South Africa triumphed over Pakistan by 10-wickets in the second Test at Cape Town, securing their seventh consecutive World Test Championship victory and matching India's record. This win helped Temba Bavuma's team clinch the series and guaranteed a top-place finish in the 2023-25 WTC edition. South Africa's winning streak began in August last year.
Related news
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.
Sunrisers Hyderabad are set to kick off the IPL-2025 season on a high note by retaining their formidable batting core and bolstering their bowling lineup with new additions. The team will face Rajasthan Royals, who are missing their captain, Sanju Samson, and have notable changes in their batting lineup.
Sunil Narine's exceptional all-round performance propelled Kolkata Knight Riders to a dominant eight-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk. Narine's mesmerizing spell of 3 for 13 restricted CSK to a paltry 103/9, their lowest-ever IPL total at home. He then blazed 44 off 18 balls, ensuring a comfortable chase, overshadowing MS Dhoni's return as captain.
Nineteen-year-old batting prodigy Sam Konstas has been selected for Australia's Test squad to face India in the final two matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Overwhelmed with joy, Konstas shared the emotional news with his parents. His potential debut in the Boxing Day Test would make him the youngest Australian Test batting debutant in over 70 years.
England's ICC Champions Trophy chances have improved with opener Ben Duckett being declared fit to play. The ECB confirmed Duckett's availability after he recovered from a groin injury. He got injured while fielding in the third ODI against India. England will face Australia in their first tournament match in Lahore on 22 February.
Rahmat Shah's remarkable 139-run performance significantly bolstered Afghanistan's position in the second Test against Zimbabwe, finishing the third day at 291 for 7 with a lead of 205 runs. Ismat Alam supported with a solid 64. Despite early setbacks, Shah's resilience helped Afghanistan recover. Blessing Muzarabani was Zimbabwe's top bowler, taking 4 wickets for 71 runs.
PV Sindhu advanced to the quarterfinals with a solid win against Manami Suizu at the India Open Super 750. Kiran George also kept India's hopes alive in men's event, defeating France's Alex Lanier after a thrilling comeback. Sindhu faces Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, while Kiran takes on Hong Yang Weng in their next matches.
India allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has fully recovered from a side strain and is set to join the Sunrisers Hyderabad camp on Sunday, just in time for their IPL-2025 opener against Rajasthan Royals. Reddy had been sidelined due to the injury but passed his fitness test with a score of 18.1 at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence.
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.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the importance of not only winning the ICC Champions Trophy but also defeating India in Dubai on February 23. He expressed confidence in the team's capabilities and praised the renovated Gaddafi Stadium. The event celebrated the completion of stadium renovations with performances by prominent artists and a vibrant fireworks display.