Cricket

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are poised to bid farewell to their captain, KL Rahul, ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction. The IPL governing council has set October 31 as the deadline for teams to finalize their retained and released player lists.According to Cricbuzz, Rahul has expressed his desire to depart LSG after the management declined his request to bat in the middle order due to team composition and dynamics. The report also suggests that LSG may exercise their Right To Match (RTM) card for Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis."While LSG has the option to exercise the RTM for Rahul, the chances of that happening are remote - virtually nil. They may do it for a player like Marcus Stoinis," the report states.With Rahul's departure imminent, LSG is expected to retain Nicholas Pooran, Mayank Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan, and Ayush Badoni, with the latter two being uncapped retentions.Rahul has been linked to several teams ahead of the auction, but if he enters the bidding pool, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) is likely to pursue their former player aggressively. Rahul played for RCB in 2013 and 2016 before joining Punjab in 2018.Rahul's strike rate has been a concern for LSG. Since the 2019 IPL season, he has not scored at a strike rate above 140, dropping as low as 113 in 2023.If Rahul and LSG mutually part ways, he will become one of the most sought-after Indian players in the auction pool. Rahul has amassed 4,683 IPL runs at an average of 45 and a strike rate of 134.Rahul's recent struggles have extended to the international arena, as he was dropped from India's playing XI for the second Test against New Zealand in Pune. However, he has been included in the squad for the upcoming Test tour of Australia.

Pakistan's cricket team is set to welcome back key players Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah for the upcoming white-ball series in Australia. The trio had been rested for the two-Test series against England.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the squads for the One-Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) matches in Australia and Zimbabwe, which begin next month. New faces have been included in the squads, while senior players Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan are notable absentees.Fakhar Zaman is under investigation by the PCB for a tweet he posted in support of Babar Azam before the England Tests, which led to his exclusion. The PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, is expected to announce the new captains for the limited-overs formats at a media conference later today.Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha are anticipated to be named the new white-ball captains. The selectors aim to use the ODIs and T20s in Zimbabwe to evaluate new players.The main players will participate in the three ODIs and T20Is each in Australia. Babar, Shaheen, and Naseem, who were sidelined after the first Test against England, are back for the Australian leg of the tour. They will be rested for the Zimbabwe tour.The Australia tour is scheduled from November 4 to 18. The three-match ODI and T20I series in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, will take place from November 24 to December 5.Pakistan is also set to tour South Africa for three ODIs, three T20Is, and two Tests in December and January.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finally announced the revised central contracts for the men's cricket team, nearly four months after they were due. The contracts have undergone significant changes, with several players moving up or down the categories.Shan Masood, who recently led Pakistan to their first Test series win since July 2023, retains his spot in Category B. However, his position is uncertain, as the PCB has stated that his retention is "subject to captaincy." This announcement comes amidst speculation about Masood's future as Test captain after Pakistan lost their first six Tests under his leadership.Babar Azam, despite missing the last two Test matches against England due to poor form, remains in the highest category. Shaheen Afridi, on the other hand, drops down to the second tier, leaving Mohammad Rizwan as the only other A category player.Fakhar Zaman, who has been a regular in the central contracts for the past eight years, has been dropped for the first time. Concerns over his fitness and a deteriorating relationship with the PCB are believed to be the reasons behind his omission.The board issued a show-cause notice to Zaman after he criticized the decision to drop Babar Azam on Twitter. The post remains up, and Zaman has not apologized, with the matter reportedly being handled by his legal team.Imam-ul-Haq, Zaman's long-time ODI opening partner, also misses out on a central contract. There has been a general deflation in categories across the board, with only five players out of 25 in the A or B categories compared to 11 last year.Sajid Khan and Noman Ali, who did not feature in last year's contracts, have made a comeback after their impressive performances against England. Both players have been placed in the C category, with Noman's inclusion subject to fitness.Several new players have been awarded maiden central contracts, including Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Hurraira, Usman Khan, and Irfan Khan. All five players have been placed in the D category.The PCB has maintained the same three-year deal structure for central contracts, giving players their highest pay raises in history and a fixed share of revenue from the PCB's earnings at the ICC. The contracts will be backdated to cover the period starting July 1, 2024, and will run for another 12 months before a revision can be made.

Pakistan's captain, Shan Masood, displayed remarkable leadership and team spirit after their impressive 9-wicket victory over England in the third Test. The triumph secured a 2-1 comeback series win for Pakistan, and Masood's post-match comments highlighted the importance of collective success over individual achievements.When questioned about his own form, Masood expressed frustration at the negative framing of the question. He emphasized that the team's victory was paramount, and that individual statistics were secondary. "The team has won, yet you're still seeing negatives," Masood replied. "You haven't found anything positive."Masood praised the selflessness of the batting unit, explaining how they adjusted their approach to suit the challenging conditions. "We made sacrifices to take 20 wickets," he said. "Our focus on these pitches is to take 20 wickets, even if it affects our scores."Despite scoring a century in the series-opening loss, Masood's scores in the subsequent Tests were lower. However, he remained focused on the team's success. "Your batting unit sets up a good match, and some players might score low," he said. "Rizwan and I adapted, even playing against our natural styles."Masood emphasized that individual performances should be valued from the team's perspective, not individually. "This is a team game," he said. "Individual performances are valued from the team's perspective, not individually."Pakistan's victory was a testament to their resilience and determination. Masood's leadership and the team's collective spirit played a crucial role in their success.

In the second ODI between India and New Zealand in Ahmedabad, New Zealand captain Sophie Devine elected to bat first. The visitors made two changes to their lineup, with left-arm spinner Fran Jonas replacing Amelia Kerr and right-arm pacer Lea Tahuhu replacing Molly Penfold.India welcomed back regular captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who replaced D Hemalatha. They also handed a debut to legspinner Priya Mishra, who took the place of Renuka Singh Thakur. Mishra has impressed in recent domestic tournaments and was part of the India A tour of Australia.India currently leads the three-match series 1-0 after a 59-run victory in the first ODI. New Zealand needs to win the second game to keep the series alive and earn crucial points in the Women's Championship. Only the top five teams and host India will qualify directly for next year's World Cup.

MS Dhoni, the legendary Indian cricketer, has hinted at his continued participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL). This revelation comes as a welcome news for fans and the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) franchise, who are eager to retain their iconic captain.Dhoni's intentions were made clear during an event where he expressed his desire to savor the remaining years of his cricketing career. "I just want to enjoy whatever last few years of cricket I am able to play," Dhoni stated. "When you play cricket like a professional sport, it becomes difficult to enjoy it just like a game. That's what I want to do. It's not easy."CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan echoed Dhoni's sentiments, expressing delight at the prospect of the former Indian captain continuing in the IPL. "When he is ready, what else (do) we want. We are happy," Viswanathan told Cricbuzz.However, reports suggest that all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who recently retired from T20 internationals, is the preferred retention choice for CSK ahead of skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad. Jadeja's exceptional all-round abilities and leadership qualities make him a valuable asset for the franchise.The CSK retention list is expected to include Jadeja at the top, followed by Gaikwad and pacer Matheesha Pathirana. Two players among Shivam Dube, Devon Conway, and Samir Rizvi are also likely to be retained.Dhoni's continued presence in the IPL will undoubtedly bolster CSK's chances of success. His experience, leadership, and ability to inspire his teammates make him an invaluable asset for the franchise. Fans can eagerly anticipate Dhoni's return to the IPL, where he will once again showcase his exceptional skills and contribute to CSK's pursuit of glory.

Pakistan's seasoned off-spinner Sajid Khan has employed a unique strategy to unsettle England players during the ongoing third Test in Rawalpindi. Beyond his trademark mustache twirling and thigh thumping, Sajid has leveraged his bilingualism to gain an edge.While Sajid's bowling prowess stems from his spin angle and delivery flight, his batting exploits are a different tale. During the 86th over, Sajid engaged in a conversation with vice-captain Saud Shakeel, oblivious to the stump mic capturing their exchange.Sajid's subsequent six over midwicket into the Javed Miandad stand was a deliberate ploy, as he revealed. The intended targets were Pakistan-origin spinners Rehan Ahmed and Shoaib Bashir."We were only doing that [speaking loudly in Urdu] to deceive the bowlers. Rehan and Shoaib understand Urdu, so to fool them, we wanted them to hear we were only looking for the single. When we did that, they brought the field up, and the bowlers flighted it. Saud told me once they do, no half measures: just go for the big shot as hard as you can," Sajid explained.In the following over, Sajid unleashed two sixes and a four against Bashir, again targeting the midwicket region. His unbeaten 48 off 48 balls propelled Pakistan to 344.Rehan acknowledged Sajid's impressive batting but denied being misled by the Urdu conversation."He didn't fool me at all. He just said it for the media. I didn't even hear him. He said something like he's going to run down this ball, and I knew he was going to try and scoop me, and it didn't really work. I think he batted well, and he hit some big blows, but he didn't really fool me or Bash," Rehan said.Sajid's tactics have added an intriguing dimension to the Test match, showcasing his ability to influence the game both on and off the field.

India Eyes Series Win in Second ODI Against New ZealandIndia will be aiming to seal the three-match ODI series against New Zealand when the two teams clash in the second match at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday, October 27, 2024. The hosts will be buoyed by their comprehensive victory in the first ODI, where they dominated the visitors in all departments.New Zealand, who were riding high after their maiden T20 World Cup triumph, were brought down to earth with a thud in the series opener. India's debutants, Tejal Hasabnis and Saima Thakor, played starring roles in the win, with Hasabnis scoring a half-century and Thakor taking three wickets.India will be hoping to maintain their momentum in the second ODI. Skipper Smriti Mandhana will be keen to continue her good form, while the management will be monitoring the fitness of regular captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who missed the previous match due to an unspecified niggle.New Zealand, on the other hand, will be desperate to bounce back and level the series. They will need their senior players, such as Sophie Devine and Amelia Kerr, to step up and lead the charge.The match is expected to be a close contest, with both teams evenly matched on paper. India will have the home advantage, but New Zealand will be determined to prove that their World Cup victory was no fluke.

India's recent Test series defeat to New Zealand has sparked a debate about the responsibility of senior players and the role of coach Gautam Gambhir. Former wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik believes the onus lies with the experienced players, while Sanjay Manjrekar defends Gambhir's minimal influence on the team's performance.Karthik emphasizes that senior players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma should take ownership of the loss. He acknowledges their poor performance and expects them to introspect and identify areas for improvement. Karthik believes they have the courage to face criticism and will strive to rectify their mistakes.Manjrekar, on the other hand, argues that the coach has a limited impact on the team's performance. He credits Gambhir for selecting Washington Sundar, but questions the decision to send him ahead of Sarfaraz Khan. Manjrekar believes such tactical errors should be avoided and that Rohit Sharma should focus on the overall quality of players rather than match-ups.Former India captain Anil Kumble suggests that Kohli's absence from domestic matches may have hindered his preparation for the Test series. He believes that game situations provide a better advantage than practice and that Kohli could have benefited from playing earlier.The defeat has raised concerns about India's Test cricket future. Karthik urges the senior players to take responsibility and work towards improving the team's performance. Manjrekar emphasizes the need for tactical adjustments and a focus on player quality. Kumble highlights the importance of match practice for players like Kohli.