Cricket at its Best: Dissecting India vs Pakistan & Celebrating Afghanistan's Historic Victory | Insights from Around the Cricketing World

Get set to revel in the cricketing escapades of recent times with us. We're taking you through a journey of victories and strategic brilliance that have left us in awe. First up, we've got the World Cup match between India and Pakistan, a thrilling encounter that ended in India's favor. We dissect the pivotal role played by India's bowlers and Rohit Sharma's celebration of his 300th ODI-6. But the main event is the underdog story of Afghanistan's fantastic win against England, led by their spinners, particularly Rashid Khan. The joy this win has brought to the Afghan community and the pride it has instilled, is something we truly want to share with our listeners.

But that's not all. Our cricketing adventure continues with more news from around the globe. South Africa is making progress and exuding confidence, the IOC is stepping up to monitor women's accessibility to sports in Afghanistan, and Mickey Arthur, Pakistan's team director, isn't shy about voicing his criticism on the India vs Pakistan match. We leave you with our thoughts, discussions, and love for this magnificent sport, while eagerly looking forward to our next episode. A big thank you to all our listeners, because without you, this journey wouldn't be possible.

Transcript

Anna: 0:16

Welcome to Talk Before Wicked, the TBW podcast, where we keep you up to date on all the latest cricket news, with a mission to bring you the most important stories without overwhelming you. We appreciate your time and aim to deliver content that truly matters. Join our community of passionate cricket lovers as we celebrate the sport that brings us all together. In today's episode, we'll cover India's crushing win against Pakistan. Afghanistan's victory over England, bringing solace to struggling people. Afghanistan's bowling leading to a victory against England. South Africa's confidence and emphasis on control, ioc monitoring women's access to sports in Afghanistan and Pakistan team director Mickey Arthur's criticism of the India vs Pakistan World Cup match being reviewed by the ICC.

Grace: 1:44

Pakistan's opening batters, abdullah Shafiq and Imam Ul Haq showed great composure in the face of a challenging Indian bowling attack. They handled Jasprit Bumrah remarkably well and even scored some runs off Mohamed Siraj. It seemed like Pakistan was slowly but surely building a solid partnership, but India's bowlers were determined not to let Pakistan take control. They bowled some tight overs, putting pressure on the Pakistani batsman, and then the momentum shifted. One by one, pakistan's wickets started falling. Baba Azam and Mohamed Rizwan tried to stabilise the innings, but India's bowlers had other plans. Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadaya were especially impressive keeping the Pakistani batsman in check. They bowled with precision, making it difficult for the batsman to score freely. Pakistan's nerves started to fray and the collapse became inevitable. As the wickets kept falling, india's victory seemed more and more certain. Jasprit Bumrah, who had been wicketless until then, finally got his reward by clean bowling. Rizwan, hardik Pandia and Ravindra Jadaya took care of the tale. It was a complete team effort from the Indian bowlers. Now it was India's turn to bat, and they had a relatively low target to chase.

Grace: 2:56

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill came out with guns blazing, taking on Pakistan's pace attack from the start. They attacked the bowling, hitting boundaries and taking the game away from Pakistan. Rohit Sharma was in terrific form, just like he was in the previous match against Afghanistan. He played some sublime shots, including a monstrous six over mid-on for his 300th ODI-6. It was a treat to watch him bat with such elegance and power. Virat Kohli joined Rohit at the crease and although he couldn't stay for long, he provided support to the dominant Rohit. Shreyas Ayer also played a crucial role, partnering with Rohit to steer India closer to victory. Rohit brought up his half-century in just 36 balls, showcasing his brilliance once again.

Grace: 3:39

Pakistan tried everything they could, but they couldn't stop the inevitable. Rohit finally fell short of a century, caught at mid-wicket off Shaheen Afridi's bowling, but it didn't matter because India was in total control of the match. Kail Rahul and Shreyas Ayer calmly guided India to a comfortable victory. Ayer finished the game in style with a four, completing his unbeaten half-century. The crowd erupted in celebration as India secured another well-deserved win. In the end, it was a comprehensive victory for India. They outplayed Pakistan in all departments of the game. The bowlers were exceptional, not giving an inch to the Pakistani batsman, and the batsman led by Rohit Sharma made a statement with their aggressive approach. It was a match that will be remembered for India's dominance and Pakistan's disappointment, and with this win India has taken the top spot in the World Cup race. They are looking like the favourites to lift the trophy, and their fans couldn't be more thrilled. It's going to be an exciting journey ahead and we can't wait to see what unfolds in the rest of the tournament.

Grace: 4:42

The Afghanistan spinners, led by Rashid Khan, delivered an exceptional performance against England and Rashid hopes it provides solace to the people back home who have been facing numerous struggles. For Rashid, the win against England is not just a victory on the cricket field, but a reason for his fellow countrymen to celebrate amidst the challenging circumstances they face. In a heartfelt interview with Starsports, rashid expressed the significance of this win for Afghanistan. He emphasized that cricket is a source of happiness and good memories for the people. It's a way for them to forget about the tough days they endure. Rashid understands that their achievements in cricket bring a sense of pride to the nation and give the people something positive to hold on to. He also highlighted the recent earthquake in Harat, which caused immense damage and loss of lives. Rashid believes that this victory can bring a little smile to the faces of the affected people and help them temporarily forget their suffering.

Grace: 5:36

The win against England is a momentous occasion for Afghanistan, especially considering their history at the World Cup. Rashid himself played a significant role in the victory, contributing with both bat and ball. He scored a crucial 23 ball 22, stabilizing the innings and then took three important wickets to secure the upset. He expressed joy not only over his three wicket hall but also his batting contribution, particularly a cover drive off Mark Wood. Rashid's happiness comes from making impactful contributions for his team. Another standout performer was Mujib Urrahman, who made valuable runs with the bat and took three wickets as well. Mujib acknowledged the challenges of bowling in the power play, but highlighted his focus on bowling stump to stump. He credits his effectiveness to simplifying his approach and consistently hitting the right areas. Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi described the win against England as Afghanistan's best, forcing his confidence that this is just the beginning of a successful journey in the World Cup. He stressed the importance of finishing games well and maintaining a positive mindset for future matches. Overall, the win against England has given Afghanistan a huge boost of energy and belief. It is a proud moment for the entire nation and they aim to build on this success as they progress in the tournament. Let's dive into it a bit more.

Grace: 7:00

As mentioned earlier, afghanistan pulled off a spectacular upset at the 2023 World Cup, defeating England by 69 runs. In a spin and seam masterclass Led by Mujib Urrahman, the bowling pack halted England's chase, restricting them to 215 runs. It was Ramanullah Gurbaz's explosive innings of 80 from 57 balls that set the tone for Afghanistan's victory. Although Gurbaz fell short of a century due to a runout, iqram Alakil stepped up with a crucial half-century. Together, they made England's target of 285 seem insurmountable. Expecting an easy chase after winning the toss, england faced a startlingly attacking power play from Afghanistan. Fazl Haq Ferouki and Mujib Urrahman troubled the England batsmen from the very beginning. Joe Root and Joss Butler fell victim to their brilliance, leaving England reeling at 68 for three. Dawid Malan provided some stability, but Muhammad Nabi's impressive off-spin dismissed him. England's batting thereafter was lackluster, with only Harry Brook putting up a fight with a well-earned half-century. Liam Livingston and Sam Curran failed to make a significant impact and Afghanistan's victory became inevitable. Afghanistan's triumph highlighted the vast difference in mindset between the two teams. Gurbaz's aggressive approach, especially against England's struggling Chris Wokes, set the tone for Afghanistan's powerful display. England's bowlers failed to contain Afghanistan's batsmen, resulting in a dominant victory. The win is a historic moment for Afghanistan and signals a challenging path ahead for England's title defence.

Grace: 8:38

So South Africa is heading into their match against the Netherlands with confidence and without being haunted by their past. The recent victory over Australia didn't come as a surprise to this group of players, who have had a strong track record against them. Unlike veterans like Dale Stain, who were old enough to recall previous defeats, this current squad was just a bunch of youngsters during those earlier disappointments. They simply don't have the same emotional scars. However, this doesn't mean South Africa has no pressure at all.

Grace: 9:05

Less than a year ago, many of the players in the current World Cup squad were part of the T20 team that was knocked out by the Netherlands, a team they had never lost to before. But South Africa's captain, temba Bavouma, emphasises that the team's previous victories against the Netherlands were crucial in terms of confidence and belief. Looking back, south Africa had to beat the Dutch in their last fixtures of the World Cup Super League to secure qualification for this tournament. At that time, south Africa had experienced a string of losses to other teams and were in a must-win situation against the Netherlands, but they emerged victorious, and it's indicative of the changes they've made and the different demands of the format. A Bavouma acknowledges that the longer ODI format requires a different approach and skills.

Grace: 9:52

While the Dutch see ODI cricket as an opportunity to showcase their patience, the top tier teams, including South Africa, have adopted a more aggressive style of play. South Africa promises to continue taking calculated risks with their powerhouse top six being opportunistic as batters and looking to take the game on. Importantly, south Africa has learned from their past failures and are determined not to carry that burden with them. They refuse to view any opposition as weaker opponents and instead focus on what they can control. The team acknowledges their embarrassing defeats, like the one against the Netherlands, and takes ownership of their mistakes. This approach allows them to create a neutral mindset and ensure that past errors don't haunt them again.

Grace: 10:38

During a recent media briefing in Mumbai, thomas Bach, the president of the International Olympic Committee, ioc, addressed the question of whether the Afghanistan men's cricket team would be allowed to participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Games without a women's team. Bach emphasized that the IOC would closely monitor the access and support women receive to play sports in Afghanistan, which has been under Taliban rules since August 2021. The inclusion of T20 cricket at the LA Games was voted in favour by IOC members, with the LA local organising committee stressing the importance of gender equality and inclusivity in their presentation. While Afghanistan is the only full member country without a women's cricket team, they gained full member status in 2017, with the understanding that pathways for women's cricket would be developed. However, progress has been slowed due to cultural sensitivities. In response to the situation, an ICC working group led by Imran Khwaja has held discussions with Taliban officials and recommended continued dialogue instead of penalising the Afghanistan cricket board. The ICC board has generally approved this recommendation with the aim of helping women play cricket in Afghanistan.

Grace: 11:50

The IOC has yet to clear Afghanistan athletes' participation for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The IOC has warned the country's National Olympic Committee of Potential Suspension if access to sports for females remains restricted. James McLeod, the IOC's head of Olympic Solidarity and National Olympic Committee relations, emphasised the need to remove existing barriers hindering women's access to sports opportunities. There has been some progress, albeit limited, as Afghan female athletes recently participated in the Asian Games in Hangzhou, china. While all of Afghanistan's medals were won by male athletes, women residing overseas competed in volleyball, athletics and cycling. Mcleod acknowledged the performances of Afghan women and highlighted the positive conversations with the Taliban that have resulted. Bach stated that the IOC would consider the state of progress and efforts made by the Afghanistan NOC in determining their stance on cricket at the Los Angeles Olympics. Ultimately, the decision will depend on the situation of the NOC and the representation of the team.

Grace: 12:58

So there's been some criticism around the recent India vs Pakistan World Cup match. Mickey Arthur, the team director of the Pakistan cricket team, mentioned that the match felt more like a bilateral series rather than an ICC event. He expressed how the partisan crowd at the packed Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad affected his team, especially with the absence of Pakistani fans due to visa issues. Only a few journalists and Pakistani origin fans who are residents or citizens of other countries managed to make it to the match. When asked about Arthur's comments, icc chairman Greg Barkley seemed to downplay the criticism, stating that it's common to receive various criticisms during such tournaments. He mentioned that they will review the situation to see what could be improved, emphasizing that this World Cup is just beginning and that he believes it will still be outstanding.

Grace: 13:48

Although the India vs Pakistan contest was watched by a record-breaking crowd, both live and globally, the official attendance figures haven't been released yet. The Ahmedabad venue, with a capacity of over 110,000 seats is the largest in cricket. There have been complaints from fans about the online ticketing system and lower tendencies during the early part of the tournament, excluding India games and those held in Delhi. That's the latest on the India vs Pakistan match and the ongoing World Cup. Let's see how the tournament progresses and if any changes are made based on the criticism received.

Anna: 14:31

In today's episode we covered India's dominant win over Pakistan, afghanistan's victory against England, providing solace to their struggling people, south Africa's confidence and exercising their past IOC monitoring women's access to sports in Afghanistan and Pakistan team director Mickey Arthur's criticism of the India vs Pakistan match. Thank you for joining us today on Talk Before Wicket, the podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest cricket news. We appreciate your time and look forward to continuing our engaging discussions in our next episode. Don't forget to subscribe and be part of our passionate cricket loving community.