Latest news with #ICC
Hans India
25 minutes ago
- Sport
- Hans India
Every Test like a knockout in WTC for Sri Lanka, says Dhananjaya de Silva
Colombo: Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva hailed the significance of the World Test Championship (WTC) after his side thumped Bangladesh by an innings and 78 runs at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) here to secure their first win of the current cycle. De Silva, reflecting on Sri Lanka's position in the global competition, acknowledged that with his team playing fewer Tests than most, every match takes on the feel of a knockout encounter. 'The WTC is like other World Cups — a lot of matches are like knockouts for us,' de Silva said after the victory. 'We've talked about how we win when we make the fewest mistakes, and we need those wins to get those extra points. In the last cycle, we made a few mistakes, and that's what cost us. Hopefully, we can correct that this cycle.' Sri Lanka, who are currently scheduled to play only a two-match series in this WTC cycle, relies heavily on the 'percentage of points won' system that allows teams with fewer matches to remain in contention for a top-two finish. De Silva underlined how the WTC had changed the mindset of his players. 'It's become a competitive trophy. We've even started thinking about our run rates in light of what's happening. The Championship is a great thing for Test cricket,' he said. 'We saw last time how well South Africa did and how they performed well recently, and they deserved to win it. They hadn't won an ICC trophy, and the Test Championship meant a lot to them. As a country, they can value that highly.' But while Sri Lanka's Test ambitions remain high, their schedule paints a stark picture — the team is not slated to play another Test until May 2026. For their red-ball specialists, this presents a unique challenge. 'We only have domestic matches,' de Silva said. 'Right now there's a One-day tournament, and after that, there will be a three-day tournament. There's also the National Super League. That's how we'll have to keep our form. Unfortunately, there are no Tests. We've made requests to SLC to play more Tests. I think they are talking about it with other teams. Even if we can play three or four extra Tests, we'll be able to continue the good things we're doing.' De Silva also shed light on the team's tactical evolution in the series against Bangladesh. Beyond scoring at a brisk pace, Sri Lanka's bowlers focused on building pressure with more maiden overs — an area the captain said they had specifically targeted. 'Whenever we come into a Test series, we have some key performance indicators,' he explained. 'One of the things we analysed this time was that our maiden percentage needed to be higher. So that's what we planned to do. We have to keep some pressure on the opposition in Tests, in order to get some wickets at the other end. I think our bowlers did that very well.'
United News of India
27 minutes ago
- Sport
- United News of India
Mandhana sees England series as prep for the 2027 T20 World Cup
London, June 28 (UNI) India's star opener was excited to see the debutants experience English conditions for the first time which would prepare them well for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup to be held in England next year. Indian vice-captain Smriti Mandhana said the five-match T20I series against England would serve as crucial preparation for the T20 World Cup, set to be held in the same conditions next year. Mandhana believes it offers India a valuable opportunity to acclimatise to English conditions ahead of the marquee event. "Since we have a T20 World Cup next year around the same time, around the summer of UK, which is again similar conditions, I'm sure the five T20Is will be a good prep for a lot of the girls and for us also to see to the conditions and how they suit our game too.' One of the key challenges for this Indian side will be the relative inexperience of players touring England for the first time. Youngsters like Kranti Gaud and Sree Charani are set to make their debut on English soil, and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana believes that the extended preparation period in these conditions will be crucial in helping the entire squad adapt and perform well. "It's been a good 25 days of prep, we had batters and bowlers camp at Bangalore at NCA and that was also very targeted and specific, keeping in mind this tour," Mandhana said. "Of course, we came a little earlier here, good eight days of prep, a few good practice matches, we got to know a lot of things about the England conditions. For a lot of girls, it's their first England tour so it was important for them to come here early and get used to the conditions," Opener Smriti Mandhana was full of praise for her opening partner Shafali Verma, who had returned to the squad after a lean patch that had led to her omission from the T20I setup in late 2024. Shafali made a strong statement with the bat during the Women's Premier League (WPL), finishing as the fourth-highest run-scorer with 304 runs at a blistering strike rate of 152.76. "She's had an amazing year. Once the setback had come, she went to domestic cricket, scored bucket-loads of runs and had an amazing WPL. No one had any doubts about her talent, the way she had come into the Indian team and dominated.' said Mandhana. Shafali also enjoyed a dominant domestic season, emerging as the leading run-scorer in the Senior Women's One-Day Trophy with 527 runs at an average of 75.29, and topping the charts in the Senior Women's One-Day Challenger Trophy as well, scoring 414 runs at an impressive average of 82.8. 'She is a world-class player and always will be, but for her to go back and do what she did in the last year was amazing to watch. She deserves this comeback and I'm really excited to open with her again." Being one of the most experienced members of the Indian setup, Smriti Mandhana expressed her excitement about the new-look pace attack set to feature against England. With regulars Renuka Singh Thakur, Pooja Vastrakar, and Titas Sadhu ruled out due to injury, the attack will be led by Arundathi Reddy. The responsibility of stepping up falls on Amanjot Kaur, Kranti Gaud, and Sayali Satghare, who will be eager to make their mark and fill some big shoes in the upcoming series. "(We have) a new look pace-bowling unit because unfortunately, there are a few injuries which had happened over the last four to five months, but (it is) really exciting, I mean (the) WPL has been good in terms of finding new people and of course, the domestic system as well. "The amount of matches the girls play nowadays - all these girls have a rich experience in the domestic format, so I'm really excited to see them.' UNI RKM
India Today
28 minutes ago
- Sport
- India Today
Ahmedabad casn host the WTC Final, but England is good for now: Ravi Shastri
The World Test Championship Final may be one of the biggest fixtures in the modern cricket calendar, but former India head coach Ravi Shastri feels it's still in its early days when it comes to global popularity. And that's why, according to him, Lord's remains the most fitting venue—at least for to Wisden, Shastri said the iconic London ground helps draw attention to the contest, even when England aren't involved. He believes that once the fixture grows in popularity, venues like Ahmedabad and Melbourne could step in to host future think to start off initially, it's good if it's here (Lord's) actually. Once it gets the popularity and eyebrows it deserves, then it can start shifting. But I think the MCG can be a great place for a World Test Championship Final. Ahmedabad can be a great place for the WTC Final. Basically, the places where you can draw a crowd. Because Lord's is not a 100,000-seater stadium. So, irrespective of which team is playing, you know you will get a good crowd,' Shastri said. The England and Wales Cricket Board is reportedly set to host the next three WTC Finals through 2031, having already received verbal confirmation from the ICC. While India had expressed interest in hosting the final, England's consistent ability to attract crowds—even for neutral Tests—worked in its recently hosted the 2025 final between South Africa and Australia, and also remains the most high-profile venue to host a WTC title clash. The inaugural edition was played in 2021 between India and New Zealand in Southampton under Covid-19 restrictions. The 2023 final took place at The captain Pat Cummins had earlier proposed a rotating host system, suggesting the defending champions should get hosting rights—a suggestion that is still up for debate as the ICC weighs long-term plans for the WTC.- Ends
Japan Times
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Japan Times
ICC President Tomoko Akane criticizes U.S. sanctions
International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane has criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's sanctions against The Hague-based court, saying they risk destroying the system that supports it. "The sanctions have had impacts on third countries, and they violate international law," she told Japanese media outlets online Friday. "The ICC system based on the rule of war, which the international community has developed over the years, could collapse" if the sanctions continue, she added. The ICC had launched an official investigation into alleged war crimes by U.S. service members in Afghanistan. The court also issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The court's actions angered the United States, which is not an ICC member. On June 5, the State Department announced economic sanctions against four judges involved in the investigation and issuing the warrants, based on an executive order enabling U.S. sanctions against ICC personnel signed by Trump in February. "ICC, which punishes individuals who lead wars, is the last bastion of international law," Akane said from The Hague. She also stressed the importance of maintaining the court's presence. Akane called on ICC member states including Japan to take a stand against the U.S. actions, urging Washington to change its decision.
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First Post
2 hours ago
- Business
- First Post
Ravi Shastri defends India collecting lion's share of ICC revenue, says BCCI deserves even more: 'It's only fair'
Shastri explained that while the BCCI is collecting 40 per cent of the ICC's annual revenue, with none of the other boards getting a share in double digits, the current model is justified as India is the single biggest contributor towards the global body's income. read more Ravi Shastri feels that the BCCI is not only justified in receiving a share of nearly forty percent of the ICC's revenue, it deserves a bigger slice of the pie. Reuters The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the richest board in cricket by a fair distance and receives the lion's share of the International Cricket Council's annual revenue. Former India all-rounder and head coach Ravi Shastri, however, not only has defended the current ICC revenue model, he has also urged the Indian board to dig deeper and secure an even bigger share for itself than the 38.5 per cent that it currently receives . STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'I absolutely agree (that India should get 38.5 per cent). I would want more for India,' cricketer-turned-commentator Shastri told Wisden. And when asked to explain his opinion, Shastri argued that India is the biggest contributor to the ICC's revenue , which some sources estimate stands in the range of 70 to 80 per cent. 'Most of the money that is generated comes from India. So it's only fair that they get their pound of flesh. 'And it's relative. It's economies. Tomorrow there might be another economy that's stronger, money might come from there like it did in the 1970s and 80s, and the chunk of the money goes somewhere else,' Shastri added. Shastri explains India's impact on the cricketing world The lion's share of the ICC revenue, combined with the sale of broadcast rights for the lucrative Indian Premier League that keeps smashing records cycle after cycle, have helped the BCCI not only become the richest board in the world but also the most powerful. That, in turn, has made India something of the first nation in the cricketing world, which is at the heart of every major cricketing event – whether it be the ICC World Test Championship cycle or the World Cup. The IPL also enjoys special status with a dedicated two-month window in the summer during which international cricket is kept at a bare minimum. The Indian cricket team also enjoys the biggest following in the sport and a visit by the Men in Blue can often prove to be a boon for other boards, thanks to the prospect of packed venues and greater interest from broadcasters. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'I think it's only fair. It shows in the revenues. When India travel, look at the television rights, look at the television income that comes for an India series. So it's only fair that they get whatever they're getting now, if not more,' Shastri added.
