T20 World Cup 2021 | India knocked out of tournament as New Zealand thrash Afghanistan

Rashid Khan becomes fastest bowler to take 400 wickets in T20 cricket

Afghanistan leg spinner Rashid Khan became the fourth bowler after West Indians Dwayne Bravo, Sunil Narine and South Africa’s Imran Tahir to take 400 wickets in T20 cricket. T20 cricket takes into account all domestic league games along with international T20 matches. Rashid reached the milestone with the wicket of Martin Guptil which he took in Afghanistan’s Super 12 match against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup 2021. The 23-year-old has played only 288 games to reach the 400 mark and thereby has become the fastest to the 400 wickets landmark. Among the players ahead of him, Bravo has 553 wickets in 512 games, Narine has 425 wickets in 383 games and Tahir has played 334 games to pick up 420 wickets. Rashid, who is one of the most famous T20 players going around the world was also awarded the T20 player of the last decade by the International Cricket Council. As far as the game is concerned, New Zealand are 61-2 in the 10 overs, needing 64 from 59 balls to make sure that they reach the semi-finals of the World Cup.

Chris Gayle clears air on retirement plans, wishes to play farewell game in Jamaica

Chris Gayle was in a candid mood in the West Indies’ final game against Australia as he batted with the sunglass on and waved off the field after being dismissed by Pat Cummins. Later, he was involved in a very pleasant exchange with Mitchell Marsh after getting him caught out and left the world guessing if he was wearing the Windies jersey for the one last time. He had not announced anything like his teammates Dwayne Bravo who had announced his retirement from international cricket after that game and hence his antics on the filed left all of his fans and people involved in the game wondering. After the conclusion of the game, he was also seen signing on the lens of one of a camera where players retiring sign off that also fuelled the speculation of him hanging his boots. However, he announced later in a Facebook live chat with the ICC that it wasn’t his last game for the men in maroon and rather said that he would love to finish his “phenomenal career” in front of the home crowd in Jamaica. He said that he would just say “hey guys, thank you so much,” if given the chance to play his farewell game at the Sabina Park, Jamaica or else he would join Bravo. "It's been a phenomenal career," Gayle said in a Facebook Live chat with ICC after the match. "I didn't announce any retirement but [if] they actually give me one game in Jamaica to go in front of my home crowd, then I can say 'hey guys, thank you so much. Let's see. If not, I'll announce it long time and then I'll be joining DJ Bravo in the backend and say thanks to each and everyone but I can't say that as yet,” Gayle said. "I was just having some fun today," he said. "Put everything that happened aside. I was just interacting with the fans in the stand and just having some fun seeing as it's going to be my last World Cup game." He did not give up his candid style just yet and joked about playing another world cup while also admitting that chance of doing that looks remote at the moment. "But I don't think they will allow me,” Gayle said while joking about playing another world cup. West Indies came into the tournament being the defending champions but got knocked out in by the end of the Super 12 stage only due to lacklustre batting performances, one after another. They started their campaign on a horrible note against England and could not quite recover from that setback. Chris Gayle too did not shine bright with the bat and in fact contributed to the misery of the Windies in this edition of the T20 World Cup.

T20 World Cup 2021 | Mark Wood expects England to benefit from 'bump' against South Africa

In the 14-year-long history of the T20 World Cup, no side has ever won a championship unbeaten and hence, it was argued that the Eoin Morgan-led England were in for a loss somewhere in the Super 12 stage. They have been the best team of the tournament so far but they suffered a loss at the hands of South Africa who showed more firepower with the bat and incisiveness with the ball. South Africa batsmen were cautious at the start and did not throw their wickets in the powerplay, something that has been touted as England's biggest strength with the ball so far in the tournament. England pacer Mark Wood has emphasised exactly that point after their loss against SA and has argued that this should keep England grounded in the tournament. He said that although England would have loved to win all their games, the loss against would not come as a big setback. Instead, the defeat that he referred to as “bump” will compel England to iron out whatever chinks they have in their armour. "South Africa played really well - they only lost two wickets and we're not used to that - we're used to getting wickets in the powerplay and controlling the game from there. We were maybe off the pace, so we've got to work on things in training and be better next game. It's nice to be back, but it's better when you win." "It's a shame we've lost the game, that brings us down to earth with a bit of a bump," said Wood. "It keeps us grounded and we know we've got some stuff to work on. You never want to lose. We're not used to losing and usually when we do, we bounce back well. I think it's just a lesson that we've got plenty to work on. England are through to the semi-finals and will wait for the game between New Zealand and Afghanistan to end to find out who will their opponent be in the semi-final.

T20 World Cup | Justin Langer aware of Pakistan threat in semis; praises Babar Azam’s leadership

Australian coach Justin Langer acknowledged the fact that Pakistan, who the Aussies will most likely be facing in the semi-final are going to be a very tough opposition. He complimented the South Asian nation for the kind of balance they have developed in the side and was all praises for their leader Babar Azam. "They've got a good all-round team like we have, and they're well-led. Their captain, Babar Azam, is a superstar of the game. They've some good pace bowlers and they have a couple of good spinners, so they're a well-balanced side like we are, so it should be a great game of cricket," Langer said in the post-match press conference after Australia’s comprehensive victory against West Indies in their last group stage clash. Praising his players for their clinical showing in the last two games which pushed the Aussie run rate up despite the drubbing from England, Langer said, "It was brilliant again last night, I think our last few games have been outstanding cricket," "The boys have really stepped up. It was quite a sobering experience against England. We knew we had to do some work and the way the boys responded to that has been brilliant, so it's nice to be in the semi-final. You can't win it unless you're in the semi-final. It's nice to be sitting here, knowing we're in a semi-final on Thursday," he concluded. Australia were in a spot of bother with a resurgent South African side breathing down their neck. However, with South Africa failing to win big in their last Super 12 game, Australia were relatively under less pressure and just had to make sure that they get the two points against West Indies, however tight it came. Australia will now gear up to face Pakistan (in all probability) in the semi-finals, who remain the only team in the competition to have won all of their games. Pakistan play their final Super 12 game against Scotland on 7 November, Sunday.