Tony Govorko, the 53-year-old wicketkeeper for the Croatia cricket team has recently made headlines for his involvement with Melville United a Kiwi football club. Despite his cricketing commitments, Govorko also serves as a football goalkeeping coach for the club.

In today’s world cricket has gained popularity in countries where it wasn’t traditionally played. Even in nations with strong histories in sports like football and basketball, interest in cricket is on the rise. Tony Govorko originally from New Zealand, exemplifies this trend. He represents Croatia as their wicketkeeper, having played in four T20I matches, though scoring just 1 run.

From cricket fields to football pitches

Beyond cricket, Govorko dedicates his time to Melville United, where he has been coaching football goalkeeping since 2014. His dual roles highlight his passion for sports and commitment to both cricket and football.

Croatia is currently competing in the ICC T20 World Cup Europe qualifier, securing victories against teams like Serbia and Belgium. Govorko’s involvement underscores his dedication to sportsmanship and his contribution to Croatia’s cricketing journey.

While cricket isn’t as widely popular in Europe compared to sports like football, Govorko’s involvement with both sports could inspire more young athletes to explore cricket. His dedication and dual sporting roles may pave the way for increased European participation in cricket, traditionally dominated by Asian nations.

Sanath Jayasuriya will replace Chris Silverwood as Sri Lanka’s head coach just before the white-ball series against India. Jayasuriya, the interim head coach, steps in after Silverwood parted ways with the team following a disappointing ICC T20 World Cup.

Sri Lanka will play three T20 Internationals and three One Day Internationals (ODIs) against India, starting from July 27. At the T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka managed to win only one match, beating the Netherlands. They finished third in their group, behind South Africa and Bangladesh.

Jayasuriya takes over as head coach

Silverwood, who became head coach in April 2022, had an early success by leading Sri Lanka to victory in the T20 Asia Cup the same year. He also took the team to the final of the 50-over Asia Cup against India last year.

Jayasuriya’s impressive playing career

Jayasuriya is one of the most attacking batters in cricket history. Between 1991 and 2007, he played 110 Tests, scoring 6,973 runs at an average of 40.07, including 14 centuries and 31 fifties. In ODIs, he scored 13,430 runs at an average of 32.36 over 445 matches. Jayasuriya played a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s victory in the 1996 ODI World Cup.

Now, Jayasuriya is ready to lead the Sri Lankan team as head coach. Fans are hopeful that his experience and aggressive playing style will inspire the team to perform well against India. The upcoming series promises to be exciting, as two of Asia’s cricket giants face off.

Bangladesh cricket suffered a blow as pace bowler Ebadot Hossain has been ruled out from the upcoming T20 World Cup, dampening hopes of his return to international cricket after battling with injuries.

Ebadot Hossain’s Injury

Ebadot Hossain, known for his fiery pace and ability to trouble batters, faced a setback during Bangladesh’s home series against Afghanistan in July 2023. A collision with an umpire during bowling left him with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, putting his career on hold.

See Also: Venues confirmed for ICC ODI World Cup 2027 in South Africa

Confirmed Absence from T20 World Cup

Despite his aspirations to make a comeback for the T20 World Cup, Bangladesh Cricket Board’s chief physician, Debashish Chowdhury, confirmed Ebadot’s unavailability for the tournament. The news comes as a disappointment for both the players and fans alike.

Debashish said that there is no way for the right-arm pacer to make a comeback before the T20 World Cup. “No way (Ebadot can make a comeback before the World T20). We are not even thinking about it,” Debashish told Cricbuzz.

Ebadot’s Rehabilitation Efforts

Ebadot remained optimistic throughout his rehabilitation journey, expressing hope and determination to return to the field before the World Cup. However, despite his hard work and the support of the medical team, his recovery timeline doesn’t align with the global event.

Unfortunate Timeline of Injuries

Following his surgery, Ebadot faced a prolonged absence from competitive cricket. He missed several international series along with premier domestic tournaments like the Bangladesh Premier League and the ongoing Dhaka Premier League, further delaying his return to action.

“It does not go (his comeback) in that time frame (before the World Cup). It takes eight to 12 months but at least you need 10 months. He was operated in December, so it will be at least October when he can make a comeback. He can make a comeback a bit earlier but certainly not in the World T20,” Debashish said.

Expert Opinion on Ebadot’s Return

Debashish Chowdhury provided insights into Ebadot’s recovery timeline, stating that a comeback before the T20 World Cup is highly unlikely. Despite undergoing surgery in August of the previous year, the required recovery period would extend beyond the tournament dates.

Meanwhile, Debashish informed that they are hopeful that the injured duo of Soumya Sarkar and Taijul Islam are likely to be available before the home series against Zimbabwe.

On Tuesday, January 9th, Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami received the prestigious Arjuna Award from President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi, marking a significant recognition for his outstanding performances in 2023. Shami, a right-arm pacer, played a pivotal role in India’s success in both Tests and ODIs throughout the year.

Recognized as the 13th cricketer from India to receive the Arjuna Award since 2013, Mohammed Shami joined the ranks of cricket luminaries such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and MS Dhoni. His exceptional bowling in 2023 contributed significantly to India’s journey to the final of the ICC World Test Championship and the ICC World Cup.

Shami’s standout performances were particularly evident in ODIs, where he claimed an impressive 43 wickets in just 19 games. His remarkable bowling in the ICC World Cup 2023, where he emerged as the leading wicket-taker with 24 wickets in 7 games, played a crucial role in India’s formidable bowling attack during the tournament.

Expressing his gratitude for receiving the Arjuna Award, Shami deemed it the most significant achievement of his life. Reflecting on his journey from Amroha to Indian cricket, he emphasized his passion for the sport and the unwavering support of his family. Shami expressed his commitment to playing to the best of his abilities for the country whenever called upon.

Looking ahead, as India gears up for the T20 World Cup 2024, Shami, despite not featuring in T20Is since the 2022 World Cup, remains open to the possibility of representing the team. Acknowledging the uncertainty about his inclusion, he emphasized the importance of performing well in the IPL to build momentum. Shami affirmed his readiness to play if called upon by the team management.

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Following his absence from cricket post the ICC World Cup 2023 due to an ankle injury, Shami is set to make a comeback during the home Test series against England, commencing on January 25th. His return is eagerly anticipated, considering his formidable bowling prowess and its potential impact on India’s performance in upcoming tournaments.

On Friday, January 5, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the comprehensive schedule for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, marking the ninth edition of this prestigious competition overseen by the ICC.

Scheduled to take place in the Caribbean and the United States of America (USA) from June 1 to June 29, 2024, this edition will be historic as it marks the first time the USA will host an ICC World Cup tournament.

The tournament will feature a total of 20 teams from around the world, expanding from the 16 teams in the previous ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2022. Team qualifications were determined through various criteria, with automatic entries granted to the hosts and the top 8 teams from the previous T20 World Cup. Additionally, the next two highest-ranked teams in the T20 International Rankings earned automatic berths. The remaining teams had to navigate through regional qualifiers to secure their spots in the highly anticipated T20 World Cup.

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T20 World Cup 2024 Teams and Groups

Group A: India, Pakistan, Ireland, Canada, USA

Group B: England, Australia, Namibia, Scotland, Oman

Group C: New Zealand, West Indies, Afghanistan, Uganda, Papua New Guinea

Group D: South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Netherlands, Nepal

Certainly! Here’s a rewritten version of the GROUP STAGE SCHEDULE:

GROUP STAGE SCHEDULE:

The Group Stage Schedule for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 has been announced, promising an exciting lineup of matches across various venues. Below is the detailed schedule:

SUPER 8 SCHEDULE:

KNOCKOUTS SCHEDULE:

Namibia has solidified its position in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 by defeating Tanzania in a resounding victory, securing a berth in the prestigious tournament set to take place in the USA and the West Indies. The team’s remarkable performance against fellow African nation Tanzania resulted in a convincing 58-run win, marking their fifth consecutive triumph.

With a perfect track record, Namibia currently sits at the summit of the points table with 10 points, ensuring a top-two finish necessary for qualification to the upcoming T20 World Cup.The T20 World Cup, featuring a total of 20 teams, has already designated 12 teams, including Namibia, for participation.

As hosts, the West Indies and the USA have automatically qualified, while the top 8 teams, along with Afghanistan and Bangladesh, have also secured their spots. The competition for the remaining positions remains intense, with Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria still vying for qualification.

𝑸𝑼𝑨𝑳𝑰𝑭𝑰𝑬𝑫 👍

Namibia have booked their berth for Men's #T20WorldCup 2024 👏https://t.co/2VxDgDrCWJ

— ICC (@ICC) November 28, 2023

Namibia’s qualification for the T20 World Cup 2024 marks their third consecutive appearance in the prestigious event, having previously qualified in 2021 and 2022. Their journey in the qualifiers showcased a remarkable unbeaten run. The team initiated their campaign with a seven-wicket victory over Zimbabwe, followed by wins against Uganda, Rwanda (by the DLS method with a 68-run margin), Kenya, and the decisive triumph over Tanzania by 58 runs.

With the top two teams from each group advancing to the Super Eight phase, the T20 World Cup promises heightened competition. This edition marks the ninth installment of the tournament, with West Indies having claimed the title thrice and England twice. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Australia have each secured the championship once in the history of the T20 World Cup. Namibia’s consistent performance reflects their growing prowess in the international cricket arena as they prepare to compete on the global stage once again.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has been engaged with a few legal battles in court of late. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reminded the Board to remember Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that they are more than a month late in presenting a letter ensuring tax exemptions for facilitating the T20 World Cup in 2021 and the 50-over World Cup in 2023.

The BCCI, on its part, reminded the ICC that India are as of now amidst a lockdown and managing the Covid pandemic and that the letter can be issued later on as well.

“It (the letter) is not something earth-shattering, given what’s happening around us. In 2016, the letter for tax exemption was signed a month before the T20 World Cup began. Who signed it? It’s time to understand better what’s happened in the recent past,” 

Sources in the BCCI told The Times of India.

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Adding that the email exchanges between the two parties “haven’t been pretty”, the justification for this tension is likely going to be the upcoming ICC election. Current director Shasank Manohar is reaching the finish of his term and can look for a three-month extension for the seat comprehension of ICC’s part sheets.

Nonetheless, the previous BCCI president had said in December that he wouldn’t look for re-election and doesn’t appear to be willing to extend his stay in cricket’s governing body even briefly. The TOI report further adds that despite the fact that Manohar is quitting, there are the people who worked under him at the ICC (read: staff) who are presently gunning to safeguard their turf.

The only way they can live through this fight is by pressuring  India to comply with their demands.

What exacerbates the situation is that forthcoming government approval, the BCCI has previously complied with the tax exemptions for facilitating the two competitions. One more bone of dispute is that ICC has witheld $23 million of the cash it owes the BCCI from the 2016 T20 World Cup.

“April 18 was the deadline. But BCCI can’t be held to ransom like this. The deadline got over. ICC asked a letter of guarantee from BCCI. Somebody in the Indian board seems have buckled under pressure. And there have been some technical deviations in the drafting of the letter. So, overall, BCCI hasn’t given ICC anything in writing yet,”

as reported to TOI

While the board as of now gotten a lift as the International Cricket Council asked the Pakistan Cricket Board to pay 60% of BCCI’s lawful charges, they have now been asked by the ICC to either pay USD 23 million (Rs 161 crore) by the end of this year as compensation for the tax deductions incurred in facilitating the 2016 World T20 or wind up losing the 2023 World Cup rights.

It is reported that while the BCCI was headed by previous president N Srinivasan, at no point of time had the Chennai-based director guaranteed the ICC to repay them in charge for tax deductions should they be unable to receive a waiver from the government.

MS Dhoni is back to the green field but this time his role in the team is quite different from what we have seen before. Read the full story to find out.

Dhoni’s surprise entry as a mentor has made big headlines since the announcement of team India’s marquee event. For the last few days, fans and cricket experts have been eagerly waiting to understand the rationale behind this move. The Thalaiva will accompany the team to Oman and Dubai for the mega event, starting from October 17.

MS  Dhoni established himself  as a top leading batsmen and is popularly known as ‘Captain Cool’ for his way of strategizing and presence of mind on the field. Due to his potential he led a young Indian cricket team to the winning title at the first ever ICC World T20 back in 2007, which interestingly was his first task as a captain. He then led them to two more major victories, ICC WC 2011 title as well as the Champions Trophy in 2013, thus becoming one of the greatest captains India have ever seen. So it makes sense why the team is searching for a mentor like him who will be able to help the team to strategize better. 

As per the reports of TOI, BCCI President Sourav Ganguly revealed that India has not won any ICC trophy since 2013. “We need a strong mentorship where our players can perform to their full potential”. Ganguly believes that Dhoni’s vast cricketing experience and strategic knowledge promises to give a ray of hope. The presence of such heavyweights in big events like this always helps,” added the BCCI chief. India had last won their ICC Champions trophy in 2013 in England, under the leadership of Dhoni, who landmarked the only captain to win all three major ICC tournaments – namely, the Champions Trophy, T20 World Cup and 50-over World Cup for India. 

This is Dhoni’s first participation with team India ever since he announced his retirement from international cricket last August. However, this time Dhoni’s role is quite different from what we all have seen during the past many years. It will be interesting to see whether Dhoni will be able to guide the squad and remain a good mentor for the team or not!