Tag: ICC World Cup 2023

JOHANNESBURG: Aiden Markram hit 175 off 126 balls as South Africa took a giant step towards automatic qualification for the Cricket World Cup with a 146-run win over the Netherlands in the third one-day international at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday.

“We did exactly what we wanted to do,” said South Africa captain Temba Bavuma at the after-match presentation.

South Africa climbed into eighth place in the Super League table, going above the West Indies and improving their net run rate with a second emphatic win in three days.

Ireland are the only team who could squeeze South Africa out of automatic qualification for the World Cup but they will need to beat Bangladesh 3-0 in a series in England next month to draw level on points.

Ireland will also need to improve their net run rate.

“In terms of the points and qualification, we’ve done ourselves justice,” said Bavuma.

“In the cricket as well, there were a lot of positives in the batting and the bowling.”

South Africa completed a 2-0 win in a series which was halted because of a Covid scare after the first game was rained off in November 2021.

The West Indies will have to play in a qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe in June and July to decide the final two teams that will play in the World Cup in India in October and November.

Markram hit 17 fours and seven sixes in scoring his first one-day international century.

He and David Miller (91) set up a South African total of 370 for eight with a fifth wicket partnership of 199 off 118 balls.

Netherlands made a spirited attempt to keep up with the required run rate but lost their last five wickets for seven runs to be bowled out for 224.

Fast bowler Sisanda Magala claimed his first international five-wicket haul, taking five for 43, with four of his victims being bowled.

Left-hander Musa Ahmed received two painful early blows on the chest and shoulder from express fast bowler Anrich Nortje but went on to make top score of 61, his first international half-century.

Netherlands captain Scott Edwards said his team had matched South Africa for periods during both games.

“Three-hundred and seventy was always going to be tough,” he said.

“We kept up with the rate but we needed someone to get a big score like Aiden.”

The Dutch will also play in the World Cup qualifier in Zimbabwe alongside the hosts, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Scotland and Oman.

The three remaining spots in the 10-team event are still to be decided.

READ: Benzema hits hat-trick as Real Madrid crush Valladolid 6-0 in LaLiga

BENONI: South African captain Temba Bavuma took his team a step closer to automatic qualification for the Cricket World Cup when they beat the Netherlands by eight wickets in the second one-day international at Willowmoore Park on Friday.

Bavuma made 90 not out in Benoni as South Africa achieved a victory target of 190 with 20 overs to spare.

Another win in the final match in Johannesburg on Sunday –- or a no-result -– will take South Africa into the eighth and final qualification place for the World Cup in India in October and November.

Bavuma said his own form was linked to “a certain level of backing and confidence that is going around in the environment at the moment”.

Bavuma did not refer directly to the appointment of Rob Walter as head coach following the resignation of former Test wicketkeeper Mark Boucher but said: “I think a lot of the guys are feeding from the environment. We are also quite clear about how we want to go about things.”

Fast bowler Sisanda Magala was named man of the match. He took three for 37 as the Netherlands were bowled out for 189. He dismissed both openers after Vikramjit Singh (45) and Max O’Dowd (18) put on 58 off 66 balls, then came back to claim the wicket of top-scorer Teja Nidamanuru, who made 48.

South Africa lost Quinton de Kock for nine to off-spinner Aryan Dutt, who shared the new ball and took one for nine in four overs.

But Dutt injured his right knee in a collision in the outfield with Musa Ahmed and had to leave the field. He came back later but was clearly in discomfort and conceded 21 runs in two more overs.

Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen (31) put on 70 for the second wicket before Bavuma and Aiden Markram (51 not out) went on the attack to add an unbeaten 102 off 69 balls to finish the match on a cold, blustery evening when there was a threat of rain which did not materialise.

The match was the second in a three-match series. The first encounter in November 2021 was rained off and the remaining two games were postponed because of a Covid scare.

With Sri Lanka having been eliminated when they lost to New Zealand earlier on Friday, a win for South Africa on Sunday will take them to the World Cup unless Ireland win all three matches in a series against Bangladesh in England in May.

KARACHI: The hybrid model to host the matches of Pakistan and India during the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup and Asia Cup at a neutral venue is likely not to go ahead after the Board of Cricket Control in India’s (BCCI) flat refusal.

Earlier, a report emerged that the two cricket boards were gradually moving towards a compromise and had nearly agreed to host India’s matches on a neutral venue while the rest of the Asia Cup will be played in Pakistan.

As per the latest development, however, the BCCI has refused the hybrid proposal for both events and once again demanded to shift the Asia Cup entirely from Pakistan.

Following BCCI’s initial refusal to tour Pakistan, the PCB also hinted at not touring India to participate in this year’s World Cup.

Although PCB has not said anything officially on the prospect of using the hybrid model – India playing Asia Cup matches on a neutral venue – for the ODI World Cup but has hinted it will be discussed at the ICC forum.

“This is not to say that the hybrid model will not be advocated at the proper ICC forum at the right time,” the last line of a PCB release said, while denying the hybrid model was discussed in last week’s ICC meeting.

Pakistan will due to suffer an extra expense of half a million dollars to broadcast India’s neutral venue matches in the Asia Cup. But the consequences of Pakistan not playing in India will be greater, both in terms of sponsorship and broadcast expenses. In that India has to add a Co-host for the event.

“Situation is very fluid,” said a top source dealing with the situation. “A final decision will only be made in June and by that time the ICC will adopt a wait and see policy.”

It may be noted here that the uncertainty around the 2023 Asia Cup began in October last year when the ACC president, and BCCI secretary, Jay Shah refused to send the Indian team to Pakistan and has since been trying to shift the tournament to a neutral venue.

HAMILTON: Sri Lanka missed out on direct qualification for the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 after New Zealand defeated them in the third and final ODI by six wickets on Friday. 

Electing to bat first, Sri Lankan batting lineup struggled against the Kiwis’ pace attack as Matt Henry (3/14), Henry Shipley (3/32) and Daryl Mitchell (3/32) jointly led the charge and bundled out New Zealand for a paltry 157.

Pathum Nissanka (57 off 64), Dasun Shanaka (31 off 36) and Chamika Karunaratne (24 off 42) were the only batters to show some resistance as Sri Lanka failed to fire in yet again.

In reply, New Zealand underwent a shaky start as they lost three wickets inside the first seven overs. Four of their batters – Chad Bowes, Tom Blundell, Daryl Mitchell and Tom Latham – failed to cross single-digit.

However, Will Young and Henry Nicholls anchored the chase afterwards and took the hosts over the line. The pair gathered a valiant 100-run partnership with Young and Nicholls remaining unbeaten on 86 and 44 respectively to steer New Zealand to 2-0 series win.

With the defeat, Sri Lanka have failed to snatch the direct qualification spot from the West Indies. Sri Lanka end their Cricket World Cup Super League Campaign on 81 points, seven behind West Indies.

Sri Lanka will now travel to Zimbabwe in June to compete in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier to secure a place in the mega event scheduled later this year in India.

West Indies, however, could still lose the direct qualification race to South Africa (78 points) or Ireland (68). South Africa will take on the Netherlands in two home ODIs, while Ireland have a three-game ODI series against Bangladesh in May.

READ: ‘Hybrid model’ under discussion for Asia Cup only, clarifies PCB

The idea to host Pakistan’s World Cup 2023 matches in Bangladesh has been discussed at the ICC meetings last week, reported a renowned cricket website on Wednesday.

According to ESPN Cricinfo, in informal discussions on the sidelines of the board meetings in Dubai, PCB insisted to apply the same hybrid Asia Cup model for the World Cup as well.

The upcoming edition of the Asia Cup and Pakistan’s participation in the Men’s ODI World Cup has been in jeopardy after the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) refused to tour Pakistan for the Asian event on political grounds.

The BCCI maintained their stance of not touring Pakistan for the Asia Cup, while the PCB was adamant that if they do not, then Pakistan might not travel to India for the World Cup in October-November.

Reportedly, PCB and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are gradually moving towards a compromise and have nearly agreed to host India’s matches on a neutral venue while the rest of the Asia Cup will be played in Pakistan.

In the latest development, however, ESPN Cricinfo suggested that Bangladesh had been proposed as a neutral venue for Pakistan matches during the ICC ODI World Cup in India later this year.

Earlier, the General Manager of Cricket for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Wasim Khan also claimed that Pakistan may play their matches of the upcoming ICC event at a neutral venue.

In an exclusive interview with ARY News on the sidelines of the recently-concluded T20I series between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Sharjah, Wasim asserted Pakistan would also not play their matches in India and they might get shifted to a neutral country.

“I don’t think that Pakistan will play their matches in India. I think their matches will also be held at a neutral venue just like India’s Asia Cup matches,” he had said.

It may be noted here that the uncertainty around the 2023 Asia Cup began in October last year when the ACC president, and BCCI secretary, Jay Shah refused to send the Indian team to Pakistan and has since been trying to shift the tournament to a neutral venue.

READ: POA finalizes 32 disciplines, four exhibition sports for 34th National Games

The 2023 ICC ODI World Cup in India is likely to start on October 5 and end on November 19, reported a cricket website on Tuesday. 

According to ESPNcrininfo, BCCI has finalized 12 venues for the marquee event with the final set to be staged at the world’s biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad.

The 10-team tournament will comprise 48 matches, including two semi-finals and a final.

The venues shortlisted for the event include Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Dharamsala, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Indore, and Rajkot.

“The BCCI has not specified venues for any games as yet, or the two or three cities where teams will play the warm-ups. The delay in finalising the venues is due to the complications posed by the monsoon season receding at different points in different parts of India.” said the news report.

Moreover, it added the ICC, which usually announces World Cup schedules at least a year in advance, has been waiting for the BCCI to get clearance from the Indian government regarding two key issues, visa clearance for the Pakistan team, and getting a tax exemption for the tournament.

“At the ICC’s quarterly meetings last weekend, held in Dubai, the BCCI is learned to have assured the global body that visas for the Pakistan contingent will be cleared by the Indian government,” it said.

It may be noted that the two South Asian rivals have not played each other since early 2013 outside the ICC and ACC tournaments. The relations between the two cricket boards reached a stalemate following India’s decision not to send their team to Pakistan for Asia Cup later this year.

READ: Arsenal to face Rooney-coached MLS All Star team in July

KIRTIPUR: United Arab Emirate’s (UAE) Asif Khan struck the fourth-fastest century in Men’s ODIs but Nepal held their nerves in check to claim a nine-run victory by Duckworth–Lewis–Stern (DLS) method and sealed their spot in the Cricket World Cup qualifiers.

Nepal were earlier set to chase 311 in 50 overs but with six overs left, the umpires decided that the play couldn’t continue due to bad light and the hosts were nine runs ahead of the DLS.

Nepal had a contrasting start to the run chase as they lost two quick wickets for just six runs in the second over as Aasif Sheikh (5) and Kushal Malla (0) perished cheaply.

Opening batter Kushal Bhurtel then attempted to anchor the run chase with a brief 31-run partnership for the third wicket with skipper Rohit Paudel (16 off 25) before the latter perished in the seventh over. At 37/3, Nepal appeared to have faltered in the all-important clash.

However, Bhim Sarki (67) joined hands with Bhurtel (50) and then Aarif Sheikh (52) led Nepal’s fightback in the middle overs and brought the hosts back in the hunt.

As the umpires decided to call off the action due to bad light after 44 overs, Nepal were ahead of the necessary DLS score thanks to a surge from 17-year-old Gulsan Jha’s (50*) in the later overs.

Earlier, Asif Khan’s fourth-fastest century in Men’s ODIs powered UAE to post a massive total of 310/6 which, however, turned out to be insufficient in the end.

READ: Aleem Dar steps down from ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, Ahsan included

Pakistan’s all-format captain Babar Azam has aimed to win the ICC ODI World Cup, scheduled later this year in India, on the back of his phenomenal batting run in recent years.

Babar, who was recently named ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year for the second consecutive time and also won the coveted Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the ICC Cricketer of the Year for 2022, has expressed his wish to lead his team to World Cup glory this year after achieving the prestigious individual accolades.

“The World Cup is coming up and my ambition is to perform well so that we can win it.” Babar told ICC Digital on Friday

“You see lot of things individually too, but my goal right now is to win the World Cup.”

The 28-year-old, who has been ruling the ODI chart since July 2021, is in the top five rankings across each format while his consistent performances earned him a place in the ICC Test Team of the Year besides leading the ICC ODI Team of the Year for the second time in a row.

Babar’s exceptional batting class is much more than just the numbers as it came with the additional burden of captaining the side in all three formats.

Pakistan claimed 14 wins from 26 matches through 2022, including eight out of nine victories in ODIs, under Babar’s leadership. He also led his team to the T20 World Cup final last year.

The Green Shirts have a host of 50-over matches lined up this year, including a five-match series against New Zealand in April-May and the ODI Asia Cup at home in September. Pakistan’s skipper wants to use the upcoming assignments to sharpen the blades before the mega-event in India.

“This year we have lot of white-ball cricket because of the World Cup…you need to take things step by step. You can’t really jump to your goal. You have to achieve it step by step,” said Babar.

“The mindset is to go step by step, but yeah you have it in the back of your mind that you need to perform well. There is hard work and planning behind it,” he added.

READ: Murphy shines on debut, but Rohit’s ton puts India on top

New Zealand chief selector Gavin Larsen has expressed his hope that pacer Trent Boult will lead Kiwis’ bowling attack at the 50-over World Cup in India later this year. 

Boult, who was removed from Cricket New Zealand’s players’ central contract last year upon his request as he wanted to make himself available for the franchise leagues around the world, was not part of the New Zealand side during their recent tours to Pakistan and India.

Since New Zealand’s cricket body gives preference to the players within the contract for selection, Boult’s participation in cricket’s top event is under the clouds despite his desire to play the World Cup.

However, Larsen in his interview with SENZ Mornings, a popular New Zealand-based sports podcast, said: “The door is very much open,” adding that Boult is in constant talks with head coach Gary Stead.

“Gary and Trent talk on a regular basis. We all know Boulty’s pedigree, his experience and just what a great match-winner he is and has been over the years for us,” he told.

MUMBAI: India’s all-rounder Hardik Pandya has set his sights on the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023 as he revealed his biggest New Year’s resolution.

Pandya, while speaking to the media on the eve of the home T20I series against Sri Lanka opened up about his new year’s resolutions.

“The biggest is to win the World Cup,” said Pandya. “I don’t think any bigger resolution can be there. Really want to win the World Cup and for which we will try everything possible in our capacity to go out there and give everything. I think things are looking bright and let’s hope it is,” he added.

The star all-rounder reflected on his remarkable year as he marked his return with a “magical” comeback after setbacks and taking a break while vowing to achieve a lot in the ongoing year.

“One year back things were quite different when I went out of the sport… that was my call to go out and spend some time and get better at it. It [2022] has been a magical year for me,” said Pandya.

“Obviously, would have liked [to win] the [2022 T20] World Cup also but that is part and parcel, we tried but it did not happen. Going forward, what do I want to achieve? There is a lot to achieve. I have not achieved anything.

“So I am looking forward to the future. There are World Cups coming. There are going to be multiple World Cups in multiple years so the goal will always be to win a World Cup and I think, from now onwards, the goal will be to win the World Cup.”

It is apropos to mention that India will be hosting the 50-over ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup later this year in October-November, which India won last in 2011.

READ: ‘Bit unlucky for him,’ Batting coach Yousuf on Abdullah’s dismissal