Cricket

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that the Indian cricket team will not travel to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy. This decision stems from advice received from the Indian government, which has advised against sending the team to Pakistan due to security concerns.The Champions Trophy, an eight-team tournament, is scheduled to be held in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9, 2025. However, the BCCI's decision has forced the ICC and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to consider contingency plans.One possible solution is a hybrid model, where teams would play matches in Pakistan and a second venue. However, the PCB has previously ruled out this option. ESPNcricinfo understands that contingency plans were drawn up months ago in anticipation of such a scenario.The UAE and Sri Lanka are potential candidates to host matches alongside Pakistan. The ICC has been informed of the BCCI's stance, but it remains unclear whether the decision has been communicated in writing. The PCB has stated that it will need written confirmation before discussing the matter with the government.The BCCI's decision is based on the strained political relations between India and Pakistan. India has not toured Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup, despite Pakistan playing several ICC events in India, including the 2023 World Cup. The two sides have only played one bilateral series since then, a white-ball tour by Pakistan in 2012-13.The Champions Trophy will feature eight teams divided into two groups of four. The competing teams are Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa. The schedule and ticketing details for the tournament have yet to be announced.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction is poised to witness a bidding frenzy for some of India's most sought-after cricketers. Among them, Rishabh Pant stands out as a potential record-breaker, according to former India cricketer Aakash Chopra.Pant, who was not retained by the Delhi Capitals, is expected to command a massive paycheck at the auction. Chopra believes that the wicket-keeper batter could surpass the current record of Rs 24.5 crore, set by Mitchell Starc in the IPL 2024 auction."Rishabh Pant could still become the most expensive player in the history of the IPL," Chopra said on his YouTube channel. "He could go even beyond Rs 25-26 crore."Pant's impressive performances in the T20 World Cup 2024 and Test cricket have solidified his status as one of India's most valuable players. Several teams, including the Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, are expected to engage in a bidding war for his services."I can see three teams going absolutely hammer and tongs for him," Chopra predicted. "One has Rs 110 cr (PBKS), one has Rs 83 cr (RCB). They'll fight each other and a lot of money will be spent."While the Delhi Capitals have the third-highest auction purse, it is unlikely they will use their Right to Match (RTM) card on Pant. The franchise has already retained several key players, including David Warner and Prithvi Shaw.Pant's availability during the auction is uncertain as he is expected to be playing in the first Test between India and Australia, which clashes with the auction dates. However, his absence is unlikely to deter potential bidders.The IPL 2025 mega auction promises to be a thrilling event, with several other top players, including Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Hardik Pandya, also set to go under the hammer. The auction will take place in Jeddah on November 24 and November 25.

Sanju Samson's T20 Heroics Earn Praise from Pakistan's Ahmad ShahzadIndian wicket-keeper batter Sanju Samson's scintillating performance in the first T20I against South Africa has garnered widespread admiration, including from Pakistan's Ahmad Shahzad. Shahzad, a former Pakistani opener, took to his YouTube channel to express his awe at Samson's match-winning knock.Samson's blistering innings of 107 runs off just 50 balls, featuring 10 towering sixes and seven boundaries, left an indelible mark on the match. His relentless aggression kept the South African bowlers at bay, with Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee struggling to contain his onslaught.Shahzad was particularly impressed by Samson's consistency, highlighting his consecutive centuries in international matches. "Scoring two consecutive centuries in international matches is no small feat," Shahzad remarked. "If it were that easy, everyone would be doing it. But Sanju has set this record for himself, and that's a huge deal for his career."The Pakistani batter believes that Samson's recent performances warrant greater recognition and regular opportunities. "He now deserves all the respect from India," Shahzad asserted. "Scoring two centuries in two matches is not easy, and by doing it, he's pretty much saying, 'Kyun hila dala na (Hey, ain't you surprised?)'"Samson's innings propelled India to a commanding 61-run victory in the opening T20I. South Africa, chasing a daunting target of 203, were unable to match India's firepower, managing only 141 all out in under 18 overs.Samson's record-breaking knock has placed him among the elite in T20I cricket. He joins the likes of Gustav McKeon, Rilee Rossouw, and Phil Salt as players to have scored consecutive hundreds in the format. Additionally, with his three 50+ scores, Samson now stands alongside top Indian wicket-keepers in T20 history, outpacing even MS Dhoni and Rishabh Pant in this regard.As India prepare for the second T20I against South Africa on Sunday, Samson's performance has raised expectations and cemented his status as a key player in the team's T20 setup.

Bangladesh, seeking to level the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan, won the toss and elected to bat first in the second ODI in Sharjah. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto made two changes to the side that lost the first game, with one being a forced move.Mushfiqur Rahim, ruled out of the series due to a finger fracture, was replaced by debutant Jaker Ali. Left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed came in for legspinner Rishad Hossain in the other change.Afghanistan, on the other hand, fielded the same team that gave them a 1-0 lead in the series.Jaker Ali, despite making his ODI debut, has extensive experience in T20Is and Tests for Bangladesh. He has played 93 List A games, averaging 35.75 with two centuries and 12 half-centuries.Afghanistan won the first ODI by a comfortable margin of 92 runs, putting Bangladesh in a must-win situation in the second game to keep the series alive.

Local Melbourne Renegades player Charis Bekker has made a remarkable transition from the pub to the center stage of the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL), playing a pivotal role in her team's 15-run victory over arch-rivals Melbourne Stars.Bekker, a 20-year-old spinner, was called into the Renegades squad as a replacement for injured spinner Sophie Molineux. Despite her limited experience, she showed no signs of nerves in the high-pressure Melbourne derby.In her four overs, Bekker conceded only nine runs and picked up the crucial wicket of superstar batter Meg Lanning. Her miserly bowling figures earned her the player of the match award."It's been a bit of a whirlwind," Bekker said after the match. "I was at the pub a couple of days ago with my mates, and then got the call [to join the squad]. I played against the Scorchers which was really cool. And then hopped on a flight. It's been really rushed."Bekker's maiden WBBL wicket was none other than Lanning, one of the most decorated batters in the world. "Everyone was cheering me on, I was just trying to bowl my best ball, and it happened to be Meg Lanning, which was kind of awesome," Bekker said.Deepti Sharma top-scored for the Stars with 23, while Georgia Wareham claimed the key wicket of captain Annabel Sutherland for 16. The result improved the Renegades' record to 3-3, while the Stars are now 2-3.Earlier, the Renegades were struggling at 87 for 5 before Naomi Stalenberg (26 not out off 17 balls) and Nicole Faltum (29 off 23) added some handy runs to lift the total to 146 for 6.The Renegades were 54 for 2 after 10 overs when they took the power surge. Although Deandra Dottin fell for 7 shortly after, the Renegades cracked 29 runs off the two overs. Alice Capsey and Wareham fell in quick succession before Stalenberg and Faltum steadied the ship with a 55-run stand.The Stars' run chase started slowly with the scoreboard reading 16 for 1 after five overs. Bhatia was lucky to still be there after being dropped by wicketkeeper Faltum in the first over when she was yet to score. The opener scored 22 off 26 balls, but the rest of her team-mates struggled for fluency as the required run rate ballooned out.

Rohit Sharma's Availability for Border-Gavaskar Trophy Opener Remains UncertainIndian cricket captain Rohit Sharma's participation in the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in Perth remains in doubt. Rohit himself had expressed uncertainty about his availability due to a "personal reason," but recent reports suggest that he may travel to Australia with the first batch of players on November 10.While Rohit's presence in Australia does not guarantee his participation in the Perth Test, it indicates a potential change in his stance. Rumors have circulated that Rohit and his wife Ritika Sajdeh are expecting their second child, which could be the reason for his initial request for time off.According to India Today, Rohit will fly to Australia with the first group of players on Sunday, while the second batch will depart on Monday. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had to divide the team into two batches due to limited availability on commercial flights.However, Rohit's participation in the opening match is still subject to his personal situation. He could potentially return home before the match begins. Nevertheless, it appears that Rohit is keen on giving himself a chance to play."He is traveling but his participation in the 1st Test is yet not confirmed. Will see what happens next anything in regards to this. His availability is subject to his personal matter," an India Today source said.After the conclusion of the New Zealand Test series, Rohit had expressed uncertainty about his availability for the Perth match. "I am not sure of my availability for the first Test in Perth, Fingers Crossed," he had said.Rohit recently participated in a six-hour meeting with BCCI selection committee chief Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir. The meeting covered various topics, including the reasons for India's 0-3 defeat against New Zealand.

Rajasthan Royals' (RR) decision to release star players Jos Buttler and Yuzvendra Chahal ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. The duo played a pivotal role in RR's recent success, reaching the playoffs twice in three years, including the final in 2022.Buttler, the 'Most Valuable Player' of the 2022 season, amassed 863 runs with four centuries. Despite a less consistent 2024, he still managed to score two more hundreds. Chahal, on the other hand, is not only RR's highest wicket-taker in the past three seasons but also the highest wicket-taker in IPL history. He has scalped 27 wickets in 2022 and has picked up 18 or more wickets in every season since 2019.Chahal took to social media to express his gratitude towards Buttler, calling him "Jos bhai" and sharing a video of their shared moments. "In 2022, I knew him as Jos Buttler. In 2024, he's my Jos bhai," wrote Chahal. "Loved every day being around you and only a few people know what you've done for me. Thank you for always standing by me."RR's decision to release Buttler and Chahal has raised questions about their strategy for the upcoming auction. With a budget of just Rs 41 crore, the lowest among all teams, RR will have to make some shrewd decisions to fill the void left by these two stars.The Royals have appointed Rahul Dravid as their new head coach, who recently led India to victory in the T20 World Cup 2024. Dravid's experience and tactical acumen will be crucial as RR looks to rebuild their squad and challenge for the IPL title once again.

Afghanistan and Bangladesh will face off in the second ODI of their three-match series in Sharjah on Monday, November 9. Afghanistan holds a 1-0 lead after a convincing victory in the series opener.In the first ODI, Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi played a crucial role with an impressive 82, helping his team post a competitive total. Allah Ghazanfar then starred with the ball, claiming six wickets to secure a 92-run victory.Ahead of the second ODI, Nabi announced his retirement from the ODI format after the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan next year. Meanwhile, Bangladesh has suffered a setback with the loss of Mushfiqur Rahim, who sustained a fracture on his left index finger in the series opener. He will miss the remaining ODIs.

Australia's opening batsman conundrum intensified on Saturday as teenager Sam Konstas staked his claim with an unbeaten 73, while his rivals faltered ahead of the first Test against India.Konstas, 19, seized his opportunity in the final match of the Australia A series against India A, guiding his team to a six-wicket victory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). His composed innings, which included seven fours and a six, came after a challenging start to the series, where he had managed only 16, 0, and 3 in his previous three innings.Konstas' resurgence reminded selectors of his potential, having impressed with consecutive centuries for New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield. However, his recent struggles for Australia A had raised doubts about his readiness to replace David Warner as Australia's opener.Meanwhile, Konstas' competitors failed to capitalize on their chances. Nathan McSweeney, who had emerged as a frontrunner with scores of 39 and an unbeaten 88 in the previous match, could only manage 14 and 25 at the MCG. Marcus Harris, hoping to add to his 14 Test caps, followed up his solid 74 on Friday by falling for a golden duck in the second innings. Cameron Bancroft, whose hopes of reviving his Test career were already fading after poor performances in Mackay, also suffered a golden duck.With the first of five Tests against India beginning on November 22 in Perth, Australia's selectors now face a difficult decision about who will open alongside Usman Khawaja. Konstas' strong performance has thrown a spanner in the works, while McSweeney, Harris, and Bancroft have failed to cement their positions.