Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi has admitted that his side need to work on their fitness and fielding ahead of next year's World T20 tournament following his side's three-run defeat against England in the second Twenty20 international in Dubai.
Former captain Mike Atherton hailed England's Twenty20 World Cup triumph as assertion of their potential but said it will not be remembered in the country's cricketing folklore for long as it was not achieved by an 'English' team.
Virender Sehwag been ruled out of the ICC T20 World Cup. In-form Tamil Nadu batsman Murali Vijay will replace him in the India squad bound for the West Indies.
Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh feels that Sachin Tendulkar's presence in the T20 squad would have made a difference to India's campaign at the upcoming T20 World Cup scheduled to start on April 30.
South African Eric Simmons was on Wednesday retained as India's bowling coach for the World Twenty20 Championships starting next month in the West Indies.
Injury-ravaged and short of match practice he might be, but pacer Brett Lee still found a place in the 15-member Australian cricket squad announced on Tuesday for the World Twenty20 Championships starting next month in the West Indies.
Sachin Tendulkar's refusal to return to Twenty20 cricket for next month's World Cup is a relief to India's rivals, Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi said.
Karnataka pacer Ranganath Vinay Kumar was on Friday rewarded for a consistent domestic performance with a place in India's 15-member squad for Twenty20 World Cup, in the West Indies, next month.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a 15-man squad sans the name of the skipper for the forthcoming ICC T20 World Championship in the Caribbean.
Rohit Sharma on Sunday hinted that he has still not given up on hopes of playing T20I cricket for India
India's bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad refused to blame the Indian Premier League for India's dismal show at the Twenty20 World Cup in England, where the team failed to defend the title and crashed out early. Prasad, who is also bowling coach of Chennai Super Kings, rather believes the IPL was a perfect platform to prepare for the second edition of the T20 World Cup.
Former India player and Delhi Daredevils' Director of Operations, T A Sekar said the just-concluded Indian Premier League II in South Africa will act as a confidence booster for defending champions India in the ICC World Twenty20 in England starting June 5.
Sri Lanka called up uncapped all-rounder Isuru Udana to their 15-man squad for the Twenty20 World Cup in England next month. The squad, to be led by Kumar Sangakkara , also includes 35-year-old middle order batsman Indika de Saram, who last played for Sri Lanka in 2001.
Rankings will mean nothing when play starts at the Twenty20 World Cup and Australia are deadly serious about winning the tournament for the first time over the next few weeks, according to skipper George Bailey.
Sri Lanka batsman Kumar Sangakkara and fast bowler Nuwan Kulasekara are winning their battle to be fit for this month's Twenty20 World Cup on home soil.
Outgoing chief cricket selector Krish Srikkanth has predicted an Indian triumph in the World T20, starting in Sri Lanka on September 18.
Ishant Sharma was not part of the Indian squad that lifted the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in 2007 but the beanpole pacer has no doubt that the team would do whatever it takes to defend the title in England later this year.
Sri Lanka pacer Lasith Malinga feels that his side will have a distinct advantage over other countries during next month's Twenty20 World Cup as most of the island nation's players have prepared well by competing in the Sri Lanka Premier League.
The ICC, on Thursday, extended the deadline for the submission of the 15-player final squad for the World Twenty20 Championship in Sri Lanka by six days after receiving requests from various member nations.
Sari tips to nick from Esha Gupta's wardrobe.
Sachin Tendulkar lauded the Namibia cricket team
Pakistan set up a clash with India in the final of the T20 Cricket World Cup for Blind after beating England by 147 runs in the second semifinal at the KSCA Ground in Alur, Karnataka, on Saturday.
'He has talent and he will go a long way if supported properly. But he is just beginning, so don't compare him with legends like Lasith Malinga or Chaminda Vaas.'
Former skipper Sunil Gavaskar feels blaming the Indian Premier League or its post-match parties for India's humiliating exit from the Twenty20 World Cup is a "poor excuse" to justify the dismal campaign.
Mithali Raj's 36-ball 44 and Diana David's four-wicket haul went in vain as India suffered a 11-run loss against New Zealand in their Group B opener of the Women's World Twenty20 in Basseterre, St Kitts, on Thursday.
'Bumrah's absence is a big loss, he's been a great player but it happens, it's an opportunity for someone else to stand up'
Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh believes the time has come for India to win the Champions Trophy, especially after the team's disappointing performance in the Twenty20 World Cup in England.
Dhoni had led India to the title victory at the inaugural T20 World Cup played in South Africa in 2007.
Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi on Thursday refused to buy the idea that IPL was the reason behind India's Twenty20 World Cup debacle and said the cash-rich tournament was here to stay with top Indian players continuing to play in it.
A swashbuckling West Indies and a talented Pakistan will pose the biggest threats to India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's dream of lifting his second Twenty20 World Cup title, according to former skipper Sourav Ganguly.
Pakistan's vice-captain Misbah-ul Haq says defending champions India would be a tough team to beat in the upcoming Twenty20 World Championships in England.
Earlier, Ireland's George Dockrell played against Sri Lanka on Sunday in Hobart despite the team identifying him as "potentially positive". Dockrell was forced to travel separately from his teammates, with team medical staff managing his movements and interactions. If Zampa was to be selected, he and Cricket Australia would need to operate under the same guidelines.
Soon after retaining Mahendra Singh Dhoni as India captain till the World Twenty20 Championships, chief selector Sandip Patil said the Board wanted to end speculations and "send a signal" to players as to who would be their leader at the mega-event to be held in India from March 8 to April 3.
Uthappa pointed out Sanju Samson and Rahul Tripathi as players he would like to see be given more opportunities, with the duo among the highest runs in the most recent session of the India Premier League (IPL).
Rohit's men start overwhelming favourites but Shaheen, rain pose threat
Stoinis reached his half-century in just 17 balls and finished with an 18-ball 59* much to the delight of the Australian fans at home in this knock decorated by four boundaries and six sixes
The Indian squad is packed with quality players but either wrist spinner Yuzvendra Chahal or Washington Sundar should have found place in the home team's line-up, reckons 2011 World Cup hero Yuvraj Singh.
Netherlands saw off a spirited effort from USA to seal a seven-wicket victory in their semi-final after restricting USA to 138 in 19.4 overs even as Zimbabwe held of a valiant PNG by 27 runs.
India Head Coach Rahul Dravid said that "targeted" players for the ODI World Cup will be playing the IPL as it will help them assess their T20 skills.
The T20 World Cup is set to be played in India in October and November.
