Tag: ICC World Cup 2023

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.

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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.

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DUBAI: Afghanistan have gained direct qualification to next year’s 50-over World Cup after their abandoned second one-day international against Sri Lanka, the International Cricket Council said.

The Afghans and the hosts took five Super League points each in Pallekele on Sunday, keeping the visitors in seventh place in the table and guaranteeing them at least eighth position.

Hosts India and the seven highest-ranked other teams earn direct entry to the 2023 tournament.

Four teams are scrapping for the last remaining direct entry spot — two-time champions West Indies, Ireland, former winners Sri Lanka, and South Africa.

Sri Lanka will be hoping for a win in the final ODI of the Afghanistan tour on Wednesday to boost their chances and tie the current three-match series.

Afghanistan won the first ODI by 60 runs on Friday.

As well as the hosts, so far defending champions England, New Zealand, Australia, Bangladesh and Pakistan have also secured direct entry into next year’s tournament.

The cut-off date for the final Super League standings is on May 31, 2023.

The remaining nations will have to play in the qualifying matches along with five associate teams for the final two spots.

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