Cricket

In a thrilling encounter between United Arab Emirates XI and Pakistan XI, Pakistan emerged victorious after winning the toss and electing to bowl first. The match was played on a lively pitch, with both teams showcasing their skills and determination.Pakistan's bowlers started strongly, with Sadia Iqbal and Fatima Sana delivering a series of accurate deliveries that kept the UAE batters in check. Esha Oza, the UAE captain, managed to score a couple of runs off Iqbal in the 1.5th over, but the Pakistan bowlers continued to dominate.Sana, in particular, was in impressive form, bowling with pace and precision. She conceded only one run in her first three overs, while Iqbal also kept the runs down. The UAE batters struggled to find the gaps, with Theertha Satish and Rinitha Rajith both failing to score off Sana's deliveries.As the innings progressed, Pakistan's bowlers continued to apply pressure. Iqbal bowled a maiden over in the 1.2th over, while Sana dismissed Oza for a duck in the 0.1st over. The UAE batters were unable to build any momentum, and Pakistan's bowlers kept them on the back foot throughout the innings.In the end, the UAE XI managed to score only 23 runs in their allotted 20 overs, with Oza top-scoring with 4 runs. Pakistan's bowlers were in excellent form, with Sana taking 2 wickets for 4 runs and Iqbal conceding just 6 runs in her 4 overs.In response, Pakistan's batters chased down the target with ease. Muneeba Ali and Sidra Ameen opened the innings for Pakistan and put on a solid partnership of 20 runs. Aliya Riaz then came in and scored a quickfire 15 runs off 10 balls to seal the victory for Pakistan.The win takes Pakistan to the second spot in the points table of Group A, while the UAE XI remain at the bottom after losing both their matches.

Sri Lanka's women's cricket team, led by Chamari Athapaththu, has opted to bat first in their crucial Asia Cup semi-final clash against Malaysia. The match holds immense significance for both teams, with Sri Lanka aiming to secure a spot in the final and Malaysia seeking their first win of the tournament.Sri Lanka has made significant changes to their lineup, introducing four new players to the XI that defeated Bangladesh in their previous match. Sugandika Kumari, Udeshika Prabodhani, and Achini Kulasuriya have been replaced by Ama Kanchana, Inoshi Priyadharshani, and Sachini Nisansala in the bowling department. Kawya Kavindi has also been included in the batting lineup, replacing Hasini Perera.Malaysia, on the other hand, has made a single change, handing a debut to 16-year-old Nur Izzatul Syafiqa in place of Jamahidiya Intan. The Malaysian team is under immense pressure to win this match after suffering a convincing defeat to Thailand in their opening fixture.The Sri Lankan team boasts a strong batting lineup, with Chamari Athapaththu, Harshitha Samarawickrama, and Kavisha Dilhari being key players to watch. Their bowling attack, led by Ama Kanchana and Inoshi Priyadharshani, will be crucial in containing the Malaysian batters.Malaysia will rely heavily on their captain, Winifred Duraisingam, and wicket-keeper Wan Julia for runs. Their bowling attack, featuring Elsa Hunter and Mahirah Izzati Ismail, will need to step up and restrict the Sri Lankan batters.The match promises to be an exciting contest, with both teams eager to secure a place in the final. Sri Lanka will be the favorites, but Malaysia will be determined to cause an upset and make history.

India's women's cricket team began their title defense in the Asia Cup with a resounding seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in Sylhet, Bangladesh.After winning the toss and electing to bowl, India's bowlers led by Deepti Sharma (3/20) restricted Pakistan to a modest total of 108. Pooja Vastrakar (2/22) and Shreyanka Patil (1/17) also contributed with wickets.In response, India's openers Smriti Mandhana (45) and Shafali Verma (40) put on an aggressive 85-run partnership to set the tone for the chase. Mandhana was particularly impressive, hitting five boundaries off Nashra Sandhu in the seventh over.After the departure of Mandhana and Verma, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (16*) and Jemimah Rodrigues (15*) guided India home with 35 balls to spare.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is facing mounting pressure to address the Afghanistan Cricket Board's (ACB) failure to field a women's team, a key criterion for Full Membership. At the ICC's annual meetings in Colombo this weekend, the prospect of ring-fencing funds for Afghanistan women's cricket is expected to be raised.Several cricket boards, including Cricket Australia (CA) and New Zealand Cricket (NZC), are reportedly keen to discuss the possibility of setting aside a percentage of the ICC's annual revenue distribution to Afghanistan for the development of women's cricket. This move would ensure that funds are specifically allocated and used towards supporting women's cricket in the country.The discussion has gained urgency following a letter from 17 Afghanistan women cricketers to ICC Chair Greg Barclay. The letter requested assistance in establishing a refugee team in Australia, where many of them have fled. The letter acknowledged the achievements of the Afghanistan men's team but highlighted the Taliban's restrictive policies that prevent the ACB from recognizing a women's team.Since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, women's rights in Afghanistan have been severely curtailed, including restrictions on education, work, and sporting activities. The 17 women cricketers have asked the ICC to recognize them as a refugee team under the East Asian Cricket office based at Cricket Australia.However, any such discussion will face complexities. The ICC's revenue distribution model does not specify how much money should be spent on women's cricket, making it challenging to determine an appropriate percentage to set aside. Additionally, the ACB receives approximately USD 17 million annually from the ICC, and it is unclear who would be responsible for directing the funds towards women's cricket.The ICC relies on individual boards to compile and recognize teams, so it cannot officially recognize the 17 women who wrote to the ICC. These questions will need to be addressed if a proposal to ring-fence funds for Afghanistan women's cricket is agreed upon.

Indian women's cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur faced an unusual question during a joint-captains' press conference ahead of the Asia Cup 2024. A reporter inquired about the perceived lack of support for women's cricket, citing the recent tour of Bangladesh as an example.Harmanpreet, initially confused by the question, responded with a mix of amusement and bewilderment. "Well, that's none of my business," she said with a smile. "You guys have to come and cover us."The reporter's question sparked laughter from Sri Lanka women's team skipper Chamari Athapaththu. Harmanpreet emphasized that the media's role is crucial in promoting women's cricket."We always enjoy playing against Pakistan, but each team is important," Harmanpreet said about India's opening match against Pakistan. "We want to play good cricket and follow the same method."As the defending champions, India is determined to retain the Asia Cup title. "The challenge will be to keep doing the right things, keep playing the same type of cricket, and keep dominating other teams," Harmanpreet said.The Indian skipper highlighted the importance of the tournament in preparing for the T20 World Cup. "Each and every game is important for us, and we will try to give our best," she added.Harmanpreet's response to the question about media coverage underscores the need for increased attention and support for women's cricket. The media plays a vital role in raising awareness, inspiring young girls, and promoting the growth of the sport.

Anthony McGrath has been appointed as Essex's new Director of Cricket, a newly created role that will oversee all aspects of the club's professional cricket operations. McGrath, who has been the men's head coach since 2018, will continue in that role while also taking on the broader responsibilities of the Director of Cricket position.The appointment is part of a management restructure at Essex following the resignation of chief executive John Stephenson earlier this month. McGrath's promotion follows that of Dan Feist, who has been promoted from operations manager to general manager.As Director of Cricket, McGrath will be responsible for developing and implementing the club's cricket strategy across all levels, including men's, women's, Academy, and Player Pathway. He will also work closely with the club's new women's head coach, who is yet to be appointed.Essex is one of the eight inaugural Tier 1 teams in the new women's competition that will launch in 2025. McGrath's appointment as Director of Cricket will ensure that the club has a clear and consistent approach to cricket across all its representative teams.McGrath has been a key figure in Essex's recent success, helping the club win the County Championship and Vitality Blast double in 2019, as well as the Bob Willis Cup in 2020. He has also been instrumental in the development of young players such as Dan Lawrence and Matt Critchley.McGrath said he was "honoured" to take up the new role. "The club gave me the chance to become a Head Coach for the first time in 2018 and the backing I've received has been fundamental to our success," he said. "I've got a trusted network of exceptional coaches, who always go above and beyond to deliver elite performance. This is now an opportunity for us to shape the strategic vision of cricket played by men, women, boys and girls in the county."Essex Chair, Anu Mohindru, said the club was "delighted" to appoint McGrath to the new role. "We have achieved sustained success during his tenure as Head Coach, including the memorable and as yet unmatched achievement of winning the Championship and the T20 in the same season in 2019," she said. "This will allow the Club to create a clear identity and playing style across all our representative teams, and I look forward to seeing every one of those teams continue to flourish under his expanded leadership."

Deepti Sharma, the Indian all-rounder, will return to the Hundred this year, signing for London Spirit as a replacement for the injured Grace Harris. Sharma previously played for Spirit in the inaugural season of the competition in 2021 and was an unused member of Birmingham Phoenix's squad the following summer.The Hundred, a 100-ball cricket tournament, commences on July 23. Spirit's opening fixture is scheduled for the following day against Southern Brave. However, Sharma will miss the start of the competition due to her participation in the Asia Cup in Dambulla. Erin Burns, who is currently playing for Northern Diamonds in England, will replace Sharma for the first two games.Sharma is one of three Indian players set to participate in the Hundred this season, alongside Richa Ghosh (Birmingham Phoenix) and Smriti Mandhana (Southern Brave). Like Sharma, both players are part of India's Asia Cup squad and will miss the first week of the competition.The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed the latest tranche of replacement players on Thursday afternoon. Sophie Molineux (Manchester Originals) also withdrew from the Hundred, with no reason provided. Australia has a busy schedule ahead, including a short series against New Zealand and the T20 World Cup in September.Molineux has been replaced by Kim Garth, while Bethan Ellis will join her at the Originals after Mahika Gaur pulled out due to a side strain. Tash Farrant has been ruled out with a hamstring injury but is yet to be replaced at Oval Invincibles. Beth Langston will replace Claire Nicholas at Welsh Fire.As reported by ESPNcricinfo, England's Test batters will be released to play in the men's Hundred immediately after their third Test against West Indies at Edgbaston. However, their bowlers and all-rounders, including Ben Stokes, are likely to play only the second half of the group stages due to workload management.Other notable replacement deals include Leicestershire's Louis Kimber, who takes up the injured Will Smeed's spot at Phoenix, and Mohammad Amir, who has signed for the defending champions Oval Invincibles as short-term cover while Spencer Johnson concludes his commitments at Major League Cricket.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has unveiled the structure for the second tier of its new domestic women's competitions, which will commence in 2025. Ten counties—Derbyshire, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Kent, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Middlesex, Sussex, Worcestershire, and Yorkshire—will compete in Tier 2, playing both 50-over and 20-over cricket. The competition structure and schedule for 2025 are yet to be finalized.Tier 3 status will be granted to all National Counties that wish to participate in the new competitions at that level from 2025. The three tiers will be closed from the 2025 to 2028 seasons, with no promotion or relegation.To foster competition among all counties, the ECB has also announced a knock-out cup competition involving teams from all three tiers. The cup competition is expected to launch in 2025 alongside the establishment of the three-tiered structure.Earlier this year, the ECB announced that Durham, Essex, Surrey, Hampshire, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, and Warwickshire would play in Tier 1 of the new competitions starting in 2025. Yorkshire will join Tier 1 for the 2026 season, subject to meeting certain conditions, while Glamorgan will join in 2027. The ECB aims to expand Tier 1 to 12 teams by 2029.Beth Barrett-Wild, director of the women's professional game, expressed excitement about the finalized tiers. She emphasized that the new structure will accommodate the growth and enhance the depth of the women's professional game.The ECB plans to invest £8 million in new funding per year in women's domestic cricket by 2027, bringing the annual investment in this area to approximately £19 million. This investment will support the development of more professional female players, increased investment, and improved alignment between the men's and women's game.

England's women's cricket team faces a "tricky" period before the T20 World Cup in October, according to head coach Jon Lewis. Despite an undefeated home summer, Lewis acknowledges the challenges of maintaining momentum during an extended break.England's 13 wins in 14 matches against Pakistan and New Zealand showcased their dominance, but Lewis emphasizes the need for consistency and adaptability. The team's world-class spin attack, led by Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, and Sarah Glenn, has been instrumental in their success.However, Lewis highlights the importance of fielding improvements, particularly from Sarah Glenn, and the growing experience of Lauren Bell, Lauren Filer, and Freya Kemp. The team's ability to bat "360 degrees" and access all areas of the ground has also been a key factor.Lewis acknowledges the sense of calm and confidence within the group, but he also recognizes the potential for distractions during the Hundred tournament. He believes that the Hundred can provide valuable experience, but it's crucial for players to navigate it effectively.The conditions in Bangladesh, where the T20 World Cup will be held, pose a significant challenge. Lewis emphasizes the need to understand and adapt to those conditions, as the team that plays them best will likely emerge victorious.To prepare for the unknown, Lewis has intentionally introduced distractions during New Zealand's visit, creating anxiety and pressure to help players develop coping mechanisms. He believes that by raising the level of anxiety, players can learn to bring themselves back to a calm place and communicate effectively.