Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan criticized the decision-making in Pakistan cricket after the team's early exit from the ICC Champions Trophy. He specifically pointed out Mohsin Naqvi's leadership, accusing him of consistently mishandling responsibilities. Pakistan's elimination came after consecutive losses to New Zealand and India, with a final group stage match against Bangladesh having no stakes.
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The Women's Premier League mini-auction saw uncapped Indian talent shine. Simran Shaikh became the most expensive buy at ₹1.9 crore, going to Gujarat Giants. G Kamalini fetched ₹1.6 crore from Mumbai Indians, while Prema Rawat went to RCB for ₹1.2 crore. Deandra Dottin returned to Gujarat Giants for ₹1.7 crore.
Nat Sciver-Brunt's unbeaten 75 led Mumbai Indians to their third consecutive win in the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025, defeating UP Warriorz by eight wickets. Sciver-Brunt's career-best bowling figures of 3-18 restricted Warriorz to 142/9. Her formidable partnership with Hayley Matthews, who scored 59, was pivotal in securing the chase with three balls to spare.
Key matchups in the high-stakes game include Rachin Ravindra’s duel with India’s spin quartet, Varun Chakravarthy’s challenge from Kane Williamson, and Mitchell Santner facing Shreyas Iyer. Mohammed Shami’s new-ball spell could be significant against New Zealand openers, especially given his success against left-handers.
Prabhsimran Singh of Punjab Kings is in sensational form at the Vijay Hazare Trophy with three consecutive centuries, solidifying his position as a key player. Singh aims for consistency to earn a spot in the India team, working hard alongside teammates Arshdeep Singh and Abhishek Sharma.
Dubai Capitals clinched their first ILT20 title in 2025, thanks to the strategic brilliance of Venugopal Rao and Hemang Badani. Their leadership drove the team's successful campaign, ending with a four-wicket victory over Desert Vipers. Now set to lead Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025, their recent triumph fuels high expectations for the upcoming season.
Travis Head, achieving a unique feat, scored a century and a King Pair at the Gabba in the same year. His explosive century against India in the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test, after being dismissed for golden ducks earlier in the year, shocked the Indian team. Head's aggressive batting dominated the bowlers, setting the tone for Australia's campaign.
Steve Smith has been cleared to rejoin the Australian squad for the Sri Lanka Test series after recovering from an elbow injury. He will start batting practice later this week in preparation for the first Test in Galle. This comes as a significant development for Australia as Smith takes over as captain due to Pat Cummins' absence.
India's head coach Gautam Gambhir defended Virat Kohli's ability against leg-spinners after a crucial win over Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy semifinals. Gambhir dismissed criticism regarding India’s alleged advantage of playing all matches in Dubai, emphasizing team performance and preparation in neutral conditions.
Ravi Shastri and Ricky Ponting commended the record-breaking attendance of the India-Australia Test series, suggesting the rivalry may now be cricket's biggest. The series saw 837,000 attendees, with 375,000 at the Melbourne Test alone. Both praised the players' performances and Australia's ability to turn the series around, emphasizing the growing interest and intensity of this cricket rivalry.