Author: Waqar Anwar
South Africa is all set to host England for an exciting cricket series, featuring both T20I and ODI matches. In preparation, South Africa Women’s team has announced their squads for both formats. This series is an excellent opportunity to introduce fresh talent and expand the team’s player pool, especially for the shorter T20 format. Key Highlights of the Squad Selection The experienced fast-bowling pair, Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka, will sit out the T20I series. This decision gives South Africa a chance to test new players in the T20 format. Both Kapp and Khaka will return for the ODI series,…
Gambhir Hopes for Rohit’s Availability India’s opening batsman and captain, Rohit Sharma, is uncertain for the first Test against Australia in Perth. Gautam Gambhir, India’s coach, expressed hope that Rohit will be available, but he’s prepared with backup options if Rohit cannot play. In a press conference in Mumbai, Gambhir shared, “We hope Rohit will be available, but we’ll confirm as we get closer to the series.” Backup Options if Rohit Misses Out If Rohit doesn’t make it, Gambhir is considering KL Rahul, Abhimanyu Easwaran, or even Shubman Gill to open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. Gambhir mentioned that Jasprit Bumrah, as…
Background The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is in a challenging situation regarding its hosting of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy in February 2025. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially notified the ICC that India will not send its team to Pakistan for the tournament. As a response, the PCB has approached Pakistan’s government for guidance on how to move forward. PCB’s Firm Stance on Hosting This will be the first ICC event hosted in Pakistan since 1996, and the PCB has taken a strong position on hosting all matches within the country. PCB Chairman Mohsin…
Big Picture: Pakistan Confident, Australia Shorthanded Australian pitches have often been a challenging terrain for Pakistan, but with fast bowler Haris Rauf’s fiery performance, they are on the brink of a rare series victory. Heading into Sunday’s decider at the Optus Stadium, Pakistan is brimming with confidence after a commanding nine-wicket win in Adelaide. While it’s always risky to be overly optimistic about a team as unpredictable as Pakistan, they enter the final ODI in Perth as favorites. They arguably should have secured the series earlier, if not for Pat Cummins’ late-game heroics in Melbourne. Pakistan bounced back strongly in…
Background and PCB’s Stance on Hosting The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), led by chairman Mohsin Naqvi, has firmly stated its intention to host the entire Champions Trophy in Pakistan, dismissing the idea of a hybrid hosting model. During a media briefing at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, which is being renovated for the tournament, Naqvi clarified that no official objection from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding India’s participation in Pakistan had been received. Addressing Media Speculation For the past few months, Indian media has speculated that India may refuse to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy,…
Overview of the Series and Pitch Ratings The International Cricket Council (ICC) has given a “satisfactory” rating to the pitches used in the recent Pakistan-England Test series. Pakistan emerged victorious with a 2-1 win in the three-Test series. However, the series attracted significant attention, mainly due to the nature of the pitches prepared in Multan and Rawalpindi. First Test: A Batting Paradise in Multan The first Test in Multan was played on an extremely flat surface, providing little assistance to bowlers. This resulted in massive scores from both teams. Pakistan posted an impressive 556 runs, but England topped it with…
Can South Africa Make a Comeback on Home Soil? Cricket fans, get ready for an exciting showdown! South Africa and India are set to face off in a four-match T20 series. Their last clash was in the 2024 T20 World Cup final, where India pulled off a stunning win despite South Africa needing only 30 runs off the last 30 balls with six wickets in hand. The Indian team, led by standout players like Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, managed to turn the game around, leaving South African fans heartbroken. But this series will be a bit different. Several key…
Changes in the T20I Squad The T20I squad sees a notable absence: Alice Capsey, a young talent who struggled for form during the recent World Cup. Capsey’s exclusion follows a tough few matches where she managed only 19 runs across three World Cup innings. Since then, her struggles have continued in Australia’s Big Bash League, making it a challenging period for the 19-year-old all-rounder. Replacing her, Paige Scholfield and fast bowler Lauren Filer join the T20I team. Scholfield made her England debut in Ireland, while Filer missed the World Cup but now steps into all three formats for the South…
Recent Performances: Harris’s Consistency Shines At 32, Harris showcased his grit by scoring 74 runs under tough conditions, where most other Australian players struggled, with the next highest score coming in at just 35. He was Australia A’s only player to open the batting in both matches against India A, providing stability at the crease alongside different partners. Australia’s selectors, including Chairman George Bailey, observed his performance closely, yet have not confirmed the final Test squad lineup. However, Harris appears to be in the lead among contenders for the opening spot, with the possibility of also including Nathan McSweeney in…
When and Where is the IPL 2025 Auction? The IPL 2025 auction will be held on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This is only the second time an IPL auction will be conducted outside India—the last one was in Dubai in 2024. Note that this auction coincides with the third and fourth days of the Australia vs India Test in Perth. Why is it Called a ‘Mega Auction’? Every three years, the IPL holds a mega auction, giving franchises a chance to reset their teams. In this auction, teams can retain only up to six players; the…