Sports News: T20 World Cup Highlights: Australia and England Advance, India's Mixed Performances, and Pakistan's Struggles; Ronaldinho Criticizes Brazil, and Toni Kroos Returns for Germany

Australia defeated Scotland by five wickets in a must-win final Group B game of the T20 World Cup at the Daren Sammy. Chasing Scotland's 180 for five, Australia got the target off the final ball, led by half-centuries from Travis Head, 68 (44), and Marcus Stoinis 59(46). Tim David's undefeated 24 got them across the finish line on a spiller. Scotland's Brandon McMullen top-scored with 60, but their momentum slowed after his dismissal. Australia's win also ensured England's qualification for the Super Eights phase. Glenn Maxwell took two wickets, and Adam Zampa was the most economical bowler.

Indeed, due to a wet outfield, the abandonment of India's final Group A fixture at the T20 World Cup boils down to an extended nine-day break until the side faces Afghanistan. So far, the real key performers have been Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, with Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya. But questions loom over the form of both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. On highly challenging pitch conditions, though, it has been a stellar campaign for India so far, keeping the unbeaten streak intact. His captaincy, inclusive of him using Bumrah strategically, has been the difference in tough games like today's against Pakistan.

A wet outfield prompted India to call off their last Group A match of the 2024 T20 World Cup against Canada, thereby giving both teams one point each. The game in Florida was called off without a toss even as relentless efforts were being made to dry the pitch by groundstaff. The seven points helped India qualify for the Super Eight. Canada, in Group A, is third but with three points, after losing a golden opportunity to play one of the fossilized teams in its place. India next plays Afghanistan on June 20.

Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim reckons the team's problem against quality oppositions is that of fear of failure and a wrong mindset. The 35-year-old all-rounder, who came out of retirement for the T20 World Cup 2024, demands a complete change in the way Pakistan aims to play white-ball cricket. Imad says they need to have a bold mindset wherein either they play aggressively or to their style. His remarks came during a question and answer session in the run-up to the final clash of the T20 World Cup against Ireland in Lauderhill

The Brazilian legend Ronaldinho harshly criticized the current squad chosen for the upcoming Copa America, saying that it was the "worst team" in the recent years. Ronaldo, one of the most sorrowful lovers of Brazilian soccer, came to show his pain over Instagram when the player wrote: "It is a sad moment for lovers of Brazilian soccer. This team does not have respectable leadership. The team has no one apart from a few average players." Ronaldinho mentioned that the side was lacking both passion and quality and, promising a boycott of all national team matches, only hailed from Brazil's group D, which is made up of Costa Rica, Paraguay, and Colombia.

At 34, Toni Kroos remains one of, if not the, world's best No. 8s; what Germany were starved of in their disappointing 2022 World Cup. Because Kroos made the shock decision to retire in 2021, immediately after the Euro loss to England. Coach Nagelsmann had to persuade him out of retirement and this happened because Nagelsmann gave the assurance of changes in the future and the potential of the team to win. With renewed self-confidence, Kroos turned to Nagelsmann and said, "Let's rock," before proceeding to win the Euro 2024 opener for Germany against Scotland.