Former England batter Kevin Pietersen has revealed his playing XI of the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2021. The English cricket legend picked three players from Pakistan, two each from England, Sri Lanka and South Africa.

Pietersen named only one player from finalists Australia and New Zealand. Notably, Australia defeated New Zealand in the final of the multi-team tournament by eight wickets to win their first-ever ICC trophy of the T20 World Cup.

Starting with the openers, Pietersen went with Mohammad Rizwan and Jos Buttler. Both Rizwan and Buttler were amongst the leading run-getters of the global competition. While Rizwan made 281 runs in six matches, Buttler scored 269 in as many games.

Pietersen picked Babar Azam for number three, followed by Charith Asalanka and Aiden Markram to complete the top five. Azam finished the T20 World Cup 2021 as the top run-scorer with 303 runs to his name in six fixtures. Similarly, Asalanka and Markram scored 231 and 162 runs, respectively.

Among the all-rounders, Pietersen went with Moeen Ali and Wanindu Hasaranga, while Adam Zampa was named the specialist spinner. Notably, Hasaranga and Zampa were the leading wicket-takers in the tournament. While Hasaranga bagged 16 scalps, Zampa picked up 13 wickets.

Pietersen picked Shaheen Afridi, Trent Boult and Anrich Nortje to form the fast-bowling unit in his team of the tournament. Boult was the highest wicket-taker among pacers in T20 World Cup 2021. He bagged 13 scalps in 7 matches. Similarly, Nortje took nine wickets, and Shaheen picked up seven wickets in the competition.

Here is Kevin Pietersen’s team of the T20 World Cup 2021:

Mohammad Rizwan, Jos Buttler, Babar Azam, Charith Asalanka, Aiden Markram, Moeen Ali, Wanindu Hasaranga, Adam Zampa, Trent Boult, Anrich Nortje, Shaheen Shah Afridi

Australia’s historic triumph came last night after beating New Zealand in the final by eight wickets. With a winning four by Glenn Maxwell, the Australian players went gaga over the T20 title.

Skipper Aaron Finch and his men lifted the ICC T20 World Cup trophy for the first time.

The Aussies celebration continued till late night in their dressing room, and ‘the shoe’ incident appeared, not once, but thrice.

In a video shared by ICC, wicket-keeper Matthew Wade, the hero of Australia’s semifinal victory, took out his left shoe and poured some beer into it and drank it with ease. His partner Marcus Stoinis went a step ahead; he first washed the shoe with beer, then poured it out and drank it too. Later, Finch did the same.

How’s your Monday going? #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/7AyODVF4HM

— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) November 15, 2021

Australia’s historic win over New Zealand

After winning the toss, Australia skipper Finch decided to bowl first. The Black Caps lost the wicket of opening batter Daryl Mitchell early, whereas his partner Martin Guptill could not score at the pace as expected. The Australian bowlers restricted New Zealand to 57-1 in ten overs.

From here, skipper Kane Williamson took charge and started playing fiercely. He smashed 22 runs in Australia’s star pacer Mitchell Starc’s third over. Williamson’s 45-ball 85 took New Zealand total to 172-4, which seems competitive after the first innings.

In the second essay, Finch once again departed cheaply after being caught off left-arm pacer Trent Boult. Inform batter David Warner scored a quickfire 53 off 38 balls. Mitchell Marsh’s excellent batting destroyed the opposition and took Australia to victory.

After Australia’s thumping win over New Zealand, Marsh was adjudged ‘Player of the Match’, whereas Warner won the ‘Player of the Tournament award.’

The five-times 50-overs World Cup champion Australia won the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 by defeating New Zealand by eight wickets in the final on Sunday.

Glenn Maxwell finished the game in style by hitting a four off Tim Southee in the 19th over of second innings. With this boundary, Australia also sealed their maiden T20 World Cup title.

After the conclusion of the tournament, one fact that has grabbed the headlines was off the chasing side winning games on most of the occasions.

Out of 45 matches 29 times, the chasing team won the contest.

Reacting to the same, legendary Sunil Gavaskar has appealed to the ICC Cricket Committee to get their heads into the issue and make sure that there is an equal chance of winning the game for both sides. He mentioned that the dew did not play a major role in the outcome of the final game, but in the previous fixture, it was there.

“The commentators were saying that the dew factor wasn’t there today so I don’t think it really came into play that much in this game but I think it has in the previous games and maybe that is something that needs to be looked at. I feel that it is something for the ICC Cricket Committee to get their heads around and make sure that there is a level playing field for both teams,” Gavaskar was quoted as saying to India Today.

Gavaskar also praised Mitchell Marsh (77 not out off 50) for his swashbuckling knock in the summit clash. Marsh’s stupendous counter-hitting along with David Warner (53 off 38) destroyed the Black Caps bowling line-up.

“I think Mitchell Marsh played an extraordinary innings; David Warner has been playing well for the last few matches. New Zealand would have wanted to get him more than Aaron Finch but they didn’t get him and here we are. They won with six (seven) balls to spare. Maxwell and Marsh at the crease, those balls could have gone for 20 runs as well,” Gavaskar concluded.

Pakistan’s skipper Babar Azam has replied to an eight-year-old fan who wrote a letter to him after his team’s T20 World Cup campaign ended dramatically.

Azam and his men played great cricket throughout the tournament. But, the Men in Green lost their semifinal contest against Australia by five wickets, which was not well taken by a few Pakistani fans.

In the meantime, an eight-year-old fan wrote a letter to Azam and stated that he loves him and praised his team for their batting and bowling. He also wished to represent his country in the future and win the final.

From a future captain to current captain @babarazam258 I hope Babar Azam sends this 8-year old all the signatures @TheRealPCB @TheRealPCBMedia pic.twitter.com/jwociYh3Kb

— Alina Shigri (@alinashigri) November 13, 2021

Azam responded to his fan on Twitter and stated that the little kid could achieve anything with focus, belief and hard work. He promised to give him his autograph and called the fan a ‘future captain’.

Dear Mohammad Haroon Suria,

Salam,

 

Thank you for such a kind letter for us, champion. I ABSOLUTELY believe in you and you can achieve anything with your focus, belief, and hardwork.

You will get your autographs but I cant wait to get YOUR autograph future Captain. https://t.co/FbalPUeBnC

— Babar Azam (@babarazam258) November 13, 2021

In the second semi-final, Pakistan bowlers dominated the game for most part of the match, as whenever Australia got the chance to gain momentum, they lost a wicket. However, the partnership between Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade took Aussies to the finish line. The match slipped from Pakistan’s hand in the 19th over when Hasan Ali dropped Wade’s catch.

Wade, who had gained the momentum by then, decided to finish the game and hit three sixes in a row off Shaheen Afridi.

Sunil Gavaskar praises Babar for his captaincy

Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, too, praised Babar for his captaincy in the T20 World Cup 2021 and said: “What he can become is also one of the greatest captains that Pakistan has produced.”

The Little Master added if Azam keeps himself fit and motivated, he can become one of the all-time greats of the game. Gavaskar also said that Azam’s reading of the game situation was brilliant, and the changes he made in the bowling department and field placements were unbelievably accurate.

“There is no doubt that Babar, if he keeps himself fit and motivated, is going to become one of the all-time greats of the game. What he can become is also one of the greatest captains that Pakistan has produced. His reading of the game situation is brilliant and the changes that he has been making with the bowling and field placing have been unbelievably accurate,” added Gavaskar.

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TAGS: Australia, David Warner, Kane Williamson, Mitchell Marsh, New Zealand, NZvAUS, T20 World Cup 2021

CATEGORY: Australia, T20, Twitter Reactions, World Cup

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Australia defeated Pakistan in the second semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 by five wickets at the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday, November 11.

It was a tough fixture as Australia had to chase down 177, but a scintillating knock from wicketkeeper Matthew Wade helped them cross the finish line. David Warner scored a quick-fire 49, and amidst that, he hit a double-bounce delivery for a maximum.

The experienced batter’s decision to send Mohammad Hafeez’s wayward delivery into the stand drew criticism from some quarters.

Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir terming it “absolutely pathetic” and slammed the Aussie opener for lack of sportsmanship.

“What an absolutely pathetic display of spirit of the game by Warner! #Shameful What say @ashwinravi99?,” tweeted Gambhir.

What an absolutely pathetic display of spirit of the game by Warner! #Shameful What say @ashwinravi99? pic.twitter.com/wVrssqOENW

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) November 11, 2021

But Australia head coach Justin Langer said he was impressed by Warner’s instinct to make a shot out of the ball that would have surprised any batsman.

“Oh my gosh! it’s one of the best things I have ever seen in the game of cricket. I don’t think anyone would have the instincts to do that,” Langer told reporters.

“Most people would not have been sure what to do. It’s a no-ball, and then to have the talent and ability to hit it for six, unbelievable.

“And then he walked of course when he nicked it, so anyone thinks it to be unsportsmanlike, probably evens it up a bit.”

Too much noise in the stadium: Langer

Soon after the incident, Warner walked back to the pavilion after he was given out caught behind. However, replays and ultra-edge confirmed that the ball did not touch his bat. Neither Warner nor Glenn Maxwell, who was at the non-striker’s end, opted for DRS.

Talking about the same, Langer said, “So much noise out there [at the stadium], honestly it was like a rock concert.

“I think we have all talked about it. He was surprised. Maxi was surprised, he was his partner when saw it on the replays later on in the innings. We will work through that.”

The Veteran wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik has picked his playing XI of the T20 World Cup 2021 from the group stage of the tournament. Karthik took note of all the brilliant performances from the players before making his team. He has appointed Babar Azam as the team’s skipper and included only one Indian player in his side.

However, Karthik observed that Eoin Morgan has been the best captain of the gala tournament, but he has remained silent with his bat.

“Would have ideally liked Morgan as he has been the best captain for me, but has not done enough as a batter. So, I went for Azam,” Karthik said while speaking on Cricbuzz.

The 36-year-old named inform batter Jos Buttler and all-rounder Moeen Ali in his team for their consistent knocks in the global showpiece event for England. He also had words of praise for South Africa’s Rassie van der Dussen, who hit 94 runs against England.

Jasprit Bumrah only Indian in Karthik’s playing XI

Jasprit Bumrah is the only bowler from the Indian squad who made a cut into Karthik’s playing XI. Despite India’s poor performance, Karthik felt that Bumrah is still the best bowler of white-ball format.

New Zealand’s left-arm seamer Trent Boult and Pakistan’s speedster Shaheen Afridi were also named in the side for their extraordinary bowling in the powerplay overs..

Sri Lankan leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, who picked a hat-trick against South Africa in the Super 12 stage, and Adam Zampa of Australia complete the bowling department of Karthik’s team.

“The tournament has been dominated by bowlers. So, you can see I have picked 7 proper bowlers. If Australia is in the semi-final [now final], a huge hand has to go to Zampa. Afridi has looked class apart from the rest,” added Karthik.

Here is Dinesh Karthik’s playing XI of the T20 World Cup 2021:

Babar Azam (c), Jos Buttler, Charith Asalanka, Rassie van der Dussen, Shakib Al Hasan, Moeen Ali, Wanindu Hasaranga, Adam Zampa, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Shaheen Afridi.