Spinner Allah Ghazanfar from Afghanistan will miss the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due to a fracture in his vertebra. The injury, sustained during a recent tour of Zimbabwe, will sideline him for at least four months. Nangyal Kharoti has been promoted to the main squad. Ghazanfar will also miss the IPL 2025 season for Mumbai Indians.
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MI Cape Town secured a spot in the SA20 Final by winning their qualifier, while Sunrisers Eastern Cape had to fight through back-to-back matches. The final matchup highlights a contest between MICT's strong batting lineup and SEC's formidable bowling attack, with both teams focusing on their respective strengths and strategies.
Australia's Test opener Nathan McSweeney has been dropped from the squad for the fourth Test against India after struggling against Jasprit Bumrah. Teenage prodigy Sam Konstas receives his first call-up. McSweeney, a non-specialist opener, averaged a meager 14.40 in three Tests. His dismissal by Bumrah four times in six innings sealed his fate.
The Jukskei Derby between Joburg Super Kings and Pretoria Capitals was abandoned due to heavy rain. Joburg Super Kings used their spin bowlers effectively to restrict Pretoria Capitals to 138/8. Both teams secured two points each, moving Joburg Super Kings to the top of the table, while Pretoria Capitals are joint second with MI Cape Town.
Kolkata Knight Riders experienced a turnaround in their opening performances with Sunil Narine and Phil Salt leading the charge, helping them win the IPL trophy. As Salt joins Royal Challengers Bengaluru, KKR sees a new opening partner for Narine ahead of their season opener.
South African cricket legend Allan Donald highlights standout players Corbin Bosch, Codi Yusuf, and Kwena Maphaka as SA20 Season 3 approaches. Bosch, from MI Cape Town, has impressed with the Titans, Yusuf, a quick bowler, will play for Paarl Royals, and 18-year-old Maphaka, also from Paarl Royals, promises to be a groundbreaking talent.
India faced a daunting task on Day 3 of the Test match against Australia. Mitchell Starc's fiery spell dismantled the Indian top order, including Virat Kohli, who continued his lean patch with a score of just 3. Former cricketer Deep Dasgupta suggested Kohli focus on a more restrained approach initially to regain his form.
Gujarat Titans are intensively preparing for the 2025 IPL season with a training camp in Surat. Led by coach Ashish Nehra and captain Shubman Gill, they aim to rebound after finishing eighth last season. Additions like Kagiso Rabada and Jos Buttler boost their squad, while core players Shubman Gill, Rashid Khan, and others strengthen the team.
Delhi Capitals secured a two-wicket win against Mumbai Indians in the Women's Premier League. Chasing 165, Delhi reached the target on the last ball, with Shafali Verma and Niki Prasad making notable contributions. Shikha Pandey led the bowling attack with crucial wickets. Despite Nat Sciver-Brunt's unbeaten 80, Mumbai fell short, bowled out for 164.
England captain Jos Buttler commended Rohit Sharma's century in the ODI format, citing it as an example of aggressive modern cricket. Despite pressure, Sharma scored his first ODI ton in 16 months, crucial for India's series win. Buttler highlighted the performance's learning value, appreciating Sharma's adaptability and England's need for improvement.
Ravi Shastri praises the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series as proof that Test cricket is thriving. Shastri emphasizes the need for a two-tier system to ensure the best teams compete regularly, maintaining the excitement and significance of the five-day format, especially after record-breaking attendance figures for the India-Australia Melbourne Test.