Tag: T20 World Cup 2026

Australia fast bowler Darcie Brown was a surprise omission from the 15-player squad, named on Wednesday, for next month’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in England.

The squad will be captained by experienced all-rounder Sophie Molineux in the first World Cup since the retirement of Australia great Alyssa Healy, with Ashleigh Gardner and Tahlia McGrath as deputies.

“Darcie Brown was unlucky to miss out, but the decision was based on the conditions we’re expecting and the make-up of the side,” selector Shawn Flegler said.

“These squads are never easy to select, but we’re confident with the balance and stability we’ve got across the group.”

Left-arm fast bowler Lucy Hamilton comes in for her first World Cup in place of Brown.

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“With at least six right-arm pace options in the mix and raw pace expected to be less effective, we opted to go with Lucy Hamilton, who offers something different as a left-arm quick,” said Flegler.

“Grace Harris comes into the side having missed the recent series against the West Indies. She’s a handy all-round option and someone who can take the game away from an opposition.”

New Zealand were shock winners in 2024 but did so without having to face Australia or England, the world’s two top-ranked T20 teams.

The tournament takes place in England beginning on June 12. The final is at Lord’s in London on July 5.

Australia are in Group A with South Africa, India, Bangladesh, the Netherlands, and Pakistan. They will open their campaign against South Africa at Old Trafford in Manchester on June 13.

Australia women’s T20 World Cup squad

Sophie Molineux (captain), Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Nicola Carey, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham.

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The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Friday that it is investigating Cricket Canada over allegations of match-fixing, including the team’s loss to New Zealand at the recent T20 World Cup 2026, hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

The game in Chennai, which Canada lost by eight wickets, is under scrutiny following allegations of corruption highlighted in a documentary aired by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) on Thursday.

“The ACU (anti-corruption unit) is aware of the programme broadcast by CBC,” Andrew Ephgrave, interim general manager of the ICC’s Integrity Unit, said in a statement.

The documentary by the public broadcaster made wide-ranging accusations of corruption and poor governance against Canada Cricket.

In the Chennai game, suspicion is focused on the fifth over bowled by captain Dilpreet Bajwa during New Zealand’s chase, according to the ESPN Cricinfo website.

He started with a no-ball, bowled a wide, and ended up conceding 15 runs in the over.

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Canada scored 173 for four wickets in 20 overs, while New Zealand replied with 176 for two off 15.1 overs.

The ICC, the game’s world governing body, is also investigating a telephone call involving then-Canada coach Khurram Chohan in which he claims that senior board members put pressure on him to select certain players, it said.

“Governance matters in relation to ICC Members are considered by the ICC, where they fall under its jurisdiction, in accordance with the ICC’s standard constitutional processes,” Ephgrave said.

Cricket Canada said it was treating the matter with “utmost importance”.

“Recent promotional material alludes to allegations related to organized crime and match-fixing — issues that Cricket Canada takes extremely seriously,” the organisation said on its website.

“Where matters are raised, we are committed to reviewing them responsibly and taking appropriate steps as needed.”

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Viewer figures of the T20 Cricket World Cup 2026 final smashed digital streaming records with 72.5  million peak users at the same time in India alone, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Monday.

Cricket commands an unrivalled following in the world’s most populous country with 1.4 billion people.

“The event was a showcase of just how much the sport is loved in cricket’s most passionate market,” ICC Chief Executive Officer Sanjog Gupta said, in a commentary published in WPP Media’s Sporting Nation.

More viewers watched the game on traditional broadcasters, as well as around the world.

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India, co‑hosts and pre‑tournament favourites, lifted the T20 World Cup for a record third time in the March 8 match, sweeping aside New Zealand by 96 runs.

“The final… hit 72.5 million digital concurrent users, breaking the global streaming record,” Gupta added, according to figures from Indian streaming partner JioHotstar.

That broke the previous record set three days earlier — the nerve-shredding semi-final in Mumbai when India beat England by seven runs.

That match drew 619 million views on streaming platform JioHotstar, according to the company, including a 65 million peak at the same time. Total viewing figures for the final are yet to be released.

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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a whopping INR 131 crore cash reward for the Indian squad following their record-breaking defense of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 title.

India etched their name in history by defeating New Zealand in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, successfully retaining the T20 crown and becoming the first team to win the tournament three times.

With this victory, India also became the first nation to lift successive men’s T20 World Cups, breaking a trend where no defending champion had previously even reached the final.

The BCCI’s announcement did not specify the exact distribution, but the reward is expected to be shared among players, support staff, and selectors.

“The Board congratulates the players, support staff and selectors once again on this historic achievement and wishes them continued success in the future,” the BCCI said in a statement.”

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India’s dominant final performance saw them post 255 for 5, with half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan.

In response, New Zealand’s chase was dismantled by Jasprit Bumrah, who returned figures of 4 for 15 in four overs, as the hosts secured a 96-run victory.

This cash reward surpasses the INR 125 crore handed out after India’s 2024 T20 World Cup triumph, where each of the 15 players received INR 5 crore, the coaching staff received INR 2.5 crore each, and the five-member senior selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, was awarded INR 1 crore apiece.

With this win, India now hold both the Champions Trophy and the T20 World Cup titles, and will eye the ODI World Cup next year to complete a remarkable collection of major ICC trophies.

WATCH: New Zealand bowler makes history with triple hat-trick

Ace batter Virat Kohli shared his joy after India defeated New Zealand to win the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. 

The Men in Blue annihilated New Zealand in a dominant display, sealing a 95-run win to lift their third T20 World Cup title.

Put into bat first, the hosts posted a mammoth total of 255 for 5 in their 20 overs, thanks to half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan.

In reply, New Zealand were bowled out for 159 in 19 overs with Jasprit Bumrah starring with the ball, taking a four-wicket haul. For his outstanding bowling, he was named the player of the match.

Following the triumph, reactions poured in from former cricketers, including Virat Kohli, who played a pivotal role in the 2024 World Cup campaign.

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“Champions.Phenomenal win for Team India in Ahmedabad. Absolutely no match for the explosive cricket played by us throughout the tournament,” he wrote on X.

“Brilliant character shown by the boys to keep fighting in tough situations and become world champions once again. Congratulations to all the players and all the members of the management for achieving this feat,” he said.

For the unversed, India became the first team to win the T20 World Cup three times and also the first to successfully defend the title.

Notably, this is also the first time that a host nation has lifted the limited-overs trophy.

READ: India crush New Zealand to win record T20 World Cup title

AHMEDABAD: Sanju Samson starred as dominant India thrashed New Zealand to win the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 here on Sunday. 

Set a daunting 256, New Zealand were bowled out for 159 in 19 overs.

New Zealand were jolted early in a big chase as they were reduced to 47-3 in only 4.5 overs.

Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah were the chief tormentors as the BlackCaps could not get going.

With the asking rate rising, it was never an easy task for them. Tim Siefert resisted with a brisk half-century; his innings came to an end in the eighth over.

As a result, New Zealand were in dire straits with five down for 72 in 8.1 overs.

The game was long done and dusted as skipper Mitchell Santner scored a spirited 43 from 35 balls with the aid of three fours and two sixes, only reducing the margin of defeat.

For India, Jasprit Bumrah remained the standout bowler with four wickets to his name while Axar Patel managed to take three.

With this, India became the first team to win the T20 World Cup for a record third time and the first to successfully defend its title.

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Earlier, Sanju Samson top-scored with 89 as India posted a mammoth total.

Asked to bat first, India racked up 244-6 in their 20 overs.

The foundation for a big total was laid by openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma. The pair added 98 in 7.1 overs before Rachin Ravindra got him. The southpaw made 52 from 21, striking three sixes and half a dozen fours.

Despite the wicket, India continued on to pile runs as Kishan joined Samson at the crease. The pair forged a 105-run partnership from 45 balls to put India in a dominant position with the scorecard now reading 202 in 15 overs.

With India eyeing a 300-run target, Jimmy Neesham somehow provided New Zealand a respite with a triple-wicket over.

He took three in an over to halt the host charge and put his team back in the competition. Neesham first picked up Samson, who made 89 from 46, whereas Kishan scored 54 from 25 balls.

New Zealand did well to stem the flow of runs, but it was Shivam Dube’s whirlwind knock that took the total to over 250 runs. The left-hander made 20 off eight with the aid of two sixes and three fours.

For New Zealand, James Neesham scalped three wickets.

READ: WATCH: New Zealand bowler makes history with triple hat-trick

AHMEDABAD: India opener Sanju Samson on Sunday broke multiple records with an epic knock against New Zealand in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 here on Sunday. 

The right-hander top-scored with 89 from 44 balls, playing a pivotal role in the team’s mammoth total of 255 runs in 20 overs.

After scoring 89, he became the third batter to record consecutive half-centuries in the semi-final and final of the mega event.

He joined former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi and his compatriot Virat, who registered the feat in 2009 and 2014, respectively.

Half-century in semi-final and final of T20 World Cup

Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) – in 2009

Virat Kohli (India) – in 2014

Sanju Samson (India) – in 2026

Moreover, his 89 is now also the highest score in the final of the T20 World Cup, surpassing Marlon Samuels’ record of 85 against England in 2016.

Highest individual scores in T20 World Cup final:

Sanju Samson (India) – 89 against New Zealand in 2026

Marlon Samuels (West Indies) – 85 against England in 2016

Kane Williamson (New Zealand) – 85 against Australia in 2021

Marlon Samuels (West Indies) – 78 against Sri Lanka in 2012

Virat Kohli (India) – 76 against South Africa in 2024

Besides this, the wicket-keeper batter is only the third batter to hit three consecutive 80-plus scores in the T20I format.

Samson has been in sublime form, having scored 97, 89, and 89 in his last three innings.

Consecutive 80-plus scores in T20Is

Mahela Jayawardene, (SL) 2010

Gustav Mckeon, (FRA) 2022

Sanju Samson, (IND) 2026

READ: WATCH: New Zealand bowler makes history with triple hat-trick

AHMEDABAD: India’s left-handed opener Abhishek Sharma smashed the fastest half-century in an ICC T20 World Cup final with just 18 balls, guiding his team to a blazing start against New Zealand in the 2026 finale here on Sunday.

Sharma, ranked No.1 in the ICC T20I Batting Rankings, had endured a difficult tournament before the final, leaving him with only 89 runs at an average of 12.71 heading into the summit clash.

However, the 25-year-old staged a stunning turnaround in the final. Launching an aggressive assault from the outset, Sharma reached his half-century in just 18 deliveries, surpassing Heinrich Klaasen’s 23-ball fifty set in South Africa’s unsuccessful run chase in the previous edition’s final.

Fastest half-centuries in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup finals

• Abhishek Sharma (India) – 18 balls vs New Zealand, 2026

• Heinrich Klaasen (South Africa) – 23 balls vs India, 2024

• Daryl Mitchell (New Zealand) – 31 balls vs Australia, 2021

Sharma’s 52-run knock came off 21 balls, featuring six fours and three sixes, before he was caught behind off Rachin Ravindra in the eighth over.

Although he couldn’t convert the rapid fifty into a century, his explosive innings set the tone for India’s mammoth total of 255-5.

Notably, the fastest fifty in any T20 World Cup match remains with Sharma’s mentor, Yuvraj Singh, who smashed a 12-ball half-century against England in 2007.

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MUMBAI: Several teams participating in the T20 World Cup 2026 are set to leave India over the weekend on charter flights arranged by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after being stranded due to disruptions in air travel caused by the ongoing military conflict in the Middle East.

According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, England, South Africa and West Indies were among the sides unable to depart the country following their elimination from the T20 World Cup.

England, who suffered a semi-final defeat against India on Thursday, are scheduled to leave Mumbai on Saturday evening aboard a charter flight bound for London.

Meanwhile, South Africa and the West Indies will depart from Kolkata on a separate charter flight.

Both teams are expected to travel to Johannesburg first before the West Indies squad continues onward to Antigua. While the exact departure time is yet to be finalised, both teams are expected to leave on Sunday.

South Africa and the West Indies have remained in Kolkata since their exits from the tournament.

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South Africa were knocked out after losing to New Zealand in the first semi-final on March 4, while the West Indies have been in the city since their defeat against India in their final Super Eight fixture on March 1.

West Indies head coach Daren Sammy even took to social media to highlight the delay, posting “Day 6” on his X account on Saturday, a reference to the number of days the team had been waiting to travel after their last match.

Some members of the South African contingent will have a tight turnaround after leaving India.

Team management members, along with players Keshav Maharaj, Jason Smith and George Linde, are scheduled to travel to New Zealand on Sunday for a limited-overs tour that begins on March 15.

Zimbabwe also experienced travel delays after playing their final match of the tournament on March 1, though parts of their squad were able to depart India on March 4.

The ongoing T20 World Cup, which began on February 7 across venues in India and Sri Lanka, will conclude on Sunday with the final between India and New Zealand in Ahmedabad.

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Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan has been nominated for the Player of the Tournament award at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, following a remarkable individual campaign despite the team’s early exit from the competition.

Farhan emerged as one of the standout performers of the tournament, finishing with 383 runs in six innings, the highest aggregate recorded in a single edition of the Men’s T20 World Cup.

The right-hander also etched his name into the record books by becoming the first player to score two centuries in one tournament, achieving the feat against Sri Lanka and Namibia.

While Pakistan failed to progress to the semi-finals, Farhan’s consistency at the top of the order proved to be one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing campaign for the national side.

England all-rounder Will Jacks is another strong contender for the award after playing a key role in his team’s run to the semi-finals.

Jacks delivered several match-winning performances, collecting four Player of the Match awards during the tournament.

Batting in a finishing role, he scored 226 runs at an impressive strike rate of 176.56, while also contributing with the ball by claiming nine wickets, including crucial breakthroughs in the Super Eight stage against Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

South Africa’s pace spearhead Lungi Ngidi has also been shortlisted after spearheading the Proteas’ bowling attack throughout the competition.

The fast bowler claimed 12 wickets in seven matches, consistently delivering important spells to guide South Africa to the semi-finals.

Ngidi’s teammate Aiden Markram also features among the nominees following a series of influential batting performances.

Promoted to the top of the order, Markram registered three half-centuries in eight matches, with his most notable innings coming during successful run-chases against New Zealand and West Indies, where he produced unbeaten knocks of 86 on both occasions.

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New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra has impressed with his ability to contribute in multiple departments.

The left-hander scored 128 runs while also claiming 11 wickets, including a decisive four for 27 against Sri Lanka during the Super Eight stage.

Fellow Kiwi Tim Seifert has also been instrumental in New Zealand’s march to the final.

The wicketkeeper-batter accumulated 274 runs across eight matches, producing several key innings at the top of the order.

His 58 in the semi-final against South Africa, alongside a 117-run opening partnership with Finn Allen, played a crucial role in guiding the Black Caps to a successful chase of 170.

Despite the United States exiting the tournament in the group stage, pacer Shadley van Schalkwyk delivered one of the most impressive bowling displays of the event.

The fast bowler picked up 13 wickets in just four matches, finishing as one of the leading wicket-takers while maintaining an economy rate of 6.80.

India’s Sanju Samson rounds out the shortlist after producing match-winning performances in the knockout stage.

The wicketkeeper-batter smashed an unbeaten 97 off 50 balls against West Indies in the Super Eight stage before following it up with a blistering 89 from 42 deliveries in the semi-final.

The winner of the Player of the Tournament award will be announced following the final between England and India, scheduled to take place on Sunday.

READ: Former South Africa batter compares Jasprit Bumrah to a ‘genie’