Category: Cricket

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently explained why the Indian flag was missing from the National Stadium in Karachi, where flags of other countries were displayed. A video showing the flags went viral on social media, and fans were upset because India is set to play in the Champions Trophy 2025.

It is important to know that India will play its matches in Dubai, not in Pakistan, because they could not get permission to cross the border. Many people thought the PCB was trying to send a message by not displaying India’s flag.

However, a PCB representative told Hindustan Times that it wasn’t their decision. The International Cricket Council (ICC) directed that only four flags would be shown on match days: the ICC flag, the PCB flag, and the flags of the two teams playing that day. So, India’s flag will likely be missing at the three venues in Pakistan since they are not playing there at all.

The tournament, which starts on February 19, features teams divided into two groups. Group A includes India, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Bangladesh. India will begin its games in Dubai, facing Bangladesh on February 20, while the highly anticipated match against Pakistan will be on February 23.

Group B consists of England, Australia, South Africa, and Afghanistan. The final of the tournament is scheduled for March 9, with semi-finals on March 4 and 5.

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said they were happy about the agreement that respects all teams and promotes teamwork in cricket. He thanked the ICC members for their help in reaching this understanding.

Harshit Rana’s excitement about playing for India might be cut short. The young fast bowler is likely to miss the first match of the Champions Trophy 2025 against Bangladesh this Thursday, and possibly the whole tournament.

Harshit got his ODI cap during a recent series with England, where he took 3 wickets on his first game. But now, it seems he won’t be in the starting team for the Champions Trophy. India has three important matches in the group stage against Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand—teams that could give them a tough fight.

In the last tournament, the T20 World Cup 2021, India lost early games to Pakistan and New Zealand, putting them in a tough spot. To avoid that again, they want their best team to play.

The other fast bowler, Arshdeep Singh, might not have many ODI games (only 9), but he has been impressive in T20 cricket, becoming the top wicket-taker for India. Reports say he’s currently seen as being better than Harshit.

Harshit became popular as an up-and-coming player, and India’s coach Gautam Gambhir believes in him. But even though Harshit did okay in his matches against England, he may have to wait for his turn because Arshdeep’s experience is noted and valued. With Jasprit Bumrah not playing, India needs to make the best choices to win their second ICC title in two years.

The ICC Champions Trophy is coming back after being away for eight years! Last time, Pakistan won the tournament for the first time ever by defeating India in the final at The Oval. Since then, things have changed for Pakistan. The only players still on the team are Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam.

Fakhar, who returned to the team last October after some issues with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), is playing really well. He will be important for the team, especially since Saim Ayub, an in-form opener, got injured and will not be playing. This has raised questions about whether Babar will open the batting for the Champions Trophy.

In the middle order, Pakistan will rely on captain Mohammad Rizwan, who recently scored 122 runs against South Africa. He will be joined by another strong player, Salman Ali Agha. Together, they made a record partnership in that same match. The team needs to decide how to speed up the run-making during crucial moments.

Pakistan’s biggest worry, however, is their bowling. The fast bowlers, led by Shaheen Afridi, only took 10 wickets during the recent tri-series at home, which is lower than expected. They also lack a good spinner, with Abrar Ahmed being their only option besides part-timers Khushdil Shah and Salman.

Here’s how Pakistan has performed lately: since the 2023 ODI World Cup, where they didn’t reach the semifinals, they have won 8 out of 12 matches. They recently beat Australia 2-1 and swept South Africa 2-0, which shows their potential. But they lost 2 out of 3 matches in the tri-series against New Zealand, showing they need to be more consistent.

Pakistan’s Champions Trophy Group Matches:
– vs New Zealand, February 19, Karachi
– vs India, February 23, Dubai
– vs Bangladesh, February 27, Rawalpindi

Pakistan’s Best XI:
1. Fakhar Zaman
2. Babar Azam
3. Saud Shakeel
4. Mohammad Rizwan (Captain & Wicketkeeper)
5. Salman Ali Agha
6. Tayyab Tahir
7. Khushdil Shah
8. Shaheen Afridi
9. Naseem Shah
10. Haris Rauf
11. Abrar Ahmed

Pakistan’s Full Squad:
– Mohammad Rizwan (c)
– Babar Azam
– Fakhar Zaman
– Kamran Ghulam
– Saud Shakeel
– Tayyab Tahir
– Faheem Ashraf
– Khushdil Shah
– Salman Ali Agha
– Usman Khan
– Abrar Ahmed
– Haris Rauf
– Mohammad Hasnain
– Naseem Shah
– Shaheen Shah Afridi

Matthew Kuhnemann, a left-arm spin bowler from Australia, will not play in Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield match against South Australia. This decision comes after officials reported that he might have an illegal bowling action. Kuhnemann recently took 16 wickets in a test series where Australia won 2-0 against Sri Lanka.

Originally, Kuhnemann was supposed to play on Tuesday in Adelaide, but on Monday, the team said he would sit out due to an old thumb injury on his bowling hand. He had surgery last month after breaking his thumb while playing for the Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League in January. Even with this injury, Kuhnemann played two tests against Sri Lanka in Galle.

By missing the Shield match, Kuhnemann will have his bowling action tested soon. Experts from the International Cricket Council (ICC) are expected to examine him at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane.

This news has sparked discussion across Australia, especially since Kuhnemann had a clean record in more than 100 professional matches since 2017, including five tests and four one-day internationals.

Steve Smith, who led Australia in the series against Sri Lanka while captain Pat Cummins was injured, said he believed Kuhnemann would be cleared of any issues. Tasmania captain Jordan Silk expressed his support for Kuhnemann, saying many were shocked by the news but that the team would support him and look forward to having him back soon.

Ajinkya Rahane, a veteran Indian cricketer, has spoken out about being left out of the 2023/25 World Test Championship cycle. Even after performing well in the World Test Championship final against Australia in June 2023, Rahane was not picked for the team. The 36-year-old has not played for India for two years since the current chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, decided to go with younger players.

Rahane did make a comeback to the Indian Test team after a great performance in the IPL with the Chennai Super Kings, where he scored 89 and 46 runs. This helped him secure a place in the Indian team for the West Indies tour, where he was named vice-captain. However, after that, he was again overlooked in favor of new talent.

Talking to the Indian Express, Rahane admitted he was disappointed when he was dropped again. He felt that after his good form, he should have been selected for the series against South Africa. He said, “When I was dropped before, I scored runs and got picked for the WTC final, but then I was dropped again. I can only control my game.”

He also mentioned that he tried to reach out to Agarkar but didn’t get a chance to talk. “I didn’t want to chase them, but I hoped for clearer communication. I was surprised to be left out after the WTC final,” he shared.

Despite the setbacks, Rahane is determined to keep playing for India. He is currently competing in the Ranji Trophy, where he hopes to show his skills over the next two matches and make a strong case for his return to the national team. “I still have the passion to play for India. My goal is to make a comeback,” he concluded.

Pakistan is getting ready to host the ICC Champions Trophy, a big cricket event, for the first time in 29 years! This is a huge deal because it means more than four teams will play in our country. Before this, the World Cups in 1987 and 1996 were shared with India and Sri Lanka.

Recently, Pakistani cricket fans watched an amazing match where the team managed a record chase in ODIs. The official song for the Champions Trophy is called “Jeeto Baazi Khel Ke,” meaning “Win the Game!” It features popular singer Atif Aslam, and his powerful voice gets everyone hyped up!

Stadiums like the Gaddafi have been upgraded to host large crowds, increasing from 8,000 seats to 34,000! Improvements include new lights, seating areas, and view barriers. Even with all this, there were worries about whether everything would be ready in time. Discussions online kept saying the event might have to move to the UAE.

But good news has arrived! The teams are in Pakistan for practice matches, and even England has visited multiple times now, proving that security is improving. After a tough period for cricket in Pakistan due to security concerns, fans like Umair Javed are excited for international matches. He remembers watching the 1996 World Cup and feels happy to have cricket back.

While there are still some issues on match days, like heavy security and traffic, live cricket is something special. Many believe that if the tournament goes smoothly, it will be great for Pakistan cricket.

Ahmer Naqvi, a writer, says hosting the Champions Trophy is huge for Pakistan. Despite challenges, cricket has remained a strong cultural force in the country, and this tournament shows its resilience and ability to adapt. The Champions Trophy is not just another sporting event; it symbolizes the enduring spirit of cricket in Pakistan!

Mumbai faced a tough break on Sunday when their star opener, Yashasvi Jaiswal, had to pull out of the Ranji Trophy semifinal match against Vidarbha. This match will start on Monday in Nagpur. Jaiswal is dealing with pain in his left ankle, which could also affect his chances of being a reserve player for the upcoming Champions Trophy.

According to a report from Times of India, Jaiswal felt uncomfortable during practice and wasn’t moving well while batting in the nets. This injury is not new; it’s a recurring issue from before. He is heading to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) center in Bengaluru for more medical help.

Because of this injury, the selection committee might have to choose another batter as a backup for the Champions Trophy. Jaiswal was part of the preliminary 15-member India squad last month and made his ODI debut in Nagpur against England on February 6. However, he was moved to the reserve list when India decided to pick another spinner, Varun Chakravarthy, for the final Champions Trophy squad.

Interestingly, the Mumbai selectors, who already included Jaiswal as the 18th member of their Ranji Trophy team, are not planning to find a replacement for him. On a brighter note, Suryakumar Yadav, who had a wrist issue during the quarterfinals against Haryana, is fit to play in the semifinal match.

Mumbai Indians coach Charlotte Edwards expressed her frustration over controversial run-out decisions that led to their two-wicket loss against Delhi Capitals in the Women’s Premier League. After a tight match that went down to the last ball, three key run-out calls stirred up debate about the rules.

In the match, the third umpire, Gayathri Venugopalan, ruled three Delhi players – Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, and Shikha Pandey – as not out, even though the LED stumps lit up when the ball first touched the wickets. Edwards said, “It’s hard to stay calm when such decisions can change the game’s result. We just need to move on and prepare for the next match.”

Former India captain, Mithali Raj, also felt the decisions should have favored Mumbai. According to WPL rules, the game considers a wicket broken as soon as the LED lights flash. However, in these cases, the umpire looked at a later moment when the bails were fully dislodged.

The confusion began in the 18th over with Pandey. Her bat was over the crease line when the LED stumps lit up, but she was ruled not out based on the next frame. Later, Radha and Arundhati faced similar calls that went in favor of Delhi, allowing them to secure a victory just as the game ended.

Mumbai’s captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, showed frustration but did not protest against the rulings. Former RCB director Mike Hesson also voiced his disbelief, stating that the rules should have led to different outcomes.

Despite this, there were positive performances too. Nat Sciver-Brunt scored 80 runs and partnered well with Harmanpreet until their big showings were interrupted. Edwards said they could have scored more runs, which might have changed the game’s result. She also praised Shafali’s performance.

Even with some star players unavailable, veteran Shikha was proud of her team’s achievement in bowling out Mumbai. “To beat a strong team like MI is amazing,” she said.

As they prepare for their next match against Gujarat, Edwards wants her team to sharpen their skills to bounce back.

Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has shared his thoughts on the idea of ‘superstars’ in Indian cricket. He believes that players should be down-to-earth and relatable to everyday people. In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Ash Ki Baat, Ashwin said, “It’s important to bring things back to normal in Indian cricket. We should not support the idea of players being superstars or celebrities.”

He emphasized that cricketers are just sportspersons, not actors. “We need to be someone the common people can connect with” he added. Instead of focusing on personal achievements, Ashwin highlighted the importance of team success. He used famous players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as examples. He said that when they score runs, it should feel like part of a regular routine rather than a big deal. “Our goals should be bigger than just individual achievements.”

Ashwin also raised some questions about the Indian team for the upcoming Champions Trophy, especially about having five spinners in the squad. He thinks this may be too many for playing in Dubai. He commented, “Five spinners in Dubai? I think we might have too many.”

He recognized the importance of all-rounders like Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja and mentioned Hardik Pandya’s role in the team. “Axar and Jadeja are great all-rounders, along with Hardik,” Ashwin explained. If Varun Chakravarthy is included as a spinner, they might need to drop a fast bowler or another spinner to make room for him.

India will start their Champions Trophy journey on February 20 against Bangladesh in Dubai, and they will play against Pakistan on February 23.

Indian cricketer Shardul Thakur has been performing really well in the Ranji Trophy for his team, Mumbai. He played an important role in helping Mumbai win against Haryana in the quarter-finals. Even though Mumbai lost unexpectedly to Jammu & Kashmir in the last league match, Shardul stood out by scoring fifties in both innings.

During that game against Jammu & Kashmir, Shardul had the chance to share the dressing room with India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, who was back to play after taking a break. Shardul talked about his conversation with Rohit and how he stays positive even when he’s not scoring many runs.

Rohit had a tough time scoring runs in recent matches against New Zealand and Australia. However, he surprised everyone by scoring a fantastic 119 runs off just 90 balls in the second ODI against England, helping India chase down 305 runs successfully.

Shardul, who is both a friend and teammate of Rohit, praised him a lot. He said Rohit never loses his confidence, no matter how many runs he scores or misses. When they talked during the Ranji game, Rohit told Shardul that he just needed one good inning to get back on track.

“He told me, ‘I know the runs aren’t coming now, but all I need is just one innings. Then, runs will come automatically again,’” Shardul shared.

Shardul dismissed worries about Rohit’s form and believed that his recent outs were just bad luck. “In the ODI against England, he looked really comfortable. He did not seem out of form at all. It’s just a matter of luck. His batting style makes him a very dangerous player,” Shardul said.

Shardul also mentioned that even though Rohit didn’t score well in the domestic game, he looked assured and confident during practice. He reminded everyone that being an opener is tough, especially against new fast bowlers. He believes we shouldn’t doubt Rohit, considering how many matches he has helped India win over the years.