T20 world cup Archives

Arshdeep Singh fined for Daryl Mitchell incident

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday reprimanded Indian fast bowler Arshdeep Singh for violating the code of conduct during the final against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup 2026.

The 27-year-old was fined 15 per cent of the match fee for a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct.

Article 2.9 of the ICC code of conduct relates to throwing a ball or any other item of cricket equipment at or near a player in an inappropriate manner.

Arshdeep threw the ball towards New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell on his follow-through, hitting the batter on the pads during the 11th over of the match.

The pacer walked back to his mark without apologizing, resulting in a confrontation with the batter.

Following the completion, India skipper Suryakumar Yadav intervened to speak with Daryl Mitchell while the umpire Richard Illingworth was also seen having a brief word with Arshdeep

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Eventually, the left-arm pacer apologised to Mitchell after the completion of the over.

Arshdeep accepted the sanction proposed by Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, denying a need for a formal hearing.

The charge was brought by the match officials — on-field umpires Richard Illingworth and Alex Wharf, third umpire Allahuddien Palekar, and fourth umpire Adrian Holdstock.

This was Arshdeep Singh’s first offence in a 24-month period with a level 1 breach carrying a minimum penalty of a reprimand and a maximum penalty of 50% of a player’s march fee and one or two demerit points.

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Suryakumar eyes Olympic Gold after T20 World Cup victory

Captain Suryakumar Yadav said gold in 2028 on cricket’s return to the Olympics was India’s next big aim after extending their T20 domination with back-to-back World Cup titles.

Co-hosts India hammered New Zealand by 96 runs in the final in Ahmedabad on Sunday to be the first team to retain the T20 world crown and first to win it three times.

It was also the first time a team have won the title on home soil, and they did it with a brand of fearless, attacking cricket.

“It has been very special,” Suryakumar told reporters at a celebratory midnight press conference, as fans across the country flooded into the streets.

“And definitely the next goal is Olympics, Olympic gold and also the T20 World Cup that year.”

Los Angeles 2028 will see cricket return to the Olympics for the first time since 1900.

Led by then captain Rohit Sharma, India won the T20 World Cup two years ago in Barbados for their first major title since the 2013 Champions Trophy.

Rohit and fellow stalwart Virat Kohli retired from the shortest format after the final against South Africa and Suryakumar took over as captain.

“I think that drought ended in 2024 after a really long time and from there we never looked back,” said the 35-year-old.

“We played a different brand of cricket in 2024, and from there we understood how this team needs to work (going) forward.

“And it’s been a wonderful journey since then.”

Suryakumar added: “We wanted to do something special in front of the home crowd. We want to continue doing that… and never stop.”

India won the 50-over World Cup in 2011 at home under M.S. Dhoni, who led the team to a T20 World Cup in the inaugural edition in 2007.

After that was a comparative drought in the biggest events by India’s sky-high standards.

Two-time World Cup winner Gautam Gambhir, who succeeded Rahul Dravid as coach after the 2024 World Cup win, wants to carve out his own legacy.

“I don’t believe in inheriting anything, I believe in creating something,” said Gambhir, who has not always been universally popular with fans and pundits as the coach.

“And hopefully we’ve created something which probably all of you guys could be proud of, that the kind of brand of cricket we’ve played.”

T20 World Cup: New Zealand win toss against South Africa in first semi-final

KOLKATA: New Zealand have won the toss and decided to field first against South Africa in the first semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 here at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday.

More to follow…

Playing XIs

New Zealand: 1 Tim Seifert (wk), 2 Finn Allen, 3 Rachin Ravindra, 4 Glenn Phillips, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Mark Chapman, 7 Mitchell Santner (capt), 8 James Neesham, 9 Cole McConchie, 10 Matt Henry, 11 Lockie Ferguson

South Africa: 1 Aiden Markram (capt), 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Ryan Rickelton, 4 Dewald Brevis, 5 David Miller, 6 Tristan Stubbs, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Corbin Bosch, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Keshav Maharaj, 11 Lungi Ngidi

Head to Head

New Zealand and South Africa have played each other 19 times in the T20I format. South Africa have won 12 times while New Zealand have won seven.

READ: PCB unveils squads and schedule for National T20 Cup 2026

Aleem Dar resigns from PCB selection committee: sources

LAHORE: In the aftermath of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup exit, former international umpire and national selection committee member Aleem Dar has decided to step down from his role.

According to the sources privy to the matter, Dar, 57, decided to leave the role after Pakistan’s poor performance in the T20 World Cup.

Aleem Dar was appointed as a selector on October 11, 2024, alongside former pacer Aqib Javed, ex-Test captain Azhar Ali, and analyst Hasan Cheema in a revamped selection panel.

It is worth mentioning that Aleem Dar officiated in a record 435 men’s Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, including four World Cup finals, before calling time on his career.

Earlier in the day, it was reported that the Pakistan Cricket Board has also imposed a fine of Rs5m on each player following a disappointing campaign in the mega event.

Sources confirmed that the board made it clear to the players that financial benefits will now be strictly tied to performance.

Pakistan failed to qualify for the semi-final as their campaign ended in the Super Eights stage of the tournament.

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In their final match, the Green Shirts secured a narrow five-run victory over Sri Lanka but failed to progress to the semi-finals as New Zealand advanced on the basis of a superior run rate.

Earlier, in the group stage, Pakistan won three out of their four matches. They opened their tournament with an unconvincing win against the Netherlands, following it up with a decisive victory over USA. However, they were completely outplayed by their bitter rivals, India, by 61 runs.

They won their last fixture against Namibia to advance to the Super Eights. But a washout against New Zealand and a subsequent defeat to England ultimately left their semi-final hopes hanging in the balance.

READ: Pakistan players fined Rs5m after World Cup exit: sources

T20 World Cup: Pakistan semi-final scenario after New Zealand defeat

COLOMBO: England’s dramatic four-wicket win over New Zealand by four wickets in the Group 2 Super Eight fixture has kept Pakistan alive in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Before heading into the fixture, Pakistan needed an England win over New Zealand to remain in contention for the semi-final.

England chased down a stiff 160-run target on the third ball of the final over, with Will Jacks hitting a boundary behind fine leg to seal the victory.

New Zealand were in command when Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed joined hands in the 17th over, with the Three Lions requiring 43 from 18 balls. However, a 22 run over from Glenn Phillips turned the game on its head.

The next over unfolded in a similar manner as Rehan struck boundaries off the first and final deliveries to collect 16 runs. That left England needing just five runs in the final over.

Will Jacks, who remained unbeaten on 32 from 18, was awarded Player of the Match for his all-round contribution.

With this win, England denied New Zealand a direct chance of reaching the semi-finals, leaving their fate dependent on the Sri Lanka- Pakistan clash.

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For Pakistan to advance to the semis, they need to beat Sri Lanka by approximately 65 runs or chase the target in about 13 overs.

However, this remains an estimate, with the exact qualification scenario to be confirmed after the conclusion of the first innings.

The first semi-final will be played in Colombo if Pakistan manage to win, according to the required equation.

But a defeat would mean the first semi-final will be staged in Kolkata — unless South Africa lose to Zimbabwe and India somehow top Group 1.

READ: Salman wary of ‘critical situation’ before Sri Lanka clash

Pakistan submit provisional squad to ICC for T20 World Cup: reports

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has submitted the provisional squad to the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the Men’s T20 World Cup.

The final deadline to submit the squad is 31 January, with some teams already revealing theirs.

According to ICC regulations, participating teams are free to revise their preliminary squads without the apex body’s consent until the stipulated deadline; any alterations thereafter will require clearance from the cricketing apex body technical Committee.

According to reports, the squad features Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Haris Rauf.

The reports further indicate that the T20I series against Sri Lanka will be crucial for some players to secure places in the final squad.

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After the completion of the tour, the Green Shirts squad will be named for the T20I series against Australia and the T20 World Cup 2026.

The Pakistan team is scheduled to depart for Sri Lanka in phases on January 4 and 5.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka will contest a three-match T20 International series, with all fixtures to be played in Dambulla on January 7, 9, and 11.

For the unversed, the mega event will run from 7 February to March 8, with the opening match scheduled between Pakistan and the Netherlands.

Pakistan is slotted in Group A alongside India, the Netherlands, the USA, and Namibia

T20 World Cup Groups:

Group A: India, USA, Namibia, Netherlands, Pakistan
Group B: Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Oman
Group C: England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Italy, Nepal
Group D: South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Canada, UAE

Pakistan squad for T20I series vs Sri Lanka

Salman Agha (capt), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmad, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Usman Tariq

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Shortlisted venues for ICC T20 World Cup 2026 revealed: report

The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and Eden Gardens in Kolkata are among the top venues considered for hosting the semifinals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, according to reports from Indian media.

According to reports, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has finalized a list of eight venues across India and Sri Lanka for the month-long global tournament, set to be co-hosted by the two neighbouring nations.

In India, matches are expected to be held across five major cities, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Kolkata, while Sri Lanka will stage games in three venues, including two stadiums in Colombo and one in Kandy.

However, the host venue for the final remains undecided.

The ICC and its partners are said to be keeping that decision flexible, particularly in light of potential political sensitivities surrounding Pakistan’s participation.

If Pakistan qualifies for the final, the title clash is likely to be held in Colombo. On the other hand, if Pakistan fails to reach the final, Ahmedabad could be chosen to host the marquee encounter.

A similar contingency plan applies to the semifinals. Should Pakistan or Sri Lanka make it to the final four, their match will be played in Colombo.

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If neither side qualifies, both semifinals are expected to be staged in India, at Ahmedabad and Kolkata.

The 2026 edition will feature 20 teams, following the same structure as the 2024 T20 World Cup held in the USA and the West Indies.

The teams will be split into four groups of five, with the top two from each progressing to the Super Eight stage.

The next round will see two groups of four, with the top two sides from each advancing to the knockout semifinals.

Apart from the 13 Test-playing nations, Canada, the Netherlands, UAE, Nepal, Oman, and Namibia have already booked their places, while Italy is set to make its maiden appearance at a senior ICC event.

India will enter the competition as the defending champions, having defeated South Africa in the June 2024 final.

The ICC is expected to unveil the official schedule and group details in the coming days.

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Who will lead Pakistan in Fatima Sana’s absence?

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana is set to return home due to her father’s untimely demise and wicket-keeper Muneeba Ali will step in to lead the side in the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.

Fatima will leave for Karachi on the first available flight today to attend her father’s funeral. The players and team management of the Pakistan women’s cricket team expressed their heartfelt sympathy and condolences to Fatima.

The chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Mohsin Naqvi also expressed grief and sorrow over the death of Fatima Sana’s father. He conveyed his condolences to Fatima saying, “May Allah grant you and the bereaved family patience.”

Muneeba Ali has scored 28 runs in the two matches during the ongoing tournament so far and will lead the Green Shirts in their match against Australia tomorrow.

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It’s worth noting that the ongoing tournament is Fatima’s first as captain and she has been leading Pakistan from the front with four wickets in two games along with 43 runs at a strike-rate of 153.57.

Pakistan are currently placed in third place in Group B with one victory and one loss after two games.

Fatima Sana played a key role in Pakistan’s victory over Sri Lanka in their tournament opener and earned the Player of the Match award for her performance.

READ: England break 66-year-old West Indies record in first Pakistan Test

India elect to bat first against South Africa in T20 World Cup Final

BRIDGETOWN: India have won the toss and opted to bat first against South Africa in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 final here at Kensington Oval on Saturday.

PLAYING XIs

Both India and South Africa are unchanged.

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah.

South Africa: 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Reeza Hendricks, 3 Aiden Markram (capt), 4 Heinrich Klaasen, 5 David Miller, 6 Tristan Stubbs, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Keshav Maharaj, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Anrich Nortje, 11 Tabraiz Shamsi.

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Speaking at the toss, Indian captain Rohit Sharma stated he asked his team to stay calm while acknowledging South Africa’s dominant performance in the tournament.

“It’s just about understanding the individual role, keep calm, and play like it’s an international match against a top team. South Africa have played really good cricket in this tournament, we have played really good cricket too, two quality teams,” said Sharma.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s captain Aiden Markram shared that he would have chosen to bat on this pitch. He further stated that his side would be aiming to be at their best and play without any pressure.

“At times probably were not at our best, but we’ve found a way to win. Today we’re striving for that perfect game, even if perfect is not attainable. It’s a fantastic opportunity, no pressure for us, we’ve never been in a final. You can’t win a trophy if you aren’t in the final,” said Markram.

HEAD TO HEAD

India and South Africa have faced each other 26 times in T20 Internationals with the formers having a slight edge in the head-to-head record.

Matches 26, India 14, South Africa 11, NR 1

FORM GUIDE

Both India and South Africa boast a perfect record in the ongoing tournament as they are unbeaten in the tournament.

South Africa defeated Afghanistan by nine wickets in a one-sided affair in the first semi-final in Trinidad, whereas, India edged past defending champions England in the second semi-final in Guyana to book their spot in the final.

India: W, W, W, W, W (most recent first)

South Africa: W, W, W, W, W

READ: Chris Gayle shares his prediction for T20 World Cup 2024 final

Chris Silverwood steps down as Sri Lanka head coach

Sri Lanka head coach Chris Silverwood stepped down from his position on Thursday following the Asian side’s dismal ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign.

The former England pacer cited personal reasons for his resignation from the post which he held since April 2022.

“Being an international coach means long periods away from loved ones. After lengthy conversations with my family and with a heavy heart, I feel it is now time for me to return home and spend some quality time together,” said Silverwood.

“I would like to thank the players, coaches, backroom staff, and management of the SLC for their support during my time in Sri Lanka. Without your support, none of the success would have been possible.”

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Sri Lanka won the Asia Cup 2022 under Silverwood’s tenure and reached the final of the 2023 edition, where they were decimated by India.

The Asian side also defeated Australia in a home ODI series, however, they failed to reach the knockout stage of any of the ICC tournaments with Chris Silverwood at the helm.

They were eliminated from the Super 12s in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2022, meanwhile, in the ODI World Cup in 2023, they were knocked out from the group stage.

The abovementioned campaigns were followed by a disastrous T20 World Cup 2024, where Sri Lanka lost their group stage matches against South Africa and Bangladesh while their fixture against Nepal was washed out.

They were officially eliminated after Bangladesh defeated the Netherlands and qualified for the Super 8s stage.

READ: Rashid Khan opens up after crushing semi-final defeat against South Africa