To prepare for ODI World Cup, India Women to tour New Zealand for limited-overs series next year

India announce Test squad for New Zealand series, Rahane to lead in first Test

India have announced the 16-man squad for the upcoming two-match long Test series against New Zeland starting November 25. As it has been reported, Virat Kohli will miss the first Test of the series and Ajinkya Rahane will lead the side for the first game before Kohli will come back for the second Test. Cheteshwar Pujara has been elevated as vice-captain in the absence of Virat Kohli. India have rested Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant and Mohammed Shami from the entire series. Shubman Gill, who was sent back from England after an injury has returned to the Test squad while Mayank Agarwal, who could not feature in any of the Tests against England has maintained his place in the squad. The spin twins—Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin find a place in the squad and so does KL Rahul despite their prolonged stay in the biosecure bubble through the course of the last many months. Off-spinner Jayant Yadav, who last played a Test for India in the year 2017 has made his return to the squad while Axar Patel, who announced his arrival at the Test level in a grand manner against England maintain his place in the side. The quartet of Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Md. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna has been picked in the absence of both Bumrah and Shami. KS Bharat and Wriddhiman Saha are the two wicketkeeper batsmen in the squad. Hanuma Vihari, who last played a marathon rearguard innings in the Sydney Test against at the start of the year has been dropped from the squad. As per some media reports, he will head to South Africa with the India A side touring just before India senior’s tour in December. India’s Test squad Ajinkya Rahane (Captain), KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), KS Bharat (wicket-keeper), Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Md. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna

Australia to tour New Zealand for three T20Is early next year

Just hours after there was confirmation of an Australia-New Zealand clash for the final of the T20 World Cup, Cricket Australia has announced a three-match T20 series against the Blackcaps scheduled for March next year. In the series, there will be another episode of the Australian side spilt into the Test squad and T20I squad as the Test specialists will be in Pakistan for a three-match Test series. Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley said that they are making the move to send their players across the border to help their neighbour cope with the financial constraints arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic. Apart from that, there is also the next edition of the T20 World Cup scheduled to be played in Australia towards the end of the next year and the series will give them the opportunity to try more new faces with established players playing the longest format. “New Zealand's home summer schedule has been heavily impacted by the pandemic, and we are pleased to be able to support our closest neighbour with this T20I tour," Hockley said in a statement. "As well as supporting New Zealand Cricket to host a full summer of international cricket, it will also be a great opportunity for our men's T20 team to ramp up their preparations ahead of our home T20 World Cup in October and November next year." Notably, New Zealand are also scheduled to tour Australia for three-match long ODI series and only T20 at the start of the year. The series in Australia is schooled to finish on February 8 with the only T20I between the sides and the Australians will start their T20I series in New Zealand from March 17.

T20 World Cup | Babar Azam pinpoints Hasan Ali's drop catch of Matthew Wade for semi-final loss

Pakistan captain Babar Azam has pinned the blame for losing the big semi-final contest against Australia on the dropped catch by Hasan Ali of Mathew Wade. The left-hander was taking the game away from the Pakistan side before he mistimed a lofted shot towards deep midwicket where Hasan was stationed. However, he could not latch on to it and Wade went on to produce three sixes on the next three deliveries to lead Australia to the final of the tournament. Babar said that the result of the game would have been in their favour had Wade not got that extra opportunity and rued giving a quality side like Australia one extra chance to win the game "When you give teams like Aus a chance they take the match away from you," Babar said after the game. "If that catch that Hasan Ali dropped had been taken, maybe the result would have been different. As a player, you have to be on your toes and avail any opportunity you get. We made a mistake and it cost us the match." Pakistan were undefeated throughout the tournament before the loss to Australia and Babar expressed his satisfaction for the consistency of his side. He assured the fans they will learn the lessons from their mistakes in this tournament and vowed to make a stronger comeback. "The way we played the tournament and gelled together as a team, I am very satisfied with my team's efforts as captain," Babar said. "We'll try and learn from our mistakes and come back stronger. When you play a big tournament so well, it's good but you have to perform on the day. You can't relax in any department,” Babar added.

Former all-rounder Mirwais Ashraf named acting chairman of Afghanistan Cricket Board

Former Afghanistan all-rounder Mirwais Ashraf has been appointed the new acting chairman of the Afghanistan Cricket Board. He replaces Azizullah Fazli, who had been appointed only four months ago replacing Farhan Yusufzai who fled the country after the regime change. Thus Ashraf has become the third acting chairman of the board in only four months. Hasan Akhund, patron-in-chief of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) and the acting prime minister of the country appointed Ashraf at his post through a direct notice issued earlier this week Ashraf, who is considered one of the early players to popularise the game alongside Afghan cricket legends such as Mohammad Nabi and Asghar Afghan, made his international debut in 2009 and featured in 46 ODIs and 25 T20Is for the country which includes being a part of two T20 World Cup campaigns in 2010 and 2014 and an ODI World Cup campaign in 2015. The reason behind the new change is because the ruling regime wants someone capable of speaking out his mind at ICC meetings and also getting rid of the malfunctions in the system. "The government is trying to bring in more competent people with expertise in technical aspects of the game - commercial, business and marketing. If Afghanistan can produce world-class players with this broken system back home then imagine what they can do with a competent board.,” a director in the board was quoted as saying to ESPNCricinfo.