Sarfaraz Khan’s constant chatter from short leg contributed to Sri Lanka losing their way on day three of the second Test in Colombo. Dhananjaya de Silva and Niroshan Dickwella were dismissed soon after exchanges with the substitute fielder.

Sarfaraz told de Silva, “Don’t be scared. You are the captain. Come on, bro,” shortly before the Sri Lanka skipper fell to Manav Suthar. India enforced pressure after declaring at 503 for nine.

Sri Lanka reached 265 for eight at stumps, still trailing by 238 runs. Rain forced an early end to the day’s play.

Sachin Tendulkar still carries a brand value of Rs 1,189 crore, the Kroll India Celebrity Brand Valuation 2025 report shows. He's the only retired athlete who stays inside India's top ten celebrity brands.

Ajinkya Rahane made the call right after his own retirement. Tendulkar is the greatest Indian cricketer ever, Rahane said, pointing to the 24-year career, 200 Tests, and the run records that still stand. Those numbers read 15,921 Test runs, 18,426 ODI runs, and the most centuries in both formats.

Pathum Nissanka and Chamari Athapaththu received Sri Lanka's top individual honours at the annual SLC awards ceremony. Nissanka scored 1,084 runs in 19 matches at an average of 54.20, including four centuries.

Athapaththu scored 436 runs and took 15 wickets across 15 matches in the 2024-25 season. Both players were also named best batter and best all-rounder in their respective T20I categories.

Kamil Mishara and Imesha Dulani were named emerging players of the year for men and women. Lifetime achievement awards went to Michael Tissera, Anura Tennekoon and two other recipients.

Ravichandran Ashwin said Mumbai Indians should only accept a trade involving Hardik Pandya with Kolkata Knight Riders if they receive Harshit Rana and Rinku Singh in return. That's the only way MI would strengthen their squad in any deal.

Ashwin warned that KKR would become a lethal batting lineup with Pandya added to their existing strength. He said MI must consider how much stronger CSK or KKR would become through any Hardik trade, given both franchises already have multiple IPL titles. MI can't afford to strengthen a direct rival without significant compensation.

Pandya scored 206 runs and took four wickets in 10 matches as Mumbai Indians finished ninth in IPL 2026. The 32-year-old hasn't played competitive cricket since the season ended, and speculation over his future has grown.

R Ashwin said Hardik Pandya won't be pursued by any franchise outside Chennai Super Kings or Kolkata Knight Riders if a trade deal happens. Ashwin added that Mumbai Indians should only accept a swap with KKR if they receive Harshit Rana and Rinku Singh in return. Hardik has been out of action since the conclusion of the IPL 2026 season.

Sam Curran could return to England's Test side for the third match against Pakistan after missing the first two due to fitness concerns. The all-rounder last played Test cricket in 2021.

Curran was left out of the squad for the opening Tests at Headingley and Lord's but remains in consideration if England need an additional seamer who can bat. Dan Lawrence was recalled for the first Test while Jacob Bethell was ruled out with a knee injury.

England have lost seven of their last nine Tests and have not won a series since December 2024.

Arshdeep Singh and spinner Abid Mushtaq starred as North Zone took a 64-run first-innings lead over West Zone in their Duleep Trophy quarter-final. North Zone were bowled out for 251 after half-centuries from Ayush Badoni and Anshul Kamboj.

West Zone reached 31 for two at stumps on day one, still needing substantial runs to avoid the follow-on. Arshdeep’s experience with the new ball restricted early scoring.

The match continues on day two with North Zone aiming to extend their advantage through the middle order.

Jemimah Rodrigues has enjoyed the best campaign among four Indian players in The Hundred's group stage. She scored an unbeaten 42 off 34 balls to seal a five-wicket win over Deepti Sharma's Sunrisers Leeds, a match-winning 32 in a one-run victory against MI London, and an unbeaten 28 off 18 balls in a 24-run win over Birmingham Phoenix.

Rodrigues has also contributed in the field, with a direct-hit run-out of Freya Kemp proving decisive against Welsh Fire. Southern Brave sit top of the table despite a recent last-ball defeat to Welsh Fire, where Rodrigues made 25 off 21 balls.

Smriti Mandhana has scored 143 runs from four innings at an average of 47.66 after moving to Manchester Super Giants. Richa Ghosh has managed 47 runs from five matches, while Deepti Sharma has taken wickets and effected catches for Sunrisers Leeds.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has got a stay order against the directives by the Pakistan Information Commission to reveal details of its finances including audit reports, annual budgets and salaries and other perks given to players, coaches, selectors and officials. The Islamabad High Court on a petition filed by the PCB against the PIC order has suspended it until the next hearing on 22 September.

The PCB went to the IHC after the PIC made it clear they had to disclose all financial dealings and details under the Right to Known Information Act 2017. The PIC had issued the order to PCB on July 9. A single-member bench of Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar issued notices to respondents for September 22, 2026, while taking up the writ petition filed by the PCB through advocate Kashif Ali Malik.

The PCB contended that the impugned order was passed in excess of jurisdiction and in violation of the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017. It argued that the Commission had failed to distinguish between information liable to proactive disclosure under Section 5 and information protected under statutory exemptions relating to personal privacy, confidential contractual arrangements, commercially sensitive data, and third-party interests.

Robin Uthappa thinks Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could have a bigger impact on white-ball cricket than Sachin Tendulkar, but the next five years will decide if he stays on track. He pointed to Vinod Kambli and Prithvi Shaw as talents who faded after early promise, and said Sooryavanshi has to stay focused until he turns 20.

Mohammad Kaif believes the 15-year-old should have debuted against Ireland rather than England. He thinks an earlier chance would have helped him settle after winning the Orange Cap in IPL 2026, and that sitting out those matches only added pressure.

Sooryavanshi scored 14, 13 and 15 in his first three T20Is against England before returning to form with 151 runs across three matches against Zimbabwe at an average of 50.33.

Jos Buttler tops the men's run-scoring charts with 226 runs for Manchester Super Giants. Mitchell Marsh sits second on 214 for Sunrisers Leeds. Marcus Stoinis and Richard Gleeson share the wickets lead with nine each.

Laura Wolvaardt leads the women's run-scorers with 161 runs for Southern Brave. Annabel Sutherland has taken six wickets and scored 146 for Sunrisers Leeds. Sophia Dunkley tops the women's strike-rate chart at 168.69.

Welsh Fire levelled Trent Rockets on 16 points after beating Southern Brave. The top two sides go straight to the final, third and fourth play an eliminator.

A report in Dainik Jagran claims India's selectors don't want Rohit Sharma in the 2027 ODI World Cup squad. The selectors reportedly told Rohit after the England series that he wasn't part of their plans.

They felt betrayed when BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia publicly backed the former captain after his 138 at Lord's. The report says the board reversed its position under social media pressure, not because of any shift in performance concerns.

The controversy now touches chief selector Ajit Agarkar's future, with VVS Laxman named as a possible replacement. A final call on the selection committee will come at the BCCI Annual General Meeting in September. Pakistan great Zaheer Abbas has separately argued that age shouldn't matter for Rohit or Virat Kohli if both stay fit.

Ireland has scheduled a full five-match ODI series against Afghanistan starting on August 5. The decision comes despite potential backlash from the England and Wales Cricket Board over governance and protest issues. Ireland will host the matches as part of its international calendar.

The Guardian reported the agreement as a direct scheduling choice by Ireland. The ECB has previously expressed concerns about Afghanistan's cricket administration. Ireland's move signals independence from ECB-aligned positions on the matter.

No specific venues or match dates beyond the August 5 start were confirmed in reports. The series adds to Ireland's bilateral commitments and may affect future scheduling discussions with England.