Cricket

England Test Captain Ben Stokes' Home Burgled During Pakistan TourEngland Test captain Ben Stokes' home in County Durham, northeast England, was burgled on the evening of October 17 while he was on tour in Pakistan. The incident occurred while Stokes' wife and two young children were present in the house.According to Stokes, the burglars were "masked" and stole several valuables, including a medal he received after being recognized in the 2020 New Year Honours list for his role in England's World Cup victory the previous year. Other stolen items included a Christian Dior handbag, a gold ring with England cricket insignia, and bracelets.Durham Police have arrested a 32-year-old man on suspicion of burglary. He has since been bailed.Stokes expressed his concern about the emotional and mental impact the incident has had on his family. "By far the worst thing about this crime is that it was carried out whilst my wife and two young children were in the house," he wrote on his personal Instagram account. "Thankfully, none of my family came to any physical harm. Understandably, however, the experience has had an impact on their emotional and mental state.""All we can think about is how much worse this situation could have been," Stokes added.The burglary occurred while Stokes was in Pakistan for a Test series, which England lost 2-1.

Punjab Kings, under the guidance of new head coach Ricky Ponting, are embarking on a fresh start for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season. With a massive purse of Rs 110.5 crore, the franchise has retained only two uncapped players, Prabhsimran Singh and Shashank Singh.Ponting believes this is an opportunity to reshape the team's identity and play a more dynamic and entertaining brand of cricket. He aims to make Punjab Kings the most exciting franchise in the IPL, both on and off the field.The Australian legend expressed surprise at the release of star players like Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul by their respective teams. He emphasized the importance of identifying key targets and setting a budget for the auction.Royal Challengers Bengaluru, with a purse of Rs 83 crore, has the second-largest budget after Punjab Kings. The full retention list for all IPL teams is as follows:* Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Matheesha Pathirana, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni* Delhi Capitals: Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, Abhishek Porel* Gujarat Titans: Rashid Khan, Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Rahul Tewatia, Shahrukh Khan* Kolkata Knight Riders: Rinku Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Harshit Rana, Ramandeep Singh* Lucknow Super Giants: Nicholas Pooran, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Ayush Badoni* Mumbai Indians: Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Tilak Varma* Punjab Kings: Shashank Singh, Prabhsimran Singh* Rajasthan Royals: Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Sandeep Sharma* Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Yash Dayal* Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen, Travis Head

The Indian cricket team's recent Test series loss to New Zealand has raised concerns about the aging of key players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Former Australian cricketers Ian Chappell and Mark Taylor have expressed their views on the matter, highlighting the need for India to address its batting problems.Chappell pointed out that Kohli and Sharma are both in their late 30s and may be starting to feel the effects of age. He noted that both players have not been performing to their usual standards in recent times, which has put pressure on the younger players in the team.Taylor echoed Chappell's sentiments, stating that India's decision to move on from experienced batsmen like Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane has left a void in the team. He emphasized that Kohli and Sharma, as the team's best players, need to step up and make significant contributions.The former Australian captain also highlighted the importance of senior players making "bulkier runs," which has been lacking in India's batting lineup over the past year or so. He pointed to the contributions of Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin, but stressed that the team needs its top batsmen to perform consistently.Chappell and Taylor's comments come at a time when India is facing a transitional phase in its Test team. The team has lost its last three Test series, including a humiliating defeat to New Zealand at home. The selectors have been experimenting with different combinations, but have yet to find a settled lineup.The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia will be a major test for India's aging stars. If Kohli and Sharma fail to deliver, it could further intensify the debate about their future in the Test team.

India Falls to Pakistan in Hong Kong Sixes OpenerIndia suffered a disappointing six-wicket defeat to arch-rivals Pakistan in their opening match of the Hong Kong Sixes 2024 at the Tin Kwong Road Cricket Ground on Friday.Despite a valiant effort from Bharat Chipli, who smashed 53 off 16 deliveries before retiring hurt, India could only muster 119 for 4 in their allotted six overs. Captain Robin Uthappa also contributed 31 off eight balls.Pakistan's batters, however, proved too strong for India's bowlers. Asif Ali played a pivotal role, blasting 55 off 14 balls to lay the foundation for a comprehensive victory. Muhammad Akhlaq (40 not out off 12) and Faheem Ashraf (22 not out off 5) completed the chase with one over to spare.The Hong Kong Sixes 2024 kicked off with an electrifying start, featuring explosive performances from batters across the board. Hosts Hong Kong and South Africa engaged in a thrilling encounter, with both teams showcasing aggressive batting. Hong Kong posted 92/0 in 6 overs, while South Africa chased down the target with 3 wickets in hand in just 4.4 overs.Nepal stunned England in the day's second match, clinching a 6-wicket victory after chasing down a target of 98 in just 4.2 overs. Captain Sundeep Jora led the charge with a blistering 50 off 12 balls.Pakistan continued their winning ways, edging past UAE by 13 runs. Led by Faheem Ashram, Pakistan posted 128/0 in 6 overs, with Muhammad Akhlaq and Asif Ali both retiring after half-centuries. UAE's Muhammad Zuhaib responded with a quickfire 53 off 14 balls, but Asif Ali's final over, yielding only 6 runs and taking two wickets, shifted the game in Pakistan's favor.Sri Lanka secured a comfortable 4-wicket win over Oman, while Hong Kong redeemed themselves by defeating New Zealand.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has appointed Najmul Hossain Shanto as the captain for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan in Sharjah. The decision was made after a meeting between Shanto and BCB president Faruque Ahmed on Thursday evening, where Shanto expressed his desire to step down as Bangladesh's all-format captain.The BCB has not yet announced the squads for the subsequent tour of the West Indies, where Bangladesh will play two Tests, three ODIs, and three T20Is. However, Faruque has indicated that Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taskin Ahmed are the frontrunners for the captaincy role.The ODI squad for the Afghanistan series includes all three potential captains. Nahid Rana, a 22-year-old fast bowler, is the only uncapped player in the side. Rana has impressed with his pace and bounce in five Tests, taking 26 wickets at an average of 16.46 in ten List-A matches.The selectors have also recalled opener Zakir Hasan and left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed. Zakir has played only one ODI and 12 Tests, while Nasum has featured in 15 ODIs, including the 2023 World Cup in India.Anamul Haque, Taijul Islam, and Hasan Mahmud have been omitted from the squad. Mahmud is out due to a shoulder injury, while Shakib Al Hasan has voluntarily withdrawn from the series. Litton Das is also unavailable due to fever.The Bangladesh team will depart for Dubai in two groups on Saturday and Sunday. The three ODIs will be played at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on November 6, 9, and 11.

PCB Assures Swift Visa Issuance for Indian Fans for ICC Champions TrophyLAHORE, Pakistan - Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as the Federal Interior Minister, has pledged a streamlined visa issuance process for Indian fans eager to attend the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan next year.During a meeting with a group of Sikh pilgrims from the United States, Naqvi expressed optimism about a positive response from Indian fans. "We will reserve a special quota of tickets for Indian fans and endeavor to expedite the visa issuance process," he stated.Naqvi emphasized the PCB's desire to welcome Indian fans and witness the highly anticipated match between India and Pakistan in Lahore. Pakistan is set to host the ICC mega event from February to March 2025, but the tournament schedule remains pending until the ICC receives confirmation from the Indian government regarding its team's participation.The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reiterated its adherence to government policy when it comes to visiting Pakistan. No Indian team has toured Pakistan since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, and there has been no Test series between the two nations since 2007.Despite these challenges, Naqvi remains hopeful that Indian fans will be able to experience the thrill of the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. "We are committed to providing a safe and enjoyable environment for all spectators," he said.The PCB's efforts to facilitate Indian fan attendance are a testament to the importance of cricket as a bridge between the two countries. The sport has the power to unite people and foster goodwill, and the Champions Trophy provides an opportunity to showcase the passion and camaraderie that exists between cricket enthusiasts on both sides of the border.

The upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) player auction promises to be a record-breaking event, with a plethora of star players up for grabs. Among the most sought-after names are Rishabh Pant, K L Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Arshdeep Singh, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, and Mohammed Shami.Pant, in particular, is expected to be the cynosure of all eyes. The Delhi Capitals' former captain is available for auction after a fallout with the franchise's co-owners, GMR. Pant's unhappiness stemmed from his perceived lack of authority and the appointment of Hemang Badani as head coach and Y Venugopal Rao as Team Director.Iyer, the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders' former captain, is also in the auction pool. He felt that his Rs 12.25 crore salary was inadequate for an IPL-winning captain. Rahul, on the other hand, parted ways with Lucknow Super Giants due to differences in approach towards T20 cricket.The auction will be intriguing due to the Rs 75 crore retention cap on international players and the Right To Match cards. Teams that have exhausted their retention quotas will need to recruit at least 15 more players for a lesser sum.Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, with their substantial purse amounts, are expected to make significant bids. Pant is likely to emerge as the highest-paid player in the IPL if Punjab Kings, known for their extravagant spending, decide to acquire him."Rishabh's real bidding will start from Rs 20 crore onwards," said a top franchise official. "There will be three teams who can afford to bid big for him: Punjab Kings, RCB, and LSG."Industry insiders predict that Pant could fetch between Rs 25 crore to Rs 30 crore.

Virat Kohli's Costly Run-Out Marred India's Day One in Mumbai TestIndia's hopes of salvaging a consolation win in the third and final Test against New Zealand suffered a major setback on Friday as they stumbled to 86 for four at stumps on the opening day in Mumbai. The hosts found themselves in a precarious position, trailing the Kiwis by 149 runs, after a series of unfortunate events, including a crucial run-out of star batter Virat Kohli.With just minutes remaining in the day's play, Kohli made a fatal error in judgment that resulted in his dismissal. Attempting to steal a single off a flighted delivery from Rachin Ravindra, Kohli pushed the ball towards mid-on and set off for a run. However, Matt Henry's quick reflexes and accurate throw caught Kohli short of his crease.The run-out was a major blow to India, who had already lost Yashasvi Jaiswal and nightwatchman Mohammed Siraj in the penultimate over of the day. Jaiswal was bowled around his legs by Ajaz Patel, while Siraj was trapped plumb in front for a golden duck.Earlier in the day, India's bowlers had put up a strong performance to dismiss New Zealand for 235. Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar shared nine wickets between them, with Jadeja claiming 4 for 44 and Sundar taking 5 for 45. Daryl Mitchell top-scored for the BlackCaps with a gritty 82.With New Zealand already holding an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, India will need to produce a remarkable turnaround in the remaining two days to avoid a clean sweep. However, the loss of Kohli and the team's fragile batting lineup make that task appear daunting.

Ravindra Jadeja, India's premier all-rounder, has expressed his disappointment over India's recent Test series loss at home against Bangladesh. This marks the first time India has lost a Test series at home since 2012, when Jadeja was a rookie in the team.Jadeja, who has been a key figure in India's Test success over the past decade, admitted that the loss was a bitter pill to swallow. "I was scared of this. I didn't want to lose a single series in India until I played, but it has happened," he said.The left-arm spinner, who picked up his 14th five-wicket haul in the series, believes that the team's mindset played a role in their downfall. "When you are down in the series and such a situation comes up, obviously it feels like if you are down 2-0 in the series, that's why you panicked and you made a mistake," Jadeja explained.Jadeja also pointed out that India's high expectations may have contributed to their struggles. "We have raised our expectations so high that we have not lost a single series for 12 years, and in 12 years, I have been involved in only five losses at home. As a team, it is a lesson. We need to pick up positives from this."Despite the disappointment, Jadeja remains optimistic about India's future. "We have a young team and we have a lot of potential. We just need to learn from our mistakes and come back stronger," he said.