Mitchell Marsh To Be Banned For Two Super 8 Matches Of T20 World Cup 2024? Shocking Details Emerge

Mitchell Marsh could face a ban (Twitter)

In a dicey move that could stir controversy, Australia’s T20 World Cup squad, led by Mitchell Marsh, finds itself walking a tightrope.

Josh Hazlewood's recent comments have stoked the flames of speculation, suggesting that Australia might subtly influence the outcome of their match against Scotland to potentially knock England out of the tournament.

Mitchell Marsh ban: Will the Australian captain get suspended for his tactics?

With strategies that could make or break fortunes, the team risks not only the wrath of fans and officials but also the potential suspension of their captain, Mitchell Marsh.

Australia clinched their spot in the Super Eight with a thumping victory over Namibia, yet it's the prospect of facing England again that has the Aussies playing the chessboard of cricket diplomacy.

England, a powerful opponent on their day, presents a roadblock Australia might prefer to avoid, according to Hazlewood. The fast bowler openly mused whether it was in their best interest—and perhaps the interest of others—to see England exit early.

"Whether you get close and you just knock it around and drag it out," said Hazlewood as he suggested how the Aussies could play the game.

However, the strategy comes with a serpent in paradise; manipulating match outcomes, even subtly through net run-rate adjustments, is a violation of the ICC’s code of conduct.

As per Article 2.11 of the ICC's code of conduct, a breach could see Marsh facing a suspension for upto two crucial Super Eight matches, a high price that could hamstring Australia’s title aspirations.

This isn't the first rodeo for Australia in terms of strategic gameplay; the ghost of the 1999 ODI World Cup looms large, where they famously slowed their batting against the West Indies to finagle a favourable position moving forward into the Super Sixes.

As the plot thickened, Josh Hazlewood hinted at various tactical options but stated the importance of maintaining momentum with straightforward wins.

"To take confidence from winning and winning well, I think that's almost more important than potentially trying to knock someone else out," added Hazlewood, recognizing that England still has hurdles to clear on its own.

Meanwhile, Namibia could disrupt all calculations with a surprise win against England in the T20 World Cup 2024. However, Namibian captain Gerhard Erasmus played it cool amid the brewing storm, focusing solely on upping his team’s game.

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