PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed Pakistan's readiness to host the Champions Trophy, with venues in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi prepared on schedule. Despite some renovation delays, facilities for teams and media are upgraded. The tournament starts on February 19.
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Ahead of the Champions Trophy, India's cricket team seeks a morale boost by winning the T20I series against England. The series starts at Eden Gardens. Key players like Sanju Samson and Nitish Kumar Reddy are under watch, while England relies on Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell. Coach Brendon McCullum remains optimistic about England's chances.
South Africa has unveiled a 16-player squad for their upcoming two-Test series against Pakistan, featuring two uncapped fast bowlers, Kwena Maphaka and Corbin Bosch. Injuries to key players like Anrich Nortje and Lizaad Williams necessitated these additions. The fitness of Wiaan Mulder and Keshav Maharaj remains uncertain.
Australia dominated the first Test against Sri Lanka, posting 654-6 declared thanks to Usman Khawaja's double century and Josh Inglis' debut ton. Sri Lanka struggled, ending Day 2 at 44-3. Key contributions came from Steve Smith, reaching 10,000 Test runs with 141, and left-arm paceman Mitchell Starc with early wickets.
During an IPL 2025 match between Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders, a fan invaded the pitch to touch RR's stand-in captain Riyan Parag's feet. This was Parag's debut as IPL captain in Assam. Though Parag performed modestly, the incident highlighted his growing popularity. RR remains winless and will face Chennai Super Kings next.
David Warner praised 19-year-old Sam Konstas for his bold debut in the Boxing Day Test against India, where he impressed with a 60 off 65 innings, including a challenging 18-run over against Jasprit Bumrah. Warner urged selectors and fans to support Konstas' fearless approach, emphasizing its potential to inspire other players.
Rachin Ravindra shines for New Zealand with a crucial century in the Champions Trophy, showcased his calm approach under pressure. His ability to handle spin, highlighted by his performance in India, will be tested against India's spin-heavy attack in the upcoming match in Dubai. Coach Sriram Krishnamurthy praises Rachin's resilience and mental strength post-injury.
Sachin Tendulkar, 51, was honored with the Col. CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award at the BCCI's Naman Awards ceremony for his extraordinary 24-year cricket career. Jasprit Bumrah and Smriti Mandhana were recognized as the best male and female international cricketers for 2023-24.
Vidarbha captain Karun Nair continued his red-hot form with an unbeaten 44-ball 88, leading his team to 380 for 3 against Maharashtra in the Vijay Hazare Trophy semi-final. Nair has now amassed 752 runs in the tournament, including four consecutive tons. Openers Dhruv Shorey and Yash Rathod also scored centuries.
AB de Villiers praises South Africa for reaching the WTC final, despite significant changes and criticism. He emphasizes the team's need for time and experience to regain consistency and commends Temba Bavuma's leadership. De Villiers believes in supporting young players and highlights the excitement surrounding the third edition of SA20.
Varun Chakravarthy showcased his bowling prowess with a five-wicket haul, restricting England's run rate effectively on a sluggish pitch. Despite India's loss, he earned the Player of the Match award and emphasized his focus on future challenges and continuous improvement, particularly working on perfecting his flipper.