Cricket

Pakistan's confidence is soaring as they prepare for the decisive third ODI against Australia at the Optus Stadium in Perth. The visitors have been in scintillating form, led by the fiery bowling of Haris Rauf, who has claimed eight wickets in the series so far.Pakistan's victory in the second ODI in Adelaide was a clinical display of pace bowling and aggressive batting. Saim Ayub, the young opener, played a key role in the win, treating Australia's frontline attack with disdain.Australia, on the other hand, will be without several key players, including Pat Cummins, Steven Smith, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Marnus Labuschagne, who are preparing for the upcoming Test series against India. Josh Inglis will captain Australia for the first time, facing the daunting task of galvanizing a new-look team.The Optus Stadium is expected to provide a fast and bouncy surface, which should suit Pakistan's pace attack. Rauf, in particular, will be looking to exploit the extra bounce and continue his impressive form.Pakistan's batting has also been in good touch, with Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan providing stability at the top of the order. Kamran Ghulam and Salman Agha have also made valuable contributions.Australia's batting has been a concern, with openers Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk struggling for form. Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis will need to step up and provide some much-needed runs.The series has taken on added significance ahead of the upcoming Champions Trophy in Pakistan. Both teams will be eager to gain momentum and confidence before the tournament.

Prasidh Krishna's Double-Wicket Maiden Over Stuns Australia AIn a remarkable display of pace and accuracy, Indian speedster Prasidh Krishna claimed two wickets in consecutive balls in the opening over of the India A vs Australia A match in Melbourne on Saturday. The fiery pacer dismissed Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft for golden ducks, sending shockwaves through the Australian camp.Krishna's first victim was Harris, who was caught behind by wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel after the ball swung in and took the inside edge of his bat. Bancroft, who came in next, was greeted with a toe-crusher that crashed into his stumps.The double-wicket maiden over put Australia A on the back foot in their chase of 168. However, Nathan McSweeney and Sam Konstas steadied the ship with a solid partnership in the third session.Earlier, India A had posted 229 all out in their second innings, thanks to a solid 68-run knock from Jurel and contributions from the lower-order batters.Krishna's performance was a testament to his growing maturity and skill as a fast bowler. The 26-year-old has been in impressive form in recent months, and his performance against Australia A will only boost his confidence ahead of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Gautam Gambhir's tenure as Team India's head coach has hit a roadblock, with the team suffering a series loss in Sri Lanka and a clean sweep at home against New Zealand in Tests. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly considering a change in leadership if India fails to perform in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.Gambhir's appointment as head coach came after a successful stint with Kolkata Knight Riders, where he led the team to a title victory. However, his tenure with the national team has been marked by disappointing results. The ODI series loss in Sri Lanka was followed by a humiliating 0-3 defeat against New Zealand in the Test series at home.The BCCI is reportedly considering replacing Gambhir as Test coach with a specialist like VVS Laxman, while retaining him for white-ball cricket. This decision would be based on India's performance in Australia.According to reports, Gambhir and the team's think-tank have had disagreements over team selection and other decisions. These differences have reportedly created a rift within the team, which could impact their performance in the upcoming series.Gambhir recently met with BCCI selection committee chief Ajit Agarkar and India's ODI and Test skipper Rohit Sharma to discuss the team's recent performances. The meeting reportedly focused on the factors that contributed to the Test series loss against New Zealand.The Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia will be a crucial test for Gambhir's future as Test coach. If India fails to perform, the BCCI may be forced to make a change in leadership.

With India's upcoming five-match Test series against Australia looming, the form of star batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli has become a major talking point. The duo's recent struggles have raised concerns after India's embarrassing 0-3 whitewash at home to New Zealand.Rohit managed a mere 91 runs in six innings, while Kohli fared slightly better with 93 runs as India suffered a humiliating defeat. These poor performances have sparked calls for the duo to be dropped from the Test squad.However, former Australia captain Michael Clarke believes Rohit and Kohli's recent slump is primarily due to mental fatigue, evident in their shot selection."Take nothing away from New Zealand, but it tells me India are so fatigued. Some of their shot selection, the use of bowlers, and even Rohit coming out and saying he wasn't at his best - I just think it was mental fatigue. They've played so much cricket without a break, but it'll be a little kick up the backside for them," Clarke said on ESPN's Around the Wicket Podcast.Clarke expressed confidence that Rohit and Kohli can regain their form if they arrive in Australia refreshed."They know they've played well out here in Australia, and they'll still come here with plenty of talent and that self-belief, but hopefully fresh. That's the key for the Indian players. Virat Kohli - you can't be that good for such a long period of time and just turn the tap off. So once he freshens up, and Rohit Sharma the same, you'll see the best of them," he added.Meanwhile, India captain Rohit is likely to miss the first Test against Australia, scheduled to be played in Perth from November 22.India's squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy:* Rohit Sharma (C)* Jasprit Bumrah (VC)* Yashasvi Jaiswal* Abhimanyu Easwaran* Shubman Gill* Virat Kohli* KL Rahul* Rishabh Pant (WK)* Sarfaraz Khan* Dhruv Jurel (WK)* R Ashwin* R Jadeja* Mohd. Siraj* Akash Deep* Prasidh Krishna* Harshit Rana* Nitish Kumar Reddy* Washington SundarReserves:* Mukesh Kumar* Navdeep Saini* Khaleel Ahmed

Dhruv Jurel's Gritty Half-Century Rescues India A in Second Unofficial TestAt the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, young wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel once again showcased his impressive form in the ongoing second unofficial Test between India A and Australia A. Jurel's crucial knock of 68 off 122 balls helped India A post a challenging target of 168 for Australia A.After trailing by 62 runs in the first innings, India A's top-order faltered in their second innings, losing half of their side for a mere 56 runs. However, Jurel, the 23-year-old keeper-batter, stood firm, anchoring the innings with a composed half-century.Jurel's resilience and determination were evident as he forged a crucial 94-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Nitish Reddy, who contributed 38 runs. This partnership stabilized India A's innings and gave them a much-needed boost.Jurel's back-to-back fifties have been a timely reminder of his excellent form ahead of the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy, set to commence on November 22. His contributions with the bat have been vital in what has been a low-scoring contest dominated by the bowlers at the MCG.The lower-order batters also stepped up in the second innings, with Tanush Kotian adding a valuable 44 and Prasidh Krishna chipping in with 29 to push India A's total past the 200-run mark. Their efforts ensured that India A set Australia A a competitive target of 168, which could prove difficult to chase on a pitch where bowlers have held the upper hand throughout the game.Jurel's gritty performance has not only rescued India A in this match but has also highlighted his potential as a reliable batsman in the upcoming Test series against Australia. His ability to play under pressure and contribute with the bat will be crucial for India's success in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

India-South Africa T20I Opener Heats Up with On-Field AltercationDuring the opening match of the T20I series between India and South Africa in Durban, a heated exchange of words erupted between India skipper Suryakumar Yadav and Proteas quick Marco Jansen. The incident occurred in the 15th over of South Africa's chase when Jansen objected to Indian wicketkeeper Sanju Samson collecting a throw on the pitch.Jansen's objection stemmed from his belief that Samson had collected the ball unfairly. The Indian skipper, Yadav, intervened and engaged in an animated conversation with Jansen and fellow Proteas batter Gerald Coetzee. The on-field umpire promptly intervened to separate the players from both teams.The altercation did not end there. As Yadav walked back to his position, he continued to exchange words with Coetzee. The tension on the field was palpable, but the situation was eventually defused.Later in the same over, Jansen was dismissed by Ravi Bishnoi for 12 runs on the final delivery. India went on to secure a convincing 61-run victory, thanks to a blistering century from Samson (107 off 50 balls) and impressive performances from spinners Varun Chakaravarthy and Bishnoi.The victory marked India's first in a T20I match at Kingsmead, Durban, and gave them a 1-0 lead in the four-match series. Despite the on-field altercation, the match was played in a competitive spirit, with both teams showcasing their skills and determination.

Pakistan all-rounder Kamran Ghulam expressed his disappointment over not receiving his debut cap during the first ODI against Australia in Melbourne. Ghulam, who made a century on his Test debut last month, was part of the playing XI at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Monday, where Pakistan narrowly lost the series opener.Prior to his Test debut against England last month, where he replaced star batter Babar Azam, Ghulam had only played one international match. He made his ODI debut as a concussion substitute against New Zealand in Karachi on January 13, 2023, but did not get to bat or bowl.In a video shared by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Ghulam recalled the events leading up to the first ODI in Melbourne. He revealed that Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan informed him that he would not be receiving a cap as he had already made his ODI debut last year."I was eagerly waiting, hoping that I'd get my debut ODI cap. But, Rizwan told me that 'you've already made your debut, so you won't be getting a cap'. My debut was in a concussion situation, but I was neither a bowler nor a batter. Haris Sohail had a concussion, although he went on to bat after that. I fielded for 50 overs," Ghulam said.Meanwhile, Pakistan named an unchanged side for the second ODI in Adelaide, with fast bowler Naseem Shah declared fit after leaving the field during the first match with a cramp. Australia made one change, bringing in veteran Josh Hazlewood in place of Sean Abbott to join Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc.Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short opened the batting for Australia in the absence of Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head. They will be keen to make an impact after falling cheaply in the opening match.

Former Indian cricket team spinner Harbhajan Singh has expressed his disappointment over the selection committee's decision to overlook Ranji Trophy record-holder Jalaj Saxena for the India A team. Saxena, who has played in the domestic circuit for 17 years, holds the unique distinction of being the only player to have 400 wickets and 6000 runs to his name in Ranji Trophy history.In response to a tweet mentioning Saxena's record, Harbhajan questioned the relevance of domestic tournaments in the current scenario where players are being picked from the Indian Premier League (IPL). "Agree with you. He should be considered at least for India A. Useless of playing Ranji now? People are getting picked from IPL," Harbhajan replied.Harbhajan's comments come in the wake of India's disappointing 3-0 series defeat against New Zealand at home. The former cricketer said that it was a disappointing result for the Rohit Sharma-led side, especially considering the expectations before the series."This entire series has been quite disappointing for all of us. When New Zealand came here, the expectation was that the result would be 3-0 and India would win the series. I can only say that they outplayed us and they took advantage of those conditions," Harbhajan told ANI.Harbhajan praised New Zealand for their performance, saying that they outplayed India and took advantage of the conditions. He also highlighted the importance of playing to one's strengths and adapting to different conditions."New Zealand played to their strengths. They knew that they had a good spin attack and they used it to their advantage. They also adapted to the conditions very well," Harbhajan said.Harbhajan's comments have sparked a debate about the importance of domestic tournaments and the role of the IPL in player selection. It remains to be seen whether the selection committee will reconsider their decision and include Saxena in the India A team for the upcoming matches against Australia A.

The uncertainty surrounding Team India's participation in the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan next year continues to linger. Reports indicate that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has informed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of its reluctance to send the Indian team to Pakistan for the tournament.BCCI has reportedly expressed its preference for playing its matches in Dubai, a more neutral venue. However, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi has denied receiving any formal communication from BCCI regarding this matter.The International Cricket Council (ICC) has not set a deadline for declaring the tournament fixtures, but typically announces these details at least three months in advance. BCCI had previously delayed announcing the ODI World Cup fixtures last year due to PCB's objection to playing in Ahmedabad.As per standard practice, BCCI must obtain clearance from the Indian government before making any decision on the team's travel to Pakistan. A BCCI source confirmed that the board's stance remains unchanged and that it will not make any decision without government approval.The recent visit of India's Minister of External Affairs, S Jaishankar, to Pakistan had raised hopes that India might agree to play in Pakistan. However, it is understood that BCCI has consulted with the Indian team management and decided on Dubai as the preferred venue.PCB had previously agreed to a hybrid model for the Asia Cup in 2023, with India playing all their matches in Sri Lanka. Pakistan also agreed to play India in Ahmedabad during the ODI World Cup.If BCCI's stance remains unchanged, PCB may have to escalate the matter to the ICC, where BCCI secretary Jay Shah, who will assume the role of ICC chairman on December 1, will have to make a decision.Sources indicate that BCCI wants a decision on this issue before Shah takes charge as ICC chairman. If PCB agrees to the hybrid model, it will be interesting to see which venue the ICC suggests for the final.PCB had reportedly proposed the idea of the Indian team setting up a base in Chandigarh and traveling to Lahore only on match days. However, this idea is considered logistically challenging.