Cricket

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that the Indian cricket team will not travel to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy. This decision stems from advice received from the Indian government, which has advised against sending the team to Pakistan due to security concerns.The Champions Trophy, an eight-team tournament, is scheduled to be held in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9, 2025. However, the BCCI's decision has forced the ICC and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to consider contingency plans.One possible solution is a hybrid model, where teams would play matches in Pakistan and a second venue. However, the PCB has previously ruled out this option. ESPNcricinfo understands that contingency plans were drawn up months ago in anticipation of such a scenario.The UAE and Sri Lanka are potential candidates to host matches alongside Pakistan. The ICC has been informed of the BCCI's stance, but it remains unclear whether the decision has been communicated in writing. The PCB has stated that it will need written confirmation before discussing the matter with the government.The BCCI's decision is based on the strained political relations between India and Pakistan. India has not toured Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup, despite Pakistan playing several ICC events in India, including the 2023 World Cup. The two sides have only played one bilateral series since then, a white-ball tour by Pakistan in 2012-13.The Champions Trophy will feature eight teams divided into two groups of four. The competing teams are Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa. The schedule and ticketing details for the tournament have yet to be announced.

Sanju Samson's T20 Heroics Earn Praise from Pakistan's Ahmad ShahzadIndian wicket-keeper batter Sanju Samson's scintillating performance in the first T20I against South Africa has garnered widespread admiration, including from Pakistan's Ahmad Shahzad. Shahzad, a former Pakistani opener, took to his YouTube channel to express his awe at Samson's match-winning knock.Samson's blistering innings of 107 runs off just 50 balls, featuring 10 towering sixes and seven boundaries, left an indelible mark on the match. His relentless aggression kept the South African bowlers at bay, with Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee struggling to contain his onslaught.Shahzad was particularly impressed by Samson's consistency, highlighting his consecutive centuries in international matches. "Scoring two consecutive centuries in international matches is no small feat," Shahzad remarked. "If it were that easy, everyone would be doing it. But Sanju has set this record for himself, and that's a huge deal for his career."The Pakistani batter believes that Samson's recent performances warrant greater recognition and regular opportunities. "He now deserves all the respect from India," Shahzad asserted. "Scoring two centuries in two matches is not easy, and by doing it, he's pretty much saying, 'Kyun hila dala na (Hey, ain't you surprised?)'"Samson's innings propelled India to a commanding 61-run victory in the opening T20I. South Africa, chasing a daunting target of 203, were unable to match India's firepower, managing only 141 all out in under 18 overs.Samson's record-breaking knock has placed him among the elite in T20I cricket. He joins the likes of Gustav McKeon, Rilee Rossouw, and Phil Salt as players to have scored consecutive hundreds in the format. Additionally, with his three 50+ scores, Samson now stands alongside top Indian wicket-keepers in T20 history, outpacing even MS Dhoni and Rishabh Pant in this regard.As India prepare for the second T20I against South Africa on Sunday, Samson's performance has raised expectations and cemented his status as a key player in the team's T20 setup.

Rohit Sharma's Availability for Border-Gavaskar Trophy Opener Remains UncertainIndian cricket captain Rohit Sharma's participation in the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in Perth remains in doubt. Rohit himself had expressed uncertainty about his availability due to a "personal reason," but recent reports suggest that he may travel to Australia with the first batch of players on November 10.While Rohit's presence in Australia does not guarantee his participation in the Perth Test, it indicates a potential change in his stance. Rumors have circulated that Rohit and his wife Ritika Sajdeh are expecting their second child, which could be the reason for his initial request for time off.According to India Today, Rohit will fly to Australia with the first group of players on Sunday, while the second batch will depart on Monday. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had to divide the team into two batches due to limited availability on commercial flights.However, Rohit's participation in the opening match is still subject to his personal situation. He could potentially return home before the match begins. Nevertheless, it appears that Rohit is keen on giving himself a chance to play."He is traveling but his participation in the 1st Test is yet not confirmed. Will see what happens next anything in regards to this. His availability is subject to his personal matter," an India Today source said.After the conclusion of the New Zealand Test series, Rohit had expressed uncertainty about his availability for the Perth match. "I am not sure of my availability for the first Test in Perth, Fingers Crossed," he had said.Rohit recently participated in a six-hour meeting with BCCI selection committee chief Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir. The meeting covered various topics, including the reasons for India's 0-3 defeat against New Zealand.

Australia's opening batsman conundrum intensified on Saturday as teenager Sam Konstas staked his claim with an unbeaten 73, while his rivals faltered ahead of the first Test against India.Konstas, 19, seized his opportunity in the final match of the Australia A series against India A, guiding his team to a six-wicket victory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). His composed innings, which included seven fours and a six, came after a challenging start to the series, where he had managed only 16, 0, and 3 in his previous three innings.Konstas' resurgence reminded selectors of his potential, having impressed with consecutive centuries for New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield. However, his recent struggles for Australia A had raised doubts about his readiness to replace David Warner as Australia's opener.Meanwhile, Konstas' competitors failed to capitalize on their chances. Nathan McSweeney, who had emerged as a frontrunner with scores of 39 and an unbeaten 88 in the previous match, could only manage 14 and 25 at the MCG. Marcus Harris, hoping to add to his 14 Test caps, followed up his solid 74 on Friday by falling for a golden duck in the second innings. Cameron Bancroft, whose hopes of reviving his Test career were already fading after poor performances in Mackay, also suffered a golden duck.With the first of five Tests against India beginning on November 22 in Perth, Australia's selectors now face a difficult decision about who will open alongside Usman Khawaja. Konstas' strong performance has thrown a spanner in the works, while McSweeney, Harris, and Bancroft have failed to cement their positions.

India and South Africa will clash in the second T20I on Sunday, with the hosts aiming to extend their winning streak in the format. Sanju Samson's blistering century in the series opener has given India a significant advantage, but they will be seeking more consistency from their top-order batsmen.Abhishek Sharma's string of low scores has raised concerns, and the team management may consider alternative options for the opening slot. Tilak Varma's promising start in the first match will also be under scrutiny as he looks to cement his place in the middle order.Despite a strong bowling performance in the first T20I, India's middle and lower order exposed a vulnerability. The team will be eager to address this weakness and build more substantial partnerships.South Africa, on the other hand, will be desperate to bounce back from their loss. Missing key players like Quinton de Kock and Kagiso Rabada, the Proteas will rely on their senior players to step up. Aiden Markram, David Miller, and Heinrich Klaasen will need to deliver if South Africa is to level the series.The match promises to be a thrilling contest between two evenly matched teams. India will be aiming to take a 2-0 lead, while South Africa will be determined to avoid a series defeat.

Former Australian Test captain Ian Chappell has expressed concerns about the Indian batting lineup ahead of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. Chappell believes that if the Indian batters attempt to play over the top of the ball, they will be vulnerable to the extra bounce in Australian conditions.India's recent 3-0 series defeat to New Zealand at home has raised questions about the form of captain Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli. Chappell believes that the aging duo may be starting to decline, which could put pressure on the younger batters in the squad."India have got some batting problems," Chappell said. "Kohli and Rohit Sharma are both ageing, and you get to that point where people start talking about it and maybe it starts to creep into your head a little bit."However, Chappell also acknowledged that the Indian batters will be playing on good pitches in Australia. He warned that the extra bounce could expose any technical flaws in their batting."The only thing I'd say against that is they're coming to Australia where the pitches are pretty good, but there'll be the extra bounce and if they have gone over the top then the extra bounce will find them out," Chappell said.India has won the past two Test series in Australia, but former Australian skipper Mark Taylor believes that the pressure is now on the younger batters to make big runs."They (India) have moved on Pujara and they've moved on Rahane, and they've left Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, their best two players, but all of a sudden they've had a bit of a rocky period... and that has put pressure now on the younger guys and also their lower-order," Taylor said.The 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy will see India and Australia play Test matches in Perth, Adelaide (pink-ball match), Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney from November 22 to January 7, 2025. It will be the first five-match Test series between India and Australia since 1991/92.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has issued a stern warning to India, stating that Pakistan will not be expected to make "good gestures" indefinitely following India's alleged refusal to visit Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025.Naqvi's comments come amidst reports that India has declined to travel to Pakistan for the tournament, which is scheduled to take place in early 2025. The Champions Trophy will feature two groups of four teams each, with participants including Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa, and defending champions Pakistan."In recent years, Pakistan has extended numerous good gestures. However, we hope we are not expected to always do so," Naqvi told reporters in Lahore, as quoted by Geo News.India and Pakistan have not engaged in a bilateral cricket series since the 2012-13 Pakistan tour of India, due to strained political relations. Since then, the two teams have only faced each other in major International Cricket Council (ICC) white-ball events and Asia Cup tournaments.The last Test series between these Asian rivals took place in December 2007 in India. India's last tour of Pakistan for a bilateral series was in 2006, with their most recent visit to Pakistan being for the Asia Cup in 2008.Last year, Pakistan was set to host the Asia Cup in full, but India played its matches in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model. The latest encounter between the two nations occurred during this year's ICC T20 World Cup on July 9 at Nassau County Stadium, New York, USA. India, batting first, scored 119, with Rishabh Pant contributing 42 runs. Jasprit Bumrah's impressive 3/14 then restricted Pakistan to 113/7, securing India a thrilling six-run victory.Naqvi's warning reflects Pakistan's growing frustration over India's reluctance to play bilateral cricket in Pakistan. The PCB has repeatedly expressed its desire to host India for a series, but India has cited security concerns as a reason for its refusal.The PCB's stance is supported by the International Cricket Council (ICC), which has urged India to reconsider its position. The ICC has stated that it is committed to ensuring the safety of all teams participating in its events, including those held in Pakistan.It remains to be seen whether India will change its stance and agree to play in Pakistan. However, Naqvi's warning is a clear indication that Pakistan is no longer willing to tolerate India's reluctance to play bilateral cricket in the country.

India's opening batsman Abhishek Sharma has faced criticism for his recent performance in the first T20I against South Africa in Durban. Former cricketer Aakash Chopra has expressed concerns over Sharma's aggressive approach, which he believes may be hindering his performance at the international level.Sharma managed only seven runs off eight balls as India set a 203-run target for South Africa. India eventually won the game comfortably, bowling South Africa out for 141 to register a 61-run victory and take a 1-0 lead in the four-match series.However, Chopra noted the stark contrast between Sharma's performance and that of his opening partner Sanju Samson, who scored a blistering 107 off 50 balls."It's a tale of two openers," Chopra said in a video posted on his YouTube channel. "There is Sanju (Samson), whose stars are shining bright, on one side. On the other side is Abhishek Sharma, whose stars have fallen."Sharma burst onto the scene with a sensational 100 off 47 balls in only his second T20I against Zimbabwe. However, his form has dipped since, with his highest score in seven other T20I innings being just 16.Chopra criticized Sharma's shot selection that led to his dismissal against Gerald Coetzee. "The shot he played in this match as well against Gerald Coetzee, it seems like he is a prisoner of his own reputation, that he would play like this only and is not going to wait."Chopra warned that continued underperformance could put Sharma's spot in the team at risk. "It's been one more failure. A time will come when it will be a problem. Questions will be asked about how long you will stick with him. Again, he will get three more games, but one by one the sand is being seen slipping from his hand," Chopra remarked.With three more games in the series, the pressure will be on the 24-year-old to deliver and justify his selection in the squad.

In the inaugural T20I of the four-match series between India and South Africa, South African wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen etched his name into the annals of T20 history. He became the fourth player to smash 100 sixes in a calendar year, joining an elite group that includes Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, and Andre Russell.India emerged victorious in the match, securing a convincing 61-run win at Kingsmead, Durban. Sanju Samson's blistering 107 off 50 balls and Varun Chakaravarthy's impressive spin bowling were the catalysts behind India's triumph.Klaasen's milestone six came during his innings of 25 off 22 balls, which also included two fours. This achievement underscores his exceptional power-hitting abilities and his status as one of the most dangerous batters in the shortest format of the game.The match began with South Africa, led by Aiden Markram, opting to field first. Samson's explosive knock set the tone for India's innings, with his remarkable strike rate of 214 propelling the team to a strong start. Suryakumar Yadav contributed 21 runs, while Tilak Varma added 33. India finished their innings with a competitive total of 202 for 8.South Africa's chase faltered as no batter managed to score more than 30 runs. The Indian bowling attack, led by Chakaravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi, dominated the innings. Klaasen top-scored with 25, while Coetzee made a brief but impactful contribution with 23 off 11 balls.Chakaravarthy and Bishnoi were the standout bowlers for India, each claiming three wickets. Their combined efforts restricted South Africa to 141 runs, resulting in a comfortable victory for India. Samson was named Player of the Match for his exceptional batting performance.The second T20I match between India and South Africa is scheduled for Sunday in Gqeberha.