It’s been more than a week since India defeated England in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup in Guyana, avenging their 10-wicket defeat to the same side two years back at the same stage. The Rohit Sharma-led side also defeated South Africa last Saturday to clinch the T20 World Cup title in Barbados. Following Afghanistan’s crushing loss to South Africa in the other semi-final, former England captain Michael Vaughan had accused the organisers for favouring India, questioning the scheduling of the tournament.

Vaughan took to social media to highlight that the Afghanistan players had faced a flight delay while travelling to Trinidad, having played their final Super Eight match of the tournament a day prior.

He also lashed out at the ICC for disrespecting Afghanistan, while also putting the blame on the alleged India-centric scheduling.

“So Afghanistan qualified for the WC semi, winning in St Vincent on Monday night .. 4 hr flight delay on Tues to Trinidad so no time to practice or get accustomed to a new venue .. utter lack of respect to players, i am afraid,” Vaughan had written in a post.

Now, former India head coach Ravi Shastri has given a befitting reply to Vaughan over his allegations of the tournament being rigged for India, as far as the scheduling is concerned.

During a recent interaction, Shastri took a jibe Vaughan, questioning if his “colleague” ever lifted a World Cup trophy.

“Michael Vaughan can say what he wants. Nobody in India cares. Let him sort out the England team first. He should give advice on what happened to the England team in the semifinal. India are used to lifting Cups. I know England have won twice, but India have won four times. I don’t think Michael’s lifted a Cup ever. So think twice. He is a colleague of mine, but that’s my answer to him,” Shastri told Times Now.

Speaking on Suryakumar’s much-debated catch in the final, Shastri silenced the haters, saying: “Sour grapes. And go and check the record books after five years. The name India will be engraved on it.”

Fifteen years after England duo of Michael Vaughan and Andrew Flintoff ended their Test careers, their sons are likely to begin their journey in the traditional format at the age-group level in two Tests against Sri Lanka. Archie Vaughan, son of the former Ashes-winning England captain, was on Tuesday named in a 14-member squad that also includes 16-year-old Rocky Flintoff, who has already made his international debut in youth ODIs. Family connection runs deep in the squad that also features Farhan Ahmed, brother of current England leg-spinner Rehan and Jaydn Denly, the 17-year-old nephew of ex-England batter Joe Denly.

“They’ve helped me and given me more confidence in my leadership on and off the field, advising on bowling options and field placements,” skipper Hamza Shaikh told Warwickshire’s website.

“I like to think I’m a fairly calm guy and captaincy doesn’t faze me. I’m looking forward to the challenge and hopefully coming away with a series win.” A top-order batter and off-spinner, Archie, 18, represented Somerset in his first professional contract earlier this season. He had been been part of the county’s academy set-up at Taunton since 2020.

He is however yet to play for Somerset first-team. But at age-group level last week, he caught the attention with a 83-ball 85 for Young Lions Invitational XI in a warm-up match against the England U19 ODI squad, for whom Rocky, a right-handed allrounder, top-scored with 106.

Vaughan and Flintoff Sr had played 48 Tests together between 1999 and 2008.

England U19 side will take on Sri Lanka U19 in two Tests, at Wormsley from July 8-11, and Cheltenham from July 16-19.

England U19 Squad: Hamza Shaikh (c), Farhan Ahmed, Charlie Brand, Jack Carney, Jaydn Denly, Rocky Flintoff, Kesh Fonseka, Alex French, Alex Green, Eddie Jack, Freddie McCann, Harry Moore, Noah Thain and Archie Vaughan.

File image of Sourav Ganguly© BCCI

Team India broke their 10-year drought of reaching the T20 World Cup final, as they defeated England by 68 runs in the semi-final of the 2024 edition on Thursday. India’s comprehensive victory sent a wave of jubilation all across the globe, with Indians in every nook and corner celebrating the accomplishment. However, former England captain Michael Vaughan triggered a conspiracy theory, suggesting Guyana was an excellent ground for the Indian team, hence the result. But, India great Harbhajan Singh was in no mood to sit back and digest Vaughan’s verdict.

“If England had beaten SA they would have got the Trinidad semi and I believe they would have won that game .. So no complaints they haven’t been good enough .. But Guyana has been a lovely venue pick for India,” Vaughan had posted on X (formerly Twitter).

In reply, Harbhajan said: “What makes u think Guyana was a good venue for India ? Both Teams played on the same venue . England won the toss that was an advantage . Stop being silly . England was outplayed by India in all departments. Accept the fact and Move on and keep ur rubbish with urself. Talk logic not Nonsense.”

What makes u think Guyana was a good venue for India ? Both Teams played on the same venue . England won the toss that was an advantage . Stop being silly . England was outplayed by India in all departments. Accept the fact and Move on and keep ur rubbish with urself. Talk logic… https://t.co/2osEFYJeFC

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) June 27, 2024

Vaughan has been going on and on about the venue change for the semi-final at the T20 World Cup 2024. He shared a few posts before the start of the semi-final between India and England as well, suggesting Rohit Sharma‘s men were originally scheduled to play their semi-final in Trinidad but the venue was later changed to Guyana.

In his concluding post, however, Vaughan also admitted that India were the better side than England on the day.

“India throughly deserve to be in the final .. The best team in tournament so far .. Was always going to hard for England on this pitch .. India just so much better on lower slower spinning pitches,” he said in another post.

“England will have lost 3 out of 4 games to the Top teams so they can’t have any complaints .. Just haven’t been good enough .. on the back of the 50 over WC it just clarifies that England have work to do playing on slower wickets..,” Vaughan concluded.

The Afghanistan cricket team, reaching the semi-final on the back of a resounding show in the T20 World Cup 2024, produced a horrific performance in the semi-final with the bat, scoring just 56 runs against South Africa. The total turned out to be the lowest in the history of the T20 World Cup semi-finals, and also the lowest for the Afghans in their T20 International journey. As Afghanistan’s poor performance gave South Africa a golden chance to seal T20 World Cup final berth, former England captain Michael Vaughan blamed the ‘India factor’.

In a series of posts on social media, Vaughan highlighted how the scheduling of the T20 World Cup semi-finals gave Afghanistan little opportunity to prepare themselves for the showdown against the Protea at Trinidad.

“So Afghanistan qualify for the WC semi winning in St Vincent on Monday night .. 4 hr flight delay on Tues to Trinidad so no time to practice or get accustomed to a new venue .. utter lack of respect to players i am afraid ..”, he wrote on X.

So Afghanistan qualify for the WC semi winning in St Vincent on Monday night .. 4 hr flight delay on Tues to Trinidad so no time to practice or get accustomed to a new venue .. utter lack of respect to players i am afraid .. #T20WorldCup2024

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 27, 2024

As a fan pointed out that Afghanistan have played at this venue before, he responded saying: “I know but it’s still a different venue .. you surely earn the right in a semi final to have at least 1 days preparation ..”.

Vaughan further said that the semi-final one should’ve been played in Guyana, but since the scheduling had to favour India, things were changed.

I know but it’s still a different venue .. you surely earn the right in a semi final to have at least 1 days preparation .. https://t.co/YGaDS5tamT

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 27, 2024

“Surely this Semi should have been the Guyana one .. but because the whole event is geared towards India it’s so unfair on others ..,” he asserted.

Surely this Semi should have been the Guyana one .. but because the whole event is geared towards India it’s so unfair on others .. #T20IWorldCup

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 27, 2024

Afghanistan went on to lose the match by 9 wickets, as South Africa booked a spot in the T20 World Cup final for the first time in their history. As for the Indian team, they are scheduled to take on England in the semi-final 2 on June 27.

File photo of Jos Buttler© AFP

Representative image© AFP

Former England cricketer Michael Vaughan rarely minces his words, and it was no different as he suggested that New Zealand stalwart Kane Williamson will never be a player who can bat at an explosive strike rate. The critique comes after New Zealand bowed out of the 2024 T20 World Cup in the group stage. Williamson scored just 28 runs in the tournament, at a strike rate of 87.50, and gave up captaincy following New Zealand’s exit. Michael Vaughan has now advised Williamson to take inspiration from one of his contemporaries, Virat Kohli, on how to remodel his T20 game.

“Look at Virat Kohli in IPL 2024. He went from the Virat in previous years to the modern 2024 player by going for it, being expansive, particularly against spin. It was tremendous to see,” said Vaughan, speaking on Cricbuzz.

“Kane Williamson will never be a batter who strikes at 200. If he can up his strike rate by 15-20 per cent, and get to a strike rate of 140-150, he would be the glue for New Zealand and whatever franchise he plays for,” said Vaughan.

Kohli, at the age of 35, piled up 741 runs at a strike rate of 154 in IPL 2024, winning his second Orange Cap in the process.

Williamson is no stranger to the Orange Cap either, having won it in 2018, when he smashed 735 runs at a strike rate of 142. However, six years on, Williamson’s offensive game seems to be on the decline.

However, Williamson’s New Zealand future in T20Is is up in the air. The 33-year-old quit captaincy and declined a central contract, hinting at overseas priorities and wanting to spend more time with his family.

Failure to qualify for the Super 8 means that New Zealand is also not guaranteed direct qualification to the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan wants young India batter Yashasvi Jaiswal to open the batting for the team during the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup. During India’s three group games, which were all played in New York, star batter Virat Kohli was promoted to open with captain Rohit Sharma. Kohli, however, went through a dry run so far scoring 1, 4 and 0 against Ireland, Pakistan and USA respectively.Ahead of India’s opening game of the Super 8, Vaughan said that he would like to see Jaiswal open the batting, while Kohli can return to batting at no. 3.

Since all of India’s Super 8 matches will be played in the Caribbean, Vaughan also wants Rishabh Pant to bat at no. 5. Pant had batted ahead of Suryakumar Yadav in the group stage.

“I love Yashasvi Jaiswal, I’d want him to be opening the batting. Virat or Rohit at No.3, I’m not too bothered by which right-hander goes to No.3. Shivam Dube is at No.5 but in the Caribbean I’d have Rishabh Pant in there. Yashasvi is an incredible player. He is such a good batter, I would want him in,” Vaughan said on Cricbuzz.

Vaughan feels India have made mistakes in the past by not putting enough left-handed batters in the team.

“I like the fact that they have gone with left-handers. I thought not having enough left-handers was a mistake from India in the past so I can kind of understand that but I would want Jaiswal in my team,” he also pointed out.

Meanwhile, India’s final group match against Canada was washed out on Saturday in Florida.

India head into the Super 8s with 7 points with a Net Run Rate (NRR) of +1.137, finishing the Group A table at the top.

The USA became the second team to qualify for the Super 8 after their game against Ireland got washed out.

India Squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson and Yuzvendra Chahal.

File photo of Michael Vaughan.© X (formerly Twitter)