IPL 2016

Allrounder Aamer Jamal returns to a Pakistan Test line-up for the first time since his breakout tour of Australia. His all-round ability has allowed Pakistan to go with one fewer specialist bowler, with Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed making up the rest of the bowling attack. All four bowlers were unavailable to varying degrees during Pakistan’s recent series against Bangladesh, making this the first time in over…

Temba Bavuma is in doubt for South Africa’s Test series against Bangladesh, which starts on October 21, after being ruled out of the third ODI against Ireland with an elbow injury. Bavuma retired hurt during the second match on Friday, on 35, and was unable to field thereafter. He will consult a specialist on his return to South Africa. Rassie van der Dussen will captain South Africa in Bavuma’s absence,…

Toss Pakistan chose to bat vs India On a hot afternoon in Dubai, Pakistan captain Fatima Sana called it right and opted to bat against India in their Group A encounter of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. Both teams made one change apiece owing to injuries. Diana Baig pulled up with what seemed like a calf injury against Sri Lanka, and was replaced by legspinner Syeda Aroob Shah. As…

Fatima Sana, Pakistan’s captain, doesn’t want to her team to feel any pressure ahead of their match against India, but believes it’s inevitable given the magnitude of the occasion. Pakistan opened the tournament with a resounding win over Sri Lanka, and are riding a recent wave of success in terms of development, not just results. For example: Pakistan posted 181, their highest T20I total, during their recent series at home…

Allrounder Shivam Dube has been ruled out of India’s T20I series against Bangladesh due to a back injury. Tilak Varma has replaced him in the squad for the three-match series which begins in Gwalior on Sunday. Dube had also suffered a side strain this February which had ruled him out of Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy semi-final game. He has been a regular in India’s T20I side since he returned to the…

Big picture: A rich SA flavour to the CPL final After having had to wait 11 years for a maiden CPL trophy, Guyana Amazon Warriors are now just one step away from winning back-to-back titles. Imran Tahir was targeted when he was appointed Amazon Warriors’ captain last season at 44 – Tahir said “everyone was sending jokes” about it – and having been retained as captain this year, he will…

India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav is aware of the impact Mayank Yadav can create with his express pace but he says it is important to “manage him well”. Mayank took everyone by storm with his 155kph pace during IPL 2024. Playing for Lucknow Super Giants, he picked up the Player-of-the-Match award in his first two games but was ruled out of the tournament soon after with an abdominal injury. He…

Toss England chose to bat vs Bangladesh England opted to bat after winning the toss in Sharjah, selecting a four-woman spin attack for their opening game of the T20 World Cup. Heather Knight, England’s captain, said that “dew hasn’t been a factor and it looks much easier to try to defend a total”, with England playing their first-ever women’s T20I at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Slow left-armer Linsey Smith, who England…

Pakistan vice-captain Saud Shakeel echoed his coach Jason Gillespie’s comments about Pakistan’s game plan, saying his side were looking to use England’s aggressive tactics against them in their three-Test series. England’s reputation for playing high-risk, high-reward cricket under current coach Brendon McCullum means Pakistan are sniffing an opportunity to draw them into making mistakes, according to Shakeel. “England always play attacking cricket, and that always gives you an opportunity to…

England have only had a fleeting glance at a fully-fit Ben Stokes in the last three years but he has committed his long-term future to them, signing a new central contract which is expected to take in the 2025-26 Ashes tour. Stokes declined to specify the length of his new contract on Saturday, but it is understood to be a two-year deal. Stokes will miss a fourth consecutive Test in…