Cricket

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unveiled the schedule for the 2024-25 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan's premier domestic first-class competition. The tournament will commence on October 26 and culminate in the final on December 19.In a significant expansion, the tournament will feature 18 teams representing 16 regions, including two teams each from Lahore and Karachi. This marks a departure from previous years, which saw a limited number of teams participating."The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy is the pinnacle of domestic cricket in Pakistan," said Abdullah Niazi, Director of Domestic Operations. "It showcases the immense talent across the country and prepares players for international challenges."The PCB's commitment to strengthening its domestic structure was evident in the successful Champions One-Day Cup earlier this year. The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy remains a cornerstone of this commitment.The tournament's start date of October 26 is later than usual, as the PCB prioritized the Champions One-Day Cup in September. This means the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy will overlap with Pakistan's busy Test season, which includes seven home games.Pakistan vice-captain Saud Shakeel suggested that the first-class competition could be used to prepare for the upcoming tour of South Africa by replicating the conditions there.

The Quaid-e-Azam (QeA) Trophy, Pakistan's premier first-class tournament, remains in limbo as the 2024-25 season approaches without a clear start date. Despite Pakistan's ongoing bumper international Test season, the PCB has yet to announce a schedule for the domestic competition.A tentative schedule released by the PCB in August had the QeA beginning on October 20, but that date has passed without any official confirmation. A PCB official had previously stated that the tournament would adhere to its October 20 plan, but ESPNcricinfo has learned that the schedule is still awaiting approval from PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi.The delay in announcing the QeA schedule has raised concerns among players and stakeholders. The tournament is crucial for players to prepare for international commitments, but its absence has left them without any domestic red-ball cricket ahead of England's ongoing three-Test tour.The lack of information about the QeA is in stark contrast to the fanfare surrounding the Champions One-Day Cup, which was held in September. The decision to host the one-day tournament in Pakistan's only free window until May meant that players would not be able to participate in domestic red-ball cricket before the England tour.Historically, the QeA has struggled to maintain a consistent schedule or format. However, the current delay is unprecedented, with the tournament typically having its schedule announced well before October. In the last 20 years, the QeA has only started later than October 26 twice.The situation is particularly concerning given Pakistan's busy Test schedule this season. They are currently halfway through seven home Test matches between August 2024 and January 2025, with two more Tests in South Africa at the turn of the year.The PCB has declined to comment on the reasons for the delay in approving the QeA schedule. However, budgetary approval is believed to be a factor, with the chairman having the final say on operational matters.

Ishan Kishan, the explosive left-handed batter, is set to make a comeback to the India A team after being dropped from the BCCI central contracts earlier this year. Kishan's return to the domestic circuit as captain of Jharkhand has paved the way for his inclusion in the India A squad for two four-day "Tests" against Australia A and an intra-squad match with the senior team.Kishan's omission from the central contracts raised concerns about his prioritization of the Indian Premier League (IPL) over domestic cricket. However, his recent performances for Jharkhand have demonstrated his commitment to the domestic game.The two "Tests" against Australia A will be held at McKay from October 31 to November 3 and at the MCG from November 7 to 10. While the BCCI has yet to announce the official squad, Ruturaj Gaikwad or Abhimanyu Easwaran is expected to lead the side.Easwaran, who has scored four centuries in his last four first-class matches, could also be called up as a backup opener for the senior team. Skipper Rohit Sharma is set to take a break during one of the first two Tests due to personal reasons.Bengal will be represented in the India A squad by seamer Mukesh Kumar and keeper-batter Abhishek Porel. The likely squad includes:* Ruturaj Gaikwad* Abhimanyu Easwaran* Devdutt Padikkal* Sai Sudharsan* B Indrajith* Abishek Porel (wk)* Ishan Kishan (wk)* Mukesh Kumar* Ricky Bhui* Nitish Kumar Reddy* Manav Suthar* Navdeep Saini* Khaleel Ahmed* Tanush Kotian* Yash DayalKishan's return to the India A team is a testament to his talent and determination. It also highlights the importance of domestic cricket in the development of Indian players.

Cricket Australia (CA) has announced the introduction of three day-night Sheffield Shield matches this season to provide domestic players with valuable experience in pink-ball conditions. This move aligns with the increasing prevalence of day-night Tests in the Australian summer.The matches will be strategically held at Adelaide Oval, the Gabba, and Bellerive Oval, which have been the preferred venues for pink-ball Tests in recent years. However, the timing of the matches means that none of Australia's current Test team will participate in any of them.The first day-night match will feature South Australia and Western Australia at Adelaide Oval on November 23, just two weeks before the pink-ball Test between Australia and India at the same venue. However, this match will not involve any current Australian Test players due to a clash with the first Test in Perth.Queensland and Victoria will face off at the Gabba on November 24, a match that could potentially feature Michael Neser and Scott Boland, who have both played pink-ball Test cricket and could be in contention for Australia's Test team this summer.The final day-night match will be played between Tasmania and New South Wales at Bellerive Oval in Hobart starting on March 15. While Australia's ODI players are unlikely to be available due to their return from the Champions Trophy, Nathan Lyon could potentially participate depending on his recovery from the Test series against India and Sri Lanka.CA's head of national teams, Ben Oliver, emphasized the importance of providing domestic players with opportunities to enhance their skills and prepare them for the challenges of international cricket. He stated that playing first-class matches at Test venues and exposing players to day-night conditions are crucial for their development.CA previously scheduled day-night Shield rounds consistently between 2013-14 and 2017-18. However, pink-ball games have since been reserved for Australia A, Prime Minister's XI, or CA XI matches against touring teams. The reintroduction of day-night Sheffield Shield matches is seen as a positive step in preparing the next generation of Australian cricketers for the demands of international cricket.

Coimbatore: Tamil Nadu captain R. Sai Kishore is urging his team to adopt an aggressive and fearless approach as they prepare for the upcoming domestic season, which begins on Friday. "Our preparation has been good, and we want to play a positive brand of cricket," said Sai Kishore on the eve of his side's first match against Saurashtra.TN reached the semifinals last season after a six-year absence, and expectations are high this year. When asked about it, Sai Kishore explained, "There are always expectations not just from outside but even within ourselves. We had six players in the Duleep Trophy, and we have set high standards. But we just want to focus on our job."While he led from the front, taking 53 scalps and topping the wicket-takers charts last year, the 27-year-old also came under criticism for his decision to bat first on a seamer-friendly pitch against Mumbai in the semis, which proved costly. "Captaincy, in terms of player management and being honest with them, came naturally to me. On the tactical side, I had a few things to learn and have worked on it. I have spoken to a few captains ahead of the season," he revealed.Meanwhile, Saurashtra skipper Jaydev Unadkat backed his experienced players to come good against TN. "Almost 80 or probably 90% of our squad has been playing for the last seven or eight seasons and has 60-70 games (experience), which is our strength. When you start against a team as good as them (TN), it sets you up for the season."

India's premier domestic cricket tournament, the Ranji Trophy, is set to undergo a significant overhaul in its 90th season, which begins on October 10. The tournament will now be played in two phases, with an extra day's gap between matches to prioritize player well-being.Phase 1:The first phase of the Ranji Trophy will take place from October 11 to November 13, with each team playing five league games. This phase will be followed by the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (T20s) and Vijay Hazare Trophy (50 overs).Phase 2:The second phase of the Ranji Trophy will resume on January 23, 2025, with the last two group fixtures. The knockout phase will begin on February 8, with the final scheduled for February 26 to March 2.Format Changes:The tournament will feature 38 teams divided into five groups: Elite A, Elite B, Elite C, Elite D, and Plate. Teams will face all other teams in their respective groups, with the top two teams from each Elite group qualifying for the knockouts. The finalists from the Plate group knockout matches will earn promotion to the Elite groups for the following season, while the bottom two teams in the combined Elite group table will be relegated to the Plate group.Rationale for Changes:The changes to the Ranji Trophy structure were proposed by a working group led by former India men's head coach Rahul Dravid. The group recognized the lack of game time during the winter season in north India and the need for an extra day's gap between matches to allow players sufficient recovery time.Impact on Players:The new format is expected to provide players with more opportunities to showcase their skills and improve their fitness. The extra day's gap between matches will reduce the risk of injuries and allow players to perform at their best.Conclusion:The overhaul of the Ranji Trophy structure is a significant step towards revitalizing India's domestic cricket landscape. The changes are designed to enhance player well-being, provide more competitive opportunities, and ultimately elevate the standard of domestic cricket in India.

Mohammed Shami Sidelined, Saha and Chatterjee Return for Bengal Ranji OpenerPremier Indian pacer Mohammed Shami will miss Bengal's first two Ranji Trophy matches due to an ankle injury. The veteran duo of Wriddhiman Saha and Sudip Chatterjee, however, have returned to the side after a brief hiatus.Shami, who last played in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, underwent surgery earlier this year and is still recovering. He had expressed his desire to play domestic cricket to assess his fitness before returning to international duty."If I need to play domestic cricket to test my fitness, I will," Shami had said. "What matters most is that I am fully ready for whatever comes next, regardless of the opposition or format."Saha, who made his Bengal debut in 2007, joined Tripura as a mentor and player in 2022 following a fallout with the Cricket Association of Bengal officials. Chatterjee, another experienced campaigner, has also returned to the fold.Under the leadership of captain Anustup Majumdar, the 19-member Bengal squad has departed for Lucknow, where they will face Uttar Pradesh in their opening match on October 11. Bengal will then host Bihar in the second round.Squad:* Anustup Majumdar (captain)* Abhimanyu Easwaran* Sudip Gharami* Sudip Chatterjee* Wriddhiman Saha* Shahbaz Ahmed* Abishek Porel* Writtick Chatterjee* Avilin Ghosh* Shuvam Dey* Akash Deep* Mukesh Kumar* Suraj Jaiswal* Mohd Kaif* Pradipta Pramanik* Aamir Gani* Yudhajit Guha* Rohit Kumar* Rishav Vivek

The Duleep Trophy and Irani Cup, two prestigious tournaments in Indian First Class cricket, showcased the cream of the crop. While the quality of cricket lived up to expectations, the sluggish pace of play, with teams and captains seemingly indifferent to adhering to the prescribed over-rate, cast a shadow over the proceedings.Mumbai captain Ajinkya Rahane, a veteran of 85 Test matches, has called for the imposition of run penalties to curb the over-rate menace in domestic cricket. "There is no penalty for the overs short... if they start penalising the team by the number of runs for every over that the fielding team is short by, for instance 12 runs for one over, 24 for two and so on and it should be added after every day's player," Rahane suggested after leading Mumbai to its 15th Irani Cup triumph.The over-rate in the Irani Cup was so abysmal that the game was repeatedly brought to a standstill. While Rest of India (RoI), led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, bowled 68 and 70 overs on the first two days, respectively, the final day's play was the most bizarre. With RoI in no hurry and Mumbai batters employing time-wasting tactics to secure a draw, only 38 overs were bowled in 240 minutes before the teams shook hands.Currently, the fielding captain and team face monetary sanctions for over-rate violations – 10 to 50% of the match-fee for the team and 20 to 100% for the captain. Monetary and disciplinary sanctions are also imposed on the batting side for time-wasting."I always believe that players should maintain that discipline. They should play within the rules. But at the moment there is no penalty, so I cannot comment too much about the rules. Whoever is managing domestic cricket, I feel if they can add a strict run penalty, it will be a huge thing," Rahane emphasized.

The Sheffield Shield, Australia's premier domestic cricket competition, kicks off its new season on October 8 with Western Australia aiming to make history. No team has won four consecutive Shields since the competition expanded to six teams in 1977-78.New South Wales:NSW, under captain Moises Henriques, has made significant off-season signings with Nic Maddinson and Josh Philippe joining the squad. They will look to improve on last season's third-place finish, relying on a potent new-ball attack featuring Chris Tremain and Jackson Bird.Queensland:Queensland, led by Marnus Labuschagne, has a new coach in Johan Botha and a new captain in Labuschagne. They will aim to improve on last season's dismal performance, with a focus on settling a young middle-order.South Australia:South Australia, under captain Nathan McSweeney, has undergone leadership changes and recruited Jason Sangha from NSW. They will look to address their batting woes and rely on a strong fast-bowling attack.Tasmania:Tasmania, last season's finalists, will be bolstered by the addition of Test spinner Matt Kuhnemann. They will aim to build on their success, with a balanced attack and a solid batting lineup led by Beau Webster.Victoria:Victoria, under captain Will Sutherland, will look to bounce back from last season's disappointing finish. They have a similar group to last year, with a well-balanced attack and experienced batters.Western Australia:Defending champions Western Australia, led by Sam Whiteman, will face their toughest challenge yet. They have an international-standard team but will need to rely on their depth due to injuries and international departures.Australia Impact:The Shield season will be impacted by Australia's Test series against India, with several players expected to miss games. NSW, Queensland, and Victoria will be particularly affected, with the likes of Nathan Lyon, Marnus Labuschagne, and Scott Boland likely to be unavailable at times.