Pakistan cricket is facing instability, particularly affecting star player Babar Azam, whose performance has declined amid frequent changes in leadership and management. Saeed Ajmal criticised former cricketers' harsh comments and urged a more supportive environment. The removal of Babar and Rizwan from captaincy roles is viewed as a hasty decision that may further harm the team's prospects.
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West Indies legend Clive Lloyd opposes the two-tier Test cricket proposal, stating it will hinder new teams' growth by confining them to a lower division. He emphasizes Test cricket's unmatched appeal and urges the ICC to create a fair system to support all teams equally. Lloyd also highlights financial challenges in sustaining Test cricket.
A debate ignited over Rohit Sharma's batting position for the Brisbane Test. Sunil Gavaskar suggested Rohit return to opening, with KL Rahul at No. 6. Matthew Hayden, while initially opposing changes, mistakenly referred to "Rahul Dravid," attributing it to Dravid's memorable Adelaide double century from 2003/04.
As India and Pakistan prepare for the high-profile ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash, former Indian opener Navjot Singh Sidhu emphasises the psychological intensity of the match. Both Yuvraj Singh and Shahid Afridi reflect on the significance and immense pressure of playing in an India-Pakistan encounter, underlining its unique impact on players and fans.
MI Cape Town secured a bonus point victory against Durban's Super Giants at Newlands. Ryan Rickelton and George Linde were key performers, with Linde sealing the win by hitting four sixes in one over. Despite efforts from Heinrich Klaasen and Kane Williamson, the Super Giants fell short. The win strengthens Cape Town's position in the SA20 competition.
India's emphatic six-wicket victory over Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy, highlighted by Virat Kohli’s unbeaten ton, sparked joy on social media. Kohli surpassed 14,000 ODI runs, leading India to a win with 45 balls to spare. Fans and celebrities celebrated the triumph, while Pakistan face an uncertain path ahead in the tournament.
The RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group has acquired a 70 percent stake in the Manchester Originals cricket franchise for approximately 75 million pounds. This transaction marks the first time a majority stake has been bought in a Hundred franchise. Manchester Originals are one of the eight teams in The Hundred cricket tournament, promoted by the ECB.
India captain Jasprit Bumrah expressed frustration at not being able to bowl in the second innings due to back spasm, impacting India's efforts in the final Test at Sydney. Despite his absence, Bumrah finished as Player of the Series with 32 wickets.
The latest ICC rankings show New Zealand's Tim Seifert and Finn Allen rising in T20I rankings. Babar Azam has slipped to 8th. Australia's Travis Head leads T20I batters. Among bowlers, Jacob Duffy has achieved a career-best ranking of 12th. In ODIs, Netherlands' Aryan Dutt and Paul van Meekeren have moved up the bowlers' rankings.
At the ILT20 Gulf Cricket Championship on Saturday, Oman triumphed over Qatar by 35 runs, fueled by Jatinder Singh's 69 and Wasim Ali's quick 34. Bahrain edged out Kuwait in a thrilling low-scoring match by four runs, despite Ahmer Bin Nasir's crucial 42 for Bahrain and Imran Anwar's impressive three-wicket haul.
ICC Chair Jay Shah heads to Lausanne for the upcoming IOC session to discuss cricket's inclusion in the Olympics. Shah recently visited Brisbane to lobby for cricket at the 2032 Olympics. Under his BCCI tenure, he played a key role in cricket's inclusion in the 2028 LA Olympics, promising an exciting future for the sport.