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One of the greatest cricketers the game has seen, Wasim Akram was asked the big question during a discussion at a Pakistan-based cricket analysis show amid the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy. Upon seeing the Pakistan team's underwhelming performances in the showpiece event, questions have been raised over the nation's retired stars' reluctance to help the struggling current stars. Yograj Singh, a former India cricketer and also the father of Yuvraj Singh , publicly asked the likes of Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar and others about their decision to remain behind the scenes and not jump into the coaching arena to help the players. During a discussion on DP World 'Dressing Room', Akram was asked the same question, and he didn't mince words while framing a reply. Akram, one of the most respected names in the global cricketing spectrum, cited Waqar Younis ' example as he highlighted the mistreatment Pakistan's greats get if they take up coaching assignments wit...

Legendary Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram recently met India's young batter Abhishek Sharma during the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025. Following India's win over Pakistan in the Group A encounter, a video of their meeting went viral where Akram was seen praising the youngster. “Amazing innings. I saw that innings. Keep it up. This is the start… Keep your head down and keep performing. All the best," Akram said in the video. Recently, the legend opened up about the meeting and said that he initially did not recognise Abhishek. However, when he introduced himself, Akram realised who he is and he had some kind words for the batter who slammed a brilliant ton in the England series. "Look, I met him in Dubai. I was in the DP World Box. I didn't recognise him first. This young boy came up to me and said 'I am Abhishek Sharma'. I said wahi 'Abhishek jisne maar maar k England ka dumba banaya'," Akram said on Ten Sports . "I said 'well done beta...

This is the former England captain's first foray into coaching in the IPL from Cricket news from ESPN Cricinfo.com https://ift.tt/jB5wYun

Former opener Shikhar Dhawan believes Rohit Sharma has matured as a leader over the years and shares a close bond with his teammates, which augurs well for the Indian team. Dhawan, who was Rohit's opening partner for a considerable period of time, said the Mumbai batter is experienced enough to handle the team. "From 2013 to 2025, 12 years of experience is a lot. Rohit has been through a lot. He knows how to work in a pressure situation, how to gather the boys. "As a leader, he has become mature, he knows when to be lenient and when to pull back. It's a fine balance and Rohit's bond with the boys is amazing. We are in a great situation," Dhawan said in a special series titled 'The Shikhar Dhawan Experience' on Star Sports and JioHotstar. Dhawan also spoke about his 2013 ICC Champions Trophy journey, and recollected his nine-year long opening partnership with Rohit, which also began at the same tournament. The 39-year-old former left-hander said it ...

Does playing at a single venue give Team India an advantage over 7 other teams in the ICC Champions Trophy? Many former cricketers and pundits have spoken of the 'undeniable advantage' that Rohit Sharma 's side has enjoyed since the start of the tournament, thanks to a unique setup that sees them play all of their matches in Dubai. Other teams, in comparison, have had to travel to different venues, and adapt to different types of wickets. When England captain Jos Buttler was asked about the 'advantage' Team India has and his view on it, he gave a subtle response. Reporter: "There's been some talk with India knowing that all their games will be in Dubai, that gives them a big advantage. Is that something you've got a view on?" Jos Buttler: "Not really. I think it's a unique tournament already, isn't it, with being hosted here with one team playing in a different place but that's not something I'm sort of worried too much abou...

He underwent tests in Brisbane which revealed that the amount of elbow extension for all his deliveries was within the 15-degree from Cricket news from ESPN Cricinfo.com https://ift.tt/u805pPl

Legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar lit up the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai with a vintage knock on Tuesday. Tendulkar rolled back the years with a 21-ball 34 as India Masters thrashed England Masters by 9 wickets. Set a target of 132, India Masters achieved the total with 50 balls to spare, thanks to Gurkeerat Singh Maan's quickfire half-century. However, the highlight of the day was Tendulkar's vintage masterclass as fans took over the stadium with nostalgic 'Sachin, Sachin' chants. THE CROWD CHEERING FOR SACHIN TENDULKAR IN IMLT20 - The Craze is huge for the Master. pic.twitter.com/iqyylpvYCD — Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 25, 2025 Tendulkar delighted those present inside the stadium with five fours and a six before getting dismissed by Chris Schofield . - A reminder why he's the #IMLT20 #TheBaapsOfCricket #IMLonJioHotstar #IMLonCineplex pic.twitter.com/Q3H5QyuQem — INTERNATIONAL MASTERS LEAGUE (@imlt20official) February 25, 2025 Vintage S...

All-rounder Venkatesh Iyer says he is prepared to lead Kolkata Knight Riders if given the opportunity in IPL 2025 despite having no captaincy experience at any levels in competitive cricket. The reigning champions, who will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the opening game this season at the Eden Gardens, are yet to announce their captain. Shreyas Iyer had led them to the title win in IPL 2024, but he was acquired by Punjab Kings in the mega auction and later named him as their skipper. “Definitely, I'm ready. Again, I've always said this: captaincy is just a tag. I believe in leadership. That is a bigger role to play, being a leader,” Venkatesh told ESPNcricinfo. “There's no ambiguity surrounding this. I'll definitely do it, if it comes my way. There is no reason not to do it,” he added. Iyer said the captain needs to “set an example” by being a “good role model". "You don't necessarily need the tag of a captain to be a leader in your dressing r...

Vidarbha are chasing their third title, while this is the first time Kerala have qualified for the Ranji Trophy final from Cricket news from ESPN Cricinfo.com https://ift.tt/pZBMaqP

Virat Kohli slammed a stunning century as India completely outplayed Pakistan in their Champions Trophy 2025 encounter in Dubai on Sunday. it was a complete performance from India who produced a disciplined bowling show before a special knock from Virat clinched the game. Pakistan bowlers did not have a good outing as almost all of them conceded runs and did not look in good form. Former Indian cricket team batter Aakash Chopra singled out the selection of Salman Agha and Khushdil Shah as spinners and said that they fail when compared to the likes of Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel . "Pakistan skipper Rizwan believes that Salman Agha and Khushdil Shah are of the same quality (as bowlers) as Jadeja and Axar. You can't make these things up. Delulu Is The Only Sululu Please stay like this, Pakistan. Even though matches are one-sided…Pakistan's meme game and cricket content is top-class after the loss," Aakash Chopra posted on X (formerly known as Twitter). Pakistan...

Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan has backed the BCCI's decision to make domestic cricket compulsory for all players but has also urged for a balanced approach to ensure that there is no burnout. The affable swashbuckler, who called time on his career last year, is in Dubai as one of the four event ambassadors of the ongoing Champions Trophy. India defeated Pakistan by six wickets on Sunday to put one foot in the semifinals. Dhawan attended the match and even paid a visit to the Indian dressing room after the triumph. While speaking to the media on the sidelines of the game, he was asked whether the BCCI has done the right thing by making it mandatory for players to show up in Ranji Trophy games whenever possible. "It's a very good decision. My only thing is that players should not be overloaded, that's all. But people will monitor that," he said. "It's a good thing that current players should play domestic as well -- like how Virat played (for Delhi ...

As Virat Kohli neared his century against Pakistan, India's Axar Patel turned into a human calculator, crunching numbers and silently praying he didn't edge the ball at the other end, all to make sure the superstar reached his milestone. Axar walked in to bat with India needing 19 runs to win and Kohli unbeaten on 86. "At the end, actually main bhi thoda maths kar raha tha unke hundred ke liye (Even I was doing the math for his hundred towards the end). I was hoping that I don't edge the ball or something. So, it was quite fun," Axar said in video posted by ICC. However, Shaheen Afridi bowled three wides in the 42nd over, making Kohli's path to the century a bit trickier. At one point, Axar was even booed for taking a single, as fans wanted Kohli to get maximum strike. With Kohli stranded on 96 and India needing just two runs to win, skipper Rohit Sharma cheekily gestured for him to finish the game with a six. Acknowledging the call, Kohli, instead of going ...

United Arab Emirates (UAE) cricketer Ibrar Ahmad Dawar has earned high praise from Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli ahead of the much-anticipated ICC Champions Trophy clash against Pakistan in Dubai. Ibrar took to his official Instagram account to share a video where Kohli acknowledged his impressive bowling efforts at the nets. In the video, Kohli was heard saying, "Well bowled... he has really bowled well. He has helped a lot. Thank you." The UAE cricketer was seen aggressively bowling to Kohli at the nets. The 36-year-old Indian batter also flicked him during the session. His intensity and skills in the nets have seemingly caught the attention of the Indian batting maestro. View this post on Instagram A post shared by IBRAR AHMAD DAWAR (@ibrar_ahmad_dawar) Ibrar has previously showcased his talent while playing for the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ADKR) in the International League T20 (ILT20), where he impressed with his performance...

India captain Rohit Sharma had a fun little chat with former head coach Ravi Shastri after Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and decided to bat first. With the conditions in Dubai favouring the team batting first more, both captains were looking to put runs on the board. But, it was Rizwan whose wish was fulfilled. However, Shastri committed as faux pas as he also asked India skipper Rohit, who hasn't had tosses going his way for a long time. The Hitman, however, saved Shastri's blushes, preventing further damage from being done. After speaking to Rizwan, who had won the toss, Shastri asked Rohit, "What have you decided?" before realising that it was the Pakistan captain who had won the toss. A smiling Rohit then said, "Doesn't really matter, they won the toss so we'll bowl first." Rohit also revealed that India are playing the same XI against Pakistan. Ravi Shastri - "What would you have done if you won the toss" Rohit ...

It's still a day for the mega India vs Pakistan clash at the Champions Trophy 2025, but Indian national anthem 'Jana Gana Mana' has already started to play. More interestingly, in Lahore, Pakistan, where India is not even travelling for the  Champions Trophy 2025. The incident happened at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore ahead of the blockbuster Australia vs England Group B match. After England's anthem ended, it was time for Australia's anthem, instead a line from India's national anthem 'Bharat Bhagya Vidhata' started playing. The blunder was soon rectified but not before the internet picking up the incident to troll Pakistan Cricket Board. Yeh kya tha benstokes Australia ki jagah india ka anthem laga diya pic.twitter.com/CjSKKcxEGY — NOYAAN. (@KoitohoonAlt) February 22, 2025 Indian national anthem in #ENGvsAUS match During Eng vs Aus CT2025 national anthem. They played India's national anthem. #EngvsAus #ChampionsTrophy2025 #IndianAnthem...

Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal and his wife Dhanashree Verma have filed for divorce. The news of their divorce was doing rounds on social media for months. Both shared cryptic posts on the internet, hinting that they had gone their separate ways. But, none of them firmly spoke on the topic to highlight possible reasons behind the decision. There were reports that claimed the couple's final hearing and all necessary formalities took place at the Bandra Family Court on Thursday, where both were physically present. However, Dhanashree's lawyer has said that the proceedings are still underway. "I have no comments to make on the proceedings, the matter is currently sub judice. The media should fact-check before reporting, as a lot of misleading information is being circulated," Dhanashree's lawyer Aditi Mohan said in a statement released to the press on Friday. According to a report in ABP news , the judge advised the couple to seek counseling, which lasted for a...

The Indian cricket team bowlers came out all guns blazing in its first match of the Champions Trophy 2025 as Mohammed Shami and Co. reduced Najmul Hasan Shanto's team to 5-down inside nine overs. The Bangladesh batting line-up fell like a pack of cards as Mohammed Shami struck in the first over itself, followed by Harshit Rana 's wicket in the third over. Shami then took the wicket of Mehidy Hasan Miraz before the real magic happen in the ninth over by Axar Patel .  The left-arm spinner first took the wicket of Tanzid Hasan in the second ball of the ninth over as he was caught behind. On the next ball, Mushfiqur Rahim as he was caught behind too. Axar was on a hat-trick as the tension built up. The spin allrounder almost got the wicket as Jaker Ali got a thick edge as the fall flew towards Rohit Sharma at first slip. But The Indian cricket team captain dropped the catch and was absolutely livid with himself. He was seen thumping the ground in frustration. If you want to...

The lack of spectators continued to haunt the Champions Trophy 2025 as the match between India and Bangladesh in Dubai saw a huge number of empty stands on Thursday. There was a lot of criticism following the lack of fans during the tournament opener between Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi but things did not improve in the second game as well. The commentators were left surprised by the lack of supporters in the ground for the match and social media was filled with pictures of empty stands with only a few sections completely full. Lalit Modi, the first chairman of Indian Premier League, took to social media to express his views and questioned whether it is time to scrap the One-Day Cricket format. "Watching the @ICC champions trophy cricket match between #india and #bangladesh. Stands are empty. That would not happen at an #ipl game. Is the one day format becoming irrelevant to the fans ? What's your view ? Should one day cricket be scrapped and more test cricket ?" ...

Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan stated that his side did not expect New Zealand to score 320 runs in the first innings, having gotten off to a solid start, and poor execution in the death overs resulted in their 60-run loss in their opening game of the 2025 Champions Trophy being played at the National Bank Stadium. Despite losing two early wickets, New Zealand showed resilience and tactical acumen. Their top order, led by Will Young (107) and Tom Latham (118*), took the fight to the hosts. Following Young's dismissal, Glenn Phillips proved to be the game changer as he accelerated the Kiwis run-rate at a strike rate of 156.41, in an innings laced with three boundaries and four sixes, on his way to scoring 61 runs in 39 deliveries. "I think they made a very good target, we didn't expect they would get 320. We thought around 260 when we took early wickets. The Will Young-Latham partnership was crucial. We tried, but they played very smartly and that's why they got to t...

India's legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar shared a heartfelt message for Milind Rege's family and friends following his demise on Wednesday. Former Mumbai captain Milind Rege passed away after suffering a heart attack, just days after celebrating his 76th birthday. His demise marked the loss of a stalwart who contributed immensely to Mumbai cricket, both as a player and an administrator. "Sad to hear about Milind Rege Sir's passing. He was a true Mumbai cricketer with immense contributions to the city's cricket. He and other CCI members saw potential in me and asked me to play for CCI, which, as I look back now, was a landmark moment in my career. He could pick out a talented player from a sea of hardworking hopefuls. He had a special sixth sense to pick talent at all levels, but especially at junior levels," Tendulkar wrote in a post on X. "He leaves behind a void, one that's tough to fill. He may not be around, but his imprint on people's lives...

"As cricketers, if you're not tested in your chosen skill, then you're not going to challenge yourself to get better" from Cricket news from ESPN Cricinfo.com https://ift.tt/rzORYnN

India vice-captain Shubman Gill on Wednesday dethroned Babar Azam of Pakistan from the No. 1 spot in the ICC ODI Rankings for batters on the back of his strong show against England in the recent home series. The ICC issued the latest rankings just ahead of the start of the eight-team Champions Trophy in Karachi with the match between Pakistan and New Zealand. “India right-hander Shubman Gill overtakes former Pakistan captain Babar Azam to become the top ranked ODI batter in the world,” the ICC said. Gill, who scored two fifties and a century in the recent three-match ODI series against England at home which India won 3-0, jumped one place to the No. 1 spot. He now has 796 rating points compared to Babar's 773. India skipper Rohit Sharma is placed at the third spot with 761 points followed by South Africa's Henrich Klaasen and New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell at fourth and fifth respectively. “It's a major shake-up at the top of the rankings just prior to the start of the...

The Indian cricket team's preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy began with a few net sessions after the team landed in Dubai. The likes of Virat Kohli , Rohit Shara, Shubman Gill , Rishabh Pant , Hardik Pandya , etc. all put in the hard yards to get accustomed to the conditions ahead of the start of the tournament. India captain Rohit faced a local left-arm pacer Awais Ahmad in the nets as he looked to prepare himself for pacers like Shaheen Shah Afridi and Trent Boult in the marquee ICC event. After the end of the nets session, Rohit also had a fun chat with Ahmad who tested the India captain with some precise Yorkers during the practice sessions. " Aap humare pair todhne ka koshish kar rahe the (You were trying to break my leg)," Rohit said in a joking manner. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Zakir Khan (@i.zakirkhan007) Gearing up for the finisher's role, wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul worked on his ...

Her departure will be the second big blow for UPW who are already without their full-time captain Alyssa Healy because of injury from Cricket news from ESPN Cricinfo.com https://ift.tt/st2G5wN

Team India will miss the services of Jasprit Bumrah in the Champions Trophy 2025 after the pacer was unable to recover in time from a back injury. However, India will enjoy the return of fellow pacer Mohammed Shami, who has successfully returned to action over the T20Is and ODIs against England. Shami was India's highest wicket-taker in the 2023 World Cup, and former India pacer Lakshmipathy Balaji believes that he could ensure that India do not miss Bumrah during the Champions Trophy. Balaji, in fact, even made a bold statement. "Actually, he (Shami) had out-bowled Bumrah in the 2019 (50-over World Cup) and in the last World Cup (2023). Bumrah is the champion bowler across formats. But Shami has experience and, before Bumrah's arrival, it was Shami who carried India's attack all through," Balaji said, speaking to PTI. Shami went on a rampage during the 2023 World Cup, picking up 24 wickets in just seven games, finishing as the highest wicket-taker of the tour...

Harshit Rana has been the flavour of the season as far as India's emerging crop of fast bowlers is concerned but one of head coach Gautam Gambhir 's finds is unlikely to start in India's playing eleven in the Champions Trophy with Arshdeep Singh still considered way ahead in terms of talent and quality. The Indian team management gave Harshit all three ODIs against England, and if one is absolutely fair to the burly 6-feet-2-inch tall Delhi speedster, he has not looked out of place. While Arshdeep enjoys a better economy rate of 5.17 compared to Harshit's 6.95 per over, it is the former's ability to bring the ball back into the right-handers during the Powerplay overs that will tilt the scales in his favour in the tournament starting February 19. Arshdeep, who also has only nine ODIs since he made his debut in a short ODI series in New Zealand in 2022, will be ahead on most counts when one looks at the parameters that would be taken into account based on the cond...

The ECB has succeeded in its goal of selling stakes in eight Hundred franchises. Here's how it all stands from Cricket news from ESPN Cricinfo.com https://ift.tt/46fHV3v

The Australian cricket team arrived in Pakistan on Monday to participate in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. The tournament begins with a match between hosts Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi on Wednesday. Pakistan are also the defending champions having won the last edition of the tournament in 2017 in the UK where they beat India in the title clash. "The Australian cricket team has arrived in Lahore for the @ICC #ChampionsTrophy 2025! They will play their first match of the tournament on 22 February against England at the Gaddafi Stadium," the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) posted on X. The Australian cricket team has arrived in Lahore for the @ICC #ChampionsTrophy 2025! ?? They will play their first match of the tournament on 22 February against England at the Gaddafi Stadium pic.twitter.com/mN7R07OyaE — Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) February 17, 2025 The team landed in two separate groups. The first batch, which included captain Steve Smith, coaches, and suppo...

Both teams have started WPL 2025 with wins but they were far from clinical from Cricket news from ESPN Cricinfo.com https://ift.tt/eHgShC6

IPL 2025 Full Schedule Announcement Live Updates: The Indian Premier League 2025 is just over one month away, and fans have the opportunity to get excited again with the full schedule of this year's tournament set to be announced today. As per reports, defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are set to take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Eden Gardens in the opening game of IPL 2025 on March 22. However, today fans will know when, where and whom their favourite team will play in IPL 2025. Reports have also stated that Guwahati and Dharamshala will be awarded some games during the tournament. The official broadcaster for IPL, JioHotstar, is set to announce the fixtures of the 18th edition from 5:30 PM onwards. Here are the Live Updates for the IPL 2025 Full Schedule announcement: from NDTV Sports-Cricket https://ift.tt/XsMP7rA

Former New Zealand fast-bowling great Tim Southee is confident that the Black Caps' inexperienced bowling attack will do a wonderful job at the upcoming Champions Trophy after watching them perform impressively in the recently-concluded tri-series in Pakistan. The 36-year-old Southee, who has 776 international wickets for New Zealand across three formats, was an integral part of his country's team until his retirement in 2024. With Trent Boult also not there and Lockie Ferguson looking highly unlikely, it will be Will O'Rourke, Jacob Duffy, Nathan Smith and Matt Henry, who will share the pace-bowling load at the marquee ICC event. "It's something different not having Trent (Boult) and myself at an ICC event but, at the same time, it's exciting. These events are great to be a part of and it's in front of these guys now, I'm very excited to see how they go. "The way the team has played, different guys have stepped up. It's a good mix between so...

The India senior men's cricket team, led by opener Rohit Sharma, have departed for Dubai from Mumbai to participate in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, starting from February 19. All Group A matches of the Indian team will be held at the Dubai International Stadium, while the rest of the games will take place in Pakistan. Visuals from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai showed Rohit & Co, along with the support staff, checking into the airport to take their flight to Dubai. IANS understands that the initial plan for the team was to leave in batches of two for Dubai, but with the BCCI policy guidelines issued last month saying that the team will travel together for its abroad tours, it was decided for the side to leave together for the eight-team competition from Mumbai. In the Champions Trophy, India will be significantly missing the services of its fast-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who is recovering from a lower back injury sustained during...

The six Major League Cricket franchises named their retentions ahead of the draft on February 19 from Cricket news from ESPN Cricinfo.com https://ift.tt/tOrTSMD

Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed believes that Mohammed Rizwan-led side has a "good chance" of defending their ICC Champions Trophy title in front of home fans. Under Sarfaraz's leadership, Pakistan defeated India by 180 runs in the Champions Trophy final in 2017 at The Oval to lift the title for the first time. The veteran wicketkeeper-batter added that players from the title-winning side including Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman will be a key factor in their journey in the eight-team competition. "Pakistan have a really good chance of defending that title and I think they have a strong team. Some of the boys from 2017 are still there and we're talking about some of the best – especially Babar Azam," ICC quoted Sarfaraz as saying. "He is a different Babar to the one that played in 2017, a more mature player and a dominant player in the game. His batting will be so important for Pakistan and so will Fakhar Zaman's. With the ball, Shaheen Shah A...

Defending champions Royal Chellengers Bengaluru (RCB) will take on Gujarat Giants in the opening match of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025 in Vadodara on Friday. RCB, under the leadership for Smriti Mandhana , defeated Delhi Capitals (DC) in a thrilling final last year to win the franchise's first ever trophy. As the team bids for a second straight title, Mandhana shared her views on RCB fans. She pointed out that RCB fans, as compared to other sides, criticise their team as much as they appreciate them. "I think for us, we don't think much about what's happening around. It is really important to focus on playing good cricket as a team, that's a culture we are trying to set as a team because the fanbase of RCB is such that appreciation and criticism will be a little more as compared to other teams. It is important for us to stick together as a group," Mandhana said on the eve of RCB's opening match. "Who will not want people chanting RCB ev...