The highly anticipated schedule for the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 has been announced, with a total of 45 matches set to take place across seven venues in Australia. Defending champions Australia will face New Zealand in the opening match at the SCG, while the highly anticipated clash between India and Pakistan will be held at the MCG. The tournament, which runs from October 16 to November 13, will see the top teams battle it out for the coveted trophy.
The announcement of Pakistan's plan to conduct a trophy tour of the ICC Champions Trophy through PoK has caused a stir, with India registering a strong protest with the ICC. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has condemned the move and urged for appropriate action to be taken. The controversy has also sparked tensions on social media, with BJP leader Amit Malviya calling out Pakistan's "loss of face". There are concerns that the strained relations between India and Pakistan could affect the hosting of the tournament.
Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi has reclaimed the top spot in ICC ODI rankings after his impressive showing in the recent series against Australia. Along with Afridi, teammate Haris Rauf also jumped to a career-high 13th position in the rankings. Despite being demoted in their central contracts, Afridi and Rauf have proved their worth on the field, with Rauf also earning the Player of the Series award. Afridi's journey to the top has not been without setbacks, including a controversy during the T20 World Cup and losing the captaincy after one series loss. Rauf, on the other hand, had refused to play for Pakistan and his central contract was terminated before being restored.
The inaugural Women’s U19 Asia Cup, scheduled to take place in Malaysia, will see India and Pakistan battling it out in the same group. The tournament will include six teams, divided into two groups. Group A consists of India, Pakistan, and Nepal, while Group B includes Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia. The tournament will commence on December 15, with the hosts facing Sri Lanka in the opening game. India and Pakistan are set to clash on the same day while the top two teams from each group will compete in the Super Four round on December 19 and 20.
Former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke criticizes the team management for not taking the recent ODI series loss against Pakistan seriously. The Aussies were beaten by the Mohammad Rizwan-led squad by 1-2 in a three-match ODI series. Clarke questions the decision to rest five players, including the captain, as 'non-caring' towards the series. He suggests that players expected to compete in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy should have played the final ODI against Pakistan, noting that their absence would also impact their training. With Australia resting key players like Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Steve Smith during series decider, Clarke argues that the team management's priorities are misplaced.
Arch-rivals India and Pakistan will face off in the inaugural Women's U19 Asia Cup, which will be held in Malaysia and feature six teams. The tournament begins in December, with hosts Malaysia taking on Sri Lanka in the opening game and India facing Pakistan in a highly anticipated clash later in the day. The top two teams from the group stage will advance to the Super Four round, with the final set to take place on December 22. Stay updated on all the latest news and updates on Cricket with NDTV Sports.
The Asian Cricket Council has announced the schedule for the inaugural Under-19 Women's Asia Cup to be held in Malaysia from December 15 to 22. Arch-rivals Pakistan and India have been placed in the same group and will go head to head on the opening day of the competition. The tournament will feature six teams, with two groups of three teams each. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Four stage, with the final scheduled for December 22. This is not the first time Pakistan and India have been in the same group in a cricket tournament, showcasing the intense rivalry between the two nations on every level.
Former Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has criticized the BCCI's decision to not send the Indian team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy in 2025. While PCB has written to the ICC for clarification, there are reports that ICC may propose a hybrid model for the tournament with India playing at a neutral venue. However, Pakistan government has asked PCB not to move any matches out of the country and there is a possibility of Pakistan withdrawing from the event altogether, potentially incurring sanctions from ICC.
The International Cricket Council has informed Pakistan that India will not be able to travel to their neighbouring country for the Champions Trophy next year, sending shockwaves through the cricketing community. The PCB has forwarded the email to the Pakistani government for guidance and is still waiting for a response. In the past, Pakistan has made friendly gestures towards India, but the PCB chairman has warned that this may not always be the case. The ICC was set to release the tournament's schedule this week, but the stand-off between India and Pakistan may delay the announcement.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced their willingness to rearrange the schedule and venues of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 to accommodate India's refusal to travel to Pakistan. This would be the second time Pakistan is hosting a multi-nation tournament on a hybrid model, with India playing all their matches in the UAE. The International Cricket Council (ICC) is waiting for the PCB's decision and is expected to announce the schedule for the tournament next week.