Cricket

Cricket South Africa (CSA) is facing a crucial decision regarding the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh, scheduled to commence on October 21. The decision hinges on security assessments currently underway, following concerns raised after anti-government protests in Bangladesh earlier this year.CSA, in collaboration with the South African Cricketers' Association (SACA), will make a final call by the end of this week. The Women's T20 World Cup 2024, initially slated for Bangladesh, was relocated due to the unrest.Sources within CSA indicate that the situation in Bangladesh has improved, but the organization emphasizes that player safety remains paramount. A collective decision will be made, with individual players unlikely to have the final say on whether to tour.South Africa's Test schedule has been condensed to two-match series in this World Test Championship cycle, prioritizing the launch of the SA20 domestic T20 league and cost-cutting measures. The team has played six Tests so far, winning two, losing three, and drawing one.To qualify for the WTC final at Lord's next year, South Africa needs to win at least five of their remaining six matches. If they tour Bangladesh, they are unlikely to field Marco Jansen or Gerald Coetzee, who are expected to return to action in November.South Africa's next assignment is a white-ball series against Afghanistan and Ireland in the UAE, where several new faces are expected to feature.

New Zealand's formidable Test squad, led by veteran pacer Tim Southee, has arrived in India for their historic one-off Test against Afghanistan. The match, scheduled for September 9 at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground, marks the first red-ball encounter between the two nations.The BlackCaps boast a star-studded lineup, including former skipper Kane Williamson, who recently opted out of a central contract. Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, and Rachin Ravindra add depth to the batting order, while Tom Latham remains the vice-captain.Recognizing the importance of spin bowling in Indian conditions, New Zealand has included five spin options in Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Ajaz Patel, and part-timers Phillips and Ravindra. They will hold their first practice session on Friday.This Test serves as a crucial preparation for New Zealand's upcoming two-match series against Sri Lanka, which is part of the World Test Championship (WTC). After Sri Lanka, the BlackCaps will return to India for a three-match Test series against Rohit Sharma's men, also part of the WTC calendar.The three games against India will be played in Bengaluru, Pune, and Mumbai in October and November. New Zealand currently sits third in the ICC WTC points table, behind India and Australia.This historic Test against Afghanistan provides a valuable opportunity for both teams to showcase their skills and gain valuable experience ahead of the upcoming WTC challenges.

Bangladesh's historic victory over Pakistan in the second Test at Rawalpindi has dealt a significant blow to the hosts' hopes of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final. Pakistan's consecutive Test losses have dropped them to eighth place in the WTC points table, leaving them with an uphill battle to qualify for the prestigious event.Despite their recent setbacks, Pakistan still has a mathematical chance of finishing in the top two, which would secure their place in the WTC final. However, this requires them to win all their remaining matches in the current WTC cycle.Pakistan's upcoming challenges include a three-match Test series against England at home, followed by two-match series against South Africa and the West Indies. If they can secure victories in all seven upcoming Tests, their PCT% will rise to 59.52.However, the upcoming five-match series between India and Australia could potentially open up an opportunity for Pakistan to finish in the top two. If India and Australia draw or lose any of their matches, it could create a scenario where Pakistan can qualify with a strong performance in their remaining fixtures.On the other hand, if Pakistan fails to win any of their remaining seven Tests, their chances of qualifying will be severely jeopardized. They may be eliminated from contention if other teams perform well in their respective series.Pakistan's recent Test defeats have highlighted the need for improvement in their batting and bowling departments. The team has struggled to post competitive totals and has been unable to consistently take wickets.As they prepare for their upcoming challenges, Pakistan will need to address these weaknesses and find a way to regain their winning form. The WTC 2025 final remains a distant dream, but it is still within their reach if they can turn their fortunes around.

Wasim Jaffer Mocks Michael Vaughan's Test Cricket Division ProposalFormer Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer has taken a playful jab at his English counterpart Michael Vaughan over the latter's suggestion to divide Test cricket into two tiers. Vaughan's proposal, made on Tuesday, aimed to address the declining popularity of the longest format and the disparity in financial resources among cricket boards.Jaffer's response came in the form of a screenshot of the World Test Championship (WTC) table from a month ago, when England languished at the bottom. He cheekily pointed out the timing of Vaughan's tweet, as England had recently climbed to fifth place in the WTC standings after securing an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-Test series against Sri Lanka."Interesting timing from Michael Vaughan to suggest two divisions in Test cricket," Jaffer tweeted. "England were bottom of the table a month ago, now they're 5th after beating Sri Lanka."Vaughan's proposal had sparked a debate on social media, with some supporting the idea of a two-tier system to ensure more competitive matches and others arguing that it would further widen the gap between the top and bottom teams.Jaffer's playful dig at Vaughan highlights the ongoing banter between the two former cricketers, who have often engaged in friendly exchanges on social media. Their lighthearted rivalry adds a touch of humor to the serious discussions surrounding the future of Test cricket.

Rohit Sharma, the enigmatic Indian skipper, has expressed his unwavering commitment to white-ball cricket despite retiring from T20Is. His sights are firmly set on adding the coveted World Test Championship (WTC) trophy to India's illustrious cabinet.After India's triumph at the T20 World Cup in June, Rohit and Virat Kohli announced their retirement from the shortest format. However, BCCI secretary Jay Shah confirmed Rohit's appointment as India's captain for the Champions Trophy in 2023.In a recent interview, Rohit declared his intention to continue playing white-ball cricket. "I am not going to stop because I am looking forward to achieving more," he said. "When you get the taste of winning games, winning cups, you don't want to stop."Rohit's next challenge will be India's Test swing over the next five months. They will play 10 Tests against Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Australia, all of which are part of the ongoing WTC cycle. India currently leads the WTC standings with six wins, two defeats, and a draw from nine Tests."It's an exciting time for Indian cricket moving forward," Rohit said. "There's some real excitement, good cricket being played as well. But like I said, the next couple of years are exciting ones as well. So hopefully we can go out there and enjoy the game at the same time and then try and make the most of what opportunity lies ahead for us."Rohit's leadership and experience will be crucial as India aims to secure the WTC title. His determination to continue playing white-ball cricket is a testament to his unwavering passion for the game.

Pakistan's Test squad for the ongoing second Test against Bangladesh has undergone a significant change, with the release of left-arm fast-bowling spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi. The decision was made to allow Afridi to spend time with his family following the birth of his son, Aliyaar, during the first Test.Afridi's absence from the 12-man squad is a blow to Pakistan's hopes of leveling the two-match series. In the first Test, which Bangladesh won by ten wickets, Afridi claimed two wickets in the first innings but failed to take any in the second. His recent Test form has been inconsistent, with 16 wickets from five Tests at an average of 40.81 since the start of 2023.To fill the void left by Afridi, Pakistan has included left-arm pacer Mir Hamza and leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed in the squad. Hamza has played one Test for Pakistan, while Ahmed is yet to make his debut.Pakistan must win the second Test to square the series and avoid a historic first Test series defeat to Bangladesh. However, rain is forecasted for days four and five, which could lead to a draw and hand Bangladesh the series victory.Both teams are currently in the bottom half of the 2023-2025 World Test Championship standings, with Bangladesh at number seven and Pakistan at number eight. Pakistan has not won a home Test match since beating South Africa in December 2021.

Pakistan's cricket team has suffered a significant setback in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings, dropping to eighth place after a humiliating 10-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in the first Test of the series in Rawalpindi. The loss, coupled with an over rate penalty, has left Pakistan with just 16 points and a winning percentage of 22.22, placing them just ahead of the West Indies.Bangladesh's historic victory in Rawalpindi marks their first-ever Test win against Pakistan, propelling them to seventh place in the WTC standings with 21 points. The win is a testament to Bangladesh's growing strength in the Test arena, having now won two out of their five matches in the current WTC cycle.Pakistan's defeat was compounded by a six-point penalty for maintaining a slow over rate. The team fell six overs short of the required rate during the match, resulting in the penalty. Bangladesh was also penalized for a slow over rate, losing three points for being three overs short.India currently leads the WTC standings with 74 points and a winning percentage of 68.52, after securing six wins in nine matches. Australia is in second place with 66 points, followed by South Africa with 54 points.The second Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh is scheduled to begin on Friday in Rawalpindi. Pakistan will be desperate to improve their standings and avoid further penalties in this upcoming match. However, Bangladesh will be confident of continuing their winning ways and further cementing their position in the WTC standings.

The prospect of an India vs Pakistan World Test Championship (WTC) final remains a tantalizing possibility, but recent results have made it an increasingly unlikely scenario. Pakistan's historic defeat to Bangladesh in Rawalpindi has further diminished their already slim chances of reaching the WTC final.Pakistan currently languishes in eighth position on the WTC points table, with just two wins in six matches and a winning percentage of 30.56. This significant decline in form, especially in red-ball cricket, has left them with a steep mountain to climb if they hope to reach the WTC final.Pakistan still have eight Tests remaining in the current WTC cycle. To have a strong chance of making the final, they would need to win all of these matches. This task will be challenging, as they face tough opponents, including England, West Indies, and South Africa, with the series against the Proteas being played away from home.Meanwhile, India and Australia remain the favorites to face each other again in the WTC final next year. Both teams are at the top of the standings with a considerable lead. India lead with six wins in nine matches and a winning percentage of 68.52, while defending champions Australia are just behind with eight wins in 12 matches and a percentage of 62.50. The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy later this year will be crucial for both teams as they aim to secure their places in the final.Bangladesh's recent victory over Pakistan has moved them up to sixth place in the points table, with two wins in five matches and a winning percentage of 40.00. This victory marks a significant improvement for Bangladesh in Test cricket.In another notable match, England defeated Sri Lanka by five wickets in the first Test, climbing from seventh to fourth in the WTC points table. This result caused Sri Lanka to slip to the fifth position.While an India vs Pakistan final remains a tantalizing prospect, Pakistan's path to the WTC final now appears increasingly improbable given their current position and recent performances.

The upcoming Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Test series, commencing on September 18 in Galle, will feature a unique twist: a rest day scheduled to accommodate Sri Lanka's presidential elections on September 21. This marks the first instance of a rest day in a Test match since 2008, when Bangladesh and Sri Lanka accommodated a parliamentary election.The two-Test series forms part of the 2023-2025 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. Sri Lanka last hosted a rest day in a Test match in 2001 against Zimbabwe, due to a full moon being a public holiday in the Buddhist nation.Historically, Sundays were designated as rest days in Test matches in England until the 1990s. However, this practice has since faded into obscurity.New Zealand and Sri Lanka last met in a Test series in early 2023, with New Zealand emerging victorious 2-0 on home soil. New Zealand's last tour of Sri Lanka in 2019 resulted in a 1-1 draw in the Test series and a 2-1 victory for New Zealand in the T20Is.New Zealand's tour of Sri Lanka follows a one-off Test against Afghanistan in Greater Noida. The Black Caps have a busy summer of cricket ahead, with Test series against India and England before Sri Lanka returns to New Zealand in December for three T20Is and three ODIs.