Page 25 - Cricket

First Pakistani woman nominated to ICC as international cricket umpire

Saleema Imtiaz became the first Pakistani woman to be nominated to the ICC international panel of development umpires, the Pakistan Cricket Board said on Sunday. Imtiaz's nomination on the panel means she is now eligible to officiate in women's bilateral international matches and ICC women's events. "This isn't just a win for me, it's a win for every aspiring female cricketer and umpire in Pakistan," Imtiaz said in a statement. "I hope my success motivates countless women who dream of making their mark in the sport. "This moment reflects the growing influence of women in cricket and the PCB's commitment to fostering that development." Imtiaz's daughter, Kainat played 40 international games for Pakistan that included 19 one-day internationals and 21 T20s. Imtiaz said she had always wanted to make her own name in the field of umpiring ever since her daughter made her international debut against South Africa in 2010. "My own dream was to represent my country at an international lev

Indian batter Shubman Gill set to be rested for Bangladesh T20Is

India vice-captain Shubman Gill are among prominent players who will be rested for the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh starting October 7 as part of BCCI's workload management policy. Gill, India's No.3 in Test matches, is a vital cog in the team's top-order alongside Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal and is expected to play all 10 Tests this season. Apart from Gill, a few more important players will also be rested keeping the the three- Test series against New Zealand in mind. India will start their upcoming international season with a two-Test series against Bangladesh in Chennai from September 19 followed by the second match in Kanpur starting September 27. "Yes, Shubman will be rested for the Bangladesh T20I series. If you look at the fixture, the three T20Is will be played on October 7 (Gwalior), 10 (Delhi) and 13 (Hyderabad). Now first Test vs New Zealand starts October 16. "So with a turnaround of three days, it is important to give Gill a break," a

If I need to play domestic cricket to test fitness I will: Mohd Shami

India pacer Mohammed Shami wants to ensure 100 per cent fitness post ankle surgery rehabilitation and, if need be, he will play domestic cricket without setting a timeline on his much-anticipated international return. Shami last played in the 2023 ODI World Cup final and has since been sidelined by injury for which he underwent surgery earlier this year. Speaking at the Cricket Association of Bengal's (CAB) annual awards ceremony, where he was felicitated for his stellar performances, Shami expressed his desire to be in top shape before returning to the field. "Koshish jaldi hi kar raha hoon kyun ke main janta hoon kaafi time ho gaya hai team se bahar rehte hue (I am working hard to make a comeback soon because I know I have been out of action for quite some time). However, I want to ensure there is no discomfort when I return. I've to work on my fitness, so that there is no discomfort," Shami told reporters. "The stronger I return, the better it is for me. I don't want to rush and

There will never be any dull moment with Gautam Gambhir around: Ajay Jadeja

India head coach Gautam Gambhir will push for an aggressive approach and will not allow the opposition to take the initiative in the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh, feels former batter Ajay Jadeja. India host Bangladesh for a two-match Test series beginning in Chennai from September 19, to be followed by three T20Is. "It is very clear, his approach is aggressive. One thing is sure, there will never be a dull moment with him around, he will always try something. He will do what he believes," Jadeja told reporters when asked about the Indian team's approach under Gambhir during the upcoming series. "He (Gambhir) will not be somebody who will sit back and let things flow. He will be out there, he will try things like we saw Suryakumar Yadav becoming captain suddenly. I am looking forward to the excitement we are going to see this year." The 53-year-old Jadeja, who's mostly remembered as a top ODI batter with 5359 runs from 196 matches at an average of 37.47, was ...

Indian setup operates by itself, goal will be to protect that: Morne Morkel

"What isn't broken shouldn't be mended" is the mantra of new India bowling coach Morne Morkel, who loves how the Indian cricket set-up runs on auto-pilot, and says his new assignment will involve helping that system "get better in small ways". Morkel, who has worked with current head coach Gautam Gambhir in Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), has been in India enough times and seen it from close quarter to understand how it works and where he would fit into the ecosystem. "Coming here, this is a set-up that operates by itself and so to protect that and make it better in small ways is going to be the goal," Morkel told BCCI.TV, making it clear that his focus is on minor tweaks rather than overhauling what works. He also feels that super seniors like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah will always lead the charge and his job will be to be the sounding board as part of the support staff. "We are quite lucky to have quality senior players and they

Liam Livingstone whacks England to a series-tying T20 win over Australia

Liam Livingstone and Jacob Bethell shared 90 runs off 47 balls to lead England to a Twenty20 series-tying win over Australia at Sophia Gardens. The series will be decided on Sunday at Old Trafford. Set 194 to win, England slipped to 79-3 when Phil Salt walked into an apparent trap laid by fellow stand-in captain Travis Head, holing out to Matthew Short, but Livingstone and Bethell broke the back of the chase. Bethell's dismissal for 44 off 24 balls with the finish line in sight disrupted England but Livingstone carried them to the brink of victory with a superb 87 off 47, including five sixes and six fours. He was bowled with the scores tied and Brydon Carse senselessly slogged in the air next ball to give part-timer Short, who had previously taken only two international wickets, a shock maiden professional five-wicket haul. However, Adil Rashid steered to backward point for the single England needed for a three-wicket win with six balls to spare and to tie the series ...

SACA reaffirms commitment to women's cricket after CSA greenlights Afg ODIs

Without disapproving of CSA's decision to go ahead with the ODI series against Afghanistan, the South African Cricketers' Association (SACA) voiced its support for promoting women's participation in cricket. South Africa will face Afghanistan in three ODIs from September 18 to 22 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, but the Asian nation continues to be the only ICC Full Member not to have a women's team. The Proteas Men white-ball series against Afghanistan later this month is one such series that forms part of the FTP. We respect the position of CSA in this regard as the national governing body for cricket, said Andrew Breetzke, SACA CEO and also the board member of the World Cricketers' Association (WCA). However, on behalf of all professional cricketers in South Africa, it is incumbent upon SACA to reaffirm our commitment to supporting and promoting the participation of women in cricket. The deteriorating human rights for women under the Taliban rule cannot be ignored in the context of .

Ishan Kishan makes claim for India return with hundred in Duleep Trophy

The Indian batter looks fresh and ready after a long break from international cricket during which he was subject to much speculation on the internet

PCB begins Rs 1,280 crore stadium renovation ahead of ICC Champions Trophy

The Pakistan Cricket Board has allocated 12.8 billion rupees for the renovation of stadiums in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi ahead of next year's ICC Champions Trophy, informed PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi. In a briefing given at the Board of Governors meeting in Faisalabad, Naqvi assured that the three venues would be ready in time to host the marquee event. Giving details of the fund distribution, Naqvi said 7.7 billion rupees out of 12.8 billion are being spent on the upgradation of the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore. The allocated budget for Gaddafi stadium involves 1,100 million rupees for the construction of a steel-structured pavilion, 3,471 million rupees for a concrete office building, 1,250 million rupees for the steel structure of the enclosure, 189 million rupees for a moat, and 330 million rupees for the replacement of two LED digital screens. The board is also replacing floodlights with 480 LED lights at Gaddafi Stadium at a cost 523 million rupees, while 375 million rupees

One of those two will make a lot of runs: Glenn Maxwell on Smith and Kohli

India will play a 5-match Test series in Australia starting on Nov 22; Steve Smith and Virat Kohli will feature in Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Afghanistan-New Zealand one-off Test abandoned without a ball being bowled

The one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand was called off on Friday without a ball being bowled, marking only the eighth time in Test cricket history that such a situation has occurred. The first two days of the game were cancelled because of a wet outfield, raising significant concerns about the preparedness of the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex. The remaining three days were then washed out due to persistent rain. An inspection was held on Friday morning but with puddles of water still present on the uncovered sections of the outfield, it was a foregone conclusion that the match would be abandoned without even the toss taking place. "It is still raining in Greater Noida and due to frequent rains, the 5th and final day of the Afghanistan vs New Zealand Test has been called off by the match officials," the Afghanistan Cricket Board said in a statement. Only seven matches in the history of Test cricket have been abandoned without a ball being bowled dating back

Hardik Pandya bowling with red ball triggers speculation over Test comeback

Star India all-rounder Hardik Pandya on Thursday posted a video of himself bowling with the red-ball during a training session in England, triggering speculation over his return to Test cricket. Pandya bowling with the red cherry evoked a lot of interest on social media after the 30-year-old posted a series of stories on Instagram. The injury-prone all-rounder hasn't played Test cricket since September 2018 and underwent a lower back surgery in 2019. He was requested to play the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia but he turned down the offer stating that he didn't want to take the place of a regular red-ball player. He last played a first-class game in December 2018. Pandya remains India's best pace bowling all-rounder by a distance with the likes of Shivam Dube and Nitish Reddy way behind the colourful cricketer from Baroda. The videos posted on social media suggest that the all-rounder is trying to ramp up his workload before the Bangladesh T20 series in Octobe

IND vs BAN: Comparing both sides' bowling attacks ahead of Test series

While India's new coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Rohit Sharma will be wary of the challenge ahead of them, they would be confident going into the series with a star-studded squad at their disposal.

Virat Kohli played a big role in turning cricket around: Ricky Ponting

Australian great Ricky Ponting hailed former captain Virat Kohli's "big role" in revolutionizing Test cricket in India and said the country's batters don't fear the big stage anymore, evidence of which is their success in challenging conditions overseas. Ponting also lauded the contributions of former head coach Rahul Dravid, who stepped down from the post after guiding India to the T20 World Cup title triumph in June. "Going back to Kohli's start of captaincy, (he) played a big role in turning the cricket around, and (Rahul) Dravid has continued the same in the recent four years. The influence of someone like that (Kohli) around a team would be great, and they've got star players," Ponting told Sky Sports. Under Kohli's captaincy, India became the first Asian side to win a Test series in Australia, besides recording some memorable wins elsewhere. With his aggressive captaincy, Kohli made everyone believe that the Indian team can win overseas as well, and his confidence rubbed on t

IND vs BAN: Uncapped batter Jaker Ali replaces injured Shoriful Islam

Shoriful Islam suffered a groin injury during the first test against Pakistan last month and didn't get to play the second Test later on.

ICC delegation to discuss tentative schedule of Champions Trophy with PCB

An ICC delegation, which is due to visit Pakistan this month to ascertain the preparations for the Champions Trophy, will also discuss the tentative schedule of the event with the Pakistan Cricket Board. A source aware of developments said the PCB had still not been informed how many ICC officials were coming and which departments they would be representing but indications were the schedule would be discussed in detail. The PCB had sent a tentative schedule to the ICC sometime back in which they had suggested making Lahore the base of the Indian team. "The schedule has now been seen by the participating boards in the Champions Trophy and there is still some work to be done before it is finalised and announced," the source said. "Obviously a final decision on whether the Indian team would be permitted by its government to play in Pakistan is one major reason for the schedule still being under consideration," he added. The ICC delegation will inspect the ongoing development work at

Rohit, Kohli, Pant are going to be big ones: Lyon ahead of Test series

Veteran Australian spinner Nathan Lyon has identified Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant as the three "big ones" to watch out for in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series. The five-Test series between India and Australia gets underway Down Under from November 22, part of the World Test Championship. Besides the big ones, Lyon has also warned that the visitors have an 'amazing line-up', making things massively challenging for the hosts. "Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant are probably going to be the three really big ones. But then, you've still got (Yashasvi) Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, (Ravindra) Jadeja, and who else will come outanother five, I'm not sure," he told Star Sports. However, Lyon was confident that if the Australians delivered as a bowling unit over an extended period, it would be beneficial for them. "But, it's a pretty amazing line-up they've got, so it's going to be a massive challenge. As I said, if we, as a bowling group, are good enough f

Pakistan Cricket suspends national junior championship a day after it began

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has suspended its national junior championship "due to unavoidable circumstances" after the event began on Tuesday with three-day games across venues. The U-19 age group tournament started on schedule but the postponement orders were conveyed to the teams and officials after the first day's play, leaving them surprised. In a short press release, hours after the announcement, the PCB said the decision was taken "due to unavoidable circumstances." No detailed explanation was given for this abrupt decision, especially after the board had spent millions of rupees on preparing the 18 regional teams. An insider in the board said that the indefinite postponement had something to do with the number of complaints chairman Mohsin Naqvi had received about issues in selection of teams and also about over-age players and fake documentation. Although the board conducts wrist bone X-rays and has stringent rules for submission of documents for the U-19 tournaments

Women's T20 WC: Free entry for U-18s, ticket prices start from 5 Dirhams

Bidding to attract bigger crowds for top-flight women's cricket, the ICC has decided on free entry for anyone below 18 years of age during the upcoming T20 World Cup in the UAE for which prices of tickets will start from 5 Dirhams (Rs 115 approximately). The 10-team tournament, to be held from October 3-20, will feature 23 matches spread across the 18 days. The 20 league matches will be split between Dubai and Sharjah with the semi-finals slated for Dubai and Sharjah on October 17 and 18 respectively. The final will be played in Dubai. ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice announced that lowest ticket denomination will be 5 Dirhams along with free entry for all those under 18 years of age. The decision was taken as a part of an initiative to leave a legacy of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024, the first global women's cricket event to be held in the region. "One of the exciting things about the UAE is its diversity. It's a place where the entire world is represented! This means tha

How ICC ODI World Cup 2023 provided major economic boost to India

The quadrennial event also broke the record for the most-attended ICC event, with a total of more than 1.25 million spectators attending the 50-over World Cup.