Tag: ICC World Cup 2023

Pakistan legend Waqar Younis on Monday advised misfiring strike bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi to learn from India seamer Jasprit Bumrah if he wants to make an impact at the ICC World Cup 2023.

Shaheen Afridi is struggling with his pace and fitness and has been unimpressive in all three games at the ICC World Cup 2023 where his four wickets have come at a cost of 139 runs.

“I don’t know if there is a problem with his fitness,” Waqar, who is in India as a commentator, told AFP.

“The missing link in his bowling is discipline and he is over trying to get wickets.

“When you do the same thing again and again, like Shaheen is bowling to get his yorker going, then batsmen know that and they are ready for it.”

Waqar Younis suggested Shaheen Afridi should follow the example set by Bumrah who he described as a “top bowler.”

The Indian spearhead is the joint top wicket-taker in the ICC World Cup 2023 with eight wickets at just 11.52.

New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner and fast bowler Matt Henry also have eight victims each.

India thumped Pakistan by seven wickets in Ahmedabad on Saturday, with Shaheen unable to help Pakistan defend a meagre 192-run target.

In contrast, Bumrah dismissed Mohammad Rizwan and Shadab Khan with two well-executed deliveries to finish with 2-19 in seven overs.

“Bumrah is creating pressure and his line is top of the off stump. He bowled so well against Pakistan and created pressure to get wickets,” said Waqar.

Shaheen, 23, has been leading Pakistan’s new-ball attack since taking 16 wickets in five World Cup games in the United Kingdom four years ago.

He has been likened to former great Wasim Akram who with 414 Test and 502 ODI wickets was regarded as one of the best left-arm pacers to have played cricket.

But former India allrounder Ravi Shastri blasted the comparison during the Pakistan-India match, saying: “Shaheen is no Wasim Akram”, claiming that the Pakistan star is “not special.”

Waqar believes that the absence of regular new-ball partner Naseem Shah — ruled out of the ICC World Cup 2023 with a shoulder injury — may have had a detrimental effect on Shaheen’s performances so far.

“Naseem is a good bowler and doesn’t give many runs away,” said Waqar of the 20-year-old.

“When Naseem creates pressure, batsmen take chances with other bowlers and they get wickets.”

Waqar Younis said Pakistan’s bowling was “lacking discipline” at the World Cup where three games have yielded two wins and one loss.

“I don’t think it’s because of missing just one bowler, but it’s because they are not keeping it simple.”

Pakistan, who beat the Netherlands and Sri Lanka before losing to India, next face Australia in Bengaluru on Friday.

READ: Zampa spins web to help Australia book Sri Lanka at 209

LUCKNOW: Adam Zampa’s four-fer, followed by Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis’ half-centuries led Australia to edge Sri Lanka by five wickets in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023.

Five-time champions Australia registered their first victory by completing a modest 210-run pursuit in the 36th over for the loss of five wickets.

Australia, however, had a contrasting start to their run-chase as they were two down for just 24 runs in four overs after David Warner (11) and Steve Smith (0) perished in the same over.

Opening batter Mitchell Marsh was then joined by Marnus Labuschagne at the crease and they anchored the run chase with a sensible 57-run partnership.

Marsh, who was dominating the Sri Lankan bowlers, had a disappointing end to his brilliant knock as he was run out in the 15th over.

He scored 52 in 51 balls with the help of nine boundaries.

Labuschagne was then involved in yet another vital partnership for Australia as he put together a 77-run stand with Josh Inglis before falling victim to Dilshan Madushanka in the 29th over.

He remained a notable contributor for Australia with a cautious 40. His 50-ball knock included only two boundaries.

Josh Inglis spearheaded Australia’s run chase after Labuschagne’s departure before returning to the pavilion in the 34th over when his side still needed 18 runs.

He top-scored for Australia with a 59-ball 58 which featured five boundaries and a six.

Glenn Maxwell (31 off 21) and Marcus Stonis’ brisk cameos at the backend, steered Australia to their first victory in the ICC World Cup 2023, which lifted them to eighth in the standings.

Australia after winning the toss, invited Sri Lanka to bat first and struggled early on due to Sri Lankan openers’ onslaught.

Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera scored half-centuries to pile up 125 runs during their opening stand.

Nissanka completed his second consecutive half-century in 58 balls, while, Kusal Perera took a ball less to reach the milestone.

However, Australian captain Pat Cummins broke the stand, courtesy of a brilliant catch by David Warner to dismiss Nissanka.

Nissanka played a 61-run knock off 67 balls, featuring eight boundaries.

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Kusal Perera, then added 24 runs in the 32-run partnership with Kusal Mendis, until Pat Cummins castled him at a total of 157.

Perera top-scored with 78 off 82, with the help of 12 boundaries.

Sri Lankan batters could not recover from this and kept losing wickets at an alarming rate, courtesy of a brilliant bowling display by Australia.

Charith Asalanka fought a lone battle while losing partners on the other end as none of the last nine batters could reach double figures except him.

He scored 25 runs off 35 balls before being caught by Labuschagne off Maxwell to end the Sri Lankan innings at 209 in the 44th over.

Adam Zampa led the bowling attack, while Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc managed two wickets each.

READ: Australian women cricketers want more South Asian representation in WBBL

Australian women’s cricket team’s players extended their heartfelt support to Australia’s men’s team, currently participating in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023 in India.

Allrounder Ellyse Perry termed Australia the ‘favourite’ to win the ICC World Cup 2023.

“Australia is favorite for both Pakistan match in Bengaluru and to lift up the World Cup,” said Ellyse Perry.

Australian women’s team’s leg spin allrounder Alana King also wished the Australian men’s team luck but termed host India a ‘tough’ team.

“Hosts India would be a really tough opponent, but our good wishes are with Australia men’s squad,” said Alana King.

She further shed light on which teams she thinks can be the final four teams in the ICC World Cup 2023.

“Pakistan and South Africa are also strong contenders for the final four,” she added.

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

Australia is currently playing against Sri Lanka in their third match of the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023, after losing their two earlier games.

Australia faced hosts India in their opening game in the tournament and faced a heavy six-wicket defeat.

Virat Kohli and KL Rahul scored anchoring half-centuries after a disciplined performance by the bowlers to thump the five-time champions.

This loss was followed by a 134-run thrashing by South Africa, courtesy of Quinton de Kock’s second consecutive century and a combined bowling effort.

The back-to-back losses resulted in Australia sinking at the points table with a net run-rate of -1.846.

Australia squad for the ICC World Cup 2023

Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc.

READ: Trott believes Afghanistan’s upset win will encourage more youngsters to play cricket

Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott hopes Sunday’s ICC World Cup 2023 upset win over England will “encourage boys and girls” to take up cricket even though the country’s Taliban rulers ban women from playing sport.

The 69-run victory will be regarded as one of the biggest shocks in the history of the tournament as Afghanistan ended a 14-match World Cup losing streak.

“It’s not just cricket that the guys are playing for,” said Trott, who recognised the significance of a win for a nation reeling from recent earthquakes and the Taliban’s fractious international relations.

“The guys are very knowledgeable of the things and the hardship that some people are going through because of the natural disaster and for various other reasons.

“And so, if this can give a smile to people’s faces but also encourage boys and girls to pick up a cricket bat or a cricket ball and get playing cricket wherever they are in Afghanistan, then that’s the sort of the goal that’s been achieved.”

Before Sunday, Afghanistan had only won one match at the World Cup when they defeated Scotland on their 2015 debut.

They lost all nine matches they played at the 2019 tournament in England, including a 150-run rout at the hands of the hosts.

But having scored 284 on Sunday thanks to dashing opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s blistering 80 and Ikram Alikhil’s 58, Afghanistan’s bowlers set to work.

Only Harry Brook with 66 showed any real defiance while spinners Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan claimed three wickets each as England were dismissed for 215.

The result left both sides with a win and two losses each after three games of the 10-nation tournament.

“This win is significant, certainly in the manner and by the margin as well,” added Trott.

“There’s a lot of confidence that will hopefully come from this, it’ll have a knock-on effect to all the other games, but not only in this World Cup, but for the future as well.”

Trott knows all about World Cup shocks. In 2011, he was part of the England team humbled by Ireland in Bengaluru despite him scoring 92.

“That’s the beauty of the World Cup, isn’t it? That’s what cricket’s about, it pushes and pulls you so much emotionally as a player and as a coach.

“But we can compete with anybody in the world.”

Next up for Afghanistan are New Zealand who have three wins from three games including seeing off England in the tournament opener.

New Zealand, runners-up at the last two World Cups, will be favourites.

Trott, however, believes that his players’ exposure to the international game through Twenty20 franchise cricket has only served to bolster Afghanistan’s self-belief.

“I think the fact that a lot of our players have played with the English players in franchise cricket, they get to know the ins and outs of each player so there’s that familiarity and also the confidence,” he explained.

“Sometimes I think when you see big Test-playing nations you sort of hold them in high regard. I think playing with players like that you see that they are human and you are just as entitled to win.”

READ: “Babar and Rizwan were timid,” says Hardik Pandya

BENGALURU: Pakistan’s all-format captain Babar Azam celebrated his 29th birthday with teammates ahead of their ICC World Cup 2023 fixture against Australia, scheduled on October 20.

Babar Azam-led Pakistan’s contingent reached here on Sunday evening via a chartered flight from Ahmedabad.

Briefly, after landing at Kempegowda International Airport, the team was taken to a local hotel, where the birthday celebrations of the star batter began.

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) shared footage of Babar Azam’s birthday celebration.

In the video, the Pakistan captain can be seen cutting a customized cake on his 29th birthday, accompanied by his teammates and the hotel staff.

“Celebrating our skipper [Babar Azam’s] birthday at the team hotel in Bengaluru,” wrote PCB.

Celebrating our skipper @babarazam258's birthday at the team hotel in Bengaluru 🎂✨#CWC23 pic.twitter.com/D8Lrfet5in

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 15, 2023

For the unversed, this was Babar’s second straight birthday, which fell during an ICC tournament.

He celebrated his 28th birthday on the ICC Captains’ Day ahead of the T20 World Cup 2022.

Following a joint press conference ahead of the commencement of the mega event, all teams’ skippers celebrated the Pakistan captain’s birthday.

Babar was having a conversation with Scotland captain Richie Berrington when Australia’s Aaron Finch surprised him with the birthday cake.

Meanwhile, Babar-led Pakistan, which succumbed to a seven-wicket thrashing against India, next face five-time champions Australia on Friday.

The former champions currently sit fourth in the ICC World Cup 2023 standings with four points in three matches while Australia are ninth.

Pakistan squad for ICC World Cup 2023

Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, M Wasim Jnr, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha.

Travelling reserves: Mohammad Haris, Abrar Ahmed, Zaman Khan

Pakistan’s remaining ICC World Cup 2023 fixtures

• October 20 – vs Australia in Bengaluru
• October 23 – vs Afghanistan in Chennai
• October 27 – vs South Africa in Chennai
• October 31 – vs Bangladesh in Kolkata
• November 4 – vs New Zealand Bengaluru (Day match)
• November 11 – vs England in Kolkata

The day matches will start at 10:00 am Pakistan Standard Time (PST) while all other matches will be day-night fixtures, starting at 01:30 pm (PST).

READ: Injured Travis Head shares ICC World Cup 2023 return plans

Pakistan Men’s cricket team landed in Bengaluru through a chartered plane from Ahmedabad on Sunday for their next ICC World Cup 2023 fixture against Australia, scheduled on October 20.

Upon their arrival, the Pakistan contingent will enjoy a rest day today while the details of their training sessions are not known yet.

Pakistan, currently sitting fourth in the ICC World Cup 2023 standings with four points in three matches, will lock horns with five-time champions Australia on Friday, who are on a four-match losing streak, two of which came in the ongoing tournament.

The green shirts, on the contrary, will be eyeing to bounce back from their seven-wicket thrashing against India on Saturday.

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

Rohit Sharma’s quickfire 86 after a combined effort from the bowlers led India to a dominant victory against Pakistan.

Chasing a modest total of 192, India comfortably steered to glory for the loss of just three wickets and 117 balls to spare.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma gave the hosts a head start by charging on the Pakistan bowlers right from the start.

He top-scored for India in the pursuit with a quickfire 63-ball 86 which featured six boundaries and as many sixes.

Shreyas Iyer took the reigns of India’s pursuit after Rohit’s dismissal and knitted a match-winning 36-run partnership with KL Rahul, who scored 19 not out.

Iyer remained a notable contributor in India’s pursuit with an unbeaten half-century. His 62-ball 53 featured three boundaries and two sixes.

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Put into bat first, Pakistan could post 191 runs on the board despite their captain Babar Azam’s half-century.

The former champions, at one stage, were looking in a strong position to amass the 300-run mark but a middle-order collapse, resulted in them bowling out at a meagre total.

Babar Azam remained the top-scorer for his side with 50 in 58 deliveries with the help of seven boundaries.

Wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan was the other notable run-getter for Pakistan with a 69-ball 49, hitting seven boundaries.

Pakistan squad for ICC World Cup 2023

Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, M Wasim Jnr, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha.

Travelling reserves: Mohammad Haris, Abrar Ahmed, Zaman Khan

Pakistan’s remaining ICC World Cup 2023 fixtures

• October 20 – vs Australia in Bengaluru
• October 23 – vs Afghanistan in Chennai
• October 27 – vs South Africa in Chennai
• October 31 – vs Bangladesh in Kolkata
• November 4 – vs New Zealand Bengaluru (Day match)
• November 11 – vs England in Kolkata

The day matches will start at 10:00 am Pakistan Standard Time (PST) while all other matches will be day-night fixtures, starting at 01:30 pm (PST).

READ: Injured Travis Head shares World Cup return plans

Travis Head is all set to join the Australia squad at the ICC World Cup 2023 as the batter returned to the nets for the first time since he suffered a fractured hand in South Africa.

The left-handed batter, who was named in the 15-member World Cup squad despite copping a fracture to his left hand during the South Africa series, has recovered faster than expected.

Travis Head had the protective splint removed from his hand late last week and since then has been active in the nets.

According to reports, Head has faced more throw downs in the practice nets and will fly out to India this Thursday.

He’ll be unavailable still for the clash against Pakistan, Australia’s fourth game of the tournament, in Bengaluru, but could potentially return for the Netherlands game in Delhi on October 25.

“It’s coming along well, and probably better than we hoped,” Travis Head said in an interview with cricket.com.au.

“When we decided not to go with surgery, which would have meant a 10-week recovery, we were told it would be minimum six weeks with the splint before we could look at playing again,” he said.

He added, “Going by that plan, the Netherlands game will be just under six weeks from impact which is a pretty aggressive date so everything would have to go perfectly from here to make that deadline”.

“But we’ll just see how it progresses over the next few days and I’m excited by the prospect of joining the boys over there later in the week,” the batter concluded.

Any of the Australian batters are yet to score a half-century in the tournament and have been bowled out for 199 and 177 in their two games.

Travis Head’s return will be timely for the Australia, who are on a four-match losing streak, two of them coming in this year’s edition, at the World Cup 2023.

With two losses in two games and Mitchell Marsh making scores of 0 and 7 from Head’s position at the top, the Aussies will be glad to have the left-hander back partnering David Warner.

Travis Head’s ODI record at the top of the order is mind-blowing with him averaging over 50 and scoring at a rate of 112.35 as opener in the format.

READ: Gurbaz, Ikram power Afghanistan to 284 against holders England

NEW DELHI: Afghanistan registered a historic victory as they stunningly defeated defending champions England by 69 runs in the 13th match of the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023 on Sunday.

Set to chase 285, holders England could score 215 in response before being bundled out in the 41st over to hand Afghanistan the biggest victory in their World Cup history.

England got off to a dismal start to the run chase as they lost Jonny Bairstow (2) in the second over with just three runs on the board.

The reigning champions continued to sink into trouble as they lost wickets at regular intervals with their key batters Joe Root (11), Dawid Malan (32), Jos Buttler (9) and Liam Livingstone (10) perishing with modest contributions.

With half of their batters returned to the dugout, England’s hopes were tied on Harry Brook, who waged a lone battle for his side with a gutsy half-century.

His resilience, however, came to an end in the 35th over when Mujeeb got him caught behind and England slipped to 169/8.

Brook remained the top-scorer for England with a 61-ball 66, laced up with seven boundaries and a six.

Late contributions from Adil Rashid (20), Reece Topley (15), and Mark Wood (18) only helped England surpass the 200-run mark.

Star Afghan spinners Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan led the bowling charge for their side by picking up three wickets each while Mohammad Nabi bagged two.

Pacers Naveen-ul-Haq and Fazalhaq Farooqi had a wicket apiece to their names.

After being put to bat, Afghanistan got off to a flying start with a 114-run opening stand, dominated by Rahmanullah Gurbaz.

Ibrahim Zadran contributed a mere 28 runs to the total before falling prey to Adil Rashid, who then sent Rahmat Shah back to the pavilion in the next over.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz who was playing at 80, was then ran out on the next ball, reducing Afghanistan to 122-3.

Gurbaz took only 57 balls to score 80, with the help of eight boundaries and four sixes.

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England bowlers capitalized and kept things really tight to incite Afghanistan batters to make mistakes, resulting in them collapsing to 190-6 in the 37th over.

Ikram Alikhil and Rashid Khan (23) then joined hands to knit a 43-run stand to help Afghanistan recover, but Adil Rashid struck again to break the partnership.

Alikhil anchored through the innings and played a gutsy knock of 58 runs from 66 deliveries, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman played a brisk 28-run cameo to push Afghanistan’s total to 277.

However, England bowlers picked back-to-back wickets and gave away only seven more runs for the last wicket to book Afghanistan to 284.

Adil Rashid led the bowling attack with three wickets, while Mark Wood picked up two wickets.

READ: Dasun Shanaka replaced by Chamika Karunaratne in ICC World Cup 2023 squad

DELHI: England have won the toss and elected to field first against Afghanistan in the thirteenth match of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Arun Jaitley Stadium.

PLAYING XIs

Afghanistan

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

England

Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c)(wk), Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Adil Rashid, Reece Topley

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Overall ODIs: Matches 2, England 2, Afghanistan 0

ODI World Cup: Matches 2, England 2, Afghanistan 0

READ: Dasun Shanaka replaced by Chamika Karunaratne in ICC World Cup 2023 squad