Tag: india

India’s spinners struck regular blows to dent West Indies’ reply as the hosts extended their dominance in the second Test after a fluent century from skipper Shubman Gill on Saturday.

The tourists were 140-4 at stumps on the second day, still trailing India by 378 runs at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Shai Hope, on 31, and wicketkeeper-batsman Tevin Imlach, on 14, were batting at the close of play after left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja took three wickets.

Shubman Gill led from the front with his unbeaten 129 — his fifth hundred of the year in eight Tests — after Yashasvi Jaiswal’s run out on 175 in the second over of the day following a mix-up with the captain.

Jadeja added that they would try to get the tourists out early on day three, even though “there is not much spin on the wicket”.

In reply to India’s mammoth first-innings 518-5 declared, opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul (34) and Alick Athanaze (41) offered some resistance before departing.

Chanderpaul edged a short-of-a-length ball from Jadeja to slip, where KL Rahul caught it after a couple of juggles to end a 66-run second-wicket stand.

Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav sent back Athanaze, and in the next over, skipper Roston Chase was dismissed for a duck off Jadeja.

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Hope kept up the fight after he survived a close lbw appeal, which India reviewed but lost as ball tracking confirmed the umpire’s call.

In the second session, West Indies opener John Campbell fell for 10 as Sai Sudharsan somehow took a stunning and slightly lucky reflex catch at forward short-leg.

The left-handed Campbell attempted a slog sweep off Jadeja, and Sudharsan instinctively held on to the ball with his helmet, chest, and hands as he ducked for cover.

Gill, who started the day on 20, took on the West Indies attack with his classy strokeplay, hitting 16 fours and two sixes in his 10th Test century.

Gill scored three runs off left-arm spinner Khary Pierre to reach a hundred and raised his bat to acknowledge a raucous weekend crowd.

He and wicketkeeper-batsman Dhruv Jurel, who made 44, shared 102 runs for the fifth wicket and put on quick runs peppered with regular boundaries after the lunch break to turn the screw on the West Indies.

Earlier, the left-handed Jaiswal added just two to his overnight score before departing after the dramatic runout.

Attempting a single after pushing the ball to mid-off, Jaiswal set off, but Gill had his back towards the striker and was ball-watching, and Imlach was quick to rattle the stumps.

Gill kept calm and put on 91 runs with Nitish Kumar Reddy, who made 43 before Warrican got him out for his third wicket.

India are hot favourites to sweep the two-match series after winning the opener by an innings.

READ: Shan prioritises 20 wickets over big runs ahead of South Africa Tests

JOHOR BAHRU: Arch-rivals India and Pakistan are set to face off in the  Sultan of Johor Cup 2025 on October 14 in Malaysia.

The tournament, which started in 2011, is a week-long annual U21 international men’s hockey tournament that is held at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Malaysia.

The Sultan of Johor Hockey Cup features six top international teams — Pakistan, Australia, Great Britain, India, Malaysia, and New Zealand.

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Great Britain will enter the field to defend its title, having defeated Australia last year in the final, marking their fourth title victory in the tournament’s history. The tournament will run from October 11 to 18.

Pakistan will begin its campaign against hosts Malaysia on October 11, followed by a match against Great Britain the next day. After a rest day, the Green Shirts will face India on October 14.

Pakistan will play New Zealand on October 15 and finish their group-stage matches against Australia on October 17. The final and classification matches of the tournament will be played on October 18.

Pakistan Squad for Sultan of Johor Cup

Ali Raza, Muhammad Faizan Janjua, Muhammad Sufyan, Muhammad Wasim, Samiullah, Muhammad Nadeem Khan, and Zakaria Hayat Aqeel Ahmed, Muhammad Imad, Abdul Hanan Shahid, Ali Murtaza, Rana Muhammad Walid Ashraf, Hamza Fayyaz, Abdul Qayyum, Muhammad Usman, Ashraf, Basharat Ali, and Muhammad Shaheer.

Reserves

Yasir Sanawar and Muhammad Hassan

READ: Jaiswal’s 173* powers India to 318 against listless West Indies

VISAKHAPATNAM: India were in sight of their third consecutive win until Nadine de Klerk’s late onslaught in the final overs helped South Africa edge past the hosts in a close finish here on Thursday.

Set 252 in the 10th fixture of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, South Africa sealed victory in the second last over, losing seven wickets in the process.

The Proteas had a poor start as they lost opener Tazmin Brits and Sune Luus departed in the first five overs.

Following the early hiccup, Marizanne Kapp and Laura Wolvaardt added 39 for the third wicket. Kapp scored 20 from 25 balls.

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However, Kapp’s dismissal sparked a mini-collapse and left South Africa reeling 81-5 in 19.4 overs.

Yet, skipper Laura Wolvaardt, who made 70 from 111 balls with the help of eight fours, held South Africa’s innings together with a string of partnerships.

But it was Nadine de Klerk’s 84 from 54 balls, striking five sixes and eight fours, which took them over the line.

For India, Sneh Rana and Kranti Gaud picked up two wickets each.

Earlier, after being put into bat, India were bowled out for 251 in 49.5 overs, thanks to Richa Ghosh’s rescuing act.

She made 94 from just 77 balls, studded with 11 fours and four sixes. India were in deep trouble at 102-6 in 26 overs when Gosh arrived.

For South Africa, Chloe Tryon remained the standout bowler, picking up three wickets.

READ: Solano proud of Pakistan’s fighting display against Afghanistan

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has rejected the idea of not holding India-Pakistan fixtures in the future, following the Asia Cup 2025 fallout.

According to a report in the Indian news outlet ‘Dainik Jagran’, the BCCI highlighted the need for a clash between arch-rivals, taking into account the broadcasters and sponsors.

“It’s easy to talk about all this, but will sponsors and broadcasters agree to it? In today’s situation, if any major team, not just India, withdraws from a tournament, it will be difficult to attract sponsors,” the report quoted BCCI official.

The comments from the BCCI came after former England captain Michael Atherton and a notable voice in cricket commentary urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) not to have more matches between India and Pakistan.

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“If cricket was once the vehicle for diplomacy, it is now, clearly, a proxy for broader tensions and for propaganda.

There is little justification, in any case, for a serious sport to arrange tournament fixtures to suit its economic needs, and now that the rivalry is being exploited in other ways, there is even less justification for it,” Atherton wrote in his column for The Times.

“For the next broadcast rights cycle, the fixture draw before ICC events should be transparent, and if the two teams do not meet every time, so be it,” he further wrote.

For the unversed, India and Pakistan squared off against each other three times in the recently concluded Asia Cup. However, all matches were surrounded by controversy from the onset.

During the first fixture between the two teams — their first encounter since the May escalation, which had led both neighbours to the verge of full-fledged war — handshakes were avoided by both teams.

Furthermore, the final also saw a delayed presentation ceremony due to the Men in Blue’s refusal to take silverware from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.

READ: Pakistan-Afghanistan AFC Asian Cup Qualifier clash in limbo

MELBOURNE: Top-order batter Marnus Labuschagne has been dropped from the Australia ODI squad against India, which is set to begin on October 19 at Perth Cricket Stadium

Labuschagne has been dropped on the back of his poor run in the format, while Matt Renshaw has been added to the squad and is lined up to make his debut after having impressive outings for Australia ‘A’.

Renshaw was also named in the ODI squad against Pakistan in 2022; however, he didn’t get a game.

Meanwhile, ace pacer Mitchell Starc’s addition to the squad has also bolstered Australia’s pace attack. The left-arm pacer will be playing his ODI after a year.

Glenn Maxwell is not included in the squad as he is recovering from a wrist injury, which also kept him out of New Zealand T20Is.

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Following the squad announcement, chair of selectors George Bailey emphasized the Ashes and home season, hinting at workload management at the back end of the series.

“We have named a squad for the ODI series and first two games of the T20 series as there will be some management through the back end of the series as individuals prepare for the summer through Sheffield Shield cricket,” he said.

The majority of the T20 squad will remain together as it’s an important period in the build towards the World Cup next year, however we are trying to strike a balance to ensure we simultaneously prepare certain individuals for the Test series ahead,” he explained.

The three-match ODI series will begin from October 19 and end on October 25 followed by a five-match T20Is, starting from October 29.

Australia ODI squad vs India

Mitchell Marsh (capt), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey (wk), Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Mitchell Owen, Matt Renshaw, Matthew Short, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa

Australia T20I squad vs India (first two matches)

Mitchell Marsh (capt), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa

READ: Markram picks THIS batter as game-changer against spin-slaught on Pakistan tour

COLOMBO: Pakistan women’s team top-order batter Sidra Amin has been reprimanded for breaching the International Cricket Council (ICC) Code of Conduct during the India-Pakistan clash in the Women’s World Cup 2025.

Sidra was deemed guilty of Article 2.2 violation, which relates to “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an international match.”

The incident happened on the final delivery of the 40th over when Sidra was caught by India captain Harmanpreet Kaur off Sneh Rana’s bowling.

Consequently, one demerit point has been added to her disciplinary record, marking her first offence in a 24-month period.

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The right-hander has admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Shandré Fritz of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees, thereby avoiding a formal hearing.

The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Lauren Agenbag and Nimali Perera, alongside third umpire Kerrin Klaaste and fourth umpire Kim Cotton.

For context, a Level 1 violation may result in penalties ranging from an official reprimand to a fine of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee and one or two demerit points.

Notably, Sidra Amin remained the top scorer for the Pakistan team in defeat against India. She made fighting 81 from 106 balls, striking nine fours and a six.

However, her knock was not enough as India successfully defended a target of 248 runs with a clinical bowling display.

This was Pakistan’s second defeat in the World Cup 2025 and its overall 12th loss against India in Women’s ODIs.

The women in Green will face the challenge of seven-time winners and defending champions Australia in their next fixture, scheduled for October 8 at the R Premadasa Stadium.

READ: Akram, Jamal released from Pakistan squad for South Africa series

COLOMBO: Drama unfolded in the high-stakes ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 clash between India and Pakistan as opening batter Muneeba Ali was run out in a bizarre fashion here on Sunday at the R. Premadas Stadium.

The incident happened during the last ball of the fourth over when a direct hit from the field struck the stumps.

This came after an LBW shout; Muneeba Ali had grounded her bat well before it, though, and initially it was given not out on the screen.

However, the third umpire rechecked and saw the bat in the air, with nothing else behind the line, and confirmed on the big screen, giving it as out.

Meanwhile, Muneeba was told to stay on the field of play by captain Fatima Sana while she had a chat with the fourth umpire on the boundary line.

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As per the ICC regulations, a batter is declared Run Out if, at any time while the ball is in play, they are out of the crease and the wicket is fairly broken by a fielder, regardless of whether a run was being attempted.

MCC law 30 further clarifies that once a batter has made their ground but loses contact due to forward momentum, he or she cannot be given out — unless the bat or body was never grounded behind the crease at the moment the wicket was broken.

The controversy added fuel to an already tense encounter, in which India’s Harmanpreet Kaur and Fatima Sana avoided a handshake, mirroring a similar incident that happened in the recently held men’s Asia Cup 2025.

At the time of filing this story, Pakistan were stuggling at 34-3 in 15.3 overs in pursuit of India’s 248.

Sidra Amin scored 12* off 37 balls, whereas Natalia Pervaiz remained unbeaten on five from 14 balls.

READ: Women’s World Cup: No handshakes as Pakistan win toss, field first against India

COLOMBO: A clinical bowling led by Kranti Goud’s three-wicket haul powered India to a comprehensive 88-run win over Pakistan in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 sixth fixture here at the R Premadasa Stadium on Sunday.

The win kept India’s perfect record intact against Pakistan, taking their tally to 12 victories and leaving the Green Shirts winless in ODIs.

Set 248, Pakistan crumbled under pressure and were bowled out for 159 in 43 overs.

The girls in Green endured a poor and sluggish start as opener Muneeba Ali (2 from 12) was run out, followed by a controversy. While Sadaf Shamas was caught and bowled after scoring six from 24 balls.

As a result, Pakistan were reduced to 20-2 in 7.3 overs. Aliya Riaz followed her in the 11th over and was caught after scoring just two.

Following the early hiccups, Sidra Amin and Natalia Pervaiz tried to steady Pakistan with a 69-run stand. The duo’s steady batting took the team’s total to 95; however, with the asking rate soaring, Pervaiz fell cheaply.

Nonetheless, Sidra held firm with wickets tumbling around her and eventually reached her half-century in the process. The right-hander found no support from the other end and eventually departed in the 39th over. She made 81 from 106 balls laced with nine fours and a six.

With her wickets, it was only a matter of time as Pakistan’s innings folded in 43 overs.

For India, Kranti Goud and Deepti Sharma scalped three wickets each.

Earlier, Diana Baig’s impressive four-wicket haul helped Pakistan bowl out India for 247. After being put into bat first, India were bundled out for 247 in 50 overs.

The openers provided a 47-run start with Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana scoring 31 and 23 runs respectively.

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Pakistan got its first breakthrough in the form of Mandhana, who was trapped lbw by Fatima Sana. India’s second wicket fell in a short time as Sadia Iqbal castled Rawal.

As a result, the women in blue were reduced to 67-2 in 14.5 overs. After openers were sent back, Harleen Deol and captain Harmanpreet Kaur added 39 runs to the total, which steadied India’s innings.

Despite wickets falling, Deol held firm and was involved in another stand of 45 runs with Jemimah Rodrigues. The duo’s batting helped their team cross the 150-run mark.

However, the duo’s wickets in the 33rd and 34th over pegged the hosts back and allowed Pakistan to tighten the screws in the latter half of the innings.

Deol, who top scored with 46 from 65, struck four boundaries and a six in her knock, while Rodrigues managed to score 32 from 37 balls with the aid of five fours.

India’s total could have been well under 250, but it was Richa Ghosh’s cameo that lifted them to a respectable total. She made 35 from 20, striking two maximums and three fours.

For Pakistan, Diana Baig picked up four wickets, whereas Sadia Iqbal and Fatima Sana supported her well with two wickets each.

READ: Babar Azam returns for QEA Trophy as PCB announce squads

COLOMBO: Pakistan Women have won the toss and elected to bowl first against India Women in the ICC Women’s World Cup sixth fixture here at the R Premadasa Stadium on Sunday.

Like men’s clash in the Asia Cup 2025, Pakistan captain Fatima Sana and India’s Harmanpreet Kaur avoided handshakes at the toss.

Playing XIs

Pakistan XI: Muneeba Ali, Sadaf Shamas, Sidra Amin, Aliya Riaz, Natalia Pervaiz, Fatima Sana (capt), Rameen Shamim, Diana Baig, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal

India XI: Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Sneh Rana, Kranti Goud, Shree Charani, Renuka Singh

Head to Head

Both teams have squared off 11 times in ODIs. The women in blue are unbeaten, winning each of the encounters.

Matches `11, Pakistan 0, India 11

READ: Women’s World Cup: Confident Sana eyes maiden ODI win over India

COLOMBO: Pakistan women’s team skipper Fatima Sana expressed confidence in her side ahead of the clash against arch-rivals India in ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, set to be played on Sunday here at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium.

Fatima Sana remained confident despite Pakistan trailing India 0-11 in the head-to-head record in women’s ODIs.

Speaking in the pre-match press conference, Sana stated that they can win against any side if they play good cricket.

“Records are meant to be broken. It is not true that we will never win against India. We can beat any team by playing good cricket,” she said. “We have good memories of playing against India in the past.”

Reflecting on the defeat against Bangladesh in the opener, the 23-year-old highlighted upcoming matches and aimed for improved performances.

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“Coaches told me to believe in myself. Losing one match doesn’t matter; the whole tournament is still ahead. We don’t think about outside distractions,” she said.

The all-rounder also lavished praise on Diana Baig and mentioned the importance of senior players’ support.

“Diana Baig is a very good player, and she supports the youngsters. Hopefully, we will deliver better performances in the coming matches. Muneeba Ali has performed in the past; you can’t drop a player after just one or two matches. Senior players’ support is very important for me.”

She aimed to repeat the Qualifiers performance, held earlier this year in which Pakistan demonstrated impressive performance and emerged victorious.

“We played well in the Qualifiers; we need to repeat that performance. We have the power to beat any team,” she concluded.

Pakistan Squad for Women’s World Cup 2025

Fatima Sana (c), Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (vice-captain), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Eyman Fatima, Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Omaima Sohail, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wicket-keeper), and Syeda Aroob Shah.

READ: Jadeja stars as India crush West Indies inside three days