Page 18 - Cricket

Smith to miss England tour of New Zealand, Bethell gets 1st Test call-up

England wicketkeeper Jamie Smith will miss the team's Test tour of the New Zealand over November and December because he will be on paternity leave for the birth of his first child. Jordan Cox will take the gloves for the tour and looks set to win his first Test cap during the three-match series. Batting all-rounder Jacob Bethell, 21, was called up to a Test squad for the first time, having made his international debut in the summer in T20 and ODI matches against Australia. The 16-man squad will be captained by Ben Stokes and play Tests in Christchurch, Wellington and Hamilton. The first Test in Christchurch starts on November 28. England is coming off a 1-2 series loss in Pakistan. Squad: Ben Stokes (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.

IPL 2025 mega auction: Key info & expected player retentions; know full list here!

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is gearing up for its mega auction next month, likely to be held in the Middle East. But first, each franchise has to submit a list of players they’ll retain.

Jemimah's father denies using Gymkhana facilities for 'conversion meetings'

Indian women's cricket team batter Jemimah Rodrigues' father Ivan on Friday refuted allegations that he used her membership at the prestigious Khar Gymkhana here to hold "conversion meetings" at its premises, claiming that he merely conducted prayer gatherings "in complete accordance with procedures". Khar Gymkhana revoked the Jemimah's membership during its Annual General Meeting (AGM), following complaints from several members that Ivan allegedly misused the privileges granted to the star cricketer. In his response to the accusations, Ivan said he adhered to the strict procedures while availing the facilities and no "conversion meetings" were held at the Gymkhana. "We had availed of the facilities at the Khar Gymkhana for the purpose of prayer meetings on multiple occasions, over a period of a year since April 2023. However, this was done in complete accordance with the procedures that Khar Gymkhana have in place, and in full knowledge of the office-bearers," Ivan said in a ...

Harshit Rana, Nitish Reddy picked for India's Test series against Australia

There is no Mohammed Shami in the squad while Kuldeep Yadav has been advised long term rehabilitation for his groin injury

Bihar govt to sign pact with BCCI for Moin-ul-Haq stadium's redevelopment

The Bihar government will soon sign an MoU with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the redevelopment of the Moin-ul-Haq Stadium here. A decision to this effect was taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The cabinet on Tuesday approved the state sports department proposal for signing of the MoU with the BCCI... This will transform it as an international stadium equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, where day-and-night matches along with other sporting activities will be organised, S Siddharth, Additional Chief Secretary (Cabinet Secretariat), told reporters here. The agreement will be signed very soon and immediately after that construction work shall start, which will be completed in 36 months, he said. After completion of the construction, the BCCI will organise matches and other sporting activities till seven years after that period, profit will be shared with the state government on a 50-50 basis, Siddharth said. The cabine

Prithvi Shaw dropped by Mumbai over fitness issues and 'general conduct'

The batter has featured for Team India in all the three formats over the years but has failed to become a regular name in the team so far.

KKR, MI and SRH among franchises in line to buy stake in Hundred teams

The GMR Group, which recently acquired Hampshire, and Avram Glazer, co-owner of Manchester United, also submitted bids ahead of the October 18 deadline set by the ECB for potential investors.

Jemimah's Khar Gymkhana membership revoked over father's religious events

The cancellation followed allegations of Ivan Rodrigues, Jemimah's father, being involved in organising a series of religious events at the club

Champions Trophy without India not an option, contingencies available: ECB

Top officials of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), including chairman Richard Thompson, have suggested that staging the Champions Trophy without powerhouse India is not an option and there are "contingencies available" if Rohit Sharma's team doesn't travel to host country Pakistan. India have not played in Pakistan since 2008 due to the tense relations between the two countries and their travel to the South Asian nation is solely dependent on government clearance. With the government unlikely to give the BCCI permission to send the team to Lahore, the Champions Trophy in a hybrid model seems the most likely option. Like the Asia Cup last year, India can play their matches in a third country while the other games can be staged in Pakistan. The tournament will be held in February-March. "It would not be in cricket's interests for India not to be playing in the Champions Trophy," Thompson, who is in Pakistan alongside ECB CEO Richard Gould, was quoted as saying by ...

You're the most talented cricketer I've played with: Kohli to de Villiers

Virat Kohli on Wednesday described AB de Villiers as "the most talented cricketer" he has played with after the South African great was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. De Villers was included in the long list of great players along with England legend Alastair Cook and India's Neetu David. In an open letter to the inductees by those close to them, Kohli was effusive in praise of his teammate at IPL side Royal Challengers Bengaluru. "You are thoroughly deserving of your place after all, the Hall of Fame is a representation of your impact on the game, and yours has been truly unique," he wrote. "People have always spoken about your ability, and rightly so. You are the most talented cricketer I have played with, the absolute number one." Kohli described de Villiers' belief and doggedness to uphold the game's values as the qualities that had an impact on the psyche of those watching. "A lot of players can have impressive numbers but very few have an impact on the psyche of those

Shakib set for Test farewell at home, part of Bangladesh squad vs SA

Shakib Al Hasan is set for his last appearance in Test cricket in front of the home crowd as the venerable all-rounder was named in Bangladesh's squad for the first match against South Africa, starting here on Monday. Before the second and final Test against India at Kanpur, Shakib had expressed his wish to play his final Test at home against South Africa, provided the Bangladesh Cricket Board was able to ensure his safety. Khaled Ahmed is the only omission from the squad that recently toured India. Shakib has been accused of being involved in the murder of a student but the Bangladesh veteran was taking part in a T20 league in Canada at the time of the incident. However, Faruque Ahmed, the new president of the BCB had rejected Shakib's request saying the board was not a security agency and could not guarantee any cover for him. The sports advisor to Bangladesh's interim government Asif Mahmud said that Shakib would be provided security once his political stance was clear. Shakib

Viacom18, Sony frontrunners in ACC media rights bid; auction on Nov 20

Viacom18 and Sony Pictures Networks India lead the race for the Asian Cricket Council media rights, while Zee Entertainment denies involvement, citing a focus on cost management

Cricket Australia says 2025-26 Ashes series will begin in Western Australia

Cricket Australia said on Wednesday that the five-Test Ashes series between Australia and England in 2025-26 will begin in Perth, Western Australia. That first Test is scheduled for November 21-25, 2025 with the second a day-night Test at the Gabba in Brisbane from December 4-8. Adelaide Oval will host the third Test from December 17-21. The Melbourne Cricket Ground will host its traditional Boxing Day Test beginning December 26, with the Sydney Cricket Ground also maintaining its usual time slot for the January 4-8 fifth and final Test. Australia currently holds the Ashes, having retained them with a draw in the 2023 series in England.

Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha suspended, Simmons to take over

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has suspended men's team head coach Chandika Hathurusingha due to inappropriate conduct by him during last year's ODI World Cup in India. Hathurusingha, the former Sri Lanka all-rounder under whom Bangladesh recently endured a forgettable tour of India where they were whitewashed in both the Test and T20I series, will be sacked and replaced by former West Indies player Phil Simmons. According to ESPNcricinfo, Simmons, who was also an all-rounder and opened the batting for the West Indies in the early and mid 1990s, will be in charge of the Bangladesh team until next year's ICC Champions Trophy. "Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha has been suspended following allegations he slapped a player at last year's ODI World Cup. His contract will be terminated after 48 hours of suspension, with Phil Simmons to take over until next year's Champions Trophy," the website said. The BCB investigated an allegation from a player that the coach had slappe

Women's T20 WC 2024: Why did Indian women's cricket team fail in UAE?

While misfields and dropped catches have been a common sight with the Women in Blue recently, the teams were automatically given the edge, which eventually cost India the matches as well.

IND vs NZ: New Zealand pacer Ben Sears ruled out of Test series with injury

Uncapped bowler Jacob Duffy has been named as his replacement and will fly out to the subcontinent for the 1st Test in Bengaluru.

ACC Men's T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024: Full schedule and Indian squad

The ten-day tournament will begin on Friday, October 18, with a Group A clash between Bangladesh A and Hong Kong, and the final match on Sunday, October 27

Women's T20 World Cup 2024: ENG-W vs SCO-W playing 11, live time, streaming

While England are well on their way to the knockout stages at the moment, Scotland are already out of contention for the knockout stages.

Women's T20 World Cup 2024: AUS-W vs PAK-W playing 11, live time, streaming

A loss could mean that Fatima Sana's Pakistan will fail to make it to the knockouts, with other teams also on the hunt for the spots.

Shakib apologizes for 'silence' during civil unrest, home farewell on cards

Bangladesh cricket great Shakib Al Hasan has tendered an unconditional apology for his "silence" during the recent civil unrest against ousted PM Sheikh Hasina, a move that might clear the decks for a farewell Test match at home against South Africa. He is targetting the opening Test starting October 21 in Mirpur as his swansong. There is a second Test in Chittagong but it is believed that Shakib will play the first game and then fly off to the USA, where he is settled with his wife and three children. "Firstly, I would like to pay my respects to all the students who sacrificed their lives, led the anti-discrimination movement, and were martyred or injured during the people's uprising," Shakib, who has been named as an accused in a murder case in Bangladesh, wrote on his official Facebook page. "While no sacrifice can compensate for the loss of a loved one, nothing can fill the void of losing a child or a brother, to those of you who were hurt by my silence during this critical ...