Ambitious expansion of T20 World Cup throws up playing and logistical challenges

Ambitious expansion of T20 World Cup throws up playing and logistical challenges
West Indies' wicketkeeper Nicholas Pooran (R) dives to save a run during the ICC men's Twenty20 World Cup 2024 Super Eight cricket match between England and the West Indies at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, on June 19, 2024 (AFP)
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Updated 20 June 2024
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Ambitious expansion of T20 World Cup throws up playing and logistical challenges

Ambitious expansion of T20 World Cup throws up playing and logistical challenges
  • In modern cricket, an established statistical mechanism recalculates scores in rain-affected matches, with pitch and ground covering materials and more powerful equipment to disperse rainwater

Last week’s consideration of the pressures in professional cricket was followed by some real-time examples in the International Cricket Council Men’s T20 World Cup.

In Kingstown, St Vincent, South Africa scored only 115 against Nepal, who responded positively, cruising to 85 for two midway through the 14th over. Then four wickets fell quickly, leaving eight runs required from the final over, whittled down to two from the final two balls.

Those runs proved to be unattainable, a last ball run out sealing Nepal’s heartbreaking defeat by one run. Both batters, bowler and several fielders were under pressure to make crucial decisions in split seconds.

In St Lucia, Scotland scored a highly creditable 180 for five against Australia, aided by six dropped catches. This target challenged Australia’s batters as they slipped to sixty for three. A victory for Scotland would have elevated the team to the Super 8s stage; as it was, the pressure proved to be too great, as Australia’s extra experience took them to 186 for five with two deliveries remaining. The result meant that England, instead of Scotland, progressed. 

In Antigua, a few hours earlier, this had been very much in doubt. There it seemed the rain would not stop in sufficient time prior to the cut-off of 4.46 p.m. local time to allow mopping-up operations to be completed. One may wonder why the cut-off time should be so early in the day.

This relates to the ICC’s playing conditions for T20I men’s cricket, which stipulate that there should be two sessions of 1 hour 25 minutes, separated by a 20-minute interval between innings. Allowances also need to be made for one drink break per innings, umpire and player reviews, and any treatment of injuries. All of this equates to around 3.5 hours. There seems to be no flexibility on this and it would not be practical with matches that start at, say, 8 p.m. 

It is also pertinent to ask why a team — any team, let alone defending champions — should be at risk of being knocked out at the group stage by virtue of playing only two of its four group matches, courtesy of adverse weather conditions. England’s captain was pictured looking very mournful in the team area as rain continued to fall. Later, he admitted to it being a stressful day with real fears no play would be possible.

In the event, the match was only 46 minutes from abandonment. Ground staff worked incessantly to clear the outfield of water and the umpires were finally satisfied that play could start in a shortened match of 11 overs per team. This was reduced to 10 overs following a shower during England’s innings, which totaled 122 for five. Namibia fell 41 runs short to soothe England’s anxieties and relieve the pressure on its leadership. 

Although only four of the 40 group stage matches were washed out, three of them were in Florida. June is the start of the rainy season in the Caribbean and the Florida peninsula, so it is hardly a surprise the weather has affected matches. The ICC has been criticized for its decision to stage the 2024 T20 World Cup at this time of year in the knowledge of climatic conditions. In its defense, it would no doubt argue that the crowded cricket schedule allows no alternative.

The most favorable conditions for cricket in the Caribbean are between December and April. These months are when five T20 franchise leagues are played. The decision to include the USA as joint hosts in 2024 limits the options. Although Florida is sub-tropical, New York is not. The next T20 World Cups will be hosted by India and Sri Lanka in February 2026, followed by Australia and New Zealand in 2028. In all cases, except for northern India, weather issues should not be of concern. Given the capricious nature of the world’s climate patterns, it seems we are asked to accept that rain will interfere randomly with cricket, as it always has done.

In modern cricket, an established statistical mechanism is now deployed to recalculate scores in rain affected matches, while enhanced pitch and ground covering materials are used and more powerful equipment is available to disperse rainwater. What is needed to make best use of these is sufficient staff on hand. There have been several occasions at this World Cup when that did not appear to be the case.

Another area of discussion has surrounded the absence of reserve days in the group and Super 8 stages, apparently for logistical reasons. Reserve days are available for the semi-finals and final if the team batting second is unable to face ten overs. If the reserve day is invoked in the second semi-final, then the final is scheduled for the next day. This is high risk planning. 

What appears to be lower risk planning is the timing of matches. These are weighted heavily in favor of Indian audiences. All matches involving India in the group and Super 8 stages start at 8 p.m. IST. Additionally, this is the scheduled start time for all but seven of the other 47 matches, ensuring that Indians can watch most matches in the evening. In contrast, the local time for viewing Australia’s matches is either 3 a.m. or 10.30 a.m. Furthermore, India’s semi-final venue is pre-planned. 

This T20 World Cup is the first to comprise 20 teams. It was bound to create logistical challenges for the ICC. On top of these, the performances of the expanded number of associate members will be scrutinized by those who disagree with their inclusion. In that sense the biggest disappointment for many about the tournament — the sub-standard quality of pitches — may have helped the associate teams.

Many batters in the Full member teams have struggled to adapt to the pitches, creating unexpected opportunities for associates to achieve shock results. Under pressure, they failed to do so on most occasions. Only by playing more regularly against Full members can associates learn to maximize these chances.


Djokovic calls for overhaul of 'unfair' anti-doping system

Djokovic calls for overhaul of 'unfair' anti-doping system
Updated 6 sec ago
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Djokovic calls for overhaul of 'unfair' anti-doping system

Djokovic calls for overhaul of 'unfair' anti-doping system
  • Djokovic: There is so much inconsistencies between the cases
  • Djokovic, who is returning to action this week at the Qatar Open for the first time since retiring injured from last month's Australian Open semifinals, believes a change is needed

DOHA:  Novak Djokovic on Monday urged tennis authorities to overhaul the sport's anti-doping system, pointing to "inconsistencies" in cases involving top stars Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek and those of lower-ranked players.

World No. 1 Sinner agreed to a three-month ban on Saturday, admitting "partial responsiblity" for mistakes by his team which led to him twice testing positive for traces of clostebol in March last year.

Sinner was facing a potential ban of two years after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against his initial exoneration by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), announced in August.

In a surprising move, WADA withdrew its appeal and came to an agreement with Sinner to accept a three-month ban.

In another high-profile case last year, five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek accepted a one-month ban after testing positive for the banned heart drug trimetazidine.

"There's a majority of the players that I've talked to in the locker room, not just in the last few days, but also last few months, that are not happy with the way this whole process has been handled," said Djokovic.

"A majority of the players don't feel that it's fair. A majority of the players feel like there is favoritism happening. It seems like, it appears that you can almost affect the outcome if you are a top player, if you have access to the top lawyers."

In contrast, the recently retired Simona Halep, a former world No. 1, was handed a four-year ban by the ITIA in 2022 after testing positive for the blood-boosting drug roxadustat.

She argued it was the result of a tainted supplement and successfully appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which reduced her suspension to nine months.

"Simona Halep and (Britain's) Tara Moore and some other players that are maybe less known that have been struggling to resolve their cases for years, or have gotten the ban for years," said Djokovic.

"There is so much inconsistencies between the cases."

Djokovic, who is returning to action this week at the Qatar Open for the first time since retiring injured from last month's Australian Open semifinals, believes a change is needed.

"Right now it's a ripe time for us to really address the system, because the system and the structure obviously doesn't work (for) anti-doping, it's obvious," he said.

"I hope that in the next period of the near future that the governing bodies are going to come together, of our tours and the tennis ecosystem, and try to find a more effective way to deal with these processes.

"It's inconsistent, and it appears to be very unfair."

"If you are going to treat every case individually or independently, which is what's happening, then there's no consistency, then there is no transparency, and some cases are transparent, some are not," he continued.

"The problem is that right now there is a lack of trust generally from the tennis players, both male and female, towards WADA and ITIA, and the whole process.


Without Ronaldo, Al-Nassr draws 0-0 at Persepolis in last AFC Champions League group game

Without Ronaldo, Al-Nassr draws 0-0 at Persepolis in last AFC Champions League group game
Updated 18 February 2025
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Without Ronaldo, Al-Nassr draws 0-0 at Persepolis in last AFC Champions League group game

Without Ronaldo, Al-Nassr draws 0-0 at Persepolis in last AFC Champions League group game
  • The club had already secured a place in the round of 16, finishing third in the West group behind fellow Saudi clubs Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal

After leaving Cristiano Ronaldo at home, Al-Nassr drew 0-0 away against Iranian club Persepolis on Monday in the last round of the AFC Champions League Elite group stage.
The Saudi Arabian team had already secured a place in the round of 16 of the continental competition and coach Stefano Pioli took a weakened team to Tehran.
Al-Nassr finished third in the West group behind fellow Saudi Arabian clubs Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal. The top eight advance from each of the two 12-team groups, divided into eastern and western geographic zones.
Al-Ahli beat Al-Gharafa of Qatar 4-2 with former Premier League players Ivan Toney, Riyad Mahrez and Roberto Firmino all scoring, along with Brazilian winger Galeno.
Also, Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan defeated Qatar’s Al-Sadd 2-1 to move into the second round.


Alcaraz beats Cilic in straight sets to advance at Qatar Open

Alcaraz beats Cilic in straight sets to advance at Qatar Open
Updated 18 February 2025
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Alcaraz beats Cilic in straight sets to advance at Qatar Open

Alcaraz beats Cilic in straight sets to advance at Qatar Open
  • Alcaraz will play either Zhang Zhizhen of China or Italy’s Luca Nardi next

DOHA, Qatar: Top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz overcame Croatian veteran Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-4 Monday to reach the round of 16 at the Qatar Open.
The 36-year-old Cilic, the 2014 US Open champion who has fallen to No. 192 in the rankings, was playing his first match of the season after recovering from a long-term knee injury. The Croatian led 4-3 and 0-40 on Alcaraz’s serve in the second set, but the Spanish four-time major winner managed to recover and then broke in the next game.
“I am just really happy that I stayed calm at that moment, breathing, going through my routines, making good points,” Alcaraz said. “That’s why I was able to win in two sets.”
Alcaraz will play either Zhang Zhizhen of China or Italy’s Luca Nardi next.
Earlier, seventh-seeded Grigor Dimitrov lost 6-4, 6-4 to Jiri Lehecka.
Also on Monday, eighth-seeded Jack Draper beat Alexei Popyrin 6-2, 7-6 (4) to set up a meeting with another Australian, Christopher O’Connell.
Several other top players will play their first matches on Tuesday.
Second-seeded Alex de Minaur will face Roman Safiullin. Novak Djokovic, who had to pull out of his Australian Open semifinal with a hamstring injury, will take on Matteo Berrettini.
Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev and Stefano Tsitsipas will also play on Tuesday.


Barcelona returns to top of La Liga with 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano

Barcelona returns to top of La Liga with 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano
Updated 18 February 2025
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Barcelona returns to top of La Liga with 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano

Barcelona returns to top of La Liga with 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano
  • The defeat ended Rayo nine-game unbeaten streak that stretched back to Dec 7

BARCELONA, Spain: Barcelona returned to the top of the Spanish league on goal difference on Monday after Robert Lewandowski’s first-half penalty secured a 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano.
The Catalan club took advantage of weekend slip-ups by Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid to move onto 51 points, the same as Madrid and a point clear of Atlético.
Madrid drew 1-1 at Osasuna on Saturday and Atletico was held by the same score at home by Celta Vigo.
Barcelona took the lead after 27 minutes when Pathe Ciss brought down Íñigo Martínez in the box, and a penalty was awarded after a video review. Lewandowski sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot.
Both sides had chances to score after that.
Augusto Batalla saved well from Lamine Yamal, who was playing the 100th game of his career, while at the other end Jorge De Frutos had the ball in the net for Rayo only to see it ruled out for offside.
De Frutos was always dangerous for Rayo but as the game went on the home side took control as it extended its unbeaten run to 12 matches.
The defeat ended Rayo nine-game unbeaten streak that stretched back to Dec 7.


Pakistan win bronze at 22nd Asian Junior Squash Team Championships

Pakistan win bronze at 22nd Asian Junior Squash Team Championships
Updated 17 February 2025
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Pakistan win bronze at 22nd Asian Junior Squash Team Championships

Pakistan win bronze at 22nd Asian Junior Squash Team Championships
  • Republic of Korea made national sporting history as their men’s team won the tournament for the first time
  • In women’s event, Hong Kong ended Malaysia’s decade of dominance by claiming title for first time in 14 years

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan team has won a bronze medal at the 22nd Asian Junior Squash Team Championships held in Hong Kong, state media reported on Monday.

The Asian Junior Team Championships have been held biennially since 1983.

“South Korea secured the gold medal while Malaysia got silver,” Radio Pakistan reported. “Pakistan and India won bronze medals.”

The Republic of Korea made national sporting history as their men’s team won the tournament for the first time, while in the women’s event, hosts Hong Kong ended Malaysia’s decade of dominance by claiming the title for the first time in 14 years.

Prior to Sunday’s conclusion at Hong Kong Squash Center, Republic of Korea had never reached the final of the Asian Junior Team Championships.

Completing the medals in the men’s event were No.6 seeds Pakistan, who beat No.5 seeds Japan in the quarterfinals but lost to Republic of Korea in the semis, and No.4 seeds India, who upset hosts Hong Kong, China in the quarter-final before losing out to Malaysia in the semis.

Completing the medals in the women’s event were No.3 seeds India and No.5 seeds Singapore, with India finishing second in Pool B after comprehensive wins over China, Macau – China, and Mongolia, before losing out to the hosts in the semifinals, and Singapore coming second in Pool A after wins over No.4 seeds Republic of Korea as well as Sri Lanka and Chinese Taipei before eventually exiting to Malaysia in the last four.