MLC stars Netravalkar, Khan, Patel aim to continue USA’s historic run at T20 World Cup Super8s

MLC stars Netravalkar, Khan, Patel aim to continue USA’s historic run at T20 World Cup Super8s
The US’s advancement ahead of cricketing powerhouse Pakistan has sent shockwaves around the globe. (FILE/AFP)
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Updated 18 June 2024
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MLC stars Netravalkar, Khan, Patel aim to continue USA’s historic run at T20 World Cup Super8s

MLC stars Netravalkar, Khan, Patel aim to continue USA’s historic run at T20 World Cup Super8s
  • As many as 47 MLC stars have featured in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024

DALLAS: Team USA have made history by advancing to the Super 8 stage of the International Cricket Council Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 for the first time, decided by a wash-out in Broward County.

The US’s advancement ahead of cricketing powerhouse Pakistan has sent shockwaves around the globe and is rallying Americans to get behind their national team.

Team USA, as the host nation making its World Cup debut, has captured the world’s attention. After defeating Canada convincingly in the opening game, the team also emerged victorious against Pakistan in a thrilling super-over, putting them in a position to finish second in Group A.

Cognizant Major League Cricket players in Team USA are: Ali Khan, Nitish Kumar and Shadley Van Schalkwyk (Los Angeles Knight Riders); Steven Taylor, Nosthush Kenjige, Monank Patel and Shayan Jahangir (MI New York); Corey Anderson (San Francisco Unicorns); Harmeet Singh, (Seattle Orcas); Milind Kumar (Texas Super Kings); and Andries Gous, Saurabh Netravalkar and Yasir Mohammad (Washington Freedom).

With the USA set to face South Africa, the West Indies and England in Group 2 of the Super 8 round, MLC Chief Executive Vijay Srinivasan said the advancement of the team to the next stage of the home world cup was an incredible achievement.

“Congratulations to Team USA who, in their first-ever World Cup appearance, gave us three thrilling matches of cricket against the world’s best teams and earned their position in the Super 8.

“This is a historic moment for the sport, especially for our players from Major League Cricket who are representing the USA. We hope that this inspires boys and girls around the country to pick up a bat and ball this summer and encourages sports fans to attend an MLC game or tune into the broadcast. 

“The USA’s advancement to the Super 8 means they’ll automatically qualify for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, providing Major League Cricket with a strong platform for continued growth.”

 

MLC’s six teams — Los Angeles Knight Riders, MI New York, San Francisco Unicorns, Seattle Orcas, Texas Super Kings and Washington Freedom — boast some of the world’s best international and domestic talent who are preparing to represent their respective countries in the World Cup.

All 47 MLC players who have featured in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, listed by team, are:

Los Angeles Knight Riders

Ali Khan — USA

Nitish Kumar — USA

Shadley Van Schalkwyk — USA

Andre Russell — WI

Shakib Al Hasan — Bangladesh

David Miller — South Africa

Josh Little — Ireland

 

MI New York

Steven Taylor — USA

Nosthush Kenjige — USA

Monank Patel — USA

Shayan Jahangir — USA

Tim David — Australia

Nicholas Pooran — West Indies

Rashid Khan — Afghanistan

Kagiso Rabada — South Africa

Trent Boult — New Zealand

Anrich Nortje — South Africa

Romario Shepherd — West Indies

 

San Francisco Unicorns

Corey Anderson — USA

Matt Henry — New Zealand

Josh Inglis — Australia

Sherfane Rutherford — West Indies

Haris Rauf — Pakistan

Pat Cummins — Australia

 

Seattle Orcas

Harmeet Singh — USA

Quinton de Kock — South Africa

Heinrich Klaasen — South Africa

Michael Bracewell — New Zealand

Ryan Rickelton — South Africa

Obed McCoy — West Indies

Imad Wasim — Pakistan

 

Texas Super Kings

Milind Kumar — USA

Mitchell Santner — New Zealand

Devon Conway — New Zealand

Aiden Markram — South Africa

Daryl Mitchell — New Zealand

Naveen-ul-Haq — Afghanistan

Marcus Stoinis — Australia

 

Washington Freedom

Andries Gous — USA

Saurabh Netralvakar — USA

Yasir Mohammad — USA

Marco Jansen — South Africa

Akeal Hosein — West Indies

Glenn Maxwell — Australia

Travis Head — Australia

Lockie Ferguson — New Zealand

Rachin Ravindra — New Zealand

 

The second MLC season kicks off on July 5.


Saudi Arabia impress with the bat in Quadrangular series but lose out to brilliance of Virandeep Singh

Saudi Arabia impress with the bat in Quadrangular series but lose out to brilliance of Virandeep Singh
Updated 6 min 36 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia impress with the bat in Quadrangular series but lose out to brilliance of Virandeep Singh

Saudi Arabia impress with the bat in Quadrangular series but lose out to brilliance of Virandeep Singh
  • Openers Abdul Waheed and Faisal Khan, who have each struck a T20I century for Saudi Arabia, gave the team a flying start against Singapore

KUALA LUMPUR: Saudi Arabia’s senior men’s cricket team have had a busy three days in the Malaysia Quadrangular Series in Kuala Lumpur. They comfortably beat Thailand and Singapore before being involved in a gripping contest against Malaysia, the highest ranked team in the tournament.

The Saudi batting did not quite fire in the first match against Thailand but the lower order kept going strongly so that they reached a total of 156. This was far too much for Thailand, who were bowled out for 90 as Hisham Shaikh took four for 15 and Zain Ul-Abidin three for 13, seven wickets falling for only 20 runs.

Openers Abdul Waheed and Faisal Khan, who have each struck a T20I century for Saudi Arabia, gave the team a flying start against Singapore. Each batter hit three sixes and shared an exhilarating opening partnership of 98 in just 8.3 overs. Waheed made 55 in 34 balls and Faisal 62 from 28 balls in a brutal display of boundary hitting.

The innings tailed off to 178 for eight in 20 overs but Singapore soon collapsed to 33 for eight. Usman Khalid claimed three for 13 and Saudi Arabia won by 96 runs. Malaysia had also won their opening two matches by convincing margins so Saturday’s contest between two unbeaten teams was eagerly anticipated. It did not disappoint in any way.

Saudi Arabia were again given a flying start by their two powerful openers as Abdul Waheed and Faisal Khan shared a stand of 84 in 7.3 overs. After the latter was dismissed for 48 from 25 balls, Waheed went on to reach 82 from 52 balls. A total of 182 for seven did not quite make the most of the electric start, though it set up a competitive chase.

Ghayour Ahmed’s first over in international cricket went for 21 runs, Malaysia rushing to 65 for one after the first six overs. The run-rate was checked in the middle overs, captain Waji Ul-Hassan claiming two wickets to keep Saudi Arabia just ahead. Batter number three, Virandeep Singh, is a quality batsman and he paced his innings to perfection.

Thirty runs were still needed from the last two overs. Aided by a no ball, which he hit for six over mid-wicket, Singh scored all the necessary runs and Malaysia gained victory by five wickets with a ball to spare.

Saudi Arabia had largely been beaten by one man as Virandeep Singh had earlier taken four for 26 to keep the Saudi total under 200. His final 30-run flourish with the bat took him to an unbeaten 93 from 57 balls, containing eight fours and four sixes.

Now, there will be a second round of matches, so Saudi Arabia will face Malaysia in one more league match. On current form, they look likely to meet again in the final, so everybody following this series should be in for a cricketing treat in the coming days.


Australia’s Hazlewood steers Bengaluru to win over Rajasthan

Australia’s Hazlewood steers Bengaluru to win over Rajasthan
Updated 24 April 2025
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Australia’s Hazlewood steers Bengaluru to win over Rajasthan

Australia’s Hazlewood steers Bengaluru to win over Rajasthan
  • Chasing 206 to win after Bengaluru’s 205-5, Rajasthan looked comfortable before Dhruv Jurel was dismissed by Hazlewood
  • Indian batting superstar Virat Kohli hit a 42-ball 70 to steer Bengaluru to a par score on a batting friendly Bengaluru wicket

BENGALURU, India: Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood starred with 4-33 in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s 11 run IPL win at home against Rajasthan Royals, who won the toss and chose to field first Thursday.
Chasing 206 to win after Bengaluru’s 205-5, Rajasthan looked comfortable before Dhruv Jurel was dismissed by Hazlewood in the 19th over of the chase.
Jurel scored a 34-ball 47 and was removed with 17 needed off 9 balls for the win.
Hazlewood removed England’s Jofra Archer on the next ball, leaving Royals reeling with 17 needed off the final over.
Earlier, Indian batting superstar Virat Kohli hit a 42-ball 70 to steer Bengaluru to a par score on a batting friendly Bengaluru wicket.
Openers Kohli and Phil Salt raced to 59-0 in the powerplay before Salt was removed on 26 in the seventh over with the team on 61-1.
Kohli then built an important 95 run partnership with Devdutt Padikkal before finally falling in the 16th over to Archer.
Padikkal, who was batting very well, fell soon after a 27-ball 50, with Bengaluru on 161-3.
Quick wickets toward the end took away the momentum before key cameos by Tim David (23) and Jitesh Sharma, who remained unbeaten on 20.
Archer was Rajasthan’s standout bowler and finished with 33-1. Sandeep Sharma took 2-45 and Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga finished with 1-30.
Rajasthan’s young top-order batters started really well and stayed ahead of the required run rate for the first half of the chase.
Indian Test opener Yashasvi Jaiswal hit 19-ball 49 before he was removed by Hazlewood.
His opening partner, Vaibhav Suryavanshi fell early on 16 to India veteran Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who finished with 1-50 in his four-over spell.
Spinner Krunal Pandya bowled an important spell and removed both Nitish Rana (28) and Rajasthan skipper Riyan Parag (22) who looked dangerous after the fall of initial wickets.
Rajasthan were cruising before Rana’s wicket in the 14th over but its batters failed to convert starts into a score to help their team cross the finish line.
“I think we did really well with the ball... We held them back really well,” Parag said after the game.
“With the batting, I thought at the halfway mark we were in the driving seat,” he added.
But “we have ourselves to blame... (The team was) in the driving seat and we let it slip.”
Player-of-the-match Hazlewood said that he “was just sticking to my strengths.”
“I knew hard lengths were hard to hit so I was mixing that up with yorkers, change of pace,” he added.


True colors emerge in cricket’s governing regime

True colors emerge in cricket’s governing regime
Updated 24 April 2025
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True colors emerge in cricket’s governing regime

True colors emerge in cricket’s governing regime
  • WCA call for the International Cricket Council to be ‘modernised’ ruffles feathers at the game’s ruling body

Two weeks ago, I said that “every so often cricket’s fabric is subject to transformational tremor. We may be on the brink of another one.”

This was based on the World Cricketers’ Association’s comprehensive review of the game’s global structure and its subsequent report. This called for an overhaul of four central pillars of cricket.

It was always going to be the case that the WCA’s call for the first pillar – the game’s governing body, the International Cricket Council – to be “modernised” to “ensure that it is fit for purpose to lead the global game” would raise hackles at the ICC. This was a direct attack on the way that cricket is led. Add to that the WCA’s assault on the principles by which the game’s revenues are unevenly distributed by the ICC at present and not on those based on equity and fairness in growth, then retaliation was inevitable.

The third pillar relating to current scheduling patterns by the ICC was criticized by the WCA for lack of clarity and consistency, with suggestions for improvement provided. Regulation is the fourth pillar on which the WCA called for greater levels of financial accountability within the ICC.   

These criticisms of the ICC are not new. In 2012, an independent governance review of the ICC, headed by Lord Woolf, called for sweeping changes in the administration of cricket and the functioning of its governing body. Woolf recommended a restructuring of the ICC’s executive board to make it more independent and less dominated by the bigger countries. He also called for measures to increase transparency in dealings by the ICC and its members.

The recommendations were not binding on the ICC and were not acceptable to the Board of Control for Cricket in India. Consequently, the ICC board did not accept them and a major opportunity for reform and equity was missed.

Now that the BCCI is considerably wealthier than it was in 2012 and that its former secretary is the current chair of the ICC, India has an even greater stranglehold on power in world cricket. This it will not relinquish willingly, as has been evident in the brutally dismissive riposte to the WCA.

According to reports in the Times of India, the ICC’s Cricket Executives’ Council discussed the WCA report and recommendations in a recent board meeting in Harare. An anonymous source is widely quoted, revealing that the CEC poured highly critical rejections on both the legitimacy of the WCA and the views it expressed on the game’s structure, governance, financial models and operations. 

The CEC consists of a chair, a representative of each of the 12 ICC full members, three representatives of the 96 associate members and three ex-officio members, each one a chair of other ICC committees, including the ICC chair, Jay Shah. If the comments by the source accurately reflect the CEC, then they are both damning and alarming, not to mention confirmation of what many people believe to be a true reflection of the attitudes and strategies of those who govern the game.

It is understood that the BCCI took the lead in rejecting the WCA recommendations and was backed by other CEC members. This is surprising, but there is no evidence to suggest otherwise. The source is quoted as saying that the WCA is “nothing but a trade union making needless noise” and “clearly does not have the player’s best interests at heart.”

The accusation that the WCA does not have its members’ interests at heart is risible. Player remuneration has long been a bone of contention in cricket. The Packer revolution in Australia in the late 1970s was the start of a long battle to raise player salaries.     

The ICC reacted in affronted fashion to the WCA, saying that “the players can either choose to play in the IPL or side with the WCA. A player represents their cricket board and members of those cricket boards form the ICC.” This summary dismissal of the WCA reeks of feudalism with the players relegated to the role of vassals. This may be the case in India, where the top players are paid so handsomely that they have little need to complain.

Extension of a feudal system to the rest of cricket disrespects the players. I am reminded of John Morrison who, walking out to bat for New Zealand against Australia at Melbourne in December 1973, eyed the full stadium of close to 100,000 people and allegedly remarked to his opening partner that they were not receiving much of the money paid by the spectators. Current professional cricketers are well remunerated, but their labor is worked hard. The WCA and national cricketers’ associations – where they exist – are concerned about workloads and their physical effect on performance and bodies.   

The antipathy displayed by the ICC and BCCI towards the WCA closes the door on any hopes that the WCA may have entertained about the start of a dialogue between the parties. Instead, the antipathy seems designed to quash the burgeoning voice of the WCA and some senior players. Tension is growing between those wielding power and those advocating for global equity and player representation. Another thorn has been scratched into the ICC’s side by the publication of a book on the ICC’s history by Rod Lyall, who simply refers to it as “The Club.” 

It is a fascinating read and details how it has been possible for the BCCI to take control of cricket and the body which is supposed to govern it. In an increasingly autocratic world, is it now too late to effect change to this regime? Reform from within is unlikely.  In theory, member boards can outvote the BCCI, but Indian control of key positions and committees, along with the sport’s finances, makes this a risky strategy.

The current ICC revenue distribution model runs until 2027. Potentially, this offers an opportunity for reshaping, but the BCCI is unlikely to agree to any dilution of its power. In fact, that power could be increased if it chooses to expand the IPL. Checks on BCCI dominance and increased accountability for the ICC can only occur if the rest of the game unites. The ICC’s response to the WCA has shown that any attempt to engage in a battle over cricket’s global governance will be bluntly rebuffed. The WCA-induced tremor was felt but quickly papered over by those in power.


Rohit, Boult star as Mumbai surge into IPL top four

Rohit, Boult star as Mumbai surge into IPL top four
Updated 23 April 2025
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Rohit, Boult star as Mumbai surge into IPL top four

Rohit, Boult star as Mumbai surge into IPL top four
  • Trent Boult, a left-arm quick, and fellow pace bowler Deepak Chahar ripped apart the top of Hyderabad’s batting order as they collapsed to 35-5 before managing 143-8
  • Five-time champions Mumbai achieved their target with 26 balls and seven wickets to spare after Rohit registered his second successive half-century

HYDERABAD: Star batsman Rohit Sharma smashed 76 and pace bowler Trent Boult claimed 4-26 as Mumbai Indians thrashed Sunrisers Hyderabad to move up to third in the IPL table on Wednesday.
New Zealand’s Boult, a left-arm quick, and fellow pace bowler Deepak Chahar ripped apart the top of Hyderabad’s batting order as they collapsed to 35-5 before managing 143-8.
Five-time champions Mumbai achieved their target with 26 balls and seven wickets to spare after Rohit registered his second successive half-century, smacking eight fours and three sixes in his 46-ball knock to lead the chase.
But the 35-year-old Boult set up victory with his two early wickets and was named player of the match.
“I still love the feeling of competing and getting wickets,” said Boult, who retired from international cricket in 2024.
“It’s a huge tournament, there are hundreds of thousands of bowlers who’d love to do what we’re doing so it’s about not taking it for granted.”
It was Mumbai’s fourth straight win and a victory that propelled them three spots from sixth in the 10-team table led by Gujarat Titans.
Hyderabad, who are captained by Australia’s Pat Cummins, slumped to their sixth loss in eight matches.
“We have a few away games now, it will be about assessing each wicket as quickly as possible,” said Cummins. “Some days it will be all-out attack, some days it will be about weighing our options.”
Rohit and England’s Will Jacks (22) laid the platform for Mumbai in their second-wicket partnership of 64.
Jacks got out but Rohit stood firm to raise his fifty in an another key stand of 53 with Suryakumar Yadav, who made an unbeaten 40 off 19 balls.
The match began with a tribute to the victims of the deadly attack in Kashmir as a minute’s silence was observed and teams wore black armbands in Hyderabad.
Twenty-six men — all Indian except one Nepali — were killed on Tuesday when gunmen burst out of forests at a popular tourist spot in Pahalgam and raked crowds of visitors with automatic weapons.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took the decision to remove the cheerleaders and put a halt to the celebratory fireworks and music customary at IPL matches, as a mark of respect for the victims.
Boult got Mumbai off to a perfect start by dismissing Australian opener Travis Head for a duck after the left-hander mis-timed a shot to deep backward point.
Chahar had Ishan Kishan caught behind for one in the next over, the batter walking off to a timid appeal with ultra-edge technology later suggesting there was no edge.
Boult and Chahar continued to do damage and accounted for Abhishek Sharma and Nitish Reddy, leaving Hyderabad five down when skipper Hardik Pandya struck in the ninth over.
South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen hit a 44-ball 71 as he counter-attacked with a string of boundaries and put on 99 runs with impact substitute Abhinav Manohar (43), but the effort was not enough against a rampaging Mumbai.
Klaasen finally became pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah’s 300th T20 wicket when he was caught at deep backward square.
Boult finished with two wickets in the 20th over.


Busy period ahead for Saudi Arabian cricket

Busy period ahead for Saudi Arabian cricket
The tournament gets underway on Thursday, April 24 at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur. (via@cricketsaudi)
Updated 23 April 2025
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Busy period ahead for Saudi Arabian cricket

Busy period ahead for Saudi Arabian cricket
  • National men’s team contests T20I tournament in Malaysia from April 24 to May 2

Thailand: The Saudi Arabian senior men’s cricket team is in Malaysia to play in a Quadrangular T20I series against Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

The tournament gets underway on Thursday, April 24 at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur. Saudi Arabia will face Thailand at 10 a.m. followed by Malaysia against Singapore at 2 p.m. Each team will play the others twice to determine the final and third place play-off contestants. These matches will be on May 2.

Saudi Arabia last played in a T20 international tournament in December 2024. That was the Gulf Cricket T20I Championship in Dubai, involving the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar, where the Saudi team produced an outstanding result against the UAE, the strongest team in the tournament.

Saudi Arabia made 182 for 8 in their 20 overs, Usman Khalid made 57 from 40 balls and the lower order all hit out strongly. The UAE compiled a third-wicket partnership of 144 and seemed to be cruising to victory, but Usman Najeeb claimed 4 for 25 as Saudi Arabia won by 11 runs. This was their third victory in five matches, but Kuwait beat Oman, causing the Saudi team to miss out on a place in the final.

Usman Khalid impressed throughout the tournament, scoring 185 runs. Faisal Khan hit 166 runs, including 13 sixes, at the best strike rate of 182. Usman Najeeb took 10 wickets and Ishtiaq Ahmed had the best match figures in the tournament of 4 for 12.

Saudi Arabia’s T20 credentials were displayed in early 2024 in Bangkok where the team won the second edition of the ACC Men’s Challenger Cup, part of the qualification pathway for the 2025 Asia Cup. In the final, Saudi Arabia beat Cambodia by five wickets, both teams qualifying for the ACC Premier Cup.

In the Challenger Cup third place play-off in 2024, Singapore beat Japan by eight wickets. Singapore’s most recent T20I series was a 3-0 home defeat by Bahrain. In February 2025, the team played 50-over cricket in the Cricket World Cup Challenge League Group B, part of the qualification process for the 2027 World Cup but lost nine of ten matches and were eliminated.

Malaysia won the ICC T20 World Cup Asia A Qualifier on home soil in September 2024 but failed to win a single match when hosting a T20I tri-series against Bahrain and Hong Kong in March 2025. Bahrain beat Hong Kong by six wickets in the final, having become the first team in T20I history to fail to score a run in a super over play-off against the same opponents earlier in the tournament.

Thailand is the fourth team in the competition and has been a regular opponent for Saudi Arabia, who proved their superiority in the Challenger Cup and then in a series in Bangkok which followed.

Saudi Arabia’s most recent contest against Thailand came in the Asia Qualifier B for the ICC T20 World Cup played in November 2024 in Doha when the Saudis defeated Thailand by five wickets. Neither team progressed from the tournament, both recording three wins and three defeats in six matches. Faisal Khan again showed his power with 18 sixes, while he and Abdul Waheed both hit centuries.

Thailand have an improving side, which includes three Indians who are involved in the coaching set-up as well as playing for the national team. Austin Lazarus is the captain and Akshaykumar Yadav opens the batting. All-rounder Nilesh Salekar was head coach of the Thailand women’s team for a World Cup qualifier in Lahore.

Malaysia are currently ranked 26th in the ICC world rankings. Saudi Arabia are ranked 32nd, so could move into the world top 30 with a series of victories. Singapore are 38th and Thailand 55th, so it should be a closely contested tournament with all four teams offered the opportunity to move significantly in the world rankings. If recent form is a guide, then Saudi Arabia has reason to be optimistic.

Concurrently with the senior tournament, Saudi Arabia’s young cricketers are getting the chance to compete in a high-quality under-16 cricket tournament arranged by the Asian Cricket Council. It is being held in Doha, Qatar, with matches played between April 23 and May 5.

The ACC U-16 West Zone Cup will feature the six best teams in the region playing in a five-match league. Saudi Arabia will play 50-over matches against Oman, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain, with a final in which the top two teams face each other to decide the eventual winners.

This will be a tough test for the Saudi Arabian youngsters as they lost all five matches when the tournament was last held in Dubai in March 2023, when hosts the UAE, finished as champions after winning all five of their matches.