Cricket

The Indian cricket team has commenced preparations for the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh, scheduled to begin on September 19 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The team arrived at the venue on Thursday night and took to the field the following day under the guidance of head coach Gautam Gambhir and bowling coach Morne Morkel.The series marks the return of several key players to the Test fold. Virat Kohli, who last featured in the format during India's tour of South Africa in January, will be eager to regain his form after a disappointing T20 World Cup and Sri Lanka tour. KL Rahul, who missed the majority of the England Test series due to injury, has also made his comeback.The pace attack will be bolstered by the return of Jasprit Bumrah, who has been out of action since the T20 World Cup final. He will be joined by Mohammed Siraj and debutant Yash Dayal. The spin quartet of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav will provide balance to the team.Rohit Sharma will continue to lead the side, while Rishabh Pant returns to Test cricket for the first time since his life-threatening accident in December 2022. Pacers Akash Deep and Yash Dayal have received maiden call-ups, adding depth to the bowling department.The series against Bangladesh will be a crucial test for India as they prepare for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. The team will be looking to build momentum and find their rhythm ahead of the highly anticipated clash.

The Indian cricket team has announced its squad for the first Test against Bangladesh, scheduled to commence on September 19. The squad features the return of Rishabh Pant and the inclusion of pacers Yash Dayal and Akash Deep.This two-Test series against Bangladesh marks the beginning of a busy season for India. Following the Bangladesh series, India will face New Zealand, South Africa, and Australia later this year. The performance of the team in the Bangladesh series will be crucial in preparing for these upcoming challenges.Brad Hogg, a member of Australia's 2003 and 2007 ODI World Cup-winning teams, has shared his thoughts on the likely playing XI for India in the first Test. Hogg believes that the team should field a lineup consisting of Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma as openers, followed by Gill, Kohli, and Jadeja. Sarfaraz Khan and Pant would then come in, with Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj, and Bumrah forming the bowling attack.Hogg believes that this team would also perform well in Australia, making the Bangladesh series an important warm-up for the upcoming summer. He also noted the absence of KL Rahul and Axar Patel in his proposed playing XI.The Indian squad for the first Test against Bangladesh is as follows:* Rohit Sharma (C)* Yashasvi Jaiswal* Shubman Gill* Virat Kohli* KL Rahul* Sarfaraz Khan* Rishabh Pant (WK)* Dhruv Jurel (WK)* R Ashwin* R Jadeja* Axar Patel* Kuldeep Yadav* Mohd. Siraj* Akash Deep* Jasprit Bumrah* Yash Dayal

Pakistan's recent Test series defeat to Bangladesh has sparked widespread criticism, with captain Babar Azam facing the brunt of the backlash. The team's poor performance has raised questions about Azam's leadership, temperament, and ability to deliver under pressure.Azam's struggles have been particularly evident in recent months, including the T20 World Cup 2024 and the Bangladesh Test series. His inability to meet expectations has led to doubts about his suitability as captain and his overall skill level.The criticism has extended beyond the field, with Pakistani YouTubers mocking Azam's performance. Some have even suggested that he would not be worth a bid of Rs 130 in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where Pakistani players are not allowed to participate.Meanwhile, Pakistan Test skipper Shan Masood has acknowledged the team's shortcomings and apologized to the nation. He admitted that the team was not prepared for the rigors of red-ball cricket and that they need to improve their fast bowling stocks.Masood emphasized the need to develop a pool of fast bowlers who regularly play red-ball cricket. He also acknowledged the absence of Shaheen Afridi in the second Test and the failure of the team's new faces to step up.Going forward, Masood believes the team must focus on improving their Test cricket performance. He stressed the importance of tolerating failures and giving consistent chances to players who are committed to the red-ball format.

The upcoming edition of the Duleep Trophy, commencing on September 5, 2024, marks the commencement of red-ball cricket in the domestic season. This prestigious tournament will witness the participation of India's top international stars and promising young talents.The tournament will feature the likes of Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan, and Shubman Gill, who will be eager to showcase their skills and prepare for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh. However, notable absentees include Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who will miss the domestic tournament.Former India batter Suresh Raina has expressed his belief that the star players should have participated in the Duleep Trophy to gain valuable match practice ahead of the crucial Test series. Raina emphasized the importance of playing four-day cricket to acclimatize to the conditions and prepare for the challenges of Test cricket.India will face Bangladesh in a two-match Test series starting on September 19. Raina cautioned against underestimating Bangladesh, highlighting their strong bowling attack and experienced players. He believes this series will serve as a valuable warm-up for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.The Legends League Cricket (LLC) will also take place in India and Qatar from September 11 to October 5, featuring former international stars.

Pakistan's star pacer Shaheen Afridi is facing a potential absence from the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh due to the impending birth of his first child. Afridi and his wife Ansha, who tied the knot last year, are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their bundle of joy.Pakistan's red-ball coach, Jason Gillespie, has indicated that Afridi may miss the Test series to be with his wife during this special time. "Shaheen can miss Bangladesh Test matches due to childbirth. We can give him [some] rest if he wants to stay with his wife till then," Gillespie said, as quoted by Geo News.Afridi's absence would be a significant blow to Pakistan's Test team, as he is one of their most potent bowlers. The left-arm pacer has been in impressive form lately, taking 18 wickets in the recently concluded Test series against Sri Lanka.However, Afridi's personal life has also been in the spotlight recently, with reports surfacing about his alleged misbehavior with Pakistan coaches. During Pakistan's T20I tour of England, Afridi reportedly had heated arguments with batting coach Mohammad Yousuf.Sources informed Geo News that Afridi and Yousuf exchanged heated words, but the pacer later apologized to him. Multiple sources within the Pakistan cricket team management confirmed that the issue was resolved quickly.A source recalled the incident, stating that the heated exchange occurred during a training session when Yousuf pointed out Afridi's no-balls. Afridi reportedly became furious after being repeatedly called out for his no-balls."Shaheen said to Mohammad Yousuf to let him do what he was doing, and he [Yousuf] should mind his own business," a source told Geo News, adding that Yousuf responded that he was a coach and doing his job.Despite these off-field distractions, Afridi remains a key player for Pakistan. His absence from the Bangladesh Test series would be a major setback for the team, but it is understandable that he would want to be present for the birth of his first child.Pakistan's next white-ball series will begin in November against Australia. Before that, they will engage in red-ball cricket in a two-match Test series against Bangladesh, which will kick off on August 21.