Gunaratne in as SL bowl; Easmin debuts for Bangladesh
Sri Lanka have dominated Bangladesh in the format with 13 wins from 16 matches
Duleep Trophy final | Kishan assumes lead role as East batters dominate proceedings
The skippers unbeaten ton the highlight of the opening day as the visitor reaches 385 for four at stumps; Abhimanyu, Sooryavanshi, Shikhar, and Kushagra, too, punish the South bowlers
Bangladesh Sports Minister Wants BPL To Take Place Every Year Amid Credibility Concerns
Bangladesh Premier League: Bangladesh state minister for youth and sports Aminul Haque was unaware of the Bangladesh Premier League's postponement due to credibility issues and wanted the league to take place every year. BCB president Tamim Iqbal had earlier confirmed that the board will not start the BPL until the credibility issues that have hit the tournament are fixed, a move which was welcomed by the franchises but not by the cricketers. The cricketers were later offered increased match fees in the domestic circuit to compensate for the financial issues. Meanwhile, Aminul has called for an annual organisation of the tournament but was not aware of the postponement announced earlier. I only got to know from you (media) just now; I wasn't aware BPL would not take place. BPL is a popular tournament for Bangladesh, Aminul told the media on Sunday in Dhaka. You're saying the board president presented some logical reasons to you all. I think a tournament like the BPL should be held every year. Why it didn't happen, we need to discuss. We will obviously monitor in future that this kind of competition takes place regularly, he added. I only got to know from you (media) just now; I wasn't aware BPL would not take place. BPL is a popular tournament for Bangladesh, Aminul told the media on Sunday in Dhaka. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Franchise cricket is supposed to make money for Bangladesh Cricket Board. Not lose money, so there is something going wrong. Until and unless we fix the issues, it is not absolutely important for us to host this event every year, he said. Article Source: IANS
Yastika Bhatia, Shikha Pandey dazzle as Trinbago Knight Riders open WCPL with win
Trinbago Knight Riders began their Womens Caribbean Premier League campaign with a 21-run victory over defending champions Barbados Tridents at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown. India internationals Shikha Pandey and Yastika Bhatia were the vital cogs...
PCB Made Absolute Fools Of Themselves - Imran Khans Sons Hit Out Over Lords Test Row
Pakistan Cricket Board: The sons of former Pakistan captain and prime minister Imran Khan have slammed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi, saying that the board has made absolute fools of themselves over threats to abandon the recent Lords Test against England. The row erupted during the second Test when Sky Sports broadcasted an interview conducted by former England captain Michael Atherton with Khans sons, Sulaiman and Kasim. The pair spoke about their imprisoned fathers deteriorating health and prison conditions in Pakistan, leading to reports emerging that the PCB threatened not to take the field in the post-lunch session on day one unless the interviews airing was cancelled. They made absolute fools of themselves, Kasim told The Telegraph on Sunday. Sulaiman, meanwhile, expressed shock at the PCBs reaction to the interview. I was expecting some sort of response. But I didn't think they would be so tactless as to threaten not to take to the field. It shouldn't be in the remit of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to ask for an interview about an ex-Pakistan player, somebody who lived in England for 22 years, to be taken down. This wasn't about politics, but about the humanitarian situation and his health. With Naqvi, also Pakistan's Interior Minister, under immense spotlight, Kasim and Sulaiman have raised urgent safety concerns regarding Khans solitary confinement. They're clearly hoping to kill him in there. They want to silence him as secretly as possible and just slowly make him fade into nothing. That's a very difficult thing to do with the most popular person in Pakistan right now. Their strategy, whenever we speak, is to let everything fizzle out and then impose more brutal restrictions that make it even harder for him to survive. With Naqvi, also Pakistan's Interior Minister, under immense spotlight, Kasim and Sulaiman have raised urgent safety concerns regarding Khans solitary confinement. They're clearly hoping to kill him in there. They want to silence him as secretly as possible and just slowly make him fade into nothing. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories They haven't given us proof of any of this. It's all just hearsay from government sources there's no transparency, they don't want to give anyone access, so how are we supposed to believe any of it? The last verifiable piece of information we had was from him, six months ago, when he spoke about his eye and how it had been neglected. Article Source: IANS
England fall away after Dunkley hundred to post 291
Cara Murray takes four wickets as England collapse from 200 for 2
Nigeria Edge Zimbabwe To Qualify For ICC U19 Womens T20 World Cup 2027
ICC U19 Women: Nigeria held their nerve in a tense final against Zimbabwe to register a four-run victory and secure qualification for the ICC U19 Womens T20 World Cup 2027. The victory in the Africa Qualifier Division 1 final also capped an unbeaten campaign for Nigeria, who secured Africas sole qualification spot for next years tournament. They will join South Africa as the continents representatives at the ICC U19 Womens T20 World Cup, which will be hosted by Bangladesh and Nepal. Batting first, Nigeria managed 98 before their bowlers produced a disciplined performance to restrict Zimbabwe to 94, with just one ball remaining in the innings. Captain Christabel Chukwuonye led from the front with a valuable 21, while Beauty Oguai contributed 19 and Jessica Bieni scored 15 as Nigeria posted a competitive total on a challenging surface. Zimbabwes Christine Mutasa claimed two wickets, while Tadiwanashe Garutsa took one. In the chase, Zimbabwe remained in contention throughout, with Salem Museka top-scoring with 27. Bethel Zinyama added 21, while Nicolette Nyika made 18, but Nigerias bowlers kept applying pressure at crucial stages. Usen Peace was the standout performer with the ball for Nigeria, taking three wickets. Jennifer Godwin and Annointed Akhigbe chipped in with two wickets each to help their side defend the modest total. An emotional Chukwuonye credited her teammates and coaching staff for holding their composure under pressure. I actually cried when the game was over because I couldnt really express what I was feeling. The next phase is just the beginning, and we know it will be tougher. My team has really been the best, she said. They listened to the coaches, stayed united and, even with the pressure in the last over, were able to hold their nerves. I wouldnt be here holding this trophy without the support of the coaching crew and my players. I am very grateful to all of them, she added. Uganda finished third in the competition after defeating Rwanda by seven wickets. Chasing 74, Uganda reached the target in 16.1 overs after losing three wickets. They listened to the coaches, stayed united and, even with the pressure in the last over, were able to hold their nerves. I wouldnt be here holding this trophy without the support of the coaching crew and my players. I am very grateful to all of them, she added. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Namibia finished seventh after defeating Malawi by nine wickets. Malawi were dismissed for 38 in 12.2 overs, with Namibia completing the chase in just 5.1 overs. Article Source: IANS
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Takes Senior India Pacer To The Cleaners, Leaves Fans Stunned
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi clears Test cricket ambition with another fear-instilling knock in Duleep Trophy final.
Cricket South Africa: Nottinghamshires push for winning the ongoing County Championship has suffered a setback after wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne was recalled early by Cricket South Africa, thus ruling him out of the final three matches of the season. Verreynne, 29, currently in his third spell with the club, had originally signed to feature in all of Nottinghamshires red-ball fixtures this summer. But central contract obligations take precedence ahead of South Africas upcoming three-game home Test series against Australia. I think I've said it so many times, the club's got a really special place. It's got a special place to me, so I'll be watching closely. Like I said, the team's in a good position at the moment, playing some really good cricket. I think it's going to be quite an exciting run-in, so I'll be keeping a close eye, Verreynne said in a video posted by the franchise on their social media accounts on Sunday. Nottinghamshire sit four points behind leaders Somerset and one point ahead of third-placed Warwickshire with three rounds remaining. The recall leaves second-placed Nottinghamshire without their frontline wicketkeeper for crucial fixtures against Hampshire, Sussex, and Yorkshire as they chase leaders Somerset. Verreynne's final appearance of the summer will come against Leicestershire at Trent Bridge. South Africa's early recall affects several players across the county circuit ahead of their series against Australia. Nottinghamshire Director of Cricket Mick Newell expressed frustration at the timing while acknowledging the CSAs contractual rights. Its not ideal that were losing Kyle at this point in the season, but we understand the decision made by Cricket South Africa, and he returns with our best wishes for a busy winter. South Africa's early recall affects several players across the county circuit ahead of their series against Australia. Nottinghamshire Director of Cricket Mick Newell expressed frustration at the timing while acknowledging the CSAs contractual rights. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Theres always a lot of hard work being done behind the scenes to make sure were prepared for every outcome, and we hope to confirm a replacement for Kyle as soon as were able to. Article Source: IANS
Kishan 111* puts East Zone in control
East Zone took a giant stride towards reclaiming the Duleep Trophy with almost all their batters making substantial contributions
Ishan Kishan's Century Puts East Zone In Command Against South Zone On Day 1 Of Duleep Trophy Final
Captain Ishan Kishan scored an unbeaten hundred as he took East Zone to a strong position at the end of Day 1 of the Duleep Trophy final against South Zone at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Pretorius, Simelane miss T20I tri-series final with injuries
Pretorius suffered a groin injury while fast bowler Simelane had a side strain
Can Ishan Kishan be back in India's Test scheme of things after century in Duleep Trophy final?
East Zone captain Ishan Kishan played a commanding knock in the Duleep Trophy final against South Zone at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The 28-year-old arrived at the crease after Sudip Kumar Gharami fell...
India Has A Few Better Options: Ex-Star's Blunt Verdict On Sanju Samson's ODI World Cup Hopes
Former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer said he does not see wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson as a backup opener for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup.
Overseas Stars Like Glenn Maxwell And David Miller Are Guiding Local Players Via ETPL, Says Stirling
European T20 Premier League: Veteran Ireland opener Paul Stirling believes the presence of marquee players like Glenn Maxwell and David Miller while playing for the Belfast Wolves in the ongoing European T20 Premier League (ETPL) is accelerating the development of local talent, as they pass on crucial top-level experience to them both on and off the field. The six-team competition has brought two franchises each from Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands in a four-week showdown. The action kicked off in Voorburg, Netherlands, before it shifts to Dublin's Malahide Cricket Club Ground from September 9 and inaugural champions set to be crowned in the final on September 20. Belfast are in prime position to enter the knockouts, as they are at second spot on the points table. Apart from Stirling, Maxwell is in a captain-cum-co-owner role, alongside England's T20 World Cup winning member Chris Jordan and New Zealand's Devon Conway. His fellow Ireland team-mates Tim Tector, Mark Adair, Lorcan Tucker and Matthew Humphreys are also present in the setup. Look, I'm fortunate enough to have got to know these lads over the last few years anyway. But to catch up with them again, they've really been outstanding, particularly with the youngsters at the minute. But we've got the likes of Glenn Maxwell, who's the captain, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Chris Jordan and some really true class players. David Miller came in here and joined us from the third game onwards. So really high-profile players, but it's not just what they give on the field - it's also that experience that they pass on to local young guys and here to improve them. I think you'll see those differences come in quite quickly, Stirling said in an exclusive conversation with IANS on Sunday, facilitated by ETPL. Stirling, who has made 108 runs in four games so far, believes that the informal knowledge transfer taking place around the tournament will build much-needed strength in depth for Associate nations ahead of major international events. It's massive. You're going to have ideas from those experienced international guys passing on their knowledge, not just on the cricket field, but in and around the hotel, while having a coffee. It's not like you're only communicating with players on your own side as well. Once the matches are over, I think you're going to see strength and depth being added to these three host nations pretty quickly and hopefully the result of that is that in the next World Cups, you'll see more competitive cricket from the likes of ourselves, Scotland and Holland. He also noted that the league represents a milestone moment by offering local cricketers a viable full-time career path outside of playing international cricket. I mean it's a huge moment. It's been sort of bumbling away in the background about this happening and to be here now, it means a lot. It certainly means a lot for the local players in particular and the youngsters as well - to try and make a living out of cricket basically. There was only one route in the past - that was playing for your national team. Particularly, I'm speaking on behalf of the Irish set-up, and now there's another way to make a living. I think it's just going to make cricket in this country better and more competitive moving forward against the better teams. So, it's been truly exciting and hopefully it's here to stay. Reflecting on his early days in Ireland when central contracts were virtually non-existent, Stirling praised the growth of his country in going from a self-sustaining system to one capable of producing world-class talent, as seen from them beating current T20 World Cup holders India 2-0 in a T20I series at home in June. It's been huge. Certainly back when I started I was in 2008. We didn't have a contract. We were sort of semi-pro at that time. I was fortunate enough to get one of the first full contracts here in Ireland and I think there were maybe only 7 or 8 at that stage. To see where it's got to now, we always had the ability to pull off big wins back in those days against superior opposition I suppose you could say. But to see where the organisation has gone with fully contracting, maybe 20-23 plus contracts playing full-time cricket, I suppose taking the load off county cricket was our sort of the way that we needed to develop and become good cricketers by getting into that system. So to lose that and still be able to produce world-class cricketers is I suppose the aim and I think we've shown that we're capable of doing that. Praising the setup at Belfast Wolves, Stirling expressed satisfaction with how quickly the franchise setup has hit the ground running. It's been really good, to be honest. Just thankful that we've got the tournament off the ropes and we're all playing in it now. It's been a great experience so far - lots of good cricket being played and from our point of view, a couple of wins in there as well. So, we're pretty happy with how everything's transpired so far. You've got to sort of gel pretty quickly and I think we have managed to do that. The Belfast Wolves so far have been a really good set-up - probably one of the best I've been involved with in terms of just being ready to go. I think sometimes with these competitions, they're new, so there's a bit of a lag in getting everything right. We've been spot-on, we've been very fortunate as players to have been involved in this set-up. It's been pretty spotless so far and hopefully long may that continue. But it's been great - we want it to be a success. There's great overseas players here which I think make the tournament worthwhile and hopefully it's there for the long run as I said. Looking ahead, Stirling, the second Ireland mens batter to hit centuries across all international formats, felt the next generation of players have the capabilities to take Irish cricket to greater heights. I suppose it's just to keep improving. I think it's your responsibility when you take a shirt on and for an opening batter like me, it is to try and make sure that you're better than what it was before. We've been spot-on, we've been very fortunate as players to have been involved in this set-up. It's been pretty spotless so far and hopefully long may that continue. But it's been great - we want it to be a success. There's great overseas players here which I think make the tournament worthwhile and hopefully it's there for the long run as I said. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Really good talented players are coming through and ones that really want to learn and work hard. So there's absolutely no reason why it can't be passed on to them to make sure that this Irish cricket team is the best Irish cricket team that we've had and keep constantly doing that. Article Source: IANS
Pakistan Cricket In Shambles, All-Time Low: PCB Given Reality Check By Ex Cricketer
Down 2-0 in the three-match series following a heavy 194-run defeat at Lord's, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made the drastic call to send seven players, head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul back home ahead of the final match starting on September 9 at Edgbaston.
Ireland win toss, bowl in Arlene Kelly's farewell
England rest Issy Wong after five-wicket haul in Derby, recall Lauren Filer
Chepauk erupts as Tilak Varma sledges 15-YO Sooryavanshi
During the Duleep Trophy final in Chennai, South Zone captain Tilak Varma showed frustration towards 15-year-old East Zone vice-captain Vaibhav Sooryavanshi amidst a strong opening partnership by East Zone. The exchange, which included Varma reportedly calling Sooryavanshi Kya yaar ye vice captain, added drama to the highly anticipated match.
It's Aaqib Javed Versus Whole Pakistan Now, Hes Making All Decisions By Himself, Says Atiq-uz-Zaman
National High Performance Centre: Former Pakistan cricketer AtiquzZaman has alleged that chief selector Aaqib Javed is making all decisions by himself and that it has now become a case of him versus the entire setup, even as the fallout from wholesale changes dominates discussions about the ongoing disastrous Test tour of England. Following a 194-run defeat at Lords that has left Pakistan trailing 2-0 in the three-match series, the side dropped seven players - Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad - and relieved red-ball head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul of their duties. In their place, five uncapped players - Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, and Razaullah - have been called up alongside Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal. White-ball head coach Mike Hesson and bowling coach Ashley Noffke have stepped in to take charge of the Test side for the game at Edgbaston, starting on September 9. Asked whether this is an unprecedented point Pakistan has reached as a men's team, Atiq-uz-Zaman agreed unreservedly. I think if I disagree with this conversation, I will be the most biased person on the planet. I think even people who don't have an understanding of international cricket, or they have not played in it, but they play some sort of cricket, and they watch cricket, they all agree with what everybody is saying, Atiq-uz-Zaman told IANS in an exclusive conversation from England. They all disagree with the decision Pakistan Cricket Board has made. I think it's an unbelievable, ignorant decision by anybody. Performance is not okay. We can understand that Pakistan's performance is really, really below average - very poor, I would say. But I have never witnessed these kinds of incidents before in my whole cricket career - that team has been changed during the series and the coach has been sent home just for a reason, because he did not listen to somebody's advice. It's unbelievable, he added. He then directed his sharpest criticism at Javed, alleging that hes operating without structured processes and deliberately managing public expectations down to mask administrative failures. I think the Pakistan Cricket Board has become a one-man show now. I think it's Aaqib Javed versus whole Pakistan now. So, he is making all decisions by himself. He watches a dream and then he tries to execute his dream the next day. There is no process because the problem with Asian countries, especially in Pakistan is if you try to build a process, you lose the power and you don't want to lose the power. You don't want to give authority to other people or you don't want people to grow. You want people to be dictated by you. So, this is kind of a culture he brought in. I don't understand one thing Pakistan, before they went to the West Indies, they had a two-month camp. They were working hard - like about 20-odd players were together. So, it's been selected by the same people - Aaqib Javed, Sarfaraz, Asad Shafiq and Misbah-ul-Haq. So, you selected the same team. They didn't perform much in the West Indies, but they won a Test match there, luckily. But they didn't perform well in England. Before they even went to West Indies, Aaqib Javed had told the media, If Pakistan win one Test match out of four, it will be a really, really good achievement. So, they try to lower the expectation of the public on purpose and people will know that, Oh, Pakistan will win. It should be okay. So, they try to brainwash people in that sense, he elaborated. Atiq-uz-Zaman, who played a Test and three ODIs for Pakistan, and served as fielding-cum-wicketkeeping coach at its High Performance Centre, further said team selection is being driven by political favouritism rather than genuine talent in the mens side. Even before they went to England, everybody must know that Pakistan team's bowling attack was really, really average. If they have a seaming track, then Muhammad Abbas or Mohammad Ali will be a little bit effective. Apart from that, if they haven't got a pacey bowler, like we used to have Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, and Mohammad Sami, they will not trouble England because they are very advanced in Test cricket. England, India, South Africa, Australia, they are four prime teams - even New Zealand. Pakistan cannot touch them because they havent got those kind of players. They don't select them and we don't have fast bowlers. It's not true to say that we don't have quick fast bowlers in Pakistan. We do have quick fast bowlers who can bowl 90 miles an hour. But they don't get selected because of some people who just want to bring those people, who just say to them, Oh, thank you, sir. How are you, sir? They will go to your office and say Salaam to you and all. They will be good in front of that person and then they will be selected, he said. On the lack of sympathy for coaches and players sent home, Atiq-uz-Zaman pointed to a broader cultural issue. Pakistani culture is always like that. It's always a dictatorial culture. Since we have got 1992 heroes - so-called heroes who won the World Cup, they have been involved in Pakistan cricket for decades and decades and decades and they are the ones who are ruining Pakistan cricket. So, we need to get rid of those people. We need to bring the new mindset with full empathy and respect for the players. If you select one team, you back them up for the whole series. After that, okay, there will be accountability. If you don't perform - thank you very much, you did not do well. We give you objective feedback on how you can improve and come back to the team and nothing else. You drop them now, you will never see these players again because they will never be picked again, he stated. Turning to Test captain Babar Azam, Atiq-uz-Zaman expressed little sympathy for him, claiming the star batter lacked self-respect by accepting the leadership role in an unstable environment. Well, it's his own choice to take the captaincy. If I have self-respect, Babar Azam has self-respect for himself. He would never have chosen to be a captain because he was dropped once and then he came back again and was dropped again. Now he has come back again and took over a team which is not ready to compete in Test cricket, where the selection committee and coaching staff are not reliable. So, he put himself into trouble. I don't feel sorry for Babar Azam because I feel very upset about it more so because he shouldn't have taken the captaincy. Or if he had taken the captaincy, he should have stood up and said, Okay, if you are sending my coach back, if you are sending my player back, I resign from the captaincy as well. But he didn't. Everybody likes power in Pakistan. Asked whether Pakistan cricket can recover in the foreseeable future, Atiq-uz-Zaman was skeptical about any quick turnaround. I don't think so. In the near future, Pakistan will never recover from this because the damage is so big. I think the most important thing for the PCB or the chairman to do is bring the quality, skilled, educated people around the National High Performance Centre and Pakistan Cricket Board who can take care of cricketing matters without any politics and even injustice. So, you need to bring those kind of people. Unfortunately, those people do not exist in Pakistan. Some are there, but you will never bring them because few will try to kick them out. He cited former PCB CEO Wasim Khan's tenure as an example of how proper administrative processes were there before being dismantled. I recall in 2020 when Wasim Khan took charge as PCB CEO. He was the right person for the job. I'm not just saying that because he hired me as a High-Performance coach, but because he brought in top-quality, qualified staff across key positions, and a real process was being built. I think the most important thing for the PCB or the chairman to do is bring the quality, skilled, educated people around the National High Performance Centre and Pakistan Cricket Board who can take care of cricketing matters without any politics and even injustice. So, you need to bring those kind of people. Unfortunately, those people do not exist in Pakistan. Some are there, but you will never bring them because few will try to kick them out. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Then Ramiz Raja came in, made it a one-man show, and undid that work. I am telling you, all 1992 players are dictators because many lack modern coaching qualifications or broader sports education. They have been living off that 1992 World Cup victory for over 30 years, and in the process, they are destroying our cricket, he concluded. Article Source: IANS
Irish Cricketer Arlene Kelly Announces International Retirement
Irish Cricket International Women: Ireland womens all-rounder Arlene Kelly has announced her retirement from professional cricket, bringing the curtain down on a four-and-a-half-year international career following Irelands match against England Women in Worcester. The 32-year-old, born in New Zealand, moved to Ireland in 2022 after securing an Irish passport and initially came to experience domestic cricket. Her performances quickly put her on the international radar. Kelly made an immediate impression, scoring 60 and taking 3-35 in a Player of the Match display. Within weeks, she earned her Ireland debut against South Africa on June 3, 2022, at Pembroke Cricket Club. She returned figures of 2-25 as Ireland stunned the then-World Cup runners-up by 10 runs. What began without any expectation of international cricket soon developed into a prominent role in Irelands side. Kelly featured in 110 of Ireland Womens 117 matches since her debut, establishing herself as one of the teams most dependable performers. A medium-pace swing bowler known for her control and consistency, Kelly leaves as Irelands third-highest wicket-taker, behind Isobel Joyce and Laura Delany. Her career-best figures of 5-12 came against the Netherlands in a T20I in 2023, a year in which she was named Irish Cricket International Womens Player of the Year and also received the ICC International Womens Player of the Month award for August. Reflecting on her decision to step away, Kelly said, Its been an absolute privilege to represent Ireland over the past four-and-a-half years and Ive been fortunate enough to make so many amazing memories both on and off the field. However, the time feels right to hang up the boots and head back to New Zealand to be around my family and friends. I want to say a massive thank you to Cricket Ireland, the coaches Ive worked alongside and most importantly my teammates. You welcomed me in with open arms and allowed me to be me. This has been a very special changing room to be a part of, and I know that this group is capable of achieving so much. I will be actively following and supporting the team from the other side of the boundary boards. Ireland captain Gaby Lewis paid tribute to Kellys contribution and the impact she made after arriving as an overseas player for Malahide Cricket Club. Arlene has become such a special part of our team over the last four years. She came over to Ireland as an overseas player for Malahide CC and I dont think any of us could have imagined then just how important she would become to our group. She has given so much to us, both on and off the field, and has been someone we could always rely on. We know how difficult it has been for her being so far away from her family for such a long time. Although were going to miss her hugely, were really happy for her to be heading home and being closer to the people she loves. Arlene has become such a special part of our team over the last four years. She came over to Ireland as an overseas player for Malahide CC and I dont think any of us could have imagined then just how important she would become to our group. She has given so much to us, both on and off the field, and has been someone we could always rely on. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Ireland Women head coach Lloyd Tennant also highlighted Kellys reliability and influence within the team, saying, Arlene will be a big loss to Irish cricket. Shes been so reliable and handles pressure situations extremely well. But the biggest loss will be her presence in our environment. Shes helped shape a new era of high performance, always looking for ways to improve and make the most of her ability. I wish her every success for the future. Article Source: IANS
Pakistan Cricket Is In Shambles At The Moment: Atiq-uz-Zaman
Pakistan Cricket Board: Former wicketkeeper-batter Atiq-uz-Zaman has expressed deep anguish over the current state of the Pakistan mens team, saying that they are in shambles at the moment due to chaos and mid-tour player and coaching changes during their ongoing Test series in England. Down 2-0 in the three-match series following a heavy 194-run defeat at Lords, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made the drastic call to send seven players, head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul back home ahead of the final match starting on September 9 at Edgbaston. White-ball coaches Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke have taken over red-ball coaching responsibilities, while former captain Misbah-ul-Haq offered his resignation from the selection panel and even left the batting consultant role at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. The decision to trigger a massive squad overhaul ahead of the dead-rubber third Test sent shockwaves through the cricketing world, as it drew sharp criticism from global experts and commentators, especially with Pakistans fortunes across formats on a sharp downward spiral. I don't understand why Khurram Shehzad was dropped or why the spinner (Ali Usman) was sent home after taking the most wickets in the Leeds Test. All of a sudden, now T20 bowlers are brought into the Test squad. Why? Because Mike Hesson has his personal favourites, and he brought those players into Test cricket. I don't understand what's going on. Pakistan cricket is in shambles at the moment. It really hurts me because, even though I live in England, I am Pakistani at heart. I played for my country and I want them to improve and perform well in different conditions. Pakistan cricket is currently at an all-time low, Atiq-uz-Zaman told IANS in an exclusive conversation from England. He was also left bewildered over relieving Sarfaraz and Gul of their duties midway through the series. There is no justification for it. The same people who selected them are the ones turning around and deselecting them. That means either you made a mistake in the first place, or you are making a mistake right now. Look, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul are greats of Pakistan cricket. Theyve won World Cups for Pakistan. Sarfaraz won a World Cup at the U19 level and then won the Champions Trophy as national captain. He deserves respect. Now, I personally didn't agree with him becoming the Pakistan Test team head coach because he lacked prior coaching experience and qualifications. I didn't support that appointment. But once you make him the coach, you have to back him. Give him a fair chance before you disrespect him and send him home in the middle of a Test series. It is unacceptable. I feel very sorry for Sarfaraz and Umar Gul because I don't think they did anything wrong. If the players on the field can't perform, or if you haven't selected a team capable of performing, what is a coach supposed to do? Let's see what Mike Hesson does now, he added. Turning his attention to the players, Atiq-uz-Zaman directed harsh words at left-handed opener Imam-ul-Haq, who didnt bat in the Lords Test against England after being diagnosed with a grade-1 tear in his left calf. Though Imam came out and attempted some batting practice despite the injury, many called him out for putting out a performance for the media rather than showing courage on the field. Look, I won't speculate on the exact severity of his injury, but in our culture, we are raised to be tough. If you have a Grade 1, 2, or even Grade 3 muscle strain, you still step out there and bat for your team. Even if you get out on the first ball, it doesn't matter - the public sees that you showed heart, and they respect you for it. Instead, he made himself look bad by not batting in either innings, and then walking out in front of the media in shorts with bandages on his leg and heavily limping - even if you can't run, you can still hit a ball. Look at Glenn Maxwell scoring a double hundred with severe hamstring cramps, or Chris Woakes coming out to bat with a fractured hand. Look at Saleem Malik playing against West Indies fast bowlers with a broken arm. Imam-ul-Haq should have walked out to bat. Even if he got out immediately, nobody would have questioned his commitment because he was genuinely injured. But limping around in front of the media after taking criticism the day before just looks like a performance. It leaves a bad impression, and I have no sympathy for that behaviour. If you don't have the heart or bravery for international cricket, you shouldn't be playing Test matches. Test cricket isn't just a test of your skills - it's a test of your character, he elaborated. Despite the off-field drama, Atiq-uz-Zaman offered words of encouragement to the players ahead of the final Test at Edgbaston. To be honest, in Pakistan, players are used to this environment from domestic, U16, and U19 cricket. We are raised in a tough system where you rarely get total freedom or backing, and you always feel like you are playing under threat just to survive. My message to them is: enjoy your cricket, believe in your skill set, do what you can with bat and ball, and leave the rest to God. It leaves a bad impression, and I have no sympathy for that behaviour. If you don't have the heart or bravery for international cricket, you shouldn't be playing Test matches. Test cricket isn't just a test of your skills - it's a test of your character, he elaborated. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Hopefully, the PCB chairman changes his approach and brings in someone with genuine expertise and leadership experience to drive real structural change. If you surround the team with quality, professional individuals, they will instill high standards. The talent in Pakistan is undeniably there, but without the right resources and supportive structure, these players cannot reach the next level. Article Source: IANS
China Masters 2026 Live Streaming, Men's Doubles Final: How To Watch Chirag-Satwik's Match
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You Can Call It Classist: Ex-India Star's 'Dangerous' Warning For Asian Games 2026
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Sher-e-Punjab: Abhishek, Gill Set For Showdown As Amritsar Soormas Face Fazilka Falcons
Punjab T20 Cup: Indian stars Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill will go head-to-head when Amritsar Soormas take on Fazilka Falcons in the Sher-E-Punjab T20 Cup at the I.S. Bindra Stadium here on Monday. With the Soormas determined to return to winning ways, the clash promises to be one of the marquee fixtures of the tournament. The spotlight will be firmly on Amritsar captain Abhishek Sharma, whose fearless batting can change the course of a game within a few overs. Alongside him, Naman Dhir will look to continue his attacking approach, while Abhay Choudhary and Rahul Kumar will aim to provide stability and finishing firepower through the middle order. The Soormas will also count on Sahaj Dhawan and Jashanpreet Singh Sidhu to make valuable contributions. With the ball, Amritsar will look for another disciplined performance from their bowling attack. Akash Pandey and Mayank Markande are expected to play crucial roles as the Soormas aim to build pressure through the middle overs and keep the Fazilka batters in check. Fazilka Falcons boast an equally formidable line-up led by Indian Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill. The side also features key players such as Sanvir Singh, Raghu Sharma and Anshul Chaudhary, while Eish Rao and Prerit Dutta add further depth to the batting unit. The clash sets up an intriguing battle between two star-studded sides, with both teams looking to make the most of the opportunity and secure an important victory. Fazilka Falcons boast an equally formidable line-up led by Indian Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill. The side also features key players such as Sanvir Singh, Raghu Sharma and Anshul Chaudhary, while Eish Rao and Prerit Dutta add further depth to the batting unit. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories With Abhishek and Gill leading their respective teams, the contest is expected to draw considerable attention as the two Indian stars face each other in a high-profile Sher-E-Punjab T20 Cup encounter. Article Source: IANS
The Duleep Trophy 2026 final sees East Zone taking on South Zone. The two sides meet at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai for the clash, and batting first, East Zone got off to a...
Kya Yeh Vice-Captain? Tilak Varma Sledges Vaibhav Sooryavanshi In Duleep Trophy Final. Watch
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Shree Charani reveals India's plan to crush Pakistan
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Lakshya Excited To Lead India U19, Credits Dehradun T20 League For Preparation
The Dehradun T20 League: Lakshya Raichandani described his appointment as captain of India U19 for the upcoming white-ball series against Australia as a special moment for him and his family, while also highlighting the value of the Dehradun T20 League in his preparations. The Mussoorie Thunder batter, currently featuring in the Dehradun T20 League, said he was looking forward to embracing the responsibility of leading the junior national side and using the opportunity to continue developing his game. Everyone at home was very happy when I got the call. It was a very special moment for my family as well. I am really excited about the responsibility and see it as a great opportunity to lead the team, learn and prove myself, Lakshya said. The 19-year-old said representing India against Australia would be a valuable experience and expressed his gratitude at being entrusted with the leadership role. I am very excited and grateful for this opportunity. It is a great feeling to be part of the India U-19 team and to play against Australia. I am really looking forward to the white-ball series and hopefully I can contribute to the team. Lakshya said he has opted to keep his preparation straightforward, sticking to his regular routine rather than making significant changes ahead of the series. I am following the normal process and focusing on my practice. I am not doing anything very different. I am just working on my game, preparing well and trying to be ready for the series. The ongoing Dehradun T20 League has also given him an opportunity to gain competitive match practice. Lakshya believes the tournament can play an important role in creating opportunities for local cricketers and preparing players for the next level. The Dehradun T20 League is providing very good exposure to the local players. It is also very good preparation for the boys who are looking to play in the UPL. The local players are getting the opportunity to play competitive T20 cricket, gain experience and showcase their talent. I think this league can be very beneficial for the development of cricket in Dehradun and Uttarakhand. Recalling his initial reaction to being picked for the tournament, Lakshya said he viewed it primarily as a chance to gain valuable game time. When I first heard about the Dehradun T20 League and found out through the auction that I would get an opportunity to play here, my first thought was that it would be good practice for me. There was also a lot of excitement because it was a new league and I knew I would get a good opportunity to gain experience and prepare myself. Recalling his initial reaction to being picked for the tournament, Lakshya said he viewed it primarily as a chance to gain valuable game time. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories I am working on my game day by day and trying to improve in every aspect. It is going to be a long domestic season, so my focus is on staying consistent, working hard in practice and making small improvements every day. Article Source: IANS
Ignored India Star Sends Loud Message To BCCI With Brilliant 5/20 In County Championship
Indian spinner R Sai Kishore took five wickets for 20 runs as Gloucestershire secured a 213-run win over Derbyshire in the County Championship.
Women's Asia Cup: Very Important To Stick To Our Strengths, Says Charani After India Beat Pakistan
T20 Asia Cup: India spinner N Sree Charani emphasised the importance of sticking to the teams strengths on the difficult pitches at the ongoing Womens T20 Asia Cup, after Indias spin attack dismantled Pakistan to secure a comfortable seven-wicket victory here on Saturday. Charani and Prema Rawat led Indias bowling attack with three wickets each as Pakistan were bowled out for just 55 off 18.1 overs. India then chased the target in just 8.4 overs to record their fifth consecutive T20I victory over their arch-rivals. With the pitches offering grip and enabling sharp turn, Indias spinners repeatedly deceived Pakistans batters with flight, drift and disciplined lengths. Charani returned excellent figures of 3-7 from her four overs, while Rawat finished with 3-9. In a video shared by the BCCI, Charani said the conditions made it particularly important for Indian players to rely on their strengths rather than deviate from their established approach. The learnings are the same. You just need to stick to your strengths here because of the pitches that we are playing. Its crucial to stick to our strengths. If we follow that, then we will do well going forward, she said. The youngster also praised Rawat, who delivered a match-winning spell alongside her, with the duo accounting for six of Pakistans 10 wickets. I didnt like her wicket, but I liked her celebration, Charani said of Rawat. Charani also credited Indias coach, Avishkar Salvi, with helping the players prepare for various match situations during practice. It is simple. Avi, sir, also tells us in the practices whenever we go; he tells us to just do reps on the ball. He watches us. He also gives us inputs, whatever the situation is, she said. If we are doing good, then he doesnt tell us anything. He just tells us that we are doing good. If anything is going wrong, then he will be the first person to come to us. He will guide us, she added. Rawat, who also picked up three wickets, said repeatedly creating pressure situations during practice had helped her become more comfortable on the international stage. It is actually special for me because of all the matches I have played, like the WPL debut, the World Cup debut, and my India debut, and the whole crowd was there. So, I was not ready for the pressure. I was under a lot of pressure when I made my debut, said Rawat. But when I go back for practice, I create that situation. So, because of that, I am used to it now. So, it feels good. Rawat also underlined the importance of carrying Indias winning momentum into the next stage of the tournament. Actually, to be honest, the next stage of winning is very important because if we take this confidence forward, it will give us more confidence. We dont have to get used to it because we have achieved three wins. So, when we move forward in the matches, it will help us a lot, she said. Rawat also underlined the importance of carrying Indias winning momentum into the next stage of the tournament. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories However, Harmanpreet Kaur, unbeaten on 18, and Deepti Sharma ensured there were no further setbacks as India completed another emphatic win over Pakistan. Article Source: IANS
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Pakistan Are The Best Side In This Asia Cup To Lift The Trophy: Wahab Riaz
Asia Cup: After a humiliating defeat at the hands of India in the Womens Asia Cup league-stage match in Dubai on Saturday, Pakistan team mentor Wahab Riaz said his side remains the favourites to lift the trophy. Playing their 200th T20I, Pakistan struggled to find momentum as India implemented a spin-choke to dismiss them for a record-low T20I score of 55. Despite captain Fatima Sana (3/17) leading Pakistan's resistance with three early wickets, India easily achieved the 56-run target, extending their winning streak in the Women's Asia Cup 2026 and maintaining top spot in Group A. I believe that all the players in our team are very skilful, and they just need to trust themselves. Our next match is against Hong Kong. We will go back and discuss what we did wrong against India. We wont commit the same mistakes. I still believe Pakistan is the best side in this Asia Cup to lift the trophy because the conditions really suit us, Riaz told reporters after the loss. Former captain Sana Mir had criticised the Pakistan team management for making wholesale changes to the team for the Womens Asia Cup, leaving out seven players. However, Riaz brushed aside such criticism, saying the players left out were not performing well and that changes were made to bring in new faces, keeping the future in mind. Sana Mir has her own opinion. I have nothing to do with that opinion. We have made changes with the future in mind. The players who were playing before have played a lot of World Cups and Asia Cups but we werent getting the results. So it was time to go with new faces and bring new girls into the mix to build the team for the upcoming tournaments, Riaz said. Former captain Sana Mir had criticised the Pakistan team management for making wholesale changes to the team for the Womens Asia Cup, leaving out seven players. However, Riaz brushed aside such criticism, saying the players left out were not performing well and that changes were made to bring in new faces, keeping the future in mind. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Pakistan, who are on the brink of a group-stage exit with just two points, will look to bounce back when they face Hong Kong on Monday. Article Source: IANS
Flames Hold Their Nerve To Edge Guardians In 9-Run Thriller
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Former India cricketer reflects on key decisions after BCCI's meeting around SENA games
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300 and Still Standing: Josh Hazlewoods Extraordinary Comeback
There was no grand stage, no roaring crowd and no elaborate celebration. Josh Hazlewood reached one of the greatest landmarks in Australian fast bowling almost exactly as he has conducted his entire career: quietly, efficiently and without fuss. At Darwin, Hazlewood dismissed Mehidy Hasan Miraz to claim his 300th Test wicket, becoming only the ninth Australian bowler in history to reach the landmark and just the seventh Australian fast bowler to do so. Hazlewood began Australia's first Test against Bangladesh needing five wickets to enter the exclusive 300 club. He finished the innings with 6 for 89, his 14th five-wicket haul in Tests. More importantly, he had returned to the format after a frustrating year of injuries and uncertainty and immediately reminded Australia why he remains one of the most trusted fast bowlers of his generation. At 35, Hazlewood had not played a Test for 12 months and had even missed the previous home Ashes because of injuries. For more than a year, therefore, the 300-wicket milestone had been tantalisingly close but out of reach. Talking of the feat of 300 Test wickets, Dennis Lillee was the first Australian quick to reach the landmark, in November 1981. Since then, Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins have joined him. Hazlewood's arrival completes another remarkable chapter in the story of Australian pace bowling. Among Australia's nine 300-wicket bowlers, only McGrath, Cummins and Lillee had a better bowling average when they reached the milestone than Hazlewood's 24.02. But statistics alone do not explain Hazlewood. His greatness has never depended on express pace or theatrical celebrations. There was another extraordinary dimension to Hazlewood's achievement. He joined Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins in Australia's current Test attack three teammates who had already crossed 300 wickets. That created a unique piece of cricket history. The Darwin Test became the first Test in which one team had four bowlers each with at least 300 Test wickets. Lyon now has 571 wickets, Starc 445, Cummins 322 and Hazlewood 303. The sheer volume of experience in Australia's bowling attack is extraordinary. It also underlines how special this Australian era has been. For years, the quartet of Hazlewood, Starc, Cummins and Lyon has formed the backbone of Australia's Test bowling. Together, they have won Ashes series, World Test Championship titles and countless matches around the world. Yet Hazlewood knows there are still challenges ahead. Australia faces a demanding period of Test cricket, potentially involving 20 to 21 matches in 12 months, including major overseas assignments. England, India and South Africa represent particularly significant challenges. There is something fitting about Hazlewood's understated personality matching his cricket. He is one of the least visible members of Australia's modern cricket team. Even after reaching 300 wickets, he was reluctant to make the achievement about himself. He may never have been the loudest voice in the dressing room or the most visible Australian cricketer outside it, but for more than a decade he has been one of Australia's most reliable match-winners. Now his name sits alongside Lillee, McGrath, Lee, Johnson, Starc and Cummins in the exclusive list of Australian fast bowlers with 300 Test wickets. Josh Hazlewood has stood through injuries, setbacks, competition and long periods away from Test cricket. And after all that, the quiet man of Australian cricket is finally standing among the giants. Of the nine Australian bowlers to reach 300 wickets, Shane Warne remains Australia's leading wicket-taker with 708, ahead of Lyon's 571, Glenn McGrath's 563 and Starc's 445. Dennis Lillee (355), Cummins (322), Mitchell Johnson (313) and Brett Lee (310) complete the list of Australians above Hazlewood's tally of 303, with Lyon, Starc and Cummins still adding to their totals as active players. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Globally, the milestone places Hazlewood among an elite group of bowlers to have taken 300 or more Test wickets. Sri Lanka great Muttiah Muralitharan tops the overall list with 800 wickets, followed by Shane Warne with 708. Hazlewood's achievement may not carry the numerical weight of those legends, but in the context of Australian fast bowling, it represents something special: the resurrection of a great quick who refused to let injuries write the final chapter of his career.
Pooran and Narine lead TKR to victory in low-scoring clash
Sunil Narine led a classic TKR spin strangle after Nicholas Pooran's six-hitting set up a defendable total
Pakistan Best Team In Women's Asia Cup: Coach Wahab Riaz After 55-All Out Show Against India
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EZ vs SZ, Duleep Trophy 2026 Final LIVE Score: East Zone aim to get off to good start with the bat
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Why is KL Rahul not playing against East Zone in Duleep Trophy 2026 final? Check details
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East Zone vs South Zone LIVE Score, Duleep Trophy Final 2026 Cricket Match Scorecard LIVE Updates: East Zone skipper Ishan Kishan won the toss and opted to bat against South Zone in the final of the prestigious Duleep Trophy.
Edinburgh Rockers Overcome Early Collapse to Beat Rotterdam Dockers by 55 Runs in ETPL
Edinburgh Castle Rockers produced another impressive all-round performance to defeat Rotterdam Dockers by 55 runs in Match 14 of the ETPL, defending 148 at Voorburg Cricket Club, Netherlands. Rotterdam Dockers won the toss and elected to field, and their decision appeared to be paying off early as the Rockers lost three wickets inside the opening three overs. JJ Smuts fell for a two-ball duck, Andries Gous departed for four and Ross Adair was dismissed for nine, leaving Edinburgh at just 14 for three. The Rockers, however, rebuilt through Brandon McMullen and Laurie Evans. The pair added 46 before McMullen was dismissed for a powerful 37 from 28 balls, which included three fours and two sixes. Evans continued to anchor the innings, making 33 from 31, before Gareth Delany provided the acceleration Edinburgh needed. Delany's 31 from just 18 balls, featuring two fours and two sixes, shifted the momentum firmly back towards the Rockers. Mitchell Santner then added a rapid 15 from eight, including a six, as Edinburgh pushed beyond the 140 mark despite losing wickets regularly in the closing overs. Edinburgh were eventually bowled out for 148 in 19.3 overs, with Rotterdam's Jai Moondra, David Wiese and Anrich Nortje each claiming three wickets. The Dockers' chase, however, unravelled almost immediately. Tom Curran made the early breakthrough by removing Michael Levitt for one, before dismissing Vikramjit Singh for a duck in the same over. Ben McDermott briefly threatened with a six, but Trent Boult removed him for 6, leaving Rotterdam eight down after just 2.4 overs. Faf du Plessis attempted to steady the innings with 21 from 19 balls, but Mitchell Santner produced the crucial breakthrough, with Ross Adair taking the catch to remove the Dockers captain at 40 for five. From there, the Rockers' bowlers maintained relentless pressure. Santner finished with 2/17, Mark Watt took 2/23, and Curran returned to complete a superb spell of 3/16 from four overs, while JJ Smuts also claimed a wicket. Rotterdam were bowled out for 93 in 18 overs, handing Edinburgh a comprehensive 55-run victory. The result keeps the Rockers unbeaten in the ETPL and underlines their ability to win from difficult positions, with their recovery from 14 for three followed by a disciplined bowling display that never allowed Rotterdam to establish a meaningful partnership. For the Dockers, an early bowling advantage could not be converted into control of the match, while their batting collapse left them with too much ground to recover. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Edinburgh once again showed the balance that has made them one of the tournament's leading sides, combining resilience with the bat and sustained pressure with the ball to secure another convincing win.
Duleep Trophy Final: Sooryavanshi in focus; East bat first
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Pandey, Harris and Yastika give Knight Riders opening-night win
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PCB Takes Pakistan Players' Phones Into Custody, Drama Unfolds Ahead Of 3rd England Test: Report
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Irfan Pathan Mocks Pakistan With Sunday Post Again After India Hammering In Women's Asia Cup
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Duleep Trophy Final Live Streaming, East Zone vs South Zone Live Telecast: Where To Watch
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi In Action, East Zone vs South Zone Live Streaming, Duleep Trophy Final Live Telecast: Where To Watch
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What Is PCB Investigating? Report On Players' Phone-Confiscation Raises Serious Questions
The current meltdown in the Pakistan cricket team has taken a new turn
Pakistan's challenge ended in a whimper as Harmanpreet Kaur-led India romped to a seven-wicket win in a Women's Asia Cup match in Dubai on Saturday
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'A Journey Filled with Hard Work, Challenges': A Special Century For Shami
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'Important to keep the standards high': Harmanpreet salutes India after Pakistan rout
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Womens Asia Cup: 'I Want To Do More For My Country,' Says Charani After Three-for Against Pakistan
Dubai International Stadium: Top-ranked T20I bowler N. Sree Charani said her primary drive remains to do more for her country after delivering a match-winning spell of 3-7 in her side's dominant seven-wicket victory over Pakistan at the Womens Asia Cup on Saturday. Left-arm spinner Charani claimed 3-7 to help skittle Pakistan out for a paltry 55 in 18.1 overs, before India comfortably chased down the target in 8.4 overs at the Dubai International Stadium. Its (a) great feeling to contribute (to) my team. Just wanted to bowl to my strength and according to the field. I just try to give more revs on the ball, so that helps me every time, she said at the conclusion of the game. She also spoke about remaining focused on collective success as she nears a major personal milestone of 50 T20I wickets. I think (its) normal, like every day. But it will be special, but yeah, I need to continue and want to do more for my country. I want to keep going with my good work, added Charani. Its (a) great feeling to contribute (to) my team. Just wanted to bowl to my strength and according to the field. I just try to give more revs on the ball, so that helps me every time, she said at the conclusion of the game. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Fatima mounted a spirited personal fightback with the ball, taking 3-17 in the powerplay to reduce India to 29-3, though she derived little satisfaction from the effort. But still, we lost the match; it doesnt matter. We needed a win, so it doesn't matter. We will try to play good cricket there (against Hong Kong China on Monday), and in the last match we will try to win and (progress) to the finals (knockouts). Article Source: IANS
Shafali Verma Creates History During India-Pakistan Clash, Sets New World Record
Star India opener Shafali Verma entered the record books on Saturday, becoming the fastest and youngest player to reach 3,000 runs in Women's T20 Internationals.
Very Important To Keep Standards High: Harmanpreet Kaur After India's Big Win Over Pakistan
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Shree Charani, Prema Rawat spin Pakistan out for 55 in one-sided contest
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Womens Asia Cup: India Earn Seven-wicket Win Over Pakistan Despite Fatimas Three-for
T20 Asia Cup: Powered by three-fors from N. Sree Charani and Prema Rawat, India produced a dominant all-round display to secure a convincing seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in the 2026 Womens T20 Asia Cup on Saturday by chasing down 56 in just 8.4 overs at the Dubai International Stadium. The one-sided victory achieved with 68 balls remaining marked India's fifth consecutive T20I win over Pakistan, as Harmanpreet Kaur-led side maintained their unbeaten start to the continental event. Even as India and their fans rejoiced at the victory achieved via a relentless bowling masterclass from their spin quarter, Pakistan were left to rue another dismal performance with the bat after being bundled out for 55 their lowest total in Womens T20Is. Shafali Verma set an explosive tone for the paltry chase by launching the very first delivery from Sadia Iqbal over long-off for a six. Shafali also became the youngest batter to reach 3,000 runs in womens T20Is at 22 years and 220 days, as well as the fastest in terms of balls faced (2,182). Pakistan captain Fatima Sana mounted a spirited fightback when she removed Shafali (12) by extracting a soft leading edge, completed via a caught-and-bowled dismissal, before getting Pratika Rawal (4) caught behind. Fatima struck again in her second over by trapping Smriti Mandhana lbw after the opener hit her for a boundary, leaving India at 29/3 in the fourth over. The three-wicket burst made Fatima just the fourth bowler from a full-member nation to take three wickets in the powerplay overs of a womens T20I twice in her career. However, captain Harmanpreet, playing in her landmark 150th T20I game as the sides skipper, and Deepti Sharma steadied the chase without further alarm. The duo took their time before Deepti released the pressure in the seventh over by stepping out to loft left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu over mid-wicket for four. Harmanpreet and Deepti carefully negotiated the remaining runs, using soft hands and quick running to keep the scoreboard ticking. Harmanpreet capped off the win in style in the ninth over - after surviving a chance that just evaded an outstretched Fatima at mid-on for four, she stepped down the pitch to loft Nashra Sandhu cleanly over long-on for a six, as India signed off from the league stage with a hat-trick of wins. However, captain Harmanpreet, playing in her landmark 150th T20I game as the sides skipper, and Deepti Sharma steadied the chase without further alarm. The duo took their time before Deepti released the pressure in the seventh over by stepping out to loft left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu over mid-wicket for four. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Pakistan 55 all out in 18.1 overs (Shawaal Zulfiqar 14, Muneeba Ali 13; N Sree Charani 3-7, Prema Rawat 3-9) lost to India 57/3 in 8.4 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 18 not out, Shafali Verma 12; Fatima Sana 3-170 by seven wickets Article Source: IANS
Women's Asia Cup: India Women Crush Pakistan In Dubai
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Womens Asia Cup: Charani, Prema Pick Three Each As India Bowl Out Pakistan For Just 55
Dubai International Stadium: Left-arm spinner N Sree Charani and leg-spin bowling all-rounder Prema Rawat claimed three wickets apiece as India skittled out Pakistan for a paltry 55 in 18.1 overs, their lowest total in Womens T20Is, in the Womens Asia Cup Group A at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on Saturday. On a pitch offering grip and sharp turn, as well as swing for the pacers, Charani, Prema, Deepti Sharma, and Shafali Verma proved to be unplayable, as the relentless spin quarter consistently deceived the Pakistani batters with flight and forced them to perish by playing loose, off-side strokes outside their reach. India are now overwhelming favourites to knock off the required 56 runs in quick time and sign off from the league stage as the lone unbeaten side in Group A. For Pakistan, barring openers Shawaal Zulfiqar and Muneeba Ali, none of the batters reached double figures, as they went from 27/0 to 55/6, making the contest a one-sided affair yet again. Electing to bat first, a decision which surprised many, Pakistans openers were scratchy from the outset. Kranti Gauds opening delivery seamed away to beat Muneeba's outside edge, before Shawaal struck consecutive boundaries off her and Nandni Sharma. Muneeba survived two early dropped chances, both off Pratika Rawal, before off-spinner Shafali provided the breakthrough by castling her for 13. The wicket triggered a collapse as top-ranked T20I bowler Charani struck twice in the final powerplay over, removing Gull Feroza for a duck and trapping Shawaal lbw for 14. Charani then picked up her third scalp by having Ayesha Zafar caught at mid-on by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, playing her 150th game as Indias captain. Rawat then joined the wicket-takers party by castling Sadaf Shamas, before Deepti Sharma trapped Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana lbw for a duck. Eyman Fatima provided brief resistance by hitting the innings' final boundary off Prema, but a tragic mix-up with Umm-e-Hani saw her run out for five. Prema came back to dismiss Umm-e-Hani with a top-edged sweep to short fine leg, before catching Nashra Sandhu off her own bowling to finish with figures of 3-9. Charani picked 3-7 from her four overs, thus maintaining her rich vein of form. By extracting sharp turn, consistent drift, and maintaining impeccable control of length, Charani was at the peak of her power, as Pakistans attempts to attack her ended in abject failure, with lobbed catches to the infield. Deepti wrapped up the innings in the 19th over by deceiving Tuba Hassan (9) in flight, as wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh completed a sharp stumping in a solid day of wicketkeeping, as Pakistan completely unravelled after showing early intent against Indias disciplined spinners. By extracting sharp turn, consistent drift, and maintaining impeccable control of length, Charani was at the peak of her power, as Pakistans attempts to attack her ended in abject failure, with lobbed catches to the infield. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Pakistan 55 all out in 18.1 overs (Shawaal Zulfiqar 14, Muneeba Ali 13; N Sree Charani 3-7, Prema Rawat 3-9) against India Article Source: IANS
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Asia Cup T20: India head coach Amol Muzumdar lauded captain Harmanpreet Kaur on Saturday after she became the first cricketer, in both mens and womens international cricket, to lead her country in 150 T20 international games. Harmanpreet reached the historic milestone during India's ongoing 2026 Women's Asia Cup Group A match against Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium, further cementing her legacy in the shortest format of the game. One thing I have been told is that it is the 150th T20 international for Harman as a captain, the most by anybody. Its the most by anybody, whether it is men's cricket or women's cricket. Well done, Harman. Congrats, Muzumdar said in a video shared on the BCCI's social media channels. The achievement puts Harmanpreet, 37, well ahead of her international peers. Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu is second on the all-time list with 121 matches as captain, followed by Rwandas Marie Bimenyimana with 101 games. By contrast, Namibia's Gerhard Erasmus leads the men's T20I captaincy list with 91 matches, followed by Rwandas Cletus Rubagumya on 90 and Pakistans Babar Azam on 85. Former India skipper MS Dhoni holds the Indian men's record with 72 T20Is as captain. Across her captaincy tenure, Harmanpreet has guided India to 86 victories in T20Is against 57 losses, a win percentage rate exceeding 60 percent. She has captained the India team to three Asia Cup titles in 2012, 2016, and 2022, as well as to silver medal and gold medal wins in the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games respectively. By contrast, Namibia's Gerhard Erasmus leads the men's T20I captaincy list with 91 matches, followed by Rwandas Cletus Rubagumya on 90 and Pakistans Babar Azam on 85. Former India skipper MS Dhoni holds the Indian men's record with 72 T20Is as captain. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Great achievement. But the key is to keep enjoying yourself on the field, and that is key. I try to keep up with that, Harmanpreet had said when asked about leading India for the 150th time in T20Is at toss time. Article Source: IANS
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Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana won the toss and opted to bat first against India in their Women's Asia Cup 2026 clash in Dubai on Saturday.
Womens Asia Cup: No handshake protocol continues in India-Pakistan Group A clash
Dubai, Sep 5 (IANS) India and Pakistan continued their strict no-handshake protocol in the 2026 Women's Asia Cup clash at the Dubai International on Saturday, with captains Harmanpreet Kaur and Fatima Sana avoiding the traditional pre-match greeting at toss time. When former Sri Lanka player Farveez Maharoof called Fatima to speak after she won the toss, there was no handshake between her and India captain Harmanpreet Kaur. After the toss proceedings were over, the handshake didnt happen at all. It follows a policy adopted by Indian cricket teams across senior, age-group, and women's teams games following diplomatic tensions between the two nations since April 2025. Speaking ahead of the start of the tournament, India head coach Amol Muzumdar had brushed aside queries regarding the no-handshake protocol. Look, we try to play the best cricket on the ground and off the field stuff, we don't focus on it. We try to play the best cricket that we know on that particular day and we will speak about this when we play that game. But at the moment, we are focusing on tomorrow's game. One game at a time, Muzumdar had said at that time. The decision to avoid formal pleasantries traces back to September 2025 during the Men's Asia Cup held in the UAE, when the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian side avoided handshakes with Salman Ali Agha's team across all three encounters, including during the tournament final in Dubai. Since then, Indian teams have consistently maintained their no handshake stance. The Indian women's team followed the policy during their Women's ODI World Cup fixture against Pakistan in Colombo in October 2025, while similar scenes occurred at the Men's Rising Stars Asia Cup in November 2025. The pattern extended through the Under-19 Asia Cup in December 2025, as well as the Under-19 World Cup and the Men's T20 World Cup in February 2026. Most recently, in June 2026, Harmanpreet's team opted against shaking hands with Pakistani players during their Women's T20 World Cup meeting in Birmingham in June. In a pre-tournament press conference in Dubai, Harmanpreet refrained from offering a definitive answer when asked if the protocol would remain active for the latest installment of the rivalry. But Saturday's toss confirmed that the no handshake stance remains firmly in place.
Womens Asia Cup 2026 : Both Teams Unchanged As Pakistan Elect To Bat First Against India
Dubai International Stadium: Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first against India in the Group A clash of the 2026 Womens Asia Cup at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday. Both teams are unchanged from their respective last clashes in the continental event. India have won nine of their last 10 T20Is against Pakistan, whose only recent victory against the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side came during the 2022 Asia Cup. Harmanpreet's side has already booked a place in the semifinals after winning their matches against Thailand and Hong Kong-China. Harmanpreet has also become the first player in international cricket, male or female, to lead her side in 150 T20Is. Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu trails Harmanpreet on the all-time list for most T20Is as captain with 121 matches. Definitely happy to be chasing. Our bowling is doing great in this tournament, and it's good getting the opportunity to bowl first. I think while batting it's always about giving ourselves some time and then going for your shots, and I think the first two games we did really well in that department, and hopefully we'll continue. Great achievement (to play 150th T20I game as captain). But the key is to keep enjoying yourself on the field, and that is a key; I try to keep up with that. We will try to restrict them to a small total, so that we don't feel any pressure while chasing, she said. Pakistan, who opened their campaign with a victory over Thailand, need a strong performance ahead of their final group-stage fixture against Hong Kong-China to ensure progress to the last four stage. We're gonna bat first because we want to put a maximum total here. Because we know we have a good bowling side, so we will try to restrict them. We had a good chat with the team, and we just want to play according to the pitch. Playing XIs: We're gonna bat first because we want to put a maximum total here. Because we know we have a good bowling side, so we will try to restrict them. We had a good chat with the team, and we just want to play according to the pitch. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Pakistan: Muneeba Ali (wk), Shawaal Zulfiqar, Gull Feroza, Ayesha Zafar, Sadaf Shamas, Fatima Sana (captain), Umm-e-Hani, Eyman Fatima, Tuba Hassan, Nashra Sandhu, and Sadia Iqbal Article Source: IANS
Womens Asia Cup: Both teams unchanged as Pakistan elect to bat first against India
Dubai, Sep 5 (IANS) Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first against India in the Group A clash of the 2026 Womens Asia Cup at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday. Both teams are unchanged from their respective last clashes in the continental event. India have won nine of their last 10 T20Is against Pakistan, whose only recent victory against the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side came during the 2022 Asia Cup. Harmanpreet's side has already booked a place in the semifinals after winning their matches against Thailand and Hong Kong-China. Harmanpreet has also become the first player in international cricket, male or female, to lead her side in 150 T20Is. Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu trails Harmanpreet on the all-time list for most T20Is as captain with 121 matches. Definitely happy to be chasing. Our bowling is doing great in this tournament, and it's good getting the opportunity to bowl first. I think while batting it's always about giving ourselves some time and then going for your shots, and I think the first two games we did really well in that department, and hopefully we'll continue. Great achievement (to play 150th T20I game as captain). But the key is to keep enjoying yourself on the field, and that is a key; I try to keep up with that. We will try to restrict them to a small total, so that we don't feel any pressure while chasing, she said. Pakistan, who opened their campaign with a victory over Thailand, need a strong performance ahead of their final group-stage fixture against Hong Kong-China to ensure progress to the last four stage. We're gonna bat first because we want to put a maximum total here. Because we know we have a good bowling side, so we will try to restrict them. We had a good chat with the team, and we just want to play according to the pitch. Playing XIs: India: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Bharti Fulmali, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Nandani Sharma, Sree Charani, and Kranti Gaud Pakistan: Muneeba Ali (wk), Shawaal Zulfiqar, Gull Feroza, Ayesha Zafar, Sadaf Shamas, Fatima Sana (captain), Umm-e-Hani, Eyman Fatima, Tuba Hassan, Nashra Sandhu, and Sadia Iqbal
Cricket Association Of Bengal Felicitates Mohammed Shami For 100th First Class Game Milestone
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