Tag: Cricket

Rohit and Kohli Return for ODI Series Against Sri Lanka, Suryakumar Yadav to Lead T20I Side

Staff ReporterSports 0

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that they will be available for the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka next month. The BCCI senior selection committee is expected to meet on Thursday evening via a Zoom call, as board secretary Jay Shah is attending the International Cricket Council annual conference in Sri Lanka.

The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee, in consultation with the BCCI, has decided that Suryakumar Yadav will lead the Indian T20I team for the three-match series, while Rohit Sharma will continue to lead the Indian side in the ODIs. The Indian Express had earlier reported that Suryakumar was likely to captain the T20I side, as the selectors were uncertain about appointing Hardik Pandya as skipper due to his past fitness issues. Pandya was India’s vice-captain during their triumphant T20 World Cup campaign.

The selection committee has informed the BCCI that they are open to replacing Suryakumar as captain in the future if his performance does not meet expectations. The BCCI is considering Suryakumar to lead the Indian team at the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, which will be held in India and Sri Lanka.

Although Pandya seemed a front-runner for the captaincy, it is understood that BCCI officials and selectors explained their long-term plans to him, highlighting why they preferred Suryakumar for the role.

Meanwhile, the senior players in the team have agreed to the request of newly appointed coach Gautam Gambhir to participate in the three-match ODI series, as it will be his first series as coach.

Pandya will only be playing in the T20Is and will not be part of the ODI squad. The senior selection committee has decided to rest their ace pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, for the short series. Rishabh Pant will feature in both the Indian squads.

Rajasthan Royals middle-order batsman Riyan Parag has pushed his case for a spot in the Indian middle order and is likely to be picked for both the ODI and T20I sides. The selection committee is trying out new faces for the future, and Parag, who can also bowl, is likely to secure a berth in both squads. Parag’s inclusion means Suryakumar will not be part of the ODI squad, and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal will feature only in the T20I squad.

Shreyas Iyer, who last featured in the ICC World Cup 50-over team, will make his way back into the Indian ODI side. The BCCI had excluded Iyer from the annual contract earlier this year, but with his return to international cricket, he will soon be reinstated in the BCCI’s annual contract. Mumbai all-rounder Shivam Dubey is likely to feature in both squads, especially with Pandya opting out of the ODIs.

The BCCI and the selection committee are making strategic decisions to shape the future of Indian cricket. By choosing Suryakumar Yadav as the T20I captain and resting key players like Bumrah, they aim to strike a balance between nurturing new talent and maintaining the team’s competitive edge. With the upcoming series against Sri Lanka, the Indian team will showcase a mix of experienced players and promising newcomers, setting the stage for an exciting cricketing contest.

Indian American Physicians Laud And Support Indian Cricket Teams

Ajay GhoshSports, Cricket 0

“It was indeed a historic moment, as the United States Cricket Team led by Captain Monank Patel of Indian origin pulled off a sensational victory against Pakistan, winning by 5 runs in a Super Over during the T20 World Cup on Thursday, June 6th, 2024 at the Grand Prairie Stadium on Long Island, NY,” said Dr. Anjana Samadder, President of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) here.

As Team India, led by Rohit Sharma will play chief rival Pakistan in a group-stage game at the ICC Twenty20 World Cup on Sunday, June 9, 2024, Dr. Samadder along with a large number of Indian American Physicians has come down to New York to be part of and expressing their support for the Indian Team.

The marquee clash, and all games in the ongoing tournament, are being played in the “Twenty20” (T20) format—which is both the youngest and shortest version of international cricket and matches usually lasting around three-and-a-half hours long.

As the India Team is scheduled to take on Pakistan, the match between the arch-rivals is expected to be one of the most-watched sporting events of the year, and the sportsman spirit among Physicians of Indian Origin will come alive as hundrteds of them have come down to New York today to be part iof the annual General Body Meeting of AAPI and thereafter, to watch the game in person at the Stadium.

While the United States Cricket Team that has a large number of players of Indian origin has caused a massive upset in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, stunning former champions Pakistan by five runs in a Super Over after their encounter ended in a tie at the Grand Prairie Stadium here.

This was the USA’s second victory in Group A after they started with a win against Canada in the tournament lung-opener on June 1. Pakistan lost their first match and will take on arch-rivals India on Sunday in New York. This win marks the USA’s second triumph in Group A, showcasing the team’s growing prowess on the international stage. Led by an eclectic mix of domestic talent and experienced international players, the USA squad is rapidly becoming a formidable force in world cricket.

The 55 games are being played across six venues in the West Indies (Kensington Oval, Barbados; Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad; Providence Stadium, Guyana; Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua; Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, St Lucia; Arnos Vale Stadium, St Vincent) and three venues in the USA (Eisenhower Park, New York; Lauderhill, Florida; and Grand Prairie, Texas).

The 2024 T20 World Cup are being contested by 20 teams – an increase from the 16 that took part in the 2022 tournament in Australia – split into four groups of five each. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super 8 round, in which the teams will be further divided into two groups of four each: A1, B2, C1 and D2 in one group, and A2, B1, C2 and D1 in the other group. The group stage will run from June 1 to 18, and the Super 8 round from June 19 to 24 entirely in the West Indies. The top two teams in each Super 8 group will then qualify for the semi-finals.

England are the defending champions, having beaten Pakistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup final in Melbourne. Canada, USA and Uganda will be making their first appearance at a Men’s T20 World Cup.

The tournament, which is being co-hosted by USA and the West Indies, began on June 1, with USA playing Canada in Dallas, and will end with the final on June 29 in Barbados. The semi-finals are scheduled for June 26 in Guyana and June 27 in Trinidad.

The growing influence of physicians of Indian heritage is evident, as increasingly physicians of Indian origin hold critical positions in healthcare, academic, research, and administrative positions across the nation. We the physicians of Indian origin are proud of our great achievements and contributions to our motherland, India, our adopted land, the US, and in a very significant way to the transformation of Indo-US relations.

Serving 1 in every 7 patients in the US, AAPI members care for millions of patients every day. At the same time, several of them have risen to hold high-flying jobs, shaping the policies, programs, and inventions that shape the landscape of healthcare in the US and around the world.

“Since its inception in 1982, AAPI has been at the forefront, representing a conglomeration of more than 125,000 practicing physicians in the United States, seeking to be the united voice for the physicians of Indian origin,” said Dr. Anjana Samadder. For more details about AAPI, please visit: www.appiusa,org

Over 25,000 Cheer as Cricket Icons Play in New York

Ajay GhoshSports 0

In his native India and beyond Tendulkar is the Michael Jordan, the Pele, the Wayne Gretzky of his sport, which just happens to be widely considered the second most popular in the globe. Since the 42-year-old retired from competitive cricket in 2013, he’s been on a mission to further expand the game’s imprint around the world. His next target: the United States.

Global cricket icons Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne headlined a star-studded lineup of renowned cricket players from around the world in the inaugural “Cricket All-Stars,” a three-game series in New York City, Houston and Los Angeles.  The historic tour marks the first time these legends have played in the U.S., and also renews the famous rivalry between “Master Blaster” Tendulkar and “King of Spin” Warne.

Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar

More than 25,000 fans, mostly expats, flocked to New York’s Citi Field to witness a cricketing spectacle on a chilly Saturday afternoon. In an entertaining game that lasted a little over three hours, Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar’s Blasters took on Australian balling legend Shane Warne’s Warriors. Though their average age was above 35, the legends did not disappoint. From Waseem Akram’s inswing, Akhtar’s pace and Murali’s doosra to Sachin’s straight drive, Ponting’s flick, Sehwag’s sixes, Warne’s googly and Johnty Rhodes’ fielding antics, the game had it all. It was a feast for an average cricket follower in America who is deprived of watching live, quality cricket.

Spin wizard Shane Warne had a great day as he took three wickets and his Warriors easily overcame the challenge of scoring 140 runs in 20 overs. The Warriors scored 141 in 17.2 overs, thanks to former Australian captain Ricky Ponting’s 48 not out. He hit three sixes and fours in his 38 ball innings for the Warriors.

For the Blasters, Indian batsman Virender Sehwag top scored with 55 runs in 22 balls. He hit six sixes and three fours.

Warne was thrilled to play in front of thousands of his fans who had packed a baseball stadium in New York. “It was a pretty amazing day,” he said.

“The whole idea of Cricket All Stars is to get as many people from different countries to enjoy it, to globalize cricket,” Tendulkar said. The Indian batting legend felt that the atmosphere was as electrifying as the Mets baseball game he’d witnessed a few days ago.

Shane Warne
Shane Warne

The “Cricket All-Stars” kicked off on November 7 at Citi Field in New York City with a special opening ceremony prior to the match as well as other functions and galas.  The second match will be on November 11 at Minute Maid Park in Houston.  The final match in the series will be on November 14 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, followed by a special trophy presentation to the winning team.

The format is T20, a much shorter and boisterous form of cricket with the games taking around three hours instead of multiple days.  Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar and Australian spinner Shane Warne captain a hand-picked team.  “Sachin’s Blasters” and “Warne’s Warriors” will feature some of the best players to ever play cricket hailing from eight different countries including Ricky Ponting (Australia), Brian Lara (West Indies), Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka), Wasim Akram (Pakistan), Jonty Rhodes (South Africa) and Michael Vaughan (England), among others.

“Americans are so passionate about sports, and I think there’s a huge potential for cricket to take off,” said Sachin Tendulkar.  “This is also the first time that international cricket will be played in these beautiful baseball stadiums in New York City, Houston and Los Angeles, which will be a lot of fun.  We’re also planning some other events and festivities in each city so we can reach as many fans as possible.  It would be great someday to see cricket bats right alongside the baseball bats, basketballs and soccer balls in America.”

“We’ve signed all the top players you’d ever want to see,” said Shane Warne.  “I’m excited for cricket fans in the United States to be able to see these amazing players for the first time, and I also think that the T20 format will appeal to new audiences who have never seen or played cricket before.  I’m really looking forward to the matches in November, and helping to grow the sport of cricket in America.”

“Cricket All-Stars” is being produced by NYC-based Leverage Agency, a full-service sports and entertainment marketing company.  Leverage will also handle the marketing and promotion for the event.  Sponsors for “Cricket All-Stars” include MasterCard, State Farm® and Uber.

“It’s been a dream of mine to help bring the best of cricket to America,” said Ben Sturner, CEO of Leverage Agency.  “Cricket is the second most popular sport in the world and we couldn’t ask for better partners than Sachin and Shane on this exciting venture.”

World renowned cricketers, Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne will headline Cricket All-Stars inaugural match in the same field in what is billed as the first historic display of cricketing legends from around the world on American soil.

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