Category: Cricket

Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma ran riot as India thrashed the Netherlands by 95 runs in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 on Wednesday.

Mandhana and Verma put on 115 for the first wicket, setting the foundation for India’s imposing total of 209-5 in Leeds.

Smashing 11 fours and one six, Mandhana top-scored with 74 from 47 balls, while her fellow opener Verma hit 10 fours in her innings of 55.

India’s run spree left the Netherlands with little hope of a successful run chase.

Dutch captain Babette de Leede was their leading scorer with 28, but Verma followed her dynamic display with the bat by taking three wickets.

Sree Charani finished off India’s one-sided victory with four wickets from her four overs.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

India have won their first two games of the tournament in England after beating arch rivals Pakistan in their opener.

Earlier, Georgia Voll starred as Australia eased to a nine-wicket win over Bangladesh at Headingley.

Voll blasted six fours and one six in her unbeaten 45 from 32 balls, guiding Australian to their target of 78 for the loss of one wicket with more than 10 overs to spare.

Bangladesh mustered only 77-8 from their 20 overs, with Sophie Molineux, Kim Garth and Ellyse Perry taking two wickets each.

Australia made it their successive wins to start the tournament after their 65-run victory over South Africa on Saturday.

Bangladesh had beaten the Netherlands in their opening match.

England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt has been ruled out of their next two matches due to a calf injury.

Sciver-Brunt, who recently returned from a torn calf muscle, was forced to retire on 48 in Tuesday’s four-wicket win over Ireland in Southampton.

Scans on Wednesday revealed a calf muscle strain and the 33-year-old will not feature against Scotland or the West Indies.

READ: Shubman Gill’s 154 sets up series win for India

Skipper Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan hit brisk centuries to set up India’s 170-run thrashing of Afghanistan in the second ODI and clinch the series in sweltering Lucknow on Wednesday.

India posted 402 after Gill top-scored with 154 and the left-handed Kishan struck 125 as the pair put up a commanding 224 runs for the third wicket.

Indian quicks Arshdeep Singh and Gurnoor Brar took three wickets each to help bowl out Afghanistan for 232 in 44.3 overs for an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

The extreme heat forced organisers to schedule three drinks breaks per innings, with several players from both sides requiring on-field treatment for cramps.

Invited to bat first as temperatures soared above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), India lost an early wicket before Rohit Sharma (48) and Shubman Gill steadied the innings with an 87-run second-wicket partnership to set the tone.

Rashid Khan broke the stand with a quick googly to bowl Rohit just short of a half-century, but the breakthrough did little to stem India’s momentum.

Gill reached his ninth ODI century with a four, adding to his unbeaten 84 in the series opener, while Kishan raced to a 71-ball hundred with a flurry of boundaries as Afghanistan’s bowlers wilted in the heat.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote finally broke the marathon stand to get Kishan caught out.

Gill battled cramps during his 110-ball knock, which included 22 fours and two sixes, before falling when his tired reverse sweep was caught at deep cover.

Kharote struck again to remove KL Rahul for a golden duck but was denied a hat-trick by Washington Sundar.

Rashid joined the late burst to pick up more Indian wickets as the innings lost momentum.

India had looked set to surpass their ODI record total of 418 before a late collapse saw them lose seven wickets for 42 runs and bowled out in 49.5 overs.

Kharote claimed four wickets, while Rashid returned figures of 3-38 in his eight overs.

India’s Gill did not take the field in the second innings with his deputy Shreyas Iyer standing in as skipper.

In reply, Afghanistan lost an attacking Rahmanullah Gurbaz for 41 as he fell caught behind off Brar.

Debutant Prince Yadav made his mark with a good catch in the deep to dismiss Ibrahim Zadran for 21 off Arshdeep and later bowled Kharote for his debut wicket.

Rahmat Shah top-scored with 79 and Sediqullah Atal scored 42, but India struck regular blows to deflate Afghanistan.

Debutant Darwish Rasooli left retired hurt on six and never came back in a forgettable first ODI outing as he was injured while fielding and stretchered off the field in India’s innings.

The final match is on Saturday in Chennai.

READ: Adam Zampa leads Australia to victory over Bangladesh in series opener

Adam Zampa took a three-wicket haul before Cooper Connolly struck a rapid-fire 47 off 27 balls to steer Australia to a four-wicket win over Bangladesh in the opening T20 international on Wednesday.

Australia chased down 132 with 10 balls to spare, finishing on 133-6 in 18.2 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Connolly anchored the chase after early setbacks, hitting four fours and three sixes before falling three runs short of a maiden half-century.

Bangladesh made early inroads as Shoriful Islam dismissed Josh Inglis for five before Mustafizur Rahman removed Mitchell Marsh for 13, leaving Australia at 38-2 inside five overs.

Connolly rebuilt the innings in a 40-run third-wicket stand with Tim David, who made 20 before falling to Mehidy Hasan.

Connolly then pushed Australia towards the target before he was caught attempting a six off debutant Abdul Gaffar Saqlain.

Australia stumbled again as Matt Renshaw and debutant Nikhil Chaudhary both fell for 18, with Saqlain and Rishad Hossain striking to keep Bangladesh in the contest.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

But debutant Joel Davies and Xavier Bartlett saw the visitors home in 18.2 overs, finishing unbeaten on seven and four respectively.

Davies said Australia’s bowlers had adapted their plans to the venue’s dimensions.

“Here in Bangladesh, the grounds are a fair bit smaller than in Australia, so if there were any parts of the ground that were slightly bigger, I had to use that to my advantage,” he said after the match.

Saqlain returned 2-32, while Shoriful, Mustafizur, Mehidy and Rishad took one wicket each.

Earlier, Australia’s spinners dominated as Bangladesh were bowled out for 131 after electing to bat.

Adam Zampa (3-18) and Davies (3-17) led the attack, with Australia’s spinners taking nine wickets, the most by Australian spin bowlers in a T20I innings.

Bangladesh lost momentum after a brisk powerplay, finishing with only 131 despite reaching 52 in six overs.

Catch all FIFA World Cup 2026 live updates here!

Mehidy top-scored with an unbeaten 29, while stand-in captain Towhid Hridoy, captain in place of the injured Litton Das, made eight.

Bangladesh pace bowling coach Talha Jubair said the hosts failed to build on a promising powerplay.

“Our powerplay was excellent, we scored 52 in six overs, but from there we could not carry on,” he said.

“We went too far for boundaries when we could have built a partnership. We lost three wickets between overs seven and 15, where we needed to build our innings,” he said.

READ: Shamar, Alzarri return as West Indies announce squad for Sri Lanka Test series

West Indies have recalled pace bowlers Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph for their upcoming two-match ICC World Test Championship (WTC) series against Sri Lanka, as the Caribbean side named a strong 15-member squad.

The fast-bowling pair return to the Test setup after last featuring in the format in July 2025, strengthening a West Indies side eager to revive its fortunes in the ongoing WTC cycle.

Captain Roston Chase will continue to lead the team, while Joshua Da Silva and Amir Jangoo have also earned recalls following impressive performances in domestic cricket.

Jangoo, who played his only Test against Pakistan in Multan in January 2025, has forced his way back into contention after a prolific domestic campaign.

The wicketkeeper-batter amassed 411 runs in seven innings during the West Indies Championship, finishing second on the run-scoring charts.

Da Silva enjoyed an equally productive tournament, topping the batting standings with 413 runs from seven innings to secure his return to the national side.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

The two-match series will be played entirely at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, with the first Test scheduled from June 25 to 29 and the second from July 3 to 7.

West Indies head coach Daren Sammy expressed confidence in his squad and viewed the series as an important opportunity for the team to continue its development in red-ball cricket.

“Every Test series is an opportunity for us to grow as a team and strengthen our identity,” Sammy said. “Sri Lanka are a quality side, so we know we’ll have to be at our best, but we’re excited about the challenge ahead.”

The former West Indies captain stressed the importance of discipline and resilience as his side looks to improve its standing in the World Test Championship.

“For us, it’s about playing with discipline, showing character when the game gets tough, and representing the West Indies with pride. The players have been putting in the work, and we’re looking forward to putting on a strong display for our fans across the Caribbean,” he added.

The series comes at a crucial time for the West Indies, who currently sit at the bottom of the nine-team WTC table after suffering seven defeats in their eight matches so far in the current cycle.

West Indies squad: Roston Chase (captain), John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Joshua Da Silva, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Shai Hope, Amir Jangoo, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales and Jomel Warrican.

READ: World Cup goals record ‘just a number’, says Lionel Messi

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has opted not to disclose players’ central contract categories following an overhaul on Monday.

A day earlier, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi revealed the new framework during a press conference.

The revamped model replaces the traditional A, B, C and D categories with a five-track system that classifies players according to their role, format specialisation and stage of development.

Under the new framework, Track AB will consist of Pakistan’s premier multi-format cricketers who feature in both Test and One-Day International cricket. These players may also be selected for T20Is but will primarily be recognised for their contributions in the longer formats.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Track A has been created specifically for red-ball specialists, with the PCB aiming to strengthen Test cricket by providing additional incentives and allowing players greater opportunities to participate in overseas first-class competitions.

Track BC will include core white-ball cricketers who form part of Pakistan’s ODI and T20I setup, while Track C is reserved for T20 specialists and franchise players, offering them increased flexibility to compete in domestic and international leagues around national commitments.

Meanwhile, Track D will serve as a development category featuring emerging cricketers identified through the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and Pakistan’s domestic pathway system.

According to the reports, the categories of the central contracts to be awarded to each player in the future will not be disclosed. The change is due to a matter of selection rather than a fixed public detail.

Catch all FIFA World Cup 2026 live updates here!

The document reportedly says that the categories will be reviewed in each cycle, with one report quoting the document as saying: “The board will not disclose the number of contracts in each track. The count and allocation of contracts are decisions made each cycle and are not fixed public figures.”

The report further states that centrally contracted players are limited to a set number of domestic matches, depending on their category, as part of the board’s policy to make domestic cricket compulsory.

Additionally, the PCB has reportedly told players they will play five first-class and 10 List-A matches. The national cricketers have also been advised to make themselves available for domestic cricket if there are no international assignments.

READ: Women’s World Cup 2026: Sri Lanka stun New Zealand in memorable victory

SOUTHAMPTON: Sri Lanka sealed a narrow win over the defending champions New Zealand in the seventh fixture of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2026 at the Rose Bowl on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka chased down a stiff 151 in 19.4 overs, losing five wickets in the process. The victory marked the first time Sri Lanka beat New Zealand in the Women’s T20 World Cup.

After a 45-run opening partnership, the Islanders lost their way in the middle as they slumped to 55-4 in 8.3 overs.

Captain Chamari Athapaththu looked good for her 27 from 19, including a six four fours, before being cleaned up by Bree Illing.  Nensi Patel also picked up two wickets, followed by two chaotic run outs that put them in dire straits.

However, Nilakshika Silva held the innings together with a match-winning half-century. She first shared a 54-run stand with Kavisha Dilhari, who made 17, and followed it up by adding an unbeaten 48-run partnership with Kaushini Nuthyangana (24*) for the sixth wicket.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

She remained the top-scorer with 54 off 37, hitting five fours and a six.

For New Zealand, Nensi Patel picked up two wickets.

Earlier, after opting to bat first, New Zealand posted 150-6 in 20 overs. The Whiteferns had a shaky start, losing their opener, Isabella Gaze, in the first over for four.

Georgia Plimmer and skipper Melie Kerr worked past the early blow, adding 49 for the second wicket. Plimmer scored 18 off 22 with the aid of two fours before throwing her wicket away cheaply in the ninth over.

Catch all FIFA World Cup 2026 live updates here!

With New Zealand 53-2, Melie Kerr and Sophie Devine stabilized the innings, both scoring 45 runs respectively. The duo shared a 43-run stand off 26 balls for the third wicket partnership to take their side near the 100-run mark.

The stand culminated in the form of Kerr’s wicket, but Devine continued till the 18th over, ensuring that her side reached a respectable total. Devine hit four boundaries and a maximum in her knock while Melie Kerr struck five fours.

For Sri Lanka, Kavisha Dilhari remained the pick of the bowlers, taking two wickets in her quota of four overs while giving away 35.

READ: Joe Root reacts to reappointment as England captain

LONDON: Ace batter Joe Root remained confident after speaking for the first time since returning as England captain ahead of the second Test against New Zealand, starting Wednesday at the Oval. 

Speaking on the eve of the second test, Root revealed what it was like captaining the side despite never expecting to return to the role.

“I never thought I’d be sat here talking to you guys as England captain again. Zero chance… 0.1 percent,” he told reporters on Tuesday.

Root returns as skipper for the first time since 2022 after Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were left out of the squad following a nightclub controversy.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Stokes and Atkinson were involved in an incident in a London nightclub after the first Test win against the BlackCaps. Following the incident, there were reports that the former would either be sacked or call time on his international cricket career.

Root remarked on bringing out the best in his side, noting that doing so would have a significant impact on his personal life.

“The only thinking that came to my mind is what is the best thing for this team, is it going to have a big effect on me and my personal life and which outweighed the other,” he said.

Catch all FIFA World Cup 2026 live updates here!

He remained optimistic despite his poor record during his previous stint as England captain.

“The fact is it felt like it was the right thing to take this on, so I tried to make it as simple as that. I think I am in a very different place to when I finished.”

“To be captaining this group of players is a really exciting opportunity. It’s a game-by-game basis, I think. Let’s not look beyond this week,” he concluded.

It is worth mentioning that England managed to win only one out of 17 Tests before Root decided to step down as captain.

READ: England suffer major setback ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 opener

DUBAI: ICC on Tuesday fined Pakistan 5% of their match fee for keeping a slow over rate against India in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Pakistan were reprimanded as they were one short of the target after taking time allowances into consideration. ICC match referee Trudy Anderson imposed the sanction with no need for a formal hearing after skipper Fatima Sana accepted the offense.

On-field umpires Claire Polosak and Jacquiline Williams, third umpire Eloise Sheridan, and fourth umpire Sue Redfern leveled the charge under Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel.

Article 2.22 relates to minimum over-rate offenses under which players are fined five percent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

India defeated Pakistan by 64 runs to open their Women’s World Cup 2026 campaign. After opting to bat first, India racked up 170-6 in 20 overs, thanks to Smriti Mandhana’s brisk half-century. Wicketkeeper batter Richa Ghosh provided the innings’ late impetus with a quickfire 34-run cameo at the backend.

In reply, Pakistan were bowled out for 106 in 17 overs despite a positive opening start. Muneeba Ali remained the top-scorer with 41 runs.

For India, Deepti Sharma tore through Pakistan’s batting lineup, scalping a five-wicket haul.

READ: PCB unveils new central contracts system for Pakistan cricketers

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has responded to widespread media reports regarding alleged coaching or mentoring roles for former captains Younis Khan and Mohammad Hafeez, saying the claims were circulated without official confirmation and created unnecessary confusion.

Speaking during a media interaction, Naqvi clarified that he himself only learned about the reported appointments through news channels and that no formal briefing or internal approval had been communicated to him prior to the reports going public.

He stressed that while discussions within the board regarding team structure and support staff requirements were ongoing, no final decisions had been announced regarding specific appointments.

“A few days ago, a headline was circulating that Younis Khan, who has been appointed as head coach or mentor of the Test team, whatever the exact role is, I only came to know such things through the channel,” Naqvi said.

“We did not have any such agenda in advance. What can I say about it? If the news was not available on that day, and it was published in the morning, then I am not at fault for that,” he added.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Mohsin Naqvi further explained that the PCB was still assessing where additional support was needed within the setup, but emphasised that premature reporting on appointments had complicated the narrative around team planning.

He also pointed out inconsistencies in media speculation, noting that multiple names were being linked with different roles without clarity, which risked misleading the public and stakeholders.

“As for Hafeez, we were definitely discussing where we had vacancies and in which areas we needed people,” he said.

“But it felt very strange when the news came out that he had been appointed head coach, while on the other hand Sarfaraz is working in one role, and such reports are circulating at the same time.”

Despite the uncertainty created by the reports, the PCB chairman reiterated that his approach is to involve all available expertise to strengthen Pakistan cricket moving forward.

“I cannot do much about it, but whoever can contribute to improving cricket at this time, I will go to each and every person, involve them, and take them along as well,” he stated.

READ: The man who stopped Spain: Who is Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha?

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), on Monday, introduced a significant overhaul of its central contracts system, unveiling a new format-based structure designed to reward performance, strengthen player development and provide clearer pathways across all levels.

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi revealed the new framework during a press conference, alongside white-ball head coach Mike Hesson, national selector and Director of High Performance Aqib Javed, and other senior board officials.

The revamped model replaces the traditional A, B, C and D categories with a five-track system that classifies players according to their role, format specialisation and stage of development.

Under the new framework, Track AB will consist of Pakistan’s premier multi-format cricketers who feature in both Test and One-Day International cricket. These players may also be selected for T20Is but will primarily be recognised for their contributions in the longer formats.

Track A has been created specifically for red-ball specialists, with the PCB aiming to strengthen Test cricket by providing additional incentives and allowing players greater opportunities to participate in overseas first-class competitions.

Track BC will include core white-ball cricketers who form part of Pakistan’s ODI and T20I setup, while Track C is reserved for T20 specialists and franchise players, offering them increased flexibility to compete in domestic and international leagues around national commitments.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Meanwhile, Track D will serve as a development category featuring emerging cricketers identified through the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and Pakistan’s domestic pathway system.

The PCB described the model as a first-of-its-kind structure in international cricket, with players to be assessed primarily against others operating within the same format pathway rather than across all formats collectively.

Speaking about the new framework, Naqvi said the board had developed a detailed assessment mechanism to ensure greater transparency in the awarding of central contracts.

“We have prepared a system where 85 per cent of the contract criteria will be data-driven, while the remaining 15 per cent will be at the discretion of the selection committee,” he said.

The PCB chairman added that the new approach was designed to address concerns surrounding player evaluation at the domestic level and create a more transparent process.

“There were cases where players at the domestic level were not receiving fair recognition. We hope this entire process will now be transparent, and there should be little room for objections regarding how contracts are awarded,” he stated.

Naqvi also confirmed that medical fitness would remain a mandatory requirement for players seeking central contracts.

READ: Rutherford, Holder star as West Indies seal T20I series win over Sri Lanka