T20 World Cup 2024 Archives

ICC says no specific security threat to Bangladesh team in India

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) said an internal security assessment found no specific threat to the Bangladesh cricket team in India for the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Cricinfo reported on Monday.

According to the report, the cricket apex body shared a security assessment with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) in which the team has been cleared to travel to India for the mega event.

The internal evaluation found no overall threat to the team, although it highlighted low to moderate risks in some venues and low to negligible risks in others, which fall within standard ICC security classifications and do not ordinarily constitute sufficient reason to relocate fixtures.

Earlier, the Bangladesh sports advisor claimed that the ICC’s assessment pointed out some difficulties for the Tigers during the World Cup matches.

“We have sent two letters (to the ICC), after which the ICC security team have sent a letter,” Nazrul said.

He claimed that ICC cited three potential security implications for Bangladesh’s travel to India, including Mustafizur Rahman’s presence in the side.

“So this statement of the ICC security team has proven beyond a doubt that there is no situation for the Bangladesh cricket team to play the T20 World Cup in India.

If the ICC expects us to make a cricket team without our best bowler, our supporters will not be able to wear the Bangladesh jersey, and we will postpone the Bangladesh elections to play cricket, then there can be no more bizarre, unrealistic, and unreasonable expectation than this,” he said.

However, as per the report, ICC considers that Nazrul’s claims are a misreading of routine contingency planning and hypothetical scenarios.

Later, BCB statements clarified that the ICC security assessment was not related to Bangladesh’s official request to move their T20 World Cup games out of India.

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“The correspondence cited today by the Adviser for the Ministry of Youth & Sports was in reference to an internal communication between the BCB and the ICC’s Security Department related to threat assessments for the Bangladesh team ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup,” the BCB said.

“This does not constitute a formal response from the ICC to the BCB’s request for the relocation of Bangladesh’s matches outside India.

“The BCB reiterates that it has formally raised concerns regarding venue arrangements and has requested relocation of Bangladesh’s matches outside India in the interest of the team’s security. The Board confirms that it is still awaiting an official response from the ICC on this matter,” the board concluded.

For the unversed, the entire development follows Bangladesh’s ace pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s release from the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

The decision was taken in accordance with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), prompting a strong response from Bangladesh.

READ: All squads revealed for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026

USA cricketer makes massive claim about future game against Pakistan

The United States of America (USA) pacer Ali Khan made massive claim while recalling his side’s astonishing victory over Pakistan in this year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Former champions Pakistan had a disastrous start to their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign as they endured a shock loss against the USA in the Super Over as they failed to chase down the 19-run target.

Senior pacer Mohammad Amir bowled the Super Over for Pakistan and conceded 18 runs. In response, the Green Shirts only managed 13/1.

Ali Khan, who picked one wicket for 30 runs in the aforementioned fixture, in an interview with a local sports news outlet, asserted that the USA could stun the 2009 champions again if given another chance to square off against Pakistan.

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Ali Khan expressed his confidence in his team’s abilities and went on to claim that the USA, at their full potential, can beat any team in the world.

“We are capable enough of beating them (Pakistan) again. No disrespect to them, but I think we are a really good side, if we have a full-strength squad we can beat any team on our day, not just Pakistan but it will be a great game of we play them again,” Ali said.

Ali Khan further shared that the USA were not under pressure against Babar Azam-led Pakistan, continuing that the home side outclassed the Green Shirts in all departments including fitness.

“We weren’t under pressure, they were. We knew we were capable of beating them,” Khan said.

“We beat Pakistan in all four departments, including fitness,” he concluded.

Remember, following the shock loss against the USA, Pakistan succumbed to an agonizing six-run defeat against arch-rivals India.

The back-to-back defeats eventually restricted the former champions to reach the Super Eights stage of the T20 World Cup for the first time since the tournament’s inception.

READ: Pakistan, India players may team-up in potential Afro-Asia Cup revival

Nida Dar congratulates India two months after T20 World Cup triumph

Pakistan women’s cricketer Nida Dar recently congratulated India for their ICC T20 World Cup 2024 victory after two months on September 4.

India defeated South Africa on 29 June in Barbados to clinch their second T20 World Cup title under the inspired leadership of Rohit Sharma.

Notably, Rohit and star batter Virat Kohli announced their retirement from the T20I format after the World Cup final.

Nida Dar posted a heartfelt tribute for Rohit and Virat while congratulating the team for their World Cup victory.

“Congrats to India on winning the T20 World Cup 2024! A special shoutout to Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for their immense contributions to world cricket. Your leadership, skill, and dedication have inspired millions around the world. Happy retirement, legends,” Dar posted on her official X (formerly Twitter) account.

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However, the former women’s captain deleted her post after fans criticised her heavily for congratulating India after more than two months.

A fan asked, ‘Bruh it’s been more than 2 months. You sleeping or what?’ meanwhile another fan wondered if she was using an outdated internet browser, ‘Internet Explorer se post Kiya tha kya madam?’

It’s worth noting that Nida Dar was relieved of her captaincy duties following the team’s defeat in the semi-finals of the Women’s Asia Cup 2024.

In her place, the talented young pace bowler Fatima Sana was appointed as the new captain to lead Pakistan in the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.

READ: Australia slam highest powerplay score in T20I history

Usama Mir ‘surprised’ by his exclusion, spin utilization in T20 World Cup

Pakistan’s leg-spinner Usama Mir has finally broken the silence over his exclusion from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 and questioned the utilization of the spinners in the mega event.

Usama, the highest wicket-taker of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024 was left out of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad while mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed and leg-spinner Shadab Khan made it through.

However, Abrar could not play a single match in the 20-team tournament while Shadab, despite playing all the matches, only bowled four overs. He conceded 38 runs and could not manage to pick up a single wicket.

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Meanwhile, Usama Mir in an exclusive interview with PakPassion.Net, revealed that then Chief Selector Wahab Riaz told him that the combination was set and also that they selected a leg-spinner and a mystery spinner.

“The Chief Selector at the time told me that they prepared a team combination, which included a leg-spinner and a mystery spinner. But, what surprised me was why the leg-spinner was not bowling and why the mystery spinner was not playing,” Usama questioned.

“It was disturbing to me that whatever was happening was completely contrasting to the reason they gave me [for my exclusion].

“I always pray for our team to do well but when we lost the matches, especially against the USA, I was frustrated with why Shadab was not bowling as a leg spinner and why mystery spinner Abrar was not playing.

“But, anyways, it’s a part of life. Life is full of ups and downs and I take it positively and I will rectify all the loopholes and mistakes by striving.”

It is worth mentioning here that Usama Mir is currently representing Manchester Originals in The Hundred 2024.

READ: Los Angeles Olympics 2028 may feature Great Britain cricket team

Here’s why Shastri picks India-Pakistan clash as his favourite World Cup moment

Former India cricketer and renowned commentator Ravi Shastri picked the blockbuster clash between fierce rivals Pakistan and India as one of his favourite moments from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

Inaugural champions India came from behind in the nail-biting final of this year’s mega event against South Africa to end their 11-year-long ICC title drought.

The former champions remained unbeaten in the entirety of the tournament but were tested massively on two occasions — against arch-rivals Pakistan in the group stage and in the final against South Africa.

Pakistan, while chasing 120, were 80/3 with set batter Mohammad Rizwan at the crease. But Jasprit Bumrah, the eventual Player of the Tournament, cleaned up the wicketkeeper batter to force an astounding comeback of the Men in Blue.

Meanwhile, Ravi Shastri, in the latest episode of the ICC Review podcast, termed Rizwan’s dismissal as his favourite moment being an Indian supporter as it eventually set their tone going forward in the T20 World Cup 2024.

“I think India-Pakistan because India were made to fight there and realise what the right combination should be going forward in the tournament. That and then of course the final, those final five overs [from the T20 World Cup final],” Shastri said.

“I’d say one was Jasprit [Bumrah] getting Mohammad Rizwan. Extremely crucial, because that could have tilted the balance of the game. And it happened on the first ball of a new spell,” he added.

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Ravi Shastri then picked Jasprit Bumrah’s death over bowling in the final against South Africa as his other favourite moment.

“Brought back into the attack and then getting it to reverse and sneak through bat and pad [of Marco Jansen], I thought that was a very, very important wicket at that time,” Shastri recalled.

“Hardik [Pandya] had done the main damage by taking Klaasen [in the previous over] but I thought back-to-back, that over and that wicket was extremely important.”

“He just showed the world what it takes and you know, it’s not often in your career when you have a ball in your hand and you say, do this and the ball does that,” Shastri said of Bumrah.

Lauding Bumrah, Ravi Shastri went on to compare the lanky pacer with all-time greats like Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.

“Very few have done it, I thought Wasim [Akram] and Waqar [Younis] had it in their prime when they played white-ball cricket. Shane Warne had it where he could literally tell the ball, go there, pitch there, hit leg stump,” Shastri said.

“People who are on top of the game have that ability. I think Bumrah had that in this World Cup.”

READ: Asalanka’s twin strike lifts Sri Lanka to force tie against India

Mohammed Shami reacts to Inzamam’s remarks on Indian pacers’ reverse swing

Right-arm India pacer Mohammed Shami reignited the reserve-swing debate, which started when Inzamam-ul-Haq questioned Indian pacers’ ability to reverse the ball early during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

Indian bowlers were on a roll in the 20-team tournament, the highlight of which was when they defended 30 runs off as many deliveries in the nerve-wracking final against South Africa.

But, former Pakistan captain Inzamam, while citing Arshdeep Singh’s example, questioned how India bowlers reverse swung the ball in just the 15th over during their Super Eights fixture against Australia.

“Arshdeep Singh when he was bowling the 15th over, the ball was reversing. is it too early [for reverse swing] with the new ball? This means the ball was ready for reverse swing by the 12th or the 13th over, Umpires should keep their eyes open [to spot] these things,” stated Inzamam on a local news channel.

“If it was Pakistani bowlers [reverse swinging the ball] this would have been a big issue. We know reverse swing very well and if Arshdeep can come in the 15th over and start reversing the ball, it means some serious work had been done before,” he added.

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Meanwhile, Mohammed Shami, at a local YouTube Podcast did not mince his words and slammed Inzamam-ul-Haq over his remarks.

“They had accused me of putting a device into the ball during the 2023 ODI World Cup. They recently brought out another foolish theory on Arshdeep Singh. I respect Inzamam-ul-Haq a lot, and one doesn’t expect him to make such statements. They are the ones who started this reverse swing, and when we do it, they have a problem,” Shami said.

Shami continued to call out the former captain by claiming that Pakistan cricketers were involved in ball tampering in the past.

“Before saying anything to the Indian bowlers, they should remember the past incidents when their players were caught while tampering with the ball. Pakistan players want to make their public fool, and when their team is not performing well, they come out with allegations,” said Mohammed Shami.

READ: Inzamam-ul-Haq hits back at Rohit Sharma amid reverse-swing debate

Here’s why Rahul Dravid decline extra bonus after T20 World Cup glory

Former India head coach Rahul Dravid, in a heartwarming gesture, turned down an additional 25 million Indian Rupees (INR) bonus following the team’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 glory.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a total prize money of 1250 million (125 crore) for the World Cup-winning team, including support staff.

The bonus was supposed to be broken down into the players and Dravid getting prize money of 50 million each while batting coach Vikram Rathour, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, and fielding coach T Dilip, were set to receive 25 million each as the bonus.

However, according to the Indian media, Rahul Dravid rejected the additional bonus and informed the cricket board that he would only accept 25 million as the bonus.

“Rahul wanted the same bonus money ( ₹2.5 crore) as the rest of his support staff (bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, fielding coach T Dilip and batting coach Vikram Rathore). We respect his sentiments,” a BCCI source said.

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As per the original distribution formula of the BCCI, all the playing members of India’s triumphant T20 World Cup 2024 squad and Dravid were supposed to get a 50 million bonus while the rest of the support staff were to get 25 million as a token of appreciation.

Whereas, the selectors and all the travelling reserves of the squad were to receive a 10 million INR bonus from the cricket board.

For the unversed, BCCI Honourary Secretary Jay Shah and President Roger Binny gave the prize money to the winning team following their victory parade in Mumbai on July 4.

READ: Gautam Gambhir confirmed as new India head coach

T20 World Cup champions India get heroes welcome upon returning home

India men’s cricket team returned home to a heroes’ welcome on Thursday after winning the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, with skipper Rohit Sharma and his players hailed by euphoric fans jostling to glimpse their stars.

Frenzied crowds shouted “India, India” after the T20 World Cup winners landed in New Delhi from the Caribbean, having been delayed for days by Hurricane Beryl.

Whistles and wild cheers greeted the players as they walked out from the arrivals area with gold medals around their necks, some giving a thumbs-up to their fans.

“This is surreal, watching my team with the World Cup,” emotional fan Rohit Khanna told AFP.

“I saw the 2011 triumph, but this is a moment I will never forget.”

Despite monsoon rain, crowds gathered outside New Delhi’s airport long before dawn, waiting for a glimpse of their idols, who had beaten South Africa on Saturday in a thrilling final in Barbados.

“It’s home,” India’s cricket board said on social media.

It was vice-captain Hardik Pandya who emerged first wearing a Caribbean hat, and the crowd erupted when captain Rohit came out carrying the glittering trophy, which he hoisted into the air.

Star batsman Virat Kohli, whose hometown is Delhi, was given some of the loudest cheers as he waved to hundreds of fans.

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“It’s a dream for me to witness India return home from a World Cup,” said a shirtless fan with a Kohli tattoo emblazoned on his chest.

The team are due to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi later on Thursday, before flying to Mumbai for a victory parade in the heart of India’s financial capital later in the day.

They eventually left the airport in buses, flanked by a long escort of police cars with wailing sirens.

Last weekend’s win ended an 11-year global cricket trophy drought for India following their 2013 Champions Trophy win.

Their last World Cup victory was at home in the 2011 50-over edition under the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

One fan held up a poster of coach Rahul Dravid. “Thank you, Mr Dependable”, it read.

The final was the last match in charge for Dravid, 51, who was bounced in the air by the team during the post-match celebrations.

Rohit, Kohli and allrounder Ravindra Jadeja all announced their retirement from T20 international cricket after the final.

Plane tracking website, Flightradar24, said the special Air India charter had been the “most tracked flight for much of the last 15 hours”, as excited fans followed their team’s journey back from the Caribbean.

READ: Pakistan-India Champions Trophy clash date revealed: reports

Shoaib Malik believes Babar Azam “can’t fit” in any top T20 International side

Former Pakistan captain and seasoned all-rounder Shoaib Malik did not mince his words to criticise ace batter Babar Azam following the national team’s below-par performance in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

In a video, which went viral on social media, Shoaib Malik claimed that despite being labelled as Pakistan’s best batter, Babar Azam can not make a cut in the T20 International sides of top cricket-playing nations like Australia, India or England.

“Who is our best player? Our best player is Babar Azam. I am just talking about the top 4-5 teams. Can Babar fit in the playing XI of those teams? Of Australia, India or of England in just this particular format? The answer is NO!” he said while speaking at a talk show.

Although the video went viral and caught the attention of cricket fans today, it was recorded on June 27 when India thrashed England by 68 runs in the second semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2024.

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Earlier, former Indian cricketer and legendary opener Virender Sehwag made a similar claim regarding Babar Azam, stating if the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decides to remove Babar Azam as white-ball captain then he should not be considered for selection in T20Is.

“But as a leader you have to think whether this game is useful for his team. If not, then demote yourself and send someone who can play big shots in the six overs and get the team 50-60 runs,” stated Sehwag.

“I may sound harsh, but if the captain changes, Babar doesn’t deserve a place in the T20 team. His performances are not as per the demands of today’s T20 cricket,” he added.

READ: Mohammad Amir among 12 players granted NOCs

Mohammad Rizwan breaks silence on criticism after T20 World Cup debacle

PESHAWAR: Pakistan wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan on Tuesday, finally broke silence on the ongoing criticism aimed at the national men’s cricket team following their dismal run at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

Rizwan, while speaking to the media here, acknowledged that the team’s performance was far below expectations and also said the criticism national players are facing is “justified”.

“The criticism team is facing is justified and we deserve this since we didn’t perform in accordance with expectations. Players who can’t face criticism won’t be able to succeed,” Rizwan said.

The top-order batter also shared that the team itself is disappointed with the outcome.

“We are disappointed with our performance in T20 World Cup. There are multiple reasons behind our losses. When a team loses, one can’t say that bowling and batting is doing well,” stated Rizwan.

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Mohammad Rizwan also reacted to the reports regarding a “major surgery” of the national men’s team following their dismal run at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

“Operations are a normal thing. When a person is ill, operation is necessary,” Rizwan said.

“PCB Chairman is a hard-working person. The decision about who will remain in the team and who will not is the chairman’s right,” he concluded.

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It is pertinent to mention that the Pakistan team is in hot water following their dismal run in the T20 World Cup 2024.

The 2009 champions, in a first, were knocked out from the group stage of the tournament, majorly because of their upset defeat against the USA, followed by a gut-wrenching defeat against arch-rivals India.

The back-to-back defeats had put Pakistan on the verge of an early exit from the tournament while the abandonment of the crucial group-stage fixture between USA and Ireland officially marked the end of their campaign in T20 World Cup 2024.

READ: Shaheen Afridi reacts to national team’s “surgery” reports