Afghanistan all-rounder Gulbadin Naib has spoken about his close personal bond with India all-rounder Axar Patel ahead of the second T20I in Indore. Naib said the relationship extends beyond the field and has developed over several years of international cricket. The comments come as Afghanistan look to level the series after losing the opener in Delhi.

Naib did not elaborate on specific conversations but said the friendship helps both players maintain perspective during high-stakes matches. Axar has been a consistent presence in India's limited-overs setup since 2022. The two teams have met regularly across white-ball formats in recent cycles.

The series continues with India holding a 1-0 lead. Afghanistan have yet to beat India in a T20I completed match.

Sunil Gavaskar said Abhishek Sharma's bat swing suggests he could take up golf after his cricket career ends. Gavaskar made the remark during a Sony Sports discussion after Abhishek's 39 off 19 balls helped India chase 160 against Afghanistan on Tuesday.

Gavaskar noted that Abhishek's follow-through extends fully behind him, indicating the timing and power in his shots. He added that Abhishek should look to convert starts into hundreds whenever possible.

Abhishek was caught at deep midwicket off Rashid Khan after striking two fours and four sixes in his innings.

England white-ball coach Brendon McCullum has urged players to make good decisions off the field after an off-field incident involving pacer Brydon Carse. McCullum said professionalism must extend beyond match days if players want to remain in national squads.

The message was reinforced by newly appointed white-ball mentor Kevin Pietersen on his first day with the team at the Utilita Bowl. Pietersen told players to challenge the environment while meeting higher standards.

Carse remains outside the current white-ball squads while the issue is addressed.

Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka said every IPL franchise except Rajasthan Royals is upset that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is not part of their squad. Goenka made the remark on the Shubhankar Mishra podcast while discussing the 15-year-old’s rapid rise. Sooryavanshi was bought by Rajasthan Royals for INR 1.1 crore at the 2025 mega auction.

Goenka said that with Lakshmi Mittal holding majority stakes in RR, the franchise would not release the teenager. He added that if Sooryavanshi ever became available, every other owner would be ready to bid. Goenka praised the batter’s confidence and said he was already a player for big occasions.

Sooryavanshi remains with Rajasthan Royals under a long-term contract.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar said several RCB players advised Rajat Patidar to save an over of his own bowling during the IPL 2026 season. The pacer spoke after the team's title win and described the captain's handling of the bowling attack as calm and clear. Kumar, who returned to the IPL last year, also said he hopes to earn another India call-up after nearly four years away from the side.

Sushma Verma was added to Trinbago Knight Riders' squad in the Women's Caribbean Premier League after Yastika Bhatia left for India A duty. Bhatia captains India A in three ODIs against Australia A starting 20 September.

TKR have already qualified for the final on 17 September in Bridgetown. Verma becomes the sixth Indian player in the WPL 2026 season.

Verma has not featured for India since 2023 and played one previous WPL season with Gujarat Giants in 2023.

Australia have rested Cameron Green and Josh Hazlewood for the three-match ODI series in Zimbabwe that begins on Tuesday. Mitchell Marsh will captain the side and play his 100th ODI during the tour. The decision comes ahead of a packed schedule that includes three ODIs and three Tests in South Africa immediately after.

Brendan Taylor returns behind the stumps for Zimbabwe in his first ODI appearance in a year. Marsh won the toss and elected to bat first in the opening match at Harare Sports Club. Australia have not played a Test series in South Africa since the 2018 tour.

The rotation leaves Australia with a largely inexperienced pace attack for the opening fixture. Marsh said the series offers valuable preparation for the 2027 World Cup.

The Pakistan Cricket Board is preparing to make sweeping changes to its national selection committee following the 0-3 Test series defeat against England. Chairperson Mohsin Naqvi is expected to remove several members of the current panel.

Former players Aaqib Javed and Wahab Riaz are among those reported to be at risk of losing their positions. The changes may extend to the women's team and coaching staff as the board reviews its structure.

The overhaul follows Pakistan's loss of 11 WTC points for a slow over-rate in the third Test at Edgbaston.

South Africa all-rounder Marizanne Kapp has pulled out of the WBBL 2026 season with one year remaining on her Melbourne Stars contract. Kapp cited her international commitments as the reason for the withdrawal.

The Stars have re-signed Dani Gibson and Amy Jones as replacements for the upcoming season. Kapp had been a key overseas player for the franchise in previous campaigns.

Her departure leaves the Stars seeking additional overseas options ahead of the 2026-27 tournament window.

Australia wicketkeeper Josh Inglis has been ruled out of the remaining two ODIs against South Africa after fracturing his finger during the series opener in Durban. Inglis suffered the injury while attempting a reverse sweep and will return to Australia for scans.

Alex Carey has been recalled to the squad and will resume wicketkeeping duties after playing as a specialist batter in Australia's recent series against Zimbabwe. Inglis's availability for the subsequent three-match Test series remains subject to further assessment.

The injury leaves Australia's middle order without several members from their 2023 World Cup final lineup. Matthew Renshaw scored a century from number six against Zimbabwe and will be expected to anchor the innings on South African pitches.

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.

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.

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 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.