Cricket

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is preparing to formally challenge the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) refusal to send the Indian cricket team to Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. The PCB has reportedly sought legal advice and will now seek clarification from the ICC regarding India's stance.According to sources, the PCB has consulted with legal experts following guidance from the Pakistan government. The PCB will use this legal consultation in its letter to the ICC, arguing that India's refusal to travel to Pakistan is unjustified.The Pakistan government has also advised the PCB to involve other cricket boards in this issue. The government believes that a match of such importance cannot be played outside Pakistan, given the significance of both countries in the sport.The government has also suggested that the PCB emphasize its positive conduct and attitude while presenting its case. The government believes that India has no moral or legal grounds to refuse to travel to Pakistan.India has not played a bilateral series in Pakistan since 2008. However, India has participated in tournaments hosted by Pakistan in neutral venues. For example, the 2023 Asia Cup was hosted by Pakistan, but India played all its games in Sri Lanka, including the India-Pakistan clash.PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has initiated talks with senior government officials to discuss the future course of action after the ICC conveyed India's unwillingness to tour Pakistan for the Champions Trophy.The PCB's challenge to the ICC is a significant development in the ongoing dispute between the two cricket boards. The outcome of this challenge could have implications for the future of cricket in Pakistan and the relationship between the two countries.

Sanjay Bangar's son, Aryan, has undergone a hormonal replacement surgery and transitioned to Anaya. The 23-year-old cricketer shared his transformation journey on Instagram, showcasing his 10-month progress.Anaya's journey has been marked by sacrifices, resilience, and unwavering dedication. She has faced doubts and judgments, but has remained steadfast in her pursuit of authenticity. "Embracing my true self meant making hard choices, letting go of the comfort of fitting in, and standing up for who I am," she wrote in her video caption.Anaya's transformation has not been without its challenges. In November 2023, the International Cricket Council (ICC) ruled that transgender athletes will not be allowed to participate in women's cricket. Anaya expressed her disappointment over the decision, stating that it undermines inclusivity and the safety of players.Despite the setbacks, Anaya remains committed to her passion for cricket. She continues to play at the local club level and is an active member of the Hinckley Cricket Club in Leicestershire.Anaya's story is an inspiration to all who are struggling with their gender identity. It is a reminder that authenticity and self-acceptance are paramount, even in the face of adversity.

India's participation in the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan has sparked controversy due to ongoing political tensions between the two nations. Despite Pakistan's visit to India for the 2023 ODI World Cup, reports suggest that India is reluctant to travel to Pakistan for the upcoming tournament.The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly proposed a "hybrid" model, where India would play its matches in Dubai. However, former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has warned that if India refuses to travel, Pakistan should retaliate by boycotting the tournament."ICC exists only because there is Pakistan and India. If the government of Pakistan also says like India that we won't play, then the ICC will be of no use as no one will watch the match," Latif told Geo News.Latif emphasized that India cannot deny ICC events as they have already signed agreements. He added that if India does not participate, Pakistan will take a "big step" by withdrawing from the tournament.The BCCI has reportedly informed the ICC of its decision not to travel to Pakistan. Sources indicate that Pakistan may consider legal action at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)."This is an ICC event. The cycle has been signed from 2024-2031. All the broadcasters and sponsors have signed about the teams that will participate in the Champions Trophy or the World Cup," Latif said.The decision has sparked debate, with some arguing that India should prioritize cricket over politics. Others maintain that the safety and security of the Indian team must be paramount.The ICC is expected to make a final decision on the matter in the coming months. If India does not participate, it would be a major blow to the tournament and raise questions about the future of bilateral cricket between the two nations.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has canceled a significant event connected to the upcoming Champions Trophy, originally set to take place on November 11 in Lahore. The cancellation stems from ongoing disagreements over the tournament's schedule, particularly regarding India's participation.The ICC had intended to use the November 11 event to kick-off the tournament, marking 100 days until the championship began. However, these plans have been put on hold due to uncertainty surrounding India's willingness to travel to Pakistan.Sources indicate that scheduling conflicts, exacerbated by India's reluctance to play in Pakistan, are the primary reasons for the cancellation. There are also suggestions that the ICC might cite Lahore's severe smog as a contributing factor.The Champions Trophy was initially planned to be held across multiple cities in Pakistan, including Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi. However, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) informing the ICC that it hasn't received government approval to send its team to Pakistan, a hybrid model for the tournament is looking increasingly likely. This arrangement would involve moving some matches, especially those featuring India, to the UAE.Mohsin Naqvi, the PCB chairman, has expressed his frustration over the lack of official communication regarding India's participation. He has stated that the PCB is ready to discuss a hybrid model but has not received any formal communication from the BCCI.India's original schedule had them facing Bangladesh on February 20, New Zealand on February 23, and Pakistan on March 1, all in Lahore. Adjustments to the tournament venues, if not the dates, seem unavoidable.The ICC is still in discussions with Pakistan, the host nation, and other participating countries on the Champions Trophy schedule. Once confirmed, the ICC will announce the schedule through its normal channels.

The Green Park Stadium in Kanpur, which hosted the rain-affected second Test between India and Bangladesh, has received an "unsatisfactory" rating from the International Cricket Council (ICC) for its outfield. The rating comes with one demerit point for the venue.The outfield was deemed unsatisfactory due to the excessive rain that prevented play on days two and three of the Test match. Despite no rain falling during the scheduled playing hours on day three, the outfield remained unplayable.In the lead-up to the Test match, the state's public works department had deemed one of Green Park's stands unsafe, forcing the stadium authorities to limit the number of spectators allowed in the upper-level seats.The Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA), which manages the Green Park Stadium, has been criticized for the poor condition of the outfield. BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla, who hails from Kanpur, defended the venue but admitted that it was in need of refurbishment.Despite the outfield issues, India managed to force a victory in the Test match, picking up 20 Bangladesh wickets in the space of 121.2 overs and scoring 383 runs in just 52 overs across two innings.The Green Park pitch for this Test match, meanwhile, earned a "satisfactory" rating.The ICC rates pitches and outfields for all international games on a scale of very good to unfit. One demerit point is awarded to venues for an unsatisfactory rating, and three for an unfit rating. If any ground receives five or more demerit points in a five-year rolling period, it is suspended from hosting any international cricket for 12 months.The rest of the venues that hosted India's 2024-25 international season did not come in for any censure from the ICC. Of the pitches on which India played their five Tests, four - including all three that hosted the recently concluded series against New Zealand, in Bengaluru, Pune, and Mumbai - earned "satisfactory" ratings, while the surface at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium, which hosted the first Test against Bangladesh, earned a "very good" tag.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has deemed the pitches prepared for Pakistan's recent Test series against England as "satisfactory," despite the surfaces drawing significant attention for their contrasting nature.In the first Test, Pakistan's flat pitch allowed both teams to amass massive totals, with England setting a record-breaking 827 for 7 declared. However, Pakistan's subsequent innings collapse led to a result that seemed improbable earlier in the match.Following this defeat, Pakistan drastically altered their pitch-making strategy. For the second Test in Multan, they reused the same surface and employed giant fans to dry it out. The third Test in Rawalpindi, a venue known for its lack of spin, also involved fans and heaters to break up the surface.These changes resulted in pitches that provided significant assistance to spinners, with all 40 of England's wickets in the last two Tests falling to spin. Pakistan won the second Test on the fourth day, while the third Test ended before lunch on day three.Despite the contrasting nature of the pitches, England raised no public objections, while Pakistan maintained their right to prepare surfaces that offered them home advantage. The ICC's "satisfactory" rating reflects this view, as it is the lowest rating that does not constitute a censure.The ICC rates pitches and outfields on a scale from "very good" to "unfit." An "unsatisfactory" rating results in one demerit point, while an "unfit" rating incurs three. Grounds that accumulate five or more demerit points within a five-year period are suspended from hosting international cricket for 12 months.This was the third consecutive Test in Rawalpindi where the pitch came under scrutiny. In 2022, the surface was rated "below average" and docked a demerit point, which was later rescinded on appeal.

KL Rahul's batting performance in the upcoming second unofficial Test against Australia A will be closely scrutinized by the Indian national selection committee as he prepares to showcase his skills ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Rahul, who was dropped midway through the home Tests against New Zealand, has been sent to the 'A' Test along with reserve keeper Dhruv Jurel to gain match practice before joining the senior team in Perth on January 11.The India A team will face a stern test against Australia A, which includes seasoned pacer Scott Boland. Boland's presence will provide a challenging environment for the Indian batters, including Rahul, who will likely bat at No. 5 or 6. Rahul's ability to handle quality fast bowling in bouncy conditions will be crucial, as he aims to prove his worth for a spot in the Test series.During the practice session at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Rahul looked in good touch. With Abhimanyu Easwaran and skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad expected to open, Rahul's batting position will be similar to what it would be in the Indian Test XI.The Indian selectors believe that Rahul's experience and success in overseas conditions, including centuries at Lord's, Oval, Sydney, and Centurion, make him a more suitable choice than domestic doyen Sarfaraz Khan, despite Khan's impressive 150 against New Zealand in Bengaluru.The India A team will make four changes to the squad that played the first 'unofficial Test' at Mackay, which they lost by seven wickets. Rahul will replace Baba Indrajith, while Jurel will take the place of Ishan Kishan. Navdeep Saini will make way for left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed, and off-spinner all-rounder Tanush Kotian will replace slow left-arm orthodox Manav Suthar.

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant and New Zealand's veteran Daryl Mitchell have ascended to the top 10 of the ICC Test rankings following their impressive performances in the third Test in Mumbai. Pant's half-centuries in both innings have propelled him five spots to sixth position, inching closer to his career-best ranking of fifth. Mitchell's first-inning score of 82 has earned him an eight-place jump to seventh overall, joining his compatriot Kane Williamson in the top 10.England's Joe Root remains firmly at the summit of the Test batter rankings, followed by Williamson, Harry Brook, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Steve Smith. India's Shubman Gill has also made significant progress, moving up four places to 16th after his 90-run knock in the first innings against New Zealand. Player of the Series Will Young has surged 29 places to 44th overall, reflecting his crucial contributions to New Zealand's success.In the bowling department, India's Ravindra Jadeja has climbed two spots to sixth position after his 10-wicket haul against New Zealand. Washington Sundar has also made gains, advancing seven places to 46th among Test bowlers. New Zealand's spin attack has also been rewarded, with Ajaz Patel rising 12 places to 22nd and Ish Sodhi improving by three rungs to equal 70th.South Africa's Keshav Maharaj has risen four places to 19th, bolstered by his 13-wicket haul against Bangladesh in South Africa's recent series victory.The latest ODI rankings also feature notable movement. West Indies captain Shai Hope has moved up five places to 12th among ODI batters, following his 17th ODI century in the second match against England. England's Liam Livingstone has seen a significant rise, moving up 32 spots to 58th after his century in the same clash.Pace bowlers Shaheen Afridi and Mitchell Starc have made strides on the ODI Bowler Rankings. Afridi has moved up three spots to claim fourth, while Starc has climbed four places to 14th following their opening performances in Australia's ODI series against Pakistan. Scotland's Brandon McMullen has also seen an improvement in the ODI all-rounder category, advancing three spots to reach sixth.

India's women's cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur has climbed to the joint ninth spot in the latest ICC Women's ODI rankings, while opener Smriti Mandhana has maintained her fourth position. The rankings were released in Dubai on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.Kaur's rise in the rankings comes after her crucial role in India's six-wicket victory over New Zealand in the third ODI of their ICC Women's Championship series in Ahmedabad. Despite slipping three slots after the first two matches, her unbeaten 59 off 63 balls propelled her back into the top 10.Left-hander Mandhana, who won the player of the match award for her century in the same match, added 23 rating points to reach a tally of 728. This places her just five points behind Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu in the list led by England's Natalie Sciver-Brunt with 760 rating points.Other Indian players also made significant progress in the rankings. Wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia moved up from 48th to 45th after contributing 35 runs. For New Zealand, Brooke Halliday's knock of 86 lifted her 12 spots to 24th position, while Georgia Plimmer's 39 runs took her from 85th to 74th position.In the bowling chart, seasoned spinner Deepti Sharma gained important rating points after helping India win the series 2-1. Sharma, who had already attained a career-high 687 rating points last week, added 16 more to reach 703 rating points. This solidifies her second place among bowlers, behind England's left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone, who enjoys a huge lead with 770 rating points.India pacer Renuka Singh moved up four places to 32nd, while Saima Thakor (up 20 places to joint-77th) and Priya Mishra (up six places to 83rd) also progressed.In the ICC Women's Championship standings, India is placed third with 25 points, while New Zealand is sixth with 20 points from 21 matches. Australia and England are at the top with 28 points each, from 18 and 21 matches, respectively.