Cricket

India's women's cricket team has undergone significant changes for its upcoming ODI series against Australia, with opener Shafali Verma being dropped due to poor form. Wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh, who missed the recent home ODIs against New Zealand due to board exams, has returned to the squad.The 16-member squad for the three ODIs in Brisbane and Perth includes several new faces. Batters Priya Punia and Harleen Deol, legspinner Minnu Mani, and fast bowler Titas Sadhu have all received call-ups.Legspinner Asha Sobhana, who missed the New Zealand series due to injury, remains unavailable. Allrounder Pooja Vastrakar, who was rested against New Zealand, is also absent. Other notable omissions include offspinner Shreyanka Patil, spin-bowling allrounder D Hemalatha, uncapped seamer Sayali Satghare, and back-up wicketkeeper Uma Chetry.Middle-order batter Tejal Hasabnis, legspinner Priya Mishra, and seamer Saima Thakor, who all made their debuts against New Zealand, have retained their spots to face Australia.The squad is led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur and includes experienced players such as Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Deepti Sharma. The team will be hoping to improve upon its recent performances, which have included a 4-1 series loss to New Zealand.

Bangladesh's women's cricket team has recalled experienced all-rounder Sharmin Akhter and pacer Jahanara Alam for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Ireland. The series, scheduled for November 27 to December 2 in Dhaka, marks Bangladesh's first ODI assignment since April.Sharmin, who missed the T20 World Cup earlier this year, has been out of international action since the ODI series against India in July 2023. The 28-year-old has played 35 ODIs and 16 T20Is for Bangladesh since her debut in 2011.Jahanara, one of Bangladesh's most experienced players, has featured in 52 ODIs, claiming 48 wickets at an average of 30.39. Her return to the ODI squad will bolster Bangladesh's bowling attack.The selectors have also handed maiden ODI call-ups to middle-order batter Taj Nehar and left-arm spinner Sanjida Akter. Taj made her international debut in the Women's T20 World Cup in October, while Sanjida has played 18 WT20Is.Bangladesh have excluded Farzana Akter, Sumaiya Akter, Disha Biswas, and Nishita Akter from the squad that faced Australia in April.The ODI series against Ireland will be followed by three T20Is in Sylhet on December 5, 7, and 9. This will be Bangladesh's first international series since the Women's T20 World Cup in October.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced its new batch of central contracts, with notable omissions of former captain Nida Dar and Aliya Riaz. The contracts, which were pending approval for some time, have been awarded to 16 players, with Fatima Sana, the current captain, moving up to Category A.Dar, who was in Category A last year, and Riaz, who had been demoted to Category B, have been omitted due to concerns about their form and attitude within the team. Eyman Fatima, Anoosha Nasir, Sidra Nawaz, and Shawaal Zulfiqar also miss out on contracts this season, while Bismah Maroof's retirement earlier this year means she no longer features.The PCB stated that these players will remain available for selection as the board shifts its focus towards developing the next generation of cricketers in alignment with the ICC's Women's FTP (Future Tours Programme) for 2025-29.Sana's promotion to Category A is a reward for her outstanding all-round performances in the run-up to and at the T20 World Cup in the UAE. Pakistan beat Sri Lanka at the tournament but lost their three other group games to India, Australia, and eventual champions New Zealand.Muneeba Ali, the wicketkeeper-batter, has also been promoted to Category A, joining Sidra Amin, who retains her position. Gull Feroza and Rameen Shamim return to the central contracts list for the first time since 2018 and 2022-23, respectively, while Tasmia Rubab is included for the first time.The contracts have been backdated to the end of July, when the previous contracts expired. The delay in the contracts is part of a general trend of upheaval and uncertainty in Pakistan women's cricket, where the PCB has struggled to get projects off the ground, including the long-promised women's PSL."The 2024-25 central contracts reflect our forward-looking strategy as we prepare for the new ICC Women's Future Tours Programme," said PCB's new chief operating officer Sumair Ahmad Syed. "By further investing in established players through significantly enhanced retainers and offering clear pathways to the emerging cricketer, we aim to strike a balance between nurturing future stars and sustaining competitiveness at the highest level."

New Zealand's triumph in the Women's T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates last month was a testament to the team's resilience and determination. Despite being considered underdogs, the White Ferns defied expectations and emerged victorious.Craig McMillan, the team's assistant coach, had unwavering faith in his players. "We have worked hard over a period of time, and we know the improvements they've made over the last 12 months," he said. "Sometimes the stars align, but you still have to be good to make the most of those stars aligning."Amelia Kerr was the shining star for New Zealand. The leg-spinning all-rounder, who holds the record for the youngest cricketer to score a double hundred in ODIs, was named player of the final and the tournament. She was the competition's leading wicket-taker and scored a crucial 43 off 38 balls in the final."She bowled beautifully," said McMillan. "In the final, she stepped up when we needed her."Kerr's all-round performance was complemented by contributions from the entire team. "It has always been a strength of New Zealand sides, whether men's or women's — everyone chips in," said McMillan. "Rosemary Mair did a great job with the ball, Lea Tahuhu, who has been around a long time, picked up key wickets."New Zealand's fielding was also exceptional throughout the tournament. "That is so important in the T20 game," said McMillan. "We had only one bad game against the West Indies, but apart from that, against India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and then in the final against South Africa, we took our catches, and that was crucial."The win against India in New Zealand's opening match was particularly significant. "It was a very strong group, as Australia was also there," said McMillan. "And we knew that we probably had to win one of those first two games to actually be able to go through to the next stage. So we really targeted those games. Against India it was almost probably our best performance. It got us off to a great start. And momentum is really important in the World Cup."McMillan believes the team's success was also due to the presence of several all-rounders. "Some of them, like skipper Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates are, in fact, double internationals, in hockey and basketball respectively," he said.McMillan emphasizes the importance of playing multiple sports, especially for young athletes. "I think it's really important that not only females, but males too, play as many sports as they can," he said. "I myself played a lot of football up until 18 and then I had to make a decision. I was a tough centre-back. I used to cut strikers down. But I just think you get multi-skilled players when they play other sports. That helps them when they come and have to make a decision at some stage."McMillan is optimistic about the future of women's cricket. "It will get stronger and stronger," he said. "I think even in the last two or three years, you have seen the development, with the WPL and all that. Those franchises play a big part in terms of the development of the players. But we are just seeing some really talented females who are given the opportunity to show how good they are around the world. It is important that it not only grows in Australia, England and India, but in all the countries."

Mumbai's women's cricket team showcased their dominance in the Senior Women's T20 Trophy, crushing Bengal by a commanding 10 wickets in the final held at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The victory marked a resounding triumph for the Mumbai side, who displayed an all-round performance that left their opponents trailing in their wake.Bengal's batting lineup struggled to find their footing against Mumbai's formidable bowling attack. Dhara Gujjar's valiant effort of 26 runs off 38 balls proved to be a solitary bright spot for the Bengal team. Mumbai's Jagravi Pawar emerged as the star of the show, claiming an impressive 3/13 from her four overs, while Soumya Singh chipped in with 2/11. Sayali Satghare and Fatima Jaffer also contributed with one wicket each.The Mumbai batters, in contrast, made light work of the Bengal bowling attack. Humaira Kaazi led the charge with an unbeaten 41 off 36 balls, including five fours and a six. Vrushali Bhagat provided solid support, scoring an unbeaten 45 off 39 balls with six fours. The Mumbai duo's clinical batting performance ensured that they chased down the meager target of 86 runs in just 12.3 overs without losing a single wicket.Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) president Ajinkya Naik hailed the team's triumph, announcing that the organization would match the BCCI's prize money of Rs 40 lakh. "This win inspires every young women cricketer in Mumbai to dream big and strive for excellence," Naik said in a statement.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge, England's prolific batter, has made a significant move by transferring her allegiance from Southern Vipers to Surrey for the inaugural Women's Tier 1 county competition in 2025. This decision marks a new chapter in her illustrious career, which has spanned over a decade and witnessed numerous accolades.Wyatt-Hodge, 33, has been a cornerstone of the England women's team since her debut in 2010. With 278 international appearances, she has amassed over 5,000 runs across all formats. Her exceptional performances in T20Is have earned her the distinction of being England's all-time leading run-scorer in the format, with 2,979 runs at an impressive strike rate of 127.85.Her move to Surrey reunites her with England teammates Sophia Dunkley and Alice Capsey. Wyatt-Hodge expressed her excitement about joining the club, stating, "I am both excited and honored to be joining Surrey. The club has an incredible history with a culture of success, which I want to contribute to."Emma Calvert, Surrey's Director of Women's Cricket, hailed Wyatt-Hodge's signing as a major coup for the club. "Danni's career speaks for itself, and we believe she will add strength and depth on the field as well as adding to the team off the field," Calvert said.Wyatt-Hodge's decision to join Surrey is a testament to the club's growing stature in women's cricket. The South East Stars, Surrey's women's team, have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in recent years, winning the Charlotte Edwards Cup in 2022.Wyatt-Hodge's experience and leadership will be invaluable to Surrey as they aim to challenge for silverware in the new Women's Tier 1 competition. Her aggressive batting style and ability to score runs at a rapid pace will be a major asset to the team.

South Africa's women's cricket team is set to host England in a three-match T20I series and a three-match ODI series, with the aim of expanding their player pool and building on their performance at the recent T20 World Cup.For the T20I series, South Africa have rested experienced players Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka to give opportunities to other players. Medium-pacer Eliz-Mari Marx, who was the joint-leading wicket-taker in the CSA Women's Pro20 series, and allrounder Nondumiso Shangase have been recalled to the squad.Wicketkeeper-batter Mieke de Ridder and Seshnie Naidu have also been omitted from the T20I squad. De Ridder has been replaced by Faye Tunnicliffe, while Naidu is completing her final school exams and will then prepare for the Under-19 T20 World Cup in Malaysia in January.The T20I squad includes three players currently playing in the WBBL: captain Laura Wolvaardt, allrounder Nadine de Klerk, and Chloe Tryon. Bowlers Ayanda Hlubi and Tumi Sekhukhune, who were part of the T20 World Cup squad but did not play a game, may get an opportunity at home, where conditions are expected to suit them better.Interim coach Dillon du Preez said he hopes the team can build on their performance at the T20 World Cup, where they reached a second successive final. "We would like to have the same approach that we did in the last T20 World Cup. Although the next T20 World Cup is in two years' time, we would still like to grow as a team and continue to work on our T20 playing philosophy," du Preez said.For the ODI series, South Africa have added additional resources to the squad, including batter Lara Goodall and experienced seamer Masabata Klaas. Hlubi is also in line for an ODI debut. The matches are part of the Women's Championship, which forms the qualification pathway for next year's ODI World Cup in India.South Africa are currently in fourth place in the Women's Championship, with 23 points, five behind Australia and England. The top five teams along with hosts India will automatically advance to the event, which means Australia and England have already qualified. South Africa have also gone through, even if they are overtaken by Bangladesh or West Indies, both of whom have six matches left to play (including three against each other).The tour also includes a one-off Test in Bloemfontein from December 15 to 18, for which South Africa will name the squad at a later date. The T20 games are on November 24, 27, and 30, followed by the ODIs on December 4, 8, and 11.

Ali Maiden has been appointed as the head coach of the Birmingham Phoenix women's team for the 2025 season of The Hundred. Maiden succeeds Ben Sawyer, whose contract was not extended after four seasons at the helm.Maiden, who played a pivotal role as assistant coach in England Women's World Cup triumph in 2017, brings a wealth of experience to the Phoenix. He was part of the London Spirit coaching staff that guided the team to the women's Hundred title in the summer. In August, he was named head coach of Bears Women, having previously served as batting coach at Yorkshire."Ali joins the Phoenix with extensive experience in the women's game, both internationally and in franchise cricket," said Craig Flindall, Birmingham Phoenix general manager. "He was chosen as the new Bears Women head coach after a thorough selection process, which demonstrates his high caliber.""2025 is a significant year of transition for the Phoenix, with new investors expected to join next year. We are confident that Ali will guide us through this period as we aim to reclaim our position at the top of the table," Flindall added. "We extend our gratitude to Ben for his contributions during his five years with Phoenix Women and wish him well in his future endeavors."Birmingham Phoenix also announced that Dan Vettori will continue as head coach of the men's team for 2025.

The Women's Premier League (WPL) is set to undergo a roster shakeup ahead of its third season in early 2025. Several prominent cricketers, including Sneh Rana, Poonam Yadav, and Lea Tahuhu, have been released by their respective franchises.Gujarat Giants, who have struggled in the WPL's first two seasons, have parted ways with Rana, Tahuhu, and Kathryn Bryce. Rana, an all-rounder who captained the Giants in the first season, has struggled in the WPL, averaging just 6.71 with the bat and 52.16 with the ball. Tahuhu, a veteran New Zealand pacer, played only two games for the Giants in 2024.Delhi Capitals, the WPL's two-time runners-up, have released legspinner Poonam Yadav. Once a mainstay of the Indian team, Yadav hasn't played international cricket since 2022 and didn't feature in the WPL last season.Mumbai Indians have also made some changes, releasing Fatima Jaffer, Humaira Kazi, Priyanka Bala, and Issy Wong. However, they have retained their core of international stars, including captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Amelia Kerr, and Hayley Matthews.UP Warriorz, who reached the playoffs in the first season but finished fourth in 2024, have released Parshavi Chopra, Laxmi Yadav, S Yashasri, and Lauren Bell.These roster moves indicate that the WPL is becoming increasingly competitive, with teams looking to strengthen their squads for the upcoming season. The auction, likely to be held in early December, will provide franchises with an opportunity to acquire new talent and bolster their rosters.