Todd Greenberg said Cricket Australia must balance the need for meaningful ODIs against potential revenue loss from removing bilateral series.
Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg said the bilateral ODIs need more meaning, yet he also flagged the money that could disappear if those series vanish from the schedule. He knows standalone matches lack the storylines that pull crowds.
The financial hit from dropping ODIs needs careful thought, he added. The 50-over game must find its place beside franchise leagues and still feed into the World Cup cycle.
Several boards are already under pressure to explain three-match series to broadcasters while viewers drift toward T20.
Rhodes believes standalone bilateral ODIs will reduce while the World Cup keeps the format alive.
Former South Africa batter Jonty Rhodes said 50-over cricket could face pressure in the coming years as T20 continues to attract new audiences. Rhodes spoke at the jersey launch of ETPL's Rotterdam Dockers franchise in Mumbai.
Rhodes said bilateral ODI series will likely decrease while the 50-over World Cup retains its relevance. He noted that T20 has not damaged Test cricket but that the 50-over format may be the one squeezed between the two.
South Africa will host the next ODI World Cup. Rhodes said the country is looking forward to the event and hopes to win its first ICC white-ball trophy.
Raman urged selectors to give Pant freedom to play his aggressive brand of cricket rather than asking him to change his approach.
Former India batter WV Raman said Rishabh Pant must be allowed to bat aggressively in Test cricket rather than being asked to adopt a conventional defensive approach. Raman argued that Pant's trained reflexes are faster than any instruction to play within himself, and forcing him into a defensive mindset would create conflict.
Pant averages 43.37 in red-ball cricket and has won Test matches abroad from difficult situations through his attacking style. Raman said Pant deserves the licence to play his natural game because that is when he performs at his best.
Pant made 2 and 28 in India's warm-up match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI in Galle. Dhruv Jurel and Ishan Kishan have both pushed for greater opportunities in the wicketkeeper-batter role.
Gill set a clear target of six or seven wins from nine Tests as India begin their push for the WTC 2027 final against Sri Lanka.
India captain Shubman Gill said the team must win around six or seven of its remaining nine Tests to reach the World Test Championship 2027 final. He was speaking on the eve of India's 600th Test, which begins against Sri Lanka in Galle on August 15.
India sit fifth in the WTC points table. Gill pointed out that the extra preparation time on this tour, including a 10-day acclimatisation period and a three-day warm-up, should help the side adjust to conditions.
India haven't played a Test since early June. Most players need time to settle, and Gill believes the longer window gives them a better chance in the two-match series.
Middlesex and Leicestershire advance to the One-Day Cup final after respective semi-final victories over Durham and Nottinghamshire.
Middlesex reached their first List A final for 36 years after beating Durham by two wickets in the One-Day Cup semi-final at Radlett. Luke Hollman's unbeaten 83 guided them to victory and set up a final against Leicestershire at Trent Bridge.
Leicestershire advanced to their second One-Day Cup final in four years with a 23-run victory over Nottinghamshire at Grace Road. They will face Middlesex in Sunday's final.
Both semi-finals produced competitive encounters that showcased the depth of talent in the domestic one-day competition.
Priyansh Arya has struck at 211 in IPL 2026 and says he is unconcerned by competition for India's opening spots.
Priyansh Arya has 364 runs at 211 in the 2026 IPL for Punjab Kings. The 25-year-old Delhi opener says his approach is instinctive — he watches the ball and trusts his instincts when the chance comes. He hit 475 runs at 179 last season.
Arya keeps the negative thoughts out, no matter the risk. He credits opening partner Prabhsimran Singh for the guidance during their record partnerships and values the senior batter's seven to eight years of IPL experience.
He has also opened with 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in India A's tri-series and spent time with Yuvraj Singh last year. Competition for India spots among the young openers doesn't bother him — performance is all that matters.
Gary Kirsten backed Gautam Gambhir to deliver another ICC title at the 2027 ODI World Cup based on his previous successes.
Gary Kirsten worked with Gautam Gambhir during his playing days and says the former opener's record speaks for itself. Gambhir has already guided India to the 2025 Champions Trophy and the 2026 T20 World Cup, and Kirsten thinks the next step is the 2027 ODI World Cup at home.
Kirsten also points to Gambhir's time with Kolkata Knight Riders, where he led them to the 2024 IPL title. He calls Gambhir a smart cricketer and expects the same instincts to carry over into coaching.
Kirsten spent three years as India coach himself and says the players made him feel welcome. He has taken the same approach into his current job with Sri Lanka.
The value is lower than BCCI bilateral rates but still lucrative for Afghanistan.
Sony and Fancode acquired the media rights for the three-match India-Afghanistan T20I series in Delhi next month. The collective rights value will fetch the Afghanistan Cricket Board around $2 million per match, significantly higher than revenue from any other bilateral series. ITW Universe, the ACB's global consulting partners, struck the deal with Sony for television rights on Thursday. Fancode holds the digital rights. Nearly 90 per cent of on-ground sponsorship inventory has already been sold despite the late announcement. The series is scheduled for September 13-17, though organisers are adjusting dates to accommodate Ganesh Chaturthi and a weekend match. The per-match value is lower than the ₹68 crore JioStar paid for Afghanistan's previous series as part of the BCCI's long-term rights package.
Mohammed Kaif has asked why top experts are turning down BCCI sports science roles despite the board's resources and the team's injury problems.
Former India batter Mohammed Kaif has questioned why the Board of Control for Cricket in India has failed to appoint a head for sports science at the Centre of Excellence for over a year amid the national side's current injury crisis. India's fitness situation has unravelled over the last fortnight, with several key international stars out injured ahead of the two-match Test tour to Sri Lanka.
In a recent press conference in Bengaluru, CoE head VVS Laxman revealed that the BCCI had come close to appointing Nitin Patel's successor but failed after the top candidate backed out citing family reasons. Kaif said he was surprised because the BCCI pays well and many people are eager to work with the board. He added that the current injury situation is having a significant impact on the team.
Hasan Mahmud's 6 for 55 led Bangladesh's attack as Australia collapsed to their lowest score against them while Mitchell Starc claimed a left-arm bowling record.
Hasan Mahmud claimed career-best figures of 6 for 55 to bowl Australia out for 198 on the opening day of the first Test in Darwin. It was Australia's lowest innings total in seven Tests against Bangladesh. Steve Smith top-scored with 71 but the rest of the batting order struggled on a surface that assisted seam movement.
Mitchell Starc took his 434th Test wicket when he dismissed Shadman Islam, moving past Sri Lanka's Rangana Herath as the most successful left-arm bowler in Test history. Bangladesh reached 96 for 1 at stumps with Tanzid Hasan on 32 not out and Mominul Haque on 35 not out, reducing the deficit to 102 runs. The Darwin Test marks Bangladesh's first appearance in Australia in 23 years.
Harbhajan Singh said he has no interest in ODIs and warned that bilateral international cricket risks losing relevance to T20 leagues.
Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh said he has no interest in ODIs and believes bilateral international cricket faces an uncertain future due to the rise of T20 leagues. Speaking to PTI, the former India great who took 269 wickets in 236 ODIs said he would pay to watch Test cricket between top teams but finds ODIs unappealing. He noted that viewership drops for India-Sri Lanka or England-Bangladesh series while India-Australia or Australia-England contests draw strong audiences.
Harbhajan said packed stadiums at IPL, BBL and The Hundred show the shift in fan preferences and that international cricket has taken a backseat. He warned that franchise leagues offer a mix of sport and entertainment that bilateral fixtures struggle to match commercially. His autobiography is scheduled for release later this year.
Steve Smith said technology saved him after surviving an edge that Snicko did not detect on day one of the first Test against Bangladesh in Darwin.
Steve Smith had started walking when the on-field umpire turned down Bangladesh's appeal for a catch behind. The review showed no spike on Snicko, so he returned to the crease.
He scored 71 before tea and later told reporters he felt he had made contact with the ball but accepted the technology ruling. "Technology saved me today," he said.
Bangladesh reduced Australia to 198 on day one, their lowest total against the visitors in seven Tests. Hasan Mahmud took 6 for 55, including Smith's wicket, on a slow, green pitch. Jake Weatherald made 23 and Cameron Green scored 13 as the rest of the batting collapsed. Bangladesh reached 96 for one at stumps, with the series opener at Marrara Oval marking their first Test in Australia in 23 years.
Gupta's directive will force boards to justify every bilateral on commercial or competitive grounds.
ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta's call to end 'random' bilaterals signals the sport is moving from an era of free-market scheduling to a curated calendar where every bilateral must carry competitive or commercial value, reshaping how boards plan tours. The change will force smaller boards to justify every tour on commercial or competitive grounds, accelerating a two-tier system where only the big three retain the freedom to schedule freely. Bilateral cricket is decided exclusively by member boards without ICC intervention, and the world body only handles scheduling of multi-national competitions such as the World Cups and the World Test Championship. Gupta said only India, England and Australia can afford to play Tests while other full members struggle to monetise the longest format. The shift also means ODIs will be scheduled primarily around World Cup cycles, reducing the number of standalone bilateral series that have traditionally filled the calendar between major events.
Gupta warned countries cannot sustain cricket without context and competitiveness in bilateral scheduling.
ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta told PTI that the era of randomly scheduled bilateral series has to come to an end. Countries cannot sustain cricket without context, culture, competition and competitiveness, which require significant investment of resources. Gupta said ODIs can continue to survive and thrive because their place is inextricably linked to the men's and women's World Cups. He stressed the need to define what the format stands for and how it should evolve, including the expanse of participation. Bilateral cricket is decided exclusively by member boards without ICC intervention. The world body only handles scheduling of multi-national competitions such as the World Cups and the World Test Championship. Gupta said only India, England and Australia can afford to play Tests while other full members struggle to monetise the longest format. He added that Test cricket needs to be served in a manner appealing to new-age audiences and that prestige events in other sports offer lessons for reinvention.
Murali Kartik says Kuldeep Yadav requires consistent backing to become India's next spin leader in Tests.
Former India spinner Murali Kartik believes Kuldeep Yadav needs a clearly defined role and consistent opportunities to establish himself as India's lead spinner in Test cricket. Kartik said the transition from Ravindra Jadeja makes this an important phase for the wrist-spinner.
Kuldeep has played 18 Tests and taken 79 wickets at an average of 22.35, but his selection has been stop-start. He was omitted from the five-Test tour of England despite questions over his absence during the series.
Kartik said Kuldeep's value lies in his ability to take wickets in different conditions and that he needs certainty in selection to prepare differently for each match.
The 15-year-old India batter turns attention to red-ball cricket ahead of the Duleep Trophy after a breakout IPL and T20I series.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been named East Zone vice-captain for the Duleep Trophy. The 15-year-old just scored his first international fifty against Zimbabwe, and selectors liked the way he handled himself.
Matthew Hayden says the teenager has the temperament for Test cricket. He pointed to the way Sooryavanshi walked into the IPL at his age and stood up to it, treating that as proof he can handle longer formats too.
In IPL 2026 with Rajasthan Royals, he made 776 runs at 237.30, hitting a hundred and five fifties. He collected the Orange Cap, MVP, Emerging Player, Super Striker and Super Sixes awards.
India stuck with Dhruv Jurel over Sarfaraz Khan in the middle order for the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle despite the Mumbai batter's recall to the squad.
India omitted Sarfaraz Khan from the playing XI for the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle despite recalling him as a replacement for injured batter Sai Sudharsan. Dhruv Jurel was preferred in the lower middle order alongside regular wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant. Captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bat first with a familiar line-up that included three spinners. Kuldeep Yadav was included ahead of uncapped Saransh Jain, while Prasidh Krishna partnered Mohammed Siraj in the pace attack. The Galle pitch offered an even grass cover and was not expected to turn sharply from day one. Sri Lanka handed a debut to off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha in place of injured batters Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka.
Afghanistan will host India for a three-match T20I series in New Delhi from September 13 to 17, casting doubt over the proposed Bangladesh tour.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board has confirmed a three-match T20I series against India from September 13 to 17 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. All matches will be played in the Indian capital after the ACB finalised dates with the BCCI.
The schedule clashes with the proposed India tour of Bangladesh, which was due to end on September 13. The third Bangladesh T20I and the first Afghanistan T20I are both set for the same date, making the Bangladesh tour logistically unfeasible unless substantially altered.
The BCCI has not made a public announcement, but the ACB letter states the dates were agreed with Indian authorities. The ACB also informed broadcasters and commercial partners that they could begin preparing for the series.
Sameer Rizvi remains the central figure for Kanpur Superstars as the fourth edition of the Uttar Pradesh T20 League begins in Lucknow. The 22-year-old has delivered consistent firepower across the first three seasons.
Rizvi scored 455 runs in the inaugural season and 365 runs in the second, including a match-winning 57 in the final. Last season he produced several explosive knocks despite the team's early exit.
Team mentor Gyanendra Pandey said the franchise has a balanced squad and expects Rizvi and pacer Mohsin Khan to play key roles in the title push.
Former India spinner Murali Kartik wants Dhruv Jurel to keep his spot for the opening Test against Sri Lanka. Jurel has been in the setup longer, Kartik said, and dropping him after one poor warm-up would signal that selection is shaky.
Sarfaraz Khan came into the 15-man squad only because Sai Sudharsan got injured. His last Test was November 2024, and he hasn't been picked since the Border-Gavaskar Trophy loss.
Kartik argued that Jurel's work with bat and gloves gives him the edge, and that India needs to show patience if they want players to feel secure in the side.
