The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced their 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup in 2024, with star batter Babar Azam leading the team. The Men in Green will be looking for redemption after their loss in the 2022 T20 World Cup final. One notable absence from the squad is senior pacer Hasan Ali, while veteran players Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim make a comeback. The team will face off against arch-rivals India on June 9 in the group stage.
Pakistan Unveils Squad for 2024 T20 World Cup: Babar Azam to Lead
Background:
The International Cricket Council (ICC) Men's T20 World Cup is a major international cricket tournament held every two years. The 2024 edition will be hosted by India and will feature 16 national teams competing for the coveted trophy.
Pakistan's Squad Announcement:
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has released a 15-member squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup in 2024. Star batter Babar Azam, who is currently ranked number one in the ICC T20I rankings, will lead the team.
The squad sees the return of veteran players Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim, while senior pacer Hasan Ali has been left out. The Men in Green will be looking to redeem themselves after their loss in the 2022 T20 World Cup final against England.
Key Players:
Pakistan vs. India Rivalry:
Pakistan and India have one of the most intense rivalries in international cricket. The two teams are scheduled to face each other on June 9 in the group stage of the T20 World Cup. This match is expected to be one of the highlights of the tournament.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers:
1. Who is the captain of Pakistan's T20 World Cup squad? Answer: Babar Azam
2. Which players are missing from the squad? Answer: Hasan Ali
3. Which veterans have made a comeback? Answer: Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim
4. When will Pakistan face India in the T20 World Cup? Answer: June 9
5. What was the result of the 2022 T20 World Cup final? Answer: England defeated Pakistan
With stand-in captain Steve Smith and opener Usman Khawaja leading the charge, Australia piled on the runs in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. Khawaja scored his maiden Test double-century and Smith continued to add to his tally after joining the 10,000 runs club. The two broke multiple records, including the highest partnership by an Australian pair in Sri Lanka and the second-highest partnership in Test cricket history for Australia. Now, with a strong lead and debutant Josh Inglis adding to the total, Australia looks poised to declare and put Sri Lanka on the back foot.
On Thursday, it was announced that Stefan Bajcetic, a former Liverpool defender, has joined Las Palmas instead of Porto for the remainder of the season. Despite initial plans for him to stay at RB Salzburg until after the Club World Cup, the player was eager for a change. This news comes on a day where two other former Liverpool captains have also made headlines.
Australia's Usman Khawaja put up an impressive performance in his first test debut against Sri Lanka on Thursday, scoring a marathon 232 runs and forming century-plus partnerships with Steve Smith and Josh Inglis to lead his team to a colossal total of 654/6 before declaring their first innings. This marks Australia's highest test total in Asia and is sure to catch the attention of cricket fans worldwide. Don't miss out on this historic match and be sure to subscribe to catch all the action.
In an exciting Elite Group D match in the Ranji Trophy, Delhi captain Ayush Badoni won the toss and chose to bowl first against Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The match saw a strong performance from Delhi's bowlers, with Railways losing five batters in the first 40 minutes of play. However, Railways' Upendra Yadav's impressive 95 helped his team reach a respectable total of 241. Notably, Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli also made an appearance for Delhi, marking his first Ranji Trophy match since 2012.
Australian batter Josh Inglis made a sensational debut in the first Test against Sri Lanka, scoring a blistering 102 runs off just 93 balls on the second day of the match in Galle. Inglis' milestone made him the second-fastest century scorer on Test debut in cricket history, following Shikhar Dhawan's record of 85 balls in 2013. The 29-year-old's impressive performance added to an intriguing trend in Australian cricket, as the last three batters from the country to score a century on debut were all from Western Australia.
Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc celebrated his birthday in style by reaching a milestone of 700 international wickets. He achieved this feat during the first Test match against Sri Lanka, becoming the sixth-fastest player to do so. Starc's remarkable achievement further solidifies his place in the annals of fast bowling history and puts him alongside other cricketing legends.
In an impressive batting performance, Josh Inglis scored his maiden Test ton on debut for Australia, becoming the third centurion of the innings after Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith. Inglis reached the milestone in just 90 balls, the second fastest by a debutant, before eventually falling for 102 runs. His partnership with Khawaja, who achieved his maiden Test double century, helped Australia reach 600 runs before Tea on Day 2 in Galle. Despite the strong batting display, Sri Lanka's Prabath Jayasuriya stood out with his career-high 60 overs bowled in an innings.
After surpassing former India wicket-keeper Naman Ojha's record, 38-year-old Sheldon Jackson becomes the top six-hitter in Ranji Trophy history. In his 100th Ranji Trophy appearance, Jackson hit his milestone six against Assam, securing his place as one of only six batters to have smashed over 100-plus Ranji Trophy sixes. With over 6600 runs in the Ranji Trophy, Jackson ranks third among Saurashtra batters, behind Cheteshwar Pujara and Sitanshu Kotak. He was also instrumental in Saurashtra's two title wins, including a match-winning century in the semifinal.
Indian cricket star Virat Kohli's return to first-class cricket after eight years drew over 15,000 fans to Delhi's Kotla stadium, with the crowd growing by the minute. Fans packed the Gautam Gambhir stand and broke barricades in order to watch Kohli in action, with some even coming from out of town just to see him play. Despite some chaotic moments at the gates, the excitement and energy of the crowd was palpable as Delhi took on Railways in the Ranji Trophy.
Australia's Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja continue their strong partnership, leading the team to a commanding first-innings score on Day 2 of the opening Test against Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's bowlers will need to utilize their spinners effectively in order to take wickets and mount a comeback against the dominant Australian batsmen. The playing XIs for both teams have been announced, with some notable players taking the field for the first time in the series. As the game reaches the 150 over mark, Starc knocks a single to long on, further adding to Australia's total.