Ben Duckett's half-century in Rajkot helped England secure a victory and strengthened his position in the T20 lineup. Facing pressure after low scores, Duckett trusted his game and focused on handling spinners aggressively, which proved successful.
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Afghanistan's captain Hashmatullah Shahidi commended Ibrahim Zadran's remarkable 177 runs in the Champions Trophy win against England. Zadran's record-breaking performance propelled Afghanistan to 325-7, leading to an eight-run victory. The historic win, only Afghanistan's second ODI triumph over England, generated widespread celebrations in Kabul.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has retained national selector Aaqib Javed as interim head coach for the New Zealand white-ball tour, with the process of appointing a permanent head coach underway. Salman Ali Agha has been appointed as the new T20I captain, and Mohammad Rizwan continues to lead the ODI team.
Kwena Maphaka, at 18 years and 270 days, became South Africa's youngest Test cricketer, impressing everyone with his debut against Pakistan. Despite missing the 2024 SA20 season for U19 World Cup commitments, he remains pivotal to the Paarl Royals' strategy. Known for his explosive pace, Maphaka is set to shine in the 2025 SA20 season under experienced mentors.
Seven Australian cricketers shared their one-word impressions of the ICC, BCCI, and Indian cricket. Several players described the BCCI as "powerful" or "rulers," while the ICC was labeled as "boss" or "leaders." Indian cricket was characterized as "strong" and "talented." These insights come ahead of the fourth Test between India and Australia.
Pakistan made history by becoming the first team to sweep South Africa 3-0 in an ODI series in South Africa. Saim Ayub smashed his second century of the series; he scored 101 runs. Ayub joined the ranks of Virat Kohli, Joe Root, David Warner, Kevin Pietersen and Fakhar Zaman with his second ton of the series. Pakistan won the match by 36 runs (DLS method).
Prolific all-rounder Shardul Thakur is set to join Essex for seven County Championship matches starting 2025. Thakur, with outstanding recent performances including a First-Class century and a hat-trick, aims to showcase his skills in county cricket. Essex's director praises his all-round abilities, anticipating a valuable addition to the squad, especially ahead of India's Test series in England.
Indian women's cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur evaded tough questions about the team's recent struggles and grueling travel schedule ahead of their T20I series against the West Indies. She deflected queries about Shafali Verma's omission and the demanding itinerary, citing the need to focus on the upcoming matches.
Shreyas Iyer continues to shine in domestic cricket with a stunning century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, amassing 312 runs in four matches. In contrast, India's T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav struggles with consecutive ducks. Karun Nair sets a world record with 542 runs in five games before dismissal, leading Vidarbha to an unbeaten run.
The Pakistan Cricket Board is under fire for reducing match fees for players in the National T20 Championship amid financial concerns. Several cost-cutting measures have affected domestic cricket, including travel standards and player contracts. Amidst the backlash, star players Babar Azam and Naseem Shah have withdrawn from the championship, raising concerns about their priorities.
Steve Smith confirms Travis Head will open alongside Usman Khawaja in the first Test against Sri Lanka, with Sam Konstas being considered for the middle order. Smith notes the experience will benefit Konstas, even if he doesn't play, recalling his own development in similar situations.