Hashmatullah Shahidi will captain Afghanistan in their first ICC Champions Trophy, starting February 19. Key players include Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rashid Khan, and Mohammad Nabi. Spinner Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman will miss the tournament. Afghanistan's group matches are against South Africa, England, and Australia.
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India's women's U-19 team, led by Parunika Sisodia, began their World Cup title defense with a decisive nine-wicket win over the West Indies in Kuala Lumpur. The West Indies were dismissed for just 44 runs, with India achieving the target in 4.2 overs, reaching 47 for 1.
Australia's captain Pat Cummins defended his batters after a mini-collapse on day five of the rain-affected drawn third Test against India at the Gabba. Despite the scare, Cummins emphasized the team's focus on roles and situational play over individual stats. He praised debutant Nathan McSweeney's selfless approach despite a lean series so far.
Former batter Umar Akmal criticizes Babar Azam for not building a strong bench during his captaincy, attributing Pakistan's current team struggles to his leadership. Umar expressed disappointment at being ignored despite good domestic performance, suggesting Babar's strategic shortcomings hurt the team.
Spiritual leader Premanand Ji Maharaj praised Virat Kohli for bringing joy to India through his cricketing achievements. During their meeting in Vrindavan, he advised Kohli to maintain discipline and dedication. Premanand Ji acknowledged that both success and failure are influenced by practice and destiny, urging resilience and faith in God during challenging times.
Ruturaj Gaikwad's unbeaten 148 led Maharashtra to a nine-wicket victory over Services in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Maharashtra easily chased the target of 204 in just over 20 overs. Mumbai and Delhi also secured wins in their respective matches while Baroda triumphed over Kerala in a high-scoring game.
England's pacers, led by Mark Wood, are focussed on taking wickets to counter India's aggressive bating in the T20 series despite conceding runs. They aim to leverage Adil Rashid's spin prowess and further improve ahead of upcoming tournaments. The third T20I is set for Rajkot with India leading 2-0.
India's U19 women's cricket team secured a resounding nine-wicket victory over Pakistan in the U19 Women's T20 Asia Cup. Sonam Yadav's exceptional bowling figures of 4/6 restricted Pakistan to a mere 67/7. G Kamilini's unbeaten 44 then steered India to a comfortable win in just 7.5 overs, setting the stage for their final group match against Nepal.
The Gulf Giants secured a thrilling two-wicket win over MI Emirates in ILT20 Season 3, overcoming early setbacks and a tough bowling attack. Key contributions from Tom Alsop, Gerhard Erasmus, Tom Curran, and Mark Adair were crucial. Aayan Khan's last-over heroics sealed the victory, moving the team to fifth place on the points table.
The third edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) begins on February 14 with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) facing Gujarat Giants in Vadodara. RCB's title defense is challenged by key player absences due to injuries. Gujarat Giants have appointed Ashleigh Gardner as captain, aiming for better performance this season.
KKR's Venkatesh Iyer acknowledges pressure from his high transfer fee. He looks forward to collaborating with vice-captain Dwayne Bravo, under captain Ajinkya Rahane. Mentor Dwayne Bravo and head coach Chandrakant Pandit express confidence in the team's preparations. Rahane, honoured to lead, emphasises playing simple and teamwork. Team gears up for the upcoming IPL 2025 season.