UAE and Saudi Arabia secured victories on Sunday in the ILT20 Gulf Cricket Championship at the ICC Academy in Dubai. UAE defeated Oman by 24 runs, with Muhammad Waseem's all-round performance earning him Player of the Match. Saudi Arabia dominated Qatar by nine wickets, thanks to Usman Khalid's unbeaten 75. UAE remains unbeaten atop the standings, while Saudi Arabia climbs to fourth.
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Australia captain Pat Cummins may miss the upcoming Sri Lanka tour to be with his wife for the birth of their second child. The series clashes with the due date. His mother's passing influenced his focus on family and enjoying life, emphasizing the need to balance cricket commitments with family moments.
Cheteshwar Pujara has highlighted Mitchell Starc as a major threat for India in the upcoming Boxing Day Test. Pujara praised Starc's improved accuracy and effectiveness, particularly with the new ball. He emphasized the need for India's batsmen to negotiate Starc's initial spells carefully, noting his reduced impact against the lower order with the older ball.
Spinner Allah Ghazanfar from Afghanistan will miss the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due to a fracture in his vertebra. The injury, sustained during a recent tour of Zimbabwe, will sideline him for at least four months. Nangyal Kharoti has been promoted to the main squad. Ghazanfar will also miss the IPL 2025 season for Mumbai Indians.
Mitchell Starc's fiery spell put India on the back foot early on Day 3 of the Brisbane Test. He dismissed openers Jaiswal and Gill cheaply, leaving India struggling to chase Australia's imposing first-innings total of 445. Australia's innings concluded earlier in the day, adding 40 runs to their overnight score. The series is currently tied at 1-1.
New Zealand triumphed over Pakistan in the first T20 match at Christchurch with a nine-wicket win. Pakistan, struggling against Kyle Jamieson's early spell, managed only 91 runs. New Zealand reached the target easily with Tim Seifert leading the chase. The teams will clash again in the second match of the series in Dunedin on Tuesday.
Virat Kohli's decision to move to the UK received significant support on social media, contrasting with the criticism Aamir Khan faced a decade ago. Kohli's behavior during the Boxing Day Test against Australia highlighted a broader issue of entitlement and aggression in India.
England coach Brendon McCullum on Monday expressed confidence in India head coach Gautam Gambhir’s abilities, praising him as a strong leader. Despite recent losses, McCullum believes Gambhir will bring out the best in his team. Gambhir's emphasis on team unity, along with McCullum's faith, suggests a promising future for Indian cricket under his guidance.
KL Rahul's unbeaten 42 guided India to a four-wicket win over Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy semi-final. Australia scored 264, with contributions from Steve Smith and Alex Carey. Player of the match Virat Kohli anchored India's chase with 84 runs before Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul sealed the victory.
India's premier off-spinner R Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket and received a heartfelt send-off from the Indian team in Brisbane. Due to time constraints, a full farewell gathering wasn't possible. An emotional Ashwin delivered a touching speech in the dressing room before departing, receiving a special jersey from Australian captain Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon.
Mohammed Siraj caused a scare for India when he pulled up with a hamstring niggle during the second day of the Brisbane Test against Australia. He left the field but returned before lunch, although he didn't bowl. Earlier, Siraj and Marnus Labuschagne engaged in some playful banter, continuing their rivalry from the Adelaide Test.