Zidane handed first senior call-ups to five players for France's Nations League matches against Turkey, Belgium and Italy.
New France coach Zinedine Zidane unveiled his first squad on Friday for the upcoming Nations League fixtures, naming five players who have not previously been capped at senior level. Liverpool centre-back Jeremy Jacquet, goalkeeper Guillaume Restes, defenders Andy Diouf, midfielder Lucas Da Cunha and forward Esteban Lepaul received their first call-ups.
Zidane, appointed until the 2030 World Cup, succeeds Didier Deschamps and confirmed that Kylian Mbappe will remain captain. Aurelien Tchouameni and Marcus Thuram were among the notable absentees from the 23-player squad.
France will face Turkey in Izmit on September 25 before travelling to Belgium and hosting Italy and Belgium in October. Zidane said there would be no break with the past and described the appointment as a continuation of his ideas.
BCCI informs state units it pays 3000 crore rupees annually in income tax while awaiting notification under the Sports Governance Act.
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.
The numbers show Abhishek maintains both extreme scoring speed and a competitive average, a balance few openers have achieved.
Abhishek Sharma has scored 1,858 runs in 58 T20I innings at an average of 33.18 and a strike rate of 194.55. That combination places him ahead of other elite attacking openers who have posted similar innings counts. Phil Salt has 1,717 runs from 56 innings at an average of 34.34 and a strike rate of 165.89. Finn Allen has 1,663 runs from 61 innings, averaging 28.67 at a strike rate of 170.74.
Abhishek's Tempo-Return Index, calculated as batting average multiplied by strike rate divided by 100, stands at 64.55. Salt registers 56.97, Allen 48.95 and Travis Head 44.50. Boundaries account for 79.9 per cent of his runs, and he has hit a six every 7.58 balls.
The 30-ball century against Afghanistan completed a series haul of 229 runs off 85 deliveries at a strike rate of 269.41. Abhishek said Yuvraj Singh texted him before the final match advising him not to force shots outside his hitting range.
Abhishek Sharma's record-breaking century fits a sustained statistical profile that challenges T20 cricket's traditional power-versus-consistency trade-off.
Abhishek Sharma's 30-ball century against Afghanistan in the third T20I was the fastest hundred by a batter from a Full Member nation. Across 58 T20I innings he has scored 1,858 runs at an average of 33.18 and a strike rate of 194.55. Among batters with more than 500 runs, his strike rate of 195 is the highest, and he has hit a six every 7.58 balls. India have won 39 of 53 T20Is in which he has remained unbeaten.
The Pakistan Super League launched the Cricket Development Excellence Award worth USD 200,000 on Friday, which will be awarded to one of the first six franchises for its contributions to the sport, players and the marquee league. The 2026 award will assess the development work carried out by franchises from its third edition to the 11th.
Franchises will first self-assess their development work using a scoring model devised by the PSL before submitting their findings to a five-member assessment committee constituted by the Pakistan Cricket Board. The committee will verify the scores against evidence provided by the franchises, accounting for 80 per cent of the final score. Fans will then vote and rank the franchises based on their development performance, with the fan vote carrying 20 per cent weightage.
The scoring model allocates 25 per cent to Player Pathway and Development, 15 per cent to High-Performance Infrastructure and Innovations, 20 per cent to Grassroots and Domestic Engagement, and 10 per cent each to Player Impact and Match Contribution and Player Welfare and Education. Following the conclusion of PSL 11, only development work carried out between the two most recent editions will be considered and evaluated for the award.
England white-ball captain Harry Brook said Brydon Carse needs time away from international cricket after the fast bowler was cleared of criminal charges following an incident in Derby last month. Carse, 31, remains subject to an investigation by the Cricket Regulator and has not been selected since the event.
Brook described Carse as a "very good mate" who is "working on a few things behind the scenes." He said a return would be discussed once Carse is available for selection again. England begin a three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka on Tuesday without Carse, Jacob Bethell and Sam Curran.
Adil Rashid will also miss the opening match with a hand injury. Tom Banton and Jamie Overton have been added to the squad for the series, which comes a year before the 2027 World Cup.
Kuldeep Yadav's Yorkshire secured a 185-run victory over Somerset while Jaydev Unadkat took seven wickets as Sussex beat Nottinghamshire by seven wickets.
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.
Adam Zampa claimed his 200th ODI wicket as Australia beat Zimbabwe by 84 runs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Adam Zampa became the second Australian spinner after Shane Warne to claim 200 ODI wickets during Australia's 84-run win over Zimbabwe in the second ODI at Harare on Friday. The leg-spinner finished with figures of 2 for 62 in nine overs as Australia defended 357 to seal the series 2-0.
Travis Head scored 112 off 84 balls, including 15 fours and three sixes, while Mitchell Marsh made 53 and Cooper Connolly added 78 in Australia's total of 356 for six. Zampa reached the milestone by dismissing Innocent Kaia and Craig Ervine.
Zampa took 123 matches to reach 200 wickets, five fewer than Warne required. He is now the third-fastest spinner globally behind Pakistan's Saqlain Mushtaq and Afghanistan's Rashid Khan. Australia complete the three-match series in Harare on Sunday.
Northants were denied victory by rain and bad light in their County Championship match against an opponent yet to be confirmed. Ricardo Vasconcelos scored 122 in pursuit of 349 before the elements intervened.
The weather interruption leaves the promotion race unresolved with matches remaining in the Division Two campaign. Northants had positioned themselves for a result that would strengthen their promotion credentials before the conditions halted play.
The outcome remains subject to the final round of fixtures as teams compete for the remaining promotion places in the second tier.
The IPL 2027 auction returns to India after three overseas editions, with the WPL auction scheduled for October 28 in Kochi.
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.
Leicestershire head coach Alfonso Thomas says the points penalty fuelled his team's five-wicket win over Hampshire.
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.
Carse remains outside the England setup pending the Cricket Regulator's decision on possible disciplinary measures.
England fast bowler Brydon Carse will face no charges after Derbyshire Police closed their investigation into an alleged assault in Derby city centre last month. Carse was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly after a night out with Durham teammates on 23 August, then de-arrested after agreeing to leave the area.
Police later investigated a separate allegation of assault but have now confirmed the victim did not wish to make a complaint and no further action will be taken. Carse was removed from England's squad for the Pakistan Test series while the investigation was open.
He now faces a separate review by the Cricket Regulator to determine whether he will face any disciplinary action from the ECB. His current central contract expires in September 2027.
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's century anchored Australia's 356 for 6 as they beat Zimbabwe by 84 runs to take a 2-0 lead in the ODI series.
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.
Mumbai Cricket Association requests BCCI to start Under-17 girls tournament and increase international fixtures at Wankhede Stadium.
The Mumbai Cricket Association has asked the BCCI to introduce a national Under-17 tournament for girls and allot more international matches to the Wankhede Stadium. The requests were submitted in a letter to the BCCI secretary at the AGM on Friday.
The MCA said a structured Under-17 girls tournament would strengthen the talent development pathway for women's cricket. It also requested that state associations be informed when matches are scheduled at venues under their jurisdiction.
The association invited representatives from other state units to visit the MCA Sharad Pawar Cricket Museum after the AGM.
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.
Agarkar did not ask for an extension, prompting the BCCI to begin the search for a new chief selector.
Ajit Agarkar has decided not to seek an extension as chairman of the senior men's selection committee, and the BCCI will now look for a candidate for the post. Agarkar was appointed chairman of selectors in July 2023.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said no individual discussion had taken place at Friday's AGM and that the board still has 15 days to decide. Sources told Indian Express that Agarkar did not request an extension.
The BCCI is also expected to fill all five positions on the junior selection committee within the next fortnight.
Devajit Saikia confirms both Asia Cup trophies will reach BCCI headquarters despite presentation dispute with ACC president Mohsin Naqvi.
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's 112 led Australia to an 84-run victory over Zimbabwe, sealing the ODI series 2-0 with one match remaining.
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.
