Tag: England

India spinner Varun Chakravarthy has been added to the ODI squad for the three-match series against England following his outstanding performances in the T20Is.

The mystery spinner, who is uncapped in ODIs, joined the national team’s training camp in Nagpur on Tuesday ahead of the first ODI, scheduled to be played on Thursday.

For the unversed, Chakravarthy bagged the Player of the Series award in the five-match T20I series against England, after claiming 14 wickets at an average of 9.86 with an economy of 7.66.

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India has already named four spinners in their squad for the England ODIs as well as the Champions Trophy 2025, including the likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel.

Previously, former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who recently announced his retirement, predicted that Chakravarthy could be added to the squad after his T20I brilliance.

India squad for ODI series against England

Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana (first two ODIs), Jasprit Bumrah (third ODI), Varun Chakravarthy

READ: Former Pakistan pacer questions Faheem Ashraf’s selection in Champions Trophy squad

England captain Jos Buttler has questioned the decision to bring pacer Harshit Rana as a concussion substitute for batting all-rounder Shivam Dube in the fourth T20I against India on Friday.

Controversy erupted in the fourth game of the five-match T20I series when India brought Rana as a concussion sub for Dube, who copped a blow to his helmet on the second-last ball of the penultimate over of their inning.

After a check-up, the Indian physio allowed Dube to play the final ball and was run out after scoring 53 runs from 34 balls.

He, however, did not take to the field in England’s innings due to the concussion and Rana took the field in his place. Rana went on to take three key wickets, contributing to India’s victory.

England captain raised questions over the decision to allow India to bring the pacer as a concussion sub for a batting all-rounder.

“It is not a like-for-like replacement. We don’t agree with that,” Jos Buttler said after the match. “Either Shivam Dube has put on about 25mph with the ball or Harshit [Rana] has really improved his batting.”

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“It’s part of the game and we really should have gone on to win the match, but we disagree with the decision.”

As per the ICC’s playing conditions for men’s T20Is, “The ICC Match Referee should ordinarily approve a Concussion Replacement Request if the replacement is a like-for-like player whose inclusion will not excessively advantage his/her team for the remainder of the match.”

“In assessing whether the nominated Concussion Replacement should be considered a like-for-like player, the ICC Match Referee should consider the likely role the concussed player would have played during the remainder of the match, and the normal role that would be performed by the nominated Concussion Replacement.”

Jos Buttler also lamented that the match officials did not consult with him before the decision.

“There was no consultation [with us]. That’s something I was thinking as I came out to bat – who is Harshit on for? They said he is a concussion replacement, which I obviously disagreed with,” he added.

“It is not a like-for-like replacement. They said that the match referee had made the decision. We had no say in it or any part of it. But we’ll ask Javagal [Srinath] some questions just to get some clarity around it.”

READ: Second leg of Champions Trophy tour in Pakistan to kick off today

 

England batting maestro Joe Root has revealed his plans to make a comeback to the T20I squad following his stint in the SA20.

The right-handed batter is a regular feature in England’s Test squad, however, he has not played a white-ball game since the ICC ODI World Cup 2023.

The former England captain last played a T20I for his side in 2019 during a bilateral series against Pakistan. However, the England selectors have been facing growing calls to include Root in the sides for the shorter format.

Joe Root was named in England squad for the ODI series against India as well as the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, however, he remained out of contention for the ongoing T20I series.

Meanwhile, England batters have largely found it hard to tackle spin bowling offered in the T20I series against India.

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“I think you’re always a better player when you’re not in the team. I’m just going to try to play the best cricket I can,” the former England captain said in an interview with a foreign media outlet.

“You look at that squad and it’s full of talented players who can take the game away from the best bowlers in the world. They’ve got two more opportunities out there to turn things around,” he added.

Meanwhile, the right-handed batter expressed his wish to represent England in all three formats.

“But at the same time, I’ve got to play more T20 cricket, prove myself, and see where that takes me and look after that first,” he further stated.

England squad for India ODIs and Champions Trophy

Jos Buttler (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood.

READ: Former captain questions Pakistan’s ‘too friendly’ approach against India

England captain Jos Buttler stated that his side’s match against Afghanistan at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 should go ahead after calls for a boycott over the Taliban regime’s assault on women’s rights.

A group of more than 160 British politicians have written to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) calling for England not to play the match against Afghanistan in Lahore on February 26.

Since returning to power in 2021 the Taliban have effectively banned the participation of women in both sports as well as broader public life.

That puts the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) at odds with the rules of the governing body the International Cricket Council (ICC).

However, Jos Buttler said sports and politics should be kept separate.

“Political situations like this, as a player you’re trying to be as informed as you can be,” he told reporters ahead of the first T20 against India in Kolkata on Wednesday.

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“The experts know a lot more about it, so I’ve been trying to stay in dialogue with Rob Key (managing director of ECB) and the guys above to see how they see it.

“I don’t think a boycott is the way to go about it,” he added.

“Certainly as a player, you don’t want political situations to affect sport. We hope to go to the Champions Trophy and play that game and have a really good tournament.”

The ECB has resisted calls for a boycott, with chief executive Richard Gould saying instead he would “actively advocate” for collective action by the ICC instead.

The ICC has allowed the Afghanistan men’s team to keep competing in global competitions.

England are clubbed with Afghanistan, Australia and South Africa in the group phase of the Champions Trophy, which begins on February 19.

READ: BCCI clears the air on removing Pakistan’s name from Champions Trophy jersey

Afghanistan announced their squad for next month’s ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, with prolific opener Ibrahim Zadran returning after an injury lay-off but spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman missing out.

The country’s performance in white-ball cricket has been strong recently — finishing sixth in the ICC ODI World Cup in 2023 and reaching the semi-final in last year’s T20 World Cup.

This will be the first time Afghanistan participate in the eight-nation Champions Trophy, staged between February 19 and March 9 in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.

“Zadran, who was away from action due to an ankle injury, has returned to the squad,” said a statement from the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB).

“However, Mujeeb Ur Rahman misses out on the selection, as AM Ghazanfar, a similar mystery spinner, has made the cut for the mega event.”

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Rahman was left out because “he has been advised by his doctor to focus on T20s for a while to ensure his full recovery”, added acting ACB chief selector Ahmad Suliman Khil.

But the ACB said that the fast-rising opener Sediqullah Atal did secure a place in the squad.

Afghanistan beat England and Pakistan in the ODI World Cup and Australia and New Zealand in the T20 World Cup.

The ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy will kick off on 19 February with host and defending champions Pakistan taking on New Zealand in the curtain-raiser in Karachi’s National Bank Stadium.

Afghanistan will kick off their Champions Trophy campaign with a clash against South Africa in Karachi on February 21, before they face England and Australia in Lahore.

Afghanistan squad for Champions Trophy 2025

Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmat Shah (vc), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Naveed Zadran and Farid Ahmad Malik.

READ: Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood return to Australia squad for Champions Trophy

Skipper Pat Cummins and injured paceman Josh Hazlewood were named in the squad of Australia for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, in Pakistan next month.

Cummins opted out of the Sri Lanka series, which is set to commence later this month, due to the birth of his second child. He is also reportedly carrying a knee injury.

Meanwhile, Hazlewood was included in the two-time tournament winners’ preliminary 15-man line-up after calf and side strains restricted him to just two Tests during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India over the summer.

While they return, opener Jake Fraser-McGurk was dumped, paying the price for his poor recent form after opening for Australia during their most recent one-day series against Pakistan.

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“This is a balanced and experienced squad with the core having been involved in the previous one-day World Cup, the West Indies series, last year’s successful tour of the UK and the more recent Pakistan home series,” said chief selector George Bailey.

“It offers a variety of options for touring management depending on the opposition and the conditions that may present in Pakistan.”

The ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy will kick off on 19 February with host and defending champions Pakistan taking on New Zealand in the curtain-raiser in Karachi’s National Bank Stadium.

Australia squad for Champions Trophy 2025

Pat Cummins (capt), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa

READ: Women’s Ashes 2025: Ashleigh Gardner helps Australia defeat England in first ODI

AUCKLAND: New Zealand Cricket (NZC) on Sunday announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled in Pakistan, with India playing their matches in Dubai.

Seasoned players Kane Williamson, Devon Conway and Lockie Ferguson were recalled to form an experienced New Zealand squad to contest the Champions Trophy.

The aforementioned three players were unavailable for the recently concluded home ODI series against Sri Lanka because of offshore T20 commitments.

Batters Williamson and Conway have been playing in South Africa’s T20 league while pace bowler Ferguson is involved in Australia’s Big Bash competition.

Ben Sears was also selected for the ICC tournament co-hosted by Pakistan and UAE, having missed the 2-1 series win over Sri Lanka with a knee injury.

It will be the first senior ICC event for Sears and fellow pace bowlers Will O’Rourke and Nathan Smith.

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Coach Gary Stead will oversee a squad he said also boasted experience and depth.

“We’re currently blessed with a lot of quality players and that certainly made for some challenging selection discussions,” Stead said.

Spin bowler Mitchell Santner will lead New Zealand at a major event for the first time, after being named full-time white ball captain in December.

Santner, former skipper Williamson and wicketkeeper Tom Latham were all part of the New Zealand squad for the last edition of the Champions Trophy, in England and Wales in 2017.

New Zealand will contest the tournament’s opening match against Pakistan in Karachi on February 19, followed by pool games against Bangladesh and India.

New Zealand squad for Champions Trophy 2025

Mitchell Santner (c), Will Young, Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Ben Sears, Will O’Rourke

READ: Shakib Al Hasan dropped as Bangladesh announce squad for Champions Trophy

DHAKA: Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Sunday announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, with veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan missing out.

The all-rounder was recently banned from bowling in competitions governed by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). This decision came on the heels of an independent re-assessment of his bowling action revealing concerns over the legality of his deliveries.

Although Shakib Al Hasan remained eligible to participate as a specialist batter, the Bangladeshi selectors opted to exclude him.

Moreover, Bangladesh will also be lacking the services of another veteran player, Tamim Iqbal, who recently retired from international cricket, despite having been approached by the team’s white-ball captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, along with other key figures within the squad, urging him to reconsider.

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However, experienced players such as wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim and all-rounder Mahmudullah have secured their places in the contingent, bringing their wealth of knowledge and skill to the mix.

The ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy will kick off on 19 February with host and defending champions Pakistan taking on New Zealand in the curtain-raiser in Karachi’s National Bank Stadium.

Bangladesh are placed in Group A alongside India, Pakistan and New Zealand. They will play their opening game in the tournament against India in Dubai on February 20.

Bangladesh squad for Champions Trophy 2025

Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mahmudullah Riyad, Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossain Emon, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana.

READ: Tamim Iqbal retires from international cricket again

LONDON: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Monday, provided an update on the injury of the national men’s Test captain Ben Stokes.

The star all-rounder has been ruled out of all forms of cricket after tearing his left hamstring during the third Test against New Zealand, team management confirmed.

He had already been ruled out of next year’s ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan and the preceding white-ball tour of India.

Further assessments have since revealed the full extent of the injury, with Stokes set to undergo surgery in January, said an England and Wales Cricket Board statement.

Stokes suffered the injury while bowling during the third Test against New Zealand in Hamilton last week.

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Stokes did not bat in the second innings of that match as England slumped to a 423-run defeat — a result that meant his side still won a three-match series 2-1.

“Something else to overcome…go on then!!!!!!!! I’ve got so much more left in this tank and so much more blood, sweat and tears to go through for my team and this shirt,” Ben Stokes wrote on social media.

“There’s a reason I have a Phoenix permanently inked on my body.”

Stokes previously missed this year’s home series against Sri Lanka and the first Test in Pakistan after tearing the hamstring on the same left leg in August.

England’s next Test is at home to Zimbabwe in May. They will then host a five-match Test series against India starting in June before their pinnacle 2025/26 Ashes tour of Australia.

READ: India face major blow as key pacer ruled out of Australia Tests

LONDON: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Sunday, recalled star batter Joe Root to the national ODI squad for the much-anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled in Pakistan.

The England Men’s selection panel named 15-member ODI and T20I squads that will play tour India for the white-ball series in January, followed by the Champions Trophy 2025 in February and March.

Root has been a key member of England’s Test team, however, he has not featured in any ODI since the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup in November 2023.

Alongside Root, Jos Buttler has also returned to the team and will be leading them during the tour of ODI as well as the eight-team mega-event.

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Meanwhile, Test captain Ben Stokes was not considered for selection owing to a left hamstring injury, which he sustained during the third Test match against New Zealand earlier this month.

England squad will depart on 17 January 2025 for India, where they will play three T20Is and as many ODIs from January 22 to February 12 before heading to Pakistan for Champions Trophy.

England squad for T20I series against India

Jos Buttler (c), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood

England squad for India ODIs and Champions Trophy

Jos Buttler (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood.

READ: Nathan McSweeney breaks silence after being dropped from Australia Test squad