Pakistan captain Babar Azam stated that the Pakistan Cricket Board's decision to send seven players home and dismiss two coaches midway through the England Test series was news to him. The move followed consecutive defeats at Headingley and Lord's.

The PCB removed Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq and five other players from the tour, along with head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul. Babar confirmed he received no prior indication that such changes were under consideration.

The PCB has yet to issue a detailed statement explaining the criteria used for the mid-series overhaul. The remaining squad completed the Headingley and Lord's fixtures under interim leadership.

South Africa have included David Miller and Quinton de Kock in their ODI squad for the upcoming series against Australia. Fast bowler Gerald Coetzee returns to the 50-over side for the first time since the 2023 World Cup.

The three-match ODI series forms part of South Africa's preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup. Namibia will host the opening leg of the tour before the sides move to Australia for the remaining matches.

Miller and de Kock add experience to a squad that has undergone significant transition since the last ODI World Cup cycle. Leus du Plooy has left Middlesex to pursue a South Africa return but is not part of the current ODI group.

Chennai Super Kings posted an adorable video of all-rounder Matthew Short's son wearing his father's full-size jersey and cap after the IPL 2026 season. Short was acquired by the franchise for 1.50 crore rupees at the 2026 auction.

The video shows the child walking around in the oversized kit, drawing attention from fans online. Short featured for CSK during the season after joining from overseas.

The franchise has used such family moments to connect with supporters throughout the campaign. Short's acquisition marked CSK's investment in overseas all-round options for the season.

East Zone pacer Mukesh Kumar said the plan was for the bowlers to keep the ball in good areas and let the batters handle the risks on a wearing red-soil pitch. He stressed the importance of maintaining the ball's condition throughout long spells.

Mohammed Shami and Mukesh each claimed two wickets as South Zone closed day three at 242 for six. East lead by 466 runs.

The pair will aim to exploit any reverse swing on day four with the older ball.

Mumbai and Rajasthan Royals pacer Tushar Deshpande said his 153 kph-plus delivery in the Duleep Trophy depended on maintaining rhythm rather than raw effort. He bowled the spell while representing Mumbai in the tournament.

Deshpande indicated the speed burst has renewed his hopes of an India comeback after limited opportunities in recent seasons. He has not played an international match since 2023.

Selectors have yet to confirm whether the performance will prompt a recall for the upcoming limited-overs series. Deshpande said consistent domestic output remains the priority.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board released a T20I series promo that triggered objections from Pakistan after the clip showed PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan. Pakistan reportedly raised the issue with the Afghanistan board and the International Cricket Council over the map depiction.

DNA India reported the dispute surfaced within hours of the video's release. The clip was part of pre-series publicity ahead of the T20I matches between the two sides.

Both boards have not issued a joint statement. The matter remains under discussion between the cricket bodies and the ICC.

Ricky Ponting joined Australia Champions as an owner ahead of the World Championship of Legends season three. David Warner will captain the side in the tournament.

Ponting's involvement marks his first formal ownership stake in a franchise side. Warner returns to the leadership role after stepping away from international cricket.

The tournament schedule and venue details are yet to be confirmed.

India will host West Indies for a five-match T20I series beginning at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on October 6. Shreyas Iyer will captain the side, with Tilak Varma named vice-captain. The remaining matches are scheduled for Ranchi on October 9, Indore on October 11, Hyderabad on October 14 and Bengaluru on October 17.

India enter the series after winning the Asian Games gold medal and defeating West Indies 2-1 in the preceding ODI series. West Indies avoided a clean sweep by chasing 352 in the third ODI through Shai Hope's unbeaten 162. Both teams were fined for slow over-rates in that match, with India docked 20 percent and West Indies 10 percent of their match fees.

The India squad includes Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav and Naman Dhir. West Indies will be led by Shai Hope.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam says he was not consulted before the PCB sent seven players home and altered the coaching staff during the ongoing Test series against England. Azam said the decisions came as a surprise to him as well.

The changes followed Pakistan's two defeats in the first two Tests at Old Trafford and Headingley. The board launched an internal inquiry into the team's performance and personnel.

Azam confirmed he remains fit to lead in the final Test at Edgbaston, where Pakistan will field a significantly reshaped squad.

Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar took two wickets each as East Zone reduced South Zone to 242 for six on day three of the Duleep Trophy final at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. East Zone had posted 708 in their first innings.

Shami and Mukesh bowled attacking lengths that made the surface appear easier than it was for the batters. South Zone trailed by 466 runs at stumps.

An umpire pulled up Shami during the session over excess sweat on the ball under MCC laws. East Zone maintained their grip on the match heading into day four.

Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar each took two wickets on day three as East Zone cut South Zone down to 242 for six in the Duleep Trophy final. South Zone trail by 466 runs after East posted 708 in their first innings.

Umpires stepped in during the final session when they spotted excess sweat on the ball, with South Zone already five down in their chase.

Tilak Varma finished unbeaten on 53, carrying his bat through the final overs at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Ricky Ponting has acquired an ownership stake in Australia Champions ahead of the World Championship of Legends season three. David Warner will captain the side in the tournament scheduled later this year.

Ponting's involvement marks his first formal franchise role since retiring from playing. Warner returns to competitive cricket after stepping away from the Australian set-up following the 2024 T20 World Cup.

The squad will be finalised once remaining player signings are confirmed. Several other former Australia players are expected to feature in the team.

South Zone reached 242 for six at stumps on day three of the Duleep Trophy final against East Zone at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on 53 while Shreyas Gopal fell on the cusp of stumps.

East Zone had posted 708 in their first innings, led by Ishan Kishan's 270. Mohammad Shami and Mukesh Kumar each claimed two wickets for the visitors as South Zone's middle order collapsed.

South Zone still trails by 466 runs with four wickets remaining. The match enters day four with the visitors needing one more substantial partnership to avoid an innings defeat.

Adelaide Strikers batter Travis Head has confirmed that England all-rounder Ben Stokes will stay with him ahead of the 2026-27 Big Bash League season. Stokes, who retired from international cricket earlier this year, is set to play for the Strikers as an overseas signing.

Head said the arrangement gives Stokes immediate local support and a familiar training environment. The two players have shared dressing rooms during previous Ashes and IPL campaigns.

Stokes is expected to arrive in Adelaide in November. The Strikers have not yet released their full overseas roster for the upcoming season.

On-field umpire Virender Sharma pulled up Mohammed Shami during the 60th over of South Zone's second innings on day three of the Duleep Trophy final in Chennai. The incident occurred with South Zone five wickets down in their chase of East Zone's first-innings score of 708.

Shami and Mukesh Kumar took two wickets each as East Zone reduced South Zone to 242 for six by stumps. South Zone trails by 466 runs.

Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on 53 for South Zone at the close.

Former India batter Yuvraj Singh and BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla extended birthday wishes to India's Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill on Tuesday. Gill turned 27 and received messages from both figures acknowledging his leadership role across formats. His net worth exceeds 30 crore rupees, supported by his 16.5 crore IPL salary with Gujarat Titans, a five crore BCCI contract, and brand endorsements.

Gill recently scored 40 runs off 21 balls at a strike rate of 190.48 in his first T20 innings since the IPL 2026 final. The birthday messages coincide with Gill's continued captaincy across Test and ODI sides. His commercial portfolio includes deals with Puma, CEAT and boAt.

Gill holds multiple ODI records, including the fastest Indian to reach 1,000, 2,000 and 3,000 ODI runs. He is also the youngest player to score an ODI double century.