Cricket

Wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh, a rising star in Indian cricket, will miss the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand to prioritize her academic commitments. The 21-year-old, who has been a regular member of India's international teams since her debut in 2020, will sit for her class 12 board exams during the series.Ghosh's absence will be a significant blow to India, who are looking to bounce back from their disappointing group-stage exit at the ongoing T20 World Cup in the UAE. The team's captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, has come under scrutiny following the tournament, and the ODI series against New Zealand will be a crucial test for her leadership.The 16-member squad for the three ODIs in Ahmedabad on October 24, 27, and 29 will be led by Kaur. The team includes several experienced players, such as Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, and Deepti Sharma, as well as some exciting newcomers.Seam-bowling allrounders Sayali Satghare and Saima Thakor, legspinner Priya Mishra, and middle-order batter Tejal Hasabnis have all received their maiden ODI call-ups. The BCCI has confirmed that legspinner Asha Sobhana is unavailable due to injury, while allrounder Pooja Vastrakar has been rested.India will be eager to put their T20 World Cup disappointment behind them and perform well in the ODI series against New Zealand. The team will be looking to build momentum ahead of the 2023 Women's Cricket World Cup, which will be held in South Africa.

South Africa has secured an unassailable lead in the three-match ODI series against Ireland after winning the first two matches. The third and final ODI is currently underway, with Ireland winning the toss and electing to bat first.South Africa's playing XI features Ryan Rickelton as the wicket-keeper, along with Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen (captain), Kyle Verreynne, Tristan Stubbs, Jason Smith, Andile Phehlukwayo, Bjorn Fortuin, Lizaad Williams, Lungi Ngidi, and Ottneil Baartman.Ireland's playing XI includes Paul Stirling as the captain, Andy Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wicket-keeper), George Dockrell, Mark Adair, Matthew Humphreys, Craig Young, Graham Hume, and Fionn Hand.The match is being played at the Malahide Cricket Club Ground in Dublin, Ireland. South Africa is looking to complete a clean sweep of the series, while Ireland will be aiming to salvage some pride and avoid a whitewash.South Africa has been in impressive form throughout the series, with their batters and bowlers performing consistently. Reeza Hendricks has been the standout performer with the bat, scoring two half-centuries in the first two matches. The bowling attack has been led by Lungi Ngidi, who has taken five wickets in the series so far.Ireland, on the other hand, has struggled to match South Africa's intensity. Their batting has been inconsistent, and their bowlers have been unable to contain the South African batters. Paul Stirling has been the only bright spot for Ireland, scoring a century in the first match.The third ODI is expected to be a closely contested affair, with both teams looking to end the series on a high note. South Africa will be confident of completing a clean sweep, while Ireland will be determined to avoid a whitewash.

South Africa, led by captain Temba Bavuma, have opted to bat first in the second ODI against Ireland in Abu Dhabi. This decision marks the second consecutive toss win for Bavuma in the three-match series, which South Africa aims to clinch with a 2-0 lead.Tony de Zorzi, South Africa's opener, has been rested for the match due to a soft tissue injury in his right knee. He sustained the injury while sliding to make a stop in the deep during the first ODI. Kyle Verreynne has been brought in as his replacement, while Bavuma will move up to open alongside Ryan Rickelton, who played a crucial role in the previous game with a 91-run knock.Nandre Burger, who missed the series opener, has been ruled out of the remaining tour, including South Africa's upcoming two-match Test series in Bangladesh, due to a lumbar stress reaction.Ireland, on the other hand, has fielded an unchanged XI from the team that lost by 139 runs in the first ODI. Paul Stirling continues to lead the side, with Andy Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, Harry Tector, and Stephen Doheny forming the core of the batting lineup.

Afghanistan and Bangladesh are set to clash in a three-match ODI series in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in November. The series will serve as a crucial preparation for both teams ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan next year.The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed the series, which will take place on November 6, 9, and 11. The exact venues for the matches are yet to be announced.The series was originally scheduled as part of a full tour that included Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. However, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) declined to tour the UAE or India in June due to extreme summer temperatures.After extensive discussions, the two boards agreed to proceed with only the ODI leg of the tour. The BCB was keen on playing the ODIs as Bangladesh has only played three ODIs so far in 2024.BCB president Faruque Ahmed met with ACB officials on the sidelines of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting in Malaysia. Ahmed expressed the BCB's desire to play three ODIs against Afghanistan before their tour of the West Indies.After the Afghanistan series, Bangladesh will travel to the Caribbean for a two-Test, three-ODI, and three-T20I series against the West Indies.Afghanistan, on the other hand, has played eight ODIs this year, including a historic 2-1 series win against South Africa. After the Bangladesh series, Afghanistan will tour Zimbabwe for a full series across all three formats.The Afghanistan-Bangladesh ODI series will provide both teams with valuable match practice ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy. Afghanistan will be looking to build on their recent success against South Africa, while Bangladesh will be aiming to improve their ODI record in 2024.

Afghanistan, having secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series against South Africa, opted to bat first in the final encounter. The decision was made after winning the toss, with the hosts making three changes to their playing XI.Rashid Khan, the star leg-spinner who claimed a five-wicket haul in Afghanistan's 177-run victory in the previous match, was rested due to a hamstring niggle. In his absence, Nangeyalia Kharote and AM Ghazanfar will lead the spin attack.Afghanistan also included an additional seamer in 19-year-old Naveed Zadran, who will make his second ODI appearance. The other two changes saw left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi replaced by Fareed Ahmed, while opening batter Riaz Hassan was dropped for Abdul Malik, who will make his ODI debut.Afghanistan's decision to bat first meant that South Africa would once again face challenging weather conditions. Afternoon temperatures were expected to reach 40 degrees Celsius, with a real feel of around 46 degrees.South Africa, on the other hand, made only one change to their team, bringing in allrounder Andile Phehlukwayo for left-arm seamer Nandre Burger. The batting lineup, which has struggled against Afghanistan in the previous two matches, remained unchanged.

Afghanistan, riding high on their historic series win over South Africa, will be aiming to complete an unprecedented 3-0 whitewash when the two teams face off in the third and final ODI on Sunday, July 22.Afghanistan's remarkable success in the series has been built on their exceptional bowling performances, with South Africa being bowled out for under 150 in both matches. The Afghan bowlers, led by star spinner Rashid Khan and wicketkeeper-batsman Rahmanullah Gurbaz, have been in devastating form. However, it is the emergence of young talents like AM Ghazanfar and Nangeyalia Kharote that has been particularly impressive.South Africa, on the other hand, will be desperate to salvage some pride and end the series on a positive note. Their inexperienced side has struggled to cope with the pressure, but they will be hoping for a better performance in the final match.The match will be played at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah, starting at 5:30 PM IST. It will be live telecast on the Eurosport network and live streamed on the Fancode app and website.Afghanistan will be confident of completing the whitewash, but South Africa will be determined to avoid a humiliating 3-0 defeat. The stage is set for an exciting and potentially historic encounter.

Afghanistan, seeking to clinch the series against South Africa, opted to bat first in the second ODI in Sharjah. The decision was likely influenced by the scorching heat, with temperatures reaching 49 degrees Celsius. By fielding at night, Afghanistan aimed to conserve energy and avoid the worst of the weather conditions.South Africa, on the other hand, made several changes to their lineup. Captain Temba Bavuma returned from illness, while debutant legspinner Nqaba Peter was included. Reeza Hendricks moved down the order to accommodate Bavuma, while Jason Smith was dropped. The bowling attack was also altered, with three seamers and two spinners replacing the four seamers and one spinner combination from the first match.Afghanistan, meanwhile, made only one change, bringing in wicketkeeper-batter Ikram Alikhil for Gulbadin Naib. Their lineup featured three frontline spinners in Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, and Nangyal Kharote, along with two seamers.

Scotland, buoyed by their impressive performance against Australia at the T20 World Cup, are determined to make history by securing their first-ever ODI series victory over the formidable Aussies.In the T20 World Cup, Scotland pushed Australia to the brink, with a win potentially eliminating England from the tournament. Despite falling short, the Scots believe they have the potential to go even further in the upcoming three-match ODI series in Edinburgh.Australia's inexperienced squad, coupled with Scotland's home advantage and three games in four days, presents a golden opportunity for the hosts. Left-arm spinner Mark Watt expressed their ambition to not only win a game but to claim the entire series."We're after a little bit of blood this week," Watt said. "We can take inspiration from the T20 World Cup, but we also have a point to prove. We believe we should have won that game and gone further. We got close, but we're disappointed we didn't win."Scotland's squad remains unchanged from the T20 World Cup, with the addition of pace bowler Charlie Cassell, who made a sensational ODI debut with a seven-wicket haul against Oman."It's a great opportunity for our players to share the field with world-class players," said Scotland head coach Doug Watson. "We want to compete and push this Australia team. Our goal is to win this series."Scotland's success in hosting Australia is a testament to their resilience, as Ireland was initially scheduled to host the series but faced financial constraints. The last time Australia played a bilateral match against Scotland was in 2013, where Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh shared a record-breaking opening partnership.Despite their impressive performances, Scotland remains frustrated by the limited opportunities they have to face top-tier nations outside of global events."It's frustrating we don't get the opportunities to play the big boys," said Michael Leask. "We would take any opportunity, because the more high-quality cricket we get, the better we get."Scotland's determination and home advantage make them a formidable opponent for Australia. The series promises to be a thrilling contest, with the Scots eager to prove their worth and secure a historic victory.

Sri Lanka's recent ODI series victory over India marked a significant milestone for the team, breaking a 27-year drought against their formidable rivals. Captain Charith Asalanka attributed the triumph to the team's improved top-order batting and the exceptional performance of their spinners.The series was played on pitches that favored spin bowling, and Sri Lanka's spinners took full advantage. Jeffrey Vandersay, Dunith Wellalage, and Asalanka himself were the top wicket-takers, claiming 27 of the 30 Indian wickets that fell. Despite the absence of premier spinner Wanindu Hasaranga in two of the matches, the Sri Lankan spinners proved their mettle.However, it was not just the spinners who contributed to the victory. Sri Lanka's top-order batters provided solid platforms, with Avishka Fernando scoring 96 in the third match, Pathum Nissanka contributing 101 runs, and Kusal Mendis adding 103."On these pitches, until the ball gets a little older, it's easier to bat, and it takes less spin," Asalanka explained. "What we planned was for someone in the top order to get a big score, and for others around him to play around him and get to a good score."The improved top-order performance was a significant change from the past, where Sri Lanka often struggled to provide a solid foundation for their middle order. Asalanka credited the team's newfound freedom and positive environment for the turnaround."As a team we tried to create a good environment, after talking to the coach," Asalanka said. "We tried to give a lot of freedom to our players and to show their talent. We don't put much pressure on them."The ODI series victory was a major boost for Sri Lanka, who had been thrashed 3-0 in the preceding T20I series. Asalanka expressed confidence that the team can continue to compete against the best when they play to their potential.