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Former Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma acknowledged that the team made many mistakes during the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season which eventually cost them too much as they finished with just four wins. Sharma's comments came after MI's last game of the season, which they lost by 18 runs against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Friday, May 17.

"Our season didn't go according to plan. We blame ourselves for this because we made too many mistakes during the season. We lost many games that we should have won, but that's the nature of the IPL. You get a few chances and when those chances come, you must grab them," Rohit told the broadcasters after the game.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2024-kohli-backs-rohit-in-bashing-impact-player-rule-says-entertainment-is-fine-but-its-kills-balance-722796">IPL 2024: Kohli backs Rohit in bashing ‘Impact Player’ rule, says entertainment is fine but its kills balance</a>

The batter, who scored 417 runs in 14 games at an average of 32 and strike rate of 150, acknowledged his failure as well.

"As a batter, I know I didn't live up to the standard. But, after playing for all these years, I know that if I overthink, I won't play well. All I try is to stay in a good mindset, in the right zone, keep practicing, and improve on all the flaws in my game. That's all I kept doing," he said.

Rohit, however, finished the season in style, scoring 68 off 38 balls but MI failed to chase the target of 215 and could manage only 196/6 in 20 overs.

Mumbai, who were being led by Hardik Pandya, finished last in the season with 10 losses in 14 games. They had started the season with three consecutive losses and could not recover from that. Three wins in next four games did give a glimpse of MI's return to form before four losses in the next four games rendered their season all but over.&nbsp;

The five-time champion could not even finish on a high, losing their last two league games as well.

Former Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma acknowledged that the team made many mistakes during the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season which eventually cost them too much as they finished with just four wins.

Former Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma acknowledged that the team made many mistakes during the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season which eventually cost them too much as they finished with just four wins. Sharma's comments came after MI's last game of the season, which they lost by 18 runs against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Friday, May 17. "Our season didn't go according to plan. We blame ourselves for this because we made too many mistakes during the season. We lost many games that we should have won, but that's the nature of the IPL. You get a few chances and when those chances come, you must grab them," Rohit told the broadcasters after the game. Also Read: IPL 2024: Kohli backs Rohit in bashing ‘Impact Player’ rule, says entertainment is fine but its kills balance The batter, who scored 417 runs in 14 games at an average of 32 and strike rate of 150, acknowledged his failure as well. "As a batter, I know I didn't live up to the standard. But, after playing for all these years, I know that if I overthink, I won't play well. All I try is to stay in a good mindset, in the right zone, keep practicing, and improve on all the flaws in my game. That's all I kept doing," he said. Rohit, however, finished the season in style, scoring 68 off 38 balls but MI failed to chase the target of 215 and could manage only 196/6 in 20 overs. Mumbai, who were being led by Hardik Pandya, finished last in the season with 10 losses in 14 games. They had started the season with three consecutive losses and could not recover from that. Three wins in next four games did give a glimpse of MI's return to form before four losses in the next four games rendered their season all but over. The five-time champion could not even finish on a high, losing their last two league games as well.

IPL 2024: Rohit Sharma reveals who to 'blame' for MI's horrible season

Hardik Pandya has had a miserable run in IPL 2024. Rejoining the Mumbai Indians (MI), during the&nbsp;trade window last year, the former Gujarat Titans (GT) skipper fell flat in all departments in this year's season. In 13 games, Hardik has not created any impact as a captain as well as an all-rounder. Under him, MI are the first to be eliminated from the playoffs race and have only 4 wins in 13 games. On the other hand, he has managed just 200 runs at 18.18 and scalped 11 wickets at an economy of 10.59.&nbsp;

Ahead of MI's last game, where they host Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Friday (May 17) at the Wankhede Stadium, former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has urged Hardik to step up and give his all, especially with the bat given the T20 World Cup is not far away.&nbsp;

Speaking on Jio Cinema, Watson said, "They (MI) have got so much to play for. They have been very disappointing this season. With the calibre of players that they have got in their unit, in front of their home crowd, they would want to put up a big show for their home fans and me."

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2024-playoff-scenario-will-srh-qualify-if-rain-plays-spoilsport-and-who-gets-eliminated-read-all-details-722221">IPL 2024 Playoff Scenario: Will SRH qualify if rain plays spoilsport and who gets eliminated? Read all details</a>

He shifted his focus on Hardik and stated, "I have got this feeling that Hardik Pandya has really got to step up in last game and really exert his dominance. The T20 World Cup is not too far away, and he really has to hit his straps, especially with the bat."

Hardik returned to competitive cricket, after a knee injury during the home ODI WC&nbsp;last year and IPL 2024. Despite his low returns, he made a comeback in India's squad for the T20 WC, which kicks off in June in West Indies and the USA.&nbsp;

Watson&nbsp;added, "He (Hardik) has been most disappointing with the bat, knowing how good he was with GT, coming in at No. 4. The impact that he provided with the bat, he was coming in with plenty of runs to score and steady the ship. So, for me Hardik Pandya has to be the man to step up."

Hardik fired&nbsp;all cylinders for GT from 2022-23, managing&nbsp;833 runs across 2 seasons with 6 fifties along with 11 scalps.&nbsp;He&nbsp;will be desperate&nbsp;to make the most of his chances in MI's last IPL encounter, on Friday evening,&nbsp;given&nbsp;India&nbsp;only play one warm-up game before their T20 WC opener, i.e. on June 5.

Hardik Pandya has had a miserable run in IPL 2024. Rejoining the Mumbai Indians (MI), during the trade window last year, the former Gujarat Titans (GT) skipper fell flat in all departments in this year's season.

Hardik Pandya has had a miserable run in IPL 2024. Rejoining the Mumbai Indians (MI), during the trade window last year, the former Gujarat Titans (GT) skipper fell flat in all departments in this year's season. In 13 games, Hardik has not created any impact as a captain as well as an all-rounder. Under him, MI are the first to be eliminated from the playoffs race and have only 4 wins in 13 games. On the other hand, he has managed just 200 runs at 18.18 and scalped 11 wickets at an economy of 10.59. Ahead of MI's last game, where they host Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Friday (May 17) at the Wankhede Stadium, former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has urged Hardik to step up and give his all, especially with the bat given the T20 World Cup is not far away. Speaking on Jio Cinema, Watson said, "They (MI) have got so much to play for. They have been very disappointing this season. With the calibre of players that they have got in their unit, in front of their home crowd, they would want to put up a big show for their home fans and me." Also read: IPL 2024 Playoff Scenario: Will SRH qualify if rain plays spoilsport and who gets eliminated? Read all details He shifted his focus on Hardik and stated, "I have got this feeling that Hardik Pandya has really got to step up in last game and really exert his dominance. The T20 World Cup is not too far away, and he really has to hit his straps, especially with the bat." Hardik returned to competitive cricket, after a knee injury during the home ODI WC last year and IPL 2024. Despite his low returns, he made a comeback in India's squad for the T20 WC, which kicks off in June in West Indies and the USA. Watson added, "He (Hardik) has been most disappointing with the bat, knowing how good he was with GT, coming in at No. 4. The impact that he provided with the bat, he was coming in with plenty of runs to score and steady the ship. So, for me Hardik Pandya has to be the man to step up." Hardik fired all cylinders for GT from 2022-23, managing 833 runs across 2 seasons with 6 fifties along with 11 scalps. He will be desperate to make the most of his chances in MI's last IPL encounter, on Friday evening, given India only play one warm-up game before their T20 WC opener, i.e. on June 5.

T20 World Cup is not far away: Watson asks Hardik to step up with the bat in MI's last game in IPL 2024

Rohit Sharma-led India will play Bangladesh in their only warm-up game ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup, in West Indies and the USA in June. The tournament kicks off on June 1, soon after IPL 2024&nbsp;concludes on May 26. India play their tournament-opener on June 5 versus Ireland in New York. Meanwhile, three teams&nbsp;Pakistan, England and New Zealand have opted against playing any warm-up games.

On Thursday (May 16), the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced a total of 16 warm-up matches along with the venues. None of these games will have international status and teams will be allowed to use all their 15 members.

Pakistan and England are set to be involved in a four-match T20I series, from May 22-30, whereas New Zealand also played a five-match series in Pakistan in late April. Hence, these three sides have opted against playing in the warm-up round.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In the past, every team has played two warm-up matches before a men's ICC&nbsp;event. Nonetheless, the ICC explained the change in plans this time around.

The ICC said, "In a departure from the previous cycle, teams can now choose to play up to two warm-up matches, depending on their arrival time at the event."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/youre-not-a-newbie-start-winning-games-for-india-gambhir-pushes-sanju-samson-to-utilise-t20-wc-chance-722197">‘You’re not a newbie, start winning games for India’: Gambhir pushes Sanju Samson to utilise T20 WC chance</a>

<h2>FULL FIXTURES OF&nbsp;T20 WORLD CUP 2024 WARM-UP GAMES</h2>

<h2>Monday 27 May</h2>

Canada vs Nepal, Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Grand Prairie, Texas&nbsp; 
Oman vs Papua New Guinea, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago&nbsp; 
Namibia vs Uganda, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago&nbsp;

Tuesday 28 May

Sri Lanka vs Netherlands, Broward County Stadium, Broward County, Florida&nbsp; 
Bangladesh vs USA, Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Grand Prairie, Texas&nbsp; 
Australia vs Namibia, Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago

Wednesday 29 May

South Africa intra-squad, Broward County Stadium, Broward County, Florida 
Afghanistan vs Oman, Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago

Thursday 30 May

Nepal vs USA, Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Grand Prairie, Texas&nbsp; 
Scotland vs Uganda, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago&nbsp; 
Netherlands vs Canada, Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Grand Prairie, Texas&nbsp; 
Namibia vs Papua New Guinea, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago&nbsp; 
West Indies vs Australia, Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago

Friday 31 May

Ireland vs Sri Lanka, Broward County Stadium, Broward County, Florida&nbsp; 
Scotland vs Afghanistan, Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago

Saturday 1 June

Bangladesh vs India, Venue TBC USA

England enter the T20 WC as the defending champions, having won the last edition, in 2022 in Australia, with a win over Pakistan in the final.

Rohit Sharma-led India will play Bangladesh in their only warm-up game ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup, in West Indies and the USA in June. The tournament kicks off on June 1, soon after IPL 2024 concludes on May 26.

Rohit Sharma-led India will play Bangladesh in their only warm-up game ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup, in West Indies and the USA in June. The tournament kicks off on June 1, soon after IPL 2024 concludes on May 26. India play their tournament-opener on June 5 versus Ireland in New York. Meanwhile, three teams Pakistan, England and New Zealand have opted against playing any warm-up games. On Thursday (May 16), the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced a total of 16 warm-up matches along with the venues. None of these games will have international status and teams will be allowed to use all their 15 members. Pakistan and England are set to be involved in a four-match T20I series, from May 22-30, whereas New Zealand also played a five-match series in Pakistan in late April. Hence, these three sides have opted against playing in the warm-up round. In the past, every team has played two warm-up matches before a men's ICC event. Nonetheless, the ICC explained the change in plans this time around. The ICC said, "In a departure from the previous cycle, teams can now choose to play up to two warm-up matches, depending on their arrival time at the event." Also read: ‘You’re not a newbie, start winning games for India’: Gambhir pushes Sanju Samson to utilise T20 WC chance FULL FIXTURES OF T20 WORLD CUP 2024 WARM-UP GAMES Monday 27 May Canada vs Nepal, Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Grand Prairie, Texas Oman vs Papua New Guinea, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago Namibia vs Uganda, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago Tuesday 28 May Sri Lanka vs Netherlands, Broward County Stadium, Broward County, Florida Bangladesh vs USA, Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Grand Prairie, Texas Australia vs Namibia, Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago Wednesday 29 May South Africa intra-squad, Broward County Stadium, Broward County, Florida Afghanistan vs Oman, Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago Thursday 30 May Nepal vs USA, Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Grand Prairie, Texas Scotland vs Uganda, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago Netherlands vs Canada, Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Grand Prairie, Texas Namibia vs Papua New Guinea, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago West Indies vs Australia, Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago Friday 31 May Ireland vs Sri Lanka, Broward County Stadium, Broward County, Florida Scotland vs Afghanistan, Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago Saturday 1 June Bangladesh vs India, Venue TBC USA England enter the T20 WC as the defending champions, having won the last edition, in 2022 in Australia, with a win over Pakistan in the final.

T20 World Cup: India to play Bangladesh in only warm-up tie, no games for Pakistan, England and NZ

It will be a direct shootout for a place in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) Playoff on Saturday (May 18) as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) host Chennai Super Kings (CSK). 
 
While the contest could be MS Dhoni’s last competitive match in his career, more focus has been on the weather as rain&nbsp;is predicted&nbsp;to play spoilsport. 
 
According to several weather reports, it&nbsp;is expected&nbsp;to rain&nbsp;with&nbsp;an 80 per cent chance of the match getting washed out.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
It was at this moment, the batter knew that he was in trouble. 😈<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlayBold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PlayBold</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E0%B2%A8%E0%B2%AE%E0%B3%8D%E0%B2%AERCB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ನಮ್ಮRCB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2024</a> <a href="https://t.co/IkTMqJ7ss7">pic.twitter.com/IkTMqJ7ss7</a>
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/1791403519494242445?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
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In the build-up to the match, Bengaluru has witnessed pre-monsoon showers, with&nbsp;the last four days experiencing heavy rains.

If the trend&nbsp;is to continue, Saturday will be no exception&nbsp;as&nbsp;the RCB vs CSK clash could get washed out.

There is no reserve day for the league stage matches of the IPL 2024, meaning&nbsp;the points will be shared&nbsp;between RCB and CSK.&nbsp;

In this case of points shared, CSK will qualify for the Playoffs, knocking&nbsp;out Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Delhi Capitals (DC) and RCB.&nbsp;

<h2>RCB vs CSK IPL 2024: Weather report from Bengaluru</h2>

Bengaluru has been seeing rain for some time now. Since last four days, good rains have been recorded over the capital city of Karnataka.

Showers are expected to continue over Bengaluru for the next couple of day as the conditions are favourable. 
 
A spell of thunderstorms is expected on Saturday during the latter half of the day as well.

Due to these rains, there may be a short disruption in the game as well.

Rains may&nbsp;be light in nature&nbsp;but a small hindrance in the game cannot be ruled out as rainfall will be seen in the second half only.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2024-i-am-not-a-result-oriented-captain-pandya-reflects-on-debut-stint-as-mi-skipper-722466">IPL 2024: ‘I am not a result–oriented captain’ – Pandya reflects on debut stint as MI skipper</a>

<h2>RCB vs CSK IPL 2024: Match details</h2>

Match:&nbsp;Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings, IPL 2024, Match 68&nbsp;

Venue:&nbsp;M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

Date &amp; Time:&nbsp;Saturday, May 18, 7:30 PM (IST)&nbsp;

Live Streaming Details:&nbsp;Star Sports Network, Jio Cinema app and website

It will be a direct shootout for a place in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) Playoff on Saturday (May 18) as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) host Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

It will be a direct shootout for a place in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) Playoff on Saturday (May 18) as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) host Chennai Super Kings (CSK). While the contest could be MS Dhoni’s last competitive match in his career, more focus has been on the weather as rain is predicted to play spoilsport. According to several weather reports, it is expected to rain with an 80 per cent chance of the match getting washed out. It was at this moment, the batter knew that he was in trouble. 😈#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2024 pic.twitter.com/IkTMqJ7ss7 — Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 17, 2024 × In the build-up to the match, Bengaluru has witnessed pre-monsoon showers, with the last four days experiencing heavy rains. If the trend is to continue, Saturday will be no exception as the RCB vs CSK clash could get washed out. There is no reserve day for the league stage matches of the IPL 2024, meaning the points will be shared between RCB and CSK. In this case of points shared, CSK will qualify for the Playoffs, knocking out Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Delhi Capitals (DC) and RCB. RCB vs CSK IPL 2024: Weather report from Bengaluru Bengaluru has been seeing rain for some time now. Since last four days, good rains have been recorded over the capital city of Karnataka. Showers are expected to continue over Bengaluru for the next couple of day as the conditions are favourable. A spell of thunderstorms is expected on Saturday during the latter half of the day as well. Due to these rains, there may be a short disruption in the game as well. Rains may be light in nature but a small hindrance in the game cannot be ruled out as rainfall will be seen in the second half only. ALSO READ | IPL 2024: ‘I am not a result–oriented captain’ – Pandya reflects on debut stint as MI skipper RCB vs CSK IPL 2024: Match details Match: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings, IPL 2024, Match 68 Venue: M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru Date & Time: Saturday, May 18, 7:30 PM (IST) Live Streaming Details: Star Sports Network, Jio Cinema app and website

RCB vs CSK, IPL 2024: Weather report from Bengaluru - Will rain play spoilsport in RCB vs CSK match?

Ahead of taking over as Pakistan's white-ball coach, Gary Kirsten opened up on how he wants to ease things for Babar Azam. Babar recently got reappointed as the limited-overs captain and will lead the Men in Green in the 2024 T20 World Cup in West Indies and the USA in June. Kirsten stated that he, along with his coaching staff, will want Babar to play with more freedom citing his recent 42-ball 75 in the three-match T20I series finale versus Ireland in Dublin.

Babar played with a lot more freedom and was in his attacking best in the Ireland-Pakistan series decider, with the scoreline tied at 1-1.

Courtesy of his knock, and Player-of-the-Match Shaheen Afridi's 3 for 14, the Asian giants won by six wickets in pursuit of 179.

Kirsten -- who will take over as the white-ball coach with the upcoming T20 WC is first assignment -- feels Babar carries a lot of weight of the team on his shoulders, which needs to stop.

On Pakistan's over-dependence on Babar, Kirsten said on Talk Sport, "It is not fair on any player. He shouldn't feel like he has to be contributing all the time to a team. I've been in touch with Babar. He's done remarkably well and carries a lot of the weight of the team on his shoulders."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/thick-skinned-kirsten-vows-to-address-mental-block-in-pakistans-quest-for-2024-t20-world-cup-glory-722435">‘Thick skinned’ Kirsten vows to address mental block in Pakistan's quest for 2024 T20 World Cup glory</a>

The South African, who coached India and led them to 2011 ODI WC glory, further added, "What we will try to do as a coaching staff is to lift that a little bit and to realise he's just one of a whole group of players and that he can free himself up to play with his natural talent."

Babar replaced Shaheen as the T20I captain just recently before the World Cup, which kicks off on June 1. Pakistan are placed in Group A along with India, Ireland, USA and Canada.&nbsp;

Ahead of taking over as Pakistan's white-ball coach, Gary Kirsten opened up on how he wants to ease things for Babar Azam. Babar recently got reappointed as the limited-overs captain and will lead the Men in Green in the 2024 T20 World Cup in West Indies and the USA in June.

Ahead of taking over as Pakistan's white-ball coach, Gary Kirsten opened up on how he wants to ease things for Babar Azam. Babar recently got reappointed as the limited-overs captain and will lead the Men in Green in the 2024 T20 World Cup in West Indies and the USA in June. Kirsten stated that he, along with his coaching staff, will want Babar to play with more freedom citing his recent 42-ball 75 in the three-match T20I series finale versus Ireland in Dublin. Babar played with a lot more freedom and was in his attacking best in the Ireland-Pakistan series decider, with the scoreline tied at 1-1. Courtesy of his knock, and Player-of-the-Match Shaheen Afridi's 3 for 14, the Asian giants won by six wickets in pursuit of 179. Kirsten -- who will take over as the white-ball coach with the upcoming T20 WC is first assignment -- feels Babar carries a lot of weight of the team on his shoulders, which needs to stop. On Pakistan's over-dependence on Babar, Kirsten said on Talk Sport, "It is not fair on any player. He shouldn't feel like he has to be contributing all the time to a team. I've been in touch with Babar. He's done remarkably well and carries a lot of the weight of the team on his shoulders." Also read: ‘Thick skinned’ Kirsten vows to address mental block in Pakistan's quest for 2024 T20 World Cup glory The South African, who coached India and led them to 2011 ODI WC glory, further added, "What we will try to do as a coaching staff is to lift that a little bit and to realise he's just one of a whole group of players and that he can free himself up to play with his natural talent." Babar replaced Shaheen as the T20I captain just recently before the World Cup, which kicks off on June 1. Pakistan are placed in Group A along with India, Ireland, USA and Canada.

Pakistan's limited-overs coach Gary Kirsten shares his take on Babar Azam, aims to 'take pressure off' him

Ahead of the ninth edition of the Men's T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by West Indies and the USA in June, here is a list of batters who have most 50-plus scores in the tournament history

T20 World cup: Batters with most 50+ Scores in Men's T20 World Cup

England cricket team will face a&nbsp;major&nbsp;obstacle in replacing retiring James Anderson after being dealt a blow on Friday (May 17). England&nbsp;are likely to&nbsp;be without star pacer Josh Tongue&nbsp;as he continues to recover from a long-term injury&nbsp;issue, according to a statement.

The pectoral injury will keep the English pacer away from action with no time scale on his return, with&nbsp;Brendon&nbsp;McCullum’s&nbsp;side already set to be without Anderson after the&nbsp;Lord’s&nbsp;Test against the West Indies&nbsp;which&nbsp;starts on July 10.

<h2>Tongue unlikely to play against West Indies&nbsp;</h2>

"Josh has had a setback to his original injury. There is no timescale on when&nbsp;he'll&nbsp;return to action,"&nbsp;the England &amp; Wales Cricket Board said in a statement.

Tongue&nbsp;made his debut&nbsp;for England last year before the home Ashes when Ben&nbsp;Stokes’&nbsp;side beat Ireland in a historic one-off contest at Lords.

Interestingly, both&nbsp;of&nbsp;Tongue’s&nbsp;Test matches have&nbsp;been played&nbsp;at&nbsp;Lord’s&nbsp;with&nbsp;his second contest in the red-ball format coming against Australia in the Ashes.

In his two Test matches for the side, he has scalped&nbsp;10&nbsp;wickets with a best of 66/5.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mi-vs-lsg-ipl-2024-match-67-head-to-head-playing-xi-prediction-pitch-report-all-you-need-to-know-722374">MI vs LSG, IPL 2024, Match 67: Head-to-head, playing XI, prediction, pitch report | All you need to know</a>

He has a proven track record with Worcestershire in the First Class circuit with 177 wickets in 50 matches.

His injury could also force him to sit out of The&nbsp;Hundred&nbsp;where he represents the Manchester Originals.&nbsp;

The last 12 months have seen&nbsp;major&nbsp;revolutions in England's pace bowling unit after Stuart Broad announced his Test retirement.

Broad hung his boots after the home Ashes last year&nbsp;leaving&nbsp;big shoes to fill.&nbsp;

England have enjoyed a stellar run of form under Brendon McCullum ever since he took charge of the side in June 2022.

They are yet to lose a home Test series under his coaching.&nbsp;

His only series defeat came earlier this year when India got the better of Stokes and company 4-1.&nbsp;

England cricket team will face a major obstacle in replacing retiring James Anderson after being dealt a blow on Friday (May 17). England are likely to be without star pacer Josh Tongue as he continues to recover from a long-term injury issue, according to a statement.

England cricket team will face a major obstacle in replacing retiring James Anderson after being dealt a blow on Friday (May 17). England are likely to be without star pacer Josh Tongue as he continues to recover from a long-term injury issue, according to a statement. The pectoral injury will keep the English pacer away from action with no time scale on his return, with Brendon McCullum’s side already set to be without Anderson after the Lord’s Test against the West Indies which starts on July 10. Tongue unlikely to play against West Indies "Josh has had a setback to his original injury. There is no timescale on when he'll return to action," the England & Wales Cricket Board said in a statement. Tongue made his debut for England last year before the home Ashes when Ben Stokes’ side beat Ireland in a historic one-off contest at Lords. Interestingly, both of Tongue’s Test matches have been played at Lord’s with his second contest in the red-ball format coming against Australia in the Ashes. In his two Test matches for the side, he has scalped 10 wickets with a best of 66/5. ALSO READ | MI vs LSG, IPL 2024, Match 67: Head-to-head, playing XI, prediction, pitch report | All you need to know He has a proven track record with Worcestershire in the First Class circuit with 177 wickets in 50 matches. His injury could also force him to sit out of The Hundred where he represents the Manchester Originals. The last 12 months have seen major revolutions in England's pace bowling unit after Stuart Broad announced his Test retirement. Broad hung his boots after the home Ashes last year leaving big shoes to fill. England have enjoyed a stellar run of form under Brendon McCullum ever since he took charge of the side in June 2022. They are yet to lose a home Test series under his coaching. His only series defeat came earlier this year when India got the better of Stokes and company 4-1.

England likely to start home summer without Josh Tongue as plans to replace retiring James Anderson stumble

Rajasthan Royals (RR) slumped to their fourth successive defeat in IPL 2024 when Punjab Kings (PBKS) beat them by five wickets, in pursuit of 145, in match 65 in Guwahati on Wednesday (May 15). After a terrific start, having 8 wins in 9 games, RR have now lost four games on the trot despite confirming their place in the playoffs. With another defeat, their chances of finishing the league stage at the top-two has also gone down considerably.&nbsp;

Following the five-wicket drubbing at the hands of already-eliminated Punjab, RR captain Sanju Samson didn't mince&nbsp;words as he called for the senior players to stand up. Speaking after the match, Samson stated, "To be very honest, we have to sit back and accept that we are going through some failures. You have to find out what's not working well as a team. When you are getting to the business end, we need someone to raise their finger up and say I am going to win the game for the team.

Samson added, "We have the players who can do that. If all of us try that. It's a team sport, but this is the time when we need individual players to step up."

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2024-will-there-be-reserve-day-for-rcb-vs-csk-league-match-at-chinnaswamy-721832">IPL 2024: Will there be reserve day for RCB vs CSK league match at Chinnaswamy?</a>

Talking about the RR-PBKS tie, Rajasthan opted to bat first and rode on Riyan Parag's 48 to post 144 for 9&nbsp;on a sluggish surface. Despite having PBKS reduced to 48-4, RR failed to close the game as Punjab stand-in skipper Sam Curran stood tall with an impressive 41-ball 63 to guide his side home in 18.5 overs.

RR have been one of the most formidable sides in the past few seasons and done well too, however, they have often lost momentum in the business end and the same thing is repeating this time around as well. They have also not been helped by the fact that they are now without some key players like Jos Buttler, who has left for national duty.&nbsp;

RR have one more game to play, where they will host Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) -&nbsp;who will end the league stage as the top-ranked side - in Guwahati and hope to return to winning ways before the playoffs start next week.&nbsp;

Rajasthan Royals (RR) slumped to their fourth successive defeat in IPL 2024 when Punjab Kings (PBKS) beat them by five wickets, in pursuit of 145, in match 65 in Guwahati on Wednesday (May 15).

Rajasthan Royals (RR) slumped to their fourth successive defeat in IPL 2024 when Punjab Kings (PBKS) beat them by five wickets, in pursuit of 145, in match 65 in Guwahati on Wednesday (May 15). After a terrific start, having 8 wins in 9 games, RR have now lost four games on the trot despite confirming their place in the playoffs. With another defeat, their chances of finishing the league stage at the top-two has also gone down considerably. Following the five-wicket drubbing at the hands of already-eliminated Punjab, RR captain Sanju Samson didn't mince words as he called for the senior players to stand up. Speaking after the match, Samson stated, "To be very honest, we have to sit back and accept that we are going through some failures. You have to find out what's not working well as a team. When you are getting to the business end, we need someone to raise their finger up and say I am going to win the game for the team. Samson added, "We have the players who can do that. If all of us try that. It's a team sport, but this is the time when we need individual players to step up." Also read: IPL 2024: Will there be reserve day for RCB vs CSK league match at Chinnaswamy? Talking about the RR-PBKS tie, Rajasthan opted to bat first and rode on Riyan Parag's 48 to post 144 for 9 on a sluggish surface. Despite having PBKS reduced to 48-4, RR failed to close the game as Punjab stand-in skipper Sam Curran stood tall with an impressive 41-ball 63 to guide his side home in 18.5 overs. RR have been one of the most formidable sides in the past few seasons and done well too, however, they have often lost momentum in the business end and the same thing is repeating this time around as well. They have also not been helped by the fact that they are now without some key players like Jos Buttler, who has left for national duty. RR have one more game to play, where they will host Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) - who will end the league stage as the top-ranked side - in Guwahati and hope to return to winning ways before the playoffs start next week.

IPL 2024: 'We have to sit back and accept...' - Sanju Samson addresses RR's woeful form before playoffs

Cricket South Africa (CSA) have received criticism for not meeting its 'transformational targets' by having only a solitary black African, i.e. Kagiso Rabada, in the Aiden Markram-led South Africa's T20 World Cup squad. The mega event kicks off soon after IPL 2024, in the West Indies and USA in June. The Proteas are placed in Group D along with Sri Lanka, Netherlands, Bangladesh and Nepal.

Coming to SA's provisional 15-man squad, it features six players of colour, including Rabada. Notably, CSA's policy requires that over a season, six players of colour should be in the South African playing XI, with at least two from the black African community. With Rabada being the sole black African in the T20 WC squad, the&nbsp;team is set to give this target a miss.&nbsp;

The other players of colour in the squad comprise Reeza Hendricks, Bjorn Fortuin, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi, and Ottniel Baartman. Lungi Ngidi, another black African, is only part of the travelling reserves.

Former South Africa Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula, thus, questioned&nbsp;the composition of the squad. He wrote on X, formerly Twitter, "Only one African player selected in the Proteas Team for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. This is definitely a reversal of the gains of transformation and does not reflect fair representation of all South Africans in the national cricket team."

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/t20-world-cup-2024-icc-unveils-complete-india-pakistan-venue-ahead-of-marquee-clash-721872">T20 World Cup 2024: ICC unveils complete India-Pakistan venue ahead of marquee clash</a>

Former CSA and ICC president Ray Mali also shared his concerns, stating that the game is regressing in the African nation.

"I believe a lot has been achieved, but we have taken a step backward in terms of cricket - we are not progressing," Mali told SABC Sport.

He further opined, "I cannot understand why we can't have a larger number of black players in the South African cricket team at this day and age - it is not acceptable. We have betrayed the people who asked us to negotiate unity for this country."

Mali added, "Players are mentored and monitored from their early days to the top, so you know which players will represent South Africa."

It is to be noted that CSA currently lacks a committee of selectors. The team is selected by head coaches Shukri Conrad (Tests) and Rob Walter (ODI and T20Is).

Walter, on the other hand, defended the main squad, stressing that the domestic circuit lacks the depth to assemble a more diverse team.

Any&nbsp;participating team&nbsp;can make modifications to their&nbsp;squad till May 25, without International Cricket Council (ICC)'s sanction. Teams will then require approval from&nbsp;ICC's technical committee.&nbsp;

South Africa T20 WC squad: Aiden Markram (c), Ottniel Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs.

Travelling reserves: Nandre Burger and Lungi Ngidi.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) have received criticism for not meeting its 'transformational targets' by having only a solitary black African, i.e. Kagiso Rabada, in the Aiden Markram-led South Africa's T20 World Cup squad.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) have received criticism for not meeting its 'transformational targets' by having only a solitary black African, i.e. Kagiso Rabada, in the Aiden Markram-led South Africa's T20 World Cup squad. The mega event kicks off soon after IPL 2024, in the West Indies and USA in June. The Proteas are placed in Group D along with Sri Lanka, Netherlands, Bangladesh and Nepal. Coming to SA's provisional 15-man squad, it features six players of colour, including Rabada. Notably, CSA's policy requires that over a season, six players of colour should be in the South African playing XI, with at least two from the black African community. With Rabada being the sole black African in the T20 WC squad, the team is set to give this target a miss. The other players of colour in the squad comprise Reeza Hendricks, Bjorn Fortuin, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi, and Ottniel Baartman. Lungi Ngidi, another black African, is only part of the travelling reserves. Former South Africa Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula, thus, questioned the composition of the squad. He wrote on X, formerly Twitter, "Only one African player selected in the Proteas Team for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. This is definitely a reversal of the gains of transformation and does not reflect fair representation of all South Africans in the national cricket team." Also read: T20 World Cup 2024: ICC unveils complete India-Pakistan venue ahead of marquee clash Former CSA and ICC president Ray Mali also shared his concerns, stating that the game is regressing in the African nation. "I believe a lot has been achieved, but we have taken a step backward in terms of cricket - we are not progressing," Mali told SABC Sport. He further opined, "I cannot understand why we can't have a larger number of black players in the South African cricket team at this day and age - it is not acceptable. We have betrayed the people who asked us to negotiate unity for this country." Mali added, "Players are mentored and monitored from their early days to the top, so you know which players will represent South Africa." It is to be noted that CSA currently lacks a committee of selectors. The team is selected by head coaches Shukri Conrad (Tests) and Rob Walter (ODI and T20Is). Walter, on the other hand, defended the main squad, stressing that the domestic circuit lacks the depth to assemble a more diverse team. Any participating team can make modifications to their squad till May 25, without International Cricket Council (ICC)'s sanction. Teams will then require approval from ICC's technical committee. South Africa T20 WC squad: Aiden Markram (c), Ottniel Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs. Travelling reserves: Nandre Burger and Lungi Ngidi.

T20 WC: Former South Africa Sports Minister SLAMS Proteas squad for having only 1 black African

Rain is playing spoilsport in Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium as the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) contest between SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Gujarat Titans (GT) is in danger of washout. With a tight race for the Playoff spots, the contest has huge ramifications resting on it which favour the south Indian side. However, if rain continues to play spoilsport, two north Indian sides could face elimination as we take a look at all details.

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🚨 Update from Hyderabad 🚨 
 
Toss has been delayed due to bad weather 🌧️ 
 
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<h2>What happens if SRH vs GT ends in a washout?</h2>

In case of a washout, points will be shared between SRH (currently 14 points)&nbsp;and GT with each team getting one point. In this scenario, SRH will qualify for the Playoffs with 15 points and still a game in hand against&nbsp;Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Sunday. The result would make it practically impossible for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Delhi Capitals (DC) to qualify for the Playoffs. The only downside for SRH will see them lose a point in the race for the top two which hands Rajasthan Royals (RR) an added incentive.

<h2>Why LSG and DC will be eliminated?</h2>

While DC have already ended their IPL 2024 season with 14 points, LSG can only reach a maximum of 14 points if they beat Mumbai Indians (MI) on Friday. Assuming SRH already have 15 points, both LSG and DC will not finish in the top three. In the case of the fourth spot, Saturday’s clash between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will officially end both LSG and DC’s pursuit of a Playoff spot.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2024-hope-he-keeps-going-for-another-couple-of-years-michael-hussey-on-ms-dhonis-csk-stint-722105">IPL 2024: Hope he keeps going for another couple of years - Michael Hussey on MS Dhoni's CSK stint</a>

A win for CSK (currently on 14 points) will see at least four teams finish with 15 or more points which would eliminate both DC and LSG. In case of an RCB (currently on 12 points) win, both Virat Kohli’s side and CSK will end with 14 points each but with a better Net Run Rate (NRR) which would again practically eliminate LSG and DC.

In case of a washout between RCB and CSK, the result favours MS Dhoni’s side as they will attain 15&nbsp;points practically eliminating the trio of DC, LSG and RCB from the Playoff race with at least four teams attaining 15 or more points.

As things stand if rain washes out the SRH vs GT clash, on Saturday RCB vs CSK clash will be a direct shootout for a place in the Playoffs.

Rain is playing spoilsport in Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium as the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) contest between SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Gujarat Titans (GT) is in danger of washout.

Rain is playing spoilsport in Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium as the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) contest between SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Gujarat Titans (GT) is in danger of washout. With a tight race for the Playoff spots, the contest has huge ramifications resting on it which favour the south Indian side. However, if rain continues to play spoilsport, two north Indian sides could face elimination as we take a look at all details. 🚨 Update from Hyderabad 🚨 Toss has been delayed due to bad weather 🌧️ Stay tuned for further updates Follow the Match ▶️ https://t.co/Hl2hTe2rVD#TATAIPL | #SRHvGT pic.twitter.com/rKc8I6QE2v — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 16, 2024 × What happens if SRH vs GT ends in a washout? In case of a washout, points will be shared between SRH (currently 14 points) and GT with each team getting one point. In this scenario, SRH will qualify for the Playoffs with 15 points and still a game in hand against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Sunday. The result would make it practically impossible for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Delhi Capitals (DC) to qualify for the Playoffs. The only downside for SRH will see them lose a point in the race for the top two which hands Rajasthan Royals (RR) an added incentive. Why LSG and DC will be eliminated? While DC have already ended their IPL 2024 season with 14 points, LSG can only reach a maximum of 14 points if they beat Mumbai Indians (MI) on Friday. Assuming SRH already have 15 points, both LSG and DC will not finish in the top three. In the case of the fourth spot, Saturday’s clash between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will officially end both LSG and DC’s pursuit of a Playoff spot. ALSO READ | IPL 2024: Hope he keeps going for another couple of years - Michael Hussey on MS Dhoni's CSK stint A win for CSK (currently on 14 points) will see at least four teams finish with 15 or more points which would eliminate both DC and LSG. In case of an RCB (currently on 12 points) win, both Virat Kohli’s side and CSK will end with 14 points each but with a better Net Run Rate (NRR) which would again practically eliminate LSG and DC. In case of a washout between RCB and CSK, the result favours MS Dhoni’s side as they will attain 15 points practically eliminating the trio of DC, LSG and RCB from the Playoff race with at least four teams attaining 15 or more points. As things stand if rain washes out the SRH vs GT clash, on Saturday RCB vs CSK clash will be a direct shootout for a place in the Playoffs.

IPL 2024 Playoff Scenario: Will SRH qualify if rain plays spoilsport and who gets eliminated? Read all details

It will be a decisive week for MS Dhoni and his fans as the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) league-stage campaign will conclude on Sunday (May 19). However, Saturday could be the defining day for Dhoni as he could play his final competitive game of his career in Bengaluru’s M&nbsp;Chinnaswamy Stadium if results go against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). However, Dhoni’s former CSK teammate and Australia legend Michael Hussey hopes he still has another couple of years of cricket left in him.

<h2>Hussey optimistic on Dhoni’s stay</h2>

"He is still batting so well. He does prepare well - he gets into the camp very early and hits a lot of balls. He has been in good touch all season really. I guess we just got to try to manage him from the body side of things. He had a knee surgery after the last season. So he has been managing that from the initial stage of the tournament,” Hussey said while speaking to ESPN's Around the Wicket show.

"From a personal point of view, I hope he keeps going for another couple of years. But we will just have to wait and see. He is the only one who will make that call. And he likes to sort of build the drama a little bit as well. So I wouldn't expect a decision anytime soon."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/srh-vs-gt-ipl-2024-match-66-head-to-head-playing-xi-prediction-pitch-report-all-you-need-to-know-721948">SRH vs GT, IPL 2024, Match 66: Head-to-head, playing XI, prediction, pitch report | All you need to know</a>

If CSK lose on Saturday to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)&nbsp;by 18 or more runs or before the 18th over they will face elimination from the IPL 2024.

Assuming MS Dhoni will retire after the current season, Saturday’s outing could be the former skipper’s last match in CSK colours.

According to Hussey, Dhoni can still play couple of years with the current season showcasing his hunger for runs while also proving his fitness. In the IPL 2024, the 42-year-old has scored 136 runs from 13 matches and has played cameo knocks batting lower down the order. In terms of fitness, he has kept gloves for CSK in all matches in the IPL 2024.

It will be interesting to see what the future brings for Dhoni, but for now, the focus for both CSK and RCB will be to clinch a Playoff place.

It will be a decisive week for MS Dhoni and his fans as the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) league-stage campaign will conclude on Sunday (May 19). However, Saturday could be the defining day for Dhoni as he could play his final competitive game of his career in Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium if results go against Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

It will be a decisive week for MS Dhoni and his fans as the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) league-stage campaign will conclude on Sunday (May 19). However, Saturday could be the defining day for Dhoni as he could play his final competitive game of his career in Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium if results go against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). However, Dhoni’s former CSK teammate and Australia legend Michael Hussey hopes he still has another couple of years of cricket left in him. Hussey optimistic on Dhoni’s stay "He is still batting so well. He does prepare well - he gets into the camp very early and hits a lot of balls. He has been in good touch all season really. I guess we just got to try to manage him from the body side of things. He had a knee surgery after the last season. So he has been managing that from the initial stage of the tournament,” Hussey said while speaking to ESPN's Around the Wicket show. "From a personal point of view, I hope he keeps going for another couple of years. But we will just have to wait and see. He is the only one who will make that call. And he likes to sort of build the drama a little bit as well. So I wouldn't expect a decision anytime soon." ALSO READ | SRH vs GT, IPL 2024, Match 66: Head-to-head, playing XI, prediction, pitch report | All you need to know If CSK lose on Saturday to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by 18 or more runs or before the 18th over they will face elimination from the IPL 2024. Assuming MS Dhoni will retire after the current season, Saturday’s outing could be the former skipper’s last match in CSK colours. According to Hussey, Dhoni can still play couple of years with the current season showcasing his hunger for runs while also proving his fitness. In the IPL 2024, the 42-year-old has scored 136 runs from 13 matches and has played cameo knocks batting lower down the order. In terms of fitness, he has kept gloves for CSK in all matches in the IPL 2024. It will be interesting to see what the future brings for Dhoni, but for now, the focus for both CSK and RCB will be to clinch a Playoff place.

IPL 2024: Hope he keeps going for another couple of years - Michael Hussey on MS Dhoni's CSK stint

Former New Zealand cricketer and current Chennai Super Kings (CSK) coach, Stephen Fleming remains the frontrunner to replace Rahul Dravid as the head coach for the men's senior cricket team.&nbsp;BCCI on Monday (May 13) opened the process to select the next head coach. The last date for the submission of the application is May 27 i.e. the day of the IPL final.

An Indian Express report claimed that BCCI officials have already held informal conversations with Fleming regarding&nbsp;the job during the IPL. However, the Kiwi is yet to make a decision about his future with CSK ready to extend his contract.&nbsp;

Fleming's credentials as the leading man for the job were enhanced after reports claimed that former Indian batter VVS Laxman had seemingly dropped out of the race for the job. The legendary middle-order batter, who is currently the head of the National Cricket Academy had been tipped to take over from Dravid last year when the latter's contract expired.

Dravid's&nbsp;extended contract as the head coach lapses after the T20 World Cup. With a Champions Trophy and another 50-over World Cup on the horizon, Laxman's refusal suggests that BCCI was gearing up for a foreign coach to take over the reins.&nbsp;

However, CSK have denied any such rumours and CEO Kasi Viswanathan said that there has been no such communication between Fleming and the franchise till now.&nbsp;

"I have not heard anything like this. There has been no communication from Stephen Fleming to CSK either," CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan told Sports Now.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rahul-dravid-unlikely-to-reapply-for-indias-head-coach-position-reports-720881">Also read |&nbsp;Rahul Dravid unlikely to reapply for India’s head coach position – Reports</a>

<h2>Long-term coach required</h2>

Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary, has made it clear that there will be no split coaching duties - meaning any former player who takes up the job, will have to be on the road for 10 months a year.&nbsp;

"We are looking for a long-term coach for three years," Shah had said last week.

"There is no precedent of different coaches for different formats in Indian cricket. Besides, we have a number of all-format players. Ultimately, it will be the Cricket Advisory Committee's (CAC) call. I have to implement what they decide," he added.&nbsp;

A day after BCCI invited the applications,&nbsp;former Australian cricketer Justin Langer also threw&nbsp;his hat in the ring to replace Dravid.&nbsp;

“Well, I am curious. I’ve never ever thought about it. I have deep respect for any international coach because I understand the pressure, but coaching the Indian team would be an extraordinary role. From what I’ve seen with the amount of talent I’ve seen in this country, it would be fascinating,” Langer was quoted as saying by&nbsp;Times of India.

Langer is currently serving as Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) head coach, having previously coached Australia to T20 World Cup victory in 2021 while retaining the Ashes on two separate occasions viz.&nbsp;2019 and 2021.

(With inputs from agencies)

Former New Zealand cricketer and current Chennai Super Kings (CSK) coach, Stephen Fleming remains the frontrunner to replace Rahul Dravid as the head coach for the men's senior cricket team.

Former New Zealand cricketer and current Chennai Super Kings (CSK) coach, Stephen Fleming remains the frontrunner to replace Rahul Dravid as the head coach for the men's senior cricket team. BCCI on Monday (May 13) opened the process to select the next head coach. The last date for the submission of the application is May 27 i.e. the day of the IPL final. An Indian Express report claimed that BCCI officials have already held informal conversations with Fleming regarding the job during the IPL. However, the Kiwi is yet to make a decision about his future with CSK ready to extend his contract. Fleming's credentials as the leading man for the job were enhanced after reports claimed that former Indian batter VVS Laxman had seemingly dropped out of the race for the job. The legendary middle-order batter, who is currently the head of the National Cricket Academy had been tipped to take over from Dravid last year when the latter's contract expired. Dravid's extended contract as the head coach lapses after the T20 World Cup. With a Champions Trophy and another 50-over World Cup on the horizon, Laxman's refusal suggests that BCCI was gearing up for a foreign coach to take over the reins. However, CSK have denied any such rumours and CEO Kasi Viswanathan said that there has been no such communication between Fleming and the franchise till now. "I have not heard anything like this. There has been no communication from Stephen Fleming to CSK either," CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan told Sports Now. Also read | Rahul Dravid unlikely to reapply for India’s head coach position – Reports Long-term coach required Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary, has made it clear that there will be no split coaching duties - meaning any former player who takes up the job, will have to be on the road for 10 months a year. "We are looking for a long-term coach for three years," Shah had said last week. "There is no precedent of different coaches for different formats in Indian cricket. Besides, we have a number of all-format players. Ultimately, it will be the Cricket Advisory Committee's (CAC) call. I have to implement what they decide," he added. A day after BCCI invited the applications, former Australian cricketer Justin Langer also threw his hat in the ring to replace Dravid. “Well, I am curious. I’ve never ever thought about it. I have deep respect for any international coach because I understand the pressure, but coaching the Indian team would be an extraordinary role. From what I’ve seen with the amount of talent I’ve seen in this country, it would be fascinating,” Langer was quoted as saying by Times of India. Langer is currently serving as Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) head coach, having previously coached Australia to T20 World Cup victory in 2021 while retaining the Ashes on two separate occasions viz. 2019 and 2021. (With inputs from agencies)

Stephen Fleming remains frontrunner for Indian men's cricket team head coach job

The T20 World Cup 2024 edition kicks off next month in West Indies and the USA. It will be the ninth edition of the marquee tournament, which started in 2007. Ahead of the upcoming season, here is a look at some elite Indian players with most wins in the T20 WC history.

T20 World Cup: Indian players with most wins in T20 World Cup history

Former India and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain, Virat Kohli, has revealed his retirement plans, saying he would be away from the public limelight for a long time once he has decided to hang up his boots.

Former India and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain, Virat Kohli, has revealed his retirement plans, saying he would be away from the public limelight for a long time once he has decided to hang up his boots. Kohli, 35, is perhaps in the last stretch of his international career with many regarding the upcoming T20 World Cup as his last hurrah in the shortest format of the game. Quizzed during an RCB promotional event about his retirement and what fuels his insatiable hunger for excellence, the Indian batter gave a nuanced answer. "It's quite simple. I think as a sportsman, we do have an end-date to our careers. So I am just working backwards. I don't want to finish my career thinking 'oh, what if I have done this on that particular day' because I can't keep going on and on forever. So it's just about not leaving any undone business behind and not have any regrets later, which I am sure I won't," said Kohli. "Once I am done, I will be gone, you won't see me for a while (smiles). So I want to give it everything I have till the time I play, and that's the only thing that keeps me going," he added. An evening celebrating friendships, brotherhood, comebacks and more, at the @rcbbarcafe! Some behind the scenes visuals from the team dinner last night on @bigbasket_com presents Bold Diaries.#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2024 pic.twitter.com/S0yC54UKby — Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 16, 2024 × Also read | IPL 2024: Will there be reserve day for RCB vs CSK league match at Chinnaswamy? Run machine Kohli Despite being in his late thirties, Kohli is still able to give the youngsters run for their money in the fitness department. He currently leads the chart of top-scorers at the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), having amasses 661 runs in only 13 innings at an enviable strike-rate of 155.16. Kohli's relentless nature of getting stuck in and taking his team alongside him is probably the reason why RCB have managed to win five matches on the bounce to be in playoff contention after a horrid start to the campaign. The weekend match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) could be the decisive game of the tournament. If RCB do manage to get a win, they can qualify for the top 4 and challenge for the first trophy in the franchise's history. (With inputs from agencies)

'You won't see me...': Ahead of crucial CSK tie, Virat Kohli drops retirement bomb

The newly-built Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, near New York, was launched on Wednesday with the sport's world body "excited" to conquer new territories through the T20 World Cup in June.

The 34,000-capacity stadium, with infrastructure from the Las Vegas Formula 1 circuit and drop-in pitches prepared in Florida, will host the hotly-anticipated India-Pakistan clash on June 9, among its eight scheduled World Cup games.

The showpiece 20-over event will be co-hosted by the West Indies and the United States starting June 1 with New York, Florida and Dallas as venues.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2024-will-there-be-reserve-day-for-rcb-vs-csk-league-match-at-chinnaswamy-721832">IPL 2024: Will there be reserve day for RCB vs CSK league match at Chinnaswamy?</a>

The International Cricket Council (ICC) remains happy with the focus on the India-Pakistan clash and the Nassau project as part of bringing the game to the US.

"Yeah, absolutely! We can run that game anywhere and the interest in the fixture would be immense," Chris Tetley, the ICC's head of events, told reporters in a media roundtable.

"The news stories that we have seen and the media coverage in the US itself as well as amongst the cricket media around the world. I have not seen that before around an ICC event."

Tetley added: "We are really excited to bring the T20 World Cup cricket to the US and the opportunity that it presents to the sport and from what I can see there is an audience really waiting for us to come."

T20 Cricket will also feature as one of five new sports at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

Making a cricket stadium in Nassau remained a huge challenge for the ICC, who got in Adelaide Oval curator Damian Hough for the job.

Hough created the first drop-in pitch in Adelaide in 2013 and the latest strips at the Nassau County ground promise good cricket and balance between bat and ball.

"People shouldn't be concerned about drop-in pitches," said Hough.

"They are proven around the world, definitely in Australia. Some of the best cricket is played on drop-in pitches and are really successful."

The newly-built Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, near New York, was launched on Wednesday with the sport's world body "excited" to conquer new territories through the T20 World Cup in June.

The newly-built Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, near New York, was launched on Wednesday with the sport's world body "excited" to conquer new territories through the T20 World Cup in June. The 34,000-capacity stadium, with infrastructure from the Las Vegas Formula 1 circuit and drop-in pitches prepared in Florida, will host the hotly-anticipated India-Pakistan clash on June 9, among its eight scheduled World Cup games. The showpiece 20-over event will be co-hosted by the West Indies and the United States starting June 1 with New York, Florida and Dallas as venues. Also Read: IPL 2024: Will there be reserve day for RCB vs CSK league match at Chinnaswamy? The International Cricket Council (ICC) remains happy with the focus on the India-Pakistan clash and the Nassau project as part of bringing the game to the US. "Yeah, absolutely! We can run that game anywhere and the interest in the fixture would be immense," Chris Tetley, the ICC's head of events, told reporters in a media roundtable. "The news stories that we have seen and the media coverage in the US itself as well as amongst the cricket media around the world. I have not seen that before around an ICC event." Tetley added: "We are really excited to bring the T20 World Cup cricket to the US and the opportunity that it presents to the sport and from what I can see there is an audience really waiting for us to come." T20 Cricket will also feature as one of five new sports at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. Making a cricket stadium in Nassau remained a huge challenge for the ICC, who got in Adelaide Oval curator Damian Hough for the job. Hough created the first drop-in pitch in Adelaide in 2013 and the latest strips at the Nassau County ground promise good cricket and balance between bat and ball. "People shouldn't be concerned about drop-in pitches," said Hough. "They are proven around the world, definitely in Australia. Some of the best cricket is played on drop-in pitches and are really successful."

T20 World Cup 2024: ICC unveils complete India-Pakistan venue ahead of marquee clash

Former Pakistan cricketer Saeed Anwar has come under heavy scrutiny following his sexist remarks that divorce rates in the country had shot up due to women entering the workforce.

The undated video of Anwar's unhinged rant has gone viral on social media with netizens questioning how a player of his calibre could have such a narrow worldview.&nbsp;

“Since women have started working in Pakistan, divorce rates have climbed by 30 per cent in the last three years," Anwar said in the video.&nbsp;

“The wives say, ‘to hell with you, I can earn myself. I can run a household on my own'. This is a whole game plan. You will not understand this game plan unless you find guidance,” he added.

Anwar also claimed that during his travels abroad, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson had raised the issue of societal disruptions due to women entering the workforce.&nbsp;

“I have travelled the world. I am just returning from Australia, Europe. Youngsters are suffering, families are in bad shape. Couples are fighting. The state of affairs is so bad that they have to make their women work for money,” Anwar said.

"New Zealand's captain Kane Williamson called me to ask, ‘How will our society get better?'... The Australian mayor said to me, ‘Our culture has been destroyed since our women entered the workforce’," he added.&nbsp;

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Former Pakistani Cricketer Saeed Anwar says women working to earn money is the destruction of society. “I’ve travelled the world, just back from Europe. Youth are suffering, and families are in bad shape. Couples fighting. It’s so bad they’ve to make women work for money.” 
~… <a href="https://t.co/tAAkNbeiCG">pic.twitter.com/tAAkNbeiCG</a>
— Imtiaz Mahmood (@ImtiazMadmood) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImtiazMadmood/status/1790675454686363967?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/what-is-he-drinking-harbhajan-singh-slams-inzamam-ul-haq-for-conversion-claims-658800">Also read |&nbsp;'What is he drinking?': Harbhajan Singh slams Inzamam-ul-Haq for 'conversion' claims</a>

<h2>Misogynistic comments from Pakistani ex-players&nbsp;</h2>

This is not the first instance when a former Pakistani player has been embroiled in controversy for radical statements. Last year, Abdul Razzaq passed sexist comments against Indian actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan after Pakistan men's cricket team crashed out of the World Cup.&nbsp;

“Younis Khan had good intentions as a captain and it gave me confidence to perform better. Everyone over here is talking about the intention and Pakistan’s team. Actually, we don’t have good intentions to develop and polish players in Pakistan. If you think that by marrying Aishwarya Rai, a good and pious kid would be born, it would never happen," Razzaq said.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/what-a-terrible-thing-to-say-abdul-razzaq-slammed-for-controversial-remarks-on-aishwarya-rai-bachchan-658481">Also read | 'What a terrible thing to say': Abdul Razzaq slammed for controversial remarks on Aishwarya Rai Bachchan</a>

After his statement went viral, cricket fans from both countries slammed Razzaq for his highly misogynistic comments.&nbsp;

The likes of Shahid Afridi and Inzamam-ul-Haq have also made highly objectionable and divisive statements that appear to increase the divide between the two nations.&nbsp;

Harbhajan Singh recently slammed&nbsp;Inzamam over the latter's comments that the ex-Indian spinner was close to converting his religion after meeting a Muslim scholar.&nbsp;

(With inputs&nbsp;from agencies)

Former Pakistan cricketer Saeed Anwar has come under heavy scrutiny following his sexist remarks that divorce rates in the country had shot up due to women entering the workforce.

Former Pakistan cricketer Saeed Anwar has come under heavy scrutiny following his sexist remarks that divorce rates in the country had shot up due to women entering the workforce. The undated video of Anwar's unhinged rant has gone viral on social media with netizens questioning how a player of his calibre could have such a narrow worldview. “Since women have started working in Pakistan, divorce rates have climbed by 30 per cent in the last three years," Anwar said in the video. “The wives say, ‘to hell with you, I can earn myself. I can run a household on my own'. This is a whole game plan. You will not understand this game plan unless you find guidance,” he added. Anwar also claimed that during his travels abroad, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson had raised the issue of societal disruptions due to women entering the workforce. “I have travelled the world. I am just returning from Australia, Europe. Youngsters are suffering, families are in bad shape. Couples are fighting. The state of affairs is so bad that they have to make their women work for money,” Anwar said. "New Zealand's captain Kane Williamson called me to ask, ‘How will our society get better?'... The Australian mayor said to me, ‘Our culture has been destroyed since our women entered the workforce’," he added. Former Pakistani Cricketer Saeed Anwar says women working to earn money is the destruction of society. “I’ve travelled the world, just back from Europe. Youth are suffering, and families are in bad shape. Couples fighting. It’s so bad they’ve to make women work for money.” ~… pic.twitter.com/tAAkNbeiCG — Imtiaz Mahmood (@ImtiazMadmood) May 15, 2024 × Also read | 'What is he drinking?': Harbhajan Singh slams Inzamam-ul-Haq for 'conversion' claims Misogynistic comments from Pakistani ex-players This is not the first instance when a former Pakistani player has been embroiled in controversy for radical statements. Last year, Abdul Razzaq passed sexist comments against Indian actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan after Pakistan men's cricket team crashed out of the World Cup. “Younis Khan had good intentions as a captain and it gave me confidence to perform better. Everyone over here is talking about the intention and Pakistan’s team. Actually, we don’t have good intentions to develop and polish players in Pakistan. If you think that by marrying Aishwarya Rai, a good and pious kid would be born, it would never happen," Razzaq said. Also read | 'What a terrible thing to say': Abdul Razzaq slammed for controversial remarks on Aishwarya Rai Bachchan After his statement went viral, cricket fans from both countries slammed Razzaq for his highly misogynistic comments. The likes of Shahid Afridi and Inzamam-ul-Haq have also made highly objectionable and divisive statements that appear to increase the divide between the two nations. Harbhajan Singh recently slammed Inzamam over the latter's comments that the ex-Indian spinner was close to converting his religion after meeting a Muslim scholar. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Since women started working...’: Former Pakistan cricketer slammed for sexist comments

As the 2024 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) heads into its business end, all eyes are on the final round-robin match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the M.

As the 2024 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) heads into its business end, all eyes are on the final round-robin match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday (May 18). The match could potentially decide which team heads into the playoffs but there is a high possibility that it may get washed out due to the rain threat looming large. According to weather reports, there is a 73 per cent chance of rain during the daytime which is expected to rise to 80 per cent around 6 pm. Apart from the rainfall, the meteorologists have predicted thunderstorms which further dents the chances of the game being completed. The only saving grace remains the state-of-the-art outfield at Chinnaswamy, known for its superb drainage system. If the rain stays put for a few hours, despite the match starting late, the ground will be ready for a full match. While RCB need a definite win and few other results to go its way, a no-result will allow CSK to make it to the top-4 and challenge for a title defence. RCB have staged a remarkable comeback in the second half of the tournament, winning five consecutive matches to revive their playoff aspirations. The batters have been firing all cylinders and it has made the contest, which otherwise would have been a dead rubber - the most anticipated of the round. Also read | 2024 T20 World Cup: India get second semi-final on June 27 with no reserve day | Read Why Is there a reserve day for RCB vs CSK? However, if the rain continues and the match cannot get underway by 10:56 pm, it will be called off. For a result to be possible, a minimum of five overs need to be played. Unfortunately for RCB and its fans across the country, IPL does not have a reserve day for league-stage matches. As per IPL playing conditions, a reserve day is only available for playoff games. "For the play-off matches, there may be reserve days (on which an incomplete play-off match shall be completed)," reads the IPL rulebook. Gujarat Titans (GT) crashed out of the tournament after their match against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Narendra Modi Stadium was abandoned on Monday (May 13), without the toss. Squads: Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), MS Dhoni, Moeen Ali, Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Shivam Dube, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Ravindra Jadeja, Ajay Mandal, Mukesh Choudhary, Ajinkya Rahane, Shaik Rasheed, Mitchell Santner, Simarjeet Singh, Nishant Sindhu, Prashant Solanki, Maheesh Theekshana, Rachin Ravindra, Shardul Thakur, Daryl Mitchell, Sameer Rizvi, Avanish Rao Aravelly Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Faf du Plessis (c), Glenn Maxwell, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Anuj Rawat, Dinesh Karthik, Suyash Prabhudessai, Mahipal Lomror, Karn Sharma, Manoj Bhandage, Mayank Dagar, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Himanshu Sharma, Rajan Kumar, Cameron Green, Alzarri Joseph, Yash Dayal, Tom Curran, Lockie Ferguson, Swapnil Singh, Saurav Chauhan

IPL 2024: Will there be reserve day for RCB vs CSK league match at Chinnaswamy?

Nepalese cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane was acquitted by the Patan High Court on Wednesday (May 15), having been convicted of rape by the Kathmandu District Court last year.

Nepalese cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane was acquitted by the Patan High Court on Wednesday (May 15), having been convicted of rape by the Kathmandu District Court last year. According to Nepalese media reports, the bench of Judges Sudarashan Dev Bhatta and Anju Upreti Dhakal overturned the lower court's verdict. “The district court’s verdict has been overturned, Sandeep Lamichhane has been acquitted,” Parajuli was quoted as saying by setopati.com. The leg-spinner was sentenced to eight years in prison and fined Rs 300,000 in January this year. He was also ordered to pay compensation of Rs 200,000 to the victim. After being acquitted, it is being reported that Lamichhane will be available for selection for the men's senior team for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA. Although a 15-member squad, led by captain Rohit Paudel has been announced, ICC has granted provision to the teams to make changes to their squad until May 25, which makes it certain that Lamichhane will get the nod. What was Lamichchane accused of? The Kathmandu District Attorney’s office filed a case against Sandeep, accusing him of raping a 17-year-old on August 21, 2022, in a hotel room. He was charged under section 219 of the Criminal Code 2074. The girl filed a case against the Nepalese men’s team star at the Metropolitan Police Station in Gaushala. At that time, the then-22-year-old spinner was plying his trade for Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Upon arriving in his native country, police arrested him at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Also read | Ex-Nepal cricket captain Sandeep Lamichhane convicted of rape Lamichhane's cricketing career Lamichhane made his international debut in May 2018 and quickly emerged as the go-to-bowler in T20s. He became the top pick in several franchise-based leagues, including the India Premier League, Big Bash League and the PSL. In his short career, he managed to scalp over 100 wickets in more than 100 white-ball matches for Nepal. He was part of the Delhi Capitals squad between 2018-20, and bagged 13 wickets in nine fixtures. The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) appointed him as the captain in December 2021, but he was sacked in September of the following year after the rape charges and as court proceedings started subsequently. (With inputs from agencies)

Nepalese cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane acquitted of rape

Delhi Capitals (DC) hosted Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in match 64 of the IPL 2024 edition on Tuesday (May 14), at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi. Opting to bowl first, KL Rahul-led LSG invited Rishabh Pant's DC to bat first. Pant &amp; Co. rode on Abhishek Porel's 58, Shai Hope's 38 (27), skipper's 23-ball 33 and Tristan Stubbs' 25-ball 57* to post 208 for 4.

In reply, LSG only managed 189 for 9 courtesy of Nicholas Pooran's entertaining 27-ball 61 and Arshad Khan's fighting 58 (33). With this defeat, LSG are very much out of contention in the playoffs race whereas DC remain alive but with a very slim chance mathematically. After the loss, Mohammed Kaif lashed out at Lucknow for their poor tactics, inviting DC to bat first at the venue.

Kaif told on Star Sports, "Take the video analyst's computer and throw it away. They didn't go with any numbers. 200 has not been chased here at all. I am telling you this year's numbers. In all four matches, the team batting first has won. You won the toss and said you would field first."

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/rishabh-pant-is-an-instinctive-captain-sourav-ganguly-backs-dc-star-to-get-better-with-time-721710">'Rishabh Pant is an instinctive captain': Sourav Ganguly backs DC star to get better with time</a>

The former Indian cricketer-turned-commentator further added, "The biggest mistake was the decision at the toss... So, there will be a question mark on the bowling as well. Lucknow had everything to gain from this match... I believe it was an absolute flop show from Lucknow."

In IPL history, DC have never lost while defending anything over 200. Meanwhile, no team has managed to chase down any total in excess of 200 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in this year's IPL. Hence, LSG team management certainly made a big mistake, pushing them closer to an early exit.

At present, DC are at the fifth spot with 14 points in their league games. Meanwhile, LSG are two&nbsp;spots below DC, with 12 points and a game in hand.

Delhi Capitals (DC) hosted Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in match 64 of the IPL 2024 edition on Tuesday (May 14), at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi. Opting to bowl first, KL Rahul-led LSG invited Rishabh Pant's DC to bat first.

Delhi Capitals (DC) hosted Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in match 64 of the IPL 2024 edition on Tuesday (May 14), at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi. Opting to bowl first, KL Rahul-led LSG invited Rishabh Pant's DC to bat first. Pant & Co. rode on Abhishek Porel's 58, Shai Hope's 38 (27), skipper's 23-ball 33 and Tristan Stubbs' 25-ball 57* to post 208 for 4. In reply, LSG only managed 189 for 9 courtesy of Nicholas Pooran's entertaining 27-ball 61 and Arshad Khan's fighting 58 (33). With this defeat, LSG are very much out of contention in the playoffs race whereas DC remain alive but with a very slim chance mathematically. After the loss, Mohammed Kaif lashed out at Lucknow for their poor tactics, inviting DC to bat first at the venue. Kaif told on Star Sports, "Take the video analyst's computer and throw it away. They didn't go with any numbers. 200 has not been chased here at all. I am telling you this year's numbers. In all four matches, the team batting first has won. You won the toss and said you would field first." Also read: 'Rishabh Pant is an instinctive captain': Sourav Ganguly backs DC star to get better with time The former Indian cricketer-turned-commentator further added, "The biggest mistake was the decision at the toss... So, there will be a question mark on the bowling as well. Lucknow had everything to gain from this match... I believe it was an absolute flop show from Lucknow." In IPL history, DC have never lost while defending anything over 200. Meanwhile, no team has managed to chase down any total in excess of 200 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in this year's IPL. Hence, LSG team management certainly made a big mistake, pushing them closer to an early exit. At present, DC are at the fifth spot with 14 points in their league games. Meanwhile, LSG are two spots below DC, with 12 points and a game in hand.

Take the video analyst’s computer and throw it away: Md Kaif BLASTS KL Rahul’s LSG after loss vs DC

Delhi Capitals (DC) director of cricket Sourav Ganguly has labelled Rishabh Pant as an 'instinctive captain' after DC ended their league games with a 19-run win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in match 64 of IPL 2024 on Tuesday (May 14). Under Pant, DC ended their league games with 7 wins and equal number of losses. They have a very slim chance, mathematically, of qualifying for the playoffs.

Reflecting on Pant's captaincy -- who has impressed at times but also made mistakes from time to time this season -- Ganguly told Jio Cinema, "Pant is a young captain, he'll learn with time. The way he returned from injury to play a full season; we had our doubts during the off-season."

"Indian players are crucial, especially since the TATA IPL shifted to 10 teams. I am very happy for him that he returned to play so well over a full season. He has all my well-wishes for whatever is next," Ganguly&nbsp;opined.

He further opined, "With time, he'll become a better captain. Nobody is a great captain from day one, but he is an instinctual captain, he makes decisions on the ground. With more time, he'll get better."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/bcci-eyeing-csk-head-coach-stephen-fleming-as-rahul-dravids-successor-report-721424">BCCI eyeing CSK head coach Stephen Fleming as Rahul Dravid’s successor: Report</a>

Pant returned to competitive cricket after 1.5 years during this IPL season. In 14 games, he ended with 446 runs -- ninth-most -- at a strike-rate of 155.40 along with three fifties. As a result, he got selected in India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad.&nbsp;

DC had a topsy-turvy ride in the league stage but saw plenty of new match-winners emerge such as Jack Fraser-McGurk, Abhishek Porel, Rasikh Dar Salam, Triston Stubbs, Mukesh Kumar, etc.

On pacer Rasikh, former Indian skipper Ganguly said, "You've seen Rasikh's development over time. The more matches he played, the better he got. It's not easy to bowl on the Delhi wicket. This wicket is great, and the ground isn't that big, so I think for any bowler, it isn't easy to bowl here. Rasikh has improved a lot. Mukesh has been our best bowler this season. He bowls all the difficult overs, whether at the start or at the death. There has been no match this season where we didn't need his bowling in the death. "

He added, "We knew that conceding sixes would lead to more losses, so he has consistently delivered there. Our Indian bowlers have been great this season."

Delhi Capitals (DC) director of cricket Sourav Ganguly has labelled Rishabh Pant as an 'instinctive captain' after DC ended their league games with a 19-run win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in match 64 of IPL 2024 on Tuesday (May 14).

Delhi Capitals (DC) director of cricket Sourav Ganguly has labelled Rishabh Pant as an 'instinctive captain' after DC ended their league games with a 19-run win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in match 64 of IPL 2024 on Tuesday (May 14). Under Pant, DC ended their league games with 7 wins and equal number of losses. They have a very slim chance, mathematically, of qualifying for the playoffs. Reflecting on Pant's captaincy -- who has impressed at times but also made mistakes from time to time this season -- Ganguly told Jio Cinema, "Pant is a young captain, he'll learn with time. The way he returned from injury to play a full season; we had our doubts during the off-season." "Indian players are crucial, especially since the TATA IPL shifted to 10 teams. I am very happy for him that he returned to play so well over a full season. He has all my well-wishes for whatever is next," Ganguly opined. He further opined, "With time, he'll become a better captain. Nobody is a great captain from day one, but he is an instinctual captain, he makes decisions on the ground. With more time, he'll get better." Also read: BCCI eyeing CSK head coach Stephen Fleming as Rahul Dravid’s successor: Report Pant returned to competitive cricket after 1.5 years during this IPL season. In 14 games, he ended with 446 runs -- ninth-most -- at a strike-rate of 155.40 along with three fifties. As a result, he got selected in India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad. DC had a topsy-turvy ride in the league stage but saw plenty of new match-winners emerge such as Jack Fraser-McGurk, Abhishek Porel, Rasikh Dar Salam, Triston Stubbs, Mukesh Kumar, etc. On pacer Rasikh, former Indian skipper Ganguly said, "You've seen Rasikh's development over time. The more matches he played, the better he got. It's not easy to bowl on the Delhi wicket. This wicket is great, and the ground isn't that big, so I think for any bowler, it isn't easy to bowl here. Rasikh has improved a lot. Mukesh has been our best bowler this season. He bowls all the difficult overs, whether at the start or at the death. There has been no match this season where we didn't need his bowling in the death. " He added, "We knew that conceding sixes would lead to more losses, so he has consistently delivered there. Our Indian bowlers have been great this season."

‘Rishabh Pant is an instinctive captain’: Sourav Ganguly backs DC star to get better with time

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have continued their miraculous recovery in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) season as they now sit on the brink of Playoff qualification. Dead and buried at the mid-way point of the IPL 2024 season, the three-time runners-up are now standing one home win away from Playoff qualification while needing several set of results&nbsp;going their way. So here are all the scenarios explained for RCB to reach the Playoffs of the IPL 2024.&nbsp;

<h2>RCB playoff qualification scenario</h2>

After losing seven of their first eight IPL 2024 matches, RCB are now on a run of five consecutive wins&nbsp;which&nbsp;has unexpectedly seen them keep their hopes alive of Playoff qualification.&nbsp;Now&nbsp;with&nbsp;one match to go, RCB has a&nbsp;fairly&nbsp;simple task on Saturday (May 18) to seal a Playoff berth. Virat and Co should win their match by 18 or more runs (if they bat first) or within 18.1 overs (if they bat second). Also, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) should not beat Mumbai Indians (MI) by more than 100 runs, which will see the fourth spot decided on Net Run Rate (NRR).&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>RCB beat CSK by 18 runs or within 18.1 overs</li>
	<li>LSG should not beat Mumbai Indians by 100 runs or more</li>
</ul>

In case RCB win their match by 18 runs or within 18.1 overs, both Delhi Capitals and CSK&nbsp;are eliminated&nbsp;while&nbsp;Sunrisers Hyderabad will qualify with a sole win in their remaining two&nbsp;matches.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/the-foundations-are-fairly-fragile-ange-postecoglou-slams-tottenham-fans-after-man-city-pick-decisive-win-721617">'The foundations are fairly fragile': Ange Postecoglou slams Tottenham fans after Man City pick decisive win</a>

<h2>Can RCB and CSK both qualify for the Playoffs?</h2>

Yes,&nbsp;if RCB beat CSK by 18 runs or within 18.1 overs, RCB will finish above CSK and reach the Playoffs.&nbsp;On the other side, if both LSG and SRH fail to win their matches, CSK will join RCB in the last four despite defeat&nbsp;depending&nbsp;on the NRR.&nbsp;

However, a defeat for RCB will see their Playoff hopes shattered and&nbsp;will&nbsp;have to return empty-handed despite a resolute show in the second half of the campaign.&nbsp;

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have continued their miraculous recovery in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) season as they now sit on the brink of Playoff qualification.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have continued their miraculous recovery in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) season as they now sit on the brink of Playoff qualification. Dead and buried at the mid-way point of the IPL 2024 season, the three-time runners-up are now standing one home win away from Playoff qualification while needing several set of results going their way. So here are all the scenarios explained for RCB to reach the Playoffs of the IPL 2024. RCB playoff qualification scenario After losing seven of their first eight IPL 2024 matches, RCB are now on a run of five consecutive wins which has unexpectedly seen them keep their hopes alive of Playoff qualification. Now with one match to go, RCB has a fairly simple task on Saturday (May 18) to seal a Playoff berth. Virat and Co should win their match by 18 or more runs (if they bat first) or within 18.1 overs (if they bat second). Also, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) should not beat Mumbai Indians (MI) by more than 100 runs, which will see the fourth spot decided on Net Run Rate (NRR). RCB beat CSK by 18 runs or within 18.1 overs LSG should not beat Mumbai Indians by 100 runs or more In case RCB win their match by 18 runs or within 18.1 overs, both Delhi Capitals and CSK are eliminated while Sunrisers Hyderabad will qualify with a sole win in their remaining two matches. ALSO READ | 'The foundations are fairly fragile': Ange Postecoglou slams Tottenham fans after Man City pick decisive win Can RCB and CSK both qualify for the Playoffs? Yes, if RCB beat CSK by 18 runs or within 18.1 overs, RCB will finish above CSK and reach the Playoffs. On the other side, if both LSG and SRH fail to win their matches, CSK will join RCB in the last four despite defeat depending on the NRR. However, a defeat for RCB will see their Playoff hopes shattered and will have to return empty-handed despite a resolute show in the second half of the campaign.

RCB playoff qualification scenario: What Virat and Co need to do against CSK? All details explained

Team India will kick off their campaign at T20 World Cup 2024, to be held in the West Indies and USA in June, with their tournament opener on June 5 versus Ireland. Ahead of the match, former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir opined on who should be India's wicketkeeper in the playing XI. With two in-form keeper-batters such as Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson in the squad, Gambhir backed Pant to feature ahead of Samson.

Gambhir -- the 2007 T20 WC winner -- told Sportskeeda, "I think only one of them will be in the starting side and whoever it is, India must back him ... both have equal quality. It's touch and go but I'd start with Rishabh because he's a left-hander and a natural middle-order batsman. Sanju in the IPL has batted at number three, but India's top-order is fixed."

Further, the current Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor stated, "Rishabh has batted at number five, six and seven. India need a wicketkeeper in that position as compared to a top-three batsman. A left-hander in the middle-order gives you that left-hand-right-hand combination."

"If India see that Sanju can score more runs at number six or seven, they could go with him as well," Gambhir added.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/2024-t20-world-cup-india-get-second-semi-final-on-june-27-with-no-reserve-day-read-why-721430">2024 T20 World Cup: India get second semi-final on June 27 with no reserve day | Read Why</a>

Both Samson and Pant have had a good run in the ongoing IPL 2024 edition, where they are leading the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Delhi Capitals (DC), respectively. Samson has 486 runs -- fifth-most -- at a strike rate of&nbsp;158.30, including five fifties. Meanwhile, the Delhi captain has 446 runs -- ninth-most -- striking at 155.40&nbsp;with three half-centuries.&nbsp;

Thus, there isn't much to separate between the two. For India, Samson has a better strike rate than Pant in T20Is (133.09 when compared to his competitor's 126.37). However, the latter has played 66 T20Is as opposed to Samson's 25.

India squad:&nbsp;

Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj

Reserves:&nbsp;Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan

Team India will kick off their campaign at T20 World Cup 2024, to be held in the West Indies and USA in June, with their tournament opener on June 5 versus Ireland.

Team India will kick off their campaign at T20 World Cup 2024, to be held in the West Indies and USA in June, with their tournament opener on June 5 versus Ireland. Ahead of the match, former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir opined on who should be India's wicketkeeper in the playing XI. With two in-form keeper-batters such as Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson in the squad, Gambhir backed Pant to feature ahead of Samson. Gambhir -- the 2007 T20 WC winner -- told Sportskeeda, "I think only one of them will be in the starting side and whoever it is, India must back him ... both have equal quality. It's touch and go but I'd start with Rishabh because he's a left-hander and a natural middle-order batsman. Sanju in the IPL has batted at number three, but India's top-order is fixed." Further, the current Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor stated, "Rishabh has batted at number five, six and seven. India need a wicketkeeper in that position as compared to a top-three batsman. A left-hander in the middle-order gives you that left-hand-right-hand combination." "If India see that Sanju can score more runs at number six or seven, they could go with him as well," Gambhir added. Also read: 2024 T20 World Cup: India get second semi-final on June 27 with no reserve day | Read Why Both Samson and Pant have had a good run in the ongoing IPL 2024 edition, where they are leading the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Delhi Capitals (DC), respectively. Samson has 486 runs -- fifth-most -- at a strike rate of 158.30, including five fifties. Meanwhile, the Delhi captain has 446 runs -- ninth-most -- striking at 155.40 with three half-centuries. Thus, there isn't much to separate between the two. For India, Samson has a better strike rate than Pant in T20Is (133.09 when compared to his competitor's 126.37). However, the latter has played 66 T20Is as opposed to Samson's 25. India squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj Reserves: Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan

Rishabh Pant vs Sanju Samson: Gautam Gambhir names who could be India's wicketkeeper at T20 WC

Delhi Capitals (DC) brought down the curtains on their Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) league-stage campaign on Tuesday (May 14) as they now wait for other results to clinch a place in the Playoffs. With 14 points from 14 matches, DC beat Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 19 runs in the final league game at Arun Jaitley Stadium. So here are the equations for DC to qualify for the Playoffs with them no longer in action.&nbsp;

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𝐖rapping up our final 🏠 game in style 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/xJaYZIt8JA">pic.twitter.com/xJaYZIt8JA</a>
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<h2>DC’s Playoff qualification scenario</h2>

DC’s fate is no longer in their hands&nbsp;and&nbsp;will&nbsp;need at least one if&nbsp;not two&nbsp;teams&nbsp;to finish on 14 points with a worse net run rate (NRR).

DC ended their league-stage campaign with 14 points and&nbsp;with NRR&nbsp;of -0.377.&nbsp;On the other hand, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) must beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Saturday&nbsp;which&nbsp;will eliminate&nbsp;the latter from the Playoff race.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/2024-t20-world-cup-india-get-second-semi-final-on-june-27-with-no-reserve-day-read-why-721430">2024 T20 World Cup: India get second semi-final on June 27 with no reserve day | Read Why</a>

Also, Gujarat Titans (GT) and Punjab Kings (PBKS), already eliminated, should beat Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their final two fixtures while hoping their NRR drops below DC’s.

These equations will see RCB finish on 12 points, SRH on 14 points (negative NRR assumed) and DC on 14 points while also assuming Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) get beaten by Mumbai Indians on Friday.

In this&nbsp;case, DC finish in the top four&nbsp;but&nbsp;if SRH’s defeats are not by a&nbsp;big&nbsp;margin, they will finish above DC on NRR despite defeats.&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>CSK beat RCB</li>
	<li>SRH lose both their matches by big margin and take hit on NRR</li>
	<li>LSG lose to MI on Friday (even a win by small margin for LSG helps DC)</li>
</ul>

<h2>What could prevent DC’s qualification for Playoffs?</h2>

A win for RCB against CSK will see DC’s Playoff hopes end as both RCB and CSK&nbsp;in&nbsp;that&nbsp;case&nbsp;will end with 14 points and better NRR. As mentioned, if SRH win&nbsp;either of their&nbsp;matches&nbsp;DC get eliminated&nbsp;with&nbsp;Pat Cummins’s men reaching 16 points and one of RCB or CSK with better NRR will occupy the fourth spot. LSG’s win over MI is unlikely to affect DC’s chances as they will have to win by a&nbsp;big&nbsp;margin of 500 runs, a practically impossible scenario.

Delhi Capitals (DC) brought down the curtains on their Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) league-stage campaign on Tuesday (May 14) as they now wait for other results to clinch a place in the Playoffs.

Delhi Capitals (DC) brought down the curtains on their Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) league-stage campaign on Tuesday (May 14) as they now wait for other results to clinch a place in the Playoffs. With 14 points from 14 matches, DC beat Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 19 runs in the final league game at Arun Jaitley Stadium. So here are the equations for DC to qualify for the Playoffs with them no longer in action. 𝐖rapping up our final 🏠 game in style 🔥 pic.twitter.com/xJaYZIt8JA — Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) May 14, 2024 × DC’s Playoff qualification scenario DC’s fate is no longer in their hands and will need at least one if not two teams to finish on 14 points with a worse net run rate (NRR). DC ended their league-stage campaign with 14 points and with NRR of -0.377. On the other hand, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) must beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Saturday which will eliminate the latter from the Playoff race. ALSO READ | 2024 T20 World Cup: India get second semi-final on June 27 with no reserve day | Read Why Also, Gujarat Titans (GT) and Punjab Kings (PBKS), already eliminated, should beat Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their final two fixtures while hoping their NRR drops below DC’s. These equations will see RCB finish on 12 points, SRH on 14 points (negative NRR assumed) and DC on 14 points while also assuming Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) get beaten by Mumbai Indians on Friday. In this case, DC finish in the top four but if SRH’s defeats are not by a big margin, they will finish above DC on NRR despite defeats. CSK beat RCB SRH lose both their matches by big margin and take hit on NRR LSG lose to MI on Friday (even a win by small margin for LSG helps DC) What could prevent DC’s qualification for Playoffs? A win for RCB against CSK will see DC’s Playoff hopes end as both RCB and CSK in that case will end with 14 points and better NRR. As mentioned, if SRH win either of their matches DC get eliminated with Pat Cummins’s men reaching 16 points and one of RCB or CSK with better NRR will occupy the fourth spot. LSG’s win over MI is unlikely to affect DC’s chances as they will have to win by a big margin of 500 runs, a practically impossible scenario.

IPL Playoff Scenario: How can DC qualify after beating LSG in last league-stage match? Here are details

The much-anticipated third season&nbsp;of the DP World International League T20 is set to kickoff&nbsp;early in 2025, on January 11. The 34-match tournament will last for a month, with the finale to take place on Feb 9. Following the magnanimous success of the second season, cricket fans and sports fanatics in India are eagerly waiting for the upcoming edition. They will be able to watch the games exclusively&nbsp;on ZEE’s linear TV channels, OTT platform ZEE5 and on its syndicate partners’ TV and digital networks across the world.

The 34-match tournament, featuring six teams, will be held at the three UAE cricket venues -- i.e. Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah. It is to be noted that the second edition was a huge success. It&nbsp;was the second most-watched T20 cricket league worldwide, with a total of 348 million unique viewers from around the globe.

With big stars such as&nbsp;David Warner, Nicholas Pooran, Matheesha Pathirana, Sunil Narine, Tim David, Andre Russell, Alex Hales, Rovman Powell, Shimron Hetmyer, Ambati Rayudu, Corey Anderson, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Trent Boult, etc., the third season is poised&nbsp;to attract a lot of eyeballs.

Notably, the event will be broadcast in Hindi and English commentary. ZEE5 will give Live free-to-view streaming of all the matches for the sole purpose of&nbsp;bolstering cricket viewership in the Indian subcontinent and beyond.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-playoff-scenario-how-can-dc-qualify-after-beating-lsg-in-last-league-stage-match-here-are-details-721525">IPL Playoff Scenario: How can DC qualify after beating LSG in last league-stage match? Here are details</a>

<h2>'Our goal is to ensure that this truly-global league becomes more accessible to viewers worldwide</h2>

Ashish Sehgal, chief growth officer – Ad Sales, ZEE Entertainment Enterprises, spoke at length about the&nbsp;development and said, "Zee is delighted to present DP World ILT20 3rd season and promises an electrifying experience to cricket fans in India and around the world. With the world's finest players, iconic stadiums, and infrastructure and six leading sporting franchises, our goal is to build upon the previous year's success, further solidifying the league's stature as one of the most-widely followed cricket events in the world. In our pursuit to grow the market, we are continuously exploring innovative ways to enhance the fan experience, making it more interactive, immersive, and engaging. "

He further opined, "We are collaborating with cutting-edge technologies and creating new avenues for cricket enthusiasts to connect with the sport. As we embark on this exciting new season, our goal is to ensure that this truly-global league becomes more accessible to viewers worldwide.”

Meanwhile, the CEO DP World ILT20 David White stated, "We are delighted to confirm the window for DP World International League T20 Season 3. The window has been finalised after discussions with our stakeholders." He added, "We have begun our preparations for Season 3 with an aim of making the league even bigger and better; Season 2 was a massive success in terms of all relevant metrics’ and helped further strengthen the league’s reputation, making it one of the most sought after T20 leagues for players, fans and broadcasters from around the world. Having considered all aspects, the January-February window for Season 3 has turned out to be the most suitable."

The much-anticipated third season of the DP World International League T20 is set to kickoff early in 2025, on January 11. The 34-match tournament will last for a month, with the finale to take place on Feb 9.

The much-anticipated third season of the DP World International League T20 is set to kickoff early in 2025, on January 11. The 34-match tournament will last for a month, with the finale to take place on Feb 9. Following the magnanimous success of the second season, cricket fans and sports fanatics in India are eagerly waiting for the upcoming edition. They will be able to watch the games exclusively on ZEE’s linear TV channels, OTT platform ZEE5 and on its syndicate partners’ TV and digital networks across the world. The 34-match tournament, featuring six teams, will be held at the three UAE cricket venues -- i.e. Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah. It is to be noted that the second edition was a huge success. It was the second most-watched T20 cricket league worldwide, with a total of 348 million unique viewers from around the globe. With big stars such as David Warner, Nicholas Pooran, Matheesha Pathirana, Sunil Narine, Tim David, Andre Russell, Alex Hales, Rovman Powell, Shimron Hetmyer, Ambati Rayudu, Corey Anderson, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Trent Boult, etc., the third season is poised to attract a lot of eyeballs. Notably, the event will be broadcast in Hindi and English commentary. ZEE5 will give Live free-to-view streaming of all the matches for the sole purpose of bolstering cricket viewership in the Indian subcontinent and beyond. Also read: IPL Playoff Scenario: How can DC qualify after beating LSG in last league-stage match? Here are details 'Our goal is to ensure that this truly-global league becomes more accessible to viewers worldwide Ashish Sehgal, chief growth officer – Ad Sales, ZEE Entertainment Enterprises, spoke at length about the development and said, "Zee is delighted to present DP World ILT20 3rd season and promises an electrifying experience to cricket fans in India and around the world. With the world's finest players, iconic stadiums, and infrastructure and six leading sporting franchises, our goal is to build upon the previous year's success, further solidifying the league's stature as one of the most-widely followed cricket events in the world. In our pursuit to grow the market, we are continuously exploring innovative ways to enhance the fan experience, making it more interactive, immersive, and engaging. " He further opined, "We are collaborating with cutting-edge technologies and creating new avenues for cricket enthusiasts to connect with the sport. As we embark on this exciting new season, our goal is to ensure that this truly-global league becomes more accessible to viewers worldwide.” Meanwhile, the CEO DP World ILT20 David White stated, "We are delighted to confirm the window for DP World International League T20 Season 3. The window has been finalised after discussions with our stakeholders." He added, "We have begun our preparations for Season 3 with an aim of making the league even bigger and better; Season 2 was a massive success in terms of all relevant metrics’ and helped further strengthen the league’s reputation, making it one of the most sought after T20 leagues for players, fans and broadcasters from around the world. Having considered all aspects, the January-February window for Season 3 has turned out to be the most suitable."

ZEE Entertainment to air season 3 of DP World ILT20, among most-watched T20s

Gujarat Titans (GT) crashed out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 after the match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) was abandoned without toss on Monday (May 13) evening. The points were shared between the two teams, meaning, KKR, who are currently top of the table, confirmed their place in the top two with 19 points to their name while having another game in their hand.&nbsp;The last two times KKR finished in the top two, they went on to win the IPL trophy (2012,&nbsp;2014).&nbsp;

Despite the cutoff time being 10:56 pm IST, the match could not go ahead as rain continued to batter the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. GT were supposed to take the field in their 'Lavender-coloured' second kit to keep their&nbsp;playoff hopes alive but the weather gods had other plans.&nbsp;

"In a highly anticipated clash, the match between Gujarat Titans and Kolkata Knight Riders was unfortunately abandoned due to persistent rain, leaving both teams to share the points," IPL said in a statement.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/its-a-shame-ab-de-villiers-issues-clarification-on-misquoted-hardik-pandya-comments-721069">Also read |&nbsp;'It's a shame...': AB de Villiers issues clarification on misquoted Hardik Pandya comments</a>

GT joined Mumbai Indians (MI) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) as the third team to be knocked out of the tournament. GT have 11&nbsp;points in their bag and can only reach 13 points if they win their last match of the 2024 season.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

After the washout, the top two remain unchanged. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) climbed to the third spot after beating&nbsp;Rajasthan Royals (RR) comfortably on Sunday. Having started the tournament in a dominant fashion, SunRisers Hyderabad are yet to make it through the group stage as they occupy the fourth spot with 14 points as well.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Delhi Capitals (DC) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) occupy the no. 5, 6 and 7 spots respectively, with 12 points each.&nbsp;

<h2>Here’s what the standings look like after the GT vs KKR IPL 2024 game:</h2>

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Position&nbsp;</td>
			<td>Team</td>
			<td>Matches</td>
			<td>Won</td>
			<td>Lost</td>
			<td>No Result</td>
			<td>Points</td>
			<td>Net Run Rate</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1.</td>
			<td>Kolkata Knight (Q)Riders (Q)</td>
			<td>13</td>
			<td>9</td>
			<td>3</td>
			<td>1</td>
			<td>19</td>
			<td>+1.428</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2.</td>
			<td>Rajasthan Royals</td>
			<td>12</td>
			<td>8</td>
			<td>3</td>
			<td>0</td>
			<td>16</td>
			<td>+0.349</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>3.</td>
			<td>Chennai Super Kings</td>
			<td>13</td>
			<td>7</td>
			<td>6</td>
			<td>0</td>
			<td>14</td>
			<td>+0.528</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>4.</td>
			<td>Sunrisers Hyderabad</td>
			<td>12</td>
			<td>7</td>
			<td>5</td>
			<td>0</td>
			<td>14</td>
			<td>+0.406</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>5.</td>
			<td>Royal Challengers Bengaluru</td>
			<td>13</td>
			<td>6</td>
			<td>7</td>
			<td>0</td>
			<td>12</td>
			<td>+0.387</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>6.</td>
			<td>Delhi Capitals</td>
			<td>13</td>
			<td>6</td>
			<td>7</td>
			<td>0</td>
			<td>12</td>
			<td>-0.482</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>7.</td>
			<td>Lucknow Super Giants</td>
			<td>12</td>
			<td>6</td>
			<td>6</td>
			<td>0</td>
			<td>12</td>
			<td>-0.769</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>8.</td>
			<td>Gujarat Titans (E)</td>
			<td>13</td>
			<td>5</td>
			<td>7</td>
			<td>1</td>
			<td>11</td>
			<td>-1.063</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>9.</td>
			<td>Mumbai Indians (E)</td>
			<td>13</td>
			<td>4</td>
			<td>9</td>
			<td>0</td>
			<td>8</td>
			<td>-0.271</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>10.</td>
			<td>Punjab Kings (E)</td>
			<td>12</td>
			<td>4</td>
			<td>8</td>
			<td>0</td>
			<td>8</td>
			<td>-0.423</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

(Updated after GT vs KKR on May 13)&nbsp;

Gujarat Titans (GT) crashed out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 after the match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) was abandoned without toss on Monday (May 13) evening.

Gujarat Titans (GT) crashed out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 after the match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) was abandoned without toss on Monday (May 13) evening. The points were shared between the two teams, meaning, KKR, who are currently top of the table, confirmed their place in the top two with 19 points to their name while having another game in their hand. The last two times KKR finished in the top two, they went on to win the IPL trophy (2012, 2014). Despite the cutoff time being 10:56 pm IST, the match could not go ahead as rain continued to batter the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. GT were supposed to take the field in their 'Lavender-coloured' second kit to keep their playoff hopes alive but the weather gods had other plans. "In a highly anticipated clash, the match between Gujarat Titans and Kolkata Knight Riders was unfortunately abandoned due to persistent rain, leaving both teams to share the points," IPL said in a statement. Also read | 'It's a shame...': AB de Villiers issues clarification on misquoted Hardik Pandya comments GT joined Mumbai Indians (MI) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) as the third team to be knocked out of the tournament. GT have 11 points in their bag and can only reach 13 points if they win their last match of the 2024 season. After the washout, the top two remain unchanged. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) climbed to the third spot after beating Rajasthan Royals (RR) comfortably on Sunday. Having started the tournament in a dominant fashion, SunRisers Hyderabad are yet to make it through the group stage as they occupy the fourth spot with 14 points as well. Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Delhi Capitals (DC) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) occupy the no. 5, 6 and 7 spots respectively, with 12 points each. Here’s what the standings look like after the GT vs KKR IPL 2024 game: Position Team Matches Won Lost No Result Points Net Run Rate 1. Kolkata Knight (Q)Riders (Q) 13 9 3 1 19 +1.428 2. Rajasthan Royals 12 8 3 0 16 +0.349 3. Chennai Super Kings 13 7 6 0 14 +0.528 4. Sunrisers Hyderabad 12 7 5 0 14 +0.406 5. Royal Challengers Bengaluru 13 6 7 0 12 +0.387 6. Delhi Capitals 13 6 7 0 12 -0.482 7. Lucknow Super Giants 12 6 6 0 12 -0.769 8. Gujarat Titans (E) 13 5 7 1 11 -1.063 9. Mumbai Indians (E) 13 4 9 0 8 -0.271 10. Punjab Kings (E) 12 4 8 0 8 -0.423 (Updated after GT vs KKR on May 13)

IPL 2024: How does the points table look after GT vs KKR washout?

Ireland Cricket team will make a historic tour of Pakistan in 2025 as the two teams will meet for the first time in the 1992 ODI World&nbsp;Champions’ homeland.&nbsp;The tour was confirmed by both the boards&nbsp;late Monday evening when PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi met Cricket Ireland chair Brain MacNeice with the two nations set to play a bilateral series.&nbsp;The reported tour will take place in August-September&nbsp;2025&nbsp;with no&nbsp;venues yet fixed.&nbsp;

<h2>PCB confirms historic tour</h2>

"Chairman Cricket Ireland said that the Irish team would visit Pakistan next year in August-September for a Test series and would also review the possibility of a&nbsp;women's&nbsp;team tour to Pakistan soon,"&nbsp;the PCB statement said.&nbsp;

This&nbsp;will be the first time Ireland will tour Pakistan for a bilateral series&nbsp;with&nbsp;their majority meetings coming in ICC tournaments on neutral venues.&nbsp;The tour was not part of the Future Tour Plan (FTP) but will&nbsp;now&nbsp;get underway in August 2025 after&nbsp;the conclusion of&nbsp;the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC).&nbsp;The&nbsp;confirmation of the tour&nbsp;came just hours after PCB&nbsp;released a statement about&nbsp;Ireland’s&nbsp;visit to Pakistan. Cricket Ireland put up a statement on its website and added it will be their second senior tour to Pakistan after their&nbsp;women's&nbsp;team had done so in 2022.&nbsp;

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In&nbsp;"wide-ranging discussions",&nbsp;it merely confirmed that the two boards&nbsp;"were able to agree to a&nbsp;men's&nbsp;tour next year - this will be yet another historic first, coming after the tour to Pakistan by our senior women in 2022."

The two nations have&nbsp;developed a mini rivalry in recent times, one which had its early spark in the 2007 ODI World Cup.&nbsp;Ireland beat Pakistan in the ODI World Cup group stage match&nbsp;which&nbsp;eliminated the Men in Green. Since&nbsp;then, the two nations have often had heated battles on the cricket field&nbsp;including&nbsp;another defeat for Babar&nbsp;Azam’s&nbsp;men during the ongoing tour.&nbsp;

As things stand, the ongoing three-match T20I series&nbsp;taking place&nbsp;in Ireland has seen the spoils shared&nbsp;1-1 with one match to go.&nbsp;Both teams will&nbsp;be participating&nbsp;in the upcoming T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies.

Ireland Cricket team will make a historic tour of Pakistan in 2025 as the two teams will meet for the first time in the 1992 ODI World Champions’ homeland. The tour was confirmed by both the boards late Monday evening when PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi met Cricket Ireland chair Brain MacNeice with the two nations set to play a bilateral series.

Ireland Cricket team will make a historic tour of Pakistan in 2025 as the two teams will meet for the first time in the 1992 ODI World Champions’ homeland. The tour was confirmed by both the boards late Monday evening when PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi met Cricket Ireland chair Brain MacNeice with the two nations set to play a bilateral series. The reported tour will take place in August-September 2025 with no venues yet fixed. PCB confirms historic tour "Chairman Cricket Ireland said that the Irish team would visit Pakistan next year in August-September for a Test series and would also review the possibility of a women's team tour to Pakistan soon," the PCB statement said. This will be the first time Ireland will tour Pakistan for a bilateral series with their majority meetings coming in ICC tournaments on neutral venues. The tour was not part of the Future Tour Plan (FTP) but will now get underway in August 2025 after the conclusion of the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC). The confirmation of the tour came just hours after PCB released a statement about Ireland’s visit to Pakistan. Cricket Ireland put up a statement on its website and added it will be their second senior tour to Pakistan after their women's team had done so in 2022. ALSO READ | IPL 2024: How does the points table look after GT vs KKR washout? In "wide-ranging discussions", it merely confirmed that the two boards "were able to agree to a men's tour next year - this will be yet another historic first, coming after the tour to Pakistan by our senior women in 2022." The two nations have developed a mini rivalry in recent times, one which had its early spark in the 2007 ODI World Cup. Ireland beat Pakistan in the ODI World Cup group stage match which eliminated the Men in Green. Since then, the two nations have often had heated battles on the cricket field including another defeat for Babar Azam’s men during the ongoing tour. As things stand, the ongoing three-match T20I series taking place in Ireland has seen the spoils shared 1-1 with one match to go. Both teams will be participating in the upcoming T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies.

Cricket Ireland confirms historic Pakistan tour in 2025; to play in Test and limited-overs series

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