- Cricket connoisseurs around the world would be excited that the International Cricket Council (ICC) chose to conduct the T20 World Cup jointly in the United States of America and the Caribbean Islands. Yes, the endeavor is to spread the reach of the game to the nook and corner of the world. We are aware of how cricket is played in a few countries and the ICC is leaving no stone unturned in its efforts to establish the spread of the sport to newer horizons. Astonishingly, it is revealed that cricket did make its presence felt in the USA in the 19th century but failed to kick off on expected lines. Baseball, Basketball, Football, and other sporting disciplines are more popular in the USA. Yes, cricket is taking fledgling steps to be counted among the others.
PC: NDTV Sports
- Now some of the Test-playing teams are usually considered as sure-shot teams to qualify for the next rounds. Take, for instance, the ongoing T20 World Cup has a Super 8 stage after the qualifying rounds. As you know, the qualifying rounds involving some of the Test-playing nations like India, Pakistan, and South Africa were carried out in the USA to attract patrons and develop interest in cricket. Of course, nothing gets bigger than an India and Pakistan contest not only attracting huge in-stadium fans but also garnering unprecedented eyeballs during the live coverage. Sponsors and broadcasters would not want to miss out on making hay while the sun shines. Yes, the diaspora spread around always makes the contest even more vibrant, lively, and engrossing.
- Now, the India-Pakistan match in the ongoing World Cup was billed as one of the biggest matches of the tournament itself. However, what turned out to be a thriller resulted in Team India winning the match by six runs in a low-scoring game. Coming into the contest, the Pakistani team was humbled by the minnows USA in one of the qualifying matches. The match was won by the USA in the super over stunning the Pakistani side. Since Team India won the keen contest, the Pakistani side failed to cross the second stage to reach the Super 8 thereby leaving the die-hard fans infuriated. Team India along with USA have moved into the next stage which will be held in the Caribbean Islands. The moot point to ponder over here is what went wrong for the Pakistan Team.
PC: ABP Live
- The cricketing world is aware of how unpredictable the Pakis can be. Over the years, we have witnessed some of the most thrilling contests involving the side coming up with logic-defying performances to subdue any opposition on their day. Conversely, they have also succumbed meekly to even minnow opposition without offering a semblance of contest leaving the die-hard fans frustrated. The mercurial Pakistani teams’ unpredictability goes beyond common cricketing sense to comprehend. Even some of the renowned cricket experts fail to decipher why the side simply folds up unexpectedly often. No wonder, the overhaul of the side is par for the course move and the authorities in Pakistan will be out with scalpels to address this glaring anomaly.
