‘It’s great to see T20 cricket return to Mysuru, says Gundappa Vishwanath

Colombo, Feb 6 (IANS) World Cups are meant to begin with fireworks. This one has started with a storm.
The 10th edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup rolls into action on Saturday, carrying as much off-field intrigue as on-field promise. Bangladesh’s withdrawal and Pakistan’s refusal to face India in their scheduled February 15 clash have already forced conversations beyond cricket, casting an unusual shadow over the build-up.

And yet, in classic T20 fashion, the show goes on — louder, faster, and more unpredictable than ever.

For all the turbulence, this remains a tournament that celebrates cricket’s global surge. Twenty teams will take the field, representing traditional giants and ambitious newcomers alike.

Among the most heartwarming stories is the arrival of Italy’s national cricket team, set to make its debut in the Men’s T20 World Cup. For a nation better known for footballing flair and Catenaccio — their defensive tactical system called The Chain– Italy’s qualification for the T20 World Cup is a reminder that cricket’s map is expanding, one surprise at a time.

The Indian national cricket team steps in as defending champions, but also as history’s pursuers. In a format where dominance is fleeting and margins microscopic, India now have the rare chance to defend a men’s T20 world title — a feat that would cement this group’s legacy in the shortest format. India also hopes to become the first nation to win the title at home and the only one to win three T20 WC titles.

Their strength lies not just in star power but in balance — depth in batting, variety in bowling, and the calm that comes from having navigated global pressure before. They won’t just be playing to win; they’ll be playing to define an era.

Few teams arrive at a World Cup without carrying a storyline. The Pakistan national cricket team arrived carrying several.

Champions in 2009 and forever capable of producing breathtaking cricket, Pakistan remain one of the most watchable sides in the format. But their decision not to play India in the group-stage fixture has added a political and emotional edge to their campaign before it has even begun. How they channel that noise once the tournament starts could shape their journey.

Then there are the entertainers-in-chief — the West Indies cricket team, champions in 2012 and 2016. No side has embraced T20 cricket’s spirit quite like them. Power, flair, and fearless intent remain their calling cards, and on their day, they can turn any match into a highlight reel.

The condensed format means there is no gentle entry into this World Cup. A single off day can derail a campaign.

As the lights blaze in Colombo and the music swells, this T20 World Cup begins as more than a cricket tournament. It is a mix of politics and passion, disruption and dreams — and, as always in T20 cricket, it promises that the next twist is never more than a few balls away.

—IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 17 (IANS) A high-voltage rematch between India and Pakistan remains firmly on the cards at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, but only if both sides navigate the knockout stages successfully.

India strengthened their title defence with a commanding 61-run victory over Pakistan in their Group A showdown. This fixture once again lived up to its billing as the tournament’s marquee clash. The win followed convincing performances against the USA and Namibia, reinforcing India’s credentials as one of the frontrunners to lift the trophy on home soil.

The newest chapter in cricket’s most famous rivalry took place in Colombo, surrounded by the typical excitement and underlying geopolitical tensions common to every India-Pakistan match. Although the group-stage outcome initially favoured India, it did not rule out the possibility of a rematch later in the tournament.

Tournament rules prevent arch-rivals from meeting in the Super 8 stage. They are placed in separate groups during pre-seeding for the next round, eliminating the chance of an early rematch. Teams only compete within their own Super 8 group, meaning any potential rematch is delayed until the knockout phase.

This outlines two possible scenarios. First, a semifinal showdown might occur if both teams qualify and finish in the same position in their Super 8 pools. Alternatively, they could meet in the final, a matchup that would probably draw a worldwide TV audience if they win their respective semifinal matches.

India have already secured their spot in the Super 8s. Meanwhile, Pakistan have to beat Namibia to stay in the race and ensure qualification.

Another aspect of the story involves the logistical planning that positions all of Pakistan’s fixtures, including knockout matches, in Colombo. This decision guarantees venue neutrality, even when the tournament schedule assigns Indian host cities for the later matches.

India and Pakistan have historically faced each other only once in a T20 World Cup final, at the inaugural edition in 2007, when it was known as the ICC World Twenty20. This matchcontinued the tradition of the most enduring rivalries in modern cricket.

With the knockout stages approaching and commercial interest rising, the prospect of another India-Pakistan clash remains a key storyline of the marquee event.

–IANS

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Jalandhar, Aug 17 (IANS) Day 6 of the 15th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship featured two Division ‘B’ and four Division ‘A’ matches. Hockey Association of Bihar and Hockey Bengal won their respective matches as Division ‘B’ came to a conclusion. Hockey Chandigarh and Delhi have won Pool A and Pool B respectively and are promoted to Division ‘A’ for the next year while Hockey Himachal and Assam Hockey have been relegated to Division ‘C’. Hockey Association of Odisha, Hockey Haryana, Uttar Pradesh Hockey and Hockey Punjab won their Division A matches of the day in Jalandhar, Punjab.

In the first Division ‘B’ match of the day Hockey Association of Bihar defeated Assam Hockey 4-3 in Pool B. Nandlal Shah (18′, 47′) scored a brace along with goals from Md Alishan Ahmad (1′) and Ranjan Kumar (6′) for Hockey Association of Bihar. Sadique Ahmed (6′), Ashish Kumar (26′) and Rohan Ekka (57′) were the three scorers for Assam Hockey.

In the last match of Division ‘B’, Hockey Bengal enjoyed a comfortable 4-1 win over Hockey Uttarakhand. Bijay Shaw (3′), Captain Prince Gabriyal Dhan (7′), Aman Kumar Thakur (36′) and Karan Shaw (37′) scored goals for Hockey Bengal while Naveen Prasad (60′) scored a late and only goal for Hockey Uttarakhand.

In the first Division ‘A’ fixture of the day, Hockey Association of Odisha won against Hockey Karnataka in Pool D with a narrow scoreline of 2-1. Nitesh Sharma (37′) scored the opening goal of the game for Hockey Karnataka but Ritik Lakra (50′) and Aryan Xess (51′) scored back-to-back goals in the final quarter to help Hockey Association of Odisha win three points in their first match of the tournament.

In the next Division ‘A’ match, Hockey Haryana registered a dominant 5-0 victory over Manipur Hockey in Pool C. Sunil (15′), Chirag (27′), Navraj Singh (50′), Rahul (56′) and Ansh Kamboj (59′) were the goalscorers for Hockey Haryana.

In the next fixture of the day, Uttar Pradesh Hockey defeated Hockey Jharkhand 2-0 in Pool B. Ujjwal Pal (26′) scored from a penalty corner in the second quarter followed by a field goal from Satyam Pandey (32′) in the third quarter to seal the win for Uttar Pradesh Hockey.

In the final Division ‘A’ match of the day, Hockey Punjab enjoyed a slim 3-2 win over Hockey Madhya Pradesh in Pool A. Om Rajnesh Saini (3′), Lovenoor Singh (14′) and Japnit Singh (41′) scored goals for Hockey Punjab. Mohd Anas (19′) and Sohil Ali (39′) scored the two goals for Hockey Madhya Pradesh.

–IANS

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