The BCCI has restructured umpire categories and substantially increased their daily match fees for the first time in nearly a decade. Umpires in the top four grades will now receive 60000, 50000, 40000 and 35000 rupees per day respectively.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said an assessing team under the umpires board will evaluate performances and decide postings. At the end of each season, umpires will be promoted or relegated based on merit.

Match referees' fees have also been revised. The board will give its clarification to the Supreme Court on the Sports Governance Act on October 27.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told state units that the board pays an average of 3000 crore rupees in income tax each year. The board has not yet been notified as a designated sport under the National Sports Governance Act, so state associations will continue to conduct elections under their existing constitutions.

Saikia said the BCCI will provide clarification to the Supreme Court on October 27 regarding the Sports Act. The Central Information Commission has already ruled that the BCCI does not fall under the RTI Act definition of a public authority.

The board generates revenue through media rights, sponsorships, broadcasting deals and ticket sales.

Kuldeep Yadav's Yorkshire beat Somerset by 185 runs in a County Championship Division One game on Friday. The spinner went wicketless in his three overs as Yorkshire bowled Somerset out for 101 on the final day to sit fifth in the table.

In another Division One game, seamer Auqib Nabi's Surrey lost to Glamorgan by 184 runs. Chasing a mammoth 612 in the final innings, Nabi was dismissed for 10 as Surrey was bowled out for 427.

In a clash between Jaydev Unadkat and Mukesh Kumar, the veteran pacer's Sussex emerged victorious against Mukesh's Nottinghamshire. Unadkat returned with seven wickets in the game as Sussex won by seven wickets chasing 76.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India will stage the player auction for the 2027 edition of the Indian Premier League in December 2026. The last mini-auction of the 2025-27 cycle will be held in the second week of December, per a report in Cricinfo on Friday.

IPL chairman Arun Singh Dhumal stated that the player auction for the 2027 season is set to be held in India. He said that he is keen to bring the event back home after it was held overseas for the past three years in Dubai, Jeddah and Abu Dhabi.

The 2027 edition of the Women's Premier League will be played from January 14 to February 7, and the player auction will take place at the Grand Hyatt Kochi on October 28. The five franchises will have to submit their list of retained players by September 28.

Akash Deep missed Rahul Dravid's text confirming his Test debut because the former coach's number was not saved on his phone. He spent 11 to 12 hours unsure whether he would play before checking the message again and calling Dravid to apologise.

Deep made his debut against England in Ranchi in February 2024 and took three wickets in his first spell. He viewed the five-day match as an examination of 22 to 23 years of preparation rather than an overwhelming occasion.

Dravid encouraged Deep to bring his family to the match, which was held four to five hours from his home in Bihar. Deep said he will always prioritise bowling but will bat when India needs runs from the lower order.

Alfonso Thomas said the 27-point deduction that placed Leicestershire at the bottom of the County Championship table spurred his players to beat Hampshire by five wickets. The Foxes head coach revealed he informed the team of the impending punishment at lunch on the second day of the match at Grace Road.

The points were docked after the close of play that evening, leaving Leicestershire needing a win against their relegation rivals to stay in Division One. The victory takes their survival battle to the final round of matches, though they remain 19 points from safety and must beat Warwickshire while relying on other results.

Thomas said the emotions from the victory and the strength of feeling after the points deduction will play a part in Sunday's One-Day Cup final against Middlesex at Trent Bridge. He noted the team now carries momentum into the weekend fixture.

Tom Banton scored an unbeaten 52 off 24 balls as England beat Sri Lanka by six wickets to seal the T20I series with a game to spare. The win at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff on Thursday followed England's 119-run victory in the first match at Southampton.

Liam Dawson took three for 30 and Jamie Overton claimed two for 23 as Sri Lanka were restricted to 145 for 9. Pathum Nissanka made 37, but Sri Lanka lost four wickets for seven runs in the final three overs after a promising start.

England reached their target in 12.1 overs with 47 balls remaining. Jos Buttler scored 30 to move past Kieron Pollard as the leading run-scorer in T20 cricket. The final T20I is in Manchester on Saturday.

Travis Head smashed 112 off 84 balls as Australia defeated Zimbabwe by 84 runs in the second ODI in Harare on Friday. The opener struck 15 fours and three sixes in his eighth ODI hundred, his first in any format since last summer's Ashes. Mitchell Marsh scored 53 and Cooper Connolly made 78 as Australia posted 356 for 6. Zimbabwe replied with 272 all out despite five of their top six reaching 30 or more. Captain Sikandar Raza top-scored with 45. Australia won the first ODI by 59 runs and can complete a 3-0 series sweep on Sunday.

Travis Head struck 112 off 84 balls to lead Australia to a series-clinching 84-run victory in the second ODI against Zimbabwe in Harare on Friday. Mitchell Marsh made 53 and Cooper Connolly remained unbeaten on 78 as Australia posted 356 for 6. Zimbabwe replied with 272 all out.

Head reached his half-century in 32 balls and added 130 runs for the first wicket with Marsh. The win gave Australia a 2-0 lead in the three-match series, with the final ODI scheduled for Sunday in Harare.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said both the men's and women's Asia Cup trophies will eventually reach the board's headquarters in Mumbai. His remarks followed India's recent Asia Cup triumphs where the teams did not receive their trophies from ACC president Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the PCB chief.

India's women's team refused to attend the trophy presentation after beating Sri Lanka in the Women's T20 Asia Cup final last week. A similar situation unfolded after India's men's team won the Asia Cup last year. The teams instead conducted their own medal presentations.

Saikia confirmed the development after the BCCI's 95th Annual General Meeting in Mumbai on Friday, though he did not specify when the trophies would arrive. The issue could affect future events including the Asian Games cricket tournament in Japan.

Travis Head scored 112 off 84 balls as Australia beat Zimbabwe by 84 runs in the second ODI at Harare on Friday, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Mitchell Marsh made 53 and Cooper Connolly added 78 in Australia's total of 356 for six.

Head reached his century in 75 balls, the fastest by an Australian against Zimbabwe, surpassing Matt Renshaw's 86-ball effort from the first ODI. He struck 15 fours and three sixes during his innings.

Zimbabwe were bowled out for 272 in 48.3 overs despite five of their top six batters reaching 30 or more. Sikandar Raza top-scored with 45. Adam Zampa claimed his 200th ODI wicket during the match. Australia complete the series in Harare on Sunday.