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Elections 2026Cricket / Rediff
Krunal Pandya kept his India comeback hopes alive after missing the Afghanistan T20I squad, following a strong IPL season where he impressed with bat and ball.
Pretorius struck 94 off 51 balls and Jansen took three wickets as South Africa beat Zimbabwe by 43 runs, strengthening their final prospects.
North Zone's Sanat Sangwan scored a resilient 76, putting aside earlier controversies, as his team fought back against South Zone in the Duleep Trophy semi-final. Despite Sangwan's efforts and a partnership with Ayush Doseja, North Zone suffered a batting collapse, leaving South Zone poised for victory. South Zone holds a significant lead, needing only a draw to advance to the final.
India A will play three four-day matches against New Zealand A in Christchurch starting October 24, serving as a crucial build-up for the senior Indian team's two-Test series against New Zealand later in the tour. These matches are part of New Zealand Cricket's domestic red-ball schedule.
Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq has returned home from England amidst a PCB inquiry into his calf muscle injury, which is suspected to be faked. This follows the team's poor performance and drastic measures taken by the board, including sending players home and replacing coaches. Imam-ul-Haq has a history of similar injury allegations.
Jasprit Bumrah, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, and Harshit Rana have been included in India's T20I squad for the upcoming three-match series against Afghanistan, pending fitness clearance from the BCCI's Centre of Excellence.
Japan Cricket Association CEO Naoki Alex Miyaji has addressed concerns raised by leading cricketing nations regarding accommodation and facilities for the upcoming Asian Games. Miyaji clarified that hotel stays are offered, teams can make their own arrangements, and temporary yet comfortable facilities have been prepared for players, including washrooms and dressing rooms, despite tight timelines and resource limitations.
Former England all-rounder Ben Stokes has signed with the Adelaide Strikers for the upcoming 2026-27 Big Bash League season.
'It's a no-brainer that in the next Test in New Zealand, your first choice has to be Devdutt.'
Nandni Sharma surged 38 places after her three-wicket haul against Thailand, while Chamari Athapaththu reached career-best ratings in batting, bowling and all-round performance.
Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has resigned from the men's national selection committee and as a batting consultant at the National Cricket Academy.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has come under fire from former players after sacking head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul, and sending back seven players, including national T20 captain Salman Ali Agha, in the middle of their Test series against England. The drastic changes followed Pakistan's heavy defeats in the first two Tests, prompting widespread condemnation for the timing and impact on team morale and stability.
India pacer Gurnoor Brar discusses how bowling alongside senior quicks Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj has improved his consistency in lengths.
Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar delivered stellar bowling performances, taking three and four wickets respectively, to bowl out Central Zone for 158.
Siddhesh Lad has been appointed as the new captain of the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team, replacing Shardul Thakur, who was relieved to manage his workload. Lad, a seasoned batter, returns to lead the domestic giants after a stellar previous season.
Australia A has announced a 14-member squad for their upcoming series against India A in Puducherry. The tour, featuring both four-day and one-day matches, is crucial for exposing players to subcontinental conditions and preparing them for future senior team tours to India, including a Test series next year. The squad includes several players with prior international experience.
Out-of-form batter Marnus Labuschagne has been dropped from Australia's One-Day International squad for upcoming series against Zimbabwe and South Africa, with Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head, and Josh Hazlewood returning to the side.
Kashi Rudras captain Karan Sharma revealed that a conversation with KL Rahul during his Lucknow Super Giants stint profoundly influenced his cricketing philosophy, with Rahul's advice to prioritise the process over results helping him navigate challenging phases and slumps.
Kashi Rudras' ambidextrous spinner Vijay Yadav has set an ambitious target of making it to the IPL within the next one to two years, driven by his dedication to all three departments of the game and profound inspiration from Virat Kohli's aggression and commitment.
India batter Mayank Agarwal has signed with Durham for the final four matches of the County Championship's Division Two, aiming to help the team secure promotion to Division One.
Zimbabwe secured a dramatic five-run victory over hosts Namibia in the third match of the T20 tri-series, taking four wickets in the final over to defend their total of 195-6.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has launched a formal inquiry into opening batter Imam-ul-Haq's left calf muscle injury, which prevented him from batting in the second Test against England, amid suspicions he may have faked the injury.
Former India cricketer Suresh Raina's son, Rio, has started his cricketing journey, with Raina expressing his excitement to relive the game through his son's experiences.
Captain Tilak Varma's unbeaten 106 and Shreyas Gopal's 87 helped South Zone secure a vital 90-run first-innings lead against North Zone in their Duleep Trophy semifinal, overcoming an early collapse.
All-rounders Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, and Nitish Kumar Reddy are expected to recover from their respective injuries and be available for selection for India's upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, providing a significant boost to the squad.
Pakistan pacer Mohammad Abbas expressed deep concern over the team's persistent issues, including poor fielding and an inexperienced pace attack, following their heavy 194-run defeat to England at Lord's, marking their 10th loss in 11 away Tests.
Sri Lanka's interim cricket board is committed to fundamental reforms to ensure the inaugural Women's Champions Trophy in 2027 remains in the country. This comes amidst speculation that the ICC might relocate the event due to government interference in the sport's administration, with the ICC having previously indicated a search for alternative venues.
Indian head coach Amol Muzumdar acknowledged the absence of 'clutch player' Jemimah Rodrigues due to injury for the Women's Asia Cup but emphasised the team's strong hunger for success in upcoming tournaments, including the Asia Cup and Asian Games.
'Everyone is talking about the Pakistan team, and how it is the worst touring team in the last 50 years. But nobody is speaking about how the current board is the worst in the last 70 years.'
England captain Joe Root expresses confidence in overcoming his recent batting slump, citing his extensive experience and over 14,000 Test runs as proof of his ability to navigate difficult periods. He also addressed the team's responsible celebration following their series win.
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam attributed his team's 194-run defeat against England in the second Test at Lord's primarily to their batting failures in both innings, despite winning the toss and opting to bowl first.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, a 15-year-old batter, made history by becoming the youngest player to score a half-century in the Duleep Trophy. Playing for East Zone against Central Zone, he scored an unbeaten 80 off 69 balls, breaking a 57-year-old record.
India opener Shafali Verma acknowledged the team's batting unit needs to address its shortcomings on turning pitches, despite securing a 94-run victory against Thailand in the Women's Asia Cup opener. Verma, who scored a brisk 64, noted that while the new ball came on well, the older ball gripped and turned, causing difficulties for the middle order. She emphasised the need for adaptation and praised Thailand's improving performance.
Bangladesh Cricket Board President Tamim Iqbal remains optimistic about a white-ball series against India, despite the originally planned September window being missed. He confirmed that both boards are actively seeking a suitable time, highlighting positive intentions from both sides. Iqbal also reflected on past tensions, including Bangladesh's withdrawal from the 2025 ODI World Cup, acknowledging that negotiations could have been handled better.
India have never looked so vulnerable in Test cricket in recent times. They need a complete reset of their approach to Test cricket, and perhaps a new coach with fresh ideas could revitalise Shubman Gill and his boys.
South African pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series against Australia due to a right hamstring strain and faces uncertainty regarding his participation in the subsequent three-match Test series.
Arun Singh Dhumal and Khairul Jamal Majumdar are poised for unopposed re-election to the IPL Governing Council at the upcoming BCCI Annual General Meeting on September 18. The election process, including nomination dates and candidate scrutiny, has been outlined by the BCCI Electoral Officer.
India's women's cricket team secured a commanding 94-run victory over Thailand in their Women's T20 Asia Cup opener. Despite a batting collapse after a strong start by Shafali Verma, India posted 159-9, then bowled out Thailand for just 65, with Deepti Sharma delivering a record-breaking spell. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur acknowledged the win but cautioned against complacency.
Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma has become the leading wicket-taker in women's T20 Internationals, surpassing previous records with 171 wickets. She achieved this milestone in her 150th T20I match, demonstrating her consistent performance and dedication to the team.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has withdrawn Sri Lanka's hosting rights for the inaugural Women's Champions Trophy in 2027, citing government interference in Sri Lanka Cricket's administration. This decision, stemming from the presence of a government-appointed Transformation Committee, could also jeopardise the Sri Lankan women's team's participation and will have financial implications for the board.
India's women's cricket team, despite a belligerent 64 from Shafali Verma, suffered an inexplicable batting collapse against Thailand's spinners, led by Suleeporn Laomi, restricting them to 159/9 in their Women's Asia Cup opener.
Auqib Nabi's Surrey stint will provide crucial first-class exposure in England as the J and K pacer seeks to strengthen his case for India's Test squad for New Zealand.
Muhammad Yousuf branded Pakistan's coaches poison for the game, blaming their lack of vision for neglected batting flaws that worsened over years and contributed to the team's decline.
Kaverappa's four-wicket haul gave South Zone control before they stumbled, while Mukesh and Sarkar struck three each to bowl Central Zone out, giving East Zone a strong start.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has instructed its players participating in the Test series against England to refrain from commenting on the imprisonment of former captain Imran Khan. This directive follows attempts by British media to elicit comments and a Sky Sports interview with Khan's sons, which the PCB deemed political. The board prioritised diplomatic relations and the ongoing series despite its displeasure.
Tilak Varma is emerging as India's potential middle-order backup, offering left-handed batting variety and developing off-spin as selectors seek younger, flexible options ahead of the ODI World Cup.
Mohammad Abbas claimed five wickets as Pakistan dismissed England for 208 in their second innings, setting a challenging target of 389 for victory.
15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made his captaincy debut for East Zone in the Duleep Trophy semi-final after regular skipper Ishan Kishan was injured.
Trinbago Knight Riders have announced the retirement of legendary all-rounder Dwayne Bravo's iconic No. 47 jersey, making him the first player in CPL history to receive such an honour.
England moved to the brink of victory at Lord's as Dan Lawrence's unbeaten fifty extended their lead to 357, leaving Pakistan facing an almost impossible chase.

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