The World Cup gets under way on Thursday with a rematch of the 2019 final as England take on New Zealand at Ahmedabad.
Here the PA news agency looks at who to keep an eye on in India.
Jasprit Bumrah (India)
The fast bowler with the greatest claim to be in a world XI in all three formats, his absence at last year’s T20 World Cup was palpable. While Mohammed Siraj is an ever-growing threat, Bumrah is India’s X-factor quick. Possessing an idiosyncratic action replete with toe-crushing yorkers and enigmatic slower balls, Bumrah has yet to hit the heights since returning from a year out with a back injury. But as long as he is not overburdened, a World Cup on home soil could be just the stage for Bumrah to shine.
Ben Stokes (England)
England’s go-to when the pressure is at its most intense, Stokes is back for one last ride in ODIs after ending a 13-month retirement. The lure of England defending their crown has proved too irresistible but he will operate as a middle-order batter only due to ongoing left knee troubles precluding his bowling. No matter. Whether he still has the appetite or the eye for this format was answered in emphatic fashion with a stonking 182 against New Zealand at the Kia Oval last month.
Kane Williamson (New Zealand)
Luck went against New Zealand in 201,9 while an anterior cruciate ligament rupture at the Indian Premier League in March left Williamson a major doubt to lead the Black Caps this time. He will not be ready to face England but should be available thereafter. The big talking point is whether Williamson can hit the ground running after six months out. But the 2019 player of the tournament has never cared much for outside noise and his return could galvanise a New Zealand line-up dependent on his runs and guidance.
Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan)
The 6ft 6in left-armer has pace to burn, can produce lavish swing with new ball or old and a flair for performing in Asia – although he has never before played in India. Being a star attraction has never been a problem for any cricketer with the surname Afridi but history suggests he will have to be carefully managed. A jarred knee in last year’s T20 World Cup final ultimately paved the way for an England win, while Pakistan head across the border already weakened with exciting paceman Naseem Shah ruled out.
Adam Zampa (Australia)
Ashton Agar being unable to shrug off a calf injury leaves Zampa as Australia’s only specialist spinner, with all-rounder Glenn Maxwell offering supplementary support. It is a bold gambit from the five-time champions but represents absolute faith in their leg-spinner, whose 74 wickets is the most of any bowler since the last World Cup among the teams to have qualified for this event. Thumped for a world record-equalling 113 in South Africa last month, conditions in India will be more to his liking.
Charles, Powell star as Delhi Bulls hammer Chennai Braves by 65 runs in Abu Dhabi T10 League
Johnson Charles and Rovman Powell both played starring roles to help the Delhi Bulls get their second win in as many games in the 2023 Abu Dhabi T10 League on Friday with a 65-run triumph over the Chennai Braves at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.
Charles made a 21-ball 40 opening the batting including four fours and two sixes while skipper Powell, batting at five, hit 35 off just 15 balls including one four and four sixes to help the Bulls post an intimidating 126-6 off their 10 overs after being put in to bat.
Englishman James Vince also showed good form with 37 off 14 balls. Obed McCoy and Junaid Siddique had identical figures of 2-18 from two overs.
Chennai’s chase then came up significantly short, being bowled out for just 61 in 8.5 overs.
Only Mohammad Nabi was able to crack double figures with 25 as Fazalhaq Farooqi (2-8 from two overs), Muhammad Rohid (2-14 from two overs), Naveen-ul-Haq (2-22 from two overs) and Ravi Bopara (2-4 from five balls) combined to produce an excellent display of bowling.
With goal of being best all-rounder in the world, Matthew Forde says CPL is ‘foundation to my success’
Matthew Forde was 20 years old when he first appeared for a CPL franchise. Having had success in age group cricket he was someone who was of interest to CPL teams, but it was a conversation with Pedro Collins that started his CPL career. Forde had been coached by Collins for a while. They lived very close to each other, and Collins would regularly give Forde a lift to and from training.
On one of those journeys the conversation turned to CPL cricket. Forde told Collins that he did not currently have a team. Collins is part of the Saint Lucia Kings set up and he called Daren Sammy, the Kings head coach, while Forde was in the car. Forde was encouraged to send videos of him in action to Sammy and by the time he was dropped off Sammy had called back to say, “I want this youngster.”
That conversation led to Forde making his CPL debut during the 2022 season, and while he didn’t bowl in his first match, he was entrusted with the new ball for his home debut against Guyana Amazon Warriors. Forde says his response to being asked if he wanted this responsibility so early in his career was to tell Sammy, “You asking a dog if he want a bone”.
Forde was determined to make the most of that opportunity. While sat on a drinks cooler waiting for his home debut he made it clear to his team mate, Rivaldo Clarke, that he was not going to miss his chance. He said: “Rivaldo boy, I don't know about you, but I know when I get my chance and I come off of this cooler, I'm not coming back on this cooler.”
Forde has not had to sit on the side lines since, with the latest milestone being his call up for the West Indies ODI team who are taking on England in December. His coach for that series will be Daren Sammy, and Forde has said that his relationship with the Kings and West Indies head coach has been foundational to his career.
“I think he has been, if not the backbone, he has been the main guy for me in terms of giving me that opportunity and trusting me, believing in me. I started opening with the new ball for the Kings and he trusted me. I just kept performing until he built that trust in me,” Forde said.
For Forde, the CPL has been the building block for his career progression since making that breakthrough in 2022. “I think CPL was the foundation. CPL really started it all because without CPL then the rest of the world wouldn't see me. CPL was my first major tournament. So, for me that's like CPL was the foundation. And I will always say the Kings will always be at my heart.”
Going forward, Forde wants to develop all elements of his game. He has two half centuries in topflight cricket, one as an overseas player at the Lanka Premier League and another in the recently concluded Super 50 tournament where he presented the West Indies academy side. He says developing his batting and becoming a true all-rounder is where he wants his game end up.
“My goal is to be to be the number one all-rounder in the world and to put West Indies cricket back to where it needs to be at the top. So, for me and a couple of the younger guys like me, we work really hard in in terms of fitness, the mental side of the game, theory, whatever it be. We are always working because we know what we want to achieve, and we know the goals that we have set and planned out as a collective group.”
Pakistan appoint Salman Butt to first official role since spot-fixing conviction
Former Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt has been appointed to a first official role since he was jailed for spot-fixing.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has named Butt as one of three consultants to new chief selector Wahab Riaz.
In 2011, Butt was jailed for 30 months for his part in a conspiracy to bowl deliberate no-balls during the Test against England at Lord’s the previous summer.
Butt, 39, was also handed a 10-year ban by the International Cricket Council, with five years suspended, for his role in the controversy, which also involved team-mates Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir.
Along with former Pakistan internationals Kamran Akmal and Rao Iftikhar, Butt, who returned to play domestic cricket in 2016, will take up his role on the selection panel with immediate effect ahead of the T20 series against New Zealand in January, which follows the conclusion of the Test tour to Australia.
All three players were part of Pakistan’s successful T20 World Cup in 2009 and look set to bring some of their experience to the current squad.
The PCB added in a statement: “When not engaged in selection duties, the consultant members may be assigned additional tasks such as conducting skills camps.”
The move follows an overhaul of Pakistan’s set-up following an early exit from the 2023 World Cup in India.
As well as new chief selector, Mohammad Hafeez has come in as team director.
Babar Azam stepped down as captain, with Shan Masood confirmed as Pakistan’s new Test skipper and Shaheen Afridi set to lead the T20 side.
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