Sports

Ben Stokes in the Running to Lead England’s White-Ball Team

Published

11 months ago

March 8, 2025

England’s white-ball cricket stands at a pivotal moment following Jos Buttler’s resignation from the captaincy after a disappointing Champions Trophy performance. Managing director Rob Key is committed to identifying the “best person” to lead the team, sparking speculation about whether Test captain Ben Stokes might also take charge of the ODI squad.

Stokes, who last appeared in a 50-over match during England’s underwhelming defense in the 2023 World Cup, remains a strong candidate. Key praised Stokes’ outstanding leadership abilities, stating, “Ben Stokes is one of the best captains I’ve ever seen, so it’d be foolish not to consider him,” as he told Sky Sports.

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However, Key also recognized the potential challenges of holding two captaincy roles simultaneously.

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Furthermore, England is contemplating the option of appointing distinct captains for ODIs and T20s, as Key believes that each format demands a different strategy. Several candidates, including Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone, and Harry Brook, have been discussed. Key emphasized the importance of careful selection, stating, “We’re looking for the best person, someone who can take this forward.”

The team’s early exit in the Champions Trophy revealed significant issues, with losses to Australia, Afghanistan, and South Africa highlighting a lack of balance, particularly with a pace-heavy attack in subcontinental conditions. Injuries to Brydon Carse and Mark Wood further complicated matters. Initially, Adil Rashid was the only specialist spinner, with Rehan Ahmed only being called up as an injury replacement.

Reflecting on the team’s difficulties, Key admitted, “We were very poor. Since Eoin Morgan’s tenure, our performance in white-ball cricket has not been up to par. Our batting has particularly declined.”

These struggles were evident in the lead-up to the Champions Trophy, as England faced heavy defeats in India across both T20 and ODI series. Although reports suggested that only Joe Root was practicing in the nets during the ODI series, Key dismissed this claim, asserting, “That story wasn’t true. I saw the team in Pakistan, and they trained hard. Poor performances weren’t due to a lack of preparation.”

While former players like Kevin Pietersen criticized the team’s approach, Key defended their commitment. He noted that the players are dedicated but have struggled with execution and decision-making under pressure. “There’s no scenario where we think the players don’t care or are arrogant. At times they may act recklessly or make mistakes, but that’s part of the game,” he said.

Key also pointed out the necessity for better media communication from the players, stating, “We often say things in press conferences trying not to reveal too much, which ends up generating headlines.”

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Sports

Pakistan Sets 3 Conditions to Play against India in T20 World Cup

Published

3 days ago

February 9, 2026

Namma Kudla

Dubai: Pakistan has placed three conditions before the International Cricket Council (ICC) to agree to play against India in the T20 World Cup.

Earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) planned to boycott the match scheduled on February 15 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The ICC warned Pakistan about possible consequences after this decision.

Now, PCB is willing to consider playing the match but has made key demands. It has asked the ICC to increase compensation for Bangladesh, pay participation fees even if Bangladesh is left out of the tournament, and grant Bangladesh hosting rights for a future ICC event.

Some PCB officials support playing against India, but PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has not agreed yet. He is expected to meet Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday before making a final decision.

So far, PCB has not officially confirmed whether Pakistan will play the match.

Sports

T20 World Cup | Pakistan Edge Past Netherlands in a Close Contest

Published

5 days ago

February 7, 2026

Namma Kudla

Colombo: The T20 World Cup began today with an exciting match between Pakistan and the Netherlands. Pakistan secured a narrow three-wicket victory despite a strong bowling performance. However, the top-order batters failed to deliver. With this win, Pakistan made a positive start to the 10th edition of the tournament.

After losing the toss, the Netherlands batted first at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo. The team was bowled out for 147 runs in 19.5 overs. Pakistan chased the modest target and scored 148 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 19.3 overs.

Pakistan started aggressively, but the Netherlands slowed their progress. Pakistan lost four wickets for 98 runs. Soon, they were in trouble at 114 for seven. Faheem Ashraf played a crucial role at the end and guided the team to victory.

For Pakistan, Sahibzada Farhan scored 47 runs, while Saim Ayub added 24 runs. Faheem Ashraf contributed an important 29 runs. The rest of the batters failed to score big. Star batter Babar Azam disappointed fans by scoring only 15 runs off 18 balls.

Earlier, Netherlands captain Scott Edwards scored 37 runs. Bas de Leede made 30 runs, Colin Ackermann added 20, and Michael Levitt scored 24 runs. The remaining batters were dismissed for low scores.

Sports

India Clinch Record Sixth Under-19 World Cup Title

Published

5 days ago

February 7, 2026

Namma Kudla

Sports: India defeated England by 100 runs to win the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 final at the Harare Sports Club. The victory marked India’s sixth title, making them the most successful team in the tournament’s history.

India batted first and posted a massive total of 411 for 9 in 50 overs. The innings was powered by 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who smashed a record-breaking 175 runs off just 80 balls. His knock included 15 fours and 15 sixes and became the highest individual score ever in an Under-19 World Cup final.

Suryavanshi also shared a crucial 142-run partnership with captain Ayush Mhatre, who scored 53 runs. Their strong batting display helped India set a daunting target of 412 for England.

England tried to fight back in the chase, with Caleb Falconer scoring 115 and Ben Dawkins adding 66. However, the team was eventually bowled out for 311, handing India a comfortable victory.

Suryavanshi was named Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament for his historic performance. The triumph once again highlighted India’s dominance in youth cricket on the global stage.