The excitement for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 intensified on Friday with the announcement of cricket legend Shahid Afridi as the latest ambassador. Joining an already star-studded roster that includes Yuvraj Singh, Chris Gayle, and even the sprinting icon Usain Bolt, Afridi brings a wealth of experience. A veteran of six T20 World Cups, he captained Pakistan to a thrilling victory in 2009 and even bagged the Player of the Match award in the final at Lord’s.
This announcement sparked a playful online exchange. A Pakistani journalist, sharing the news on a popular social media platform (formerly known as Twitter), tagged former Indian batsman Suresh Raina in the post.
The India white-ball great quickly responded to the tweet as he shut the journalist with a fiery reminder of the 2011 ODI World Cup semifinal against Pakistan in Mohali. India had won by 29 runs to beat Afridi-led Pakistan in the game where Raina had scored an unbeaten 36.
“I’m not an ICC ambassador, but I have the 2011 World Cup at my house. Remember the game at Mohali? Hope it brings back some unforgettable memories for you,” he replied.
I’m not an ICC ambassador, but I have the 2011 World Cup at my house. Remember the game at Mohali? Hope it brings back some unforgettable memories for you. https://t.co/5H3zIGmS33
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) May 24, 2024
The T20 World Cup will begin on June 1 in the USA and the West Indies. Twenty teams will play 55 matches across nine venues, culminating in the final on 29 June in Barbados in what will be the biggest cricket carnival spectacle ever.
India will begin their campaign on June 5 against Ireland at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York before taking Pakistan at the same venue on June 9. The other members of Group A of the tournament are co-hosts USA and Canada.
Indian players are yet to leave for the World Cup in New York, with the first batch of players to depart on May 25, which will comprise captain Rohit Sharma and his deputy Hardik Pandya, among many others. The rest, including in-form Virat Kohli are likely to depart over the next few days.
Ahead of the start of the tournament, India will also play a warm-up game against Bangladesh on June 1 in New York.
