Cricket

Yorkshire legspinner Jafer Chohan has earned his maiden England call-up for the men's limited-overs tour of West Indies, becoming the first graduate of the South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA) to achieve international recognition.Launched in 2021, SACA aims to address the underrepresentation of British South Asian players in professional cricket. Co-founded by Dr. Tom Brown and former England bowler Kabir Ali, the academy's research revealed that British Asians constitute only 5% of cricketers at the top level, despite representing 30% of recreational players in England and Wales.Chohan, released by Middlesex at age 17, joined Yorkshire in 2022 and has established himself in their T20 side. His England call-up follows an impressive 2024 Vitality Blast campaign, where he claimed 17 wickets at an average of 15.52, including a standout performance of 5 for 14 against Durham.Despite his form and the value of wrist-spin in shorter formats, Chohan has yet to feature in the men's Hundred. However, Yorkshire recently announced his three-year contract extension until 2027.England's selection of Chohan reflects their search for spin options following the retirement of Moeen Ali, SACA's president, and the need for a successor to Adil Rashid. Chohan has received mentorship from Rashid, both at Yorkshire and at his cricket center in Bradford."It's an absolute dream to be selected," said Chohan. "I've worked for this my whole life."Warwickshire's Dan Mousley and Hampshire's John Turner are the other uncapped players in the 14-man squad.Chohan's selection aligns with England's unconventional approach under managing director Rob Key, who emphasizes attributes over domestic averages. This approach has been evident in the selection of Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir for the Test tour of India and Josh Hull for the final Test against Sri Lanka.With Test head coach Brendon McCullum set to take over the limited-overs role in 2025, this left-field thinking is expected to continue as England rebuilds after disappointing World Cup performances.Jos Buttler will return as captain following a calf injury, but a decision on his wicketkeeping role will be made closer to the tour. Phil Salt is the only viable stand-in in the original squad, although Jordan Cox and Jamie Smith could be included from the Pakistan Test party.

The proliferation of franchise leagues has prompted counties to become more selective in issuing No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) to their players, according to Daryl Mitchell, interim chief executive of the Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA).In recent years, the number of overseas leagues clashing with the English summer has surged. English players have participated in leagues in India, Sri Lanka, the US, the Caribbean, the Cayman Islands, and Zimbabwe this year, with the Pakistan Super League (PSL) adding to the congestion next season.Fourteen English players featured in PSL 2024, including Sam Billings, Alex Hales, and David Willey, who are expected to return in 2025. However, other players will be unavailable due to the tournament's overlap with the IPL and counties' reluctance to release players for the start of the season.Liam Dawson, a veteran of five PSL seasons, will not participate in the tournament next year. "I'll be playing for Hampshire at that time," he said at the cinch PCA awards, where he was named men's player of the year for his County Championship performances.Alec Stewart, Surrey's departing director of cricket, believes the ECB should take a more proactive role. "Money talks, and if they are earning five times what they earn at our place, their heads will get turned," he said. "We need the ECB to stand firm on this and not say, 'It's up to the counties', and to bring in regulations."Counties currently have the authority to withhold or withdraw NOCs for non-centrally contracted players, as Surrey did earlier this year to prevent Jamie Overton from participating in the PSL. However, some believe that counties risk losing players to other counties or the franchise circuit if they do not accommodate their demands."The global landscape is obviously important to our members, particularly the top 20% who play in global tournaments," Mitchell said. "NOCs are always on the agenda, and we need to work through how that will look moving forward.""It's a challenge, and we have to find a solution. There are many tournaments that encroach onto our season, and we need to work through that, possibly on an individual basis, to see how it aligns."Daniel Gidney, the Lancashire chief executive, recently criticized NOCs and standard county contracts, claiming they have been "diluted" and blaming player agents for prioritizing global tournaments over the County Championship. Mitchell expressed confusion over the criticism, stating that counties have the right to deny NOCs during the summer months and have not fully exercised that right.Mitchell predicts that counties will increasingly use their power to ensure the availability of top English players throughout the season, rather than allowing them to miss Championship games for overseas commitments."Counties have the right to [deny NOCs] within the summer months, and they probably haven't used their rights as much as they could have done," he said. "It's up to the counties, and their discretion… The global landscape is shifting so quickly, and we have to evolve with it and try to find the best fit that works for everyone."The PCA's other focus during the English winter will be lobbying for a resolution to the ongoing debate around the domestic schedule, with the aim of having a plan in place for the 2026 season by next summer."The debate needs to start pretty quickly," Mitchell said. "Counties ideally would like to know exactly what they're playing for. If there are going to be any structural changes come 2026, they want to know what they're playing for in '25, I would imagine. It's really challenging. There's loads of moving parts in there, and ultimately, the counties will decide what they want the structure of the county season to look like."Recent changes to the IPL's regulations are expected to encourage a large number of English players to enter the mega-auction for the league's 2025 season. Previously, players could choose whether to enter a certain season, but the BCCI has now stipulated that a failure to register for a mega-auction will make that overseas player ineligible for the following season too.

Ravichandran Ashwin's stellar performance in the recently concluded India-Bangladesh Test series has sparked a debate about his status as an all-rounder. Former Pakistan cricketer Ramiz Raja believes that the 38-year-old Indian spinner deserves more recognition for his all-round abilities.In the two-match series, Ashwin emerged as the highest wicket-taker alongside Jasprit Bumrah, claiming 11 wickets. With the bat, he scored 114 runs at a strike rate of 83.21, including a crucial 113-run knock in the first innings of the Chennai Test. His all-round contributions earned him the 'Player of the Series' award.Raja praised Ashwin's performance, highlighting his ability to score centuries and take wickets consistently. He noted that Ashwin's understated demeanor and lack of drama after his achievements further enhance his value as a team player."He is no less than anyone else," Raja said. "He scores a century at every opportunity, takes wickets at every opportunity, and doesn't show too much pride or make any drama."Raja also acknowledged India's dominance on home soil, stating that Rohit Sharma's side is the strongest team to beat in their own backyard. He added that Bangladesh lacked the capacity to challenge India, making a Test match victory a distant dream for the visitors.The match itself saw Bangladesh resume their innings on day four, with Momimul Haque scoring a century to take their total to 233. India responded with a strong batting performance, declaring on 285/9 thanks to quickfire fifties from Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul.India's bowlers then took control, dismissing Bangladesh for 146. Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Bumrah shared nine wickets between them. India chased down the target of 95 runs comfortably, with Jaiswal and Virat Kohli leading the way.

South Africa Elects to Bat First in ODI Opener Against IrelandIn the inaugural One-Day International (ODI) match between South Africa and Ireland in Abu Dhabi, Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma opted to bat first. The decision was made after assessing the pitch, which featured additional grass cover and a projected par score of 260-270.Ryan Rickelton and Rassie van der Dussen returned to the South African XI after missing the recent Afghanistan series, which the Proteas lost 2-1. Andy Balbirnie, who was omitted from the T20I squad, made his ODI comeback as an opener alongside Paul Stirling.Ireland handed a maiden ODI cap to legspinner Gavin Hoey, while Stephen Doheny took over wicketkeeping duties. The Irish team also included Curtis Campher, Harry Tector, George Dockrell, Mark Adair, Andy McBrine, Graham Hume, and Craig Young.South Africa's batting lineup featured Rickelton as the wicketkeeper, followed by Tony de Zorzi, Bavuma, van der Dussen, Tristan Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder, Andile Phehlukwayo, Bjorn Fortuin, Lizaad Williams, Lungi Ngidi, and Ottneil Baartman.The match marked the first time the two teams had faced off in an ODI since 2019. South Africa holds a 3-1 advantage in their previous ODI encounters.

India's dominance in Test cricket continued as they registered a resounding 2-0 clean sweep against Bangladesh in the recently concluded two-match series. The second Test in Kanpur, despite being rain-hit, witnessed a stellar performance from Team India, who chased down a target of 95 with seven wickets in hand on Day 5.The victory marked India's 18th consecutive Test series win at home, a testament to their unwavering dominance on home soil. Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, the Indian team has scaled new heights, with Sharma himself attributing his success to the support of former head coach Ravi Shastri and star batter Virat Kohli.In a recent interview with renowned commentator Jatin Sapru, Sharma revealed that Shastri and Kohli played a pivotal role in his transformation as an opening batter in Test cricket. He described it as his "second birth" in the format."In the second innings, I was very grateful to Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli for giving me the opportunity to bat up the order," Sharma said. "It wasn't an easy decision to promote me in Tests. They trusted me. They asked me to play one practice match, which I did. I got out on the very first ball, but I realized that I didn't have any other choice. It felt like a second birth in Test cricket. I knew I had to grab this opportunity."Sharma's gratitude towards Shastri and Kohli stems from their unwavering belief in his abilities. Despite his initial struggles as an opener, they encouraged him to play his natural game and not succumb to the pressure of survival."My response to them was clear: I'll play my natural game and won't take the pressure of trying to survive. I'm going to play freely. If the ball is there, whether it's the first ball of the Test or not, I'm going to hit it. They gave me the freedom to do what I wanted," Sharma added.Shastri's eagerness for Sharma to open in Tests dates back to 2015, but the decision ultimately rested with the team management. However, with the support of Shastri and Kohli, Sharma has flourished in his new role, becoming one of the most prolific openers in Test cricket.Following the successful completion of the Test series, India will face Bangladesh in a three-match T20I series, commencing on October 6 in Gwalior.

The upcoming 2024 Women's T20 World Cup, scheduled to commence on October 3 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), will witness a groundbreaking technological advancement with the introduction of the Smart Replay System. This innovative technology, previously utilized in the Hundred and IPL 2024, promises to revolutionize decision-making in cricket.The Smart Replay System will employ a minimum of 28 cameras at each match, providing a comprehensive view of the action. It will be complemented by analytical and visual enhancements, including the Decision Review System (DRS) available at all matches. The Hawk-eye Smart Replay System will empower the TV umpire with the ability to instantly review synchronized multi-angle footage, ensuring accurate and timely decisions.Under the Smart Replay System, the TV umpire will receive direct inputs from two Hawk-Eye operators located in the same room. These operators will provide the umpire with images captured by Hawk-Eye's eight high-speed cameras strategically positioned around the ground. The TV broadcast director, who previously served as an intermediary between the third umpire and Hawk-Eye operators, will no longer be involved in this process.This system grants the TV umpire access to a wider range of visuals, including split-screen images. For instance, in the case of a stumping referral, the TV umpire can request split-screen visuals from the Hawk-Eye operators. If a visible gap is detected between the ball and the bat, the TV umpire will proceed directly to check the side-on replay for the stumping, eliminating the need for UltraEdge (to determine if it was a caught behind).For stumpings, the new system will present the TV umpire with tri-vision, combining footage from side-on and front-on cameras in a single frame. The front-on camera angle provides a clear view of the bails being removed. Previously, broadcasters would display side-on angles from both sides along with footage from Stump Cam. However, Stump Cam records at a lower speed of approximately 50 frames per second, while Hawk-Eye cameras record at approximately 300 frames per second. This enhancement ensures more accurate footage for the umpires to make informed decisions.In addition to the Smart Replay System, the tournament will feature an all-female panel of umpires and match officials, continuing the ICC's commitment to promoting gender equality in cricket.

Ireland vs South Africa: Ireland Aim to Continue Momentum in First ODIIreland will face South Africa in the first ODI of a three-match series in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, October 2. The Irish team is brimming with confidence after their stunning victory over the Proteas in the second T20I, which resulted in a drawn series.The Adair brothers, Mark and Ross, were instrumental in Ireland's historic T20I triumph. Ross Adair smashed a century, while his brother Mark claimed four wickets. South Africa, on the other hand, appeared out of sorts in the series decider after their emphatic eight-wicket win in the first match.In the absence of Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma will lead the South African team in the ODI series. Ireland will be hoping to carry their momentum from the T20I series into the ODIs. They will be keen to prove that their T20I success was not a fluke and that they can compete with the top teams in the world.The match will be played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi and will start at 5 PM IST. It will not be telecasted on any TV channel but will be streamed live on FanCode.Key Points:* Ireland and South Africa will face off in the first ODI of a three-match series in Abu Dhabi.* Ireland are riding high on confidence after their T20I series draw against South Africa.* Ross Adair and Mark Adair were the stars for Ireland in the T20I series.* South Africa will be led by Temba Bavuma in the absence of Aiden Markram.* The match will be played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi and will start at 5 PM IST.* The match will be streamed live on FanCode.

The Indian cricket team dominated Day 4 of the Kanpur Test, amassing 285/9 in their first innings and forcing Bangladesh to bat again. While Indian batters asserted their dominance, Mehidy Hasan Miraz emerged as a standout performer for the visitors, showcasing his prowess with both bat and ball.Despite facing an unexpected setback, Miraz displayed resilience on the field. After scoring 22 runs off 42 balls, he was dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah. However, his true brilliance shone through with the ball, as he claimed four wickets in India's first innings."I didn't realize the bee was inside me. After playing the shot, it stung me, and then I felt the pain," Miraz revealed in a post-match press conference.Miraz also shed light on Shakib al Hasan's retirement decision. Dismissing rumors of political influence, he stated that the team had been aware of Shakib's plans for some time."Shakib bhai had informed us earlier about his intention to retire from Test cricket. It wasn't a sudden decision. He discussed it with the team management and players, and we accepted his decision," Miraz explained.Bangladesh faces an uphill battle to salvage a draw in the Kanpur Test. However, they are aware of the formidable challenge posed by India's bowlers on Day 5.

The World Test Championship (WTC) is nearing its conclusion, with 10 series remaining. The race for the top two spots is intensifying, with several teams vying for qualification.India's DominanceIndia currently leads the standings with 74.24 percentage points. They have a favorable schedule, with eight remaining Tests against New Zealand and Australia. If they win all eight, they will finish with 85.09%, securing their place in the final. However, they need at least four wins and two draws (56 points) to guarantee qualification, regardless of other results.Sri Lanka's SurgeSri Lanka has made a strong push towards the top two with 55.56 percentage points. They have four Tests remaining against South Africa and Australia. If they win all four, they will finish on 69.23%, assuring themselves of a final berth. Even if they lose one and win three, they will have a chance of qualifying, depending on other results.Australia's ContentionAustralia is currently in second place with 62.50 percentage points. They have seven Tests remaining against India and Sri Lanka. If they win all seven, they can finish on 76.32%. However, India and South Africa can still surpass them.South Africa's ChancesSouth Africa has 38.89 percentage points. They have six Tests remaining against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. If they win all six, they will finish with 69.44%, which should be enough for qualification. Five wins and a draw will keep them in contention, while five wins and a defeat will give them a chance if other results favor them.Other ContendersBangladesh, New Zealand, England, Pakistan, and West Indies have slimmer chances of qualifying. Bangladesh needs to win all four remaining Tests to improve to 56.25%, which may not be enough. New Zealand can theoretically finish with 64.29%, but their recent form suggests they won't reach that mark. England's maximum achievable percentage is 57.95%, while Pakistan can reach 59.52% if they win all seven remaining Tests. West Indies has already played four series and has only 20 points, making their qualification unlikely.ConclusionThe race for the top two spots in the WTC is heating up. India, Sri Lanka, Australia, and South Africa are the frontrunners, while Bangladesh, New Zealand, England, Pakistan, and West Indies have an outside chance. The remaining series will determine which teams will advance to the final and compete for the coveted WTC title.