Hardik Pandya meets BSF jawans while recovering at BCCI Centre of Excellence; remains unavailable for Afghanistan T20Is.
Hardik Pandya was photographed meeting Border Security Force personnel while continuing his rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. The India all-rounder was seen sporting a bald look during the interaction, which has since gone viral on social media.
Pandya has not been named in India's T20I squad for the upcoming series against Afghanistan as he awaits full fitness clearance. He has been working on his recovery programme at the Centre of Excellence facility.
Jasprit Bumrah remains in the squad for the Afghanistan series subject to clearance from the same centre.
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi referenced India while discussing Pakistan's poor form during their ongoing Test tour of England. Pakistan are trailing 0-2 in the three-match series.
The PCB has sent seven players and two members of the coaching staff back to Pakistan midway through the tour. The team's performances have prompted questions about the direction of Pakistan cricket under Naqvi's leadership.
The scrutiny has intensified during the current tour, with the board facing criticism over its handling of the team's struggles. Pakistan's next Test is scheduled at Edgbaston next week.
Mohammad Shami turned 36 while representing East Zone in the Duleep Trophy 2026.
Veteran India pacer Mohammad Shami celebrated his 36th birthday on Thursday, September 3, 2026. He is currently playing for East Zone in the ongoing Duleep Trophy 2026.
Shami was not shortlisted among the five fast bowlers considered for India's upcoming two-match Test series against New Zealand in November. The series will be crucial to India's hopes of reaching next year's World Test Championship final.
Both Tests will be must-win for India if they want to keep their hopes of qualifying for the WTC final alive. Shami continues his domestic comeback through the Duleep Trophy.
Mandhana urged more Indian batters into the global top five after overtaking the all-time run-scoring record.
Smriti Mandhana said she wants three or four Indian batters among the world's top five run-getters after becoming the leading run-scorer in women's international cricket. She reached the milestone with 124 against Hong Kong in the Women's Asia Cup.
Mandhana said the record came while focusing on team totals rather than personal targets. India face Pakistan in their final league match on Saturday and need a win to secure a favourable semi-final position.
She now leads the all-time run-scoring charts and shares the record for most international centuries with former captains Mithali Raj and Meg Lanning.
Abhinav Mukund said selectors face difficult choices over Bumrah's availability for the Afghanistan T20I series.
Jasprit Bumrah and three other India players will undergo fitness tests before the Afghanistan T20I series after completing match simulations from September 4 to 9. The results will determine their availability for the series in New Delhi.
Bumrah is reported to be clinically fit, though he must still complete practice matches before final selection. Mitchell Starc remains unavailable for the series.
Abhinav Mukund said the coming months present a tricky period for selectors who must balance player workload with series demands.
Bumrah is being protected while Shami is being tested for durability, turning selection into a workload chess game.
The BCCI is managing Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami on different fitness timelines ahead of the New Zealand tour. Bumrah is being wrapped in cotton wool after a knee injury in July, while Shami is being asked to prove he can still endure an overseas workload through domestic cricket.
Bumrah will undergo match simulations and fitness tests before the Afghanistan T20I series, with an LSG pacer kept as backup. Shami, at 36, will play his 100th first-class match in the Duleep Trophy final and has taken 382 first-class wickets.
Selectors have kept Shami at arm's length for red-ball duty despite consistent domestic returns. The dual-track approach turns selection into a workload-management decision rather than a straight form assessment.
Jasprit Bumrah may play one Ranji Trophy match before India's Test series against New Zealand later this year. Selectors want to assess his fitness after his last Test against South Africa in 2024.
Bumrah has been named in squads for the Afghanistan T20Is and the Asian Games. His availability depends on recovery from match simulations scheduled between 4 and 9 September.
The board is managing its leading fast bowler ahead of a packed home season that includes multiple Test series. No decision has been taken on whether he will feature in the Ranji Trophy.
Rohit Yadav received a two-year ban after age documents showed three conflicting birth certificates.
The BCCI has imposed a two-year ban on Bengal and India U-19 player Rohit Yadav over discrepancies in his age documents. Yadav had three separate birth certificates that showed conflicting dates.
The board acted after routine verification checks revealed the inconsistencies following his inclusion in the India U-19 squad. Yadav had progressed through Bengal's age-group system before earning the national call-up.
The Cricket Association of Bengal has also taken action against 62 other cricketers over documentation and age-related discrepancies. The BCCI will name a replacement for Yadav before India's Under-19 series against Australia begins.
An England great has called for Babar Azam to resign as Pakistan Test captain following the PCB's mass sackings of coaching staff.
An England great has questioned Babar Azam's authority as Pakistan Test captain following the PCB's mass sackings of coaching staff. The former player suggested Babar should consider resigning from the role.
Calls for Babar's resignation have intensified after the board removed several senior officials in a major restructuring. The captain's position has come under scrutiny despite his strong individual performances.
Pakistan are scheduled to play a three-Test series in Australia later this year. The PCB has not confirmed whether leadership changes will be made before that tour.
Keightley extends with Sydney Thunder for two years while her WPL future with Mumbai Indians remains unclear.
Former Australia head coach Shelley Keightley has signed a two-year extension to remain head coach of Sydney Thunder. She will continue in the role despite uncertainty over her future with Mumbai Indians in the Women's Premier League.
ESPNcricinfo reported the development on Friday. Keightley was appointed to a Cricket Australia development role while Thunder confirmed her continued presence at the club.
The dual commitment leaves her WPL position with Mumbai Indians in doubt. No official confirmation has been issued by the franchise on whether she will return for the next season.
Sri Lanka appointed Charith Asalanka as T20I captain after Kusal Mendis suffered a hamstring injury ahead of the England series.
Sri Lanka named Charith Asalanka as T20I captain for the three-match series in England after Kusal Mendis was ruled out with a right hamstring injury, ESPNcricinfo reported. Binura Fernando was also withdrawn from the squad with a back injury.
Pavan Rathnayake and Dilshan Madushanka have been added as replacements. Rathnayake will provide middle-order batting cover while Madushanka strengthens the pace attack. The series begins next week.
Sri Lanka have not disclosed further details about the withdrawals beyond Mendis's injury. The team will finalise preparations before departing for England.
MCA seeks BCCI approval to document Mumbai’s domestic season with Patrick Graham directing.
The Mumbai Cricket Association has asked the BCCI for permission to film a documentary chronicling the upcoming domestic season.
Filmmaker Patrick Graham has been approached to direct the project, which aims to record the daily workings of Mumbai’s age-group and senior teams. The MCA has not yet confirmed broadcast details.
The request is part of a broader effort by the association to increase visibility for domestic cricket in the state.
A'ja Wilson's withdrawal from the Team USA World Cup squad has sparked debate after ESPN's Linda Cohn questioned the timing of the decision.
WNBA fans have backed ESPN anchor Linda Cohn after she raised questions about A'ja Wilson's withdrawal from the Team USA World Cup squad. The Las Vegas Aces forward pulled out of the tournament citing personal reasons.
Cohn suggested on air that Wilson's decision may be linked to ongoing discussions around Caitlin Clark's national team involvement. The comments sparked debate across social media platforms.
Wilson has not responded to the speculation. Team USA officials have confirmed she will miss the tournament but remain eligible for future selection.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar has named former franchise legend Chris Gayle as the best T20 batter of all time. Patidar made the comment during a recent interview while discussing his five most iconic T20 innings.
Gayle played 140 matches for RCB between 2011 and 2017, scoring 3,996 runs at a strike rate of 151.40. He won two Orange Caps and remains the franchise's highest run-scorer in the competition.
Patidar's list also included innings from Virat Kohli and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The RCB captain has led the side to eight straight wins in IPL 2026.
Jason Gillespie said the PCB’s decision to sack seven players without direct notification showed poor governance.
Jason Gillespie criticised PCB chairman of selectors Aaqib Javed after seven players were sent home from England without direct notification. The sacked players learned of their dismissal through family members rather than official channels.
Gillespie said the handling reflected poorly on the selection process and left players without direct communication from the board. The incident follows earlier concerns about governance at the PCB.
The board has not issued a detailed statement on the criteria used for the removals. The remaining squad continues preparations for the ongoing series.
The Mumbai Cricket Association approached BCCI CEO Hemang Amin for permission to film the Mumbai senior team's entire 2026-27 domestic campaign. The proposed documentary would cover matches across all formats.
The association aims to document the season from pre-season training through the final fixture. BCCI approval is required before any filming can begin.
No decision has been announced. The project would be the first comprehensive behind-the-scenes record of a senior state side's full season.
The IOA has asked the BCCI to cover player costs after refusing special treatment for the cricket contingent.
The Indian Olympic Association has told the BCCI to cover accommodation and travel for India's cricket teams at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. No separate hotels this time under the standard IOA setup.
India are sending full-strength men's and women's sides to defend their gold medals, with the men's event running from September 24 to October 3. They'll also play Japan in a first-ever T20I on September 22, marking 75 years of diplomatic ties.
India's cricket board is pushing for special housing for its Asian Games squad, but the IOA's refusal reveals an emerging power struggle over cricket's place in the multi-sport Games.
The BCCI is considering special housing arrangements for its cricketers during the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. The board wants to avoid the three-star and four-star accommodation currently allocated to athletes. An advance team is evaluating facilities before a final decision.
The Indian Olympic Association has rejected any preferential treatment for cricketers. It maintains that all participants must receive equitable accommodation under the official allocation. The IOA position applies across all sports and delegations.
The standoff reflects cricket's growing influence within India's Olympic movement. The BCCI's financial power and separate logistics capabilities create tension with the IOA's mandate for equal treatment across disciplines.
India and Japan will meet in a one-off T20I in Sano on September 22. The BCCI and the Japan Cricket Association confirmed the fixture, which counts toward the Suzuki Cup and marks 75 years of diplomatic ties between the two nations. Shreyas Iyer will captain India in the match, which doubles as preparation for the Asian Games that open two days later on September 24. The sides have never played each other in T20Is, and this remains India's sole bilateral outing before the multi-team event.
The BCCI is monitoring Vaibhav Sooryavanshi closely to ensure he builds a sustained career rather than becoming a one-season wonder.
The BCCI is keeping a close watch on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and has urged the 15-year-old to follow Sachin Tendulkar's path to a sustained career. Board secretary Devajit Saikia said the focus is on long-term development rather than short-term success.
Sooryavanshi became the youngest male cricketer to represent India during the T20I series in England in July. He is not currently in India's red-ball plans.
Ishan Kishan said the teenager is very smart for his age and knows what he is doing on the field.
