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India’s World Cup hero in the 2023 edition, fast bowler Mohammed Shami, hasn’t been in the selectors’ scheme of things since March 2025, but his East Zone captain Ishan Kishan feels the pacer has hunger in him for an India comeback. Shami last featured for India during the triumphant 2025 Champions Trophy in Dubai, and hasn’t been picked for any format since. Ahead of the Duleep Trophy final, which also happens to be Shami’s 100th first-class match, Kishan praises the Indian veteran. &nbsp;Kishan -- a mainstay in India’s T20I side -- said that for Shami, age is just a number. Showing confidence in Shami’s presence in the playing XI, Kishan said he brings a lot of experience to the table. &nbsp;"I feel age is just a number," Kishan said ahead of the Duleep Trophy in Chennai.&nbsp; &nbsp;"If he is working hard, it doesn't matter - he has been doing so well. Having him in our team, it gives us a bit of more confidence when you have such bowlers in your team who can get you wickets and especially looking at Shami bhai this season, his intensity, his energy has been very different,” he said.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ishan-kishan-tilak-varma-duleep-trophy-final-afg-t20is-format-switch-1788614605122">'Switching formats is tough but no excuses': Kishan, Tilak ready for AFG T20Is days after Duleep Trophy final</a> &nbsp;Kishan said Shami has that hunger in him, and is motivated to press his case for an India return, considering India would need experience in the pace attack at the ODI World Cup.&nbsp; &nbsp;"It has been three years since that [2023] World Cup [when he was in excellent form]; it is hard when you are not regularly playing for the Indian team and to again have that same kind of motivation for your domestic games; it is tough. But I feel I see that hunger in him because who better than me can judge about hunger right now?” he said.&nbsp;"I think he has that hunger and that motivation right now. He wants to do that comeback; he wants to be part of the Indian squad again, and which you can see in him when he is trying to help me, also when I'm leading the side... he is trying to come to me, give me options of what you can do right now,” he concluded. &nbsp;Kishan will lead East Zone against Tilak Varma’s South Zone in the Duleep Trophy final in Chennai.&nbsp;

"Who better than me to judge hunger?" Ishan Kishan backs veteran pacer Mohammed Shami for an India comeback ahead of his milestone 100th first-class match in the Duleep Trophy final.

India’s World Cup hero in the 2023 edition, fast bowler Mohammed Shami, hasn’t been in the selectors’ scheme of things since March 2025, but his East Zone captain Ishan Kishan feels the pacer has hunger in him for an India comeback. Shami last featured for India during the triumphant 2025 Champions Trophy in Dubai, and hasn’t been picked for any format since. Ahead of the Duleep Trophy final, which also happens to be Shami’s 100th first-class match, Kishan praises the Indian veteran. Kishan -- a mainstay in India’s T20I side -- said that for Shami, age is just a number. Showing confidence in Shami’s presence in the playing XI, Kishan said he brings a lot of experience to the table. "I feel age is just a number," Kishan said ahead of the Duleep Trophy in Chennai. "If he is working hard, it doesn't matter - he has been doing so well. Having him in our team, it gives us a bit of more confidence when you have such bowlers in your team who can get you wickets and especially looking at Shami bhai this season, his intensity, his energy has been very different,” he said. Also read| 'Switching formats is tough but no excuses': Kishan, Tilak ready for AFG T20Is days after Duleep Trophy final Kishan said Shami has that hunger in him, and is motivated to press his case for an India return, considering India would need experience in the pace attack at the ODI World Cup. "It has been three years since that [2023] World Cup [when he was in excellent form]; it is hard when you are not regularly playing for the Indian team and to again have that same kind of motivation for your domestic games; it is tough. But I feel I see that hunger in him because who better than me can judge about hunger right now?” he said. "I think he has that hunger and that motivation right now. He wants to do that comeback; he wants to be part of the Indian squad again, and which you can see in him when he is trying to help me, also when I'm leading the side... he is trying to come to me, give me options of what you can do right now,” he concluded. Kishan will lead East Zone against Tilak Varma’s South Zone in the Duleep Trophy final in Chennai.

"Who better than me to judge hunger?" Ishan Kishan backs veteran pacer Mohammed Shami for an India comeback ahead of his milestone 100th first-class match in the Duleep Trophy final.

'He has that hunger for India comeback': Ishan Kishan hails Mohammed Shami ahead of Duleep Trophy final

Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma -- India’s T20I mainstays -- will be up against each other as captains of East and South Zone, respectively, in the Duleep Trophy final starting Sunday (Sep 6) at Chepauk in Chennai. While they have plenty riding on their shoulders ahead of the marquee clash, switching formats and style of play remains their primary concern. As India will face Afghanistan across three T20Is starting Sep 13 in Delhi, three days after the last day of the Duleep Trophy final, the two addressed the challenges of switching their game quickly. &nbsp;Apart from Kishan and Tilak, batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who opens for East Zone, will also be part of the T20I squad for the Afghanistan series.&nbsp; &nbsp;Kishan said it’s never easy to switch formats this quickly. The East Zone captain, who plays in the middle order in domestic cricket but opens for India in T20Is, explained its challenges.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-ioa-bcci-cricket-logistics-1788598143640">Asian Games 2026: IOA tells BCCI 'no special treatment' for cricket, asks board to handle own logistics</a>&nbsp;"I don't know. How do I tell you? It's just about knowing what format you are playing," Kishan said on the eve of the Duleep final at Chepauk. "Sometimes it gets difficult when you are playing a Test match and suddenly you have to go and start hitting from ball one and suddenly you have to go back to your domestic team and you have to play a whole different role. But at the same time, I feel, as professionals it's our job to adapt, we cannot be coming up with excuses after knowing this is like your routine for next few days. &nbsp;"So, it is better not to be in a situation where we have to make excuses, but at the same time be aware and be just mindful of what is going to happen, and I will be playing T20 after this. So, my job will be different [in T20Is], but still I feel we are getting two days of practice before the Afghanistan first game, so it will be more than enough, I feel,” Kishan said ahead of the Duleep Trophy final in Chennai.&nbsp; &nbsp;On the other hand, Tilak, who has frequently switched formats in recent months, also expressed similar concerns, adding that though all players are quick to adapt to the conditions, going from five-day cricket to a 20-over game isn’t the easiest option. &nbsp;"We have played enough domestic games; we have played in every condition, so we can adjust to the conditions," Tilak Varma said.&nbsp; &nbsp;"But it will be slightly challenging playing five days here and again joining the [T20I] team. But from here we are going to Delhi; there will be two days of break, so we can practice there and we have enough time as well, but it will be slightly challenging. We know how to change our mindsets and maintain our body with good fluids and everything, so we have played back-to-back games before in the domestic as well and international, so we are quite used to it,” he added. &nbsp;Meanwhile, the 2026 Duleep Trophy final will see two top and star-studded teams facing off for the coveted prize, with several A-listers ready to grace the occasion.&nbsp;

Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma react to leading East Zone and South Zone in the Duleep Trophy final just days before India's T20I series against Afghanistan.

Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma -- India’s T20I mainstays -- will be up against each other as captains of East and South Zone, respectively, in the Duleep Trophy final starting Sunday (Sep 6) at Chepauk in Chennai. While they have plenty riding on their shoulders ahead of the marquee clash, switching formats and style of play remains their primary concern. As India will face Afghanistan across three T20Is starting Sep 13 in Delhi, three days after the last day of the Duleep Trophy final, the two addressed the challenges of switching their game quickly. Apart from Kishan and Tilak, batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who opens for East Zone, will also be part of the T20I squad for the Afghanistan series. Kishan said it’s never easy to switch formats this quickly. The East Zone captain, who plays in the middle order in domestic cricket but opens for India in T20Is, explained its challenges. Also read| Asian Games 2026: IOA tells BCCI 'no special treatment' for cricket, asks board to handle own logistics "I don't know. How do I tell you? It's just about knowing what format you are playing," Kishan said on the eve of the Duleep final at Chepauk. "Sometimes it gets difficult when you are playing a Test match and suddenly you have to go and start hitting from ball one and suddenly you have to go back to your domestic team and you have to play a whole different role. But at the same time, I feel, as professionals it's our job to adapt, we cannot be coming up with excuses after knowing this is like your routine for next few days. "So, it is better not to be in a situation where we have to make excuses, but at the same time be aware and be just mindful of what is going to happen, and I will be playing T20 after this. So, my job will be different [in T20Is], but still I feel we are getting two days of practice before the Afghanistan first game, so it will be more than enough, I feel,” Kishan said ahead of the Duleep Trophy final in Chennai. On the other hand, Tilak, who has frequently switched formats in recent months, also expressed similar concerns, adding that though all players are quick to adapt to the conditions, going from five-day cricket to a 20-over game isn’t the easiest option. "We have played enough domestic games; we have played in every condition, so we can adjust to the conditions," Tilak Varma said. "But it will be slightly challenging playing five days here and again joining the [T20I] team. But from here we are going to Delhi; there will be two days of break, so we can practice there and we have enough time as well, but it will be slightly challenging. We know how to change our mindsets and maintain our body with good fluids and everything, so we have played back-to-back games before in the domestic as well and international, so we are quite used to it,” he added. Meanwhile, the 2026 Duleep Trophy final will see two top and star-studded teams facing off for the coveted prize, with several A-listers ready to grace the occasion.

Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma react to leading East Zone and South Zone in the Duleep Trophy final just days before India's T20I series against Afghanistan.

'Switching formats is tough but no excuses': Kishan, Tilak ready for AFG T20Is days after Duleep Trophy final

Pakistan cricket faces fresh turmoil after its three senior players: keeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, opener Imam-ul-Haq and middle-order batter Salman Ali Agha, were reported for behavioural issues within the dressing room. These three players, alongside four others and two coaches, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul, were all sent home after Pakistan lost the second Test at Lord’s and conceded the three-match series 2-0, with one game to play. While their lean form remained the prime factor in their exit midway through the tour, behavioural issues made things worse for the trio. &nbsp;Salman Agha captained Pakistan in the series opener at Headingley in Babar Azam’s absence, out with a finger injury. The visitors lost the first Test by an innings and 103 runs. Despite Babar returning for the Lord’s Test, the results did not change for Pakistan as they lost the second Test by 194 runs, having failed to cross 200 across two innings. Salman -- the stand-in captain in Leeds -- was dropped from the playing XI for the second Test and sent home ahead of the third at Edgbaston in Birmingham, starting Sep 9.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pcb-chief-naqvi-to-remove-aaqib-javed-selection-clean-up-1788602808777">PCB chief Naqvi set to remove Pakistan chief selector Aaqib Javed in ‘wider clean-up’</a> &nbsp;Rizwan, on the other hand, failed to impress with the bat, scoring 7, 1, 12 and 41 in four outings. Although he was outstanding with the gloves, keeping close to seamer Mohammad Abbas, his lack of match awareness and dismissal manners, compounded by dressing room behaviours, led to his exile. &nbsp;Amid surrounding reports and allegations regarding his past injury disclosures, Imam-ul-Haq, who suffered a left strain, was ruled out of the second Test. Although he suffered that injury during the Leeds Test, Imam did not bat in either innings in the second match, with Pakistan getting all out for 110 and 194 at Lord's. &nbsp;A PTI report also claims that the trio are now expected to appear before a committee and explain their conduct in connection with certain incidents during the away tours of the West Indies and England. On the other hand, the remaining players were sent home following Mike Hesson’s recommendations, who took charge of the third Test following Sarfaraz's release. &nbsp;“The rest of the players sent back were done so on the recommendation of interim red-ball head coach Mike Hesson, who wanted to try out some players he had worked with in the white-ball camp,” a source said, as quoted by PTI.&nbsp; &nbsp;Meanwhile, Pakistan is languishing at the bottom of the WTC standings with six losses and two wins in eight contested matches in the 2025-27 cycle.&nbsp;

Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, and Salman Ali Agha reportedly face PCB inquiry over dressing-room "behavioural issues" after being dropped midway through the England Test series.

Pakistan cricket faces fresh turmoil after its three senior players: keeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, opener Imam-ul-Haq and middle-order batter Salman Ali Agha, were reported for behavioural issues within the dressing room. These three players, alongside four others and two coaches, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul, were all sent home after Pakistan lost the second Test at Lord’s and conceded the three-match series 2-0, with one game to play. While their lean form remained the prime factor in their exit midway through the tour, behavioural issues made things worse for the trio. Salman Agha captained Pakistan in the series opener at Headingley in Babar Azam’s absence, out with a finger injury. The visitors lost the first Test by an innings and 103 runs. Despite Babar returning for the Lord’s Test, the results did not change for Pakistan as they lost the second Test by 194 runs, having failed to cross 200 across two innings. Salman -- the stand-in captain in Leeds -- was dropped from the playing XI for the second Test and sent home ahead of the third at Edgbaston in Birmingham, starting Sep 9. Also read| PCB chief Naqvi set to remove Pakistan chief selector Aaqib Javed in ‘wider clean-up’ Rizwan, on the other hand, failed to impress with the bat, scoring 7, 1, 12 and 41 in four outings. Although he was outstanding with the gloves, keeping close to seamer Mohammad Abbas, his lack of match awareness and dismissal manners, compounded by dressing room behaviours, led to his exile. Amid surrounding reports and allegations regarding his past injury disclosures, Imam-ul-Haq, who suffered a left strain, was ruled out of the second Test. Although he suffered that injury during the Leeds Test, Imam did not bat in either innings in the second match, with Pakistan getting all out for 110 and 194 at Lord's. A PTI report also claims that the trio are now expected to appear before a committee and explain their conduct in connection with certain incidents during the away tours of the West Indies and England. On the other hand, the remaining players were sent home following Mike Hesson’s recommendations, who took charge of the third Test following Sarfaraz's release. “The rest of the players sent back were done so on the recommendation of interim red-ball head coach Mike Hesson, who wanted to try out some players he had worked with in the white-ball camp,” a source said, as quoted by PTI. Meanwhile, Pakistan is languishing at the bottom of the WTC standings with six losses and two wins in eight contested matches in the 2025-27 cycle.

Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, and Salman Ali Agha reportedly face PCB inquiry over dressing-room "behavioural issues" after being dropped midway through the England Test series.

ENG vs PAK 2026: Pakistan cricketers Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq dropped over alleged 'behavioural issues'

In a major shake-up in Pakistan Cricket following the Lord’s Test loss against England, the PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi is set to remove the country’s chief selector Aaqib Javed as part of a ‘wider clean-up’ exercise. After dropping seven first-team players and releasing two coaches after conceding the ongoing Test series in the UK, the axe has fallen on Javed, who chairs the selection committee and is being publicly held responsible by several experts and former players for Pakistan cricket’s downfall. &nbsp;The PCB took a shocking call by sending home seven players and two coaches midway through England Tests, including Salman Ali Agha, who took over the skipper’s hat in the series opener in regular captain Babar Azam's absence. After Babar attained full fitness in time for the second Test, he replaced Agha in the playing XI, before Pakistan sent the white-ball captain home, alongside first-team keeper Mohammad Rizwan and underfire opener Imam-ul-Haq. &nbsp;While Rizwan’s poor returns with the bat across four innings led to his exile, Imam’s left-calf strain and reports of him faking injuries earlier to avoid playing forced him out of the squad. Meanwhile, PCB’s latest decision to remove Javed has also raised questions over Pakistan’s selection policy and team management.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/did-cricket-end-in-india-after-loss-to-ireland-pcb-chief-mohsin-naqvi-defends-pakistan-cricket-amid-meltdown-1788506201199">'Did cricket end in India after loss to Ireland?' PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi defends Pakistan Cricket amid meltdown</a> &nbsp;"Aaqib is also likely to be told to focus on his role as Director Development at the Lahore High-Performance Centre,” a source close to the information said to PTI.&nbsp; &nbsp;The source also said that the decision to send back Rizwan, Imam and Salman was also part of PCB’s wider clean-up plan. The shocking development here was that form alone was not the main reason behind axing Rizwan and Imam from the Test squad mid-tour. &nbsp;“The rest of the players sent back were done so on the recommendation of interim red-ball head coach Mike Hesson, who wanted to try out some players he had worked with in the white-ball camp,” the source added.<h2>Changes in the Selection Committee</h2>Shortly after the PCB decided to overhaul the squad after the Lord’s Test defeat, former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq, also part of the four-member selection committee, tendered his resignation.&nbsp;&nbsp;The PCB, however, did not accept his resignation until it sent a show-cause notice to the selection committee over the selection of Rizwan and Imam in two away series (West Indies and England), urging a response within 24 hours. &nbsp;The third Test begins on September 9 at Edgbaston in Birmingham.&nbsp;

PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi is set to remove chief selector Aaqib Javed in a "wider clean-up" following Pakistan's Test loss to England. Read details on player drops and selection committee changes.

In a major shake-up in Pakistan Cricket following the Lord’s Test loss against England, the PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi is set to remove the country’s chief selector Aaqib Javed as part of a ‘wider clean-up’ exercise. After dropping seven first-team players and releasing two coaches after conceding the ongoing Test series in the UK, the axe has fallen on Javed, who chairs the selection committee and is being publicly held responsible by several experts and former players for Pakistan cricket’s downfall. The PCB took a shocking call by sending home seven players and two coaches midway through England Tests, including Salman Ali Agha, who took over the skipper’s hat in the series opener in regular captain Babar Azam's absence. After Babar attained full fitness in time for the second Test, he replaced Agha in the playing XI, before Pakistan sent the white-ball captain home, alongside first-team keeper Mohammad Rizwan and underfire opener Imam-ul-Haq. While Rizwan’s poor returns with the bat across four innings led to his exile, Imam’s left-calf strain and reports of him faking injuries earlier to avoid playing forced him out of the squad. Meanwhile, PCB’s latest decision to remove Javed has also raised questions over Pakistan’s selection policy and team management. Also read| 'Did cricket end in India after loss to Ireland?' PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi defends Pakistan Cricket amid meltdown "Aaqib is also likely to be told to focus on his role as Director Development at the Lahore High-Performance Centre,” a source close to the information said to PTI. The source also said that the decision to send back Rizwan, Imam and Salman was also part of PCB’s wider clean-up plan. The shocking development here was that form alone was not the main reason behind axing Rizwan and Imam from the Test squad mid-tour. “The rest of the players sent back were done so on the recommendation of interim red-ball head coach Mike Hesson, who wanted to try out some players he had worked with in the white-ball camp,” the source added. Changes in the Selection Committee Shortly after the PCB decided to overhaul the squad after the Lord’s Test defeat, former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq, also part of the four-member selection committee, tendered his resignation. The PCB, however, did not accept his resignation until it sent a show-cause notice to the selection committee over the selection of Rizwan and Imam in two away series (West Indies and England), urging a response within 24 hours. The third Test begins on September 9 at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi is set to remove chief selector Aaqib Javed in a "wider clean-up" following Pakistan's Test loss to England. Read details on player drops and selection committee changes.

PCB chief Naqvi set to remove Pakistan chief selector Aaqib Javed in 'wider clean-up'

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has told the Indian Cricket Board that it can arrange logistics for their travelling entourages for the upcoming Asian Games 2026 in Japan. After the BCCI and other ACC members raised concerns over a lack of ‘proper 5-star facilities’ for their men’s and women’s squads, the organisers and the IOA gave them a free hand to arrange their own accommodations. The IOA also asked the BCCI to take responsibility for their food and transport and to ensure the teams reach the match venue on time. &nbsp;The players, however, also remain bound by Games protocol, accreditation, security, and WADA/ITA anti-doping location reporting.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-vvs-laxman-back-as-india-men-s-head-coach-for-shreyas-iyer-led-side-1788495953574">Asian Games 2026: VVS Laxman back as India men's head coach for Shreyas Iyer-led side</a> &nbsp;A Times of India (TOI) report suggests that a fruitful discussion between the BCCI and the IOA led to a mutual agreement that the BCCI will shoulder all logistical responsibilities, with the IOA urging equal treatment and welfare for the Indian contingent across 36 sports. &nbsp;“BCCI CEO Hemang Amin got in touch with us (IOA), and we had a fruitful discussion. They are contemplating sending an advance team to Japan to assess the facilities. The IOA is completely fine with that. Based on their assessment, they can decide whether they want to use the organisers’ facilities or make their own arrangements. It is for the BCCI and the organisers to work out the best solution. All sports, athletes, coaches and the entire delegation are treated equally by IOA,” IOA CEO Raghuram Iyer said in a chat with TOI.<h2>Stays, Issues and Beyond</h2>Per the latest report, the men’s and women’s cricket teams have been allotted different hotels. While the men’s team is scheduled to put up at the three-star APA Hotel Nagoya Ekimae, the women’s team will stay at the four-star Meitetsu Grand Hotel. The two properties have the requisite amenities, although both are grades below the 5-star accommodations the Indian players are accustomed to. Meanwhile, the mandate for twin-sharing rooms has emerged as a primary point of friction for the board.<h3>From Dubai to Nagoya</h3>With Harmanpreet Kaur’s Indian team expected to reach the ongoing Women's Asia Cup final on Sunday (Sep 13) in Dubai, they would need to fly to Nagoya, Japan, the next day for their six-team competition. The Asian Games tournament begins with the women’s quarterfinal on Sep 18, with their final scheduled on Sep 22. The men’s competition, led by T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, will fly to Japan on Sep 21, with India’s schedule beginning on Sep 28 and the final on Oct 4. &nbsp;With the BCCI having arrival and departure window schedules for both teams, they are now looking at accommodation and logistics. An advance team will travel to Japan early next week to inspect the hotels, cricket venues and other facilities before the two squads fly out. &nbsp;Moreover, Aichi-Nagoya, the host city, is already under severe accommodation pressure, with the number of athletes and coaches expected to be around 17,000, up from their estimated figure of 15,000.&nbsp; &nbsp;“The BCCI is taking care of its athletes, and sending an advance team is the right way to assess the facilities before making a decision. We are completely for the well-being of the athletes. Our objective is that the entire Indian delegation has a comfortable stay and a wonderful experience in Japan,” he concluded.

The IOA has told the BCCI there will be "no special treatment" for cricket at the 2026 Asian Games. If the board wants 5-star facilities instead of 3-star official hotels, it must manage its own logistics. Read more. 

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has told the Indian Cricket Board that it can arrange logistics for their travelling entourages for the upcoming Asian Games 2026 in Japan. After the BCCI and other ACC members raised concerns over a lack of ‘proper 5-star facilities’ for their men’s and women’s squads, the organisers and the IOA gave them a free hand to arrange their own accommodations. The IOA also asked the BCCI to take responsibility for their food and transport and to ensure the teams reach the match venue on time. The players, however, also remain bound by Games protocol, accreditation, security, and WADA/ITA anti-doping location reporting. Also read| Asian Games 2026: VVS Laxman back as India men's head coach for Shreyas Iyer-led side A Times of India (TOI) report suggests that a fruitful discussion between the BCCI and the IOA led to a mutual agreement that the BCCI will shoulder all logistical responsibilities, with the IOA urging equal treatment and welfare for the Indian contingent across 36 sports. “BCCI CEO Hemang Amin got in touch with us (IOA), and we had a fruitful discussion. They are contemplating sending an advance team to Japan to assess the facilities. The IOA is completely fine with that. Based on their assessment, they can decide whether they want to use the organisers’ facilities or make their own arrangements. It is for the BCCI and the organisers to work out the best solution. All sports, athletes, coaches and the entire delegation are treated equally by IOA,” IOA CEO Raghuram Iyer said in a chat with TOI. Stays, Issues and Beyond Per the latest report, the men’s and women’s cricket teams have been allotted different hotels. While the men’s team is scheduled to put up at the three-star APA Hotel Nagoya Ekimae, the women’s team will stay at the four-star Meitetsu Grand Hotel. The two properties have the requisite amenities, although both are grades below the 5-star accommodations the Indian players are accustomed to. Meanwhile, the mandate for twin-sharing rooms has emerged as a primary point of friction for the board. From Dubai to Nagoya With Harmanpreet Kaur’s Indian team expected to reach the ongoing Women's Asia Cup final on Sunday (Sep 13) in Dubai, they would need to fly to Nagoya, Japan, the next day for their six-team competition. The Asian Games tournament begins with the women’s quarterfinal on Sep 18, with their final scheduled on Sep 22. The men’s competition, led by T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, will fly to Japan on Sep 21, with India’s schedule beginning on Sep 28 and the final on Oct 4. With the BCCI having arrival and departure window schedules for both teams, they are now looking at accommodation and logistics. An advance team will travel to Japan early next week to inspect the hotels, cricket venues and other facilities before the two squads fly out. Moreover, Aichi-Nagoya, the host city, is already under severe accommodation pressure, with the number of athletes and coaches expected to be around 17,000, up from their estimated figure of 15,000. “The BCCI is taking care of its athletes, and sending an advance team is the right way to assess the facilities before making a decision. We are completely for the well-being of the athletes. Our objective is that the entire Indian delegation has a comfortable stay and a wonderful experience in Japan,” he concluded.

The IOA has told the BCCI there will be "no special treatment" for cricket at the 2026 Asian Games. If the board wants 5-star facilities instead of 3-star official hotels, it must manage its own logistics. Read more.&nbsp;

Asian Games 2026: IOA tells BCCI 'no special treatment' for cricket, asks board to handle own logistics

India's Smriti Mandhana, who broke two records in women's cricket on Thursday (Sep 3) during the ongoing Women's Asia Cup 2026 in Dubai, UAE, says 'it is just the start.' Mandhana hit a 64-ball 124 against Hong Kong Women and became the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/women-s-asia-cup-2026-india-s-smriti-mandhana-is-now-best-batter-ever-in-women-s-cricket-1788491747077">all-time highest run-getter in women's international cricket as well as the player with the most international centuries</a>. She went past former India women's captain Mithali Raj for the most runs, and Meg Lanning as well as Laura Wolvaardt for the most international tons. Mandhana now has 10,880 runs in all international cricket to go with 18 tons.<h2>Mandhana reacts to breaking batting records in women's cricket</h2>"Till I was batting, I didn't know what record because I didn't know what were the exact runs or all of that," Mandhana said after the match in Dubai. "But yeah, looking back, definitely a very good day for Indian cricket, I would say. Of course, Mithali di has been such a legend and a role model, and we've all grown up watching her bat, so to go past her in the tally of runs is [something] I definitely never imagined to do. But happy that there are two Indians at the top two."Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/did-cricket-end-in-india-after-loss-to-ireland-pcb-chief-mohsin-naqvi-defends-pakistan-cricket-amid-meltdown-1788506201199">'Did cricket end in IND after loss to Ireland?' PCB chief on Pak Cricket decline</a> "Going past the international record of the centuries, I mean, 18 is a good number to go past, firstly I will say that," Mandhana said. "But again, two of the legends of women's cricket, Meg Lanning and Mithali Raj. Genuinely, these are the two people who I have grown up watching a lot of my cricket, tried to take a lot of things from them as batters. So really happy that I could go past them in whatever way. But again, it's just the start I would say."<h2>India beat HK-W to enter semis</h2>Thanks to Mandhana, India posted 193/5 in 20 overs against HK-W in a Women's Asia Cup 2026 group stage fixture. She hit 14 fours and seven sixes in her innings — becoming India's highest six-hitter with a total tally of 95 and the fourth highest in the world. In reply, HK-W were bowled out for a paltry score of 56 in 16.2 overs. For India, Nandani Sharma, Shree Charani, and Prema Rawat took two wickets apiece, while Deepti Sharma picked up 3/9 as India won by 137 runs. India next play against arch-rivals Pakistan Women on Saturday (Sep 5).

Smriti Mandhana smashed a 64-ball 124 against Hong Kong Women, becoming the all-time leading run-scorer (10,880) and most century-maker (18) in women's internationals, powering India to a 137-run win.

India's Smriti Mandhana, who broke two records in women's cricket on Thursday (Sep 3) during the ongoing Women's Asia Cup 2026 in Dubai, UAE, says 'it is just the start.' Mandhana hit a 64-ball 124 against Hong Kong Women and became the all-time highest run-getter in women's international cricket as well as the player with the most international centuries. She went past former India women's captain Mithali Raj for the most runs, and Meg Lanning as well as Laura Wolvaardt for the most international tons. Mandhana now has 10,880 runs in all international cricket to go with 18 tons. Mandhana reacts to breaking batting records in women's cricket "Till I was batting, I didn't know what record because I didn't know what were the exact runs or all of that," Mandhana said after the match in Dubai. "But yeah, looking back, definitely a very good day for Indian cricket, I would say. Of course, Mithali di has been such a legend and a role model, and we've all grown up watching her bat, so to go past her in the tally of runs is [something] I definitely never imagined to do. But happy that there are two Indians at the top two." Also Read - 'Did cricket end in IND after loss to Ireland?' PCB chief on Pak Cricket decline "Going past the international record of the centuries, I mean, 18 is a good number to go past, firstly I will say that," Mandhana said. "But again, two of the legends of women's cricket, Meg Lanning and Mithali Raj. Genuinely, these are the two people who I have grown up watching a lot of my cricket, tried to take a lot of things from them as batters. So really happy that I could go past them in whatever way. But again, it's just the start I would say." India beat HK-W to enter semis Thanks to Mandhana, India posted 193/5 in 20 overs against HK-W in a Women's Asia Cup 2026 group stage fixture. She hit 14 fours and seven sixes in her innings — becoming India's highest six-hitter with a total tally of 95 and the fourth highest in the world. In reply, HK-W were bowled out for a paltry score of 56 in 16.2 overs. For India, Nandani Sharma, Shree Charani, and Prema Rawat took two wickets apiece, while Deepti Sharma picked up 3/9 as India won by 137 runs. India next play against arch-rivals Pakistan Women on Saturday (Sep 5).

Smriti Mandhana smashed a 64-ball 124 against Hong Kong Women, becoming the all-time leading run-scorer (10,880) and most century-maker (18) in women's internationals, powering India to a 137-run win.

'Never imagined': India's Smriti Mandhana reacts to breaking women's batting record

Pakistan Cricket is in turmoil after the Test series loss in England, and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has defended the actions taken mid-tour. The Pakistan management, after the 194-run loss in the second of the three-Test series, sent back seven players from the 15-man squad and sacked red-ball head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed as well as bowling coach Umar Gul. The move drew sharp criticism from former coaches and players, given one more Test is left to be played in the series. Naqvi, however, backed the action and called out former players for discouraging the current players.<h2>PCB chairman Naqvi cites India's loss to Ireland in defense of declining Pakistan cricket</h2>Pakistan lost the first Test against England by an innings and the second Test by 194 runs, putting them at the bottom of the <a href="https://www.icc-cricket.com/tournaments/world-test-championship/standings">World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 cycle points table</a>. Once an Asian giant, Pakistan now have lost 15 of its last 20 Tests. Their record in the white-ball format isn't good either, as they failed to make it to the semis in the last three ICC tournaments — 2024 T20 World Cup (group stage), 2025 Champions Trophy (group stage), and 2026 T20 World Cup (Super Eight).Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/women-s-asia-cup-2026-india-s-smriti-mandhana-is-now-best-batter-ever-in-women-s-cricket-1788491747077">Women's Asia Cup 2026: India's Smriti Mandhana is now best batter ever in women's cricket</a>Naqvi, meanwhile, cited South Africa and India's recent losses to Namibia and Ireland, respectively, to reject the 'cricket has died in Pakistan' narrative."Did cricket come to an end in South Africa and India after they lost to Namibia and Ireland? Every match of a series is important for us and we are not left with any option if a player is not performing but to look for his replacement. The purpose behind these changes is not to axe players from contention, but just to replace them," said Naqvi in a conversation with Pakistan-based broadcaster Geo TV.<h2>Naqvi hits back at former players for criticism</h2>After the board's decision to send back players and coaches mid-tour, former skipper Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik had hit out at the board. Naqvi, without taking names, called out the former players for their criticism."It is not acceptable for those [former] players who have not achieved anything in life to push this narrative. I would not allow anyone to blame the players for the sake of it and ask everyone to stop demotivating the players. It is unfair," he said.

PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi defended sending 7 players and 2 coaches home mid-tour after a Test series loss to England. Citing India’s loss to Ireland, he rejected claims that Pakistan cricket is dead.

Pakistan Cricket is in turmoil after the Test series loss in England, and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has defended the actions taken mid-tour. The Pakistan management, after the 194-run loss in the second of the three-Test series, sent back seven players from the 15-man squad and sacked red-ball head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed as well as bowling coach Umar Gul. The move drew sharp criticism from former coaches and players, given one more Test is left to be played in the series. Naqvi, however, backed the action and called out former players for discouraging the current players. PCB chairman Naqvi cites India's loss to Ireland in defense of declining Pakistan cricket Pakistan lost the first Test against England by an innings and the second Test by 194 runs, putting them at the bottom of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 cycle points table. Once an Asian giant, Pakistan now have lost 15 of its last 20 Tests. Their record in the white-ball format isn't good either, as they failed to make it to the semis in the last three ICC tournaments — 2024 T20 World Cup (group stage), 2025 Champions Trophy (group stage), and 2026 T20 World Cup (Super Eight). Also Read - Women's Asia Cup 2026: India's Smriti Mandhana is now best batter ever in women's cricket Naqvi, meanwhile, cited South Africa and India's recent losses to Namibia and Ireland, respectively, to reject the 'cricket has died in Pakistan' narrative. "Did cricket come to an end in South Africa and India after they lost to Namibia and Ireland? Every match of a series is important for us and we are not left with any option if a player is not performing but to look for his replacement. The purpose behind these changes is not to axe players from contention, but just to replace them," said Naqvi in a conversation with Pakistan-based broadcaster Geo TV. Naqvi hits back at former players for criticism After the board's decision to send back players and coaches mid-tour, former skipper Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik had hit out at the board. Naqvi, without taking names, called out the former players for their criticism. "It is not acceptable for those [former] players who have not achieved anything in life to push this narrative. I would not allow anyone to blame the players for the sake of it and ask everyone to stop demotivating the players. It is unfair," he said.

PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi defended sending 7 players and 2 coaches home mid-tour after a Test series loss to England. Citing India’s loss to Ireland, he rejected claims that Pakistan cricket is dead.

'Did cricket end in India after loss to Ireland?' PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi defends Pakistan Cricket amid meltdown

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is keen to keep players fit after a recent spate of injuries to multiple players. The board, along with head coach Gautam Gambhir, Centre of Excellence (CoE) chief VVS Laxman, ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill, and T20I skipper Shreyas Iyer, met in Mumbai on Thursday (Sep 3) to discuss the matter. The top-brass meeting with BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia came after recent T20I series losses against Ireland and England, as well as an ODI series loss against the latter. Many players, including Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, and Nitish Reddy, were either injured on the UK tour or in the lead-up to it, which eventually reflected in the results.<h2>How the BCCI plans to keep players injury-free</h2>The board secretary acknowledged, while talking after the Thursday meeting as reported by ESPNcricinfo, that "individual players are having injuries because they have to play a lot of matches."Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/women-s-asia-cup-2026-india-s-smriti-mandhana-is-now-best-batter-ever-in-women-s-cricket-1788491747077">Women's Asia Cup 2026: India's Smriti Mandhana is now best batter ever in women's cricket</a>The players who were selected for the UK tour had played in the IPL for two months right before it, which "takes a toll on the health of the players as well. And to avoid those kinds of situations, what best we can do under the present windows and present FTPs, we are trying to find a way forward.""The only challenges which we are facing is that there are too many matches in the year and that is why in the next FTP, we will do certain things, we will take certain measures," he said. "We have instructed our FTP person, who will be meeting very soon in various international forums, that our FTP should be scheduled in such a way that there is proper rest for the players as well as some kind of acclimatisation or friendly matches before any major series in SENA countries."<h2>What is next for the Indian men's cricket team?</h2>The Indian men's team recently returned from Sri Lanka, where they won the two-Test series 1-0. The team next plays three T20Is against Afghanistan on Sep 13, 15, and 17 in New Delhi. After that, the Indian team will compete in the Asian Games 2026 in Japan, where the board has announced a full-strength squad.

Following player injury concerns, the BCCI met with leadership—including Gautam Gambhir, VVS Laxman, Shubman Gill, and Shreyas Iyer—to plan workload fixes and FTP scheduling changes for rest.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is keen to keep players fit after a recent spate of injuries to multiple players. The board, along with head coach Gautam Gambhir, Centre of Excellence (CoE) chief VVS Laxman, ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill, and T20I skipper Shreyas Iyer, met in Mumbai on Thursday (Sep 3) to discuss the matter. The top-brass meeting with BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia came after recent T20I series losses against Ireland and England, as well as an ODI series loss against the latter. Many players, including Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, and Nitish Reddy, were either injured on the UK tour or in the lead-up to it, which eventually reflected in the results. How the BCCI plans to keep players injury-free The board secretary acknowledged, while talking after the Thursday meeting as reported by ESPNcricinfo, that "individual players are having injuries because they have to play a lot of matches." Also Read - Women's Asia Cup 2026: India's Smriti Mandhana is now best batter ever in women's cricket The players who were selected for the UK tour had played in the IPL for two months right before it, which "takes a toll on the health of the players as well. And to avoid those kinds of situations, what best we can do under the present windows and present FTPs, we are trying to find a way forward." "The only challenges which we are facing is that there are too many matches in the year and that is why in the next FTP, we will do certain things, we will take certain measures," he said. "We have instructed our FTP person, who will be meeting very soon in various international forums, that our FTP should be scheduled in such a way that there is proper rest for the players as well as some kind of acclimatisation or friendly matches before any major series in SENA countries." What is next for the Indian men's cricket team? The Indian men's team recently returned from Sri Lanka, where they won the two-Test series 1-0. The team next plays three T20Is against Afghanistan on Sep 13, 15, and 17 in New Delhi. After that, the Indian team will compete in the Asian Games 2026 in Japan, where the board has announced a full-strength squad.

Following player injury concerns, the BCCI met with leadership—including Gautam Gambhir, VVS Laxman, Shubman Gill, and Shreyas Iyer—to plan workload fixes and FTP scheduling changes for rest.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia shares how board is planning to keep players injury free

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) National Cricket Academy (NCA) director VVS Laxman is back as India men's head coach for the upcoming Asian Games 2026. The continental event will run from September 19 to October 4 in Japan's Aichi-Nagoya. Laxman will have a support staff of Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, and new fielding coach Subhadeep Ghosh. Laxman was also India's head coach for Asian Games 2023 where the team won the gold medal. The news was confirmed by a <a href="https://yas.gov.in/sites/default/files/Asian_Games_sanction_for_coaches_and_suppor_%20staff.pdf">circular issued by India's Ministry of Youth Affairs</a> and Sports on Wednesday (Sep 2). The Asian Games cricket event will take place from September 17 to October 3 (men's and women's).<h2>Why VVS Laxman and not Gambhir coaching India men's team at Asian Games 2026?</h2>This is not the first time VVS Laxman has been roped in to coach the Indian side. He was recently the head coach for India's tour of Zimbabwe and has handled the responsibilities multiple times since 2022. For the Asian Games 2026, he has been asked to handle the head coach position as the India men's team schedule at the continental games will overlap with a home ODI series against West Indies. India's regular head coach Gautam Gambhir will be with the ODI squad at home during the series.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/it-s-from-all-players-pakistan-skipper-babar-azam-exchange-with-uk-king-charles-goes-viral-1788425476025">'It's from all players': Babar's exchange with UK King Charles goes viral</a>The India men's team has received a bye in the first round of the Asian Games and will play in their first match, a quarter-final, on September 28. The home ODI series against West Indies runs from September 27 to October 3. India has announced a full-strength squad for the Asian Games 2026 led by Shreyas Iyer and featuring players like Tilak Varma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, and Jasprit Bumrah.<h2>What about the India women's team?</h2>The India women's team, which is also the gold medal holder from the previous edition, will be coached by their regular staff of head coach Amol Muzumdar, bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi, and fielding coach Munish Bali. The team will be led by Harmanpreet Kaur with Smriti Mandhana, who recently became women's cricket's highest run-getter, as her deputy.

VVS Laxman will coach the Indian men's cricket team at the 2026 Asian Games as regular coach Gautam Gambhir leads the ODI squad vs West Indies. Amol Muzumdar remains women's head coach.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) National Cricket Academy (NCA) director VVS Laxman is back as India men's head coach for the upcoming Asian Games 2026. The continental event will run from September 19 to October 4 in Japan's Aichi-Nagoya. Laxman will have a support staff of Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, and new fielding coach Subhadeep Ghosh. Laxman was also India's head coach for Asian Games 2023 where the team won the gold medal. The news was confirmed by a circular issued by India's Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on Wednesday (Sep 2). The Asian Games cricket event will take place from September 17 to October 3 (men's and women's). Why VVS Laxman and not Gambhir coaching India men's team at Asian Games 2026? This is not the first time VVS Laxman has been roped in to coach the Indian side. He was recently the head coach for India's tour of Zimbabwe and has handled the responsibilities multiple times since 2022. For the Asian Games 2026, he has been asked to handle the head coach position as the India men's team schedule at the continental games will overlap with a home ODI series against West Indies. India's regular head coach Gautam Gambhir will be with the ODI squad at home during the series. Also Read - 'It's from all players': Babar's exchange with UK King Charles goes viral The India men's team has received a bye in the first round of the Asian Games and will play in their first match, a quarter-final, on September 28. The home ODI series against West Indies runs from September 27 to October 3. India has announced a full-strength squad for the Asian Games 2026 led by Shreyas Iyer and featuring players like Tilak Varma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, and Jasprit Bumrah. What about the India women's team? The India women's team, which is also the gold medal holder from the previous edition, will be coached by their regular staff of head coach Amol Muzumdar, bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi, and fielding coach Munish Bali. The team will be led by Harmanpreet Kaur with Smriti Mandhana, who recently became women's cricket's highest run-getter, as her deputy.

VVS Laxman will coach the Indian men's cricket team at the 2026 Asian Games as regular coach Gautam Gambhir leads the ODI squad vs West Indies. Amol Muzumdar remains women's head coach.

Asian Games 2026: VVS Laxman back as India men's head coach for Shreyas Iyer-led side

India's Smriti Mandhana is now officially the best batter in the world. Mandhana, who hit a 64-ball 124 against Hong Kong Women in the ongoing Women's Asia Cup 2026 on Thursday (Sep 3) in Dubai (UAE), went past former India women's skipper Mithali Raj for the most runs in all of women's international cricket. The left-hand batter now has <a href="https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/mandhana-surpasses-historic-milestones-in-asia-cup">10,880 runs in all of women's Tests, ODIs, and T20Is</a> - 12 runs more than Mithali's 10,868 runs. The century against HK-W was Mandhana's 18th in international cricket - also the most by any women's batter - going past Meg Lanning (Australia) and Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa) who have 17 tons each.<h2>Mandhana takes over Mithali to be the most successful women's batter ever</h2>Mandhana's 124 against HK is the highest individual score for India women in T20I cricket - going past her own best of 112 against England in 2025. After Mandhana overtook Mithali, the former Indian women's skipper was ecstatic with joy and congratulated her with a heartfelt post on X.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bangladesh-batter-towhid-hridoy-creates-history-with-350-not-out-in-south-africa-1788407494871">Bangladesh batter Towhid Hridoy creates history with 350 not out in South Africa</a>"Well deserved, @mandhana_smriti! I’ve watched you grow from a young player into one of the finest batters India has produced. To see you go past my record and become the highest run-scorer in international cricket is a moment I’m genuinely proud of. Here’s to many more runs and milestones. Keep going!" Mithali wrote.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Well deserved, <a href="https://x.com/mandhana_smriti?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mandhana_smriti</a> ! I’ve watched you grow from a young player into one of the finest batters India has produced. To see you go past my record and become the highest run-scorer in international cricket is a moment I’m genuinely proud of. Here’s to many more runs and…&mdash; Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) <a href="https://x.com/M_Raj03/status/2095542913162002594?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2><a href="https://www.bcci.tv/matches/47033df8-8bfd-4ea4-931f-a342fefe94aa/india-women-vs-hong-kong-women">Mandhana and bowlers power India into Women's Asia Cup 2026 semis</a></h2>Thanks to Mandhana, India posted 193/5 in 20 overs against HK-W in a women's Asia Cup 2026 group stage fixture. Apart from her, Shafali Verma scored 28, Pratika Rawal hit 10, Richa Ghosh 11, and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur managed 10. Mandhana hit 14 fours and seven sixes in her innings - becoming India's highest six hitter with a total tally of 95 and fourth highest in the world.In reply, HK-W were bowled out for a paltry score of 56 in 16.2 overs. For India, Nandini Sharma, Shree Charani, and Prema Rawat took two wickets apiece while Deepti Sharma picked 3/9 as India won by 137 runs.&nbsp;

Smriti Mandhana broke Mithali Raj's record for most runs in women's international cricket, hitting 124 off 64 balls vs Hong Kong in the 2026 Asia Cup. Her 18th ton led India to a 137-run win and the semis.

India's Smriti Mandhana is now officially the best batter in the world. Mandhana, who hit a 64-ball 124 against Hong Kong Women in the ongoing Women's Asia Cup 2026 on Thursday (Sep 3) in Dubai (UAE), went past former India women's skipper Mithali Raj for the most runs in all of women's international cricket. The left-hand batter now has 10,880 runs in all of women's Tests, ODIs, and T20Is - 12 runs more than Mithali's 10,868 runs. The century against HK-W was Mandhana's 18th in international cricket - also the most by any women's batter - going past Meg Lanning (Australia) and Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa) who have 17 tons each. Mandhana takes over Mithali to be the most successful women's batter ever Mandhana's 124 against HK is the highest individual score for India women in T20I cricket - going past her own best of 112 against England in 2025. After Mandhana overtook Mithali, the former Indian women's skipper was ecstatic with joy and congratulated her with a heartfelt post on X. Also Read - Bangladesh batter Towhid Hridoy creates history with 350 not out in South Africa "Well deserved, @mandhana_smriti! I’ve watched you grow from a young player into one of the finest batters India has produced. To see you go past my record and become the highest run-scorer in international cricket is a moment I’m genuinely proud of. Here’s to many more runs and milestones. Keep going!" Mithali wrote.

Smriti Mandhana broke Mithali Raj's record for most runs in women's international cricket, hitting 124 off 64 balls vs Hong Kong in the 2026 Asia Cup. Her 18th ton led India to a 137-run win and the semis.

Women's Asia Cup 2026: India's Smriti Mandhana is now best batter ever in women's cricket

Pakistan are currently on a Test tour of England and are in meltdown after losing the first two of three Tests. The team, including Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi, met King Charles at Clarence House on Wednesday (Sep 2), as seen in photos shared on The Royal Family's official Instagram handle. During the meeting, the Pakistan Test captain presented King Charles with a bat, and a conversation between Babar and the British monarch is going viral on social media.<h2>Babar goofs up English again, this time with King Charles</h2>At Clarence House, Babar and the Pakistan team, along with PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi and new Test coach Mike Hesson, met with King Charles. The Pakistan skipper gave the British king a cricket bat, with which the monarch seemed surprisingly pleased. The exchange between Babar and the King went as follows:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">King Charles was gifted a signed bat by Pakistan&#39;s national cricket team, during their visit to Clarence House in London today. <a href="https://t.co/8CCUGiLx4S">pic.twitter.com/8CCUGiLx4S</a>&mdash; Test Match Special (@bbctms) <a href="https://x.com/bbctms/status/2095212760015708540?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

King Charles (upon receiving the bat): "Wonderful. Thank you very much. That's fantastic [looking at the bat]. Thank you."King Charles (pointing at the bat): "Is this made in Pakistan?"Babar: "Yes."King Charles: "Is it Pakistani willow?"Babar: "Yes, it's from all players."King Charles: "Really? Thank you all very much."

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<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/meltdown-in-pakistan-cricket-pcb-director-of-high-performance-aaqib-javed-explains-reasoning-behind-dropping-7-players-sacking-coaches-1788320388158">Pakistan cricket melts down during UK tour</a></h2>The tour of England has exposed major gaps in the Pakistan cricket team. As a result, the board and team have suffered a meltdown, resulting in seven players being sent back after the second Test at Lord's. Red-ball head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were also sacked, while PCB selection committee member Misbah-ul-Haq resigned from his post amid the reshuffle.PCB Director of High Performance Aaqib Javed, in an interview with Pakistan-based broadcaster Geo TV, said: "The world is laughing at us because we can't even compete. The message we're sending to the recalled players is that you have to raise your game on important tours and compete, and we should be able to see some effort." &nbsp;&nbsp;

Amid a chaotic 2-0 Test series loss in England, Pakistan captain Babar Azam and PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi met King Charles at Clarence House, presenting him a signed bat during a viral language-muddle moment.

Pakistan are currently on a Test tour of England and are in meltdown after losing the first two of three Tests. The team, including Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi, met King Charles at Clarence House on Wednesday (Sep 2), as seen in photos shared on The Royal Family's official Instagram handle. During the meeting, the Pakistan Test captain presented King Charles with a bat, and a conversation between Babar and the British monarch is going viral on social media. Babar goofs up English again, this time with King Charles At Clarence House, Babar and the Pakistan team, along with PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi and new Test coach Mike Hesson, met with King Charles. The Pakistan skipper gave the British king a cricket bat, with which the monarch seemed surprisingly pleased. The exchange between Babar and the King went as follows:

Amid a chaotic 2-0 Test series loss in England, Pakistan captain Babar Azam and PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi met King Charles at Clarence House, presenting him a signed bat during a viral language-muddle moment.

'It's from all players': Pakistan skipper Babar Azam's exchange with UK King Charles goes viral

Bangladesh batter Towhid Hridoy has created history with his 350 not out for Bangladesh A against South Africa A in a four-day match in Potchefstroom, South Africa. The batter now holds the highest individual score by a Bangladesh player in first-class cricket, surpassing current Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Tamim Iqbal's 334 not out, which he scored back in 2020 in Dhaka during a Bangladesh Cricket League match. Hridoy's 350 is also the highest score by an overseas batter in South Africa in first-class cricket.<h2>Bangladesh batter Hridoy rewrites record books with 350 not out in South Africa</h2>Hridoy, who had played only 17 first-class games before the match against South Africa A, was largely considered a limited-overs batter, but has now done enough to change that reputation. He faced 481 balls for his unbeaten 350, which included 27 fours and 10 sixes, as Bangladesh A posted 676/8 before declaring against SA A's 512 in the first innings. The match ended in a draw after SA A scored 18/0 in their second innings.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-womens-champions-trophy-2027-india-host-venues-sri-lanka-1788374552917">India to host inaugural 2027 Women's Champions Trophy across Mumbai and Vadodara</a>Hridoy, with his 350, also crossed the 1,000-run mark in first-class cricket. He now has 1,345 runs in 26 innings across 18 matches at an average of 56, with four fifties and four hundreds.Hridoy, in a chat after the reaching his double century, said: "I made my first-class debut in my hometown Bogura. Today, I scored a double-century on the same ground where we won the World Cup in 2020. I am thankful to the Almighty."It is the same ground where Bangladesh won the U-19 World Cup in 2020.Hridoy is also only the third Bangladesh batter to score a triple century, following Tamim (334 not out in 2020) and Raqibul Hasan (313 not out in 2007).<h2>How did Tamim react to Hridoy's record innings?</h2>Tamim, who now leads Bangladesh cricket as BCB chief, was ecstatic after his record was broken and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TamimOfficial/posts/1632121331610883">wrote on Facebook</a> (translated from Bangla): "Scoring an innings of 350 runs—regardless of the venue, level, or context is a magnificent feat. If that innings takes place in South Africa, it must be described as extraordinary. They say records are meant to be broken. I am delighted that my record has been surpassed. Congratulations to Towhid Hridoy on making history. Becoming the first batsman from the country to reach the 350-run mark is not merely a personal achievement; it is also a symbol of the progress of the nation's cricket."

Towhid Hridoy scored a record-breaking 350* for Bangladesh A vs South Africa A, surpassing Tamim Iqbal's 334* for the highest first-class score by a Bangladeshi, drawing praise from Tamim.

Bangladesh batter Towhid Hridoy has created history with his 350 not out for Bangladesh A against South Africa A in a four-day match in Potchefstroom, South Africa. The batter now holds the highest individual score by a Bangladesh player in first-class cricket, surpassing current Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Tamim Iqbal's 334 not out, which he scored back in 2020 in Dhaka during a Bangladesh Cricket League match. Hridoy's 350 is also the highest score by an overseas batter in South Africa in first-class cricket. Bangladesh batter Hridoy rewrites record books with 350 not out in South Africa Hridoy, who had played only 17 first-class games before the match against South Africa A, was largely considered a limited-overs batter, but has now done enough to change that reputation. He faced 481 balls for his unbeaten 350, which included 27 fours and 10 sixes, as Bangladesh A posted 676/8 before declaring against SA A's 512 in the first innings. The match ended in a draw after SA A scored 18/0 in their second innings. Also Read - India to host inaugural 2027 Women's Champions Trophy across Mumbai and Vadodara Hridoy, with his 350, also crossed the 1,000-run mark in first-class cricket. He now has 1,345 runs in 26 innings across 18 matches at an average of 56, with four fifties and four hundreds. Hridoy, in a chat after the reaching his double century, said: "I made my first-class debut in my hometown Bogura. Today, I scored a double-century on the same ground where we won the World Cup in 2020. I am thankful to the Almighty." It is the same ground where Bangladesh won the U-19 World Cup in 2020. Hridoy is also only the third Bangladesh batter to score a triple century, following Tamim (334 not out in 2020) and Raqibul Hasan (313 not out in 2007). How did Tamim react to Hridoy's record innings? Tamim, who now leads Bangladesh cricket as BCB chief, was ecstatic after his record was broken and wrote on Facebook (translated from Bangla): "Scoring an innings of 350 runs—regardless of the venue, level, or context is a magnificent feat. If that innings takes place in South Africa, it must be described as extraordinary. They say records are meant to be broken. I am delighted that my record has been surpassed. Congratulations to Towhid Hridoy on making history. Becoming the first batsman from the country to reach the 350-run mark is not merely a personal achievement; it is also a symbol of the progress of the nation's cricket."

Towhid Hridoy scored a record-breaking 350* for Bangladesh A vs South Africa A, surpassing Tamim Iqbal's 334* for the highest first-class score by a Bangladeshi, drawing praise from Tamim.

Bangladesh batter Towhid Hridoy creates history with 350 not out in South Africa

India remains Afghanistan cricket’s most important partner, Afghanistan Cricket Board chairman Mirwais Ashraf has said, praising New Delhi’s role in funding, venues, and bilateral cricket. In an exclusive interview with WION's Sidhant Sibal, Ashraf singled out the 2023 Asian Cricket Council meeting in Bahrain, held under Jay Shah’s presidency, when Afghanistan’s share of ACC distributions rose from about 6 percent to 15 percent, matching other Asian Full Members. “This was an important development… and provided additional financial support for the growth of the game,” he said.He also thanked the BCCI for giving Afghanistan access to three Indian grounds—Dehradun, Greater Noida, and Lucknow—to stage international fixtures when home options were limited. India, he noted, was the first country to host Afghanistan’s maiden Test after it achieved Full Member status. Infrastructure is the unfinished chapter. India began four projects in Afghanistan: grounds in Paktika, Logar, and Balkh, and a guest house at Kandahar. “The ACB hopes that India will resume its support for the remaining projects,” Ashraf said, adding that the board would raise the issue with Indian officials.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-womens-champions-trophy-2027-india-host-venues-sri-lanka-1788374552917">India to host inaugural 2027 Women's Champions Trophy across Mumbai and Vadodara</a>He pointed out that Afghanistan's cricket rise is no longer a surprise but the product of talent, planning, and a widening domestic pathway. “Natural talent, unity, and hard work” sit alongside board strategy, he said. Full interview:Sidhant Sibal: How do you see the standing of Afghan cricket currently in the global cricketing world?Mirwais Ashraf: Afghanistan cricket has achieved several major milestones across ICC, ACC, and bilateral competitions in recent years. At the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, Afghanistan produced their best-ever ODI World Cup campaign, defeating England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands and finishing sixth overall in the tournament. Afghanistan then reached the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 for the first time in their history. During that remarkable campaign, they recorded memorable victories over teams including New Zealand, Australia, Bangladesh, and Uganda. Their strong performance at the 2023 ODI World Cup also earned them qualification for their maiden ICC Champions Trophy in 2025. Afghanistan continued to make history at that tournament by defeating England, registering their first-ever Champions Trophy victory.Success has not been limited to the senior national team. Afghan Abdalyan (Afghanistan A) won the ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024, defeating Sri Lanka A in the final to claim their first title in the competition. At the youth level, the Afghanistan U19 national team reached the semi-finals of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026, further demonstrating the strength and depth of Afghanistan’s developing cricket structure. These outstanding performances across the senior, A-team, and U19 levels reflect Afghanistan’s continued rise and growing presence in international cricket.Afghanistan’s progress has also been evident outside ICC and ACC tournaments. In bilateral cricket, the national team has produced impressive performances and recorded significant series and match victories against established international sides such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, and South Africa. Together, these achievements demonstrate Afghanistan cricket’s growing competitiveness, depth, and ability to perform consistently against leading teams on the international stage.Sidhant Sibal: Afghanistan cricket has achieved notable successes in recent ICC events, including strong showings in the 2024 T20 World Cup. What do you see as the key factors behind this progress, and how is the Board sustaining that momentum?Mirwais Ashraf: Several key factors have contributed to Afghanistan’s major achievements at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, and ICC Champions Trophy 2025. One of the most important factors behind Afghanistan’s remarkable progress in international cricket is the country’s natural cricketing talent, combined with the dedication, unity, discipline, and hard work of the players.At the same time, the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s (ACB) strategic planning and preparation played a significant role in the national team’s outstanding performances at the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. As part of its preparations, the ACB organized the Shpageeza Cricket League ahead of the World Cup, providing national team players with valuable competitive match exposure before the tournament. In addition, the team traveled to the West Indies well in advance of the competition to participate in conditioning and preparation camps. This early arrival helped the players adapt to the local weather, pitches, and playing conditions, which proved highly beneficial during the tournament.The appointment of former West Indies star Dwayne “DJ” Bravo as the team’s mentor was another important step. His extensive international experience, particularly in T20 cricket and Caribbean conditions, provided additional technical and strategic support to the players and coaching staff. Together, these measures formed part of a well-planned preparation strategy that contributed significantly to Afghanistan’s impressive World Cup campaign.More broadly, the combination of natural talent, a stronger domestic cricket structure, regular competitive exposure, improved player welfare, greater international experience, the participation of national team players in domestic competitions, specialized high-performance programs, and continued investment in qualified technical and coaching staff has helped create a stronger and more sustainable cricketing system in Afghanistan.Sidhant Sibal: Infrastructure and grassroots development remain critical for a cricket-playing nation like Afghanistan. What are the Board’s current priorities for expanding facilities, academies, and pathways across the provinces?Mirwais Ashraf: The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has continued to make significant investments in cricket infrastructure across the country. At present, the ACB has around 15 cricket grounds and approximately 20 cricket academies nationwide. Eight of these grounds have already been equipped with facilities approaching international standards, including academies, pavilions, grandstands, and other essential infrastructure. The ACB is also working to further upgrade these venues to meet higher international standards. Planned and ongoing improvements include the construction of additional grandstands, installation of spectator seating, floodlights for day-night matches, guest houses, gyms, and other facilities required for high-level domestic and international cricket.One of the ACB’s most ambitious infrastructure projects is the recently launched Kabul International Cricket Complex, which is being developed on approximately 86 Jerib (172,000 square meters) of land. The complex is planned to include a main international cricket ground, two additional ovals, indoor and outdoor academies featuring different types of wickets, spectator stands with a capacity of around 50,000, dedicated media and broadcast production facilities, a guest house, fitness gym, game zone, swimming pool, rehabilitation center, parking areas, and several other facilities required for a modern international cricket venue.With an estimated investment of approximately USD 45 million, the Kabul International Cricket Complex represents a major long-term project for Afghanistan cricket. The ACB is contributing its own resources to the development while also seeking support from donors and development partners to help complete the project and establish a world-class cricket facility. We have already shared our proposals with a number of countries and donor organizations, and we remain hopeful that they will contribute to these initiatives in support of cricket development in Afghanistan. Their support would play an important role in creating more opportunities for young players, nurturing the country’s natural cricketing talent, and strengthening the long-term development of the game.Infrastructure development has also expanded significantly at the provincial level. In 2025 alone, the ACB constructed four new cricket grounds in Logar, Laghman, Baghlan, and Balkh provinces, in addition to establishing 11 cricket academies across different parts of the country. We have paid particular attention to regions where cricket opportunities and facilities have traditionally been limited, especially in the northern parts of the country.We are confident that our academy project in Badakhshan that was completed in 2024—one of Afghanistan’s remote provinces—together with the development of cricket grounds in Balkh and Baghlan, recently completed, will play a significant role in expanding access to professional cricket opportunities for young people in these regions. These projects are expected to help identify and nurture local talent, improve access to proper training facilities, and create a stronger pathway for young cricketers to develop their skills and pursue opportunities within Afghanistan’s cricketing system.Alongside infrastructure development, the ACB has also expanded its high-performance structure. In addition to the main High-Performance Center (HPC) at the Afghanistan Cricket Board, the ACB has recently established Regional High-Performance Centers (RHPCs). These regional centers are designed to provide structured training, coaching, talent identification, and player development opportunities closer to where players live. The establishment of RHPCs is expected to significantly strengthen Afghanistan’s talent pathway by allowing promising players from different regions to receive high-quality coaching and performance support without relying solely on the central HPC in Kabul. This will help broaden the national talent pool, improve the transition from grassroots and domestic cricket to higher levels, and ensure that talented players from across the country have a clearer pathway toward professional and international cricket.Sidhant Sibal: Domestic competitions and the Afghanistan Premier League (or similar structures) are vital for talent identification. What is the vision for strengthening the domestic calendar and professional opportunities for Afghan cricketers?Mirwais Ashraf: Afghanistan’s domestic cricket structure has played a central role in identifying, developing, and preparing players who now represent the country at the international level. One of the major competitions is the Afghanistan Premier League (APL), preparations for the second edition of which are currently underway. As part of this process, three teams were sold during a special ceremony held in Dubai on August 25. The event also featured the unveiling of the APL’s striking new trophy, which received widespread praise for its distinctive design and visual appeal. The player registration process has also commenced, while the players’ draft ceremony is expected to be held in the near future.Another major competition is the Shpageeza Cricket League, one of Afghanistan’s leading domestic tournaments. Its most recent, 11th edition was held in Khost province and featured high-standard production and broadcast coverage. The competition brings together many of Afghanistan’s most prominent national team players and popular cricket stars, while also providing an important platform for emerging players to showcase their abilities, gain valuable competitive exposure, and progress toward professional and international cricket. It is also noteworthy that Afghan Abdalyan was largely formed from the standout performers of the 2024 Shpageeza Cricket League. The team went on to compete in the Emerging Asia Cup that same year and achieved historic success by winning the championship title.This achievement demonstrated the important role of domestic competitions in identifying talented players and preparing them for higher levels of international cricket. Age-group cricket has been equally important in developing the next generation of Afghan cricketers. Many players who currently represent the Afghanistan National Team and Afghan Abdalyan have progressed through these domestic, age-group, and high-performance pathways. Together, these competitions form an important part of the ACB’s player-development system and help ensure a continuous supply of talent for Afghanistan cricket.The Afghanistan Cricket Board has developed a clear domestic cricket pathway that starts with around 500 registered clubs and 8,000 players nationwide. Top performers progress through Grade Two and Grade One provincial competitions, then move into regional and major domestic tournaments such as three-day cricket, First-Class cricket, List A, the National T20 Cup, and the Shpageeza Cricket League.This step-by-step structure creates a direct pathway from grassroots cricket to Afghan Abdalyan and ultimately the senior national team. Another important element of Afghanistan’s domestic cricket development has been the live broadcast of major competitions. Leading events, including First-Class, List A, the National T20 Cup, and the Shpageeza Cricket League, are broadcast live, giving young and emerging cricketers valuable exposure on a professional platform. The combination of a structured pathway from club cricket to provincial, regional, A-team, and national-team levels, together with high-quality competitions and live broadcasting, has created a strong platform for talent development. It has enabled Afghanistan to continuously identify promising players, provide them with meaningful competitive experience, and prepare them for the demands of international cricket.Sidhant Sibal: How has the Afghanistan Cricket Board benefited from India's support in developing cricket infrastructure and training facilities over the years?Mirwais Ashraf: India has extended valuable support to the Afghanistan Cricket Board on a number of occasions, and we remain appreciative of that cooperation. One significant example came during the Asian Cricket Council meeting held in Bahrain in 2023, when the ACB raised the issue of Afghanistan’s share of the ACC’s financial distribution. At the time, Afghanistan was receiving approximately 6 percent, despite being a Full Member. Following discussions at the meeting, under the presidency of Mr. Jay Shah, Afghanistan’s share was increased to 15 percent, bringing it in line with the other Full Member cricket boards in Asia. This was an important development for Afghanistan cricket and provided additional financial support for the growth of the game.We are sincerely grateful to India and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for their valuable support in providing Afghanistan with access to three cricket venues in India—Dehradun, Greater Noida, and Lucknow—where we host our international events. These venues played an important role in ensuring the continuity of our cricketing programs.India had also initiated four cricket infrastructure projects in four provinces of Afghanistan, including cricket grounds in Paktika, Logar, and Balkh, as well as a guest house at the Kandahar Cricket Ground. Following the change of government in Afghanistan, three of these projects remained incomplete, while the guest house project at the Kandahar venue was completed. The Afghanistan Cricket Board hopes that India will resume its support for the remaining projects and facilitate their completion. The ACB intends to raise this matter during its upcoming meeting with Indian officials and discuss possible ways forward for completing these important infrastructure projects.Sidhant Sibal: Are there plans for more bilateral series between India and Afghanistan beyond multilateral tournaments?Mirwais Ashraf: In bilateral cricket, we remain deeply appreciative of the support and cooperation of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). After Afghanistan gained Full Member status, India became the first country to host Afghanistan in its historic maiden Test match, marking an important milestone in the development of Afghan cricket.In recent years, Afghanistan and India have increasingly engaged in bilateral cricket. India hosted Afghanistan for a highly competitive and entertaining T20I series that produced quality cricket, close contests, and memorable moments for fans of both nations. This year, the two sides have been involved across all three formats. India hosted Afghanistan for a Test and ODI series, and Afghanistan is now set to host India for a T20I series. This growing bilateral engagement reflects the strength of the cricketing relationship between the two countries.Bilateral cricket, particularly in the shorter formats, not only provides exciting contests for cricket fans around the world but also creates valuable opportunities for Afghan players to compete against top-quality opposition, gain experience in high-pressure situations, and further develop their skills in modern international cricket. We hope this cooperation will continue and expand in the years ahead. We also encourage all Full Member cricket boards to strengthen bilateral engagement with Afghanistan, with the focus remaining on cricket and sporting cooperation. Regular bilateral cricket can contribute significantly to player development, competitive growth, and stronger friendly relations between cricketing nations.Sidhant Sibal: What steps is the ACB taking to strengthen long-term cricket ties with India amid regional geopolitical challenges? We saw how Pakistani strikes killed Afghan cricketers.Mirwais Ashraf: Cricket is a gentleman’s game and has always carried a message of friendship, peace, mutual respect, and entertainment across the world. Afghanistan strongly believes in building positive and healthy relationships with other countries, not only through sport but also in wider areas such as economic, social, and diplomatic cooperation.As part of this approach, Afghanistan recently invited and hosted the Uzbekistan national cricket team and played a T20 match against them. The Afghanistan Cricket Board has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Uzbekistan to provide technical support, assist in the development of their coaching staff, and contribute to the training and development of their players.Our cooperation is not limited to Uzbekistan. The ACB has similar agreements and development partnerships with a number of emerging cricket nations. These initiatives reflect Afghanistan’s goodwill, its commitment to strengthening international cricket relationships, and its willingness to contribute to the development of the game beyond its own borders. We hope to see the same spirit of cooperation from other cricketing nations, particularly our neighboring countries. Strong sporting relationships can create mutual understanding, strengthen friendships between nations, and contribute to the continued growth and development of cricket across the region and beyond.

ACB Chairman Mirwais Ashraf praised India’s vital support in funding and venues while highlighting natural talent, structured domestic pathways, and board strategy behind Afghanistan's rise.

India remains Afghanistan cricket’s most important partner, Afghanistan Cricket Board chairman Mirwais Ashraf has said, praising New Delhi’s role in funding, venues, and bilateral cricket. In an exclusive interview with WION's Sidhant Sibal, Ashraf singled out the 2023 Asian Cricket Council meeting in Bahrain, held under Jay Shah’s presidency, when Afghanistan’s share of ACC distributions rose from about 6 percent to 15 percent, matching other Asian Full Members. “This was an important development… and provided additional financial support for the growth of the game,” he said. He also thanked the BCCI for giving Afghanistan access to three Indian grounds—Dehradun, Greater Noida, and Lucknow—to stage international fixtures when home options were limited. India, he noted, was the first country to host Afghanistan’s maiden Test after it achieved Full Member status. Infrastructure is the unfinished chapter. India began four projects in Afghanistan: grounds in Paktika, Logar, and Balkh, and a guest house at Kandahar. “The ACB hopes that India will resume its support for the remaining projects,” Ashraf said, adding that the board would raise the issue with Indian officials. Also Read - India to host inaugural 2027 Women's Champions Trophy across Mumbai and Vadodara He pointed out that Afghanistan's cricket rise is no longer a surprise but the product of talent, planning, and a widening domestic pathway. “Natural talent, unity, and hard work” sit alongside board strategy, he said. Full interview: Sidhant Sibal: How do you see the standing of Afghan cricket currently in the global cricketing world? Mirwais Ashraf: Afghanistan cricket has achieved several major milestones across ICC, ACC, and bilateral competitions in recent years. At the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, Afghanistan produced their best-ever ODI World Cup campaign, defeating England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands and finishing sixth overall in the tournament. Afghanistan then reached the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 for the first time in their history. During that remarkable campaign, they recorded memorable victories over teams including New Zealand, Australia, Bangladesh, and Uganda. Their strong performance at the 2023 ODI World Cup also earned them qualification for their maiden ICC Champions Trophy in 2025. Afghanistan continued to make history at that tournament by defeating England, registering their first-ever Champions Trophy victory. Success has not been limited to the senior national team. Afghan Abdalyan (Afghanistan A) won the ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024, defeating Sri Lanka A in the final to claim their first title in the competition. At the youth level, the Afghanistan U19 national team reached the semi-finals of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026, further demonstrating the strength and depth of Afghanistan’s developing cricket structure. These outstanding performances across the senior, A-team, and U19 levels reflect Afghanistan’s continued rise and growing presence in international cricket. Afghanistan’s progress has also been evident outside ICC and ACC tournaments. In bilateral cricket, the national team has produced impressive performances and recorded significant series and match victories against established international sides such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, and South Africa. Together, these achievements demonstrate Afghanistan cricket’s growing competitiveness, depth, and ability to perform consistently against leading teams on the international stage. Sidhant Sibal: Afghanistan cricket has achieved notable successes in recent ICC events, including strong showings in the 2024 T20 World Cup. What do you see as the key factors behind this progress, and how is the Board sustaining that momentum? Mirwais Ashraf: Several key factors have contributed to Afghanistan’s major achievements at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, and ICC Champions Trophy 2025. One of the most important factors behind Afghanistan’s remarkable progress in international cricket is the country’s natural cricketing talent, combined with the dedication, unity, discipline, and hard work of the players. At the same time, the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s (ACB) strategic planning and preparation played a significant role in the national team’s outstanding performances at the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. As part of its preparations, the ACB organized the Shpageeza Cricket League ahead of the World Cup, providing national team players with valuable competitive match exposure before the tournament. In addition, the team traveled to the West Indies well in advance of the competition to participate in conditioning and preparation camps. This early arrival helped the players adapt to the local weather, pitches, and playing conditions, which proved highly beneficial during the tournament. The appointment of former West Indies star Dwayne “DJ” Bravo as the team’s mentor was another important step. His extensive international experience, particularly in T20 cricket and Caribbean conditions, provided additional technical and strategic support to the players and coaching staff. Together, these measures formed part of a well-planned preparation strategy that contributed significantly to Afghanistan’s impressive World Cup campaign. More broadly, the combination of natural talent, a stronger domestic cricket structure, regular competitive exposure, improved player welfare, greater international experience, the participation of national team players in domestic competitions, specialized high-performance programs, and continued investment in qualified technical and coaching staff has helped create a stronger and more sustainable cricketing system in Afghanistan. Sidhant Sibal: Infrastructure and grassroots development remain critical for a cricket-playing nation like Afghanistan. What are the Board’s current priorities for expanding facilities, academies, and pathways across the provinces? Mirwais Ashraf: The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has continued to make significant investments in cricket infrastructure across the country. At present, the ACB has around 15 cricket grounds and approximately 20 cricket academies nationwide. Eight of these grounds have already been equipped with facilities approaching international standards, including academies, pavilions, grandstands, and other essential infrastructure. The ACB is also working to further upgrade these venues to meet higher international standards. Planned and ongoing improvements include the construction of additional grandstands, installation of spectator seating, floodlights for day-night matches, guest houses, gyms, and other facilities required for high-level domestic and international cricket. One of the ACB’s most ambitious infrastructure projects is the recently launched Kabul International Cricket Complex, which is being developed on approximately 86 Jerib (172,000 square meters) of land. The complex is planned to include a main international cricket ground, two additional ovals, indoor and outdoor academies featuring different types of wickets, spectator stands with a capacity of around 50,000, dedicated media and broadcast production facilities, a guest house, fitness gym, game zone, swimming pool, rehabilitation center, parking areas, and several other facilities required for a modern international cricket venue. With an estimated investment of approximately USD 45 million, the Kabul International Cricket Complex represents a major long-term project for Afghanistan cricket. The ACB is contributing its own resources to the development while also seeking support from donors and development partners to help complete the project and establish a world-class cricket facility. We have already shared our proposals with a number of countries and donor organizations, and we remain hopeful that they will contribute to these initiatives in support of cricket development in Afghanistan. Their support would play an important role in creating more opportunities for young players, nurturing the country’s natural cricketing talent, and strengthening the long-term development of the game. Infrastructure development has also expanded significantly at the provincial level. In 2025 alone, the ACB constructed four new cricket grounds in Logar, Laghman, Baghlan, and Balkh provinces, in addition to establishing 11 cricket academies across different parts of the country. We have paid particular attention to regions where cricket opportunities and facilities have traditionally been limited, especially in the northern parts of the country. We are confident that our academy project in Badakhshan that was completed in 2024—one of Afghanistan’s remote provinces—together with the development of cricket grounds in Balkh and Baghlan, recently completed, will play a significant role in expanding access to professional cricket opportunities for young people in these regions. These projects are expected to help identify and nurture local talent, improve access to proper training facilities, and create a stronger pathway for young cricketers to develop their skills and pursue opportunities within Afghanistan’s cricketing system. Alongside infrastructure development, the ACB has also expanded its high-performance structure. In addition to the main High-Performance Center (HPC) at the Afghanistan Cricket Board, the ACB has recently established Regional High-Performance Centers (RHPCs). These regional centers are designed to provide structured training, coaching, talent identification, and player development opportunities closer to where players live. The establishment of RHPCs is expected to significantly strengthen Afghanistan’s talent pathway by allowing promising players from different regions to receive high-quality coaching and performance support without relying solely on the central HPC in Kabul. This will help broaden the national talent pool, improve the transition from grassroots and domestic cricket to higher levels, and ensure that talented players from across the country have a clearer pathway toward professional and international cricket. Sidhant Sibal: Domestic competitions and the Afghanistan Premier League (or similar structures) are vital for talent identification. What is the vision for strengthening the domestic calendar and professional opportunities for Afghan cricketers? Mirwais Ashraf: Afghanistan’s domestic cricket structure has played a central role in identifying, developing, and preparing players who now represent the country at the international level. One of the major competitions is the Afghanistan Premier League (APL), preparations for the second edition of which are currently underway. As part of this process, three teams were sold during a special ceremony held in Dubai on August 25. The event also featured the unveiling of the APL’s striking new trophy, which received widespread praise for its distinctive design and visual appeal. The player registration process has also commenced, while the players’ draft ceremony is expected to be held in the near future. Another major competition is the Shpageeza Cricket League, one of Afghanistan’s leading domestic tournaments. Its most recent, 11th edition was held in Khost province and featured high-standard production and broadcast coverage. The competition brings together many of Afghanistan’s most prominent national team players and popular cricket stars, while also providing an important platform for emerging players to showcase their abilities, gain valuable competitive exposure, and progress toward professional and international cricket. It is also noteworthy that Afghan Abdalyan was largely formed from the standout performers of the 2024 Shpageeza Cricket League. The team went on to compete in the Emerging Asia Cup that same year and achieved historic success by winning the championship title. This achievement demonstrated the important role of domestic competitions in identifying talented players and preparing them for higher levels of international cricket. Age-group cricket has been equally important in developing the next generation of Afghan cricketers. Many players who currently represent the Afghanistan National Team and Afghan Abdalyan have progressed through these domestic, age-group, and high-performance pathways. Together, these competitions form an important part of the ACB’s player-development system and help ensure a continuous supply of talent for Afghanistan cricket. The Afghanistan Cricket Board has developed a clear domestic cricket pathway that starts with around 500 registered clubs and 8,000 players nationwide. Top performers progress through Grade Two and Grade One provincial competitions, then move into regional and major domestic tournaments such as three-day cricket, First-Class cricket, List A, the National T20 Cup, and the Shpageeza Cricket League. This step-by-step structure creates a direct pathway from grassroots cricket to Afghan Abdalyan and ultimately the senior national team. Another important element of Afghanistan’s domestic cricket development has been the live broadcast of major competitions. Leading events, including First-Class, List A, the National T20 Cup, and the Shpageeza Cricket League, are broadcast live, giving young and emerging cricketers valuable exposure on a professional platform. The combination of a structured pathway from club cricket to provincial, regional, A-team, and national-team levels, together with high-quality competitions and live broadcasting, has created a strong platform for talent development. It has enabled Afghanistan to continuously identify promising players, provide them with meaningful competitive experience, and prepare them for the demands of international cricket. Sidhant Sibal: How has the Afghanistan Cricket Board benefited from India's support in developing cricket infrastructure and training facilities over the years? Mirwais Ashraf: India has extended valuable support to the Afghanistan Cricket Board on a number of occasions, and we remain appreciative of that cooperation. One significant example came during the Asian Cricket Council meeting held in Bahrain in 2023, when the ACB raised the issue of Afghanistan’s share of the ACC’s financial distribution. At the time, Afghanistan was receiving approximately 6 percent, despite being a Full Member. Following discussions at the meeting, under the presidency of Mr. Jay Shah, Afghanistan’s share was increased to 15 percent, bringing it in line with the other Full Member cricket boards in Asia. This was an important development for Afghanistan cricket and provided additional financial support for the growth of the game. We are sincerely grateful to India and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for their valuable support in providing Afghanistan with access to three cricket venues in India—Dehradun, Greater Noida, and Lucknow—where we host our international events. These venues played an important role in ensuring the continuity of our cricketing programs. India had also initiated four cricket infrastructure projects in four provinces of Afghanistan, including cricket grounds in Paktika, Logar, and Balkh, as well as a guest house at the Kandahar Cricket Ground. Following the change of government in Afghanistan, three of these projects remained incomplete, while the guest house project at the Kandahar venue was completed. The Afghanistan Cricket Board hopes that India will resume its support for the remaining projects and facilitate their completion. The ACB intends to raise this matter during its upcoming meeting with Indian officials and discuss possible ways forward for completing these important infrastructure projects. Sidhant Sibal: Are there plans for more bilateral series between India and Afghanistan beyond multilateral tournaments? Mirwais Ashraf: In bilateral cricket, we remain deeply appreciative of the support and cooperation of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). After Afghanistan gained Full Member status, India became the first country to host Afghanistan in its historic maiden Test match, marking an important milestone in the development of Afghan cricket. In recent years, Afghanistan and India have increasingly engaged in bilateral cricket. India hosted Afghanistan for a highly competitive and entertaining T20I series that produced quality cricket, close contests, and memorable moments for fans of both nations. This year, the two sides have been involved across all three formats. India hosted Afghanistan for a Test and ODI series, and Afghanistan is now set to host India for a T20I series. This growing bilateral engagement reflects the strength of the cricketing relationship between the two countries. Bilateral cricket, particularly in the shorter formats, not only provides exciting contests for cricket fans around the world but also creates valuable opportunities for Afghan players to compete against top-quality opposition, gain experience in high-pressure situations, and further develop their skills in modern international cricket. We hope this cooperation will continue and expand in the years ahead. We also encourage all Full Member cricket boards to strengthen bilateral engagement with Afghanistan, with the focus remaining on cricket and sporting cooperation. Regular bilateral cricket can contribute significantly to player development, competitive growth, and stronger friendly relations between cricketing nations. Sidhant Sibal: What steps is the ACB taking to strengthen long-term cricket ties with India amid regional geopolitical challenges? We saw how Pakistani strikes killed Afghan cricketers. Mirwais Ashraf: Cricket is a gentleman’s game and has always carried a message of friendship, peace, mutual respect, and entertainment across the world. Afghanistan strongly believes in building positive and healthy relationships with other countries, not only through sport but also in wider areas such as economic, social, and diplomatic cooperation. As part of this approach, Afghanistan recently invited and hosted the Uzbekistan national cricket team and played a T20 match against them. The Afghanistan Cricket Board has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Uzbekistan to provide technical support, assist in the development of their coaching staff, and contribute to the training and development of their players. Our cooperation is not limited to Uzbekistan. The ACB has similar agreements and development partnerships with a number of emerging cricket nations. These initiatives reflect Afghanistan’s goodwill, its commitment to strengthening international cricket relationships, and its willingness to contribute to the development of the game beyond its own borders. We hope to see the same spirit of cooperation from other cricketing nations, particularly our neighboring countries. Strong sporting relationships can create mutual understanding, strengthen friendships between nations, and contribute to the continued growth and development of cricket across the region and beyond.

ACB Chairman Mirwais Ashraf praised India’s vital support in funding and venues while highlighting natural talent, structured domestic pathways, and board strategy behind Afghanistan's rise.

Afghanistan Cricket Board chairman Mirwais Ashraf credits players’ hard work &  partnership with India for rise of Afghan Cricket

The ICC has shifted the venue for the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy in 2027 from Sri Lanka to India. Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium and the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium will host all matches, to be played in the T20 format, from February 14 to 28. &nbsp;Despite losing the tournament's hosting rights due to the government’s interference in its cricket board, Sri Lanka will feature in this six-team competition, having qualified after being in the top six of the T20I rankings on the July 6 qualification cut-off date. The remaining five teams are hosts India, Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa. &nbsp;According to an official release, the ICC assessed Bangladesh, India and South Africa as potential replacements against its established host evaluation criteria before zeroing in on India as Sri Lanka’s replacement host on Wednesday.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pcb-linkedin-fielding-coach-vacancy-pakistan-cricket-shakeup-1788356845017">PCB turns to LinkedIn to hire new fielding coach after Test shake-up</a> &nbsp;While Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium hasn’t hosted an international game since December 2022, when the Indian women’s team hosted Australia in T20Is, it hosted the Women’s Premier League (WPL) inaugural season in 2023. It later hosted some WPL matches in 2025. Vadodara, meanwhile, has also hosted WPL matches in the past two editions. &nbsp;The women’s Champions Trophy was due to be Sri Lanka’s second ICC event in two years, since last co-hosting the men’s T20 World Cup with India in February this year. At this competition, the six participating teams will compete in a round-robin stage, with the top two sides advancing to the final on February 28. &nbsp;Meanwhile, the SLC is under interim administration – the Transformation Committee, which was put in place by the Sri Lanka government and oversees major board changes. The ICC, however, does not recognise politically appointed administrations, and SLC members have been absent at ICC board meetings since the committee was put in place.

India will host the inaugural ICC Women's Champions Trophy in 2027 after the venue was moved from Sri Lanka. Matches take place in Mumbai and Vadodara from Feb 14 to 28. 

The ICC has shifted the venue for the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy in 2027 from Sri Lanka to India. Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium and the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium will host all matches, to be played in the T20 format, from February 14 to 28. Despite losing the tournament's hosting rights due to the government’s interference in its cricket board, Sri Lanka will feature in this six-team competition, having qualified after being in the top six of the T20I rankings on the July 6 qualification cut-off date. The remaining five teams are hosts India, Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa. According to an official release, the ICC assessed Bangladesh, India and South Africa as potential replacements against its established host evaluation criteria before zeroing in on India as Sri Lanka’s replacement host on Wednesday. Also read| PCB turns to LinkedIn to hire new fielding coach after Test shake-up While Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium hasn’t hosted an international game since December 2022, when the Indian women’s team hosted Australia in T20Is, it hosted the Women’s Premier League (WPL) inaugural season in 2023. It later hosted some WPL matches in 2025. Vadodara, meanwhile, has also hosted WPL matches in the past two editions. The women’s Champions Trophy was due to be Sri Lanka’s second ICC event in two years, since last co-hosting the men’s T20 World Cup with India in February this year. At this competition, the six participating teams will compete in a round-robin stage, with the top two sides advancing to the final on February 28. Meanwhile, the SLC is under interim administration – the Transformation Committee, which was put in place by the Sri Lanka government and oversees major board changes. The ICC, however, does not recognise politically appointed administrations, and SLC members have been absent at ICC board meetings since the committee was put in place.

India will host the inaugural ICC Women's Champions Trophy in 2027 after the venue was moved from Sri Lanka. Matches take place in Mumbai and Vadodara from Feb 14 to 28.&nbsp;

India to host inaugural 2027 Women's Champions Trophy across Mumbai and Vadodara

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) turned to job-hunting giant LinkedIn in search of its new fielding coach. The move comes less than a week after the PCB formally opened applications following Shane McDermott’s departure, and arrives amidst a major Test squad shake-up. Pakistan dropped seven squad players midway through the series and released two coaches. All those dropped and released were sent home after Pakistan conceded the three-match series. &nbsp;The PCB posted the opening for the fielding coach position across formats on LinkedIn on Monday, writing, “The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is seeking an experienced and skilled Fielding Coach to join the Pakistan Men’s National Cricket Team. The Fielding Coach will play a crucial role in developing and enhancing the fielding skills of Pakistan National Team Players.” &nbsp;The post, however, instantly went viral on social media, with the recruitment manner drawing attention, as such an appeal from a cricket board for that position is unusual. Like every corporate or IT job opening, the PCB laid out the requirements. Those applying for the job must hold at least a Level II cricket coaching qualification and have a minimum of five years’ experience in a similar role. Candidates must also have worked with elite cricketers, national and international teams and franchise sides. &nbsp;The cricket board also emphasised that the role would go beyond usual fielding drills, with candidates expected to have a deep understanding of game analysis and player development. Those interested in the role must also have experience in monitoring and evaluating systems and processes used at the top level to develop modern fielding techniques.

The last date for applying is September 9 through PCB’s official website.<h2>Widespread Squad Shake-Up</h2>After losing the second Test at Lord’s, the PCB made ground-breaking changes to the travelling entourage. While they released several first-team players, including Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad, and coaches Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul, white-ball coaches Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke have been asked to take over the coaching duties for the final Test. &nbsp;Pakistan picked seven players in their places, including five uncapped ones: Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, and Razaullah. Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, who previously represented Pakistan in Tests, have also been recalled.&nbsp;Read More| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pcb-issues-show-cause-notice-selectors-rizwan-imam-picks-1788279578988">PCB demands explanation within 24 hours from selectors over Rizwan, Imam inclusion</a> &nbsp;Moreover, the PCB has issued a show-cause notice to the selection committee over the inclusion of Mohammad Rizwan and opener Imam-ul-Haq for the West Indies and England Tests. PCB chief selector Aaqib Javed has also launched a scathing attack on Imam over his calf strain, which prevented him from batting in the Lord’s Test, amid reports questioning the authenticity of his previous injuries.

The PCB has posted a vacancy on LinkedIn for Pakistan's next national fielding coach following a major squad overhaul during the England Test series.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) turned to job-hunting giant LinkedIn in search of its new fielding coach. The move comes less than a week after the PCB formally opened applications following Shane McDermott’s departure, and arrives amidst a major Test squad shake-up. Pakistan dropped seven squad players midway through the series and released two coaches. All those dropped and released were sent home after Pakistan conceded the three-match series. The PCB posted the opening for the fielding coach position across formats on LinkedIn on Monday, writing, “The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is seeking an experienced and skilled Fielding Coach to join the Pakistan Men’s National Cricket Team. The Fielding Coach will play a crucial role in developing and enhancing the fielding skills of Pakistan National Team Players.” The post, however, instantly went viral on social media, with the recruitment manner drawing attention, as such an appeal from a cricket board for that position is unusual. Like every corporate or IT job opening, the PCB laid out the requirements. Those applying for the job must hold at least a Level II cricket coaching qualification and have a minimum of five years’ experience in a similar role. Candidates must also have worked with elite cricketers, national and international teams and franchise sides. The cricket board also emphasised that the role would go beyond usual fielding drills, with candidates expected to have a deep understanding of game analysis and player development. Those interested in the role must also have experience in monitoring and evaluating systems and processes used at the top level to develop modern fielding techniques.

The PCB has posted a vacancy on LinkedIn for Pakistan's next national fielding coach following a major squad overhaul during the England Test series.

PCB turns to LinkedIn to hire new fielding coach after Test shake-up

India A will play three four-day matches in New Zealand ahead of the two-match Test series in late November. The ‘A’ games, from October 24 to November 10, will run parallel with India’s white-ball leg against the Kiwis, including five T20Is and three ODIs from October 22 to November 15. While the first ‘A’ match will be played from October 24 to 27 in Lincoln, the second will get underway from October 31 to November 3 in Christchurch and the third from November 7 to 10 in Lincoln. &nbsp;However, the ‘A’ series will also overlap with the domestic tournaments of both India and New Zealand. &nbsp;For the Indian players, this ‘A’ series will clash with the Ranji Trophy tournament, which starts on October 11 – meaning those picked for four-day matches in New Zealand will miss the opening rounds of the Ranji Trophy for their state teams. On the other hand, the ‘A’ tour will coincide with the Ford Trophy (One-Day Tournament), which takes place from October 28 to November 12.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tilak-varma-south-zone-north-zone-duleep-trophy-semifinal-2026-1788346593695">Tilak Varma's masterclass drives South Zone into Duleep Trophy final</a> &nbsp;Meanwhile, India and New Zealand will see this ‘A’ series as preparatory matches for the two-match Test series, crucial to their respective World Test Championship (WTC) standings.&nbsp; &nbsp;The Kiwis, placed third in the current WTC standings, will first host India before touring Australia for four Tests from November to January. After that, New Zealand will host Sri Lanka and travel to Pakistan as part of their WTC schedule. &nbsp;Elsewhere, India is fifth in the standings after winning the away Sri Lanka Tests 1-0. The New Zealand Test series is their next assignment before they host Australia for five Tests in January-February next year, wrapping up their WTC schedule for this cycle. &nbsp;While Australia, South Africa and even New Zealand are top contenders for the 2027 WTC Final, two-time runners-up India could also make a late push for qualification. For Shubman Gill’s side to qualify for their third WTC Final, they must win at least five of their remaining seven matches.

India A will play three four-day matches in New Zealand ahead of the two-Test WTC series in November. Read the full tour schedule and WTC breakdown.

India A will play three four-day matches in New Zealand ahead of the two-match Test series in late November. The ‘A’ games, from October 24 to November 10, will run parallel with India’s white-ball leg against the Kiwis, including five T20Is and three ODIs from October 22 to November 15. While the first ‘A’ match will be played from October 24 to 27 in Lincoln, the second will get underway from October 31 to November 3 in Christchurch and the third from November 7 to 10 in Lincoln. However, the ‘A’ series will also overlap with the domestic tournaments of both India and New Zealand. For the Indian players, this ‘A’ series will clash with the Ranji Trophy tournament, which starts on October 11 – meaning those picked for four-day matches in New Zealand will miss the opening rounds of the Ranji Trophy for their state teams. On the other hand, the ‘A’ tour will coincide with the Ford Trophy (One-Day Tournament), which takes place from October 28 to November 12. Also read| Tilak Varma's masterclass drives South Zone into Duleep Trophy final Meanwhile, India and New Zealand will see this ‘A’ series as preparatory matches for the two-match Test series, crucial to their respective World Test Championship (WTC) standings. The Kiwis, placed third in the current WTC standings, will first host India before touring Australia for four Tests from November to January. After that, New Zealand will host Sri Lanka and travel to Pakistan as part of their WTC schedule. Elsewhere, India is fifth in the standings after winning the away Sri Lanka Tests 1-0. The New Zealand Test series is their next assignment before they host Australia for five Tests in January-February next year, wrapping up their WTC schedule for this cycle. While Australia, South Africa and even New Zealand are top contenders for the 2027 WTC Final, two-time runners-up India could also make a late push for qualification. For Shubman Gill’s side to qualify for their third WTC Final, they must win at least five of their remaining seven matches.

India A will play three four-day matches in New Zealand ahead of the two-Test WTC series in November. Read the full tour schedule and WTC breakdown.

India A to play three four-day games in New Zealand ahead of Test series

Talismanic former England captain Ben Stokes could take up a new role in his latest journey in franchise cricket. After signing a one-year contract with the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League (BBL), Stokes could open during the upcoming season, team head coach Tim Paine hinted. Having played most of his cricket as a middle-order batter across formats, Stokes has a chance to unlock his ‘360-degree game’ at the top, as Paine highlighted. &nbsp;Paine’s presence as head coach played a key role in bringing Stokes to Adelaide. With the two being at opposite ends as captains during the 2019 Ashes -- which made Stokes a national hero for his Leeds outing -- Paine knew exactly how destructive he would be on bouncy tracks Down Under, which suits his game.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ben-stokes-signs-adelaide-strikers-record-bbl-deal-1788273751583">Ben Stokes joins Adelaide Strikers in record AUD $500k BBL deal</a> &nbsp;"He [Stokes] gives us a lot of flexibility," Paine said. "I think initially my chats around how we would use him would probably be opening the batting. I think he's made to open the batting in Big Bash. I think the pacey, bouncy wickets in Australia really suit him. &nbsp;"I've been on the end of a couple of these devastating innings in Test cricket where you feel like you can't defend the field. He can play 360 [degrees]. He's got power. He's got some real class." &nbsp;Only 16 of Stokes’ 148 T20 innings have come as an opener, as he mostly batted at 3, 4 or 5. However, one of his two T20 hundreds came while opening, when he scored a brilliant 107 off just 60 balls for Rajasthan Royals during the 2020 IPL edition.&nbsp; &nbsp;Stokes last played a T20 game during the 2024 edition of The Hundred. &nbsp; &nbsp;"I think he can do a terrific job opening the batting," Paine said. "Playing pretty normally, as we've seen in the past, he can flick a switch, and he's got amazing power. His skill level with the bat and his play of spin, he's just a well-rounded, world-class batter. We think that's probably the best fit for him and for us. &nbsp;"Then with the ball, we think he can surprise people. I've played against him. He's a bit quicker than people think. He's got great skill. He can swing the ball both ways. We feel like we can use him in all phases of the game with the ball as well. He'll impact in the field with his athleticism and just the way he competes,” Paine said.&nbsp;<h2>All Spotlights on Stokes</h2>Stokes knows how to garner attention because of his cricketing aura and personality, and Paine pinpointed that with wild coverage around his BBL signing since Tuesday. Speaking on how it all magnifies when Stokes takes the field at the Adelaide Oval, Paine said, "He's someone that's always drawn a lot of attention because of his personality and the way he plays the game. &nbsp;"I think we've seen in the last 24 hours just how much light he's shone on the Big Bash just with his announcement. I'm sure that will only magnify when he lands in Adelaide and when he starts playing well and scoring runs and taking wickets. &nbsp;"There's some intangible stuff with Stokesy as well, I think, around his leadership, his presence and commercially and fan engagement. So there's not that many players I wouldn't have thought out in the world that tick all of those boxes and are still at a really high level as a cricketer. So, yeah, we made that decision pretty quickly and pursued him quite aggressively,” the former Australian captain added.

Ben Stokes could open the batting for Adelaide Strikers in BBL 16, head coach Tim Paine hinted following the former England captain's blockbuster signing.

Talismanic former England captain Ben Stokes could take up a new role in his latest journey in franchise cricket. After signing a one-year contract with the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League (BBL), Stokes could open during the upcoming season, team head coach Tim Paine hinted. Having played most of his cricket as a middle-order batter across formats, Stokes has a chance to unlock his ‘360-degree game’ at the top, as Paine highlighted. Paine’s presence as head coach played a key role in bringing Stokes to Adelaide. With the two being at opposite ends as captains during the 2019 Ashes -- which made Stokes a national hero for his Leeds outing -- Paine knew exactly how destructive he would be on bouncy tracks Down Under, which suits his game. Also read| Ben Stokes joins Adelaide Strikers in record AUD $500k BBL deal "He [Stokes] gives us a lot of flexibility," Paine said. "I think initially my chats around how we would use him would probably be opening the batting. I think he's made to open the batting in Big Bash. I think the pacey, bouncy wickets in Australia really suit him. "I've been on the end of a couple of these devastating innings in Test cricket where you feel like you can't defend the field. He can play 360 [degrees]. He's got power. He's got some real class." Only 16 of Stokes’ 148 T20 innings have come as an opener, as he mostly batted at 3, 4 or 5. However, one of his two T20 hundreds came while opening, when he scored a brilliant 107 off just 60 balls for Rajasthan Royals during the 2020 IPL edition. Stokes last played a T20 game during the 2024 edition of The Hundred. "I think he can do a terrific job opening the batting," Paine said. "Playing pretty normally, as we've seen in the past, he can flick a switch, and he's got amazing power. His skill level with the bat and his play of spin, he's just a well-rounded, world-class batter. We think that's probably the best fit for him and for us. "Then with the ball, we think he can surprise people. I've played against him. He's a bit quicker than people think. He's got great skill. He can swing the ball both ways. We feel like we can use him in all phases of the game with the ball as well. He'll impact in the field with his athleticism and just the way he competes,” Paine said. All Spotlights on Stokes Stokes knows how to garner attention because of his cricketing aura and personality, and Paine pinpointed that with wild coverage around his BBL signing since Tuesday. Speaking on how it all magnifies when Stokes takes the field at the Adelaide Oval, Paine said, "He's someone that's always drawn a lot of attention because of his personality and the way he plays the game. "I think we've seen in the last 24 hours just how much light he's shone on the Big Bash just with his announcement. I'm sure that will only magnify when he lands in Adelaide and when he starts playing well and scoring runs and taking wickets. "There's some intangible stuff with Stokesy as well, I think, around his leadership, his presence and commercially and fan engagement. So there's not that many players I wouldn't have thought out in the world that tick all of those boxes and are still at a really high level as a cricketer. So, yeah, we made that decision pretty quickly and pursued him quite aggressively,” the former Australian captain added.

Ben Stokes could open the batting for Adelaide Strikers in BBL 16, head coach Tim Paine hinted following the former England captain's blockbuster signing.

BBL 16: Tim Paine teases opening role for Ben Stokes at Adelaide Strikers

T20I batting mainstay Tilak Varma impressed with his first-class game for South Zone in the Duleep Trophy semifinal against North Zone. The left-hander, who is reportedly being drafted into the ODI squad for the 2027 World Cup, smashed an unbeaten 116 in the first innings, before his 51 not out helped South complete the run chase with seven wickets remaining. South Zone will now face East Zone in the tournament final starting September 6 at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium.&nbsp;WATCH WINNING MOMENT -

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">South Zone cruise into the final 🙌 They chase down 181 and beat North Zone by 7 wickets 👌 Scorecard ▶️ <a href="https://t.co/AGjIStrDAT">https://t.co/AGjIStrDAT</a><a href="https://x.com/hashtag/DuleepTrophy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DuleepTrophy</a> | <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/SZvNZ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SZvNZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/UXTDC4wdF4">pic.twitter.com/UXTDC4wdF4</a>&mdash; BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) <a href="https://x.com/BCCIdomestic/status/2095075292226392324?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Batting at number four, his preferred position, Tilak added an unbeaten 80-run stand for the fourth wicket with Smaran Ravichandran to see his team home on Wednesday (Sep 2). Chasing 181 for a spot in the Duleep Trophy final, South Zone started well before losing two batters within six balls.Keeper-batter Narayan Jagadeesan was the next to depart on 43 before Tilak and Ravichandran completed the job.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-cricket-teams-allowed-to-book-own-stays-after-complaints-over-hotel-facilities-1788323869805">Asian Games 2026: Cricket teams allowed to book own stays after complaints over hotel facilities</a> &nbsp;North Zone opted to bat first after winning the toss but failed to capitalise on their call as they were all out on 195 in the first innings. In reply, South Zone scored 312, with Tilak top-scoring for his team. Shreyas Gopal’s 87 at the death also helped the cause as South took a 117-run lead. &nbsp;North Zone’s second innings saw handy contributions from the top order, including opener Sanat Sangwan (76) and Ayush Doseja (52) and 30s from all-rounders Nishant Sindhu (35*) and Anshul Kamboj (36). As a result, they were bowled out for 297, setting South Zone a target of 181. &nbsp;Among the capped players, North Zone seamers Arshdeep Singh and Gurnoor Brar returned with two and five wickets, respectively. Anshul Kamboj also picked up two wickets in the first innings before impressing with his batting cameo in the second.&nbsp; &nbsp;Tilak, meanwhile, is reported to be picked as a backup for Shreyas Iyer for the showpiece event, with the BCCI selectors keen on having a solid left-hander in the middle order.&nbsp;The left-hander is also picked in India’s T20I squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan.

Tilak Varma's unbeaten 116 and 51* powered South Zone past North Zone into the Duleep Trophy 2026 final. Read the full semifinal match report. 

T20I batting mainstay Tilak Varma impressed with his first-class game for South Zone in the Duleep Trophy semifinal against North Zone. The left-hander, who is reportedly being drafted into the ODI squad for the 2027 World Cup, smashed an unbeaten 116 in the first innings, before his 51 not out helped South complete the run chase with seven wickets remaining. South Zone will now face East Zone in the tournament final starting September 6 at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium. WATCH WINNING MOMENT -

Tilak Varma's unbeaten 116 and 51* powered South Zone past North Zone into the Duleep Trophy 2026 final. Read the full semifinal match report.&nbsp;

Tilak Varma's masterclass drives South Zone into Duleep Trophy final

The ongoing Caribbean Premier League (CPL) saw a huge no-ball controversy pan out on Tuesday (Sep 1) during the match between St Kitts and Nevis Patriots and Barbados Tridents. Both teams needed a win to bolster their playoff chances in the tournament, but the Patriots came out as winners. The controversy involved Patriots' Johnson Charles being adjudged out on a high full-toss before being called back by the third umpire. Tridents skipper Chris Green wasn't happy about it, and he found an ally in Patriots skipper Jason Holder in calling out the umpiring.<h2>Patriots win but not without controversy</h2>Chasing a mammoth 218, SKNP were 35/0 in 3.4 overs when Tridents' Ramon Simmonds bowled a full-toss to Charles. He was caught at deep square by Sherfane Rutherford. Charles was back in the dugout after scoring 26, but the third umpire reviewed the decision and Charles was called back. He hit a six on the very next ball—a free hit. The batter eventually scored 78 off 45 balls to take his team home and become Player of the Match as well.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-cricket-teams-allowed-to-book-own-stays-after-complaints-over-hotel-facilities-1788323869805">Asian Games 2026: Cricket teams allowed to book own stays after complaints over hotel facilities</a><h2>How did teams react?</h2>"The umpires tonight, I thought they managed the game poorly with that decision in the way that a player goes off the field and then comes back on," said Tridents captain Green after the match while talking to the broadcaster. His counterpart Holder, surprisingly, agreed with it and said: "It's probably a wake-up call for the umpires to be a bit firmer and more decisive. It doesn't look good seeing a player go off the field and then have to be called back on. In terms of the wides, we only ask for consistency. They're only human as well and will make mistakes, but hopefully, we can clean that up going forward."Johnson Charles, who was in the middle of all this, said: "From the very get-go, I thought it was a no-ball because it's all about the point of contact, and I thought it was a no-ball right there and then. But you know, some controversies just liven up the game, and it's all up to the umpires."

CPL saw controversy when SKNP's Johnson Charles was recalled after walking off on a no-ball. He scored 78 to beat Tridents, as captains Chris Green and Jason Holder criticized the umpiring delay.

The ongoing Caribbean Premier League (CPL) saw a huge no-ball controversy pan out on Tuesday (Sep 1) during the match between St Kitts and Nevis Patriots and Barbados Tridents. Both teams needed a win to bolster their playoff chances in the tournament, but the Patriots came out as winners. The controversy involved Patriots' Johnson Charles being adjudged out on a high full-toss before being called back by the third umpire. Tridents skipper Chris Green wasn't happy about it, and he found an ally in Patriots skipper Jason Holder in calling out the umpiring. Patriots win but not without controversy Chasing a mammoth 218, SKNP were 35/0 in 3.4 overs when Tridents' Ramon Simmonds bowled a full-toss to Charles. He was caught at deep square by Sherfane Rutherford. Charles was back in the dugout after scoring 26, but the third umpire reviewed the decision and Charles was called back. He hit a six on the very next ball—a free hit. The batter eventually scored 78 off 45 balls to take his team home and become Player of the Match as well. Also Read - Asian Games 2026: Cricket teams allowed to book own stays after complaints over hotel facilities How did teams react? "The umpires tonight, I thought they managed the game poorly with that decision in the way that a player goes off the field and then comes back on," said Tridents captain Green after the match while talking to the broadcaster. His counterpart Holder, surprisingly, agreed with it and said: "It's probably a wake-up call for the umpires to be a bit firmer and more decisive. It doesn't look good seeing a player go off the field and then have to be called back on. In terms of the wides, we only ask for consistency. They're only human as well and will make mistakes, but hopefully, we can clean that up going forward." Johnson Charles, who was in the middle of all this, said: "From the very get-go, I thought it was a no-ball because it's all about the point of contact, and I thought it was a no-ball right there and then. But you know, some controversies just liven up the game, and it's all up to the umpires."

CPL saw controversy when SKNP's Johnson Charles was recalled after walking off on a no-ball. He scored 78 to beat Tridents, as captains Chris Green and Jason Holder criticized the umpiring delay.

CPL umpiring controversy: Johnson Charles Recalled after being out as Holder sides with opposition

The Asian Games cricket event landed in the soup when the participating <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-cricket-facilities-japan-india-pakistan-acc-concerns-1787987697856">teams raised questions</a> over hotel facilities being provided at Aichi-Nagoya, the host venue of the games. With days to go for the event, Japan Cricket Association CEO Naoki Alex Miyaji has said that the teams can make their own arrangements for stays. AINAGOC [Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organising Committee] has been preparing to host players across a variety of stays, including a cruise liner. The teams, including India and Pakistan, however, were not satisfied with the quality of arrangements.<h2>Teams allowed to book own stays at Asian Games 2026</h2>Speaking to news agency PTI, Miyaji confirmed being in touch with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and reaching a mutual understanding of allowing the participating teams to book their own stays.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/meltdown-in-pakistan-cricket-pcb-director-of-high-performance-aaqib-javed-explains-reasoning-behind-dropping-7-players-sacking-coaches-1788320388158">Meltdown in Pakistan cricket: PCB director of high performance Aaqib Javed explains reasoning behind dropping 7 players, sacking coaches</a>"The participating teams in cricket are being offered hotel accommodation. Many other sports are being accommodated in much more limited facilities such as a cruise ship or container hotels. The teams are free to arrange their own accommodation if they choose to do so," he said."There are both temporary and permanent facilities at the venue. The facilities on the ground are temporary, but AINAGOC has worked very closely with the ACC for over a year now to ensure that the best facilities are provided within the limited timeline and facility restrictions."Despite being temporary, the facilities [make-shift dressing rooms] will provide as comfortable a space as possible for the players and officials. There are also permanent facilities around the ground which will be available to the players," he added.<h2>Cricket schedule in Asian Games 2026</h2>The men's event will feature a total of 10 teams, while the women's event will feature eight teams with games starting directly from the quarter-finals. India had won the gold medal in both the men's and women's events of the sport in the 2023 Asian Games.All the matches will be played at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin from September 17 to 22 (women's event) and September 24 to October 3 (men's event).Apart from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, which have been given direct entry into the knockout round of the men's event, there are six more teams that will play in Round 1. Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, and Oman have been divided into two groups of three teams each, with the top two teams advancing to join the remaining four teams in the knockouts.As for the women's event, eight teams start directly from the quarter-finals: India, China, Bangladesh, Japan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Thailand. The QF match line-ups are: India vs Japan, Bangladesh vs China, Sri Lanka vs Malaysia, and Pakistan vs Thailand.

Cricket teams at the 2026 Asian Games, including India and Pakistan, can book their own stays after expressing dissatisfaction with host facilities, confirmed Japan Cricket CEO Naoki Alex Miyaji.

The Asian Games cricket event landed in the soup when the participating teams raised questions over hotel facilities being provided at Aichi-Nagoya, the host venue of the games. With days to go for the event, Japan Cricket Association CEO Naoki Alex Miyaji has said that the teams can make their own arrangements for stays. AINAGOC [Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organising Committee] has been preparing to host players across a variety of stays, including a cruise liner. The teams, including India and Pakistan, however, were not satisfied with the quality of arrangements. Teams allowed to book own stays at Asian Games 2026 Speaking to news agency PTI, Miyaji confirmed being in touch with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and reaching a mutual understanding of allowing the participating teams to book their own stays. Also Read - Meltdown in Pakistan cricket: PCB director of high performance Aaqib Javed explains reasoning behind dropping 7 players, sacking coaches "The participating teams in cricket are being offered hotel accommodation. Many other sports are being accommodated in much more limited facilities such as a cruise ship or container hotels. The teams are free to arrange their own accommodation if they choose to do so," he said. "There are both temporary and permanent facilities at the venue. The facilities on the ground are temporary, but AINAGOC has worked very closely with the ACC for over a year now to ensure that the best facilities are provided within the limited timeline and facility restrictions. "Despite being temporary, the facilities [make-shift dressing rooms] will provide as comfortable a space as possible for the players and officials. There are also permanent facilities around the ground which will be available to the players," he added. Cricket schedule in Asian Games 2026 The men's event will feature a total of 10 teams, while the women's event will feature eight teams with games starting directly from the quarter-finals. India had won the gold medal in both the men's and women's events of the sport in the 2023 Asian Games. All the matches will be played at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin from September 17 to 22 (women's event) and September 24 to October 3 (men's event). Apart from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, which have been given direct entry into the knockout round of the men's event, there are six more teams that will play in Round 1. Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, and Oman have been divided into two groups of three teams each, with the top two teams advancing to join the remaining four teams in the knockouts. As for the women's event, eight teams start directly from the quarter-finals: India, China, Bangladesh, Japan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Thailand. The QF match line-ups are: India vs Japan, Bangladesh vs China, Sri Lanka vs Malaysia, and Pakistan vs Thailand.

Cricket teams at the 2026 Asian Games, including India and Pakistan, can book their own stays after expressing dissatisfaction with host facilities, confirmed Japan Cricket CEO Naoki Alex Miyaji.

Asian Games 2026: Cricket teams allowed to book own stays after complaints over hotel facilities

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pak-vs-eng-absolutely-ridiculous-pcb-faces-backlash-after-dropping-7-pakistan-players-and-coaches-mid-tour-in-england-1788252550558">drama around the Pakistan cricket team</a> continues to unfold, with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) director of high performance, Aaqib Javed, now calling for an inquiry into batter Imam-ul-Haq. After losing the first two of three Tests, Pakistan sent back seven players from the squad and sacked red-ball head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed as well as bowling coach Umar Gul. The move came after Pakistan's 194-run loss in the second Test, which followed an innings defeat in the first Test. After the reshuffle, PCB selection committee member <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/misbah-ul-haq-resigns-pakistan-selector-pcb-lords-test-overhaul-1788266768336">Misbah-ul-Haq also resigned</a> from his post amid the ongoing meltdown over Pakistan's performance.<h2>PCB director of high performance Aaqib Javed lashes out at Imam</h2>In an interview with Pakistan-based broadcaster Geo, Aaqib called out Imam specifically for not batting in either inning of the second Test. Imam pulled out of batting due to a calf injury ahead of the second day's play. The PCB stated that the batter had suffered a calf tear and that his participation would be subject to a medical opinion. Imam, however, warmed up with the team on Day 4 and took some throwdowns, leading former England great Stuart Broad to call his actions "all for show" while talking on air.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pcb-issues-show-cause-notice-selectors-rizwan-imam-picks-1788279578988">PCB demands explanation within 24 hours from selectors over Rizwan, Imam picks</a>"The Imam injury is a big question mark and a deep disappointment," Aaqib said. "Players in the past used to get injuries, but they used to put on casts and still try [to play]. We'll take action against this. How is it possible that a pulled muscle ruled you out of batting in both innings? He should have tried and fought. He'll have to face an inquiry; I can't say he faked it, but a muscle pull like that cannot stop you from batting altogether."<h2>Why Pakistan <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pakistan-drop-7-players-release-coaches-eng-vs-pak-edgbaston-test-1788199115158">dropped seven players from squad and sacked coaches</a> mid-tour</h2>"No batter in our top seven bowls. We should have included an all-rounder, but most importantly, brought in Ubaid Shah, who bowls close to 140 kph. One fast bowler changes the composition of your attack. I understand dropping [Salman] Agha, who's out of form, but you should have played Ghazi Ghori instead of [Mohammad] Rizwan [as the wicketkeeper]. Someone had to take action. The world is laughing at us because we can't even compete. The message we're sending to the recalled players is that you have to raise your game on important tours and compete, and we should be able to see some effort," explained Aaqib.Pakistan dropped Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad. Meanwhile, Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, Razaullah, Saim Ayub, and Abdullah Fazal were called into the squad.The third Test of the series, for which all changes have been made, starts September 9 at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

Following two heavy Test defeats, Pakistan sacked coaches Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul, dropped seven players, and triggered Misbah-ul-Haq's exit. PCB's Aaqib Javed ordering an inquiry into Imam-ul-Haq.

The drama around the Pakistan cricket team continues to unfold, with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) director of high performance, Aaqib Javed, now calling for an inquiry into batter Imam-ul-Haq. After losing the first two of three Tests, Pakistan sent back seven players from the squad and sacked red-ball head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed as well as bowling coach Umar Gul. The move came after Pakistan's 194-run loss in the second Test, which followed an innings defeat in the first Test. After the reshuffle, PCB selection committee member Misbah-ul-Haq also resigned from his post amid the ongoing meltdown over Pakistan's performance. PCB director of high performance Aaqib Javed lashes out at Imam In an interview with Pakistan-based broadcaster Geo, Aaqib called out Imam specifically for not batting in either inning of the second Test. Imam pulled out of batting due to a calf injury ahead of the second day's play. The PCB stated that the batter had suffered a calf tear and that his participation would be subject to a medical opinion. Imam, however, warmed up with the team on Day 4 and took some throwdowns, leading former England great Stuart Broad to call his actions "all for show" while talking on air. Also Read - PCB demands explanation within 24 hours from selectors over Rizwan, Imam picks "The Imam injury is a big question mark and a deep disappointment," Aaqib said. "Players in the past used to get injuries, but they used to put on casts and still try [to play]. We'll take action against this. How is it possible that a pulled muscle ruled you out of batting in both innings? He should have tried and fought. He'll have to face an inquiry; I can't say he faked it, but a muscle pull like that cannot stop you from batting altogether." Why Pakistan dropped seven players from squad and sacked coaches mid-tour "No batter in our top seven bowls. We should have included an all-rounder, but most importantly, brought in Ubaid Shah, who bowls close to 140 kph. One fast bowler changes the composition of your attack. I understand dropping [Salman] Agha, who's out of form, but you should have played Ghazi Ghori instead of [Mohammad] Rizwan [as the wicketkeeper]. Someone had to take action. The world is laughing at us because we can't even compete. The message we're sending to the recalled players is that you have to raise your game on important tours and compete, and we should be able to see some effort," explained Aaqib. Pakistan dropped Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad. Meanwhile, Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, Razaullah, Saim Ayub, and Abdullah Fazal were called into the squad. The third Test of the series, for which all changes have been made, starts September 9 at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

Following two heavy Test defeats, Pakistan sacked coaches Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul, dropped seven players, and triggered Misbah-ul-Haq's exit. PCB's Aaqib Javed ordering an inquiry into Imam-ul-Haq.

Meltdown in Pakistan cricket: PCB director of high performance Aaqib Javed explains reasoning behind dropping 7 players, sacking coaches

Almost a day after dropping seven squad players and releasing two coaches after losing the Lord’s Test to England, the PCB has demanded a detailed explanation within the next 24 hours from the selection committee over Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq’s inclusions. &nbsp;The latest reports suggest that the PCB has issued show-cause notices to the four-member selection committee, challenging their decisions to play Rizwan and Imam on away tours of the West Indies and England. The committee, comprising former cricketers, including Aaqib Javed, Asad Shafiq, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Misbah-ul-Haq, has less than a day to respond to the PCB. &nbsp;Cricbuzz reports that a PCB spokesperson confirmed this development.&nbsp; &nbsp;"As advised by competent authority, you are hereby requested to provide an explanation regarding the basis and rationale for the selection of the two players, including relevant selection criteria, performance considerations and any other factors taken into account during the selection process,” the formal wording read.&nbsp; &nbsp;The PCB move comes following underwhelming performance from Rizwan on the English tour and mystery surrounding Imam’s left calf strain. Following a modest Caribbean tour with the bat, Rizwan’s returns against England in the first two Tests never helped Pakistan recover from any dire situation. Although most of their batters failed in the two Tests, where Pakistan didn’t cross 200 in four innings, Rizwan’s lack of game awareness cost Pakistan dearly, as they lost those matches and have conceded the three-match series. Rizwan scored 7, 1, 12 and 41 in four outings.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/misbah-ul-haq-resigns-pakistan-selector-pcb-lords-test-overhaul-1788266768336">Misbah-ul-Haq quits as Pakistan selector amid PCB’s post-Lord’s overhaul</a> &nbsp;On the other hand, opener Imam-ul-Haq, who was amongst the seven players released from the squad, did not bat at Lord’s after suffering a left calf strain. Although he suffered that injury during the series opener at Headingley and batted in both innings with tape around, he did not play any role in Lord’s Test after tea on day one. &nbsp;Imam was taken for scans, which later revealed the severity of his injury, with the team doctors suggesting he rest for 10 days. Meanwhile, these developments came shortly after Misbah tendered his resignation on Tuesday (Sep 1), but reports suggested that the PCB has yet to accept it.&nbsp;

The PCB has issued a 24-hour show-cause notice to its selection committee, demanding a full explanation for picking Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq for the West Indies and England tours.

Almost a day after dropping seven squad players and releasing two coaches after losing the Lord’s Test to England, the PCB has demanded a detailed explanation within the next 24 hours from the selection committee over Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq’s inclusions. The latest reports suggest that the PCB has issued show-cause notices to the four-member selection committee, challenging their decisions to play Rizwan and Imam on away tours of the West Indies and England. The committee, comprising former cricketers, including Aaqib Javed, Asad Shafiq, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Misbah-ul-Haq, has less than a day to respond to the PCB. Cricbuzz reports that a PCB spokesperson confirmed this development. "As advised by competent authority, you are hereby requested to provide an explanation regarding the basis and rationale for the selection of the two players, including relevant selection criteria, performance considerations and any other factors taken into account during the selection process,” the formal wording read. The PCB move comes following underwhelming performance from Rizwan on the English tour and mystery surrounding Imam’s left calf strain. Following a modest Caribbean tour with the bat, Rizwan’s returns against England in the first two Tests never helped Pakistan recover from any dire situation. Although most of their batters failed in the two Tests, where Pakistan didn’t cross 200 in four innings, Rizwan’s lack of game awareness cost Pakistan dearly, as they lost those matches and have conceded the three-match series. Rizwan scored 7, 1, 12 and 41 in four outings. Also read| Misbah-ul-Haq quits as Pakistan selector amid PCB’s post-Lord’s overhaul On the other hand, opener Imam-ul-Haq, who was amongst the seven players released from the squad, did not bat at Lord’s after suffering a left calf strain. Although he suffered that injury during the series opener at Headingley and batted in both innings with tape around, he did not play any role in Lord’s Test after tea on day one. Imam was taken for scans, which later revealed the severity of his injury, with the team doctors suggesting he rest for 10 days. Meanwhile, these developments came shortly after Misbah tendered his resignation on Tuesday (Sep 1), but reports suggested that the PCB has yet to accept it.

The PCB has issued a 24-hour show-cause notice to its selection committee, demanding a full explanation for picking Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq for the West Indies and England tours.

PCB demands explanation within 24 hours from selectors over Rizwan, Imam inclusion

Former England captain Ben Stokes has signed up for Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League (BBL), the franchise announced on Tuesday (Sep 1). Available to play franchise cricket worldwide following his shock international retirement in June, Stokes picked Australia’s BBL as his first step towards a new journey. The talismanic English all-rounder has also become the first overseas player to join since the new contracting system was confirmed last week, which allows teams to make direct signings.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Stoked. The Adelaide Strikers are thrilled to announce the signing of one of cricket&#39;s greatest all-rounders, Ben Stokes, ahead of BBL|16. Details → <a href="https://t.co/a18wsyxP5y">https://t.co/a18wsyxP5y</a> <a href="https://t.co/SozHIsrdTw">pic.twitter.com/SozHIsrdTw</a>&mdash; Adelaide Strikers (@StrikersBBL) <a href="https://x.com/StrikersBBL/status/2094717657623011352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

In Stokes’ case, local media reports that his deal is in the region of AU$500,000 (US$360,000 approx.) – significantly higher than the previous highest band at the platinum level of the draft which was AU$420,000. More overseas signings in the coming weeks could fetch huge numbers.&nbsp; &nbsp;Several BBL clubs were interested in signing Stokes, but it was the Strikers, coached by former Australian Test captain Tim Paine, who secured his services for one year.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/josh-hazlewood-australia-south-africa-tour-crowd-abuse-1788180061686">Josh Hazlewood expects South Africa sledging, insists Aussies won't be fazed</a> &nbsp;"I'm really excited to be joining the Adelaide Strikers for BBL|16," Stokes said in a statement. "I've always enjoyed playing in Australia, and when the opportunity came up to join the Strikers it was one I couldn't pass up. &nbsp;"Adelaide Oval is an incredible place to play cricket, the Big Bash is a fantastic competition, and the Strikers have an exciting group, so I'm looking forward to meeting the players, getting stuck in and contributing to a successful season. &nbsp;"I can't wait to get started, create some special memories with the group and give Strikers fans plenty to cheer about,” he continued. &nbsp;On Stokes’ signing, Paine said, “Ben is one of the greatest all-rounders the game has seen, a proven match-winner and a competitor who thrives under pressure. We're thrilled to have a player of his ability join our squad and can't wait to see him put on a show in BBL|16.”<h2>Touchdown Australia</h2>Meanwhile, Stokes will return to Australia for the first time since leading England in an away Ashes in late 2025. The visitors suffered an embarrassing 3-1 series loss Down Under, having last won an Ashes on Australian soil in 2011/12. &nbsp;The left-handed batter will also make only his second appearance in the BBL, since last representing Melbourne Renegades for a four-game stint in 2014. &nbsp;While Stokes' first game for the Strikers will be against Sydney Thunder, which would include David Warner, on December 16 in Canberra, his first home match will be against Thunder in the return fixture at the Adelaide Oval on December 23.

Former England captain Ben Stokes has signed a record AU$500,000 deal with the Adelaide Strikers for BBL|16. Read the full details on his full-season commitment.

Former England captain Ben Stokes has signed up for Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League (BBL), the franchise announced on Tuesday (Sep 1). Available to play franchise cricket worldwide following his shock international retirement in June, Stokes picked Australia’s BBL as his first step towards a new journey. The talismanic English all-rounder has also become the first overseas player to join since the new contracting system was confirmed last week, which allows teams to make direct signings.

Former England captain Ben Stokes has signed a record AU$500,000 deal with the Adelaide Strikers for BBL|16. Read the full details on his full-season commitment.

Ben Stokes joins Adelaide Strikers in record AUD $500k BBL deal

Ace seamer Jasprit Bumrah has returned to the India squad for the three-match Afghanistan T20Is starting September 13 in Delhi. The BCCI selection committee also recalled all-rounders Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar and Harshit Rana for the upcoming series. Bumrah’s selection, however, remains subject to getting fitness clearance from BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE). While Sanju Samson, Axar Patel and Arshdeep Singh return to the 15-man squad after being rested for the Zimbabwe T20Is, Hardik Pandya misses out.<h3>India’s T20I squad for Afghanistan Series –</h3>Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy*, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar*, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah*, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana* &nbsp;*Subject to fitness clearance &nbsp;Varun Chakravarthy, who hurt his hamstring midway through the England T20Is and missed the subsequent Zimbabwe series, has also returned to the T20I squad. Among those left out were Rinku Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, Harsh Dubey, Suryansh Shedge, Ashok Sharma, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav and Yash Thakur. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Bumrah featured in the first two ODIs against England before getting ruled out of the third One-Dayer and the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. He suffered a recurrence of an injury in his left knee – an issue he has been nursing since the T20 World Cup. Rana and Sundar also suffered hamstring injuries on the England tour, while Reddy tore his quadriceps during the home three-match ODI series against Afghanistan.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/east-zone-beat-central-zone-duleep-trophy-final-mukesh-shami-sooryavanshi-1788263366686">Mukesh, Sooryavanshi &amp; Shami fire East Zone past Central Zone into Duleep Trophy final</a> &nbsp;On the other hand, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has also retained his place in the T20I side, with India playing two specialist keepers in Samson and Ishan Kishan. Shivam Dube and Tilak Varma will handle middle and lower-order duties. In the spin bowling department, India picked Varun and Ravi Bishnoi as frontline spinners, leaving out Kuldeep Yadav.&nbsp; &nbsp;India will play Afghanistan in Delhi on September 13, 15 and 17. Though the matches are being played in India, Afghanistan are the official hosts of this series.

Jasprit Bumrah returns to India's T20I squad alongside Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar for the three-match series against Afghanistan in Delhi. Read the full squad details. 

Ace seamer Jasprit Bumrah has returned to the India squad for the three-match Afghanistan T20Is starting September 13 in Delhi. The BCCI selection committee also recalled all-rounders Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar and Harshit Rana for the upcoming series. Bumrah’s selection, however, remains subject to getting fitness clearance from BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE). While Sanju Samson, Axar Patel and Arshdeep Singh return to the 15-man squad after being rested for the Zimbabwe T20Is, Hardik Pandya misses out. India’s T20I squad for Afghanistan Series – Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy*, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar*, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah*, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana* *Subject to fitness clearance Varun Chakravarthy, who hurt his hamstring midway through the England T20Is and missed the subsequent Zimbabwe series, has also returned to the T20I squad. Among those left out were Rinku Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, Harsh Dubey, Suryansh Shedge, Ashok Sharma, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav and Yash Thakur. Meanwhile, Bumrah featured in the first two ODIs against England before getting ruled out of the third One-Dayer and the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. He suffered a recurrence of an injury in his left knee – an issue he has been nursing since the T20 World Cup. Rana and Sundar also suffered hamstring injuries on the England tour, while Reddy tore his quadriceps during the home three-match ODI series against Afghanistan. Also read| Mukesh, Sooryavanshi & Shami fire East Zone past Central Zone into Duleep Trophy final On the other hand, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has also retained his place in the T20I side, with India playing two specialist keepers in Samson and Ishan Kishan. Shivam Dube and Tilak Varma will handle middle and lower-order duties. In the spin bowling department, India picked Varun and Ravi Bishnoi as frontline spinners, leaving out Kuldeep Yadav. India will play Afghanistan in Delhi on September 13, 15 and 17. Though the matches are being played in India, Afghanistan are the official hosts of this series.

Jasprit Bumrah returns to India's T20I squad alongside Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar for the three-match series against Afghanistan in Delhi. Read the full squad details.&nbsp;

Jasprit Bumrah returns for Afghanistan T20Is; Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar recalled

Hours after PCB dropped seven players from the Test squad and sent them home alongside the two coaches, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul, following the loss at Lord’s, Misbah-ul-Haq tendered his resignation as the Pakistan selector. Pakistan lost the second Test by 194 runs and conceded the three-match Test series 2-0. &nbsp;With one game to go at Edgbaston in Birmingham, the board overhauled the squad, sending key players and management home. White-ball coaches Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke will take over coaching duties for the final Test, and five uncapped players among a total of seven have been picked as replacements. &nbsp;Per the latest reports, the PCB has yet to accept Misbah’s resignation, and he has also decided to step down as batting consultant at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pakistan-drop-7-players-release-coaches-eng-vs-pak-edgbaston-test-1788199115158">Pakistan drop 7 players, release coaches after Lord’s Test loss to England</a> &nbsp;Meanwhile, among those released from the Test squad are Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad. Five uncapped players - Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, and Razaullah have been called up, alongside Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, who were recalled to the side for the Edgbaston Test starting Wednesday (Sep 9). &nbsp;Since retiring as Pakistan’s most successful Test captain in 2017, Misbah took over several roles within the PCB. He was appointed as the head coach and chief selector in 2019, before retiring from the selection panel in October 2020. Misbah continued to focus on his role as head coach before resigning from that next year. Misbah kept moving around in different roles within the domestic setup for the next few years. &nbsp;In March this year, he joined a four-member selection committee, including former players like Aaqib Javed, Asad Shafique and Sarfaraz Ahmed. Since then, he has been on a 180-day contract with the PCB as the batting consultant. &nbsp;Babar Azam-led Pakistan is languishing at the bottom of the World Test Championship points table, with just 16 points, including six losses and two wins in eight contested matches. Out of contention for next year's WTC final, Pakistan will look to salvage pride and avoid a series whitewash in Birmingham.

Misbah-ul-Haq resigns as Pakistan selector after the PCB axed seven players and coaches following a 194-run Lord's Test loss to England. Read the full squad overhaul details.

Hours after PCB dropped seven players from the Test squad and sent them home alongside the two coaches, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul, following the loss at Lord’s, Misbah-ul-Haq tendered his resignation as the Pakistan selector. Pakistan lost the second Test by 194 runs and conceded the three-match Test series 2-0. With one game to go at Edgbaston in Birmingham, the board overhauled the squad, sending key players and management home. White-ball coaches Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke will take over coaching duties for the final Test, and five uncapped players among a total of seven have been picked as replacements. Per the latest reports, the PCB has yet to accept Misbah’s resignation, and he has also decided to step down as batting consultant at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. Also read| Pakistan drop 7 players, release coaches after Lord’s Test loss to England Meanwhile, among those released from the Test squad are Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad. Five uncapped players - Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, and Razaullah have been called up, alongside Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, who were recalled to the side for the Edgbaston Test starting Wednesday (Sep 9). Since retiring as Pakistan’s most successful Test captain in 2017, Misbah took over several roles within the PCB. He was appointed as the head coach and chief selector in 2019, before retiring from the selection panel in October 2020. Misbah continued to focus on his role as head coach before resigning from that next year. Misbah kept moving around in different roles within the domestic setup for the next few years. In March this year, he joined a four-member selection committee, including former players like Aaqib Javed, Asad Shafique and Sarfaraz Ahmed. Since then, he has been on a 180-day contract with the PCB as the batting consultant. Babar Azam-led Pakistan is languishing at the bottom of the World Test Championship points table, with just 16 points, including six losses and two wins in eight contested matches. Out of contention for next year's WTC final, Pakistan will look to salvage pride and avoid a series whitewash in Birmingham.

Misbah-ul-Haq resigns as Pakistan selector after the PCB axed seven players and coaches following a 194-run Lord's Test loss to England. Read the full squad overhaul details.

Misbah-ul-Haq quits as Pakistan selector amid PCB’s post-Lord’s overhaul

India internationals, including seamers Mukesh Kumar and Mohammed Shami, alongside batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, powered East Zone past Central Zone by four wickets to reach the Duleep Trophy final this year. While Mukesh returned with seven wickets across two innings and Shami five, Sooryavanshi’s exploits at the top in the first innings were enough to keep their noses in front as East Zone reached the summit clash. Captain Ishan Kishan remained unbeaten during the run chase, scoring 39, including four fours and a six. &nbsp;East Zone’s Kishan won the toss and elected to bowl first at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence Ground 1 in Bengaluru. Opener and keeper batter Aryan Juyal weathered the early storm despite wickets falling regularly at the other end with his gritty 46 off 113 balls. The lower middle-order provided the base as Rinku Singh top-scored with 60 off 88 balls.&nbsp; &nbsp;Yash Thakur’s 30 at the death helped Central Zone put on 266 in the first innings. For the East Zone, seamers Mukesh and Shami picked up four and two wickets, respectively.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-cricket-lack-of-5-star-hotel-facilities-japan-1788177468377">Lack of 5-star room service plagues Asian Games cricket, official says</a> &nbsp;In reply, East Zone got off to a flyer. Sooryavanshi became the youngest to score a fifty in the competition’s history, and domestic giant Abhimanyu Easwaran scored 69. Vaibhav missed out on a well-deserved hundred by just eight runs (92 in 81 balls), with Harsh Dubey accounting for Kumar Kushagra on the very next ball. Easwaran departed soon after and so did the rest of the batters, as the batting collapse saw East Zone equalling Central Zone’s tally of 266 runs.<h2>East Zone Storm into Duleep Trophy Final</h2>Shami and Mukesh tore through Central Zone’s second innings by dismissing them for a mere 158. Shami, who last played for India during the triumphant 2025 Champions Trophy campaign, picked up three wickets. Mukesh was the star with the ball in hand, returning with four to complete a seven-wicket haul in the match. &nbsp;Sooryavanshi and Easwaran added 61 for the first wicket during the chase before Yash Thakur dismissed the dangerous Sooryavanshi on 40, courtesy of a world-class catch by Central Zone captain Rajat Patidar in the deep.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">What. A. Catch 😮 Central Zone captain Rajat Patidar pulls off an absolute blinder 🔥 Scorecard ▶️ <a href="https://t.co/kyExeix2VY">https://t.co/kyExeix2VY</a><a href="https://x.com/hashtag/DuleepTrophy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DuleepTrophy</a> | <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/CZvEZ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CZvEZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/NfAD3Kk9RH">pic.twitter.com/NfAD3Kk9RH</a>&mdash; BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) <a href="https://x.com/BCCIdomestic/status/2094714202913145340?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Wickets kept falling, but Kishan stood his ground, and alongside Shami, who hit the winning runs, helped his team enter the Duleep Trophy final.

Mukesh Kumar’s seven-wicket match haul and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s explosive 92 powered East Zone past Central Zone by four wickets to secure their spot in the Duleep Trophy final.

India internationals, including seamers Mukesh Kumar and Mohammed Shami, alongside batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, powered East Zone past Central Zone by four wickets to reach the Duleep Trophy final this year. While Mukesh returned with seven wickets across two innings and Shami five, Sooryavanshi’s exploits at the top in the first innings were enough to keep their noses in front as East Zone reached the summit clash. Captain Ishan Kishan remained unbeaten during the run chase, scoring 39, including four fours and a six. East Zone’s Kishan won the toss and elected to bowl first at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence Ground 1 in Bengaluru. Opener and keeper batter Aryan Juyal weathered the early storm despite wickets falling regularly at the other end with his gritty 46 off 113 balls. The lower middle-order provided the base as Rinku Singh top-scored with 60 off 88 balls. Yash Thakur’s 30 at the death helped Central Zone put on 266 in the first innings. For the East Zone, seamers Mukesh and Shami picked up four and two wickets, respectively. Also read| Lack of 5-star room service plagues Asian Games cricket, official says In reply, East Zone got off to a flyer. Sooryavanshi became the youngest to score a fifty in the competition’s history, and domestic giant Abhimanyu Easwaran scored 69. Vaibhav missed out on a well-deserved hundred by just eight runs (92 in 81 balls), with Harsh Dubey accounting for Kumar Kushagra on the very next ball. Easwaran departed soon after and so did the rest of the batters, as the batting collapse saw East Zone equalling Central Zone’s tally of 266 runs. East Zone Storm into Duleep Trophy Final Shami and Mukesh tore through Central Zone’s second innings by dismissing them for a mere 158. Shami, who last played for India during the triumphant 2025 Champions Trophy campaign, picked up three wickets. Mukesh was the star with the ball in hand, returning with four to complete a seven-wicket haul in the match. Sooryavanshi and Easwaran added 61 for the first wicket during the chase before Yash Thakur dismissed the dangerous Sooryavanshi on 40, courtesy of a world-class catch by Central Zone captain Rajat Patidar in the deep.

Mukesh Kumar’s seven-wicket match haul and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s explosive 92 powered East Zone past Central Zone by four wickets to secure their spot in the Duleep Trophy final.

Mukesh, Sooryavanshi & Shami fire East Zone past Central Zone into Duleep Trophy final

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Shami, Sooryavanshi fire East Zone past Central Zone into Duleep Trophy final