Cricket

Tried To Dissuade Bharat From Retiring, But He Was Hellbent On Moving On, Says Prasad

ICC Cricket World Cup League: Former India wicketkeeper and chief selector MSK Prasad on Thursday said he had tried convincing KS Bharat not to retire from international cricket, but the Andhra player was hellbent on moving on, describing the decision as both surprising and unfortunate. In a surprise development on Thursday evening, wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat announced his retirement from international cricket at the age of 32. Bharat first got an India call-up in November 2019 but made his Test debut in February 2023 after Rishabh Pant was sidelined due to recovery from his injuries suffered in a life-threatening car accident. I am aware of it because this was very, very surprising to me. I even tried to speak to him, but somehow he said that I am moving on. Because I have seen him growing from the under-13 age group, it was really shocking to me when he said this. But what to do, it is very unfortunate. In fact, I also made my retirement at 31 and a half, but he has made up his mind now. So, probably he felt that he needed to move on, and probably he wants to focus on something else. I tried my level best to convince him and even spoke to him, but he is hell-bent on moving on, Prasad told IANS in an exclusive conversation on Thursday. Bharat is also remembered for taking two catches and effecting one stumping when Wriddhiman Saha had a stiff neck during the Kanpur Test against New Zealand in 2021. But Bharat was inconsistent in his glovework and run-making, which meant that he wasnt considered for the Test team after playing the second Test against England at his hometown Visakhapatnam in February 2024. In seven Tests, including playing in the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval, Bharat amassed 223 runs with a highest score of 44 and an average of 20.09. Bharat also made 10 appearances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals, while scoring 199 runs. I feel that he still had some mettle left in him to make a comeback. He was a fantastic keeper, and there is no two ways about it. I think he has got a safe pair of hands and was a decent batter because I have seen him growing from under-13. But then, he has got some other ideas, and one has to respect that, added Prasad. Speculation was rife on a section of social media, which suggested that Bharat could be on his way to representing the UAE after he was allegedly seen practising with their team in a few sessions last month. However, sources told IANS that there was no truth in it, though they admitted that Bharat was in Dubai around that time and wanted to practice or train with the UAE national team, which is why he showed up for the same. Speculation was rife on a section of social media, which suggested that Bharat could be on his way to representing the UAE after he was allegedly seen practising with their team in a few sessions last month. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Previously, former India Under-19 and Uttar Pradesh batter Akshdeep Nath made his debut for the UAE earlier this year in the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 matches in Nepal after acquiring the countrys citizenship, post making a move from Lucknow to Dubai last year. Article Source: IANS

Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20: Marquee Names Set For Season 5 Player Auction

Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20: A star-studded player pool featuring Karun Nair, Mayank Agarwal, and Manish Pandey will headline the Season 5 Player Auction for the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 set to take place in Bengaluru on June 5. With more than 150 cricketers available for selection and all six franchises entering the auction with a full purse of INR 60 lakh, teams will have plenty of options as they build their squads for the upcoming season. Each franchise will assemble a squad comprising a minimum of 16 and a maximum of 18 players acquired through the auction, in addition to two mandatory Catchment Area Players. Players have been classified into five pools A, B, C, D, and E with base prices of INR 2 lakh, INR 1 lakh, INR 50,000, INR 75,000, and INR 30,000, respectively. Franchises are required to acquire at least 12 players from Pools A, B, and C combined. Pool A features India and Indian Premier League (IPL) cricketers and carries a base price of INR 2 lakh. Alongside the marquee names, players such as Vyshak Vijaykumar, Smaran R., and Yashraj Punja who emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the previous season with 26 wickets are among the sought-after prospects. The pool also includes top performers from previous editions, such as Abhinav Manohar, Vidwath Kaverappa, and Sharath BR. Pool B comprises all cricketers who have represented Karnataka's senior state side in any format under the age of 30 and carries a base price of INR 1 lakh. The pool features a strong crop of domestic performers, including Chethan LR, Hardik Raj, Luvnith Sisodia, Macneil Noronha, Manvanth Kumar L, Aneesh KV, Nikin Jose, Shubhang Hegde, and Abhilash Shetty. Pool C comprises players under the age of 30 who have represented Karnataka at the Junior level and carries a base price of INR 50,000. Among the notable names in this pool are Harshil Dharmani, Karthik SU, Aadarsh Prajwal, Anvay Dravid, Aneeshwar Gautam, and Samit Dravid. Pool D features players aged between 30 and 35 who have represented the senior state team and carry a base price of INR 75,000. Experienced campaigners such as Mohd Taha, Koushik V, Melu Kranthi Kumar, and Nihal Ullal feature in this pool. Franchises will only be permitted to field two players from this category in their playing XI. Pool E consists of all other KSCA-registered cricketers under the age of 30 who have been shortlisted by the State Selection Committee and carries a base price of INR 30,000. In addition to their auction selections, all franchises must pick two players from their designated catchment areas. Pool E consists of all other KSCA-registered cricketers under the age of 30 who have been shortlisted by the State Selection Committee and carries a base price of INR 30,000. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The fifth edition of the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 will be played from June 20 to July 12 across Mysuru, Hubballi, and Bengaluru, featuring six franchises Coastal Kings Mangaluru, Gulbarga Mystics, Hubli Tigers, Kalyani Bengaluru Blasters, Mysore Warriors, and Shivamogga Yodhas competing for top honours in Karnataka's premier domestic T20 competition. Article Source: IANS

KS Bharat announces retirement from international cricket

He represented India in seven Test matches, including in the 2023 WTC final

Shreyas Iyer to replace Suryakumar Yadav as India's T20I captain

Suryakumar had led India to the T20 World Cup title in March, but has been in poor batting form

T20 Mumbai League: Shreyas Iyer, Aditya Tare Power Mumbai Falcons To Maiden Win

MSC Maratha Royals: Shreyas Iyer and Aditya Tare produced influential knocks as SOBO Mumbai Falcons registered their first victory of the T20 Mumbai League 2026, overcoming MSC Maratha Royals by three wickets in a contest that swung dramatically before being settled in the final over at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. Chasing 153, the Falcons appeared to be cruising towards the target after a blistering start from their top order. Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Tare set the tone with an aggressive 42 off just 19 deliveries, while Ishan Mulchandani chipped in with a composed 29 as the pair stitched together a 57-run opening stand. The momentum continued when India batter Shreyas Iyer entered as the Impact Player and immediately made his presence felt. Mixing timing with power, Iyer struck 30 off 24 balls, including two boundaries and two sixes, helping the Falcons surge to 106/2 by the 12th over and seemingly putting the chase beyond doubt. However, the match took an unexpected turn after Iyer's dismissal. The Royals mounted a spirited comeback, striking regularly and reducing the Falcons from a position of comfort to a state of uncertainty. Four wickets fell for just 21 runs as the pressure shifted onto the chasing side and hopes of a Royals revival grew. With the asking rate creeping up and wickets falling around him, Gautam Waghela provided the composure the Falcons desperately needed. The middle-order batter remained unbeaten on 26 from 23 deliveries, carefully steering the innings through the tense closing stages before guiding his side home with five balls to spare. Earlier, Maratha Royals relied heavily on Sahil Jadhav's counterattacking half-century after a stuttering start with the bat. Opening alongside captain Siddhesh Lad, Jadhav stood firm amid regular setbacks, striking 52 off just 30 deliveries, hitting five fours and three sixes. While wickets continued to tumble at the other end, Chinmay Sutar offered valuable support with 23, helping the defending champions cross the 100-run mark in the 14th over. The Falcons' bowlers then tightened their grip on proceedings, with left-arm spinner Yash Dicholkar delivering a crucial spell. He removed the well-set Jadhav and Tushar Deshpande in quick succession, slowing the Royals' momentum at a critical stage. Arjun Dani attempted to revive the innings with a fighting 35, while Rohan Raje added 10, but the Falcons maintained control through disciplined bowling. Akash Parkar led the attack with figures of 3/22, while Dicholkar finished with 3/25 as the Royals were restricted to 152/9 in their 20 overs. The victory gives the Falcons their first points of the campaign and provides a timely boost as the tournament begins to gather momentum. Arjun Dani attempted to revive the innings with a fighting 35, while Rohan Raje added 10, but the Falcons maintained control through disciplined bowling. Akash Parkar led the attack with figures of 3/22, while Dicholkar finished with 3/25 as the Royals were restricted to 152/9 in their 20 overs. Also Read: Live Cricket Score MSC Maratha Royals 152/9 in 20 overs (Sahil Jadhav 52, Arjun Dani 35, Chinmay Sutar 23; Akash Parkar 3/22, Yash Dicholkar 3/25) lost to SOBO Mumbai Falcons 156/6 in 19.1 overs (Aditya Tare 42, Shreyas Iyer 30, Ishan Mulchandani 29; Maxwell Swaminathan 2/24) by three wickets. Article Source: IANS

Wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat Retires From International And Indian Cricket

Indian Captain Rohit Sharma: In a surprise development, wicketkeeperbatter KS Bharat on Thursday announced his retirement from international and Indian cricket at the age of 32. Bharat represented India in seven Tests and featured prominently in domestic cricket for Andhra. With a proud heart and sense of gratitude, I announce my retirement from international Cricket. To play for my country has been the greatest honour of my life. This journey of mine has demanded great resilience and strength, but the Honour to represent India in Tests is worth every moment. In a family of four, we all lived the same dream over two decades, a big heart to my sister, mom, and dad for creating an environment and support system they have been. I am a product of their love, discipline, and hard work, wrote Bharat in a note on his Instagram account on Thursday. Bharat first got an India call-up in November 2019 but made his Test debut in February 2023 after Rishabh Pant was sidelined due to recovery from his injuries suffered in a life-threatening car accident. Hes also remembered for taking two catches and effecting one stumping when Wriddhiman Saha had a stiff neck during the Kanpur Test against New Zealand in 2021. But Bharat was inconsistent in his glovework and run-making, which meant that he wasnt considered for the Test team after playing the second Test against England at his hometown, Visakhapatnam. In seven Tests, including playing in the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval, Bharat amassed 223 runs with a highest score of 44 and an average of 20.09. Thank you, BCCI, and all the coaches and managers whom I came across in my career and who supported me unconditionally by creating a great environment to play and excel at the highest level. Thank you, Andhra Cricket Association, VDCA, and all office-bearers, for your support and encouragement from my childhood. I owe massive gratitude and respect to all the Groundsmen who have worked very, very hard to ensure the best pitches and ground conditions were given to me at all times. To all my teammates, I extend a big thank you for all the moments and achievements together, which helped me in my career, and without you all, it would not have been possible for me to achieve my dream and play the sport all these years. A big thank you to my IPL debut captain, Virat Kohli, for giving me an opportunity to show my skills and come into recognition. A big thank you to my Indian Captain Rohit Sharma, under whom I made my Test debut, which is priceless and beyond words. To my Indian coach, Rahul Dravid sir, his guidance from India A to the Indian team is unforgettable. With your support, I could become an Indian Test cricket player, added Bharat. In domestic cricket, Bharat was the first wicketkeeper-batter to score a triple-hundred in the Ranji Trophy, when he smashed 308 off 311 balls for Andhra against Goa in Ongole in the 2014/15 Ranji Trophy season. In all, he made 6102 runs in 113 first-class games at an average of 36.53, apart from 2692 and 1812 runs in List A and 20-over matches respectively. To my coach, J. Krishna Rao, thank you for shaping me into an international cricketer at a young age. To the fans and cricket lovers across the world, thank you for your endless support and encouragement whenever I represented our country. Hearing our national anthem and sharing the field with great ambassadors of the game are memories I will cherish forever. I'm deeply grateful to everyone who has been part of my journey. Cricket had given me everything in many ways, and I owe it to my life, added Bharat. In IPL, Bharat was a part of Delhi Daredevils in 2015, before playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 2021 season, where he smashed an unbeaten 78 in a thrilling last-ball win over Delhi Capitals, where he lofted Avesh Khan for a straight six. In the following three years, Bharat was a part of the Delhi Capitals (2022), Gujarat Titans (2023), and Kolkata Knight Riders (when they won the trophy in 2024), but didnt get many chances. About his future plans, Bharat said his focus will be on mentoring the next generation of cricketers. My advice to young players is to dream big and work hard to achieve it. Dreams do come true with grit, discipline, hard work, and determination. If I could achieve my dream, so can you. In IPL, Bharat was a part of Delhi Daredevils in 2015, before playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 2021 season, where he smashed an unbeaten 78 in a thrilling last-ball win over Delhi Capitals, where he lofted Avesh Khan for a straight six. In the following three years, Bharat was a part of the Delhi Capitals (2022), Gujarat Titans (2023), and Kolkata Knight Riders (when they won the trophy in 2024), but didnt get many chances. Also Read: Live Cricket Score --IANS Article Source: IANS

Bhutan's Ritshi Choden becomes first women cricketer to be timed out

Nepal's cricket board was displeased with the decision and apologised for the incident after the game

England release Rehan, Rew from Test squad for Lions 50-over series

Saqib Mahmood and Jordan Cox also handed chances ahead of England white-ball selection meetings

Cricket Association Of Nepal Apologises After A Timed-out Dismissal Sparks Spirit Of Cricket Debate

The Cricket Association: The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has issued a public apology after the women's team drew criticism for appealing a timed-out dismissal during an ACC Women's Premier Cup match against Bhutan in Malaysia. The unusual incident occurred at the beginning of Bhutan's pursuit of 114 runs, shifting focus from the match to concerns about sportsmanship and the true spirit of the game. Bhutan's innings got off to the worst possible start when opener Ngawana Choden was dismissed by the very first delivery. The drama intensified moments later as incoming batter Ritshi Choden hurried towards the middle but appeared unprepared to take a strike. Television footage showed the batter carrying her helmet as she rushed onto the field. Before she could settle at the crease, Nepal's players approached the umpires and lodged an appeal. Following a discussion between the officials and the fielding side, the appeal was upheld, resulting in a timed-out dismissal. The incident involving the timed-out dismissal of a Bhutanese batter during todays match does not reflect the values and spirit of cricket that the Cricket Association of Nepal strives to uphold. On behalf of the Cricket Association of Nepal, we extend our sincere apologies for the actions of our Womens National Team in this matter. While the dismissal was effected within the Laws of Cricket, we recognise that the spirit of the game extends beyond the written laws and must remain central to our conduct at all times. As a developing cricketing nation, we place the utmost importance on sportsmanship, mutual respect, and fair play. We acknowledge that this incident has fallen short of those standards and regret any disappointment it may have caused. We convey our sincere apologies to Bhutan Cricket, the player concerned, and all relevant stakeholders. CAN remains firmly committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and the spirit of cricket, both on and off the field, the Cricket Association of Nepal said in a statement. The incident involving the timed-out dismissal of a Bhutanese batter during todays match does not reflect the values and spirit of cricket that the Cricket Association of Nepal strives to uphold. On behalf of the Cricket Association of Nepal, we extend our sincere apologies for the actions of our Womens National Team in this matter. While the dismissal was effected within the Laws of Cricket, we recognise that the spirit of the game extends beyond the written laws and must remain central to our conduct at all times. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The controversy eventually overshadowed the result itself. Bhutan struggled throughout their innings and finished on 62 for 8 from 20 overs, with two wickets having fallen after just one delivery of the chase. In the aftermath, CAN moved swiftly to distance itself from the episode and acknowledged that the action did not reflect the standards it seeks to promote. Article Source: IANS

IND vs AFG One-off Test Prediction, Match Preview And Playing XI

IND vs AFG One-off Test , Cricket Tips :After the IPL 2026, India are preparing for the home series against Afghanistan. These two teams will play three ODIs and one test in June 2026. The test match will be held at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, at 9:30 PM IST on Saturday. Shubman Gill will lead a new-look Test side. Only KL Rahul has played more than 50 tests in the current Indian squad. Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja have been given the rest. Gurnoor Brar, Manav Suthar, and Harsh Dubey are the new faces. Afghanistan will see Hashmatullah Shahidi leading the side, which has a very good squad. If the wicket grips and turns, Afghanistan can be a dangerous side. IND vs AFG: Match Details Date : June 6-10, 2026 (Saturday-Wednesday) Time : 9:30 AM IST Venue : Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, New Chandigarh IND vs AFG: Live Streaming Details The live action of the one-off test will be available on the Star Sports Networks. Fans can also watch the live stream on the Jio Hotstar app or website. IND vs AFG: Head-to-Head in Test Total Matches : 01 India : 01 Afghanistan : 00 Drawn : 00 IND vs AFG: Ground Pitch Report This is the first-ever Test in Mullanpur. The wicket is expected to get slow with time, and spinners will have a big role. At this venue, the team that wins the toss and bats first will have a little edge on the conditions because chasing will be difficult here. IND vs AFG: Possible XIs India : KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill , Rishabh Pant (wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Nitish Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Md. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna Afghanistan : Afsar Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Rahmat Shah, Hasmatullah Shahidi , Abdul Malik, Abdul Malik, Azmatullah Omarzai, Qais Ahmed, N. Kharote, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi, Mohammad Saleem Safi IND vs AFG: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Shubman Gill has been India's top performer. He will be the key batter in this game. For Afghanistan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz has been a consistent scorer and will be the one to watch out for. Probable Best Bowler Kuldeep Yadav will get good assistance from the wicket and can make a difference. For Afghanistan, Qais Ahmed has been making an impact in tests and will be tough to face. Today Match Prediction :India hold an edge because of the home conditions and experience. We predict India will beat Afghanistan in a one-off test. IND vs AFG Match One-Off Test, Today Match IND vs AFG, IND vs AFG Prediction, IND vs AFG Predicted XIs, Injury Update for India vs Afghanistan 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.

My Focus Is Fully On Playing Redball Cricket, Says Kuldeep Yadav, Ahead Of Test Against Afghanistan

World Test Championship: Indias left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav has said his focus is fully on playing redball cricket as he prepares to lead the spin attack in the oneoff Test against Afghanistan, starting on Saturday. Kuldeep managed only 10 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 38.10 and an economy rate of 10.29, as the Delhi Capitals failed to qualify for IPL 2026 playoffs. The early exit, however, gave him additional time to prepare for the rigours of a longer format. In 17 Tests so far, Kuldeep has picked up 76 wickets at an average of 22.4. As an attacking spinner, I want to get breakthroughs for the team regularly, and that's my only mindset. My focus is fully on playing red-ball cricket. There are several important Test series coming up, especially the five-match series against Australia at home. That series will play a crucial role in determining our campaign in this World Test Championship cycle. I know the challenges will be there when we play in Sri Lanka and travel to New Zealand for two matches. But it is important to have the right frame of mind and fulfil the role given to me to the best of my ability. I believe that if you have a quality spin attack in your team, you can break the game open in any situation. It is a huge component of a successful Test side because, if you have quality, you can take wickets anywhere, irrespective of the conditions, said Kuldeep on JioHotstar. From a personal perspective, Kuldeep admitted the mental transition of bowling from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 to preparing for Test cricket has been a demanding one. It is tough when you switch from IPL cricket to redball cricket. Preparation becomes very necessary. Luckily, I have time. I practised for at least 10 to 15 days and got the feel of the red ball. Bowling in Test cricket is different. In T20, you are always attacking. You always think about going after the batter. But in Test cricket, the batter has a lot of time. It all depends on how much patience you have and how long you can keep bowling in the right areas. Consistency in a good length matters. That is a big challenge. Tactics also matter a lot. Some players are coming straight after the IPL final. They don't have that much time. But I'm sure they have prepared well. So yes, it's a challenge, but I'm confident that everyone is preparing themselves well. He also shared his thoughts on welcoming newbie spinners Manav Suthar and Harsh Dubey into the spin bowling department at the expense of a rested Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. The preparations have been going well for the Afghanistan Test match. We have had two net sessions so far. Yes, Jaddu bhai is not there. He is a regular in Tests. We will also miss Axar Patel. But the preparations have been good. He also shared his thoughts on welcoming newbie spinners Manav Suthar and Harsh Dubey into the spin bowling department at the expense of a rested Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. Also Read: Live Cricket Score They are also playing the Duleep Trophy and Irani Trophy regularly. They might lack international experience, but when it comes to preparation and match awareness when it comes to red-ball cricket, they are absolutely on top because they have been playing regularly. Article Source: IANS

Australia bring in Connolly for Sangha and bat in decider

The toss was postponed by 15 minutes due to a heavy shower, exactly an hour before the scheduled toss

Shaun Tait Steps Down As Bangladeshs Bowling Coach Ahead Of Australia ODIs

ODI World Cup: Former Australian cricketer Shaun Tait has confirmed his departure as Bangladeshs fast bowling coach, as the side will head into their upcoming white-ball assignment against Australia without one of the key figures behind their pace-bowling resurgence. The former Aussie quick has resigned from his position effective immediately, ending a tenure of just over a year, even though the agreement was initially intended to last until the 2027 ODI World Cup. Tait, who became part of Bangladesh's coaching staff in May 2025, explained that family commitments were the main reason for his departure. My 12 months with the BCB and the Bangladesh national team was fulfilling. I want to thank the BCB. I really enjoyed working with the players. I have a great relationship with the fast bowling group. They were good to work with, and I created some really good relationships in Bangladesh, around the cricketing community in general. I don't think that'll be the closed door on my time in the country. There's obviously BPL and whatnot. You never know what the future holds. But for the time being, my young family need a bit more of my time. So, the full-time role of year-round red and white-ball cricket, my 12 months was enough, and it's time to just step back and give my family a little bit more time, Tait told ESPNcricinfo. Although his stint was relatively short, Tait leaves after overseeing a period widely regarded as a positive step for Bangladesh's pace attack. During his time with the national side, the fast-bowling unit became a more potent force across formats, with several young quicks making significant progress. Among the standout success stories was the rise of Nahid Rana, whose raw pace and growing influence have made him one of Bangladesh's most exciting prospects. Tait has often been credited with nurturing the young pacer's development during a crucial phase of his career. The former Australian quick also helped reshape perceptions of Bangladesh's bowling resources. In recent months, he repeatedly expressed confidence in the country's fast bowlers, suggesting they had become a genuine strength capable of leading the team to major victories. That belief was borne out by Bangladesh's historic Test series sweep in Pakistan, where the pace attack played a decisive role. Tait's connection to Bangladesh cricket goes beyond the national team. He has prior experience working in the Bangladesh Premier League and has also served as a coach for Pakistan and Afghanistan. The former Australian quick also helped reshape perceptions of Bangladesh's bowling resources. In recent months, he repeatedly expressed confidence in the country's fast bowlers, suggesting they had become a genuine strength capable of leading the team to major victories. That belief was borne out by Bangladesh's historic Test series sweep in Pakistan, where the pace attack played a decisive role. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The BCB is likely to act swiftly to fill the position, with ex-Bangladesh fast bowler Talha Jubair rising as a top contender to lead the pace attack for the Australia series. Article Source: IANS

ICC Congratulates Rod Tucker On Umpiring In Landmark 100th Test At Lords

The International Cricket Council: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has congratulated Australian umpire Rod Tucker for officiating in his 100th Test match, a milestone he reached when he took the field at Lords for the opening game of the World Test Championship series between England and New Zealand. Tucker is now the fourth umpire in crickets history to stand in 100 Tests after Aleem Dar (145), Steve Bucknor (128), and Rudi Koertzen (108). He was presented with a crystal trophy by former ICC Test umpire Ian Gould to commemorate the huge achievement. Cricket has always been my passion, and I feel privileged to have had such a lengthy career as an international umpire. Standing in my 100th Test is a dream come true, and I look back on this journey with deep fondness and gratitude. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to the ICC and Cricket Australia for their unwavering support over the years. I am also grateful to the Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association of New South Wales for their encouragement during my early career. A special thanks to my colleagues on the elite panel and my family for their continuous support. I couldnt have reached this milestone without them. I look forward to continuing this rewarding journey in the years ahead with enthusiasm, said Tucker in an ICC statement on Thursday. Tucker was named to the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires in 2010 and officiated in his first Test at Hamilton between New Zealand and Bangladesh. He had earlier joined the ICC International Panel of Umpires in 2008 and stood in his first ODI and T20I in the following year. He became the 13th umpire to umpire in 50 Tests in 2017, in the second Test between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Newlands, Cape Town. He has officiated in multiple ICC global tournaments, including the Mens Cricket World Cups in 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023, the Mens Champions Trophy in 2013 (including the final between India and England), 2017, and 2025. Tucker has also been the umpire in nine editions of the Mens T20 World Cup from 2009 to 2026, including the final in 2016 between the West Indies and England in Kolkata. Rod is a very respected umpire whose consistency and professionalism have earned him the respect of peers, players, and fans around the world. One to always perform well and capable of ensuring smooth conduct of games under pressure, he has been amongst the best of his era. This 100-Test milestone really shows how much trust cricket administrators have had in him over the years, and his experience has been invaluable. Tucker has also been the umpire in nine editions of the Mens T20 World Cup from 2009 to 2026, including the final in 2016 between the West Indies and England in Kolkata. Rod is a very respected umpire whose consistency and professionalism have earned him the respect of peers, players, and fans around the world. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Before turning to umpiring, Tucker was a seambowling allrounder for New South Wales and Tasmania, scoring 5,076 runs as a left-handed batter and taking 123 wickets in 103 firstclass matches between 1986 and 1999. Article Source: IANS

It Was A 30second Meeting; Everybody Said Shafali: Harmanpreet Recalls Pratikas Replacement During 2025 ODI WC

ODI World Cup: India captain Harmanpreet Kaur has revealed that the decision to bring in Shafali Verma as a late replacement for the injured Pratika Rawal during the 2025 Women ODI World Cup was taken in just a 30second meeting', with unanimous backing from the team and the board. Pratika had suffered an ankle injury in the rainhit game against Bangladesh in Navi Mumbai, thus ruling her out of the knockout stages. Shafali then came in and smashed 87 while picking two wickets in the final against South Africa to ensure India lifted its first-ever ODI WC trophy, that too on home soil. We first asked about Pratika. But sir told us multiple times that there was no chance of her coming back. After that, it was just a 30-second meeting. We all came together, and everybody said, 'Shafali, Shafali, Shafali,' and that was it. Everybody was clear about who should come in, even though she was not among the standbys. Everyone from the BCCI was very confident that Shafali would come in and smash it. Their confidence made us even more positive, said Harmanpreet on JioStars Unstoppable series. Head coach Amol Muzumdar reflected on how he felt over Pratika catching the heart-breaking injury. My heart sank when she got injured. As a coach, you can't do much about it. All you can do is keep your emotions in check. But there was a storm going on in my mind. When I watched her limp off, I thought that was the last thing we wanted. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana further highlighted the importance of Shafalis experience of having played ODIs before. Having international experience was very important, and it had to be an opener as well. In big matches, sometimes you need that Xfactor. Everyone felt there was no better person than Shafali for that job. I told her one thing after her first practice session, that she was in the team because of her performances. She had done extremely well in domestic cricket, dominating every bowling attack possible. I told her to treat the remaining games like domestic matches, go out there and enjoy herself. And what better stage to enjoy than the semifinal and the final? Shafali herself admitted to the pain of missing out initially on the main squad after an indifferent run in ODIs. Missing out on the World Cup squad for a tournament in India was one of the saddest feelings for me. But as they say, God has plans for everyone. The initial days were very difficult because everywhere I went, people kept asking why I wasnt in the team. Eventually, I accepted it and focused on what I could control. I found a quiet space with just my brother and father around me and told myself this was the time to work harder than ever on my game. I even told my brother to be strict with me and call me out whenever he felt I was easing off or not giving my best during practice. Shafali herself admitted to the pain of missing out initially on the main squad after an indifferent run in ODIs. Missing out on the World Cup squad for a tournament in India was one of the saddest feelings for me. But as they say, God has plans for everyone. The initial days were very difficult because everywhere I went, people kept asking why I wasnt in the team. Also Read: Live Cricket Score So, he told me that Pratika had been injured and that I needed to come in. I felt bad for her because no one wants a sportsperson to get injured, but at the same time I started thinking about how quickly I needed to get mentally prepared for a World Cup semifinal. After being out of the team for nearly a year, it wasnt an easy switch to make all of a sudden. Article Source: IANS

FIFA updates stadium code: Reusable plastic water bottles banned a week before WC kickoff

FIFA has revised its Stadium Code of Conduct ahead of the 2026 World Cup, banning reusable plastic water bottles at stadiums in the US, Canada and Mexico. The June 2 update reverses an earlier rule allowing empty reusable bottles, with FIFA citing safety concerns and the risk of injury from thrown objects.

Shaun Tait resigns as Bangladesh fast bowling coach

After 12 months in the role, he is stepping down to prioritise family time

'Siraj Bowled Yesterday, He Looked Absolutely Fine', Says Ten Doeschate Ahead Of Afghanistan Test

World Test Championship: India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate on Thursday said pacer Mohammed Siraj looked absolutely fine in training ahead of the side preparing for the one-off Test against Afghanistan starting on Saturday. India have just a five-day turnaround from the end of IPL 2026 to play just their second Test match against Afghanistan, which is not a part of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. The hosts also need to decide on the bowling combination, as spinners Harsh Dubey and Manav Suthar tussle for a spot in the absence of a rested Ravindra Jadeja. Siraj bowled yesterday, he looked absolutely fine. It's been great having some fresh faces around. Look, I think the chance of both of them playing in the test are probably pretty small. We haven't finalised the combination but I would imagine Kuldeep will play, Washi will play and then one of those two will play. Also, you've got seven guys in the squad from GT who played an uphill final five days ago. So, it's just been good having fresh faces and our main job now is to freshen the guys up and get them ready for a Test match starting in a couple of days, said ten Doeschate in a press conference. On wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pants role in the leadership group after being let go of as the vice-captain, ten Doeschate said, I don't think you need a formal title to be a leader in a lead set-up like this. I think Rishabh understands that and I think he's committed to being a good role model and a senior player. I actually heard him and Gauti (head coach Gautam Gambhir) having a chat around that yesterday - how you want to conduct yourself as a senior player extends to your communication but also how you're going to play. With Rishabh's brilliance, we don't want to take away all the stuff that he does. Occasionally, if he can adjust his game to play the situation slightly more, I think that's something you'll see him work on. But he's been in great spirits again. He's always one of those guys who's happy and cheerful and drives the spirit in the team. You've got no complaints from him. You wouldn't even notice that his role in the leadership structure has changed. So, no concerns about Rishabh and I can't wait to see him back again. He also touched upon the unsettled number three batting slot, which has subject to experimentations ever since Cheteshwar Pujara was phased out. There's been a lot of changes in that spot and that's not ideal. I think you need to look at the incumbents for that role and maybe stick with someone. It's a difficult and very important position to bat. Dev (Devdutt Padikkal) comes in with a ton of runs in domestic cricket across all the formats. Obviously, Sai (Sudharsan) had a nice IPL with Gujarat. So they're both in good form. I think whoever plays, they'll be given a bit of rope. It's quite difficult with one Test match now and then we don't play a Test match for another two months and then you play two Test matches and then you don't play for a while. So we need to factor that in. But I think the main point around there is we want to make a decision and then trust that person to grow into the role and ideally quickly because where we find ourselves in the WTC table, it's obviously we don't have time to bet in. That's probably something we could have done better leading up to this, is nailing down that number three spot. Ten Doeschate further stressed the need to manage the players sleep cycles after the IPL, as nine crucial Tests in the WTC cycle are left and detox them from whiteball habits. It's been addressed. That's a great point as the IPL time cycle is so different to what Test matches require and the guys have had three days to do it. Obviously, early training session yesterday, today's afternoon, tomorrow will be morning again, tomorrow will be optional. But I think guys have taken it upon themselves to be up early. I've seen a lot of guys around the breakfast room in the last couple of days. Adrian (le Roux, strength and conditioning coach) scheduled some gym stuff early morning just to force guys to get up and adjust their time slot. But these guys are good professionals. They know what's required, and they'll be adjusting accordingly to make sure they're ready come Saturday morning for the Test match and early start. I don't think good or bad is worth reflecting on. It's certainly a challenge. But like I've said before, I've never seen an Indian cricketer moan or defer or not tackle head-on what they're asked and required to do. It's not ideal - it's a good test of mental ability and also technical and tactical ability. Like I say, you're playing an IPL final five days ago at night time, and now you've got to come and start a test match early in the morning at 34, 35 degrees. So, just another challenge on the road and the guys will take it on like they always do. He signed off by saying players are aware of making adjustments in going from white-ball cricket to red-ball cricket. Our job is just to prepare the players for what's ahead of them. Sleep cycle is probably top of that list and that's been addressed. The players are acutely aware of what's required and the change in conditions. Like I say, you're playing an IPL final five days ago at night time, and now you've got to come and start a test match early in the morning at 34, 35 degrees. So, just another challenge on the road and the guys will take it on like they always do. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The last two days and obviously today and tomorrow have been all about that. Just detoxing, guys, make sure that those habits that are required to be successful in white ball cricket are put to bed and they focus on playing proper Test cricket again. Article Source: IANS

New Zealand bowl first as Emilio Gay makes England debut

Henry, O'Rourke and Jamieson all return to bowling attack as showery weather lurks at Lord's

Kohli, Rohit's Fitness To Be Assessed Ahead Of Afghanistan ODIs: Doeschate

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate on Thursday said the fitness of senior batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be assessed in the coming days ahead of the three-game ODI series against Afghanistan, adding that official communication will follow once the medical team takes a call. While Rohits participation in the three-game series is subject to fitness after sustaining a hamstring injury in IPL 2026, Kohlis availability is in doubt due to him suffering a hamstring strain while making an unbeaten 75 in the final for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who defended their title in Ahmedabad on June 1. India are also awaiting to see if seam-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya will be fully fit for the 50-over series against Afghanistan after back spasms led to him missing a few games for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026. Official communication will come on that. It's obviously big news when it's someone like Virat or Rohit (is ruled out), but the same protocols will be in place. We'll assess the fitness of those guys, and we've got a few days now to decide whether they're fit enough to play and be part of the squad and make adjustments accordingly. But I'm sure some official communication will come through as soon as the medical team has made a decision on that, said ten Doeschate in a press conference ahead of the one-off Test against Afghanistan starting on Saturday. He also weighed in on the issue of centrally contracted players featuring in the latter stages of the IPL despite carrying injuries, saying the matter needed to be managed individually. I think it's a very individualistic thing. With the Indian hat on, we want the players to be at their absolute best when they're on international duty, and that's a case of managing it case by case. So I appreciate that it's a big time of year for those players. He also weighed in on the issue of centrally contracted players featuring in the latter stages of the IPL despite carrying injuries, saying the matter needed to be managed individually. Also Read: Live Cricket Score You can't protect guys by not playing them, but we certainly need to identify the key parts of the international schedule and make sure our best players are uninjured but also physically at their peak when we need them the most, he added. Article Source: IANS

ICC delegation visits Bangladesh to 'review developments linked to the BCB'

ICC's Dr Mohammed Moosajee and Tavengwa Mukuhlani will submit their findings and observations to the ICC in due course

ICC Delegation Visits Bangladesh To Meet Stakeholders Ahead Of BCB Elections

ICC Board Directors Dr Mohammed: A twomember International Cricket Council (ICC) delegation has visited Bangladesh to hold discussions with stakeholders of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) in the runup to the boards elections scheduled to be held on June 7. The delegation, comprising ICC Board Directors Dr Mohammed A.S. Moosajee of Cricket South Africa (CSA) and Tavengwa Mukuhlani of Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC), arrived in Dhaka on Monday and met representatives across the cricketing spectrum to review developments linked to the BCB. The ICC wishes to clarify that the delegation will submit its findings and observations to the ICC Board in due course and will not be making any media comment on the matter. Any media reports, commentary or claims regarding the visit are therefore speculative and do not represent the ICC's position, said the ICC in its statement on Thursday. The visit comes at a crucial juncture for Bangladesh cricket, following recent changes in the boards leadership and preparations for the upcoming elections. The BCB is currently being run by an 11member adhoc committee headed by former Bangladesh mens captain Tamim Iqbal after the National Sports Council (NSC) dissolved the previous Aminul Islamled board on April 7. The NSC acted on the basis of a probe committee report that pointed to largescale irregularities in the last board election. Tamim had earlier led a request for investigation, claiming that 50 of the 76 clubs in the capital supported the call for a probe. The visit comes at a crucial juncture for Bangladesh cricket, following recent changes in the boards leadership and preparations for the upcoming elections. The BCB is currently being run by an 11member adhoc committee headed by former Bangladesh mens captain Tamim Iqbal after the National Sports Council (NSC) dissolved the previous Aminul Islamled board on April 7. Also Read: Live Cricket Score It is to be noted that under Aminul, Bangladesh pulled out of the 2026 Mens T20 World Cup after it refused to play its league stage matches in India. The move came after Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was removed from his IPL 2026 contract with the Kolkata Knight Riders. Article Source: IANS

Playing 50th Test A Huge Milestone For Pant, IPL Struggles Don't Define Him, Says Childhood Coach Sharma

Lucknow Super Giants: India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant will bring up his 50th Test appearance when the hosts face Afghanistan in a oneoff match starting in New Chandigarh on Saturday, with Devender Sharma, his childhood coach at Sonnet Club, calling the milestone a very big deal, while adding that his recent IPL struggles do not necessarily define him in red-ball cricket. Before Pant, only MS Dhoni and Syed Kirmani are the only wicketkeeper-batters to have played more than 50 Tests for India. But the past few weeks have been a turbulent one for Pant, after making only 312 runs in 14 games for Lucknow Super Giants, who finished at the bottom of the IPL 2026 points table, he was let go of as the vice-captain of the Indian Test team and left out of the ODI team for the three-game series against Afghanistan. This is a very big milestone for him. To be on the verge of playing his 50th Test match as a wicketkeeper-batter for India is a very huge thing for Rishabh. One must remember that IPL is a white-ball tournament, while Test cricket is played with a red ball, which makes both formats different. We all know that Rishabh is a champion player in red-ball cricket. On the last overseas tour of India, which was in England, he scored twin tons in Leeds and despite sustaining the foot fracture, he came to bat and hit a fifty for India. But playing the 50th Test match for India, it's a big deal for anyone, let alone him. Also, Rishabh is a very successful player of red ball cricket and has been a match winner for the Indian team. Mentally, he is very strong and as a coach, I feel he will play very well in all the red ball games happening in the rest of the year and he will make India win, starting from the game against Afghanistan, Sharma said in an exclusive conversation with IANS on Thursday. In 49 Tests, Pant has amassed 3476 runs at an average of 42.91 and a strike rate of 74.24, including hitting eight centuries and 18 fifties. But Pant was far away from his chirpy and blistering self in IPL 2026, and Sharma feels he just needs one good knock to be at his run-scoring best, while revealing what he told him about making certain adjustments. In the IPL, as a captain, his thinking was to make LSG win a lot of matches. In that process, he took a lot of responsibilities on himself and the expected results didnt pan out. In the first few matches, LSG had some wins, but as the team lost a lot of games later, the pressure was created on the captain. Plus, he was playing too many strokes, and more of his shots were on the off-side, because of which he was getting out. So, in T20s, there are a lot of ups and downs, and in the process, a cricketer also faces a lean period, which means a batter cant be at peace. Even though Rishabh didnt make as many expected runs in the IPL, I am sure he will fare well in the red-ball matches for India. But I have told him to play more vertical strokes, and less of horizontal shots. Plus, don't collect many runs on-side and should look to play through the off-side, as I do know he can play very well there. Somehow, it didnt click in the IPL, but thats part and parcel of the game. If he gets a good start against Afghanistan, then he can be back in form as match winners like him need just one innings to be back to their run-scoring best, he elaborated. Sharma was equally effusive about the stature Pant has made for himself in Tests, right from the time he smacked Adil Rashid for six on his first ball at Trent Bridge in 2018, saying no Indian batter had dominated overseas conditions quite like him in recent times. Its also evident from six of his eight Test centuries coming outside India, making him one of the vital cogs in the sides run-making wheel. His journey as a Test cricketer has been very good so far. From the start, if you see in overseas Tests, whether it was in Australia, England, or South Africa, he has dominated there as a Test cricketer. If you see his previous record, no one has dominated so much like him in terms of scoring centuries in Tests. So, his journey in Tests has been very good so far and I hope he will continue to be a match-winner for the Indian team in the longer format, he said. Sharma also believes that Pant still has it in him to play all three formats for India. As a coach, I still believe that he can play three formats for India at any given time. You see, in ODIs, he was dropped without getting a chance to play in a 50-over game after August 2024. How will he be able to make runs if hes not given a chance to play? His journey as a Test cricketer has been very good so far. From the start, if you see in overseas Tests, whether it was in Australia, England, or South Africa, he has dominated there as a Test cricketer. If you see his previous record, no one has dominated so much like him in terms of scoring centuries in Tests. So, his journey in Tests has been very good so far and I hope he will continue to be a match-winner for the Indian team in the longer format, he said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Sharma signed off by invoking Pant's remarkable comeback from the near-fatal road accident in December 2022 as the clearest proof of his mental fortitude. If you are not mentally strong, you cannot survive playing cricket at the international level. We all have seen how he has come back to play for India after the accident. He is mentally strong and will not let anyone down, including the Indian team. Article Source: IANS

CA boss seeks to calm tensions after Victoria's 'not ideal' BBL move

CA held a call with state leaders of five states on Thursday to urgently discuss Victoria's revelations that they would merge Stars and Renegades

'Afghanistan Test Is An Ideal Platform For Management To Try Out Young Players: Saba Karim

World Test Championship: Former India wicketkeeper-batter Saba Karim believes the upcoming one-off Test against Afghanistan presents India with a valuable opportunity to address shortcomings in the longest format while also laying the foundation for the future of the team. Although the match is not part of the World Test Championship cycle, Karim feels it carries significant importance for the selectors and team management as they continue shaping a new-look Test side under captain Shubman Gill. Yes, this Test match against Afghanistan is not part of the WTC cycle, but India will treat it as an important game. It gives them a chance to fix the problems they have faced in both batting and bowling, Karim told Jio Hotstar. The former player pointed out that India need to rediscover their dominance in home conditions and use the match as a platform to assess emerging talent. India have reached a stage where they need to seriously work on their Test cricket, especially in home conditions, where they have not been as dominant as before. I think this Test provides an ideal platform for the selectors and the team management to try out new combinations and test young players, he said. Karim highlighted the presence of several promising youngsters in the squad and stressed that strong performances could open doors to bigger opportunities in the future. Exciting young talents have been picked in the squad. Performing here will give them the confidence to be selected for future series, including the big home series against Australia. If you look at where Indian Test cricket stands today, this match is a great opportunity. It's not just about winning; it's about building a team for the future, he added. Karim also backed fast bowler Mohammed Siraj to embrace a leadership role in the absence of premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah. Exciting young talents have been picked in the squad. Performing here will give them the confidence to be selected for future series, including the big home series against Australia. If you look at where Indian Test cricket stands today, this match is a great opportunity. It's not just about winning; it's about building a team for the future, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score He has the pace, the aggression, and the ability to swing the ball both ways. But he will need support from the other end as well. This is the right time for Siraj to not only guide but also inspire the young fast bowlers coming through the system, he added. Article Source: IANS

'KL Rahul Has Entered The Peak Phase Of His Test Career': Aakash Chopra

PCA New International Cricket Stadium: Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra believes vice-captain KL Rahul has entered the defining phase of his Test career and must embrace a leadership role in Indias batting unit as one of the experienced cricketer. Ahead of Indias one-off Test against Afghanistan at the PCA New International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh from June 6, Chopra said Rahuls experience and consistency will be vital to the teams success during the ongoing transition period. KL Rahuls Test career has now entered its peak phase. He is not getting any younger, and he has been around for long enough. We have seen him succeed in Test cricket, especially in overseas conditions. He has been one of Indias better openers in the longest format, Chopra told Jio Hotstar. Rahul was recently appointed vice-captain under Test skipper Shubman Gill, a move Chopra believes reflects the teams faith in his ability to shoulder greater responsibility. Now he has been promoted to become Shubman Gills deputy, that is a big responsibility, especially in transition. With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retiring, India need someone like KL Rahul to fully own that spot at the top of the order, he added. Chopra noted that while Rahul has already established himself as a prolific run-scorer in the format, the challenge now lies in maintaining that standard over an extended period. Now he has been promoted to become Shubman Gills deputy, that is a big responsibility, especially in transition. With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retiring, India need someone like KL Rahul to fully own that spot at the top of the order, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Meanwhile, India will begin their post-IPL Test season against Afghanistan on June 6, with Rahul set to partner the captain at the top of the order as the team embarks on a fresh chapter in red-ball cricket. Article Source: IANS

Ahead of Afghanistan Test, Kuldeep gets a 'feel of the red ball' after underwhelming IPL

Kuldeep is one of four spinners, alongside the uncapped Suthar and Dubey, part of India's squad for one-off Test against Afghanistan

Gill's Red-ball Success Will Play A Big Role In Redefining Indias Test Team: Ashwin

PCA New International Cricket Stadium: Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has backed Test captain Shubman Gill to become the cornerstone of Indias red-ball future, saying the openers success in the longest format could play a defining role in shaping the teams next era. Ahead of Indias one-off Test against Afghanistan at the PCA New International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh beginning June 6, Ashwin praised Gills leadership and batting performances during Indias recent tour of England, where the youngster impressed in his first assignment as Test captain. Shubman Gill had a fantastic series in England. As soon as he was made captain, he went there and delivered, both with the bat and with his leadership. He scored runs in tough conditions and handled the pressure of captaincy with maturity. That showed his class and his ability to bat long, Ashwin told Jio Hotstar. The veteran spinner credited Gills recent technical adjustments for his success in seaming conditions, highlighting improvements in his defensive game against the moving ball. He has worked hard on his technique, especially keeping his bat close to the pads, which helped him reduce the gap between bat and pad, making him more solid against the moving ball, Ashwin explained. While Gill is yet to produce a major innings at home since taking over the Test captaincy, Ashwin believes the 26-year-old is poised for a strong showing in familiar conditions. Yes, he hasnt fired with the bat yet on home soil as captain, but with this change in his batting technique, I expect him to go all guns blazing at home too. His success in Test cricket will play a big role in redefining Indias Test team. He is the kind of player who can lead the batting line-up for years to come, he added. The former off-spinner also shared his thoughts on Indias spin resources for the Afghanistan Test, with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja unavailable. Ashwin expects wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav to spearhead the attack, while all-rounder Washington Sundar provides control and balance. Kuldeep Yadav will lead the spin attack against Afghanistan in the absence of Ravindra Jadeja. He has been bowling with great rhythm and confidence. His ability to turn the ball both ways and his experience in home conditions make him a huge threat, Ashwin said. The former off-spinner also shared his thoughts on Indias spin resources for the Afghanistan Test, with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja unavailable. Ashwin expects wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav to spearhead the attack, while all-rounder Washington Sundar provides control and balance. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Ashwin also expressed excitement about the possibility of domestic standout Harsh Dubey making his Test debut. However, my eyes will be on Harsh Dubey. I am curious whether he will get a chance. We will have to wait and see if the team goes with Manav Suthar or Harsh Dubey. But I am particularly interested in Dubey because of his strong domestic season. He also had a very good IPL season. Those performances work in his favour. I am looking forward to seeing him make his debut, he said. Article Source: IANS

Austrias Patrick Wimmer Joins TSG Hoffenheim From Wolfsburg

FIFA World Cup: German Football club TSG Hoffenheim has announced the signing of Austria international Patrick Wimmer, adding an attacking option for coach Christian Ilzer as the team prepares for European football. The 25-year-old midfielder joins from relegated Wolfsburg and has agreed a deal until June 2031, after Hoffenheim activated a 10-million-euro release clause in his Wolfsburg contract. Wimmer, who is part of Austria's FIFA World Cup squad, missed Wolfsburg's season finale and both relegation play-off matches against Paderborn because of muscular problems. The former Arminia Bielefeld player will remain in Germany's top flight with Hoffenheim, which is shaping its squad for the demands of the Bundesliga, UEFA Europa League and German Cup next season. Patrick is offensively versatile with his profile and has already sustainably proven his qualities in the Bundesliga, Hoffenheim sporting director Paul Pajduch said in a statement as quoted by Xinhua. He fits our playing idea excellently because of his intense style of play and duel quality, Pajduch added, saying Wimmer had received offers from Germany and abroad. Wimmer said Hoffenheim's development and playing style had helped convince him to move. TSG Hoffenheim took an impressive development last season, with exciting players and intense as well as attractive football, Wimmer said. I also know the coach from our shared time at Austria Vienna, when I became a professional under Chris Ilzer. I am very happy to be able to work under him again in Hoffenheim, he added. Wimmer began his career at SC Sitzenberg-Reidling before progressing through SG Waidhofen/Ybbs, SV Gaflenz and Austria Vienna, where Ilzer handed him his Austrian Bundesliga debut as an 18-year-old. I also know the coach from our shared time at Austria Vienna, when I became a professional under Chris Ilzer. I am very happy to be able to work under him again in Hoffenheim, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score He has made 125 Bundesliga appearances, scoring 16 goals, while winning 30 Austria caps and scoring once. He was part of Austria's Euro 2024 squad and is set to travel to the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Article Source: IANS

Kohli To Miss Afghanistan ODIs With Hamstring Injury: Report

Narendra Modi Stadium: India have been dealt a massive blow ahead of the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan, as star batter Virat Kohli will reportedly miss the series due to injury. Several reports claimed that Kohli is suffering from a hamstring injury and will not take part in the upcoming three-match contest against their Asian counterparts. It's not clear when and where Kohli suffered the hamstring injury, but it very well could have happened during the 2026 IPL final on 31 May at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Kohli's absence could prove to be a double blow for India as former captain Rohit Sharma's availability is also unclear due to an injury he suffered during IPL 2026. Rohit and Hardik Pandya were picked in the squad subject to fitness clearance and while the all-rounder has checked in, the former captain is yet to reach Bengaluru. The three-match series will begin on June 13 in Dharamsala at the HPCA Stadium. The two teams then move to Lucknow for the second ODI at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on June 17. The final ODI takes place June 20, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Rohit and Hardik Pandya were picked in the squad subject to fitness clearance and while the all-rounder has checked in, the former captain is yet to reach Bengaluru. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The injury also cast doubts over Kohli's participation for the crucial England tour, where they will play three ODIs starting from July 14 to July 19. Article Source: IANS

Explained: Why Jofra Archer isn't in England's Test squad

Sciver-Brunt on course for batting role at World Cup after calf injury

England captain confident of regaining fitness in time for tournament opener after lengthy lay-off

Cummins keen to play entirety of Australia's 'unprecedented' run

Australia will play up to 21 Test matches in their busiest period on record and a fit-and-firing Pat Cummins is hopeful he won't have to rest from any of them

ENG vs NZ 1st Test Prediction, Match Preview And Playing XI

ENG vs NZ 1st Test , Cricket Tips :England's numbers in Test have declined in the last year or so. They lost the highly anticipated Ashes 2025-26 1-4 in Australia. They will be under pressure as they move for the home series against New Zealand. The English summer will begin with three tests between England and New Zealand. The first game will kick off at Lord's in London on June 4 at 3:30 PM IST. Ben Stokes and co. have announced their playing 12 and given a maiden cap to Sonny Baker and Emilio Gay. New Zealand, on the other hand, will look to put England under a lot of pressure and get a win in the first game. ENG vs NZ: Match Details Date : June 4-8, 2026 (Thursday-Monday) Time : 3:30 PM IST Venue : Lord's Cricket Ground, London ENG vs NZ: Live Streaming Details The first Test between England and New Zealand will be live on Sony Sports Networks, while the live stream will be available on the Sony LIV app or website. ENG vs NZ: Head-to-Head in Test Total Matches : 115 England : 54 New Zealand : 14 Drawn : 47 ENG vs NZ: Ground Pitch Report Lord's Cricket Ground has been a good venue for the bowlers. The surface will be green and is expected to produce seam movement throughout the test. The conditions will become tougher with time, which is why batting first will be ideal in these conditions. ENG vs NZ: Possible XIs England : Emilio Gay, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (wk), Ben Stokes , Gus Atkinson, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir New Zealand : Henry Nicholls, Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (c & wk), Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, William ORourke ENG vs NZ: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Joe Root and Kane Williamson are two greats of this generation, and their teams depend a lot on them. Probable Best Bowler Gus Atkinson has great numbers at Lord's, and he will get good help from the wicket. Matt Henry is the leader of the pack, and he will be tough to face in these conditions. Today Match Prediction : New Zealand have a poor record in England. We predict England to win the Lord's Test. ENG vs NZ Match 1st Test, Today Match ENG vs NZ, ENG vs NZ Prediction, ENG vs NZ Predicted XIs, Injury Update for England vs New Zealand 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.

Kathryn Bryce's all-round effort takes Scotland to tri-series win

Scotland finished as the table-toppers after beating Netherlands, with three wins in four matches and one match between Bangladesh and Netherlands to go

BCCI To Hold Online Apex Council Meeting On Thursday, T20I Captaincy Discussion Not Known Yet

Triumph Knights Mumbai North East: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will hold its Apex Council Committee meeting in online mode on Thursday, though it remains unclear if the issue of Indias next mens T20I captain will be formally discussed. Yes, the BCCI will have an Apex Council Committee meeting in online mode on Thursday. But a possibility of officials discussing Indias next mens T20I captain is yet to be known, sources told IANS on Wednesday. Speculation has grown over the future of India's mens T20I captaincy after the T20 World Cup triumph in March was achieved under Suryakumar Yadavs leadership. It is understood that eyes are on planning for the next two years, where India will enter the 2028 Mens T20 World Cup as defending champions and feature in the Los Angeles Olympics too. While some believe Hardik Pandya and Shreyas Iyer, the current ODI vice-captain, are in the running to succeed Suryakumar, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, and Ishan Kishan are the dark horses for clinching the leadership role. Suryakumars prolonged lean patch has also been a point of concern, something which cant be ignored for long by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee and Gautam Gambhir-led team management. The right-handed batter managed only 270 runs in 13 innings for the Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026, while averaging 20.76, as the five-time champions finished at ninth spot on the points table. He also struggled with the bat during the victorious T20 World Cup campaign and didnt get a good score in a recent game for Triumph Knights Mumbai North East in the ongoing Mumbai T20 League. Suryakumars prolonged lean patch has also been a point of concern, something which cant be ignored for long by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee and Gautam Gambhir-led team management. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Indias next T20I assignment is a two-game tour of Ireland, to be played on June 26 and 28. It is understood that the squad selection for the same can happen sometime in mid-June. After this, India will play a five-match T20I series in England, before going on a three-game tour of Zimbabwe. Article Source: IANS

Gill's India Hit Ground Running In New Chandigarh Ahead Of Afghanistan Test

The Lucknow Super Giants: India's focus on red-ball cricket restarted right after the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 ended. Captain Shubman Gill led the first training session in New Chandigarh on Wednesday in preparation for the one-off Test against Afghanistan starting on June 6. With most players arriving fresh from their IPL commitments, the session kicked off India's training for their first Test of the season. The Indian players participated in an intensive net session at the PCA Stadium complex in Mullanpur. Head coach Gautam Gambhir closely watched the practice and had lengthy discussions with the players. Newly-appointed vice-captain KL Rahul spent a lot of time batting in the nets with opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant as the batting group shifted its focus from T20 cricket to the longer format. Gill, who recently led the Gujarat Titans to the IPL 2026 final, joined the national team after the tournament. He was actively involved during the session alongside fielding coach T. Dilip. The skipper will lead a Test side that looks somewhat fresh, as it is missing senior players Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja. India's pace attack seemed to be working hard, with fast bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna bowling long spells. However, Siraj's ability to play in the Test is uncertain due to workload-management issues after he participated in every match of the Gujarat Titans' IPL campaign. A decision on his availability is expected soon. If Siraj is rested, uncapped Jammu & Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi is likely the top candidate for a call-up after an impressive domestic season where he took 60 wickets in the Ranji Trophy. Nabi is currently among a group of net bowlers helping the Indian squad, which also includes Gurjapneet Singh, Prince Yadav, Saransh Jain, Zeeshan Ansari, and Shivang Kumar. Another key player in the camp is express pacer Mayank Yadav, who has joined as a net bowler. The Lucknow Super Giants speedster, whose career has been impacted by injuries, is helping Indias batters prepare for Afghanistan's pace attack while working on his own return to competitive cricket. If Siraj is rested, uncapped Jammu & Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi is likely the top candidate for a call-up after an impressive domestic season where he took 60 wickets in the Ranji Trophy. Nabi is currently among a group of net bowlers helping the Indian squad, which also includes Gurjapneet Singh, Prince Yadav, Saransh Jain, Zeeshan Ansari, and Shivang Kumar. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Shubman Gill (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (vc), Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant (wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey, Dhruv Jurel (wk) Article Source: IANS

England brace for new beginnings as old failings take back seat

New Zealand are perfect opponents to stress-test post-Ashes attitude, as they seek another away series win

West Indies bowl vs Sri Lanka, Hetmyer not in the XI

Sri Lanka brought Kamindu Mendis to the opening position

Stokes Backs Archer Break, Warns England Could Lose Star Pacer If Situation Is Mishandled

Indian Premier League: England captain Ben Stokes has supported the decision to rest fast bowler Jofra Archer for the opening Test against New Zealand at Lord's. He warned that a different approach could drive players away from international cricket. Archer, who played 16 matches for Rajasthan Royals during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season as the team reached the playoffs, was omitted from England's squad for the first match. Head coach Brendon McCullum has also indicated that the 31-year-old might miss the second Test. This decision has faced criticism following England's Ashes defeat in Australia, but Stokes urged people to consider the realities of modern cricket. I know it has been discussed over the past couple of weeks. I completely understand people's frustrations, but there is another side to this, Stokes told reporters on Wednesday. The England captain explained that the changing landscape of the sport has created opportunities that did not exist for players in previous generations. A lot of this has to do with where cricket is right now. There are opportunities for cricketers now that werent available 10 or 20 years ago. Stokes warned that mishandling this situation could have long-term effects on English cricket. If handled poorly, it could get messy, and players like Jofra might not play for England again. That would not be good for anyone. In earlier years, England players typically left their IPL teams before the tournament ended to meet international commitments. However, Archer stayed with the Rajasthan Royals during their playoff campaign and then took a break after a busy period. England starts the New Zealand series under pressure after a disappointing Ashes campaign in Australia, where their aggressive tactics came under fire. Former captain Michael Vaughan was among those suggesting the team should return to basics. Stokes, however, emphasised that outside criticism would not change England's strategy. There has been a lot said for a long time. But what I say doesnt really matter, he said. England starts the New Zealand series under pressure after a disappointing Ashes campaign in Australia, where their aggressive tactics came under fire. Former captain Michael Vaughan was among those suggesting the team should return to basics. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Supporting the philosophy that McCullum has established, Stokes added, You've heard it from Brendon. We'll go out there and try to win this series while playing some good cricket. Article Source: IANS

T20 Mumbai League 2026: Skipper Parkars Fastest Ton In Vain As Rahanes Panthers Edge Blasters In Super Over Thriller

Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburb: Three days into the T20 Mumbai League 2026, the tournament witnessed its second Super Over as captain Suved Parkar produced a sensational batting display, smashing a record-breaking 46-ball century. However, his brilliant 110 off 54 deliveries was not enough as Ajinkya Rahanes North Mumbai Panthers edged past Bandra Blasters in an edge-of-the-seat thriller to seal their second successive victory at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday. Batting first on a batting-friendly surface, Parkar smashed the fastest in the tournaments history to power the Blasters to a formidable 228/5, the second-highest total of the competition. In response, Hardik Tamore continued his explosive run with a 39-ball 83 before Tanush Kotians late-order fireworks helped the Panthers finish on the same score, forcing the match into a decider. Earlier, the Blasters got off to a flying start as Parkar and Prateekkumar Ravishankar hammered 101 runs for the opening wicket in just eight overs. Ravishankar contributed a brisk 33 off 15 balls before departing, while Parkar launched off-spinner Tanush Kotian for three successive sixes to bring up a stunning century off just 46 balls. The Blasters skipper also shared a 67-run stand with Parag Khanapurkar (22 off 15) before eventually falling for a magnificent 110 off 54 deliveries, studded with 10 fours and seven sixes. Even after Parkars dismissal, the scoring rate never dipped as Jay Jain (28 not out) and Dhrumil Matkar (28) added a rapid 52-run partnership, with Matkar smashing three consecutive sixes to guide Bandra Blasters surge past 200. In reply, Hardik continued his rich vein of form and kept the Panthers firmly in the contest with a blistering half-century. He raced to a 17-ball half-century and stitched together important partnerships with skipper Rahane (15) and Abhigyan Kundu (39). The momentum briefly swung in the Blasters favour when leg-spinner Sagar Chhabriaa struck three crucial blows, dismissing Tamore, Ayush Vartak, and Aayush Zimare in quick succession. However, Tanush Kotian refused to surrender, smashing two sixes and two fours in a 14-ball 32 to help the Panthers finish on 228, forcing the match into a Super Over. In the Super Over, Vaibhav Mali struck two sixes and a four to help the Panthers post 20/1. The Blasters could only manage 7/0 in reply. Later in the day, Shardul Thakurs Eagle Thane Strikers will aim to continue their winning momentum when they face Sarfaraz Khan-led Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburb. The Tigers, meanwhile, will be eager to open their account after suffering a heartbreaking Super Over defeat in their tournament opener. Brief scores: Bandra Blasters 228/5 in 20 overs (Suved Parkar 110, Prateekkumar Ravishankar 33; Pratik Mishra 3/38) tied with North Mumbai Panthers 228/8 in 20 overs (Hardik Tamore 83, Abhigyan Kundu 39, Tanush Kotian 32 not out; Dhrumil Matkar 3/32, Sagarr Chhabriaa 3/9). Brief scores: Also Read: Live Cricket Score North Mumbai Panthers 20/1 (Vaibhav Mali 19, Tanush Kotian 1 not out) bt Bandra Blasters 7/0 (Dhrumil Matkar 6 not out, Suved Parkar 1 not out). Article Source: IANS

Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka goes out of the French Open after quarterfinal defeat to Diana Shnaider

Diana Shnaider is appearing in her first Grand Slam quarterfinal

Dinesh Karthik Hails RCBs Title Defence In IPL 2026, Calls It unbelievable Feeling

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batting coach and mentor Dinesh Karthik described the franchises successful defence of their Indian Premier League (IPL) crown in the recent season as an unbelievable feeling, while crediting the players for their consistency and skill in making the side victorious. At the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, RCB defeated Gujarat Titans by five wickets to defend the title they won at the same venue in 2025. One thing the plan and another thing the boys have to have skill and deliver it on the given day, which they have done so consistently, and we're so proud of the team. Absolutely ecstatic we were dreaming something like this would happen, but when it does happen in reality, it hits you, and it's definitely an unbelievable feeling, said Karthik in a video posted by the IPL on its social media accounts on Wednesday. RCB became only the third team in IPL history to defend their title after Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI). The victory capped a season where senior players and emerging talents combined to deliver for the franchise under pressure. Really happy for all the fans they've been with us through thick and thin, and I'm happy that we're able to put smiles back on their faces. I think, for the whole journey, I'm not able to pinpoint one, because there have been different challenges from the start till the day we finished. RCB became only the third team in IPL history to defend their title after Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI). The victory capped a season where senior players and emerging talents combined to deliver for the franchise under pressure. Also Read: Live Cricket Score He also expressed happiness for Rajat Patidar, whos his birthday twin both turned a year older on June 1. It's been as special as it can get you don't get it too many times when you win an IPL on your birthday. So extremely happy. Every year is going to be different, though we'll give it everything we have for sure, concluded Karthik. Article Source: IANS

Pakistan Cricket Is Going Down Fast, Lament Former Stars After Loss To Australia

Telecom Asia Sport: Former Pakistan stars lambasted the current national team after its abject surrender against a depleted Australian side in the first two matches of the ODI series in Lahore on Tuesday, declaring that the countrys cricket is going down at a fast rate, a news report said on Wednesday. The 41-run defeat in the second ODI, which meant Pakistan conceded an unbeatable 0-2 lead in the three-match series, came a fortnight after a humiliating 2-0 whitewash in the Test series in Bangladesh, which was also described as the lowest point in Pakistan cricket. Former captain Rashid Latif said wrong selection and failing in game awareness caused the steep fall. Pakistan cricket is going down in speed, Latif told Telecom Asia Sport. The selection is based on 'take my two and I take your two, ' which is wrong and makes the selection strange. Australia were without seven frontline players, including regular ODI skipper Pat Cummins and his two illustrious pace partners Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. Opener Travis Head is also rested, while Mitchell Marsh pulled out of the tour with a calf injury after being named skipper. Its a pathetic performance, but we are now so used to this humiliation that we do not feel pain in our hearts, former pacer Sikander Bakht told www.telecomasia.net. Everyone is biding time, and players with so little experience of first-class cricket are part of the squad. Latif urged the Pakistan Cricket Board to make the management accountable. We have to make the management accountable and make them better. If they are selecting the wrong eleven and squad, then the results will be like this. Latif blamed the ploy of using spin-friendly pitches as the teams bane. We dug a grave where spinners were taking wickets, but in the second match we ourselves fell in that grave, said Latif, referring to spin pitches used in the series. Pakistan took eight wickets through spinners, with debutant Arafat Minhas taking five in the first ODI in Rawalpindi. They won the match by five wickets. We are selecting T20I players in ODIs, which is wrong. Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat, and Abdul Samad are T20 players, and they are not attuned to playing 50-over cricket. Our batters lack quality defense, which is hurting their batting. Pakistan took eight wickets through spinners, with debutant Arafat Minhas taking five in the first ODI in Rawalpindi. They won the match by five wickets. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Basit blamed head coach Mike Hesson for the failure. Hesson should be asked what he is doing with the Pakistan team. Is this the way to prepare for the World Cup? He is damaging Pakistan cricket. Article Source: IANS

Mosaddek, Nurul Return As Bangladesh Announce Squad For First Two ODIs Against Australia

Mahidul Islam Ankon: Bangladesh have recalled middleorder batter Mosaddek Hossain and wicketkeeperbatter Nurul Hasan for the first two ODIs against Australia starting in Mirpur on June 9, with Mahidul Islam Ankon and Afif Hossain making way. Mosaddek, 30, last played an ODI for Bangladesh in August 2022 but has forced his way back on the strength of a prolific Dhaka Premier League campaign. He has already scored a century and two fifties, averaging 89 in five matches, while also claiming 11 wickets at 16.27 with his offspin bowling. Nurul, who missed the New Zealand series, returns to bolster the middleorder as Mahidul and Afif didnt live up to the desired expectations of the selectors. The duos recall comes at a time when Bangladeshs batting has struggled in recent ODIs against Pakistan and New Zealand. Tanzid Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto have been the sides only consistent scorers while Saif Hassan, Towhid Hridoy and captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz have failed to replicate their earlier good form. Pacer Nahid Rana, who has taken fivewicket hauls in both ODIs and Tests since March, leads the fast bowling attack alongside Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam. Legspinner Rishad Hossain, familiar with Australian batters due to his Big Bash League stint, adds variety to the line-up. Tanzid Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto have been the sides only consistent scorers while Saif Hassan, Towhid Hridoy and captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz have failed to replicate their earlier good form. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Bangladesh ODI squad: Mehidy Hasan Miraz (captain), Soumya Sarkar, Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tawhid Hridoy, Litton Das, Mosaddek Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, and Nahid Rana. Article Source: IANS

Balaji and Demoliner bow out of French Open

The Indo-Brazilian duo lost 3-6 4-6 in a match that lasted one hour and 17 minutes

Absolutely Ludicrous': Simon Doull Slams Archer's England Absence Ahead Of New Zealand Tests

Sky Sports Cricket Podcast: Former New Zealand fast bowler Simon Doull has launched a scathing attack on the absence of Jofra Archer from England's squad for the first Test against New Zealand, describing the situation as absolutely ludicrous and questioning the pacer's commitment to red-ball cricket. Archer, who continued playing for Rajasthan Royals during the IPL playoffs, was not included in England's squad for the series opener at Lord's. England coach Brendon McCullum has also indicated that the fast bowler may not be ready for the second Test, further fuelling debate over the management of one of England's premier quicks. Speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Doull criticised both Archer and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for allowing the situation to unfold. It's ludicrous. Absolutely ludicrous. How are you paying this guy up to a 1m per year and he's not available for your first Test match? It is absolutely ludicrous. Doull pointed to New Zealand's handling of similar situations in the past, recalling how their leading fast bowlers balanced IPL commitments with Test preparation. The last time that New Zealand came here... Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Matt Henry were all practising in between games in the IPL with a red ball and getting through overs and overs and overs so that they were ready to go when they arrived. Although New Zealand lost that series 3-0, Doull argued that preparation was never the issue. I think they arrived five days before the first Test after the IPL and that previous tour. OK, it didn't work out. New Zealand lost the series 3-0. But there is no reason that Archer couldn't have been bowling six, seven overs each in between days. Doull went even further, questioning Archer's desire to play Test cricket. The fact that he's not doing that tells me he has no interest in playing Test cricket. In between days, he needs to be bowling five overs, six overs, seven overs with the red ball so that he's ready to go. And there's enough time. If you're doing that in between games, there's enough time to come back here for a week and get ready for a Test match. There's no issue with that. So I think it's completely wrong. Archer's continued absence comes at a difficult time for England, who are beginning a new chapter after their disappointing Ashes campaign in Australia. With fellow seamer Brydon Carse also unavailable through injury, England's pace-bowling resources are under scrutiny. One positive for the hosts is the return of Ollie Robinson, who has been recalled to the Test squad for the first time in more than two years. However, former England captain Nasser Hussain believes Robinson still has much to prove at the highest level. I do like the fact that they have him involved - Ollie Robinson is a skilful bowler, Hussain said. He has let [McCullum] down, and that is the thing you have to prove to people. Hussain acknowledged Robinson's quality when conditions suit him, but stressed that true Test greatness is measured in tougher circumstances. When things are in his favour, and it's nipping around, his stats and his skill are as good as anyone. I think Brendan called him world-class. But that's not what has defined the people he's replacing. That's not what defined James Anderson when it was hooping around or Stuart Broad or Chris Woakes. Hussain acknowledged Robinson's quality when conditions suit him, but stressed that true Test greatness is measured in tougher circumstances. When things are in his favour, and it's nipping around, his stats and his skill are as good as anyone. I think Brendan called him world-class. Also Read: Live Cricket Score And that will be the test for Ollie Robinson. Because that is Test cricket. Article Source: IANS

Butcher Questions England Captain Stokes Move To Number Seven Ahead Of Tests Against NZ

Wisden Cricket Weekly: Former England batter Mark Butcher has expressed reservations over skipper Ben Stokes decision to drop down to number seven in the batting order for the first Test against New Zealand, starting at Lords on Thursday. Stokes has batted only 17 times out of 216 innings in Tests, compared to 131 times at number six. His batting returns have dipped since the 2023 Ashes, averaging 28.17 from 23 matches with one century and seven fifties. Why does he need to drop down to seven? I dont understand it. I wonder whether thats a move because Stokes has decided, Im our best bowler, Im going to take the new ball, which would not be the maddest thing in the world at all. That to me is a viable and valid option as far as the guys weve got. Im thinking a very long way back to the eighties when Beefy (Ian Botham) bestrode the earth, and quite often he would bat five and open the bowling in the Test team, said Butcher. He was in the thick of everything. Always. I would rather see Ben at six and get back to his very best with the bat, Butcher said on the Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast. England are also scheduled to play two more Tests against New Zealand at The Oval on June 17 and Trent Bridge on June 25. Further speaking about his disbelief in Stokes dropping down to number seven, Butcher said, When he is playing well, in terms of skill and in terms of temperament, he provides a perfect ballast to the more dashing players around the order. Youve got (Joe) Root, who will play at a regular tempo. We dont know what Emilio Gay is going to do, so Root at No.4 playing a regular Test match tempo, Stokes at six playing a regular Test match tempo but able to up it when hes at his best, and then (Jamie) Smith at seven in the Gilchrist role, which hes performed so well, Ashes aside, in Test matches at home. This is why the theory about him opening the bowling pops up, its more likely to happen if (Sonny) Baker plays obviously, but also why does he need to drop down to seven? I dont understand it, unless there is another role that hes decided to take on instead, like taking the new ball. We dont know what Emilio Gay is going to do, so Root at No.4 playing a regular Test match tempo, Stokes at six playing a regular Test match tempo but able to up it when hes at his best, and then (Jamie) Smith at seven in the Gilchrist role, which hes performed so well, Ashes aside, in Test matches at home. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Im baffled, and I also wish I were playing now. I cant understand it. I cant understand how there is a justification for it. My point is Im not slagging off Jofra Archer, Im just in disbelief. There are only six Test matches in the summer; if you dont play the first two, then there are four left. Article Source: IANS

PAK vs AUS 3rd ODI Prediction, Match Preview And Playing XI

PAK vs AUS 3rd ODI , Cricket Tips :Pakistan won the first ODI, and Australia bounced back with a win in the second ODI. The series is at 1-1, and the final game will decide which way the series is heading. The third match will commence on Thursday at 5 PM IST at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Pakistan failed with the bat in the chase. They couldn't have a good start and kept losing wickets. Shadab Khan showed some fight but failed eventually. Australia showed good adaptation to the conditions, and they will be confident going into the next game. Pakistan need to change their approach, because they have been struggling on the field. PAK vs AUS: Match Details Date : June 04, 2026 (Thursday) Time : 5:00 PM IST Venue : Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore PAK vs AUS: Live Streaming Details Indian fans can watch the third ODI on the FanCode mobile app or website with the active account. PAK vs AUS: Head-to-Head in ODI Total Matches : 114 Pakistan : 37 Australia : 72 No-result : 04 Tied : 01 PAK vs AUS: Ground Pitch Report The surface in Lahore is expected to be another slow and sluggish one. Spinners will have a major role, and batters will have a hard time. It can be tough to bat while chasing, as the wicket will get slower. Hence, the wise decision will be to bat first here. PAK vs AUS: Possible XIs Pakistan : Maaz Sadaqat, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Ghazi Ghori (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Arafat Minhas, Abdul Samad, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed Australia : Matt Short, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis (c & wk), Marnus Labuschagne, Cam Green, Oliver Peake, Matt Renshaw, Nathan Ellis, Tanveer Sangha , Adam Zampa, Matthew Kuhnemann PAK vs AUS: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Ghazi Ghori has shown great adaptibility and batted well in both matches for Pakistan. For Australia, Matt Short has been pretty consistent with the bat. Probable Best Bowler Abrar Ahmed and Nathan Ellis will be two bowlers who will be the ones to watch out for. Today Match Prediction : Pakistan struggled in their own plans. They will be under pressure, and we predict Australia to win this game. PAK vs AUS Match 3rd ODI, Today Match PAK vs AUS, PAK vs AUS Prediction, PAK vs AUS Predicted XIs, Injury Update for Pakistan 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.

Richa Ghosh Clinches Impact Fielder Award For T20I Series Against England

T20 World Cup: India wicketkeeperbatter Richa Ghosh was named winner of the Impact Fielder medal for the T20I series against England, which ended in a 2-1 defeat for the visitors in their build-up to the upcoming Womens T20 World Cup. While handing out the medal after team analyst Anirudh Deshpande announced her name, fielding coach Munish Bali praised Richas sharp glovework and consistency behind the stumps. Richa Ghosh, three catches, excellent keeping. Very well done and two excellent stops too. Best impact fielder of the series, Richa Ghosh. Well done to you. Very well done. Congratulations, said Bali in a video posted by the BCCI on their social media accounts on Wednesday. Bali was also appreciative of Indias good showing in fielding. As Amol said, lots of positives, especially on the field. Throwing was very good. Our body language was excellent throughout the three-match series. Energy, effort, no complaints, and catching percentage were little good, 87 percent catching. Out of 15, we took 13 catches, 87 percent. Bali further appreciated Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues and Nandni Sharma for being great fielders in the series. Shafali, three catches in the first game, excellent. As I said, her commitment on the field was excellent, with diving stops, well done. Jemmy, as usual, excellent throws, excellent energy. It's not easy to run from mid-wicket to mid-wicket and all the throws were coming towards Jemmy, the balls were coming towards Jemmy. In this series, I think she must have hit 30-35 high-intensity throws. Well done, Jemmy; it was excellent, and especially, on the bigger ground, we were challenging her, she didn't concede a single double. Bali further appreciated Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues and Nandni Sharma for being great fielders in the series. Shafali, three catches in the first game, excellent. As I said, her commitment on the field was excellent, with diving stops, well done. Jemmy, as usual, excellent throws, excellent energy. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India will now play two warm-up games against the West Indies and England on June 8 and 10, respectively, in Cardiff, before opening their Womens T20 World Cup campaign against Pakistan in Birmingham on June 14. Article Source: IANS

Very Confident Of Sciver-Brunt Being Available For T20 WC, But May Not Bowl, Says Edwards

T20 World Cup: England head coach Charlotte Edwards said she is very confident that skipper Nat SciverBrunt will be available for the Womens T20 World Cup starting on June 12, though the seam bowling all-rounder may feature only as a batter. Nat is yet to feature for England in their ongoing home summer, missing the ODI and T20I series against New Zealand as well as the recent T20I series win over India after sustaining a calf injury while turning out for The Blaze in the OneDay Cup in April. But Nat is now expected to return as a specialist batter at number three when England begin their Womens T20 World Cup warm-up matches against Australia and India on June 8 and 10 respectively, before starting their main campaign against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston on June 12. That makes tonight even more exciting, doesn't it, that we've got Nat SciverBrunt adding to this lineup. I am very confident. She's training this week and Saturday and doing her running and she'll be playing hopefully in the first warmup game next week. All good with her. I'm not sure she's going to be bowling so it'll be in a batting role for us, hence why we've been managing some workloads throughout this series. Freya Kemp didn't bowl tonight, so it's really positive going into next week, said Charlotte at the conclusion of the series. Despite Nats absence, England have won T20I series against New Zealand and India, both 21, with batters stepping up in unfamiliar roles and creating a good selection headache for the team management. Alice Capsey struck a matchwinning 82 off 43 balls in the decider in Taunton, while sharing a 137run stand with Heather Knight, who smashed 70 not out. They're good headaches to have. We're in a really good position in terms of people (being) in form so I'm going to be taking some time away - the players are going home for a few days - and then we'll reset again on Saturday in Cardiff. I'm a big believer of your top six, they should be able to bat anywhere in the order, and the players are really showing that. We want versatility and flexibility within the order, added Charlotte. Despite Nats absence, England have won T20I series against New Zealand and India, both 21, with batters stepping up in unfamiliar roles and creating a good selection headache for the team management. Alice Capsey struck a matchwinning 82 off 43 balls in the decider in Taunton, while sharing a 137run stand with Heather Knight, who smashed 70 not out. Also Read: Live Cricket Score They know if they want to stay in the team they've got to put in big, match-winning performances and Heather and Alice did that superbly. You talk about pressure and playing under pressure, these girls are playing under pressure even for their places now, which is great in many ways because you get performances like that, which is really satisfying. Article Source: IANS

Sayali, Ira Shine As Falcons Register Second Straight Win In T20 Mumbai Womens League

Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs: Continuing her red-hot form in the inaugural T20 Mumbai Womens League, India star Sayali Satghare once again led from the front, delivering a standout all-round performance while 14-year-old teenage sensation Swara Jadhav shone with the ball as SOBO Mumbai Falcons cruised to a seven-wicket win over Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs, registering their second successive victory in the tournament here on Wednesday. Satghare delivered a superb spell with the ball, claiming four wickets and striking in the very first over to put the Tigers under immediate pressure. Operating in tandem with the Falcons disciplined bowling attack, she ensured the opposition never found any rhythm. The teenage left-arm spinner Jadhav (3-19) then tightened the screws further with a fine three-wicket burst, dismantling the middle order and preventing any recovery. Electing to bat, Aakash Tigers struggled throughout their innings against the Falcons attack. Sanika Chalke top-scored with 21 runs but received little support from the rest of the batting line-up as wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. Unable to build partnerships or accelerate when required, the Tigers limped to a modest 113/9 from their 20 overs. Satghare delivered a superb spell with the ball, claiming four wickets and striking in the very first over to put the Tigers under immediate pressure. Operating in tandem with the Falcons disciplined bowling attack, she ensured the opposition never found any rhythm. The teenage left-arm spinner Jadhav (3-19) then tightened the screws further with a fine three-wicket burst, dismantling the middle order and preventing any recovery. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburb 113/9 in 20 overs (Sanika Chalke 21, Manali Dakshini 18; Sayali Satghare 4/29, Swara Jadhav 3/19) lost to SOBO Mumbai Falcons 117/3 in 15.5 overs (Sarika Koli 33 not out, Sayali Satghare 30 not out, Simran Shaikh 23) by seven wickets. Article Source: IANS

Siraj, Tilak To Headline Inaugural TG20 Player Auction On June 7

Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium: Indian international stars Mohd Siraj and Tilak Verma will spearhead the TG20 Player Auction pool for the inaugural edition of Telanganas premier franchise cricket league on Sunday at the Princess Convention Centre, Ramoji Film City. The auction pool has several established domestic performers, including Rohit Rayudu, Rahul Buddhi, CV Milind and Tanmay Agarwal, all expected to attract significant interest from franchise owners. The list also features some of Telanganas brightest emerging talents, including India U-19 representative Aaron George and members of Telanganas recent Vinoo Mankad Trophy-winning squad. More than 1,300 HCA-registered cricketers will go under the hammer as franchises begin assembling their squads for what promises to be one of the most exciting sporting events ever staged in Telangana. The auction marks another major milestone in the journey of TG20, Telanganas first-ever franchise-based T20 league, which is set to feature eight franchisee teams, 32 matches, and over 21 days of high-quality cricket action, bringing together the finest cricketing talent from across the state. The eight franchises participating in the inaugural season are: Hyderabad e-Champions, Pranava Ranga Reddy Risers, Warangal Warriors, Medak Falcons, Anurag Nalgonda Knights, Karimnagar Diamonds, Palamuru Strikers and Anvita Khammam Aces. The auction process will commence with the Icon Category, followed by the A+, A, B, C1 and C2 Categories, enabling franchises to build balanced and competitive squads of up to 20 players each. Every franchise must include a minimum of four district cricketers in its squad, while at least two district players must feature in the playing XI. Teams will also have the opportunity to select promising U-19 cricketers and players emerging from the leagues extensive open-trial programme. Each franchise will enter the auction with a purse of Rs 60 lakh, with a mandatory minimum spend of Rs 54 lakh, ensuring strong competition and strategic squad-building throughout the day. Former India international Ambati Rayudu, Chairman of HCAs Cricket Operations Committee, and his team have played a pivotal role. They have conducted extensive open-trials which generated unprecedented interest among aspiring cricketers from both urban and district regions. The auction proceedings will be conducted by renowned sports presenter and auctioneer Charu Sharma, whose experience across leading professional sports leagues is expected to add excitement and professionalism to the event. Cricket fans across Telangana and around the world will be able to follow the auction live on JioHotstar, providing a front-row seat to the formation of the inaugural TG20 franchises. The auction proceedings will be conducted by renowned sports presenter and auctioneer Charu Sharma, whose experience across leading professional sports leagues is expected to add excitement and professionalism to the event. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The inaugural edition of TG20 is scheduled to commence on June 21 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Uppal, with all matches being played at one of Indias premier cricket venues. Article Source: IANS

'Just Focus On Your Bat And Yourself': Kohli's Advice To Vaibhav After IPL Heroics

While Royal Challengers Bengaluru: India's charismatic batter Virat Kohli had a special word of advice for teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after the IPL 2026 final, urging the youngster to stay focused on his game and continue striving for greater heights following a record-breaking season. After RCB won their second consecutive final at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. A video of the interaction between the Royal Challengers Bengaluru stalwart and the 15-year-old Rajasthan Royals prodigy went viral. Their conversation has finally been revealed by RCB in a video posted on their social media handles. In the meetup, Kohli praised Sooryavanshis work ethic and self-belief while reminding him to ignore outside noise and focus on his batting. The former RCB captain also advised the youngster to aim higher. You have to keep going higher from here. Whatever youve achieved is the result of your hard work and belief. Dont pay attention to who is saying what. Just focus on your batting and yourself. Ek Bihari sab par bhari, Kohli told Sooryavanshi. The words from one of Indian crickets modern greats came after a season in which Sooryavanshi established himself as the biggest breakout star of the tournament despite Rajasthan Royals missing out on the title. It is worth mentioning that earlier in the IPL 2026 season, Kohli had given Sooryavanshi an autograph and signed his cap after the left-handed batter smashed the RCB bowlers all around the park in the contest at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati. While Royal Challengers Bengaluru retained the IPL crown with a five-wicket victory over the Gujarat Titans, Sooryavanshi emerged as the undisputed individual performer of the season, collecting five awards at the post-match presentation ceremony. It is worth mentioning that earlier in the IPL 2026 season, Kohli had given Sooryavanshi an autograph and signed his cap after the left-handed batter smashed the RCB bowlers all around the park in the contest at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati. Also Read: Live Cricket Score He also claimed the Super Striker award after maintaining a remarkable strike rate of 237.31 and won the Super Sixes award by smashing a record 72 sixes during the campaign. Article Source: IANS

We Were Deserving Champions: Bhuvneshwar On RCB's Back-to-back IPL Titles

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Senior pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar said Royal Challengers Bengaluru were deserving to become back-to-back IPL champions, adding that everyone should get credit for the way the side has performed since the 2025 season. At the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, RCB defeated Gujarat Titans by five wickets to defend the title they won at the same venue in 2025. I think the way RCB have waited all these years, they deserve to win back-to-back titles. I think everyone gets credit for it. The way the team has been performing for the past two years, I don't think anyone is dependent on the player. It's not an easy task to win backtoback, but I think it was a great job by everyone, said Bhuvneshwar in a video posted by the IPL on its social media accounts on Wednesday. Reflecting on his own campaign, where he picked 28 wickets for RCB, Bhuvneshwar remarked, Individually, it's been a very great season. A lot of things have gone well. Execution has been good. Execution after the thought process has worked. So I think it was a good season for me, for sure. There is no bigger highlight than winning the trophy, for which we work hard for 23 months. All teams do it it's not that we don't. But to end up with the trophy, I think it takes a lot. So, we have done that. Batting all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer, who featured prominently in RCBs run to the title, said the triumph will always have special memories for him. I've played a couple of finals before, but this felt totally different. It felt as if the entire country were playing with us. I saw on social media people praying for us, people doing aartis and what not for RCB. It should not come across as a shock that we made the finals or we won because the way we played our cricket, the way we played this season, I think we're deserving champions. But congratulations to GT as well for an amazing campaign. Two best teams played it out in the final, and for us, it was our day. It's something that I'll be cherishing for a very long time. I would like to thank God for this day. For allowing me the opportunity to represent this team and bring glory to it, he elaborated. It should not come across as a shock that we made the finals or we won because the way we played our cricket, the way we played this season, I think we're deserving champions. But congratulations to GT as well for an amazing campaign. Also Read: Live Cricket Score But my vote for the player of the season for RCB has to go to Bhuvneshwar Kumar. He shows us that vintage is always special. Keeps things very basic, but so effective. It was such a pleasure to watch him in his full flow. Article Source: IANS

Bengal Govt Downgrades Sourav Ganguly's Security Cover From Z To Y Category

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari: The West Bengal government has downgraded the security cover provided to former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, officials said on Wednesday. The move comes as part of an ongoing review of security arrangements extended to politicians, public figures, and other prominent individuals in the state. Ganguly, who previously enjoyed Z-category security, will now be provided Y-category protection. The former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president and current Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president has not issued any official statement on the development. According to officials, Z-category security entails the deployment of around 35 personnel and includes coordination with the state police command. Individuals covered under this category are also provided a pilot vehicle as part of their security detail. In contrast, Y-category security involves a much smaller team of three to four personnel, including two armed security officers assigned for close protection. The decision is the latest in a series of security reviews undertaken by the state government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari since the change in administration following the assembly elections last month. Officials said the exercise was aimed at ensuring that enhanced security is provided only to those facing a genuine threat perception. Soon after assuming office, CM Adhikari had reportedly conveyed that security resources should be allocated strictly based on assessed risk. Following this direction, authorities initiated a comprehensive review of individuals who had been receiving special protection under the previous government. The decision is the latest in a series of security reviews undertaken by the state government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari since the change in administration following the assembly elections last month. Officials said the exercise was aimed at ensuring that enhanced security is provided only to those facing a genuine threat perception. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With the latest decision, Ganguly joins a growing list of prominent personalities whose security arrangements have been reassessed as part of the state's broader effort to rationalise the deployment of security personnel. Article Source: IANS

'I Don't Want To Lock In Anything': Cummins Hints At Missing IPL 2027 Amid Hectic Schedule

ODI World Cup: Australia captain Pat Cummins has indicated that he could sit out IPL 2027 as he looks to manage his workload during what promises to be an intense period for Australian cricket. Australia are scheduled for a four-Test tour of India at the start of the year before taking part in the 150th anniversary Test against England in Melbourne. The team will then head into a demanding Ashes campaign, followed by the ODI World Cup in southern Africa later in the year. Speaking to Australian daily 'The Age', Cummins said Australia's packed schedule next year may force him to make difficult choices, with Test cricket and the ODI World Cup remaining his top priorities and no final decision has been made regarding his availability for the tournament and that discussions with the franchise will take place closer to the event. Something has got to give at some stage next year, and it's not going to be test matches or an ODI World Cup, Cummins said. I will make a call a lot closer and work with the franchise to see what makes sense. Things can change. I've had a couple of injuries pop up, so I don't really want to lock in anything, he added. The fast bowler stressed that representing Australia in Test cricket and the 50-over World Cup would take precedence over franchise commitments. The priorities for me are always the Test matches and that ODI World Cup. I dare say if I play all of India, I need some sort of break before a pretty gruelling Ashes series, Cummins explained. Cummins has previously dealt with injury concerns, including a back issue that affected parts of his international schedule. The Australian skipper also suggested that workload management could extend to other senior quicks, including Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, during parts of Australia's home season. It's possible. I think we're fairly open-minded to anything, as we've seen over the last couple of years. I see a world where we're potentially winding some bowlers down, even say at the back end of an Indian series if they don't look like they're going to play, to give them an extra rest ahead of the Ashes, Cummins said. Despite the demanding calendar, Cummins believes the upcoming stretch could become one of the defining periods for the current Australian side. It's possible. I think we're fairly open-minded to anything, as we've seen over the last couple of years. I see a world where we're potentially winding some bowlers down, even say at the back end of an Indian series if they don't look like they're going to play, to give them an extra rest ahead of the Ashes, Cummins said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Meanwhile, Cummins missed the opening seven matches of IPL 2026 and then led the team to the playoffs. Ishan Kishan, who took over the leadership duties in his absence, will again be the forerunner to replace him as the captain if the Australian great misses out. Article Source: IANS

'We Spoke A Lot About Chasing Big Totals,' Says Capsey After Record Win Over India

Cooper Associates County Ground: Player of the Match Alice Capsey said Englands successful chase of 181 against India at the Cooper Associates County Ground on Wednesday was particularly satisfying because the team had been focusing on improving its ability to hunt down big totals ahead of the Womens T20 World Cup. Capsey smashed a match-winning 82 off just 43 balls and shared a decisive 137-run partnership with Heather Knight (70 not out) as England recovered from 38/3 to register a six-wicket victory in the third and final T20I, sealing the three-match series 2-1. The chase was Englands highest successful pursuit in womens T20Is since 2018 and came after India had posted a competitive 180/5. Obviously really pleasing to get over the line. We spoke a lot as a batting unit about chasing those bigger totals, so to get this one over the line was really pleasing, Capsey said after the match. England were under pressure after losing three wickets inside the power play, but Capsey said the presence of the experienced Heather Knight helped maintain calm in the middle. It was pretty calm over there with Heather. Shes a very experienced campaigner now, so it was always nice batting with her. It was just about hitting through the line of the ball. It was a lovely pitch out there and trying to stay with the rate, she said. When it got to the second ten overs, it was about finishing the game as quickly as possible and not leaving it too late, she added. Capsey credited her aggressive counter-attacking approach for helping England regain momentum after Indias bowlers made an excellent start. I thought upfront they bowled pretty well. When theyre bowling a length, its quite hard to get away. So using my feet was a key one for me. Aiming straight as well. The ball was coming on pretty nicely to bat, so not trying to over-hit it was pretty key and just trying to get that boundary early, she explained. Capsey credited her aggressive counter-attacking approach for helping England regain momentum after Indias bowlers made an excellent start. Also Read: Live Cricket Score I dont think I have a favourite. Just batting for England is amazing and being able to contribute and score runs is the main thing, she said. Article Source: IANS

Battling Australia force series decider as questions grow for Pakistan

Tricky pitches have forced batters to adapt and led to a major role for spin and changes of pace

Urgent meeting called for amid BBL chaos; ACA says merger has caused 'anxiety'

The news of Melbourne Stars and Renegades merging has created uncertainty throughout the game

'Shafali And I Have A Huge Role To Play Forward': Smriti Eyes Stronger Starts As India Turn Focus To T20 WC

T20 World Cup: India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana believes she and her opening partner Shafali Verma must shoulder greater responsibility at the top of the order as the team shifts its attention to the T20 World Cup after a hard-fought series defeat against England. India began the three-match T20I series with an impressive victory but were unable to sustain the momentum, suffering consecutive defeats to hand the hosts a 2-1 series win. While disappointed with the outcome, Mandhana viewed the tour as a valuable exercise ahead of the global tournament that will also be played in English conditions. Coming in early and playing a series in England, where weve a World Cup to play, in terms of preparations, its extremely good to do that. But thinking back, both me and Shafali (Varma) have a huge role to play forward, Smriti said after the third T20I. The opening pair endured an inconsistent series, managing a combined 75 runs across three matches despite showing glimpses of fluency at the crease. Mandhana, however, insisted that neither she nor Shafali was far away from making meaningful contributions. We both are timing the ball well but unfortunately are not able to contribute in big ways for the team. But again for both of us, well go back in the nets and keep working hard and make sure that we come back better as an opening pair because both of us pride ourselves on giving good starts and keeping the momentum going. Well take it in our stride and work hard, she added. India appeared on course to level the series in the deciding contest after reducing England to 38/3 during the chase. However, a game-changing partnership between Heather Knight and Alice Capsey turned the match decisively in the hosts' favour as they chased down 181 with nine deliveries remaining. Reflecting on the defeat, Mandhana pointed to the unpredictability of T20 cricket and acknowledged England's recovery, as she said, In T20 games momentum keeps shifting. We started really well with the ball, putting them at 35/3 (38/3), but then I wouldnt take anything away from the partnership they had. I think they played really good cricketing shots, they played all around the ground. The loss also provided India with important insights regarding their bowling plans in conditions they are likely to encounter again during the World Cup. On bowling, well go to the drawing board, and see which options are better. We did that before this series, maybe we can go back again. Now I think I know in these conditions what balls are to be bowled, the opener noted. One of India's biggest positives from the final T20I was captain Harmanpreet Kaur's unbeaten half-century. Walking in after early setbacks, the skipper steadied the innings and guided India to a competitive 180 with a composed 56 not out. Mandhana was effusive in her praise for the veteran batter's contribution, stating, Harman when shes at her best, its a sight to watch. Really important innings under pressure, especially when we needed that sort of knock to get us to 180-plus. Beyond Harmanpreet's knock, Mandhana took encouragement from the form displayed by several members of India's batting unit ahead of the marquee tournament. Really happy but I just feel that everyone is in a good nick, and its a good sign going into the T20 World Cup that Jemi (Rodrigues), Harman everyone are really looking beautiful to watch from the outside. Hopefully, I can watch them from the inside as well, she mentioned. Beyond Harmanpreet's knock, Mandhana took encouragement from the form displayed by several members of India's batting unit ahead of the marquee tournament. Also Read: Live Cricket Score We did play Pakistan in Birmingham, and it was a sell-out. Not just India-Pakistan, we really need to hype up the T20 World Cup. In fact, its already hyped up. Im sure a lot of people will come and watch us play. Hopefully we can put up a good show for them, Smriti concluded. Article Source: IANS

Pakistan's National T20 Cup final to be played on June 7

The final had to be rescheduled because of persistent rain around the original date of March 18

Mandhana: 'Shafali and I have a huge role to play' at the T20 World Cup

India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana looks at the learnings from the recent T20I series in England

French Open 2026: Jakub Mensik stops teen Joao Fonsecas run, reaches semifinal

Days after collapsing on the court following his second-round victory in sweltering conditions, the 20-year-old Mensik shone on a cool evening to book a last-four clash with title favourite Alexander Zverev

Hockey U18 Asia Cup: India Women Rout Singapore 25-0 To Top Pool A And Seal SF Berth

Hockey U18 Asia Cup: The India women delivered a dominant show to defeat Singapore 25-0 in their final Pool A game of the Hockey U18 Asia Cup and secured a top position in the pool, and advanced to the semifinal with an undefeated record. India's attacking depth was evident on Tuesday as 10 different players scored, with Nousheen Naz leading by netting seven goals (8', 13', 17', 18', 40', 52', 58'). Geethasri Nammi, awarded Player of the Match, scored five goals (13', 28', 47', 48', 60'), while captain Sweety Kujur added four goals (2', 24', 38', 45'). Priyanka Minz also scored a hat-trick (22', 37', 53'), with Diya (27'), Nancy Saroha (36'), Shruti Kumari (40'), Pushpa Manjhi (47'), Rashmeen Kaur (47'), and Sandeepa Kumari (51') completing the rout. India clearly displayed their intent early on, with captain Sweety scoring in the second minute. Nousheen then increased the lead in the eighth minute, and both Geethasri and Nousheen added to the score in the 13th minute, establishing Indias dominance. In the second quarter, the Indian team maintained their dominance, with Nousheen scoring two quick goals. Priyanka and Sweety then helped expand India's lead before halftime. The goal frenzy carried on after the break. Diya and Geethasri scored early in the third quarter, with Nancy, Priyanka, Sweety, Nousheen, and Shruti all finding the net as India dismantled Singapore's defense. In the second quarter, the Indian team maintained their dominance, with Nousheen scoring two quick goals. Priyanka and Sweety then helped expand India's lead before halftime. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India, having achieved wins against Malaysia, Korea, and Singapore, topped Pool A with an undefeated record and nine points. Their semifinal opponents will be determined after the Pool B fixtures conclude later today. Article Source: IANS

Always Wanted To Play Alongside Virat, Rohit Before They Retire, Says Harsh Dubey On Maiden India Call-up

Vijay Hazare Trophy: After earning his maiden India call-up for the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan, left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Harsh Dubey expressed that the opportunity to potentially share the field and dressing room with veterans of the game, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, is a dream he has carried throughout his cricketing journey. Dubey, who was one of the stars of Vidarbha's triumphant 2024-25 Ranji Trophy campaign and captained Vidarbha to their maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy title in 2025, is the one of three uncapped players selected in India's ODI squad alongside pacers Prince Yadav and Gurnoor Brar. If you ask any young cricketer who they want to play with right now, the first two names will be Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. I have grown up watching them. Ever since I started understanding cricket, they have been performing for India and dominating world cricket. So, getting a chance to play with them is a huge achievement for me. I always wanted to play alongside at least one legend before they retire or whenever their final phase comes. Even if I get to play one match with them, it will be a dream-come-true moment for me, Dubey told JioStar. India's ODI squad for the Afghanistan series includes both Kohli and Rohit, although the latter's participation remains subject to fitness clearance following a hamstring injury suffered during IPL 2026. Dubey's call-up comes as India continue their preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup, with the selectors rewarding the youngster after his impressive performances. He had also recently been named in India's Test squad for the one-off game in New Chandigarh. The youngster revealed that despite being selected for the Sri Lanka A ODI tri-series, he never imagined an India call-up would arrive so soon, let alone in both formats. To be honest, as soon as my name came up for Sri Lanka A ODI tri-series, I felt I was not really in the scheme of things yet. So, I told myself to focus on the IPL for now and think about the tri-series when the time came. I genuinely had no idea my name could come up, let alone in both formats. So, honestly, I have no words for it, he said. Dubey then recounted the surreal moment when he first learned about his selection. We had reached the airport and found out our flight was delayed by an hour. I got a call from someone managing a cricket social media page, asking how I felt about my name being in the ODI series. Because of the noise and network issues in the lounge, I thought he was referring to the Sri Lanka A ODI tri-series, so I said it felt like one step closer to the dream and that my focus was still on the IPL. As soon as I hung up, I started getting messages saying I had received both the Test and ODI call-ups. I was confused because the squad had just been announced, so I quickly checked online and saw the news. It honestly took me a few minutes to process what had happened. Even when Murali sir asked me who the other spinners in the squad were, I told him I had only seen my own name. It genuinely felt like I was dreaming, Dubey stated. While many have already begun to view him as a potential long-term option in India's spin department, Dubey insisted he is not looking too far ahead. If you ask any cricketer, he will say that he wants to play for India and play for a long time. But instead of thinking too far ahead, I prefer to focus on what is in my hands, one game at a time. If I am playing an IPL game today, my focus is on what I can do better today. If I am playing for India tomorrow, I will focus on what more I can do for my team, rather than thinking about playing for the next 10 years. I don't want to think too far ahead about playing the 2027 World Cup or winning the WTC for India. I just want to stay in the present and do the best I can with what is in my hands, he expressed. Dubey, who will also get an opportunity to work under Indias ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill during the Afghanistan series, said he is eager to understand the skipper's leadership style up close. I don't want to think too far ahead about playing the 2027 World Cup or winning the WTC for India. I just want to stay in the present and do the best I can with what is in my hands, he expressed. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India will face Afghanistan in a one-off four-day Test in New Chandigarh, followed by a three-match ODI series in Dharamshala, Lucknow and Chennai, with Dubey now set to embark on the most significant chapter of his young career. Article Source: IANS

New Zealand home summer to start with blockbuster all-format India tour

The New Zealand men's side will also host Sri Lanka for an all-format tour, while the women will host Bangladesh for three T20Is and as many ODIs

England Beat India In Third T20I To Seal Series 1-2 Ahead Of Womens T20 WC

T20 World Cup: Alice Capsey and Heather Knight century stand helped England beat India by six wickets in the third and final T20I to seal the series 2-1 ahead of the Women's T20 World Cup, starting from June 12. The two batters shared a massive 137-run stand to recover from a precarious position in the run chase to chase down a target of 181 in 18.3 overs. The effort was England's highest T20I chase since 2018, led by Alice Capsey (82 from 43 balls) and Heather Knight, who finished unbeaten on 70 from just 42 deliveries. Chasing 181, Englan lost their openers in the first three overs when Kranti Goud castled Danni Wyatt-Hodge in the second over and Arundhati Reddy removed Sophia Dunkley in the third over. Kranti also managed to get rid of Amy Jones in the final over of the Powerplay as the host were 53/3. But Capsey continued to punish the Indian bowling attack by fetching boundaries. At the other end, Knight also picked up boundaries against the Indian spinners. The duo were all guns blazing as England took control of the chase at the halfway mark. Capsey soon brought up her half-century off just 26 deliveries whereas Knight inched closer to hers with two more boundaries of Nandni Sharma. Capsey hit a four and two sixes in a row against Shree Charani. This left England needing only 28 runs to win with five overs left. Even though Capsey was eventually caught or bowled out for 82 runs, England was easily going to win. Knight hit a four in the second-to-last over to finish the game and secure the victory for England. Earlier, batting first, even though India lost their opening batters early, just like England did later in the game, they still managed to score 180 runs. Shafali Verma hit a bad shot and was out for 11 runs. Smriti Mandhana was easily trapped lbw by Charlie Dean. Yastika Bhatia, who had been playing well all series, kept India moving fast during the powerplay, hitting seven boundaries to push India's score to 57 runs quickly. Unfortunately, her fast and exciting batting ended suddenly when she was run out. Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur then rebuilt the innings but England struck again when Lauren Bell executed a perfect slow ball that tricked Rodrigues and hit her stumps to get her out. Yastika Bhatia, who had been playing well all series, kept India moving fast during the powerplay, hitting seven boundaries to push India's score to 57 runs quickly. Unfortunately, her fast and exciting batting ended suddenly when she was run out. Also Read: Live Cricket Score England Women 184/4 in 18.3 overs (Alice Capsey 82, Heather Knight 70*; Arundhati Reddy 2-31) bea India 180/5 in 20 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 56*, Yastika Bhatia 32; Lauren Bell 2-36) by 6 wickets Article Source: IANS

India's Multi-format Tour Healdines NZ's International Home Season

New Zealand Cricket: New Zealand Cricket has announced its international home season which will see India's blockbuster three-format tour from October 22 until December 1. Team India will take on the New Zealand in five T20Is, five ODIs, and two Tests, played across the five major centres, with the 12 matches the most internationals scheduled for an in-bound tour in NZC history, NZC said in a realese. The tour will also mark the first time since 2019 that India will play Test cricket in New Zealand, while it will be their first white-ball assignment in the country since 2022. NZC also said that the New Zealand Government will be supporting the in-bound India tour alongside adjacent sporting tours by India later inthe year, as 100 years of sporting ties between New Zealand and India are commemorated. Christchurchs Hagley Oval opens the India tour with back-to-back T20Is on October 22 and 24 respectively, and theGarden City will host the second Test match starting on Friday, November 27. Wellington has been awarded the first Test starting on Thursday November 19 at the Cello Basin Reserve, as well as a T20I and ODI to be held at Hnry Stadium. Aucklands Eden Park and Hamiltons Seddon Park have both received a T20I and ODI, while Taurangas Bay Oval will host games four and five of the ODI series. The BlackCaps will then host Sri Lanka in three ODIs, three T20Is, and two Tests in from January 16 and into February to finish the home international summer, with a much anticipated four-Test away tour in Australia scheduled for December and early January. The women's team, who are currently in England preparing to defend their ICC Womens T20 World Cup title, will host Bangladesh for three T20Is and three ODIs from December 10 to 23. The series will be the WhiteFerns only home tour of the summer, with the inaugural ICC Womens Champions Trophy (T20I) in Sri Lanka rescheduled for February, meaning the sides planned tour of Australia in February-March 2027 will be rescheduled. The home summer, which could include up to 41 days of international cricket, will be played across eight different cities in New Zealand. Schedule- Mens India tour of New Zealand 1st T20I - 22 October, Christchurch 2nd T20I - 24 October, Christchurch 3rd T20I - 27 October, Wellington 4th T20I - 30 October, Auckland 5th T20I - 1 November, Hamilton 1st ODI - 4 November, Auckland 2nd ODI - 7 November, Wellington 3rd ODI - 10 November, Hamilton 4th ODI - 13 November, Mount Maunganui 5th ODI - 15 November, Mount Maunganui 1st Test - 19-23 November, Wellington 2nd Test - 27 November-1 December 2026, Christchurch Sri Lanka Tour of New Zealand 1st ODI - 16 January, Napier 2nd ODI - 19 January, Wellington 3rd ODI - 22 January, Dunedin 1st T20I - 26 January, Christchurch 2nd T20I - 29 January, Nelson 3rd T20I - 31 January, Nelson 1st Test - 4-8 February, Mount Maunganui 2nd Test - 12-16 February, Hamilton Womens Bangladesh Tour of New Zealand 1st T20I - 10 December, Nelson 2nd T20I - 12 December, Nelson 3rd T20I - 15 December, Wellington 1st ODI - 18 December, Wellington 3rd T20I - 15 December, Wellington Also Read: Live Cricket Score 3rd ODI - 23 December, Mount Maunganui Article Source: IANS

Edwards: Sciver-Brunt's return will make competition for places 'even more exciting'

They know if they want to stay in the team they've got to put in big, match-winning performances, Charlotte Edwards says of England's batters ahead of the T20 World Cup

Allround Dawson downs Sussex to keep Hampshire on a roll

Back-to-back fifties, followed by 3 for 20, seal emphatic Blast win at Utilita Bowl

DPL round 2: Mohammedan sniff rare title but Abahani and Prime still in race

Towhid Hridoy, with 427 runs, is leading Mohammedan's campaign; Aliss, Rubel shine among bowlers

Unchanged England opt to bowl in decider; India bring Gaud back

Play was set to begin in cloudy yet bright conditions with no forecast for rain

WI vs SL 1st ODI Prediction, Match Preview And Playing XI

WI vs SL 1stODI , Cricket Tips :West Indies and Sri Lanka will be up against each other in a three-match ODI series. It will be followed by two tests and three T20Is. The action will begin on Wednesday (June 3) at Sabina Park at 8 PM IST. Kusal Mendis has been reappointed as the white-ball captain for Sri Lanka. He will look to start with a win. Shai Hope will be leading the home team. Both teams are preparing for the ODI World Cup 2026, and the road for preparation begins with this series. Wanindu Hasaranga is back for Sri Lanka, while Alzarri Joseph and Shimron Hetmyer are back for West Indies. WI vs SL: Match Details Date : June 03, 2026 (Wednesday) Time : 8:00 PM IST Venue : Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica WI vs SL: Live Streaming Details The only option to watch the WI vs SL ODIs in India is through the FanCode mobile app or website. WI vs SL: Head-to-Head in ODI Total Matches : 68 West Indies : 32 Sri Lanka : 33 No-result : 03 Tied : 00 WI vs SL: Ground Pitch Report The wicket at Sabina Park is slow and low. The bounce here can be uneven as the game goes on. At the start, the new ball will swing and will get good bounce from the wicket. The team that has batted second here has won more matches. WI vs SL: Possible XIs West Indies : Ackeem Auguste, Shai Hope (c), Keacy Carty, Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, Justin Greaves, Roston Chase, Gudakesh Motie, Matthew Ford, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph Sri Lanka : Kusal Mendis (c & wk), Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Kamil Mishara, Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Kamindu Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Eshan Malinga, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando WI vs SL: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Shai Hope and Pathum Nissanka are two premier batters for their respective teams. These two will be key players in this game. Probable Best Bowler Wanindu Hasaranga is back and will be a tough bowler to face. Gudakesh Motie holds the key for West Indies, who will get a good grip from this wicket. Today Match Prediction : Both teams are on the same page. But Sri Lanka are looking more settled because of the combination of spin and pace bowlers they have. Hence, we predict Sri Lanka to win the first ODI. WI vs SL Match 1st ODI, Today Match WI vs SL, WI vs SL Prediction, WI vs SL Predicted XIs, Injury Update for West Indies vs Sri Lanka 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.

West Indies, Sri Lanka in high-stakes push to claim 2027 World Cup spot

After recent struggles in major tournament qualification, both teams have plenty to play for in this ODI series

Sultana, Moni help Bangladesh bounce back against Scotland

Fast bowler Moni starred with a career-best four-for to trigger Scotland's collapse, in their chase of 153

Sachin Tendulkar Hails 15-Year-Old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's IPL 2026 Impact

Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar was impressed with the impact teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi had on the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, saying the Rajasthan Royals opener affected the outcome of games in more ways than through the runs he scored. The batting legend also added that whenever Sooryavanshi walked out to bat, Rajasthan Royals seemed to have a renewed sense of belief. In his post looking back at the season, Tendulkar was particular about naming some of the standout performances and trends that caught his attention during the tournament. Amongst them was the phenomenal season of Sooryavanshi. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi had an influence on games that went beyond the runs he scored. Oppositions were thinking about him, teams were planning for him, and fans were waiting for him long before he arrived at the crease, Tendulkar said in a post on Reddit. The 15-year-old went on to be the top run-scorer in the tournament and one of the biggest success stories. The former India skipper was more amazed by the young boy's temperament during the playoffs: His ability to score quickly in the Eliminator and Qualifier proved his intent was always the same, even as the stakes were high. Even more importantly, his batting seemed to give Rajasthan Royals an added sense of belief every time he walked out to the middle. Tendulkar also cited the dismissal of Jos Buttler by Josh Hazlewood in the 1st qualifier between RCB and RR, to highlight an instance of brilliant game awareness by a bowler: Josh Hazlewood's dismissal of Jos Buttler in the 5th over of the 1st Qualifier showed the value of deception. Buttler had hit deliveries for a 4, 6, and a 4, and once a batter settles into a rhythm like that, he often tends to commit early. He elaborated on this: What made the wicket special was how he subtly slowed down the next delivery by 10 km/hr, and Buttler had already gone through his shot by the time the ball reached him, the batting maestro said. Looking at the eventual champions, RCB, Tendulkar noted how their win was an all-round effort. Every successful team develops an identity over the course of a campaign. RCB's identity seemed to be built around shared responsibility. He reserved high praise for captain Rajat Patidar. Rajat Patidar led from the front right through, but more importantly, he helped create an environment where others could do the same. The balance between leadership and contribution was an important part of them going all the way to yet another final, he The legendary batsman, however, suggested a change to the rules, keeping in mind the course of most of the games in the season. One trend that I observed through this season was how many games were decided between overs 7 and 15. Teams are now much better prepared for Power-plays and death overs than before. Tendulkar suggested the splitting of the powerplay: I feel the Power-play needs to be split into two parts. First 4 overs as the batting Power-play and two overs of bowling Power-play, which could be utilised at any point in the innings. If implemented, this could become the most strategic phase of T20 cricket, he said. Tendulkar was also full of praise for Punjab Kings for their attitude, despite failing to win the trophy: Punjab Kings brought wonderful energy to the tournament. Their cricket was positive, brave, and at times game-changing. According to him, the lesson learned from Punjab's season was to strike a balance between process and results: Momentum plays a big part in lengthy tournaments, and eventually in such a quick tournament it comes down to process and not attaching yourself to the results. Punjab seemed to focus on the process in the first half, and on results in the second. I feel the Power-play needs to be split into two parts. First 4 overs as the batting Power-play and two overs of bowling Power-play, which could be utilised at any point in the innings. If implemented, this could become the most strategic phase of T20 cricket, he said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Reflecting on IPL 2026, Tendulkar emphasised the importance of adaptation. When I reflect on IPL 2026, I was once again reminded that tournaments rarely follow a predictable course from the start. More than one instance this season, the table told a very different story at the mid-point compared to what we see at the end of the competition. He added. The teams responded, adjusted, and new strategies were developed as the competition grew. The game is all about continuous development, and that's what makes watching it so compelling. Article Source: IANS

'You're delaying my lunch' - Williamson revels in final Lord's bow

New Zealand batter realised the significance of the occasion only when he addressed the press on Tuesday

Gay, Baker, Robinson named in England's XII for Lord's Test

Final selection to be made on Thursday, as Rew, Rehan and Fisher are cut from initial 15-player squad

Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20: Bengaluru Blasters, Gulbarga Mystics To Raise The Curtain On Season 5 On June 20

Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20: Kalyani Bengaluru Blasters and Gulbarga Mystics will raise the curtain on the fifth edition of the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 on June 20, before Mysore Warriors take on debutants Shivamogga Yodhas in the second match of the opening-day double-header. The tournament will be held across three centres -- Mysuru, Hubballi, and Bengaluru -- culminating on July 12. Coastal Kings Mangaluru, also a new franchise this season, will make their tournament debut against Hubli Tigers on June 21. In line with the Karnataka State Cricket Association's vision of taking top-quality cricket to fans across the state, the tournament will be staged across three centres. The Mysuru-leg will be held from June 20 to 26, before the action shifts to Hubballi, from June 27 to July 3. The tournament will then move to Bengaluru from July 5 to 12. Mysuru and Hubballi will host 12 matches each, while Bengaluru will stage 10 matches, including Qualifier 1, the Eliminator, Qualifier 2, and the Final, as the six franchises battle for the coveted title. The player auction for Season 5 will be held on June 5 in Bengaluru, with more than 150 players set to go under the hammer as franchises assemble their squads for the upcoming edition of the tournament. The auction will be streamed live between 9 am and 1 pm on Sony Ten 5 HD/SD. Mysuru and Hubballi will host 12 matches each, while Bengaluru will stage 10 matches, including Qualifier 1, the Eliminator, Qualifier 2, and the Final, as the six franchises battle for the coveted title. Also Read: Live Cricket Score We are particularly pleased to see the tournament return to multiple centres, while the addition of Coastal Kings Mangaluru and Shivamogga Yodhas marks an exciting new chapter for the competition. We look forward to another highly competitive season and a wonderful experience for players and fans alike, he added. Article Source: IANS

Zee likely secured 39 FIFA events at sub-$60 mn, prepares for first ask from youth brand advertisers

The sum is much lower than the IPL media rights deal of $6.2 billion for the 2023-2027 period

T20 Mumbai League 2026: Rahanes Panthers Beat SKYs Knights In Their First Match

Triumph Knights Mumbai North East: The Ajinkya Rahane-led North Mumbai Panthers began their T20 Mumbai League 2026 campaign in style with an emphatic 21-run victory over Suryakumar Yadavs Triumph Knights Mumbai North East at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday. Chasing a daunting 210, the Knights struggled to keep pace with the required rate despite a valiant effort from impact substitute Nutan Goel, who anchored the innings with a fighting 93 off 56 balls. The chase got off to a shaky start with both openers falling cheaply, bringing India T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav (19) to the crease amid loud cheers from the Wankhede crowd. Suryakumar responded with a typically positive approach, striking four boundaries as the Knights raced to 56/2 by the end of the Power-play. However, left-arm spinner Rahul Sawant turned the game in the Panthers favour by dismissing Suryakumar and Sagar Mishra in quick succession. Harshal Jadhav and Nutan attempted a recovery with a 55-run fifth-wicket stand, while the 20-year-old Nutan capitalised on a reprieve on 24 to bring up a 32-ball fifty with back-to-back sixes. But with the required rate steadily climbing, the Knights found it difficult to keep up and eventually finished on 188/8. Earlier, Hardik Tamore starred with the bat, scoring his maiden fifty of the tournament to help North Mumbai Panthers post the first 200-plus total of the season. Sent in to bat on a placid batting turf, the Panthers made a strong start through Rahane (24) and Tamore, who added 67 runs for the opening wicket inside the Powerplay. While Rahane departed after a brisk start, Tamore carried on and struck a fluent 67 off 43 deliveries, laced with nine fours and two sixes. Aayush Zimare (23) and Ayush Vartak (39) kept the scoreboard moving in the middle overs before Tanush Kotian provided the late flourish with an unbeaten 30 off just 15 balls, powering the Panthers past the 200-run mark. Later in the day, Shreyas Iyer-led SOBO Mumbai Falcons will take on ARCS Andheri, captained by India all-rounder Shivam Dube, at the same venue. While Rahane departed after a brisk start, Tamore carried on and struck a fluent 67 off 43 deliveries, laced with nine fours and two sixes. Aayush Zimare (23) and Ayush Vartak (39) kept the scoreboard moving in the middle overs before Tanush Kotian provided the late flourish with an unbeaten 30 off just 15 balls, powering the Panthers past the 200-run mark. Also Read: Live Cricket Score North Mumbai Panthers 209/5 in 20 overs (Hardik Tamore 67, Ayush Vartak 39, Tanush Kotian 30 not out; Sylvester Dsouza 2/23) beat Triumph Knights Mumbai North East 188/8 in 20 overs (Nutan Goel 93, Suryakumar Yadav 19; Rahul Sawant 2/34, Harsh Tanna 2/44) by 21 runs. Article Source: IANS

Team India Arrive In Mullanpur For One-off Test Against Afghanistan

Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket: The Indian team arrived in the city on Tuesday ahead of their one-off Test against Afghanistan to be played at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur locality of New Chandigarh from Saturday. With this match, the Shubman Gill-led side is set to return to red-ball cricket after the conclusion of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. The Indian squad reached the city and was seen arriving at the team hotel as preparations began for the Test scheduled at the PCA New Chandigarh Stadium from June 6. Captain Shubman Gill led the contingent, while newly-appointed vice-captain KL Rahul, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, and all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy were among the players spotted with the squad. The match will mark Indias first Test appearance since their 2-0 home series defeat to South Africa last year. Although the Afghanistan Test is not part of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, it serves as an important fixture for India as they gear up for upcoming overseas assignments in Sri Lanka and New Zealand later this year. India will be hoping to use the match to regain momentum in the longest format, with a squad that blends experienced campaigners and promising young talent. The team is expected to begin training sessions in the coming days as it fine-tunes preparations for the encounter. For Afghanistan, the match presents another valuable opportunity to test themselves against one of the worlds strongest Test sides. The visitors have steadily gained experience in the format and will look to put up a competitive performance against the hosts. India and Afghanistan have met only once previously in Test cricket. Their maiden encounter came at Bengalurus M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in 2018, when Afghanistan made their Test debut. India dominated the contest, securing victory by an innings and 262 runs inside two days. For Afghanistan, the match presents another valuable opportunity to test themselves against one of the worlds strongest Test sides. The visitors have steadily gained experience in the format and will look to put up a competitive performance against the hosts. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India Test squad: Shubman Gill (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (vc), Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant (wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey, Dhruv Jurel. Article Source: IANS

BCCI Appoints Sairaj Bahutule As India's Spin Bowling Coach

Mr Sairaj Bahutule: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday announced the appointment of former India all-rounder Sairaj Bahutule as the spin bowling coach of the senior men's national team. He will guide India's next generation of spinners across formats. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Sairaj Bahutule as the Spin Bowling Coach of the Indian Cricket Team (Senior Men), BCCI said in a statement. Bahutule, who played for India in two Tests and eight One-Day Internationals, steps into this role after gaining extensive coaching experience in domestic, pathway, and international cricket. The former Mumbai player had a notable first-class career lasting nearly two decades, during which he scored 6,176 runs and took 630 wickets, earning a reputation as one of the best all-rounders in the domestic circuit. Reacting to his appointment, Bahutule expressed pride in getting another chance to serve Indian cricket. It is a tremendous honour to be appointed as the Spin Bowling Coach of the Indian Men's Cricket Team. Representing India as a player was a matter of immense pride, and the opportunity to contribute to Indian Cricket once again in a coaching capacity is deeply special. I look forward to working with the players and supporting the team's pursuit of excellence across formats, he said. After retiring, Bahutule became one of Indian cricket's most respected coaches. He held head coaching positions with Vidarbha, Kerala, Gujarat, and Bengal. He also served as a spin-bowling coach for IPL teams like Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings. Reacting to his appointment, Bahutule expressed pride in getting another chance to serve Indian cricket. It is a tremendous honour to be appointed as the Spin Bowling Coach of the Indian Men's Cricket Team. Representing India as a player was a matter of immense pride, and the opportunity to contribute to Indian Cricket once again in a coaching capacity is deeply special. I look forward to working with the players and supporting the team's pursuit of excellence across formats, he said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Bahutule also worked closely with India A and the senior men's team as a specialist bowling coach on several occasions. From 2021 to 2024, he was an essential part of the coaching staff at the BCCI's National Cricket Academy, now known as the Centre of Excellence, where he helped nurture emerging talent. Article Source: IANS

Melbourne Stars and Renegades set to merge, second franchise to be sold in full

The Stars' name and colours will be rebranded by CV; Renegades could play under caretaker administration in 2026-27

MPL 2026: Rajat Patidar-led Gwalior Cheetahs Challenge Ujjain Falcons In Opener

Madhya Pradesh League: Having successfully guided the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to back-to-back IPL crowns, Rajat Patidar is set to begin a new chapter closer to home as he returns to lead Gwalior Cheetahs in the Madhya Pradesh League (MPL) T20 Scindia Cup 2026. Patidar will captain a side eager to make a breakthrough after reaching the semifinal in 2025 but narrowly missing out on a place in the final. Gwalior Cheetahs will feature in the opening match of the 2026 season when they face Ujjain Falcons on Wednesday at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. One of the most accomplished cricketers to emerge from Madhya Pradesh in recent years, Patidar has enjoyed a remarkable rise through domestic and franchise cricket. From playing a pivotal role in Madhya Pradesh's historic Ranji Trophy triumph to establishing himself as a leader on the IPL stage, the right-hander now returns to familiar surroundings with the ambition of guiding the Gwalior Cheetahs to their maiden title. The team representing Gwalior will enter the new season with a balanced squad featuring a mix of experienced campaigners and promising young talent. Among them is Mangesh Yadav, the leading wicket-taker from the 2025 edition with 14 wickets, while the side will continue to benefit from the guidance of head coach Aditya Srivastava, under whose captaincy Madhya Pradesh ended a 69-year wait for the Ranji Trophy title in 2022. Speaking ahead of the campaign, Patidar said, It's always a special feeling to come back and play in Madhya Pradesh. The last couple of months have been memorable, but every new tournament brings fresh challenges and fresh motivation. The MPL has become an important platform for cricket in the state, and I'm excited to once again represent the Gwalior Cheetahs. We have a talented squad, a strong support staff, and a group that's hungry to succeed. Our focus is on playing positive cricket and giving ourselves the best chance to bring the trophy home. The team representing Gwalior will enter the new season with a balanced squad featuring a mix of experienced campaigners and promising young talent. Among them is Mangesh Yadav, the leading wicket-taker from the 2025 edition with 14 wickets, while the side will continue to benefit from the guidance of head coach Aditya Srivastava, under whose captaincy Madhya Pradesh ended a 69-year wait for the Ranji Trophy title in 2022. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Alongside Tiwari, Ujjain Falcons feature players like Aryan Pandey, Yash Dubey, Chanchal Rathore, and Soham Patwardhan, making them one of the most intriguing teams in the competition. Former Madhya Pradesh cricketer Sunil Dholpure, who played 17 First-Class matches and 21 List A games, will be the coach for the side. Article Source: IANS

Victorian BBL Shake-up Looms As Melbourne Stars And Renegades Set For Merger: Report

Big Bash League: A major restructuring of the Victorian franchises in the Big Bash League (BBL) is underway, with the Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades reportedly poised to be merged into a single franchise as part of broader changes linked to Cricket Australia's privatisation plans. Cricket Victoria staff were informed on Tuesday that the state's two BBL clubs will be consolidated into one Melbourne-based team, bringing an end to a decade-long city rivalry that has been a central feature of the competition since its inception. According to Sen.com.au, the newly formed franchise is expected to be based at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and operate under the name Melbourne, although discussions are continuing regarding a permanent nickname and branding. Sources indicate the club is likely to adopt navy blue as its primary colour. The move is understood to be part of a wider strategy that will see Cricket Victoria retain one BBL licence while committing to the sale of its second licence. The timing of that sale remains uncertain and will largely depend on processes overseen by Cricket Australia. Industry sources familiar with the discussions believe the second Victorian licence could be put on the market as soon as practicable, although questions remain over potential contingencies should a sale not proceed as planned. The merger also raises immediate questions regarding player contracts and squad composition. While the finer details are yet to be resolved, it is expected that the 10 contracted players from each existing franchise will form the foundation of the new Melbourne squad. Notably, players reportedly were not formally informed of the developments on Tuesday, despite Cricket Victoria staff receiving updates earlier in the day. Several players, speaking anonymously, expressed surprise and frustration at learning they had not been briefed alongside administrative staff. The merger also raises immediate questions regarding player contracts and squad composition. While the finer details are yet to be resolved, it is expected that the 10 contracted players from each existing franchise will form the foundation of the new Melbourne squad. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Further clarity is expected later this month, with key stakeholders set to meet in Melbourne on June 15 to discuss the next phase of Cricket Australia's privatisation framework and the future shape of the BBL. Article Source: IANS

Ujjain Falcons Appoint Chanchal Rathore As Captain For MPL T20 Scindia Cup 2026

MPL T20 Scindia Cup: Ujjain Falcons have named Chanchal Rathore as captain for the upcoming edition of the Madhya Pradesh League (MPL) T20 Scindia Cup, which will commence on June 3, while promising youngster Madhav Tiwari has been appointed vice-captain. Expressing his happiness after being named captain, Chanchal Rathore said, It is a proud moment for me to lead Ujjain Falcons. We have a strong and well-balanced squad with a good mix of experience and young talent. The MPL has become a great platform for players to showcase their skills and for young cricketers to make a name for themselves. We are looking forward to the challenge and hope to have a successful season. Vice-captain Madhav Tiwari also shared his excitement and said, I am very happy to be part of Ujjain Falcons. We have a talented squad, and the team has been preparing well for the tournament. Our aim is to play good cricket and give our fans plenty of reasons to cheer. We will do our best to make a strong impact in our first season. The Falcons, one of the new franchises in the tournament, will begin their campaign against Gwalior Cheetahs on June 3 at the iconic Holkar Stadium in Indore. The Madhya Pradesh League has expanded significantly this season with the addition of three new men's teams, Malwa Stallions, Ujjain Falcons and Royal Nimar Eagles, taking the total number of men's franchises to 10. The Falcons, one of the new franchises in the tournament, will begin their campaign against Gwalior Cheetahs on June 3 at the iconic Holkar Stadium in Indore. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Ujjain Falcons Squad: Madhav Tiwari, Aryan Pandey, Chanchal Rathore, Adheer Pratap Singh, Yash Dubey, Soham Patwardhan, Shubham Kushwah, Masoom Raza Kaif, Ojaswa Yadav, Gajendra Goswami, Aayush Mankar, Ankur Singh Chauhan, Rishi Miglani, Harshvardhan Hardia, Naveen Nagle, Vishesh Mudgal and Darshan Rathore Article Source: IANS

'Yogasana Enhanced Flexibility Level Of Cricketers At MPCA': Aarti Pal, Indias First-ever Arjuna Awardee Yogasana Athlete

Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association: When Aarti Pal began working with cricketers at the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA), she was not trying to turn them into Yogasana athletes. Instead, she wanted to understand how yoga could help improve performance in a sport that demands explosive movement, technical precision, and mental resilience. What she discovered only reinforced a belief she has carried throughout her journey as an athlete, researcher, and educator: yoga belongs far beyond the confines of wellness centres and meditation halls. The inaugural World Yogasana Championship is set to be hosted at the EKA Arena in Ahmedabad from June 4 to 8. The historic event features over 500 elite athletes from more than 60 countries, showcasing Yogasana as a globally recognised competitive sport. For Aarti, India's first Yogasana athlete to receive the Arjuna Award, yoga is not simply a practice. It is a science, a sporting discipline, and, increasingly, a performance tool that can benefit athletes across every sport. Actually, I feel that yoga should become an essential part of every sport. Every sport requires certain fundamental skills that can be developed effectively through the practice of Yogasana and other yogic disciplines, Aarti told IANS in an exclusive conversation. Her conviction stems not only from years of academic research but also from hands-on work with athletes. While working with the cricketers of the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA), when Amay Khurasiya was serving as the chief coach, we had the opportunity to work closely with the players. Although there is already considerable research available on the subject, our own observations also highlighted several significant benefits of yoga for athletes, she said. One of the clearest improvements, according to Aarti, came in flexibility, a physical attribute often associated with yoga, but equally important in elite sport. One of the most noticeable improvements was in flexibility. Flexibility is a key component in Yogasana, but it is equally important in almost every sport. Through regular Yogasana practice, we observed a marked enhancement in the flexibility levels of the cricketers. She believes the benefits extend much further than mobility and movement. Another important area was injury prevention. For any athlete, staying injury-free is crucial for maintaining performance and consistency. While injury rehabilitation is undoubtedly important after an athlete gets injured, it is always better to focus on prevention whenever possible. Drawing on a principle familiar to both medicine and sport, Aarti added, As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. In this regard, Yogasana and other yoga practices proved to be highly beneficial in reducing the risk of injuries and improving overall physical preparedness. Yet the area she believes is most undervalued is the mental side of the game. Beyond the physical benefits, emotional stability and mental focus are equally important for sporting success. Every athlete faces pressure, expectations, and challenging situations during competition. Practices such as Pranayama and meditation help athletes remain emotionally balanced, mentally focused, and calm under pressure. These practices also contribute significantly to building mental resilience, which is often the difference between success and failure at the highest level of sport, she stated. For Aarti, these lessons from cricket reinforce a larger point. For these reasons, I believe yoga should not be limited to cricket alone. It can become an essential component of training across all sports. Integrating yoga into an athlete's routine can enhance physical fitness, improve mental well-being, and ultimately contribute to better sporting performance. In my view, yoga offers a holistic approach to athlete development and has the potential to positively impact performance in every sporting discipline, she mentioned. That holistic approach is central to Aartis own philosophy. A PhD holder in Yoga Science and former Assistant Professor of Yoga Science at the University of Patanjali, she approaches Yogasana through an interdisciplinary lens that combines sport, science, and lifestyle. As a doctorate in Yoga Science, I have not just studied Asanas. When we study Yoga Science, it involves many different subjects and follows an interdisciplinary approach. Along with Asanas, I have studied the complete philosophy of yoga, as well as its physiological and psychological dimensions. Yoga is a comprehensive science that encompasses a wide range of disciplines, she stated. Her academic background has shaped the way she coaches athletes. Beyond physical training, sports science, sports psychology, and nutrition all play a crucial role in an athlete's performance. These elements are deeply connected to Yogasana as well. When I coach athletes, I do not only train them in Asanas. I also guide them in Pranayama, meditation, dietary habits, and overall lifestyle management. For Aarti, excellence in sport begins with discipline away from competition. Success in any sport, including Yogasana, requires discipline. And discipline is not merely about sitting quietly in a classroom or following instructions. True discipline is reflected in the way you live your life. It is about what time you wake up, what time you sleep, what you eat, how much you eat, and how consistently you follow healthy habits. All these factors are extremely important, Aarti said. While her work with cricketers highlights yoga's sporting applications, Aarti also sees Yogasana itself undergoing a transformation. Once viewed primarily as a wellness practice, it is now attracting a younger generation eager to pursue it competitively. Yogasana, as a part of yoga, is not a new thing. Rather, I would say that it comes from our ancient science and ancient art, which is known as yoga. If we talk about yoga, it is actually a complete tree, and Yogasana is one of its branches. She believes formal recognition has played a major role in changing perceptions. After Yogasana received a formal structure and recognition from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Ministry of Ayush in 2020, it was recognised as a priority sport. Since then, Yogasana has covered a remarkable journey. Our Prime Minister, through International Yoga Day in 2015, gave yoga recognition as a global subject. But if we look at the audience of yoga, it is often limited to people who are either suffering from diseases or senior citizens. Yogasana, however, is something that has become a point of attraction for youngsters and youth. The historic Arjuna Award recognition, she says, has accelerated that shift. This nomination has once again increased the attraction of youngsters towards the sport. As competitive Yogasana evolves, Aarti believes aspiring athletes must embrace a new mindset. Actually, most people look at yoga primarily as a practice for wellness. So, first of all, I would like to clarify that Yogasana is a part of yoga, and in Yogasana sport, we have adopted Yogasana in a competitive sporting format. Therefore, it is important to understand that when we practise Yogasana as a sport, we need to follow a structured curriculum and a different approach to training, she added. As competitive Yogasana evolves, Aarti believes aspiring athletes must embrace a new mindset. Actually, most people look at yoga primarily as a practice for wellness. So, first of all, I would like to clarify that Yogasana is a part of yoga, and in Yogasana sport, we have adopted Yogasana in a competitive sporting format. Also Read: Live Cricket Score That mindset, she believes, will help Yogasana continue to expand its footprint, not only as a competitive sport but also as a tool capable of shaping stronger, healthier, and more resilient athletes across disciplines. And if her experience with cricketers is any indication, the sport's impact may already be extending well beyond the yoga mat. Article Source: IANS

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