With the J&K Cricket Association (JKCA) limiting the crowd strength to a manageable 5000 in the stadium, those who sit in the stands are monitored to ensure the history is not repeated.
IND vs WI 3rd ODI Prediction, Match Preview And Playing XIs
IND vs WI 3rd ODI, Cricket Tips: The first two games between India and West Indies have been record-breaking, and the hosts have clinched the series with one game left to play. India went on to chase the second-biggest ODI target of 406 runs, led by captain Shubman Gill, who scored an unbeaten 223 off 133 balls. Rohit Sharma supported him well with 101 off 75 balls. John Campbell (101), Shai Hope (104), and Amir Jangoo (114) also scored centuries for West Indies and took their team to their highest ODI total of 405. But it went in vain as India chased it down in 43.3 overs. With a 2-0 lead, India will take on West Indies in the final ODI on Saturday at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur. Can West Indies stop this in-form Indian batting lineup? IND vs WI: Match Details Date : October 03, 2026 (Saturday) Time : 2 PM IST Venue : Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur IND vs WI: Live Streaming Details Fans can tune into the Star Sports Networks to watch the final ODI. The live stream of the game will be available on the Jio Hotstar app or website. IND vs WI: Head-to-Head in ODIs Total Matches : 144 India : 74 West Indies : 64 No-result : 6 IND vs WI: Ground Pitch Report The wicket in Mullanpur is another flat deck. It is a high-scoring venue, and another 300-run thriller can be on the card. Batters will dominate, and there will be very little help for the bowlers. However, spinners will have some assistance when the ball gets old. IND vs WI: Possible XIs India : Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (wk), Naman Dhir, Ravindra Jadeja, Gurnoor Brar, Auqib Nabi, Kuldeep Yadav, Md. Siraj West Indies : Shai Hope (c & wk), John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Amir Jangoo, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Alzarri Joseph, Keemo Paul, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales, Vitel Lawes IND vs WI: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Shubman Gill is in red-hot form, and it won't be a surprise if he scores another hundred on Saturday. For West Indies, John Campbell is in excellent form and will be a key batter. Probable Best Bowler Kuldeep Yadav and Roston Chase are two bowlers who will get some help in the lateral stages. Today Match Prediction: India are too good for this West Indian side, and they will be the favorite to win the third ODI. IND vs WI Match 3rd ODI, Today Match IND vs WI, IND vs WI Prediction, IND vs WI Predicted XIs, Injury Update for India vs West Indies Match Also Read: Special Cricket Stories 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.
IND vs PAK Final, Mens Asian Games 2026 Prediction, Match Preview And Playing XI
IND vs PAK Final, Cricket Tips: The semifinal stage of the Asian Games 2026 saw two contrasting matches. The first semifinal saw Pakistan edging past Bangladesh in a tense chase and produced a 6-wicket win. That win helped Pakistan make it to their maiden Asian Games final. Meanwhile, Team India humiliated Sri Lanka in the second semifinal. India recorded a record win by 124 runs to book a place in the final. Now these two sides will take on each other in the final. On Saturday, the final will be played at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin at 10 AM IST. The winner will clinch the gold medal. India will do it for the second time in a row, while Pakistan will get its maiden gold medal in the men's cricket tournament. IND vs PAK: Match Details Date : October 03, 2026 (Saturday) Time : 10:00 AM IST Venue : Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin IND vs PAK: Live Streaming Details The live action of the final game will be available live on Sony Sports Network in India. Fans can also access the live stream on the Sony LIV app or website. IND vs PAK: Head-to-Head in T20Is Total Matches : 17 India : 14 Pakistan : 3 No-result: 0 IND vs PAK: Ground Pitch Report The wicket has been two-paced in Nisshin. The surface has several cracks, which get open up as the game goes on. Spinners have dominated here, and it is very hard to hit through to the line because of the uneven bounce in this wicket. IND vs PAK: Possible XIs India : Sanju Samson (wk), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah Pakistan : Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan (c), Maaz Sadaqat, Usman Khan (wk), Hasan Nawaz, Arafat Minhas, Abdul Samad, Ahmed Daniyal, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Abrar Ahmed, Sufyan Moqim IND vs PAK: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Ishan Kishan has the technique to get success on a slow wicket, which he showed in the semifinal. He will be key for India. For Pakistan, captain Sahibzada Farhan has good numbers against India, and he can be dangerous. Probable Best Bowler Jasprit Bumrah and Sufiyan Muqeem are two contrasting bowlers, but they bowl very smartely with their skills. They will be tough to face. Today Match Prediction: Pakistan will be a tricky opponent because of their spin unit and pretty decent batting attack. But India have the experience and a good combination. Hence, we predict Team India to win the final. IND vs PAK final, Today Match IND vs PAK, IND vs PAK Prediction, IND vs PAK Predicted XIs, Injury Update for India vs Pakistan Match Also Read: Special Cricket Stories 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.
Have no issues in my body, feeling good again: Angkrish Raghuvanshi
ILT20 Season 5: Fazalhaq, Livingstone, Gurbaz, Du Plessis headline big money moves in Player Auction
Digital Desk | Dubai, Oct 1 (IANS) Big bucks and blockbuster bids lit up the ILT20 Season 5 Player Auction, with Fazalhaq Farooqi, Liam Livingstone, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Faf du Plessis among those shattering the record of USD 260,000 set by Andre Fletcher and MI Emirates in Season 4. Farooqi led the way as MI Emirates splashed USD 380,000 on the Afghanistan star, followed by Englands Livingstone at USD 350,000 with Gulf Giants. Gurbaz fetched USD 310,000 through the Giants Right-to-Match option, while Faf du Plessis joined Dubai Capitals for USD 300,000. Adding to the star-studded atmosphere, ILT20 Season 5 ambassador Brett Lee was joined at the auction by cricketing greats AB de Villiers, Allan Donald, Shoaib Malik and Usman Khawaja. Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Shadab Khan and Fakhar Zaman made their way to the Desert Vipers, with all four Pakistan stars secured at their USD 80,000 base price. Babar will make his DP World ILT20 debut in Season 5, while Naseem and Fakhar return to the defending champions for another campaign. The six franchises showed immense faith in UAE players, led by Muhammad Waseem, who became the highest-priced UAE player in DP World ILT20 history after MI Emirates used their Right-to-Match option to secure him for USD 210,000. Alishan Sharafu followed at USD 110,000 with Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. Muhammad Rohid and Aayan Khan both commanded USD 95,000 deals with the Knight Riders and Dubai Capitals, respectively. Khuzaima Bin Tanveer was secured by Desert Vipers for USD 75,000 through RTM, with Vriitya Aravind joining the Vipers for USD 70,000. Talent from Associate Member Nations also made a statement. USAs Amshi De Silva joined Abu Dhabi Knight Riders for USD 100,000, while fellow USA all-rounder Hassan Khan was secured by Dubai Capitals for USD 90,000. Scotlands Brandon McMullen was picked up by Sharjah Warriorz for USD 80,000, while Namibias David Wiese joined Gulf Giants for USD 70,000. Abu Dhabi Knight Riders further splashed out on English all-rounder Moeen Ali, securing the southpaw for USD 80,000. Afghanistan's Gulbadin Naib (USD 75,000) and Arab Gul (USD 80,000) lead the Afghanistan contingent, while West Indies' Andre Fletcher and New Zealand's Colin Munro were both signed for USD 40,000. Saudi Arabias Abdul Mannan Ali also joined the Knight Riders, while Kuwaits Ravija Sandaruwan was bought at his base price of USD 10,000. Desert Vipers prioritised retaining their winning combination, exercising their Right-to-Match option for David Payne at USD 150,000. They also secured Englands Aneurin Donald and wicketkeeper-batter Joe Clarke for USD 40,000 each. Saudi Arabias Ishtiaq Ahmed was secured for USD 12,000, while Bilal Tahir of Kuwait was retained at USD 10,000. The Dubai Capitals used their Right to Match option on all-rounder Dasun Shanaka at USD 100,000. They further bolstered their batting stocks with Max Holden at USD 100,000 and the dangerous English opener Phil Salt at his base price of USD 80,000. Meanwhile, Afghanistan's Sediqullah Atal and Karim Janat were roped in at USD 70,000 and USD 40,000 respectively. Kuwaits Anudeep Chenthamara and Saudi Arabias Usman Najeeb were both secured for USD 10,000. After making their intent clear with Livingstone and Gurbaz, the Giants continued to invest heavily, bringing in West Indies pacers Alzarri Joseph for USD 230,000 and Shamar Joseph for USD 80,000. Afghanistan's Ibrahim Zadran also joined for USD 65,000, while Ireland all-rounder Curtis Campher was secured for USD 22,000. Saudi Arabias Imtiaz Khan joined for USD 10,000, while the Giants deployed a Right-to-Match option on Kuwaits Meet Bhavsar at the same price. MI Emirates made moves in the accelerated rounds, going for Chris Jordan at USD 170,000 and South Africas Lizaad Williams at USD 110,000. The Season 4 finalists also retained Afghanistans Allah Ghazanfar through their Right-to-Match option for USD 150,000. They also secured England's James Coles for USD 100,000 and Sri Lankas Kusal Perera for USD 40,000. Saudi Arabias Zain Ul Abidin and Kuwaits Mohammad Shafeeq were both signed for USD 10,000 The Warriorz strengthened their squad with a strong English core, securing Richard Gleeson for USD 180,000, Paul Walter for USD 110,000, and Tom Banton, Craig Overton and Adil Rashid at their USD 80,000 base price. Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi was acquired for USD 140,000, while South Africas George Linde and UAE all-rounder Ali Naseer joined for USD 40,000 each. Saudi Arabias Mohammad Saqib and Kuwaits Arunraj Selvaraj completed the haul at USD 10,000 apiece. Complete squad list: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Total Spent: USD 1,549,000 Auction Signings: Alishan Sharafu (USD 110,000), Amshi De Silva (USD 100,000), Muhammad Rohid (USD 95,000), Moeen Ali (USD 80,000), Arab Gul (USD 80,000), Usman Tariq (USD 80,000), Gulbadin Naib (USD 75,000), Ibrar Ahmed (USD 46,000), Andre Fletcher (USD 40,000), Ajay Kumar (USD 40,000), Colin Munro (USD 40,000), Michael Pepper (USD 40,000), Qais Ahmad (USD 38,000), Jakeem Pollard (USD 10,000), Abdul Mannan Ali (USD 10,000), Ravija Sandaruwan (USD 10,000), Abdullah Tarakhail (USD 10,000), Lorcan Tucker (USD 10,000) Retentions + Direct Signings: Finn Allen, Jason Holder, Matthew Tromp, Sunil Narine Desert Vipers Total Spent: USD 1,544,000 Auction Signings: David Payne (USD 150,000), Fakhar Zaman (USD 80,000), Naseem Shah (USD 80,000), Babar Azam (USD 80,000), Shadab Khan (USD 80,000), Khuzaima Bin Tanveer (USD 75,000), Vriitya Aravind (USD 70,000), Aneurin Donald (USD 40,000), Abdullah Ahmadzai (USD 40,000), Joe Clarke (USD 40,000), Nangeyalia Kharote (USD 28,000), Sanjay Pahal (USD 22,000), Harry Tector (USD 12,000), Ishtiaq Ahmed (USD 12,000), Nilansh Keswani (USD 10,000), Saleem Safi (USD 10,000), Bilal Tahir (USD 10,000), Wali Muhammad (USD 10,000) Retentions + Direct Signings: Andries Gous, Dan Lawrence, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, Shimron Hetmyer Dubai Capitals Total Spent: USD 1,834,000 Auction Signings: Faf du Plessis (USD 300,000), Max Holden (USD 100,000), Dasun Shanaka (USD 100,000), Aayan Khan (USD 95,000), Hassan Khan (USD 90,000), Phil Salt (USD 80,000), Sediqullah Atal (USD 70,000), Mark Adair (USD 55,000), Karim Janat (USD 40,000), Luke Wood (USD 40,000), Tom Moores (USD 40,000), Haider Ali (USD 38,000), Zuhaib Zubair (USD 26,000), Darwish Rasooli (USD 10,000), Muhammad Arfan (USD 10,000), Matt Potts (USD 10,000), Usman Najeeb (USD 10,000), Anudeep Chenthamara (USD 10,000), Masood Ul Rahman Gurbaz (USD 10,000) Retentions + Direct Signings: Marcus Stoinis, Mustafizur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Rovman Powell Gulf Giants Total Spent: USD 1,972,000 Auction Signings: Liam Livingstone (USD 350,000), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (USD 310,000), Alzarri Joseph (USD 230,000), Shamar Joseph (USD 80,000), David Wiese (USD 70,000), Ibrahim Zadran (USD 65,000), Tabraiz Shamsi (USD 40,000), Curtis Campher (USD 22,000), Dhruv Parashar (USD 10,000), Matiullah Khan (USD 10,000), Haider Razzaq (USD 10,000), Imran Mir (USD 10,000), Imtiaz Khan (USD 10,000), Meet Bhavsar (USD 10,000), Shubham Ranjane (USD 10,000), Wahidullah Zadran (USD 10,000), Awais Ahmed (USD 10,000), Sagar Kalyan (USD 10,000), Alick Athanaze (USD 10,000) Retentions + Direct Signings: Azmatullah Omarzai, Blessing Muzarabani, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen MI Emirates Total Spent: USD 2,000,000 Auction Signings: Fazalhaq Farooqi (USD 380,000), Muhammad Waseem (USD 210,000), Chris Jordan (USD 170,000), Allah Ghazanfar (USD 150,000), Lizaad Williams (USD 110,000), James Coles (USD 100,000), Jonny Bairstow (USD 80,000), Kusal Perera (USD 40,000), Jordan Thompson (USD 40,000), Zahoor Khan (USD 30,000), Wasim Akram (USD 10,000), Zain Ul Abidin (USD 10,000), Muhammad Shafeeq (USD 10,000), Asa Tribe (USD 10,000), Raizal Nadir Nather Shah (USD 10,000), Sanjay Krishnamurthi (USD 10,000), Faridoon Dawoodzai(USD 10,000), Ross Adair (USD 10,000) Retentions + Direct Signings: Nicholas Pooran, Rashid Khan, Romario Shepherd, Sherfane Rutherford Sharjah Warriorz Total Spent: USD 1,792,000 Auction Signings: Richard Gleeson (USD 180,000), Mohammad Nabi (USD 140,000), Paul Walter (USD 110,000), Adil Rashid (USD 80,000), Brandon McMullen (USD 80,000), Tom Banton (USD 80,000), Craig Overton (USD 80,000), George Linde (USD 40,000), Ali Aamer Naseer (USD 40,000), Fareed Malik (USD 40,000), Sharafuddin Ashraf (USD 40,000), Logan van Beek (USD 40,000), Junaid Siddique (USD 10,000), Tanish Suri (USD 10,000), Nabeel Aziz (USD 10,000), George Dockrell (USD 10,000), Mohammad Saqib (USD 10,000), Arunraj Selvaraj (USD 10,000), James Rew (USD 10,000)
Cricket World Cup 2027 Full Schedule: Have A Look At India's And Other Teams' Matches
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday announced the schedule for the Men's ODI Cricket World Cup 2027.
Rahmat Shah, Ibrahim Zadran To Lead Afghanistan In Multi-format Bangladesh, Zimbabwe Series
Zia Ur Rahman Akbar: Afghanistan have announced their squads for a busy multi-format schedule against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, with Rahmat Shah and Ibrahim Zadran set to lead the side across different formats. Afghanistan will begin their campaign with a one-off Test against Bangladesh on October 9, followed by an ODI tri-nation series involving Zimbabwe. They will then face Zimbabwe in a three-match T20I series and a two-match Test series. Rahmat Shah will continue to captain Afghanistan in the ODI and Test formats, while Ibrahim Zadran will take charge of the T20I side against Zimbabwe. Uncapped all-rounder Abdullah Tarakhil has earned his maiden T20I call-up, while Mohammad Akram, who made his international debut during the 2026 Asian Games, has also been included in the squad for the T20I series. Middle-order batters Ijaz Ahmadzai and Shahidullah Kamal have returned to the T20I setup, while veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi has been left out. Darwish Rasooli has also been omitted from both the T20I and ODI squads. Rashid Khan and Ibrahim Zadran have been rested from the Test format. According to the Afghanistan Cricket Board, both players have been advised against playing the longer format at this stage. Ismat Alam has returned to the Test squad after missing Afghanistans one-off Test against India in June. Pacer Yamin Ahmadzai has also earned a recall to the red-ball squad following an impressive domestic first-class season. Shahidullah has been rewarded for his consistent performances and will add depth to Afghanistans batting unit. Shahidullah currently leads the domestic first-class run-scoring charts after accumulating 538 runs at an average of 76.85, while Yamin has claimed 42 wickets at an average of 12.73 to top the bowling charts. Afghanistans packed schedule will see the team tested across all three formats over the coming months, with the Bangladesh Test followed by their engagements against Zimbabwe. Afghanistan squads: For tests against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe: Rahmat Shah (c), Ikram Alikhail, Afsar Zazai, Sediqullah Atal, Abdul Malik, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rahmanullah Zadran, Shahidullah Kamal, Ismat Alam, Qais Ahmad, Zia Ur Rahman Akbar, Khalil Gurbaz, Mohammad Saleem Safi, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi and Yamin Ahmadzai. For the ODI tri-nation series: Rahmat Shah (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ikram Alikhil, Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyalai Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Bilal Sami, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Fazal Haq Farooqi and Yamin Ahmadzai. For tests against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe: Rahmat Shah (c), Ikram Alikhail, Afsar Zazai, Sediqullah Atal, Abdul Malik, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rahmanullah Zadran, Shahidullah Kamal, Ismat Alam, Qais Ahmad, Zia Ur Rahman Akbar, Khalil Gurbaz, Mohammad Saleem Safi, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi and Yamin Ahmadzai. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Carson back in NZ squad for Australia T20Is; James, Rowe, Penfold recalled
Izzy Gaze was unavailable for selection following surgery to a thumb injury and is working towards returning to play in early 2027
2027 Men's ODI World Cup: India to open campaign vs Australia on October 7, play Pakistan on Oct 10
India will meet Afghanistan on October 14 at the Centurion (Pretoria now known as Tshwane) followed by a match against co-hosts Zimbabwe at the newly constructed Victoria Falls Stadium on October 24.
Josh Inglis was ruled out with a fractured right index finger, Inglis suffered the injury ahead of the three-match series and will miss the first Test against South Africa.
Mohammad Rizwan Seeks Clarity From NCCIA Over Betting Probe, Agrees To Appear on October 2
In a written response to the NCCIA's letter issued yesterday, Rizwan confirmed that he would appear before the agency as instructed on October 2.
India To Open 2027 ODI World Cup Campaign vs Australia On Oct 7, Face Pakistan On Oct 10
ICC Chairman Jay Shah: Two-time champions India will open their 2027 ICC Men's ODI World Cup campaign against defending champions Australia in Cape Town on October 7 in a high-voltage blockbuster clash to kickstart their group-stage fixtures. The marquee clash offers Shubman Gill and his team an immediate rematch of the 2023 World Cup final, where Australia beat India in Ahmedabad, as their opening assignment of the 14-team mega event to be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Three days after their tournament opener, India will lock horns with archrivals Pakistan in a high-stakes encounter at the iconic Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on October 10. Following their opening two fixtures, India will travel to Centurion to face Afghanistan on October 14. India will then head to Bloemfontein for their fourth group game against Qualifier A on October 17. India will complete their Group A assignment against co-hosts Zimbabwe at Victoria Falls on October 24. Group B, meanwhile, consists of co-hosts South Africa, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Qualifier B. The tournament will formally commence on October 2 with the pre-tournament 'Super Series' qualifier stage in Windhoek. Following the group stage and the seven-team 'Super 7' round-robin phase, the first semi-final will take place on November 17 in Cape Town, with the second semi-final scheduled for November 18 in Centurion. The tournament will conclude with the final in Johannesburg on November 21. Both semi-finals and the final will have a reserve day. Alongside the schedule release, the ICC announced the opening of the official ticket ballot on October 1, giving global supporters a fair opportunity to secure seats through a free, non-first-come-first-served process running until November 21. The announcement of the schedule and opening of the ticket ballot are major milestones on the road to the ICC Mens Cricket World Cup 2027, bringing fans one step closer to a spectacular celebration of cricket across the three nations, ICC Chairman Jay Shah said in a statement. The ICC remains committed to making its World Cup events accessible to as many fans as possible, with affordable ticket prices and options that bring families, young people and local communities closer to the action. South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will provide an unforgettable stage for the worlds best teams, combining a deep passion for cricket, extraordinary destinations and a renowned warmth of welcome. We look forward to welcoming fans from across the world and creating memories that will last long beyond the final, he added. Cricket enthusiasts have been urged to register for the official ticket ballot to secure their seats for the tournament, with entry-level match tickets priced from USD 9.62 (R158) to USD 31.31 (R514) for top-tier fixtures. To ensure widespread accessibility across host nations, tournament organisers have also introduced specialised pricing packages, including family bundles, discounted rates for students and pensioners, early-bird local allocations, as well as dedicated group pricing for community clubs and schools. Co-hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe begin their World Cup campaigns on October 9 and 11, respectively. South Africa will take on New Zealand in Cape Town, while Zimbabwe will meet Afghanistan in Bulawayo. Under the ICC's tournament regulations, pre-tournament seeding allocations have been finalised for the 'Super 7' stage, ensuring that qualifying teams transition into the second round with predetermined positional slots regardless of their final group stage standings. In Group A, India carry the top seeding as A1, followed by Australia as A2, Pakistan as A3, and England designated as A4. Meanwhile, Group B sees New Zealand assigned as B1, co-host South Africa as B2, and Sri Lanka holding the B3 seed for the next phase of the competition. So for example, the Super 7 stage begins on Monday, 25 October 2027 with A2 taking B3 in Johannesburg. This match will be Australia against Sri Lanka if both Australia and Sri Lanka qualify for the Super 7 stage. Should a non-seeded team finish in a qualifying position and a pre-seeded team does not, that team will assume the Super 7 position allocated to the pre-seeded team it has displaced. In the same example, if Bangladesh qualify for the Super 7 stage and Sri Lanka do not, Bangladesh would take the B3 spot, and play Australia on 25 October. This seeding is done to ensure the integrity of the qualification process is maintained while preserving fixture certainty for fans, added the ICC. Arch-rivals India and Pakistan could potentially face off for a second time in the World Cup if both nations advance to the 'Super 7' round. Should both teams qualify from Group A, their Super 7 meeting is scheduled to take place on November 7 at Newlands in Cape Town. Similarly, India could also set up a second tournament clash against Australia on October 28 at the newly developed Fale Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. The tournament will be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, with 57 matches in the 14-team competition to be played across 12 venues. Africa last hosted the flagship tournament in 2003, when South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Kenya served as co-hosts for the eighth edition of the event. Ten teams have already secured direct qualification based on their ICC rankings and status, including hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe, alongside India, defending champions Australia, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. South Africa will host the bulk of the tournament across eight grounds: Wanderers Stadium (Johannesburg), Centurion (Tshwane), Newlands (Cape Town), Kingsmead (Durban), St Georges Park (Gqeberha), Mangaung Oval (Bloemfontein), Boland Park (Paarl), and Buffalo Park (KuGompo City, formerly East London). Zimbabwe will host fixtures at Harare Sports Club (Harare), Queens Sports Club (Bulawayo), and the newly developed Fale Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium in Victoria Falls. Namibia will host its World Cup games at the newly built Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek. The 2027 edition will introduce a modified four-stage structure to determine the world champion. The tournament will begin with a pre-tournament qualifier Super Series featuring the teams ranked 12th, 13th, and 14th to determine the final qualifying spot for the main competition. The successful qualifier will then join the top 11 ranked teams in two groups of six for the group stage. The top three teams from each group, along with the next best-ranked team overall, will progress to a seven-team Super 7 round-robin phase. The top four teams from the Super 7 stage will ultimately advance to the semifinals, with the winners from the semifinals to meet in the title clash. 2027 Mens ODI World Cup full schedule Saturday, 2 October: QF1 vs QF3 - Windhoek Monday, 4 October: QF1 vs QF2 - Windhoek Wednesday, 6 October: QF2 vs QF3 - Windhoek Thursday, 7 October: INDIA vs AUSTRALIA - Cape Town Friday, 8 October: PAKISTAN vs AFGHANISTAN - Tshwane Friday, 8 October: ENGLAND vs BANGLADESH - Windhoek Saturday, 9 October: ZIMBABWE vs QUALIFIER A - Bulawayo Saturday, 9 October: SOUTH AFRICA vs NEW ZEALAND - Cape Town Sunday, 10 October: INDIA vs PAKISTAN - Johannesburg Sunday, 10 October: SRI LANKA vs QUALIFIER B - Windhoek Monday, 11 October: ZIMBABWE vs AFGHANISTAN - Bulawayo Tuesday, 12 October: AUSTRALIA vs QUALIFIER A - Paarl Tuesday, 12 October: NEW ZEALAND vs BANGLADESH - KuGompo City Wednesday, 13 October: ENGLAND vs SRI LANKA - Windhoek Wednesday, 13 October: SOUTH AFRICA vs QUALIFIER B - Paarl Thursday, 14 October: INDIA vs AFGHANISTAN - Tshwane Friday, 15 October: PAKISTAN vs QUALIFIER A - Bloemfontein Friday, 15 October: ZIMBABWE vs AUSTRALIA - Harare Saturday, 16 October: SRI LANKA vs BANGLADESH - Durban Saturday, 16 October: SOUTH AFRICA vs ENGLAND - Gqeberha Sunday, 17 October: INDIA vs QUALIFIER A - Bloemfontein Sunday, 17 October: NEW ZEALAND vs QUALIFIER B - Harare Monday, 18 October: AUSTRALIA vs AFGHANISTAN - KuGompo City Tuesday, 19 October: ZIMBABWE vs PAKISTAN - Harare Tuesday, 19 October: SOUTH AFRICA vs BANGLADESH - Durban Wednesday, 20 October: NEW ZEALAND vs SRI LANKA - Johannesburg Wednesday, 20 October: ENGLAND vs QUALIFIER B - Harare Thursday, 21 October: AFGHANISTAN vs QUALIFIER A - KuGompo City Friday, 22 October: AUSTRALIA vs PAKISTAN - Paarl Friday, 22 October: SOUTH AFRICA vs SRI LANKA - Johannesburg Saturday, 23 October: ENGLAND vs NEW ZEALAND - Gqeberha Saturday, 23 October: BANGLADESH vs QUALIFIER B - Tshwane Sunday, 24 October: ZIMBABWE vs INDIA - Victoria Falls Monday, 25 October: A2 vs B3 - Johannesburg Tuesday, 26 October: B1 vs A3 - Gqeberha Wednesday, 27 October: B2 vs AB4 - Tshwane Thursday, 28 October: A1 vs A2 - Victoria Falls Friday, 29 October: B1 vs B3 - KuGompo City Saturday, 30 October: A3 vs AB4 - Victoria Falls Sunday, 31 October: B2 vs A1 - Johannesburg Monday, 1 November: A2 vs B1 - Victoria Falls Tuesday, 2 November: B3 vs AB4 - Cape Town Wednesday, 3 November: B2 vs A3 - Durban Thursday, 4 November: A1 vs B1 - Paarl Friday, 5 November: A2 vs AB4 - Durban Saturday, 6 November: B2 vs B3 - Bloemfontein Sunday, 7 November: A1 vs A3 - Cape Town Monday, 8 November: B1 vs AB4 - Durban Tuesday, 9 November: B2 vs A2 - Gqeberha Wednesday, 10 November: A3 vs B3 - Bloemfontein Thursday, 11 November: A1 vs AB4 - Gqeberha Friday, 12 November: B2 vs B1 - Cape Town Saturday, 13 November: A2 vs A3 - Bloemfontein Sunday, 14 November: A1 vs B3 - Durban Wednesday, 17 November: Semifinal 1 - Cape Town Thursday, 18 November: Semifinal 2 - Tshwane Wednesday, 17 November: Semifinal 1 - Cape Town Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
2027 ODI World Cup: Wanderers Set to Host India-Pakistan Showdown
The ICC has announced the schedule for the men's World Cup, detailing India's opening match against Australia, a crucial clash with Pakistan, and other group stage fixtures, along with the dates and venues for the semi-finals and final.
Wanderers to host 2027 men's ODI World Cup final as well as India vs Pakistan
Newlands in Cape Town will host the opening game of the main round on October 7 with the tournament running through to November 21
India And Pakistan Could Play Against Each Other Three Times In Cricket World Cup 2027 - Here's How
India, Pakistan, Australia, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan have been placed in the same group.
India Clubbed With Pakistan, Australia, Zimbabwe In Group A For 2027 Men's ODI World Cup
Tunya International Cricket Stadium: Archrivals India and Pakistan have been drawn together in Group A alongside reigning champions Australia for next year's ICC Men's ODI World Cup, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on its social media accounts on Thursday. The group distribution for the 14-team marquee tournament was officially revealed during a gala schedule launch event at Cape Town's Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA). Group A features a heavyweight lineup comprising India, Pakistan, Australia, Afghanistan, co-hosts Zimbabwe, and the team that emerges as Qualifier A. Group B, meanwhile, consists of co-hosts South Africa, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Qualifier B. The inclusion of India and Pakistan in the same pool ensures a high-stakes group stage clash between the two neighbouring nations. India are the top-ranked ODI team at the moment, with Shubman Gill set to captain the side in the mega event for the first time. The 2027 ICC Mens Cricket World Cup will kick off on October 2, with the final scheduled for November 21. It also marks the return of the marquee 50-over tournament to African soil after a 24-year hiatus. The tournament will be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, with 57 matches in the 14-team competition to be played across 12 venues. Africa last hosted the flagship tournament in 2003, when South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Kenya served as co-hosts for the eighth edition of the event. Ten teams have already secured direct qualification based on their ICC rankings and status, including hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe, alongside India, defending champions Australia, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. South Africa will host the bulk of the tournament across eight grounds: Wanderers Stadium (Johannesburg), Centurion (Tshwane), Newlands (Cape Town), Kingsmead (Durban), St Georges Park (Gqeberha), Mangaung Oval (Bloemfontein), Boland Park (Paarl), and Buffalo Park (KuGompo City, formerly East London). Zimbabwe will host fixtures at Harare Sports Club (Harare), Queens Sports Club (Bulawayo), and the newly developed Fale Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium in Victoria Falls. Namibia will host its World Cup games at the newly built Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek. The 2027 edition will introduce a modified four-stage structure to determine the world champion. The tournament will begin with a pre-tournament qualifier Super Series featuring the teams ranked 12th, 13th, and 14th to determine the final qualifying spot for the main competition. Zimbabwe will host fixtures at Harare Sports Club (Harare), Queens Sports Club (Bulawayo), and the newly developed Fale Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium in Victoria Falls. Namibia will host its World Cup games at the newly built Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
WTA Chennai Open to be moved to Manila next year
ICC ODI World Cup 2027 scheduled announced, India to face Pakistan on Oct 10; final on Nov 21
ICC ODI World Cup 2027 scheduled announced, India to face Pakistan on Oct 10; final on Nov 21 More to follow...
Australia-A seizes control as host batters falter
CRICKET | There is a need for grounds in the districts of J&K too, says BCCI chief Manhas
Australia Name Harper, Maddinson As Cover For Injured Inglis Ahead Of South Africa Tests
ICC World Test Championship: Australia have added wicketkeeper-batter Sam Harper and left-handed batter Nic Maddinson to their squad for the opening Test against South Africa in Durban, with the duo brought in as cover after Josh Inglis was ruled out with a fractured right index finger. Inglis suffered the injury ahead of the three-match series and will miss the first Test, while his availability for the second match in Gqeberha will be determined based on his recovery. Harper earned his call-up after making an impressive contribution for Australia A in the recent series against India A in Puducherry. The wicketkeeper-batter struck a 128-run century, strengthening his case for a place in the senior squad. Maddinson, meanwhile, could make his return to Test cricket almost a decade after his last appearance in the format. The 33-year-old last played a Test for Australia in 2016 and has since endured a challenging period that included treatment for testicular cancer. His inclusion gives Australia additional batting depth ahead of the series, while also marking a potential return to the longest format after a lengthy absence. Australia have another fitness concern surrounding all-rounder Cameron Green, whose participation in the Durban Test remains uncertain. Green sustained a lower abdominal strain while batting during the final ODI against South Africa. His condition will be monitored over the next week before a decision is taken on his availability for the series opener. The Test series is scheduled to begin on October 9 in Durban, with the second Test to be played in Gqeberha from October 18 and the third in Johannesburg from October 27. The three-match series is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle. Australia currently sit at the top of the standings, while defending champions South Africa occupy second place. The Test series is scheduled to begin on October 9 in Durban, with the second Test to be played in Gqeberha from October 18 and the third in Johannesburg from October 27. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Klinger: Wyatt-Hodge release driven by GG's overseas combination, England commitments
GG head coach also said it was a
Niki, Vaishnavi Power India A To 281-run Win Over Australia A In Womens Unofficial Test
IS Bindra Stadium: Left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma and batting all-rounder Niki Prasad delivered stellar performances as India A registered a resounding 281-run victory over Australia A on Day Three of the unofficial Test match at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali on Thursday. Chasing an improbable target of 446, Australia A were bundled out for 164 in 76 overs late in the final session. Player of the Match Niki was the star with the ball in the second innings, picking up 5-50. Her five-wicket haul complemented her first-innings contributions, where she scored a brilliant 91 and took 2-27, and finished with match figures of 7-77. Vaishnavi backed up her six-wicket effort in the first innings with figures of 3-58 in the second innings and ended with a dominant match-haul of 9-110. Resuming their second innings at 134/2 and an overall lead of 322 runs, India A suffered an early collapse. Lilly Mills struck in quick succession by dismissing Tejal Hasabnis for a four-ball duck, followed by taking out Yastika Bhatia (46) and Tanisha Singh on consecutive deliveries. When Frankie Nicklin removed Niki, India A found themselves tottering at 156/6. But Anushka Sharma anchored the lower order with a vital 48, while Vaishnavi played a quickfire cameo of 24 off 14 balls to stretch India A's total to 257. Australia A made a solid start to their steep run-chase, with skipper Rachel Trenaman and Tahlia Wilson putting together a 51-run opening stand. But Tahlias run-out for 28 triggered a dramatic batting collapse. The visitors lost five wickets for just five runs in a span of 43 balls, thus slipping to 56/5. Courtney Webb, Charli Knott, and Anika Learoyd were all dismissed for ducks, while Rachel fell for 26. Niki then broke through the middle order and took out Sianna Ginger and Milly Illingworth to leave Australia A reeling at 80/8. Tess Flintoff (58) and Lily offered spirited resistance by adding 74 runs for the ninth wicket to delay the inevitable. But broke the partnership by dismissing Lily before Prasad sealed the victory by taking out Tess to complete her five-wicket haul. Brief scores: Tess Flintoff (58) and Lily offered spirited resistance by adding 74 runs for the ninth wicket to delay the inevitable. But broke the partnership by dismissing Lily before Prasad sealed the victory by taking out Tess to complete her five-wicket haul. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
KL Rahul, Prasidh Krishna Named In Karnataka's Ranji Trophy Squad For Opener Against Andhra Pradesh
India players KL Rahul and Prasidh Krishna were on Thursday included in Karnataka's squad for their Ranji Trophy season opener against Andhra to be played at Vijayawada from October 11.
Ranji Trophy: Karnataka Get Rahul, Prasidh Boost
India internationals KL Rahul and Prasidh Krishna have been named in Karnataka's squad for their Ranji Trophy season opener against Andhra. Rahul is expected to play to prepare for the New Zealand Test tour, while Prasidh's participation is uncertain due to injury. The squad, led by Ravichandran Smaran, also sees a new coaching staff and a new sponsorship deal for Karnataka teams.
ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 Schedule Announcement LIVE: Focus On India vs Pakistan Clash
ICC ODI World Cup 2027 Schedule Announcement LIVE Updates: 14 teams will take part in the tournament, which will have three rounds before the semi-finals and final.
Irani Cup: Fast bowlers dominate as J&K restrict Rest of India to 237 before losing two wickets
Digital Desk | Srinagar, Oct 1 (IANS) Fast bowlers enjoyed an upper hand on a lush green pitch as Jammu & Kashmir restricted the Rest of India side to 237 before losing two early wickets on Day One of the 2026/27 Irani Cup match at the picturesque Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium here on Thursday. Pace spearheads Sunil Kumar (3-36) and Lone Nasir Muzaffar (3-59), alongside Umar Nazir Mir (2-65), picked up eight wickets between them after J&K skipper Paras Dogra chose to field on a spicy pitch which resembled a grass court at Wimbledon. But the Rest of India's pace attack responded strongly, with Akash Deep and Mukesh Choudhary picking a scalp each and reducing the hosts to 21/2 in seven overs at stumps. J&K trail by 216 runs with Qamran Iqbal (12 not out) and Shubham Khajuria (yet to get off the mark) at the crease. In the morning, J&K struck early when Sunil had opener Sanat Sangwan (4) caught behind. Nasir then removed Sudip Kumar Gharami (2), before the Rest of India rebuilt through opener Shikhar Mohan (60) and vice-captain Sarfaraz Khan (45), who forged a watchful 76-run third-wicket partnership off 133 balls. Mohan struck nine boundaries and a six in making 60 off 118 balls, while Sarfaraz displayed sound judgment, leaving deliveries outside off-stump and using his backfoot play effectively to make 45 off 97 balls, laced with five boundaries. J&K turned the tide in the afternoon session as Nasir double-bluffed Mohan into a loose drive outside off and had him caught behind shortly after lunch. Sarfaraz was strangled down leg off Nazir, who then dismissed captain Rishabh Pant (10) after the wicketkeeper-batter miscued to short cover-point. From a comfortable 108/2, Rest of India slipped to 155/7, losing five wickets for 22 runs in the afternoon session. Middle-order batter Ravichandran Smaran anchored the tail to lift Rest of India past the 200-run mark. Smaran scored a fighting 68 off 83 balls, adding 39 runs for the eighth wicket with Akash Deep (22) and another 43 runs for the ninth wicket alongside Mukesh Choudhary (2). Smaran's counter-attacking knock included eight boundaries and a six before he was the last man dismissed. In reply, J&K struggled against the moving ball in late evening conditions. Choudhary got Shubham Pundir (1) caught behind after a successful DRS review. Nightwatchman Nazir lasted just nine balls before edging a sharp bouncer from Akash Deep to Pant on the penultimate ball of the day, as an eventful day of red-ball cricket came to a close. Brief scores: Rest of India 237all out in 68.1 overs (Smaran Ravichandran 68, Shikhar Mohan 60; Sunil Kumar 3-36, Lone Nasir Muzaffar 3-59) lead Jammu & Kashmir 21/2 in 7 overs (Qamran Iqbal 12 not out; Mukesh Choudhary 1-3) by 216 runs
The International Cricket Council (ICC) will unveil the schedule for the 2027 ODI World Cup on Thursday, which will mark the one-year countdown to the tournament. The 2027 ODI World Cup, which will see a...
SA20 Season 5: Du Plessis, Van Der Dussen, Mulder Headline Player Auctions Shortlist
Joburg Super Kings: 95 South African cricketers and 61 overseas stars are set to go under the hammer at the October 7 auction for 19 remaining slots ahead of the milestone in Season 5 of the SA20, South Africa's franchise-based domestic T20 competition. A total of 789 players had registered for the auction, which has now grown into one of the most anticipated events on the South African sporting calendar, before the list was trimmed down to 156 players. It will be a smaller auction compared to last year, with most of the teams having retained their core group from the previous edition. Durbans Super Giants and Paarl Royals have already completed their 19-player squads and will not be taking part in the auction. A maximum of $2.11 million will be spent, with Joburg Super Kings and MI Cape Town having to fill six slots each. Former JSK skipper Faf du Plessis, all-rounder Wiaan Mulder, pacer Nandre Burger and veteran top-order batter Rassie van der Dussen will be among some of the biggest South African names on whom the four teams will have their eyes. Du Plessiss appetite for the franchise circuit remains strong, with the veteran recently topping the run-scoring charts in Europe. The two U23 spots are expected to be hotly contested. After fetching the joint-highest bid in the Season 2 auction, fast bowler Matthew Boast features strongly in this category, along with former SA U19 captain Jason Rowles. The first four auctions have produced fairytale stories, from Tristan Stubbs $554,693 deal at the inaugural auction to Dewald Brevis record-breaking $994,834 deal last season. Beyond the headline deals, several local cricketers have become millionaires overnight, with most being given the chance to showcase their talent to a global audience in front of packed stadiums, often leading to more opportunities on the global circuit. Among the overseas players, Kieron Pollard, Trent Boult, Shimron Hetmyer, Shamar Joseph, Mohammad Nabi, AM Ghazanfar, Jordan Cox, Aneurin Donald, Rehan Ahmed and Richard Gleeson are some of the biggest and most highly anticipated names in the auction. Beyond the headline deals, several local cricketers have become millionaires overnight, with most being given the chance to showcase their talent to a global audience in front of packed stadiums, often leading to more opportunities on the global circuit. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Manifesting To Feature In 2027 ODI WC By Staying In Present And Keeping Fit: Rohit Sharma
Cricket World Cup: Outlining his long-term ambition to feature in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027, senior India opener Rohit Sharma says his strategy revolves around staying strictly in the present, keeping fit, and performing consistently in every immediate assignment rather than looking too far ahead. Rohit made a vintage 101 at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati, as India chased down a massive 406 against the West Indies. He also shared an opening stand of 255 runs with captain Shubman Gill, who hit an unbeaten 223. Another superb performance from Rohit Sharma will be expected when the third ODI takes place in New Chandigarh on Saturday. What I want to manifest is that I keep myself capable enough until 2027, so I keep myself fit, keep working hard, and keep performing well in every tournament that comes up. This is what I need to think about, and this is what I need to do. So, I think my immediate goal is that whatever is in front of me right now, I do that properly, Rohit told JioStar in an interaction. Because thinking about next October right now is not going to help me play my game. What will help me is to stay in the present, keep ticking every box that comes my way, and then keep moving forward. In life, I've progressed step by step like this, so right now I have to do the same. So basically, what I mean is that I don't need to change anything. The way my journey has been so far, I want to keep driving it the same way. Keep working hard on my batting, keep working hard on my fitness, help the boys in the team, give input wherever it's needed, that's all, he added. Assessing Gill's transition into the captaincy role over the past year, Rohit urged critics to give the youngster time while praising his clarity of thought on the field. Shubman Gill has a great cricketing brain, no doubt about that. He has been captaining for about a year now, so it is unfair to judge him as a captain so early. But from what I have seen, he has been impressive. He is very clear about what he wants. That is the most important thing a captain should have. If the captain is clear, the players around him will also be clear. That is what I see with Shubman. He knows what he wants and is moving in the right direction. Of course, any captain needs the support of the players and the staff around him. I am sure that in whatever way I can help him, I will do that, he added. Rohit stressed that taking a backseat from the leadership role does not mean stepping away from guiding the team, adding that his dynamic with Gill remains unchanged. Shubman is the captain, but that does not mean I stay away from him or talk less with him. Ever since he made his debut, we have been moving in the same direction. That is how it should be, and it should not change for any reason. He needs the confidence of the team, knowing that everyone is moving together. Our job is to support him and take the team forward, he added. Having experienced the high of lifting World Cups twice in his career -- as a 20-year-old in the 2007 T20 World Cup and as captain in the 2024 T20 World Cup, Rohit stated that the feeling of winning a global trophy for India remains unmatched. It'll be great to win the upcoming ODI World Cup; that's all I'll say. I wouldn't think about full circle and all that now. Winning a World Cup for India is a special feeling. I have experienced that twice in the T20 format. In 2007, I was just a young kid of 20 years. Of course, it's a big tournament; you've won a World Cup in your first year, it's great. Then we won the Champions Trophy in 2013, and after that there was a long period, almost for 11 years, where we couldn't win an ICC title. So that's why, when we won the T20 World Cup in 2024, there was a realisation of how important it was. So that feeling is still inside to a great extent. So, I know what winning a World Cup feels like. So that's why I want that feeling back. The fun we had, you cant describe what that feeling is, because you can't match that. That's why winning that World Cup is very important to me, because I want to feel that feeling again, which we felt recently, he concluded. Then we won the Champions Trophy in 2013, and after that there was a long period, almost for 11 years, where we couldn't win an ICC title. So that's why, when we won the T20 World Cup in 2024, there was a realisation of how important it was. So that feeling is still inside to a great extent. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
10 Off 36 Balls: Rishabh Pant Flops in Irani Cup
Rest of India were bowled out for 237 by a spirited Jammu and Kashmir attack on Day 1 of the Irani Cup. Skipper Rishabh Pant and Sarfaraz Khan failed to convert starts, while Shikhar Mohan and Ravichandran Smaran scored half-centuries. J and K ended the day at 21 for 2, losing two early wickets.
WPL 2027: Klinger Counts On Scouting And Camps To Navigate Auction Preparation
Renuka Singh Thakur: Gujarat Giants (GG) head coach Michael Klinger is placing his faith in intensive off-season camps and a broad scouting network to build squad depth in the 2027 Womens Premier League (WPL) mini-auction to be held in Kochi on October 28. Unlike previous editions in which the players' auction took place after the women's domestic season began, this year's WPL auction happens just two days after the start of the 2026/27 Indian womens domestic season on October 26. GG, who have made it to the Eliminator twice in the last two WPL seasons, retained 15 players and have to fill only three spots, one of which is for an overseas player, with a purse of Rs 1.25 crore. Obviously, last domestic season, we were following really closely. You see a lot of players in the WPL, and a few quality players have been released. We're currently having a camp now actually in Bengaluru with our local contracted players, and also some invited players to scout, not only for this auction, but potentially for the next couple of auctions over the next year or two as well, with a mega-auction coming in the following year, Klinger told IANS in a virtual interaction organised by the franchise on Thursday. So we've only got either two or three picks in terms of local players in the auction. We're pretty confident with what we've got in options in the starting eleven, so probably looking to build some depth in the squad and we have a luxury, I think, of having most skill sets covered, he said. With a majority of the core retained, GG are targeting specific backup roles, particularly in fast bowling and batting. So it's going to be areas, I think, that we can add depth - that could be fast bowling. It could be an extra spare batter, if we feel like that as well. So we're doing some scouting at the moment to work out what we're going to go with at the end of October, added Klinger. This is the off-season time in the WPL, and GG have been quick in getting camps up and running, as well as have a close eye on performances of domestic stars like Yastika Bhatia and Anushka Sharma, who are currently with the India A team. We keep tabs on all our players. We watch them really carefully in domestic cricket. This year probably is a little bit different because in previous years, the player auction has been sort of a month or even more after the start of the domestic season, he said. This year, it's only two days after. So we're probably not going to get, I suppose, the feedback from good performances from players in domestic cricket, both ours and also potential buyers in the auction. But we've held two camps just in the last six weeks. We held one about six weeks ago with all our local players and a few invited players that we're sort of looking to scout potentially for whether it's this auction or auctions in the future. I'm in Bengaluru as we speak, holding a camp now with all our retained players, plus a couple we released and who we invited to come to the camp to make sure that we keep an eye on them either potentially for this auction coming up or the mega auction next year, added Klinger. He also credited team management with investing heavily in year-round player monitoring. Our management have been fantastic in investing in these sorts of training camps to keep tabs on our own players. We've got our physios and strength and conditioning coaches here to see how they're all traveling physically as well. But also just to see what else is out there and keep an eye on it. We've got a great scouting program where we have people going to watch all the domestic competitions and that information getting fed back to me is extremely helpful coming into an auction. Klinger also provided an encouraging progress report on fast bowler Kashvee Gautam, who has been out of action since the T20I tour of South Africa due to a knee injury and is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. Her recovery is going well. She's at the CoE at the moment here in Bengaluru, so she's unable to train with us because obviously she's under the BCCIs guidance. But her return to play is likely to be sometime in October. She's actually been bowling multiple overs regularly. So I think its six plus overs at the moment per session. But I think India are trying to get her to build up her loads to be able to play 50-over cricket as well, and she's doing that at the moment. So its going well - she's batting well in the nets. I feel probably more middle to late October, when they give her the green light to play. I know there's an India A series versus an England A series at the end of this month (December), which she's targeting. So hopefully everything keeps going in the right way, and she's back for that, and that'll give her a good six weeks of competitive cricket before WPL. Then obviously, hopefully she can break into that Champions Trophy team with some good cricket coming into that as well, he revealed. Beyond the auction, the inclusion of a fully fit Yastika gives GG further tactical freedom to tweak their overseas combination. Bhatia was picked up by Gujarat in the previous auction despite being ruled out of the season due to left ACL surgery, and her return will bolster the top order. You've got Yastika now, who I thought was a really good buy for us in the last auction, even knowing she wasn't going to be available this year. That really strengthens our squad and our starting 11 this year. So it gives us options with our overseas players as well. We could go with the same four with multiple all-rounders, or we could go with an out-and-out fast bowler. Part of my role, I feel, as a franchise coach is two things: one is to win a trophy, and the second one is to help develop local players to play for their country. So we'll be doing everything we can during the WPL to help players like Yastika, Anushka (Sharma), and Renuka (Singh Thakur) as well... to get back into that Indian starting eleven. Addressing squad departures, Klinger explained that fast bowler Titas Sadhu, who was released after not playing WPL 2026 due to a hand injury, is in attendance at GG's off-season camp. There's no reason we may not look to get her back, but it will also give us a chance to look at some other options as well, he said. On releasing Danni Wyatt-Hodge due to schedule overlaps with national duties, Klinger added, I'm not sure if she's going to enter the auction or not, but she was quite keen to play that series for England around that same time as well. So probably for both parties, it was the best way to go. Reflecting on the broader evolution of domestic talent in WPL, Klinger highlighted noticeable athletic and physical improvements among Indian fast bowlers since coming on board, especially with GG having options in Kashvee, Happy Kumari, Jintimani Kalita, and Renuka Singh Thakur. I feel we've got some really good Indian bowlers within our ranks. Overall, domestically, I think that's probably the area in Indian cricket where they can keep building that depth. There's certainly been a big change from when I sort of started in this role a few years ago, where I feel that, seeing the fast bowling around the country, they're physically better. You look at them and watch them bowl, and in the field, they're physically fitter. They're more versatile, they can move better, they're more agile. So I think that's definitely been a difference that I've seen from when I first started, and that's only going to help them be able to maintain their pace and aggression for longer periods of time without injury. I feel we've got some really good Indian bowlers within our ranks. Overall, domestically, I think that's probably the area in Indian cricket where they can keep building that depth. There's certainly been a big change from when I sort of started in this role a few years ago, where I feel that, seeing the fast bowling around the country, they're physically better. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
India A 28/1 At Stumps, Need 337 More Runs To Beat Australia A In Second Four-Day Match
Hosts are leading the two-match series 1-0. Opener Sam Konstas hit 40, Nathan McSweeney 36 and Jason Sangha remained unbeaten 44 as the visitors declared their second innings at 173 for four an hour before close to set India A an improbable target of 365.
Delhi Cricket Body Hosts MCC Laws Of Cricket Workshop
The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) hosted a special MCC Laws of Cricket Workshop in Delhi for the Association's umpires, ahead of the New Laws of Cricket taking effect from October 1, 2026
Rashid, Curran Return as England Reveal Pakistan Tri-Series Squad
England named a 16-man squad for the Pakistan tri-series, recalling Adil Rashid and Sam Curran, handing three players maiden ODI call-ups to the side led by Harry Brook.
Canada Super 60: Zaheer Khan-owned Vancouver Anchors Win As Josh Brown, Kohler-Cadmore Star
The Toronto Sixers Women: Josh Brown smashed 88 off 33 balls while Tom Kohler-Cadmore struck 54 off 22 as the Vancouver Anchors, Brampton Blitz and Mississauga Masters secured wins on the second day of the Canada Super 60 Season 2 men's competition at BC Place. The Toronto Sixers Women also opened their campaign with a 21-run win over Vancouver Anchors Women. Brampton Blitz began the men's action with a four-wicket win over Toronto Sixers, chasing down 157 with one ball to spare. Toronto posted 156/5 after Kohler-Cadmore's 54 came from just 22 balls, with five fours and five sixes, while Andries Gous added 66 off 26 with nine sixes. Nicholas Pooran made six off three before being dismissed, while Kieron Pollard was out for a first-ball duck. Brampton's chase was led by JJ Smuts, who scored 44 off 17 balls, while Asa Tribe made 37 off 13 and James Vince contributed 35 off 10. Tom Curran finished unbeaten on 13 as Brampton reached 158/6 in 9.5 overs. Vancouver Anchors, owned by legendary former India spearhead Zaheer Khan, then chased down 161 against Montreal Royal Tigers with four balls remaining, winning by seven wickets. Josh Brown provided the innings' defining contribution, smashing 88 not out from 33 balls with 13 sixes, while Andre Russell added an unbeaten 27 off eight. Montreal had earlier posted 160/3, as Moeen Ali made 48 off 23 and Obus Pienaar finished unbeaten on 20 off four in the second innings. The Anchors reached 163/3 in 9.4 overs. Mississauga Masters produced the most one-sided result of the men's matches, beating White Rock Warriors by nine wickets after chasing down 100 in only 4.2 overs. Alex Lees smashed an unbeaten 59 off 16 balls, with five fours and six sixes, while George Munsey finished on 30 not out from 11 deliveries. White Rock were restricted to 99/8 despite contributions from Prabphreet Bhullar, who made 23 off 10, Dwayne Pretorius, who scored 22 off 11, and Dominic Drakes, who hit 20 off seven. David Wiese took three wickets for Mississauga and conceded 20 runs from his two overs. The women's match saw Toronto Sixers Women beat Vancouver Anchors Women by 21 runs after defending 71. Maddy Villiers led Toronto's innings with 18 off seven balls, while Saachi Dhadwal made 17 from 15 as the Sixers were bowled out for 70. Grace Ballinger was the standout bowler with 2/4 from two overs, while Rabbjyot Rajput and Harseeat Kaur took two wickets each. Vancouver's chase never gained momentum, with Laura Harris scoring 24 off 10 balls, but Toronto's bowlers kept taking wickets to restrict the Anchors to 49/9. Vandana Mahajan and Indu Barma took two wickets each for Toronto. In India, the tournament is being broadcast on Unite8 Sports 2 and streamed on FanCode. Brief scores: Toronto Sixers 156/5 in 10 overs lost to Brampton Blitz 158/6 in 9.5 by 4 wickets; Montreal Royal Tigers 160/3 in 10 overs lost to Vancouver Anchors 163/3 in 9.4 by 7 wickets; White Rock Warriors 99/8 in 10 overs lost to Mississauga Masters 102/1 in 4.2 overs by 9 wickets; Montreal Royal Tigers 160/3 in 10 overs lost to Vancouver Anchors 163/3 in 9.4 by 7 wickets; Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Australia A Put India A On The Brink After Dominant Third Day In Puducherry
Siechem Stadium: Australia A took a firm grip on the second and final four-day game against India A, setting the hosts a daunting 365-run target after a productive third day at the Siechem Stadium in Puducherry on Thursday. Having secured a 191-run first-innings advantage, Australia A opted for an aggressive declaration at 173/4, leaving India A with a little over an hour to negotiate before stumps. The hosts finished the day at 28/1, with Aayush Pandey unbeaten on 11 alongside nightwatchman Tushar Deshpande on four. Todd Murphy provided Australia A with the breakthrough, bowling Sai Sudharsan for 12. The visitors position strengthened considerably in the opening session, when India As first innings unravelled after lunch was brought into view. Resuming on 122/5, India A added only 45 runs before being dismissed for 167. Shaik Rasheed and Tanush Kotian had initially offered resistance, extending their overnight sixth-wicket partnership to 46. Rasheed made 42 from 167 balls, while Kotian contributed 33 off 46 balls, including three fours and a six. Liam Hatcher ended the stand by bowling Rasheed, triggering a collapse in which India A lost their final five wickets for just 10 runs. Jhye Richardson and Corey Rocchiccioli then shared four of the remaining wickets, finishing with three apiece. Australia A began their second innings positively, with Sam Konstas and Josh Philippe adding 53 for the opening wicket. Konstas continued to attack alongside Nathan McSweeney, putting together another 40-run partnership before India A finally made inroads. Kotian dismissed both Konstas and Australia A captain Peter Handscomb in quick succession. Handscomb, who was dismissed for a duck, endured another difficult outing after also failing to score in the first innings. Praful Hinge then accounted for McSweeney, who made 36, but Jason Sangha ensured Australia A retained control. He remained unbeaten on 44 and shared an unbroken 40-run partnership with Liam Scott, who was 13 not out, before the declaration came. Hinge was brought into the India A side as a substitute for Anshul Kamboj, who has been called up to the Indian squad for the final ODI against the West Indies in place of the injured Prasidh Krishna. India A, which won the opening match of the series by 162 runs, now face a demanding final day as they attempt to save the contest. Brief scores: India A, which won the opening match of the series by 162 runs, now face a demanding final day as they attempt to save the contest. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
ICC New Rules: What's Changed in Playing Conditions
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced a series of changes to its Playing Conditions, effective from October 1, 2024, aimed at improving game pace, standardising ball specifications, and clarifying fielding rules. These updates include penalties for time-wasting batters, tighter ball tolerances for women's cricket, and a trial for pink balls in daytime Test matches.
This is not cricket, this is just batting: Head coach Gambhir critical of Guwahati track
Five centuries and a total of 800 plus runs in an ODI might be enthralling for the spectators but the uneven contest turns bowlers into bystanders, reckoned Gambhir.
Fast bowlers' day in Srinagar as J
Akash Deep and Mukesh Choudhary returned the favour leaving J
Pink ball for India-Australia Test in Guwahati? Here's why
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved the use of pink balls in day-time Test matches on a trial basis, aiming to mitigate the frequent loss of overs due to fading light in the final session. This decision, applicable to series starting from October 1, allows for mutual agreement between teams to use the pink ball for the entire duration of a Test.
Unofficial Test: Australia A Build Commanding Lead Against India A
Australia A has established a commanding 364-run lead over India A on the third day of their second four-day match in Puducherry. India A, chasing an improbable target of 365, finished the day at 28 for one, still needing 337 runs. Key contributions from Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney, and Jason Sangha helped Australia A declare their second innings at 173 for four.
Gill combines beauty with responsibility in pursuit of greatness
The Indian captain appears to relish the challenge of being the set batter who carries the innings through; he seems to have discovered that the shortest distance between himself and greatness is simply to keep batting
Australia A strike after setting India A target of 365
The hosts lost Sai Sudharsan a few minutes before stumps on day three, still needing another 337 runs for victory
Vaishnavi, Prasad power India A to thumping win over Australia A
Vaishnavi picked up a match-haul of 9 for 110, while Prasad scored 91 and returned 7 for 77 in the game
Batters face five-run penalty for time wasting in new ICC playing conditions
Women's cricket now has a distinctly-specified cricket ball size
Rizwan questions NCCIA over changing explanation for investigation
While the initial enquiry was about betting and gambling in Pakistan cricket, the NCCIA letter on Wednesday said he was being investigated under
ICC brings major changes to cricket rules across all formats
ICC unveils sweeping playing-condition changes across formats, including time-wasting penalties, ball standardisation, fielding clarity, and pink-ball Test pilot
India make changes to ODI, T20I squad for ongoing series vs West Indies
India pacer Prasidh Krishna has been ruled out of the third and final ODI against West Indies, slated to be played on October 3 in Mullanpur. BCCI has confirmed that the Karnataka pacer sustained a...
Faf du Plessis, Trent Boult and Kieron Pollard in SA20 mini-auction shortlist
A total of 156 players are up for grabs on October 7
India Head Coach Gautam Gambhir: India Head Coach Gautam Gambhir said that exposing fast bowlers Auqib Nabi and Gurnoor Brar to demanding, high-stakes match scenarios rather than making them play in low-intensity matches is vital for the team's long-term preparation ahead of the 2027 Mens ODI World Cup. In Guwahati, that plan didnt pan out in the desired manner as on a placid pitch, Gurnoor conceded 96 runs in his ten overs, while picking two wickets. Nabi, who got his ODI debut cap and replaced Nitish Kumar Reddy in the playing eleven, gave away 84 runs in 8.5 overs - the most by an India bowler on ODI debut, going past Karsan Ghavri conceding 83 against England at Lord's in 1975. It wasn't a dead rubber, not at all. We were 1-0 up in the series, but we gave Auqib an opportunity. We could have given him the opportunity in the next match too, when it's a dead rubber, but in a dead rubber, you don't have that pressure which comes with the pressure of winning a series, Gambhir said to JioStar. And we all know that the World Cup is all about pressure. Cricket isn't going to change much, bat and ball won't change, only the pressure will be different because the World Cup comes once in four years, the head coach added. Reflecting on Brar's struggles on a flat Guwahati pitch, Gambhir opined that his trial by fire is essential for the future of Indian cricket. For example, having Gurnoor bowl in the first 10 overs and then bowling at the death, I know people will talk about his analysis, but the more he bowls in tough conditions, in tough situations, the better it is for Indian cricket. Because you can have him bowl in the middle overs and get him to improve his analysis or stats and make him bowl defensively, but the more we expose them at such times, the better it is for Indian cricket, he added. Despite the series-clinching victory, thanks to Shubman Gills 223 not out and Rohit Sharmas 101, Gambhir called for a fairer contest between bat and ball. If I have to be absolutely honest, I feel there has to be a bit more contest between bat and ball. This is not cricket, this is only batting. Because imagine a young bowler bowling on this wicket, and the opposition getting 400 and then we go on to chase 400. Obviously, for the records, for the crowd, it's outstanding, but if you ask me as a genuine cricket fan and as a coach, because I have to have a sympathy for the bowlers as well. When you bowl on this kind of a wicket, it's not fair for the bowlers. So, we've got to give something to the bowlers so there's at least something which they can work with, he said. Elaborating on what needs to be done to restore balance, Gambhir highlighted how existing playing rules, such as five fielders inside the 30-yard circle and the use of two new balls, severely restrict a bowler's tactical options against modern-day batters. You need a bit of margin for the bowlers. Often, you can't be hard on bowlers, because sometimes bowling figures are such that they haven't bowled as poorly as their figures suggest. Because the margin is very small. Plus, with five fielders inside, two new balls, and the kind of power-hitting there is now, bowlers don't really have many options. That is why, as a coach, as a support staff, the first thing you look at is: were they able to execute their bowling or their plans properly? If they were able to do that, then you aren't that hard on them. If you get too hard just looking at their analysis, then we will never be able to develop bowlers. You need a bit of margin for the bowlers. Often, you can't be hard on bowlers, because sometimes bowling figures are such that they haven't bowled as poorly as their figures suggest. Because the margin is very small. Plus, with five fielders inside, two new balls, and the kind of power-hitting there is now, bowlers don't really have many options. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
'I was not feeling so confident': Ishan on tricky surface
Ishan Kishan's unbeaten 80 off 46 balls against Sri Lanka in the Asian Games semi-final was a 'gem' on a difficult, cracked pitch, securing India's spot in the gold medal match against Pakistan.
ICC's Full List Of Rule Changes: Major Alterations Made To Cricket By Sourav Ganguly-Led Committee
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has introduced a series of changes to its Playing Conditions, including new measures to address time-wasting, standardise ball specifications and clarify certain aspects of fielding.
Nitish Kumar Reddy: Fast bowler Anshul Kamboj has been called up to replace the injured Prasidh Krishna for the third and final ODI against the West Indies, set to take place in New Chandigarh on Saturday. Prasidh sustained a left hamstring injury during Indias second ODI match in Guwahati, which they won by eight wickets, and has subsequently been ruled out. Kamboj, who has been pulled out of the India A match against Australia A in Puducherry, will join the squad in Chandigarh ahead of the final ODI. Fast bowler Prasidh Krishna sustained a left hamstring injury during the second ODI in Guwahati and has been ruled out of the third ODI. The Mens Selection Committee has named Anshul Kamboj as Prasidhs replacement. Kamboj will join the squad in Chandigarh, the BCCI said in an official statement on Thursday. Kamboj, who took 3-34 in 17.3 overs in the first innings, bowled just two overs in the second innings before departing Puducherry and was replaced by Praful Hinge in the playing eleven. Prasidh, who opened the bowling attack during India's eight-wicket victory in the second ODI at the ACA Stadium, walked off after sending down just five overs. After bowling a four-over opening spell, Prasidh bowled the 31st over before walking off the field and took no further part in the contest. His sudden exit forced the Indian team management to turn to part-time off-spin of Naman Dhir, who bowled 6.1 overs, though he himself briefly left the field earlier due to cramps. Kamboj is yet to play ODIs, but made his Test debut for India in the Manchester Test against England last year. Meanwhile, off-spin bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar, who is currently with the T20I team in the Asian Games in Japan, has been released from the T20I squad for the five-game series against the West Indies to feature in the Ranji Trophy for Tamil Nadu, to prepare for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand. Batting all-rounder Naman Dhir, who made his ODI debut against the West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram, has been named as Washington's replacement in the T20I squad for the series starting on October 6. The decision has been taken in view of the upcoming Test series against New Zealand. With the Ranji Trophy season commencing on October 11, Washington will get an opportunity to play red-ball cricket for his state team and prepare for the Test series, added the BCCI. Indias updated ODI Squad: Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (vc & wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Mohammed Siraj, Auqib Nabi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Naman Dhir, and Anshul Kamboj. The decision has been taken in view of the upcoming Test series against New Zealand. With the Ranji Trophy season commencing on October 11, Washington will get an opportunity to play red-ball cricket for his state team and prepare for the Test series, added the BCCI. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Indian tennis contingent to return without medal from Asiad for first time in 40 years
Prajnesh Gunneswaran and Ankita Raina were the last singles players to win medals at the Asian Games. Both stood on the podium with bronze in the 2018 Jakarta Games
Mason Crane Recalled After 8 Years As England Name 16-member ODI Squad For Pakistan Tri-series
But Jos Buttler: Leg-spinner Mason Crane earned a surprise international recall after eight years via being named in Englands squad for the upcoming ODI tri-series in Pakistan, which features Sri Lanka as the third side. Crane, 29, last played for England came the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney in January 2018. Crane, who also featured in two T20Is in 2017, replaces Rehan Ahmed in the squad following an impressive domestic summer with Glamorgan. England have also handed call-ups to uncapped duo of all-rounder James Coles and fast bowler Henry Crocombe. Senior leg-spinner Adil Rashid and all-rounder Sam Curran have returned after recovering from hand and groin injuries respectively. But Jos Buttler continues to sit out as he recovers from the hamstring injury sustained during the recent ODI series against Sri Lanka, which England won by 2-1, while star fast bowler Jofra Archer has been rested to manage his summer workload. Middle-order batter Jacob Bethell remains sidelined following knee surgery, while pacer Brydon Carse, who was investigated by the Cricket Regulator over an incident outside a Derby nightclub, is still not included. The tri-series in Pakistan provides another valuable opportunity for our ODI squad to test themselves against quality opposition in different conditions. Adil Rashid and Sam Curran return to the squad following their respective injuries while Jofra Archer has been rested to manage his workload following a busy summer. Mason Crane has been performing consistently for Glamorgan across both formats during the summer. Hes an experienced, high-class leg-spinner who thoroughly deserves another opportunity at international level, said chief selector Marcus North in a statement on Thursday. The tri-series, which will be held across Rawalpindi and Lahore, begins on October 18 with Pakistan taking on Sri Lanka. England open their campaign against hosts Pakistan in Rawalpindi on October 20, with the final to be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on October 31. Former England batter Kevin Pietersen will not be with the team in Pakistan, though he remains slated to restart his mentor duties for the winter matches against Australia and South Africa. Additionally, Marcus Trescothick has been given a break following his interim stint in the 3-0 Test sweep against Pakistan, with Mike Yardy to step in as batting coach after working with Englands development teams. Former England batter Kevin Pietersen will not be with the team in Pakistan, though he remains slated to restart his mentor duties for the winter matches against Australia and South Africa. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
India To Be Confronted With Handshake Question With Pakistan Waiting In Asian Games Cricket Final
The Indian players have so far refused to shake hands with their Pakistan counterparts in the Asia Cup and ICC events since Operation Sindoor.
Naseem Shah, Dasun Shanaka Among Stars Picked At 2026 Abu Dhabi T10 Player Draft
The 2026 Abu Dhabi T10 Player Draft saw a host of international stars find new homes ahead of the upcoming season
Are you a fan of the man or not? The post The return of Steve Smith why SA fans should ditch the sandpaper references appeared first on Cricket365 .
Ishan Kishan's Unbeaten 80 On Tough Pitch Sends India To Asian Games Final, Pakistan Await
Ishan Kishan's calculated 46-ball 80 on a difficult track laid the foundation as defending champions India hammered Sri Lanka by 124 runs in the Asian Games men's cricket semifinal here on Thursday to set up a gold-medal clash with arch-rivals Pakistan.
95 South African cricketers and 61 overseas stars are set to go under the hammer at the October 7 auction for 19 remaining slots ahead of the milestone fifth season of the SA20
Kamboj replaces injured Prasidh for final India vs West Indies ODI
Prasidh Krishna picked up a hamstring strain during the second ODI against West Indies and could be a doubt for the first round of the Ranji Trophy too
Baker gears up for reverse after summer in fast-forward
England rest Archer, include Mason Crane in 16-player white-ball squad for Pakistan tour
Five hundreds, including a double century, more than 800 runs and a slew of batting records broken in the India-West Indies second ODI fuelled criticism of the nature of surfaces in the country, but India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak felt there was o perfect pitch in cricket.
Naseem, Noor, Shanaka Among Draft Picks For Abu Dhabi T10 League 2026
Abu Dhabi T10 Player Draft: Several international stars were picked in the Abu Dhabi T10 League player draft on Wednesday as teams completed their squads ahead of the upcoming season, which gets underway from November 7. Naseem Shah (Royal Desert Champions), Noor Ahmad (Emirates Eagles), Muhammad Amir (UAE Bulls), Alzarri Joseph (Arabian Aces), Dasun Shanaka (Yas Lions), Shadab Khan (UAE Bulls), Kusal Perera (Emirates Eagles) and Chris Jordan (Royal Desert Champions), among others, headlined the draft. Several leading UAE players also joined the squads, with the likes of Alishan Sharafu (Arabian Aces), Aayan Afzal Khan (Royal Desert Champions), Muhammad Waseem (Royal Desert Champions), Haider Razzaq (Emirates Eagles), Muhammad Rohid (UAE Bulls), Ansh Tandon (Yas Lions) and Luqman Faisal (Emirates Eagles) set to be in action in the upcoming season. UAE have more local player presence with the likes of Awais Ali Shah (United Tigers), Dhruv Parashar (Royal Desert Champions), Harshit Kaushik (Emirates Eagles), Wali Muhammad (UAE Bulls), Adithya Shetty (United Tigers), Haider Ali (Yas Lions) and Vriitya Arvind (Arabian Aces) also selected. Former Indian cricketer KS Bharat will also be in action for Emirates Eagles, with Alex Hales, Hassan Nawaz, Kusal Perera, David Wiese and Chris Green also part of the squad. Noor Ahmad, Rehan Ahmed and Ali Raza further strengthen the bowling department, complementing pre-draft signings Rovman Powell, Shimron Hetmyer and Trent Boult. The Royal Desert Champions have strong players like Naseem Shah, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera and Chris Jordan. Muhammad Waseem, Brandon King and Jayanth Liyanage give the batting strength, while Gulbadin Naib and Keemo Paul provide all-round ability. The side already had Nicholas Pooran, Phil Salt and Sherfane Rutherford on board as pre-draft signings. The UAE Bulls have been bolstered by power-hitting options through Andre Fletcher, Aneurin Donald, Khwaja Nafay, Max Bryan and Azam Khan, with Shadab Khan and Khushdil Shah offering all-round depth. The pace attack has the likes of Muhammad Amir and Nuwan Thushara, while the franchise had already secured Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine and Romario Shepherd before the Draft. Azmatullah Omarzai, Odean Smith and Mahedi Hasan have joined The United Tigers, with Abbas Afridi and Sufyan Moqim also present. The Tigers pre-draft haul comprised the Pakistani trio of Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed and Faheem Ashraf. The Yas Lions have plenty of experience with James Vince, Dasun Shanaka, Tom Moores and Akeal Hosein among their notable selections. Eshan Malinga and Obed McCoy build their bowling strength, while the Lions had already secured Jason Holder, David Willey and Andries Gous before the Draft. Netherlands Aryan Dutt also joins the squad as their Associate Member selection. Arabian Aces: Moeen Ali*, Andre Russell*, Liam Livingstone*, Alishan Sharafu, Muhammad Arfan, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Richard Gleeson, Sam Billings, Paul Walter, Alzarri Joseph, Imran Tahir, Salman Irshad, Quentin Sampson, Dwaine Pretorius, Vriitya Arvind, Ibrahim Masood, Amshi De Silva, Dunith Wellalage Emirates Eagles: Rovman Powell*, Shimron Hetmyer*, Trent Boult*, Haider Razzaq, Luqman Faisal, David Wiese, Noor Ahmad, Alex Hales, KS Bharat, Akif Javed, Hassan Nawaz, Rehan Ahmed, Ali Raza, Chris Green, Harshit Kaushik, Hilal Afghan, Toby Albert, Kusal Perera Royal Desert Champions: Nicholas Pooran*, Phil Salt*, Sherfane Rutherford*, Ali Naseer, Aayan Afzal Khan, Muhammad Waseem, Naseem Shah, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Luke Wood, Gulbadin Naib, Brandon King, Janith Liyanage, Keemo Paul, Dhruv Parashar, Raizal Nadir, Tajinder Singh Dhillon, Chris Jordan UAE Bulls: Kieron Pollard*, Sunil Narine*, Romario Shepherd*, Muhammad Rohid, Tahir Zaman, Aneurin Donald, Muhammad Amir, Andre Fletcher, Khwaja Nafay, Nuwan Thushara, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Max Bryant, Azam Khan, Wali Muhammad, Uddish Suri, Bradley Currie, Shadab Khan United Tigers: Fakhar Zaman*, Iftikhar Ahmed*, Faheem Ashraf*, Zeeshan Naseer, Awais Ali Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Sufyan Moqim, Abbas Afridi, Odean Smith, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Habibur Rahman Sohan, Noor ul Rahman, Shamim Hossain, Adithya Shetty, Noor Ullah Ayubi, Paul van Meekeren, Yasin Patel Yas Lions: Jason Holder*, David Willey*, Andries Gous*, Ajay Kumar, Ansh Tandon, James Vince, Dasun Shanaka, Eshan Malinga, Karim Janat, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Tom Moores, Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Obed McCoy, Kamil Pooran, Haider Ali, Masood Gurbaz, Aryan Dutt, Akeal Hosein United Tigers: Fakhar Zaman*, Iftikhar Ahmed*, Faheem Ashraf*, Zeeshan Naseer, Awais Ali Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Sufyan Moqim, Abbas Afridi, Odean Smith, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Habibur Rahman Sohan, Noor ul Rahman, Shamim Hossain, Adithya Shetty, Noor Ullah Ayubi, Paul van Meekeren, Yasin Patel Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
There Was Not A Lot For The Bowlers, Wish It Was Equally Balanced, Says Kotak On Guwahati Pitch
ODI World Cup: Expressing disappointment over the stark imbalance between bat and ball during Indias record-breaking run chase of 406 against the West Indies, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak admitted that the pitch at the ACA Stadium practically offered no assistance to the bowling unit. India chased down a massive 406 with 39 balls to spare in the second ODI on Wednesday, in a match that saw five centuries, including a double century from skipper Shubman Gill, and 811 runs being scored in all. There was not a lot for the bowlers. We wish that it is equally balanced. Maybe on a 300 runs wicket, other team had to fight hard to get that 300, 320 (is ideal). The outfield was quick and 20, 30, 40 runs go from there. Particularly in this game, yes, you do feel for the bowlers, said Kotak at the conclusion of the game. He reckoned India could have avoided conceding 400-plus runs to the West Indies, though he refrained from blaming the pitch curators directly. See, we keep talking about pitches. But, let me tell you, I don't think anyone can make a perfect pitch in the world. No one can make a wicket and say that it will have only 250 or 300 runs. It is possible that the curator tries to make a match with 250 or 300 runs and the wicket spins or seams more and the team gets out for 150 runs. So, he will get criticism in that too. Sometimes I also wonder that, say in the 1983 World Cup, 180 runs in 60 overs were lot. Today, it looks like 400 is also not enough. So, whether it is only the wicket to blame or standard of batting is going high, the way guys are batting, it's debatable, he added. His thoughts were echoed by West Indies bowling coach Ravi Rampaul, who pointed out that such pitches leave little margin for error. Flat pitches are everywhere now. This is flatter, more for batting, because it allows nothing for the spinners, nothing for the fast bowlers. Obviously whoever scores more runs wins the game, and its tough for bowlers coming into these conditions and coming out without any set of wickets. With India scheduled to tour New Zealand shortly before hosting Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in home ODIs, questions were raised on whether playing on such batting paradises could lead to a false sense of security ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Kotak, though, expressed complete confidence in the batting group's capability to adapt to tougher surfaces. About preparation, I would say we will be playing five games in New Zealand. I have been to South Africa. Some wickets will be similar to our conditions. They also want to play on decent wickets because if you give uneven wickets in white-ball cricket, and if it is a low scoring one-day game, nobody wants that. So, wickets may not be like 350, 400. It could be 300, 300+. But it depends. So, we should be preparing for whichever conditions are present. While talking to the broadcasters, India head coach Gautam Gambhir was also critical of the pitch on offer for the second ODI. Look, if I have to be absolutely honest, I feel I think there has to be a bit of more contest between bat and ball, because I think you talk about cricket but this is not cricket, this is only batting. Because imagine a young bowler bowling on this wicket, and the opposition getting 400 and then we go on to chase 400. Obviously, for the records its outstanding, for the crowd its outstanding, and for the broadcaster its outstanding. While talking to the broadcasters, India head coach Gautam Gambhir was also critical of the pitch on offer for the second ODI. Look, if I have to be absolutely honest, I feel I think there has to be a bit of more contest between bat and ball, because I think you talk about cricket but this is not cricket, this is only batting. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Stinker: South Africa Great's Blunt Verdict On Rohit Sharma's New Celebration In 2nd ODI vs WI
Rohit Sharma slammed a 72-ball hundred and did a unique celebration, but former South Africa cricketer Herschelle Gibbs was not impressed.
'Nothing like these colours': Kishan has a record in sight
Ishan Kishan's unbeaten 80 off 46 balls guided India to a 124-run victory over Sri Lanka in the Asian Games men's cricket semi-final, securing their place in the final against Pakistan. His exceptional performance also saw him surpass Virat Kohli's T20I record for fifty-plus scores in a calendar year and move closer to Suryakumar Yadav's record for most T20I runs in a year.
India vs Pakistan Asiad final: Will there be a handshake?
The Indian cricket team faces a dilemma regarding shaking hands with their Pakistani counterparts in the Asian Games final, a practice they have avoided in recent Asia Cup and ICC events since 'Operation Sindoor' last year.
Prasidh To Miss Third ODI Against WI Due To Hamstring Injury, Kamboj Likely Replacement
Nitish Kumar Reddy: It is understood that India pacer Anshul Kamboj, who has been pulled out of the ongoing red-ball game between India A and Australia A is likely to be named as his replacement in the squad. In the ongoing days play in Puducherry, Kamboj was replaced by fast bowler Praful Hinge in the playing eleven. It is understood that India pacer Anshul Kamboj, who has been pulled out of the ongoing red-ball game between India A and Australia A is likely to be named as his replacement in the squad. In the ongoing days play in Puducherry, Kamboj was replaced by fast bowler Praful Hinge in the playing eleven. Prasidh is definitely not playing the third ODI due to the hamstring injury he has picked. He will now report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru for further scans, and his recovery timeline will be drawn based on that. For now, Kamboj is likely to be his replacement, said a source familiar with the development to IANS on Thursday. Kamboj, who took 3-34 in 17.3 overs in the first innings, bowled just two overs in the second essay before departing Puducherry. Prasidh, who opened the bowling attack during India's eight-wicket victory in the second ODI at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday, walked off after sending down just five overs. After bowling a four-over opening spell, Prasidh bowled the 31st over before walking off the field and took no further part in the contest. His sudden exit forced the Indian team management to turn to part-time off-spin of Naman Dhir, who bowled 6.1 overs, though he himself briefly left the field earlier due to cramps. Both India and the West Indies are scheduled to reach Chandigarh on Thursday evening. Prasidh, however, will head directly to Bengaluru to report at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) for detailed scans and rehabilitation. While Prasidh is not included in the upcoming five-match T20I series against the West Indies starting on October 6 in Lucknow, him picking a hamstring injury remains a key concern considering Indias multi-format tour of New Zealand features five ODIs and two Tests. Both India and the West Indies are scheduled to reach Chandigarh on Thursday evening. Prasidh, however, will head directly to Bengaluru to report at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) for detailed scans and rehabilitation. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
India enter Asian Games final after Kishan and Bumrah ride roughshod over Sri Lanka
The result sets up the first India vs Pakistan final this year, with the Asian Games gold medal at stake
Prasidh Krishna Suffers Niggle As India Lose Key Pacer Ahead Of ODI Finale
India pacer Prasidh Krishna has been ruled out of the third and final ODI of the West Indies series after sustaining a niggle during the second match, according to a BCCI source.
Asian Games: Axar's message to teammates before Pakistan final
We have to perform in both batting and bowling, Axar Patel says ahead of India's Asian Games 2026 cricket final against Pakistan on Saturday.
Asian Games: Litton Das rues lack of game time after loss against Pakistan in SF
Digital Desk | Nisshin, Oct 1 (IANS) Bangladesh captain Litton Das rued the lack of preparation and game time in the Asian Games stood as a major reason for their loss to Pakistan in the cricket semifinal at the Karogi Sports Park here in Nisshin on Thursday. Bangladesh batters struggled big time in tricky conditions and managed to put up only 111/7 in the shortened 13-over per-side contest, which was curtailed due to a slushy outfield. Pakistan went on to chase the target with six wickets in hand and nine balls to spare. None of the four seeded quarterfinalists got any game time due to rains in Nisshin, as Litton called out the lack of preparations for the event. No, it was never ideal, Litton told reporters on the preparation after the Pakistan loss. We had been sitting in our rooms for several days and then lost the toss, so there was not much we could do. The wicket was also difficult to read. It would have been better if we had played well, but it is never easy to sit around for so long and then come out and play an extraordinary innings. Credit goes to Hridoy for bringing us back from that position. The partnership between Mosaddek and Hridoy was also very good, he added. Bangladesh were scheduled to face Malaysia in the fourth quarterfinal; however, the clash was washed out, and the Bangla Tigers made it to the semis on virtue of being the higher-ranked side. Litton highlighted the alien conditions they encountered in the semifinal, as their batters could not gauge the conditions. It is natural that when you have been indoors for so long and then finally get to play on a wicket, you need some time to understand the conditions. We had no such reference point because we had not played a game in the last few days and did not get the opportunity to practise on the wicket either, he said. So, we started the first few overs without really knowing what to expect. Gradually, the batters got a better understanding of the conditions, he said, adding that losing the chance of not winning the gold is disappointing for them, he said. Obviously, when we left the country, we said we wanted to play in the final. We could not make it there. We obviously wanted to win gold, and that was what we were trying to achieve. We will keep trying. Another Bangladesh team will come in the future, and they will try as well. But when certain things are lacking, a lot of factors go beyond your control. We obviously gave it our best, and those who come after us will continue trying to achieve it, he added. The skipper also backed Mustafizur Rahman, who had an off-day and gave away 41 runs in two overs with a wicket of Saim Ayub. I think if we had bowled a little better in the middle overs and conceded fewer sixes, we would have had a better chance, he said. There were several options (apart from Mustafizur). If Mustafizur had taken three wickets today, you would not have asked me this question. He has been doing it for us for so long. I felt Mustafizur was the best option, so I went with him. If you feel at any point that another option is better, then you can go with that, Litton added.
India Create History, Become First Team To Achieve Unique ODI Landmark
The Shubman Gill-led Team India shattered a huge record during their historic chase against West Indies in the second ODI in Guwahati on Wednesday.
Head Coach Lance Klusener Confident Of Arabian Aces Squad In 'explosive' Abu Dhabi T10 League
The Abu Dhabi T10: Arabian Aces head coach Lance Klusener is confident of his Arabian Aces squad for their debut in the Abu Dhabi T10 league and feels the format is an 'explosive' one which would test the players. The Abu Dhabi T10 will be held from November 7 to November 20th, with six teams gearing up to put their best foot forward following the Wednesday draft. Arabian Aces have added some firepower to their squad with the likes of Sam Billings, Imran Tahir and Richard Gleeson amongst other notable picks. Moeen Ali, Andre Russell and Liam Livingstone were already pre-signed by the franchise. The plan was always to go with a squad that could do their job both up top and pull off games for us with the ball if it comes down to that. T10 is an explosive format and is nothing like any of these players have played before barring here. You need innovation and serious problem-solving skills, and Im confident that the squad is full of boys who will put their hand up and make it happen for Arabian Aces. Its the perfect formula to excel in a T10 format, and we cant wait to get started, said Lance Kluesner, Head Coach, Arabian Aces. Owners Pankaj Jain and Neeraj Jain reflected on their ambition to field a team in the Abu Dhabi league. Arabian Aces represents an exciting new chapter for us, and we are delighted to be joining the Abu Dhabi T10 at such an important point in the tournament's evolution. Our ambition is to create a professionally managed franchise with a strong identity and a culture built around performance, ambition and teamwork. We definitely leave the draft quite content with our picks. Lance is no stranger to excellence, and we are happy to let him do what he does best with the Arabian Aces, said Pankaj Jain and Neeraj Jain, Owners, Arabian Aces. The franchise chief operating officer, Shoeb Ahmed, was also satisfied with the squad assembled. Happy with the squad that we have assembled today. We have some really serious talent that will take the league by storm and some really promising names that are tomorrows superstars. This is a unique opportunity for the young boys to play along with and learn from the likes of Moeen Ali, Andre Russell and Liam Livingstone, said COO Shoeb. We definitely leave the draft quite content with our picks. Lance is no stranger to excellence, and we are happy to let him do what he does best with the Arabian Aces, said Pankaj Jain and Neeraj Jain, Owners, Arabian Aces. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
India make history with record 406-run chase, become second team to chase 400+ target
Rohit Sharma etched his name in the history books after he reached 12,000 ODI runs during the IND vs WI 2nd ODI on Wednesday. The 39-year-old scored a scintillating half-century becoming just the 7th batter in history to reach the 12k mark.
Asian Games: India Beat Sri Lanka By 124 Runs To Enter Mens Cricket Final
Karogi Sports Park: Defending champions India thrashed Sri Lanka in the mens cricket semi-final of the Asian Games here at the Karogi Sports Park on Thursday and cruised smoothly into the final, where a high-profile clash against Pakistan awaits. Defending a 170-run target against the Islanders, Indias pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah ran through the oppositions top-order to start off the second innings with a double-wicket over as opener Sineth Jayawardena and keeper-batter Sohan de Livera were dismissed for a duck. In the next over, Ravi Bishnois sharp throw helped India claim a third wicket after opening batter Lasith Croospulle was run out as the Sahan Arachchige-led side slipped to 2-3 in just seven deliveries. What followed next was complete dominance from the Indian bowlers as Axar Patel returned with two wickets in the fourth over, further reducing Sri Lanka to 18/5 at the end of that over. With Axar and Sanju Samson then inflicting Nuwanidu Fernandos run-out and Washington Sundar dismissing Wanuja Sahan, trouble loomed over the Lankans as their batting unit came tumbling down. As the win looked easily achievable, skipper Iyer handed the ball to Abhishek Sharma to bring a bowling change, and the move worked tremendously in Indias favour as the left-arm orthodox spinner scalped two in two, sending Chamika Karunaratne and Binura Fernando back to the pavilion on the very next ball after Chamika Karunaratne was run out. With the 10th over, seeing three wickets falling, India closed out the Sri Lankan innings in just 9.5 overs, bowling the side out for mere 45 runs. Except Nuwanidu Fernando, no other batter could manage to score in double figures as the batting unit fell like dominoes. Earlier, India, after being put to bat first, piled up 169/7 in their 20-over quota courtesy of Ishan Kishans unbeaten 80 off 46 deliveries on what looked like a challenging pitch. With Vaibhav Sooryavanshi returning to the lineup and opening the batting for the side, the youngster held one end strong while his fellow opener Abhishek Sharma and wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson were dismissed cheaply with identical scores of seven. Skipper Shreyas Iyer too couldnt put up a show as Wanuja Sahan picked him for a run-a-ball 13. Coming in to bat at No. 5, Ishan Kishan then steadied the innings and kept piling on runs, hitting five sixes and four boundaries during his stay in the middle as the Men in Blue managed to post a defendable total. India, the defending champions at the Games, will now face Pakistan, who beat Bangladesh in the other semi-final, eyeing a top-of-the-podium finish for a second consecutive time. Skipper Shreyas Iyer too couldnt put up a show as Wanuja Sahan picked him for a run-a-ball 13. Coming in to bat at No. 5, Ishan Kishan then steadied the innings and kept piling on runs, hitting five sixes and four boundaries during his stay in the middle as the Men in Blue managed to post a defendable total. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Royal Desert Champions Look To 'kickstart A Long-time Legacy' After Draft Picks
The Royal Desert Champions: The Royal Desert Champions are looking to kickstart a long-time legacy after building their squad for the upcoming Abu Dhabi T10, which starts on the 7th of November. With Nicolas Pooran, Philip Salt and Sherfane Rutherford already pre-signed, the Royal Desert Champions have added Muhammad Waseem, Naseem Shah and Maheesh Theekshana to their arsenal as they look for a strong season ahead. The important thing is to build a really strong core before going into the draft since the draft can be a draw sometimes. Its a challenge to pick a new team and the process is extremely dynamic, but we had a really strong strategy for the auction. Its a well-known fact that bowlers win tournaments like this. If you dont have a good bowling unit, things can go downhill quite fast. Excited to get going in the tournament, Royal Desert Champions are here to kickstart a legacy that will last a very long time in the Abu Dhabi T10, Robin Singh, Team Director, Royal Desert Champions said. Pooran will be leading the side, which has the presence of several other international stars in Salt, Rutherford, Brandon King and Waseem, while the bowling unit has a packed line-up featuring the likes of Naseem, Dushmantha Chameera, Theekshana, Chris Jordan and Luke Wood. With a dynamic blend of pace, power, versatility and experience, the Royal Desert Champions are ready to bring a new level of intensity to the fastest format of cricket. Royal Desert Champions is built on the belief that champions are revealed when conditions are toughest. The desert embodies the qualities we want this team to stand for - resilience, courage, adaptability, and ambition. The squad that we have built is a testament to the way we define what it means to play for Royal Desert Champions - a team that the emirate can be proud of, a brand that connects with fans locally and globally, and a franchise with the ambition to build a lasting legacy, said Amit Narang, Owner, Royal Desert Champions. Pooran will be leading the side, which has the presence of several other international stars in Salt, Rutherford, Brandon King and Waseem, while the bowling unit has a packed line-up featuring the likes of Naseem, Dushmantha Chameera, Theekshana, Chris Jordan and Luke Wood. With a dynamic blend of pace, power, versatility and experience, the Royal Desert Champions are ready to bring a new level of intensity to the fastest format of cricket. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
India decimated Sri Lanka in the mens cricket semi-finals in the ongoing Asian Games 2026. With conditions in Japan unknown for both teams, a close contest was expected. Especially after Japan were close to pulling...
Asian Games: Kishan pushes India to 169/7 in semifinal against Sri Lanka
If it weren't for the 'X' factor of Sooryavanshi and Kishan, India would have ended up with a much lower total
Asian Games: Ishan's Unbeaten 80 Leads India To 169/7 In SF Against Sri Lanka
Karogi Sports Park: Ishan Kishan played a stellar knock of 80 from 46 balls to power India to a strong total of 169/7 in challenging conditions in the semifinal against Sri Lanka here at the Karogi Sports Park on Thursday. With the cracks on the surface assisting spinners, the batters found big runs challenging; however, Ishan and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (38 from 21 balls) led the charge with the bat and helped India put up what seems to be an over-par score in the semifinal after being asked to bat first. Ishan continued his rich vein of form as he played a gem of a knock considering the challenging conditions, mirroring his 77 from 40 balls in the T20 World Cup against Pakistan in tough conditions. He carried the innings after Sooryavanshi provided a strong start, although India had lost Abhishek Sharma (7) and Sanju Samson (7) early in the innings. Sooryavanshi returned to the Playing XI after missing the previous four T20Is, while Jasprit Bumrah was also back after being rested for the one-off T20I against Japan. The 15-year-old was measured in his approach at the start but unleashed some breathtaking strokes as he hit six fours and a couple of sixes in his stroke-laden knock. This included hitting a reverse-hit four off spinner Tharindu Ratnayake and a few fierce hits. While he kept going, India lost Abhishek and Samson in the second and third overs to spinners. Off-spinner Tharindu Ratnayake showed his ambidextrousness as he switched to left-arm spin for right-handers and got Samson cleaned up. Sooryavanshi made 38 before he was dismissed by spinner and captain Sahan Arachchige trying to hit him big. India captain Shreyas Iyer (13 from 13) could not do much and was cleaned up by a jaffa from left-arm spinner Wanuja Sahan. Axar Patel was promoted up the order to No.6 ahead of Tilak Varma, but Axar managed eight from 13 balls as he was dismissed by Arachchige top-edging a slog. Part-time off-spinner Nuwanidu Fernando removed Tilak Varma, stumped for two as India were 125/6 in 15 overs. But Ishan continued going and brought up his fifty in 33 balls in the 17th over. He was a bit lucky too, as his mishit was dropped, while one top edge landed in no-man's land. The ambidextrousness from Ratnayake continued as he switched to right-arm off-spin for Shivam Dube and got him caught at covers for three, although Arachchige took a brilliant catch. Ishan and Sundar hit a couple of sixes in the 20th over to take 18 from that and help India finish strong on 169/7. But Ishan continued going and brought up his fifty in 33 balls in the 17th over. He was a bit lucky too, as his mishit was dropped, while one top edge landed in no-man's land. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Prasidh Krishna Ruled Out of Final West Indies ODI
India pacer Prasidh Krishna has been ruled out of the third and final One Day International against West Indies after sustaining a niggle during the second match in Guwahati, a BCCI source confirmed.
'This is not cricket': Gambhir slams 400-run Guwahati pitch
Gautam Gambhir criticised the batting-friendly Guwahati pitch after India chased West Indies' 405, saying bowlers need more help in ODIs.
Pakistan Reach Asian Games Cricket Final After Six-Wicket Win Over Bangladesh
Abdul Samad smashed 22 off five balls in an unbeaten 30 on Thursday as Pakistan's men cruised into their maiden Asian Games cricket final, where arch-rivals India are the potential opponents. Pakistan thumped Bangladesh by six wickets with nine balls to spare in a semi-final reduced to 13 overs because the outfield was too wet for play at the start time of 9:00 am. They will face either world champions India or Sri Lanka, who clash later, for the gold medal on Saturday. To be honest, we don't really care about who will win and who will reach the final, said Pakistan batsman Saim Ayub, who scored 21. All we care about is winning the final, no matter who we are playing against. Pakistan asked Bangladesh to bat on a heavily cracked pitch that had been covered for almost a weekat the Korogi Athletic Park Stadium because of torrential rain. Under clear blue skies, Pakistan's bowlers then had Bangladesh reeling at 21-3 and then 45-4 in the sixth over. Towhid Hridoy led a recovery with 42 off 25 balls with two fours and four sixes as Bangladesh posted 111-7. Pakistan lost three early wickets as they chased quick runs. But once Samad and Hasan Nawaz came together at 53-4 in the seventh over the result never looked in doubt. The pair posted an unbroken stand of 59 in 32 balls as they raced to their target. Samad was 30 not out at the end off 15 balls while Nawaz was on 27 at the end. The match was effectively decided by Samad's remarkable 22 runs off five balls in the 10th over, bowled by Bangladesh's Mustafizur Rahman, when Pakistan still needed 36 from 24 balls. Nawaz prodded a single off to third man off the first ball before Samad launched a towering six over long on and four fours off consecutive deliveries to leave Pakistan needing only 13 from 18 balls. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Bangladesh will play the loser of the other semi-final for the bronze medal, also on Saturday.
Australia win rain-marred ODI to avoid South Africa whitewash
Australia secured a 45-run victory over South Africa via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method in Potchefstroom, preventing a whitewash in the three-match one-day international series, with Xavier Bartlett and Adam Zampa leading the bowling attack.
India bring in Sooryavanshi; Sri Lanka hand three debuts and field
Both teams have picked spin-heavy bowling attacks with Jasprit Bumrah India's only specialist fast bowler
Asian Games: Sooryavanshi, Bumrah return as SL ask India to bat first in SF
Digital Desk | Nisshin, Oct 1 (IANS) Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and pace maestro Jasprit Bumrah returned as India fielded their full-strength available team after being asked to bat first in the semifinal against Sri Lanka at the Korogi Sports Park here on Thursday. India made two changes to their Playing XI from the one-off T20I against Japan as Sooryavanshi and Bumrah returned, with Yash Thakur and Arshdeep Singh making way for them. After missing the entire Afghanistan series and the one-off T20I against Japan in the build-up to the Asian Games, Sooryavanshi was back in the Playing XI and slated to open the innings alongside Abhishek Sharma. Sanju Samson was carded to bat at No.3, while India also didn't drop Ishan Kishan, who is slated to bat at No.5. India also brought in Bumrah after he was rested for the Japan T20I, as the Men in Blue fielded their full-strength team that is available, with only the injured Varun Chakravarthy and Harshit Rana not in the squad. Sri Lanka have a largely second-string side with Sahan Arachchige leading the side, which has the likes of Chamika Karunaratne, Nuwanidu Fernando and Binura Fernando. Both the teams enter into the semifinals with minimal game time as their quarterfinals were washed out due to rain in Nisshin. India were to face Afghanistan in the quarterfinals, while Sri Lanka were to lock horns against Nepal. However, incessant rains in the city washed the clashes out as India and Sri Lanka made it to the semis on virtue of being the higher-ranked teams than their opponents. Playing XIs: Sri Lanka Playing XI: Lasith Croospulle, Sineth Jayawardena, Sohan de Livera(w), Ashen Bandara, Sahan Arachchige(c), Nuwanidu Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne, Wanuja Sahan, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Tharindu Ratnayake, Binura Fernando India Playing XI: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson(w), Shreyas Iyer(c), Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah
Samad special books Pakistan's spot in gold-medal clash
Samad and Nawaz took Pakistan home after a scratchy start in a shortened game
Asian Games: Pakistan Beat Bangladesh In Shortened Semifinal To Move Into Gold Medal Clash
Korogi Sports Park: Pakistan defeated Bangladesh in a curtailed semifinal at the Korogi Sports Park after chasing down 112 in 11.3 overs with six wickets in hand here on Thursday. Although the weather was clear, a slushy outfield delayed the toss and the start of play due to incessant rains washing out all four quarterfinals in the tournament. The contest was reduced to 13 overs per side as Bangladesh gave Pakistan some scares, but the Men in Green managed to hunt down the target with nine balls to spare. This is now Pakistan's first men's cricket final at the Asiad after they bagged only a bronze medal in the 2010 edition. Meanwhile, Bangladesh were the inaugural champions and have finished third in the 2014 and 2022 Asian Games. With cracks on the pitch, the spinners received a lot of assistance as they had the major say in the contest. The likes of Sufyan Moqim, Arafat Minhas, Saim Ayub, Rishad Hossain and Mahedi Hasan troubled the batters. Bangladesh managed to put up 111/7 in the 13 overs. The Pakistani bowlers spun a web to keep Bangladesh to 111/7. Ayub was in particular hard to deal with as he gave only three runs in his two overs for a wicket. On a sluggish pitch, Bangladesh still had a competitive target with Towhid Hridoy (42 from 25 balls) giving that much-needed push in the middle overs. Bangladesh were losing wickets at regular intervals as Tanzid Hasan Tamim (7), captain Litton Das (2) and Parvez Hossain Emon (1) all lost their wickets inside the powerplay. The other opener Saif Hassan (19) got a start but could not keep on going as he was dismissed LBW by Moqim. Bangladesh were 45/4 in 6.3 overs but then came the fight from Hridoay, who hit four sixes and two fours in a stroke-laden knock. Mosaddek Hossain also scored 11 from 16 balls as Bangladesh finished on 111/7. Pakistan were given a scare when Mahedi Hasan removed Sahibzada Farhan in the second over. Maaz Sadaqat (15 from 7 balls), Usman Khan (14 from 9 balls) and Saim Ayub (21 from 12 balls) kept the scoreboard ticking with their cameos. Pakistan were 76/4 and then got the over that they needed when Abdul Samad and Hasan Nawaz took 23 overs from Mustafizur Rahman's 10th over, with Samad hitting 22 of them. The Men in Green then needed 13 runs from 18 balls, and they had done the hard work. Nawaz hit the winning four in the 12th over to win the game. Pakistan were given a scare when Mahedi Hasan removed Sahibzada Farhan in the second over. Maaz Sadaqat (15 from 7 balls), Usman Khan (14 from 9 balls) and Saim Ayub (21 from 12 balls) kept the scoreboard ticking with their cameos. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
