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Every story, honestly stated — and remembered.

Aug 31

PCB investigates repeat injury claims involving Pakistan opener

PCB investigates whether Imam-ul-Haq faked injury to avoid batting against England.

The PCB is investigating whether Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq faked a left calf injury to avoid batting against England despite the team needing runs. The probe follows his withdrawal from the second Test at Lord's.

A report claims Imam is a repeat offender, with the board having considered banning him after a 2025 probe allegedly found he had faked an injury on an earlier occasion.

The latest inquiry will examine medical documentation and the sequence of events that led to his absence from Pakistan's second innings at Lord's.

Aug 31

Bangladesh Cricket Board chairman expressed optimism that India will tour Bangladesh for a six-match white-ball series during the 2026-27 season. The series has been pending for several years.

The BCB has been working to finalise bilateral commitments with several boards, and the chairman indicated that discussions with the BCCI are progressing positively.

No dates have been confirmed for the proposed tour, but the BCB expects the series to take place within the 2026-27 season window.

via NDTV Sports
BreakingNewsAug 31

Mohammad Shami takes stunning caught-and-bowled in Duleep Trophy semifinal

Mohammad Shami produced a moment of sharp athleticism on Tuesday, pulling off a stunning caught-and-bowled dismissal to remove Central Zone all-rounder Harsh Dubey during the Duleep Trophy semifinal. The BCCI Domestic handle shared the clip of Shami's reflex catch.

Central Zone and East Zone finished with identical first-innings totals of 266 after Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's 92 helped East Zone match the target. Harsh Dubey had earlier taken four wickets for Central Zone.

Shami and Mukesh Kumar, who have been overlooked by India selectors recently, have delivered for East Zone with the ball in the semifinal.

BreakingNewsAug 31

Trent Boult takes 5 for 24 as ETPL bowlers set new T20 career bests

New Zealand's Trent Boult recorded career-best T20 figures of 5 for 24 against Glasgow Cosmic on August 27, surpassing his previous best of 4 for 13 against Sri Lanka in 2022. The figures came in the inaugural ICC-sanctioned ETPL tournament.

Mitchell Santner and Anrich Nortje also set new T20 career-best bowling figures during the opening week of the tournament. The three international bowlers recorded their best performances in the new competition.

The ETPL has drawn attention for providing established international players with opportunities to post career-best numbers in a sanctioned T20 environment.

Aug 31

Salman Ali Agha released from Pakistan squad after Lord's Test defeat

All-rounder Salman Ali Agha has been released from Pakistan's squad and will not travel to Edgbaston for the third Test against England. He was dropped for the Lord's match, which Pakistan lost by 194 runs.

The decision follows Pakistan's heavy defeat in the second Test at Lord's, where the team was bowled out for 194 while chasing 390. Ollie Robinson took eight wickets in the match.

Pakistan will finalise their squad for the final Test at The Oval after assessing available options following the Lord's result.

BreakingNewsAug 31

Tilak Varma's unbeaten 51 guides South Zone to Duleep Trophy final against East Zone

Tilak Varma anchors chase after first-innings century; South Zone reach Duleep final.

Tilak Varma

Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on 51 from 79 balls as South Zone completed a seven-wicket win over North Zone on the fourth morning in Bengaluru. The chase was set up after South Zone posted a strong first-innings total.

Varma had earlier scored 116 not out from 250 balls after South Zone slipped to 80 for five in the first innings. He said red-ball cricket sits in his blood and he has always loved the longer format.

East Zone, led by Ishan Kishan, will meet South Zone in the final at Chepauk from September 6. Both sides face a tight turnaround before the Afghanistan T20Is begin on September 13.

via Hindustan Times, NDTV Sports
BreakingNewsAug 31

Tilak Varma hits unbeaten 106 as South Zone take 90-run lead over North Zone

Captain Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on 106 from 219 balls as South Zone reached 285 for nine against North Zone in the Duleep Trophy semi-final at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. The innings gave South Zone a first-innings lead of 90 runs heading into day three.

Tilak Varma and Shreyas Gopal added 175 runs for the sixth wicket after South Zone had slipped to 80 for five on the opening day. Shreyas Gopal made 87 before falling on day two.

Tilak Varma reached his hundred with a boundary off pacer Gurnoor Brar. North Zone will need a substantial response in their second innings to stay in the match.

BreakingNewsAug 31

PCB considered banning Imam-ul-Haq after 2025 fake-injury probe: Report

A report claims the Pakistan Cricket Board considered banning Imam-ul-Haq after a 2025 probe allegedly found he faked an injury, amid fresh scrutiny over his latest injury row.

The PCB has launched a high-level investigation into Imam-ul-Haq's controversial absence at Lord's during the ongoing Test series in England. Imam will return home while the board examines the circumstances.

Misbah-ul-Haq resigned from the PCB selection committee on September 1, citing a lack of consultation over the Test squad sent to England.

BreakingNewsAug 31

PCB investigates Imam-ul-Haq injury as Misbah-ul-Haq steps down from selection committee

The PCB has launched a high-level investigation into Imam-ul-Haq's injury after he returned home from the England tour. The inquiry follows a 2025 probe that allegedly found the batter faked an injury.

Misbah-ul-Haq has decided to step down from the PCB selection committee after serving his notice period.

Imam will remain under scrutiny while the board examines the circumstances around his latest absence at Lord's.

BreakingNewsAug 31

PCB investigates Imam-ul-Haq injury after Lord's withdrawal

The PCB is investigating Imam-ul-Haq's calf injury after he was ruled out of the second Test at Lord's.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has opened a high-level inquiry into Imam-ul-Haq's calf strain, the injury that kept him out of the second Test at Lord's. He picked up the problem fielding on day one and never came out to bat in Pakistan's second innings.

A report says the board weighed a ban after a 2025 probe found he had faked an earlier injury. The new inquiry will look at the timing and details of this latest withdrawal.

Imam is already on his way home while the investigation runs. The move piles more pressure on a player whose fitness record has been under the spotlight since the tour began.

via Hindustan Times, India Today, Geo Super
Aug 31

Imam-ul-Haq's latest injury revives questions over 2025 New Zealand episode

PCB sources said Imam-ul-Haq's calf injury at Lord's could face renewed scrutiny given his past injury controversy during the 2025 New Zealand tour.

PCB sources indicated that Imam-ul-Haq's latest calf injury at Lord's could face scrutiny due to his past controversy. The opener was ruled out of the second Test after suffering the strain while fielding.

Imam's previous injury episode during the 2025 New Zealand tour drew similar questions about its severity. The latest incident has prompted internal discussions within the board.

The PCB has not confirmed whether any formal review of the injury will take place. Imam returned home after being ruled out of the Lord's Test.

VerifiedTransferAug 31

Mayank Agarwal joins Durham for final four County Championship matches

Mayank Agarwal signed a four-game deal with Durham after David Bedingham left for South Africa.

Mayank Agarwal has signed a four-game contract with Durham for the closing phase of the County Championship Division Two season. He replaces David Bedingham, who returned to South Africa.

Agarwal will provide batting depth as Durham targets promotion in the final stretch. The India opener has played 21 Tests and holds a first-class average above 50.

Durham sits in the promotion spots and needs consistent results in the remaining fixtures. Agarwal's arrival gives the county an experienced top-order option for the run-in.

VerifiedNewsAug 31

The PCB has launched a high-level investigation into Imam-ul-Haq's calf injury that ruled him out of the second Test at Lord's. The opener will return home while the board examines the circumstances surrounding his absence.

Imam suffered the strain while fielding on the first day and did not bat in Pakistan's second innings. The decision follows earlier reports that the PCB considered banning the batter after a 2025 probe found he had faked an injury.

The inquiry will review medical reports and the sequence of events leading to his withdrawal. No timeline has been set for completing the investigation.

via Hindustan Times, India Today, Geo Super
InterviewAug 31

AB de Villiers urges coaches to give Dewald Brevis fixed batting slot

AB de Villiers wants Dewald Brevis to stop shifting up and down the order. The South African great called the CSK batter the youngster who's impressed him most in international cricket so far.

Brevis has hit two straight 75s in the ongoing T20I tri-series. He followed his unbeaten 75 off 32 against Zimbabwe by earning praise from the man he grew up watching. De Villiers said he hopes coaches will settle on a spot and leave it there.

TransferAug 31

Krunal Pandya in contention for India T20I return as Axar Patel alternative

Krunal Pandya is on BCCI's radar for the T20I series against Afghanistan, a possible replacement for Axar Patel.

Krunal Pandya

Krunal Pandya is reportedly under consideration for India's three-match T20I series against Afghanistan beginning September 13 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru all-rounder has emerged as a potential alternative to Axar Patel, whose recent performances have not produced the returns expected.

Krunal's impressive IPL campaign has brought him back into the selection conversation according to a Times of India report. The left-arm spinner could replace Axar in the squad if selectors decide a change is needed.

India face Afghanistan in the T20I series as part of their preparation for upcoming limited-overs commitments. The selection decision will test whether Krunal's domestic form translates to international cricket.

via News18, CricTracker, Zee News
Aug 31

England face selection dilemma ahead of Bethell's return

England's selectors must decide which batter to drop when Jacob Bethell returns to the Test squad. The all-rounder has recovered from injury and is available for selection.

Bethell's inclusion would create a difficult choice among the current middle-order options. England have named a settled XI in recent matches.

The decision will likely be made ahead of the final Test against Pakistan at The Oval.

Aug 31

BCB president confirms India white-ball series talks ongoing

BCB president Tamim Iqbal confirmed that talks with the BCCI over a rescheduled white-ball series remain active.

BCB president Tamim Iqbal confirmed that talks with the BCCI over a white-ball series remain active. The three ODIs and three T20Is were originally planned for August 2025 but were postponed amid political tensions.

Both boards are searching for a mutually acceptable window for the tour. The previous series arrangement collapsed when relations between the countries deteriorated.

Iqbal said the boards are working to find suitable dates but did not provide a timeline for an announcement.

via NDTV Sports
Aug 31

PCB recommended banning Imam-ul-Haq for faking injury in 2025

A report claims that the PCB recommended banning Imam-ul-Haq after a 2025 committee probe allegedly found he had faked an injury. The recommendation was made after an earlier investigation into similar conduct.

The latest controversy involves Imam's calf injury that ruled him out of the second Test at Lord's. The PCB has now launched a fresh high-level investigation into the circumstances of his withdrawal.

The 2025 probe findings add weight to questions about whether the current injury claim follows a pattern of behaviour previously examined by the board.

Aug 31

Novak Djokovic loses in first round of US Open 2026

Novak Djokovic suffered a shock first-round exit at the US Open 2026, his first opening-round defeat at a major since the 2006 Australian Open.

Novak Djokovic suffered a first-round exit at the US Open 2026. The 39-year-old had not lost in the opening round of a Grand Slam since the 2006 Australian Open.

Djokovic described the defeat as an awful feeling on court. His only other first-round loss at a major came at the 2005 Australian Open.

The result ends Djokovic's 2026 Grand Slam campaign in the first week.

OfficialNewsAug 31

Jasprit Bumrah likely to return for Asian Games 2026 after knee injury

Jasprit Bumrah could make his return to competitive cricket at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. The India fast bowler is progressing well in his recovery from a knee injury sustained during India's ODI tour of England in July.

The 32-year-old pacer has been undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. His return date remains unconfirmed.

Bumrah's availability for the Asian Games will depend on his continued recovery progress over the coming months.

Editorially curated cricket coverage · May contain inaccuracies. Verify from official sources.