[upbeat music] Welcome everyone to the SBS Cricket Podcast, your home for everything in cricket. I'm Tejinder Singh, and what a massive episode we've got today! The T-twenty World Cup is heating up, and the big clashes are finally here. In past few week, we have seen high-voltage clashes, matches like, uh, India and Pakistan, but not a very good time on pitch by Aussie team. Exciting double super over match between Afghanistan and South Africa, and some great stories from associate teams. We have got rivalries, underdog stories, tactical battles, and some of the loudest fan bases on the planet. If you love high-pressure cricket, this week is basically a festival. Joining me in this podcast are Afnan Malik and Vatsal Patel. Vatsal, quickly coming to the performance of Australia. Ah, we didn't saw what we expected.
Yeah, absolutely. I mean, Australia is a cricketing champion in all the formats, but if you look at the data that, uh, since winning the twenty twenty-three World Cup, Australia has never, uh, qualified for the finals. Uh, they lost to India in Champions Trophy twenty twenty-five. They lost to India in twenty twenty-four ICC T20 World Cup, and this time even they are on the brink of, you know, elimination. Their, uh, their prospect depends on Zimbabwe versus Ireland game, and even though they have... I-if Zimbabwe beat Ireland by a good margin, they have to beat Oman with a more margin, you know? So in the recent years, uh, Australia's performance is not up to the mark, I would say.
And yesterday, we saw that, that, uh, Australia was completely outperformed by Sri Lanka-
Sri Lankan players. Yeah.
Yep. Afnan, uh, Australia, as the way Vatsal was talking, I mean, we have seen that this is the team which is known for the comebacks. We were waiting for that. But what do you think are the main difference or various reasons, uh, of the performance that why Australia was not up to that mark, they were not reaching at that finishing point?
I think, uh, yesterday's game was, uh, for the first eight or nine overs, uh, it was very good game. Um, um, uh, Australia was performing very good on the pitch. Um, hundred and twenty, there was, like, almost no loss till the eighth or ninth over, and then the whole Australian team crashed like a pack of cards. Um, so that's-- that was the thing on which I think Australia has to work. But, like, overall, uh, hundred and eighty was a very good total. I think it was not Australia's day because, uh, Sri Lanka outperformed it. Nisanka's century, amazing. It was, like, amazing selection of the shots, and, uh, they performed it really, really well. So yesterday's game, I would say, like, for the first ten overs, Australia was performing well. Uh, yes, Australia's middle order hasn't performed. I would say, like, it crashed like a pack of card. Um, but yeah, uh, today's Zimbabwe versus Ireland game is, uh, the one which we have to look. If, uh, Ireland loses to Zimbabwe, then unfortunately, Australia will be out of this World Cup. Um, but if, uh, Zimbabwe loses to Ireland, then there will be case of ifs and buts, because, uh, then Australia has to really, um, win with a very huge margin from Oman-
... in order to get to the Super Eights.
And in this match also, Travis head, the way he was, uh, uh, he performed... I mean, in the previous match against Zimbabwe, he was not able to, uh, bring those things. Uh, and, uh, Mitchell Marsh was back as a captain-
... in the team, and both of them performed really well. But then in the end, uh, the way the spinners of, uh, Sri Lankan team, they came back, and the way they performed in those, uh, wickets, where the ball was a little holding. And also, what, what is also being considered, uh, one of the main reasons Sri Lanka was able to, uh, clinically finish that, I mean, no doubt that Nisanka performed, uh, absolutely well. He has been doing some wonderful performances in the past, uh, some time. Uh, some very good knocks to his name, two hundred in a one day. I mean, but at the same time, the dew factor-
... it did matter. Uh, Vatsal, your take on that?
Absolutely. Yeah, so if you look at Australia's bowling, uh, department, it's not up to the mark, you know?
Uh, Mitchell Starc has already retired from T20 cricket, Pat Cummins is out with injury, and so is Josh He- Hazlewood. So their bowling department is the biggest concern. Even though they, uh, posted one eighty runs on the board, uh, which was a very good target, uh, for, you know, of any team. But they don't have any bowling department. Apart from Zampa, uh, no one, uh, can take wickets, you know?
So that was the biggest, uh, uh, difference between both the teams. That's why they, the per- the, uh, openers from Sri Lanka posted a huge total. Uh, the other opener scored century, and the, uh, other opener, uh, scored half century as well.
And, and overall, um, like, Australia's performance in this World Cup was like... Uh, uh, I think this is the first time Australia is going to get eliminated from the first round after the last World Cup. Um-
So yeah, in, um, in, in-- even in, in SCG, last time in twenty twenty-two, they lost from New Zealand here-
... uh, at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Uh, so I think Australia has to really work on its batting, as well as, like, especially on the middle order, and as Vatsal have rightly pointed, that their bowling in the T20s, uh, it, it really needs to be worked on.
And another thing I want to add- Yeah
... that they asked, uh, Steven Smith to join the team.
He was in Colombo, he was practicing with team, but he was not included in the playing eleven.
So their middle order collapsed, like, uh, as rightly said by Afnan, that their middle order totally failed to put a big score once after they got a huge, uh, I mean, good start from-
So we, we, we, we, uh, can say that, uh, it is a, uh, fast game, T20 game. Uh, young, young blood is required, but at the same time, experience does matter.
And we'll have to wait and watch what happens to the next matches, and, uh, is, uh, Australia able to qualify, uh, for the next round, for the Super Eights round? But, uh, having said that, what a week it has been. India, Pakistan clash. Afnan, we were all excited about that match, but the way India, uh, dominated in that match, after, uh, the first wicket was down, everyone was thinking that: What's gonna happen? But then after that, I think it was all the way India in that match.
Uh, to be very honest, Teji, I thought, like, the Abhishek would be the trump card, and, um, uh, once he got dismissed on midwicket, his, uh, his catch was taken. Um, Ishan Kishan was-- came as a very surprising thing. He absolutely played, um, a winner's inning, I would say. Um, what an inning it, it was, and, um, uh, a s- a score of hundred and seventy-five was a very good total, um, to defend for India. But, uh, unfortunately, Pakistan's performance was like p-... um, um, as like we have seen that they have performed really well against Australia. They, they won the series three-zero, and after three-zero, they came, and this was not the performance, I think, um, what Pers- Pakistan has shown in this World Cup especially. And hundred and fourteen, and you are, like, all gone.
Uh, Vatsal, was it the pressure of India-Pakistan match?
Uh, I don't think so. Because if you look at the data, uh, there is no rivalry between India and Pakistan anymore- [laughing]
[laughing] You can say that.
For the last five years, yeah, it's all the one-sided games.
But whenever India and Pakistan are up against each other, everywhere, it's in news, everyone is talking about that, so pressure definitely has to be on there, definitely-
I would say, I would, I would say, like, it's, it's Vatsal's opinion that there is no rivalry, but I will still consider it as a rivalry because, um, uh, bad time comes in, in a team's life. So it's a life cycle. There, there was a time of '90s where, like, it, uh, it's, it's '90s. But all-
But at this point of time, uh, I think he's backing it, uh, with some, uh, data.
Absolutely. Uh, so Pakistan beat India in twenty twenty-one, uh, T20 World Cup, where, uh, they crushed India with ten wickets victory. Uh, that was totally one-sided match, and Pakistan won that match. But since then, after for fi... last five years, uh, if you look at the data, I mean, Pakistan was nowhere in the competition, you know? And one more thing I want to add is that, uh, I would, uh, say that, uh, Pakistani fans are w- most loyal fans in the cricketing world because they already know that their team is going to lose the match against Pakistan. [laughing]
But even though they are coming in a big number and cheer for their team, but at the end of the day, they just get disappointment.
Uh, Afnan, coming back to the Indian batting, it was only Ishan Kishan who made that score because the wicket, it was... Uh, the ball was stopping there, and the spinners, they were also getting turns and the bounce as well. It was difficult to score runs. If you see also in the Indian team, other than Ishan Kishan, none of the, uh, batsmen was able to play freely, his shots, the way they are known to play those shots.
And Ishan Kishan also, he was lucky at two, three points. I mean, it was not, uh, uh, very close to getting out, but there were half chances-
... two or three catches, and, uh, uh, um, uh, there was a ball which just missed, uh, his wicket, uh, and went for a four. I mean, do you think it was, uh, Ishan Kishan's extraordinary innings, but at the same time, it was a very difficult wicket and anything could have happened?
I would say, like, hundred and ten percent it was Ishan Kishan's day. Uh, but, like, al- also, the responsibility lies on the Pakistani batting line. Hundred and fourteen while chasing a hundred and seventy-five is not a very good chase. I, I would say, like, Pakistan's whole team crashed like a pack of card, as I've said in the, in the case of Australian batting line. So, yes, there was problem with, uh, Pakistani cricket, um, line-up, sorry, bat- batting line-up, and they, they, they must have to do something in order to mo- move forward in this World Cup if they go to the Super Eights or even into the semi-finals. If they qualify, then they definitely have to work on their team, what, which, which players they have to play in their, uh, playing eleven. Um, uh, I was amazed to see, um, that, uh, Aus- um, India tried to score maximum runs before Usman Tariq came in. Uh, and I think Usman Tariq, there was a lot of chatter about Usman Tariq-
... on social media, about his bowling action. Uh, but I think he was not that surprising factor. Uh, Vatsal would add, um, uh, to it, but, like, I, in my opinion, it was not a big surprising factor in a India-Pakistan game.
Usman Tariq, Vatsal, bringing him just at the end, uh, could he have made any difference if he would come, um, at the starting-
... or, or in the first six or seven overs?
That's what commentators were discussing. If Ishan Kishan was there, and he was playing big shots, at that time, I think, uh, Pakistani captain should include him in, in the bowling attack, and that could have been a big difference. But, uh, I want to sa- add one thing into Ishan Kishan's discussion, that he was not in the contention for-
... India's World Cup squad-
... a month before, but he was playing so well in the domestic circuit and everywhere. So selectors went there to watch his game, and that's how he was selected in the Indian team. He, he is actually is not in the Indian cricket team's contract list, contracted players list-
... in group A, B, or C. He's not contracted players, but he got opportunity, and at the perfect time, he showed his ability and his dedication towards this game, and definitely he, uh, was a stood out... I mean, he performed really well against Pakistan in a crucial match that he scored seventy-seven runs out of forty deliveries.
And that's, that's, that's what is called the mental strength of a player.
And that is something which is required in such high-voltage matches, especially when India and Pakistan are up against each other. And this boy showed that he can do that, and he did that for his team, and, uh, the result is in front of us. India, uh, is up, uh, to the next level, and they'll be, uh, they'll be, uh... They are now in Super Eights. We'll take a short break here, and we'll be coming back with some more, uh, discussion, with some more points about the T20 Cricket World Cup. Just stay with us. We'll be back soon.
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...Welcome back to the SBS Cricket Podcast. I am Tejinder, and with me is Vatsal and Afnan. Now, coming to the next topic, the-- another important match which happened, uh, which everyone was glued onto their TVs, uh, especially at the end. It was like a movie going on. Uh, we are sitting in a cinema watching a, uh, at the end, some climax. It's going on, but then a twist comes, a turn comes. Uh, you must have guessed it, right?
South Africa versus Afghanistan.
What a match it was! How would you like to sum up the, the way it, the, uh, especially the last, um, half an hour of it?
I think both the teams were trying to lose the match. [laughing] Honestly speaking.
True, hundred and ten percent.
They were gifting match to, uh, rival team that, uh... First of all, I mean, I think, uh, we should salute Afghanistan's potential because they are, you know, they are not as good as South Africa. But, uh, yeah, of course, uh, they did pretty well, but I think at the end of the day, I mean, South Africa has the last laugh.
And in the... Yeah, if you, if you can talk about the match, uh, this is the second time that, uh, both the teams, uh, have, uh, I mean, in the international cricket- No surprise
... uh, teams have played two super overs.
And both the occasions, uh-
... other team was Afghanistan.
Oh, and was it on the losing end?
Oh, hard luck for those- [chuckles]
This time, South Africa won the match against Afghanistan, and earlier it was India who played two super overs against Afghanistan.
Oh, some very interesting-
... um, Afghanistan really, really played well. Um, in the last over, eleven runs were required, and, um, it was-- it, it seemed like South Africa can easily defend that, but two no balls from Rabada, and then it was last wicket, and then the la- uh, last, uh, runs, um, run out-
... end the game into the super over.
And then Afghanistan doing quite, pretty well.
True. They, they performed really well in the first super o- over. Um, then again, it, in a dramatic shift-
On the last ball. [chuckles]
... South Africa chased. Exactly, South Africa chased that one. And then we went into another super over, and after two super overs, it was, like, really, really good match. I think one of the, uh, very good matches in the recent T20 history.
Afghanistan, they must be heartbroken, but, uh, the way this team has been coming up, performing, uh, really, the fans will be very sad with this performance, but, uh, definitely they've won our hearts with this performance.
Exactly. But, like, if Afghanistan would have won that match, Afghanistan might be, um, might have qualified for the Super Eights or, um-
... they might be in the calculations for the Super Eight.
And in the last World Cup, uh, you know, Teji, they, uh, qualified for the semifinals as well.
I mean, they have been performing well. They have been coming out with these performances, and that is, uh, what was expected, that this group was known as that it's going to be very difficult-
... because of Afghanistan. But that's how things are unfolding, and some other interesting things are also happening in this, uh, Cricket World Cup. We have been seeing, uh, some amazing performances by the countries which were not expected to do that well. We've seen some performances by USA, then Italy, then Nepal. Let's talk about Italy, boys. How do you think, uh, Afnan, Italy, the team, the, the way they have performed here, they have surprised everyone.
True, a hundred percent. Even last night's game, which was between Italy and England, they performed really well. I would say, like, for an associate team to go that closer, it, it was a, a really good, um, performance for, for by the... especially by the both, both brothers who live here in Sydney. Um, um, Vatsal knows more about them, where they play.
Yeah, so they raised in Moorebank area in Sydney, and they played for, uh, NSW, uh, Campbelltown-Camden, uh, District Cricket Club in NSW Premier Cricket.
So they have got connection to Australia, no?
Yeah, yeah. So, uh, they have pretty much good connection with Australia. Uh, Justin Moksha is a physical education teacher in Sydney, and Anthony is a carpenter-
... who teaches, uh, um- Carpentry
... woodwork at a juvenile, uh, uh, detention center. So there is one interesting history about their inclusion in Italy cricket team. Uh, they were guided by another cricketers, uh, who are playing for Australia, and they-- I mean, definitely they have a, a background that their grandfather came to Australia during World War II, so they have connection with Italy. Uh, in other words, you can say that they can play for Italy. They are eligible to play for Italy. So that's why they moved to Italy-
... and, yeah, they are representing in this World Cup.
So that is a very interesting factor.
And both brothers have extensive experience-
... and they both have even performed in NSW Premier Cricket.
Even they play for Tasmania as well.
So that is, that is the reason for the performances, that, that Italy has been coming out with such big performances, and they have been impressing us. They lost that match yesterday, but the performance was absolutely wonderful.
Before that, they, they have also won that match-
... and it was the first one.
Yeah, ex- against Nepal. Nepal is, a- again, Nepal is very good competitive team in associate teams, and, um, that was the first win, uh, for, for Italy.
Yeah, and, uh, you have talked about Nepal now. The Nepal, the team, they came just close to winning their first international T20 match against England. That was such a close game, just losing by four runs. I mean, that was a tremendous performance by Nepal, and the way this team has been coming up, uh, although after that, in their next two matches, they were not able to perform that well. But the thing which they showed, the-- some of the performances, uh, uh, batting performances or the bowling performances, they, they just stunned the world, and they said that, "Okay, we are coming here."
... lost by four runs, first of all-
... and it was not a s- a small total. It was not like hun- hundred and eighty-seven.
So, so yeah, that, the, the, and that's what, like, uh, Nepal has performed really, really well in that match against England.
I think that game was gone. Uh, Sam Curran pulled it back for England.... because they just need ten runs in an over. You know, uh, last over was bowled by Sam Curran, and Nepal only need ten runs to win. But Sam Curran, uh, brilliantly bowled and just gave five runs in the last over. That's how England went on to win by four runs.
But this win has, I mean, uh... They did not win that match, but they said a lot. I mean, uh, if you just see what kind-- what things are happening in the subcontinent around cricket. Uh, let's go back to Afghanistan, the way they came up. Bangladesh, the t-- uh, if we talk about last, uh, one and a half decade, the way they have come up, there's something in this Nepal team, and that is not only the performance which is, uh, which are being done by the players, but the crowd that is coming to support them. If you look at the stadiums, they were full with the Nepalese fan and who have been traveling by trains, by buses-
... such long distances. I think that is something which is important for a game to come up when fans come in big numbers to support their, uh, cricketers.
And, and on top of that, there is another thing that, uh, in Pakistan Super League, Nepalese cricketers are also being picked for the, for the games.
So one thing I think, uh, uh, every team should learn from that they cannot afford to take any, uh, associate teams, uh, very lightly, especially in the T20 format, as we can see in Zimbabwe against, uh, Australia match, England versus Nepal match, Italy versus England match yesterday. So this is the biggest lesson every, uh, team should learn, you know, because T20 match is a match that it's played by... You know, uh, one, one over can change, uh, the, um, the match entirely, and other team can win easily.
Absolutely, and that is something, uh, which India and Pakistan also felt when they were playing their first game here in the T20 World Cup. There was a bit of scare for both the teams, but finally, they managed to, uh, win that matches. Now, it's come to that stage when every team is thinking of going into Super Eights. Some are already there. Uh, could you bring up, uh, some interesting, uh, information regarding the points table? What's happening? Who's in? Who's just at the gate?
So, okay, uh, first of all, Super Eights preceding, who has-- uh, um, those teams who has already qualified for the Super Eights are South Africa, West Indies, India and England and Sri Lanka. When we look at the Group A, India has qualified from Group A, but, um, uh, USA and Pakistan are after India on the second and third number.
So we have to see, like, which team is going to, uh, go into Super Eights from this group, uh-
But, uh, the Pakistan has an easier match, we can say here.
... has an easier match with Namibia. Um, um, if Pakistan wins, then Pakistan will be qualified for that because, like, Namibia is already eliminated from this group. Um, in Group B, Sri Lanka is already qualified. Zimbabwe and Australia, that's a really, really, um-
... interesting situation in which Zimbabwe- [chuckles]
So I think it's a group of death, yeah?
It has now become a group of death. [chuckles]
Um, um, um, what, what, what's your prediction about Zimbabwe versus Ireland, Vatsal?
Uh, honestly speaking, I think it will be Zimbabwe.
So if, if, if you think like-
I still doubt. I still doubt. I mean, I, I have, uh, uh, I've seen Ireland play and, uh, the kind of players they have. I know Zimbabwe is a good team, but I think it'll be an evenly poised match between these two countries.
So that means you are supporting Australia, yeah?
Oh, yeah, definitely. [laughing]
But, like, I think, uh, if, um, Ireland won today, then, then, um, there will be a game of ifs and buts because, uh, it will be all dependent on the net run rate. Um, Zimbabwe's net run rate is really, really good. It's one point nine eight four. Uh, and Australia's run rate is point four one four. So they need to win with a very huge margin, um, against Oman. In Group C, both teams are qualified, which is West Indies and England. Scotland, Italy and Nepal, all three are eliminated. And in Group D, only South Africa has qualified so far. Um, New Zealand, Afghanistan, UAE and Canada, I think pro- probably from this group, New Zealand will qualify-
Definitely. Yeah. So that's, uh, about the points table. And, uh, Vatsal, there is a very interesting thing that, uh, uh, in the Super Eights, uh, the places of some of the teams has already been decided.
Yeah, because Pakistan has decided to play in India, that's why they had to, you know, for the arrangement purposes, they already decided that this team will be in the X group, and these teams are-- will be in the Y group. So that they can easily manage, uh, uh, all the, you know, sponsors and live telecast, broadcasting rights and ticketing and everything. That's why the India, S- India, South Africa, West Indies, and I think, uh, another team is-
Yeah, if Australia or between Australia and Zimbabwe. So India, Zimbabwe or Australia or, or West Indies and-
Okay. So that's, that's very interesting.
So there are three people in the, uh, in, uh, three teams already, sorry.
There are three teams already in Group X-
... which is South Africa, West Indies, India. One spot is empty.
I think, uh, if, uh, Zimbabwe won tonight, then it will be sealed by Zimbabwe. Otherwise, uh, will-- there will be ifs and buts. And in the second group, only two teams have, um, claimed the spots. One is England, and the other one is Sri Lanka. Um, but the question is that who is going to play the semifinals?
Yeah, so that is interesting question, and, uh, that will be, uh, w- we'll-- we hope the next time when we come, everything will be clear. We would have a list of, uh, teams participating in Super Eights and maybe a few results as well, because, uh, this is the time now. We have to wind up, and thank you so much, uh, to all our listeners for being here with us. We'll be coming back next week with more action about cricket, as T20 World Cup is red hot. Uh, before going, Vatsal, you have come up with some trivia. Could you please let our listeners know?
Absolutely. Thanks, Teji. Uh, so Afnan and Teji, do you know that Italy has exactly won one match each in Cricket World Cup and FIFA World Cup-
... uh, in last twelve years?
Yes. So Italy won the, uh, T20, uh, match against Nepal last week.
But their FIFA-- their football team won one match again- against England in twenty, twenty fourteen, uh, FIFA World Cup, which was played in Brazil.
They beat England by two-one, and since then-
... they have never won [chuckles]
Cricket and, uh, football record is equal, like- [chuckles]
They have won as many matches in cricket as in football.
And there is one more thing. Uh, do you know the, the name of that club, the very famous club, AC Milan? AC Milan, actually, it started-- when it started, it was AC Milan Football and Cricket Club.
So that is the- [chuckles]
Okay, that's very interesting.
Yeah, very interesting thing.
So we have some interesting information, and we'll be coming up with that, along with the what is happening in the world of cricket. Do join us next week for the SBS Cricket Podcast with Tejinder, Vatsal, and Afnan.
Thank you all. Thank you all very much.
Do let us know in the comment section that who is going to win this World Cup.
