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New Mascot Duo to energise ICC world cup events

The yet-to-be-named mascot duo will be used to promote the upcoming World Cups, including the men’s ODI World Cup to be held in India in October-November this year….reports Asian Lite News

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Saturday launched a charismatic duo of mascots for the upcoming World Cups, representing the spirit and unity that cricket promotes across the globe that will excite the next generation of cricket fans.

The yet-to-be-named mascot duo will be used to promote the upcoming World Cups, including the men’s ODI World Cup to be held in India in October-November this year.

As the excitement builds for the highly-anticipated ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, the ICC announced the introduction of the perpetual characters with an aim to engage and entertain cricket fans and will become an ever-present fixture at ICC events, with fans now allowed to help contribute to the naming process of the mascots. 

Unveiled on Saturday at an event in Gurugram, India attended by ICC Under-19 Women’s and Men’s winning captains Shafali Verma and Yash Dhull, the characters represent distinct qualities that emerge as symbols of gender equality and diversity.

Hailing from a land far away, a cricketing utopia called the Crictoverse, this duo possesses the remarkable fusion of explosive energy and entertainment which will help enhance the overall fan experience and contribute to the vibrant atmosphere of ICC events moving forwards, the ICC informed on Saturday.

With a turbo-powered arm propelling fireballs at lightning speed, the female character’s pinpoint accuracy leaves even the boldest batters in awe. Her unmatched reflexes, fierce flexibility, and fervent determination make her a supercharged fast bowling prowess. Adorned with a belt carrying six power cricket orbs, each strategically prepared for various game-changing tactics, she stands ever-ready to set the game aflame.

The male character exudes an unmistakable blend of sub-zero coolness and high-voltage batting prowess. His every shot, from sneaky finesse to seam-smashing sixes, resonates with an electrifying force that captivates audiences. His electromagnetic bat and versatile shot repertoire amplify the excitement, setting the stage alight and electrifying the crease with every stroke.

Fans will now have the unique opportunity to participate in the important stage of contributing to naming iconic characters by submitting their preferences on the ICC official website till August 27.

In addition, to engage cricket enthusiasts young and old, fans have contributed to the design and development stages of the mascots through comprehensive surveys encompassing both qualitative and quantitative feedback. Their valuable insights have played a pivotal role in shaping the personas of the mascot duo, ensuring that they truly resonate with the diverse and passionate cricketing community.

The launch event on Saturday featured a mesmerizing 3D anamorphic video display that unveiled the origins of the mascots and their journey to join the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. Attendees were treated to an immersive hyper-visual experience, through the medium of optical illusions that engaged on-site and remote audiences alike, creating a captivating and shareable experience.

ICC Head of Events, Chris Tetley said: “We are delighted to launch the ICC’s mascot duo ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. The perpetual characters signify cricket’s universal appeal beyond cultures and boundaries with the mascots standing as beacons of unity and passion. With representation of both genders, they epitomize the vital role of gender equality in our dynamic world. In line with the ICC’s and cricket’s priority to connect with the next generation of cricket fans, these mascots hold the power to engage and entertain children, fostering a lifelong love for the sport beyond ICC events.”

The mascot duo will be available throughout the buildup and during the tournament to engage with fans on the ground, through broadcast and digital mediums. Fans will be able to come along on the journey with special mascot-themed merchandise available for sale online and in-stadia which will include unique wearable items like sunglasses, allowing them to carry a piece of the Crictoverse wherever they go.

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Celebrating 50 years of first-ever Cricket World Cup

The International Cricket Council initiated a five-week-long celebration to mark the anniversary of the start of the first-ever Cricket World Cup, the Women’s World Cup that was staged in England on June 20, 1973…reports Asian Lite News

Cricket has a unique place in global sport as the sport that organised the women’s World Cup before a men’s world event.

The women’s event was held in 1973 while the men’s took place two years later. The factor common in both events is that they were held in England.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday initiated a five-week-long celebration to mark the anniversary of the start of the first-ever Cricket World Cup, the Women’s World Cup that was staged in England on June 20, 1973.

The tribute to mark the anniversary of the tournament will end on July 28, the day the final match of the 1973 edition was played.

Over the next five weeks, the ICC will publish content that celebrates the event that began the global extravaganza for both the women’s and men’s games, seeking to pay tribute to the heroes of that era.

The tournament opener between Jamaica and New Zealand was washed out without a ball being bowled. The tournament was won by England, who beat Australia by 92 runs at Edgbaston on July 28, 1973, with the trophy presented to the winning captain, Rachel Heyhoe-Flint.

The tournament featured seven teams — Australia, England, an International XI, Jamaica, New Zealand, Trinidad & Tobago, and Young England. British businessman Sir Jack Hayward’s liberal sponsorship of GBP 40,000 brought to life the first-ever Cricket World Cup.

To begin celebrations, the ICC has shared several photos from the event on ICC’s social media channels. The photos include a picture of Jamaica cricketer Paulette Lynch posing with ICC Hall of Famer Heyhoe-Flint, who features in many of the images.

Several former players were delighted to share their memories of the inaugural event and what it meant to them and the game.

Enid Bakewell MBE was the tournament’s leading run scorer with 264 runs for England, scoring two centuries in four innings at an average of 88.00 and a high score of 118, the ICC informed in a release on Tuesday.

She said: “My main memories of 1973 are seeing my dad with his rug over his arm coming to me after I had scored a century!

“After the final had been won by England, we were presented to Princess Anne who later gave me an MBE at Buckingham Palace.

“Rachael Heyhoe-Flint was the real superwoman who fought to promote the women’s game. She took her ukulele to Lord’s and played it outside the ground on the street to let people know that women played cricket.

“She was a real inspira”ion on and off the field,” Enid Bakewell said.

Lynne Thomas was the second leading run-scorer and opened the batting for England. She ended the tournament with 263 runs in four innings that included a highest score of 134, averaging 87.66.

She said: “It was a great honour for me to represent England in the first-ever World Cup in 1973. I felt I was also representing my home country, Wales, of which I am very proud. It was a hugely successful tournament played in a true sporting spirit.

“The staging of the World Cup in 1973 put a tournament format into the women’s cricket calendar for the first time. It took place every four years and is still being played today. I think that its success has contributed to the forming of other women’s world events such as the T20 World Cup,” she was quoted as saying by ICC in a release.

Being introduced to Her Royal Highness Princess Anne before the final and holding the Cup after the presentation were also major highlights for the players.

“I have fond memories of the happy times the team spent together. The closeness of the team members, how we blended together and the fun we had. We all enjoyed playing cricket and the friendships we formed will last forever,” she added.

Louise Browne (Trinidad & Tobago captain): “It does not seem as though 50 years have gone by since I was asked to lead the Trinidad and Tobago women’s team to the inaugural Cricket World Cup in 1973. Four members of our squad had attended Cricket Week in Malvern (England) in 1971, but the rest of the team had not travelled beyond the Caribbean borders.

“At that inaugural World Cup, we placed fifth among the seven participating teams, with wins only against Young England and Jamaica. Our participation, however, brought recognition to women’s cricket, not only in Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica but throughout the Caribbean region.

“It is a pleasure to know that women can now play cricket professionally. The franchise tournaments being established worldwide have added excitement to the game. I hope that the present players will continue to be true ambassadors for our sport, and they will represent their country or region with the passion and pride that we did. Women’s cricket in Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean, and the world still has a long”way to go, but we are on the right track.”

Said Margaret Jennings (Australia), “It was the first time I had ever travelled to the UK along with most of my teammates.

“Previously, tours had been once every 10 years but here we were playing against the best teams in the World before anyone else had even thought of it. It was such a wonderful feeling to play against different countries and provided all of us with experiences money could not buy,” she said.

“Thanks to Rachel Heyhoe-Flint and Sir Jack Hayward we were treated well, and we all felt like real international cricketers in 1973. The concept of playing against all teams was one to be savoured and the final game against England where we were well and truly beaten, didn’t matter as cricket was the winner,” she added.

Sharon Tredrea of Australia recalled some memorable moments from the 1973 event. “This was the biggest thing to ever happen in women’s cricket, a World Cup format, prior to the men, none of which would have occurred without the amazing work of Rachel Heyhoe-Flint and her friend, Sir Jack Hayward, who sponsored the entire tournament.

“For me, representing your country is such a proud moment. To have had the opportunity to participate in this World Cup, now 50 years ago was a privilege. The competition during the World Cup was fierce, but played in a very sporting way, with a lot of respect for opponents. This World Cup showcased the best of the best from around the world and opened the eyes of many who dismissed women’s cricket.

“The build-up, once we arrived in England was incredible. It was like nothing any of us had experienced before. Every day, news articles in the major newspapers were published, and to have the opportunity to play on major grounds in the UK was mind-blowing.

“It created a tournament that has carried on through 50 years, albeit the format changing with the times, now 50 overs not 60, but it was the catalyst for more regular international competitions and the forerunner to the game we now see, boasting professional women cricketers around the world. I was fortunate to go on and play in three more World Cups, winning those three as a member of the Aussie team.

“Although it was bitterly disappointing to lose that first final to England, the media loved it and it pr”vided unheard-of publicity for the women’s game globally,” she recalled.

ICC Chief Executive, Geoff Allardice paid tribute to the pioneers of the women’s game, saying: “Today is not just a celebration of 50 years of the Women’s Cricket World Cup, but the first-ever Cricket World Cup and gives us the opportunity to recognise the women who were pioneers of our sport. In staging the first-ever Cricket World Cup, they set the foundations in place for the vibrant women’s cricket landscape we enjoy today.

“The global growth of women’s cricket is one of the ICC’s six strategic priority projects. Part of this is our mission to grow the number of female cricket fans and participants in the game worldwide and deliver ICC women’s events of equal standing and recognition with men’s events.

“The launch of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2009, the professionalization of women’s cricket around the world and the exciting number of global franchise T20 leagues is the fruit of the seed that was pla”ted by Rachel Heyhoe-Flint and her fellow players back in 1973,” he added.

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BCCI irked over ICC’s ‘poor’ rating for Indore pitch

BCCI elections result to come out on October 18, the day of AGM: Report

A two-member ICC panel will now conduct a review before announcing their verdict within 14 days…reports Asian Lite News

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has filed a formal appeal with International Cricket Council (ICC) over the ‘poor’ rating given to the pitch of the Indore Test by match referee Chris Broad.

According to an ESPNcricinfo report, a two-member ICC panel will now conduct a review before announcing their verdict within 14 days.

The Test, the third of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series between India and Australia and part of the World Test Championship (WTC) finished well within the first session on the third day after 30 wickets fell in the first two days at the Holkar Stadium.

Twenty-six of the 31 wickets in the Test went to spinners as Australia completed a nine-wicket win to claw back in the series after losing the first two Tests.

After the end of the game, match referee Broad in his report had said that the “pitch was very dry and did not provide a balance between bat and ball, favouring spinners from the start”. He further stated that there was “excessive and uneven bounce throughout the match”.

Broad’s rating meant the venue has now accrued three demerit points and this will remain active for a five-year rolling period.

The serious part of the Match Referee’s verdict is the impending danger of suspension to the ground. As per the rules, “When a venue accumulates five demerit points (or crosses that threshold), it will be suspended from hosting any international cricket for a period of 12 months, while a venue will be suspended from staging any international cricket for 24 months when it reaches the threshold of 10 demerit points.”

Earlier, Andy Pycroft, the match referee for the first two Tests, had rated the surfaces used in Nagpur and Delhi as “average”. Those Tests also finished inside three days, India winning both.

Notaly, match referees have six distinct markings for surfaces: very good, good, average, below average, poor and unfit. Only those rated below average, poor or unfit attract demerit points.

An ICC reconsideration or a review is not unprecedented. Recently, the world body had rescinded its decision on the Rawalpindi pitch which was initially declared ‘Below Average’ and allotted one demerit point. But on an appeal by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the ICC went back on its rating and withdrew the punitive measure to the stadium that hosted a WTC Test between Pakistan and England from December 1 to 5.

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Indomitable Australia

Mooney scored the highest for Australia with 74 runs off 53 balls while Ashleigh Gardner played a helping knock of 29 off 21 deliveries…reports Asian Lite News

A half-century by batter Beth Mooney and brilliant death bowling helped Australia clinch their sixth ICC Women’s T20 World Cup title, as they defeated South Africa by 19 runs despite a valiant knock from opener Laura Wolvaardt in the final at Cape Town on Sunday.

In the chase of 157, South Africa was not off to a good start. Darcie Brown took the first wicket, dismissing an in-form Tazmin Brits for just 10 off 17 balls after Tahlia McGrath caught her at mid-on. SA was 17/1 in 5 overs. Aussie bowlers had restricted the hosts’ run-flow during the key powerplay overs. At the end of the powerplay after six overs, SA desperately needed an uptick in their run rate as they were at 22/1, with Marizanne Kapp (4*), joining opener Laura Wolvaardt (7*).

The hosts were looking to get to the 50-run mark without any further damage, but Ashleigh Gardner struck, dismissing Kapp for 10 off 17 balls. South Africa was 46/2 after Darcie’s catch ended Kapp’s stay at the crease.

At the end of 10 overs, SA was 52/2, with skipper Sune Luus (1*) joining Wolvaardt (28*) at the crease.

However, Luus’s stay at the crease was short as well. Australia continued making further inroads into the match, running her out for two runs. Hosts desperately needed a partnership, as they were at 54/3 in 10.4 overs.

Tahlia’s second over and overall the 13th over of SA innings helped relieve some pressure due to a couple of no balls. One of the free hits was smashed for a six. 14 runs came from the over, taking the total to 73/3. The next over by Georgia Wareham also gave away 15 runs, taking the total to 88/3 in 14 overs. Proteas needed 69 in the final six overs.

Laura brought up her half-century in 43 balls with a four, the knock consisted of four boundaries and three sixes.

Schutt ended Laura’s 48-ball stay at the crease, trapping her lbw for 62 consisting of five fours and three sixes. SA was 109/4 in 16.3 overs.

Australia continued to make a comeback, with Jess Jonassen dismissing a well-set Chloe Tryon for 25 off 23 balls and Anneke Bosch being run out for one by duo of Ellyse Perry and Healy for one. SA was 122/6 in 18 and needed 35 in the final two overs.

The equation boiled down to 27 in the final over. Australia defended these runs easily, winning the match by 19 runs. Nadine de Klerk was unbeaten at 7 while wicketkeeper-batter Sinalo Jafta was unbeaten at 8. SA ended at 137/6.

Schutt, Gardner, Darcie Brown and Jonassen each took a wicket.

Earlier, a brilliant display of batting by Beth Mooney helped Australia post 156/6 against hosts South Africa in the summit clash of the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 here at Newlands in Cape Town on Sunday.

Mooney scored the highest for Australia with 74 runs off 53 balls while Ashleigh Gardner played a helping knock of 29 off 21 deliveries. For South Africa, Shabnim Ismail and Marizanne Kapp bagged two wickets while Nonkululeko Mlaba and Chloe Tryon scalped one wicket apiece.

Shabnim Ismail was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2/26 in her four overs and becoming the leading wicket-taker in the history of the Women’s T20 World Cup in the process.

Opting to bat first, Australia’s openers made it through a tense opening few overs, but Alyssa Healy was the first wicket to fall for 18 when Nadine de Klerk held on to a chance off the bowling of Marizanne Kapp.

Australia opted to promote Ash Gardner ahead of Meg Lanning in the batting line-up, but a stunning maiden over from Shabnim Ismail ensured the score was just 36/1 at the end of the Powerplay.

The decision to promote Gardner up the order did pay off, with the all-rounder smashing consecutive sixes as she upped the scoring rate. And the total had stretched to 73/1 by the time drinks were taken midway through the innings.

It looked like Gardner was in a position to take the game away from South Africa, but spin-bowling all-rounder Chloe Tryon broke the stand, sending Gardner packing for 29 from 21 balls thanks to an excellent catch from Sune Luus.

And Australia again took the aggressive option with their flexible batting line-up, pushing the powerful Grace Harris up the order.

Harris has a phenomenal strike-rate in her T20I career, but couldn’t really get going and fell victim to Nonlululeko Mlaba for 10 from 9 balls. And Meg Lanning, coming in at number five, was able to add just 10 from 11 before she was caught off Kapp to leave Australia in danger of posting a below-par total.

In the last over, Ismail struck twice to dismiss Ellyse Perry and Georgia Wareham to restrict Australia to 156/6 in the first innings of the World Cup final at Newlands.

Brief Scores: South Africa: 137/6 (Laura Wolvaardt 61, Chloe Tryon 25, Ashleigh Gardner 1/20) lost to Australia: 156/6 (Beth Mooney 74*, Gardner 29, Shabnim Ismail 2/26). (ANI)

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Smriti Mandhana named ICC Women’s Player of the Year

Despite India enduring a difficult 2021, Smriti stock continued to rise this year, scoring 855 runs in 22 international matches at an average of 38.86 with one century and five half-centuries…reports Asian Lite News

India opener Smriti Mandhana on Monday was named ICC women’s Cricketer of the Year for 2021. After being named in the ICC’s women’s T20I team of the year, Smriti has now won the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy awarded to the ICC women’s cricketer of the year for the second time after 2018.

The left-handed opener beat competition from Tammy Beaumont of England, Lizelle Lee of South Africa and Gaby Lewis of Ireland to clinch the honour. Smriti has also become the second women’s cricketer after Australia’s Ellyse Perry to win the honour more than once.

“I am truly honoured for receiving the prestigious Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year 2021. I am grateful to my teammates, my coaches, my family, friends and fans who believed in my potential and supported me in this journey,” said Smriti in her acceptance of the award.

Despite India enduring a difficult 2021, Smriti stock continued to rise this year, scoring 855 runs in 22 international matches at an average of 38.86 with one century and five half-centuries.

In the limited-overs series against South Africa where India won just two of the eight matches at home, Smriti played a major role in both wins. She made 80 not out as India chased down 158 in the second ODI that helped them level the series and scored 48 not out to win the final T20I.

Smriti then played a sublime knock of 78 in the first innings of the one-off Test against England at Bristol that ended in a draw. She played an important knock of 49 in India’s only win in the ODI series. Her 15-ball 29 and fifty in the T20I series went in vain though as India fell short in both the matches and lost the series 2-1.

“A recognition of such high class from the global governing body of cricket in an exceptional and difficult year will motivate me to continue to better my game and contribute to Team India’s success going forward. I look forward to 2022 with a clear focus on winning the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 in New Zealand as we continue to prepare as a team and unit,” added Smriti.

Smriti was in good touch in the multi-format series against Australia, starting with the ODI series where she scored 86 in the second match. She compiled a brilliant century in the only Test (the first of her career), and was awarded the Player of the Match for the same. She scored her second T20I fifty of the year in the final T20I, though India fell short and lost the series 2-0.

She made India’s first-ever pink-ball Test even more memorable by smashing her maiden century in the longest format. The left-hander played her natural game to begin with, and scored a run-a-ball half-century, playing with caution under the lights.

Smriti was caught on 80 but was given a reprieve after replays showed Ellyse Perry had overstepped. She made the most of the lifeline, reaching her first Test century in style with a boundary. Her innings finally came to an end at 127, after putting India in a strong position. The match ended in a draw, and Mandhana was declared the Player of the Match.

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Australia back to No.1 in Test rankings

On the other hand, India, who were ranked No 1 in the Test team rankings, slipped down to the third spot after their series loss against Proteas and have 116 points at present….reports Asian Lite News

Australia climbed to the top spot in the latest ICC Test team rankings released on Thursday on the back of their 4-0 Ashes series victory against England while India slipped down to the third position after suffering a 2-1 away series defeat in South Africa.

Pat Cummins led Australia won the first, second, third and the fifth Test matches convincingly against England at Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Hobart. England only were able to draw the fourth contest in Sydney, managing to save the Test by the skin of their teeth.

This relentless display has seen Australia jump up two places to No 1 in the rankings, overtaking both New Zealand and India with 119 rating points.

On the other hand, India, who were ranked No 1 in the Test team rankings, slipped down to the third spot after their series loss against Proteas and have 116 points at present. After a brilliant victory in the first Test in Centurion, they were dealt back-to-back defeats in Johannesburg and Cape Town as their quest for a first Test series victory in South Africa continued.

South Africa after their series win have climbed up one spot to No 5 in the rankings chart with 101 rating points.

Meanwhile, New Zealand, the inaugural World Test Championship winners, have retained their second position in the rankings with 117 rating points after their drawn home series against Bangladesh. After losing the first Test at the Bay Oval, the Kiwis bounced back with a comprehensive performance at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

Pakistan slipped down one spot to No 6 with 93 rating points. Sri Lanka, West Indies, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and Ireland have managed to retain their respective positions in the ranking charts.

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Aussies beat Kiwis, lift maiden T20I crown

it clash, Australia outclassed New Zealand by eight wickets with seven balls to spare while chasing a target of 173….reports Asian Lite News

Mitchell Marsh and David Warner played knocks of 77 and 53 respectively as Australia lifted its maiden T20 World Cup title here at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.

In the summit clash, Australia outclassed New Zealand by eight wickets with seven balls to spare while chasing a target of 173.

Chasing 173, Australia got off to a bad start as the side lost its skipper Aaron Finch (5) in the third over of the innings as he was sent back to the pavilion by Trent Boult. Mitchell Marsh joined David Warner in the middle and the duo took the team’s score to 43/1 after the end of the powerplay.

Warner took a special liking to Kiwi spinners Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner, and the left-handed batter brought up his half-century in the 11th over of the innings. However, the introduction of Trent Boult paid dividend straight away as he clean bowled Warner (53) in the 13th over, reducing Australia to 107/2.

Marsh continued with his carnage and he smashed Ish Sodhi for 16 runs in the 14th over, bringing up his half-century and Australia needed just 48 runs to win from six overs. In the end, Marsh and Glenn Maxwell (28*) guided Australia home by eight wickets.

Earlier, Kane Williamson played a brilliant innings of 85 runs as New Zealand posted 172/4 against Australia Asked to bat first, New Zealand openers Martin Guptill and Daryl Mitchell put on 28 runs for the first wicket, however, this partnership was broken by Josh Hazlewood in the fourth over as he sent Mitchell (11) back to the pavilion. After the end of the powerplay, New Zealand’s score read 32/1.

Kane Williamson and Guptill found the going tough as Australia bowlers managed to maintain a stranglehold over them in the middle overs. However, in the 11th over, Williamson changed the tempo of the innings as he smashed Mitchell Starc for 19 runs. But in the very next over, Adam Zampa dismissed Guptill (28), reducing New Zealand to 76/2.

Williamson smashed two back-to-back sixes off Glenn Maxwell and he brought up his half-century in the 13th over of the innings. The Kiwi skipper decided to go after Starc and in the 16th over bowled by the left-arm seamer, Williamson managed to score 22 runs, and New Zealand was looking in firm control at 136/2. Glenn Phillips departed after playing a 16-run knock and in the same over, Hazlewood dismissed Williamson (85), pegging New Zealand back. In the final two overs, the Kiwis managed to add 23 more runs, taking the score past the 170-run mark.

Brief Scores: New Zealand 172/4 (Kane Williamson 85, Martin Guptill 28; Josh Hazlewood 3-16) vs Australia 173/2 (Mitchell Marsh 77*, David Warner 53; Trent Boult 2-18). (ANI)

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Wade happy to have repaid the faith

Australia will now face New Zealand in the final, scheduled to be played on Sunday….reports Asian Lite News

After leading his team to the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with his sensational knock, Australia batter Matthew Wade on Thursday said that it hasn’t sunk in and it will take some time for him to believe what he did with the bat for his team.

Riding on the outstanding batting performances from Matthew Wade (41 off 17), Marcus Stoinis (40 off 31) and David Warner (49 off 30), Australia thrashed Pakistan by five wickets in a thrilling semifinal clash to reach the final of the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the Dubai International Stadium, here on Thursday.

Australia will now face New Zealand in the final, scheduled to be played on Sunday.

“It hasn’t sunk in but probably when I sit down tonight it might sink in. I was out of the team for 2-3 years, just came back 20 games ago and happy to have repaid the faith,” said Wade at the post-match presentation.

The wicket-keeper batsman played some outstanding scoops during his match-winning knock.

“Absolutely (preempted the scoops). I was talking to Stoinis at the other end and tried to work out what they’re doing. I got a little more pace on than expected, I probably could have used it a little bit earlier, but yeah.. glad to get a couple at the end. There wasn’t a lot of chat before I went in as we lost quick wickets,” he said about his shots.

Wade also praised his partner Stoinis for the much-needed support from the other end.

“..Me and Marcus had batted together in the first game and got some momentum today as well. I was a bit unsure but Marcus showed me the way out. There was one short side and I was confident that if I had to target that then I could pull it off, but it got down to two-a-ball and you had to hit everything in your arc,” he said.

“I got a boundary away early on and then stalled for 5-6 balls, but Marcus got the boundary away and got us to a total where I was confident in the last two overs,” he added.

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England injuries upset Morgan ahead of semis

England had already lost regular T20I starters Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes, and Sam Curran prior to the tournament, and have since lost Tymal Mills and Jason Roy during the World Cup….reports Asian Lite News

England captain Eoin Morgan on Tuesday said that injuries to many key players have levelled the playing field ahead of their first semi-final against New Zealand in the ongoing 2021 Men’s T20 World Cup.

England had already lost regular T20I starters Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes, and Sam Curran prior to the tournament, and have since lost Tymal Mills and Jason Roy during the World Cup.

And Morgan believes that the absence of these players means his team is not the clear favourites to beat New Zealand, despite being the top-ranked T20I side in the world and reaching the final four by topping Group 1.

“I wouldn’t say we are strong favourites, because New Zealand have a full-strength squad. We’ve obviously been hampered with a lot of injuries throughout this tournament,” said Morgan at the pre-match press conference.

“We’re playing really good cricket. The guys are extremely excited about the challenge against New Zealand and potentially the opportunity that might follow that. But we need to play really good cricket in order to beat them,” he added.

Losing Roy removes a key part of England’s top-order, with the opener a regular presence alongside Jos Buttler and a vital part of the attacking-intent policy that characterises England’s approach.

There are multiple options in Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Sam Billings, and James Vince to replace Roy at the top of the order.

“I think like losing any of your experienced players, you can’t really replace that experience that Jason has. He’s played integral parts in our two previous World Cup campaigns. We are blessed with guys who can bat at the top of the order and actually who want to bat at the top of the order,” said the England skipper.

“If you look around, the big-name players all want to bat or are batting in the top three in every team. And we’re lucky that we have guys who queue up and want to bat in that top three, which is great because they want to go head-to-head with the big named players in the tournament and big named bowlers of the opposition.

“I think we’re in a very good position because we have a number of guys to choose from. Within the group, we’ve made a decision. I’m not willing to share that, unfortunately. But the balance of the side will still be determined on how the wicket looks and how we match up against the Black Caps,” he added.

That decision rests on not just who will bat at the top of England’s lineup in place of Roy, but, if that role is taken by an existing starter, whether Roy’s place will be filled by an additional batter or bowler.

“I suppose replacing him with another bowler would mean that you have 28 genuine overs on the field and a lot of options,” Morgan acknowledged.

“If you were to go with a batter, it would mean a like-for-like replacement. When we turn up and look at the wicket, depending on if it’s a really good batting wicket, predicting if it’s going to be a really good batting wicket, might need the extra bit of bowling. If it’s not, you might need the extra bit of batting,” he added.

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Taliban wanted ICC to replace Afghan flag

The ICC – the global governing body for cricket – does not recognise the Taliban as a legitimate ruling force in Afghanistan….reports Asian Lite News

The national cricket team of Afghanistan is quite lucky to participate in the ongoing T20 World Cup in the UAE. Next time, the 11-member squad may not be able to compete in such a high-profile event because the International Cricket Council (ICC) is yet to decide whether to suspend the Afghan team’s membership or let them play, TRT World reported.

The ICC – the global governing body for cricket – does not recognise the Taliban as a legitimate ruling force in Afghanistan.

A source in Afghanistan’s cricket board told TRT World that because the ICC had drafted the match fixtures for the T20 World Cup before the Taliban took over Kabul on August 15, it could not disqualify the team at the last minute.

The Taliban also had a bone to pick with the ICC. They wanted the governing body to replace the Afghan flag with its own, besides requesting changes to the country’s national anthem, the report said.

“They wanted players to sing the anthem without music,” the cricket board official, who wished to remain anonymous, said.



The two sides eventually resolved their differences, allowing the Afghan team to participate in the championship, the report added.

“For the ICC, it was not an easy choice to disqualify the Afghan team at the last minute. They had to set their politics aside. They knew they would lose tens of thousands of TV viewers and hundreds of live spectators who love to watch world-famous Afghan cricketers like Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Zadran play,” the board official added.

And for the Taliban, letting the team compete in the T20 World Cup was in line with the group’s attempts to legitimise their rule in the eyes of the world, the report said.

However, a few weeks before the World Cup began, speculations were rife that the Taliban might ban the cricket team from playing in the oil-rich kingdom.

But those fears were allayed on October 6, when Qatar’s foreign ministry granted permission, at the request of the Taliban’s interim government, to the Afghanistan team to take part in a training camp ahead of the World Cup, the report said.

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