PIX: Atletico down 10-man Real in fiery Madrid derby
Atletico Madrid defeated 10-man Real Madrid 2-1 in a heated LaLiga derby at the Metropolitano. Goals from Alejandro Grimaldo and Jonathan David secured the win, moving Atletico above Real in the standings. Real's Dean Huijsen was sent off, and Antonio Ruediger scored a late consolation goal.
Akram slams Babar Azam: 'Were you there to sell chickpeas?'
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has strongly criticised current skipper Babar Azam following Pakistan's disastrous Test series against England. Akram questioned Babar's awareness of team changes and suggested he should not have taken on the captaincy again, especially after the team's poor performance and subsequent sanctions.
Roland-Jones rolls back the years as Middlesex end long trophy drought
Senior seamer gets the job done on the big stage, after Higgins' hundred sets up victory shot
Umesh Yadav Seeks Fresh Start: Veteran India Pacer Parts Ways With Vidarbha
Senior India fast bowler Umesh Yadav has decided to part ways with Vidarbha in the ongoing domestic season and seek fresh opportunities elsewhere.
Higgins hundred ends Middlesex's 36-year wait for List A glory
Kelly makes fighting century in reply but Leicestershire fall short by 31 runs at Trent Bridge
Odisha T20 LeagueCM Trophy Gets Off To Vibrant Start At Barabati Stadium
The Odisha T20 League: The Odisha T20 League CM Trophy got off to a vibrant start at the iconic Barabati Stadium in Kataka on Sunday, with Chief Minister of Odisha, Mohan Charan Majhi gracing the opening ceremony as the chief guest. Fans were treated to an evening of cricket, entertainment and inspiring words from former India cricketers Suresh Raina and Debashish Mohanty, the brand ambassadors of the league. The two former India players, along with the franchise owners of all six teams, were felicitated by the Chief Minister during the opening ceremony. Raina, who has been closely associated with the tournament as its brand ambassador, congratulated the organisers for putting together the event and encouraged the young cricketers participating in the league to make the most of the opportunity. First of all, I would like to congratulate everyone for the effort they have put in to bring together such a wonderful event. For all the players, my message is simple, play hard, play fair and, most importantly, enjoy the process. This is a great opportunity for all of you to showcase your talent, learn from the experience and take your game forward, Raina said. Mohanty also praised the initiative and highlighted the importance of providing young players with a platform to compete and gain valuable exposure. The Odisha T20 League is a wonderful opportunity for young cricketers to showcase their talent and compete in a professional environment. A tournament like this can give players the confidence and experience they need to take the next step in their careers. I am happy to be associated with the league and wish all the teams and players the very best for the season, Mohanty said. Speaking on the occasion, OCA secretary Sanjay Behera said the presence of the two cricketers would inspire the young players taking part in the tournament. It is a matter of great pride for us to have Suresh Raina and Debashish Mohanty associated with the Odisha T20 League. Both have represented India at the highest level and have made a significant contribution to Indian cricket. Their experience and presence will inspire our young players and give them an opportunity to learn from people who have played the game at the highest level, Behera said. The opening ceremony also featured a special entertainment segment, with Bollywood actress Mouni Roy taking centre stage and captivating the audience with her dance performances. Her appearance added to the excitement among the spectators who had gathered at Barabati Stadium for the start of the tournament. It is a matter of great pride for us to have Suresh Raina and Debashish Mohanty associated with the Odisha T20 League. Both have represented India at the highest level and have made a significant contribution to Indian cricket. Their experience and presence will inspire our young players and give them an opportunity to learn from people who have played the game at the highest level, Behera said. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Later, Kataka Panthers won the toss and opted to field against Sambalpur Warriors as the six-team tournament got underway. Article Source: IANS
Gous 90* makes Castle Rockers inaugural ETPL champions
Earlier, Trent Boult and Mark Watt kept Belfast Wolves to 150 for 5, which proved below par
Inglis hits century as Australia down Zimbabwe in a thriller
Josh Inglis scored a century and Nathan Ellis hit an unbeaten 36, including a six off the first ball of the final over, to guide Australia to a dramatic one-wicket victory over Zimbabwe, securing a 3-0 series whitewash.
PIX: Isak's lone goal takes Liverpool past Bournemouth
Alexander Isak scored the only goal, securing a 1-0 Premier League victory for Liverpool against AFC Bournemouth. Despite the win, Liverpool's attack, featuring Gakpo, Wirtz, and Barcola, struggled to create chances, managing only six shots on goal. Captain Virgil van Dijk acknowledged the team's need to improve but highlighted the importance of the three points and a clean sheet.
30 Acres Allocated For State-of-the-art Cricket Academy At Sekerkot: Tripura CM
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Sunday said that the state government is laying special emphasis on developing cricket infrastructure across the state and has already allocated 30 acres of land at Sekerkot in West Tripura District for setting up a state-of-the-art cricket academy. The Chief Minister, while addressing the Annual Award Distribution Ceremony-2026 organised by the Tripura Cricket Association (TCA) at Rabindra Bhavan here, said that the popularity of cricket has increased manifold in recent years along with other sports. In the coming days, players from other states of the Northeast will also get the opportunity to train at this academy. Besides, the construction of the much-awaited international cricket stadium is also nearing completion. It will soon be possible to organise national and international-level matches there, he said. Saha, who was also earlier President of the TCA, said that parents are also encouraging their children to take up cricket. With the joint efforts of the TCA and the BCCI, Tripura players are showcasing their talent at the national level. The government will continue to provide necessary legal and administrative support to the TCA for the development of cricket in the state, he said. Regarding the development of cricket infrastructure, the Chief Minister said that the proposed cricket academy at Sekerkot could emerge as an important training centre not only for Tripura but also for the entire northeastern region. He said that initiatives have also been taken to complete the construction of the international cricket stadium at the earliest. The Chief Minister expressed hope that large-scale national and international cricket matches would be organised at the stadium very soon. Saha said that improved practice grounds are also being developed in places such as Kailashahar, Belonia and Jirania to promote cricket at the grassroots level, particularly in rural areas of the state. Highlighting the achievements of Tripura's cricketers, the Chief Minister specially congratulated Mani Shankar Murasingh for setting a unique example by becoming the first cricketer from the state to play 100 Ranji Trophy matches. He also mentioned the consistent performance of cricketer Sridam Pal and appreciated the contribution of guest players Hanuma Vihari and Vijay Shankar. The Chief Minister said that cricket has the unique ability to unite people by making them rise above differences of religion, caste and language. Highlighting the achievements of Tripura's cricketers, the Chief Minister specially congratulated Mani Shankar Murasingh for setting a unique example by becoming the first cricketer from the state to play 100 Ranji Trophy matches. He also mentioned the consistent performance of cricketer Sridam Pal and appreciated the contribution of guest players Hanuma Vihari and Vijay Shankar. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Sports Minister Tinku Roy, TCA President Tapan Lodh, Secretary Subrata Dey, and other officials were present at the programme. Article Source: IANS
PIX: Brobbey 'tricks' for Sunderland, but Man City win 8-goal thriller
Manchester City secured their position at the top of the Premier League table with a thrilling 5-3 victory over Sunderland. Despite a hat-trick from Sunderland's Brian Brobbey, City maintained their 100% start to the season, with Antoine Semenyo scoring a double and Erling Haaland sealing the win late on. Elsewhere, Liverpool secured a 1-0 win against Bournemouth, while Leeds United drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace.
Tejal, Anushka shine as India A beat Australia A by four wickets in 1st unofficial ODI
Digital Desk | Mohali, Sep 20 (IANS) Tejal Hasabnis and Anushka Sharma stitched a crucial 126-run partnership as India Women A chase down 236 to beat Australia Women A by four wickets in the first unofficial ODI of the three-match series at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium here on Sunday. The victory gave India a 1-0 lead in the series, with the remaining two matches scheduled to be played on September 23 and 25. The teams will then face each other in a one-off Test from September 29. India A were reduced to 46 for three in the chase before Tejal and Anushka steadied the innings with their 126-run fourth-wicket partnership, taking the score to 172. Anushka was dismissed for 55 off 61 balls, with seven boundaries. Tejal continued to guide the chase and scored 81 off 82 balls, hitting six sixes and five fours. Nikki Prasad first added 23 runs with Tejal before sharing a 40-run partnership with Sayali Satghare. Satghare scored 25, while Nikki remained unbeaten on 32, hitting five boundaries, as India A reached the target in 41.1 overs. For Australia A, Tess Flintoff and Frankie Nicklin took two wickets each. Earlier, Australia A were bowled out for 235 in 46.3 overs after being asked to bat first. Rachel Trenaman and captain Tahlia Wilson gave Australia a solid start, adding 81 runs for the opening wicket. Trenaman was dismissed for 36, while Wilson scored 48 with eight boundaries. Australia lost both openers by the time they reached 87. Charlie Nott then joined Katie Mack, and the pair added 62 runs off 54 balls for the third wicket, taking Australia to 149. Nott scored 39, while Mack made 23. The partnership was broken soon after, triggering a collapse as Australia slipped to 174 for six. Tess Flintoff and Sianna Ginger added 27 runs for the seventh wicket, while Millie Illingworth and Frankie Nicklin put together 20 runs for the 10th wicket to take Australia to 235. Vaishnavi Sharma and Nikki Prasad claimed three wickets each for India A, while Amandeep Kaur picked up two wickets. Australia had earlier completed a 3-0 clean sweep in the three-match T20I series. The visitors won the opening game by six wickets, the second by 30 runs and the third by seven runs. Brief Scores: Australia A all out for 235 runs in 46.3 overs (Tahlia Wilson 48, Charli Knott 39; Vaishnavi Sharma 3-40, Niki Prasad 3-28) lost to India A 239/6 in 41.1 overs (Tejal Hasabnis 81, Anushka Sharma 55; Tess Flintoff 2-35, Frankie Nicklin 2-49) by four wickets.
Umesh Yadav Parts Ways With Vidarbha, Seeks New Domestic Team After Receiving NOC
Vidarbha T20 Premier League: Senior India fast bowler Umesh Yadav has decided to part ways with Vidarbha in the ongoing domestic season, and seek fresh opportunities elsewhere. Umesh, 38, has obtained his No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA). He has officially received his NOC from Vidarbha and is currently evaluating his options. Umeshs talks are currently underway with two to three state associations, primarily smaller states, though nothing has been finalised yet. He has returned to New Delhi from Nagpur, which is where he spends most of his time now, and will take a final call on his next domestic cricket team in the coming days, a source close to the developments told IANS on Sunday. It is understood that the veteran speedster had previously sought clear communication from the VCA selection panel about his role in the team after being fully fit, but failed to receive a definitive response. Despite featuring in the local Vidarbha T20 Premier League a few months ago, the ongoing uncertainty prompted Umesh to move out of Vidarbha. Umesh has been on the lookout for a new state team to represent in domestic cricket as he no longer wishes to play for Vidarbha. He did approach a few people to seek their assistance regarding a potential move to other strong states, but it was a bit late by then, said another source aware of the matter to IANS. It is understood that the veteran speedster had previously sought clear communication from the VCA selection panel about his role in the team after being fully fit, but failed to receive a definitive response. Despite featuring in the local Vidarbha T20 Premier League a few months ago, the ongoing uncertainty prompted Umesh to move out of Vidarbha. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories His impact in home conditions since 2018 remains significant, having claimed 43 wickets in 11 Tests at a stellar average of 18.25, a tally that includes two five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket match haul. In all, Umesh has picked 288 wickets in 141 international matches across all formats. In the 2015 Mens ODI World Cup, Umesh finished as the third-highest wicket-taker with 18 wickets at an average of 17.83. Article Source: IANS
'Hope Jaiswal gets his chances in West Indies ODIs'
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has advocated for Yashasvi Jaiswal to receive ample opportunities in the upcoming ODI series against the West Indies. Pathan believes this exposure is crucial for Jaiswal to establish himself as a backup opener for the next year's ODI World Cup. He also highlighted the importance of testing India's bench strength, especially with several key players participating in the Asian Games, and backed Naman Dhir's inclusion for his all-round capabilities.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Jay Shah on Sunday heaped praise on India women's cricket team vice-captain Smriti Mandhana for becoming the leading run-scorer in T20I cricket.
Cooch Behar Trophy: Aman Mokhade has already worn an India A shirt, but he believes the upcoming red-ball games against Australia A, starting in Puducherry on September 22, will be the biggest matches of his career so far. The Nagpur-based Mokhade doesn't think he will need anyone to fire him up for putting his best foot forward. These games will probably be the biggest matches of my life in terms of level. For that, I don't think there is a need for motivation. It comes from within. The tricolour and the logo of BCCI is on your chest. So I don't think you need any motivation to get up and do well. No matter how much you work on it, it comes from within because growing up is the feeling we need as a cricketer and do good for India, right? Mokhade told IANS in an exclusive chat. The opener will not be short of familiar company, as his state team-mates Yash Rathod, Praful Hinge and Nachiketa Bhute will be there. We have played together since childhood and they will also be in the India 'A 'team. So the atmosphere of the team is similar to what it is in Vidarbha. Its because when we went to Sri Lanka, I was with Yash (Thakur) and Harsh (Dubey) and I didn't feel anything new. It didn't take long to get along with the other players, he added. The Australia A series comes after Mokhade got his first taste of India A cricket via a tour of Sri Lanka that they A won 1-0 and made scores of 38 and 11 not out in Galle. But the tour began for Mokhade, in Bengaluru, where the squad received their match shirts before flying out to Sri Lanka. Overcome by emotions, Mokhade wore his India A jersey to bed that night. It was a very good feeling. While growing up, every cricketer dreams about earning it. So, it is always a good experience for that dream to become a reality. When I got the India shirt, I went to sleep wearing it. The material was also soft. So, it was a very special feeling. I mean, I actually got the same feeling which MS Dhoni's character got on getting his first India jersey with his surname and number behind in that movie in 2016. Mokhade said the tour to Sri Lanka was as much about the conversations as the cricket. That was a very great experience. enjoyed it a lot and I got to interact with a lot of players. I got to learn a lot. It was fun. The overall experience was really good. I spoke to Ruturaj (Gaikwad) for a long time. We both are from Maharashtra and we had a connection. Ruturaj bhaiya is very helpful. If I have to ask him about batting, he would tell me a lot. I used to bat alongside Sai Sudarshan. Hes also an opener, just like me. While batting in nets, we talked a lot about cricket and batting. So, it was fun talking to both of them. Adjusting took little effort, he said, with no time difference and weather much like what he had played while in Chennai and Goa, and enjoyed the local crowds that turned up for the A games. Puducherry, though, will not be Mokhade's first encounter with an Australian side. His earliest brush with international cricket came while being on ball boy duties in Nagpur, a role reserved for the best performers from the Under-14 camps, at a time when Nagpur hosted only one or two international games every few years. A couple of years later, he talked his way into the nets. Being a net bowler happened after 2-3 years. Net bowlers are people who are U19 or U23 players. As a batter, I knew I won't get the chance to be there and convinced one of the coaches that I will bowl leg-spin. At that time, the Australian team and Indian team wanted some leg-spinners to be as a net bowler. After convincing my coach that I would love to go and have a bowl, I just wanted to see how they the likes of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul - prepare before a game. I just wanted to be as close to that and there was the time I went in there to have a bowl to them. It was in 2017, where Rohit Sharma scored a century and MSD was also there in that game. Mokhades cricketing journey began on the playground outside his home, where the older boys of the neighbourhood saw some potential in him and suggested to his mother Manisha that he join a club. In India, at every playground, there are hundreds of people playing cricket. So, that is how I started my cricketing journey. I used to play there and all the boys from the colony used to come and play cricket there. That is how I started and I used to play with senior people the bade bhaiya log. When I used to play, they told my mom that you can try him in professional cricket because there was a cricket club near our house. My dad took me there one day in the cricket club and then that is how I started into professional cricket. It was a club called PHCA, from where I started. At the club, under coach Nitin Kanade, Mokhade spent his first week only fielding. With the nets full of batters and few willing to bowl in the Nagpur heat, he volunteered to bowl fast, and batting time came gradually. He still enjoys bowling and has sent down overs in senior cricket. Nobody in Mokhade's family had played sport seriously, though his father Ravindra harboured an ambition for being a professional cricketer. Most of his family members are engineers, doctors or teachers, and studies came first. Lean patches were usually met with suggestions that he return to his books. The turning point came in his Under-16 season, when he finished as the second-highest run-getter behind Tilak Varma and later captained Vidarbha in Cooch Behar Trophy. That convinced his family that cricket could be a viable career for him, and the pressure around academics eased. Until then, homework went with him to matches and exams waited until his games were over. He still has one or two papers left to complete his postgraduate degree after completing his B.Com course. Mokhade credits Mumbai-based coach Umesh Patwal, who was in VCA academy at that time, with first telling him, as an Under-16 player, that he could play for India. Jwala (Singh) sir had a good impact. But before that, I worked a lot with Umesh Patwal sir in Mumbai as well. When I was under 16 that time, he saw some potential in me and that time only, he said that you can play for India and can do good there. Before that, I had never heard someone say that to me. If someone is saying you at that point of time, it feels like it is a very good feeling and you actually start believing in yourself ki, you can also do good at that level. He has worked with Patwal on and off since 2016, and also leans on Jwala, who has nurtured India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. Jwala sir has an amazing set-up and if you go there, whatever a top level cricketer needs, he has all the facilities there. He knows what exactly is important to play at that level. It actually helps whenever I feel like talking cricket to anyone. I do give him a call and these two have had a very good impact. Even coaches and good people around you, who know you in and out and who are there for you whenever you need them, are actually a blessing. Mokhade's breakthrough domestic season last year featured making 760 runs in 11 Ranji Trophy innings at an average of 76 and scoring 814 runs in a victorious 2025/26 Vijay Hazare Trophy run for Vidarbha, including hitting five centuries to be the tournament's leading run-scorer. But Mokhade, who had to wait for his chance to break into Vidarbha playing eleven after debuting in 2022/23, rejected the idea that anything had suddenly clicked for him and pointed to his steady returns in age-group cricket. The shift, he said, was in going bigger when it mattered the most. If you want to be a top-run getter, you have to score in the knockouts. Consistently, you have to. But if you score in the knockout games, you will get one more chance to play. That's how you get to the top and my coaches told me the same. I was working on it for a while. I was lucky enough that when the phase came, I was able to learn everything from my age group. When the phase came, I was able to play in my senior cricket. So, I'm grateful for that. He considers himself an all-format batter, and in red-ball cricket, he said, going after the bowlers from the outset rarely works, and a batter has to respect good spells before cashing in. It is a mixture of both. That is the beauty of red ball cricket. If you see T20s and one day, if you get the momentum, you just bat into that momentum. But in red ball cricket, you have to grind and then you can dominate as well. But there is a thing that it has sessions. So, your momentum will break, your focus will go down and you have to start again. So, thats it - you have to be a mixture of everything. In the Vidarbha dressing room, two senior players shaped him India pacer Umesh Yadav and batter Karun Nair. Umesh bhai was with us for a long time when I was in the senior team. So, he was there and you know the kind of a guy he is. He will be always willing to play for his team. He doesn't see if it is a state match or any match. If he is there, he will come to the game and he will guide everyone. He is not someone like, I have played such and such level or I will not talk to these guys or not say anything. When I was young in the team, he guided me a lot and told me that I can play and belong here. So, that is always a good influence to have. Mokhade recalled Nair was solid but not dominant in his first season after moving from Karnataka, as he adjusted from black-soil pitches to Vidarbha's bouncier red-soil surfaces. By the next pre-season camp, the work was showing. When Karun Nair came, I thought that he had so many options for scoring runs. We knew he was going to do wonders in that season because he had adapted to our conditions. I saw him practicing a lot of shots which are required on the red soil wickets. So, his way of approaching batting gave me a lot of options into my batting as well because he has so many options of scoring runs. Mokhade recalled Nair was solid but not dominant in his first season after moving from Karnataka, as he adjusted from black-soil pitches to Vidarbha's bouncier red-soil surfaces. By the next pre-season camp, the work was showing. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Mokhades competitive streak carries over to anything he plays, including PUBG and now Call of Duty on his phone, though he keeps screen time in check during matches. With a journey built on quiet grit and self-belief, whenever Mokhade gets a chance to play in Puducherry, trust him to be ready to write the most crucial chapter of his career yet - one ball and one session at a time. Article Source: IANS
Josh Inglis slams magnificent century, achieves massive feat with brilliant knock against Zimbabwe
Australia and Zimbabwe took on each other in the third ODI of the series between the two sides. The two teams met at the Harare Sports Club on September 20th, and the game began with Zimbabwe coming in to bat first. Putting forth a good showing, Zimbabwe posted a total of 271 runs in the first innings of the clash.
Soooryavanshi is the future of Indian cricket: Jayasuriya
Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya has lauded Indian teen cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, calling him a 'different kind of talent' and the 'future for India', despite his recent exclusion from the playing XI against Afghanistan.
Hasabnis, Prasad, Anushka put India A 1-0 up
After a nervy start to the chase, Tejal and Anushka attacked their way out of trouble against Australia A
Were You There To Sell Chickpeas? Pakistan Great Slams Babar Azam's Captaincy During England Tour
The Pakistan cricket team suffered a 3-0 whitewash at the hands of the Three Lions in the controversial tour of England.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Labelled Future Of India As Sri Lanka Great Sends Strong Message To BCCI
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was in India's squad for the recent three-match T20I series against Afghanistan but the management stuck to the regular opening combination of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma.
Naman Dhir's ODI Selection Excites Irfan Pathan: A Player Of That Type Has Been Missing
Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan spoke on all-rounder Naman Dhir's surprise inclusion in the squad for West Indies ODIs.
Talented Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Has A Long Way To Go, Says Sanath Jayasuriya
Corporate Cricket World Cup: Legendary Sri Lanka cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya has lauded young Indian batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, saying that he has a long way to go, while terming Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson as talented and proven players. 15-year-old Sooryavanshi, who made his international debut in the T20I tour of England in July. was recently an unused member in Indias 3-0 series win over Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, as Abhishek and Sanju made 346 runs between themselves across the series, including sharing a 142-run opening stand in the third T20I. The trio are in Japan for the historic one-off T20I in Sano on Tuesday, before playing in the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan. They're talented and they've been proven players and all three, Sooryavanshi and all these players are really good. Sooryavanshi has a long way to go and when he will get the opportunity, he will do good, Jayasuriya said to IANS on the sidelines of the launch of the Corporate Cricket World Cup on Sunday. Commenting on Sri Lanka's prospects at the Asian Games, where the womens team is set to battle against India in the gold medal game and the mens campaign is scheduled to kick off later this week, Jayasuriya backed both squads to deliver strong performances. I think we have a talented, good team for Asian Games, men's and women's and they're doing well and I hope they will continue to do well, he noted. He also reserved special praise for rising Sri Lankan batting all-rounder Sonal Dinusha, and hailed his ability to deliver under pressure. Dinusha had scores of 100 and 84 in the first Test against India in Galle which Sri Lanka lost. But his knocks of 103 and 133 not out in the second one at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo helped Sri Lanka seal an epic draw. Very good player, and future of Sri Lanka. It's always been good to see a player like him performing really well under pressure. Its not easy and in every innings he played really well, he added. The former explosive opener, who is serving as the global ambassador for the Corporate Cricket World Cup, stated the importance of workplace tournaments in unearthing hidden talent and offering second chances to players who missed out on mainstream pathways. The pan-India competition will see 192 corporate teams square off across 24 cities, with each city fielding eight teams. Following the city-level qualifiers, the top two teams from each destination will secure a berth in the July 2027 showpiece event. In a bid to test players across different dynamics of the sport, the tournament will feature a mix of formats, including 11-overs-a-side, T20s, and 40-over matches, thus allowing working cricketers to showcase their adaptability and skills under varied conditions. The pan-India competition will see 192 corporate teams square off across 24 cities, with each city fielding eight teams. Following the city-level qualifiers, the top two teams from each destination will secure a berth in the July 2027 showpiece event. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories So from that talent, like the players we have been talking about just now, how he became a player for India, it's like that you'll be able to find few players, so that's the key, concluded Jayasuriya. Article Source: IANS
Manalbounces back after failing to make it to u-19 WC team
Ramesh Powar lends Australia u-19 spinners a hand
'Want To Focus On My Batting': Nigar Sultana On Decision To Leave Bangladesh T20I Captaincy
Bangladesh Cricket Board: Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana has stated that her decision to leave the T20I captaincy is to focus on her batting, brushing aside the reports that she was hurt after not getting support from the Bangladesh Cricket Board during tough times. Sultana had informed the BCB of her decision to leave the T20I captaincy following the Asian Games and opened up on the rationale behind that after Bangladesh's loss to India in the Asian Games semifinal on Sunday. No, it's totally (false that I left the captaincy because I was hurt). As a batter, as a player, I have a lot more to give to my country and my team. So I want to focus on that, and that's why I made this decision, Nigar told the media after the 114-run defeat to India at the Korogi Sports Park. Bangladesh were steamrolled by India in the semifinal as their batters failed to put up a fight in the 196-run chase against the defending gold medallists. The Bangladeshi skipper admitted the shortcomings of the batters, while also pointing out that the bowlers could have fared better. When you're chasing a big total, this kind of collapse is natural. With slightly better bowling, we could have restricted them to fewer runs, said Nigar. When a team collapses for so few runs, we as batters definitely took no responsibility. If even one top-order batter had stayed till the end, we could have added more runs, she said. The Bangladeshi skipper admitted the shortcomings of the batters, while also pointing out that the bowlers could have fared better. When you're chasing a big total, this kind of collapse is natural. With slightly better bowling, we could have restricted them to fewer runs, said Nigar. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories While India and Sri Lanka will battle for the gold medal, Bangladesh will face Pakistan for a bronze medal. We have a good record against Pakistan. There is a sense of positivity there, the skipper said on the upcoming game. Article Source: IANS
Why Naman Dhir Could Be the Missing Piece in India's ODI Puzzle
Naman Dhir's batting flexibility and useful off-spin could address a missing role in India's ODI setup, with Irfan Pathan highlighting his potential following a standout domestic T20 campaign.
A former India all-rounder praised the duo of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma but highlighted concerns in their batting.
Third Edition Of Uttarakhand Premier League To Begin On Monday With Women's Clashes
Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium: The third edition of the Uttarakhand Premier League (UPL) will get underway at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium on Monday, with the women's competition set to begin the 11-day tournament before the men's event starts on September 22. Action kicks off on Monday with a double-header in the women's category, where Pithoragarh Hurricanes take on Dehradun Warriors in the morning fixture, followed by Bageshwar Aerial facing Mussoorie Queens in the afternoon clash. The opening day's matches will precede a grand opening ceremony in the evening, headlined by Bollywood actor Vaani Kapoor alongside prominent regional musical artistes from Garhwal, Kumaon, Jaunpur, and Jaunsar. Highlighting the growth of the league, Cricket Association of Uttarakhand (CAU) secretary Kiran Verma said, UPL has grown into an important platform for cricket in Uttarakhand, and the third edition is another step forward in that journey. We are particularly happy that the opening celebrations will bring cricket together with the states talented artistes, making it a celebration that reflects the spirit of Uttarakhand. Former BCCI vice-president Mahim Verma shed light on the league's role in providing exposure to local talent. The UPL has created an opportunity for Uttarakhands cricketers to compete in a structured T20 environment and gain valuable exposure. At the same time, the opening ceremony gives us an opportunity to celebrate the states rich cultural heritage. We hope this edition creates many memorable moments for players and fans alike, he said. Echoing similar sentiments, UPL Chairperson Sunil Joshi expressed confidence in a competitive season coming ahead for both mens and womens players. The third edition represents another significant chapter for the Uttarakhand Premier League. The mix of experienced players and young talent should make for competitive cricket, while the womens and mens competitions will provide opportunities for players to make their mark. We are excited to begin the tournament and look forward to a strong response from cricket fans across the state. Echoing similar sentiments, UPL Chairperson Sunil Joshi expressed confidence in a competitive season coming ahead for both mens and womens players. The third edition represents another significant chapter for the Uttarakhand Premier League. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Meanwhile, the seven-team men's competition, comprising Haridwar Elmas, Nainital Tigers, Pithoragarh Hurricanes, USN Indians, Rishikesh River Kings, Tehri Titans, and Dehradun Warriors, will commence on September 22 with Haridwar taking on Nainital. The men's Eliminator will be played on September 30, with the final to be held on October 1. Article Source: IANS
India 'Not Consulted' For New Zealand Tour, New Scheduling Chaos Engulfs Team: Report
India are scheduled to play five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests during a gruelling two-month tour of New Zealand.
The International Cricket Council: The International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Jay Shah on Sunday heaped praises on India women's cricket team vice-captain Smriti Mandhana for becoming the leading run-scorer in T20I cricket across men's and women's game. Mandhana achieved the feat during the Asian Games semifinal against Bangladesh women at the Korogi Sports Park, where she played a strong cameo of 37 off 19. In the process, she surpassed former New Zealand cricketer Suzie Bates to top the run-scorers' list with 4788 runs in 171 innings. Many congratulations to @mandhana_smriti for going top of the Womens T20I run charts (4,788 runs). By rewriting history, you are lifting womens cricket to new heights and setting the standard for young dreamers everywhere. Heres to many more milestones ahead! Shah posted on X. Coming into the game, Mandhana had 4751 runs in 170 innings and needed to score only eight to go past the New Zealand icon, and she did that pretty early in her innings when she hit a couple of fours in her first seven balls with two singles too. Mandhana had recently become the leading run-scorer in women's international cricket as well. During the Asia Cup, she broke the record of former India skipper Mithali Raj to become the most prolific run-scorer in the women's game. She hit 124 against Hong Kong in the Asia Cup to surpass Mithali's tally of 10,868 runs and also hit her 18th international hundred, which was the most in women's international cricket, making her go past the legendary Meg Lanning. The century record was later equalled by South Africa women's captain Laura Wolvaardt. She hit 124 against Hong Kong in the Asia Cup to surpass Mithali's tally of 10,868 runs and also hit her 18th international hundred, which was the most in women's international cricket, making her go past the legendary Meg Lanning. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories She is placed fifth in the ICC Women's T20I batter rankings and tops the ICC Women's ODI batting charts. Article Source: IANS
Raza lifts Zimbabwe to 271 alongside Ervine and Kaia
The home side's captain held the latter stages of the innings together while Nathan Ellis stood out for Australia
Why Japan Sees India Game as Cricket's Big Break
The Japan Cricket Association (JCA) is hosting its historic maiden T20I against reigning world champions India, an event its COO Alan Curr believes will significantly boost cricket's profile and aid its global recognition efforts. The match, taking place at the upgraded Sano International Cricket Ground, is seen as a crucial step towards attracting more established cricketing nations and fostering grassroots growth, despite challenges like weather and integrating cricket into the national sports scene.
Webster, Meredith run riot as Tasmania rout Western Australia
Australia allrounder Beau Webster and fast bowler Riley Meredith took seven wickets as WA were skittled for 115 before Tasmania chased it down one down in 16.2 overs
Japan Head Coach Bedingfield Relishes Surprise Second Shot Of Taking On India Via Historic T20I Game
Sano International Cricket Ground: A month ago, Japan coach Dhugal Bedingfield had no idea his side would be facing world champions India in a mens T20I game in 2026. Cut to now, and on Tuesday, the Bedingfield-coached Japan will walk out against India in a historic 20-over game at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture, in front of a sell-out crowd. The game, to be played for the Suzuki Cup, serves as a rare chance for Japan to test themselves against India, the current T20 World Cup holders. It also serves as a warm-up for the Asian Games men's T20 cricket competition starting two days later, where Japan will take on Afghanistan, while Shreyas Iyer-led India go straight into the quarter-finals. Well, this Japan-India match has come along pretty quickly and suddenly. So a month ago, we really had no idea that this match was going to go ahead and then it was talked about and I believe from a very high level in Japan and India, Prime Ministers were discussing it. It's all just come together very quickly. At first, when we first heard about it, we couldn't quite believe it. So now there's preparations in place in a hurry, getting our ground ready and all of that to accommodate a big crowd to come and watch it. My Japan squad has got together now. We're in a training camp and have been discussing it from Thursday morning and everyone's very excited, Bedingfield told IANS in an exclusive chat. Asked whether the fixture had come as a surprise, he said, Absolutely 100 percent. It's not something we thought was on the cards this year. But it's all happened very quickly. It's a wonderful opportunity for us to play the number one ranked team in the world. There's a lot of Indians living in Japan who are very excited about it as well and we're expecting a big crowd on Tuesday. It should be a really good atmosphere as well. Its a great opportunity for our players and to benefit the game of cricket in Japan by showcasing Japan versus one of the best T20 teams in the world. Tickets sold out soon after going on sale, but rain could make an appearance on match day. We're hoping the weather holds. There's been quite a bit of rain around lately, which doesn't help with your preparation. But we're hoping for a window of fine weather so the game can go ahead, said Bedingfield. Before facing Hong Kong at Sano earlier this month, Japan last played in May, when they finished the East Asia-Pacific qualifier with a win over Papua New Guinea. The result left the two teams level on points, with PNG taking first place on net run rate, and both advancing to the next stage of T20 World Cup qualifying. You're right, that was the last match we played back in May. It was about, what, four months ago now. I wouldn't say it's a distant memory, but that was a tournament which was the first round of T20 World Cup qualification. So that was a tournament we were trying to get through and progress to the next stage. That last match against PNG was quite tense. We were keen for a win there and we got the win. We ended up on equal points with PNG, who finished top on net run rate. But both teams were able to progress to the next round of T20 World Cup qualification. It was pleasing to beat PNG, who are ranked significantly higher than us. We've managed to beat some of the teams ranked above us over the last 12 months, which has probably just given us that confidence that we can compete with some pretty good teams, added Bedingfield. Getting his players under one roof has been a struggle, with much of the squad spread across Japan and abroad. I mean, that's a great question. It's something we've been wrestling with this year in particular. We've got a group of players who don't live in the same area and we've got a lot of players who are based overseas, playing cricket overseas, which is great. But how do we keep that group connected? We're doing what we can and technology helps. For example, if we've got guys training in Australia, say doing their remote training sessions, we've got that on video and that's linked to the coaches. Coaches need to get better at communicating regularly with players and connecting with players. So there's a number of things that we're doing to try to bring that group a little bit closer. But, it's a real challenge. So we had our training session on Friday, but that was the first time since May that we've had our whole squad training together, added Bedingfield. He did not play down the gulf in firepower between the sides and whether the occasion could overwhelm Japan. The way T20s play these days by the best teams, not just India, is you can get blown out of the water by just the firepower of some of these players. So we're just looking to compete as hard as we can. It's part of T20 cricket that you might have a big over go against you. But we've got to discuss how do we bounce back from that in-game and not let the occasion overwhelm us, as I think you were referring to. Bedingfield coached Japan's Under-19 side at the 2020 World Cup in South Africa, where an India team featuring Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravi Bishnoi and Kartik Tyagi bowled Japan out for 41. Bishnoi is now a part of the main Indian team coming to Japan, while Tyagi is one of the three net bowlers attached with the team. I was head coach of the U19 team back in 2020 when we played in the World Cup in South Africa. One of the teams we played against was India. We had a young, inexperienced U19 team who managed to qualify for that World Cup. Coming up against Jaiswal, Bishnoi, and Tyagi, that was an amazing experience. Of course, they smashed us! I've had a number of roles at Japan Cricket through my tenure here. I started here about 12 years ago. I've worked in coaching and community cricket over that journey. Never expected to be coaching against India and to do that twice now, firstly at U19 level, and now at senior men's level, it's pretty interesting. One of his current players has a more recent history with India's next wave. Charlie Hara-Hinze, a 17-year-old spin-bowling all-rounder who played at this year's Under-19 World Cup, is in the senior squad for the India game and the Asian Games, and came up against Ayush Mhatre and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi at the 2024 Under-19 Asia Cup. I've had a number of roles at Japan Cricket through my tenure here. I started here about 12 years ago. I've worked in coaching and community cricket over that journey. Never expected to be coaching against India and to do that twice now, firstly at U19 level, and now at senior men's level, it's pretty interesting. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Because to really compete long term against the best countries in the world, we need cricket to be a mainstream sport in Japan. We need thousands and thousands of kids picking up cricket bats and choosing cricket as their sport of choice. So, we're looking to do more than just play one game of cricket. We're looking to set an example for future generations of cricketers and cricket fans in this country, he concluded. Article Source: IANS
England To Ask Ben Stokes To Come Out Of Retirement? Coach Stephen Fleming's Big Response
Newly-appointed England Test coach Stephen Fleming says it would be wrong to ask former captain Ben Stokes to reverse his international retirement before next year's Ashes.
Facing Career Crossroads, Richardson Sets Sight On Reviving Test Chances Via India A Clash
West Coast Eagles: As he turns 30 on Sunday, Australia pacer Jhye Richardson said he has set his sights on reviving his Test cricket career through the upcoming red-ball series against India A, starting in Puducherry on September 22. It (turning 30) is quite scary knowing careers can end abruptly. But I still feel strong in myself and I'm enjoying the game and playing for my country. Senior bowler, junior - whatever it is - doesn't bother me too much as long as I'm enjoying my cricket. That's always the plan - to play Test cricket. I'd love to play Test cricket. Again, I've played a few games now, had a taste of Test cricket, but with shoulder issues and other issues, I haven't played as much as I would have liked. That (Border-Gavaskar Trophy) is always in the background. My mentality this year is just to be where my feet are. That's in Chennai right now and then in Puducherry for two four-day games against India A. Hopefully get through those two games and ultimately if I perform well, I can play Test cricket again, Richardson was quoted as saying by Cricinfo on Sunday. To prepare for the demanding red-ball stretch ahead, Richardson completed his maiden county stint with Yorkshire, where he shared a dressing room with current England Test captain Joe Root. Joe is amazing off the field. He's one of the best players in the world. But you know, some of the conversations that we have off the field don't regard cricket whatsoever. He's very intelligent and he thinks a lot about what he says. So it was a lot of fun with Joe and I'd love to go back next year. It was a great experience, obviously playing against him in the Ashes and then getting to know him a bit more off the field, he added. Reflecting on his workload management so far, Richardson said, The last couple of years with injury...I haven't had a long string of games together. So the idea was to finish the season strong, and then pretty much head straight into playing some county cricket, get some games there, and then prepare for GSL, which luckily I've gotten through so far. And then coming back with some new staff members coming into the WA set-up - new head coach (Beau Casson), new S&C [Strength and Conditioning] coach as well, who's brought a nice spin on things. He comes from an AFL background, was at the West Coast Eagles for 12 years. He's come in and pushed us really hard. Reflecting on his workload management so far, Richardson said, The last couple of years with injury...I haven't had a long string of games together. So the idea was to finish the season strong, and then pretty much head straight into playing some county cricket, get some games there, and then prepare for GSL, which luckily I've gotten through so far. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories We all know how much India loves its cricket. The stadiums are always packed out and super loud, so hopefully we can recreate something with that here. We might have to put in a good word around Chennai to try and get them on the Scorchers' side. Article Source: IANS
Gautam Gambhir Sent World Cup Reminder As Irfan Pathan Backs India Star For Bigger Role
Irfan Pathan said that the West Indies series is a nice time to try out the team's bench strength.
Edinburgh Castle Rockers vs Belfast Wolves: Inaugural European T20 Premier League Final Preview
The inaugural ICC-sanctioned European T20 Premier League 2026 has reached its final chapter as Edinburgh Castle Rockers take on Belfast Wolves in the summit clash at the Malahide Cricket Club, Dublin. The Edinburgh Castle Rockers earned a direct passage to the title clash after finishing at the top of the table in the league stage, while Belfast Wolves secured their place in the final with a seven-wicket victory over Amsterdam Flames in the qualifier. The two sides now meet for the first-ever ETPL title, as Europe prepares to crown its first champions. Both teams have already faced each other twice during the tournament, with each side winning once, and the final now presents the opportunity for either side to settle the contest. For Edinburgh Castle Rockers, captain Mitchell Santner has been central to the teams campaign as they topped the league stage and earned the advantage of going straight into the final. Reflecting on the teams journey in the inaugural season, Santner highlighted how the new group has come together throughout the tournament. Its been a great start to the first year of the tournament. As a new team with a new group of players and management, weve really gelled well both on and off the field. We were very good in Holland and also performed well in Ireland, and while we lost a couple of games here, we were able to finish top of the table and go straight through. The level of competition has been really good this year, and its been a great tournament to be part of. Now, weve got a big game and were looking forward to it. Belfast Wolves, meanwhile, come into the final on the back of an impressive qualifier win over Amsterdam Flames. Captain Glenn Maxwell played a decisive role in that victory, returning career-best T20 bowling figures of 4/18 before hitting the winning runs with consecutive sixes, while chasing a modest total of 133, giving them strong momentum heading into the final. Maxwell has also been impressed by the quality of cricket throughout the inaugural season, particularly the way players have adapted to the challenging European conditions. Reflecting on the tournament, the Belfast Wolves captain said, The standard of the competition has been outstanding. Weve been challenged by the conditions at times, particularly with the weather and wet outfields in Voorburg, but the players deserve a lot of credit for adapting and continuing to play a good brand of cricket. It has come across really well on the telecast, and the fans have also been outstanding throughout the tournament. The final will also bring together two sides with plenty of firepower across their line-ups. Edinburgh have seen Brandon McMullen produce a standout 82* against Glasgow Cosmic, while JJ Smuts 98 off 60 balls played a major role in their first win over the Wolves. Santner himself has contributed with both bat and ball throughout the campaign. The Wolves, meanwhile, have a wealth of experience in their middle order, with Glenn Maxwell, Lorcan Tucker and Paul Stirling providing plenty of firepower. Maxwells 82* against Edinburgh earlier in the league stage helped Belfast secure a nine-run DLS victory. Maxwell commended his teams bench strength, saying that reaching the final in the first edition of the tournament despite a few challenges was a huge achievement, and that they now need one final push against the Castle Rockers. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Its been a massive achievement to be able to reach the final in year one of this competition. We've played some great cricket along the way. The fact that we've been able to do it with a couple of injuries along the way. We've had a fairly deep list that we've had to dig deep into. They've all held themselves to a really high standard, and that high standard has carried on throughout this tournament and hopefully we can carry it through into one final game and one huge effort against the Edinburgh team, Maxwell added.
Elavenil Valarivan Claims Silver as India Open Asian Games Shooting Campaign Strongly
India made a strong start to its shooting campaign at the 20th Asian Games, securing two silver medals on the opening day at the Aichi Prefectural General Shooting Gallery. Olympian Elavenil Valarivan led India's challenge in the Women's 10m Air Rifle
Late Nights, Early Starts Dominate In Sano For One-off Japan-India T20I: Japan Cricket COO
Sano International Cricket Ground: Pulling the covers, putting up tents and keeping scores are not usually part of a chief operating officer's job, but Japan Cricket Association (JCA) COO Alan Curr has been doing all of it as his small team gets Sano International Cricket Ground ready for Tuesday's historic one-off mens T20I against heavyweights India. It's been a big learning curve, and we're a small team. We don't have a lot of staff here at the JCA. I'm COO, but this morning I was pulling the covers. I've also been putting up tents, scoring and doing sort of everything. So we're all doing a lot of different things that we don't normally do. It's asking a lot from our staff. It's been a lot of late nights and early starts, but hopefully it's all worth it when we get a whole load of people into the ground and getting so excited and seeing their heroes play, Curr told IANS in a select virtual interaction organised by FanCode, the official broadcasters of the match. Over the past week, Sano hosted a three-match series between Japan's women and Malaysia, after which the hosts left for the Asian Games matches in Nagoya, while Hong Kong mens team were here for games against Japan. Such was the impact of this one-off game against India, billed as the Suzuki Cup, that all tickets were sold out soon after going on sale, with the grounds capacity going from 500 to 2,000 via temporary stands. Well, it's certainly a big undertaking. We've never really done anything quite on this scale before. At the ground, we have permanent seating probably for around 500 people. So we've put in a lot of temporary seating. We're putting in a whole load of extra areas for VIPs and there's even a VVIP area. We've got ticket gates, for example, as we don't normally have ticketing at our events. We've had a separate section put together for where the players will come in. We always have a PMOA, but a PMOA here is usually just through some cones and barriers, which basically anyone could step over if they wanted to. But now we've got it set up properly so that we understand the security measures that need to be taken around India coming, added Curr. With India's visit bringing a different level of scrutiny, the JCA has hired outside help too. We've actually brought out a consultant from England who arrived yesterday and has worked on World Cups, The Hundred and has been around events where India have participated before. He's got a good understanding from a cricketing point of view of what security measures we need to take. So we are taking all of this stuff very seriously, and it's really important for us to show that we have the capacity to handle something like this, added Curr. All of that effort could still be undone by the weather. Curr revealed a large typhoon was sitting south of Japan and there was no reserve day if the match is abandoned. Japan will also play their first Asian Games mens T20 match in Nagoya, around 500 km away and the squad is due to board a bus for the long journey straight after playing the game against India. With India also heading to Nagoya soon after and already facing a packed calendar, Curr said there was no scope for a reserve day, and he was trying not to think about a washout. The JCA had been planning to relay its turf square in Sano for about 18 months, and a groundsman sent by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) under a partnership arrived in December 2024 to look for suitable clay. It was eventually sourced within Japan and used for the Asian Games square in Nagoya. The JCA then laid the same clay in Sano and pitched the ground to full-member nations as a training base, with the idea coming from the last Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, where the top-ranked full members waited a week or more for playing their first knockout match with little access to proper cricket facilities. A proposal went out around June, and talks with the BCCI began at the ICC conference in Edinburgh in July. Curr said the BCCI moved quickly, and all things fell in place, with the players excited on seeing the ground change shape over the past few days. At the same time, the players are under no illusion about the gulf in class against an India side they have never faced before at this level. For the JCA, success would be measured by how Japan conduct themselves as much as by the result. Curr felt he wanted the team to play hard, but also show that cricket was friendly, accessible and fun, and to earn respect. Having handled the JCA's social media accounts, Curr admitted to being taken aback by comments from people surprised that Japan has a cricket team. The game in Sano comes at a time when Japanese cricket is busier than it has ever been, with the mens side beating Kuwait, Bahrain, and PNG earlier this year. In terms of what's led to the improvement, we're a bit better resourced now than we have been previously, particularly with it being an Olympic sport. By being part of the Japan Olympic Committee, we do get a lot more funding. That funding isn't hard cash. We don't get money from the Olympic Association, but they do help us with human resources. So, for example, we've been able to hire a strength and conditioning coach. We've been able to bring in a part-time analyst and these are kind of things that we didn't have before. We've got more people on the coaching staff going out and coaching our junior teams. So those have been important. Becoming members of the Asian Cricket Council in 2024, and the opportunities to play there after joining have been significant. The ACC does an amazing job of putting on events and tournaments that we've now been able to play in. When I first got into the high-performance side of things, we went from 2014 to 2017 without a men's tournament. It was just complete blanks. We had to start arranging our own cricket games because there was just literally nothing to play for, and nothing to play in, explained Curr. The quiet months that once gave the JCA breathing space, he said, are gone. Whereas now, that's completely the opposite. I mentioned the other day how probably the single biggest change from a performance perspective since I've been here is that the Japan Cricket Association used to have a very definite on-season and off-season. We'd have a quiet time where you could relax a little bit and plan more in advance for the following summer. But now, we're a 12-month-a-year organisation. There always seems to be a team away playing somewhere. So there's a lot happening and just the sheer amount of cricket, the depth that we've been able to create through having under 19, even under 16 national teams now is really helping drive the standards. As we're becoming more well-known, we can't shy away from it, added Curr. The numbers back up that claim. Japan has 8,800 registered cricketers in its latest census, roughly three times the figure of about 3,000 when Curr arrived in 2014. The nationwide Japan Cup T20 competition has grown from 11 or 12 teams to more than 80, while the Tokyo-based 40-over Japan Cricket League now runs four divisions with around 37 or 38 teams. The JCA also introduced the game to about 12,000 children last year through schools, community programmes and festivals. Part of the growth at the top end has come from players of Japanese heritage raised in established cricket nations, and in turn leading to growth of watching games, especially the International Cricket Council (ICC) providing Japanese commentary feed for matches under its umbrella. We have a lot of players of Japanese heritage who live overseas. A lot of our players might have been born in Japan but then at some stage moved back to Australia, England, New Zealand, cricket-playing nations. They've grown up learning the game in a strong environment, which as much as we're trying our best here in Japan, it can't compare to an environment that you're going to get playing in Australia or New Zealand or England or any other full member in terms of the number of facilities you've got, the accessibility of those facilities, the accessibility to coaches. We're finding players at a younger age who want to come and be part of Japan cricket. For me, it's been fantastic to see so many people who are mixed race - one parent is Japanese, one parent is from somewhere else. They might have moved overseas, but they are reconnecting with their Japanese heritage through cricket, he added. Curr called this the most satisfying part of his work, especially with cricket in Japan growing despite the overwhelming popularity of baseball, football, rugby and martial arts. For me, that's been one of the most rewarding parts of my job. Some of them are great cricketers and they make our national teams and some of them just enjoy playing and they come back to Japan and just make friends in the cricket community and they do that once a year. But it's been a brilliant way for people to reconnect with who they are, particularly post-Covid-19. All that stuff really took off after 2020 when we qualified for the Under-19 World Cup for the first time. That gave us a profile and nowadays, people contact us pretty regularly with sometimes it's about themselves, or their sons or daughters who have Japanese heritage and who want to come and play. Those players are helping to lift the standards because they come from a different, a more entrenched cricketing culture. So we have our players who are based in Japan who bring sort of that knowledge of what the Japan way is and how things are done in Japan and the discipline and everything that goes around the culture there. Then we've got the players from overseas who just have the training nous and what a training schedule looks like. So that's been really helpful in terms of lifting the standards, he elaborated. Home-grown talent faces a structural hurdle, as per Curr. Japan's school club system, known as bukatsu, usually has children pick a single sport at around 12 and play it year-round until they leave school, and only a handful of schools offer cricket. Those schools have historically produced most of the national team players. A government-level working group is looking at how cricket could fit into the school curriculum, though Curr said such processes take time. The lack of people with cricket expertise in Japan has meant the JCA leaned heavily on volunteers and backers who saw the sport's potential, citing sportswear brand Mizuno's sponsorship of the men's team as a significant boost. Cricket's place in the Asian Games, an event Japanese audiences regard as of immense importance like the Olympics, has also given the sport a legitimacy it lacked before. As for what's next, we will have an East Asia Pacific regional final for the men who will try to qualify for the global qualifier for the next T20 World Cup. So we're not sure exactly when that's going to be yet. It's going to be four teams and we will be playing that probably in the second half of next year with a view to making the global qualifier, which I believe will be early 2027. That's not confirmed and then, the goal is to make a World Cup. We've not shied away from that at all. I mean, the qualification pathway was actually changed last year. It seems to be changing every cycle. But if the qualification cycle for the last World Cup had been the same as the cycle before, we would have been at the last World Cup, said Curr. He also admitted to Japan feeling short-changed by the revamped qualifying structure. We were the highest-placed team in the East Asia Pacific region at the Asia EAP final. They've never had a combined qualifying structure between Asia and East Asia Pacific before. So, we kind of felt we got a bit hard done by in that reshuffle. I mean, the qualification pathway was actually changed last year. It seems to be changing every cycle. But if the qualification cycle for the last World Cup had been the same as the cycle before, we would have been at the last World Cup, said Curr. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories So I hope cricket can continue to grow, there can be more teams and the tournament can get bigger. But for us, reaching a World Cup is certainly the next goal and there's work to do, for sure. But we're ambitious and we want to keep striving for the heights that we believe we can get to, he concluded. Article Source: IANS
Shafali dazzles with 49-ball 100*, India march into Asian Games final
India's 114-run victory sets up gold-medal match clash against Sri Lanka
'Due Reward': Bishop Hails Shafali After Landmark T20I Century
Shafali Verma smashed an unbeaten 100 off 49 balls against Bangladesh, becoming the first Indian woman to score an Asian Games century and strengthening her record-breaking 2026 T20I campaign.
Shafali Verma's Century, Bowlers' Blitz Send India Into Asian Games Women's Cricket Final
Shafali Verma slammed her maiden T20I century to power India into the final of women's cricket event at the Asian Games.
Asian Games: Shafali, Bowlers Help India Set Up Gold Medal Clash Against Sri Lanka
Shanjida Akter Meghla: A stellar hundred from Shafali Verma and strong bowling outings from Nandni Sharma, Deepti Sharma and Sree Charani powered India women to a comfortable win over Bangladesh in the Asian Games semifinal on Sunday, moving into the gold-medal clash against Sri Lanka. Shafali smashed her maiden white-ball century and became the first female cricketer to hit a ton in the Asian Games as her unbeaten 100 helped the Women in Blue rack up a strong score of 195/4. The bowlers backed that stellar effort as Nandni and Deepti starred with three wickets each, while No. 1 T20I bowler Charani scalped two, bowling Bangladesh for 81 runs and registering a strong 114-run win. Harmanpreet Kaur's Indian side will now meet Chamari Athapaththu's Sri Lankan team in the gold-medal final, a repeat of the previous edition of the Asian Games final and the recently concluded Women's Asia Cup final. India are the defending gold medallists of the continental showpiece, having won the yellow metal in the 2023 Hangzhou Games. Shafali and Smriti provided the Women in Blue with yet another strong start after India opted to bat first. Mandhana scored 37 from 19 balls as the duo put up 72 for the opening wicket in the powerplay before the Southpaw sliced one to deep mid-wicket to fall on the last ball of the powerplay. G Kamalini could make the most of her brief stay, struggling before holing one out to deep mid-wicket to fall for three. However, Shafali continued in the same vein and was joined by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who held one end up while the opener did the majority of the damage. Shafali smashed her maiden limited-overs century on the last ball of the innings with a single off Shorna Akter. The opener smashed three fours and nine sixes in her stroke-filled knock to take the Women in Blue near 200. Shafali's nine sixes also set the record for the most by a woman cricketer in T20Is in a calendar year. She surpassed Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu in the record list and now has 35 maximums in 2026. Coming into the game, the Indian opener had hit 26 sixes and was six behind Athapaththu's 32 maximums of 2024. The star Indian batter surpassed the Sri Lankan skipper with her stellar knock. The bowlers did a strong job as well. Nandani struck with her first ball in the second over, removing Juairiya Ferdous, caught at covers for a golden duck, before Kranti Gaud had Sobhana Mostary caught off a miscued pull at mid-wicket on four. Dilara Akter took Nandani for a four and a six in the next over and then Kranti for a couple of consecutive fours, but Sree Charani came to get captain Nigar Sultana caught at mid-on for nine. The Indians kept striking at regular intervals, with Shreyanka Patil dismissing Shorna Akter for five in the seventh over, as Bangladesh were reeling at 43/4 after 7. Deepti and Nandani accounted for the next three dismissals, with the off-spin all-rounder removing Dilara for 27 before the pacer got two in two in the 11th over. She first caught and bowled Nahida Akter, then cleaned up Rabeya Khan as Bangladesh stared down the barrel. Charani got Sharmim Akhter stumped in the 14th over, and it was only a matter of time before India bowled the opposition out when Deepti landed the final two blows with the wickets of Marufa Akter and Shanjida Akter Meghla in the 15th over to power India to an 114-run win. The Women in Blue will now compete against Sri Lanka in the final on Tuesday, with Bangladesh facing Pakistan in the bronze-medal match on the same day. Charani got Sharmim Akhter stumped in the 14th over, and it was only a matter of time before India bowled the opposition out when Deepti landed the final two blows with the wickets of Marufa Akter and Shanjida Akter Meghla in the 15th over to power India to an 114-run win. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories India 195/4 in 20 ov (Shafali Verma 100*, Harmanpreet Kaur 40; Shanjida Akter Meghla 1-25, Rabeya Khan 1-35) beat Bangladesh 81/10 in 15.4 ov (Dilara Akter 27; Deepti Sharma 3-7, Nandni Sharma 3-25, Shree Charani 2-7) by 114 runs. Article Source: IANS
Asian Games 2026: Shafalis fiery ton fires India to womens cricket final, ensures medal
Opting to bat, India rode on Shafalis unbeaten 100 off 49 balls (9 sixes, 3 fours) to post 195 for four in the second semifinal
Ajinkya Rahane praised the India star following his terrific performance in the recently-concluded three-match series against India.
Shafali Verma Scripts History With Maiden T20I Ton Against Bangladesh In Asian Games
Former West Indies cricketer Ian Bishop hailed Indian opener Shafali Verma for her maiden century in the women's Asian Games cricket semifinal
Smriti Mandhana Becomes No. 1 Run-Scorer in Women
New Delhi: Smriti Mandhana etched her name in the history books again on Sunday as the India opener continued her prolific T20I century. Mandhana achieved the feat during India's Asian Games 2026 semi-final against Bangladesh, needing just seven runs to pass
India women took on Bangladesh in the Asian Games 2026 cricket semi-final. The two sides met at the Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, on September 20, and it was the Indian team who were extremely dominant...
Fleming targets No.1 Test rankings, keeps WTC high on agenda as England coach
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 20 (IANS) Incoming England Test coach Stephen Fleming has kept his focus on making England the No. 1 side again and has put the World Test Championship on the agenda. Fleming addressed the media at his first press conference as England's Test coach, highlighting that the job is prestigious. It's one of the most prestigious jobs in cricket, Fleming said. I was very honoured to be asked. He has signed a contract with the ECB through September 2030 following a two-week recruitment process. His first assignment as the Test coach would be against South Africa in winter, and then there is also a home Ashes series waiting, which the New Zealander holds in high regard. I would love to be in charge of the No.1 Test team in the world, Fleming said. That would be my aspiration, Fleming said on wanting to make England No.1 for the first time since 2012. I know the marquee events - the Ashes - are something I can't wait for. As a New Zealander, I have watched and loved the Ashes all my cricketing life. To be part of that is an absolute highlight, so I can't wait for that. But there is a piece of work there that has already begun, which is around our identity. There has been a lot of coverage around that. The way players represent England and the group is going to be really important to me. The style of play will come with that also. That will be more player-directed, but I feel very strongly about finding a sense of belonging within the group, and that will take a bit of time, he added. He highlighted that he has started working with Test captain Joe Root and aims to make England's team in its best form. I have started the process. I have been in a lot of contact with Joe, and on this trip as well we have done some things to start this piece of work. Not only will we be in the best position to win cricket matches but also to represent the England cricket team in its best form, he said. He also spoke on England's blase attitude towards the World Test Championship, where they have not come close to making it to the final of any of the three editions. It's high (on the agenda), it's aspirational, he said of the WTC. England could do much better than that. And even attitude just around the over rate, I think, comes down to identity and style of play. If that's one of the pinnacle trophies in world cricket - why would we not be trying to get it along with every other marquee event that comes our way? Now, I don't say that lightly; there's a lot of hard work to do, and players must be balanced around that But it's aspirational, and that's why I'm here. That opportunity is real, but there's a huge amount of work to do. The New Zealander takes over from Brendon McCullum, who served in the role from 2022. He comes into the role after an underwhelming performance by the English side over the last 18 months, which he believes would have hurt McCullum. That was one thing that will probably hurt him (McCullum) a little bit (underperformance) - I think he feels what I feel now, that there's an opportunity around the corner. He was also realistic about what had gone on and just very honest. It's interesting when you go to watch as a bystander for the first half of the year, then things change quite quickly to a real narrow focus on where the team was at. Was I the right person to take the team forward and then deemed by the ECB to be the right person? That process was very thorough. I was constantly watching the good and the bad and analysing that in a much different way than I would have done in early April. One of the dark arts of coaching is timing my honest appraisal, it's a great time to be the head coach. I think there's a real opportunity with the players coming through, he added.
Shafali Verma scripts history, slams century against Bangladesh in Asian Games semi-final
The Asian Games cricket semi-final saw India women taking on Bangladesh women. The two sides took on each other at the Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, on September 20, and the clash saw India women coming in to bat first. They put forth a strong showing, posting a total of 195 runs in the first innings. It is worth noting that Women in Blue have been in good form and came on the back of a victory against Japan in the previous clash.
Asian Games Cricket: Shafali unleashes 9 sixes in stunning 49-ball ton
Explosive opener Shafali Verma scored an unbeaten century (100* off 49 balls) with nine sixes and three fours, leading India to a formidable total of 195/4 against Bangladesh in the Asian Games women's cricket semifinal. Supported by Smriti Mandhana (37) and Harmanpreet Kaur (40), Verma's explosive innings ensured India's strong position in the crucial match.
Cremer plays his first ODI in eight years, Zimbabwe bat first
Cremer and Masuku replace Masakadza and Nyamhuri for Zimbabwe while Australia bring in Johnson and Bartlett for Hazlewood and Stanlake
Fleming promises evolution not revolution as England era begins
New head coach wants to add
Fleming targets No. 1 Test ranking alongside focus on 'identity'
Incoming head coach will place higher priority on World Test Championship, and wants to reconnect with county game
Asian Games: Athapaththu's Unbeaten 83 Helps SL Women Beat Pakistan To Storm Into Final
Sri Lanka Women: Chamari Athapaththu produced a captains knock as Sri Lanka Women chased down Pakistans 177/4 with eight wickets in hand to reach the Asian Games final on Sunday. Set 178 for victory at Korogi Sports Park, Sri Lanka needed just 17.5 overs to complete a commanding chase, with Athapaththu remaining unbeaten on 83 from 50 deliveries. Her innings featured seven fours and six sixes as she dismantled Pakistans bowling attack and ensured Sri Lanka never lost control of the pursuit. The chase began at a brisk pace, with Imesha Dulani striking 26 from 21 balls before Pakistan captain Fatima Sana provided her side with an important breakthrough. That, however, proved to be little more than a brief interruption. Athapaththu took over after Dulanis dismissal and built the innings around a crucial partnership with Hasini Perera. The pair added 95 for the second wicket, steadily turning Sri Lankas advantage into a near certainty. Athapaththu contributed heavily to the stand, accelerating as Pakistan struggled to contain her strokeplay. Perera eventually fell with Sri Lanka within touching distance, but there was no late drama. Harshitha Samarawickrama, unbeaten on 17, joined Athapaththu and helped complete the job as Sri Lanka reached 178/2 with 13 deliveries unused. Earlier, Pakistan had recovered impressively from a disastrous beginning. Gull Feroza was dismissed on the first ball, immediately putting Pakistan under pressure after Sri Lanka opted to bowl following a delayed start due to a wet outfield. Ayesha Zafar and Shawaal Zulfiqar then transformed the innings. Zafar attacked from the outset, smashing 71 off 40 balls with nine fours and two sixes, while Zulfiqar contributed 54 from 50. Their substantial partnership carried Pakistan beyond 100 and gave the team a competitive platform before they finished on 177/4. Sri Lankas emphatic chase, however, meant Pakistans strong recovery was ultimately overshadowed. Sri Lanka will now contest the gold-medal match, while Pakistan will play the bronze-medal playoff against the loser of the second semifinal between India and Bangladesh, which currently underway, on Tuesday. Sri Lankas emphatic chase, however, meant Pakistans strong recovery was ultimately overshadowed. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Pakistan 177/4 in 20 overs (Ayesha Zafar 71, Shawaal Zulfiqar 54; Kawya Kavindi 1-13, Chamari Athapaththu 1-30) lost to Sri Lanka 178/2 in 17.5 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 83*, Hasini Perera 42; Fatima Sana 1-24, Nashra Sandhu 1-38) by eight wickets Article Source: IANS
The 30-year-old elegant left-hander needed seven runs to break the record as she reached the landmark in the third over, hammering Bangladesh pacer Marufa Akter for back-to-back boundaries off the final two deliveries of the over
Alexander Zverev Defeats Matej Dodig 6-4, 7-6 to Put Germany Ahead in Davis Cup
Alexander Zverev returned to action after his US Open triumph with a straight-sets victory over Croatia's Matej Dodig in the Davis Cup qualifying round on Saturday. The world No. 2 defeated the 21-year-old Dodig 6-4, 7-6(3) at the Heristo Arena in
Smriti Mandhana Becomes Leading T20I Run-scorer Across Men's And Women's Cricket
Korogi Sports Park: India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana added another feather to her illustrious cap as she became the leading run-scorer in T20I cricket across men's and women's game on Sunday. Mandhana achieved the milestone during the Asian Games semifinal against Bangladesh women at the Korogi Sports Park with a strong cameo of 37 from 19 balls. The Indian vice-captain surpassed former New Zealand cricketer Suzie Bates to top the run-scorers' list. She now has 4788 runs in 171 innings. Coming into the game, Mandhana had 4751 runs in 170 innings and needed to score only eight to go past the New Zealand icon, and she did that pretty early in her innings when she hit a couple of fours in her first seven balls with two singles too. Mandhana and Bates were already above the leading run-scorer in men's T20Is - Babar Azam - and have now made further gap from him. Most runs in T20I cricket (men's and women's): 1 - Smriti Mandhana: 5,788 runs 2 - Suzie Bates: 4,758 runs 3 - Babar Azam: 4,596 runs 4 - Jos Buttler: 4,292 runs 5 - Harmanpreet Kaur: 4,287 runs Mandhana had recently become the leading run-scorer in women's international cricket as well. During the Asia Cup, she broke the record of former India skipper Mithali Raj to become the most prolific run-scorer in the women's game. 5 - Harmanpreet Kaur: 4,287 runs Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Coming to the Asiad semifinal, India opted to bat first against Bangladesh. The Women in Blue are looking to defend their gold medal from the 2023 Hangzhou Games. They defeated hosts Japan in the quarterfinal earlier. Article Source: IANS
Smriti Mandhana Creates T20I History at Asian Games
Smriti Mandhana added another landmark to her already impressive T20I career on Sunday, becoming the highest run-scorer in women's T20Is during India's Asian Games semifinal against Bangladesh.
Smriti Mandhana Makes History, Breaks World Record for Most Runs in Women's T20Is
Smriti Mandhana became the top run-scorer in Women's T20 Internationals with 4765 runs, surpassing New Zealand's Suzie Bates during the Asian Games semifinal against Bangladesh.
India vs Bangladesh LIVE Score, Asian Games 2026 Women's Cricket Semi-Final Scorecard LIVE Updates: Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma have opened the innings for India in the Asian Games 2026, cricket semi-final match on Sunday.
Chamari Athapaththu's 83* leads Sri Lanka into final
Fifties from Shawaal Zulfiqar and Ayesha Zafar went in vain for Pakistan
Glenn Maxwell Stars as Belfast Wolves Reach ETPL Final With 7-Wicket Win
Belfast Wolves booked their place in the ETPL final with a seven-wicket victory over Amsterdam Flames in the qualifier at Malahide. Glenn Maxwells four-wicket haul helped restrict Amsterdam to 133, before the Wolves chased down the target in 18.3 overs, with nine balls to spare. Amsterdam were asked to bat first and made a steady start through Yuvraaj Samra and Steven Smith. The pair added 46 for the opening wicket before Samra was run out for 27 from 20 balls, having struck three fours and a six. Smith continued to anchor the innings, scoring 45 from 42 deliveries, but Amsterdam struggled to build partnerships around him. Bas de Leede, Tim David and Curtis Campher were dismissed in quick succession, leaving the Flames at 74 for four. Maxwell took control with the ball. The Belfast captain claimed four wickets for just 18 runs from his four overs, removing de Leede, David, Campher and Michael Bracewell as Amsterdams middle order unravelled. Matthew Humphreys provided further pressure with three wickets for 22 runs, while Chris Jordan took one. Smith fell in the 15th over, and although Scott Edwards made 14 and Max ODowd scored 17, Amsterdam were bowled out for 133 in 20 overs. Aryan Dutt added 15 from 11 balls before becoming Jordans victim. The Wolves chase began with the early dismissal of Paul Stirling, who made eight, but Tim Tector and Devon Conway steadied the innings. Tector scored 28 from 21 balls, including four boundaries, while Conway contributed 35 from 41 deliveries. Amsterdam found a breakthrough when Tector was stumped off Dutt, and Michael Bracewell later dismissed Conway to leave Belfast at 96 for three in the 16th over. Lorcan Tucker and Maxwell then ensured there would be no late uncertainty. Tucker remained unbeaten on 34 from 30 balls, while Maxwell struck an explosive 21 not out from just eight deliveries, hitting three sixes at a strike rate of 262.50. Their unbroken stand carried Belfast to 136 for three in 18.3 overs, sealing a seven-wicket win and confirming their place in the final. Maxwells performance shaped the contest at both ends: his four wickets restricted Amsterdam to a modest total and he produced his best bowling figures in T20 with 4/18, and his late hitting helped finish the chase. Humphreys three-wicket contribution also proved crucial in keeping the Flames from building a stronger platform. For Amsterdam, Smiths 45 was the innings top score, but the teams middle-order collapse left them with too little to defend. Belfast, meanwhile, combined a disciplined bowling display with a measured chase before Maxwells late assault brought the qualifier to a close. The contrast between the two innings was decisive. Amsterdam lost wickets at regular intervals and were unable to turn Smiths contribution into a larger total. Belfast, despite losing Stirling early and later seeing Tector and Conway depart, kept the chase on course before their rapid finish removed any remaining doubt. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories The Wolves now advance to the ETPL final with Edinburgh on Sunday, while Amsterdams campaign ends in the qualifier. For Belfast, the victory sets up the tournaments final challenge after a performance built around Maxwells impact with both bat and ball.
Asian Games: Unchanged India Women Opt To Bat First Against Bangladesh In SF
Korogi Sports Park: India won the toss and opted to bat first against Bangladesh in the Asian Games women's cricket semifinal here at Korogi Sports Park on Sunday. Indias XI remained unchanged from their quarterfinal match, while Bangladesh are playing their first match of the tournament. Harmanpreet Kaur's Women in Blue brushed aside hosts Japan in a lopsided affair in the quarterfinal to march into the semifinals for the second straight time in as many tournament appearances. The defending champions are the favourites to claim the title they won after beating Sri Lanka in the 2023 Asiad final, in what is a similar look to the semifinals of the previous edition. Meanwhile, Bangladesh are coming into the semifinal without any game time in Nisshin. Their quarterfinal against China was washed out, and they progressed because they were the higher-ranked team of the two. The Bangladeshi side has defeated the Women in Blue only thrice in the 25 meetings. The Women in Blue are fresh from winning an eighth Asia Cup title a few days ago, while Bangladesh lost to the Indian juggernaut in the Asia Cup semifinal in Dubai. Playing XIs The Women in Blue are fresh from winning an eighth Asia Cup title a few days ago, while Bangladesh lost to the Indian juggernaut in the Asia Cup semifinal in Dubai. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Bangladesh: Dilara Akter, Juairiya Ferdous, Sobhana Mostary, Nigar Sultana Joty (C & WK), Shorna Akter, Sharmin Akter, Sanjida Akter Supta, Rabeya Khan, Nahida Akter, Marufa Akter, Sultana Khatun Article Source: IANS
England Reclaim No. 1 T20 Ranking After 3-0 Series Whitewash of Sri Lanka
England returned to the summit of the T20 world rankings with another thumping of Sri Lanka to complete a 3-0 series whitewash in Manchester on Saturday. The hosts made quick work of an eight-wicket win at Old Trafford, following equally emphatic 119-run and six-wicket successes earlier this week in Southampton and Cardiff respectively. England's latest victory was all but assured after Sri Lanka were dismissed for just 124, with two wickets apiece for Sonny Baker, Jofra Archer and Will Jacks. The home side then cruised to their meagre target in under 10 overs, with Jos Buttler 62 not out after sharing a partnership of 85 with captain Harry Brook as Stephen Fleming, the new England Test coach, looked on. England now boast a record of 23 wins from their last 26 T20 internationals. That put them back ahead of world champions India at the top of the T20 standings, with the pair having traded the number one position three times in the past two months. Being back at world number one in T20s is an amazing achievement and one everyone should be really proud of, said Brook. Everyone stepped up, especially lads who haven't played as much. Fast bowler Baker, appearing in just his third T20 for England, returned miserly figures of 2-17 in 3.5 overs. For Sonny Baker to bowl three overs in the powerplay in two games is an amazing achievement, not going for many runs and taking wickets, said Brook. There have been concerns over Brook's workload given he is a mainstay in all three international formats. But the 27-year-old, who plundered 170 runs in the series, said: I want to play as much cricket as I can for England. That is my main priority and why I don't play franchise cricket. We want to be a side when the conditions aren't in our favour where we are still able to manufacture a win. Sri Lanka will hope for an improved performance when they face England in the first of three one-day internationals at Chester-le-Street on Tuesday. A very disappointing series for us with both batting and bowling, said visiting skipper Charith Asalanka. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories It was an important eye-opener for us of where we stand in T20 cricket compared to the best teams in the world.
India-Japan T20I Marks 75 Year Celebrations Of Diplomatic Relations: Ambassador Nagma Mallick
Japan Nagma Mohamed Mallick: The upcoming India-Japan cricket match in Sano City will mark the inaugural event of the celebrations commemorating 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Ambassador of India to Japan Nagma Mohamed Mallick told IANS. The match is scheduled for September 22 in Sano City, Tochigi, and will be a significant sporting event amid the ongoing Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. This is an important event in the bilateral calendar between India and Japan. The cricket match on the 22nd will be the inaugural event for the 75-year celebration of diplomatic relations between India and Japan. Thats what were celebrating. Its the first event, and our two prime ministers agreed to that a couple of months ago, Mallick told IANS. The fixture will be played in Sano rather than at the newly developed cricket venue in Nagoya, which is being used for the Asian Games. Mallick explained that the Nagoya pitch will remain occupied by teams competing in the continental tournament. So we will hold this in Sano City, not here because they developed a cricket pitch here just for the Asian Games. And that pitch will be busy with the teams playing for the Asian Games. So theres another older pitch in Sano City, she said. While the fixture is being viewed as a friendly match, Mallick said its significance extends beyond the cricket field, with the contest forming part of the broader celebrations of India-Japan ties. Thats where well be doing it on the 22nd. Its a great feeling. Its an important event for the bilateral relationship, she added. The ambassador also highlighted the enthusiasm surrounding the fixture, noting that tickets were sold out and that supporters from India and around the world were expected to attend. And also I hope, I mean, as far as I know, tickets are sold out. So people have come even from back home and other places abroad to watch that match, Mallick said. The ambassador also highlighted the enthusiasm surrounding the fixture, noting that tickets were sold out and that supporters from India and around the world were expected to attend. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories The India-Japan cricket match is thus set to combine sporting exchange with a landmark milestone in the two countries diplomatic relationship. Article Source: IANS
India vs Bangladesh, Asian Games Women's Semi-Final Live Streaming: When And Where To Watch
India women's cricket team is all set to face Bangladesh in the semi-final match of Asian Games 2026 on Sunday at the Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin.
'I still feel strong in myself' - Jhye Richardson eyes Test return as he enters his 30s
The fast bowler has been boosted by staying on the park during the winter as he now prepares to face India A
Don't Think Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Has Got The Technique: Ex-England Star's Huge Test Claim
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has played 6 T20Is for India but he is yet to make his Test debut.
Mandaviya Hails Indian Diasporas Support For Athletes At Asian Games
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya: Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya praised the Indian diaspora in Japan for supporting the countrys athletes during the ongoing Asian Games in Nagoya, highlighting the communitys role in encouraging the Indian contingent. Mandaviya joined members of the Indian diaspora in Japan for a special 'Sundays on Cycle' event organised to cheer for the Indian contingent ahead of the upcoming Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya. Speaking to IANS on the sidelines of the Asian Games, Mandaviya said the Indian diaspora organised the event in Nagoya to show its support for the athletes. The Asian Games have started in Nagoya, Japan, and 503 youths from India have come to participate in the Games. Today, Indias Diaspora has organised a Sunday on Cycling event in Nagoya. I am happy that our contingent is performing well, and our Diaspora is encouraging them, Mandaviya told IANS. Mandaviya also spoke about the support extended by the Indian community in Japan and said the diaspora remained a source of strength for the country worldwide. Naturally, the Diaspora is a strength in our country. Wherever the Indian people are in need, our Diaspora is always there to support them. In Nagoya, the Diaspora has made all the arrangements to encourage our Indian athletes. Many youths are working as volunteers. This is the specialty of India, he added. Mandaviya said the presence and participation of volunteers from the Indian community reflected the strong connection between the diaspora and the countrys sporting contingent. Naturally, the Diaspora is a strength in our country. Wherever the Indian people are in need, our Diaspora is always there to support them. In Nagoya, the Diaspora has made all the arrangements to encourage our Indian athletes. Many youths are working as volunteers. This is the specialty of India, he added. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories The Indian contingent will have eyes on multiple medals and opportunities as action kicks off on Sunday at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya. The days focus includes the Indian cricket team, teqball star Quimcy Dsouza, and shooters like Elavenil Valarivan. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led cricket squad, defending champions, will face Bangladesh in the second semi-final, with the winner guaranteed at least a silver medal. Meanwhile, Quimcy seeks India's first-ever teqball medal, competing in the womens singles bronze match and also aiming for a medal in mixed doubles with Mohamed Anas Beg. Article Source: IANS
Exclusive: Gautam Gambhir And Co Cautioned Against Replacing Sanju Samson With Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
There has been considerable debate over who Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could potentially replace as India's new opening batter, with Sanju Samson often finding himself at the centre of those discussions.
Davis Cup: Czechs beat USA to qualify for finals
The wins in Davis Cup are always a little bit different because this is a team competition, said Jiri Lehecka
Kamil Pooran earns maiden T20I call-up for WI tour of India; Holder rested
Shimron Hetmyer will miss the ODI leg of the tour, which starts on September 27, but will link back up for the T20Is
John Campbell Returns, Kamil Pooran Earns Maiden Call-Up For India Tour
John Campbell, who missed the final two ODIs against New Zealand due to a hamstring injury, returns to the 15-member squad led by Shai Hope.
India Lose No. 1 T20I Ranking Despite 3-0 Sweep Of Afghanistan. New Leader Revealed
England returned to the summit of the T20 world rankings, surpassing India, with another thumping of Sri Lanka to complete a 3-0 series whitewash in Manchester on Saturday.
West Indies recall Campbell for India ODIs; Pooran gets maiden T20I call-up
The West Indies have announced their ODI and T20I squads for the upcoming series against India, with John Campbell returning to the ODI side and Kamil Pooran earning his maiden T20I call-up.
Siraj to captain Hyderabad in first two Ranji Trophy matches
India pacer Mohammed Siraj will lead Hyderabad in their first two Ranji Trophy matches of the upcoming season.
Brook wants to keep No. 1 ranking after England sweep aside Sri Lanka
England's record under Harry Brook improves to 23 win out of 26 completed T20Is
ZIM vs AUS 3rd ODI Prediction, Match Preview And Playing XI
ZIM vs AUS 3rd ODI, Cricket Tips: Australia have shown why they are the best in all conditions. With a second-string side, Australia have managed to win the ongoing ODI series in Zimbabwe. They have not let the hosts come near to them in both games. Travis Head finally regained his form with a blistering century. Cooper Connolly has carried his form with half-centuries in both games. They will look to try out the players who have not played in the first two games. The final ODI will start at 1 PM IST on Sunday at Harare Sports Club. Zimbabwe have failed with the bat, and their batters need to stick to the surface to play long innings. ZIM vs AUS: Match Details Date : September 20, 2026 (Sunday) Time : 1:00 PM IST Venue : Harare Sports Club, Harare ZIM vs AUS: Live Streaming Details To watch the final ODI on Sunday, Indian fans can switch to the FanCode mobile app or website with an active subscription. ZIM vs AUS: Head-to-Head in ODIs Total Matches : 35 Zimbabwe : 3 Australia : 31 No-result: 1 ZIM vs AUS: Ground Pitch Report Harare Sports Club has produced flat decks in the first two games. Batters have enjoyed their time on the field. However, there is enough assistance for the bowlers also. Fast bowlers can use the early seam movement, while spinners will be handy in the lateral stages. ZIM vs AUS: Possible XIs Zimbabwe : Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Brendan Taylor (wk), Innocent Kaia, Craig Ervine, Sikandar Raza (c), Wessly Madhevere, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Newman Nyamhuri, Blessing Muzarabani Australia : Travis Head, Mitch Marsh (c), Cooper Connolly, Josh Inglis (wk), Alex Carey, Matt Renshaw, Oliver Peake, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Billy Stanlake ZIM vs AUS: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Travis Head scored a century in the last game and will be looking to produce another thrilling performance. Craig Ervine has used his experience to good effect and made some useful contributions. Probable Best Bowler Nathan Ellis and Blessing Muzarani are two go-to bowlers for each team, and they will be the ones to watch out for. Today Match Prediction: Australia have been too good for the hosts. They have outplayed them in both games and are expected to win the final ODI also. ZIM vs AUS Match 3rd ODI, Today Match ZIM vs AUS, ZIM vs AUS Prediction, ZIM vs AUS Predicted XIs, Injury Update for Zimbabwe vs Australia Match Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Disclaimer : The prediction or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your predictions.
IND-W vs BAN-W 2nd Semi Final, Womens Asian Games 2026 Prediction, Match Preview And Playing XI
IND-W vs BAN-W 2nd Semi Final, Cricket Tips: Harmanpreet Kaur and her team have made it to the semifinal of the ongoing Women's Asian Games 2026 after beating Japan Women in the quarter-final round. They recorded a big win and showed why they are the favorite to win the gold medal. They are just two matches away from winning the ultimate prize. India Women will face Bangladesh Women in the semifinal on Sunday. This contest is scheduled to begin at 10:30 AM IST at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin. This is the repeat of the semifinal of the Asia Cup 2026 a couple of weeks back. India won that game, and they will be looking for a similar result. IND-W vs BAN-W: Match Details Date : September 20, 2026 (Sunday) Time : 10:30 AM IST Venue : Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin IND-W vs BAN-W: Live Streaming Details Indian fans can watch the live action of the semifinal on the Sony Sports Networks. Fans can watch the game through the Sony LIV app or website. IND-W vs BAN-W: Head-to-Head in T20Is Total Matches: 25 India Women : 22 Bangladesh Women: 3 No-result : 0 IND-W vs BAN-W: Ground Pitch Report So far, the batters have found it a little tough to bat at the surface at Korogi Sports Park. There have been good bounce and pace, which has helped the fast bowlers. As the ball gets old, spinners also play a big role here. IND-W vs BAN-W: Possible XIs India Women: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Renuka Thakur, Shree Charani, Kranti Gaud, Nandani Sharma Bangladesh Women : Dilara Akter, Sharmin Akhter, Sobhana Mostary, Juairiya Ferdous, Nigar Sultana (c) (wk), Shorna Akter, Rabeya Khan, Nahida Akter, Sultana Khatun, Marufa Akter, Fahima Khatun IND-W vs BAN-W: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Shefali Verma won the MOTM award in the quarterfinal, and she is the in-form batter for India. Captain Nigar Sultana will have a big role in this semi for Bangladesh. Probable Best Bowler Shree Charani and Marufa Akter are two in-form bowlers and the ones to watch out for. Today Match Prediction: India Women have enjoyed facing Bangladesh across formats. The history and form are with them, and they are expected to win the semifinal on Sunday. IND-W vs BAN-W 2nd Semi final, Today Match IND-W vs BAN-W, IND-W vs BAN-W Prediction, IND-W vs BAN-W Predicted XIs, Injury Update for India Women vs Japan Women Match Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Disclaimer : The prediction or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your predictions.
England Dethrone India As World No 1 In T20Is After Sri Lanka Whitewash
Jos Buttler's unbeaten half-century led England to an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka, completing a 3-0 T20 series whitewash and elevating England to the top of the T20 world rankings.
Jones holds nerve in last-ball thriller as Blaze bow out with domestic treble
Beaumont and Elwiss make crucial half-centuries, as Hampshire finish as losing finalists once again
Russia Launches First-Ever T10 Cricket League
The Russian T10 League has been launched, marking a significant step towards reviving and developing cricket in Russia with the long-term goal of establishing the country as a credible cricketing nation. The inaugural season will feature four franchises competing in seven matches at Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, on September 19 and 20, 2026.
Jos Buttler ransacks small chase as England cruise to 3-0 series sweep
Bowlers share wickets around in underpowered Sri Lanka effort that saw them all out in 18.5 overs
Kris Srikkanth Minces No Words, Slams Shreyas Iyer For Letting Random Guy Play For India
India defeated Afghanistan by 127 runs in the third T20I in Delhi on Thursday to complete a 3-0 whitewash in the three-match series.
Dottin to miss Zimbabwe tour, Matthews to only play ODIs
Allrounder Chinelle Henry returns to the squad following an injury during the T20 World Cup
Hlubi, Nini seal 5-0 win for South Africa
Zimbabwe were 102 for 2 chasing 165 but couldn't see the game through with Hlubi and Nini finishing with three wickets each
Indian Captain Shreyas Iyer Sees Asian Games As A Big Opportunity
This is going to be my first time, so I am looking forward to going there and firstly to get used to the conditions
