Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan is named one of the four event ambassadors for the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan and Dubai, joining Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shane Watson, and Tim Southee. Dhawan and the others will write guest columns and attend matches, sharing insights during the tournament held from February 19 to March 9.
Related news
Agni Chopra, son of filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra and critic Anupama Chopra, received the Madhavrao Scindia Award for Top Run Getter in Ranji Trophy Plate League from Indian skipper Rohit Sharma. Scoring 939 runs in the 2023-24 season, Agni aspires to help Mizoram advance and secure a place in the Indian Test team.
England's Jamie Smith returns for their Champions Trophy opener against Australia in Lahore. Absent from the previous ODI series against India, Smith will bat at No. 3 and keep wickets. England has included Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse and Mark Wood in their pace attack.
Faf du Plessis has been appointed as vice-captain of Delhi Capitals for IPL 2025, announced the franchise. Selected at a base price of Rs 2 crore, du Plessis will assist captain Axar Patel. With extensive IPL experience and leadership history, the South African batter is expected to be a key asset for DC in the upcoming season.
Pakistan recalled top-order batter Fakhar Zaman for the Champions Trophy, starting February 19, after his recovery from a knee injury. Saim Ayub misses out due to injury Mohammad Rizwan will captain the team, which also features 2017 champions Zaman, Babar Azam, and Faheem Ashraf. Pakistan will play India in Dubai on February 23.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board on Monday announced central contracts for 2025, awarding 22 players including stars like Litton Das and Shadman Islam. Mahmudullah will not continue his contract beyond February 2025 and Mushfiqur Rahim is now in Grade B. Bangladesh exited the ICC Champions Trophy in the group stage, surpassing Sri Lanka and West Indies in rankings.
Karun Nair's impressive performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, with 752 runs at an average of 752, has sparked debates on his inclusion in the Indian team. His recent unbeaten 88 off 44 balls received praise from cricket legends like Sachin Tendulkar. Nair's exceptional form has led to questions about the selectors' criteria.
Ryan Rickelton led MI Cape Town to victory against Joburg Super Kings with a stunning 89 off 39 balls. Joe Root's unbeaten 92 powered the Royals to an eight-wicket win over Pretoria Capitals. Faf du Plessis crossed 11,000 T20 runs, and remarkable catches by fans were celebrated in both matches.
Desert Vipers head coach James Foster lauds Wanindu Hasaranga and Sherfane Rutherford for their inclusion in the ICC ODI Team of the Year. Foster highlights their on-field consistency and off-field value, calling Hasaranga the "ultimate all-rounder" and praising Rutherford's leadership. He credits the team's success to collective effort and a thoughtful management.
Jasprit Bumrah received ICC Awards and Team of The Year caps at the Dubai International Stadium in recognition of his exceptional 2024 performances. Despite a back injury from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy keeping him out of the 2025 Champions Trophy, Bumrah's accolades highlight a remarkable year in Test and T20 cricket.
In a strange incident during a Big Bash League game, David Warner broke his bat while playing a shot and accidentally hit his own head with it. Despite this, he scored an unbeaten 88 off 66 balls, leading Sydney Thunder to a total of 164 for 6.