Cricket

India's Mohammad Amaan to Lead U19 Team in ACC Asia CupUttar Pradesh's Mohammad Amaan has been appointed as the captain of India's U19 team for the upcoming 50-over ACC Under-19 Asia Cup, scheduled to take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from November 30 to December 8.India will kick off their campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan at Dubai International Stadium on November 30. The team boasts a talented roster of young players who have showcased their abilities in domestic competitions.Among the notable names in the squad are Mumbai's Ayush Mhatre, Bihar's Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Tamil Nadu's C Andre Siddarth, Kerala leg-spinner Mohammed Enaan, Karnataka batter Hardik Raj, and his state-mate Samarth Nagaraj.Group A of the tournament also includes Japan and the hosts UAE, while Group B features Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Nepal. India will face Bangladesh in a practice match on November 26 in Sharjah before the tournament begins.The semifinals of the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup are scheduled for December 6, with the final set to take place on December 8. India will be aiming to defend their title, having won the previous edition in 2019.India U19 Squad:* Ayush Mhatre* Vaibhav Sooryavanshi* C Andre Siddarth* Mohammad Amaan (C)* Kiran Chormale (VC)* Pranav Pant* Harvansh Singh Pangalia (WK)* Anurag Kawde (WK)* Hardik Raj* Mohammad Enaan* KP Karthikeya* Samarth Nagaraj* Yudhajit Guha* Chetan Sharma* Nikhil KumarNon-travelling Reserves:* Sahil Parakh* Naman Pushpak* Anmoljeet Singh* Pranav Raghavendra* D Dipesh

India and Pakistan Set for Clash in Inaugural Women's U19 Asia CupThe Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has announced the draw for the inaugural Women's U19 Asia Cup, scheduled to take place in Malaysia from December 15 to 22. The tournament will feature six teams divided into two groups of three.Group A consists of arch-rivals India, Pakistan, and Nepal, while Group B includes Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and hosts Malaysia. All matches will be played at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur.The tournament will kick off on December 15 with Malaysia facing Sri Lanka in the opening game. Later that day, India and Pakistan will lock horns in a highly anticipated clash.The following day, Sri Lanka will take on Bangladesh, followed by Pakistan facing Nepal. The final group-stage fixtures will be held on December 17, with Bangladesh taking on Malaysia and India facing Nepal.The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Four round, scheduled for December 19 and 20. The third-placed teams from both groups will compete in a fifth/sixth-place play-off on December 18.The top two teams from the Super Four will qualify for the final, which will be played on December 22.The Women's U19 Asia Cup is a significant event for women's cricket in the region. It provides a platform for young players to showcase their skills and gain valuable international experience. The tournament is also expected to generate excitement and enthusiasm among fans, particularly in India and Pakistan.

South Africa and India faced off in the third T20I of their series at SuperSport Park in Centurion, with the series tied at 1-1. South Africa captain Aiden Markram won the toss for the third consecutive time and opted to chase, a decision that was met with approval from India captain Suryakumar Yadav, who would have also chosen to bat first on the pitch that promised runs.Both teams made changes to their lineups. South Africa brought in Lutho Sipamla, a top performer in the recent CSA domestic T20, to replace legspinner Nqaba Peter, leaving them with only one specialist spinner in Keshav Maharaj. India, on the other hand, handed a debut to Ramandeep Singh, a hard-hitting all-rounder, in place of Avesh Khan.The weather conditions were favorable for play, with no rain expected until later in the evening.South Africa:1. Ryan Rickelton (wk)2. Reeza Hendricks3. Aiden Markram (capt)4. Tristan Stubbs5. Heinrich Klaasen6. David Miller7. Marco Jansen8. Andile Simelane9. Gerald Coetzee10. Keshav Maharaj11. Lutho SipamlaIndia:1. Sanju Samson (wk)2. Abhishek Sharma3. Suryakumar Yadav (capt)4. Tilak Varma5. Hardik Pandya6. Rinku Singh7. Ramandeep Singh8. Axar Patel9. Arshdeep Singh10. Ravi Bishnoi11. Varun Chakravarthy

Karnataka Dominates Uttar Pradesh on Day 1 of Ranji Trophy ClashLucknow, November 13: Karnataka bowlers, led by V. Koushik, put on a stellar performance to dismantle Uttar Pradesh (UP) for a mere 89 runs on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy Group-C encounter at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium. The bowlers' brilliance set the stage for Karnataka's batters to take a 38-run first-innings lead.The morning haze enveloped the venue, creating a challenging environment for UP's batters. Koushik and Vidyadhar Patil exploited the conditions to reduce the hosts to five for three within the first five overs. Vidyadhar drew first blood, dismissing Abhishek Goswami, while Koushik induced Madhav Kaushik's outside edge and castled skipper Aryan Juyal in consecutive deliveries.Debutant Rituraj Sharma and Aaditya Sharma briefly resisted the pacers, but the latter was strangled down leg. Debutant fast bowler Yashovardhan Parantap joined the party, dismissing Rituraj with an angled delivery. Koushik completed his fifer with Sameer Rizvi edging behind, while the lower-order offered little resistance.Karnataka's batting faced a similar fate initially, with Nikin Jose and R. Smaran falling cheaply to Aaqib Khan. However, debutant Krishnan Shrijith played a composed knock under pressure, adding 48 runs with skipper Mayank Agarwal. Shrijith held firm amidst some poor shot-making, including Manish Pandey's tame dismissal.At the close of play, Karnataka had reached 127 for five, with Shrijith unbeaten on 68. The visitors will look to extend their lead on Day 2 and put pressure on UP.

Mohammed Shami's much-anticipated return to competitive cricket after a year-long absence was met with challenges as Bengal faced Madhya Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group-C match at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.On a greenish pitch with moisture, Madhya Pradesh elected to field and capitalized on the conditions. Aryan Pandey and Kulwant Khejroliya's four-wicket hauls restricted Bengal to a modest 228 in the first innings.Bengal's batting woes began early as Shuvam Dey was dismissed cheaply. Khejroliya then wreaked havoc, removing Sudip Gharami, Rohit Kumar, and Sudip Chatterjee in quick succession. Shahbaz Ahmed (92) and Anustup Majumdar (44) steadied the ship with a 96-run partnership, but Khejroliya broke the stand to dismiss Majumdar.Shahbaz played a rash shot and narrowly missed a century. In reply, Madhya Pradesh openers Subhransu Senapati (44*) and Rajat Patidar (41*) provided a solid start, taking their team to 103 for one at stumps.Shami, who underwent Achilles tendon surgery in February, bowled with good control but lacked rhythm. He finished with figures of 0-16 and 0-18 in his two spells.Bengal coach L.R. Shukla acknowledged the challenges Shami faced, saying, "It's never easy to come back from a surgery and bowl after a year. The more Shami plays, the better he will become."

Tanmay Agarwal, the prolific Hyderabad opener, continued his impressive run in the Ranji Trophy with a magnificent century on the opening day of their Elite Group B match against Andhra at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad.Agarwal, who has amassed over 10,000 runs in first-class cricket, notched up his 15th Ranji Trophy century, a knock of 124 off 240 deliveries, studded with 10 boundaries and a six. His innings was crucial in helping Hyderabad post a competitive 244 for five at the end of the day's play.Agarwal's innings was characterized by his trademark grit and determination. He was fortunate to survive a dropped catch on 20, but made Andhra pay dearly for their lapse in concentration. The right-hander played some exquisite strokes, particularly off Andhra's left-arm spinner A. Lalith Mohan, including a towering six over long-off.Despite the early dropped catches, Andhra's fielding was generally poor, with Hyderabad openers Abhirath Reddy and Agarwal both being given lifelines. Reddy was dropped twice, while Agarwal was grassed once.Andhra's pacer Mohammed Rafi was the pick of the bowlers, testing even the well-set Agarwal with his teasing off-stump line. However, the Hyderabad batsman remained unfazed, showcasing his class and experience.Hyderabad's innings was not without its setbacks. Abhirath Reddy (35) and Rohit Rayudu (0) were dismissed cheaply, while captain G. Rahul Singh (1) failed to get going. However, K. Himateja (36) and K. Nitesh Reddy (22) provided valuable contributions, before Rahul Radesh (22 not out) and Agarwal put on an unbeaten 44-run stand to ensure Hyderabad ended the day on a positive note.Andhra's wicketkeeper K. Srikar Bharat was in fine form behind the stumps, effecting a smart stumping to dismiss Nitesh Reddy.

Former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi has expressed his disappointment over India's decision not to participate in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan. Afridi believes that cricket should be prioritized over political differences and that the sport should bring people together.Afridi took to social media to share his thoughts, stating that cricket is facing one of its greatest challenges since the late 1970s. He emphasized the need to put aside differences and let the game unite everyone. Afridi pointed out that countries once divided by history can come together in the Olympic spirit, and the same should be possible for cricket.As stewards of the game, Afridi believes that it is the responsibility of those involved in cricket to keep egos in check and focus on its growth and spirit. He expressed his hope that every team would participate in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan and experience the country's warmth and hospitality.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that India had communicated its decision to the ICC, stating their unwillingness to travel to Pakistan for the tournament. This decision continues a trend of India not sending its cricket team to Pakistan. The last time the Indian team visited Pakistan was in 2008 for the Asia Cup.The PCB had previously stated that it would not accept a "Hybrid Model" for the Champions Trophy, which would have involved some matches being played in Pakistan and others in a neutral venue. This development has left the ICC with the task of determining the tournament's schedule and venue.Afridi's comments highlight the importance of cricket as a unifying force and the need to prioritize the sport over political considerations. He believes that the Champions Trophy should be an opportunity for all teams to come together and celebrate the spirit of cricket.

India's upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) tour of Australia has become a crucial test for the team, according to former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali. After a disappointing 0-3 home series loss to New Zealand, India faces immense pressure to perform well in Australia.Basit believes that the Indian team must focus on silencing their critics with strong performances. He warns that if they fail to do so, several players, including head coach Gautam Gambhir, could face the axe after the Champions Trophy."India needs to shut everyone up with their performance," Basit said in a YouTube video. "If they can't do that, I think three or four players will be dropped after the Champions Trophy, including Gautam Gambhir."India's batting lineup has been a major concern, with star players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma struggling for form. Basit emphasizes that the team must address these issues and find a way to perform consistently."India's batting has been a big problem," Basit said. "They need to find a way to score runs and put pressure on the Australian bowlers."India's chances of winning the BGT have been boosted by the absence of Australia's star batsman David Warner, who is serving a one-year ban for his role in the ball-tampering scandal. However, Basit warns that India cannot afford to take Australia lightly."Australia is still a strong team, even without Warner," Basit said. "India will need to play their best to win the series."India will begin their BGT campaign with the first Test in Perth on November 22. They will need to win four of the five Tests to qualify for the World Test Championship final.

Lizelle Lee's consecutive centuries have propelled the Hobart Hurricanes to the top of the WBBL ladder, as they defeated the Adelaide Strikers by 28 runs.Lee, who retired from international cricket last year, has become the first player to score hundreds in back-to-back WBBL matches. Her blistering 103 off 59 deliveries, featuring 13 fours and four sixes, laid the foundation for the Hurricanes' imposing total of 191 for 2.The South African opener's knock came just three days after she smashed an unbeaten 150 against the Perth Scorchers, setting a new WBBL record. Lee's dominance has been remarkable, with her 253 runs from 134 balls in the past two matches including 25 fours and 16 sixes.Nicola Carey provided valuable support with an unbeaten 64 off 46 balls, while skipper Elyse Villani contributed 23 not out from 14 deliveries.The Strikers' chase got off to a promising start thanks to Smriti Mandhana's quickfire innings. However, the Indian star's dismissal in the eighth over proved to be a turning point.Young legspinner Amy Smith stifled the Strikers' momentum in the middle overs, finishing with an impressive 1 for 16 from four overs. South African import Laura Wolvaardt remained unbeaten on 63 off 40 balls, but it was not enough to prevent the Hurricanes from securing a comfortable victory.Lee's consecutive centuries have not only propelled the Hurricanes to the top of the standings but have also cemented her status as one of the most destructive batters in the WBBL. Her ability to clear the boundary with ease and her consistency at the crease make her a formidable opponent.The Hurricanes will be hoping that Lee can continue her remarkable form as they aim to secure a berth in the finals. With three matches in hand, they are well-positioned to challenge for the WBBL title.