Cricket

Mohammed Shami, India's premier fast bowler, is on the road to recovery from an ankle injury that has kept him out of competitive cricket since the ODI World Cup 2023. The 33-year-old pacer has undergone surgery for Achilles tendon and has recently resumed bowling practice.Shami's return to fitness is a significant boost for Team India, who are preparing for a busy schedule of white-ball and Test matches. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar has confirmed that Shami has started bowling and is targeting a return to the Indian team for the first Test against Bangladesh on September 19."We more or less know who the guys are, there are some injuries at the moment and hope they will be back. Shami has started to bowl, which is a good sign. September 19 is the first Test (against Bangladesh) and that was always the goal. I don't know if that is his timeline for recovery, will have to ask the guys at the NCA about that," Agarkar said in a press conference.Agarkar also emphasized the importance of building depth in the Test team, especially with the upcoming series against Bangladesh and Australia. "There are so many Tests coming. We will need some depth. Bumrah, Shami, and Siraj have been around for a while, these are the obvious ones. But there will be some conversation around it. Got a lot of first-class cricket coming up so we can build guys up like that," he said.Shami's return will provide a much-needed boost to India's bowling attack, which has been weakened by injuries to Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. The pacer's ability to swing the ball both ways and generate pace will be crucial for India's success in the upcoming Test series.

Pakistan's disappointing T20 World Cup campaign has prompted the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to consider resting senior players for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh in August. Captain Babar Azam, wicketkeeper-batter Muhammad Rizwan, and pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi are among those who may be given a break.Sources within the PCB indicate that Test captain Shan Masood and new red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie are in discussions to finalize plans for the Bangladesh series. The board is also in touch with white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten to coordinate preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy next year.One proposal under consideration is to field a team of uncapped or less experienced players for the Bangladesh Tests. This would allow the senior players to rest and recover ahead of a busy schedule that includes tours of Australia, South Africa, and England.The PCB is also seeking to establish a workload management system for players, balancing their availability for the national team with their commitments to franchise-based leagues.Meanwhile, the board is awaiting a report from Kirsten on the team culture, player behavior, and skill levels. This report will inform decisions on potential changes to the ODI and T20 squads.The PCB is also considering reducing the number of national selectors and reverting to the previous selection process.

Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain of the Indian women's cricket team, has expressed her desire to maintain the composure displayed by her team during their recent 5-0 series sweep against Bangladesh in Sylhet when they return for the T20 World Cup in October.Unlike their previous encounter in Bangladesh in July 2023, which was marred by controversy, India's recent performance was marked by several positives. "The calmness all the players showed in the series is something I would like to take to the World Cup," Harmanpreet said after their 21-run victory in the fifth T20I.Harmanpreet's return to form was a significant highlight of the series. After struggling with low scores in the white-ball series against Australia, she scored 30 or more in three out of four innings against Bangladesh. Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana also contributed with multiple 30-plus scores.D Hemalatha, who returned to the team after 15 months, showcased her power-hitting abilities at No. 3, a position previously occupied by Jemimah Rodrigues. With the ball, Radha Yadav emerged as a standout performer, claiming ten wickets in five matches and earning the Player of the Series award.Deepti Sharma's experience proved valuable in containing the opposition, while Shreyanka Patil and Asha Sobhana also made significant contributions. Harmanpreet attributed their success to the confidence and momentum gained during the Women's Premier League (WPL)."The WPL gave our players a lot of confidence," she said. "We improved our game during that time, and those results are showing here."India's next assignment will be a multi-format series against South Africa at home in June-July, followed by the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and the T20 World Cup in October. Harmanpreet expressed her hope that India will be able to play their best cricket when they return to Sylhet for the World Cup opener against New Zealand."This tournament will give us a lot of confidence," she said. "Whatever we learnt here, we can take that to the World Cup. We are really working hard on that. Hopefully, in the World Cup, we will be able to do whatever we can do. I know our team has that much potential and hopefully, we play our best cricket."

Stuart Law, the former Australian batsman, has been appointed as the new head coach of the USA men's cricket team. Law's first assignment will be the three-match T20I series at home against Bangladesh ahead of the T20 World Cup in June, which the USA will co-host with the West Indies.Law expressed his excitement about the opportunity, stating, "It is an exciting opportunity to join USA cricket at this time. USA is one of the strongest Associate nations in the sport, and I believe that we can mold a formidable squad going ahead." He added, "The first task will be to prepare the team for the series against Bangladesh and then set our sights on our home World Cup, which will be huge."USA Cricket chairman Venu Pisike praised Law's experience and accomplishments, saying, "Stuart is one of the most accomplished coaches in the sport. He brings a lot of experience to USA Cricket with his varied assignments, particularly in developing international sides over the years." Pisike continued, "His appointment will only help the team grow to their full potential. We are excited to have Stuart on board just before the World Cup and look forward to lots of successes together."Law has a wealth of coaching experience, having previously served as head coach for Bangladesh, West Indies, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan on an interim basis. He has also coached the Bangladesh Under-19s and led Bangladesh to their first Asia Cup final in 2012. In Australia, Law has held various roles, including batting coach to the national team, a position with CA's Centre of Excellence, and coaching the Under-19 team.USA will face Bangladesh in three T20I matches at Prairie View, where they recently defeated Canada 4-0 in a T20I series. Law's appointment is expected to bolster the USA team's preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup and help them achieve their full potential.