T20 World Cup, June 1-29

[Durhamfootman]

I don't understand what Pakistan were playing at there, tbh. Why on earth were their 2 best batters not batting in a super over? It makes no sense

They persevere in the warm up matches with Azam Khan and stick him behind the stumps in place of Rizwan, presumably because he isn't the most mobile of fielders, then stick Rizwan back behind the stumps and leave the biggest bloke in cricket since old Dwaine L to presumably run around the field

Muddled thinking before and during the World Cup..... definitely Durham-esque

[Arthur Crabtree]

Classic Pakistan.

[mikesiva]

USA 159-3

Monank 50
Gous 35
Jones 36*

The Americans won the Super Over!

The first upset. The Associate teams belong in this World Cup.

Nothing wrong with this Dallas pitch.

[bigfluffylemon]

Well done USA.

Can't remember who it was, but one of the BBC pundits said on the previews that the US will beat Pakistan or India. Good call.

USA have a real shot at qualification. But somehow I have hunch Pakistan will sneak it on NRR being within an inch of elimination. It's what they do.

Then they'll probably go on to win the whole thing...

[mikesiva]

Scotland beat Namibia by five wickets

Namibia 155-9

Erasmus 52

Wheal 3-34

Scotland 157-5

Berrington 47*
Leask 35

Erasmus 2-29

[sussexpob]

Watching the highlights, could it be anymore obvious that the ICC wanted USA to win??

The first Amir wide hit the batsman on the pad. His last wide was less wide than about 5 of the balls that the USA bowled in the super over.

The first ball for Pakistan barely bounced on the cut strip and was deemed legal. If you stop the image as the ball bounces about 4-6 metres down the pitch, it is already about half a metre passed the mark for the wide.

The catch on the third ball was clearly grounded. You can see the ball contact the ground and his wrist bend 90 degrees as it has nowhere to go because the ball is on the floor. The TV umpire was saying as he viewed it "the fingers are under the ball" ..... all you can see is a white ball. Even if his fingers are under it, his hand and wrist rotates as it hits the ground. And as he spins on the floor, it appears from one angle that he actually loses control of the ball also. That is never getting called out in 99.9% of scenarios.

Hard to see past these being accidents seeing as though USA winning will do a hell of a lot of good for the tournament profile. Reminded me of 2002 WC in South Korea where the referees did everything to keep them in the tournament

[Arthur Crabtree]

Cricket has a bit of a dodgy record for integrity.

[meninblue]

Saurabh Netravalkar who took 2 / 28 has played for Mumbai in Ranji Cricket. Although he could not maintain his place in Mumbai Ranji team, he has won a historic match for USA.

Pakistan has made some blunder selections. The totally unfit Azam Khan is in team because of Moin Khan who is his father. Azam is dropping catches so frequently that even Kamran Amran will feel his a much better wicket-keeper.

Babar Azam and Mohd. Rizwan are two accumulators which are not suited to bat together in modern day powerplays. Their strike rate in T20i is an issue and more so if they bat as a opening pair in these times. They tried with Saim Ayub to solve this issue but it didn't work. Back to same accumulators.

The situation is so dire that they have to go back to Iftikhar Ahmed as lower middle order hitter. Also to have Iftikhar as second spinner is a joke. Pakistan have better spinners than him. Add to it the bad release shot selection by Usman Khan at long off where fielder was positioned.

Babar Azam after being dropped from captaincy got it back because Pakistan Prime Minister changed. This interference of politicians in Pakistan cricket is not at all new and is not letting the team settle. When Inzamam Ul Haq was chief selector, he always picked his nephew Imam Ul Haq irrespective of his merit and form. Nepotism is making the Pakistan team much worse. This is not a blip. Pakistan lost to Ireland recently. Also lost to NewZealand C Team as NZ main team players were playing in IPL.

Ireland should also look to win against them.

[Durhamfootman]

this is the iffy pitch, isn't it?

Ireland are nowhere near chasing down the 138 target set by Canada

[Arthur Crabtree]

Shame for the NY Irish diaspora.

[Durhamfootman]

Oh, hello!

[Durhamfootman]

14 off the over..... not dead yet

36 needed off 3 overs

[Durhamfootman]

17 needed off the final over

Jeremy Gordon..... didn't go for many in his first 3

[Durhamfootman]

dot followed by a c&b

he's holding his nerve

[Durhamfootman]

Canada win by 12 runs. Snuffed out by the returning Gordon

well done that man. Ireland were on the charge and in with a shout, so he could easily have gone to pieces.... Durham would have