Cricket

India's recent home Test losses have been attributed to the pressure of the World Test Championship (WTC) points system, according to head coach Gautam Gambhir. With the hosts trailing 0-2 in the three-match series against New Zealand, Gambhir emphasized the importance of every match in the WTC."For me, WTC points are very important. Every Test match is important. There are no dead rubbers anymore," Gambhir said at a pre-match press conference. "It has a lot to do with T20 cricket. Gone are the days of draws because the quality of batters and hitting has gone up. Matches will be more result-oriented now."The pressure of the WTC, combined with the influence of T20 cricket, has led to teams losing at home more frequently, according to Gambhir. "It is the combination of being pressure due to WTC points and T20I cricket," he explained.In the second Test, New Zealand's half-centuries from Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra helped them reach 259, despite Washington Sundar's impressive spell of 7/59. India's first innings total of 156 was overshadowed by Mitchell Santner's 7/53, with Ravindra Jadeja top-scoring with 38.New Zealand's second innings saw Tom Latham score 86, while Washington and Jadeja picked up four and three wickets respectively. India's run chase of 359 ended in a 114-run defeat, despite Yashasvi Jaiswal's 77.With the series already lost, India will be aiming to avoid a whitewash in the third Test at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. The hosts will need to play out of their skins to salvage some pride and prevent New Zealand from completing a clean sweep.

South Africa's T20I squad for the upcoming series against India has been announced, with the return of Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee after a conditioning break. The pair have been working on shoulder and hip niggles, respectively, and will be eager to make an impact in the upcoming matches.Lungi Ngidi, who is currently part of the Test squad in Bangladesh, will also have an extended period of time off to work on his conditioning. He is not part of the T20I squad for the India series, while Kagiso Rabada has been rested with the Tests in mind.Despite the absence of Ngidi and Rabada, South Africa still have several big names in the squad. Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, and Keshav Maharaj, who were not part of South Africa's white-ball squads in the UAE, have all been included.The squad will be captained by regular leader Aiden Markram and with Reeza Hendricks and Ryan Rickelton at the top of the order. There are two new caps, allrounders Mihlali Mpongwana and Andile Simelane, who were the joint second-leading wicket-takers in the recently completed T20 Challenge.Donovan Ferreira, who was the third-highest run-scorer in the T20 Challenge, and Patrick Kruger have also been included. Notably, there is no room for Tabraiz Shamsi after he opted out of a national contract last month.Their seam-bowling contingent will be bolstered with the addition of Lutho Sipamla for the third and fourth matches on the Highveld. Sipamla last played for South Africa in 2022 in a Test match and has not played white-ball international since 2021, but his career-best 4 for 12 at the Wanderers in the T20 Challenge final forced him into the squad.South Africa will be hoping to put in a strong performance against India, who are one of the top-ranked T20I teams in the world. The series will be a good test for the Proteas as they prepare for the T20 World Cup in Australia next year.

Australia A's opening batting woes continued on the first day of their four-day match against India A in Mackay, with Sam Konstas, Cameron Bancroft, and Marcus Harris all failing to make a significant impact. Konstas and Bancroft were dismissed for ducks, while Harris reached 14 before being caught behind.Nathan McSweeney, batting at No. 4, provided some stability with a solid 29 off 110 balls, further fueling speculation that he could be the solution to Australia's top-order problems.India A, after being inserted by McSweeney, were bowled out for 107, thanks to a career-best 6 for 15 from South Australia quick Brendan Doggett. Doggett, who was only in the side as a second reserve, troubled the batters with his full length and accuracy.India A captain Ruturaj Gaikwad was brilliantly caught down the leg side first ball by Josh Philippe, while Jordan Buckingham removed Abhimanyu Easwaran with a lovely delivery. Sai Sudharsan made a promising start before edging behind against Doggett, who then went on to dismiss Ishan Kishan, Devdutt Padikkal, Manav Suthar, and Prasidh Krishna.Navdeep Saini (23) managed to lift the total into three figures, but India A were ultimately bowled out for a below-par score.Australia A will resume their innings on day two, trailing by eight runs. The match is being played as a warm-up for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series between Australia and India.

Mominul Haque's gritty half-century and a crucial ninth-wicket partnership with Taijul Islam rescued Bangladesh from a precarious position on the third morning of the second Test against South Africa.After South Africa's pace attack, led by Kagiso Rabada, tore through Bangladesh's top order, leaving them reeling at 48 for 8, Haque and Islam combined for an 89-run stand that frustrated the Proteas.Rabada, who recently regained the top spot in the Test bowling rankings, continued his impressive form, claiming his second five-wicket haul of the series. His average of 7.78 in the series is the best among South Africans who have taken at least ten wickets.Bangladesh's collapse began with the dismissal of Mushfiqur Rahim, who gifted a catch to Tony de Zorzi at square leg for a second-ball duck. The wickets continued to fall in quick succession, with four batters dismissed within 12 balls.However, Haque and Islam showed resilience and determination, digging in to rebuild Bangladesh's innings. Haque reached his 20th Test fifty, while Islam provided valuable support with a patient 33.Their partnership frustrated South Africa's bowlers and gave Bangladesh a glimmer of hope. The Proteas eventually broke through when Rabada dismissed Islam, but Haque remained unbeaten on 51 at the end of the day's play.Bangladesh still trail South Africa by 144 runs, but Haque's innings and the ninth-wicket stand have given them a fighting chance of saving the Test.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has removed 11 directors from its board for failing to attend three or more consecutive meetings, as per the board's constitution. The list includes former president Nazmul Hassan and BPL chairman Sheikh Sohel.The other directors removed are Manzur Kader, AJM Nasir Uddin, Anwarul Islam, Shafiul Alam Chowdhury, Ismail Haider Mallick, Tanvir Ahmed, Obeid Nizam, Gazi Golam Murtoza, and Nazib Ahmed. Additionally, the BCB accepted resignations from three other directors: Naimur Rahman, Khaled Mahmud, and Enayet Hossain Siraj.All of the removed and resigned directors have been absent since the Awami League government was overthrown on August 5th following student protests. They have direct or indirect connections to the Awami League. Nazmul Hassan was the sports minister, Shafiul Alam Chowdhury was an Awami League MP, and Nasir Uddin was a former Chattogram mayor during the Awami League's 15-year reign. Sheikh Sohel and Nazib Ahmed are relatives of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, while Ismail Haider Mallick was a close associate of Nazmul Hassan.Before the government's fall, the BCB had 25 directors. After the departure of 14 directors, 10 remain, as one had passed away before August.The BCB has also formed a constitution amendment committee headed by director Nazmul Abedeen. According to a press release, "the committee will be responsible for assessing the current BCB constitution, identifying areas of improvement, and proposing amendments that align with the strategic goals and evolving needs of the BCB."Two weeks after an interim government was sworn in on August 8th, the BCB directors elected Faruque Ahmed, the former Bangladesh captain, as the president, while Nazmul Abedeen, the renowned coach, also became a director. They replaced Jalal Yunus, who resigned as a director, and Ahmed Sajjadul Alam, who was removed as a director.

Ben Stokes, the England cricket captain, has appealed for the return of precious items stolen during a burglary at his home while he was away in Pakistan for the Test series. The incident occurred on October 17th at his residence in Castle Eden, North East England, while his wife, Claire, and two young children were present.Stokes expressed relief that his family escaped physical harm but acknowledged the emotional and mental impact of the trauma. He was playing in the second Test in Multan when the break-in took place and returned home earlier this week after the conclusion of the series, which England lost 2-1.Among the stolen items were jewelry, a designer bag, and Stokes' OBE medal, awarded in 2020 for his services to cricket. The medal held particular significance as it commemorated England's ODI World Cup triumph in 2019, where Stokes played a pivotal role, and his heroic performance in the Headingley Test against Australia in the Ashes."The worst aspect of this crime is that it occurred while my family was home," Stokes said in a statement. "Thankfully, they were unharmed, but the experience has understandably affected them emotionally and mentally."Stokes emphasized that his primary motivation in sharing photographs of the stolen items was not to recover material possessions but to apprehend the perpetrators. He urged anyone with information to contact Durham Constabulary and provided the contact number and crime reference.The burglary has left Stokes and his family shaken, but they are determined to move forward. Stokes expressed gratitude for the support they have received and urged the public to remain vigilant against such crimes.

Bangladesh's batting woes continued on day two of the second Test against South Africa in Chattogram, as they stumbled to 38-4 in response to the visitors' mammoth first innings of 575-6.The hosts' reply got off to a disastrous start, with Kagiso Rabada dismissing Shadman Islam for a duck in the first over. Zakir Hasan soon followed, edging a Rabada delivery to the wicketkeeper for two.Mahmudul Hasan Joy briefly threatened with a 10-ball 10, but he fell to Dane Paterson, driving an outside-off delivery to Aiden Markram at second slip. Hasan Mahmud, sent in as a nightwatchman, was deceived by Keshav Maharaj's sharp turn and was bowled for a duck.South Africa's total was their second-highest against Bangladesh, behind only their 583-7 at the same venue in 2008. Wiaan Mulder (105 not out), Tony de Zorzi (177), and Tristan Stubbs (106) all scored maiden Test centuries for the Proteas.Senuran Muthusamy remained unbeaten on 68 at the declaration, while Ryan Rickelton was the only batsman to fall in the second session, edging a Nahid Rana delivery to the wicketkeeper for 12.Earlier, left-arm spinner Taijul Islam had pegged back South Africa in the morning with three wickets in three overs, claiming his second five-wicket haul of the series. He dismissed David Bedingham, De Zorzi, and Kyle Verreynne to leave the visitors on 391-4.South Africa won the opening Test inside four days, with Rabada taking 6-46 in the second innings. Bangladesh have played 24 Tests in Chattogram but have won only two, with seven drawn.

South Africa's batting prowess was on full display in the second Test against Bangladesh at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram. The Proteas shattered their previous record for most sixes in an innings of a Test match, smashing a total of 17 sixes in their first innings.The previous record of 15 sixes was set against the West Indies in 2010. South Africa's dominant performance saw them amass a massive 577/6 declared in 144.2 overs.Aiden Markram, leading from the front, contributed 33 off 55 balls, including two boundaries. Tony de Zorzi followed with a well-constructed 177, smashing 12 fours and four sixes before falling to Taijul Islam.The fireworks truly began with Tristan Stubbs and David Bedingham. Stubbs added 106 off 198 balls, while Bedingham's aggressive 59 featured several big hits.Wiaan Mulder's unbeaten 105 off 150 balls, with four sixes to his name, further demonstrated South Africa's intent. Senuran Muthusamy also played a supporting role, contributing 70 not out, peppered with a couple of maximums.For Bangladesh, Taijul Islam was the pick of the hosts, taking 5/198, but even his efforts couldn't contain the Proteas' assault.With South Africa winning the toss and opting to bat, they now hold a commanding position in the five-day contest.

Mohammed Shami's Absence a Major Blow for India in Border-Gavaskar TrophyAhead of the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 between India and Australia, the absence of star pacer Mohammed Shami has cast a shadow over the Indian team's prospects. Shami, who has been sidelined since November due to an ankle injury, is considered one of the most potent fast bowlers in the world.Former Australia captain Tim Paine has expressed his belief that Shami's absence will be a significant setback for India. "Shami is going to be a huge difference," Paine said on The Grade Cricketer podcast. "Bumrah, there is so much on his shoulders. If he gets hurt, then it's curtains for me."The Border-Gavaskar series, which begins on November 22, will feature five Tests played across Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney. The series is expected to be fiercely contested, with both teams boasting world-class players.India's squad for the series includes captain Rohit Sharma, vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah, and a host of talented batsmen and bowlers. However, the absence of Shami leaves a significant void in the bowling attack.Shami's ability to swing the ball both ways and generate pace makes him a formidable threat to any batting lineup. His absence will put additional pressure on Bumrah, who is already India's leading fast bowler.India will need to find a way to compensate for Shami's absence if they want to challenge Australia in their own backyard. The likes of Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, and Prasidh Krishna will be expected to step up and fill the void.The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is one of the most prestigious Test series in cricket, and the absence of Shami is sure to add an extra layer of intrigue to the upcoming contest.