India reached the T20 World Cup final in style as they hammered defending champions England by 68 runs on Thursday.

In a rain-delayed semi-final clash at Guayana National Stadium, an England batting collapse, combined with lethal bowling from Kuldeep Yadav (3-19), Axar Patel (3-23) and Jasprit Bumrah (2-13) ensured tournament favourites India will face South Africa in the showpiece match on Saturday.

Captain Rohit Sharma struck 57 and Suryakumar Yadav plundered 47 as India put on 171-7 from their 20 overs.

England's chase started brightly as skipper Jos Buttler reeled off a series of fours in swift succession, yet his stand lasted just 15 deliveries.

And from losing Buttler with the 19th ball of their innings, England's top order capitulated, with Phil Salt, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali and Sam Curran all following their captain in heading for the pavilion within seven overs.

Harry Brook offered more resistance with a spirited 25, but the damage was already done by the time he was sent packing in the 11th over.

Liam Livingstone and Adil Rashid were run out in the space of three deliveries, and though Jofra Archer rallied with a pair of sixes, England's dismal day came to an end when he was pitched leg-before-wicket by Bumrah.

It marked a memorable triumph for India as they gained a measure of revenge for their 10-wicket loss to England at the same stage in 2022, and the Proteas – who thrashed Afghanistan earlier in the day – are all that stand between them and the trophy.

Data Debrief: Recent history means nothing

India had lost their last two T20 World Cup semi-finals, having batted first on each of those occasions too, but they banished those demons in emphatic fashion this time around.

England had won three of their last four such matches, having bowled first in each of those games, but that record did not continue.

Buttler's future is uncertain, though he did at least take a slice of history with him, with his knock of 23 ensuring he became the fourth England player to score 1,000 runs at the T20 World Cup (1,013).

Much like West Indies Head coach Darren Sammy did recently, all-rounder Roston Chase stressed the need for the Caribbean side to not only up their game, but to also remain grounded as they prepare to face newcomers Uganda in their second ICC Men’s T20 World Cup encounter on Saturday.

Chase, who posted an unbeaten 27-ball 42 which propelled West Indies to a five-wicket win over Papua New Guinea in their Group C opener last week, concurred with Sammy that the win was too close for comfort, as they surpassed their target with a solitary over to spare.

Sammy in that post-game assessment, warned his team against complacency against perceived lesser opponents, especially given the number of upsets in the tournament so far, the latest of which came on Friday when Afghanistan hammered New Zealand by 80 runs.

As such, Afghanistan head Group C standings on four points, two ahead of West Indies and Uganda on two points each, with New Zealand and Papua New Guinea yet to get on the board. Uganda also bettered Papua New Guinea in a low-scoring affair.

With that in mind, Chase is well aware that West Indies will require a more efficient execution under the lights at the Guyana National Stadium, as Uganda has nothing to lose heading into the encounter.

“I just think that it’s a World Cup, so you can’t underestimate any team. Every team is as strong as any other team – but I just think for us, it’s a case where we have to improve our dot-ball percentage, especially in the middle overs,” he told journalists during a pre-match news conference on the eve of the game.

“I mean, the pitch is a difficult one that we played on in the first game, so I think it’s a case where we just need to not panic too quickly – just try to stabilise the middle overs, because we have a lot of power in the back end to kind of make up for it. So it’s just a case where we just need to get a few more singles, and turns ones into twos, and stuff like that, and then just launch in the back end,” he added.

Though not as explosive like some of his teammates where boundary hitting is concerned, Chase, 32, has adjusted well to his role in the team –to be a stabilizing force, if and when called upon.

Prior to the global spectacle, Chase showcased his immense growth as a T20 batsman, with scores of 74 and 33 against Nepal, followed by unbeaten knocks of 67 and 32 in the warm-up sweep of South Africa.

“In my cricketing career, I’ve always been one to get some hard tasks, so I really cherish the opportunity and the experiences. I mean, obviously, it’s good to go out there and get an easy job, but I think that your teammates, coaches and especially the fans, I think they rate you more and they appreciate you more when you come through these hard times,” Chase reasoned.

“So I am just always looking to do good even when the pressure is on. I know that once I come out on top, people love me. Once I’m doing what is required for the team, and doing it well, I am happy with that,” the Barbadian noted.

That said, Chase pointed to his unwavering determination to chart his own legacy in the format, as many have likened his role in the team to that of former Jamaican stalwart and batting all-rounder Marlon Samuels, who was instrumental to West Indies’ T20 World Cup triumphs in 2012 and 2016.

“There could only be one Marlon Samuels and one Roston Chase,” Chase declared.

“I mean, if people want to call it the Marlon Samuels role, I have no problem with that. He’s won two world titles playing that role and being the Man-of-the-Match in two of the finals. So, I have no problem with that tag, but I’m my own player,” he ended.

As preparations continue for the hosting of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, organizers will be hosting a series of workshops for the pitch and outfield curators as well as other members of the ground staff who will be responsible for the venues and facilities across the region.

Over 50 staff members in the six host nations in the West Indies will benefit from the knowledge and expertise of International Cricket Council (ICC) and Cricket West Indies (CWI) officials as part of the workshops and developmental courses which started on March 6 and will end on March 27.

Roland Holder, CWI Manager of Cricket Operations and Head of Cricket for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, outlined the reasons behind the series of workshops.

He said the upcoming series is crafted by CWI and designed to upskill existing curators across the region by exposing them to international best practices for pitch preparation and applicable maintenance, while simultaneously expanding the cadre of curators by identifying new talent with the appropriate combination of theoretical knowledge and practical exposure, to lend further expertise to match venues as we seek to deliver a world-class event in June.

“We are enthusiastic about these workshops and educational seminars across the region. It is great to know that over 50 members of our ground staff will benefit from this series of seminars which has been strategically set-up in the six region host territories for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup,” Holder said.

He continued: “This is geared towards ensuring that the persons with responsibility for the pitch, outfield, and other facilities on the ground will benefit from the knowledge available, in line with international best practices and in keeping with the highest standards.

“We are aware this is for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, but also post-World Cup, as good pitches lead to good cricket with an even contest between bat and ball. This is an essential area of preparation for what will be the biggest event ever hosted in the West Indies.”

The workshops will include both indoor educational sessions and outdoor practical events. They started at Antigua and Barbuda on March 7-8, and will next move to St Lucia from March 11-12, then on to St Vincent and the Grenadines on March 14-15. From there the series moves to Barbados from March 18-19, and Guyana for the period March 21-22, before concluding in Trinidad and Tobago on March 25-26.

These six countries will host matches in the ninth edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup which will be played from June 1 to 29. West Indies, which hosted the event in 2010, will hold matches at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Kensington Oval, Guyana National Stadium, Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, Arnos Vale, and Brian Lara Cricket Academy.

The event will be the largest in the tournament’s history with 20 international teams playing 55 matches across nine locations. It is the first time USA will host matches at a T20 World Cup, with 16 first-round matches split between Nassau County International Cricket Stadium (New York), Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium (Dallas), and Broward County Stadium (Lauderhill).

The venues and fixtures for the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) have been confirmed with the tournament taking place from 16 August to 24 September in Saint Lucia, St Kitts & Nevis, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana.

The tournament gets underway in Saint Lucia with six matches at the Daren Sammy Cricket ground between 16 August and 20 August with home side the Saint Lucia Kings appearing in four of those fixtures.

From there the tournament moves on the St Kitts & Nevis with six matches at Warner Park between 23 August and 27 August with four games for the home team, the Patriots.

The next leg of the tournament will take place in Barbados with the CPL returning to the country for the first time since 2019. With six matches scheduled for the iconic Kensington Oval, and four home games for the Barbados Royals, there will be lots of excitement about the tournament’s return. The matches will take place in Barbados from 30 August to 3 September.

From 5 September to 10 September the tournament will be in Trinidad & Tobago. There will be four home games for the Trinbago Knight Riders and six matches in total.

The final leg of the tournament will take place in Guyana with the matches running from 13 September to 24 September. The knockout stages will be in Guyana again in 2023, with excitement already building after the successful running of the final last season.

“We are very pleased that the tournament will be staged in five countries in 2023,” said Pete Russell, Republic Bank CPL’s CEO. “As ever, the CPL is a chance for fans across the region and around the world to enjoy world class cricket. And for the players from the Caribbean it is an opportunity to showcase their skills and further their careers.”

 Men’s Caribbean Premier League 2023 Fixtures

Darren Sammy Cricket Stadium, St Lucia

Weds 16 August, 7pm - Saint Lucia Kings vs Jamaica Tallawahs

Thurs 17 August, 7pm - Saint Lucia Kings vs Barbados Royals

Sat 19 August, 10am -Trinbago Knight Riders vs St Kitts & Nevis Patriots

                            7pm - Saint Lucia Kings vs Guyana Amazon Warriors

Sun 20 August, 10am - Jamaica Tallawahs vs Barbados Royals

                           7:00pm - Saint Lucia Kings vs St Kitts & Nevis Patriots

Warner Park, St Kitts and Nevis

Wed 23 August, 7pm - St Kitts & Nevis Patriots vs Jamaica Tallawahs

Thurs 24 August, 7pm- St Kitts & Nevis Patriots vs Guyana Amazon Warriors

Sat 26 August, 10am - Saint Lucia Kings vs Trinbago Knight Riders

                           7pm -St Kitts & Nevis Patriots vs Barbados Royals

Sun 27 August, 10am - Jamaica Tallawahs vs Guyana Amazon Warriors

                           7pm - St Kitts & Nevis Patriots vs Trinbago Knight Riders

Kensington Oval, Barbados

Wed 30 August, 7pm - Barbados Royals vs Trinbago Knight Riders

Thurs 31 August, 7pm -Barbados Royals vs Jamaica Tallawahs

Sat 2 September, 10am - Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Jamaica Tallawahs

                                8pm - Barbados Royals vs Saint Lucia Kings

Sun 3 September, 10am - Jamaica Tallawahs vs Trinbago Knight Riders

                                  8pm - Barbados Royals vs St Kitts & Nevis Patriots

Trinidad and Tobago – Venues to be decided

Tues 5 September, 7pm - Trinbago Knight Riders vs Barbados Royals

Wed 6 September, 7pm - Trinbago Knight Riders vs Guyana Amazon Warriors

Sat 9 September, 10am - St Kitts & Nevis Patriots vs Saint Lucia Kings

                               8pm - Trinbago Knight Riders vs Jamaica Tallawahs

Sun 10 September, 10am - Barbados Royals vs Guyana Amazon Warriors

                                   8pm- Trinbago Knight Riders vs Saint Lucia Kings

Guyana National Stadium, Providence

Wed 13 September, 7pm - Guyana Amazon Warriors vs St Kitts & Nevis Patriots

Thurs 14 September, 7pm - Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Saint Lucia Kings

Sat 16 September, 10am - Jamaica Tallawahs vs St Kitts & Nevis Patriots

                                  7pm - Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Trinbago Knight Riders

Sun 17 September, 10am - Jamaica Tallawahs vs Saint Lucia Kings

                                  7pm - Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Barbados Royals

 Tues 19 September, 7pm - Eliminator – 3rd place vs 4th place

Wed 19 September, 7pm - Qualifier 1 – 1st place vs 2nd place

 Fri 22 September, 7pm - Qualifier 2 – Winner of Eliminator vs Loser Qualifier 1

Sun 24 September, 7pm - Final – Winner Qualifier 1 vs Winner Qualifier 2

Cricket West Indies’ (CWI) Selection Panel on Tuesday announced the West Indies Men’s squad for the upcoming three-match T20 International Series and the three-match CG United One-Day International Series against Bangladesh.

Rovman Powell has been announced as the new Vice Captain for the T20Is while left-arm fast bowler Obed McCoy returns after recovering from injuries. There are also recalls for experienced wicket-keeper batter Devon Thomas and allrounder Keemo Paul. In the CG United ODI Series squad, there is a call up for left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie.

“We know Rovman’s history. He has captained the West Indies before and is also the captain of his CPL franchise. Our role is to look at future leaders as well and we have identified a few, including himself, who we will be putting programmes around to ensure we keep them involved in that aspect of the cricket,” said lead selector Dr the Hon. Desmond Haynes.

“Thomas is a very versatile cricketer, who has been knocking on the door in all formats. He has been doing well in franchise cricket and with that level of talent, we must ensure we keep him interested. He brings a lot to the table and is basically a four-dimensional player, he can bat, bowl, he is brilliant in the field, and he can keep wicket as well. McCoy has done exceptionally well in the IPL and enjoyed a successful stint in England as well, so we are confident that he is back to his best in terms of playing and fitness. Generally, we have to start looking at the bigger picture of getting these players playing together as often as possible in preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup later down in the year. We need to ensure we are fielding a very strong side for that tournament,” Haynes added.

The T20I Series opens with back-to-back matches on Saturday, 2 July and Sunday, 3 July at the Windsor Park in Dominica. This will see a return to international cricket at the fully refurbished venue, where international cricket is being hosted for the first time since the hurricane damage of 2017. The Series climaxes with the third and final match on Tuesday, 7 July at the Guyana National Stadium. The CG United ODI Series will be played at the Guyana National Stadium on Friday, 10 July, Monday 13 July and Thursday, 16 July.

Online ticket sales are now live via the new WINDIES TICKETS service, presented by Mastercard, at www.tickets.windiestickets.com. Fans can purchase in advance without the need to travel to box offices to save tickets to their mobile phones which can then be presented for scanning at the stadium entrance. Fans who register for the WINDIES TICKETS service and purchase tickets will also receive offers and promotions for future games.

In Dominica, there is great excitement on the Nature Isle for the return of international cricket with tickets available in three price categories providing a range of viewing positions for every budget. Ticket prices range from US$6 (EC$15) for the Mound/Grounds, to US$15 (EC$40) for the standard seats and US$25 (EC$70) premium seating in the Shillingford Stand.

In Guyana, the prices will range from US$6 (GUY$1200) for the Mound/Grounds, to US$15 (GUY$3000) for the Orange Stand or US$25 (GUY$5000) for the best seats in the Red and Green Stands, as the fans in Guyana welcome the busiest “Summer of Cricket” to the South American mainland. 

Fans can watch live on ESPN Caribbean and listen to live radio commentary on the Windies Cricket YouTube channel.

FULL SQUADS

T20 Internationals

Nicholas Pooran (Captain)

Rovman Powell (Vice Captain)

Shamarh Brooks

Akeal Hosein

Alzarri Joseph

Brandon King

Kyle Mayers 

Obed McCoy

Keemo Paul

Romario Shepherd

Odean Smith

Devon Thomas

Hayden Walsh Jr.

Reserve: Dominic Drakes

One-Day Internationals

Nicholas Pooran (Captain)

Shai Hope (Vice Captain)

Shamarh Brooks

Kaecy Carty

Akeal Hosein

Alzarri Joseph

Brandon King

Kyle Mayers

Gudakesh Motie

Keemo Paul

Anderson Phillip

Rovman Powell

Jayden Seales

Reserve: Romario Shepherd