Author: Mishaal Mubarak

If Afghanistan have not yet realized the value of a high NRR, they will surely do so towards the terminus of the group stage. The colossal 125-run win against Uganda steered them to the top of the table. But worries have not completely left them. They are slated to face the team that has been the most successful in ICC events in the last decade; New Zealand. Since 2015, there have been six white ball ICC tournaments and the black caps have managed to reach at least the semi-finals in all. That, in a nutshell, is the state of New…

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh expecting to crack the whip on the back of their DIY rivalry Sri Lanka-Bangladesh is not the rivalry we wanted, but the rivalry we needed. But as of now, its also the rivalry that both teams need to supercharge themselves to survive in what is the toughest group of this World Cup edition. Sri Lanka, with a negative NRR and an empty points column, would know the value of getting a headstart more. They would not want to repeat what happened at Nassau County Stadium, now would they? 77 77-run target is not what you post…

They say DLS is a method to fairly calculate which team reigns supreme in a match affected by rain. But that game between Scotland and England is a testament to the fact that these mathematical formulas are often anything but fair. Smashing England for 90 runs without the loss of any wicket in start-stop 10 overs can not be brushed aside. And while the Scots could not savor an upset against their neighbors, the teams that have yet to face them need to be wary of the explosive batting skills that they possess. But even for the Scottish margin for…

Leading up to the World Cup, Pakistan played more matches than any team (barring Namibia) participating in this World Cup edition. You would think, having played 14 T20I matches, besides Pakistan Super League, Pakistan would have obtained answers to every question for the team. However, to no one’s surprise, the team is still on the outlook for solutions to their ever-increasing issues. The team’s opening conundrum might seem to have been resolved in the final T20I against England, but those who have stuck with this team through thick and thin (mostly thins) know that debate is just a few slow…

Last edition Australia were an utter disappointment in the T20 World Cup. Despite being the host, the Kangaroos had to suffer a group-stage exit which owes greatly to the opening game of their World Cup against New Zealand where they endured an 89-run defeat. Although they went on to win two more matches with ease, clinched one match from the jaws of Afghanistan, and saw a match getting abandoned due to rain, their knockout stage hopes were already over. But besides that disgraceful World Cup campaign, Australia have quite literally ruled the cricket World. They have the urn. They have…

Coming off a defeat against Afghanistan and West Indies, Uganda and PNG (respectively) would hope for the two points to somehow land in their kitty. Uganda was trounced by the Afghanistan team on Monday after they suffered a ginormous 125-run defeat, skyrocketing the Afghan team’s NRR and plunging theirs lower than even the wreck of Titanic. However, they would still feel they have a good chance against PNG because there is no other way to survive in this tournament teeming with beasts. To stay above the water level, for now, Uganda need to triumph over PNG at Providence on Wednesday.…

India currently top the ICC Team ranking charts in white-ball formats but boy does that matter? The Asian team has always been a beast in bilaterals but have not been able to mimic the same invincibility in ICC Tournaments. There has been an ICC trophy drought in India ever since they won the Champion Trophy in 2013 and naturally, debates revolving around it sneak in somehow before every major tournament. During the 2021 edition of the T20 World Cup, India’s performance was downright mortifying. Though the next edition saw them making it into the semis, the team was still not…

Group D has South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh besides the Netherlands and Nepal. Even if one of them withdrew from the tournament, got abducted by aliens, or forgot how to play cricket at all, the other two would march toward the Super 8s before letting the associates even move a muscle. The Netherlands and Nepal do not realistically (not mathematically, hypothetically, or miraculously) have a chance to make it to the next stage, given how tough this group is. It’s as if this group is set by default at the hard level of difficulty. However, T20 is known for…

Their ODI World Cup defense a few months ago was downright shambolic but the same can not be anticipated to happen this time too. Jos Butler’s side in T20Is is not a fluke. The players know what they have to do and when they have to do it. But this defense will not come without its challenges. The most significant aspect of this is its psychological side. After winning the trophy at the G, England lost 3 back-to-nack bilaterals. No offense to anyone, but these tours involved playing teams like Bangladesh and West Indies. It was only against Pakistan, just…

If Afghanistan want to get through to the Super 8s, they need to ensure two things. One, they do not fumble against the relatively easier sides in the Group and two, they put up a strong fight against the big guys including New Zealand and West Indies. Beating Uganda and PNG would be the first ray of hope for them as well as a bare minimum. In case they fail to register a victory in any of these games, they might as well pack their bags to head back because the damage would be irreparable after that. Uganda have reached…