Category: Top Picks

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has revealed the match officials for the final of the Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025.

The summit clash will be played between hosts India and South Africa on Sunday at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.

Australia’s Eloise Sheridan and West Indies’ Jacquline Williams will take the responsibilities for on-field umpiring, while Sue Redfern will serve as the Third Umpire.

Both officials have had an active role throughout the group stage, including the semi-final between England and South Africa.

Sheridan also oversaw England’s commanding 10-wicket win over South Africa as well as the Proteas’ victory against Pakistan.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Meanwhile, Williams stood in South Africa’s triumphs against India and Bangladesh and England’s mixed outings against India and Australia.

The Fourth Umpire will be Nimali Perera, and Michelle Pereira will occupy the role of the Match Referee.

For context, both teams will be eyeing their maiden title, a feat they have never achieved in the tournament’s 52-year history.

South Africa have demonstrated outstanding performances throughout the tournament and finished in second spot on the points table. The Proteas women also toppled four-time champions England in the semi-final with a statement win.

On the contrary, India had a topsy-turvy campaign, finishing in fourth position on the table. However, they bounced back in the later part of the tournament. They clinched a memorable win over the seven-time champions, Australia, in the second semi-final of the marquee event.

Match officials for India vs South Africa final

On-field Umpires: Eloise Sheridan, Jacquline Williams

Third Umpire: Sue Redfern

Fourth Umpire: Nimali Perera

Match Referee: Michell Pereira

READ:Hazlewood, Marsh star as Australia thump India in second T20I

Mikel Arteta warned that player welfare should be the primary concern for football’s rule-makers as Arsenal’s fixture pile-up threatens to put his team at risk.

Arteta’s side are set to face Crystal Palace in the League Cup quarter-finals on December 16.

But that would mean Palace facing three matches in just five days, and the FA Cup holders are hopeful of moving their match at the Emirates Stadium to the following week.

It is understood Arsenal’s preferred option is for the last-eight clash to remain on December 16 to avoid exacerbating the hectic Christmas schedule.

Arsenal are currently in a run of seven matches in just 22 days, with the Premier League leaders heading to Burnley on Saturday before returning to Champions League action at Slavia Prague on Tuesday.

“Every decision that we make in terms of a fixture has to be guided on two main things; players’ welfare, and then supporters, and that is it, and the rest has to come very, very far away from that. And we should never forget that principle,” Arteta told reporters on Friday.

“If we have that big piece of paper with those two principles there in front before we make any decision, all of us in our industry, we won’t get there. If we don’t and we just ignore that, then anything is possible.”

Manchester City midfielder Rodri said last season that players could strike amid an increase in fixtures.

Pressed on whether the talk of player strikes could resume as the fixtures mount, Arteta said: “If we look after the players’ welfare and our supporters, we are never going to get to that point.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“We have to close the window there. We cannot open that window. It has to be closed. It’s our most precious value.”

Arsenal secured their place in the League Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 victory over Brighton on Wednesday.

That made it eight successive victories in all competitions for the red-hot Gunners.

They will travel to Burnley with a four-point lead at the top of the table and a defence that has not been breached for six matches.

Arsenal are hoping to win the English title for the first time since 2004 after finishing as runners-up for the last three seasons.

Asked if there is a feeling within his camp that Arsenal are unstoppable at the moment.

“No, because you always have that sense of urgency, and you see the complications and the challenges that the next opponent is going to bring you, and we know that, and every three days, we have very little time to train and prepare,” Arteta said.

“It’s a big opportunity that we have ahead of us, but we have to continue with that level of consistency, and we know how difficult that is.

“We’re going to have to again hit those performance levels.”

READ: Hazlewood, Marsh star as Australia thump India in second T20I

MELBOURNE: Josh Hazlewood took three wickets, and captain Mitchell Marsh scored a quick 46, leading Australia to a commanding victory over India in the second T20I on Friday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Set to chase a modest total of 146, Australia successfully reached the target in 13.2 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Marsh and Travis Head set up the victory with a quick-fire opening stand of 51 runs from 28 balls.

However, Varun Chakravarthy provided the breakthrough with the wicket of Head, who struck 28 off 15 with the help of three fours and one six.

Marsh continued his onslaught and took his team’s total to 87 inside eight overs before Kuldeep Yadav ended his entertaining knock. The Australian captain departed after scoring a 26-ball 46, which featured four sixes and two boundaries.

Tim David joined Josh Inglis at the crease but could not contribute much, falling to Chakravarthy in the next over. Inglis soon returned to the pavilion after scoring a run-a-ball 20, dismissed by Yadav.

Mitchell Owen scored 14 runs, bringing Australia within striking distance of victory with only two runs remaining.

However, Jasprit Bumrah struck on back-to-back deliveries, removing Owen and the new batter, Matthew Short, who scored 0.

After the setback, Marcus Stoinis scored the winning runs, steering Australia to a five-wicket victory.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Earlier, India were booked for just 125 runs in 18.4 overs, despite a remarkable innings from Abhishek Sharma, who scored 68 runs off 37 balls.

The Indian team faced early setbacks, with Shubman Gill falling to Hazlewood for just 5 runs in the third over. This was followed by Sanju Samson’s dismissal for 2 runs by Ellis in the next over.

Hazlewood struck again, taking the wickets of Suryakumar Yadav for 1 and Tilak Varma for a duck, reducing India to 32 for 4 in just 4.5 overs.

A mix-up on the field led to Axar Patel being run out in the eighth over, leaving India in a precarious position.

Sharma, who was fighting a lone war, found a reliable partner in Harshit Rana (35), and they added 56 runs for the sixth wicket.

The partnership was broken when Bartlett dismissed Rana, and later took the wicket of Shivam Dube for just 4 runs. Marcus Stoinis then removed Kuldeep Yadav, who did not score.

Sharma’s valiant innings came to an end soon after, and Bumrah was run out without scoring, bringing India’s innings to a close.

Hazlewood finished with outstanding bowling figures of 3 wickets for 13 runs in 4 overs, while Bartlett and Ellis each took 2 wickets.

READ: India-Pakistan clash confirmed as Asia Cup Rising Stars Championship schedule revealed

Vinicius Jr. will face no disciplinary action for his El Clasico substitution outburst, Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso revealed on Friday.

The Brazilian remonstrated with Alonso and marched off down the tunnel after he was hauled off in the 72nd minute in last weekend’s tense 2-1 win over Madrid’s arch-rivals, Barcelona.

The 25-year-old player issued an apology to Real fans, his teammates, the club and president Florentino Perez — but pointedly not to Alonso — in midweek.

But the Real manager assured Vinicius the affair was “over”.

He told a press conference on the eve of Valencia’s visit in La Liga: “On Wednesday, we had a meeting with all the staff, players, and Vinicius gave an impeccable speech.

“He spoke sincerely, from the heart. For me, this matter has been closed since Wednesday.”

Alonso said there would be no “reprisals” against the Brazilian forward.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

He added, “We are all in the same boat and rowing in the same direction. I think the whole team is focused on the field, which is the most important thing.”

“We are competitors, all players want to be on the pitch, and that’s a good thing. Now, we want to keep moving forward towards our goals, one match at a time.”

The Vinicius flashpoint comes with negotiations ongoing over a new contract, although his current deal does not expire until 2027.

He has weighed in with five goals this season in La Liga, although he has been replaced as the main man in the Real squad by Kylian Mbappe, with the Frenchman on 16 goals in 13 appearances in all competitions so far, after scoring 44 in all competitions in his first season at the club.

Real Madrid sit at the top of La Liga on 27 points, five clear of Barcelona, and hosts struggling Valencia on Saturday.

READ: Mohammad Abbas joins elite club with five-wicket haul in Quaid-e-Azam Trophy

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Test seamer Mohammad Abbas continued his rich vein of form in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2025-26, bagging another five-wicket haul for Lahore Region Whites against Multan Region on Friday.

Opting to bowl first, Abbas struck early with the new ball, removing Multan captain Zain Abbas for a duck and opener Waqar Hussain for just one, leaving the visitors reeling at 3-2.

His relentless accuracy never allowed the opposition to settle, and Multan were bundled out for 164 in 43.4 overs. Abbas finished with superb figures of 5-32 from 15.4 overs, dismissing Kashif Ali (1) to complete his five-for.

Aamir Jamal provided solid support with 3-58, while Arafat Minhas offered a late counterattack for Multan with a 51-ball 45.

This performance marked Abbas’s second consecutive five-wicket haul, coming just three days after his 6-78 against Karachi Blues, a spell that had brought up his 50th career five-for in First-Class cricket.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

At 35, Abbas continues to dominate the domestic circuit, standing as the joint-second-highest wicket-taker of the season with 18 wickets at an average of 20.94 and an economy rate of 2.79.

Only Sialkot’s Athar Mahmood (19 wickets at 16.42) is ahead of him.

With this latest feat, Abbas has now taken 825 wickets in 205 First-Class matches at an exceptional average of 20.66.

He also entered rare company, becoming just the third fast bowler in the 21st century to claim 50 or more five-wicket hauls in First-Class cricket, joining Abdur Rauf (57) and England’s James Anderson (55).

READ: Australia, India pay tribute to teenager Ben Austin in second T20I

MELBOURNE: Players from Australia and India wore black armbands and held a minute’s silence ahead of the second T20I, as tributes poured in on Friday for the teenager Ben Austin, whose death touched the cricket world.

Austin, 17, died on Thursday after being hit in the neck before a local Twenty20 game in Melbourne while in the nets facing a ball-throwing device.

He was wearing a helmet, but reportedly not a stem guard, which protects the neck.

It revived memories of Test star Phillip Hughes, who was killed in 2014 when hit in the neck by a ball during a domestic Sheffield Shield game.

On Friday, the Victoria and Tasmania teams put their bats out as a symbol of respect, wore black armbands and held a minute’s silence as Austin’s image was beamed on a big screen before resuming their domestic match in Melbourne.

There were similar scenes in Perth, where Western Australia were playing South Australia.

In Mumbai, both India and Australia wore black armbands during their women’s one-day World Cup semi-final on Thursday.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“Thanks to the Indian team for joining us in wearing black armbands to pay tribute to Ben Austin, a young man from Melbourne who tragically lost his life playing the game we all love,” the Australian side said.

“Sending love to Ben’s friends, family and cricket mates.”

Flowers and cricket bats were placed at the Ferntree Gully Cricket Club, where the accident occurred on Tuesday.

“It makes you so proud to realise how connected the cricket community is and how much we look after each other,” Cricket Victoria chief Nick Cummins told Australian media.

“It doesn’t take a lot of imagination to put yourself in the Austin family’s position.”

Austin’s death resonated globally, with England’s Barmy Army linking to a GoFundMe page set up to help the family.

“Rest in peace, Ben Austin, never forgotten,” said the official supporters group, who are set to descend on Australia in force this month for the Ashes Test series.

READ: Cristiano Ronaldo’s son makes debut for Portugal U16

Cristiano Ronaldo Jr., son of Portugal captain and global football icon Cristiano Ronaldo, made his international debut for the country’s Under-16 team in the Federation Cup in Turkey.

The 15-year-old forward came off the bench during stoppage time as Portugal U16 cruised to a 2–0 win over hosts Turkey in Antalya, with goals from Sporting CP’s Samuel Tavares and SC Braga’s Rafael Cabral sealing the result.

Though Ronaldo Jr.’s cameo was brief, it marked a significant milestone in a journey that has already captured worldwide attention.

Having honed his skills at Al Nassr’s youth setup in Saudi Arabia, where his father currently stars, the youngster’s progression through the Portuguese ranks has been rapid.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Earlier this year, he impressed with a brace in Portugal’s 3–2 victory over Croatia in the Vlatko Markovic International Tournament final, further strengthening his credentials as one to watch.

This debut comes as his father, Cristiano Ronaldo Sr., continues to redefine football longevity, having recently surpassed 950 career goals and extended his record as the highest scorer in men’s international football.

Portugal’s U16 side, having opened their campaign with a win, will next face Wales on November 1 before taking on England on November 4 in the group stages.

READ: Multiple records shattered in India’s semi-final win over Australia

NAVI MUMBAI: Jemimah Rodrigues anchored an epic chase that shattered multiple records as India defeated defending champions Australia in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 semi-final on Thursday.

Phoebe Litchfield struck a brilliant hundred to power Australia to 338, setting a daunting target of 339 runs for the hosts.

However, India scripted history by pulling off the highest successful chase in Women’s ODI history, surpassing Australia’s 331 against India in Visakhapatnam earlier this month.

In doing so, India also became the first team ever to chase down a 300-plus target in a World Cup knockout, men’s or women’s.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

The run-fest produced 679 runs in total, the second-highest aggregate ever recorded in Women’s ODIs.

Fourteen sixes were smashed in the game, the most ever in a Women’s World Cup match, pushing the ongoing edition’s tally of maximums to a record 124, eclipsing the 111 hit in 2017.

Jemimah Rodrigues played a crucial role in India’s remarkable victory, scoring an unbeaten 127 runs off 134 balls, with 14 fours.

This innings now holds the record for the highest score by an Indian in an ODI run chase, surpassing Smriti Mandhana’s 125 runs against Australia last month.

Additionally, she has joined Nat Sciver-Brunt as only the second player in history to score a century while chasing in a World Cup knockout match.

Catch ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 news updates here!

The 167-run stand between Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur was another record in itself, the highest partnership for India against Australia in Women’s World Cups, surpassing the Mithali Raj–Punam Raut effort of 157 in 2017.

It was also the sixth 150-plus stand in a World Cup knockout, and the first not involving Australian batters.

Australia’s Litchfield, at just 22 years old, became the youngest player to score a century in a Women’s World Cup knockout match.

Additionally, the Australian team set a new record by achieving six hundreds in this edition of the tournament, the most ever in a single World Cup campaign.

READ: India-Pakistan clash confirmed as Asia Cup Rising Stars Championship schedule revealed

DUBAI: The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) announced the schedule for the Asia Cup Rising Stars Championship on Friday, with arch-rivals Pakistan and India set to face each other on November 16.

Formerly known as the Emerging Asia Cup, the revamped event will run from November 14 to 23 at the West End International Cricket Stadium in Doha, Qatar.

The competition will consist of eight teams: Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, and Hong Kong, which will be divided into two groups of four.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Group A comprises Pakistan, India, the UAE, and Oman, while Group B features Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong.

According to the official schedule, Pakistan will open the tournament against Oman on November 14, while India will face the UAE later the same day.

The marquee Pakistan vs India clash is slated for November 16, followed by the semi-finals on November 21 and the final on November 23.

The stage is set, the stars are ready 🤩

From fiery clashes to fresh rivalries ~ it all unfolds in Doha, Qatar! 🇶🇦

Here’s your first look at the #DPWorldAsiaCupRisingStars2025 fixtures 🫡

Who will rise to the top? 👀#ACC pic.twitter.com/gze3cb1xmt

— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) October 31, 2025

Unlike previous editions, the Rising Stars Championship will not include a Super Four stage.

The top two teams from each group will directly advance to the semi-finals, meaning Pakistan and India could meet a second time only if both qualify for the final.

Notably, the Test-playing nations, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, will send their ‘A’ teams, whereas UAE, Hong Kong, and Oman will participate with their full senior squads.

Asia Cup Rising Stars Championship Schedule

• 14 November 2025: Pakistan vs Oman
• 14 November 2025: India vs UAE
• 15 November 2025: Bangladesh vs Hong Kong
• 15 November 2025: Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan
• 16 November 2025: UAE vs Oman
• 16 November 2025: India vs Pakistan
• 17 November 2025: Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong
• 17 November 2025: Bangladesh vs Afghanistan
• 18 November 2025: Pakistan vs UAE
• 18 November 2025: India vs Oman
• 19 November 2025: Afghanistan vs Hong Kong
• 19 November 2025: Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh
• 21 November 2025: Semi-final 1 (A1 vs B2)
• 21 November 2025: Semi-final 2 (B1 vs A2)
• 23 November 2025: Final

READ: Here’s why Saudi Arabia rejected Messi’s offer to play in Pro League

India and Pakistan are set to square off once again in the renamed ‘Asia Cup Rising Stars Championship’, formerly known as the Emerging Asia Cup. 

According to Cricbuzz, the Emerging Asia Cup has been rebranded, which is set to begin on November 14 in Doha, Qatar.

With another Asia Cup championship looming, it remains uncertain whether the event will spark another controversy.

The recently concluded Asia Cup was marred by several controversies, starting with the handshake saga between India and Pakistan, which ended with a trophyless celebration for India after the final.

The dispute over the trophy still continues as Team India is yet to receive the silverware. This situation arose from political tensions between India and Pakistan after the escalation in May over the Pahalgam attack.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Nonetheless, the tournament will feature eight teams: India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Oman, the UAE, and Hong Kong. The 15-match event will be played in T20 format.

Besides India and Pakistan, the group also includes Oman and the UAE. The other group comprises Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong.

However, the only difference from the Asia Cup 2025 is that there won’t be a Super Four round. The top two teams from each group will move into the semifinals, and the final will be played on November 23.

Afghanistan are the winners of the previous edition as they had outplayed Sri Lanka A in the final. The last edition was played at Al-Nahda Stadium in Oman in October 2024.

Asia Cup Rising Stars Championship Teams

Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Hong Kong, UAE, Oman, Sri Lanka

READ:Here’s why Saudi Arabia rejected Messi’s offer to play in Pro League