Former Indian all-rounder believes discarded Team India pacer T Natarajan could be a perfect fit with the Chennai Super Kings ahead of the IPL 2027 auction.
Former Indian all-rounder R Ashwin said discarded India pacer T Natarajan could be a perfect fit with the Chennai Super Kings ahead of the IPL 2027 auction. Natarajan has not featured in the Indian side since 2024.
Ashwin highlighted Natarajan's ability to bowl yorkers at the death and his consistency in domestic cricket as reasons for a potential CSK move. The left-arm seamer has been playing for Tamil Nadu in recent seasons.
CSK's pace attack has undergone changes in recent years, and Ashwin believes Natarajan could add experience to the unit if acquired at the next auction.
Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam has returned to first-class cricket for the first time since 2019 by signing for OGDCL in the President's Trophy Grade 1 tournament.
Babar has not scored a Test century since December 2022 and requested the PCB to find him a domestic side to regain red-ball form. Several other Pakistan internationals are also featuring in the competition.
The board has encouraged established players to participate in domestic cricket ahead of future international assignments.
Sunil Gavaskar says East Zone's approach in the Duleep Trophy final shows why India struggle to bat long innings in Test cricket.
Sunil Gavaskar criticised East Zone's approach in the Duleep Trophy final and linked it to India's ongoing struggles in Test cricket. He questioned how a team can learn to bat long periods when domestic finals are approached with limited-overs mindsets.
Gavaskar said the conditions and tactics in the final did not replicate the demands of Test cricket. He argued that players need exposure to attritional situations to develop the technique required at international level.
The comments come as India prepare for upcoming Test series and continue to search for consistent top-order combinations.
Kent will be without Bangladesh fast bowler Hasan Mahmud for the remainder of the County Championship after the BCB withdrew him ahead of a packed international schedule. Mahmud took 30 wickets in seven appearances for Kent this season before the recall.
The move leaves Kent short of a frontline seamer for the closing matches of their Division Two campaign. The club has not named a replacement for the remaining fixtures.
Mahmud's departure follows a strong stint in which he provided consistent wicket-taking threat on English pitches. Kent now face the task of covering his workload with existing squad options.
McCullum says he brought in Kevin Pietersen to challenge him on improving England cricket and expects the former batter to stay until the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Brendon McCullum has brought Kevin Pietersen into the England setup as a white-ball mentor, giving him a clear brief: look at everything and push back on the head coach. Pietersen started the role ahead of Tuesday's T20I series against Sri Lanka in Southampton and is set to stay through the 2027 ODI World Cup.
McCullum wants him to roam the environment and say what isn't working. The move sits inside a wider push to lift standards across the limited-overs side.
On his first day Pietersen watched training at the Utilita Bowl, then spoke to the squad; the players left the session visibly fired up.
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi plans major shake-up, including changes to the national selection committee.
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi plans a major shake-up that could include changes to the national selection committee. Reports indicate that former player Aaqib Javed is at risk of losing his position after Pakistan's poor performance in England.
The changes may extend to the women's team and coaching personnel. Naqvi is conferring with his team and board members to finalize the direction ahead.
The review follows Pakistan's 3-0 Test series defeat in England and the subsequent loss of 11 WTC points for a slow over-rate in the third Test.
Rajeev Shukla confirms Mohsin Naqvi did not object when India informed him the women's team would not accept the Asia Cup trophy.
BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla said Mohsin Naqvi raised no objection when told the Indian women's team would not accept the Asia Cup trophy from him. Shukla described the decision as a collective board stance that had been communicated to the ACC in advance.
India beat Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the Dubai final on Sunday. The team had already informed the ACC of its position before the match, and Naqvi accepted the arrangement without protest.
It was the second straight year an Indian side has declined to take the trophy from Naqvi after the men's team did the same in 2025. Shukla said the interaction between Devajit Saikia and Naqvi during the final was a routine exchange.
Melbourne Stars confirm two English re-signings for WBBL|12 but announce Marizanne Kapp will miss the season.
Melbourne Stars have re-signed two English players for WBBL|12 while confirming that Meg Lanning's replacement, overseas marquee signing Ellyse Perry, will be joined by another English recruit. The club also confirmed that South African all-rounder Marizanne Kapp will not feature in the upcoming season.
The Stars have made their first roster moves ahead of the new campaign and are balancing international availability with domestic requirements. Kapp's absence creates a gap in the all-round department that the club will need to address through other signings or local options.
The WBBL|12 season is scheduled to begin later this year, and the Stars are aiming to improve on their previous campaign finish.
Kris Srikkanth criticised India's decision to drop Vaibhav Sooryavanshi from the first T20I against Afghanistan despite his Player of the Series performance in Zimbabwe.
Former India captain and chief selector Kris Srikkanth questioned the team's decision to leave Vaibhav Sooryavanshi out of the first T20I against Afghanistan. The 15-year-old was named Player of the Series after India's 3-0 sweep in Zimbabwe, yet India chose Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson as openers at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Srikkanth said even his wife had asked why the teenager was excluded.
India won the opening match by seven wickets with Jasprit Bumrah taking his 350th T20 wicket. The team management retained the same XI for the second match despite calls for Sooryavanshi to play. ESPNcricinfo reported that the teenager warmed the bench while India chased a repeat of the near-perfect opener.
Srikkanth criticised the inconsistent selection of both Sooryavanshi and Samson. He urged clearer selection policies after the teenager scored heavily in the Duleep Trophy for East Zone before the series began.
VB Chandrasekhar, the former India batter who influenced MS Dhoni's IPL career, died by suicide at age 65 amid mounting debt.
VB Chandrasekhar, the former Tamil Nadu batter, died by suicide. He was 65.
Chandrasekhar made his first-class debut at 25 and scored 551 runs in Tamil Nadu's 1987-88 Ranji Trophy title-winning campaign. He played seven ODIs for India, scoring 88 runs with one half-century before his international career ended abruptly.
Off the field he stayed influential, hosting Rahul Dravid during league cricket in Chennai and serving on India's national selection panel. His final major contribution came in 2008 when he bid $1.5 million for MS Dhoni on behalf of Chennai Super Kings at the inaugural IPL auction.
Further sackings reported as PCB continues structural overhaul.
The Pakistan Cricket Board is set for additional changes following recent turmoil, with chairman Mohsin Naqvi expected to take further decisions in the coming days. Reports indicate alterations to the national selection committee and the release of former Test cricketer Aqib Javed from his duties as senior selector.
Naqvi has already overseen several structural adjustments since taking charge. The latest moves follow ongoing scrutiny of the board's performance and governance.
No official timeline has been released for the expected announcements.
Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq questioned as part of England tour investigation.
Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan spent two hours answering questions for the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency. The probe is looking into possible corruption during Pakistan's tour of England, and Rizwan's phone was examined along with Imam-ul-Haq's.
Rizwan said he is cooperating fully and waiting for the inquiry to finish. So far, no formal charges have been flagged, and the PCB hasn't given any timeline for when the investigation might wrap up.
Amritsar Soormas defeated Ludhiana Lions by eight wickets to win the Sher-E-Punjab T20 League 2026. The final was played at the I.S. Bindra Stadium in Mohali on Sunday. Sahaj Dhawan scored an unbeaten half-century and Rahul Kumar remained not out on 42 off 30 balls in the chase.
Amritsar Soormas reached the target with overs to spare. Abhishek Sharma joined the title celebrations via video call after the match. The India opener is part of the Amritsar Soormas squad but was unavailable for the final due to national duties.
The league concluded with Amritsar Soormas claiming the championship after an eight-wicket win over Ludhiana Lions.
Pakistan Under-19 clinched the four-match Youth ODI series against England Under-19 with a 200-run victory in the fourth match at Wormsley on Wednesday. Captain Farhan Yousaf remained unbeaten on 80 from 54 balls as the visitors posted 350 for 4. England were dismissed for 150 in 20.4 overs.
Farhan, Usman Khan and Jahangir Bilal all scored half-centuries, while Ahmed Hussain contributed 63. Ahmed then took 3 for 16 in 2.4 overs to lead the bowling attack. Subhaan Ali was England's most successful bowler with 2 for 55.
The series win gives Pakistan a 4-1 margin after they had lost the third match by two runs. Farhan's side now return home with the trophy secured.
England white-ball coach Brendon McCullum has told Brydon Carse to get his house in order before any return to the national side. McCullum said the fast bowler must make better decisions both on and off the field. The message follows Carse's off-field incident that led to his removal from the Pakistan tour squad.
Kevin Pietersen, newly appointed as a white-ball mentor, reinforced the same point on his first day with the team. Pietersen addressed players at the Utilita Bowl and told them to challenge the environment while meeting higher standards. McCullum said he had driven Pietersen's recruitment to bring external scrutiny to the setup.
The coach warned that professionalism must extend beyond match days. Carse remains outside the current white-ball squads while the issue is addressed.
PCB schedules longer-format U19 events to aid national team selection pathway.
The Pakistan Cricket Board released the schedule for its longer-format national Under-19 tournaments. The events give players a chance to earn spots in the Pakistan U19 side.
Multi-day matches will make up the tournaments, giving players time to build the skills they need at the international level. The initial announcement left dates and venues open.
The board described the move as part of its wider youth development programme.
Nitish Kumar Reddy said the confidence gained from his three-wicket haul in India's second T20I against Afghanistan was exactly what he needed as he continues his comeback from injury. The 22-year-old was named Player of the Match after returning figures of 3 for 24 as India restricted Afghanistan to 159 for 8.
Reddy had spoken about the work done at the BCCI Centre of Excellence to get his body back to full fitness after an underwhelming outing in the series opener. He highlighted the backing he has received from the Indian team management since breaking into the side.
The all-rounder said managing his body is particularly important given the workload of being an all-rounder and that injuries can be mentally taxing. He credited conversations with close friends and family for helping him cope with the fatigue during long periods at the Centre of Excellence.
Varun Chakravarthy ruled out of Asian Games; Vipraj Nigam replaces him in squad.
Varun Chakravarthy has been ruled out of the 2026 Asian Games after sustaining a side strain during the first T20I against Afghanistan in New Delhi. The 35-year-old felt discomfort in his left lateral abdominal region while bowling his third over and scans confirmed the injury.
Uncapped leg-spinning all-rounder Vipraj Nigam has been added to the squad as his replacement. Chakravarthy still completed his four-over spell and finished with figures of one for 16 before being withdrawn from the remaining matches. Ravi Bishnoi came into the playing XI for the second T20I.
India begin their Asian Games campaign on September 28 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, after playing a one-off T20I against Japan on September 22.
India face selection questions for the remaining Afghanistan T20Is after Varun Chakravarthy suffered a fresh side strain.
Varun Chakravarthy has been ruled out of the remaining Afghanistan T20Is after suffering a side strain following the series opener. The 35-year-old spinner completed his full four-over quota in the opening match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium before the fresh injury emerged.
Chakaravarthy will fly to Bengaluru to meet the Centre of Excellence medical team on Wednesday. The injury has placed his participation in the Asian Games in Japan, scheduled to begin on October 22, in doubt.
India must now rely on its existing spin resources for the remaining two matches against Afghanistan without a confirmed replacement.
Jemimah Rodrigues has been ruled out of the Asian Games 2026 squad after sustaining a hamstring injury during The Hundred. The injury also kept her out of the ongoing Women's Asia Cup.
Pratika Rawal has been named as her replacement in the squad. Rodrigues has been a middle-order mainstay for India across formats.
The Asian Games are scheduled to begin on October 22 in Japan. India will look to defend their gold medal from the previous edition.
