Cricket-Rajasthan coach Sangakkara urges Parag not to look too far ahead

Cricket – ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 – Final – India v Australia – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, India – November 19, 2023 General view inside the stadium during the match REUTERS/Amit Dave

With three half-centuries in five games, Rajasthan batter Riyan Parag is being tipped as a potential pick for India’s T20 World Cup squad but Royals coach Kumar Sangakkara wants the 22-year-old to stay focused on the Indian Premier League. Parag scored 76 in Rajasthan’s three-wicket loss to the Gujarat Titans on Wednesday, bringing his tally to 261 runs for the season. He is second in the race for the ‘orange cap’, awarded to the tournament’s leading scorer, behind Royal Challengers’ Virat Kohli. Sangakkara told reporters that while he did not know if Parag would be picked for the World Cup in the West Indies and United States in June the player’s performances in the IPL showed how good he could be. “That’s way beyond me, but his potential is there for everyone to see,” he added. “For him, it is about concentrating on Rajasthan and this season. “Whatever happens will happen after that. You should never get too ahead of yourself in terms of looking at things too far ahead in the future.“As long as keeps his head down, and is working very hard, batting really well. He’s very organised, he’s worked hard in the off-season. And if he continues to do that, good things will happen,” former Sri Lanka skipper Sangakkara added. Cricket-Rajasthan coach Sangakkara urges Parag not to look too far ahead

Read More........ → April 19, 2024

ICC releases video of Nassau Stadium as T20 World Cup preparations gain momentum

Nassau County International Cricket Stadium. PHOTO: By ICC – icc-cricket.com, CC0, https: commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=144189102

New York, April 2: With the T20 World Cup 2024 nearing, the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, just 30 miles east of Manhattan in New York City, is gearing up to host the fixtures of the mega event.

International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday, April 2, released a video demonstrating the stadium’s continuous progress.

The modular framework for East and West Stands – which will have more than 24,000 fans cheering for their teams at the World Cup – is nearing completion.

The final pieces are being assembled for the premium hospitality and media pavilions in the north and south, along with the outfield of the modular stadium situated in Eisenhower Park, Nassau County, New York.

The stadium will be home to all of India’s group-stage matches, including the high-voltage clash between India and Pakistan on June 9. New York will witness the next chapter of the epic rivalry in T20 World Cups, with the two teams having clashed seven times previously at the event – twice in 2007 including the Final, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2021 and 2022.

The recent encounters between the two teams at the T20 World Cup will be etched in memory for years to come. In 2021, Pakistan recorded their first win against India in World Cups – both 50-over and 20-over while the previous meeting in 2022 was a thrilling affair in front of a capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground which saw India pull off a last-ball heist.

The tournament’s fervor has reached unrivaled heights, as reflected in the soaring demand for tickets. Limited additional tickets for six matches at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, including India vs. Ireland on June 5 and USA v India on June 12, will be up for grabs now, on Thursday, April 4 at 10 AM ET.

Additionally, limited tickets will also be available for all four matches at the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Texas, including the opening World Cup match featuring USA and Canada on 1 June.

Speaking on the 60-day completion of the stadium, ICC Head of Events, Chris Tetley said: “We are delighted to be marking 60 days to go to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. The project to build a fully modular stadium in Nassau County is a first for international cricket and we are delighted that construction is progressing full as planned. The scale of the venue in the latest time-lapse is impressive and a visit to the stadium is not to be missed,” ICC Head of Events, Chris Tetley said, according to ICC’s official website.

“Fans still have the opportunity to be a part of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA, as a limited release of tickets will take place on Thursday, with tickets and/or hospitality available for every match. Fans should visit tickets.t20worldcup.com to make sure they don’t miss out,” Chris Tetley added. Source: https://www.newsindiatimes.com/icc-releases-video-of-nassau-stadium-as-t20-world-cup-preparations-gain-momentum/

Read More........ → April 07, 2024

Stokes rules himself out of England's T20 World Cup title defence

LONDON - Test captain Ben Stokes has ruled himself out of England's T20 World Cup title defence in the United States and the West Indies, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced Tuesday.

The 32-year-old said he was missing the showpiece tournament in order to make sure he could be a fully-fledged all-rounder in Test cricket.

"Opting out of the IPL (Indian Premier League) and the (T20) World Cup will hopefully be a sacrifice that allows me to be the all-rounder I want to be for the foreseeable future," Stokes said in an ECB statement.

It is understood Stokes has not suffered any setbacks after briefly returning to bowling last month during a Test tour of India where England lost a five-match series 4-1.

There is no lingering discomfort in his left knee following surgery in November.

But although he has long been one of England's leading multi-format cricketers, Stokes has decided to prioritise his role as Test captain, in the hope of being able to play a full role with both bat and ball during six Tests -- three against the West Indies and three against Sri Lanka -- in the upcoming home season.

The first Test against the West Indies at Lord's starts on July 10, less than two weeks after the June 29 T20 World Cup final in Barbados.

That congested Test schedule has prompted Stokes to follow up his withdrawal from the lucrative IPL T20 franchise tournament by also pulling out of the T20 World Cup in a major blow for England white-ball captain Jos Buttler and coach Matthew Mott.

"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," Stokes said.

"Opting out of the IPL and the World Cup will hopefully be a sacrifice that allows me to be the all-rounder I want to be for the foreseeable future."

He added: "The recent Test tour of India highlighted how far behind I was from a bowling point of view after my knee surgery and nine months without bowling. I'm looking forward to playing for Durham in the County Championship before the start of our Test summer.

"I wish Jos, Motty and all the team the best of luck in defending our title."jdg/ea Stokes rules himself out of England's T20 World Cup title defence

Read More........ → April 03, 2024