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Devon Conway has been named in New Zealand’s provisional 15-man 2024 T20 World Cup squad. The New Zealand squad, led by experienced player Kane Williamson, is made up of both established players and promising athletes.  Conway’s presence in the lineup improves New Zealand’s batting order. Plus, it instils confidence in the group’s ability to contend at the greatest level. In every format, he is among the world’s greatest hitters. Veterans like Tim Southee and Trent Boult, who have extensive experience playing for their country cricket, join Williamson, adding depth and resilience to the team.   Conway’s comeback to form and health as well. Despite his recent setback that prevented him from playing in the IPL. He is encouraging for New Zealand’s hopes in the tournament. Smooth-handed left-hander Conway often contributes to innings. This led them to win games. His presence at the top of the order provides stability and drive to the team’s hitting lineup.   Impact of Injuries on New Zeala

The big question is whether India will travel for the tournament. That will be held in Pakistan since the 1996 ODI World Cup.  Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi are the three venues proposed by the PCB in the initial draft schedule of the 2025 Champions Trophy. They sent recently to the ICC. The tournament is scheduled for mid-February as the PCB rushes to improve venues. These venues will hold the first ICC event in Pakistan in almost 30 years. Pakistan are defending champions having won what was thought to be the last edition of the Champions Trophy in 2017. But, in 2022, the ICC brought back the tournament in the new rights cycle (2023-27). And it also awarded the hosting rights of the 2025 edition to Pakistan. ICC Champions Trophy Venue Preparation By PCB The eight-team tournament is expected to be played over two weeks, though the exact dates are not known yet. The PCB finalized the venues and the schedule after an ICC sent a team to conduct recces. “We’ve sent the schedule for the

Fiery Pakistan fast bowler Aamir Jamal has signed for Warwickshire and could be in line to make his debut in English cricket at Edgbaston tomorrow. Jamal burst onto the international scene last December during Pakistan’s tour of Australia. There he claimed six wickets on debut in Perth. The 27-year-old bagged 18 wickets across the three-Test series and scored 143 runs batting nine, including 82 in the final Sydney Test when he smashed nine 4s and four 6s. Aamir Jamal was part of a training camp at the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul earlier this month but does not appear to be part of their T20 World Cup plans after missing out on selection against New Zealand. Aamir Jamal Set to Make Warwickshire Debut  Bears made inquiries about Jamal’s availability following the tour Down Under. And after securing international clearance Aamir Jamal landed in Birmingham this morning (25 April) and is pushing to start against Nottinghamshire in the Vitality County Championship this weekend. Warwic

  It will be Naib’s first stint in the IPL! Delhi Capitals have signed Afghanistan allrounder Gulbadin Naib. He’ll be a replacement for the injured Mitchell Marsh for the rest of the IPL season. This will be Naib’s maiden debut in the IPL. After he was brought in for his reserve price of INR 50 lakh. Marsh played four games for DC before. He was ruled out of IPL 2024 with a hamstring injury. Marsh had gone back to Perth from India on April 12 to consult CA’s medical staff. Ten days later, the DC head coach Ricky Ponting revealed at an event in Delhi that Marsh was not going to return to India. Gulbadin Naib’s Joining  & Marsh Recovery Update Ponting also said there that the T20 World Cup, where Marsh is likely to lead Australia, would not be an issue as Marsh continues his recovery.  As they can replace him with Gulbadin Naib. In the four matches Mitchell Marsh played, he scored 61 in three innings. With a high score of 23 and bowled eight overs for just one wicket. His economy rat

Hayley Matthews proved to be an exceptional batswoman throughout the Pakistan series. Specifically, her contribution to the West Indies’ win in the third ODI was significant.  Matthews left a lasting impression in the first ODI of the series with a score of 140 not out. And again in the third with an equally impressive 141. The success of the West Indies was greatly attributed to her reliability at the wicket. As well as her capacity to turn leads into substantial scores.  Matthews Shows Real Impact As All-Rounder After winning the toss, Matthews chose to set a target and led from the front, applying early pressure on Pakistan’s bowlers. She forged important alliances, none more so than the 101-run collaboration with the previous captain, Stafanie Taylor.  Matthews played with a variety of shots over her innings, completing her knock with an astounding 19 boundaries. Her aggressive style made sure the West Indies scored a strong total of 278 and prepared them for a commanding performan

Shakib Al Hasan could play in Bangladesh’s T20I series against Zimbabwe.  According to chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain, it’s going to start from next month.  Shakib-al-Hassan might also feature in a couple of Dhaka Premier League matches as part of his return to white-ball cricket. “We have communicated with him [Shakib],” Ashraf said.  Bangladesh Announced Shakib’s T20I Return "He is expected to arrive in Dhaka at the end of this month. He will possibly play one or two DPL matches. Afterwards, he will get involved with team management. There he can do his training on cricketing skills as per the desire of team management.  We will want him to play a couple of matches in the series. We will announce the team on April 28 and by that time, you will get a clear picture of his availability.” Shakib had been on a break due to an eye condition and a finger injury after the 2023 ODI World Cup ended last November and returned to international cricket in the Chattogram Test against Sri

KKR versus RCB at Eden Gardens is often an eventful contest. There was the infamous 49 all-out in 2017. And more recently ‘lord’ Shardul Thakur scored a brazen half-century to pull off a stunning rescue act. On a sweltering Sunday afternoon, KKR and RCB played another memorable game in Kolkata. Though nearly 450 runs were scored it wasn’t your regular IPL run fest. In the end, the contest was decided by… well, the barest of margins. A wicketkeeper from England dived full length to break the stumps. This ran out a batter from New Zealand, who was attempting a second run off the final ball to take the match into a Super Over. RCB’s Fightback and Setback Even with Kohli’s exit, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) had some optimism thanks to the dynamic duo of Rajat Patidar and Will Jacks. After their partnership of 102 runs, RCB’s innings got much-needed pace and they were at 137 for 2.  With Patidar and Jacks playing so well together at the crease, RCB fans had reason to believe they would

It doesn’t seem to matter who turns up for New Zealand. Yet, the series they play in Pakistan invariably turns out to be competitive.  After a below-par performance in the second T20I, a Mark Chapman-inspired New Zealand side brushed past Pakistan in the third to level the series 1-1.  Chapman finished with an unbeaten 87 off just 42 balls. He made light work of the 178 Pakistan had put up, with New Zealand getting there with ten balls and seven wickets to spare. Impact of Chapman’s Performance on the Series Not only did Chapman’s game-winning innings give New Zealand the advantage in the third Twenty20 International. But it also had ramifications for the entire series. His innings gave the game new life. And created the opportunity for a dramatic finish by tying the series at one.  Regardless of the outcome right away, Chapman’s performance taught both teams the value of individual skill in cricket. Chapman’s innings reminded New Zealand of the strength and depth of their team.  They

This is what Dinesh Karthik’s IPL career has looked like! Karthik’s batting strike rate never went above 135 in his first three years with the Delhi Daredevils. It dropped to 128 in 2011 with Kings XI Punjab. And sank to 111 in 2012 after joining Mumbai Indians on a reported fee of $2.35 million.  From the Daredevils to Royal Challengers Bangalore, Gujarat Lions, and Kolkata Knight Riders till 2021. Karthik had only one breakout season — in 2018 when he aggregated 498 runs at a strike rate of 147.77. Later Seasons Saw Karthik Adapt + Excel He went back to RCB in 2022 and had a season to remember. With a striking rate of 183.33, but more crucially, hitting 22 sixes alongside 27 boundaries.  Throughout this time, Karthik batted at no particular position for a long time. He has been most productive at tight ends of the innings, meaning he never really got to face more than 10-12 balls per inning.  That has changed this season (he averages more than 17 balls faced per inning) primarily. Be

Phil Salt and Mitchell Starc made it a Bengali New Year to remember for the Kolkata Knight Riders fans at Eden Gardens. They helped the hosts thump Lucknow Super Giants by eight wickets on Sunday.  Starc picked up important LSG wickets smartly to finish with 3 for 28. And they’re his best figures of the season. While Salt led the charge in the chase with an unbeaten 47-ball 89. KKR, and now sits second on the points table. Notably, KKR were also left chasing a comfortable target courtesy of their spinners’ efforts in the middle overs. They did not let LSG break away, despite having wickets in hand. Keep reading to know how both cricket stars knocked out the LSG. Also Read:  Tim Southee, ‘I am looking forward to following Mayank Yadav’s progress even after IPL 2024’ Salt Shakes up LSG for KKR Win | Mitchell Starc After the game, KL Rahul described the defeat as a “proper hammering”, and the prime reason for that was Phil Salt. Having been dismissed for a duck in Chennai in KKR’s previou

So, who would be the most dangerous player in the Indian cricket team? Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma shared an amusing story from his debut for the national team, revealing that Yuvraj Singh ‘loved to intimidate people’.  During his appearance on Netflix’s ‘The Great Indian Kapil Show’, host Kapil Sharma questioned Rohit about his early experiences with the Indian cricket team and which older player scared him the most when he first joined the team.  Rohit instantly said that it was Yuvraj Singh and that the great all-rounder wanted to “make a point”. Yeah, you read that correctly! It was Yuvraj Sing! “Not just me. Every new player who came into the team. He thought he was the senior player. I do not even know if he was that senior but he had to make a point. Whenever a new player joined the team,” he said. Also Read:  https://habitual449.blogspot.com/2024/04/ipl-2024-breaking-news-will-rohit.html Rohit’s Humorous Encounter with Yuvraj Rohit talked about an incident involvin

Rohit Sharma to Chennai Super Kings? Many fans have floated this idea, but now, a former cricketer has also addressed its possibility. With Mumbai Indians appointing Hardik Pandya as skipper for the Indian Premier League 2024 in December, fans and critics did not decide to drop Rohit Sharma from captaincy in good context. Apart from this, 5-time IPL trophy winners failed to open their account in the first three matches and Pandya was booed for his poor captaincy too. Even though MI won the last two matches, the booing didn’t stop for Pandya.  Also Read:  Who’s a Better Wicket-Keeper for T20 World Cup 2024? Rohit Sharma’s Come Back Has Strong Chances On social media platforms, many fans have gone to extreme lengths, linking the previous captain with a move away from Mumbai Indians ahead of the auction later this year. One prominent team name that fans have discussed as Rohit’s potential franchise is the Chennai Super Kings. And why not? It seems likely that Mahendra Singh Dhoni would

Leading a national cricket team as a pace bowler is a rare honour. Australia, for instance, took 144 years to appoint a pacer as a regular captain.  Recently, in a Test series against New Zealand, Tim Southee, a pace bowler with a remarkable career spanning over a decade, found himself alongside Pat Cummins for the toss, relishing the experience. Southee, who debuted at the age of 19 in 2008, reflects on the challenges and joys of captaincy. In a recent interview with Sportstar, he expressed gratitude for having the likes of Kane Williamson and Tom Latham in the team.  “I enjoy thinking about the game, and it can also be challenging at times,” Southee told  Sportstar on Friday. “And I have been lucky to have in the side, Kane Williamson and Tom Latham – two guys that have both captained.” Tim Southee’s Challenges & Opportunities Against India Acknowledging the strength of the Indian team, particularly at home, Southee emphasizes the importance of performing well in such demanding c

Simon Doull, a former New Zealand cricket player, recently examined MS Dhoni’s performance during a match between Chennai and Delhi in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The game, held on March 31 in Visakhapatnam, marked Dhoni’s return to batting, but it ended in disappointment for Chennai despite his impressive innings. Dhoni scored 37 runs off just 16 balls, showcasing his batting prowess. However, Doull pointed out a significant flaw in Dhoni’s approach.  He noted that Dhoni’s reluctance to take singles during his innings might have played a crucial role in Chennai’s defeat. Despite Dhoni’s efforts, Chennai suffered their first loss of the season, falling short by 20 runs against Delhi. Critique of MS Dhoni’s Batting Approach Doull’s critique focused on Dhoni’s strategy at the crease, particularly his decision to avoid singles. He observed that Dhoni’s innings included numerous dot balls and missed opportunities to rotate the strike, which could have added valuable runs to Chenn

Shivam Mavi, the young right-arm Indian pacer, has been dealt a blow as he’s been ruled out of the entire Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season due to an ongoing rib injury.  The announcement was made by Lucknow Super Giants through a press release on Wednesday, shedding light on the unfortunate setback for the talented bowler. In a poignant video shared by the franchise on their official Instagram page, Mavi expressed his deep disappointment at missing out on the tournament.  However, he chose not to disclose the specific details of his injury, maintaining a sense of privacy around the matter. Mavi’s absence comes as a significant loss for Lucknow Super Giants, who had secured his services for a hefty sum of INR 6.4 crores during this year’s IPL auction. It’s a bitter twist of fate for Mavi, who was eagerly looking forward to making his mark for the team but now finds himself sidelined due to the injury. Shivam Mavi Got Emotional After Withdrawl Mavi, on his part, vowed to come back

England Test captain Ben Stokes has stated his decision to withdraw from the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced this biggest news on Tuesday, April 2nd. Currently, Stokes is mainly focused on regaining full bowling fitness. Not only for the upcoming summer, which includes two three-match Test series against West Indies and Sri Lanka respectively. But he withdraws from all cricket in the future. Ben Stokes Says No to T20 World Cup After IPL 2024 Withdrawal Back in November, the 32-year-old chose to step away from the ongoing Indian Premier League T20 tournament, representing the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), to manage his workload and ensure his fitness remains intact. Explaining his choice, Stokes stated, “I’m working hard and focusing on building my bowling fitness back up to fulfil a full role as an all-rounder in all formats of cricket. “Opting out of the IPL and the World Cup will hopefully be a sacrifice that allows me to be the all

Shaheen Shah Afridi was taken off his role as captain for Pakistan’s T20 cricket team, just a couple of months before the big T20 World Cup in 2024. On Sunday, start batter Babar Azam was brought back as the captain, replacing Shaheen Afridi. This switch happened right after Pakistan lost a series to New Zealand, winning only one match out of five. The Pakistan Cricket Board’s selection committee suggested that Babar should be the captain again, and everyone agreed with this decision. Shaheen Shah Afridi’s Words After Being Sacked  Following a public process where PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi did not show support for Afridi, the PCB officially confirmed Afridi’s removal as T20I captain, with Babar taking over once again.  To mend any strains within the team, both Shaheen Afridi and Babar Azam issued statements expressing support for each other. Shaheen expressed gratitude for the opportunity to captain and pledged support to Babar.  “I will always cherish the memories and the opportunity,