T20 World Cup | India take knee, Pakistan keep hands on their hearts to support fight against racism

SL vs BAN | Shakib Al Hasan overtakes Shahid Afridi to become leading wicket-taker in T20 World Cups

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan became the leading wicket-taker in the history of T20 World Cups as he dismissed Pathum Nissanka of Sri Lanka in the 15th match of the T20 World Cup 2021. Tied at 39 wickets after picking four wickets against Papua New Guinea, Shakib was brought in by the skipper Mahmudullah in the powerplay itself. But then he gave away five runs without picking any wicket. But on his second coming in the ninth over, not only did Shakib break a dangerous-looking 69 run stand between Nissnaka and Charith Asalanka but in the same over also removed another Sri Lankan batter in Avishka Fernando for nought to bring the Tigers back into the contest. So far, Shakib has taken 11 wickets in this tournament. The Bangladesh side started the defence of their 171 runs in a geat style as World Cup debutant Nasum Ahmed removed experienced Sri Lanka opener, Kusal Perera, at the team score of only two runs in the very first over. But then Nissnaka and Asalanka brought the Lankan Lions back in the game with a 69 run stand in just 45 balls. At the time of writing this, the Sri Lankan team were struggling at 81-4 in the 11th over, needing 91 runs in 45 balls.

T20 World Cup | IND vs Pak: Hasan Ali recalls 2019 game when Rohit Sharma ruled Pakistan bowlers

In a video produced by the International Cricket Council before the big-ticket clash between India and Pakistan, Pakistan pacer Hasan Ali has narrated a story when he was left helpless and clueless by India’s opener Rohit Sharma. Hasan was narrating the incidences from the last game between the sides in the ODI World Cup 2019 when Rohit was in red-hot form and had put Pakistan bowler on the sword on the way to a big hundred. Hasan said that his shot selection and perfection in timing and add to that the hunger to go for the run even after competing a deserving century made him feel like asking the batsman as to what was he intending to do in that game. In that game, Rohit Sharam and KL Rahul had laid out a dominant platform with the bat at the top of the order and a flourishing finish by Virat Kohli ensured that India had big runs on the board. In reply, Pakistan were decent till the middle phase of the game, but as soon Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman were dismissed in quick succession, they collapsed to lose the rain-curtailed game by 89 runs as per Duckworth-Lewis Method. Hasan Ali will once again come up against the same trio of Rohit, Rahul and Kohli that had led the demolition job of the Pakistan bowling attack in that ODI world cup game in 2019. He will have to do rise to the occasion in the company of Shaheen Shah Afridi if Pakistan have to break the one-sided record of 0-13 against India in all world cup games and 0-5 in T20 world cup games.

Justin Langer looking to extend contract after getting 'full support' from players

Australia coach Justin Langer had come under scrutiny after there were reports of a dressing room rift earlier this year. But the former left-handed batsman has now said that he has “full support” of the players and would like to extend his contract after the Ashes which is scheduled to begin in December. "Yeah, I do" when he was asked whether he had the support from the players. “It's been an incredibly humbling experience," he added while talking to Sydney Daily Telegraph. "My experience in life is that often in the most humbling periods are the best periods for learning and growing and that's certainly the case for me and I'm sure you can feel it already within the team." Langer also mentioned about the chats he had with the two skippers, Tim Paine and Aaron Finch and also with Pat Cummins and insisted that the talks led to a greater level of trust. "They were honest, they were open and I really respect and admire the guys for that. It's actually led to a greater level of trust believe it or not." Australia are presently in UAE for the World T20 2021 and began the campaign with a win against South Africa by 5 wickets in Abu Dhabi. Despite chasing a small target of 119 runs, the Australian batters had to put up a fight to clinch the victory.

T20 World Cup | It's Pakistan's international experience vs India's individual familiarity of UAE

Team India are favourites in the T20 World Cup is a well-established fact and both the fans and experts deemed them the team to beat citing tier valuable experience of the conditions present in the UAE where they are scheduled to play most of their games. However, if their experience will be compared to their arch-rivals Pakistan, whom they will face in their tournament opener, they are well below on the list of teams to have played T20 internationals in the country. Among the Test-playing nations, India are the only side that have not played any international T20 games in the UAE while Pakistan are the most experienced international side in these conditions with having played as many as 36 games. However, although India, as a team, have not played any T20 international games in the UAE, the amount of experience they have had at the individuals level having played one and a half season of the Indian Premier League can’t be discounted one bit. Both India and Pakistan are firm favourites to qualify for the semi-finals of the tournament from Group 2 but Team India are the best team on paper to win the tournament, in the eyes of experts.