Womens T20 WC: Fancy India To Win Over Pakistan, Have Jumped At Least A Level Or Two, Says Hussain
T20 World Cup: India will open their 2026 Womens T20 World Cup campaign against Pakistan at Edgbaston on June 14, as one of crickets most-watched rivalries takes centre stage in a global womens tournament. The results, though, have been onesided in recent years. India have won 13 of 16 T20Is against Pakistan, including a sixwicket victory at the 2024 T20 World Cup in Dubai. In Womens T20 World Cup meetings, India lead 62 across eight clashes. All contests have come in global or continental events the Womens T20 World Cup, Asia Cup, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games with no bilateral series staged in this phase. Edgbastons large South Asian community, with strong Indian and Pakistani representation, is expected to generate intense local interest as both teams begin their campaigns. Nasser Hussain, the former England captain, addressed questions around the big clash as ICC Women's T20 World Cup expert in a JioStar Media Day. Excerpts:- On how Yastika Bhatia has fared as a number three batter so far From recent times, what I have seen recently, I actually think the other way round. Yastika, since I have seen her in England, her strike rate is excellent, she is a real boundary hitter, I quite like her at number 3 after the dynamic Shafali and Smriti Mandhana, and then you have Jemimah and Harmanpreet after, who can steady the ship if you need to, or kick on, and then you have Richa Ghosh to even kick on even more. So I like Yastika at 3, from what I have seen of her in England in particular, she has been smashing it everywhere, she hasn't made that big score, she has been getting like 30 and 20 balls, 30 and 25 deliveries. My only issue is that since her injury and her operation, it was a major operation. She has not been that mobile between the wickets; she has been run out twice in the England bilateral series and then in the field as well. So that is my only concern, especially if she is batting with Jemimah, for example, and Jemimah is very quick between the wickets, you may just have to keep an eye on that. But I quite like her at 3, and I quite like batting depth that everyone then moves down one, and it gives you a long batting line-up. Who has the edge in the India-Pakistan clash? Firstly, there is obviously a great rivalry across any sport between India and Pakistan, but you would say recently in men's and women's cricket, it has not been particularly close, especially in ICC events, and the rivalry has not yet kicked off to the extent that it has in the men's game. But it is still India vs Pakistan, and it is a format that obviously can cause upsets. We have seen in the warm-up games, and even before that, sides like Scotland, Ireland, and the Netherlands are playing some very good cricket. India will be confident but obviously wary that it only takes Fatima Sana to come off, have a good day, and they could be in trouble, but if you are asking me a prediction, India will be too strong. In general, the way Indian women's cricket has grown - 50 over World Cup win, WPL, everything that is happening in women's cricket in India compared to Pakistan cricket, where their players don't play in all the franchise tournaments around the world. So, they have stayed at a level whereas India have jumped at least a level or two if not more. On the importance of six-hitting to win the competition Six hitting is absolutely vital. The women's game has changed from a touch game. So, you think of Meg Lanning, a wonderful touch player who stroked the ball to the boundary. One of the greatest I have ever seen, and now you see the power hitters that are around. They just clear the rope and back themselves to hit sixes. So, whichever team hits the most sixes will probably win the tournament. But also, I always keep an eye on our monitor in the commentary box on the dot ball percentage. There is no point in having five dots and then a six. You are going to run a ball, and that won't win you anything. So, that is another thing that coaches and analysts will keep an eye on. What is the dot ball percentage of that team? So, the combination of those. That is why running between the wickets is very important. That is why I mentioned Jemimah and the way she runs between the wickets. The good balls are going for one, two, and three, and your bad ball is going for four and six. It is very difficult as an opposition captain to control that. So, yes, six-hitting is vital. But you have got to keep an eye on that dot ball percentage. On whether Deepti Sharma is an automatic starter in the playing eleven For me, yes. Going into a big game in a big tournament, I would want Deepti Sharma. You want people to go into battle with you, streetwise people, and Deepti is absolutely that, and I mentioned Smriti Mandhana as well. I saw a question that was relayed to me about what the surprise will be. It's not a surprise, but the two have had quite a few periods recently, and this World Cup has come as a perfect time for them. Its because once you're playing in a World Cup, everything else, no one will remember what happened in the bilaterals. No one will remember what happened in South Africa, Australia, whatever. It will be, how did you go in this World Cup? And certain people raise their game for big tournaments, and Deepti Sharma is absolutely that. She has been out of form since the South Africa series and has gone a long period without getting wickets. Then in the fourth game, she got runs and wickets, and she's done okay against England in the bilaterals. She knows England very well, having played the Hundred here and a lot of games here for India. So she knows the conditions very well. They may not see it differently, but if you're asking me, my opinion is that I would want Deepti Sharma as one of the first names in a big game. Thinking of a knockout semi-final or a final in a big game, I would want Deepti Sharma to be one of them. But look how she went in the 50-over World Cup, and I would want Deepti on my side. On what will be the key factor in deciding the winner of the India-Pakistan clash? Pakistan will have to play above the level they're playing at the moment. They had a good series against Zimbabwe, and their strike rates all went through the roof. But with all respect to Zimbabwe, that attack won't be like the Indian attack. So if Pakistan are just par, and they're par, I'm talking about, then India will be too good. To beat India and some of those sides, and I'm not just talking about Pakistan or the group - I'm talking about England, South Africa, New Zealand, India, Australia. To beat those sides, you have to play above your par. So they cannot play timid cricket. If you get 120 runs, India are just going to knock that off easily. So they have to play fearless cricket, and they have to have the cricketers to be able to do that, and they have to put India under a bit of pressure. Everyone knows they're playing for India. The expectation is there now in that group as well. With India being in a group with South Africa and Australia, this is a must-win game, and you could argue a must-win game, and make sure your net run rate is good as well, with what might come ahead. So if you can suddenly, in the first game, catch India a bit cold and put them under a bit of pressure, then India are thinking, Crikey, we can't lose this one. We've still got to play South Africa and Australia. Then you never know. But as I said right at the start, I fancy India to win. On whether India might have to take an extra batter or bowler to compensate for Amanjot Kaurs absence Personally, I would play the extra batter. I would pack my batting. I would use Shafali - remember in the 50-over World Cup final, Shafali came in. She wasn't even in the original squad, and then there she is, getting runs and wickets. I would use Shafali as my safety valve bowler, as in the women's game, four of the top six, seven bowlers are spinners. England have three spinners in the top six. So spin to win in women's cricket, especially T20 cricket. I would play all my spinners, not all of them, but if you're asking me about the balance, a couple of seamers and all my batting. But if you do that, you have to go hard. If you go back to the 50-over World Cup, India at the start had the same problem. They played the extra batter, but were still being a bit cautious. Personally, I would play the extra batter. I would pack my batting. I would use Shafali - remember in the 50-over World Cup final, Shafali came in. She wasn't even in the original squad, and then there she is, getting runs and wickets. I would use Shafali as my safety valve bowler, as in the women's game, four of the top six, seven bowlers are spinners. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Catch all the action from ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026, June 12-July 5, LIVE on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network. Article Source: IANS
ENGW vs SLW Match 1 , Cricket Tips :The ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 will begin with England Women taking on Sri Lanka Women in the first game. New Zealand women are the defending champions, and there are 11 more participants who will try their luck. The first match will be held at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Friday at 11 PM IST. England Women are one of the top contenders of the tournament, and they will be looking to start well. Every team will play five matches in their group, and only two teams from two groups will qualify for the semis. That is why every match is important. Sri Lanka women did well, winning both warm-up matches. They will be looking to challenge the strong English side and turn things around. ENGW vs SLW: Match Details Date : June 12, 2026 (Friday) Time : 11 PM IST Venue : Edgbaston, Birmingham ENGW vs SLW Live Streaming Details The live action of the Women's T20 World Cup 2026 will be available on Star Sports Networks. Fans can access the live stream on the Jio Hotstar app or website. ENGW vs SLW Head-to-Head in T20Is Total Matches : 12 England Women : 10 Sri Lanka Women : 02 No - Result : 00 ENGW vs SLW: Ground Pitch Report Edgbaston offers a good and balanced wicket. Pacers will get good movement early on, and spinners will get assistance with the old ball. The wicket is expected to settle down as the match goes on. The team that will chase will have an edge. ENGW vs SLW Possible XIs ENGW : Sophia Dunkley, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Alice Capsey, Heather Knight, Amy Jones (wk), Charlie Dean, Freya Kemp, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Bell, Lauren Filer SLW : Chamari Athapaththu (c), Harshitha Samarawickrama, Vishmi Gunaratne, Hasini Perera (wk), Imesha Dulani, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshika de Silva, Sugandika Kumari, Malki Madara, Mithali Ayodhya, Nimasha Meepage ENGW vs SLW Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Danny Wyatt-Hodeg and Chamari Athapaththu will have a big role with the bat. These two can play aggressively in the power play and give the team a good start. Probable Best Bowler Lauren Bell is one of the best T20 bowlers in women's cricket and is carrying good form with her. For Sri Lanka, Sugandika Kumari is the experienced bowler who can make an impact here. Today Match Prediction : England Women are very strong in their own conditions and Sri Lanka Women have struggled against England. We predict England to win this game on Friday. ENGW vs SLW Match 1, ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026, Today 2026 Match, ENGW vs SLW 2026 Prediction, ENGW vs SLW Predicted XIs, Injury Update for ENGW vs SLW Match Also Read: Live Cricket Score Disclaimer : The predictions or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your predictions.
Women's T20 WC: When And Where To Watch ENG Vs SL, Know All Details
T20 World Cup: The wait is finally over, and the Women's T20 World Cup 2026 will commence on Friday with hosts England taking on Sri Lanka in the tournament opener at the Edgbaston Stadium. Among the pre-tournament favourites, England boast a formidable squad packed with international experience and match-winners across all departments. The hosts will rely on the likes of Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Alice Capsey, Amy Jones, Charlotte Dean, and youngster Lauren Bell as they seek to launch their title bid on a positive note. England won the inaugural edition of the tournament but failed to replicate the success in the next eight editions. They exited from the Group Stage in 2024. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, arrive with ambitions of causing an early upset and making a statement on the biggest stage in womens cricket. Skipper Chamari Athapaththu will once again be central to the teams hopes, while Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kaushani Nuthyangana are expected to shoulder key responsibilities. Historically, England have enjoyed the upper hand in meetings between the two sides. The teams have faced each other 12 times in international cricket, with England emerging victorious in 10 encounters, while Sri Lanka have managed two wins. Their rivalry dates back to June 2009, with the most recent clash taking place in September 2023. When: Friday, June 12, 11:00 PM IST Where: Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham Where to watch: The England vs Sri Lanka match will be broadcast on Star Sports channels, with JioHotstar live-streaming the game. Squads: Where to watch: The England vs Sri Lanka match will be broadcast on Star Sports channels, with JioHotstar live-streaming the game. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu (c), Hasini Perera, Vishmi Gunarathne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Imesha Dulani, Nilakshika Silva, Kaveesha Dilhari, Hansima Karunarathne, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Sugandika Dassanayaka, Nimasha Madushani, Kawya Kavindi, Malki Madara, Mithali Ayodhya, Chethana Vimukthi. Article Source: IANS
Prabhsimran, Gaikwad, Tilak score fifties in DLS loss to Afghanistan A
Half-centuries from Imran Mir and Bahir Shah ensured Afghanistan A stayed ahead of the DLS par in a rain-hit game
Womens T20 WC: England Begin Quest To End 17-year Drought As Sri Lanka Eye Maiden Title (Preview)
T20 World Cup: The ICC Womens T20 World Cup 2026 gets underway with hosts England taking on Sri Lanka in a Group A clash at the Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham on Friday. Both teams will be eager to begin their campaign on a winning note, with valuable points at stake in the race for the semifinals. England enter the tournament as one of the favourites to lift the trophy, bolstered by home conditions and a squad packed with experience. Led by Nat Sciver-Brunt, the hosts possess a formidable lineup featuring Heather Knight, Amy Jones, Alice Capsey, Sophie Ecclestone, and Lauren Bell. Their confidence has also received a boost after a successful warm-up campaign, including a victory over India. The strength of England lies in their balance. They have explosive batting options in the top and middle orders, while their bowling attack offers a mix of pace and spin, capable of adapting to different conditions. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will look to spring an early surprise. Much of their hopes will rest on captain Chamari Athapaththu, whose aggressive batting can single-handedly change the course of a match. The experienced opener remains Sri Lankas biggest match-winner and will be crucial if they are to challenge the hosts. Support from players such as Harshitha Samarawickrama, Vishmi Gunaratne, Kavisha Dilhari, and Sugandika Kumari will also be vital. However, Sri Lanka will need contributions across departments to compete against a strong England side. The key battle could be between the hosts overall depth and the Lankans ability to produce individual brilliance. While the hosts appear stronger on paper, World Cup openers often bring added pressure and unpredictability. Playing in familiar conditions and backed by home support, England start as clear favourites. However, Sri Lanka will be hoping Athapaththu and company can deliver a performance capable of unsettling one of the tournaments leading contenders. When: Friday, June 12, 11:00 PM IST Where: Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham Where to watch: The England vs Sri Lanka match will be broadcast on Star Sports channels, with JioHotstar live-streaming the game. Squads: Where to watch: The England vs Sri Lanka match will be broadcast on Star Sports channels, with JioHotstar live-streaming the game. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu (c), Hasini Perera, Vishmi Gunarathne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Imesha Dulani, Nilakshika Silva, Kaveesha Dilhari, Hansima Karunarathne, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Sugandika Dassanayaka, Nimasha Madushani, Kawya Kavindi, Malki Madara, Mithali Ayodhya, Chethana Vimukthi. Article Source: IANS
The Bangladesh Cricket Board: Bangladesh have reshaped their squads across formats ahead of a busy international stretch, recalling their premier fast-bowling trio of Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, and Mustafizur Rahman for the upcoming T20I series against Australia while simultaneously rewarding Towhid Hridoy with a long-awaited place in the Test setup. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) unveiled separate squads for the three-match T20I contest against Australia in Chattogram and the subsequent one-off Test against Zimbabwe in Harare, with several notable inclusions and omissions reflecting both immediate priorities and long-term planning. Leading the headlines is the return of frontline quicks Taskin, Nahid, and Mustafizur to the T20I squad. The trio's comeback significantly strengthens Bangladesh's pace department after Taskin and Rana were rested during the previous T20I series against New Zealand earlier this year. Their return comes at the expense of several seam-bowling options. Tanzim Hasan Shakib, Ripon Mondol, and Mohammad Saifuddin have all missed out despite featuring during the New Zealand series, as selectors opted to restore their first-choice attack ahead of the challenge posed by Australia. The pace unit will also include Abdul Gaffar Saqlain, who was part of the squad against New Zealand but did not feature in any of the matches. Away from the T20 format, the most intriguing development is the elevation of Towhid Hridoy into Bangladesh's red-ball plans. The aggressive batter has built considerable international experience in white-ball cricket since debuting in 2023, featuring in 52 ODIs and 59 T20Is, but has yet to play a Test match. His inclusion in the 15-member squad for the Zimbabwe Test reflects the selectors' desire to inject greater attacking intent into the batting line-up. Despite relatively limited first-class exposure, Hridoy has shown enough promise to earn consideration, scoring three centuries in 16 first-class appearances. Hridoy's responsibilities have also increased in the T20I setup. Chief selector Habibul Bashar confirmed that the batter will serve as vice-captain under Litton Kumar Das after Saif Hassan stepped down from the role to concentrate on his own performances. The Test squad also features uncapped medium-pacer Robiul Haque, who continues to impress on the domestic circuit. Robiul has accumulated 107 wickets and 620 runs in 32 first-class matches and is viewed as a player capable of developing into a genuine pace-bowling all-rounder. Experienced seamer Khaled Ahmed has also been recalled. Meanwhile, several established names have been left out of the Zimbabwe Test as part of Bangladesh's workload-management strategy. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed, and Nahid Rana have all been rested, with team management continuing to rotate players across formats during a packed international calendar. Bangladesh's immediate focus will be the three-match T20I series against Australia, scheduled for June 17, 19, and 21 in Chattogram. The Test contingent will then depart for Zimbabwe on June 23 ahead of the one-off encounter in Harare, which begins on June 28. With experienced quicks returning to spearhead the T20I attack and Hridoy receiving his first opportunity in the longest format, the squad announcements signal Bangladesh's attempt to balance present-day competitiveness with the development of future all-format options. Bangladesh's immediate focus will be the three-match T20I series against Australia, scheduled for June 17, 19, and 21 in Chattogram. The Test contingent will then depart for Zimbabwe on June 23 ahead of the one-off encounter in Harare, which begins on June 28. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Test squad against Zimbabwe: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Tanzid Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Kumar Das, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Towhid Hridoy, Amite Hasan, Robiul Haque. Article Source: IANS
Dravid's son Anvay picked for India Under-19s' one-day games in Sri Lanka
He has been named in the squad for the three one-day games, to be played on July 4, 6 and 9 in Hambantota
Bristol, Southampton Venues Went Through Refurbishments For Womens T20 WC, Says Tournament Director
The Bristol County Ground: The Bristol County Ground and the Utilita Bowl in Southampton have undergone significant infrastructure refurbishments ahead of the 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup, with tournament director Beth Barrett-Wild saying that they were done as part of a broader wave of facility investment triggered by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) hosting the global event from June 12 to July 5. When you host a World Cup, it gives you an opportunity to invest in sorts of capital projects and initiatives. So we've got seven incredible host venues for the tournament this summer in six citiesat least three of those embarked on significant facility developments. The Bristol County grounds in Gloucestershire -- that's a multi-million-pound changing room refurbishment that they've undergone, which has been instigated by them being a Women's T20 World Cup host venue to meet those minimum requirements. So they're going to have incredible facilities, and I haven't been down to see them yet. I'm due to go in a couple of weeks to watch some of the games. But I think the changing facilities that they're going to have now are just going to be next level. I think they've got four facilities that they've invested in and a three-million-pound project that they've embarked on. Those four facilities are again, because it means that they can host double headers really brilliantly. So double headers have been incredibly successful here through The Hundreds, and we're going to see a few double-headers actually through the tournament as well, and Bristol are hosting some of those with four world-class changing facilities being put into place. Similarly, PMOA (Players and Match Officials area) refurbishments were done at the Hampshire Bowl on the South Coast in Southampton, and they've done a lot of work there, Beth told IANS in an exclusive conversation on Thursday. Lancashire has also invested in Old Trafford, which had 63 female toilets in 2025, and that number will be 114 for the Womens T20 World Cup. They've done various things, both within Old Trafford, but also in terms of some of their ancillary facilities. So they've got a really amazing development called Farrington, which is almost their second venue, and isn't directly linked to the World Cup. But I guess it's an outcome of the growth of the women's game that they've recognised that they need a world-class second facility now that can accommodate both men's and women's cricket. But that's kind of, I guess, been born out of just the growth over a period of time. Then there's some just more kind of in-the-moment facility elements that we're looking at like the fan profile that we're gonna see coming through, she added. Aside from the venue, the organisers also had to navigate a complex set of logistical challenges, including disruptions to global shipping and travel arising from the West Asia crisis. Beth revealed the ECB and ICC had maintained a joint risk register and contingency planning process throughout, and confirmed that all 12 competing nations had arrived without any major incident in the way. With that, it's obviously very unfortunate and sad that that is happening. We had been alert to it from the outset. We've worked very closely with the ICC on this, and we've had various contingency plans in place around things like the shipping timelines for kit and equipment, and there have been some challenges there. There have been a few delays there too, but we've worked through those as a team, and we've got on top of those. One of the things that we were alert to was actually global travel and making sure teams arrived smoothly. We have got all 12 teams here, so that's good, and we've managed that. Actually, we were helped by the fact that there were a few series going on in Scotland, Ireland, and England beforehand, and teams did tend to arrive early there. But really, that's just been about having them - we've had a risk register and sort of various contingency planning sessions in combination with the ICC. So we, as the ECB LOC and the ICC, had to make sure that we've just got various backup plans in place there. It's been something that we've had to be alert to, but we have been across. Fortunately, we've so far not encountered any major issues there, she explained. Theres also been some help from the British government, added Beth. There are some other bits there around working with our UK government to make sure if there were any, for example, like shortages of fuel as a result of the crisis, how we'd work with that. So we're very plugged into that and various kinds of security elements, too. We've got a very, very, very sort of high-quality safety and security overlay across the tournament, which is the same level that you'd expect to see around a men's global events in terms of that security footprint. So that's all pretty well covered, she said. On the issue of online abuse - a growing concern across women's sport globally - Beth confirmed that dedicated monitoring software was in place for England women's players, with the ICC running a parallel system through an AI-driven programme named GoBubble at the tournament level. In 2024, the ICC used GoBubble to counter all kinds of social media abuse towards teams and players, and monitored 1.5 million comments that were toxic in nature. The issue of abuse towards players again emerged when India lower-order batter Bharti Fulmali received hate and trolling over her looks on social media. Then, in terms of the online abuse element, look, this is something which is not nice. It's something that I think is getting worse in some regards, but I think we have various monitoring processes in place now. I know, definitely, for England women, we are working with a company that helps monitor and support our players in that, and the ICC has something in place as well, but I would need to double-check that. In 2024, the ICC used GoBubble to counter all kinds of social media abuse towards teams and players, and monitored 1.5 million comments that were toxic in nature. The issue of abuse towards players again emerged when India lower-order batter Bharti Fulmali received hate and trolling over her looks on social media. Also Read: Live Cricket Score I know it's a company that's used by a few major women's team sports now in terms of that monitoring and support system. But it is something that everybody is aware of and needs to be addressed, she concluded. Article Source: IANS
Bristol, Southampton Venues Refurbished For Womens T20 WC: Tournament Director
The Bristol County Ground: The Bristol County Ground and the Utilita Bowl in Southampton have undergone significant infrastructure refurbishments ahead of the 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup, with tournament director Beth Barrett-Wild saying that they were done as part of a broader wave of facility investment triggered by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) hosting the global event from June 12 to July 5. When you host a World Cup, it gives you an opportunity to invest in sort of capital projects and initiatives. So we've got seven incredible host venues for the tournament this summer in six cities. At least three of those embarked on significant facility developments. The Bristol County grounds down in Gloucestershire - that's a multi-million pounds changing room refurbishment that they've undergone, which has been instigated by them being a Women's T20 World Cup host venue to meet those minimum requirements. So they're going to have incredible facilities, and I haven't been down to see them yet. I'm due to go in a couple of weeks to watch some of the games. But I think the changing facilities that they're going to have now are just going to be next level. I think they've got four facilities that they've invested in and a three million pounds project that they've embarked on. Those four facilities are again, because it means that they can host double headers really brilliantly. So double headers have been incredibly successful here through The Hundreds and we're going to see a few double headers actually through the tournament as well and Bristol are hosting some of those with four world-class changing facilities being put into place. Similarly, PMOA (Players and Match Officials area) refurbishments were done at the Hampshire Bowl on the South Coast in Southampton and they've done a lot of work there, Beth told IANS in an exclusive conversation on Thursday. Lancashire has also invested into Old Trafford, which had 63 female toilets in 2025 and that number will be 114 for the Womens T20 World Cup. They've done various things, both within Old Trafford, but then also in terms of some of their ancillary facilities. So they've got a really amazing development called Farrington, which is almost their second venue, and isn't directly linked to the World Cup. But I guess it's an outcome of the growth of the women's game that they've recognised that they need a world-class second facility now that can accommodate both men's and women's cricket. But that's kind of, I guess, been born out of just the growth over a period of time. Then there's some just more kind of in the moment facility elements that we're looking at like the fan profile that we're gonna see coming through, she added. Aside from the venue, the organisers also had to navigate a complex set of logistical challenges, including disruptions to global shipping and travel arising from the West Asia crisis. Beth revealed the ECB and ICC had maintained a joint risk register and contingency planning process throughout, and confirmed that all 12 competing nations had arrived without any major incident in the way. With that, it's obviously very unfortunate and sad that that is happening. We had been alert to it from the outset. We've worked very closely with the ICC on this and we've had various contingency plans in place around things like the shipping timelines for kit and equipment and there have been some challenges there. There have been a few delays there too, but we've worked through those as a team and we've got on top of those. One of the things that we were alert to was actually global travel and making sure teams arrived smoothly. We have got all 12 teams here, so that's good and we've managed that. Actually we were helped by, there was a few series going on actually in Scotland and Ireland and also England beforehand and teams did tend to arrive early there. But really that's just been about having them - we've had a risk register and sort of various contingency planning sessions in combination with the ICC. So us as the ECB LOC and the ICC had to make sure that we've just got various backup plans in place there. It's been something that we've had to be alert to, but we have been across. Fortunately, we've so far not encountered any major issues there, she explained. Theres also been some help from the British government too, added Beth. There's some other bits there around working with our UK government to make sure if there was any, for example, like shortages of fuel as a result of the crisis, how we'd work with that. So we're very plugged into that and various kinds of security elements too. We've got a very, very, very sort of high quality safety and security overlay across the tournament, which is the same level that you'd expect to see around a men's global events in terms of that security footprint. So that's all pretty well covered, she said. On the issue of online abuse - a growing concern across women's sport globally - Beth confirmed that dedicated monitoring software was in place for England women's players, with the ICC running a parallel system through an AI-driven programme named GoBubble at the tournament level. In 2024, the ICC used GoBubble to counter all kinds of social media abuse towards teams and players, and monitored 1.5 million comments which were toxic in nature. The issue of abuse towards players again emerged when India lower-order batter Bharti Fulmali received hate and trolling over her looks on social media. Then in terms of the online abuse element, look, this is something which is not nice. It's something that I think is getting worse in some regards, but I think we have got various monitoring processes in place now. I know definitely for England women, we are working with a company that helped to monitor and support our players on that and the ICC have got something in place as well, but I would need to double check that. In 2024, the ICC used GoBubble to counter all kinds of social media abuse towards teams and players, and monitored 1.5 million comments which were toxic in nature. The issue of abuse towards players again emerged when India lower-order batter Bharti Fulmali received hate and trolling over her looks on social media. Also Read: Live Cricket Score I know it's a company that's used by a few major women's team sports now in terms of that monitoring and support system. But it is something that everybody is aware of and needs to be addressed, she concluded. Article Source: IANS
'The Shoulder Finally Won': Riyan Parag Begins Road To Recovery After Successful Surgery
Riyan Parag: Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag has successfully undergone shoulder surgery, bringing an end to a prolonged battle with an injury that had troubled him for nearly two years and repeatedly disrupted his cricketing commitments. The 24-year-old had continued to play through discomfort despite recurring shoulder issues affecting him at both the domestic and international levels. The injury had also curtailed his opportunities with India after making his international debut in 2024. Parag admitted that the physical challenge had tested him throughout the last two seasons, forcing him to navigate periods of frustration while remaining available for his teams. He shared the update on social media, confirming that the procedure had gone according to plan and that his focus has now shifted towards rehabilitation and a return to competitive cricket. Well, the shoulder finally won. For everyone whos been asking, the surgery is done and went well. The past two years have tested me in ways I never expected. There were good days, frustrating days, and days when simply getting through a game was a challenge. But I wouldnt have wanted it any other way. Now comes a different challenge- recovery, rehab and patience. Ill be back doing what I love soon. See you on the other side, Parag wrote on Instagram while sharing a post-surgery picture from the hospital. The surgery comes after a demanding phase in Parag's career that saw him assume greater responsibility on and off the field. Earlier this year, he was appointed Rajasthan Royals' full-time captain for IPL 2026 and responded impressively by guiding the franchise into the playoffs in his debut season as skipper. Rajasthan eventually finished third after suffering a narrow defeat to the Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2, falling one step short of the final. Well, the shoulder finally won. For everyone whos been asking, the surgery is done and went well. The past two years have tested me in ways I never expected. There were good days, frustrating days, and days when simply getting through a game was a challenge. But I wouldnt have wanted it any other way. Now comes a different challenge- recovery, rehab and patience. Ill be back doing what I love soon. See you on the other side, Parag wrote on Instagram while sharing a post-surgery picture from the hospital. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The BCCI had earlier stated that Parag's rehabilitation will be overseen by the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. Before returning to either domestic or international cricket, he will need to complete the prescribed recovery programme and receive clearance from the medical staff. Article Source: IANS
Over Cricket World Cup: Beth BarrettWild, the tournament director of 2026 ICC Womens T20 World Cup, said they have been working on a blueprint to sustain momentum in the womens game, something which was a key learning for her from the 2017 Womens ODI World Cup, adding that once demand is created, it has to be optimised with supply. Nine years ago, the 2017 Womens ODI World Cup in England, which the hosts won in a sold-out final at Lords, led to a transformation in perception about women's cricket. It went from a little-known sport into a highly followed one, apart from it being recognised as a commercially viable property just like how mens cricket is. In an exclusive conversation with IANS ahead of the T20 World Cup starting on Friday, Beth said the key lesson from 2017 ODI World Cup was the absence of a follow-on pathway for newly converted fans to watch more womens cricket and explained the plan about keeping fans hooked to ensure that the momentum from this summer's mega does not dissipate the moment the final ends on July 5 at Lords. So lots and lots of lessons (were there) from 2017. I was very fortunate personally to get to work on the 2017 Women's 50 Over Cricket World Cup that we hosted here as a strategic planning manager. That was very much kind of behind the scenes and trying to make sure that we maximise that moment as best as possible, which we did see through to the final. So that sold out England v India final at Lord's and those incredible scenes that day and it was definitely here in England, probably the first moment where we'd seen a traditionally male dominated sport, such as cricket, really break through at scale on a national level and really capture the imagination of the nation. Having that final sold out really just demonstrated that actually if you build an opportunity for the women's game to really shine and you market it properly and have a really good ticketing strategy behind it, there is an audience there that wants to watch it. So that was really, really important that we had that big final moment, she said. However, Beth acknowledged that the 2017 ODI World Cup triumph was followed by a significant gap in matches for England. But in terms of learnings, one of the things in terms of really sort of capturing that momentum, England women didn't actually play another fixture that summer. So we played in that final, we had that big ground swell of love for the England women's team and all of that attention. Then we didn't have anywhere to signpost those fans into going to watch and sort of continue their following of the England women's team, she said. This time, the ECB has engineered a near-seamless calendar. The T20 World Cup final at Lord's on July 5 will be followed just five days later by the first-ever women's Test match at the iconic ground - England versus India beginning on July 10 and is followed the Vitality Blast women's T20 finals day at the Kia Oval on July 17, before The Hundred begins. So that's certainly something that we've looked at really carefully this summer. Immediately after the final at Lord's on the 5th of July, we have got the iconic first historic ever women's test match at Lord's against India. That starts on the 10th of July, just five days later and it's a different format, but there is still a notion there that it will be big scale, it will be iconic in status and all of those things. So straight away, fans will have the opportunity to watch England women in action or India women in action in that fixture. Then we go from there, we've got our domestic women's T20 competition finals day, which is the Vitality Blast and that's on the 17th of July at the Kia Oval, which is one of our venues for semifinals again within the T20 World Cup. So that's no coincidence, as that's really carefully identified as an opportunity again to signpost people in. Then after that, we've got The Hundred and that's probably one of the big shifts that we've seen since 2017 and the impact that The Hundred can have in terms of that blockbuster high profile, high quality world-class domestic franchise competition, where again, immediately, fans can watch the women's T20 World Cup and have a brilliant experience there and then go and watch the heroes again and that's one of the things that I'm really excited about, she elaborated. Beth added that the tournaments quality itself would make the transition for fans to see The Hundred in a more compelling manner, especially with many World Cupbound players expected to feature in the competition. The quality of this Women's T20 World Cup is gonna be stronger, better and deeper than we've ever seen. It really is quite an open playing field actually across those 12 nations, which is really exciting. I think whoever is in the final on the 5th of July, there's a very high probability that some of those players featuring in that final, whether it's from England, South Africa, India, Australia and West Indies, will then be going on to play in The Hundred. So those players, that familiarity, connection, and engagement will continue forward into that competition. So that's probably one of the really big learnings, I guess, coming out of 2017, is making sure that once you've created that demand, you're really optimising it with supply afterwards and you've got those signpost pieces. Then actually, if you project a little bit further for us, so 2027, we're very fortunate that, again, we've got the women's Ashes. When we talk about maintaining that momentum, it's not just directly in 26 where we'll keep up that cadence. Actually continuing that into next summer with a big high-profile summer for us as the ECB with that series against Australia is really, really important, again, to really build on that fan following for the women's game. So again, it's no coincidence. Beth, who has had a very close view of the evolution of the womens game in England, including the equal pay and revamp of womens domestic cricket structure in the country, further spoke about how the ECB planned on 2026 and 2027 to be big years of womens cricket in the country. When we got the opportunity to identify within the Future Tours programme where the big global events were gonna be of the ICC, I think that was probably the best part of maybe two or three years ago, actually, that we got that list. Everybody was like, it's the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup that we want to host because it just fits perfectly with where we're gonna be in terms of immediately ahead of the Ashes in 2027. But then also actually, crucially, having had five years of building the audience for women's cricket through The Hundred and England women's team. So look, we're coming into this summer and this tournament in a really, really strong space, and that's actually just in cricket, she said. She also pointed to the broader wave of women's sport success in England as a tailwind - from the Lionesses winning the UEFA Women's Euros at Wembley in 2022 to the Red Roses claiming the Women's Rugby World Cup on home soil at Twickenham in 2025. Like, we're also coming off the back of so much womens sport and you must be aware that we've recently hosted the UEFA Women's Euros in 2022 in the football and the amazing scenes of the Lionesses winning that tournament at Wembley. Then more recently in 2025 with the Women's Rugby World Cup and the Red Roses winning that tournament on home soil. So again, just in terms of the general momentum behind women's sports, this Women's T20 World Cup really couldn't have come at a better time, she said. Beth explained that the pathway now extended from grassroots all the way to the elite professional level - a depth of structure that simply did not exist in 2017. So since then, going into 2017, I think we had 15 professional female cricketers, which were just the England women's team. We now have over 150 female professional cricketers in this country because we've got a fully-fledged professional women's domestic structure with nine fully professional women's domestic teams underpinned by nine semi-professional teams and then a sort of further base underneath that. So we've got the depth of our infrastructure now for women's cricket in the elite pathway is very, very strong. Again, when you go from a playing perspective, if we have a generation of young girls falling in love with women's cricket through this tournament and being inspired by what they see, we've got an infrastructure now that is ready with open arms to capture them, she said. The tournament also has grassroots ambitions, with a target of getting 500,000 women and girls to pick up a bat and ball this summer through club Spirit parties, open days and taster sessions across England and Wales. That will start with what we're doing in the recreational game and through the tournament, we're gonna have a series of activities and initiatives. So we're calling them Spirit parties because the whole campaign for the tournament is to catch the spirit because that's the infectious nature of a Women's World Cup, but combined with a special kind of soul of women's cricket and how it's different and unique and special from the men's game. So recreational clubs will be hosting Spirit parties and we've given them various resources, kind of a series of things like bunting and dressing. Posters and all sorts of things, balloons that they can really decorate their clubhouses with and encourage their communities to come down and watch the Women's T20 World Cup if they can't come along to watch in the venue. So we're calling them Spirit parties because the whole campaign for the tournament is to catch the spirit because that's the infectious nature of a Women's World Cup, but combined with a special kind of soul of women's cricket and how it's different and unique and special from the men's game. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Then we've got that pathway - so that in the elite pathway, our talented players can really progress through that and aspire to be professional cricketers. Again, that probably wasn't quite the case in 2017, we weren't quite there. But 2017 was very much the spark that ignited, I guess, the platform to put everything in place that means that we're going into 2026 with a really, really, really strong proposition to hopefully create an even stronger foundation for women's cricket, she concluded. Article Source: IANS
Thailand, Hong Kong, UAE And Indonesia Secure Women's Asia Cup Berth
Captain Ni Putu Ayu Nanda: Thailand, Hong Kong, the UAE and Indonesia confirmed their places in the Womens T20 Asia Cup later this year after registering comfortable victories in the quarter-finals of the ACC Womens Premier Cup on Thursday. All four teams had topped their respective groups during the league stage and carried that momentum into the knockout rounds, producing commanding performances to book both semi-final berths and qualification for the continental tournament. Thailand continued their unbeaten run with a convincing 56-run victory over Nepal in Kuala Lumpur. Wicketkeeper-batter Nannapat Koncharoenkai starred with a composed 62 as Thailand posted 130 for 4. Their bowlers then took control, restricting Nepal to 74 for 7 to seal a one-sided win, according to ESPNCricinfo. The UAE also enjoyed a comfortable outing against hosts Malaysia. Powered by an unbeaten 65 from Theertha Satish, the UAE amassed 138 for 2 before their bowlers limited Malaysia to 86 for 5, securing a 52-run triumph. In Bangi, Hong Kong overcame Japan by 41 runs thanks to an all-round display. Yasmin Daswani anchored the innings with an unbeaten 55 off just 36 deliveries, while Maryam Bibi (3/17) and Marina Lamplough (2/11) played key roles in dismantling Japans chase. The UAE also enjoyed a comfortable outing against hosts Malaysia. Powered by an unbeaten 65 from Theertha Satish, the UAE amassed 138 for 2 before their bowlers limited Malaysia to 86 for 5, securing a 52-run triumph. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The semi-finals will see Thailand face Indonesia, while Hong Kong take on the UAE in Kuala Lumpur on Friday. Although the participating teams have now been confirmed, the schedule for the Womens T20 Asia Cup is yet to be announced. Article Source: IANS
'200,000 Tickets Sold; Excited For The World To Fall In Love With Women's Cricket': Barrett-Wild
T20 World Cup: Beth BarrettWild, tournament director of the 2026 Womens T20 World Cup, said she is excited for a nation o fall in love with womens cricket as ticket sales for the 12-team mega event have touched the 200,000 mark. Billed as the biggest-ever Womens T20 World Cup, the tenth edition of the tournament will see 33 games being played around seven venues. The competition will start on June 12 in Edgbaston and end on July 5 at Lords. We have been building towards this moment probably for at least 12 months, but between 12 to 18 months now. We have set out with really big ambitions for this tournament. Our vision is to bring women's cricket into the mainstream. That is all about scale and status and real perception shifts around the women's game. We really want a nation in the world to really fall in love with women's cricket this summer and to recognise the world-class quality that it epitomises now, Beth told IANS in an exclusive conversation ahead of the competition on Thursday. England are hosting a Women's T20 World Cup for the first time since 2009. We have been building over the last year, 12 months and there's a very detailed operational plan that has gone into that from a kind of event delivery perspective. That's all of the stuff you'd expect around venue operations. One of our key objectives for this tournament actually is around player satisfaction. So we wanna make sure the players have the best possible experience and sort of our KPIs is around that player experience point. That's everything from their travel and accommodation through to the facilities that they're gonna be playing and training at through the tournament. There's been a lot of attention to detail on that, but also a lot of work going in behind the scenes and off-field around and really growing the audience for the women's game, especially across England and Wales, she added. The tournament has an ambition to sell 270,000 tickets, and surpass the box office sales done during the iconic 2020 edition in Australia, which famously concluded with a sold-out final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Beth, who played hockey and cricket before joining the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in 2013, said that benchmark itself was a reflection of how far the women's game had progressed. We've got big ticketing ambitions and actually just broke through 200,000 tickets for this event. So we're actually going after around 270,000 attendances in total, which would be double the previous highest attended Women's T20 World Cup, which was the iconic one in Australia back in 2020 with the amazing scenes at the MCG back then. But we wanna double the total attendance here and that just shows how much the women's game has grown now and actually the really solid foundations that we're coming into this tournament from having had that kind of global exposure, but then also at a local level recently through things like The Hundred and the growth of the women's team, she said. On the insights ticket sales have shown so far, Beth revealed that 36 percent of ticket purchases for this tournament had been made by women. We've had to look really carefully at this like the female toilets, because a lot of our venues, the way that they're set up from a historic fan and audience perspective for cricket, it is a traditionally very male-dominated audience. For men's cricket, that is still absolutely the case. So we know, for example, for an England men's fixture, roughly 80 percent of ticket purchases will be male. Whereas for this Women's T20 World Cup, we're seeing, I think, 36 percent of ticket purchases are female. So that's our highest percentage of female ticket purchases across any of our products - whether that's England Men's Test cricket, T20 cricket, The Hundred and etc. 36 percent female ticket purchases for this World Cup is the highest percentage there. We're around 23 percent kids' tickets. - that's slightly lower than The Hundred as it's played in the heart of our school summer holidays and it very much is targeting that family audience. Whereas actually I think for the Women's T20 World Cup in terms of our audience strategy, yes, it is. I think women's cricket and women's sport naturally entices a slightly more female and younger demographic, but that's not been our sole focus, she said. She outlined four distinct audience groups the tournament was targeting: devotees already engaged with cricket in all formats; all format fans open to the women's game; cricket converts drawn in through The Hundred; and andwagoners who simply love a major event and hope to see more of them in rest of the summer. But I think it's really important actually in terms of our audience segmentation it's not all about going after a new audience. A lot of it actually is about just trying to convert our core audience and trying to just shift their perceptions, I suppose. You started there in terms of what 2017 did to help shift perceptions around sports. There is still a perception gap that we're trying to close. So it's actually one of our big key and long-term KPIs is that we wanna close the perception that cricket is still a primarily male-dominated sport. We know that of UK sports fans, 40 percent of those still primarily view cricket primarily as a sport for men and boys in this country and we wanna close that gap, she said. Organisers are targeting a six percent reduction in the number of fans who view cricket as primarily a male sport, aiming instead for a perception of it as gender-equal. We wanna see a 6 percent increase in the number of fans that view cricket as a gender equal sport. There's a big perception shift still to be done and the audience profile of the fans that we're gonna be attracting to the venues is a big part of that. It's not to say that we're trying to educate them. I think we're just trying to showcase what a world-class proposition women's cricket is now, added Beth. She further explained how the tournaments broadcast quality would play a key role in that perception shift, with the ICC deploying a 30-plus camera operation including drones, spider cams and buggy cams - the same production standard used for a men's global event. What you'd expect for a men's game, we're gonna see through this tournament. But then also some of the storytelling that we'll do through the analytics will be really showcasing how women's cricket is not any less good than the men's cricket. It's just different and we know, for example, we've got some amazing stats that show that there's just more precision and control in the women's game. So from a bowling perspective, more of a higher percentage of deliveries go on to hit the stumps and that's really cool just because it's just different, right? The modes of dismissal, therefore, are different. There's a statistic as well that says that definitely in T20 cricket, there are more twos run in the women's game than there are in the men's game. So we're gonna highlight and showcase that and try to get people excited about that. It's just a journey that we need to take fans on in terms of really highlighting exactly how good the women's game is now and using data and insight and production quality in a way to hopefully do that, she said. The tournament's campaign slogan, Catch the Spirit, reflects what Beth described as the infectious and unique character of pulling more fans towards women's cricket. We have big ambitions for it. It's personally something that I'm incredibly proud of to be a part of and I know the team, I think, are as well (feeling the same). So we're gonna highlight and showcase that and try to get people excited about that. It's just a journey that we need to take fans on in terms of really highlighting exactly how good the women's game is now and using data and insight and production quality in a way to hopefully do that, she said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score It's about really making sure that we're using the tournament to shift thinking, feeling, behaviour and perceptions of women's cricket long-term. I'm just really, really excited for the world to fall in love with women's cricket this summer, she concluded. Article Source: IANS
Yashbardhan Chauhan To Lead India U19 Squads For Sri Lanka Tour
Yashbardhan Singh Chauhan: Yashbardhan Singh Chauhan will be leading India men's U-19 team for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, which comprises three One-Day matches and two Multi-Day fixtures, scheduled to begin next month. Lakshya Raichandani will serve as Chauhan's deputy as the BCCI named squads for both one-day and multi-day fixtures. The white-ball leg of the tour kicks off on July 4 in Hambantota, which will host all three one-day matches. Following the limited-overs series, the team will transition to red-ball cricket for two multi-day matches. The first multi-day game is slated to be played in Galle from July 13 to 16, while the final fixture of the tour will take place in Colombo from July 20 to 23. Rajat Baghel and Anvay Dravid have been handed the gloves for the One-Day squad, whereas Manav Krishna and Aryan Sandesh Sakpal will take over wicketkeeping duties for the multi-day games. India Mens U19 One-Day squad: Sagar Virk, Lakshya Raichandani (VC), Yashbardhan Singh Chauhan (C), Vineeth V K, Arjun Rajput, Kushagra Ojha, Rajat Baghel (WK), Anvay Dravid (WK), Anmoljeet Singh, Vutkuri Yashveer Goud, Rohit Anil Yadav, Shavin V, Kavya Paresh Patel, Mohit Ulva, Ishan Sood India Mens U19 multi-day squad: Sagar Virk, Lakshya Raichandani (VC), Yashbardhan Singh Chauhan (C), Patel Kush, Manal Chauhan, Kushagra Ojha, Manav Krishna (WK), Aryan Sandesh Sakpal (WK), Hemchudeshan J, BK Kishore, Rohit Anil Yadav, Kavya Paresh Patel, Priyanshu Singh, Pranav Raghvendra, Chigurupati Venkata Earlier, the Women's Selection Committee picked the Womens U19 squads for the Sri Lanka Womens U19 Tour of India, which will comprise three T20 matches and three One-Day matches, fromJune 20 to July 6. The three T20s will be played in Chennai while Puducherry will host One-day games. Schedule: 1st One-Day: July 4 in Hambantota 2nd One-Day July 6 in Hambantota 3rd One-Day July 9 in Hambantota 2nd One-Day July 6 in Hambantota Also Read: Live Cricket Score 2nd 1st Multi-Day: July 23-26 in Colombo Article Source: IANS
Rohit, Virat's Presence An Advantage For Captain Gill In 2027 WC: Raina
ODI World Cup: Former India batter Suresh Raina touched upon the importance of ODI skipper Shubman Gill having veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's experience by his side in the 2027 World Cup, saying, The presence of experience from the two veterans can make all the difference. Kohli and Rohit, who have retired from T20I and Test cricket, remain exclusively active in ODIs. During the 2019 ODI World Cup, Rohit was the top scorer with 648 runs in nine games at an average of 81.00 with five hundreds and a half-century. He also became the first batsman in World Cup history to score five centuries in a single edition. In the 2023 edition, Kohli was the leading run-scorer, amassing a historic 765 runs in 11 innings. Sachin Tendulkar's record (673 runs) for most runs in a single edition. Kohli was named the Player of the Tournament. Physical and mental preparation will be key for Virat Kohli. He looks very strong in white-ball cricket. The same goes for Rohit Sharma. Both are proven run-scorers in ICC World Cups. Rohit topped the run charts in 2019, and Virat did the same in 2023. They have also won ICC trophies, which adds immense value to their leadership and presence. They know how to handle pressure in knockout games. They have been there, done that, Raina said on JioStar. Experience matters in big tournaments. The young batters around them will benefit from their guidance. For Shubman Gill, captaining India in a World Cup, having Rohit and Virat alongside him will be a huge advantage. Their experience will be invaluable on and off the field. In a high-pressure tournament like the World Cup, that kind of presence can make all the difference, he added. Meanwhile, former spinner and coach Anil Kumble praised Gill for not letting the captaincy affect his batting. Shubman Gill is a very experienced captain. We have seen it in the IPL, he has rotated his bowlers well, used his spinners at the right time, and handled pressure situations with clarity. His form with the bat has not dipped. Sometimes, when players take up the captaincy role, they go through a dip in form. That is not the case with Shubman. He does not let the pressure of captaincy affect his batting. What helps him is the presence of experienced players around him. The Indian ODI team is very strong. Having players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma on the field helps him read the game better. They can guide him with field placements, bowling changes, and key tactical decisions. Shreyas Iyer is now the T20I captain, and he can share his inputs as well. So, Shubman doesn't have to carry the burden alone. He has the right mindset and the right people around him to succeed, he said. Shubman Gill is a very experienced captain. We have seen it in the IPL, he has rotated his bowlers well, used his spinners at the right time, and handled pressure situations with clarity. His form with the bat has not dipped. Sometimes, when players take up the captaincy role, they go through a dip in form. That is not the case with Shubman. He does not let the pressure of captaincy affect his batting. What helps him is the presence of experienced players around him. Also Read: Live Cricket Score However, Kohli has been ruled out of the upcoming three-ODI series against Afghanistan after injuring his hamstring during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's run to the IPL 2026 title last week. Yashasvi Jaiswal has replaced him in the squad. Article Source: IANS
Women's T20 WC: Australia Coach Nitschke 'hopeful' For Litchfield To Play Opener Amid Injury Concern
T20 World Cup: Australia's preparations for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup have been clouded by a fitness concern surrounding Phoebe Litchfield, but the defending champions remain optimistic that the young batter will be available for their opening fixture against South Africa. Litchfield did not feature in Australia's warm-up games after experiencing discomfort in her quad, prompting team management to take a cautious approach ahead of their campaign opener. With the six-time champions set to begin their quest for a record seventh title in Manchester on Saturday, head coach Shelley Nitschke expressed confidence that the left-hander would be ready when it matters most. Yeah, we hope so. Obviously, she had some quad awareness, and it was just on the conservative side to leave her out of these two games. But we're hopeful that she's going to be able to take her place in the side for the first round (match), Nitschke said when asked whether Litchfield would be available for their T20 WC opener. Australia head into the tournament with momentum after closing out their warm-up schedule with a comfortable six-wicket victory over the West Indies in Cardiff. While Litchfield remained on the sidelines, the batting unit showed few signs of disruption, with Georgia Voll producing an aggressive 77 at the top of the order, supported by Beth Mooney's 34. The bowling attack was equally effective, with seven different players sharing the wickets, further underlining the depth available to the Australian camp ahead of the World Cup. That depth, however, has posed a different challenge for Nitschke as she works towards finalising her starting XI for the clash against South Africa. Australia head into the tournament with momentum after closing out their warm-up schedule with a comfortable six-wicket victory over the West Indies in Cardiff. While Litchfield remained on the sidelines, the batting unit showed few signs of disruption, with Georgia Voll producing an aggressive 77 at the top of the order, supported by Beth Mooney's 34. Also Read: Live Cricket Score As the countdown to the tournament opener enters its final stages, Australia will spend the next two days monitoring Litchfield's recovery. The early indications are encouraging, but her fitness remains one of the key storylines ahead of the six-time champions' highly anticipated clash against the Proteas. Article Source: IANS
Giants Under Pressure In Open Women's T20 World Cup
The Women's T20 World Cup starts on Friday when hosts England face Sri Lanka in Birmingham, with at least one leading nation guaranteed an early exit from what promises to be an unusually open tournament. A 12-team competition where the teams are split into two pools of six ought to be without a 'group of death'. But women's cricket heavyweights Australia, India and South Africa are all in Group One and, with only the top two advancing to the semi-finals, one of the trio will be heading home before a knockout phase that culminates in a Lord's final on July 5. A Group Two featuring defending champions New Zealand and England looks more straightforward, albeit both teams will be wary of the West Indies, tournament winners back in 2016 but rarely hitting such heights in recent times. Meanwhile, Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands will all fly the flag for European cricket alongside established Asian nations such as Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The growth of white-ball competitions such as Australia's Big Bash, England's Hundred and India's Women's Premier League means top female cricketers are now exposed to top-level competition outside of major international tournaments as never before. Australia have dominated the women's game for decades, but for the first time since 2018 the six-time T20 champions do not have global silverware to defend. - 'Evolved' - I think it can free us up if we harness that, said Australia captain Sophie Molineux. The last couple of World Cups we've learnt a whole lot from that and been able to implement a few things. I feel like we've really evolved as a team in the last few months. But in appointing left-arm spinner Molineux, troubled by back problems, as skipper in succession to retired all-time great Alyssa Healy, Australia may have created a problem for themselves, with talented leg-spinner Alana King set to be omitted from the team. India are the 50-over world champions and boast some of the best batters in women's cricket in Smriti Mandhana, Yastika Bhatia and Jemimah Rodrigues, with the big-hitting Harmanpreet Kaur leading the side. They have been inconsistent since arriving for a bilateral series with tournament hosts England but remain capable of beating any side on their day, with defiant skipper Kaur, asked by a reporter on Sunday if, at the age of 37, this might be her last global tournament: You think I should stop? South Africa have reached the last three major women's finals but have still recalled two veterans out of retirement in fast bowler Shabnim Ismail and batter Dane van Niekerk. Ismail holds the record for the fastest ball ever bowled in women's international cricket -- 128 kmh (80 mph) against the West Indies in 2016. New Zealand will be bidding farewell to two all-time greats in Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine at this tournament, with Lea Tahuhu also set to retire as well. The surprise champions of 2024, the pressure appears to be off New Zealand this time around. England Women have won every World Cup on home soil but they are without a world title of any kind since their 2017 50-over triumph at Lord's. Charlotte Edwards, a serial winner as England captain, was appointed as coach following the team's humiliating 16-0 loss in the 2024/25 multi-format Ashes. Nevertheless, she has kept faith with many of the same players who were badly exposed in Australia and whose nerve has repeatedly failed them in knockout games. Also Read: Live Cricket Score But Edwards, speaking after announcing an England squad led by all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt and featuring 21-year-olds Freya Kemp and Alice Capsey, said: It's a very different side to the one that walked out in the last game of the Ashes... We've seen a real confidence build in those players. A real belief.
India-born Nikhil Chaudhary called into Australia T20 squad
Former Punjab allrounder Chaudhary replaces Travis Head for Bangladesh T20Is after three excellent seasons with Hurricanes in the BBL
Bhavika Ahire To Lead India U19 As BCCI Unveils Squads For SL U19 White-ball Series
U19 World Cup: India's pathway programme for emerging women's cricketers will take centre stage later this month as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the squads and schedule for the upcoming Under-19 white-ball series against Sri Lanka at home. The six-match assignment, comprising three T20s in Chennai and three One-Day matches in Puducherry, is set to provide another important testing ground for players pushing to establish themselves in India's growing youth cricket ecosystem. The announcement highlights Bhavika Ahire's elevation as wicketkeeper-batter and captain in both formats, reflecting her leadership qualities and recent age-group cricket performances. Supporting her will be Mahak Narwase, appointed vice-captain for both the T20 and One-Day teams. This leadership pair will manage a squad composed of players who have progressively advanced through domestic and junior levels. While the selectors have maintained a strong core across both formats, the squads also feature a blend of specialist options tailored to the demands of T20 and 50-over cricket. The continuity suggests a long-term focus on developing combinations and identifying players capable of progressing through the national pathway. Several youngsters have retained the confidence of the selectors across both squads, including Ira Jadhav, Ishwari Awasare, Purva Siwach, Kumari Palak, Kashvi Kandikuppa, Gouri Goyal, Janvi Vikar and Anaadi Tagde. Their inclusion in both formats underlines their growing stature within the junior setup and offers them an opportunity to gain valuable international exposure. The series comes at a significant time for women's age-group cricket, with the Under-19 structure becoming an increasingly important stepping stone toward higher honours. Bilateral contests against overseas opposition provide young players with experiences that domestic cricket alone cannot replicate, including adapting to pressure situations, handling unfamiliar opponents and adjusting to different game scenarios. India's women's cricket system has increasingly benefited from a strong developmental pipeline, with several players successfully transitioning from youth cricket to the senior national side in recent years. The upcoming series against Sri Lanka will therefore be closely watched by selectors and team management as they continue to assess the next wave of talent to build up for the next U19 World Cup. T20 squad: Bhavika Ahire (c & wk), Ira Jadhav, Tanishka Sharma, Ishwari Awasare, Avni Chawda, Mahto Nidhi, Purva Siwach, Kumari Palak, Mahak Narwase (vc), Kashvi Kandikuppa, Maniar Maitri, Gouri Goyal, Janhavi Virkar, Anaadi Tagde, K Deeksha (wk) One-Day squad: Bhavika Ahire (c & wk), Ira Jadhav, Deeya Yadav, Ishwari Awasare, V Pratiksha, Mahto Nidhi, Purva Siwach, Kumari Palak, Mahak Narwase (vc), Kashvi Kandikuppa, Vidhi Parmar, Gouri Goyal, Janhavi Virkar, Anaadi Tagde, K Deeksha (wk) T20I Schedule: June 22: 1st T20 June 24: 2nd T20 June 27: 3rd T20 (All matches to be played in Chennai) ODI Schedule: June 30: 1st OD July 3: 2nd OD June 30: 1st OD Also Read: Live Cricket Score (All matches to be played in Puducherry) Article Source: IANS
FC Barcelona Formally Submit Bid To Host 2029 Champions League Final
Royal Spanish Football Federation: FC Barcelona have announced that they have formally submitted he bid and complete dossier to UEFA to apply for hosting the 2029 UEFA Champions League final. The proposal has been prepared in collaboration with Barcelona City Council, the Government of Catalonia and with the support of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), as host and co-organising association. FC Barcelona, together with Barcelona City Council, the Government of Catalonia and with the support of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), as host and co-organising association, has formally submitted to UEFA the bid and complete dossier to apply for hosting the 2029 UEFA Champions League Final, the La Liga club said in a statement. It said that he submitted documentation includes all the technical, contractual and institutional requirements demanded by UEFA, as well as the necessary guarantees to demonstrate the organisational capacity of the Spotify Camp Nou and the city of Barcelona to host one of the most important sporting events in the world. With the submission of this dossier, the formal bidding process is completed. The decision now moves into UEFAs hands, with the organisation set to begin he evaluation phase of the different proposals submitted to determine which venue will be selected to host the 2029 Champions League final. The designation of the host venue for the 2029 UEFA Champions League Final is scheduled for the last quarter of this year. The bid highlights Barcelona as a city with proven experience in hosting major international events and the Camp Nou as a world-class stadium. The venue has historically been recognised by UEFA as a top-category stadium and is the largest in Europe by capacity. The designation of the host venue for the 2029 UEFA Champions League Final is scheduled for the last quarter of this year. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Budapest hosted the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League final at the Puskas Arena on Saturday, May 30. The historic match was contested between French club Paris Saint-Germain and English club Arsenal, marking the first time Hungary had ever staged a European Cup final. Article Source: IANS
FIFA WC: When and where to watch Mexico vs South Africa in India, know all details
The fixture mirrors the opening game of the 2010 World Cup, when South Africa hosted Mexico. South Africa qualified for their fourth World Cup after topping Group C in CAF qualifiers. Indian fans can watch the match live on Zee5 via subscription
Happy To Contribute In Ujjain Falcons' Win, Says Madhav Tiwari On Win Against Bhopal Leopards In MPL
Madhya Pradesh League: Ujjain Falcons all-rounder Madhav Tiwari was pleased after his crucial contribution led to the team's 16-run win against Bhopal Leopards in the Madhya Pradesh League (MPL) T20 Scindia Cup 2026 at Holkar Stadium on Wednesday. Madhav Tiwari delivered an outstanding all-round performance, staying unbeaten on 61 off 28 balls to help Ujjain Falcons reach 195/8, before taking 2/26 in four overs. He also became the new Orange Cap holder, scoring 194 runs in four matches. Madhav reflected that the win was vital for the team's campaign following a mixed beginning to the tournament. The most important thing for us was getting this win because it gives us the momentum we needed in the tournament. We started well, then had a few close losses, so it was important to bounce back strongly. The atmosphere in the dressing room remained positive throughout. Our coach, support staff and management were very supportive, and everyone was focused on making a comeback, he said. The young player also discussed his strategy during his unbeaten innings, which contributed to the Falcons setting a difficult total. Personally, while batting, my focus was on spending some time in the middle and understanding the wicket. Once I got settled, I was able to play my shots and finish the innings well. Most importantly, Im happy that my contribution helped the team get over the line, he added. The young player also discussed his strategy during his unbeaten innings, which contributed to the Falcons setting a difficult total. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The Falcons made a strong return to winning ways in the tournament, beating Bhopal Leopards by 16 runs here at the Holkar Stadium on Wednesday. Madhav capped off a memorable all-round performance by picking up two wickets for 26 runs in his four-over spell. Article Source: IANS
Delhi-born All-rounder Nikhil Chaudhary Added To Australia Squad For Bangladesh T20I
Bangladesh T20I: Australia have added Delhi-born uncapped spinner Nikhil Chaudhary to their squad for their upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh. The 30-year-old drafted into the squad following Travis Heads withdrawal on personal leave. Chaudhary could become the only Indian born player to play for Australia in more than 60 years after the Hobart Hurricanes all-rounder was called up for the T20I series against Bangladesh. Chaudhary, currently playing for JB Bruges in the EUT20 competition in Belgium after a stint with Delhi Capitals in the IPL, is set to join the Australian squad in Dhaka on Friday. Born in Delhi before moving Down Under at the start of the decade,the leg-spin all-rounder will compete for a middle-order berth with the likes of Joel Davies and Aaron Hardie, who are also in the T20I squad only. Australia selector Tony Dodemaide is confident the bowling all-rounder can perform well should he win selection. Nikhil has been a player of national interest for some time. He was a standby player for this tour, joining the squad at pre-season camps in Brisbane and comes in as a replacement for Travis Head, Dodemaide said. The panel has been impressed by his BBL form, particularly last season, leading to his addition to the squad. He has also been part of the Delhi Capitals setup in this years IPL. Nikhil will gain invaluable experience in Bangladesh and will be in contention to play his first game for Australia when we sit down to pick a team for the opening T20 fixture here next week, he added. Born in Delhi, Chaudhary played 14 limited-overs games for the state side Punjab alongside the likes of Harbhajan Singh, Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma, and trialled with the IPL side Mumbai Indians. He was visiting an uncle in Queensland when the pandemic shut international borders, seeing him pivot to furthering his cricket ambitions in Australia. Born in Delhi, Chaudhary played 14 limited-overs games for the state side Punjab alongside the likes of Harbhajan Singh, Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma, and trialled with the IPL side Mumbai Indians. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Australia T20I squad: Mitchell Marsh(c), Xavier Bartlett, Nikhil Chaudhary, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Joel Davies, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Matthew Kuhnemann, Riley Meredith, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw, Adam Zampa. Article Source: IANS
AFI To Host Inaugural Indian Athletic Awards On June 20 In New Delhi
AFI Senior Vice President Anju: The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) will host the inaugural edition of the Indian Athletic Awards on June 20 in Delhi, to recognise excellence in Indian athletics. The awards have been conceptualised as a platform to honour current and former athletes, coaches, technical officials, mentors, state associations, sponsors, and all other stakeholders whose contributions have played a vital role in Indias growing success on the global athletics stage, AFI said in a release. The ceremony will honour excellence across 10 award categories, including Lifetime Achievement Awards, Best Athlete (Male & Female), Best Coach, Best Technical Official, Best State Association and Best State Supporting Athletics. AFI president Bahadur Singh Sagoo said: Indian athletics has witnessed a lot of growth over the last few years, with our athletes delivering strong performances on the global stage. The Indian Athletic Awards are a celebration of not only medal winners, but also the coaches, officials, mentors, associations and institutions that work tirelessly behind the scenes to strengthen the sport in the country. We look forward to honouring individuals who continue to inspire the next generation of athletes. Most of Indias leading current and former athletes are expected to be part of the event, making it a significant gathering for the Indian athletics fraternity and a celebration of the sports rapid rise in the country. AFI Senior Vice President Anju Bobby George said: This awards ceremony serves to honour the commitment and resilience demonstrated at all levels of Indian athletics. From promising newcomers to established champions and their vital support networks, every effort plays a crucial role in fostering a robust sporting culture. Indian athletics is poised for an exhilarating chapter, and these awards will pay tribute to the individuals who are instrumental in shaping this journey. Olympic and World Championships medallist Neeraj Chopra said, To boost the morale and confidence of young Indian athletes, initiatives like the Indian Athletic Awards are extremely important. Recognising and celebrating the hard work of athletes, coaches and support staff motivates the entire sporting ecosystem and inspires the next generation to dream bigger and perform better for the country. The awards to be presented during the event include- Best Male Athlete of the Year: 2025 Best Female Athlete of the Year: 2025 Best Coach of the Year: 2025 Life-time Achievement Athletics Award (3 Awards) Best State Association of the Year: 2025 Best Technical Official of the Year: 2025 Best State Supporting Athletics Best Technical Official of the Year: 2025 Also Read: Live Cricket Score Partner supporting Athletics Article Source: IANS
When Smriti Scores, India Wins; We've Seen Her Do Well In WCs: Veda
T20 World Cup: Former India batter Veda Krishnamurthy believes that vice-captain Smriti Mandhana could hold the key to India's hopes at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026, insisting that the star opener's performances in the biggest matches could determine whether the trophy finally returns home. Mandhana heads into the tournament as one of the most experienced and accomplished batters in the Indian setup, and Veda said her ability to deliver on the grandest stage makes her indispensable to the team's title ambitions. When Smriti scores, India wins. So, she knows that it is very important for her to score in those big games. We've seen her do well in World Cups. She has done well in England and is one of those batters who scores runs all around the globe, Veda told JioStar. With India set to face some of the strongest sides in women's cricket during the tournament, Veda highlighted the importance of Mandhana producing match-defining knocks against elite opposition. So, I hope she does well in all the games, but more importantly, in the big games, against South Africa, against Australia, and hopefully in the semi-final and the final. Because if she scores big in those games, the cup is definitely coming home, she said. Vedas confidence in India's chances extends beyond Mandhana's form. The former batter also expressed strong support for the squad selected for the global event, describing it as the strongest available group despite a handful of injury-enforced absences. Definitely the best available squad was picked. Of course, a couple of players missed out because of injury. But apart from that, I cannot put a finger on anyone and say they deserved to be there or would have made a difference to the squad, Veda noted. India's selectors have also opted to back experience, recalling players who have spent extended periods away from the national setup. Veda believes those decisions could prove crucial in a high-pressure tournament environment. It's a perfectly balanced squad. There have been a couple of comebacks. They were out for a really long time, but the selectors have trusted their experience, she mentioned. India's selectors have also opted to back experience, recalling players who have spent extended periods away from the national setup. Veda believes those decisions could prove crucial in a high-pressure tournament environment. Also Read: Live Cricket Score I think the World Cup victory is going to play a huge part because, after that, not just Harmanpreet, but the entire team, when you talk to them, the positivity and the aura they have been carrying, there is a lot of confidence. They have realised that they are capable of achieving certain things, and that belief is very important when you go into a World Cup, Veda said. Article Source: IANS
Australia Revise Women's NZ, BAN Home Series Schedule To Accommodate Champions Trophy
ODI World Cup: Cricket Australia has overhauled its women's international schedule for next summer after the ICC's decision to bring forward the inaugural Women's Champions Trophy created a significant clash in the calendar. The governing body was forced to revise a slate of home fixtures following the ICC's announcement that the tournament, originally earmarked for June, would instead be played in February. The reshuffle has resulted in New Zealand splitting its Australian tour into two separate visits, while Australia's women's home season has been trimmed from 12 matches to nine. The revised program, however, has handed the Australian women a prominent role in the lead-up to the men's 150th Anniversary Test at the MCG, with a pair of ODIs against New Zealand scheduled in Melbourne during the historic week. Under the new arrangement, New Zealand will travel to Australia in October for a three-match T20I series before returning in March for a three-match ODI campaign. The October leg replaces a previously scheduled T20I series against Bangladesh, although the venues and timing remain unchanged. Australia's ODI commitments against both Bangladesh and New Zealand have been retained due to their significance in the Women's World Championship, which also serves as the qualification pathway for the next Women's ODI World Cup. The March ODI series against New Zealand will form part of a marquee week for Australian cricket. Junction Oval will host the second and third ODIs of the series, including a day-night international on March 8, which coincides with International Women's Day and Victoria's Labour Day public holiday. The fixture will also be the first full international match played under the venue's newly installed floodlights. The third and final ODI is scheduled for March 10, just 24 hours before the opening day of the 150th Anniversary Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The scheduling changes came from the ICC's decision to move the Women's Champions Trophy into an already crowded February window, forcing Cricket Australia to revisit plans that had initially accommodated bilateral series against both Bangladesh and New Zealand within a single home summer. Meanwhile, Junction Oval could also play a role in England's preparations for the anniversary Test. Although not yet officially confirmed, plans are understood to include a pink-ball warm-up fixture for England's Test squad. The proposal follows criticism of England's lead-up to the most recent Ashes series, when much of the touring party opted not to play in the day-night Prime Minister's XI match in Canberra. The scheduling changes came from the ICC's decision to move the Women's Champions Trophy into an already crowded February window, forcing Cricket Australia to revisit plans that had initially accommodated bilateral series against both Bangladesh and New Zealand within a single home summer. Also Read: Live Cricket Score We're particularly excited that womens cricket will feature prominently in the lead up to the 150th Anniversary Test with the historic first international match under lights at Junction Oval. We are thankful to Bangladesh and NZ for their cooperation and understanding particularly NZ for agreeing to travel to Australia twice, he said. Article Source: IANS
Australia opt to bat, Meredith called in, Soumya returns
Meredith will play his first ODI in five years having been added to the squad on match morning as he was previously only in the T20I squad
Women's T20 Asia Cup: Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia and UAE qualify
The four teams won their respective quarter-finals at the ACC Women's Premier Cup to make the cut for the continental tournament
Sri Lanka look to their bowlers against big-hitting West Indies
There is a threat of rain in Kingston on the day of the first T20I, but the hope is that it will be clear by the time the match starts
Australia change NZ and Bangladesh schedules due to women's Champions Trophy
New Zealand to tour twice in October and March due to February Champions Trophy while Bangladesh T20Is have been scrapped
T20 Mumbai League: Deshpande's Late Six Blitz After Ayaz 87 Helps Maratha Royals Seal Semis Spot
But Ayaz Ahmed Khan: Tushar Deshpande smashed three sixes in four balls to seal a semifinal berth for defending champions MSC Maratha Royals after their five-wicket win over Arcs Andheri in the T20 Mumbai League 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday. Deshpande had earlier claimed 2-39 and, along with Irfan Umair (2-27) and Atharva Bhosale (2-35), helped Maratha Royals bundle out Arcs Andheri for 168 in 20 overs. In reply, Maratha Royals rode on a superb 87 by Ayaz Khan and late heroics by Deshpande romped to 170/5 in 18.2 overs to seal victory in what was a must-win match for them. Chasing the modest target, the Royals were off to a poor start as they lost openers Sahil Jadhav (0) and Siddhesh Lad (9) cheaply and were tottering at 41/2. But Ayaz Ahmed Khan struck his maiden half-century in the T20 Mumbai League, rescuing the Maratha Royals from a difficult situation and taking them to safety. Khan shared a 62-run partnership in just 45 balls for the third wicket with Om Bangar (29), taking them into three figures when the latter was out. Arjun Amit Dani (3) was out early, but Ayaz Khan found another willing partner in Maxwell David Swaminathan (18 off 16) as they shared a 44-run partnership for the fifth wicket, Ayaz Khan was finally out for 87 off 49 balls, studded with seven fours and half a dozen sixes to keep the team in the chase. Deshpande then sealed the semi spot with his six-hitting heroics as he remained unbeaten on 20 off six balls. Earlier, Musheer Ahmed Khan slammed a 36-ball 62, but Arcs Andheri lost wickets at regular intervals to some disciplined bowling by the Maratha Royals bowlers to reach 168 before being bowled out. While Musheer kept one end going, Andheri lost Divyansh Saxena (2), Arjun Tendulkar (14), Pragnesh Kanpille (14), skipper Prasad Pawar (1), and Ayush Jethwa (3) cheaply as they reached 103/6 when Musheer got out. Gaurav Jathar (22) and Moin Ahmed (28) ensured they reached a respectable total. For Maratha Royals, besides Deshpande, Irfan Umair and Atharva Bhosale, Swaminathan and Aditya Dhumal also claimed two wickets each. On Thursday (June 11), Arcs Andheri will face Aakash Tigers MWS in the first semifinal, while North Mumbai Panthers will meet MSC Maratha Royals in the second semifinal. Gaurav Jathar (22) and Moin Ahmed (28) ensured they reached a respectable total. For Maratha Royals, besides Deshpande, Irfan Umair and Atharva Bhosale, Swaminathan and Aditya Dhumal also claimed two wickets each. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Arcs Andheri 168 all out in 20 overs (Musheer Khan 62, Moin Ahmed 28; Irfan Umair 2-27, Atharva Bhosale 2-35, Tushar Deshpande 2-39) lost to MSC Maratha Royals 170/5 in 18.2 overs (Ayaz Khan 87, Om Bangar 29, Tushar Deshpande 20 not out; Prasoon Angad Singh 3-26) by five wickets. Article Source: IANS
Ashwin sees 'no reason' why Kohli and Rohit shouldn't play 2027 ODI World Cup
Till you have experienced cricketers like Virat and Rohit, going for an away World Cup, you should extract as much experience as you can from those, Ashwin said
Lawrence's latest hundred not enough for Surrey win - or England call-up
Lawrence launches 64-ball ton but Hampshire dig in for rain-affected draw at The Oval
Root rides again in moment of crisis as England pay the price for optics
Calm but reluctant ex-captain steps up to avoid nonsensical prospect of Brook deputising for Stokes
FIFA World Cup: Iran Warns To Halt Matches Over Unauthorised Flags And Anti-team Slogans
Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali: Iran has warned it could stop its World Cup matches if unauthorised flags are displayed or slogans targeting the national team are chanted inside stadiums, according to reports in Iranian media citing Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali. The warning comes just days before Iran starts its Group G campaign at the World Cup, which begins on Thursday. Iran will face New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, Belgium at the same venue on June 21, and Egypt in Seattle on June 26. We have informed FIFA that if unofficial flags are brought or slogans against the national team are chanted in the stadiums where Iran plays in the World Cup, the team manager will definitely be responsible for stopping the match, Donyamali said on Tuesday, according to Iranian media. The minister added that Iranian officials had received assurances about the team's final group-stage fixture. We have been assured that no disruptive incidents will occur in the stadium during the match against Egypt, he said. These comments come amid growing scrutiny of Iran's participation in the tournament. In April, demonstrators gathered outside the FIFA Congress in Vancouver and called for Iran to be excluded from the World Cup. They argued that the national team represented the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps rather than the Iranian people. Iran's match against Egypt has also gained attention after the football associations of both countries reportedly urged FIFA to prevent LGBTQ+ Pride-related activities around the game. Local organisers have designated this match as a Pride Match for Seattle's Pride weekend celebrations. These comments come amid growing scrutiny of Iran's participation in the tournament. In April, demonstrators gathered outside the FIFA Congress in Vancouver and called for Iran to be excluded from the World Cup. They argued that the national team represented the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps rather than the Iranian people. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The team is currently training in Tijuana, Mexico, and has also dealt with travel challenges due to ongoing geopolitical tensions. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently confirmed that Iran's squad will be allowed to enter the United States the day before each of its World Cup matches. Article Source: IANS
T20 Mumbai League 2026: Mulchandanis 65 Keeps Falcons In Hunt For Semis Berth
Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals: SOBO Mumbai Falcons kept their semifinal hopes alive with a commanding seven-wicket victory over table-toppers North Mumbai Panthers in the penultimate league-stage match of the T20 Mumbai League 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday. The defeat, however, had no bearing on the Panthers, who had already booked their place in the last four, winning four out of five matches. Chasing 158 for victory, the Falcons produced a composed batting performance, powered by opener Ishan Mulchandanis fluent 65, to reach the target with 11 balls to spare. The result means the battle for the remaining semi-final berths will now hinge on the outcome of the clash between Arcs Andheri and Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals later tonight. The Falcons made a cautious start, with Mulchandani and Awais Khan (6) adding 26 runs before the latter was trapped leg-before. Mulchandani then combined with Naman Jhawar (22) for a steady 28-run stand, ensuring the chase remained on course. While Jhawar was unable to capitalise on his start, Mulchandani continued to anchor the innings, rotating the strike effectively and punishing loose deliveries. The opener later stitched together a decisive 77-run partnership with Gautam Waghela (45 not out), taking the Falcons within touching distance of victory. Mulchandani eventually departed in the 15th over while attempting a big hit, but not before virtually sealing the contest. His 65-run knock featured two boundaries and five towering sixes. Waghela, along with captain Aditya Tare (10 not out), then calmly guided the Falcons home. Earlier, Panthers were restricted to 157, thanks largely to a superb four-wicket haul from Mayuresh Tandel. After losing an early wicket, Abhigyan Kundu (45) and Anish Chaudhery (32) rebuilt the innings with a 78-run partnership for the second wicket. However, the momentum shifted dramatically after Chaudherys dismissal. Tandel struck at regular intervals to trigger a middle-order collapse, while Kundu too fell short of converting his promising start into a substantial score. The rest of the batting line-up struggled to make an impact as the Panthers were eventually bowled out for 157. Tandel starred with the ball, while Yash Dicholkar (2/17) and Vedant Gore (2/33) chipped in with two wickets each to complete an impressive all-round performance for the Falcons. Semifinals will be played on Thursday. Tandel starred with the ball, while Yash Dicholkar (2/17) and Vedant Gore (2/33) chipped in with two wickets each to complete an impressive all-round performance for the Falcons. Also Read: Live Cricket Score North Mumbai Panthers 157 all out in 19.2 overs (Abhigyan Kundu 45, Anish Chaudhery 32; Mayuresh Tandel 4/30) lost to SOBO Mumbai Falcons 158/3 in 18.1 overs (Ishan Mulchandani 65, Gautam Waghela 45 not out; Pratik Mishra 1/20) by 7 wickets. Article Source: IANS
Joe Root Returns As England Captain After Stokes Left Out Of Second New Zealand Test
Wales Cricket Board: Joe Root will make a surprise return to the England captaincy after Ben Stokes was ruled out of the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval amid an ongoing investigation into an off-field incident involving the England skipper and pace bowler Gus Atkinson. Stokes and Atkinson have both been left out of the squad for breaking the team's midnight curfew early Monday morning. They were at a London nightclub when a member of England's security was reportedly struck by a Saracens rugby player named Totoa Auvaa. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that neither player would be available for selection while investigations are underway. Given the ongoing investigation, Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have not been made available for selection for the second Test against New Zealand, said an ECB statement. Although Harry Brook is England's vice-captain, selectors chose Root to lead the team. Brook himself was involved in an off-field incident in New Zealand last October when a bouncer punched him outside a nightclub on the eve of a one-day international. Root's appointment marks a noteworthy return to the role he held from 2017 to 2022. England's all-time leading run-scorer captained the team in a record 64 Tests before stepping down after a tough stretch that included just one win in 17 matches. Stokes, a close friend of Root, took over as captain. England have also added Jofra Archer and Jordan Cox to the squad that achieved a 115-run victory in the opening Test at Lord's. The Cricket Regulator is conducting a separate investigation into the nightclub incident. This process could take several weeks to finish. Stokes, 35, has been given time by the ECB to consider his future options, but the governing body has dismissed claims that he has been asked to resign as captain. This controversy is another blow for English cricket after a disappointing 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia, a tour that was also marred by off-field issues. England's strong win over New Zealand at Lord's seemed to indicate a positive turnaround, but now they must try to win the series without their captain and top all-rounder, as well as one of their main fast bowlers. While Stokes' batting form has faced criticism in recent months, his contributions go beyond scoring runs. His ability to perform with both bat and ball is crucial for England's balance and strategy. Atkinson, on the other hand, had a challenging winter but showed signs of improvement during the first Test, taking seven wickets in the match. The 28-year-old will now miss the chance to play at his home ground, The Oval. His absence could create an opportunity for Archer, who missed the series opener after returning from his time in the Indian Premier League. England also need to decide on the team's balance. Spin-bowling all-rounder Rehan Ahmed is seen as the most fitting replacement for Stokes and remains in the squad after not playing at Lord's. While Stokes' batting form has faced criticism in recent months, his contributions go beyond scoring runs. His ability to perform with both bat and ball is crucial for England's balance and strategy. Atkinson, on the other hand, had a challenging winter but showed signs of improvement during the first Test, taking seven wickets in the match. The 28-year-old will now miss the chance to play at his home ground, The Oval. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Joe Root (capt), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, James Rew, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue Article Source: IANS
Stokes, Atkinson omitted from second Test as Root steps up as interim captain
England name Jofra Archer and Jordan Cox in rejigged squad after nightclub incident
Airee, Taijul And Mushfiqur Shortlisted For ICC Men's Player Of The Month Award
Cricket World Cup League: Nepal all-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee and Bangladesh duo Taijul Islam and Mushfiqur Rahim have been shortlisted for the ICC Men's Player of the Month award for May following a series of standout performances for their respective teams. On the women's side, England seamer Lauren Bell, Pakistan batter Gull Feroza, and New Zealand's Maddy Green are nominated on the back of some strong performances for their countries throughout international cricket in the month. Airee sealed his spot on the men's shortlist after a productive spell of form in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 in Kirtipur. The Nepal all-rounder started the month with a century against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and finished the series having scored 249 runs in six ODIs at an average of 49.80 and strike-rate of 110.66, whilst contributing with eight wickets at an economy of 4.52, a haul of 4 for 24 against the United States, taking best figures. Spinner Taijul Islam was also instrumental for Bangladesh, playing a key role in a historic 2-0 home Test series whitewash over Pakistan. The left-armer was the highest wicket-taker in the series with 13 wickets in two games at an average of 19.61, including 6 for 120 in Pakistan's second innings of the second Test in Sylhet. Batter Mushfiqur Rahim, who was named Player of the Series in the Tests against Pakistan, also picked up a nomination after he hit 235 runs across two Tests at an average of 63.25, including a 71 in the first innings of the first Test and a match-defining 137 in the second Test's second innings. On the women's side, fast bowler Lauren Bell completes England's selections. She was awarded a nomination on the back of some consistent performances in multiple formats of the game before the ICC Women's T20 World Cup. Bell was the leading wicket-taker for England in their ODI series against New Zealand, taking five wickets in three games before adding another eight wickets in four T20 internationals against New Zealand and India. Batter Mushfiqur Rahim, who was named Player of the Series in the Tests against Pakistan, also picked up a nomination after he hit 235 runs across two Tests at an average of 63.25, including a 71 in the first innings of the first Test and a match-defining 137 in the second Test's second innings. Also Read: Live Cricket Score New Zealand's Maddy Green is the third of the female nominees after she took a leading role for her side in a drawn ODI series with England. Green scored 125 runs in three ODIs at a strike-rate of 83.33, which was topped with 88 at Chester-le-Street, whilst adding another 93 runs in three T20Is, including 56 not out in the second match. Article Source: IANS
All-round England trump Richa Ghosh's heroics in warm-up
Nat Sciver Brunt and Amy Jones scored fifties, while Richa Ghosh recorded 68 as England won by five runs
Ben Stokes Should Not Lose England Test Captaincy Over Nightclub Incident, Says Vaughan
Wales Cricket Board: Former England skipper Michael Vaughan believes Ben Stokes involvement in a latenight incident at a London nightclub should not cost him the Test captaincy, even as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Cricket Regulator investigate the matter. Stokes and his teammate, fast bowler Gus Atkinson, broke the teams midnight curfew while celebrating their 115-run victory over New Zealand in the first Test into the early hours of Monday. They were present in a nightclub when a member of Englands security staff was struck by a Saracens rugby player, Totoa Avuaa, leaving the staffer bloodied and requiring medical treatment. Yes, Ben Stokes broke a curfew. Yes, he made a mistake. But is that a sacking offence as Englands Test captain? I do not think so. Stokes has a lot of credit in the bank for all he has done for England as captain and all-rounder. There is no way that those making the big decisions at the England and Wales Cricket Board have the same credit in the bank. We are now at the stage that they either put their necks on the block and say, Right, we are sacking you for that offence, or they back him and move on. The ECB is hoping Stokes decides on its behalf. But it has to be brave enough and strong enough to do what it thinks is right. If that is to sack him, then fine, but I do not agree with that decision on this issue, wrote Vaughan in his column for The Telegraph on Wednesday. The ECB later confirmed in a statement that Stokes and Atkinson had breached team protocols by being present at the nightclub. Both players remain under investigation, but the governing body has denied any suggestion that Stokes has been asked to resign. Stokes, 35, has been given time to consider his options, with England expected to name their squad for the second Test on Thursday, with the game to be played from June 17-21 at The Oval. A short suspension would be fine, but this is not a big enough incident over which to lose the captaincy. I know he was involved in the Bristol incident, but that was nearly 10 years ago, and I do not remember him getting in a pickle since then. With that in mind, I do not see how you can tell Stokes he is not captain anymore just for going over the curfew by a couple of hours after a win. I also do not buy the fact that he will have lost respect in the dressing room or will struggle to impose authority in the future. Did Harry Brook, as white-ball captain, lose the respect of his players after the Wellington incident? No. In fact, England were telling us how well he had bounced back and captained at the Twenty20 World Cup, added Vaughan. The controversy comes after a troubled Ashes tour of Australia, where offfield drinking incidents involving Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Josh Tongue, and Ben Duckett led to the imposition of a midnight curfew. Stokes broke the curfew on his first appearance since it was introduced. The ECB set the precedent in the winter by allowing Brook, Jacob Bethell, and Josh Tongue to play on after they were out late in Wellington, so that policy can hardly change now. Are the players issued with a code of conduct book before the summer that details exactly what the curfew is and when it is in effect? If so, there are no excuses. If not, then that is a huge oversight of management. If he is suspended for the next two Tests, then Stokes will open the door to an England team playing without him, and there is a possibility they could be better. It happens. The England team are under a huge amount of pressure next week at the Oval. All the questions will be about drinking again, and Stokes has brought that on them. If Brook captains in his place and handles it well, then the hierarchy will have a big decision to make. Brook is clearly close to the head coach, Brendon McCullum. The T20 side looks well run under those two. I would think England are still going to need Stokess bowling. If he is suspended for the next two Tests, then Stokes will open the door to an England team playing without him, and there is a possibility they could be better. It happens. The England team are under a huge amount of pressure next week at the Oval. All the questions will be about drinking again, and Stokes has brought that on them. Also Read: Live Cricket Score It did not go very well against India at the Oval last year, when Stokes was missing with injury, but you just never know. That is the risk you take when you screw up and end up suspended, concluded Vaughan. Article Source: IANS
Bengal T20 League: Shuvam, Bowlers Guide Rarh Tigers To Victory Over Murshidabad
The Bengal T20 League: A fine all-round performance helped Shrachi Rarh Tigers secure a 59-run victory over Murshidabad Kings via the DLS Method in Season 3 of the Bengal T20 League at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday. Asked to bat first, Rarh Tigers posted an imposing 188/5 in their 20 overs. Shuvam Dey Sr led the charge with 51 off 40 deliveries, while Sumit Nag (37 off 22), Gaurav Singh Chauhan (34 off 19), and Sumanta Gupta (27 off 18) made valuable contributions to power their side to a challenging total. For Murshidabad Kings, Saksham Chaudhary (2/42) and Nuruddin Mondal (2/25) were the most successful bowlers. In reply, Murshidabad Kings struggled to keep pace with the required rate and were reduced to 121/9 in 15.5 overs when rain interrupted play. With conditions preventing any further action, Rarh Tigers were declared winners by 59 runs under the DLS Method. Abhishek Raman top-scored for Murshidabad with 47 off 34 balls. For Rarh Tigers, Rohit Kumar starred with figures of 3/8, while Rahul Prasad (3/26) and Shahbaz Ahmed (2/25) played key roles in a disciplined bowling effort. The Bengal T20 League is in its Season 3 and is organised under the aegis of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). The league features eight city-based franchises representing the breadth of West Bengal - Adamas Howrah Warriors, Novus Royals Purulia, Kolkata Royal Tigers, Murshidabad Kings and Kueens, Rashmi Nes Medinipur Wizards, Servotech Siliguri Strikers, Shrachi Rarh Tigers, and Sobisco Smashers Malda competing across men's and women's competitions. Men's matches are being held at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, with women's matches at the JU Salt Lake Campus, Kolkata. Season 3 is anchored by the theme Ebar Jombe Khela! - a rallying cry that captures the league's spirit: fierce, uncompromising, and unmistakably Bengal. The Bengal T20 League is in its Season 3 and is organised under the aegis of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). The league features eight city-based franchises representing the breadth of West Bengal - Adamas Howrah Warriors, Novus Royals Purulia, Kolkata Royal Tigers, Murshidabad Kings and Kueens, Rashmi Nes Medinipur Wizards, Servotech Siliguri Strikers, Shrachi Rarh Tigers, and Sobisco Smashers Malda competing across men's and women's competitions. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Shrachi Rarh Tigers 188/5 in 20 overs (Shuvam Dey Sr 51, Sumit Nag 37, Gaurav Singh Chauhan 34; Saksham Chaudhary 2/42, Nuruddin Mondal 2/25) beat Murshidabad Kings 121/9 in 15.5 overs (Abhishek Raman 47; Rohit Kumar 3/8, Rahul Prasad 3/26, Shahbaz Ahmed 2/25) by 59 runs via DLS Method. Article Source: IANS
BAN vs AUS 2nd ODI: Preview, Predicted XIs, Player Tips & Match Prediction
BAN vs AUS 2ndODI , Cricket Tips :Bangladesh beat Australia in the first ODI by 86 runs (DLS method) to record a historic win. They have earned a 1-0 lead and need one more win to register a historic series win over Australia in ODIs. Mosaddek Hossain made a memorable comeback for Bangladesh after four years. He scored an unbeaten 86 runs and took two important wickets to win the Man of the Match award. These two teams will take on each other in the second ODI on Thursday at Shere Bangla National Stadium at 10:30 AM IST. Australia's recent performance in the subcontinent has gone down, and they will try to avoid another series defeat. BAN vs AUS: Match Details Date : June 11, 2026 (Thursday) Time : 10:30 AM IST Venue : Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka BAN vs AUS: Live Streaming Details Indian fans can watch the second ODI between Bangladesh and Australia on the FanCode app or website. BAN vs AUS: Head-to-Head in ODIs Total Matches : 23 Bangladesh : 02 Australia : 20 No - result : 01 Tied : 00 BAN vs AUS: Ground Pitch Report Shere Bangla National Stadium will offer an even surface for the ODIs. There will be face and bounce for the fast bowlers. The batters need to stick to the wicket to score runs. The par score here is around 255-260, and chasing it will be a bit difficult because of the slow conditions later on. BAN vs AUS: Possible XIs Bangladesh : Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das (wk), Mosaddek Hossain, Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (c), Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana Australia : Matt Short, Josh Inglis (c) (wk), Alex Carey, Marnus Labuschagne, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Matt Renshaw, Adam Zampa, Liam Scott, Nathan Ellis, Xavier Bartlett BAN vs AUS: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Tanzid Hasan is an aggressive batter who can hit and put Australia under pressure at the start. For Australia, captian Josh Inglis is in good form, and he will be a key batter. Probable Best Bowler Nathan Ellis and Nahid Rana are two bowlers who are bowling well and can make a big impact for their respective teams. Today Match Prediction : Bangladesh proved that they can now perform well in good conditions also. We predict them to beat Australia in the second game in Dhaka. BAN vs AUS Match 2nd ODI, Today Match BAN vs AUS, BAN vs AUS Prediction, BAN vs AUS Predicted XIs, Injury Update for Bangladesh vs Australia Match Also Read: Live Cricket Score Disclaimer : The prediction or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your predictions
Mohammad Saleem added to Afghanistan squad for India ODIs
Rashid Khan will link up with the ODI squad directly in Dharamsala, while Mohammad Nabi, with the squad already, is unwell
Zee onboards Apple, Mahindra and Diageo among key advertisers for FIFA World Cup 2026
Zee had reportedly received interest from youth brands like tech, smartphones, auto, fintech, e-commerce and gaming categories
Former South Africa Player Justin Kemp Appointed Cricket Namibias Director Of Cricket
Former South Africa: Former South Africa allrounder Justin Kemp has been appointed as Cricket Namibias new Director of Cricket, the board announced on Wednesday. Kemp played four Tests, 85 ODIs, and eight T20Is for South Africa from 2001 to 2007 as a right-arm medium-pace bowling all-rounder. As Director of Cricket, Kemp will oversee the strategic direction of cricket operations across Cricket Namibia, including the national teams, high-performance programmes, talent identification structures, coach development pathways and the continued growth of the game throughout the country, Cricket Namibia said in a statement on Wednesday. Kemp, who also turned out for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their title-winning Indian Premier League (IPL) 2010 season, was Western Province assistant coach in the South African domestic cricket ecosystem in 2024 before joining Namibias coaching staff in the same role last year. Apart from being Namibias assistant coach in the 2026 Mens T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, Kemp was in the coaching team of the Chattogram Royals in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and Rawalpindiz in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Kemp, who also turned out for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their title-winning Indian Premier League (IPL) 2010 season, was Western Province assistant coach in the South African domestic cricket ecosystem in 2024 before joining Namibias coaching staff in the same role last year. Also Read: Live Cricket Score As Cricket Namibia continues to build on recent achievements on and off the field, the appointment represents another important step in ensuring that Namibian cricket remains competitive on the global stage while developing the next generation of players, added Cricket Namibia. Article Source: IANS
Bransgrove Steps Down As Hampshire Chairman After GMR Completes Full Takeover
Kiran Kumar Grandhi: Rod Bransgrove has stepped down as Hampshire chairman after GMR Group completed its full takeover of the county club and its holdings, bringing to an end the nearly 25year administrative reign that saw him rescue the club from insolvency and oversee its move to the Utilita Bowl. Bransgrove, 75, relinquished the chairmanship in 2023 but remained Group Chairman and majority shareholder of the club until the GMR deal was completed. GMR, coowners of Delhi Capitals in the IPL and WPL, had first entered Hampshire in 2024, before valuing the Hundred franchise Southern Brave at 98 million pounds in the ECBs equity sale the following year. Kiran Kumar Grandhi, Chairman of GMR Sports, has now taken over as group chair effective June 1, while Bransgrove has been appointed as Honorary Life President and will remain on the board as a director and advisor for the next three years. This moment brings to a close a chapter that has meant more to me than words can express. What we have built at Hampshire has been a collective effort, driven by incredible people, loyal supporters, and partners who believed in a shared vision. I am overwhelmingly grateful to all those people who have shared this ground-breaking experience with me. I have immense pride in what we have achieved here and unequivocal confidence that, under GMRs full ownership, the club and venue are in the safest of hands. The future is incredibly exciting, and I will be watching closely, said Bransgrove in a Hampshire statement on Wednesday. Apart from the IPL and WPL, the GMR group has expanded its cricketing footprint in recent years, with direct involvement in Dubai Capitals (ILT20) and Seattle Orcas (Major League Cricket). Grandhi also paid tribute to Bransgroves extraordinary leadership and vision. I would like to pay tribute to Rod for the extraordinary leadership and vision he has shown over the past quarter of a century. His stewardship has not only transformed Hampshire Cricket and Utilita Bowl into a world-class sporting and leisure destination but has also fostered a culture built on passion, resilience, and community that is truly special. Apart from the IPL and WPL, the GMR group has expanded its cricketing footprint in recent years, with direct involvement in Dubai Capitals (ILT20) and Seattle Orcas (Major League Cricket). Grandhi also paid tribute to Bransgroves extraordinary leadership and vision. Also Read: Live Cricket Score We are excited to build on the remarkable legacy that has been established here, investing in long-term growth and innovation, and ensuring that the club continues to thrive for the benefit of its members, supporters, and the wider community for generations to come, he added. Article Source: IANS
Bransgrove severs final ties with Hampshire as GMR complete acquisition
Kiran Kumar Grandhi takes over as group chair as Delhi Capitals co-owners take full ownership
Seven Stars, One Remarkable Journey: Players Set To Complete A Decade At The Women's T20 WC
T20 World Cup: As the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 gets set to begin in England and Wales on June 12, the tournament will not only showcase the next generation of stars but also celebrate a rare feat of longevity. From the inaugural edition in 2009 to the upcoming 10th instalment, women's cricket has undergone a dramatic transformation. Professional contracts have expanded, crowds have grown, and the game's global reach has widened significantly. Through every stage of that evolution, a select group of cricketers has remained a constant presence. This year, seven players are poised to achieve a unique milestone by featuring in all 10 editions of the Women's T20 World Cup since the competition's inception. Harmanpreet Kaur (India) India captain Harmanpreet Kaur, whose World Cup story began in England in 2009 and comes full circle with another campaign on English soil. Now one of the most experienced players in international cricket, Harmanpreet enters the tournament as the captain who led India to their maiden senior women's ICC title at the 2025 ODI World Cup. The Indian skipper is also closing in on another landmark. With 196 T20 International appearances, she needs just four more matches to become the first player in the history of men's and women's T20Is to reach the 200-match mark. Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine (New Zealand) New Zealand's veteran duo Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine will also take their places at a tournament they have helped shape over nearly two decades. For both players, however, the 2026 edition carries added emotional significance. Bates, one of the most prolific run-scorers in the history of the format, is within touching distance of becoming the first player across men's and women's cricket to score 5,000 T20I runs. The opener enters the tournament needing 280 runs to reach the milestone. Devine, meanwhile, remains one of the most influential all-rounders in world cricket. Alongside Bates and fast bowler Lea Tahuhu, she is preparing for her final T20 World Cup campaign before stepping away from the format. Ellyse Perry (Australia) Australia's Ellyse Perry arrives with a different set of records in sight. Widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders the game has produced, Perry already holds the record for the most appearances in Women's T20 World Cup history with 47 matches. Three more outings will make her the first cricketer, male or female, to feature in 50 T20 World Cup matches. The Australian veteran also stands alone when it comes to silverware, having been part of six title-winning campaigns for her country. Marizanne Kapp (South Africa) South Africa's Marizanne Kapp, another member of the exclusive 10-edition club, continues to be one of the game's premier all-rounders. Renowned for her ability to influence matches with both bat and ball, Kapp enters the tournament after further enhancing her reputation during the Women's Cricket World Cup, where she became the leading wicket-taker in the tournament's history. Chamari Athapaththu (Sri LankaL) Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu's journey perhaps best reflects the growth of women's cricket outside the sport's traditional powerhouses. From a young batter in the inaugural tournament to one of the most destructive players in the modern game, Athapaththu has become the face of Sri Lankan women's cricket and remains central to her team's ambitions. Stafanie Taylor (West Indies) Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu's journey perhaps best reflects the growth of women's cricket outside the sport's traditional powerhouses. From a young batter in the inaugural tournament to one of the most destructive players in the modern game, Athapaththu has become the face of Sri Lankan women's cricket and remains central to her team's ambitions. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Their careers have unfolded across 17 years, multiple continents and countless memorable matches. Some have lifted trophies, others have broken records, and all have witnessed the evolution of women's cricket firsthand. When the first ball of the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup is bowled, these seven veterans will not simply be taking part in another tournament; they will be adding another chapter to one of the most enduring stories in the history of the women's game. Article Source: IANS
Sahibzada Farhan to lead Pakistan at Asian Games
The most notable new inclusion is fast bowler Ali Raza, who has been knocking at the door with stellar performances
Brook replaces Root as No. 1 Test batter
Gill also climbed in the Test batters' list while Atkinson entered the top 10 bowlers
Sanikas Masterclass Sends Aakash Tigers Into T20 Mumbai Womens League Final
Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburb: Sanika Chalke produced a batting masterclass as Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburb stormed into the final of the inaugural T20 Mumbai Womens League with a commanding eight-wicket victory over Thane Sky Risers at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday. Chasing a modest 114, the Tigers cruised to victory with five overs to spare, thanks largely to Sanikas unbeaten 74 off 51 deliveries. The opener anchored the chase brilliantly, striking 11 fours and two sixes to ensure there were no late hiccups. Sanika and Humairaa Kaazi (5) gave the Tigers a steady start, adding 35 runs for the opening wicket before Kashish Nirmal provided the Risers a brief glimmer of hope. The medium pacer struck twice in successive deliveries in the fifth over, dismissing Kaazi and then Sejal Raut for a duck to leave the Tigers at 35/2. However, the double blow failed to derail the chase. Sanika continued to dominate the bowlers with a series of crisp boundaries, while Fatima Jaffer played the perfect supporting role at the other end. The pair stitched together an unbroken 82-run partnership for the third wicket, with Fatima contributing a composed 35 not out as the Tigers sealed a comfortable win. Earlier, a disciplined effort with the ball helped the Tigers restrict Thane Sky Risers to 113/9 in their allotted 20 overs after electing to field first. The Risers struggled to build momentum as wickets fell at regular intervals throughout the innings. Vruushali Bhagat top-scored with 32, while Mansi Patil made 25 and skipper Khushi Bhatia chipped in with 21. Beyond the trio, the batting unit failed to make a significant impact against a well-drilled Tigers attack. Manali Dakshini and Batul Pereira starred with the ball for the Tigers, claiming two wickets apiece, while the rest of the bowling unit maintained pressure to keep the scoring rate in check and restrict the Risers to a below-par total. Earlier, a disciplined effort with the ball helped the Tigers restrict Thane Sky Risers to 113/9 in their allotted 20 overs after electing to field first. The Risers struggled to build momentum as wickets fell at regular intervals throughout the innings. Vruushali Bhagat top-scored with 32, while Mansi Patil made 25 and skipper Khushi Bhatia chipped in with 21. Beyond the trio, the batting unit failed to make a significant impact against a well-drilled Tigers attack. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: Thane Sky Risers 113/9 in 20 overs (Vruushali Bhagat 32, Mansi Patil 25; Manali Dakshini 2/20, Batul Pereira 2/22) lost to Aakash Tigers MWS 117/2 in 15 overs (Sanika Chalke 74 not out, Fatima Jaffar 35 not out; Kashish Nirmal 2/32) by 8 wickets. Article Source: IANS
Gill & Co. Must Not Make The Mistake Of Taking Afghanistan Lightly In ODIs: Nayar
T20 World Cup: Former India allrounder Abhishek Nayar has warned Shubman Gill and his side not to make the mistake of taking Afghanistan lightly in the upcoming three-game ODI series, adding that the oppositions white-ball players armed with global franchise cricket playing experience can pose a serious challenge. India will play its first ODI against Afghanistan on June 13 in Dharamshala, and is followed by matches in Lucknow and Chennai. Afghanistan will be a much tougher challenge in this ODI series. Almost every player in their whiteball squad plays franchise cricket around the world. That gives them a lot of exposure. Whether it's T20s or ODIs, they play an aggressive brand of cricket. Their bowlers have the ability to trouble Indian batters as well. That said, there is still a big gap in quality between the two sides. Afghanistan will be aiming to win at least two games in this series. If they manage that, it will be a huge achievement for them and a major upset for India. So, Shubman Gill and his men must not make the mistake of taking Afghanistan lightly, said Nayar on JioHotstar. On the number three slot in Kohlis absence, Nayar, the former India assistant coach, selected Ishan Kishan ahead of Yashasvi Jaiswal. If you look at the recent form of Ishan Kishan and Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan has always stepped up whenever there has been an injury. He has performed well every time. He was excellent in the T20 World Cup and also did well against New Zealand in the T20I series. He is a more experienced and proven option at number three compared to Yashasvi Jaiswal. Jaiswal is naturally an opener. In his last ODI, he scored a century while opening the innings. So based on experience and comfort in the number three role, I would go with Ishan Kishan. Nayar also explained the bowling combinations India can explore in absence of many first-choice bowlers. I feel Harsh Dubey will play because the team will need a leftarm spinner. He is also a useful allrounder. The real question is which fast bowlers will get a chance. I want to see Prasidh Krishna's workload managed carefully. If the team wants to give him game time, they should also look at Gurnoor Brar. He was part of the Test squad but didn't get a chance to play there. However, he should be in the scheme of things for the ODI playing XI. Prince Yadav has also performed very well recently. So, I would like to see Harsh Dubey with either Prince Yadav or Gurnoor Brar, along with Arshdeep Singh. These bowlers have played a lot of cricket and should be given a chance to prove themselves, he said. With the preparation for 2027 Mens ODI World Cup the main focus, former India leg-spinner Piyush Chawla stressed on the importance of giving emerging players exposure. Rohit Sharma is the main man for India in this ODI series. He only plays one format now, so his game time matters. With Virat not in the squad, more responsibility falls on Rohit's shoulders. He will be keen to deliver, especially in home conditions. Prince Yadav has also performed very well recently. So, I would like to see Harsh Dubey with either Prince Yadav or Gurnoor Brar, along with Arshdeep Singh. These bowlers have played a lot of cricket and should be given a chance to prove themselves, he said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score So, we need to keep an eye on him and others like him. Harsh Dubey should also get a game or two in this series. He has done well in the Ranji Trophy and the IPL. This is the right time to give young players a chance and see how they fit into the bigger picture for 2027, he concluded. Article Source: IANS
Pakistan women set to tour Sri Lanka for white-ball games in July
Three ODIs and T20Is will be played in Hambantota between July 23 and August 4
Sachin Sir Asked My Coach To Tell Me To Put Australia Knock Aside And Start From Zero: Jemimah
ODI World Cup: India batter Jemimah Rodrigues has revealed that batting legend Sachin Tendulkar asked her coach to convey a simple but powerful message ahead of the 2025 ICC Womens World Cup final to keep her epic semi-final knock aside and start from zero in the title clash. India, who eventually won the 2025 Womens ODI World Cup, are now aiming to win another ICC title on the trot when the Womens T20 World Cup begins in England on June 12, with Lords scheduled to host the final on July 5. Sachin sir called my coach Prashant Shetty. He asked him to tell me that he understood the past couple of days had been a lot for me, the big knock against Australia in the semi-final, the joy of beating them. But he reminded me that the job was not over yet. We still had a final to win. He said, try to put that aside and start from zero. That message really helped me reset my mind. I understood that what you did before does not win you the next game. You must treat every match as a new start. That advice from a legend gave me so much clarity before the final, said Jemimah on JioStar. Shafali Verma, who played a matchwinning role with both bat and ball, recalled her fathers motivating message ahead of the title clash in Navi Mumbai. We had two off days before the final. My dad sent me a voice note. He said, 'Just work hard. Give your best on the field. And it has to be in writing that Shafali Verma helped India win the World Cup. That voice note gave me extra fire. I knew I had to perform not just for myself, but for him and for the team. It pushed me to give everything I had on the field. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur reflected on the teams mindset and her instinctive call to hand the ball to Shafali, as she picked two game-changing wickets. In the past, we have played South Africa many times and won most of those matches. The league game against them had its ups and downs, but we were still confident. The only thing we discussed was: if we bat first in the final, don't go in expecting to score 300 runs. If you carry that expectation, you will end up making mistakes. Even though we had five proper bowlers, I dont know why her name kept coming to my mind. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur reflected on the teams mindset and her instinctive call to hand the ball to Shafali, as she picked two game-changing wickets. In the past, we have played South Africa many times and won most of those matches. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Chasing 300 on that sticky pitch was not as hard in the second innings because of the dew. It had rained and the outfield was wet. It was doing a lot off the surface. So, I asked Shafali if she wanted to bowl. She said yes with great confidence: 'I will bowl, and I will take wickets, she concluded. Article Source: IANS
Suthar joins Warwickshire for two County Championship matches
He will be available for the games against Yorkshire in Scarborough and Somerset in Taunton
Brook Dethrones Root To Reclaim No.1 Test Batter Ranking; Gill Moves To Eighth Spot
ICC World Test Championship: England batter Harry Brook leapfrogged teammate Joe Root to reclaim the No.1 spot in the ICC Test rankings, while India captain Shubman Gill has climbed two places to eighth spot after hitting a century in the recent one-off clash against Afghanistan, which the side won by an innings and 300 runs. Brook returned to the number one spot following his halfcentury in the opening innings of Englands 115run victory over New Zealand in the ICC World Test Championship game at Lords. His 56 was one of only two scores above fifty in the match, which was enough to push Root down to third sport after the senior batter managed just one and eight, with Australias Travis Head climbing to second spot. Brook had first risen to the top spot in December 2024 and now regains the position ahead of the second Test starting at The Oval on June 17. Gill, meanwhile, moved up to eighth spot after making 126 against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh. The England trio of Ben Duckett (up three places to 15th), Jamie Smith (up five spots to equal 23rd) and Glenn Phillips (up 15 places to 40th) also made progress in the batters rankings. In the bowling chart, England pacer Gus Atkinson gained seven slots to break into the top 10 Test bowlers at tenth spot, while moving to sixth spot among allrounders. New Zealands Kyle Jamieson (22nd) and Ollie Robinson (23rd) have reentered the rankings, while Kiwi pacer Nathan Smith jumped 16 places to 43rd. The England trio of Ben Duckett (up three places to 15th), Jamie Smith (up five spots to equal 23rd) and Glenn Phillips (up 15 places to 40th) also made progress in the batters rankings. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Australias Nathan Ellis improved 13 places to 31st, while Bangladeshs Nahid Rana surged 23 slots to 24th. Sri Lankas Kusal Mendis (12th) and Janith Liyanage (22nd) made gains among ODI batters, alongside Bangladesh lefthander Tanzid Hasan, who moved up seven places to 33rd. Article Source: IANS
Out of the ordinary: Amanda-Jade Wellington adjusts to a new 'normal'
Former Australian leg-spinner underwent a heart procedure earlier this year and took her maiden hat-trick last weekend
Liam Livingstone To Lead London Spirit At The Hundred
Most Valuable Player: London Spirit have entrusted England all-rounder Liam Livingstone with the captaincy of their men's side for the upcoming season of The Hundred, handing leadership responsibilities to one of the competition's most explosive and accomplished performers. The 31-year-old arrives with a wealth of experience from international cricket and franchise leagues worldwide, having established himself as one of England's premier white-ball cricketers. I am really looking forward to leading London Spirit out at Lords this summer. Its an iconic ground and with the largest crowds in the country, I know the fans will create a special atmosphere for every match. There is so much talent throughout the squad and I want us to make some history this summer. I cant wait to get started, Liam said in a statement released by the franchise. Livingstone was crowned the tournament's Most Valuable Player during its inaugural edition in 2021 after helping Birmingham Phoenix reach the final. Across five seasons with Phoenix, he accumulated 996 runs in just 36 innings, placing him sixth on the all-time run-scoring charts. His 71 sixes remain the highest tally recorded by any player in the competition. Beyond The Hundred, Livingstone has become a mainstay of England's white-ball setup. Across all three international formats, he has represented his country 100 times, scoring 1,903 runs and claiming 58 wickets. His ability to change games single-handedly was perhaps best illustrated in 2021 when he smashed a 42-ball T20I century against Pakistan at Trent Bridge, the fastest hundred by an England men's player in the format. A year later, he featured in every match of England's successful ICC Men's T20 World Cup campaign in Australia. The decision to appoint Livingstone was strongly backed by London Spirits management, who view him as a central figure in the franchises long-term ambitions. Liam is a fantastic person to work with, both on and off the field. Ive known him since he and I were both with the England Lions. Signing him to London Spirit was one of the first things we wanted to do because we knew how significant he will be to everything we are doing at Lords this summer. Liams determination to improve and succeed is fundamental to what we are looking to establish at London Spirit. He will lead from the front: of that, I have no doubt, head coach Andy Flower said. The decision to appoint Livingstone was strongly backed by London Spirits management, who view him as a central figure in the franchises long-term ambitions. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The men's side will be led by head coach Flower, with former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik serving as batting coach and mentor. Former England spinner Graeme Swann has been appointed spin bowling coach, while former New Zealand international Andre Adams will oversee the pace bowlers. Richard Halsall completes the coaching group as fielding and wicketkeeping coach. Article Source: IANS
Warwickshire Sign India Spinner Manav Suthar On Short-term Contract For County Championship
Warwickshire Performance Director James Thomas: Fresh from a dream introduction to Test cricket, Indian left-arm spinner Manav Suthar is set to begin a new challenge in English conditions after Warwickshire secured his services for the next two rounds of the County Championship. The 23-year-old arrives at Edgbaston with his reputation soaring following a memorable international debut last week. Playing his first Test for India in the one-off match against Afghanistan, Suthar produced a performance that immediately caught attention, claiming 6-33 in the first innings before adding another wicket in the second to finish with match figures of 7-62. Im incredibly excited to be joining Warwickshire for the next two County Championship games. The team have started the season very well, so Im hoping that I can play a part in helping them in their push for the title, Suthar said in a statement released by the county club. Warwickshire view the signing as both an opportunity to strengthen their bowling resources and a chance to bring one of India's most highly regarded young spinners into the dressing room at a pivotal stage of the season. Were delighted to welcome Manav to the Bears at a really exciting time for the team. We've played some good red-ball cricket already this season, and Manav will bring a new aspect to our bowling attack. It shows how highly hes rated in India after his selection to their Test team last week, so its going to be great to have him around the group, said Warwickshire Performance Director James Thomas. Suthar's rise through the ranks has been steady and impressive. A product of Rajasthan's domestic system, he built a formidable first-class record long before his international breakthrough, collecting 129 wickets in just 29 matches. His ability to extract sharp turn and bounce has made him one of the most talked-about young spinners in Indian cricket. Were delighted to welcome Manav to the Bears at a really exciting time for the team. We've played some good red-ball cricket already this season, and Manav will bring a new aspect to our bowling attack. It shows how highly hes rated in India after his selection to their Test team last week, so its going to be great to have him around the group, said Warwickshire Performance Director James Thomas. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Suthar is expected to be available for the Bears' Championship clash against Yorkshire at Scarborough from June 12 to 15 before remaining with the squad for the away fixture against Somerset at Taunton the following week. Article Source: IANS
Pakistan Women To Tour Sri Lanka For Whiteball Series In July
Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium: The Pakistan womens cricket team will travel to Sri Lanka next month for a sixmatch whiteball series, comprising three ODIs and as many T20Is, said the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday. PCB added that all matches will be played at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota. The ODIs, scheduled for July 23, 25 and 28, respectively, are a part of the ICC Womens Championship 202529 cycle. Pakistan currently occupies second place in the standings with eight points from six matches, having won four games. New Zealand lead the table with 13 points, though they have played three more matches than Pakistan. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, are at the third spot with eight points from six games and also have four wins but are placed behind Pakistan due to differences in net run rate. The tour will conclude with three T20Is to be played on July 31, August 2 and August 4, respectively. Both Pakistan and Sri Lanka are presently in the United Kingdom to participate in the 2026 ICC Womens T20 World Cup, starting on June 12 and ending on July 5. Pakistan currently occupies second place in the standings with eight points from six matches, having won four games. New Zealand lead the table with 13 points, though they have played three more matches than Pakistan. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, are at the third spot with eight points from six games and also have four wins but are placed behind Pakistan due to differences in net run rate. Also Read: Live Cricket Score In 21 T20Is between the two sides, Pakistan have won 11 matches while Sri Lanka have claimed nine wins, with one match ending in no result. In ODIs, the teams have met 34 times, with Pakistan winning 11 of them and losing 22 games, while one game was abandoned. The series in Hambantota will give both teams chances to clinch valuable ODI Championship points. Article Source: IANS
Injured Hardik set to miss ODIs against Afghanistan
Hardik is understood to have suffered leg strain this week while training at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru
T20 World Cup: South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt has welcomed a timely reality check ahead of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, insisting her side will need sharper plans and greater execution if they are to overcome Australia in their tournament opener on Saturday. The Proteas head into the marquee Group 1 clash after concluding their warm-up campaign with a five-wicket defeat to New Zealand in Loughborough. While the result denied South Africa a perfect build-up, Wolvaardt believes it exposed areas that require immediate attention before facing the six-time champions in Manchester. We would have liked to win both (warm-up fixtures), but maybe this is just what we needed just before the tournament starts. Just a little eye-opener that is not just going to happen and we can't just go through the motions with the ball, Wolvaardt said. South Africa struggled to consistently contain New Zealand's batting line-up, and the skipper admitted that tactical improvements would be essential against a side as experienced and ruthless as Australia. I think we've come up against a quality side today and they sort of outsmarted us with the bat today. So we're going to have some good strategies in place for the Australia game and hopefully we're able to turn it around, she added. Despite the defeat, the Proteas found a major source of encouragement in the explosive form of all-rounder Chloe Tryon, who produced one of the standout innings of the warm-up phase. Walking in during the middle overs, Tryon launched a blistering assault on the New Zealand attack, finishing unbeaten on 61 from just 26 deliveries and clearing the boundary six times. The innings provided South Africa with much-needed momentum and underlined the value of her experience heading into the tournament. Despite the defeat, the Proteas found a major source of encouragement in the explosive form of all-rounder Chloe Tryon, who produced one of the standout innings of the warm-up phase. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With three days remaining before their World Cup campaign begins, South Africa will spend the coming sessions refining plans for Australia while hoping Tryon can carry her destructive touch into one of the biggest fixtures of the group stage. Article Source: IANS
'She Is Going To Be Very Important For Us': Nigar Banks On Young Juairiya For Women's T20 WC
T20 World Cup: As Bangladesh fine-tune their preparations for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, captain Nigar Sultana Joty has identified emerging opener Juairiya Ferdous as a player capable of making a significant impact when the tournament begins. The 20-year-old batter has quickly established herself as one of Bangladesh's brightest prospects since breaking into the senior side earlier this year. Her performances in the team's warm-up fixtures have further strengthened expectations that she could play a defining role at the top of the order during the global event. She is going to be very important for us because she's been a very good touch. She's very young and she's capable of hitting boundaries in the Powerplay as well as after it. We are looking forward to see her the same way she played for us, Nigar said after Bangladesh's warm-up match against Ireland at Loughborough University. Ferdous showcased her attacking intent in both preparatory outings in Loughborough. Against defending champions New Zealand, she struck 26 off just 15 deliveries, before following it up with a fluent half-century against Ireland, scoring 50 from 38 balls. Those knocks have provided Bangladesh with a welcome boost ahead of their tournament opener against the Netherlands on Sunday, especially after the side suffered defeats in both warm-up encounters. Despite the results, Nigar insisted the matches served their purpose and helped the team gather valuable lessons before the competition gets underway. Ferdous showcased her attacking intent in both preparatory outings in Loughborough. Against defending champions New Zealand, she struck 26 off just 15 deliveries, before following it up with a fluent half-century against Ireland, scoring 50 from 38 balls. Those knocks have provided Bangladesh with a welcome boost ahead of their tournament opener against the Netherlands on Sunday, especially after the side suffered defeats in both warm-up encounters. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Apart from Ferdous' impressive returns with the bat, Bangladesh also found encouragement in the performances of spinner Sanjida Akter Meghla, with the captain highlighting several positives that emerged from the warm-up phase. With a young opener in form and a few encouraging signs despite the losses, Bangladesh will hope their preparations translate into success when their T20 World Cup campaign officially begins this weekend against the Netherlands. Article Source: IANS
Hardik To Miss ODIs Against Afghanistan Due To Niggle In His Leg
ODI World Cup: In what comes as a huge blow to the Indian team, seambowling allrounder Hardik Pandya likely to miss Indias upcoming threematch ODI series against Afghanistan after picking up a niggle in his leg. Pandya, who missed a few games for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026 due to back spasms, was present at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru since June 2 and was believed to be on track for getting a fitness clearance for the ODI series against Afghanistan, starting on June 13 in Dharamshala and followed by games in Lucknow and Chennai. He also did bowling at full tilt, apart from doing his batting and fielding drills seamlessly at CoE. But the late injury setback now leaves Pandya, who has 94 ODI caps, on the verge of missing the upcoming three-game series. Hardik Pandya was close to being fully cleared by CoE for the ODI series against Afghanistan. But it has now come to the light that he has picked up a slight niggle in his leg and will require a few weeks of recovery. This very late setback means he now remains short of achieving full fitness for the ODI series and will now focus on recovering from his latest injury at the CoE, sources to told IANS on Wednesday. Pandyas absence leaves India without one of their most experienced seambowling allrounder as they look to fine tune their combinations for the 2027 Mens ODI World Cup. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball has been central to Indias ODI plans, though Pandya hasnt played a 50-over game after the 2025 Champions Trophy triumph. With the wait for Pandya playing an ODI game now set to be extended, it remains to be seen if he will achieve full fitness in time for the three-game series against England, to be played from July 14-19. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball has been central to Indias ODI plans, though Pandya hasnt played a 50-over game after the 2025 Champions Trophy triumph. Also Read: Live Cricket Score It remains to be seen if Shivam Dube, another seam-bowling all-rounder with four ODI appearances, is named as Pandyas replacement for the series. India already have another seam-bowling all-rounder in Nitish Kumar Reddy, who has played four ODIs so far. Article Source: IANS
Sahibzada Farhan To Lead Pakistan In Asian Games As PCB Name 15-man Squad
Pakistan Cricket Board: Sahibzada Farhan will captain the Pakistan at the Asian Games 2026, scheduled from September 19 to October 4 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan as the Pakistan Cricket Board announced a 15-man squad on Wednesday. Farhan, 30, has appeared in 46 T20Is for Pakistan, accumulating 1,305 runs with two centuries and 10 half-centuries. Abdul Samad, with five T20I appearances for Pakistan, has been appointed vice-captain of the team. Of the 15 players in the squad, Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Maaz Sadaqat, and Saad Masood are the four who have not yet played T20I for Pakistan. Furthermore, 14 out of the 15 players chosen for the Asian Games squad are members of the National Cricket Academys White-Ball Camp, which will begin in Lahore on Monday, June 15 and continue until June 18. The cricket competition at the continental event will be played in a T20 format, featuring 10 teams at Korogi Athletic Park in Aichi Prefecture. The mens cricket tournament starts on September 24, with medal matches happening on October 3. The PCB announced that 49 players will participate in the NCAs Red-Ball and White-Ball camps. These camps are designed to prepare players for upcoming international and domestic competitions. Throughout the camps, players will train under the guidance of National and NCA coaches, as well as PCB Medical staff, focusing on skill development and fitness. The mens cricket tournament starts on September 24, with medal matches happening on October 3. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Pakistan squad for Asian Games: Sahibzada Farhan (c), Abdul Samad (vc), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Arafat Minhas, Haider Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Saad Masood, Saim Ayub, Sufyan Moqim and Usman Khan (wk) Article Source: IANS
Womens T20 World Cup 2026 Set for Historic Start as India Eye Glory Under Harmanpreet
The ECB selected Londons Waterloo Bridge for an event to announce the arrival of the Womens T20 World Cup on home soil and transformed it into a cricket pitch for the day on Sunday, 7th June. The skippers of the 12 competing nations took part in the event and shoot out and Nat Sciver-Brunt, the England captain, hoped to inspire a fresh generation of future stars. She voiced her hopes of establishing a new legacy. Waterloo Bridge is a road and foot traffic bridge crossing the River Thames in London and offers the sight of St Pauls and the City to the east, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament to the west. The existing bridge was built by women during the Second World War (19391945), inspiring various songs and stories about London. Indias first Womens World Cup-winning captain Harmanpreet was most in demand among the fans for the selfie requests on the iconic Waterloo Bridge and was more than just a crowd favourite. The Womens T20 World Cup gets under way on 12th June evening when hosts England meet in a Group 2 clash against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston. The event will be staged at venues in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol and Southampton. Six-time winners Australia are once again among the favourites to lift the title, which was won by New Zealand in Dubai two years ago. India, under one of the most experienced and celebrated captains Harmanpreet Kaur, opens its campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday, June 14 at Edgbaston at 7:00 p.m. IST. Termed as the biggest ever Women's T20 World Cup, it features a record 12 teams, including the Netherlands and Scotland, the two Associate representatives. Over 200,000 tickets have already been sold, with sales having surpassed any previous edition of the ICC Womens T20 World Cup. The tournament should break records and set a new benchmark for women's sport. The urge is to seize the moment of England and Wales hosting the ICC Womens T20 World Cup and make 2026 the biggest ever year for womens cricket. The ICC is hopeful that even the direct clash with the FIFA World Cup 2026 will not diminish the reach and popularity of the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup. 2026 Women's T20 World Cup: June 12 to July 5 2026 FIFA World Cup: June 11 to July 19 This time, a total of 12 teams, meaning two more than the 10 teams that played in 2024, were selected as follows: One host: England Top five teams from the 2024 T20 World Cup: Australia, India, New Zealand, South Africa and the West Indies. From the rest, the top two teams in the ICC T20 International rankings: Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Four teams from the Qualifier Series: Bangladesh, Ireland, the Netherlands and Scotland Some other key points about the teams: *The Netherlands is competing in the Women's T20 World Cup for the first time. *Competing in this T20 World Cup is a major achievement for Bangladesh, as they will play a women's international match in England for the first time. They qualified after a perfect qualifying campaign, winning all nine of their matches. * This tournament is historic for European countries, as four of the 12 teams are European (England, Ireland, Scotland and Netherlands). Four teams from Asia are also participating (India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh & Pakistan). * For the first time, England and Scotland will face each other in England in either the men's or women's World Cup. * New Zealand are the defending champions, having won the 2024 edition. *Four teams are led by Mumbai Indians: India (Harmanpreet Kaur), England (Nat Sciver-Brunt), West Indies (Hayley Matthews), New Zealand (Amelia Kerr) The 12 teams are divided into two groups of six each, facing each other in a round-robin format during the group stage. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage. Two semi-finals will be played on June 30th and July 2nd, and the final will be played at Lord's on July 5th. Reserve days have been set aside for both the semi-finals and final. Group A : Australia, Bangladesh, India, Netherlands, Pakistan, South Africa Group B : England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, Sri Lanka, West Indies Prize Money The ICC has announced a record prize fund of $8,764,615 for the tournament, a 10% increase from the 2024 edition, which was a total of $7,958,077. Look at who will receive what: The champion team will receive $2.34 million, The runner-up will receive $1.17 million, Each losing semi-finalist will receive $6.75 million, The team that wins each group match will receive $31,154. It's also confirmed that all 12 participating teams will receive $247,500, meaning none of the teams will return empty-handed. Players who played in the inaugural women's T20 World Cup & are playing in this edition too: Ellyse Perry, Marizanne Kapp, Chamari Atapattu, Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Deandra Dottin, Stafanie Taylor, Harmanpreet Kaur Dane van Niekerk Shabnim Ismail Also Read: Live Cricket Score Players to play in all 10 editions of the women's T20 World Cup: Ellyse Perry, Suzie Bates, Chamari Atapattu, Sophie Devine, Stafanie Taylor, Harmanpreet Kaur.
Australia seek response as Bangladesh close in on landmark series win
Confident hosts will hope for another complete performance as they eye a maiden ODI series win against Australia
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Ben Stokes Considering England Captaincy Future After Nightclub Incident
Ben Stokes is preparing to make a decision on his future as England captain, several British media outlets reported Tuesday following his involvement in a nightclub incident with a Saracens rugby player. Stokes and bowler Gus Atkinson are facing a probe by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for breaking team curfew rules on Monday morning following England's win in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's. The pair were also reported to have become involved in what became a physical confrontation. Britain's Press Association named the rugby player involved as Totoa Auvaa, a 6ft 5in (1.95 metres) and 19 stones 8lbs (124.28 kilogrammes) former Samoa A and Samoa Under-20 captain. A security guard who was with the England duo was reportedly injured in the incident. It is the latest controversy concerning the England team following a tour of Australia where the side faced allegations of a drinking culture during a 4-1 Ashes series loss concluded in January. The squad announcement for next week's second Test at the Oval has been delayed and there are now growing concerns over whether Stokes can continue as England captain. But there will be no need to sack Stokes from the captaincy should the 35-year-old resign from a post he has held since 2022. And the possibility remains he could now quit international cricket completely. There have been suggestions Stokes and Atkinson were unaware a midnight curfew imposed on the players after the Ashes debacle was still in place, even though the first Test against New Zealand had finished. Stokes, as captain, would be expected to know the rules, however, while a failure to explain fully the terms of the curfew would reflect badly on both England managing director Rob Key and coach Brendon McCullum. Former England captain David Gower said Stokes' position as captain was in severe doubt. - 'Mortified' - One of the responsibilities as a captain is to set the right tone; if you're leading, you have to set the right example, Gower, 69, told the BBC on Tuesday. They have to sort it out. If you've agreed to a curfew you have to abide by it. I've got a lot of respect for Ben and most the things he's done for the last three years or so as England captain. He has become -- or, I probably have to use the past tense now -- had become, a very important figure as a leader of that team. I don't know what he's thinking at the moment... regret could be the least of it. He will be mortified, I'm sure, to have put himself in that position in the early hours. It's a misjudgement. You've put yourself in a bad position and you've put yourself at risk. Stokes spoke of giving up alcohol during his recovery from injury last year. But soon after England had completed a dominant 115-run win against New Zealand at Lord's, to go 1-0 up in a three-match series, he told reporters: I won't be really happy until I get to share a beer with the boys. If Stokes is stripped of the captaincy, vice-captain Harry Brook -- already the skipper of England's white-ball teams -- could lead the hosts at the Oval. This would represent a remarkable reversal of fortune for Brook, who was fined and censured for late-night drinking and clashing with a nightclub bouncer before captaining England in a one-day international in Wellington in October. That episode led England to impose the midnight curfew, with McCullum saying after the Wellington incident became public: If you go back to the day that I walked into the job, the first thing I said to these boys is, 'don't do anything that lands you on the front page of the paper and nothing good ever happens after midnight'. In 2017, Stokes was involved in an incident outside a nightclub in Bristol, southwest England, that led to him being charged with affray. Also Read: Live Cricket Score He subsequently missed the Ashes tour of 2017/18 before he was found not guilty of the charge following a trial at Bristol Crown Court in August 2018.
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Bengal T20 League: Smashers Malda, Howrah Warriors Script An Easy Win (Ld)
The Bengal T20 League: Sobisco Smashers Malda beat Servotech Siliguri Strikers by six wickets in the men's section of Season 3 of the Bengal T20 League match at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Tuesday. Batting first, Servotech Siliguri Strikers posted 128/7 in their 20 overs, with Pramod Chandila top-scoring with an unbeaten 52 off 35 deliveries. For Malda, Mukesh Kumar, and Prayas Ray Barman picked up two wickets each. In reply, Malda went over the line comfortably, scoring 129/4 in 17.3 overs. Akhil (50 off 44) and Prayas (39 off 29) were the standout batters. For the Strikers, Geet Puri picked up two wickets, while Md Shami and Vishal Bhati claimed one each. Earlier in the day's first match, Shakir Habib Gandhi scored an unbeaten 52 off 32 balls while Sujit Kumar Yadav (3/20) impressed with the ball as Adamas Howrah Warriors beat Kolkata Royal Tigers by seven wickets via the DLS Method. Batting first, Royal Tigers recovered from 75/7 to post 149/8 in 20 overs, thanks to a brilliant unbeaten 71 off 37 deliveries from Ronit Ghosh. In reply, set a revised target of 122 in 15 overs. Howrah Warriors went over the line comfortably, scoring 124/3 in 13.2 overs. Besides Gandhi, Kazi Junaid Saifi (34 off 23) and Shashank Singh (32 not out off 18) also impressed with the bat. The Bengal T20 League is in its Season 3 and is organised under the aegis of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). The league features eight city-based franchises representing the breadth of West Bengal - Adamas Howrah Warriors, Novus Royals Purulia, Kolkata Royal Tigers, Murshidabad Kings and Kueens, Rashmi Nes Medinipur Wizards, Servotech Siliguri Strikers, Shrachi Rarh Tigers, and Sobisco Smashers Malda competing across men's and women's competitions. Men's matches are held at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, with women's matches at the JU Salt Lake Campus, Kolkata. Season 3 is anchored by the theme Ebar Jombe Khela! - a rallying cry that captures the league's spirit: fierce, uncompromising, and unmistakably Bengal. Brief scores: Kolkata Royal Tigers vs Adamas Howrah Warriors Kolkata Royal Tigers: 149/8 (20 overs) Adamas Howrah Warriors: 124/3 (13.2 overs) Result: Adamas Howrah Warriors won by 7 wickets (DLS Method) Servotech Siliguri Strikers vs Sobisco Smashers Malda Servotech Siliguri Strikers: 128/7 (20 overs) Servotech Siliguri Strikers vs Sobisco Smashers Malda Also Read: Live Cricket Score Result: Sobisco Smashers Malda won by 6 wickets Article Source: IANS
T20 Mumbai League 2026: Bista, Attarde Shine In Tigers 66-run Win Over Falcons
Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs: Sarfaraz Khans Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs rode on a disciplined all-round performance to register a clinical 66-run victory over Shreyas Iyers SOBO Mumbai Falcons in a league match of the ongoing T20 Mumbai League 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday. Banking on blistering half-centuries from Jay Bista and Ajit Yadav, the Tigers first piled up a massive 227/6 in their 20 overs before Shashank Attarde and Shams Mulani led the demolition act with the ball to bundle out the Falcons for 161 in 17.5 overs and seal a comprehensive win. Chasing the daunting target, the Falcons were off to a solid start with opener Ishan Mulchandani (40 off 15) taking the attack to the Tigers from the outset. Attacking right from the start, Ishan dominated the 33-run opening partnership with Aditya Tare (1), scoring the bulk of the runs and putting the Tigers on the back foot. However, the momentum shifted once Shams Mulani (3/47) dismissed Tare in the third over. Falcons then suffered a dramatic collapse, losing four more wickets for another 46 runs as off-spinner Shashank Attarde (4/33) spun a web and rattled the top and middle order. Attarde also accounted for newly-appointed India T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, who could manage 10, which left the Falcons reeling at 79/5. Harsh Aghav (43) fought a lone battle, trying to keep the chase alive; however, he found little support from others. Mulani struck again to remove Harsh at a crucial stage, effectively ending the Falcons hopes as they were eventually bundled out in 17.5 overs. Earlier, the Tigers justified their decision to bat first after winning the toss, posting an imposing total in their allotted 20 overs. Openers Jay Bista (57) and Sarfaraz (31) provided a flying start, racing to 50 runs in just three overs and putting Falcons under immediate pressure. Prathamesh Dake provided the breakthrough in the fourth over by dismissing dangerous Sarfaraz, whose 31-run cameo included six boundaries and a six. However, the wicket did little to slow the Tigers as Bista continued his aggressive approach, smashing eight fours and two sixes before falling. Tigers then lost a couple of quick wickets, including Harsh Rane (14), but Varun Lavande (35) and Ajit (68) rebuilt the innings brilliantly, forging a crucial 97-run stand for the fourth wicket. While Lavande played the perfect supporting act, Ajit led the charge with five fours and four sixes in a blistering 35-ball knock. Prathamesh Dake provided the breakthrough in the fourth over by dismissing dangerous Sarfaraz, whose 31-run cameo included six boundaries and a six. However, the wicket did little to slow the Tigers as Bista continued his aggressive approach, smashing eight fours and two sixes before falling. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Aakash Tigers MWS 227/6 in 20 overs (Ajit Yadav 68, Jay Bista 57; Prathamesh Dake 2/51) beat SOBO Mumbai Falcons 161 all out in 17.5 overs (Harsh Aghav 43, Ishan Mulchandani 40; Shashank Attarde 4/33, Shams Mulani 3/47) by 66 runs. Article Source: IANS
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Cricket Icon Matthew Hayden Named Co-owner And Head Coach Of Glasgow Cosmic
European T20 Premier League: Former Australian cricket star Matthew Hayden has joined Glasgow Cosmic as co-owner and head coach ahead of the inaugural European T20 Premier League (ETPL), marking a significant addition to the franchises leadership team. A World Cup winner and one of the most successful opening batters in cricket history, Hayden said the franchises vision and ambition were key factors behind his decision to come on board. What attracted me most was the vision behind the project. Great teams are built on strong values, clear purpose, and bold thinking. I look forward to helping build something special in Glasgow, Hayden said. Hayden highlighted the importance of fostering a winning culture and creating an environment where players can develop, perform under pressure, and reach their full potential. He also described the ETPL as an exciting opportunity to support crickets growth across new markets and inspire the next generation of talent. Glasgow Cosmic management welcomed Haydens arrival, stating that his vast experience, leadership qualities, and international reputation will be instrumental in shaping the clubs future and strengthening its presence in the European cricket landscape. The franchises roster features renowned players, including Finn Allen, Liam Livingstone, Josh Philippe, Moises Henriques, Kamindu Mendis, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Gerhard Erasmus, Duan Jansen, Ali Khan, as well as Scotland captain Richie Berrington and Scottish cricket star George Munsey. The inclusion of Scotland captain Berrington and Munsey highlights the franchises commitment to Scottish cricket as it prepares to compete in the inaugural ETPL season. The franchises roster features renowned players, including Finn Allen, Liam Livingstone, Josh Philippe, Moises Henriques, Kamindu Mendis, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Gerhard Erasmus, Duan Jansen, Ali Khan, as well as Scotland captain Richie Berrington and Scottish cricket star George Munsey. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The first edition of the ETPL is scheduled from August 26 to September 20. It completed its six-team franchise line-up at a landmark event in Dublin earlier this month, where Rahul Dravid was officially unveiled as owner of the Dublin franchise ahead of the leagues 2026 launch, joining Glasgow, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Belfast, and Rotterdam, competing in 33 matches. Article Source: IANS
Mosaddek Hossain And Nahid Rana Star As Bangladesh Beat Australia After 21 Years In ODI Cricket
Bangla National Stadium: Mosaddek Hossain marked his return to international cricket in style with an unbeaten 86, while pacer Nahid Rana ripped through the Australian batting line-up with 4 for 41 as Bangladesh stunned Australia by 86 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method in the opening ODI in Dhaka on Tuesday, securing their first 50-over victory over the six-time world champions since the famous Cardiff triumph in 2005. For a long time, Cardiff 2005 was the key moment in Bangladesh's ODI history against Australia. On Tuesday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Bangladesh added another chapter by outplaying Australia to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Set a target of 285 runs, Australia was struggling at 191 for 9 when rain and lightning forced the match to be called off. This gave Bangladesh an 86-run victory under the DLS method. Cameron Green fought hard with an unbeaten 52, but wickets fell regularly around him as the visitors never recovered from an early collapse. Bangladesh's victory relied on two standout players. Mosaddek, recalled after a four-year absence, scored the highest of his ODI career with an unbeaten 86 and later took 2 for 37 in his 10 overs. Rana delivered a strong spell of fast bowling, finishing with 4 for 41. Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman had already put Australia on the back foot at 2 for 2. Australia's day was worsened by poor fielding. They dropped four catches, including three chances from Mosaddek. Their ground fielding also left a lot to be desired. After winning the toss and choosing to field, Australia started well when Nathan Ellis dismissed Saif Hassan quickly. However, Tanzid Hasan responded aggressively, driving and pulling confidently. He hit Cameron Green for a six over midwicket during the Powerplay. Tanzid reached his half-century off 41 balls before getting out for 54 to Ellis. Najmul Hossain Shanto kept the momentum going with a smooth 67, taking on the seamers and debutant Liam Scott before getting caught by Matt Renshaw at long-off. Litton Das managed only 7 before falling to Renshaw. Mosaddek then took charge of the innings. Fresh off a successful Dhaka Premier League campaign with Abahani, he gradually picked up the pace, combining traditional play with some innovation. He shared a 75-run fifth-wicket partnership with Towhid Hridoy and added another 45 runs with Taskin Ahmed. His innings included two reverse hits and a huge six off Adam Zampa over long-off in the 44th over, leading Bangladesh to finish at 284 for 8. Australia's chase fell apart right away. Taskin's first ball broke through Matthew Short's defence, while Mustafizur got Marnus Labuschagne lbw soon after, leaving Australia at 2 for 2. Cooper Connolly survived an early dropped catch and started to rebuild with captain Josh Inglis. However, Rana's extra bounce forced Inglis to edge the ball behind the stumps. Connolly and Alex Carey added 40 runs before Mosaddek struck, bowling Connolly and later dismissing Matt Renshaw. Rana continued to excel, getting Carey out for 47 before adding Liam Scott and Xavier Bartlett. Although he missed a five-wicket haul, his fiery spell put Bangladesh in control. Green reached his fourth ODI fifty and remained not out on 52, but with Australia at 191 for 9, the outcome was clear. Rana continued to excel, getting Carey out for 47 before adding Liam Scott and Xavier Bartlett. Although he missed a five-wicket haul, his fiery spell put Bangladesh in control. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Bangladesh 284/8 in 50 overs (Mosaddek Hossain 86*, Najmul Hossain Shanto 67, Tanzid Hasan Tamim 54; Nathan Ellis 3-38) beat Australia 191/9 in 42.2 overs (Cameron Green 52*; Nahid Rana 4-41, Mosaddek Hossain 2-37) by 86 runs [DLS Method] Article Source: IANS
Women's T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up: Ireland beat Bangladesh; Scotland thump Pakistan
Canning and Maguire starred for Ireland, while Bryce's 43-ball 94 took Scotland to a DLS win
Dani Gibson to captain Sunrisers Leeds in Women's Hundred
England allrounder was most-expensive signing at 190,000 in Hundred auction
JU Salt Lake Stadium: The Women's Bengal T20 League witnessed another power-packed action day on Tuesday as Murshidabad Kueens and Rashmi NES Medinipur Wizards picked up important victories at the JU Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. Kashish Agarwal top-scored with 43, while captain Tanushree Sarkar played a crucial knock of 39, and Jahanbi Raj Paswaan added a valuable 24. The finishing touches were provided by Prativa Rana, whose unbeaten cameo of 21 came at a blistering strike rate and helped Murshidabad finish strongly. Chandrima Biswas, Diya Nandi, and Supriti Roy were among the wickets for Purulia. The chase became difficult for Novus Royals Purulia after the early dismissal of skipper Dhara Gujjar. Murshidabad's bowlers kept the pressure on throughout, striking at regular intervals. Toriya Singha Roy stood tall with an unbeaten half-century, scoring 50 off 37 balls. However, her effort was not enough as Novus Royals Purulia fell short of the target. Jahanbi Raj Paswaan delivered an excellent all-round performance with figures of 2/16, while Sinjini Sarkar and Sanaya Mondal also picked up wickets. The day's second match saw Rashmi NES Medinipur Wizards make the most of a rain-affected contest to register an eight-wicket win over Shrachi Rarh Tigers via the DLS method. Shrachi Rarh Tigers started well through the in-form Bristi Maji, who scored 29 off 19 deliveries, but struggled to maintain momentum after her departure. Skipper Piyali Ghosh held the innings together with 31 as the Tigers were bowled out for 102 in 18.4 overs. The Wizards' spin trio of Salma Khatoon, Rupa Dutta, and Soumi Roy shared six wickets between them to keep the scoring under control. Rain after the first innings revised the target to 88 in 16 overs, but the Wizards approached the chase confidently. Sweta Singh set the tone with 38 runs, while Adrija Sarkar remained composed at the other end with an unbeaten 30. Their efforts ensured Rashmi NES Medinipur Wizards reached the target within 14.1 overs, sealing a comfortable victory with eight wickets in hand. Brief scores: Murshidabad Kueens 160/4 in 20 overs Novus Royals Purulia 110/5 in 20 overs Result: Murshidabad Kueens won by 50 runs Shrachi Rarh Tigers 102 all out in 18.4 overs Result: Murshidabad Kueens won by 50 runs Also Read: Live Cricket Score Result: Rashmi NES Medinipur Wizards won by 8 wickets via DLS Method Article Source: IANS
Bengal T20 League: Gandhi, Sujit Guide Howrah Warriors To Victory Over Royal Tiger
The Bengal T20 League: Leading from the front, Shakir Habib Gandhi scored an unbeaten 52 off 32 balls, while Sujit Kumar Yadav starred with the ball, returning figures of 3/20, as Adamas Howrah Warriors defeated Kolkata Royal Tigers by seven wickets via the DLS Method in Season 3 of the Bengal T20 League at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Tuesday. Batting first, Kolkata Royal Tigers found themselves in trouble at 75/7 before Ronit Ghosh produced a superb counter-attacking knock. His unbeaten 71 off 37 deliveries helped the Tigers recover strongly and post a competitive 149/8 in their 20 overs. With the target revised to 122 in 15 overs, Howrah Warriors approached the chase aggressively and remained in control throughout. Gandhi anchored the innings with a composed half-century, while Kazi Junaid Saifi contributed a brisk 34 off 23 balls. Shashank Singh then provided the finishing touches with an unbeaten 32 off 18 deliveries. The Warriors eventually reached 124/3 in 13.2 overs to secure a comfortable victory and collect two valuable points. The Bengal T20 League is in its Season 3 and is organised under the aegis of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). The league features eight city-based franchises representing the breadth of West Bengal - Adamas Howrah Warriors, Novus Royals Purulia, Kolkata Royal Tigers, Murshidabad Kings and Kueens, Rashmi Nes Medinipur Wizards, Servotech Siliguri Strikers, Shrachi Rarh Tigers, and Sobisco Smashers Malda competing across men's and women's competitions. Men's matches are held at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, with women's matches at the JU Salt Lake Campus, Kolkata. Season 3 is anchored by the theme Ebar Jombe Khela! - a rallying cry that captures the league's spirit: fierce, uncompromising, and unmistakably Bengal. Brief scores: Kolkata Royal Tigers 149/8 in 20 overs Brief scores: Also Read: Live Cricket Score Result: Adamas Howrah Warriors won by 7 wickets (DLS Method) Article Source: IANS
Gaikwad 101 trumps Arachchige 74 as India A win thriller against Sri Lanka A
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi provided a tantalising glimpse of his potential before he was dismissed for 14 off 12 balls
Lord's pitch rated as 'unsatisfactory' following England's first Test win
ICC also hands out demerit point to Gadaffi Stadium for third ODI between Pakistan and Australia
ACA Warns Players Against Unauthorised Tournaments As Andhra Premier League Expands To Three Venues
APL Governing Council Sujay Krishna: The Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) has issued a stern advisory to all its registered cricketers, warning them against participating in unauthorized tournaments and private matches without prior approval, even as preparations gather pace for the fifth edition of the Andhra Premier League (APL). In a statement, the ACA reminded players that participation in unapproved events could invite disciplinary action. An Important Advisory for all ACA Registered Players. The Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) has issued a formal reminder: all registered players are strictly prohibited from participating in any unauthorised cricket tournaments or private matches (including tennis ball cricket leagues) without obtaining prior written approval from the ACA. The statement further stressed the need for players to adhere to the association's regulations. Please ensure full compliance to maintain your professional standing with the Association. Unauthorised participation will be treated as a violation of professional discipline and may result in strict disciplinary action. This comes at a time when the ACA intends to fortify its structure of cricket with the conduct of the Andhra Premier League, and for the first time this year, the event is set to take place in three different venues. Addressing a press conference held at the YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium on Monday, Chairman of APL Governing Council Sujay Krishna Rangarao said, The conduct of the tournament across three venues has to be seen as a reflection of the determination of the ACA to bolster the game of cricket across the state. He added, The idea of a league structure is to strengthen the ecosystem of Andhra Pradesh cricket and to develop young talent. Rangarao announced that Visakhapatnam will host games between June 9 and June 14, while Kadapa will host matches between June 17 and June 21, with Mangalagiri hosting the last lot from June 24 to June 30. It has indeed been a major shift from previous editions, where a single venue hosted the entire competition. Addressing a press conference held at the YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium on Monday, Chairman of APL Governing Council Sujay Krishna Rangarao said, The conduct of the tournament across three venues has to be seen as a reflection of the determination of the ACA to bolster the game of cricket across the state. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The official launch of APL 2026 will be inaugurated by an opening ceremony at 6 p.m., which will be presided over by the Union Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu. Article Source: IANS
Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium: A magnificent century from Ruturaj Gaikwad and a composed effort from the bowlers helped India A begin the Tri-Nation A Series with a hard-fought 8-run victory over Sri Lanka A at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Tuesday. Gaikwad rescued India A from a precarious position before the visitors defended 277 to emerge victorious in a nail-biting contest that went deep into the chase. Asked to bat first, India A were rocked early as they slipped to 16/2, with both Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Prabhsimran Singh departing cheaply. Sooryavanshi's much-anticipated return after his IPL heroics lasted only 14 runs, leaving India A under pressure in the opening overs. Gaikwad then produced a captain's knock, rebuilding the innings with maturity and control. The right-hander struck 101 off 114 deliveries, an innings laced with six fours and three sixes, stabilising the innings after the early collapse and ensuring India A remained on course for a competitive total. The middle order chipped in around him with captain Tilak Varma playing a 60-run knock, before a late flourish lifted the scoring rate. Ayush Badoni contributed a brisk 24 from 18 balls, while Suryansh Shedge's unbeaten 26 off just 14 deliveries gave India A the finishing kick. The visitors collected 89 runs in the final 10 overs to post 277/6 from their 50 overs. Sri Lanka A responded positively, with Niroshan Dickwella providing early momentum before the hosts kept pace with the required rate through the middle overs. However, India A managed to strike at crucial intervals to prevent a decisive partnership from taking the game away. The chase was anchored by Sahan Arachchige, who played a superb knock of 74 from 72 balls and brought Sri Lanka A within touching distance of victory. Entering the final stages, the hosts required just 17 runs from the last three overs and appeared favourites. But India A found a way back through Anshul Kamboj. The pacer delivered a crucial yorker to bowl Arachchige in the 48th over, ending a threatening innings and injecting fresh life into the contest. Kamboj's breakthrough left Sri Lanka A needing 16 runs from 16 deliveries and shifted the pressure back onto the home side. The chase was anchored by Sahan Arachchige, who played a superb knock of 74 from 72 balls and brought Sri Lanka A within touching distance of victory. Entering the final stages, the hosts required just 17 runs from the last three overs and appeared favourites. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: India A 277/6 in 50 overs (Ruturaj Gaikwad 101, Tilak Varma 60; Mohamed Shiraz 2-67) beat Sri Lanka A all out for 269 in 48.5 overs (Sahan Arachchige 74, Niroshan Dickwella 47;Arshad Khan 2-24, Ayush Badoni 2-46) by 8 runs. Article Source: IANS
Lord's, Gaddafi Stadium Handed Demerit Points As ICC Rates Pitches 'unsatisfactory'
The International Cricket Council: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has handed one demerit point each to Lord's in London and the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore after pitches used in recent international fixtures were rated Unsatisfactory under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process. The sanction follows assessments submitted by match referees after the opening Test of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle between England and New Zealand at Lord's and the third ODI between Pakistan and Australia in Lahore. Both venues have received one demerit point, with the ICC confirming there were no previous demerit points against either ground. The respective reports have been forwarded to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), who now have 14 days to appeal the decision. At Lord's, concerns centred on the excessive assistance offered to bowlers throughout the Test match, which ended inside four days despite significant rain interruptions on the third day. The match witnessed a remarkable 33 wickets fall across the opening two days alone, with 16 wickets tumbling on Day One and a further 17 on Day Two. Explaining the decision, match referee Andy Pycroft pointed to the imbalance between bat and ball that persisted throughout the contest. There was plenty of excessive seam movement throughout the Test, and the ball also kept extremely low on several occasions. The bounce was variable throughout as 16 wickets fell on the first day and 17 on the second. There was simply an over-balance in favour of ball against bat caused by the pitch, Pycroft said. The pitch at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium came under scrutiny for entirely different reasons. While Lord's was criticised for offering excessive assistance to seam bowlers, the Lahore surface was deemed too slow and difficult to score runs on in a 50-over contest. The third ODI between Pakistan and Australia turned into a low-scoring affair, with batters from both sides struggling to score freely as the pitch offered assistance to spin from an early stage. Match referee Graeme La Brooy highlighted those concerns in his report, stating, The pitch was slow and low and made scoring runs very difficult. It did not suit a One Day International game as batters had to spend more time to settle in. It helped spin very early in the match and continued the same way throughout. The third ODI between Pakistan and Australia turned into a low-scoring affair, with batters from both sides struggling to score freely as the pitch offered assistance to spin from an early stage. Also Read: Live Cricket Score While neither Lord's nor Gaddafi Stadium faces any immediate threat, the latest ratings serve as a warning for two of the sport's most prominent venues as they seek to avoid further penalties in future international fixtures. Article Source: IANS
