Cricket

South Africa's international home summer commenced with a thrilling encounter against India, with the hosts opting to chase in the first match. Aiden Markram, South Africa's captain, led a formidable lineup featuring a plethora of all-rounders.Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee made their long-awaited returns to the XI after recovering from injuries and conditioning blocks. Patrick Kruger, a T20 World Cup participant, retained his spot, while debutant Andile Simelane added another seam-bowling all-rounder to the mix.South Africa's bowling options were further bolstered by the presence of left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj and legspinner Nqabayomzi Peter, with Markram also capable of contributing with the ball. However, regular opening partner Reeza Hendricks was ruled out due to illness.India, on the other hand, opted for a spin-heavy approach, fielding two legspinners in Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi, left-arm spinner Axar Patel, and left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh. Right-arm quick Avesh Khan completed the bowling attack, while uncapped all-rounder Ramandeep Singh missed out. Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma provided additional spin options for India.The batting lineup was led by Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya. Yadav expressed his preference for batting first on a surface conducive to high-scoring. Despite overcast conditions, a strong breeze kept the pitch dry, promising an entertaining match for the sizable crowd.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has asserted its determination to host the entire Champions Trophy in Pakistan, rejecting the possibility of a hybrid model. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi emphasized that the board has not received any official communication from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) expressing concerns about the Indian team's participation in Pakistan.Naqvi's stance marks a departure from the PCB's previous cautious approach on the issue of India's reluctance to travel to Pakistan. He stated that the PCB is prepared to host all of India's matches in Lahore, which is conveniently located near the Indian border, to facilitate logistics and security. The PCB has also offered to arrange up to 17,000 visas for Indian fans during the tournament.Naqvi expressed confidence that Pakistan has demonstrated goodwill towards India in the past, referring to the team's participation in the ODI World Cup in India despite India's refusal to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup. He emphasized that Pakistan should not be expected to make such gestures indefinitely if India continues to decline to visit Pakistan.The PCB has identified three venues – Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi – for the tournament. Naqvi stated that "almost every country" is eager to see the Champions Trophy played in Pakistan and that the PCB will provide all necessary facilities.However, ESPNcricinfo reports that the BCCI has not yet discussed the matter internally. The Indian board's stance remains unchanged, and it will await the Indian government's approval before making a decision on whether to travel to Pakistan.The Champions Trophy is scheduled to be held in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9, although the ICC has yet to officially announce the schedule.

India to Face Pakistan in Opening Match of 2024 U-19 Asia CupThe Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has unveiled the schedule for the 2024 Men's 50-over U-19 Asia Cup, set to take place from November 29 to December 8 in Dubai and Sharjah. India will kick off their campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on November 30 at the Dubai International Stadium.India has been placed in Group A alongside Japan and hosts UAE. They will face Japan on December 2 and UAE on December 4, both matches to be played in Sharjah. The top two teams from both Group A and B will advance to the semi-finals on December 6 in Dubai and Sharjah, with the final scheduled for December 8 in Dubai.Group B features defending champions Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Nepal. The tournament will commence on November 29 with a match between Bangladesh and Afghanistan, followed by Sri Lanka and Nepal facing off on the same day.This edition marks the 11th Men's U-19 Asia Cup, which was first held in Bangladesh in 1989. Japan, Nepal, and UAE earned their spots in the tournament after qualifying through the 2023 ACC Men's Under-19 Premier Cup.Bangladesh are the reigning champions, having defeated UAE by 195 runs in the 2023 final. India holds the record for most titles with eight, while Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh have each won once. The last three editions of the tournament were held in the UAE, with India winning their most recent title there in 2021.The U-19 Asia Cup provides a platform for young cricketers to showcase their talent and gain valuable experience at the international level. It has been a stepping stone for many future stars, including Virat Kohli, Babar Azam, and Rashid Khan.

PCB Disappointed by India's Refusal to Play in Pakistan for 2025 Champions TrophyPakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has expressed disappointment over reports that India has declined to play in Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. Naqvi emphasized the importance of the tournament for Pakistan's cricket landscape and its potential to foster cricketing ties in the region.Speaking to the media after inspecting the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Naqvi stated that the PCB has not received any official communication from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding their non-participation. However, he acknowledged reports in the Indian media and expressed concern."We have a clear stance that if India has any issues, we will accept it only if they give us in writing," Naqvi said. "We are not ready for any dialogue on a 'hybrid model' and believe that cricket should be kept away from politics."Naqvi reiterated the PCB's commitment to hosting a successful Champions Trophy and stated that they will continue preparations as planned. He added that if the BCCI formally communicates their non-participation, the PCB will consult with the government for guidance.The TimesofIndia.com had earlier reported that the BCCI has informed the PCB and other stakeholders of their decision to play their matches at a neutral venue, with Dubai being the likely host. The BCCI has reportedly cited security concerns as the reason for their decision.The PCB's disappointment stems from the fact that the Champions Trophy is a major ICC event and hosting it in Pakistan would have been a significant boost for the country's cricket. The tournament would have also provided an opportunity for Pakistan to showcase its improved security situation and promote cricketing ties with India.The BCCI's decision has sparked mixed reactions in India. Some experts believe that the decision is justified due to security concerns, while others argue that it is a missed opportunity to improve relations between the two countries.The PCB remains hopeful that the BCCI will reconsider its decision and allow the Champions Trophy to be played in Pakistan. However, the PCB is also prepared to host the tournament at a neutral venue if necessary.

KL Rahul's dismal batting form continued in the second unofficial Test against Australia A, leaving India A in a precarious position. Rahul, who is vying for an opening spot in the Indian Test team for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, managed a mere 14 runs across two innings, including a bizarre dismissal in the second innings.After bowling out India A for 161 on the opening day, Australia A posted 223, giving them a 62-run first-innings lead. However, India A's top-order faltered in their second innings, with Rahul falling in an embarrassing fashion.Facing 44 deliveries, Rahul misjudged a tossed-up delivery and failed to offer a shot. The ball ricocheted off his pads and onto the stumps, leaving him bewildered as he trudged back to the pavilion. This dismissal between the legs further compounded his struggles ahead of the crucial Test series.Abhimanyu Easwaran, who was selected as a backup opener for the upcoming tour of Australia, also failed to impress. After a first-innings duck, he managed only 17 runs in the second innings. The Indian top-order struggled against the quality spin and pace of the Australian bowlers, leaving them at 56/5 early in the second innings.Wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel (19 batting) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (9 batting) ensured there were no further setbacks, negotiating the remaining overs before stumps were drawn for the day.Earlier, India A's pace attack, led by Prasidh Krishna's four-wicket burst and Mukesh Kumar's three-wicket haul, dominated the Australian batting, dismissing them for 223 in 62.1 overs. Marcus Harris was the standout batter for Australia A, scoring a gritty 74 off 138 balls.In response, India A lost openers Abhimanyu and Sai Sudharsan cheaply to disciplined bowling from Nathan McAndrew and Beau Webster. Abhimanyu's misreading of McAndrew's pace led to his dismissal at gully, adding to the team's concerns. Devdutt Padikkal (1) also fell cheaply, as both Webster (2/14) and McAndrew (2/22) tore through India's batting lineup.However, Jurel and Reddy then held firm, ensuring India A ended the day on 73/5, still trailing by 11 runs.

The highly anticipated T20I series between India and South Africa, the finalists of the 2024 T20 World Cup, is set to commence in Durban on Friday. The two teams will face off for the first time since their thrilling encounter in the World Cup final, where India emerged victorious.For South Africa, this series presents an opportunity to avenge their World Cup defeat and test themselves against a new-look Indian side. The retirement of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja has ushered in a new era for India, led by the dynamic Suryakumar Yadav.However, the weather forecast for Durban casts a shadow over the series opener. AccuWeather predicts intermittent showers in the evening, with the chances of rain increasing to over 40% after 4:00 PM local time (match starts at 5:00 PM local time). Only after 10:00 PM local time do the chances of rain drop below 40%.The Durban pitch is known for its slow nature, but it is not as similar to subcontinental wickets as one might expect. The second T20I will be played at St George's Park in Gqeberha on November 10, followed by the third game at SuperSport Park in Centurion on November 13. The series concludes with the fourth T20I at Wanderers Stadium on November 15.India's T20I squad features a mix of experienced players and exciting young talents, including Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Arshdeep Singh. South Africa, on the other hand, will be led by Aiden Markram and will field a strong team that includes David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen, and Keshav Maharaj.With the weather conditions and the quality of both teams, the T20I series between India and South Africa promises to be a thrilling contest.

Rohit Sharma's captaincy has come under scrutiny following India's 3-0 Test series defeat to New Zealand. The loss has raised questions about his tactical acumen, particularly in the face of pressure to perform in the upcoming series against Australia.New Zealand star Will Young has shed light on how he successfully countered Rohit's tactics during the recent Test series. Young revealed that he and his teammates had learned to master their skills on spin-friendly surfaces during their 2021 tour of India.In the 2023 series, Rohit and Ravindra Jadeja attempted to put pressure on Young by blocking the mid-off region. However, Young devised a counter-strategy, targeting full deliveries and hitting them over the top straight."I just felt that if the ball was full enough, I could try to reach it and smother the spin and get it over the top straight," Young explained. "And I had a chat to Daryl Mitchell about it in between overs and he said, 'Yeah, mate, just back yourself.'"Young's success in countering Rohit's tactics forced the Indian captain to change his strategy. The New Zealand batter's adaptability and ability to exploit the opposition's weaknesses highlight the importance of tactical flexibility in modern cricket.As India prepares for the Australia series, Rohit will need to find ways to improve his team's performance and silence the critics. The upcoming tour will be a crucial test of his leadership and tactical acumen.

India's pace attack faces a daunting task in the upcoming Test series against Australia, with the absence of Mohammed Shami casting a shadow over the team's bowling plans. While Jasprit Bumrah remains the undisputed leader of the attack, the supporting cast of Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, and Harshit Rana lacks experience and consistency.During the previous tour of Australia in 2020-21, India's pace attack was a formidable force, with Bumrah, Shami, and Ishant Sharma leading the charge. However, this time around, the support cast appears undercooked, raising concerns about their ability to complement Bumrah effectively.Siraj, who emerged as India's next pace leader on the last tour, has struggled for form in recent times. His rhythm seems to be off, and he has been unable to find his consistency. The added pressure of leading the attack in Shami's absence could further affect his performance.Prasidh Krishna, another promising pacer, has the ability to generate bounce from a fuller length, but he needs to improve his control and consistency. Harshit Rana, a relatively inexperienced bowler, has been picked ahead of more experienced options like Mukesh Kumar, raising questions about the team management's decision-making.Former India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey believes that it takes time for pacers to mature and that patience is key. However, he acknowledges that the current crop of bowlers lacks the experience of the previous generation.With the series set to decide India's fate in the World Test Championship, the inexperienced pace attack will be under immense pressure to perform. If they can rise to the occasion and provide Bumrah with the support he needs, India has a chance of repeating their triumph from the last tour.

India's recent humiliating 3-0 whitewash against New Zealand at home has sparked a firestorm of criticism, with fans demanding the retirement of veteran players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja. The team's dismal performance with both bat and ball has put the seniors under intense scrutiny.However, former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has urged fans to exercise patience and not rush to judgment after just one series loss. "What is the hurry boss? One bad series and already calling for the heads. I don't think so," Karthik said on Cricbuzz.Karthik believes that the calls for retirement are premature and that the players deserve a longer leash. "I think, if they don't do well in the next 10 Test matches, then we will come back to this question and then it becomes a fair question, considering its going to be another domestic season. For the moment, I don't think we need to group anyone anywhere," he added.Karthik acknowledged that India's performance against New Zealand was subpar in all departments. "A bit of everything. Our bowling was not up to the mark. Our spinners, especially the experienced ones, didn't gave a great series. Batting, without a doubt, we lack in ability to play spin," he said.The Indian batters have struggled to cope with spin bowling in recent times, a weakness that was ruthlessly exploited by the New Zealanders. "The defence game overall around the world has definitely decreased because of the white-ball formats that goes without saying but the Indian players have struggled to cope against spin," Karthik observed.India's next assignment is the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia Down Under, starting on November 22 in Perth. The series will be a stern test for the Indian team, and the performance of the senior players will be under the microscope once again.