Almost the exact same sequence had unfolded when India's men, led by Suryakumar Yadav, won the Asia Cup at the same venue last September. On Sunday, Harmanpreet Kaur's side beat Sri Lanka by 72 runs to lift the women's title.
Team backs BCCI's stance to refuse trophy from Naqvi: Coach
The Indian women's cricket team fully supports the BCCI's decision not to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council's Pakistani chief Mohsin Naqvi, with head coach Amol Muzumdar stating that winning the tournament is 'good enough' for the players.
1st T20I: Its about hitting the sweet spot, says Chakaravarthy after India show glimpses of old self
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 14 (IANS) An age-old adage in cricket says that a successful and fearsome outfit features good bowlers who hunt in pairs. On Sunday, as India kicked off their T20I series in front of a buzzing Arun Jaitley Stadium as the visitors, that line played out to perfection. In what was also Indias first T20I game in India since the T20 World Cup win in March, Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy made successful returns from injury-enforced layoffs, and were well-supported by Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel to leave Afghanistans batting in ruins. Later, Abhishek Sharma blazed his way to 82 and ensured a 157-run target was completed in just 13.4 overs, ensuring the track India Waale from Happy New Year movie echoed loudly right from Bumrah taking out Rahmanullah Gurbaz - for the T20 World Cup holders. In the aftermath of their T20 World Cup triumph at home, India had found themselves grappling with an unfamiliar slump a shock defeat to Ireland was followed by loss in England. Though they managed to get the series win in Zimbabwe, the spin bowling department, a bedrock of their domination via Chakaravarthy and Axar, with Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav chipping in, had temporarily lost its edge. But Sundays outing showed signs of a reassuring return of the spinners to their best self. A frugal stump-to-stump leash from Axar and Chakaravarthy, who picked a scalp each, meant India looked and delivered like a team operating in a different realm. On a pitch which looked good to bat, the Indian spinners hit the 46m band for 60.7 percent of their deliveries to have combined figures of 2-26 at an economy rate of 4.59. Afghanistans spinners Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi managed to hit that band for just 53.1 percent balls and returned with 1-48, at an economy rate of 8.47. In the post-match press conference, Chakaravarthy explained how precise planning on length dictated their strategy. We are used to playing on such pitches and we know the dimensions very well. It is not a big ground. So, there are certain lengths that we have to get and we were initially given the stats that these lengths work in this ground and these lengths do not work in this ground. So, we stuck to our plans and worked with it. After Vande Matarams maiden bow in an international cricket game, Bumrah took just two legal deliveries to announce his return - forcing Rahmanullah Gurbaz to misjudge the bounce and register his 11th T20I duck. Though Afghanistan briefly rallied, Axars entry initiated a slide for the designated hosts. A mix-up led to run-out of skipper Ibrahim Zadran, and five balls later Sediqullah Atal departed off Arshdeep. At 39/3 after five overs, Afghanistan needed relief - instead, Axar and Chakaravarthy conceded just 11 runs across the next four overs while removing Gulbadin Naib (with a slower ball wide of off-stump) and Darwish Rasooli (with a quicker delivery that came in sharply). Together, the spin duo returned 2-43 from eight overs at an economy rate of 5.37, while Arshdeep starred with 3 for 19. Generally, my pace is within a certain range only. So, I don't change my pace much, but it is the same. It is just the lengths, I think, which matter in this wicket which are written. It is not very full or very short. It is just right in between that sweet spot which you have to hit, that works in this wicket, added Chakaravarthy. Reflecting on his outing after having a tough time in England, before a hamstring injury sent him to rehab and recovery, Chakaravarthy stated that the tour did teach him a few good things. It is just good, because the England tour was also good for me. Just because we didn't win, it doesn't mean that it has gone for waste. You get to learn a lot if you do the right thing. So, there is nothing that goes to waste. As I said, even if things wouldn't have gone our way, we would have had the same mindset as to learn something. So, every match is a learning and the results sometimes come our way, and sometimes it doesn't. Injuries are very common for all the sports people and it just shows that we are working, and we are giving our best. Sometimes, we push beyond our limits and that's when the body gives in. So, that's when we have to take a step back and work better and come back stronger. Chakaravarthy expanded further on how he insulates himself from the emotional highs and lows of wicket-taking life. It is the same. So, what you are referring to is results. I cannot go by results. If I go by results, I will start reacting to each and everything. If it goes my way, I will start being very happy. If it doesn't go my way, I will become very sad and I cannot go that way. So, the best way for me is to see the process. If it is a good ball and if it still differs, I will always take it. But if it is a bad ball and it is a wicket, I have to go and work on it again. So, that's how it works. You told it's all about wickets. But it's not about wickets. It is about if I am bowling in the right place or not. Whatever happens after that, it's not in my control. So, what's in my control is till I pitch the ball. After the ball pitches, if the ball can turn or cannot turn, it's not in my control. I'll see till that point. If it is still that, if it is fine, yeah, I'll take it. I don't go by results. Though Azmatullah Omarzais unbeaten 64 off 44 balls dragged Afghanistan to 157, as he and Mohammad Nabi made merry out of Indias wafer-thin fifth bowling options, the total proved completely defenceless once Abhishek, who made only 11 runs in the series win in Zimbabwe, smashed a 32-ball 82 and hammered boundaries in quick fashion. Watching the chase unfold from the pavilion, Chakaravarthy admitted he could only feel sympathy for the opposition spinners bowling to Abhishek and Ishan Kishan, who made 42. While sitting on top of the dressing room, I was just telling someone that against our teams batting line-up, you can't bowl spin. So, if you bowl spin against our batting line-up, they are just going to smack it left, right and centre. They are just so used to playing spinners. One of the best batting line-ups we have are in our top eight batters - anyone can take on any spinner in this world. I have personally bowled against them, while playing against them. I know how hard it is and I feel for their spinners. In the end, Sunday wasn't just about India taking a 1-0 lead in the series - it was also about them rediscovering the relentless efficiency that defines them, especially with the ball. With the spinners back in their rhythm, the pacers firing early, and Abhishek dismantling opposition bowlers with disdain, India looked every bit like their old, fearsome selves, once again.
1st T20I: Afghanistan erred in execution and made fundamental errors, says head coach Pybus
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 14 (IANS) Designated as 'hosts' for the three-game T20I series, Afghanistan still found themselves firmly in foreign territory when they crumbled against the might of a near full-strength India. Afghanistan head coach Richard Pybus admitted that his side erred in execution and committed fundamental errors too. The Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday swerved almost entirely to Indias beats as the Shreyas Iyer-led side sauntered to a clinical seven-wicket win. Barring a modest and vocal pocket of Afghanistan supporters, the 25,165-strong crowd cheering for India effectively turned Afghanistan's 'home' fixture into a routine away assignment. Granted that Afghanistan took the field in a T20I game for the first time since February 19, their passive and almost resigned body language against a formidable India, especially when Abhishek Sharma went berserk to hit 82, raised concerns over whether they were caught up in overthinking or were intimated too much about facing India in India in Sundays game. Afghanistan head coach Richard Pybus refused to offer excuses following his sides seven-wicket defeat to India in the T20I series opener, conceding that a lack of preparation and poor execution cost them at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. First and foremost, I think it's important that you don't have any excuses. A lot of players came off after playing various domestic games, which is far from ideal preparation. Here we have a lot of boys who have played here in these conditions before and that equalises itself. The volume of games is a key, absolutely. The more you play together, the more you will understand each other's game plans, and the better you will be able to play together and even protect the squad. But it is what it is - we were lacking in execution and made fundamental mistakes. We will improve in that and be a lot more precise in our fundamentals. I wouldn't cast any doubt on our attempts, but our desire and our intention is always to put in good performances, he said in the post-match press conference. It didnt help that Afghanistan found a returning Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, a charged up Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel too hot to handle on a good batting pitch, with half of their batting line-up gone inside the first seven overs. Well, I think we lost four wickets for four overs. What went wrong? Well, what went wrong is, we didn't adapt. So when I talk about us actually being able to execute, it is about assessing conditions, it's about us being able to read them and get the partnerships going. But I also need to be fair to my guys - it's our first time as a team after quiet a long time, added Pybus. Afghanistans buildup to the series was severely disrupted by weather in the capital, which hampered their on-field training sessions ahead of the game at the Yamuna Sports Complex. We've been rain affected here in terms of our preparation, so it's important for us to get into the rhythm of the series. Obviously we wanted to win the first game, but I need to be fair to the guys and give them the opportunity for us to work through the series and see how we adapt. When I got off the aeroplane, we had a couple of days of torrential rain. So to be fair for groundsmen there, I mean, it was under water for two days. It wasn't ideal, it wasn't ideal - we arrived in the monsoon so we've got to be able to adapt. The key with the preparation is that, as I said earlier, it's not about making mistakes, it's about us, it's about us focusing on our game and getting it right. With only a 24-hour turnaround before the next games comes on Tuesday, Pybus felt clarity of mind will be the key in equalizing the series scoreline. Again, for me and myself, here it comes back to the same point. It's about turning up and not us delivering our skills - it's about our execution, we've got to be deliberate and precise. We saw we were off that, and we will be reviewing that, and reflecting on it. We've got a very short turnaround, we need to be much, much better going into the second game. But I think clarity of mind and being really, really clear on what we've got to deliver is key, bearing in mind how short the turnaround is. The lone spark of defiance came from Azmatullah Omarzai, whose unbeaten 44-ball 64 took Afghanistan to a respectable 156/8. Omarzais late counter-attack was another example of him stepping up for Afghanistan under pressure. Omarzais 64 not out is also the second-highest score by a number six or lower batter against India in T20Is, behind only Dasun Shanakas 74 not out in 2022. It also stands equal to new T20I skipper Ibrahim Zadrans 64 in Dubai as the highest individual score by an Afghan batter against India in the shortest format. He's a very special talent. He's got the ability to judge length very quickly and get on top of the bounce against the spinners and the pacers. I think we've seen it whenever he's played for Afghanistan and through the World Cups, he's good at the pressure and he's somebody who turns up. He's a very, very good player and he's an asset to Afghanistan, said Pybus, while replying to a question from IANS. This series marks Pybuss first T20I assignment with Afghanistan, and he highlighted how the process of working with the seamers is still a work in progress, including Naveen-ul-Haq, who is still not match fit. Against India, the Afghanistan pacers lacked serious penetration to stop a marauding Abhishek. Well we have got Naveen, whos coming back from a long-term injury, you know, we have got a leader who has been doing that for a long time, so we need to manage him. It's about getting him operating properly, it's the first time I have been with this side, as well as being with Fazal, Azmat and Naveen in this format. So it's about getting to know the bowlers, the work on them, trying to get them prepared, and I need time to work with them, for the staff to work with them, getting them where we want them to be. So over the next six months, we will have that time working with them and seeing how they respond and that's where we will be able to give a better reflection on how we turn up. Despite the sub-par defensive effort with the ball, Pybus remains confident in the group's spin bowling resources delivering the goods in upcoming matches. Long-term picture is always a given. The reality is that we are here in this series, and I think we have got a really good line-up of spin bowlers and many of them are experiencing these conditions. Here on this day, we were considerably short on the type of target that we should have been able to set. Again execution is an issue, it's not a lack of skills. Short, medium and long-term planning with the development leading to players back in Afghanistan is always hundred percent. But I do think we have got a highly talented and very competent spin bowlers in the team - it's about us getting our game together in the next year or two. Looking at the broader trajectory of the team, Pybus mentioned the gulf that currently exists between Afghanistan and top-ranked sides like India, while backing Zadran to bounce back from a tough debut game as the T20I captain. Well, the development of the side of the team is, we're number 10 in the rankings, and we're playing as the number one team. So we want to incrementally work our way through that. In the development of any side, we've got to get this first skill, get our foundations right. There's a definitive gap in understanding and execution when you're playing against the top sides of the world. So I think with Ibrahim, I've got to say to him as captain, obviously we're just a group together, I've got to be able to support him 100 percent. He's got to get it in there and he needs to know he's got my confidence. Again, in developing his relationships with his players, he's absolutely brand new in the role. I know that he's stood in previously for Rashid, etc. So long term is just keep on improving the side, developing the side. I'm really looking forward to the next couple of games. We're much, much better than what we showed here. Getting the guys focused and long term, where do you want to go? I mean, we've seen the development of Afghanistan pretty historically and it's been exponential. So we want to, when we're playing these series, we want to come here and win this series. There's plenty of work to be done as you can see, Pybus concluded.
Proud Moment For Indian Cricket: PM Narendra Modi On Women's Asia Cup Triumph
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated the Indian women's cricket team on winning the Women's Asia Cup, calling it a proud moment and lauding their confidence and consistency throughout the tournament.
Belfast Wolves Thrash Glasgow Cosmic by 103 Runs as Chapman, Humphreys Shine in ETPL
Belfast Wolves produced a complete all-round performance to beat Glasgow Cosmic by 103 runs in Match 25 of the ETPL at Malahide. After posting 187/8, the Wolves bowlers dismantled the Cosmic batting line-up and dismissed them for 84, securing one of their most emphatic victories of the tournament. Glasgow won the toss and elected to bowl, but Belfast quickly established a strong platform. Paul Stirling fell for 3 early, before Harry Manenti and Lorcan Tucker combined for a 73-run partnership that shifted the momentum towards the Wolves. Manenti played aggressively for his 39 off 26 balls, hitting three fours and two sixes, while Tucker provided stability at the other end with a composed 50 from 45 deliveries, including five fours and a six. Mark Chapman took charge of the closing stages. Chapman struck 54 from just 25 deliveries, hitting three fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 216. His 45-run stand with Tucker helped Belfast move through the middle overs and took the Wolves to 187/8 from their 20 overs. Liam Livingstone was Glasgows most successful bowler, taking 3/27, while Ali Khan and Paul van Meekeren claimed two wickets each. Glasgows reply never gathered momentum. Finn Allen fell for 6 and Jason Roy for 2 inside the opening three overs, leaving Cosmic under immediate pressure. George Munsey made 10, but Glenn Maxwell removed the Glasgow captain soon after the powerplay, with the score at 42/3. Moises Henriques provided the strongest resistance for Glasgow, scoring 31 from 25 balls with two sixes. However, wickets continued to arrive at regular intervals. Liam Livingstone and James Neesham were dismissed for one each, while Richie Berrington made 3 as the Cosmic innings slipped further away. Matthew Humphreys completed an outstanding spell, taking four wickets for 19 runs from his four overs. Mark Adair, Chris Jordan and Gavin Hoey also picked up wickets, while Maxwell contributed with both captaincy and a wicket. With the middle order unable to establish a partnership, Glasgow were eventually bowled out for 84, handing Belfast a 103-run victory. The Wolves performance was built around contributions across both innings: a strong batting platform, Chapmans late acceleration and a disciplined bowling display that kept Cosmic under pressure throughout the chase. The result further strengthens Belfast Wolves position in the ETPL standings, with the side moving into second place and level on points with Rotterdam Dockers. The Wolves have, however, played one more match than the Dockers, making their latest victory particularly valuable as the race for the top positions intensifies. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Belfasts campaign has been built on a strong run of wins, and this 103-run victory adds another emphatic result to their record. With their batting producing a formidable total and the bowling unit then defending it with authority, the Wolves have continued to underline their credentials as one of the leading sides in the competition.
Mohsin Naqvi's Stance Revealed As Women's Asia Cup Trophy Drama Snowballs Into Fresh Controversy
A report has claimed that Mohsin Naqvi, the Asian Cricket Council chief, was keen to hand over the Women's Asia Cup trophy to the Indian team himself, despite being informed of the BCCI's decision in advance.
Tridents crush Amazon Warriors to set up Eliminator clash with Kingsmen
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Ajit Agarkar's fate as BCCI chief selector will be decided in the next 48 hours, according to a report.
Women's Asia Cup: Prez Murmu lauds Indian team, calls them source of great inspiration for youth
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 14 (IANS) President Droupadi Murmu on Monday lauded the Indian women's cricket team for their Asia Cup win, stating that the players are a source of great inspiration for India's youth, while adding that they have made the country proud. India won the Women's Asia Cup for a record-extending eighth time, defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the 2026 Asia Cup final on Sunday. In a post on X, President Murmu said, My heartiest congratulations to all the members of Team India on winning Women's T20 Asia Cup Championship 2026. They played superbly as a team throughout the tournament, winning all the matches. They have done the country proud. They are a source of great inspiration for our youth, especially our daughters. I am sure, they will script many more inspiring chapters of success and excellence, she added. The Women in Blue starred across all departments to avenge their 2024 final loss to Sri Lanka, as they continued to boss the Lankan side in the Asia Cup finals. This was India's sixth win against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup finals, including the ODI format and the 2004 tournament when India beat Sri Lanka 5-0 in the two-team tournament. India posted a strong total of 183/5, with Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana setting things up with a record 129-run stand for the opening wicket and scoring strong half-centuries. The Indian bowlers backed things pretty well as Shree Charani picked up four wickets, while Deepti Sharma also scalped two wickets to take the Women in Blue home. Shafali and Mandhana laid the foundation for the win with their 129-run stand. Shafali smashed 68 from 39 balls and also hit the fastest half-century in the history of the tournament, when she raised her bat for the milestone off just 24 deliveries. Mandhana made a composed 59 from 39 balls, but Sri Lanka made a strong comeback in the latter half of the innings. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur struggled at No.3, falling for 14 before Richa Ghosh was also removed for 17, while G Kamalini, playing her first match of the tournament, made a five-ball 15 to give the Women in Blue a strong finish. Brief Scores: India 183/5 (Shafali Verma 68, Smriti Mandhana 59; Mithali Ayodhya 1-33) beat Sri Lanka 111/10 (Chamari Athapaththu 36, Nilakshika Silva 22; Shree Charani 4-20, Deepti Sharma 3-19) by 72 runs.
'Proud Moment For Indian Cricket': PM Modi On Women's Asia Cup Triumph
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated the Indian women's cricket team on winning the Women's Asia Cup, calling it a proud moment and lauding their confidence and consistency throughout the tournament. India won the Women's Asia Cup for a record-extending eighth time, defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the 2026 Asia Cup final on Sunday. Taking to X, PM Modi said, A proud moment for Indian cricket! Congratulations to the Women's team on winning the Asia Cup. Their confidence, consistency and remarkable spirit were on full display throughout the tournament. May this triumph inspire millions of youngsters across the country to play more and shine. The Women in Blue starred across all departments to avenge their 2024 final loss to Sri Lanka, as they continued to boss the Lankan side in the Asia Cup finals. This was India's sixth win against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup finals, including the ODI format and the 2004 tournament when India beat Sri Lanka 5-0 in the two-team tournament. India posted a strong total of 183/5, with Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana setting things up with a record 129-run stand for the opening wicket and scoring strong half-centuries. The Indian bowlers backed things pretty well as Shree Charani picked up four wickets, while Deepti Sharma also scalped two wickets to take the Women in Blue home. Shafali and Mandhana laid the foundation for the win with their 129-run stand. Shafali smashed 68 from 39 balls and also hit the fastest half-century in the history of the tournament, when she raised her bat for the milestone off just 24 deliveries. Mandhana made a composed 59 from 39 balls, but Sri Lanka made a strong comeback in the latter half of the innings. India posted a strong total of 183/5, with Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana setting things up with a record 129-run stand for the opening wicket and scoring strong half-centuries. The Indian bowlers backed things pretty well as Shree Charani picked up four wickets, while Deepti Sharma also scalped two wickets to take the Women in Blue home. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Brief Scores: India 183/5 (Shafali Verma 68, Smriti Mandhana 59; Mithali Ayodhya 1-33) beat Sri Lanka 111/10 (Chamari Athapaththu 36, Nilakshika Silva 22; Shree Charani 4-20, Deepti Sharma 3-19) by 72 runs. Article Source: IANS
'Retire!': Fans Lash Out At Sanju Samson
Following a disappointing performance against Afghanistan, Sanju Samson's inconsistent form has once again put his place in India's T20I squad under intense scrutiny.
Michael Bracewell Stars as Amsterdam Flames End Edinburgh Rockers Unbeaten Run in ETPL
Amsterdam Flames produced a dominant all-round performance to defeat Edinburgh Castle Rockers by eight wickets in the 24th match of the ETPL, chasing down 119 with 31 balls to spare. The result ended Edinburghs unbeaten run and handed the Rockers their first defeat of the tournament. Amsterdam won the toss and elected to bowl, with their decision quickly rewarded as the Rockers struggled to build partnerships. Edinburgh were bowled out for 118 in 18.3 overs, with Ross Adair top-scoring with 32 while Brandon McMullen contributed 26. The Flames kept the pressure on throughout the innings, preventing Edinburgh from putting together a substantial total. Michael Bracewell was the standout bowler for Amsterdam, producing an excellent spell of 5/12. His five-wicket haul played a central role in restricting the previously unbeaten Rockers to a below-par total and gave the Flames a straightforward target to chase. Edinburgh's innings never gained the momentum required to put Amsterdam under sustained pressure. Adair and McMullen provided the main contributions with the bat, but the regular fall of wickets prevented the Rockers from capitalising on their starts. With the Flames' bowlers maintaining control, Edinburgh were eventually dismissed for 118. The Amsterdam chase was considerably more comfortable. Yuvraaj Samra led the way with a brisk 40, providing the early push as the Flames moved quickly towards the target. Steve Smith added 25 to keep the chase on course, while Bas de Leede and Tim David remained unbeaten on 22 and 15 respectively to see Amsterdam over the line. The Flames reached 120/2 in just 14.5 overs, completing an eight-wicket victory with 31 deliveries remaining. Their chase was controlled from the outset, with the early contributions ensuring that Amsterdam remained comfortably ahead of the required rate throughout. For Edinburgh, the result brought their unbeaten run to an end, but the Rockers remain at the top of the ETPL standings despite the defeat, being on 13 points. Their performances earlier in the campaign have kept them in first place, with the result serving as just the first loss in an otherwise strong start to the season. For Amsterdam, the victory carries added significance as the Flames move back into the top three following their latest result. The two points strengthen their position in the standings and put them firmly back among the leading contenders with 9 points as the competition moves forward. Rotterdam Dockers currently sit in 2nd position with 11 points. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories The Flames' success was built on a disciplined bowling display, led by Bracewell's five-wicket haul, followed by a composed chase. It was a result that ended Edinburgh's unbeaten start while giving Amsterdam an important boost in the race near the top of the table.
Indian Women's Cricket Team Refuses To Accept Asia Cup Trophy From ACC Head Mohsin Naqvi
The Asia Cup trophy impasse continued for the second year in a row after the victorious Indian women's cricket on Sunday did not accept the cup from Mohsin Naqvi, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman from Pakistan. Harmanpreet Kaur-led India defeated
Salman Agha responds to Test axing with triple century
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Trophy Chor: Mohsin Naqvi Suffers Huge Embarrassment After Another Asia Cup Trophy Drama
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Team India No-Show, Mohsin Naqvi Walks Out Early: What Exactly Happened After Women's Asia Cup Final
The Indian women's cricket team refused to accept the Women's Asia Cup 2026 trophy from PCB chief and Pakistan minister Mohsin Naqvi.
Melbourne Stars sign Overton twins simultaneously
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Great to see someone like Shafali take responsibility: Harmanpreet on Asia Cup victory
Head coach Amol Muzumdar credited India's strong batting effort, singling out Shafali Verma's power and charisma, Smriti Mandhana's flair and the team's three-pronged spin attack after India crushed Sri Lanka by 72 runs
Women's Asia Cup: India Beat Sri Lanka To Clinch Title
Dubai International Cricket Stadium: Harmanpreet Kaur-led Team India beat defending champions Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final of the Women's Asia Cup 2026 here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday to lift a record-extending eighth title. It was an all-round performance for the champions, with both bowlers and batters contributing as a unit to win the game and lift the crown. India lifted the trophy and became Asian champions yet again after bowling Sri Lanka out for 111 in their chase of 184. After Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma's half-centuries, which also saw them sharing a record 129-run opening stand, the bowlers worked their magic, with Shree Charani picking a four-wicket haul and Deepti Sharma taking three scalps. Kranti Gaud, Shafali and Prema Rawat contributed with one scalp each. It was an all-round performance for the champions, with both bowlers and batters contributing as a unit to win the game and lift the crown. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories With the win, India extended their dominance over Sri Lanka, taking their victory tally to 26 in 31 games so far. India, now with eight titles in nine final appearances, are the most successful team in the history of the Womens Asia Cup. Article Source: IANS
PIX: Dos Santos, Sedjati, Pathirage steal limelight
World-record holder Alison dos Santos secured victory in the men's 400m hurdles, while Djamel Sedjati surprisingly won the men's 800m on the final day of the World Athletics Ultimate Championship. Other winners included Jasmine Jones (women's 400m hurdles), Rumesh Pathirage (men's javelin), and Likina Amebaw (women's 5,000m) at the event in Budapest, which featured a record $10 million prize pot.
BCCI's Stand: Indian Team's First Reaction After Refusing Women's Asia Cup Trophy From Mohsin Naqvi
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Asia Cup Drama! India Women Refuse to Collect Trophy From Naqvi
The Indian women's cricket team, after winning their eighth Asia Cup title against Sri Lanka, declined to accept the trophy from ACC chairman Mohsin Naqvi, continuing a trend seen with the men's team last year. This incident highlights an ongoing impasse regarding trophy presentations involving the Pakistani official.
Asia Cup: Indian women's cricket team refuses to accept trophy from ACC head Mohsin Naqvi
Harmanpreet Kaur-led India defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs here to lift their record-extending eighth Asia Cup title, but the players did not come out on the field for post-tournament presentation ceremonies
India win the Asia Cup but no trophy presentation... again
Sri Lanka players accepted their medals from ACC president Mohsin Naqvi
Harmanpreet Lauds Flawless Execution in Asia Cup Conquest
India's women's cricket team secured their record-extending eighth Asia Cup title, defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur attributed the success to the team's consistent high standards, while coach Amol Muzumdar highlighted strong batting and effective spin bowling.
Women's Asia Cup Final: BCCI Secy Saikia, VP Shukla Present Nandni With Fielding Medal
Dubai International Cricket Stadium: The celebrations on the field at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium reflected the collective effort behind Indias record-extending eighth Womens Asia Cup title, with BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia and Vice President Rajeev Shukla joining the triumphant team and support staff after their 72-run win over Sri Lanka on Sunday. Saikia and Shukla were present at the stadium as India completed a dominant campaign to reclaim the continental crown. Following the victory, the two BCCI officials joined the players and members of the support staff on the ground, speaking to the squad and applauding their performances before they presented the fielding medal to Nandni Sharma. For Nandni, the occasion carried added significance after her return from injury. The young player admitted the title felt particularly special after missing out on action due to an injury sustained during the Womens Premier League (WPL). It feels really good. I was in a tournament in India, and I got injured. I was in the WPL, the World Cup, so this is my first one. It feels really, really good, and then we won again, so it feels even better, Nandni told the broadcasters after the win. Nandni was also asked about how India managed to keep Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu under control during the final, with the experienced batter restricted to 36 before being dismissed by Deepti Sharma. I think the credit goes to my teammates and the staff. They kept everything very clear for us about what we had to do, so I just did that, she added. Indias victory came at an important juncture with the Asian Games also on the horizon, and Nandni believes the Asia Cup triumph will provide the team with further belief while also giving them areas to work on. Confidence is very high, and it is there in our practice as well. Whatever little mistakes we made, we will work on them and then go there and win as well, she stated. Deepti was central to Indias victory, finishing with 3-19 and dismissing Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne in the same over before returning to close out the innings. Nandni underlined the trust the team places in the all-rounder. Confidence is very high, and it is there in our practice as well. Whatever little mistakes we made, we will work on them and then go there and win as well, she stated. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Indias celebrations eventually culminated with Nandni receiving the fielding medal, adding another personal moment to a title triumph that the entire squad had helped deliver. Article Source: IANS
Harmanpreet Kaur says good to see Shafali Verma taking responsibility
The game ended in strange circumstances with the trophy handover never taking place
Women's Asia Cup: India refuse to take trophy from ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi
Digital Desk | Dubai, Sep 14 (IANS) The Indian women's team opted not to take the Asia Cup 2026 trophy from Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi after winning the continental showpiece for the record-extending eighth time, following their 72-run win against Sri Lanka at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. However, the Indian women's team did not turn up to receive their trophy from Naqvi, who is also the Federal Minister for Interior in Pakistan. On the sidelines, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and vice-president Rajiv Shukla presented Nandani Sharma with a fielding medal. Saikia addressed the players and congratulated them, but the Women in Blue did not turn up to take the trophy from Naqvi. This was in line with the men's team's protocol, as they too had also denied taking the trophy from the ACC president after winning the T20 Asia Cup in 2025 following their victory over Pakistan in the final. The stalemate continued for nearly an hour before Naqvi ordered the men's Asia Cup trophy to be taken away from the stadium, according to reports. Later, India skipper Suryakumar mocked receiving the trophy and shared it with his players. The Indian team returned without taking the trophy. The Indian players refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Naqvi for his role in supporting terrorism in India as Pakistan's Interior Minister. BCCI also reportedly wrote to Naqvi to hand over the trophy, but it was not given despite India being the champions. Coming to the match, India did very well in both departments. India posted a strong total of 183/5, with Shafali Verma (68) and Smriti Mandhana (59) setting things up with a record 129-run stand for the opening wicket and scoring strong half-centuries. The Indian bowlers backed things pretty well as Shree Charani picked up four wickets, while Deepti Sharma also scalped three wickets to take the Women in Blue home.
What A Performance': BCCI VP Shukla Hails Indias Eighth Women's Asia Cup Triumph
Dubai International Cricket Stadium: BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla hailed Indias womens cricket team for their dominant campaign in the Womens Asia Cup 2026 after the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side clinched a record-extending eighth continental title with a 72-run win over Sri Lanka in the final on Sunday. India remained unbeaten throughout the tournament and capped their campaign with a comprehensive performance at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Shukla highlighted the consistency of the team and the contributions from players across the squad as he celebrated the latest milestone for Indian womens cricket. What a performance by our Women in Blue! Undefeated throughout the tournament and now Asia Cup champions for the 8th time! Every player stepped up when required. A complete team effort and a proud moment for Indian cricket. Well played, Team India! @BCCI @BCCIWomen, Shukla wrote on X. The title triumph saw India avenge their defeat to Sri Lanka in the 2024 Asia Cup final and further strengthen their record in the tournament. The Women in Blue have now won the Asia Cup eight times, establishing themselves as the most successful side in the competition. Indias victory was built on a commanding batting display before their bowlers completed the job. Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana produced a record 129-run opening stand to put India in control after being asked to bat first. Shafali smashed 68 from 39 balls, including the fastest half-century in the history of the Womens Asia Cup, reaching the landmark in only 24 deliveries. Mandhana added 59 from 39 balls as India posted 183/5. Sri Lanka struggled to match the intensity during the chase. Captain Chamari Athapaththu top-scored with 36, but Indias bowlers kept taking wickets at regular intervals. Shafali smashed 68 from 39 balls, including the fastest half-century in the history of the Womens Asia Cup, reaching the landmark in only 24 deliveries. Mandhana added 59 from 39 balls as India posted 183/5. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories The triumph also marked Indias sixth victory over Sri Lanka in an Asia Cup final, adding Article Source: IANS
No Trophy For Victorious India In Women's Asia Cup 2026, Mohsin Naqvi Row Reignites
The Indian cricket team did not get any trophy after the Women's Asia Cup 2026
India once again shun Mohsin Naqvi, refuse to take Women's Asia Cup trophy from ACC chairman
The Indian team performed brilliantly as they took on Sri Lanka in the Women's Asia Cup 2026 final. The two sides met at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 13th, and it was team India who emerged victorious in the clash; after the game, all the fans were discussing whether or not the side would take the Asia Cup trophy from ACC chairman Mohsin Naqvi. As expected, the Women in Blue did not even come out of the dressing room to receive their winner's medal but also refused to take the trophy from Naqvi.
Sri Lanka lose rain-affected warm-up against England Lions
Paul Walter's 34 off 20 balls helps seal DLS chase at Beckenham
'Fantastic Effort, Finished Off Strong': Muzumdar After India's Women's Asia Cup Win
Dubai International Cricket Stadium: India women's head coach Amol Muzumdar hailed the Indian team and the support staff after India won the eighth Asia Cup title by defeating Sri Lanka in the 2026 final on Sunday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. India starred in both the batting and bowling departments to avenge their 2024 loss to Sri Lanka and took a 6-1 lead over their southern neighbours in the Asia Cup final record. Speaking following the 72-run win after India bowled Sri Lanka out for 111, Muzumdar reflected on the campaign and heaped praise on the entire contingent. Fantastic effort. They showed up from the first game and, fittingly, finished it off strong. Really proud of all the players and all the support staff as well, Muzumdar told broadcasters after the win. He emphasised that the batters laid the platform with Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma putting up 129 for the opening wicket to take India to 183/5. It was a fantastic pitch today, and we came up well. I think our batting was really strong. We started off really nicely, and that's what we spoke about in the meetings, and the girls went on to execute things really nicely, he added. The Dubai pitches have been a bit on the slower side, with run-scoring not that easy. India won the toss for the first time this tournament and opted to bat first on what turned out to be a better surface for the willow-holders. Speaking on the bat-first decision, Muzumdar said, I mean, if you see throughout the fortnight, I think the pitches were on the slower side, and they turned quite a bit. So putting the score on the board and then defending it, we did have the luxury of having three quality spinners in our ranks. So I think that was predominantly the tactic: put the score on the board and then go out there and defend. He reserved his praise for Shafali and Smriti and hailed the qualities that they bring to the table. Absolutely fantastic (on Shafali). The left-hand-right-hand combination (with Smriti)... Shafali has got her own style and the firepower that she has, and just the charisma that she has on the pitch just puts the opposition on the back foot. Smriti, as usual, she has got that flair, she has got that touch. So they complement each other really well, and I'm glad that they had a good show time today. He reserved his praise for Shafali and Smriti and hailed the qualities that they bring to the table. Absolutely fantastic (on Shafali). The left-hand-right-hand combination (with Smriti)... Shafali has got her own style and the firepower that she has, and just the charisma that she has on the pitch just puts the opposition on the back foot. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories On their plans for the Sri Lankan skipper, Muzumdar said, We went back to the five-match series that we played in December against Sri Lanka in India, and how we dismissed Chamari, a very important wicket as far as Sri Lanka is concerned. So I thought that was the plan, but I'm glad that Deepti went on to execute it nicely. Article Source: IANS
Smriti Irani congratulates Team India on record eighth Womens Asia Cup triumph
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 14 (IANS) Indias record-extending eighth Womens Asia Cup title drew a celebratory response from former Union Minister Smriti Irani, who hailed the Indian womens cricket team after its emphatic 72-run victory over Sri Lanka in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. India delivered a commanding all-round performance to reclaim the continental crown, overcoming Sri Lanka in the summit clash after losing to the same opposition in the 2024 final. The victory also extended Indias dominance in Asia Cup finals against Sri Lanka, with the Women in Blue now having beaten them six times in title clashes across formats, including the 2004 edition. Reacting to the landmark triumph, Irani congratulated the players and underlined the qualities that powered Indias campaign, while also expressing pride in the teams achievement. India, Indiaaaaaaaa.....Heartiest congratulations to our Indian Womens Cricket Team on winning the Womens Asia Cup 2026. This remarkable triumph reflects the teams hard work, determination and belief. Your performance has made the entire nation proud. Wishing the champions many more victories ahead! India had laid the foundation for the victory with a powerful opening partnership between Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana. The duo added a record 129 runs for the first wicket, putting Sri Lanka under pressure from the outset. Shafali was the aggressor, smashing 68 from just 39 balls. She also produced the fastest half-century in the history of the Womens Asia Cup, reaching the landmark in only 24 deliveries. Mandhana complemented her with a composed 59 off 39 balls. Despite losing momentum in the latter stages, India finished with a formidable 183/5, with G Kamalini contributing a quick 15 from five balls. Sri Lankas chase never gathered sustained momentum. Deepti Sharma struck twice in the 10th over, dismissing captain Chamari Athapaththu for 36 and Vishmi Gunaratne, before Shree Charani took centre stage. Charani claimed four wickets for 20 runs, while Deepti finished with 3-19 as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 111. The 72-run win secured Indias eighth Asia Cup title and completed a dominant campaign with the team starring with both bat and ball.
Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana Star As India Dethrone Sri Lanka To Clinch 8th Women's Asia Cup Title
Shafali Verma and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana struck forceful fifties, while the bowlers under Sree Charani produced an equally intense effort as India crushed Sri Lanka by 72 runs to clinch a record-extending eighth women's Asia Cup title on Sunday.
'We have certain standards and we played to it': Harmanpreet after Asia Cup win
Digital Desk | Dubai, Sep 13 (IANS) India captain Harmanpreet Kaur heaped praise on her team after winning the eighth Women's Asia Cup title by beating Sri Lanka in the 2026 final by 72 runs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Kaur called her team a great one and emphasised that they played to their standards to lift the continental showpiece yet again. We feel this way because we know how much potential we have, and we have a great team. I think we played to our standards because that's what we discussed when we came here: we have certain standards, and we have to, you know, keep matching them every day. And we are very happy with the way we all performed. And I think the girls have done fabulously well throughout the entire tournament, setting 184 in a final, Kaur said after the win. She heaped praise on the openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, who put up a record 129-run partnership for the opening wicket and laid the platform to take the Women in Blue to 183/5 in 20 overs. The 129-run stand is now the highest in the Women's T20 Asia Cup for any wicket. Yes, definitely. We all knew it's not that easy to come back, but I think our openers did an absolutely great job for us, the way they both batted, Smriti and Shafali. I think Shafali had a very, you know, great tournament, and it's good to see somebody like Shafali taking responsibility and doing the job with bat and ball. And I mean, I can't ask anything else from them. It's all about, you know, playing good cricket, and at the end of the day, I'm very happy overall, she said. She also thanked the crowd for their constant support for the Women in Blue wherever they go. I think I've been saying that they are our biggest support. Wherever we go, they're always there to support us, and I think in front of them we always want to play great cricket and hope we are able to, you know, entertain them with our great performance. And I'm sure today, it's good to see a lot of smiles, a lot of, you know, people enjoying their performance, and hopefully we'll keep continuing that, she said. Shafali smashed 68 from 39 balls and also hit the fastest half-century in the history of the tournament, when she raised her bat for the milestone off just 24 deliveries. The Indian bowlers backed things pretty well as Shree Charani picked up four wickets, while Deepti Sharma also scalped three wickets to take the Women in Blue home.
Shafali, Mandhana power India to eighth Asia Cup title
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 111 in chase of 184, with Charani and Deepti sharing six wickets between them
1st T20I: One Or Two Series Wont Define Our Team As A Batting Unit, Says Abhishek
Arun Jaitley Stadium: Star left-handed opener Abhishek Sharma, whose explosive 32-ball 82 blew Afghanistan away in the T20I series opener at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, firmly reiterated that a brief lean patch will never shake India's aggressive batting ethos, stating that one or two series won't define the side's fearless approach. Abhishek's blistering 22-ball half-century laid the foundation for India's clinical seven-wicket win as the hosts made a mockery of a 157-run target, cruising home in just 13.4 overs. Once you have decided, because I still remember two years back we decided we want to play in a certain way. We want to dominate all the teams throughout the whole year before the World Cup and things went pretty well for all the team, and especially for the batsmen as well. But I think one or two series wont define our team as a batting unit, because the way we all think as a batting unit, it always makes a team first. So we always wanted to give that start as openers, especially wickets like this, if youre chasing 150, 160, and you give an early start as openers, it always makes you on the winning side, said Abhishek after getting the Player of the Match award. Before dismantling the Afghan attack with the bat, Abhishek set the tone on the field by plucking a sharp catch at slip off a returning Jasprit Bumrah in the opening over to send Rahmanullah Gurbaz back for a duck. I mean, getting a catch in the first over, that also in the slips, makes you a bit more confident. So thats how we started the innings today. So Im very happy with that, he added. Before dismantling the Afghan attack with the bat, Abhishek set the tone on the field by plucking a sharp catch at slip off a returning Jasprit Bumrah in the opening over to send Rahmanullah Gurbaz back for a duck. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Even in T20 cricket, thats likely to happen. I mean, of course, when we face him in the nets as well, it feels like we are playing first few overs of Test cricket against him. So its always very huge - were always on our toes for him in the slips as well, he added. Article Source: IANS
'We want to dominate all teams': Abhishek Sharma
Abhishek Sharma's explosive 82-run innings led India to a seven-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the opening T20 International in New Delhi, giving them a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Despite recent underwhelming performances, the Indian team showcased a strong collective effort, with key contributions from Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Ishan Kishan, while Afghanistan's skipper acknowledged their batting shortfall.
Women's Asia Cup: India Beat Sri Lanka By 72 Runs To Win Record-extending Eighth Title
Dubai International Cricket Stadium: India lifted the Women's Asia Cup trophy for a record-extending eighth time by defeating Sri Lanka in the 2026 Asia Cup final here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium by 72 runs on Sunday. The Women in Blue starred across all departments to avenge their 2024 final loss to Sri Lanka, as they kept bossing the Lankan side in the Asia Cup finals. This was India's sixth win against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup finals, including the ODI format and the 2004 tournament when India beat Sri Lanka 5-0 in the two-team tournament. India posted a strong total of 183/5, with Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana setting things up with a record 129-run stand for the opening wicket and scoring strong half-centuries. The Indian bowlers backed things pretty well as Shree Charani picked up four wickets, while Deepti Sharma also scalped two wickets to take the Women in Blue home. Shafali and Mandhana laid the foundation for the win with their 129-run stand. Shafali smashed 68 from 39 balls and also hit the fastest half-century in the history of the tournament, when she raised her bat for the milestone off just 24 deliveries. Mandhana made a composed 59 from 39 balls, but Sri Lanka made a strong comeback in the latter half of the innings. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur struggled at No.3, falling for 14 before Richa Ghosh was also removed for 17, while G Kamalini, playing her first match of the tournament, made a five-ball 15 to give the Women in Blue a strong finish. Sri Lanka were found wanting in their top-order performances, and it was not a big improvement over their previous outings, as Imesha Dulani was dismissed in the first over by Kranti Gaud. India kept the lid on Sri Lanka batters as captain Chamari Athapaththu was not being let free to score. They were kept at 38/1 at the end of the powerplay. Athapaththu showed her muscles when she saw leg-spinner Prema Rawat coming in for her first over in the ninth over. She hit her for a six and four as Sri Lanka dreamt with their captain around. However, Deepti hit the body blow when she got Athapaththu stumped out in the 10th over and then doubled the blow when she bowled Vishmi Gunaratne in the same over. The two wickets meant Sri Lanka were already staring down the barrel by the end of the 10th over. With 121 needed off 60 balls, India did not let the 2024 champions breathe easy as Shree Charani got Harshitha Samarawickrama for nine to become India's leading T20I wicket-taker of the year. She continued her good work and took three more wickets, with two coming in the 15th over as she removed Kavisha Dilhari and Nilakshika Silva in the space of three balls. The two wickets meant Sri Lanka were already staring down the barrel by the end of the 10th over. With 121 needed off 60 balls, India did not let the 2024 champions breathe easy as Shree Charani got Harshitha Samarawickrama for nine to become India's leading T20I wicket-taker of the year. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Brief Scores: India 183/5 (Shafali Verma 68, Smriti Mandhana 59; Mithali Ayodhya 1-33) beat Sri Lanka 111/10 (Chamari Athapaththu 36, Nilakshika Silva 22; Shree Charani 4-20, Deepti Sharma 3-19) by 72 runs. Article Source: IANS
South Africa Thrash Namibia By 9 Wickets To Complete 3-0 ODI Series Sweep
Bjorn Fortuin's four-wicket haul and aggressive half-centuries from Jordan Hermann and Connor Esterhuizen powered South Africa to a commanding nine-wicket victory over Namibia in the third ODI at the Namibia Cricket Ground on Sunday, completing a 3-0 series sweep.
1st T20I: Bowlers, Abhishek Carry India To Clinical Seven-wicket Victory Over Afghanistan (ld)
T20 World Cup: After defeats in Ireland and England laid bare the issues with its understrength bowling unit, including severe injury setbacks to key personnel, current T20 World Cup holders India finally found its cutting edge with the ball, setting the foundation for a clinical seven-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the T20I series opener at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday. Jasprit Bumrahs impactful return from a left knee injury instantly restored bite to the frontline pace attack, as he removed Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a duck to trigger an early Afghanistani collapse. Alongside Arshdeep Singhs standout 3-19 and a frugal stump-to-stump leash from spin duo Axar Patel and Varun Chakaravarthy, who picked a scalp each. It also meant that, apart from pace bowling being lightweight, India got better returns from its spinners, an area that hurt the three-time T20 World Cup winners on the trip to the United Kingdom. What would concern India, though, was the fifth-bowler quota, shared between Nitish Kumar Reddy, Abhishek Sharma, and Shivam Dube, who conceded 59 runs at an economy rate of 14.75. Afghanistan found its way back as Azmatullah Omarzai hit a brilliant, unbeaten counter-attacking 64 off 44 balls, pushing Afghanistan to 156/8, including an 83-run stand with Mohammad Nabi (33). But the total proved hopelessly inadequate once India began their reply. Abhishek Sharma watched the ball like a hawk and left 25, 165 fans drenched in a relentless shower of boundaries. With his incredible ball-striking, Abhishek reached fifty off 22 balls before extending it to a blistering 32-ball 82. His ruthless assault flattened the Afghan bowling attack and put India in cruise control from the get-go. Partnering with Ishan Kishan (42) in an explosive 121-run stand, Abhishek ensured India made a complete mockery of the 157-run target, cruising home with 38 balls to spare and taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. After winning the toss, India struck almost immediately as Bumrah extracted steep bounce, forcing a simple catch off Gurbazs glove edge to Abhishek Sharma at first slip. Arshdeep provided support from the other end, but Sediqullah Atal produced brief fireworks in the third over, hitting a boundary and a flat six off Bumrah. But Afghanistans momentum was quickly halted when Zadran was run out after being caught short of his crease by a sharp throw from Ishan Kishan. Arshdeep then removed Atal when his mis-timed stroke was caught comfortably at gully. With spin introduced early in the bowling attack, Axar made an instant impact by sending Gulbadin Naib to point, while Chakaravarthy, returning to the international fold, struck in his opening over, cleaning up Darwish Rasooli with a skidding delivery that rattled the leg stump. From 43/5, veteran Nabi (33 off 27 balls) and Omarzai then stabilised the innings with a steady partnership. With Reddy not in his element, Nabi and Omarzai had no trouble hitting him and Abhishek for boundaries, including the former producing a magnificent straight six off the seam-bowling all-rounder. But Nabi fell to Arshdeep's clever change of pace when a slower ball left his stumps in disarray. Arshdeep quickly added a third to his tally by removing Rashid Khan, while a sharp direct hit from Shreyas Iyer ran out Noor Ahmad in the 19th over. After completing his fifty off 39 balls, Omarzai took full charge in the final over bowled by Dube, smashing him for two massive sixes over long-on and deep extra cover, before Mujeeb Ur Rahman hit successive boundaries off him to take Afghanistan past 150, a target that had seemed a distant prospect in the seventh over of the innings. In the chase, India were in cruise control from the outset. Sanju Samson set the early tone with a flick and loft off Fazalhaq Farooqi. But the flick eventually brought Samsons downfall, as he was too early into his shot and was caught by deep square leg off Omarzai. But Abhishek, who got off the mark with an inside-out loft off Mujeeb Ur Rahman, launched an all-out assault after lofting and pulling Omarzai for boundaries, he tore into Farooqi. He first lofted him over cover for a crisp six before walloping a slower bouncer into the deep midwicket stand. He looted 26 runs off the fifth over from Farooqi, alongside Kishan, who launched him for a mammoth second-tier six, before backing away to carve another boundary over point. Mohammad Nabis spin as Abhishek got a streaky slice past gully for four, before swatting him over mid-on for six as India got 82 runs off the power-play. Abhishek brought up Indias century and his 12th T20I fifty off just 22 balls with a gentle tuck to the leg side, before tearing into Rashid Khan - after stepping out to launch a towering six over mid-wicket, he ended the ninth over with a flat-batted hit over deep extra cover. Abhisheks relentless assault when he pulled a skiddy length ball from Noor Ahmad over wide long-on for six, before leaning into a gorgeous lofted drive going over deep extra cover for another maximum, even as Kishan drilled one past the wrist-spinner for four. After leaving Afghanistan fielders shocked by slog-sweeping Nabi for six, Abhishek couldnt get hold of a full toss and holed out to long-on, who took a reverse-cupped catch before sliding on the ground. Abhisheks relentless assault when he pulled a skiddy length ball from Noor Ahmad over wide long-on for six, before leaning into a gorgeous lofted drive going over deep extra cover for another maximum, even as Kishan drilled one past the wrist-spinner for four. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Brief Scores: Afghanistan 156/8 in 20 overs (Azmatullah Omarzai 64 not out, Mohammad Nabi 33; Arshdeep Singh 3-19, Varun Chakaravarthy 1-16) lost to India 157/3 in 13.4 overs (Abhishek Sharma 82, Ishan Kishan 42; Mohammad Nabi 2-28, Azmatullah Omarzai 1-14) by 7 wickets. Article Source: IANS
India dominate Sri Lanka to win Women's Asia Cup, register stellar 72-run win to clinch title
The Indian team took on Sri Lanka in the final of the Womens Asia Cup 2026. The two sides met at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 13th, and the clash saw India register a brilliant win in the clash, defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs and clinching the title.
1st T20I: Abhishek Top-scores With 82 As India Beat Afghanistan By Seven Wickets
Arun Jaitley Stadium: Abhishek Sharma watched the ball like a hawk and left the Arun Jaitley Stadium drenched in a relentless deluge of sixes and fours. Propelled by his scintillating 22-ball half-century, which laid the foundation for a match-winning 82, India made a mockery of a 157-run chase, defeating Afghanistan by seven wickets and taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series. Chasing 157, after the bowlers held Afghanistan to 156/8, Abhishek took the Powerplay to leave the hosts' bowling attack completely flattened under a barrage of boundary hits from his willow in his 32-ball knock. He also shared a 121-run stand for the second wicket with Ishan Kishan (42 off 33 balls) to ensure India got home with 38 balls remaining. India were in cruise control from the outset. Sanju Samson set the early tone with a flick and loft off Fazalhaq Farooqi. But the flick eventually brought Samsons downfall, as he was too early into his shot and was caught by deep square leg off Azmatullah Omarzai. But Abhishek, who got off the mark with an inside-out loft off Mujeeb Ur Rahman, launched an all-out assault after lofting and pulling Omarzai for boundaries, he tore into Farooqi. He first lofted him over cover for a crisp six before walloping a slower bouncer into the deep midwicket stand. He looted 26 runs off the fifth over from Farooqi, alongside Kishan, who launched him for a mammoth second-tier six, before backing away to carve another boundary over point. Mohammad Nabis spin as Abhishek got a streaky slice past gully for four, before swatting him over mid-on for six as India got 82 runs off power-play. Abhishek brought up Indias century and his 12th T20I fifty off just 22 balls with a gentle tuck to the leg side, before tearing into Rashid Khan - after stepping out to launch a towering six over mid-wicket, he ended the ninth over with a flat-batted hit over deep extra cover. Abhisheks relentless assault when he pulled a skiddy length ball from Noor Ahmad over wide long-on for six, before leaning into a gorgeous lofted drive going over deep extra cover for another maximum, even as Kishan drilled one past the wrist-spinner for four. After leaving Afghanistan fielders shocked by slog-sweeping Nabi for six, Abhishek couldnt get hold of a full toss and holed out to long-on, who took a reverse-cupped catch before sliding on the ground. Abhisheks relentless assault when he pulled a skiddy length ball from Noor Ahmad over wide long-on for six, before leaning into a gorgeous lofted drive going over deep extra cover for another maximum, even as Kishan drilled one past the wrist-spinner for four. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Brief Scores: Afghanistan 156/8 in 20 overs (Azmatullah Omarzai 64 not out, Mohammad Nabi 33; Arshdeep Singh 3-19, Varun Chakaravarthy 1-16) lost to India 157/3 in 13.4 overs (Abhishek Sharma 82, Ishan Kishan 42; Mohammad Nabi 2-28, Azmatullah Omarzai 1-14) by seven wickets Article Source: IANS
Abhishek lights up Delhi as India cruise past Afghanistan
Omarzai's half-century took Afghanistan to 157 but it proved insufficient with India chasing down the target in 13.4 overs
India star batter Shafali Verma on Sunday smashed the fastest half-century in the history of the Women's Asia Cup as she completed her fifty off just 24 balls in the 2026 final against Sri Lanka.
The Indian opening pair of Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana continued to make history as India posted a challenging total against Sri Lanka in the Women's Asia Cup final
India thrashed Afghanistan by nine wickets to win the first T20I of the three-match series at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. Star batter Abhishek Sharma stole the show with a 22-ball half-century, while...
The Indian team took on Afghanistan in the first T20I of the ongoing three-game series. The two sides met at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi for the clash on September 13, and the game...
PIX: Arshdeep shines as India restrict Afghanistan
Arshdeep Singh's impressive 3/19 spell, supported by Jasprit Bumrah and spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel, helped India restrict Afghanistan to 156/8 in the first T20I. Despite a strong partnership between Azmatullah Omarzai (64*) and Mohammed Nabi (33), India's bowlers maintained control, with Arshdeep delivering crucial breakthroughs.
Women's Asia Cup Final: Deepti credits Shafali, Mandhana for strong total
Digital Desk | Dubai, Sep 13 (IANS) India all-rounder Deepti Sharma heaped praise on the record 129-run stand between openers Shafali Verma and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana for providing the platform for the Women in Blue to post a strong total of 183/5 in the Asia Cup 2026 final against Sri Lanka at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Deepti highlighted that the Indian team had hoped to get to 180-190, as the pitch in Dubai was better to bat on in the final. We were looking for 180 or 190, because it's a good wicket to bat on. Today it's a slightly better pitch, and credit goes to both the openers, how they played in the first six overs, and how they accelerated in the first 10 overs. It's good to see, Deepti told broadcasters after the first innings. Deepti highlighted that the first few overs in the second innings will be crucial and India will want a few wickets in the powerplay to stake their claim to defend the target. It's quite important. We are looking for a few wickets in the early stage. That's going to (give) the momentum, she said, referring to how crucial the powerplay would be for India. Deepti further opined that the ball is unlikely to stick into the surface, with this being a better surface for the willow-holders. As I said, today is a different wicket to bat on, but we have a good bowling side. I'm looking forward to it. (How does the support from the massive crowd feel?) It's great whenever the fans come and support. It brings the energy, the all-rounder concluded. Shafali (68 from 39 balls) smashed the fastest fifty in the history of the Asia Cup as she got to her milestone in just 24 balls to give the Women in Blue a strong platform along with Mandhana, who made a composed 59 from 39 deliveries. The two put up a 129-run stand for the opening wicket as India bossed the first half of the innings after opting to bat first. However, Sri Lanka made a comeback in the later part of the innings with Chamari Athapaththu, Mithali Ayodhya and Chamudi Praboda getting wickets, while the Women in Blue lost Mandhana and Deepti to run-outs. The 129-run stand is now the highest in a final of a Women's T20 tournament, going past the previous highest of 120, put up by Hayley Matthews and Stafanie Taylor in the 2016 Women's T20 World Cup 2016 win against Australia. It is also the highest in the Women's T20 Asia Cup for any wicket, surpassing the 128-run stand by Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma, which came against the UAE in 2022. India went down from 129/0 to 167/5 as Kamalini gave the final bit of fireworks. She made 15 from five balls and hit a four and a six on the final two balls of the innings as India took 16 off the final over to finish with a strong total in the final.
1st T20I: Omarzais late counter-attacking fifty takes Afghanistan to 156/8 against India
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 13 (IANS) Seam-bowling all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai mounted a sensational late counter-attack by hitting 64 not out to propel Afghanistan to a respectable 156/8 after the hosts suffered an early batting collapse against India in the first T20I here at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday. Jasprit Bumrah made an immediate impact on his return to international action after India elected to bowl by removing Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a duck in the opening over. Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal briefly steadied the innings before a middle-order slide led to Afghanistan being reduced to 43/5 in seven overs. But Afghanistan mounted a recovery through Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi, as they shared an 83-run partnership off 56 balls. Following Nabi's departure for 33, Afghanistan lost further wickets in quick succession, but Omarzai hung around to push the total past 150 through an unbeaten 64 off 44 balls, laced with four boundaries and as many sixes. Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh was Indias standout bowler with figures of 3-19, while Bumrah had 1-26. Spinners Axar Patel and Varun Chakaravarthy maintained a tight stump-to-stump line and picked up a wicket apiece to keep the pressure on Afghanistan. What would concern India, though, was the fifth-bowler quota shared among Nitish Kumar Reddy, Abhishek Sharma, and Shivam Dube, who conceded 59 runs at an economy rate of 14.75. After winning the toss, India struck almost immediately as Bumrah extracted steep bounce to force a simple catch off Gurbazs glove edge to Abhishek Sharma at first slip. Arshdeep provided support from the other end, but Sediqullah Atal produced brief fireworks in the third over, picking up a boundary and a flat six off Bumrah. But Afghanistans momentum was quickly halted when Zadran was caught short of his crease following a sharp throw from Ishan Kishan. Arshdeep then removed Atal when his mis-timed stroke was caught comfortably by gully. With spin introduced early in the bowling attack, Axar made an instant impact when Gulbadin Naib to point, while Chakaravarthy, returning to the international fold, struck in his opening over by cleaning up Darwish Rasooli with a skidding delivery that rattled the leg stump. From 43/5, veteran Nabi (33 off 27 balls) and Omarzai then stabilised the innings with a steady partnership. With Reddy not in his elements, Nabi and Omarzai had no issues in hitting him and Abhishek for boundaries, including the former producing a magnificent straight six off the seam-bowling all-rounder. But Nabi fell to Arshdeep's clever change of pace when a slower ball left his stumps in a mess. Arshdeep quickly added a third to his tally by removing Rashid Khan, while a sharp direct hit from Shreyas Iyer ran out Noor Ahmad in the 19th over. After completing his fifty in 39 balls, Omarzai took full charge in the final over bowled by Dube by smashing him for two massive sixes over long-on and deep extra cover, before Mujeeb Ur Rahman took successive boundaries off him to take Afghanistan past 150, something which looked a distant possibility in the seventh over of the innings. Brief Scores: Afghanistan 156/8 in 20 overs (Azmatullah Omarzai 64 not out, Mohammad Nabi 33; Arshdeep Singh 3-19, Varun Chakaravarthy 1-16) against India
PIX: Antonelli wins Spanish GP, extends Formula One lead
Kimi Antonelli claimed his eighth victory of the season at the Madrid Grand Prix, extending his Formula One championship lead to 81 points. The Italian driver benefited from a timely Virtual Safety Car deployment and a problematic pitstop for pole-sitter Lando Norris, who had been leading comfortably. Max Verstappen finished second, with Norris recovering to secure third place after the unfortunate incident.
In a first,Vande Mataram played before national anthem at Indias international game
Vande Mataram will now be played at the start of every home series, before the start of first game, a BCCI source told PTI
Women's Asia Cup final: Shafali Verma slams fastest fifty in continental showpiece
Digital Desk | Dubai, Sep 13 (IANS) India star batter Shafali Verma on Sunday smashed the fastest half-century in the history of the Women's Asia Cup as she completed her fifty off just 24 balls in the 2026 final against Sri Lanka at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Shafali turned on her beast mode after India opted to bat first in the title clash. The young opening batter, along with Smriti Mandhana, provided another strong start to the Women in Blue in the final. While Shafali took four balls to get off the mark, she took apart the Sri Lankan bowlers once she saw off the first few deliveries. She kept smashing the opposition and completed her fifty in just 24 balls with a four in the eighth over off Kavisha Dilhari. This was her 21st T20I fifty and the fastest in Asia Cup history, surpassing her opening partner's 25-ball record. Fastest fifties in Women's T20 Asia Cup: 24 - Shafali Verma (IND-W) vs SL-W, Dubai, 2026 25 - Smriti Mandhana (IND-W) vs SL-W, Sylhet, 2022 26 - Richa Ghosh (IND-W) vs UAE-W, Dambulla, 2024 26 - Shafali Verma (IND-W) vs NEP-W, Dambulla, 2024 26 - Shafali Verma (IND-W) vs THA-W, Dubai, 2026 This was also Shafali's third fifty in the ongoing tournament, which is now also the joint-most in a single edition of the Women's T20 Asia Cup, level with Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, who also smacked four fifties in the victorious 2024 tournament. India won the toss earlier as captain Harmanpreet opted to bat first. G Kamalini came in for Pratika Rawal as the only change for the Women in Blue. We are going to bat first. It's a very important game for us; put up a score on the board. Every final is important; there is pressure, but we need to play good cricket. We have one change: Pratika is resting, and Kamalini is playing, India captain Kaur said at the toss.
Where Does He Stand? Dinesh Karthik Seeks Clarity On Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Role
The India vs Afghanistan first T20I is underway in New Delhi. For the opening match of the three-match series, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has not been picked in the playing XI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: In a historic first, India's national song Vande Mataram was played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium ahead of the national anthems of both India and Afghanistan before the first T20I began on Sunday. As players from both sides lined up on the field prior to the match, the venue echoed with Vande Mataram before the Indian national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, was played. The national anthem of Afghanistan was also performed as part of the pre-match protocol. The move comes a month after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued comprehensive guidelines regarding the observance and rendition of Vande Mataram, which translates to Mother, I Bow to Thee. According to the initial MHA directive issued on January 28, the ministry notified the first formal set of protocols for singing the national song, directing that six stanzas of it be sung at official functions. The main rule also states that the National Anthem must be played after the National Song, which has a set duration of 190 seconds, the directive specified, adding that people must be attentive when the song is played at official events. The guidelines issued by the MHA listed a set of events and situations in which the national song had to be sung before the national anthem, but they originally did not explicitly include sporting events. Vande Mataram was sung in full for the first time on August 15, 2026, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his Independence Day speech at the Red Fort, with a run time of three minutes and 20 seconds. Written and published in Bengali by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875 and later published in 1882 as part of his famous novel Anandamath, Vande Mataram holds an iconic place in India's freedom struggle. Vande Mataram was sung in full for the first time on August 15, 2026, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his Independence Day speech at the Red Fort, with a run time of three minutes and 20 seconds. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories You can see the Home Ministry guidelines, in which every event happening in the country has to have Vande Mataram sung before the national anthem. Everyone involved in the conduct of the game was aware of this, a DDCA official told IANS. Article Source: IANS
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Jasprit Bumrah scripts history, achieves major milestone with early wicket against Afghanistan
The Indian team took on Afghanistan in the first T20I of the ongoing three-game series between the two sides. The teams met at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi for the clash on September 13,...
BCCI set to discuss contract renewal with Agarkar
What started as a dream became a mission: Sukant Kadam turns focus to Asiad after 100-medal mark
Digital Desk | Japan, Sep 13 (IANS) Sukant Kadam reached the milestone he once turned into a personal promise at the Japan Para Badminton International on Sunday, winning two silver medals to complete a career tally of 100, but the World No. 2 SL4 player was already looking beyond the landmark towards the Asian Games. The 31-year-old Indian added the milestone medals in Japan in contrasting fashion. He finished runner-up in the mens singles SL4 after losing 21-8, 21-16 to Frances Lucas Mazur, before joining Pramod Bhagat in the mens doubles SL3-SU5 final, where the Indians went down 21-5, 21-15 to Indonesias Hikmat Ramdani and Fredy Setiawan. For Kadam, though, the significance lay less in the colour of the medals and more in the number attached to them. I made my international debut in 2014 with a dream in my heart. In 2016, I won my first BWF Para Badminton International medal. And today, in 2026, after years of victories, defeats, injuries, doubts, sacrifices, comebacks and countless hours on the court Medal No. 100. What started as a dream slowly became a mission. And #DreamOf100 became a promise I made to myself to keep pushing until I reached this moment, Kadam said. The journey to that promise began far from the international badminton circuit. A cricket injury at the age of 10, followed by multiple surgeries, left Kadam unable to bend his left knee. It was a silver medal at the 2012 London Paralympics by Girisha Nagarajegowda that helped point him towards para-sport and eventually para-badminton. Based in Pune, Kadam trains under Olympian Nikhil Kanitkar and his coaching team at NKBA. Over the years, the journey has been shaped not just by medals but also by the support around him. No athlete reaches a milestone like this alone. A heartfelt thank you to my coaches Nikhil Kanitkar and Mayank Gole for believing in me, standing by me, challenging me and guiding me in the best ways possible. Your belief has been a huge part of this journey. I am deeply grateful to the Sports Authority of India, Government of Maharashtra, Badminton Association of India, Paralympic Committee of India and Olympic Gold Quest for their constant support, encouragement and belief in my journey. To my family, friends, teammates, support staff and everyone who has stood beside me through the highs and lows this medal belongs to you too, he added. Yet the 100th medal has not altered Kadams immediate priorities. With the Asian Games next on the horizon, he sees the Japan campaign as preparation rather than a finish line. The 100th medal is a very special milestone, but for me, it is another step in the journey. My focus now is on the Asian Games. I want to take the confidence from this tournament, continue working hard and give my best for India when it matters most, he concluded
India bat and bring in Kamalini for Rawal; Gunaratne back for Sri Lanka
This will be Kamalini's second T20I appearance
First in Indian Cricket! Vande Mataram Before National Anthem
For the first time in an Indian men's cricket match, the national song Vande Mataram was played before the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, during the India vs Afghanistan T20I in Delhi, sparking widespread reaction among fans.
National Song Vande Mataram Played Before India-Afghanistan T20I in Historic First
The first India vs Afghanistan T20I in New Delhi on Sunday witnessed a historic first
India vs Afghanistan first T20I: India opt to bowl first
India preferred the experience of Sanju Samson over batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, while pacer Jasprit Bumrah returned to the playing XI
Womens Asia Cup final: India elect to bat against Sri Lanka
India bring in G. Kamalini for Pratika Rawal, while Sri Lanka has Vishmi Gunaratne coming in for Kawya Kavind
India bowl, leave out Sooryavanshi for Abhishek and Samson
Bumrah and Varun return to join Arshdeep as specialist bowlers in the bowling attack
Women's Asia Cup: Kamalini Replaces Pratika As India Opt To Bat Against Sri Lanka In Final
Dubai International Cricket Stadium: India captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and opted to bat first against Sri Lanka in the Women's Asia Cup 2026 final here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. India made a change to their XI for the first time this tournament after Kaur won her maiden toss in the 2026 Asia Cup as the Women in Blue brought in G Kamalini for Pratika Rawal. This will be Kamalini's as she got her first game of the tournament and only her second T20I for India. India and Sri Lanka are both undefeated in the ongoing tournament, with the Women in Blue having looked far more dominant than Sri Lanka. India have tamed every other opponent with superb all-round performance, while Sri Lanka have been found wanting in the batting department. Their top-order batters have not been at the top of their game, including captain Chamari Athapaththu, who has only 63 runs from four innings. Meanwhile, India have looked far more dominant in all the departments, with Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana doing the bulk of the scoring. Deepti Sharma and Shree Charani have been highly penetrative with the ball, with 11 and eight wickets, respectively. India are looking for a record-extending eighth Asia Cup title after winning four continental tournaments in the ODI format and three in T20Is. The Women in Blue have a very strong record against Sri Lanka and swept them in a five-match T20I series last year in December. They have also won nine of their previous 10 T20Is against Sri Lanka, but their only defeat came in the 2024 Asia Cup final in Dambulla. Yeah, we are going to bat first today. I feel it's a very important game for us, and I think having a score on the board is always positive. That is the reason we decided as a group that we'll bat first, India captain Kaur said at the toss. Every final is very important, and at the same time, there is a lot of pressure. I think today's game is about playing good cricket, staying in the moment and giving your best. We do have one change. Pratika is resting today; Kamini is back. She has a lot of ability, and hopefully she'll enjoy herself today. We are not keeping a specific target in mind. It's all about using the batting power-play and then see how much we can get, she added. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka have also made a change to their XI for the final with Vishmi Gunaratne coming in for Sanjana Kavindi. If we won the toss, definitely we would have bowl first, because we back our skills. Last few games we have bowled really good. Actually, it's a really good thing for me as well as the team. As a country, we need to improve our cricket all the time. So we have good players. We will stick with our plans and we'll try to play positive cricket in the middle. We are going with one change: Vishmi Gunaratne is playing in place of Sanjana Kavindi. I felt we needed some experience. (The) first six overs (are) very crucial. So if we can get early (wickets), I think (there will be) pressure on them, Sri Lankan skipper Athapaththu said at the toss. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka have also made a change to their XI for the final with Vishmi Gunaratne coming in for Sanjana Kavindi. If we won the toss, definitely we would have bowl first, because we back our skills. Last few games we have bowled really good. Actually, it's a really good thing for me as well as the team. As a country, we need to improve our cricket all the time. So we have good players. We will stick with our plans and we'll try to play positive cricket in the middle. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu(c), Imesha Dulani, Vishmi Gunaratne, Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Kaushani Nuthyangana(w), Sugandika Kumari, Chamudi Praboda, Mithali Ayodhya Article Source: IANS
Marcus Trescothick unsure of England coaching future despite 3-0 victory vs Pakistan
Marcus Trescothick remains uncertain about his place in Englands Test coaching set-up as Stephen Fleming set to arrive in the UK and begin preparations for his first assignment as the teams full-time head coach. The...
India vs Sri Lanka Free Live Streaming, Women's Asia Cup Final Live Telecast: When And Where To Watch
India Women vs Sri Lanka Women LIVE Score Updates, Women's Asia Cup Final: India have won the toss and opted to bat against reigning champions Sri Lanka in the final.
IND-W vs SL-W, Women's Asia Cup 2026 final LIVE Score: India women opt to bat first in Dubai
India women and Sri Lanka women are all set to take on each other in the summit clash of the ongoing Women's Asia Cup 2026. The two sides meet at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium...
1st T20I: Bumrah, Nitish, Varun Return As India Bowl Against Afghanistan
Nitish Kumar Reddy: Jasprit Bumrah, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Varun Chakaravarthy have made a return to Indias playing eleven as captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bowl first against Afghanistan in the first of three T20Is here at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday. Its the first time Afghanistan are hosting India in an away T20I series, which makes them the designated hosts here till Thursday. India have been dominant in T20I meetings against Afghanistan so far, with eight wins out of nine matches. Ahead of the toss, a unique coin was unveiled, and Iyer gave a special jersey to his counterpart Ibrahim Zadran. After winning the toss, designated visiting captain Iyer said young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi missed out on a spot in the side, with Sanju Samson returning to open the batting alongside Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan continuing to bat at number three. India are also boosted by the return of Bumrah, Reddy and Chakaravarthy, who missed out on a lot of cricketing action in the last few months due to injuries to the knee, quadriceps and hamstring, respectively. Winning the toss, Iyer said, When you have played in Delhi, you do know what the pitch has got to offer and weve played quite a bit of matches over here. So based on that and looking at the conditions, thats really both. Its been a rollercoaster ride (as T20I captain), but if you see the previous series which we played against Zimbabwe, there were a lot of positives and the boys were optimistic in their approach. So thats the attitude we got to carry in this series as well. Its a luxury to have him (Bumrah) in the squad because hes immensely experienced and he carries a lot of great attitude when it comes to winning matches. So we know hes a match-winner and we know what hes got to offer. Zadran, captaining Afghanistan in T20Is for the first time, said pacer Naveen-ul-Haq is still not match-fit, and his availability for the coming games will be decided later. We had decided to bowl first. Unfortunately, we lost the toss and we will think about batting. We will try to put a good total on the board. It's a great feeling for us. It is a pleasure to host India, here in India for the first time. We are trying to enjoy ourselves, trying to have a good series against them. We have got lots of support from the fans in the past as well, and just requesting them to come and support both teams. I hope they don't forget us, but hopefully they come and support their own player, their own team, and give their energy to the players. Naveen is not ready for todays game and we will think about him for the second and third game, the Afghan skipper stated. Playing XIs I hope they don't forget us, but hopefully they come and support their own player, their own team, and give their energy to the players. Naveen is not ready for todays game and we will think about him for the second and third game, the Afghan skipper stated. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories India: Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy Article Source: IANS
India have dropped young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi from the opening game of the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The 15-year-old was adjudged the Player of the Series...
Sacked From Pakistan Team, Salman Ali Agha Makes Massive Statement With 300 Off 336 Balls
A few days back, Salman Ali Agha was among the seven players who were sent back from England after Pakistan lost the first two Tests
Fortuin Fires South Africa to ODI Series Sweep Over Namibia
Bjorn Fortuin's four-wicket haul sparked Namibia's collapse before Jordan Hermann and Connor Esterhuizen powered South Africa's chase, sealing a commanding nine-wicket win and 3-0 ODI series sweep.
Sher-e-Punjab T20: We Are Ready For Every Challenge, Says Salil Arora Ahead Of Final
Punjab T20 League: Ludhiana Lions captain Salil Arora believes his side is ready to face whatever challenges Amritsar Soormas can throw at them as the two teams clash in the final of the inaugural Sher-e-Punjab T20 League at the I S Bindra Stadium on Sunday. Ludhiana Lions head into the summit clash with strong momentum after beating Jalandhar Warriors by 17 runs in the semi-final. Salil led from the front with a captains knock of 120 off 56 balls, while Sahil Bhaskar produced the tournaments best figures so far, claiming six wickets for 16 runs to help his side secure their place in the final. The slate is clean and we carry nothing but positivity into the finals against Amritsar Soormas. We are ready for any and every challenge that they will throw at us, and the boys are ready to do whatever it takes to win the inaugural Sher-e-Punjab T20 League. We have big match winners in our squad, as has been on display throughout the entire league. Both the batting and bowling line-ups are in extremely safe hands, Salil said. Salil said the team would continue to function as a cohesive unit in the final and remain focused on executing their individual and collective plans. The team will function as a cohesive team, exactly the way we have been operating throughout the tournament. Nothing changes from Match 1 to the finals. The boys know what is expected of them and are eager to execute individual plans and plans for the team. We look forward to playing the finals in the evening, he added. Ludhiana Lions team director Jasvir Bhojgi hailed Sahil Bhaskar, who was named Player of the Match for his match-winning spell against Jalandhar and also leads the tournaments wicket-taking charts with 20 scalps. Jasvir feels Bhaskar has been the find of the season. It would not be too wrong to say that Sahil Bhaskar has been one of the finds of the tournament. Our plan for the tournament from the start was simple: to scout the best talent that exists across Punjab and to give them a platform that they rightly deserve, Jasvir said. This is exactly what the think tank at Ludhiana Lions has been able to achieve in the squad that we have assembled. Not only Sahil Bhaskar but also Kartik Chadha, Arjun Rajput, and Madhav Singh Pathania, amongst others, are testament to the work behind the scenes, he added. Ludhiana Lions also defeated Amritsar Soormas in their last league match, with Salil Arora scoring 69 off 36 balls to earn the Player of the Match award. Sahil Bhaskar, Kartik Chadha and Krish Bhagat also took wickets in that game. Ludhiana, however, will miss the services of pacer Arshdeep Singh, who has joined the national team, while Arjun Rajput will also be unavailable, as he joins the India U-19 side for its assignment against Australia. Ludhiana Lions had a poor start to the season, losing three matches in a row; however, head coach Sunil Saggi said the team remained focused and increased its effort on the field to reach the final. Ludhiana, however, will miss the services of pacer Arshdeep Singh, who has joined the national team, while Arjun Rajput will also be unavailable, as he joins the India U-19 side for its assignment against Australia. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories We have to acknowledge the efforts of Kartik Chadha and Sahil Bhaskar as pivotal features of our road to the finals. Finally, I commend Salil as a captain, and as a batter, he has managed both his responsibilities very well. In fact, he has led our batting effort from the front and anchored us in sticky situations, he added. Article Source: IANS
Ajit Agarkar's 'Final' Selection Meeting May Hand KL Rahul Bigger Leadership Role
Seasoned KL Rahul could be named India's vice-captain for the upcoming three-match ODI series against the West Indies, starting September 27
Smriti Mandhana Opens Up On 'Crying', Makes Big Revelation On Personal Life
Indian women's cricket superstar Smriti Mandhana revealed some moments that made her emotional.
IND vs AFG, 1st T20I LIVE Score: India aim to get off to good start to the series
Afghanistan hosts India in a three-match T20I series, starting September 13 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The series marks the return of Jasprit Bumrah, who missed the two-match Test series against Sri...
India vs Afghanistan Free Live Telecast, 1st T20I Live Streaming: Where And Where To Watch
India vs Afghanistan Free Live Telecast, 1st T20I Live Streaming: Where And Where To Watch Vaibhav Sooryavanshi And Co.
India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I Live Score: This is India's final international assignment before the Asian Games 2026.
Jordan Hermann, Connor Esterhuizen Hit Fifties As South Africa Crush Namibia
Openers Jordan Hermann and Connor Esterhuizen scored half-centuries as South Africa hammered Namibia by nine wickets on Sunday to complete the sweep of three one-day internationals. South Africa are third in the ODI rankings and second-tier cricket nation Namibia 16th, and the gulf in class was demonstrated in Windhoek over five days. The visitors won the rain-shortened first ODI by 99 runs and the second by 157 runs with the same squad that won a preceding Twenty20 tri-series involving Namibia and Zimbabwe. Hermann and Esterhuizen, two of the players given opportunities in a young, experimental South African side, have starred in the ODI series. Both struck centuries in earlier matches. On Sunday, Hermann top scored with 77 and Esterhuizen was unbeaten on 68 as South Africa, chasing 157 to win, reached the target for the loss of only one wicket after 21.3 overs. Hermann fell after facing 59 balls when a low, angled delivery from seamer Waldo Smith uprooted the stumps. His knock included 13 fours. Esterhuizen hit three sixes and four fours off 68 deliveries before Dewald Brevis sealed victory through a fiercely struck six. Namibia won the toss and posted 156 with wicketkeeper Zane Green the last man out after top scoring with 33 runs. The innings ended when a Green chip eluded the covers, but not captain Bjorn Fortuin, who dashed from extra cover to make a spectacular diving catch. Spinner Fortuin (4-33) was the most successful South African bowler and is in the squad that will host world champions Australia in a three-match ODI series from September 24. Brief scores Namibia 156 in 36.2 overs (Z. Green 33, A. Busing-Volschenk 31; B. Fortuin 4-33) v South Africa 157-1 in 21.3 overs (J. Hermann 77, C. Esterhuizen 68 not out) Result: South Africa won by nine wickets Toss: Namibia Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Series: South Africa won 3-0
India vs Sri Lanka, Women's Asia Cup 2026 final Pitch Report, how will surface in Dubai play?
India is all set to take on Sri Lanka in the Womens Asia Cup 2026 final. The two sides will meet at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 13th, and both sides will hope...
Fortuin, Hermann, Esterhuizen headline South Africa's 3-0 sweep of Namibia
Fortuin bagged a career-best 4 for 33 while Hermann and Esterhuizen added 150 runs as South Africa razed down Namibia's 157 target inside 22 overs
KL Rahul Likely Vice-Captain; Pant Vs Jurel For West Indies ODIs
K L Rahul is likely to be named India's vice-captain for the upcoming three-match ODI series against the West Indies, starting on September 27.
