Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson has made his case to be India’s first-choice wicketkeeper at the T20 World Cup, the team’s director of cricket Kumar Sangakkara has said.

Samson has been named in India’s 15-member squad as wicketkeeper-batsman alongside Delhi Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant, who has also impressed in the Indian Premier League after his return to cricket following a horror car crash.

He smashed 86 off 46 balls on Tuesday but the knock went in vain, with the Capitals winning by 20 runs at home.

Samson has been in prime form with 471 runs in 11 matches and Tuesday’s match was his fifth half-century of the season.

Sangakkara played down the Pant versus Samson debate in the post-match press conference but made his choice clear.

“It’s really up to Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma and how they see the combination,” Sangakkara told reporters.

“But he has made his case, so hopefully he’ll have a good run in the World Cup.”

Samson has been an understated leader of his team, who are all but through to the playoffs with eight wins in 11 matches, and is third in the batting list behind Virat Kohli (542) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (541).

REST AND RECOVERY

Pant, who has been lauded for his glovework and batting after recovering from his crash in December 2022, is also among the top 10 batsmen with 413 runs from 12 matches.

“With Sanju, the biggest thing about this season for him is having a lot of clarity about the way he should bat,” former Sri Lanka wicketkeeper-batsman Sangakkara said.

“There are certain stages of the game that he seems to lose a bit of concentration, which we’ve addressed from past seasons,” he added.

“He’s changed his mindset about the importance of rest and recovery, rather than just training all the time and being tired mentally and physically.”

This year is Samson’s first in a World Cup squad and Sangakkara said he is a team man.

“He’s a special player and when he’s fresh and focused there’s nothing he can’t do,” said Sangakkara.

Rejuvenated fast bowler Mohammad Amir said he has “unfinished work” at next month’s T20 World Cup, 15 years after dazzling as a teenager when Pakistan last lifted the trophy.

The 32-year-old, who was jailed for spot-fixing in 2011, came out of retirement last month and is grateful to have another crack at the World Cup.

“It’s a great feeling to be playing for Pakistan again,” Amir told AFP by phone from Lahore this week ahead of the tournament in the United States and the West Indies beginning on June 2.

“I want to complete the unfinished work and, for me, the short-term goal is to win the World Cup.”

The young Amir impressed in all formats after breaking into the Pakistan side in 2009 and playing at the T20 World Cup.

Within a year he was one of the hottest young talents in cricket, but his precocious career then crashed to an infamous halt in 2010.

Amir was one of three Pakistan players banned from cricket for five years for spot-fixing during a test match in England after being caught in a newspaper sting. He was later jailed in the UK for six months.

Pakistan captain Salman Butt, who was deemed the ringleader, and fellow quick bowler Mohammad Asif were also banned and the pair were jailed for 30 and 12 months respectively.

Amir returned after his ban to play for Pakistan in 2016 but announced a shock retirement in December 2020 after poor form kept him from being selected.

He will form a potent pace bowling attack with spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf that sees Pakistan ranked among the World Cup favourites.

“The Pakistan Cricket Board and the team management have shown trust in me so I have to fulfil that trust,” said Amir.

“I have come back after four years and when you play for your country the feeling cannot be described.”

Amir played three of the four T20 home matches against New Zealand last month, taking three wickets in a 2-2 drawn series, and said he felt part of the attack again.

“To be honest I felt fitter than in 2019 and until you are fit you cannot express yourself, so I am ready to do better and better,” said Amir.

He will be in action when Pakistan travel to Ireland for three T20s in Dublin on May 10, 12 and 14.

Pakistan then move to England to play the defending T20 world champions in Leeds (May 22), Birmingham (May 25), Cardiff (May 28) and London (May 30).

VILLAGE BOY TO HERO

Brought up in Changa Bangial village in Punjab province, some 60 kilometres from the capital Islamabad, Amir was determined to make his name in cricket after his five older brothers introduced him to playing.

He was picked out at the age of 15 by none other than great left-armer Wasim Akram at a fast bowling camp and within two years grew in height and overcame a stress fracture of the back.

Amir said now he only wanted to remember the good events in his career.

“The 2009 Twenty20 World Cup winning memories are special and excite me to this day,” said Amir, who took six wickets in seven matches in the tournament.

They included the prize dismissal of Sri Lanka opener Tillakaratne Dilshan – the player of the tournament – in Pakistan’s eight-wicket final victory.

“I was selected for the first time and then became part of a champion team.

“When I landed (back) at Rawalpindi airport to go to my village there were so many cars and they were showering flowers on me,” he recalled.

“I am lucky that I am still playing. When I came, I was the youngest in the team, so here I am having another chance to win the World Cup and that is the target for me and my team.”

Brian Masaba holds the honour of leading Uganda in their first appearance at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, with their 15-player squad locked in.

After stunning Zimbabwe and the African field in qualifying, the Cricket Cranes look ahead to Group C play, taking on co-hosts West Indies, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Afghanistan.

Masaba will be deputised by Riazat Ali Shah, and the skipper joins several Ugandans with over a decade’s experience in international cricket, underlined by 43-year-old Frank Nsubuga, who will be one of the oldest players in the tournament.

A cult hero in emerging cricket circles, Nsubuga’s squad selection caps off a life’s devotion to the game. He first represented Uganda in ICC events as a 17-year-old in the 1997 ICC Trophy, a pathway event on the road to Cricket World Cup 1999.

Fast-forward 25 years, Nsubuga made headlines, taking a sprawling catch approaching the boundary in a Cricket World Cup Challenge League match against Kenya in 2022.

He’s not the only Ugandan player to turn heads in recent times, with spin-bowling allrounder Alpesh Ramjani ready to continue in the same form that led to his nomination for 2023 ICC Men’s T20I cricketer of the Year.

One of several notable allrounders in the squad, Ramjani claimed the most T20I wickets in men’s cricket last year, 55 of them at an economy of under five an over. Fellow left-arm orthodox spinner and squad member Henry Ssenyondo also comes off a strong 2023, taking 49 wickets in the same period.

Riazat Ali Shah and Dinesh Nakrani are two notable aggressors with the bat, and the side also boasts U19 World Cup experience through youngster Juma Miyaji, who played in the 2022 event in the West Indies.

While it is the first time Uganda will take part in a senior men’s World Cup of any type, Uganda have been represented in a global event through the now-defunct East Africa team that took part in the 1975 Cricket World Cup. Samuel Walusimbi was the sole Ugandan player in the squad, featuring in three matches.

Uganda begin their T20 World Cup campaign on June 3 against Afghanistan in Guyana.

SQUAD: Brian Masaba (c), Simon Ssesazi, Roger Mukasa, Cosmas Kyewuta, Dinesh Nakrani, Fred Achelam, Kenneth Waiswa, Alpesh Ramjani, Frank Nsubuga, Henry Ssenyondo, Bilal Hassun, Robinson Obuya, Riazat Ali Shah (vc), Juma Miyaji, Ronak Patel.

RESERVE PLAYERS: Innocent Mwebaze, Ronald Lutaaya

Former India coach Ravi Shastri expects big-hitting Shivam Dube to set the T20 World Cup alight and says the 30-year-old batting allrounder will be key to India’s hopes of racking up big totals in the tournament next month.

Dube, who is also a handy medium pacer, has established himself as one of the most destructive middle-order batters in the IPL, the Chennai Super Kings player scoring 350 runs in 11 matches at a 170-plus strike rate this season.

Among the IPL’s Indian batters, only Abhishek Sharma has hit more sixes than Dube’s 26.

“Please watch out for (him), because he is explosive, he’s devastating and he’s a match-winner,” Shastri told the International Cricket Council website.

“He hits sixes for fun, and when it comes to spin bowling, he can kill you.”

Shastri said that while the left-handed batter is particularly effective against spinners he had nailed down his batting approach against pace.

“He’s understood the way to play and I think he holds the key at that No 5-six position because if you’re in the doldrums, you want someone to change it in 20-25 balls, he’s the player to go to,” he added.

The strike rate of India’s top order, which includes skipper Rohit Sharma and stalwart Virat Kohli, has been something of a concern and a fiery middle-order could be crucial to India’s hopes of winning a second T20 World Cup title.

Shastri has high hopes for opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and said the presence of Dube in the middle order could help India post the big totals needed to win a major tournament.

“His strike rate, which will be close to 200 most of the time, will help India immensely in going forward, getting those 190s, 200s that are needed in big competitions, especially like the World Cup,” he added.

India will also be encouraged by Suryakumar Yadav’s form heading into the World Cup after his 51-ball hundred secured victory for the Mumbai Indians against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday.

Suryakumar, the top-ranked batter in T20 internationals, is playing his first tournament since recovering from an ankle injury and a sports hernia operation.

India will be counting on Ravindra Jadeja’s all-round brilliance in the T20 World Cup in June and the Chennai Super Kings player looks in fine fettle as he produced a match-winning performance in Sunday’s Indian Premier League match against Punjab Kings.

The 35-year-old is India’s premier spin-bowling allrounder, apart from being a gun fielder, and will be expected to play a key role in the T20 showpiece in the United States and West Indies, where the ball is likely to turn.

Against Punjab in Dharamsala, Jadeja top-scored for Chennai with a breezy 43 and then returned to claim 3-20 to help the defending champions climb to third place after their sixth win in 11 matches.

“It was a day game, so the wicket was slow,” man of the match Jadeja said of his batting approach in a low-scoring contest.

“We did well in the (batting) powerplay, but then we couldn’t build partnerships. We wanted to build partnerships, so in the last four-five overs, we could score quickly.”

With the ball, Jadeja dismissed Punjab’s topscorer Prabhsimran Singh, skipper Sam Curran and Ashutosh Sharma as Chennai, having posted 167 for nine, restricted Punjab to 139 for nine.

JADEJA’S IMPACT

It was the seventh time Jadeja bowled his full quota of four overs this season and Chennai have won five of those matches.

“During the powerplay, the wicket always looks flat but as the ball gets a little old, the ball doesn’t come on to the bat,” the left-arm spinner said of his bowling.

“We felt we were 15-20 runs short but we bowled well in the powerplay and middle overs, didn’t bowl loose balls.”

Kolkata Knight Riders beat Lucknow Super Giants on Sunday to top the points table though Rajasthan Royals, behind only on net run-rate, have played one match fewer.

Co-hosts USA announced on Friday their 15-player squad for the T20 World Cup, which includes former New Zealand ODI World Cup runner-up Corey Anderson.

The 33-year-old allrounder played for New Zealand in the 2015 World Cup final defeat against Australia.

He last played for New Zealand in 2018 and, after becoming eligible to represent USA Cricket, made his debut last month in a T20 win against Canada.

Wicketkeeper batsman Monank Patel will captain the side, which features paceman Ali Khan, offspinner Milind Kumar, Aaron Jones and Andries Gous.

The US’s highest run-scorer Steven Taylor and most-capped player Saurabh Netravalkar will also take part.

The 2024 edition of the T20 World Cup will take place in the USA and the West Indies from June 1 to 29.

The USA will play the opening match of the tournament against Canada, before facing Pakistan, India and Ireland in the league stages.

USA SQUAD: Monank Patel (captain), Aaron Jones (vice-captain), Andries Gous, Corey Anderson, Ali Khan, Harmeet Singh, Jessy Singh, Milind Kumar, Nisarg Patel, Nitish Kumar, Noshtush Kenjige, Saurabh Nethralvakar, Shadley Van Schalkwyk, Steven Taylor, Shayan Jahangir.

Shamar Joseph, who made a stunning start to his test career against Australia earlier this year, was named on Friday in the West Indies 15-man squad for the Twenty20 World Cup which takes place in the Caribbean and United States.

Pace bowler Joseph, a former security guard, has yet to play a T20 international but burst onto the scene in sensational fashion when he removed Steve Smith with his first ball in test cricket in January.

He went on to take 13 wickets in two tests against the Australians including a remarkable 7-68 to bowl West Indies to an unexpected victory in Brisbane.

“The situation of someone like Shamar Joseph, you really can’t question someone like him, we saw him in Australia. He ticked the boxes for us,” said Desmond Haynes, director of West Indies Cricket.

Still just 24, Joseph has only played three first-class T20 matches, his most recent for the Lucknow Super Giants against Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League last month when his four overs disappeared for 47 runs.

There is no place in the squad, however for Sunil Narine, who was playing for Kolkata in that match.

The 35-year-old allrounder, who has been in great form in the IPL, announced his international retirement in 2023, four years after he last played a T20 for the West Indies, and has resisted all solicitations to return to the fray.

Shimron Hetmyer returns to the squad, which is skippered by Rovman Powell, after missing the T20I series against Australia.

He has been in good nick in the ongoing IPL with the Rajasthan Royals, scoring 83 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 184.44 while playing the finisher’s role.

Hetmyer was axed from the squad for the last T20 World Cup in Australia in 2022 after missing his flight.

Kyle Mayers, who was part of the squad during the Australia series, was omitted as the West Indies opted for a lower-order batsman over an opener.

“We had a very long discussion with the situation of the batting line-up,” said Haynes.

“It was some very close decisions, regarding the selection of Kyle Mayers and Shimron Hetmyer – but we looked at who we wanted as the extra batter batting down the order.”

The Windies boast a plethora of big hitters and allrounders, including Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Hetmyer, Powell, Jason Holder, Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd.

With pace bowler Oshane Thomas left out of the squad, the bowling attack will be led by vice-captain Alzarri Joseph with the support of Shamar Joseph.

Akeal Hossain and Gudakesh Motie form the spin-bowling department.

Part of Group C alongside Afghanistan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Uganda, the two-time champions kick off their campaign on June 2 against PNG in Guyana.

SQUAD: Rovman Powell (captain), Alzarri Joseph, Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd

A record stand between Clive Madande and Wellington Masakadza helped Zimbabwe recover from an early collapse to make 124 against Bangladesh in Friday’s opener of their Twenty20 series in Chittagong.

The visitors were 41 for seven before the duo put on 75 runs for Zimbabwe’s highest eighth-wicket partnership.

Taskin Ahmed bowled Madande for 43 off 39 balls to break the stand, but Masakadza (34) stayed at the crease until he was run out off the last ball of the innings.

Put into bat first, Zimbabwe lost Craig Ervine for a duck in the second over.

Mohammad Saifuddin then forced debutant fellow opener Joylord Gumbie (17) to give a catch to Taskin at fine leg.

Mahedi Hasan’s next over saw Brian Bennett run out for 16 and skipper Sikandar Raza suffered a first-ball duck off consecutive deliveries.

Taskin also sent back Sean Williams and Ryan Burl for nought off back-to-back deliveries in the following over, and Saifuddin dismissed Luke Jongwe for two.

Madande was given leg-before off Saifuddin on 28 but the decision was reversed after review.

The series is Bangladesh’s last before next month’s T20 World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States and West Indies.

Bangladesh: Liton Das, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Tawhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah Riyad, Jaker Ali Anik, Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam

Zimbabwe: Joylord Gumbie, Craig Ervine, Brian Bennett, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza (capt), Clive Madande, Ryan Burl, Luke Jongwe, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani

Umpires: Masudur Rahman (BAN), Tanvir Ahmed (BAN)

TV Umpire: Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid (BAN)

Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)

The mountain of runs being scored in the Indian Premier League (IPL) shows Twenty20 cricket is changing and bowlers must move with the times or be left behind, New Zealand paceman Tim Southee said.

Records have tumbled in the IPL this season, with Sunrisers Hyderabad twice scoring the highest totals and Punjab Kings pulling off the biggest successful run-chase last week by mowing down a target of 262 set by Kolkata Knight Riders.

The frenetic scoring has left bowlers with few places to hide and raised concerns about the sport’s balance between bat and ball ahead of next month’s T20 World Cup in the United States and the Caribbean.

“It’s forever changing, and we’re even seeing in the last few weeks in India that it’s changing again,” Southee told New Zealand media.

“You have to change as a bowler, especially. You have to move with the times, and if you don’t you get left behind.

“As a spectacle, it’s exciting.

“As a bowler, I’d like it to come back in our favour a little bit more. But I hope that people are enjoying watching cricket.”

Southee was named in his seventh T20 World Cup squad this week, joining fellow old stagers Trent Boult and Kane Williamson.

New Zealand will rely on their usual strength in pace bowling at the tournament, with quicks Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson included along with medium pacer Daryl Mitchell.

Neighbours Australia have also stuck with their pace stalwarts while adding a second specialist spinner in Ashton Agar in their 15.

Australia captain Mitchell Marsh hoped conditions in the Caribbean and the US might give bowlers some relief from the kind of batterings seen recently in India.

“Some of the scores in the IPL have been incredible,” the allrounder told reporters in Perth, shaking his head with a rueful laugh.

“I’m not sure I’ll be lining up to bowl in the future over there.

“But the game’s evolving, the game’s moving forward. Teams are going harder in the powerplay.

“We’ll play as we see it.”

Under-fire Hardik Pandya was a vital element of India’s Twenty20 World Cup campaign, chief selector Ajit Agarkar said on Thursday, defending the star allrounder’s inclusion after a patchy IPL season.

Pandya was named as vice-captain earlier this week for next month’s showpiece 20-over tournament, jointly hosted by the United States and West Indies, with veteran Rohit Sharma leading the squad.

He replaced Rohit as captain of Mumbai Indians in this year’s Indian Premier League but has been relentlessly booed by crowds after failing to match the form of his popular successor.

“He’s come after a long-ish layoff… The hope is that he keeps building on that form,” Agarkar said.

“We know what he brings, how much balance he gives to the team. I don’t think there’s a replacement for the things that he can do as a cricketer at the moment, especially when it comes to the way he bowls,” he added.

“It will give Rohit options to play different combinations.”

The tournament will mark the return of wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant for his first international matches since a horror car crash 16 months ago, after impressing with his reinstatement as Delhi Capitals captain in the IPL.

Fellow wicketkeeper KL Rahul was left out to make way for Pant, with Agarkar stressing the need for the squad to retain more middle-order batting options.

“KL is a terrific player. We all know that. The thing we are obviously looking at is guys who bat in the middle,” Agarkar said.

At the moment, KL is batting at the top… Rishabh is batting at five for Delhi,” he added.

“That was more the thinking. It wasn’t whether K.L. is better or these guys are better. It’s about the slots that we needed.”

India begin their World Cup campaign against Ireland in New York on 5 June.

Ten cricket pitches have completed their journey up the East Coast of the United States from Florida to New York state and are being installed in a new stadium built for next month’s T20 World Cup.

The “drop in pitches” have been prepared in Florida since December and were recently transported by 20 trailer trucks up the I-95 highway to the venue in Long Island.

The surfaces, which will soon be used for games including the highly-anticipated clash between cricket giants India and Pakistan, were developed by Australian Damian Hough, curator of the Adelaide Oval.

Winter conditions in New York meant that the grass needed to be grown in the warmer climate of Florida before being transported and installed.

Hough said the journey from the base in Boynton Beach, Florida, to Nassau County in New York state, took over 24 hours, with regular stops for checks and hydration of the grass.

“From a turf perspective, we made sure that there was no weather or elements getting on them with regards to wind or rain. They’ve come through, the ones we’ve received so far, we couldn’t be happier, they’ve come through with flying colors,” Hough said.

LOGISTICAL CHALLENGE

The condition of a cricket pitch, also known as a wicket or track, has a crucial bearing on the game, impacting the speed and bounce of the ball and the degrees of spin or movement off the seam of the ball that can be utilised by bowlers.

Chris Tetley, head of events for the International Cricket Council – organisers of the World Cup that will be co-hosted by the United States and several Caribbean nations – said the pitch production had been a huge logistical challenge for the companies involved.

“It’s been an impressive piece of logistics that has gone into moving 10 pitches, on 20 trucks, plus backup trucks, with the route planning, the timing through, I can’t remember how many different states,” Tetley said.

“The permissions to take out agricultural materials through different states, traffic considerations, timing over bridges and we wanted to make sure the trays are out of the ground for as short a time as possible – extremely, extremely impressive,” he added.

The temporary 34 000 capacity stadium at Eisenhower Park has already been built with stands and hospitality areas already in place and the outfield has been put in place.

Hough said the surface is likely to be a typical of the kind used for T20 matches, where fans expect to see big shots from the batsmen.

“Our ambition is to produce pitches along the lines where they’re good quality pitches, minimal spin, minimal seam and ball coming onto the bat and let the players play the shot,” he said.

The first World Cup game at the venue will feature Sri Lanka v South Africa on June 3 but organisers are planning some test events before then.

WORLD CLASS FACILITIES

Much of the material for the stands has been taken from Formula One motor racing and will be dismantled after the end of the World Cup.

But the international standard playing surface will remain in place with the possibility of it being used for local cricket.

“The physical structures we have installed will go away, the park will be returned to grassland, but with the legacy of a world class cricket field,” said Tetley.

“There is also the training facility that we have developed so the cricket community is going to end up with some world class facilities to utilize.

“As to what happens to the space in the future, that really depends on the local cricket community, Nassau County and USA Cricket as to what they want to do with it. It is there, it is available,” he said.

Cricket remains a fringe sport in the United States but is avidly followed by immigrant communities, particularly from the Indian subcontinent and the Caribbean.

Last year, a new T20 tournament was launched, Major League Cricket, which was held near Dallas, Texas, at a converted minor-league baseball park.

The Grand Prairie venue will also host World Cup games, as will the country’s first international standard venue in Lauderhill, South Florida.

Major League Cricket has attracted a number of international players, with former Australia captain Steve Smith recently signing up to play for Washington Freedom in this year’s edition which starts in July.

Afghanistan have packed six allrounders, including captain Rashid Khan, in their 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup in the United States and West Indies in June.

Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, and the wicketkeeping duo of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Mohammad Ishaq were the only four frontline batters in the squad unveiled on X on Tuesday night.

Afghanistan will hope the presence of allrounders Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat and Nangeyalia Kharote will add depth to their batting.

Mujeeb-ur-Rahman and Noor Ahmad will join Rashid and Nabi in Afghanistan’s formidable spin attack, which is likely to be key to their performance in the 20-team tournament.

Top-order batter Hashmatullah Shahidi, who led Afghanistan in the 50-overs World Cup in India last year, did not make the squad.

Afghanistan begin their Group C campaign against Uganda on June 3. The top two teams from the group, which also include New Zealand and West Indies, will advance to the Super 8 stage.

Afghanistan squad: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Ishaq, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (captain), Nangyal Kharoti, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad Malik

Reserves: Sediq Atal, Hazratullah Zazai, Saleem Safi

Former captain Steve Smith and rising talent Jake Fraser-McGurk were notable omissions as Australia named their T20 World Cup squad on Wednesday.

Allrounder Mitchell Marsh will captain the side, while veteran opening batsman David Warner has been picked for what is shaping as his final international tournament.

“Mitchell has been an exemplary player and leader within the group for a long period of time,” said Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird.

Test skipper Pat Cummins, paceman Mitchell Starc and explosive batting allrounder Glenn Maxwell are among the experienced players in the 15-man squad, with 11 having taken part in the 2021 T20 World Cup-winning campaign.

Selector George Bailey said there had been “long conversations” about whether to include talismanic batsman Smith in the side, following a dip in his limited-overs form.

Bailey said selectors would be keeping a close eye on the 22-year-old Fraser-McGurk, who has been in rampant batting form for the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League.

“Ultimately the balance of the final 15 needs to provide the best chance of being successful in this campaign,” Bailey said.

The Twenty20 World Cup will be played in the United States and West Indies in June.

Australia squad for T20 World Cup:

Mitchell Marsh (capt), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa

Rishabh Pant was named on Tuesday in India’s squad for the T20 World Cup in June, his first return to international cricket after a horror car crash 16 months ago.

The 26-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman has impressed with his return to elite cricket this year, scoring 398 runs from 11 games in the ongoing Indian Premier League.

He will be among a 15-member squad headed to the United States and West Indies for the tournament starting June 1.

Rohit Sharma will lead the side with under-fire vice-captain Hardik Pandya, with veteran wicketkeeper K.L. Rahul making way for Pant’s return.

Pant had termed his comeback to the game as “nothing short of a miracle” after a road crash in December 2022, when his Mercedes rammed into a barrier, flipped and caught fire near New Delhi.

“The kind of accident I had, I’m lucky to be alive,” he said in December.

“I think it was very challenging, especially the first part I would say more from a physical point of view… there was a lot of pain to be endured.”

The crash left him with a damaged ligament in his right knee, a hurt wrist and ankle, and abrasions to his back.

He fought back after an intensive rehabilitation programme and time on crutches at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.

Pant was reinstated as captain of Delhi Capitals for the ongoing season after Australia opener David Warner led the team in his absence last year.

His first match back earned him a standing ovation from the crowd after a 51 off 32 balls.

Pant has played for India a total of 129 times in all three formats since 2017.

 ‘GOING TO CHEER HIM’

Batting mainstay Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav and have also been named to the squad, while Shubman Gill was among four reserves.

Star allrounder Pandya is coming back into the T20 team after an ankle injury sustained during last year’s ODI World Cup at home forced him to sit out the Afghanistan series in January.

Pandya has struggled with consistency in a tough IPL so far after he replaced veteran Rohit Sharma as captain of Mumbai Indians.

He has been relentlessly booed by the crowd during his appearances after failing to match the form of his resoundingly popular successor, prompting frustration from the Mumbai camp.

“I am sick and fed up of (people) looking to pinpoint individuals,” batting coach Kieron Pollard said after one instance this month.

“This is an individual that is going to represent the country in less than six weeks’ time, and all are going to cheer him and want him to do well.”

SQUAD: Rohit Sharma (capt), Hardik Pandya (vice-capt), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.

RESERVES: Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan

Paceman Jofra Archer was Tuesday recalled to England’s squad for the defence of their T20 World Cup crown after a year out of action.

The 29-year-old, who has endured a string run of injuries since his international breakthrough in 2019, has not played competitive cricket for a year following a right elbow injury.

But he has been passed fit and takes his place in a 15-man squad that will defend the title Jos Buttler’s side won in Australia in 2022 at the tournament in West Indies and the United States.

The squad is officially deemed “provisional” but with just 24 hours until the International Cricket Council’s deadline and no reserve players named, only further fitness setbacks will stop Archer making his long-awaited comeback.

Archer has managed just 15 T20 appearances for England since making his international debut five years ago, but is still considered a potential game-changer in the format.

He grew up in Barbados so is knowledgable about Caribbean conditions.

Veteran seamer Chris Jordan returns to the squad alongside uncapped spinner Tom Hartley but there is no place for Chris Woakes, a World Cup winner in both the 20-over and 50-over formats.

The squad will fly to the Caribbean on May 31 ahead of their opening group match against Scotland in Barbados on June 4.

The squad will also take on Pakistan in a four-match T20 series starting in Leeds on May 22.

ENGLAND T20 WORLD CUP SQUAD

Jos Buttler (capt, wk), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, Mark Wood

White-ball head coach Rob Walter on Tuesday announced the 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 to be played in the USA and West Indies from 1 – 29 June.

Aiden Markram will lead the side in what will be his first World Cup assignment since being named T20 International (T20I) captain.

The squad includes two uncapped T20I players – DP World Lions batter Ryan Rickelton and Hollywoodbets Dolphins fast bowler Ottniel Baartman.

Rickelton finished as the leading run-scorer of the second edition of the Betway SA20 with 530 runs at an average of 58.88 for MI Cape Town, while Baartman took 18 wickets in eight matches for defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape and is currently with Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Delhi Capitals.

The team will also benefit from the expertise of batters Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller and the promising Tristan Stubbs.

Leading the pace attack will be Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje supported by Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee.

Other notable selections include three front-line spinners in CSA T20 Challenge winning captain Bjorn Fortuin, Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi.

Pace pair Nandre Burger and Lungi Ngidi have been named as the travelling reserves.

“Firstly, I want to congratulate all the players that have made the cut,” coach Rob Walter said.

“Selecting this group was extremely tough considering the amount of T20 cricket that has been played recently and the form that has been on show. I want to congratulate the two uncapped players, Ryan and Ottniel, on their selection.

“We have seen some incredible performances from our players in 2024 and that made my job very tough indeed. I am nonetheless proud and confident that we have named the strongest possible squad that no doubt has every chance of success in the West Indies and USA.”

Walter has also named a provisional squad for the preceding three-match T20I series against West Indies.

This group will change and have players added to it when management is aware of IPL player availability.

The provisional squad will assemble for a week-long camp from 13 – 17 May at the Centre of Excellence in Pretoria, with the final squad set to be announced prior to their departure on 18 May.

Walter added: “Our preparations for the tournament will start with a three-match T20I series against West Indies. For this tour we will unfortunately be without most of the players who are currently involved in the IPL.

“But it does provide an opportunity for others, especially those who excelled in the CSA T20 Challenge. A captain for the group will be finalised closer to the time.”

SA SQUAD FOR T20 WORLD CUP

Aiden Markram (captain, Momentum Multiply Titans), Ottniel Baartman (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Gerald Coetzee (Momentum Multiply Titans), Quinton de Kock (Momentum Multiply Titans), Bjorn Fortuin (DP World Lions), Reeza Hendricks (DP World Lions), Marco Jansen (Dafabet Warriors), Heinrich Klaasen (Momentum Multiply Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), David Miller (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Anrich Nortje (Dafabet Warriors), Kagiso Rabada (DP World Lions) Ryan Rickelton (DP World Lions), Tabraiz Shamsi (Momentum Multiply Titans) and Tristan Stubbs (Dafabet Warriors).

TRAVELLING RESERVES 

Nandre Burger (World Sports Betting Western Province) and Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans)

MANAGEMENT

Rob Walter (Head Coach), Khomotso Volvo Masubelele (Team Manager), Jean-Paul Duminy (Batting Coach), Eric Simons (Bowling Coach), Wandile Gwavu (Fielding Coach), Thomas Dawson-Squibb (Performance Coach), Runeshan Moodley (Strength and Conditioning Coach), Matthew Reuben (Performance Analyst), Sizwe Hadebe (Physiotherapist), Dr Konrad von Hagen (Team Doctor), Kyle Botha (Logistics and Masseur) and Lucy Davey (Media Manager).

SA T20I PROVISIONAL SQUAD AGAINST WEST INDIES  

Ottniel Baartman (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Matthew Breetzke (Dafabet Warriors), Bjorn Fortuin (DP World Lions), Reeza Hendricks (DP World Lions), Patrick Kruger (Dafabet Warriors), Wiaan Mulder (DP World Lions), Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Nqaba Peter (DP World Lions), Ryan Rickelton (DP World Lions), Andile Phehlukwayo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Tabraiz Shamsi (Momentum Multiply Titans) and Rassie van der Dussen (DP World Lions).

SOUTH AFRICA T20 WORLD CUP GROUP STAGE ITINERARY

Monday, 3 June – 10:30 (16:30 SAST)

Sri Lanka vs South Africa – Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York

Saturday, 8 June – 10:30 (16:30 SAST)

Netherlands vs South Africa – Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York

Monday, 10 June – 10:30 (16:30 SAST)

South Africa vs Bangladesh – Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York

Friday, 14 June – 19:30 (01:30 SAST)

South Africa vs Nepal – Arnos Vale Ground, St Vincent

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has unveiled the Proteas Men’s playing kit for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup which will be played in the West Indies and the USA from 1–29 June 2024.

The playing strip was revealed during the CSA T20 Challenge final between DP World Lions and Hollywoodbets Dolphins at DP World Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday.

The kit was produced in collaboration with CSA’s official technical partner Lotto Sport and is predominantly gold with contrasting bright green sleeves and collar. Paying homage to South Africa’s heritage, the national flag cuts across the shoulders, with the Protea flower subtly featuring on the torso.

South Africa is drawn in group D with Bangladesh, Nepal, Netherlands and Sri Lanka, who they begin their campaign against on 3 June at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York at 4:30pm CAT (GMT+2).

The kit is available for pre-order on https://cricket.co.za/shop/.

‘INSPIRATION AND AMBITION’

CSA Chief Executive Officer Pholetsi Moseki said: “Lotto Sport has delivered yet another world-class playing strip following the success of the 50-over World Cup design and we’re excited to see the Proteas don the new kit on the global stage at the T20 World Cup in June.

“In the game of cricket, every stitch and every seam on a jersey tells a tale; a tale of ambition, a tale of inspiration, a tale of hope woven in every victory and setback.

“We wanted to ensure the kit design embodied the Proteas Men’s journey thus far, as they stand on the verge of a new era. An era characterised by an unshakeable spirit of optimism, commitment, determination, and excellence,” said Moseki.

Lotto Sport South Africa CEO Yusuf Dockrat added: “It’s not just a jersey; it’s a symbol of unity, resilience, and the unwavering spirit of being South African. It embodies the essence of our winning nation, the sweat and determination of our athletes, and the dreams of every fan who has ever cheered for The Proteas.

“After the success of the ODI World Cup, we at Lotto Sport South Africa wanted to provide the same expert technology and comfort in support of The Proteas. The Jersey is designed to mould and fit each player individually to allow seamless movement for even the most aggressive shots.

“It has an ideal mix of comfort and technicality with ergonomic fit, light, and breathable mobility. Reflective elements in strategic areas allow maximum visibility in low light conditions,” said Docrat.

“As we unveil this masterpiece, with South African colours on display, we ignite a flame of pride that will burn bright on the global stage. Let this jersey be a beacon of hope, a symbol of our commitment to excellence, and a reminder that when we come together as one nation, there’s nothing we can’t achieve.”

“The stage is set, the jersey is unveiled, and our journey to glory begins now,” he concluded.

Australia captain Pat Cummins said his team had created their own legacy by winning the nation’s record-extending sixth one-day World Cup as players returned home from India on Wednesday.

Cummins’s team upset the hosts by six wickets in Sunday’s final in Ahmedabad, only months after beating the south Asians to claim their maiden World Test Championship.

The Australia skipper touched down in Sydney with teammates and was still glowing about their achievement.

“Every half an hour or so, you kind of remember that we just won the World Cup and get excited all over again,” Cummins told reporters at the airport.

“So, we’re still buzzing, it’s been an awesome couple of days, and I think we’ll be smiling for a fair while.

“I think they have created their own legacy,” Cummins added.

“I mean, a World Cup, you only get one chance every four years and especially playing someone like India, it’s hard.

“So, to be put up against the rest of the world and come away with a medal, that’s – it doesn’t get any better than that.”

Australia had to work their way back into the tournament after losing their opening matches against India and South Africa but were a juggernaut once they reached the semifinals.

Cummins said the squad had never doubted themselves, even after their rough start.

“You look back on now that we have won and you think: ‘Wow, everything came together,'” he added.

“But the belief never left, even at the start. We knew we hadn’t played our best but kind of knew once we clicked, we could take on anyone and it proved to be the case.”