Jeet Raval retires after 24 Tests and more than 10,000 first-class runs for Auckland, Central Districts and Northern Districts.
Former New Zealand Test opener Jeet Raval has retired from all forms of professional cricket. Northern Districts Cricket confirmed the decision on Friday after Raval completed a career that yielded over 10,000 first-class runs.
The Ahmedabad-born batter played 24 Tests for New Zealand between 2016 and 2020, scoring 1143 runs at an average of 30. He also captained Northern Districts to their first Plunket Shield title in 12 seasons and finished with 8216 runs in the competition.
Raval moved to New Zealand at 16 and played age-group cricket for Gujarat before making his first-class debut for Auckland in 2008-09. He reached 10,000 first-class runs in December 2025 and ended his career with 10,432 runs across 164 matches.
Big Bash privatisation creates structural risk for the WBBL unless sale terms explicitly protect women's domestic cricket investment.
Cricket Australia is pursuing private investment in Big Bash franchises following the England and Wales Cricket Board's sale of Hundred stakes for £945 million. The Raine Group has been engaged to facilitate the deal which could generate up to one billion Australian dollars. The WBBL operates in a separate window from the BBL with different venues and scheduling despite shared team names and kits.
Former Australia captain Alyssa Healy questioned whether the competitions should be bundled together in the sale process. She argued the WBBL is the premier women's T20 competition globally and should not be included with the men's product. The Australian Cricketers' Association is negotiating a new Memorandum of Understanding with Cricket Australia over revenue distribution from any sale.
The Hundred's double-header model aligned men's and women's competitions visually and commercially while the Big Bash maintains distinct identities. Without explicit protections in the privatisation framework, women's domestic cricket risks receiving reduced investment as private capital targets the higher-profile men's competition. The structural gap between the competitions could widen if sale terms do not ring-fence funding and growth targets for the WBBL.
BCCI deferred the IPL review meeting due to the Prime Minister's Asian Games ceremony.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India postponed the joint review meeting of the Indian Premier League scheduled for October 15 in Mumbai. The meeting between IPL franchise owners, broadcasters and host state associations was due to take place at Taj Santacruz.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia cited the Prime Minister's felicitation ceremony for Asian Games medallists in New Delhi as the reason for the postponement. Several stakeholders had also requested a deferral to ensure maximum in-person attendance.
The board had planned to discuss issues from past seasons and coordination for the league's 20th season in 2027. A new date and venue will be announced later.
Samson answers critics with 82 as Sooryavanshi waits on the bench.
Sanju Samson scored 82 off 41 balls in the second T20I against West Indies in Ranchi on Friday, ending a run of four low scores. He equalled Virat Kohli's record for the fastest fifty by an Indian against the Caribbean side.
Samson was dropped twice early in his innings but capitalised on the reprieves. He shared a 97-run stand with Ishan Kishan as India posted 249 for 5.
The performance came in MS Dhoni's hometown and with 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi waiting in the squad. Samson had earlier said that low scores in T20 cricket should not be treated as a prolonged failure.
Mumbai start their title defence against an unfamiliar opponent without Shardul Thakur, though Jaiswal's presence strengthens their batting resources ahead of his New Zealand tour.
Mumbai open their Ranji Trophy 2026-27 campaign against Chandigarh at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, aiming for a record-extending 43rd title. Captain Siddhesh Lad will lead the side with Ayush Mhatre as vice-captain after Shardul Thakur was ruled out with a fractured right middle finger.
Yashasvi Jaiswal's availability provides a significant boost before he departs for India's Test tour of New Zealand. The batting line-up also features Sarfaraz Khan and Musheer Khan, while Tushar Deshpande will lead the pace attack in Thakur's absence. Spin-bowling all-rounders Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian are expected to press their claims for national selection.
Chandigarh coach Vinayak Samant returns to the Wankhede after being appointed just three days before the match. Mumbai have not faced the visitors in the competition before.
Vinay Kumar will help new Karnataka players adjust after senior absences for the Ranji Trophy opener against Andhra.
Karnataka coach Vinay Kumar said he will focus on helping new players adapt to the pressures of first-class cricket ahead of the Ranji Trophy opener against Andhra. Injuries and national call-ups have left the side without several senior players.
Prasidh Krishna, V. Vyshak and Vidwath Kaverappa are unavailable due to injuries. KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal and R. Smaran have India and India A commitments. Vinay, who led Karnataka to back-to-back Ranji titles in 2013-14 and 2014-15, said the priority is to create a relaxed environment where emerging players can make decisions under pressure.
The 2026-27 season begins on Sunday in Mulapadu near Vijayawada. Vinay has 442 Ranji wickets and has coached in the ILT20 and scouted for Mumbai Indians.
Arjun Tendulkar was left out of Goa's Ranji Trophy squad while Umesh Yadav was selected for Punjab.
Arjun Tendulkar was not included in Goa's 16-member squad for the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season announced on Friday. The 27-year-old last played for Goa in the 2025-26 edition against Kerala at Porvorim where he scored 36 and 24 with the bat and took two for 109 with the ball. Abhinav Tejrana will captain the side in their opening Elite Group A match against Baroda on October 11.
Tendulkar has played 24 first-class matches for Goa since moving from Mumbai in 2022 and has 685 runs and 52 wickets. He scored a century on his Ranji Trophy debut and has two half-centuries to his name. His best bowling figures in first-class cricket are five for 25.
Umesh Yadav will represent Punjab in this season's Ranji Trophy and was named in their squad for the opening match against Assam. The 38-year-old has 380 wickets in 124 first-class matches.
Report highlights communication gap between team medical staff and CoE after 32 players underwent rehabilitation.
A Times of India report has highlighted a communication gap between Team India's sports science and medicine unit and the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. The report states that VVS Laxman remains the only link between the two sides.
The CoE's annual report showed that 32 top men's players, including 20 centrally contracted players, underwent rehabilitation for injuries at the facility between April 2025 and March 2026. Team India strength and conditioning coach Adrian Le Roux suggested workload-management changes in June 2025, but the CoE has been reluctant to adopt them.
Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin called for separate teams across formats to improve accountability for injury management. He cited the case of Varun Chakravarthy, who spent three to four months at the NCA despite a shorter expected recovery.
Nic Maddinson made a 33-ball duck on Test return after recovering from cancer treatment last year.
Nic Maddinson scored a 33-ball duck on his Test return for Australia against South Africa at Durban on Friday. The 34-year-old opener faced the longest duck by an Australian opener in Test history where ball-by-ball data is available. He missed 13 deliveries and edged one before chopping on to his stumps attempting a cut against Marco Jansen.
Maddinson last played Test cricket in 2016 and had not appeared in first-class cricket for over a year before his recall. He was selected ahead of 23-year-old Cooper Connolly after Cameron Green suffered an injury. Australia named an XI with all players aged over 30 for the first time in their history.
Maddinson was diagnosed with testicular cancer in April 2025 which spread to his lung and lymph nodes. He underwent surgery and chemotherapy before returning to cricket 12 months ago. He scored 126 in a domestic one-day match last month before earning the Test call-up.
Robin Das charged with two counts of rape; trial set for January 2028.
Former Essex cricketer Robin Das appeared at Inner London Crown Court on Friday charged with raping a woman twice in Brixton in March 2024. The 24-year-old, of Leytonstone, was released on conditional bail.
Judge Freya Newbury set a five-day trial for January 2028. Das made 60 appearances for Essex and last played in a One-Day Cup match against Middlesex on 21 July.
Essex suspended Das after he was charged and did not renew his contract. The club said the decision was separate from the legal proceedings and that the alleged incidents took place outside club activities.
Mark Chapman, Zak Foulkes and Will O'Rourke have been ruled out of New Zealand's home T20I series against India.
New Zealand Cricket confirmed on Saturday that Mark Chapman, Zak Foulkes and Will O'Rourke will miss the five-match T20I series against India that begins on 22 October. Chapman suffered a left hamstring tear during the European T20 Premier League, while Foulkes strained his right hip-flexor at a Canterbury training session. O'Rourke is ruled out of the entire tour as he continues recovery from recurring left hamstring and calf injuries.
Josh Clarkson and Blair Tickner have been added to the T20I squad to replace Chapman and Foulkes. Head coach Rob Walter said the decision on O'Rourke was taken jointly with the player and medical staff to give him every chance of being fit for the four-Test tour of Australia in December. The fast bowler is expected back in domestic cricket with Canterbury in the Plunket Shield later that month.
Mitchell Santner will lead the side featuring Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Glenn Phillips and Tim Seifert. The five T20Is will run across Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton before India and New Zealand contest five ODIs and two Tests.
Will O'Rourke will miss the home series against India to ensure his fitness for the Australia Tests in December.
New Zealand fast bowler Will O'Rourke will miss the home white-ball and Test series against India as he continues rehabilitation for left hamstring and calf injuries. The 25-year-old returned to international cricket earlier this year after a seven-month absence due to a back stress fracture.
Head coach Rob Walter said the decision was made after discussions with O'Rourke and the medical team, with the aim of ensuring he is fully fit for the four-Test tour of Australia in December. O'Rourke had been expected to feature in the ODI and Test series against India.
New Zealand hope he will return for Canterbury in the Plunket Shield in late December and be available for the opening Test against Australia in Perth on 9 December. The ODI squad will be announced on Sunday.
Sunil Gavaskar said he would have preferred Mayank Yadav or Arshdeep Singh over Kuldeep Yadav for the 17th over after the left-arm spinner conceded 24 runs in Ranchi.
Sunil Gavaskar said he would have preferred to bowl either Arshdeep Singh or Mayank Yadav in the 17th over of the second T20I against West Indies in Ranchi. Kuldeep Yadav conceded 24 runs in that over, including three sixes and a boundary.
Mayank had taken three wickets in the powerplay and still had an over remaining when Kuldeep was introduced. Gavaskar said Mayank's pace had already troubled the West Indies batters and could have created further pressure. Arshdeep bowled the 18th over and conceded 17 runs.
West Indies chased down India's 249 for 6 with six wickets and nine balls to spare. The third T20I is scheduled for Indore on 11 October.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was left out of India's playing XI for the second T20I in a row against the West Indies.
India left 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi out of the playing XI for the second consecutive T20I against the West Indies in Ranchi on Friday. The team retained the same XI that won the series opener by eight wickets, with Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson continuing to open the batting.
Sooryavanshi has shown strong form in recent T20Is, scoring two half-centuries in his last five innings on the Zimbabwe tour where he was named Player of the Series. He accumulated 151 runs across three matches at an average of 50.33 and a strike rate of 196.10. In eight T20Is overall, he has scored 246 runs at a strike rate of 186.36.
Fans expressed frustration on social media, questioning why the teenager was not given an opportunity despite his recent performances. India have backed Samson at the top of the order throughout the current series.
The SA20 commissioner credited early scheduling decisions by Cricket South Africa for establishing the competition.
Graeme Smith said the SA20 has established itself as the primary destination for players during the January-February window after five seasons. The former South Africa captain, now SA20 League Commissioner, spoke after Wednesday's player auction for the 2027 season. The tournament runs from January 17 to February 19 and overlaps with the Big Bash League.
Smith pointed to Cricket South Africa's decision to cancel an initial ODI series against Australia as the move that created space in a crowded calendar. He said the five-week window now sits at the heart of southern hemisphere summer, with Australia, Bangladesh and England all touring during that period. The league has also revived interest in domestic cricket after earlier administrative and team struggles.
Smith said the focus now shifts to sustaining growth over the next five years. Last season the competition drew first-time spectators and increased overall fan engagement across South Africa.
Pakistan captain Sahibzada Farhan said the team would have chosen to bowl even if it had won the toss.
Razaullah and Mohammad Imran made their T20I debuts for Pakistan against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi on Friday. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first. Pakistan named three changes from the squad that toured West Indies, with the two debutants replacing players rested after the previous tour.
The match marks the first T20I appearance for both players. Razaullah, a right-arm fast bowler, and Mohammad Imran, a left-arm spinner, received their caps before the start of play. Captain Sahibzada Farhan confirmed after the toss that Pakistan would have bowled first regardless of the outcome.
The fixture forms part of Sri Lanka's tour of Pakistan. The visitors arrived in Rawalpindi after completing their limited-overs commitments in the region earlier this month.
England issued a record 39 central contracts and split coaching setups ahead of the winter tour to South Africa.
England handed out a record 39 central contracts and unveiled new split coaching setups under Stephen Fleming and Brendon McCullum. Thirty main deals were issued, up from 26 last year, while nine players received development contracts that top up their county pay.
Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jofra Archer and Jacob Bethell extended terms until the end of 2028. Jordan Cox, Sonny Baker and Henry Crocombe jumped straight into the two-year list, as did all-rounders Sam Curran and Will Jacks. Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith and Ollie Robinson received one-year deals.
Eric Simons was hired as Test fast-bowling coach. Marcus Trescothick remains as an assistant coach to the Test side only. James Foster and Richard Dawson joined the Test coaching staff, with Dawson also named national spin-bowling lead. Southee and Jeetan Patel will solely be part of McCullum's white-ball staff.
Sanju Samson scored 82 off 41 balls in Ranchi, ending four consecutive low scores and matching Virat Kohli's record for the fastest Indian fifty against West Indies.
Sanju Samson scored 82 off 41 balls in the second T20I against West Indies in Ranchi on 9 October. The innings ended a sequence of four low scores: 9, 7, 2 and 11. Samson reached his fifty in 21 balls, equalling Virat Kohli's record for the fastest half-century by an Indian against West Indies in T20Is.
India posted 249 for 5, their highest total against the West Indies in the format. Samson told broadcasters that professional cricketers must put the team first and take responsibility when results do not go their way. He said he focuses on watching the ball and maintaining a positive frame of mind.
West Indies chased the target with six wickets and nine balls to spare. The third T20I is scheduled for Indore on 11 October.
Sanju Samson scored a half-century off 21 balls in the second T20I against the West Indies in Ranchi on Friday, equalling Virat Kohli's record for the fastest fifty by an Indian against the West Indies. Kohli achieved the same feat off 21 balls in Mumbai in December 2019.
Samson smashed six fours and three sixes during his innings, including four consecutive boundaries off West Indies spinner Akeal Hosein in the fifth over. He reached his fifty with a four as India finished the powerplay at 79 for one. Abhishek Sharma departed for 20 after adding 42 runs for the first wicket with Samson.
India retained the same playing XI that won the series opener by eight wickets. West Indies captain Shai Hope won the toss and opted to bowl first, citing the dew factor. The match is being played at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, where no team has breached 200 in a T20I.
Bartlett's three wickets help Queensland establish control on day two.
Xavier Bartlett took 3 for 41 as Queensland reduced Western Australia to 158 for 8 on the second day of their Sheffield Shield match at the WACA Ground on Friday. Western Australia lost four wickets for 12 runs in the final session.
Jimmy Peirson scored an unbeaten 101 for Queensland, his ninth first-class century, as the Bulls posted 307. Albert Esterhuysen took 4 for 43 for Western Australia.
Sam Fanning top-scored for the home side with 64 before Queensland's pace attack triggered the collapse. Bad light ended play with Western Australia still 149 runs behind.
