Rohit Sharma (L) and Babar Azam© AFP

Afghanistan’s heroic run in the T20 World Cup 2024 came to an end at the penultimate hurdle, as the Rashid Khan-led side suffered a lopsided 9-wicket defeat against South Africa in Trinidad. Opting to bat first, Afghanistan could only put 56 runs on the board, their lowest in T20 internationals and also the lowest in the history of T20 World Cups. After Afghanistan’s journey in the competition came to an end on Wednesday, head coach Jonathan Trott fumed at ICC, saying it wasn’t even an “even contest”.

Speaking to media at the press conference after game, Trott said that though he doesn’t want to get himself into any trouble, he does want to highlight the poor nature of the pitch that was prepared for a clash as big as a World Cup semi-final.

“I don’t want to get myself into trouble. But I also don’t want to sound a bit like ‘sour grapes’ but that’s not the pitch that you want to have a semi-final of a World Cup on. Plain and simple. It should be a fair contest. I’m not saying it should be completely flat with no spin and seam movement, you shouldn’t have batters worrying about moving forward and having the ball fly over their head. You should be confident in getting through the line or use their skills. And T20 is all about attacking and scoring runs and taking wickets. Not looking to survive,” said Trott during the press conference.

Trott wanted the pitch to offer something to both his side and South Africa. However, he feels his team was undone by a surface that favoured the opponent team more.

“If the opposition bowled well and gets you into a position after bowling well and through skill, then it’s fine to them. Then it’s about adapting.”

“If we had bowled the way South Africa had, you could have seen a different second half,” he said during the chat with media personnel.

Jonathan Trott on Afghanistan’s Schedule

Trott also spoke about the hectic schedule that the Afghanistan team was exposed to. But, he didn’t point finger at the schedule as the reason behind his team’s embarrassing defeat in the semi-final.

“We only got back to hotel at three o’clock and then we had to leave at eight o’clock — five hours later so we didn’t get much sleep so the guys obviously were very tired and a lot to process really emotionally physically. So all new territory for the guys,” Trott said Having said that, Trott conceded they were outplayed by a strong South African unit.

“But we knew the schedule, so that’s not an excuse as such. When you go in World Cups or tournaments, you can’t have everything your own way, and you’ve got to fight and play against the odds which you’ve done at times and very proud of that. But it’s no, it’s not the reason why we didn’t win today.” “South Africa bowled well, used the conditions, and showed our boys what it’s capable of. But it just didn’t go our way tonight.” The 43-year-old hoped that the semifinal loss serves as a learning for the team that has improved leaps and bounds in the last five years.

“…we’ve obviously got one better than the previous (ODI) World Cup in November and it’s just about taking it step by step and hopefully we learn from today, the batters certainly.

“What it takes to play international cricket and play against a bowling side like South Africa on a pitch that’s perhaps not conducive to high scoring runs and finding ways of winning games…we just couldn’t find a way today.” Openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (0) and Ibrahim Zadran (2), who were Afghanistan’s top run-getters in the tournament, both failed, putting pressure on the middle order that hadn’t fired at all in the tournament.

“Nobody else has got runs. We need to find a reason for that,” Trott said.

Despite the defeat to South Africa, Afghanistan can keep their heads high, having made a mark in the tournament and elevating their status as an elite team.

The ICC has granted official List-A status to Major League Cricket matches in the US in only its second season, a move aimed at promoting the game in one of the biggest sports markets. The International Cricket Council’s decision comes a week before MLC commences its second season and less than a week before the Americas host cricket’s showpiece event, the T20 World Cup. The ICC’s move makes MLC as the official T20 league and America’s first world-class domestic tournament.

“Now, every century, half-century, ‘five-for’, run-out, win, loss, and championship will be documented as official career statistics in an internationally recognised format of the game,” said MLC in a statement.

The official status to MLC means it will provide local US players and upcoming stars of the game the opportunity for international recognition, furthering the development of domestic talent in the country.

“The List-A status comes after the MLC’s successful inaugural season and underscores its unwavering dedication to delivering premier cricket in the United States,” the statement added.

MLC CEO, Vijay Srinivasan, had recently announced the expansion of tournament from 19 games in 2023 to 34 by 2025.

“We saw cricket mania sweep across the US last year off the back of our inaugural season of Major League Cricket. Now, we take exciting momentum into the highly anticipated ICC T20 World Cup and season two of the MLC,”said Srinivasan.

“With an unforgettable summer of cricket on our doorstep, we’re ready to capture the hearts of American sports fans with our thrilling, adrenaline-charged game that is the most exciting emerging T20 tournament across the globe,” he added.

Sanctioned by USA Cricket, MLC saw several players from across the world, including New Zealand and Australia among others, take part in the tournament last year.

Six teams — Los Angeles Knight Riders, MI New York, San Francisco Unicorns, Seattle Orcas, Texas Super Kings, and the Washington Freedom — featured in the inaugural edition.

India coach Rahul Dravid.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

The appointment process for the head coach of India’s men’s cricket team is set to begin in the coming week. Jay Shah, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary, confirmed incumbent Rahul Dravid can reapply if he wants his tenure extended.

“We will call for applications in the next few days. Rahul Dravid’s tenure is coming to an end in June. If he wants to reapply, he can,” Shah said during an interaction at the BCCI headquarters.

Dravid, who took over in November 2021, was handed a short-term extension till the T20 World Cup after his two-year contract expired at the end of India’s loss in the final of the ODI World Cup last November. Shah confirmed the new head coach will be offered to take
charge till the ODI World Cup in 2027.

Contrary to the recent trend in international cricket of having separate head coaches for limited overs’ formats and Test cricket, the BCCI is unlikely to opt for a split coaching role.

“We are looking for a long-term coach, for three years,” Shah said. “There is no precedent of different coaches for different formats in Indian cricket. Besides, we have a number of all-format players. Ultimately, it will be the Cricket Advisory Committee’s (CAC’s) call. I have to implement what they decide. If the CAC selects a foreign coach, I can’t interfere.”

Even before the head coach applications are invited, the three-member CAC— headed by former batter Ashok Malhotra and including Jatin Paranjape and Sulakshana Naik— will have to finalise the prolonged appointment of a national selector.

“A few interviews for the selector’s post have already happened. The CAC will meet in a week’s time to finalise the name and we will announce it soon,” Shah said.

The BCCI in January had advertised for a national selector’s post in order to revert to the convention of each of the five zones represented in the selection panel. For more than a year, the north zone has not been represented in the selection panel whereas the west zone has two members in the panel since last July.

As a result, Salil Ankola is set to make way for a new appointee. The Hindu understands that domestic stalwart Mithun Manhas and Nikhil Chopra, the former India offspinner, are main contenders to join the Ajit Agarkar-chaired panel.

Shah stated that the uproar over the Impact Player rule in the Indian Premier League, introduced since the 2023 edition, will be discussed with various stakeholders after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup in June. “The Impact Player rule was brought in as a test case. On the bright side, it is providing additional playing opportunities to two more Indian players in every match,” Shah said.

“We will consult with the franchise captains, players, franchises and broadcasters and then decide about the future course. It’s not a permanent rule nor am I saying we will move past it.”

Shah is widely believed to be the prime contender to replace Greg Barclay as the International Cricket Council (ICC) chair later this year. Shah shrugged the query aside, “Let there be speculation. Let me be here (in the BCCI). Am I not doing a good job (as BCCI secretary)?” he concluded.

ICC T20 World Cup trophy© X (Twitter)