2021 T20 World Cup News

Pakistan beat Namibia by 45 runs to register their fourth consecutive win in a Group 2 match. Namibia had received a target of 190 runs to win, but they could only score 144 runs in 20 overs for the loss of 5 wickets.

Bangladesh beat PNG by 84 runs PNG were all out for just 97 runs Bangladesh reached Super 12 with the win

‘Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam’ is already a never-ending debate on the social media with Pakistan skipper’s personal achievements in ODI and T20 cricket already leaving a mark even though his side might be struggling. Babar signed off the ODI series against a second-string England with a brilliant 158 in the third ODI but Pakistan were whitewashed 3-0.

Asked if the gap will be too little for players to switch from IPL to T20 World Cup, Rajeev Shukla said the small gap shouldn’t be a problem as the initial phase of T20 World is likely to involve non-Test playing nations. On India’s upcoming tour of Sri Lanka in July, comprising ODIs and T20Is, Shukla said that it is still under works and a final decision would be take soon. The ICC on Wednesday that there was no rule of a mandatory gap between a domestic tournament and an ICC tournament.

During the BCCI SGM, it was unanimously decided that with more than four months left for the showpiece event, the BCCI would propose to the ICC to give the body time till the end of June or the beginning of July to take a call on hosting the tournament. But first, the BCCI will need to inform the ICC about its position with regards to tax exemption for the T20 World Cup. More interestingly, the SLC had also made its intentions known to assist the BCCI in hosting the remaining of the 14th edition of the IPL in the September-October window.

Boucher has revealed that the discussion to bring back AB de Villiers into international cricket is still on and he is going to have a chat with him after the end of IPL 2021.

The ICC has also held talks with the BCCI over securing tax exemptions for the tournament from the Indian government. The ICC cricket committee, led by former India captain Anil Kumble, also decided to continue with the umpire’s call in the Decision Review System (DRS), despite the protocol facing heavy criticism from former and current players in recent months. The ICC, however, said it had tweaked the DRS protocols for leg-before reviews to ensure "the same umpire's call margin around the stumps for both height and width."

BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly announced that India will be hosting England for five T20I's early next year. England is set to tour India early next year but the full details of the tour haven't been out yet. Ganguly also said that they have to keep looking at the COVID-19 situation, to ensure that the next IPL takes place in India.

Pakistan last year welcomed back Test cricket after a long gap when Sri Lanka toured the nation in December.