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.
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Former India captain Rahul Dravid and his son Anvay played together for Vijaya Cricket Club in a Third Division match. Rahul scored 10 runs, while Anvay impressed with 58 runs. The team's total reached 345 for 7, with Swapnil's 107 being the highlight.
India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak dismissed concerns over Rohit Sharma's form, highlighting his recent performances, while emphasizing that occasional failures are normal. He praised the team's overall batting performance against England, noting key contributions from Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill, and Axar Patel, despite losing early wickets. Virat Kohli's fitness was also given the green light.
Australia aim to maintain their strong record at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in the fourth Test against India. With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy currently tied 1-1, both teams need a result to boost their World Test Championship final hopes. Australia boasts a 57.75% win rate at the MCG, having won 67 out of 116 matches played there.
India's captain Rohit Sharma has equalled Brian Lara's record of losing 12 consecutive ODI tosses, a streak that began in November 2023 and lasted until March 2025. Team India has lost 15 consecutive tosses in ODIs till date. Despite this streak, India reached the ICC Champions Trophy final against New Zealand in Dubai.
Harleen Deol's maiden century propelled India to a 115-run victory over West Indies, sealing the series lead. Her knock of 115, along with contributions from Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, and Jemimah Rodrigues, helped India achieve an impressive 358 for five.
India and Pakistan will face off in the 2025 Champions Trophy in Dubai. Throughout history, their ODI clashes have been unforgettable, including Miandad's last-ball six in 1986, Ganguly's ton in 1998, and Zaman's special century in 2017. These matches are iconic moments in cricket history.
Bowling legend Wasim Akram praised the ILT20 tournament for its high-quality cricket and competitive spirit, highlighting Desert Vipers as his favorite team. He emphasised the opportunities for UAE players to learn from international stars and urged them to capitalise on this exposure. With intense competition and emerging local talent, Akram believes ILT20 will help UAE rise as a top-performing Associate nation.
Harshit Rana's ODI debut in Nagpur included a powerful 3-53 performance, helping India beat England under 250. Despite a challenging start, he recovered by taking key wickets. Rana justified his controversial inclusion as a concussion substitute, saying he is focused on delivering for his country. His performance ensured India's emphatic win in the first ODI.
India's Smriti Mandhana has been nominated for the ICC Women's ODI Cricket of the Year award after an impressive 2024, marked by several centuries. She joins contenders Laura Wolvaardt, Annabel Sutherland, and Chamari Athapaththu. Each player demonstrated outstanding performances throughout the year, contributing significantly to their respective teams' successes.
Rishabh Pant missed India's training due to viral fever and KL Rahul will continue as the preferred wicketkeeper for the Champions Trophy match against Pakistan. Coach Gautam Gambhir confirmed that Rahul is the first-choice, following his strong performances, including a confident display against Bangladesh, securing his position in the playing XI.