Cricket

Australia and South Africa Set for T20 World Cup Semifinal ShowdownDubai, 6pm local timeAustralia and South Africa will face off in a highly anticipated semifinal clash at the T20 World Cup on Thursday. Both teams have been in impressive form throughout the tournament, with Australia unbeaten and South Africa boasting a 3-1 record.Australia's Unbeaten RunAustralia has been the dominant force in the tournament, winning all four of their group matches. They overcame a spirited challenge from India in their last group game, securing a nine-run victory. Captain Alyssa Healy, who missed the India match due to a foot injury, is expected to return for the semifinal.South Africa's ResurgenceSouth Africa has also impressed, winning three of their four group matches. Their only defeat came against England, but they bounced back with victories over Bangladesh and New Zealand. They will be looking to avenge their heartbreaking loss to Australia in the 2023 T20 World Cup final.Key Players to WatchMegan Schutt has been a standout performer for Australia, with her miserly spells proving crucial in all four of their wins. Tazmin Brits has been equally impressive for South Africa, providing solid starts at the top of the order.Venue and ConditionsThe semifinal will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, where Australia has played just one match so far. The average first-innings score at the venue is 126, suggesting that a low-scoring affair could be on the cards.Head-to-Head RecordSouth Africa has a poor record against Australia in T20Is, having won just one of their 10 previous encounters. However, they will be hoping to break that trend and reach the final for the second time in a row.

England's batting maestro Joe Root has ascended to new heights in the ICC Men's Test Batter Rankings, reaching a career-best rating of 932 points. This remarkable achievement places him among the all-time greats, with only 16 players in Test cricket history surpassing this mark.Root's exceptional knock of 262 in England's emphatic victory over Pakistan in the first Test in Multan propelled him to this milestone. His dominant performance has extended his lead at the top of the rankings by over 100 points, with teammate Harry Brook joining New Zealand's Kane Williamson in second place.Brook's meteoric rise is a testament to his extraordinary triple-century in the same match, where he and Root forged a record-breaking 454-run partnership for the fourth wicket. England's Ben Duckett also made significant progress, moving up five spots to 14th in the rankings after his composed 84 against Pakistan.For Pakistan, Salman Agha and captain Shan Masood made notable gains. Agha jumped 11 places to 22nd, while Masood climbed 12 places to share 51st.On the bowling front, England's Gus Atkinson and Jack Leach benefited from their wicket-taking performances, moving up to 23rd and 28th respectively. Root's versatility was recognized as he ascended to third in the Test all-rounder rankings.The T20I rankings also witnessed significant changes following India's home series against Bangladesh and the opening matches of West Indies' clash with Sri Lanka. West Indies opener Brandon King surged to eighth in the T20I batter rankings, while Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka moved up to 12th.Among T20I bowlers, West Indies spinner Gudakesh Motie jumped to second place, trailing only England's Adil Rashid. Sri Lanka's Maheesh Theekshana climbed five spots to reach fifth, while India's Ravi Bishnoi moved up to eighth. Bangladesh's Taskin Ahmed made a significant leap, landing at 19th on the T20I bowling list.

Shakib Al Hasan, the legendary Bangladeshi all-rounder, is set to bid farewell to Test cricket on home soil in the upcoming series against South Africa. The first Test, commencing on Monday, will mark Shakib's final appearance in the longest format before his adoring home crowd.Shakib's decision to retire from Tests was prompted by his desire to focus on limited-overs cricket and spend more time with his family. However, he expressed his wish to play his final Test at home, a request that was initially met with uncertainty due to security concerns.The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had initially declined Shakib's request, citing its inability to guarantee his safety. However, following a change in leadership at the BCB, the board has now agreed to provide security for Shakib, paving the way for his farewell appearance.Shakib's return to the Bangladesh Test team comes after a period of controversy. He was accused of involvement in the murder of a student, but the veteran all-rounder was in Canada playing in a T20 league at the time of the incident.Despite the allegations, Shakib has issued an unconditional apology for his silence during the civil unrest in Bangladesh, which led to the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He expressed his respect for the students who sacrificed their lives and apologized to those who were hurt by his silence.Shakib's farewell Test will be an emotional occasion for both the player and the Bangladesh cricket fans. He has been a cornerstone of the Bangladesh Test team for over a decade, amassing over 6,000 runs and 235 wickets. His all-round abilities have played a pivotal role in Bangladesh's rise as a competitive Test nation.In his farewell message to the fans, Shakib expressed his gratitude for their support and his desire to end his Test career on a high note. He invited the fans to join him in this special moment and thanked them for their unwavering belief in him.Following the two-Test series against South Africa, Bangladesh will depart for the UAE to face Afghanistan in a three-match series. Shakib, who is also a key member of the ODI side, will be part of the squad that will travel to the UAE, marking his departure from Bangladesh.

England's promising start in the second Test against Pakistan was abruptly halted by the brilliance of Sajid Khan, whose incisive off-spin triggered a rapid batting collapse. After reaching a comfortable position of 211/2, England lost four wickets for a mere 14 runs, leaving them reeling at 225/6 at the end of Day 2 in Multan.Sajid's exceptional bowling performance proved pivotal, seizing control for Pakistan at a crucial juncture. The collapse began with the dismissal of England's talisman, Joe Root, who had looked settled until Sajid deceived him with a well-flighted delivery. Root's attempted sweep resulted in an inside edge onto his boot, sending the ball rolling into the stumps.Sajid's next victim was Ben Duckett, who had earlier anchored the innings with a fluent 114. Despite surviving multiple close calls, Duckett eventually succumbed to Sajid's persistent pressure. An aggressive drive off a full-length delivery found a thick outside edge, which Agha Salman at first slip gratefully accepted.With Duckett's departure, England's batting order crumbled. Harry Brook was bowled trying to punch a spinning delivery off the back foot, misjudging the sharp turn and allowing the ball to crash through the gap between bat and pad.England's woes were compounded by Noman Ali, who dismissed captain Ben Stokes for a mere 1. Stokes failed to adjust to Noman's turn, edging a defensive push onto his pad, which Abdullah Shafique at short leg completed with an outstanding diving catch.From a position of strength at 211/2, England were now in deep trouble at 225/6, leaving Jamie Smith and Brydon Carse to steady the ship before stumps. However, the pair managed to stabilize the innings and guided England to 239/6 by the end of the day.Sajid Khan finished the day with figures of 4/86, his devastating spell turning the match on its head. With Pakistan's bowlers firing on all cylinders and England trailing by 127 runs, Day 3 promises to be a pivotal chapter in this thrilling Test series at Multan.

Sunrisers Hyderabad Retain Klaasen, Cummins, and Sharma Ahead of IPL 2025Sunrisers Hyderabad has made its first three retentions ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, with South African power-hitter Heinrich Klaasen topping the list. According to ESPNcricinfo, Klaasen will receive INR 23 crore as the franchise's highest-paid retained player.Australian allrounder Pat Cummins, who captained Sunrisers in 2024, has been retained for INR 18 crore, while Indian allrounder Abhishek Sharma has been retained for INR 14 crore.Klaasen had a stellar IPL 2024 season, amassing 479 runs in 15 innings at a strike rate of 171.07. He was Sunrisers' second-highest scorer behind Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma. Sharma, who had the highest strike rate among the top-ten run-scorers last season, scored 484 runs in 16 innings with a strike rate of 204.21.Cummins led Sunrisers to the IPL 2024 final, where they narrowly lost to Kolkata Knight Riders. His leadership and all-round abilities were crucial to the team's success.Sunrisers are also expected to retain Travis Head and Nitish Kumar Reddy soon. The IPL has set October 31 as the deadline for retentions ahead of the mega auction.The retentions of Klaasen, Cummins, and Sharma signal Sunrisers' intent to build a strong team for IPL 2025. Klaasen's power-hitting and Sharma's all-round abilities will provide the team with a solid foundation, while Cummins' leadership and experience will be invaluable.

Former India captain Anil Kumble has opined that KL Rahul should open the batting for India in the first Test of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia if Rohit Sharma is unavailable due to personal reasons. Kumble believes that Rahul's adaptability and experience make him the ideal candidate for the role, while Shubman Gill should continue to excel at the No. 3 position.Kumble suggests that Yashasvi Jaiswal could partner Rahul at the top of the order, maintaining a balanced batting lineup. He emphasizes Gill's versatility and ability to adapt to different batting positions, including his successful stint as an opener in the past.Kumble acknowledges that Gill's batting style differs from traditional No. 3 stalwarts like Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara, but believes that his dynamic strokeplay and adaptability could provide India with an edge in challenging Australian conditions.The former India head coach notes that the No. 3 batsman often faces the new ball and must control the first session of play. He believes that Gill has the ability to fulfill this role effectively, ensuring that the middle-order batsmen can come in later and score runs comfortably.Kumble emphasizes that Gill may need to adjust his approach based on the conditions in Australia, but he has the ability to do so. He believes that India can benefit from Gill's adaptability and versatility in the upcoming series.

Former Indian cricketer Hemang Badani has emerged as a potential candidate for the head coach position at Delhi Capitals (DC), while Munaf Patel is being considered for a role in the support staff. The franchise recently parted ways with Australian legend Ricky Ponting due to scheduling conflicts.DC is reportedly seeking experienced domestic coaches, and Badani and Patel's names have been shortlisted. Badani, a former left-handed batsman, has previously worked with Brian Lara at Sunrisers Hyderabad. If appointed, it would be a significant opportunity for him.Patel, a former pacer, could potentially join the support staff as bowling coach. The franchise is expected to retain three players: captain Rishabh Pant, all-rounder Axar Patel, and left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav.With a retention budget of Rs 75 crore, DC may use Right To Match (RTM) cards to acquire Jake-Fraser McGurk and Tristan Stubbs, two key foreign contributors.Badani's potential appointment as head coach could indicate a shift in management, with GMR taking over the reins for the next two years. The co-owners have an agreement to alternate micro-management of the team.Badani, who played four Tests and 40 ODIs for India, will be tasked with guiding DC to its first IPL title. The franchise has reached the final only once, in 2020, but lost to Mumbai Indians.

Harry Brook's remarkable ascent in Test cricket continues unabated, with the 25-year-old England batter now occupying the coveted second spot in the ICC Test batting rankings. Brook's meteoric rise has been fueled by a jaw-dropping triple century against Pakistan in the first Test in Multan, propelling him eleven places up the ladder.In the process, Brook has leapfrogged Indian batting legend Virat Kohli, who has slipped one spot to seventh in the latest rankings. Brook's stunning performances have solidified his status as one of the most exciting batters in the Test arena. His triple hundred not only dismantled Pakistan's bowling attack to give England a 1-0 lead in the ongoing series but also underlined his potential to become one of the modern greats.Brook's rise has been mirrored by his England teammate Joe Root, who has achieved a new career-high rating of 932 points, further cementing his legacy. Root's remarkable innings of 262 in the first Test against Pakistan in Multan propelled him further ahead at the top of the ICC Test batting rankings. This new rating of 932 points surpasses his previous best of 923 and places him among an elite group of only 16 players in the history of Test cricket to achieve a rating above 932.The all-time best Test batting rankings remain led by Don Bradman, whose 961 points remain unmatched. Others in the top tier include Steve Smith (947), Ricky Ponting (942), and Virat Kohli (937). With his new rating, Root now joins legends such as Mohammad Yousuf (933) and Kumar Sangakkara (938) in this exclusive club.Brook and Root's record-breaking 454-run partnership for the fourth wicket against Pakistan was pivotal in England's emphatic victory, marking one of the most dominant displays in recent Test cricket. Their partnership showcased their exceptional batting skills and highlighted the depth of England's batting lineup.As England continues its tour of Pakistan, all eyes will be on Brook and Root to see if they can maintain their remarkable form. With their talent and determination, they have the potential to lead England to further success and cement their place among the all-time greats of the game.

Joe Root, the 33-year-old Yorkshireman, has etched his name in the annals of English cricket history by surpassing Alastair Cook's record tally of 12,472 runs during the first Test match against Pakistan. Root's remarkable innings of 262 runs propelled him past Cook's previous milestone, solidifying his status as one of the greatest batsmen of his generation.Cook, who recently retired from international cricket, was inducted into the ICC's Hall of Fame and hailed Root's exceptional talent. According to Cook, Root is a "generational talent" who has the potential to become the first batter in history to amass 16,000 Test runs.Currently, Root occupies the fifth position on the all-time list of run-scorers, trailing behind retired legends such as Sachin Tendulkar, who holds the top spot with 15,921 runs, followed by Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, and Rahul Dravid. As Root continues to showcase his remarkable skills and consistency on the cricket field, the cricketing world eagerly anticipates his future achievements and the possibility of him etching his name in the record books as the most prolific run-scorer in Test cricket history."I think Joe Root could set a mark, certainly on the English side, which will be very hard to beat," said Cook, who retired from Test cricket in 2018 with a century in his final innings. "But you just never know. I hope he can get very close, if not be the first person to score 16,000 Test runs. It would be a great achievement but it's a fair way off yet."Cook also expressed his thoughts on the longevity of cricket records in the modern era. At 39 years old, he acknowledged the rapid evolution of the sport, particularly with the increasing popularity of limited-overs formats vying for space in the cricketing calendar alongside the traditional Test matches."Everyone looked to that Tendulkar record of 200 Test matches and I think quite a few people said, 'Well, that's never going to be done'." "And you've got a fast bowler who has played 188 Test matches and taken more than 700 wickets (retired England quick James Anderson)." "So I know the game is changing, the landscape is changing. But something always crops up, someone always does."