England returned to number one in the ICC men's T20I rankings after completing a 3-0 series win over Sri Lanka at Old Trafford on Saturday. Harry Brook's side chased down 125 with 62 balls remaining in the third match.

Brook has now won 23 of 26 completed T20Is as captain. Both England and India hold 269 rating points, but England played 23 fewer matches and therefore moved ahead on the points-per-match calculation.

England begin a three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka on Tuesday. Brook collected the player-of-the-series award after scoring a century in the opener and leading a dominant bowling performance across the rubber.

Nathan Ellis hit an unbeaten 36 to guide Australia to a one-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the third ODI in Harare on Sunday, completing a 3-0 series sweep. Josh Inglis scored 103 as Australia chased 280 but lost their ninth wicket with 45 runs still required.

Ellis and No.11 Spencer Johnson reduced the equation to nine runs from the final six balls. Ellis struck a six off the first ball of the last over before completing the winning single with one ball to spare.

Ellis also took three for 50 with the ball to finish the series with nine wickets at an average of 12. Sikandar Raza scored 81 not out and took two for 42 for Zimbabwe.

Nathan Ellis struck a six off the first ball of the final over and completed the winning single off the penultimate delivery as Australia beat Zimbabwe by one wicket in Harare on Sunday. The win completed a 3-0 ODI series sweep.

Josh Inglis scored 103 and Ellis remained unbeaten on 36 after the last-wicket pair needed 27 runs when they came together. Wessly Madhevere dropped Ellis in the penultimate over and could not defend nine runs in the 50th.

Australia now travel to South Africa for three ODIs starting Thursday; Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza made an unbeaten 81 but rued three missed Australian centuries in the series.

BCCI officials viewed Ajit Agarkar's absence from the early September review meeting as a blessing in disguise because they anticipated a heated clash with VVS Laxman over differences at the Centre of Excellence. The chief selector's contract ends this month, and his reluctance to accept an extension has been linked to disagreements with Laxman, who heads the CoE in Bengaluru.

Agarkar was reportedly unhappy about recurring injuries to senior players and lack of communication with selectors about rehabilitation programmes. Head coach Gautam Gambhir also raised concerns that having a dozen starting-level players unavailable was unfair to young captain Shubman Gill. Laxman has defended the CoE's broader role beyond injury management.

BCCI officials are set to meet Agarkar to discuss a roadmap for his potential renewal ahead of the 2027 World Cup. The board stated he missed the meeting due to logistical reasons while out of station.

Japan Cricket Association chief operating officer Alan Curr set the target after Tuesday's T20I against India: win the East Asia-Pacific regional final and reach the 2028 T20 World Cup global qualifier. The old pathway would have taken them to the 2026 tournament instead.

Curr said different nations bring different colours to a World Cup and hopes the tournament keeps growing. He added that the match against India is an opportunity to show Japanese fans what international cricket looks like.

The fixture is part of the Sport 75 initiative agreed by the Indian and Japanese prime ministers to boost sports cooperation ahead of India's 2036 Olympic bid.

The BCCI will introduce a policy that prevents the Ombudsman from entertaining complaints about local or state-level matters. The move follows objections from several state associations at last week's AGM.

Representatives from Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Baroda, Punjab and Odisha argued that such complaints increase legal costs and should first be handled by state grievance mechanisms.

The new framework will set clear terms of reference for the Ombudsman on complaints involving state associations.

India will play Japan in a one-off T20I at the Sano International Cricket Ground on Tuesday, marking the first meeting between the sides. The match forms part of the Suzuki Cup and precedes India's Asian Games campaign.

The Japan Cricket Association has upgraded facilities at Sano to host the fixture, with temporary seating and security measures in place. Alan Curr, the JCA's chief operating officer, said the opportunity to host India had drawn significant local interest and media attention.

India have rested several players ahead of the Asian Games, with Jasprit Bumrah and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi not in the playing XI. Japan, ranked 41st, view the match as a landmark moment in their development, having expanded registered players from 3,000 to 8,800 over the past decade.

The Sano International Cricket Ground has received temporary seating, VIP enclosures and ticket gates ahead of Tuesday's T20I between Japan and India. The Japan Cricket Association coordinated the upgrades with a UK-based consultant who has run World Cups and The Hundred.

Japan Cricket Association chief operating officer Alan Curr said the 18-month preparation began with relaying the square using local clay identical to the Nagoya Asian Games facility. The site now doubles as a training hub for ICC Full Members preparing for the Games.

Registered players in Japan have risen from 3,000 to 8,800 in 12 years, and the Japan Cup T20 competition has expanded from 12 teams in 2014 to more than 80. Affiliation with the Japanese Olympic Committee has supplied strength coaches and analysts, while Asian Cricket Council membership has given a 12-month international calendar.

Japan Cricket Association has upgraded the Sano International Cricket Ground ahead of Tuesday's T20I against India. Temporary seating, VIP enclosures and ticket gates have been installed for the Suzuki Cup fixture. The match marks the first senior international between the two nations and celebrates 75 years of diplomatic relations.

Alan Curr, JCA chief operating officer, said the team is excited by the opportunity. A UK-based consultant has assisted with security protocols. Curr noted that registered players in Japan have risen from 3,000 to 8,800 over 12 years.

Affiliation with the Asian Cricket Council and Japanese Olympic Committee has provided a steady calendar and additional support staff. Curr said the Asian Games cricket inclusion has given the sport legitimacy that it lacked before.

Shafali Verma scored her first T20I century as India defeated Bangladesh by 114 runs in the Asian Games women's cricket semifinal at Nisshin on Sunday. The opener remained unbeaten on 100 from 49 balls with nine sixes and three fours. India posted 195 for four after Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and chose to bat.

Smriti Mandhana made 37 to become the leading run-scorer in women's T20Is, passing New Zealand's Suzie Bates. Harmanpreet Kaur scored 40 as the pair added 94 for the third wicket. Bangladesh were bowled out for 81, with Nandani Sharma and Deepti Sharma each taking three wickets.

India will face Sri Lanka in the gold-medal match on Tuesday. Sri Lanka earlier defeated Pakistan by eight wickets in the first semifinal. The result confirms at least a silver medal for the defending champions.

Former India opener Aakash Chopra has recommended two changes to India's playing XI for the one-off T20I against Japan on Tuesday. He did not specify the players he wants dropped or brought in.

India will play the match at the Sano International Cricket Ground before beginning their Asian Games campaign on September 28. The team departed for Aichi-Nagoya on Sunday.

Japan has prepared temporary seating and VIP enclosures at Sano to host the expected crowd. The Japan Cricket Association has worked with a UK-based consultant to manage security protocols for the fixture.

JSW Inspire, the official kit supplier for the Indian Olympic Association, denied reports of sizing and delivery problems affecting India's cricket teams ahead of the Asian Games. The manufacturer confirmed that both men's and women's cricket teams received their performance kits through their respective managers well before departure for Aichi-Nagoya.

A JSW spokesperson said managers verified the kits were in proper order with no outstanding issues. The men's team will wear the JSW Inspire kit when travelling from Tokyo to Nagoya on September 26. The company clarified that responsibility for ceremonial kit production and handover was not with JSW Inspire.

India's men's team, led by Shreyas Iyer, departed New Delhi on Sunday for the Asian Games, where they will play a bilateral T20I against Japan on September 22 before Asian Games competition begins on September 28. They are the defending champions in the men's event.

England Test coach Stephen Fleming says he will not try to persuade Ben Stokes to reverse his retirement decision ahead of next year's Ashes. Fleming met the former captain at Durham and found him content with the choice he made in June.

Stokes stepped down from Test cricket after four years as captain during England's series loss to New Zealand. The 35-year-old has continued playing county cricket for Durham and signed with Adelaide Strikers for the Big Bash League.

Fleming said he respects the weight of such decisions and would not question Stokes' choice. The coach has also spoken with predecessor Brendon McCullum and believes open communication between the two will benefit English cricket.

Cameron Green will miss a third straight ODI with a sore right shoulder, and Josh Hazlewood has also been rested for the dead-rubber against Zimbabwe in Harare. Australia have named Spencer Johnson and Xavier Bartlett in the XI.

Green did running drills and faced a net session on Friday, but he won't bowl or bat. The team wants him fit for next month's Tests against South Africa.

Zimbabwe have brought Graeme Cremer back for his first ODI in eight years, dropping Wellington Masakadza. Ernest Masuku replaces Newman Nyamhuri.