The Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 is hanging in the balance, with foreign players not wanting to return in the wake of heightened India-Pakistan tensions. The tournament was put on hold on May 9, 2025, after a drone attack outside Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium created mass hysteria, prompting the PCB to delay matches indefinitely. With the IPL also suspended owing to Operation Sindoor—a counterattack in response to border incursions—subcontinent cricket is in shambles.

Foreign players, crucial to the PSL's international popularity, are taking safety precautions first, leaving the PCB in a state of panic. There were reports of players such as Australia's David Warner and New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell swearing never to come back to Pakistan, while England's Tom Curran was visibly shaken throughout the incident. South Africa's Andries Gous, who was scheduled to make his debut for Islamabad United, also withdrew, citing the volatile atmosphere. The PCB had first thought about relocating matches to Karachi, but as things deteriorated, the idea fell apart, further worsening the crisis.

The PCB is keen to save the season, particularly with playoff places at stake—Lahore Qalandars (9 points) and Peshawar Zalmi (8 points) were in the running before the suspension. An attempt to relocate to the UAE fell through, as the Emirates Cricket Board distanced itself to avoid straining ties with the BCCI, who’ve hosted IPL editions there. With no clear venue and fading player confidence, the PSL’s future looks bleak, leaving fans like me wondering if we’ll see any more action this year.

Can the PSL Bounce Back?

The PCB has a daunting task ahead: getting overseas players back on the field while keeping them safe. There are negotiations to postpone matches in a neutral country, potentially Sri Lanka, but there is no clear timeline yet. Cricket was already disrupted, as two Pakistan domestic tournaments were postponed, and the PCB has to move quickly to regain people's trust or face postponing the entire season, a huge loss for fans and players.

Also Read: India's likely squad for the 2025 England Test Series Without Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli

With global stars absent, the PSL loses its glamour, and that is well-known to the board. Global stars are the measure of a league's strength as well as watchability, and with today's environment, even that does not appear so real anymore. Hope the PCB somehow manages to deliver cricket once more in safety—fingers crossed for it all to resolve ASAP!

The T20 World Cup 2024 has wrapped up, leaving cricket fans across the globe in awe of the stunning performances and nail-biting matches. Among all the excitement, India emerged victorious, lifting the trophy for the second time. While the Indian team’s brilliance was evident, several players from different countries showcased exceptional skills. Here, we look at the best playing XI of the tournament, highlighting the standout performers.

See Also: Rohit Sharma’s unique celebrations after winning T20 World Cup 2024; FIFA and Wimbledon acknowledge

Take a look at best playing of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024

This best playing XI, featuring a mix of experienced stalwarts and emerging stars, exemplifies the spirit and excitement of T20 cricket. Each player brought something unique to the table, contributing to memorable performances and unforgettable matches. As we celebrate India’s victory, let’s also appreciate the remarkable efforts of these individuals who made the tournament a spectacular event.

1. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (AFG)

Rahmanullah Gurbaz was a key figure in Afghanistan’s impressive run in the tournament. The Afghan opener’s stats speak volumes: 8 matches, 281 runs, an average of 35.12, and a strike rate of 124.33.

Gurbaz’s role as the steady opener ensured that Afghanistan often had a solid start. His ability to build an innings and set a foundation for a competitive total made him an invaluable asset.

2. Rohit Sharma (IND) (C)

Rohit Sharma, India’s skipper, had a fantastic tournament with the bat. Scoring 257 runs in 8 matches with an average of 36.71 and a strike rate of 156.70, Rohit led by example.

His captaincy was a masterclass in strategy. Utilizing four spinners effectively and adapting to match situations, Rohit showcased why he is considered one of the best captains in modern cricket.

3. Andries Gous (USA) (wk)

The USA’s wicketkeeper-batter Andries Gous made a significant impact. With 219 runs in 6 matches at an average of 43.80 and a strike rate of 151.03, Gous was a pillar for the USA team.

Gous’s ability to handle pressure and perform in tricky conditions earned him a spot as the keeper-batter in this elite XI.

4. Suryakumar Yadav (IND)

Suryakumar Yadav continued to shine in the T20 format, scoring 199 runs in 8 matches with an average of 28.42 and a strike rate of 135.37.

His knack for adapting to different playing conditions and match situations made him a crucial player for India. Star India batter Suryakumar Yadav took a sensational catch on the boundary to dismiss David Miller and help India win the T20 World Cup 2024.

5. Marcus Stoinis (AUS)

Marcus Stoinis lived up to his ‘Hulk’ nickname with powerful performances. In 7 matches, he scored 169 runs at a strike rate of 164.07 and took 10 wickets.

His dual capabilities as a hard-hitting batter and reliable bowler made him indispensable to the Australian squad. In the match against Namibia, Stoinis scored 59 runs in just 29 balls, with nine fours and two sixes. His runs came at a strike rate of 203.44.

6. Hardik Pandya (IND

Hardik Pandya bounced back from a tough IPL season with a stellar World Cup performance. He scored 144 runs and took 11 wickets, showcasing his all-round prowess.

Pandya was particularly effective in the US leg of the tournament, where he emerged as a top wicket-taker for India. Hardik defended 16 runs in the final over to ensure a famous win for his team.

7. Axar Patel (IND)

Axar Patel demonstrated his all-round abilities with both bat and ball. He took 9 wickets and scored 92 runs, contributing significantly in all departments.

Axar’s presence added depth to the Indian lineup, providing both offensive and defensive options. Axar Patel’s 47 off 31 balls crucial knock should not be overlooked. Following the loss of three wickets for 34 runs in final match against South Africa, Axar was promoted up the order as a circuit-breaker.

8. Rashid Khan (AFG)

Rashid Khan led Afghanistan with distinction. His 14 wickets in 8 matches, with an economy rate of 6.17, underlined his importance.

Rashid’s best performances came in high-pressure matches, where he delivered critical breakthroughs. He made history in a match against Bangladesh, becoming the first spinner to surpass 150 wickets in T20I cricket and the fourth bowler to record three four-wicket hauls in the tournament.

9. Anrich Nortje (SA)

Anrich Nortje marked his return to international cricket with a bang. He took 13 wickets in 8 matches, with an average of 13.46 and a best of 4-7.

Nortje’s lethal bowling in the powerplay and death overs made him a standout performer for South Africa. The speedster made the most of spicy wickets in USA, kickstarting his campaign with a 4-7 against Sri Lanka.

He’s also been effective in the West Indies, bowling a brilliant final over to secure a close win against England and getting 2-7 in the semi-final against Afghanistan.

10. Jasprit Bumrah (IND)

Jasprit Bumrah was the tournament’s best bowler, with 15 wickets in 8 matches and an economy rate of 4.17. His average of 8.26 reflects his dominance.

As if making up for the fact that he missed the last edition of the tournament due to an injury, Jasprit Bumrah has shown peak form in the tournament.Bumrah’s ability to take wickets in all phases of the game was instrumental in India’s success.

This was most visible against Pakistan in New York, where the irrepressible pacer bamboozled the opposition in each of his short spells, and guided India to a six-run win with his 3-14.

11. Fazalhaq Farooqi (AFG)

Fazalhaq Farooqi was a revelation for Afghanistan. With 17 wickets in 9 matches and an economy rate of 6.31, he was a consistent threat to opposition batters.

Fazalhaq Farooqi led Afghanistan’s charge in the group stages with his scintillating new ball display, picking 12 wickets from his first three games, including a career-best 5-9 versus Uganda and 4-17 in his side’s historic win over New Zealand. Farooqi’s impressive performance earned him a well-deserved place in this best XI.

12th Man: Saurabh Netravlakar (USA)

Saurabh Netravalkar’s journey in the T20 World Cup 2024 was nothing short of inspirational. He played a crucial role in USA’s surprising run to the Super Eights.

His ability to bowl effectively in both powerplays and death overs, including a memorable Super Over against Pakistan, highlighted his skill and composure.

USA registered a convincing win by 7 wickets over Canada at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas in the first match of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Aaron Jones and Andries Gous smashed swashbuckling knocks and helped the team win in the Canada vs USA match.

Canada players did well with the bat

The USA won the toss and opted to bowl first. Batting first, Canada openers Aaron Johnson (23 off 16) and Navneet Dhaliwal (61 off 44) got off to a steady start. They added 43 runs within the powerplay. Soon after, they lost 2 wickets before Nicholas Kirton came to steady the ship. He scored 51 off 31 with 3 fours and 2 sixes whereas Navneet Dhaliwal smashed 61 off 44 with 6 fours and 3 sixes as well.

However, after their dismissals, middle-order batters Shreyas Movva and Dilpreet Singh stepped up. While the former scored a quickfire 32* off 16 with 2 fours and 2 sixes, the latter’s quick 11 helped them to post a huge total of 194 runs in their allotted 20 overs with the loss of 5 wickets.

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Aaron Jones played a stunning knock

While chasing, the USA had a poor start as their opener Steven Taylor got out for a 2-ball duck. Soon, they lost their other opener and captain Monank Patel for a mere score of 16 within the powerplay. However, Andries Gous and Aaron Jones joined hands to steady the ship. They added 131 runs for the third wicket where Andries Gous scored 65 off 46 with 7 fours and 3 sixes.

However, it was Aaron Jones who played a swashbuckling knock of 94* off 40 with the help of 4 fours and 10 sixes. Their quickfire knocks helped the side to reach the target within 17.4 overs as well. Meanwhile, this is the third-highest successfully chased in a T20 World Cup.

Notably, Jones also became the Player of the Match for his stunning knock. This was the highest individual score by a non-opener in a successful run-chase in T20 World Cup history as well. However, this was the second-highest score by any batter on T20 World Cup debut as well. He also hit the joint second most sixes in an innings in T20 World Cups. Gayle tops the chart with his 11 sixes.

Aaron Jones said after the game: “I don’t think it is easy to put it into words. Happy to get my team over the line. I thought anything under 200 is chaseable. We wanted to play aggressive cricket. I think I go through my process while I practice. To be honest, when my team is under pressure it gets the best out of me.”

Monank Patel said after the game: “We always we knew he (Aaron Jones) had the game. He played fearless cricket. Really happy to see the crowd in numbers, hope they continue to give us the support. We want to continue the way we play are playing (fearless cricket). We don’t want to change anything whether we play Pakistan or India.”