Sports Bulletin

Sports Bulletin ReportDubai (UAE): Richard Illingworth and Nitin Menon will be on the on-field umpires when Afghanistan make history by playing in their first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup semi-final.An eight-run win against Bangladesh, via DLS, secured safe passage from the Super 8s at Australia’s expense. They will play South Africa in Trinidad on Wednesday June 26, with a place in Saturday’s final on the line. South Africa are looking to secure a maiden ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final appearance. Richard Kettleborough will be the TV Umpire, with Ahsan Raza in place as Fourth Umpire.In the second match, Chris Gaffaney and Rodney Tucker will be in the middle as India and England meet for the second tournament running in the semi-finals. Reigning champions England booked their place in the final four with a 10-wicket win against co-hosts USA, while India put the finishing touches to a perfect Super 8s stage with a 24-run win over Australia. Joel Wilson will be the TV Umpire for a re-run of the 2022 semi-final, which saw England come out on top, with Paul Reiffel in place as the fourth umpire in Guyana on 27 June.Semi-finals – Match Official appointmentsJune 26: South Africa v Afghanistan (Trinidad)Referee: Richie RichardsonOn-field Umpires: Richard Illingworth and Nitin MenonTV Umpire: Richard KettleboroughFourth Umpire: Ahsan RazaJune 27: India v England (Guyana)Referee: Jeffrey CroweOn-field Umpires: Chris Gaffaney and Rodney TuckerTV Umpire: Joel WilsonFourth Umpire: Paul Reiffel 

Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: South Africa trounced United States of America (USA) by 18 runs in the opening fixture of the Super-8 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 at Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium, North Sound in Antigua West Indies on Wednesday.Despite a power-packed partnership between Andries Gous (80*) and Harmeet Singh (38) the United States fell 18 runs short of the 194 posted by South Africa in Antigua during the Group 2 Super-8 T20 World Cup match. For South Africa, Kagiso Rabada was the pick of the bowlers, snapping three wickets in his quota of four overs.Powered by Quinton de Kock (74) and Aiden Markram (46), South Africa posted 194/4 after 20 overs against USA. For the co-hosts, Saurabh Netravalkar and Harmeet Singh struck twice. Earlier, United States won the toss and opted to bowl against South Africa.South Africa XI: Quinton de Kock(w), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram(c), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi; United States XI: Shayan Jahangir, Steven Taylor, Andries Gous(w), Aaron Jones(c), Nitish Kumar, Corey Anderson, Harmeet Singh, Jasdeep Singh, Nosthush Kenjige, Ali Khan, Saurabh Netravalkar.

Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 has approved Hazratullah Zazai as a replacement for Mujeeb ur Rahman in the Afghanistan squad.Hazratullah, who has played 43 T20Is, was named as a replacement after Mujeeb was ruled out due to an injury to his right index finger.The replacement of a player requires the approval of the Event Technical Committee before the player can be officially added to the squad.The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 consists of Wasim Khan (ICC General Manager – Cricket), Chris Tetley (ICC Head of Events), Johnny Grave (CEO, Cricket West Indies) and Kass Naidoo (Independent Representative). 

Sports Bulletin ReportPort of Spain (Trinidad): The Antigua & Barbuda Falcons have confirmed the players they have signed ahead of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League draft. They have 12 confirmed players for the 2024 season and will have five spots to fill at the draft in July. The Falcons will feature Pakistani internationals Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim and Fakhar Zaman, all of whom are currently featuring in the T20 World Cup which is taking place in the Caribbean and USA. Their overseas contingent will be rounded out by Australia’s Chris Green and Afghan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai. Brandon King and Fabian Allen will be part of the Falcons squad for 2024 as well as hugely exciting Antiguan batter Jewel Andrew who starred at the Under 19 World Cup earlier this year. Names of Falcons players: Imad Wasim, Brandon King, Fabian Allen, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Amir, Chris Green, Fakhar Zaman, Hayden Walsh, Samar Springer, Kelvin Pitman, Jewel Andrew, Joshua James.

India outpay Pakistan by 6 runs in a low-scoring thriller contest in New YorkSports Bulletin ReportNew York (USA); Pacer Jasprit Bumrah (3 for 14) halted Green Shirts from achieving a meager target of 120 runs in 20 overs, as India successfully downed the opposition by 6 runs at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York in an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 cricket match on Sunday.Naseem Shah took three for 21, Haris Rauf claimed three for 21 and Mohammad Amir snapped up two for 23 to bowl India out for 119, their second-lowest score in a T20 World Cup. Jasprit Bumrah led India’s fightback with figures of three for 14, while Hardik Pandya claimed two for 24 as Pakistan finished on 113 for seven on a substandard T20 pitch.Pakistan needed 18 runs in the last over and managed 11 runs, including two fours off the final three balls of the innings by Naseem Shah. Pakistan were in control of the proceedings when they were 57 for one at the halfway stage and then 83 for four after 15 overs, needing 37 off the last five overs.Babar Azam (13) and Mohammad Rizwan (31) stitched a 26-run first wicket partnership off 28 balls before Rizwan and Usman Khan (13) put on 31 runs off 33 balls. However, the lower-order batters struggled to put bat to ball and dominated India bowlers, although Imad Wasim scored 15 and Fakhar Zaman chipped in with 13.India wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant was the top-scorer of the match with a lucky 42 off 31 balls, including six fours. In Mohammad Amir’s second over, the sixth of the innings, Pant could have been caught twice; instead, he got 11 runs before eventually falling to Amir in the 15th over.Virat Kohli, who had given Pakistan a heartbreak in Melbourne two years ago with an 82 not out, lasted just three balls this time. Rohit Sharma joined Kohli in the dug-out seven balls later as India slipped to 19 for two in 2.4 overs.Axar Patel (20) added 39 runs off 30 balls for the third wicket with Pant, while Pant put on 31 runs off 22 balls with Suryakumar Yadav for the fourth wicket to take India to 89 for four. At that stage, Pakistan fought back to claim the remaining six wickets for 30 runs in just over eight overs as India collapsed to 119 all out in 19 overs.

Sports Bulletin ReportDallas, Texas (USA): The United States of America (USA) cricket team overcame former champions Pakistan in the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup match in a super over to claim an upset and historical victory in Dallas Texas USA on Thursday.After being put into bat on a tricky surface, Pakistan stuttered to 159 for seven after slipping to 26 for three and then 98 for five. In their run-chase on a wicket that turned into a batting paradise, the USA reached 104 for one in 13 overs before Pakistan fought back to leave the home side needing 15 runs off the last over. Haris Rauf conceded three runs off the first three deliveries but went for 11 runs off the last three deliveries as the USA tied the match by finishing at 159 for three.In the Super Over, Mohammad Amir bowled a nine-ball over in which the USA scored 18 runs. In reply, the USA’s left-arm fast bowler Saurabh Netravalkar displayed tremendous composure and conceded only 13 runs, including picking Iftikhar Ahmed’s wicket in an eight-ball over.This was the USA’s biggest victory in their 31-match history, while for Pakistan, it was one of the most shocking results in a 242-match career. A couple of weeks ago, the USA had also beaten Bangladesh 2-1 in a three-match series, while they defeated Canada by seven wickets in their tournament opener.Thursday’s shocking result can be ranked alongside Zimbabwe’s victory over Australia in the 2007 event, the Netherlands' victory over England in the 2009 and 2014 tournaments, Afghanistan’s victory over the West Indies in the 2016 tournament and Namibia’s victory over Sri Lanka in the 2022 competition.The USA has now won both of their matches and have games against Ireland and India remaining, while Sunday’s match against India will potentially be a must-win match for Pakistan to keep their chances of a Super-Eight stage qualification alive. Pakistan will also play Canada (11 June) and Ireland (16 June).A 68-run second-wicket partnership between captain Monank Patel and Andries Gous set up the USA’s historic victory. Patel scored 50 off 38 balls with seven fours and a six, while Gous contributed 35 off 26 balls with five fours and a six.After Gous fell to Haris Rauf and Mohammad Amir accounted for Patelto limit the USA to 111 for three in 14.1 overs, Aaron Jones and Nitish Kumar stitched an unbroken 48 runs off 35 balls for the fourth wicket. Jones finished unbeaten on 36 with two fours and two sixes, including a maximum off Haris’ fourth delivery, while Kumar remained not out on a run-a-ball 14 that included a final-ball four that tied the match.Earlier in the day, and after Steven Taylor took a breathtaking catch in the first slip to dismiss Mohammad Rizwan on the eighth ball of the match, Pakistan struggled to 159 for seven with the last 10 overs producing 93 runs for the loss of four wickets. In the second half of the innings, Shaheen Shah Afridi chipped in with an invaluable 16-ball 23 not out with a four and two sixes and Iftikhar Ahmed contributed a 14-ball 18 with three fours.At the top of the order, captain Babar Azam and Shadab Khan produced a 72-run partnership for the fourth wicket in 48 balls to put Pakistan back on course to a decent total before back-to-back wickets of Shadab and Azam Khan reduced Pakistan to 98 for five, which became 125 for six in the 16th over following the departure of Babar.Shadab scored at a strike-rate of 160 when he contributed 40 runs off 25 balls with a four and three sixes, while Babar was trapped in front of the wickets after scoring 44 off 43 balls with three fours and two sixes.

Sports Bulletin ReportDallas, TX (USA): Pakistan cricket team have arrived in Dallas, Texas, United States of America (USA) to participate in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, as Green Shirts will take on the USA in their first match of the prestigious fixture on June 6, 2024.Pakistan Squad: Babar Azam (Captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman KhanPlayer support personnel: Wahab Riaz (senior team manager), Mansoor Rana (team manager), Gary Kirsten (head coach), Azhar Mahmood (assistant coach), Simon Helmot (fielding coach), David Reid (mental performance coach), Aftab Khan (high performance coach), Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Irtaza Komail (chief security officer), Mohammad Imran (masseur), Mohammad Khurram Sarwar (team doctor), Talha Ijaz (analyst), Raza Kitchlew (media and digital manager) and Drikus Saaiman (strength and conditioning coach). 

Sports Bulletin ReportDallas (USA): Junaid ‘The X-Man’ Siddiqui’s signature leg spin is set to light up the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, more than a decade on from the Canada star’s international debut.The 39-year-old all-rounder grew up playing street cricket amid the bustle of Karachi before moving to Toronto with his family at the age of 13.Siddiqui will now showcase his trademark aggression at the crease as part of his country’s historic maiden T20 World Cup squad and is looking forward to displaying his distinguished ‘X’ celebration on after every wicket he takes.Junaid Siddiqui said: “It was something to spice it up a little bit because I was very aggressive and when I was taking wickets, I would run off the camera every single time on the left. When I wanted to celebrate, me and my wife came up with something along the lines of an X to mark that the batter has gone. It’s more to save myself a bit of aggression and use it for one action. It came out well, people started liking and I just continued it. When I started leg spin in T20s, not many spinners could come and bowl in the powerplay. I was unique in that way.”Siddiqui was one of the first homegrown Canadian players to play first-class cricket and did so in Sri Lanka before being selected for his national team. The right-hander was recalled to the squad having last played an international T20 in 2022 and is now relishing the prospect of the opening day showdown against the USA in Dallas.“Playing in Sri Lanka was a huge experience for me because that motivated me so much. I played all my cricket in Canada where I couldn’t compete as much and there was not a lot of exposure, yet I was able to get picked in a first-class team. That gave me a huge boost where I thought I could pursue this as a profession. I’m proud and happy that I was able to do it for so long and I’m still doing it. There are setbacks, and every country has to face how to move forward beyond a World Cup and how to make a team – the process has happened over the last 13 years. We just don’t want to be a participant in the World Cup, we want to make sure that we go out there and be the best of us, we don’t want to be a passenger sitting in the bus. It (selection) was a big call. With what I have been doing for the last two years, I was expecting it one way or another because I had good performances behind me. When I found out, it was the best news of my life.”Playing in a tournament close to home is one thing but knowing how to play on an American wicket is another and Siddiqui is prepared for exactly what to expect. The seasoned pro has recently played for California Golden Eagles in the United States Premier League and believes the American wickets will provide high-scoring contests.“We have played on a few wickets like in Dallas and we know it’s a really good wicket to bat on with Major League playing there last year. The bowlers definitely have to be ready with these really good wickets. I’ve played a lot of cricket in the US on a contract and tournament basis and they have done a good job. The facilities are good, you will see high-scoring games and it will be a really fun World Cup.”Siddiqui need not look far for cricket idols growing up with Herschelle Gibbs and Abdul Qadir providing much inspiration for his career of longevity. Still, the one constant in his life remains his Muslim faith. As he prepares for a group stage against the USA, Ireland, India and his birth country Pakistan, he is using his belief and the support of his family to remain grounded on the biggest of stages.“My belief came from my performances, staying consistent. My parents and family gave me a lot of support and prayed for me, especially my wife. Their support made me want to keep going and that made a big difference. You work hard, you be humble, a kind person and leave everything in God’s hands. If it’s good, it will come to you, if it’s not, someone else will have it better.”

Sports Bulletin ReportLondon (UK): England beat Pakistan by seven wickets in the fourth and final T20I of the series at the Oval on Thursday to take the series 2-0. Both teams wrapped up their preparations for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 by warming up in the two T20I games at the Oval and Edgbaston while the games at Cardiff and Headingley were washed out.In pursuit of the 158-run target Jos Buttler and Phil Salt walked out all guns blazing as they hammered the ball to all parts of the ground. The duo ransacked 78 runs in the powerplay as Salt hit five fours and two sixes while Buttler belted five fours and one six.Haris Rauf removed Salt (45, 25b, 6x4s, 2x6s) in the 7th over and Buttler (39, 20b, 7x4s, 1x6) in the 9th over as England cruised to 102-2 at the halfway mark. Haris returned in the 11th over to dismiss Will Jacks with a searing yorker (20, 18b, 1x4, 1x6) who had hit him for a six a ball before.In the following over Jonny Bairstow belted Shadab Khan for two consecutive sixes to keep the run-rate abreast. An unbeaten 46-run fourth-wicket partnership between Brook (17 not out, 14b, 1x4, 1x6) and Bairstow (28 not out, 16b, 1x4, 3x6s) took England home with 27 balls remaining and seven wickets in the bag. Rauf was the lone wicket-taker for Pakistan.Earlier, after England invited Pakistan to bat first, the opening batters Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam put on a solid 59-run partnership hitting eight fours and a six. Jofra Archer drew the first blood for England as he removed Babar (36, 5x4s, 1x6) on the last ball of the powerplay.In the seventh over, Adil Rashid rattled Rizwan’s stumps who departed after scoring 23 off 16 balls with the help of three fours. England managed breakthroughs at regular intervals as the spin duo of Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid eked out the vital scalps of Fakhar Zaman (9, 9b, 1x6) and Shadab Khan (0, 1b) respectively leaving Pakistan 84-4 at the halfway mark.Azam Khan copped a five-ball duck in the 11th over. Usman Khan, in his breezy knock of 38 off 21 balls, smacked three boundaries and two sixes. Liam Livingstone delivered a double-wicket maiden dismissing Usman and Shaheen Shah Afridi as he left Pakistan reeling at 126-7 after 15 overs.Iftikhar Ahmed (21, 18b, 2x4s) and Naseem Shah (16, 18b, 1x4, 1x6) pushed Pakistan past the 150-run mark before England wrapped up Pakistan’s innings for 157 all out in 19.5 overs. For England Rashid, Livingstone and Mark Wood bagged two wickets each. Archer, Moeen and Chris Jordan struck once apiece.

Sports Bulletin ReportLeeds (UK): The opening fixture of the T20 International cricket series between Pakistan and hosts England called off due to rain at the Headingley Cricket Ground on Wednesday. The two teams arrived at the venue amidst heavy rain following, which the game was called off without even the toss taking place.Pakistan and England will now travel to Birmingham to play the second T20I of the series at Edgbaston Cricket Ground which is scheduled to take place on May 25, 2024.