Cricket

Former Pakistani cricketer Basit Ali has revealed that ex-South African cricketer and coach Gary Kirsten was unhappy with the decision to appoint Mohammad Rizwan as the captain of Pakistan's white-ball teams. Ali claims that Kirsten had a different player in mind for the leadership role and believed he had "full authority" over such choices.This revelation comes amidst significant changes within the Pakistan cricket team. Rizwan's appointment as white-ball captain, Kirsten's resignation as T20I and ODI coach, and the hiring of Jason Gillespie as the head coach for all formats have all contributed to a period of transition.Ali explained on his YouTube channel, "When Mohammad Rizwan was named Pakistan's new white-ball captain, Kirsten wanted a different captain and demanded another player in the team. Coincidentally, both of them are not in the team. He thought he had full authority, but he doesn't know that in Pakistan, even the PCB chairman can get changed overnight."Ali further commented on the recent changes in the PCB, stating, "Mohsin Naqvi has come with a lot of power. The coaches, selectors, and managers are being removed. Earlier, the chairman used to be changed from time to time. Now, whoever raises their voice will be sidelined."Kirsten's primary assignment was to guide Pakistan to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and USA. However, Pakistan's early exit from the group stage after losses to India and the USA led to his departure.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that Rizwan would replace Babar Azam as the team's white-ball captain for the upcoming series against Australia and Zimbabwe. Salam Ali Agha has been appointed as Rizwan's vice-captain for these away tours.

Gary Kirsten's resignation as Pakistan's limited-overs coach has sparked discussions about the role of international coaches in team selection. Kirsten's departure comes after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) restructured coaching roles and removed head coaches from the selection committee following Pakistan's loss to England in the first Test.Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria expressed support for Kirsten's decision, citing the pressure and criticism he faced after Pakistan's early exit from the T20 World Cup and home Test series loss to Bangladesh. Kaneria emphasized that international coaches need time to adapt and perform, and that Kirsten's experience would have been valuable for Pakistan's young players.The PCB's decision to alter its selection committee has also raised questions. Previously, head coaches and captains had voting rights on the committee, but after Pakistan's loss to England, the PCB delegated all selection powers to a newly formed committee.Kaneria suggested that Kirsten may have wanted to be involved in the selection process, but that the PCB's decision to exclude international coaches from the committee was justified. He explained that international coaches often lack familiarity with domestic players, which is crucial for effective selection.Kirsten's resignation leaves Pakistan without a limited-overs coach ahead of their upcoming ODI series against Australia. The team will face Australia in Melbourne on November 4, marking their first ODI since last year's World Cup.

Bangladesh's bowlers kept South Africa in check during the first session of the second Test in Dhaka, with Taijul Islam and Nahid Rana sharing the wickets.Islam struck first, trapping Tony de Zorzi lbw for 13 in the 13th over. The left-arm spinner then had Aiden Markram caught behind for 25 in the 25th over.Rana, meanwhile, picked up the wicket of Markram's opening partner, Dean Elgar, for 19 in the 19th over. The right-arm pacer also had de Zorzi caught at slip for 34 in the 37th over.At lunch, South Africa were 105 for 4, with Temba Bavuma and Kyle Verreynne at the crease on 25 and 15 respectively.Bangladesh's bowlers were disciplined and accurate throughout the session, making it difficult for the South African batsmen to score freely. Islam and Rana were particularly impressive, using their variations to keep the batsmen guessing.The Proteas will need to bat patiently in the afternoon session if they are to build a substantial first-innings total. Bangladesh, on the other hand, will be looking to take further wickets and put themselves in a strong position in the match.

Former India coach Ravi Shastri has expressed his belief that Rohit Sharma will be deeply affected by India's Test series loss to New Zealand. This marks the first time India has lost a home Test series since 2012, with Rohit at the helm.Despite Rohit's post-match comments downplaying the defeat, Shastri believes that the Indian captain will be hurting. "Rohit Sharma is a proud man. He will not take it lightly. Let me assure you of that," Shastri said during commentary.Shastri emphasized that every player in the Indian dressing room will be eager to rectify the situation. "His body language might suggest that he's very relaxed. But deep down, he'll be hurting and hurting big. Not just with him but with every Indian player in that dressing room," Shastri added.Rohit's captaincy has been under scrutiny throughout the New Zealand series, particularly his decision to bat first after a day's washout in the first Test. His batting form has also been questioned, with the Indian captain managing only 62 runs in four innings.Despite the series defeat, which ended India's record-breaking run of 18 consecutive home Test series wins, Rohit downplayed its significance in the post-match press conference. "Just because we have lost a series, I don't think there is anything that we need to talk differently or do differently. But yeah, we need to find ways to come out of those situations," Rohit said."You don't need to overreact. But you need to have a quiet chat with certain individuals and let them know where they are at and what, as a team, we require from them," Rohit added.India will face New Zealand in the final Test of the series starting on Friday, November 1.

South Africa, led by stand-in captain Aiden Markram, have opted to bat first against Bangladesh in the second and final Test match in Chattogram. The hosts, who are looking to end their home season on a high, have made three changes to their lineup, including the debut of wicketkeeper Mahidul Islam Ankon.Bangladesh's experienced gloveman, Litton Das, has been ruled out due to a fever, while Jaker Ali has been replaced by Zakir Hasan, who scored a century on debut at this venue. The hosts have also opted for an extra seamer, Nahid Rana, in place of offspinner Nayeem Hasan.South Africa, on the other hand, have brought in Dane Paterson for Dane Piedt, while Senuran Muthusamy has been included in place of Matthew Breetkze. This gives the Proteas a more balanced side with five bowling options, including three seamers.The match is crucial for both teams. Bangladesh are aiming to close out their home season with a victory, while South Africa are eyeing a run to the World Test Championship (WTC) final. They need to win at least four of their remaining five matches to have a shot at next year's Lord's finale.The key to the match will be taking wickets, as both sides have strong batting lineups. Bangladesh will be relying on their spinners, while South Africa will look to their pace attack to make inroads.

Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has hailed India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah as the best bowler he has ever faced and predicted that he will go down as the greatest all-format bowler of all time.Maxwell, who has faced Bumrah both for Australia and in the Indian Premier League (IPL), praised the Indian pacer's unique release point, slow ball, yorker, and ability to swing the ball both ways."I think Bumrah probably going to go down as the best all-format bowler of all time," Maxwell said in a video shared by ESPNcricinfo. "I think he's the best bowler I have faced."Maxwell highlighted Bumrah's ability to change his bowling angle at the last moment, making it difficult for batsmen to predict his delivery. He also praised Bumrah's wrist position and his ability to sniff out wickets."His release point, because he releases it from so far out in front of himself, almost feels like he can change where he's bowling right at the last moment," Maxwell said. "Unbelievable slow ball, great yorker, has the ability to swing it both ways; he's got a brilliant wrist, and he's got a good sniff. It feels like he's got all the tricks of a really good fast bowler."Bumrah, who is currently ranked as the No. 1 Test bowler in the world by the ICC, is expected to play a key role for India in their upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia in 2024. Maxwell, however, will not face Bumrah in the series as he is out of Australia's Test reckoning.Both Bumrah and Maxwell are also expected to be part of the IPL rumor mills, with the retention announcements set to come on October 31. Bumrah is expected to be retained by Mumbai Indians (MI), while Maxwell's future at Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) is uncertain.

India Prepares Sporting Track for Decisive Third Test Against New ZealandFacing the prospect of a series sweep, India is set to prepare a balanced pitch for the third and final Test against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium from November 1. The hosts have struggled against both seam and spin in the first two Tests, prompting a shift in strategy.According to sources, the pitch for the third Test is unlikely to be a rank turner, unlike the one in Pune where New Zealand's Mitchell Santner wreaked havoc with his left-arm spin. Instead, the Wankhede pitch is expected to offer a sporting balance, with some grass cover for the seamers and gradual turn for the spinners from Day 2 onwards.BCCI's chief pitch curator Ashish Bhowmick and elite panel curator Taposh Chatterjee met with Wankhede curator Ramesh Mamunkar to review the pitch. "It will be a sporting track. Right now, there's a bit of grass on the pitch. It's expected to be good for batting on Day 1 but should offer turn to spinners from Day 2," a reliable source told TOI.In the last Test at Wankhede in December 2021, India crushed New Zealand by 372 runs on a pitch that offered significant spin assistance. Ravichandran Ashwin took a match haul of 8 for 42, while New Zealand's Ajaz Patel made history with 14 wickets for 223 runs.However, the Indian team management is keen to avoid a repeat of the Pune debacle, where Santner's spin proved too much to handle. The Wankhede pitch is expected to provide a more balanced challenge, allowing both the seamers and spinners to play a role.The outcome of the third Test will be crucial for both teams. India needs to win to avoid a series sweep, while New Zealand will be looking to complete a historic victory on Indian soil. The pitch preparation will be a key factor in determining the outcome of this decisive encounter.

Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been recalled to the national team for the upcoming white-ball tour of Australia, following a brief hiatus due to inconsistent form. The decision to reinstate Azam, who was dropped for the final two Tests of the home series against England, has sparked optimism among experts who believe a single impactful performance could reignite his brilliance.Ramiz Raja, a former Pakistan captain and chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), expressed confidence in Azam's ability to rediscover his form and establish himself as a true legend. "Babar has the potential to achieve even greater heights in Test cricket," Raja said. "He excels in white-ball cricket, averaging over 50 in both T20Is and ODIs. Now, he must demonstrate his temperament and prove to the world that he is a modern-day Viv Richards."Raja's comparison to Richards, the legendary West Indian batsman known for his aggressive and match-winning performances, highlights the high expectations placed on Azam. The upcoming tour of Australia, which includes three ODIs and three T20Is, will provide Azam with an opportunity to showcase his talent on a global stage.Alongside Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah have also been recalled to the squad after being rested for the Test series. The white-ball teams will be led by newly-appointed skipper Mohammad Rizwan, with the exception of the T20I series in Zimbabwe, where Salman Agha will take the reins.Raja expressed his hope that Azam will rediscover his form during the upcoming series, which hold significant importance for Pakistan's cricketing future. "I am confident that Babar will bounce back stronger after his break," Raja said. "He has the talent and determination to lead Pakistan to success."

Kane Williamson to Miss Third Test Against India, Focuses on Groin RecoveryNew Zealand cricket captain Kane Williamson will not join his team for the third Test against India in Mumbai, opting instead to remain in New Zealand and prioritize his recovery from a groin injury. The decision aims to ensure Williamson's fitness for the upcoming three-Test series against England, commencing on November 28 at Hagley Oval.Head coach Gary Stead confirmed Williamson's progress but emphasized that he is not yet ready for international travel. "Kane continues to show good signs, but isn’t quite ready to jump on a plane and join us," Stead stated.Stead explained the team's cautious approach, prioritizing Williamson's full recovery in time for the England series. "While things are looking promising, we think the best course of action is for him to stay in New Zealand and focus on the final part of his rehabilitation so he’ll be good to go for England," Stead said. "The England series is still a month away so taking the cautious approach now will ensure he is ready for the first Test in Christchurch."New Zealand's impressive performance in the first two Tests against India has secured them a 2-0 series victory. They triumphed by eight wickets in Bengaluru and 113 runs in Pune. The third Test in Mumbai is scheduled for Friday.Williamson's absence from the third Test is a setback for New Zealand, but the team remains confident in their ability to perform well. They will be led by Tom Latham, who has captained the side in Williamson's absence.