The ICC Champions Trophy returns in 2025, with high hopes from the Indian cricket team. Irfan Pathan praises the team’s settled squad and promising young players. The event, starting February 19, will be played in India and Dubai. India and Pakistan are set to clash on February 23. The final is scheduled for March 9.
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The ICC announced a neutral venue policy for India-Pakistan clashes in upcoming tournaments. This applies to the 2025 Champions Trophy, 2025 Women's World Cup, and 2026 T20 World Cup. Pakistan will host the Champions Trophy and defend its 2017 title. The Women's T20 World Cup 2028 will be in Pakistan. Australia will host a women's event between 2029 and 2031.
India women's team captain Harmanpreet Kaur, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, and all-rounder Deepti Sharma have been retained in the highest tier of BCCI central contracts. New players Shreyanka Patil, Titas Sadhu, Arundhati Reddy, Amanjot Kaur, and Uma Chetry have received their first central contracts in Grade C. Pacer Renuka Thakur, all-rounder Jemimah Rodrigues, wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh, and opener Shafali Verma have secured their spots in Grade B.
Former England fast bowler Peter Lever has died at the age of 84. Lever was instrumental in England's 1970-71 Ashes series victory in Australia, and his career spanned 17 Test matches with 41 wickets, and significant domestic success with Lancashire. Lever's legacy includes his impactful performances and a notable incident in 1975.
Pat Cummins, Jasprit Bumrah, and Dane Paterson have been shortlisted for the ICC Men’s Player of December 2024. Cummins led Australia to a 3-1 series win against India, claiming 17 wickets. Bumrah excelled with 32 wickets despite India’s series loss. Paterson's key performances helped South Africa secure their spot in the WTC25 Final.
David Miller-led Paarl Royals made history with a 100% home record at Boland Park in SA20 2025. Key contributions from Luhan-dre Pretorius and Kwena Maphaka helped them secure the record, having already qualified for the playoffs with seven wins from eight matches. Before the Royals, Joburg Super Kings had the best home run in SA20 history.
Gulf nations convened in Dubai to chart a unified course for cricket's advancement, building on the success of the ILT20. The ILT20 Gulf Cricket Championship witnessed thrilling matches, with UAE dominating the league stage. Saudi Arabia and Qatar also secured key victories. The final between UAE and Kuwait promises a thrilling conclusion to the tournament.
Jos Buttler said on Friday he is to step down as England's limited-overs captain after a disastrous Champions Trophy campaign ended with them failing to reach the semi-finals. "I'm going to stand down as England captain, it's the right decision for me and the team," the 34-year-old said at a press conference. England failed to retain either their T20 and 50-over World Cup titles under Buttler's captaincy.
Sunil Gavaskar is concerned about Virat Kohli's recurring issues with getting out due to an open bat face. Kohli's recent struggles include a disappointing performance in India's first Champions Trophy match.
Australia faces setbacks as Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy due to injuries, with Steve Smith or Travis Head likely to replace Cummins as captain. Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis are also out, leaving the team with significant selection challenges ahead of the tournament starting February 19 in Pakistan.
Harbhajan Singh shared how his feud with Andrew Symonds transformed into a deep friendship after the infamous "Monkeygate" scandal. Symonds' visit to Harbhajan's home with a bottle of rum initiated their reconciliation. They later won the IPL championship together. Harbhajan expressed grief over Symonds' untimely death, highlighting their strong bond.