Latest news with #T20WorldCup2026
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
BAN vs PAK: New-look Pakistan and Bangladesh face off in T20 series
Pakistan captain Salman Agha is confident his new-look side is shaping up well towards next year's World Cup as it takes on Bangladesh in a T20 series starting in Dhaka from Sunday. Agha has been leading the short format side with star batter Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan out since last year. Pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi has been rested for the three-match series and seam bowlers Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah and Mohammad Wasim are also missing because of injuries. Agha said the missing players could still be considered for the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka next year. 'We have changed the way we want to play but we are confident of our build-up and direction,' said Agha on Saturday. 'We are going for this series with ample preparations as Bangladesh can be a challenging team in their home conditions.' New Zealander Mike Hesson is Pakistan's new white-ball coach. His first assignment was a 3-0 series win at home against Bangladesh 3-0 last month. Also read | Which teams have qualified for T20 World Cup 2026? With leg-spinner Shadab Khan also injured, Pakistan has picked two uncapped fast bowlers in Salman Mirza and Ahmed Daniyal. Bangladesh won a T20 series 2-1 in Sri Lanka last week. 'What happened in Sri Lanka is in the past,' said captain Litton Das. 'We have to face a new challenge starting tomorrow. We are ready for this challenge. 'We have the mentality to beat any team, but we have to play well on the particular day and not entirely bank on home conditions.' Bangladesh has kept the same squad that went to Sri Lanka The second and third matches are on Tuesday and Thursday, also in Dhaka. Related Topics Pakistan / Bangladesh
NDTV
4 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
"I Definitely Fit That Mould": Contracted England Star Eyes Test Comeback
Experienced wicketkeeper batter Jonny Bairstow is still hopeful for a call-up to the England side despite being ignored for the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy and radio silence from the selectors. It has been more than a year since Bairstow last donned the England jersey. His previous outing ended on a bitter note, considering he was dismissed for a three-ball duck as England's T20 World Cup 2024 campaign came to a semi-final heartbreak defeat against India. Last year, the 35-year-old was axed from the Test side as part of a shuffle and revamp of the red-ball squad. England was forced to consider making a couple of changes after being humbled by India in a 4-1 series defeat. After making his 100th Test appearance in Dharamshala, he disappeared from the scene. England overlooked Bairstow and considered alternative wicketkeeping prospects. Bairstow's situation remains peculiar, considering he is positioned low in the pecking order despite being centrally contracted, a contract that will expire this October. With no signs suggesting Bairstow being a part of head coach Brendon McCullum's plans, the seasoned star remains adamant about his return. With the T20 World Cup 2026 in sight, England's new white-ball captain, Harry Brook, is in the hunt for players who can take on the world's best bowlers, and Bairstow believes he fits the bill. "I am still contracted. I haven't heard too much from them, if anything, to be honest with you, but that's the part and parcel of it. Brooky (Harry Brook) came out and said that he wanted certain type of players who can take down the best bowlers in the world, and I definitely fit that mould and have done for a long period of time," Bairstow told Sky Sports. "So, from a fitness point of view, I have not missed a game since coming back from my ankle injury, which could have been a lot more treacherous than it has been. I am really pleased to be spending a lot of time out on the field, even with the County Championship stuff and then going into the Hundred. From a robustness point of view, I am definitely knocking about. The other bits here, the leadership side of it, have thrown at different challenges," he concluded. In the ongoing Vitality Blast Men 2025, Bairstow has hammered 177 runs in seven appearances for Yorkshire at 25.28 while striking impressively at 165.42. The seasoned star has enjoyed a more prolific run in the County Championship with Yorkshire, garnering 595 runs at 49.58 and hammering nine sixes, the most by a batter in the top 20 run-scorers.
India.com
6 days ago
- Sport
- India.com
Brian Lara Slams At West Indies Board Following Nicholas Poorans Retirement And The Downfall Of WI Cricket
Brian Lara noted that players like Nicholas Pooran are retiring early to play in various global leagues, where they can earn more money. Lara felt that this was a result of the West Indies Cricket Board's failure to incentivise players to remain loyal to West Indies cricket, contrasting it with the efforts of boards in countries like England, Australia, and India. "You have a lot of guys who are deciding on what to do with their careers. You have your aggressive players like Pooran, who retired at 29. And honestly, it's pretty clear why they did. There are five or six leagues around the world, and they're able to make a substantial amount of money playing in them," Brian Lara said on the 'Stick to Cricket' podcast hosted by former England players Phil Tuffnell, David Lloyd, Michael Vaughan, and Alastair Cook. "I have no problem with that. The truth is, I don't think the West Indies Cricket Board or the administration has done anything meaningful to keep players loyal to West Indies cricket, unlike what boards in countries like England, Australia, or even India have done," he added "So naturally, our players are going to look elsewhere. And when you see players like Kane Williamson or even South Africans making similar choices, you understand that these guys are just trying to provide for their families." Pooran surprised the world by announcing his retirement from international cricket at the age of 29 last month. The 29-year-old, who recently dazzled in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Lucknow Super Giants with explosive performances, described retiring from the international circuit as "difficult". With over eight months left before the T20 World Cup 2026 kicks off in India and Sri Lanka, Pooran's decision serves as a massive setback for the 2016 winners. Since bursting onto the international scene in 2016, Pooran featured in 106 T20Is and 61 ODIs, garnering more than 4,258 runs across both formats. He mustered up 2,275 in the shortest format of cricket, averaging 26.14 at 136.39. While in the 50-over cricket, he tallied 1,983 runs at 39.66 while maintaining a strike rate of 99.15, laced with three centuries and 11 fifties.
India.com
12-07-2025
- Sport
- India.com
Which Teams Have Qualified For ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026? Italy, Netherlands And... Check Full List
Italy and the Netherlands have qualified for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, which will be played in India and Sri Lanka. This is the first time that Italy has qualified for a cricket ICC World Cup. The sides - Italy and the Netherlands - met in one of the two all-important fixtures at ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 Europe Qualifier at The Hague in Switzerland. The Netherlands beat Italy by nine wickets, while Jersey shocked Scotland with a one-wicket victory off the final ball of the match which saw the Scots eliminated from the running for the first time in four Men's T20 World Cup events. Both Italy and Jersey had five points in the log standings, but the former secured their place at the main event by virtue of a superior net run rate. Netherlands and Italy with memorable Europe Regional Final campaigns to lock their place in the Men's #T20WorldCup 2026 More — ICC (@ICC) July 12, 2025 Netherlands and Italy qualify from Europe, leaving five spots up for grabs for ICC Men's #T20WorldCup 2026 — ICC (@ICC) July 12, 2025 ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026: List Of Teams That Have Qualified A total of 15 teams have qualified for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 so far. The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 East-Asia Pacific Qualifier will see three more teams secure tickets to India and Sri Lanka and two more from Africa will make the final 20. Teams qualified for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup as on July 11, 2025 Afghanistan Australia Bangladesh Canada England India Ireland New Zealand Pakistan South Africa Sri Lanka USA West Indies ICC Men's T20 World Cup Asia & EAP Qualifier Group 1 – UAE, Malaysia, Qatar Group 2 – Nepal, Kuwait, Japan Group 3 – Oman, Papua New Guinea, Samoa
India Gazette
12-07-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
'Well done to both teams': Jay Shah as Italy, Netherlands qualify for T20 World Cup 2026
New Delhi [India], July 12 (ANI): International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Jay Shah lauded Italy and the Netherlands after both teams qualified for the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup. It is scheduled to be hosted in India and Sri Lanka. In a post on X on late Friday evening, Shah said, 'An amazing result for @KNCBcricket and @FedCricket, qualifying for the @ICC Men's @T20WorldCup 2026 through the Europe Qualifier,' Shah wrote. 'For Italy, it will be their first-ever appearance at the tournament that India will defend early next year. Well done to both teams!' While the Netherlands are a familiar face in the global T20 landscape, Italy's qualification marks a significant moment in the nation's cricketing journey, as they prepare to showcase their talent on the world stage. India, the defending champions, will host the tournament along with Sri Lanka in 2026, with the growing list of qualified teams promising a truly global showcase of T20 cricket. The final day of the Europe Qualifiers for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup turned into a roller coaster ride. All four sides, Italy, Netherlands, Scotland and Jersey had an opportunity to confirm their presence in the tournament. Scotland, who have featured in the last four editions of the tournament, hoped to qualify, but their hopes ended on a bitter note after a last-ball defeat against Jersey earlier on Friday. In a must-win battle, Jersey crossed the line on the final delivery of the game and pulled off a stunning win by chasing a 134-run target. Even after pulling off a one-wicket heist, Jersey, who were level with Italy on five points, were knocked out of the race due to Italy's superior net run rate. Italy needed to avoid a heavy defeat, which they managed by stretching their defence from 134/7 to 16.2 overs. After opting to bat, Italy lost their opening pair, Justin Mosca and Emilio Gay, within the first three overs. Italy captain Joe Burns hammered 22 before falling in the seventh over, which reduced them to 41/3. Wicketkeeper-batter Marcus Campopiano's cheap dismissal added to Italy's woes as they tottered on 46/4 in the ninth over. Benjamin Manenti's 27-ball 30 and Grant Stewart's 25(16) helped Italy garner 33 runs in the last three overs, which propelled them to 134/7. In reply, the Netherlands were quick off the blocks and hammered 66/0 in the powerplay. Michael Levitt and Max O'Dowd's 81-run opening stand ended in the eighth over. Crishan Kalugamage removed Levitt's stay on 34(25), but the Dutch side quickly rebounded after captain Scott Edwards forged an unbeaten 64-run stand for the second wicket to see the Netherlands home. As of now, 15 teams have qualified for the T20 World Cup. The Asia EAP qualifier will see three more sides feature in the competition, while two further teams will make it through from the Africa qualifier. Teams qualified for the T20 World Cup 2026: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, England, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, USA, West Indies. (ANI)
