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Buoyant USA out to slip banana skin under Pakistan
Buoyant USA out to slip banana skin under Pakistan

The upcoming clash between the USA and Pakistan in the T20 World Cup is set to be a thrilling encounter, showcasing two teams with contrasting trajectories and a lot at stake.

USA’s Prospects

USA is quickly emerging as a formidable side in T20 cricket, particularly dangerous in world events where upsets are common. Their players, who are well-versed in the T20 format, playing 60-70 matches a year, have shown adaptability and resilience. This was evident in their historic series win against Bangladesh and their high-octane victory over Canada.

The team’s vice-captain, Aaron Jones, has been pivotal with his explosive batting, setting the tone for the USA’s campaign. However, the team will be looking for a big performance from Corey Anderson. The former New Zealand all-rounder has a strong record and his experience, especially against high-quality bowlers like Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf, will be crucial. Captain Monank Patel’s recovery from illness will also be key for the USA’s prospects.

Pakistan’s Turbulence

Pakistan, the runners-up in the last T20 World Cup, have been going through a rough patch. A series of poor performances, including a 4-1 series defeat in New Zealand and a home draw against the same opposition, followed by losses to Bangladesh and England, have left the team in a state of flux. Leadership changes and inconsistent form have added to their woes.

Pakistan’s opening combination is unsettled, with Saim Ayyub’s failures likely leading to a reunion of the controversial Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan pair. The team also grapples with the form and fit of Azam Khan, whose inconsistency with both bat and gloves has been a concern.

Match Details

  • When: USA vs Pakistan, June 6, 3:30 PM GMT, 10:30 AM Local, 9:00 PM IST
  • Where: Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas Metro Area, Texas

The venue promises a high-scoring contest under favorable weather conditions. The pitch has shown to support good stroke play, particularly in matches played under lights.

Team News

USA: Captain Monank Patel is expected to recover from his fever in time for the match. The team looks to field a balanced XI with a mix of experience and youthful exuberance.

Probable XI:

  • Monank Patel (c & wk)
  • Steven Taylor
  • Andries Gous
  • Aaron Jones
  • Corey Anderson
  • Harmeet Singh
  • Nitish Kumar
  • Jasdeep Singh
  • Saurabh Netravalkar
  • Ali Khan
  • Shadley Van Schalkwyk/Nostush Kenjige

Pakistan: Imad Wasim will miss the game due to a side strain, with Abrar Ahmed likely to replace him as the second spinner alongside Shadab Khan. The selection dilemma revolves around their fast bowlers, where at least one of Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Amir, or Naseem Shah will be benched.

Probable XI:

  • Babar Azam (c)
  • Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
  • Usman Khan
  • Fakhar Zaman
  • Shadab Khan
  • Azam Khan
  • Iftikhar Ahmed
  • Abrar Ahmed
  • Shaheen Shah Afridi
  • Haris Rauf/Mohammad Amir
  • Naseem Shah

Key Players to Watch

Corey Anderson (USA): His ability to accelerate the scoring and handle pressure situations makes him a vital asset for the USA.

Babar Azam (Pakistan): The captain’s performance will be crucial, both in terms of runs and leadership, especially given the team’s recent struggles.

The match promises to be an intriguing contest of USA’s rising T20 prowess against a Pakistan side looking to reclaim its former glory.

Afghanistan demolish Uganda in winning start
Afghanistan demolish Uganda in winning start

Afghanistan gave Uganda a tough initiation to World Cup cricket, securing a mammoth 125-run victory. Demonstrating their prowess with both bat and ball, Afghanistan set a formidable total of 183/5, thanks to their openers’ explosive performance. Left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi then delivered a remarkable spell, claiming a fifer and finishing with the fourth-best bowling figures in men’s T20 World Cup history (5 for 9).

Where Was the Game Won?

The PowerPlay. Afghanistan’s openers blazed away and their bowlers dismantled Uganda’s top order, picking five wickets in this period, effectively ending Uganda’s chances of a memorable evening.

Parameters Afghanistan Uganda
Runs 66/0 21/5
RR 11.0 3.6
4s/6s 9/2 3/0

Afghanistan’s Innings

PowerPlay: Gurbaz, Zadran Fly Off the Blocks

Phase score – 66/0 [RR: 11.00, 4s/6s: 9/2]

Afghanistan’s openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, started aggressively. Gurbaz set the tone with a six off the second ball, and both batters continued to attack, resulting in a flurry of boundaries. The PowerPlay ended with Afghanistan achieving their highest PowerPlay score in T20 World Cups.

Middle Overs: More of the Same but Record Missed

Phase score – 90/1 [RR: 10.00, 4s/6s: 4/3]

Gurbaz and Zadran kept the momentum, with both reaching half-centuries. Despite a brief resurgence from Uganda, Afghanistan maintained a run rate above 10. Zadran’s dismissal by Masaba broke the opening partnership, which fell 15 runs short of the highest opening stand in T20 World Cup history.

Death Overs: Uganda Claw Back with Wickets

Phase score – 27/4 [RR: 5.40, 4s/6s: 0/0]

Afghanistan stumbled in the death overs, losing four wickets and failing to hit any boundaries. Masaba and Kyewuta’s effective bowling restricted Afghanistan to 183/5, a score still far beyond Uganda’s reach.

Uganda’s Innings

PowerPlay: Afghanistan Pick Five

Phase score – 21/5 [RR: 3.60, 4s/6s: 3/0]

Uganda’s chase started disastrously with Farooqi taking two wickets in the first over. Naveen Ul Haq joined the wicket-taking spree, reducing Uganda to 21/5 by the end of the PowerPlay.

Middle Overs: Farooqi Completes Fifer

Phase score – 35/3 [RR: 3.89, 4s/6s: 1/1]

Riazat Ali Shah and Robinson Obuya tried to stabilize the innings, but Farooqi returned to claim his fifer, further denting Uganda’s chase. His spell ensured Uganda never recovered.

Death Overs: Rashid Wraps Up the Big Win

Phase score – 2/2 [RR: 2.00, 4s/6s: 0/0]

Rashid Khan finished the match with two wickets in the final over of his spell, sealing a dominant win for Afghanistan.

Brief Scores

Afghanistan: 183/5 in 20 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 76, Ibrahim Zadran 70; Brian Masaba 2-21, Cosmas Kyewuta 2-25)

Uganda: 58 in 16 overs (Fazalhaq Farooqi 5-9, Naveen Ul Haq 2-4, Rashid Khan 2-12)

Afghanistan won by 125 runs

What Next?

Uganda have a day’s break before facing Papua New Guinea in Guyana. Afghanistan play their next game on June 7 against New Zealand at the same venue.

'A great day for cricket' - Nortje brushes aside pitch concerns
‘A great day for cricket’ – Nortje brushes aside pitch concerns

Anrich Nortje, the fast bowler from South Africa, dismissed any worries about the playing surfaces in the current T20 World Cup, asserting that low scoring games also require a great deal of ability. Nortje played a prominent role in South Africa’s triumph against Sri Lanka in their first match of the tournament. However, the contest witnessed a total of only 157 runs being scored by both teams in 35.3 overs.

Sri Lanka’s innings came to an end with a meager score of 77, while South Africa successfully reached the target in 16.2 overs, albeit losing two wickets in the process. “I found the game to be excellent,” Nortje expressed. “I found the entertainment to be present.” I believed that the individuals were present. The display was quite impressive. It was exhilarating to witness the presence of all individuals, to perceive the sounds, the commotion, the enthusiastic applause. I deemed it to be an exceptional day for playing cricket.

“The presence of twenty sixes in a game is not always necessary to make it entertaining.” The game still requires a significant amount of strategic thinking and planning. The game requires a considerable amount of skill, regardless of whether it involves sixes, bowlers, or spinners. In my opinion, I found the game to be exceptionally well-designed and enjoyable. The game was closely contested till the end of the day. If a few more wickets had been taken, the outcome could have been altered. We could have potentially encountered a slightly more challenging situation.

The preceding two matches leading up to the South Africa-Sri Lanka competition were likewise characterized by low scores. Nortje emphasized the need of providing support to the bowlers in such situations.

“I believe the wickets are in good condition,” he observed. “It is also beneficial for bowlers.” We are also permitted to receive some form of aid. Indeed, it presents a contrast to what males have become accustomed to over the past few months or years. There is a slight advantage for the bowlers in the wicket, and I find no issue with that.

“In a level terrain, individuals desire to witness impressive shots that earn six points. Therefore, the wheels should rotate slightly at some point.” However, I must acknowledge that I am not diminishing or detracting from anything. I am uncertain about what to anticipate in the upcoming weeks. It may get slightly more level. It may see a slight decrease or increase in speed. Who possesses knowledge? Although I am not an authority on the matter, I believe our primary focus should be to effectively adjust to any challenges that may arise in the upcoming game. Observe the initial over to anticipate what will happen and make necessary adaptations to the best of your ability.

Prior to the competition, Nortje had a dismal IPL season in which he allowed runs at an economy rate over 13 in the six matches he participated in. However, the pacer disclosed that he continued collaborating with his close associates to enhance his skills and make progress. “From a personal perspective, it has been a challenging experience for me to be consistently hit for boundaries in the IPL, as if I am constantly being transported to the other side of the world,” Nortje expressed. “Success is achieved by diligently adhering to established procedures and dedicating oneself to the areas that require enhancement.” You gain a rudimentary understanding of areas in which you can enhance, and this comprehension occurs rapidly. Another crucial aspect is maintaining strong relationships with the 20 individuals who collaborate with and support you, while ensuring that the other 10 million or million individuals who mistreat you are kept at a distance from your inner circle.

“Therefore, it is crucial to maintain a close relationship with individuals who are familiar with your abilities and understand your capabilities. Continuously collaborating with such individuals is precisely what I have done.” Although I attempted to perform to the best of my abilities, I believe I fell short of my desired level of performance today. However, I was able to achieve the desired outcomes and take wickets. The focus is solely on the process of continuous improvement and perseverance. As the day worsens, your performance improves, and I believe you also think more quickly. You possess a partial understanding of the specific location where the error has occurred. Indeed, I acknowledge that the past month or two have presented challenges. However, I am confident that the training and preparation have been highly beneficial. The thought process, particularly in the past month, has been really effective for both myself and the around 20 individuals I mentioned earlier. Overall, it has been a very positive experience.

Theekshana hits out at Sri Lanka's gruelling WC schedule
Theekshana hits out at Sri Lanka’s gruelling WC schedule

Sri Lanka spinner Maheesh Theekshana criticized the demanding World Cup schedule imposed on his side, describing it as ‘unjust’. Sri Lanka is one of just two teams, the other being the Netherlands, that will be playing their four group stage matches in four distinct stadiums. In addition, Sri Lanka’s hotel in New York, where they commenced their campaign against South Africa on June 3, was located at a distance of one hour and forty minutes from the site. The Asian side has also experienced flight delays and endured long hours at airports.

“It is unjust for us as we are required to depart each day [following the match] due to the fact that we are competing at four distinct locations,” Theekshana expressed following his team’s loss to South Africa. “It is unjust.” We had an extensive delay of almost eight hours at the Miami airport before boarding our aircraft from Florida. And we arrived. Our departure time was scheduled for 8pm, however, we ended up boarding the airplane at 5am. Although it may seem unjust to us, the timing of when you play on the field is inconsequential.

“I am unable to disclose the names of the teams that have been given the chance to remain in the same location, but their hotel is conveniently located only 14 minutes away from the stadium.” Our training session lasted approximately one hour and 40 minutes,” he stated, acknowledging that Sri Lanka had to cancel one of their training sessions due to exhaustion from traveling and the long distance they had to travel to practice.

“Even from the hotel, the distance takes one hour and 40 minutes to travel.” “Even on this current day of the match, we had to rouse ourselves at approximately 5am in order to arrive at this location,” Theekshana stated.

Theekshana further observed that playing each game in different sites deprives Sri Lanka of the ability to promptly understand or evaluate the prevailing conditions. In their inaugural World Cup match in New York, they chose to bat first against South Africa but were dismissed for a mere 77 runs, resulting in a six-wicket loss.

“There are a total of four games taking place in four different venues.” It is difficult. We were completely unaware of the problems present at this location. This game was our inaugural appearance in New York. The upcoming game in Dallas is shrouded in uncertainty over the prevailing conditions. “Our next game will be in Florida, where we have already played two games. This is the only advantage we have,” Theekshana stated.

On June 3, South Africa, who will be facing their opposition, have the advantage of playing two further matches in New York. Meanwhile, India, who will start their campaign against Ireland on June 5, will also have three games at the same location before moving to Florida for their final group stage match.

“I am unable to disclose the names of the teams that are competing in the same location, in order to ensure that they are aware of the prevailing conditions.” The practice games are being played at the identical location. That will be incomprehensible to everyone. We participated in the practice matches in Florida, and our third match will also take place in Florida.

Theekshana also disclosed the Sri Lankan team’s need to hastily move and depart immediately after playing a match on travel days.

“There are certain aspects that I believe everyone will reconsider in the coming year, as I am aware that no significant alterations will occur this year.” Our administration is now making efforts to resolve the issue with today’s flight. As a result, we must promptly pack our belongings and depart. “We woke up at approximately 5.30 in order to arrive at this location. The thought of potentially overlooking something while hastily packing is causing concern,” he expressed.

Sri Lanka skipper Wanindu Hasaranga refrained from only attributing the team’s poor performance against South Africa to logistical problems. However, he shared Theekshana’s sentiments over the challenges his side faces in the World Cup.

“While we cannot definitively attribute the impact to performance, we did face challenging circumstances, particularly in the recent days.” “We still endure a journey of one and a half hours in the morning [of game day], and we have our initial round of four games taking place in four different locations,” he stated.

Sri Lanka had a three-day interval before their upcoming match against Bangladesh on June 7 in Dallas. Subsequently, they journey to Florida for their match against Nepal on June 11, followed by their last group-stage game against Netherlands in St. Lucia on June 16.

Dafabet and the Fascination of Betting on the IPL: A Closer Look
Dafabet and the Fascination of Betting on the IPL: A Closer Look

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a prominent manifestation of cricket’s global appeal, captivating millions of spectators throughout the globe. In addition to the thrilling matches and high-profile teams, another component that has acquired considerable popularity in recent years is the practice of placing bets on the IPL. Dafabet stands itself as a significant player among the numerous betting platforms accessible, providing aficionados with a distinctive opportunity to participate in the competition. This essay examines the appeal of Dafabet and the intricacies of betting on the IPL, investigating its consequences and the variables that contribute to its widespread popularity.

Dafabet is a well-known online betting platform that serves a worldwide audience and provides a diverse range of sports betting choices, including cricket. Dafabet has been a popular alternative among cricket aficionados who want to enhance their viewing experience by adding more excitement, thanks to its easy-to-use interface and wide range of betting options. Dafabet offers a comprehensive platform for cricket enthusiasts to engage in various forms of betting, ranging from forecasting match outcomes to wagering on player performances.

Engaging in IPL betting offers a lucrative opportunity for avid bettors, as the league’s high-speed gameplay and uncertain results captivate global viewers. Placing bets on the IPL involves a wide range of choices, including straightforward predictions on the winning team of a match, as well as more complex bets like predicting the player who will score the most runs or take the most wickets. Dafabet provides an extensive selection of betting markets for IPL matches, enabling customers to customize their betting experience based on their tastes and knowledge.

elements Influencing Popularity: There are multiple elements that contribute to the popularity of betting on the IPL, and Dafabet plays a role in facilitating the engagement of enthusiasts with the competition in a dynamic way. The exhilarating and unpredictable nature of IPL matches is a crucial component that complements the thrill of betting. Moreover, the availability of online gambling platforms such as Dafabet has facilitated the engagement of fans in betting activities from the convenience of their residences, thereby contributing to its increased popularity.

Furthermore, the widespread availability of cellphones and internet access has greatly increased the accessibility of betting platforms, enabling players to conveniently place bets anytime and anywhere. The incorporation of live betting functionalities on platforms such as Dafabet introduces an additional aspect to the user experience, allowing individuals to modify their bets in real-time according to the evolving dynamics of the match.

Implications and Responsible Betting: Engaging in betting on the IPL can enhance the thrill and involvement in watching the matches, but it is crucial to exercise caution and responsibility when doing so. Dafabet, similar to other betting sites, prioritizes responsible gambling by promoting practices such as implementing betting limits and practicing self-restraint.

Moreover, it is essential to have knowledge about the legal and regulatory structure that oversees sports betting in specific jurisdictions. Users must comply with local laws and regulations regarding online gambling to provide a secure and legal betting experience.

In conclusion, Dafabet and IPL betting bring together two successful sectors, providing cricket fans with a captivating and participatory means of interacting with the sport. Platforms such as Dafabet are crucial in influencing the sports entertainment industry as online betting becomes increasingly popular. Nevertheless, it is crucial for users to engage in betting with a responsible mindset, while being mindful of the possible hazards and consequences linked to gambling. By finding a middle ground between pleasure and accountability, avid bettors can obtain the utmost gratification from their gambling endeavors while guaranteeing a secure and enduring approach to sports betting.