and seam movement to take his outside edge to first slip. Under pressure to tee off, Rizwan danced down the pitch to smack Pandya over long-off for six as Pakistan ended power-play at 35/1. After Rizwan survived a run-out chance off Hardik, Usman Khan broke his edgy run by slapping him over cover for four, followed by the former bringing out inside-out lofted drive off Ravindra Jadeja to pick another boundary. But India bounced back on the first ball after drinks break as Axar trapped Usman lbw at the crease with a slider coming from wide of the crease, with replays showing it would have crashed into leg stump. Fakhar Zaman came in to launch Axar down the ground for six and whip Arshdeep for four more, before top-edging a pull to Pant taking an over the shoulder catch off Pandya. Bumrah returned to rattle Rizwan’s stumps, while Pandya bounced out Shadab Khan as Pant sprinted to his left to take the catch. With boundaries not coming, India continued to increase the pressure and resulted in Iftikhar Ahmed took on a full toss from Bumrah, but holed out to fine leg, who almost collided with square leg, as his spell became the real differentiator between winning and losing for India. Despite an over-rate penalty forcing India to have an extra fielder in the 30-yard circle, Arshdeep caught inside edge of Imad’s bat on a yorker which Pant caught safely. Despite Arshdeep being hit for two fours by Naseem, India ensured they pulled off a remarkable heist to seal a memorable win over Pakistan. Earlier, on a tricky pitch where ball stopped on batters occasionally, only three batters reached double figures for India, as Pant top-scored with 42 - a largely charmed life at the crease, where his trademark unorthodox shots got him better returns than orthodox strokes. At one point, India were comfortably placed at 89/3 in 11 overs, before they dramatically lost the plot. Naseem, Haris Rauf and Mohammad Amir triggered an epic collapse with their brilliant bowling as India lost their last seven wickets for just 30 runs. In a bid to attack in the middle overs, India lost batters due to poor shots and kept picking out fielders, which meant they couldn’t stitch partnerships in a reckless batting performance. After 30 minutes of rain delay, and another 29 minutes of rain enforced interruption post the first over, Virat Kohli got going with a creaming cover drive for four. But he chased a wide delivery from Naseem, and picked out point. In the next over, Rohit Sharma miscued a pick-up shot off Shaheen and was caught by deep square leg. Amir beat a promoted Axar’s outside edge thrice in as many balls, before the batter cut and ramped Shaheen for four and six respectively. On the other hand, luck favoured Pant heavily – a healthy outside edge went past Iftikhar at slip for four off Amir. Immediately after, a top-edge on his wristy flick was dropped by Usman at cover and Pant’s attempt to drive again took an outside edge flying over Iftikhar for four more, as India ended a dramatic power-play at 50/2. Axar skipped down the pitch to drive over Iftikhar’s head for four, but in a bid to repeat that shot against Naseem, he completely missed the ball and was castled. Pant again survived on 17 when Usman shelled a chance to catch his top-edge on the slog-sweep off Imad. But from the 10th over off Haris, things changed dramatically for Pant. He lofted a slower ball over mid-off, fell over to paddle over short fine leg and flicked in the same region to pick a hat-trick of fours, followed by a lovely reverse-sweep off Imad to pick another boundary. But Pakistan bounced back as Suryakumar Yadav picked out mid-off against Amir and Shivam Dube chipped a simple catch to Naseem off his own bowling. Amir had Pant finally running out of luck when his miscued loft was caught by mid-off moving to his left and Ravindra Jadeja chipped straight to short mid-off on consecutive deliveries. Pakistan ensured India didn’t get to close their innings well as Rauf got Pandya flicking to deep backward square leg and had Bumrah hit straight to short cover on consecutive balls. Arshdeep’s run-out by Azam ensured India’s innings ended with one over unused, which didn’t become a factor in their stunning victory. Brief Scores: India 119 in 19 overs (Rishabh Pant 42; Naseem Shah 3-21, Haris Rauf 3-21) beat Pakistan 113/7 in 20 overs (Muhammad Rizwan 31; Jasprit Bumrah 3-14, Hardik Pandya 2-24) by six runs. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 June,2024 08:09 AM IST | New York | IANSAustralia spinner Adam Zampa said that pulling out of IPL 2024 was the “best thing” to do coming into the T20 World Cup, adding that skipping the league also allowed him to spend time with family and tend to injuries. Zampa played a pivotal role Australia’s 36-run win against arch-rival England at the Kensington Oval here on Saturday with the leg-spinner getting rid of both the openers, Phil Salt and Jos Buttler, in quick succession after they had given the defending champions a solid 73-run start in the chase of 201-7. “Yeah, obviously made that decision a little while ago to pull out of the IPL and I thought it was the best thing for me moving forward into this World Cup,” said Zampa at the post-match press conference. Family man Zampa “I was tired, I had some niggles and I’m a family man as well, so trying to put them first over work sometimes is pretty important. “I actually am a bit of a slow starter and I put in a little bit of extra work. My body feels great and I just did that bit of extra work. Maybe a bit more bowling than I usually would before a tournament like this. And then the practice games and everything just feels nice at the moment,” he added. With the win, Australia climbed to the top of Group ‘B’ with four points, while England slumped to fourth. Cricket pundits have started drawing comparisons between Zampa and the legendary Shane Warne, following the former’s crucial role in Australia’s title-winning run at the the 2021 T20 World Cup. ‘Captains backed me’ He also stepped up in big matches during the ODI World Cup last year, but Zampa, 32, said the thought had never crossed his mind. “Never really thought of it that way, to be honest. Like I had to fight for my position in the team for a long time. And then I was lucky enough to have captains that backed me, [Aaron] Finch really backed me in. And it’s the same with [Pat] Cummins and [Mitchel] Marsh as well. “And under this coaching management, my role is clear; I’ve done the work over time to build up that skill level. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 June,2024 08:05 AM IST | Bridgetown (Barbados) | PTILeft-arm spinner Akeal Hosein worked his inimitable sorcery with a fifer as hosts West Indies hammered Uganda by 134 runs in the T20 World Cup here. Hosein knocked the wind out of the Uganda batting unit with career-best figures of 5-11, helping West Indies bowl out Uganda for 39 in 12 overs, the joint-lowest team total in the men’s T20 World Cup. This was after Johnson Charles (44) emerged the top scorer while Andre Russell (30 not out) provided the hosts with the final push to help West Indies post a challenging 173-5. The win has boosted West Indies’ Net Run Rate to a healthy 3.574, which will help them in their bid to finish in the top two in Group ‘C’. “It gets tougher from here but we understand conditions and cricket is not easy in the Caribbean,” West Indies skipper Rovman Powell said. The gulf between the two sides was evident when the West Indies bowlers were operating. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 June,2024 07:27 AM IST | Providence (Guyana) | PTIWith England’s hopes of reaching Super Eight stage of the T20 WC in jeopardy following their 36-run defeat to Australia in their Group ‘B’ match at the Kensington Oval, former captain Nasser Hussain thinks the defending champions’ decision to bowl Will Jacks in Powerplay backfired massively in their deflating loss. Following a three-run opening over from Moeen Ali, Jacks was carted for 22 runs by Australian openers David Warner and Travis Head. “Australia outclassed England, it was a complete team performance. A total of 201 was too many on that pitch, even with that short boundary. The decision to bowl Jacks backfired but I didn’t like how they were too slow to go to their slower balls and cutters,” said Hussain to Sky Sports Cricket. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 June,2024 07:25 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSThe build-up had been prolonged and sustained, but when it came to the crunch, it was a bit of an anti-climax. For all the hype surrounding India’s clash against Pakistan at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, the elements dominated the narrative for the early part before the rains relented to allow potentially a full 20-over game. As expected, a sea of blue was the dominant theme at the most eagerly anticipated league game in the T20 World Cup. Fans had driven overnight from Toronto, among other places, but were met with a steady drizzle which delayed the toss by half an hour. After Babar Azam called right and promptly stuck India in, Rohit Sharma picked off Shaheen Shah Afridi’s third ball over square-leg for six and eight came off the opening over before the rain returned, forcing a further 35-minute stoppage. Virat Kohli marked the resumption of play with a sublime drive through covers off Naseem Shah’s first ball, but perished in the same over, toe-ending a flat-batted swat straight to the man brought to a shortish point just the previous delivery. Rohit was dismissed in the next over, attempting to reprise his six but finding no room to free his arms and putting Haris Rauf in business at deep backward square to give Afridi his first wicket. India were in a spot at 19 for two in the third over when Axar Patel was elevated to No. 4 to join Risbabh Pant. It was a move ostensibly to protect the top-order batters against the newish ball that seamed around generously. Axar opened up after a cautious start and Pant biffed a few fours of his own as India reached 50 for two at the end of the six Powerplay overs.
10 June,2024 07:20 AM IST | New York | R KaushikSouth Africa skipper Aiden Markram on Sunday admitted that batting on a “slow and fresh” Nassau County pitch has been tough, and wanted his side to revisit the strategies to score runs on the surface here. South Africa have won both their T20 World Cup matches here, but not without an almighty struggle. They chased 78 against Sri Lanka in 16.2 overs, and it took 18.5 overs for them to scale down 104 against The Netherlands. Difficult track to bat on “It’s still really fresh and just needs a bit of traffic. It’s not your usual boundaries and ball flying everywhere. The pitch has been quite slow. That makes it even tougher to get it through the ring. That’s probably the reason why it’s tough,” Markram said ahead of SA’s third Group D match against Bangladesh here on Monday. Hence, finding the right batting approach on this deck was important for Markram, who wanted to cash in on the experience of playing two matches here. “We’ve luckily had the privilege of playing two games now on the surface and at this venue. So, hopefully, it can give us clearer plans. “Hopefully, we can develop plans from a batting point of view to get to a score of maybe about 140 if we do bat first and hopefully then our bowlers can do the rest,” he added. On the bowling front, Markram has a lot to be chuffed about as pacers Anrich Nortje and Ottniel Baartman have hit their strides, taking six and five wickets from two matches. “Both of them have been fantastic. You look at Anna [Nortje], maybe in the build-up to the World Cup, he would have liked to have done better. Before his massive injury, he was, probably, one of the best bowlers in the world. I don’t think that changes. “Ottniel is really clear, keeps things really simple, got a nice skill set and that’s what they back. So, it’s great to see it’s worked for the two of them,” said Markram. Despite entering the match riding on two successive wins, Markram was not ready to take Bangladesh lightly. Eyeing Super 8 berth today The Asian outfit had defeated Sri Lanka in their tournament opener by two wickets. “Yeah, that would be fantastic [winning and sealing Super Eight berth]. Yeah, that’s sort of the first box that we want to tick. “But again, you look at conditions, you look at a really strong Bangladesh team and it’s going to be a proper challenge for us,” he added. 137-7Canada’s total against Ireland is the highest score at the New York venue before India v Pakistan clash on Sunday This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 June,2024 07:17 AM IST | New York | PTIOne of the the biggest rivalries in cricket, India vs Pakistan is underway in New York's Nassau County International Cricket Stadium. The Asian rivals will add a new chapter in their rivalry as the mega clash of the T20 World Cup 2024 will be played on American soil for the first time. Rohit Sharma-led Team India will enter the clash with a win in their T20 World Cup 2024 opener against Ireland. On the other hand, Babar Azam-led Pakistan have faced a defeat in their opening match against the T20 World Cup debutants USA. IND vs PAK head-to-head: In seven T20 World Cup meetings, "Men in Blue" have the upper hand with six wins out of which one victory came through the bowl-out against Pakistan. The "Green Shirts" have come victorious on just one occasion against Team India. Also Read: T20 World Cup 2024, IND vs PAK: Asian rivals and American conditions The New York pitch has witnessed some low-scoring matches in the T20 World Cup 2024, but today huge strokes can be expected during the high-octane clash between the old rivals, India and Pakistan. IND vs PAK live updates: Full Squads India Squad: Rohit Sharma(c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal, Sanju Samson, Kuldeep Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal. Pakistan Squad: Mohammad Rizwan(w), Babar Azam(c), Usman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Azam Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim, Abrar Ahmed, Saim Ayub, Abbas Afridi. IND vs PAK live updates: Probable XI India Probable XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj Pakistan Probable XI: Babar Azam (C), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Usman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan/Saim Ayub, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Haris Rauf IND vs IRE live updates: Confirmed playing XI India Squad: Rohit Sharma(c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj. Pakistan Squad: Mohammad Rizwan(w), Babar Azam(c), Usman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim. IND vs PAK live updates: Toss update Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and elected to bowl first against India. Star all-rounder Imad Wasim has returned to Pakistan's side by replacing Azam Khan. 10:59 PM: 119 (20 overs) India are bowled out for 119 runs and it is the first time ever that Pakistan have bowled India out inside 20 overs. The pitch looks pretty good for bowlers, let's see how Pakistan batters handle the pressure now. 10:43 PM: 92/4 (12.2 Overs) Suryakumar Yadav departs as Haris Rauf takes his first wicket of the game. India lose another one softly as Pakistan take four now. 10:29 PM: 72/3 (9.2 Overs) Pakistan have dropped three catches of Pant. India on a roll at the moment as Pant keeps the attack even after losing Axar Patel. 10:13 PM: 57/2 (7 Overs) Rishabh Pant is on the counter-attack, looks like he has a clear plan and that is to keep Pakistan under pressure. No half measures from the India batter. 9:57 PM: 42/2 (5.1 Overs) India bounce back in the contest with Rishabh Pant and Axar in the middle after losing two of their big guns Virat Kohli with captain Rohit Sharma. 9:47 PM: 20/2 (3 Overs) Rohit Sharma gets caught by Haris Rauf bowled by Shaheen Afridi. Looks like Axar Patel has been given the promotion up the order. 9:39 PM: 19/1 (2 Overs) Big wicket! Virat Kohli 4 (2) caught by bowled by Naseem Shah. What did we just see, Kohli has got out on a bad delivery as it was way outside off-stump and it was asking to be hit for a four. 9:20 PM: Rain has stopped and hopefully it stays this way tonight. The contest will now resume at 9:30 PM (IST). Pakistan have bowled one over and conceded 8 runs from it. 9:00 PM: Rain interrupts the T20 World Cup 2024 match between India and Pakistan yet again. After the completion of the first over, Team India is on eight runs for the loss of no wickets. Facing six deliveries, Indian captain Rohit Sharma smashed a maximum leading the side to eight runs. 8:54 PM: IND: 8/0 (1)Indian skipper Rohit Sharma smashed a maximum in Shaheen Shah Afridi's over. India is eight runs after the first overs.
09 June,2024 11:14 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn the heart of one of the world's most diverse cities, New Yorkers are poised to witness a historic event this Sunday, the inaugural T20 World Cup 2024 match to grace a US city, featuring two titans of the sport, India and Pakistan. "The India-Pakistan showdown is the pinnacle of cricket excitement, and the fact that it's happening right here in our backyard is simply exhilarating," remarked Ajith Shetty, president of two esteemed local cricket leagues, his anticipation palpable in every word. As the excitement mounts for this monumental clash, residents of the vibrant Little India neighborhood in Queens, just a stone's throw away from the makeshift stadium at Eisenhower Park on Long Island, share in the fervour, albeit from a distance. For many, the soaring ticket prices prove prohibitive, relegating them to watching the spectacle unfold on their mobile devices. The significance of this moment cannot be overstated. It marks the inception of the Cricket World Cup in the United States, adopting the fast-paced T20 format, a departure from the traditional test matches lasting several days. However, the exorbitant prices on the resale market, with tickets fetching no less than $800, have drawn criticism from Lalit Modi, the visionary behind the Indian Premier League (IPL), who decries the commercialization of the event. "This tournament in the US is about expanding the game and engaging fans, not exploiting profits from ticket sales," Modi emphasized, echoing sentiments of many within the cricketing community. Also Read: Ex-cricket stars back India to emerge champions in 'mother of all battles' Beyond the borders of India and Pakistan, the clash ignites excitement among immigrants from other South Asian nations where cricket holds sway. "It's akin to a battle between lions and tigers," remarked Faros Ahmed, a Bangladeshi native, encapsulating the intensity of the rivalry. As the manager of a local restaurant, Ahmed pledges allegiance to Pakistan, vowing to broadcast the match for his patrons, irrespective of nationality. While both India and Pakistan boast formidable cricketing pedigrees, encounters between the two nations are rare outside of official ICC competitions, adding an extra layer of significance to Sunday's showdown. Roop Sajnani, a native of India with vivid memories of his family's displacement during the partition, harbors a fervent desire for vengeance against Pakistan. Meanwhile, in the bustling enclave of Little India, a mosaic of nationalities converges, with Bangladeshis, in particular, rallying behind Pakistan, a testament to the enduring bonds forged through shared history. For some, the joy lies not in victory but in witnessing their rival falter. Mostakim Shahed, a Bangladeshi student, admits to relishing India's potential defeat, citing their perceived dominance and wealth within the cricketing realm. "We derive pleasure from seeing India lose, regardless of the opponent," Shahed quipped, highlighting a sentiment echoed by many across the subcontinent. As the anticipation builds, Sunday's match assumes paramount importance for Pakistan, reeling from an unexpected defeat to the United States. Wajahat S. Khan, a Pakistani journalist based in New York, encapsulates the prevailing mood, oscillating between excitement and trepidation. Despite grim forecasts predicting a Pakistan defeat, Khan remains steadfast in his belief in the team's resilience, cautioning against underestimating their prowess. The recent upset victory by the United States has sparked a newfound interest in cricket across the nation, propelling the sport into the spotlight. Amidst the frenzy of the tournament, Ajith Shetty, the stalwart of local cricketing circles, envisions a legacy extending beyond the final whistle in June. He harbors hopes of enhanced infrastructure for players in the New York area, although the dismantling of the Long Island stadium in July poses a logistical challenge for future endeavors. Nevertheless, Shetty remains undeterred in his quest for a dedicated arena, driven by a passion that transcends boundaries. As the sun sets on the eve of the historic encounter, New York brims with anticipation, a melting pot of cultures united in their love for cricket. For in this cultural crossroads of the world, where dreams are realized and legacies forged, Sunday promises to etch its name in the annals of sporting history. (With AFP inputs)
09 June,2024 09:31 PM IST | New York | Srijanee MajumdarPakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and opted to bowl against India in their T20 World Cup 2024 Group A match at Nassau International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Light rain delayed the toss and the game will start half an hour later than scheduled at 11m local (15:00 GMT). During the toss, a comedic incident unfolded featuring Indian captain Rohit Sharma. Ravi Shastri prompted Rohit to conduct the toss, unaware that the 36-year-old was instead waiting Babar to flip the coin. It was only after a brief moment that Rohit realized he had the coin tucked away in his pocket. Watch the video below. Pak vs ind Pakistan won the toss elected to first ball pic.twitter.com/7Cc9vScXB8 — Muhammad irfan (@smily_irfan) June 9, 2024 India, the pre-tournament favourites, won their opening game against Ireland while Pakistan are still reeling from a shock defeat at the hands of co-hosts USA. Pakistan welcomed back all-rounder Imad Wasim, who missed their opening game with a rib injury. Also Read: India vs Pakistan: Where cricket balls fly and diplomatic pleasantries die! Azam Khan misses out in the only change for Pakistan. India are unchanged as they look to take firm control of Group A which also features Canada. The surface at the New York venue has produced low scoring games and has been criticised for producing uneven bounce with organisers conceding it had been inconsistent. In the previous edition of the competition, India relied on Kohli's bat to secure a thrilling victory at the legendary Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2022. This time, Pakistan will try to avenge their slump by winning their first match of the competition after suffering an incredible meltdown against the USA in Dallas. Meanwhile, Rohit-led Team India started their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign with a comfortable win over Ireland by 8-wicket while Babar Azam-led Pakistan suffered an embarrassing defeat at the hands of associate member US. Speaking at the time of toss, Babar said, "We will bowl first because of the weather and moisture in the pitch. The conditions suit us, we have four fast bowlers. We will try to use it to our best. Past is past, we are looking forward to today's match, we are ready and will give our 100 per cent. Always a big game, our confidence is always high for India vs Pak. Azam Khan is resting." India are headed into the match with the same playing XI while Pakistan have made one change as they have replaced Azam Khan with Imad Wasim.
09 June,2024 08:15 PM IST | New York | mid-day online correspondentThe start of the T20 World Cup 2024 clash between India and Pakistan was delayed by 30 minuts due to light rain at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. The rain began to fall about 90 minutes before the scheduled start time of 10:30 local (14:30 GMT) with the 34,000 capacity venue around half full. Organisers said the coin toss would be held at 10.30 with the start of the game scheduled for 11.00. India won their T20 World Cup 2024 opening game against Ireland while Pakistan are still reeling from a shock defeat at the hands of co-hosts USA. Meanwhile, heading into this high-profile contest, the 22-yard pitch remains a major talking point, having already faced significant criticism for its unpredictability, which the ICC has officially acknowledged. In the six innings of the three matches hosted at the stadium so far, teams have surpassed the 100-run mark only twice. Some former players have wondered aloud whether the low-scoring conditions would be of any help in selling cricket to the American market through the showpiece. The four drop-in pitches at the venue, laid in April under the supervision of Adelaide Oval groundsman Damian Hough, are yet to settle down properly. Also Read: India vs Pakistan: Where cricket balls fly and diplomatic pleasantries die! The uneven bounce of the surface has also raised safety concerns for the batters, especially after Indian skipper Rohit Sharma was hit on his shoulder, forcing him to stop batting during the tournament-opener against Ireland on June 5. "I don't know what to expect from the pitch to be honest. We will prepare as if the conditions are going to be like this (for Pakistan game). This is going to be a kind of game where all XI of us will need to contribute," Rohit had said after the game against Ireland. A day after India's game, the ICC had to release a statement, addressing the growing concerns surrounding the pitches prepared for the New York-leg of this T20 World Cup. "The ICC recognise that the pitches used so far at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium have not played as consistently as we would have all wanted," the statement read. The Pakistan team, however, is yet to acclimatise to the conditions at Nassau Stadium. They arrived in New York on Thursday night following their shocking defeat to tournament debutants USA and took the next day off. As a result, Babar Azam and his squad have had limited time to adjust to these challenging conditions, which could be a disadvantage heading into this crucial encounter. And a defeat against India could significantly complicate their qualification prospects.
09 June,2024 07:53 PM IST | New York | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
