T20 World Cup has started. In the first match, the teams of Pakistan and Netherlands are face to face. This match is being played at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo. Pakistan captain Salman Ali Aga won the toss and decided to bowl first. After 14 overs, Netherlands’ score is 112 runs for four wickets. Currently, captain Scott Edwards and Jack Lyon Cache are at the crease. Netherlands got the first blow at the score of 28 in the fourth over. Salman Mirza got Max O’Dowd caught by wicketkeeper Usman Khan. O’Dowd could score five runs. After this the second blow came in the fifth over on the score of 31. Mohammad Nawaz got Michael Levitt caught out. Levitt played a big shot, but Babar caught the ball on the boundary line and when he felt that he was losing his balance and would go beyond the boundary, he threw the ball inside and Shaheen again caught it. Levitt scored 24 runs in 15 balls. Netherlands got the third blow at the score of 65 in the eighth over. Abrar Ahmed bowled Colin Ackerman. He could score 20 runs in 14 balls. Netherlands got the fourth blow in the 13th over at the score of 105. Nawaz got the bass de lede caught by Babar. De Leede played an inning of 30 runs in 25 balls with the help of four fours.
Playing-11 of both the teams
Pakistan: Sam Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Agha (captain), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Mirza, Abrar Ahmed. Netherlands: Michael Levitt, Max O’Dowd, Bas de Leede, Colin Ackerman, Scott Edwards (wk/captain), Jack Lion Cash, Logan Van Beek, Rolf van der Merwe, Aryan Dutt, Kyle Klein, Paul Van Meekeren. The discussion was only about off-field activities. Before the biggest tournament of the shortest format of cricket, the discussion was not about the players or the game but about the off-field activities and perhaps such an impact of politics has not been seen before on any World Cup. The defending champion Indian team, captained by Suryakumar Yadav, is the strongest contender for the title, but the discussion is not on the players or the strong contenders. This is the first time that such a scenario has been seen in sports politics or sports politics. Bangladesh was out of the tournament due to its refusal to play in India citing security reasons. Whereas in support of its neighbor, Pakistan refused to play the match against India. Both the countries blamed India for this crisis, which started with the exclusion of Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL on the instructions of BCCI. Scotland entered in place of Bangladesh. Bangladesh refused to play in India citing Rahman’s exclusion as a matter of national pride and instead Scotland got a place in the tournament. The matter became worse when Pakistan jumped into it and announced its support to Bangladesh considering the bigger political picture. Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif justified this decision. Pakistan may have to face serious consequences. Not a single ball has been bowled in the tournament and the ICC and the broadcasters are eyeing the possible loss, while Pakistan may also have to face serious consequences of this decision. World Cup matches between India and Pakistan are always exciting and contribute a lot to the global economy of cricket. If we talk about sports other than the off-field headlines, the challenge for India does not look very difficult. In terms of performance and excellence, no team can match Suryakumar Yadav’s team.
Australia without the Big Three
Australia has been a champion in the World Cup but this time fast bowlers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are not in the team due to fitness reasons. The responsibility of bowling will be on Ben Dwarshuis, Xavier Bartlett and Nathan Ellis. In batting, there are legends like Travis Head, Josh Inglis, captain Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell. The role of spinners Matt Kuhneman and Adam Zampa will also be important.
The. Africa has an experienced team
Talking about England, in batting they have Harry Brook, Jos Buttler, Ben Duckett and Phil Salt, but they will face veterans like Varun Chakraborty, Kuldeep Yadav and Akshar Patel. South Africa is also among the favorites with the second best bowling attack after India with the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj. The experience of Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs will be useful in batting.
New Zealand in India for a month
New Zealand has been in India for a month and this experience will be useful to it. Finn Allen has performed well in the last T20 against India. Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell have also played useful innings. Lockie Ferguson’s pace, Jacob Duffy’s versatility and captain Mitchell Santner’s experience make them a tough opponent.
Sri Lanka will play at home
Sri Lanka, playing on its own soil, has spinners like Wanindu Hasaranga, Mahish Teekshana, Dunith Velalage and fast bowlers like Mathisha Pathirana and Dushmantha Chameera. For the first time, 20 teams are participating in the T20 World Cup. There are many players from India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the American team. The Nepal team has Deependra Singh Ari, who holds the record for the fastest T20 half-century (in nine balls, against Mongolia in the Asian Games). Italy, famous for its love of football, is also playing in the World Cup.
