Category: Cricket news

Dube sparkles with ball and bat, India trounce UAE in Asia Cup opener

“I would like to make my country proud by delivering what I do, whether I’m playing or not.“Playing for your country is a different thing and if you are doing well, you feel proud,” said Shivam Dube after starring in India’s crushing win over UAE.

Since the IPL of 2023, Dube hasn’t been able to get as many allround opportunities due to the Impact Player rule, which has severely curtailed opportunities for the players to display their batsmen and bowling skills. In the last three IPL seasons, Dube has gone at 3-0-47-1 with the ball.

But that restriction has only hardened Dube’s determination to chip in with the ball as much as possible and constantly improve his game. He has worked really hard on his fitness, especially bowling.

On Wednesday, India did not intend to use Dube as a bowler initially but Suryakumar Yadav handed him the ball and Dube made an impact, taking three wickets in two overs. He castled Asif Khan with a seam-up delivery, nailed Dhruv Parashar with a nip-backer and made Junaid Siddique slog one to mid-on with a back-of-a-length slower ball.

“The captain and the coach have told me before that in the Asia Cup you will bowl and they have trust in me,” said Dube after the match. “I must mention my bowling coach (Morne Morkel) he helped me a lot. I’ve been getting ready for a long time, and I was ready when the moment came. “Everything we do has been thought about in training and that’s why we are giving this performance today.”

Dube is more of a power-hitter during his time with his Chennai Super Kings (CSK) IPL side and has worked on his bowling while he is not playing for his IPL side. “Allrounder in the IPL has been reduced with the Impact Player rule in place. But I was always prepared. I was doing fitness and had bowling sessions for two months prior to IPL,” he further said.

Morkel has been instrumental in working out with Dube’s bowling action and mindset. They have fine-tuned her run-up, release and pace which has contributed heavily to Dube’s confidence.

Dube has also been fine-tuning his batting from IPL 2025 to the Asia Cup, especially short-pitched bowling. The addition of “few new shots and my fitness has improved, to the extent that I can bowl four overs or whatever the team needs,” he said.

His inclusion against UAE was in line with India’s game plan in which they are trying to bat deep till No. 8, so it made Dube’s bowling all the more crucial. He also thanked Hardik Pandya for guiding him, in batting and the seamers, and not making him feel the urge to draw comparisons.

And he continued to be respectful of UAE: “As an opposition I cannot comment on quality of the opponents. I will never underestimate anyone. Yes, our spinners (Kuldeep and Varun) are mystery bowlers, even I find it difficult to face them at times in the nets.”

On the next game, Pakistan, that’s coming up, Dube looked ahead focused: “Whether it’s UAE or Pakistan that I am playing, when I step on the ground for my team, I’d like to do something big and would want to make my country proud. Gautam Gambhir sir says this thing every time and I carry that thing in my heart.”

CPL 2025: Falcons book their place in playoffs The Antigua and Barbuda Falcons defeated the Guyana Amazon Warriors by four wickets to confirm their spot in the playoffs in Providence on the 10th of September. It took them to 11 points from 10 games, the third team to confirm a playoff berth after St Lucia Kings and Trinbago Knight Riders.

The Falcons had chosen to bowl first and after unleashing Jayden Seales with the new ball, he made an immediate impact. Putting the pedal to the metal, Seales tore through the top of Amazon Warriors’ batting order. He had Moeen Ali caught in the fourth over and then came back to take the wickets of Ben McDermott and Shimron Hetmyer within the powerplay. Even at 26 for 3, the Warriors were already under plenty of pressure. It was briefly perked through by Shai Hope who lashed 26 off 14, with three fours and a six, though his stay was ended by Usama Mir who bowled him in the ninth over. Mir was also involved in the run-out of Hassan Khan as the Warriors were bowled out for 99 in 18.2 overs. Seales ended with astonishing figures of 4 for 15, and Mir 3 for 17.

Chasing a small target of 100, the Falcons’ batting failed in patches. They were cornered after losing Andries Gous, Kevin Wickham, Karima Gore and Shakib Al Hasan within the powerplay. The Warriors’ spinners, Moeen Ali (2 for 10) and Imran Tahir (2 for 27), who were overlooked for most of the innings, pulled back the Warriors and gave a glimmer of hope of a comeback. But opener Amir Jangoo held firm in the face of the chaos. Playing with maturity and calm, Jangoo held the innings together with an unbeaten 51 off 57 balls, which included three fours and two sixes. With four balls to spare the calm presence of Amir Jangoo guided the Falcons over the line with 19.1 overs used in total.

Not only did this win restore the Falcons’ confidence, it muddled the playoff picture. The Falcons, Kings and Knight Riders are through, with the fourth spot up for grabs between the Guyana Amazon Warriors, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots and Barbados Royals. The Warriors, as a result, will now have to recover in their next match against table-toppers St Lucia Kings. A victory there locks up their berth in the playoffs and eliminates the Patriots and Royals. For his team, a win (in that match-up) would punch their playoff card, and knock out both Patriots and Royals.

The fourth edition of MLC will be held at five different venues with the final to be held at the same venue which hosted the final of the previous edition, from June 18 to July 18, 2026 while the six-teams for 34 games format will continue. From the third season in 2025, MLC has opted for a June-July window to not compete with other international franchise competitions and to have availability of a larger talent pool.

Even after dates were announced for 4th edition, USA Cricket (USAC) has yet to publicly acknowledge whether it rescinded the termination of its contract with the league’s owners, American Cricket Enterprises (ACE). These uncertainties have caused consternation to USA players, says Corey Anderson, the operational director of the USA Cricketers’ Association, the body not being recognized officially by USAC.

Since its start, the tournament has expanded rapidly. The competition was initially a 19-matches event in 2023 and increased to 25 matches in 2024, before extended to a 34-matches format in 2025. MLC is once again scheduled to avoid a clash with The Hundred, which is believed to take place from July 21 to August 16, but dates are yet to be confirmed.

MLC chief executive Johnny Grave added: “The success of Season 3 has proven that there is a huge and increasing appetite for world-class cricket in the US. He also said that MLC is attracting more and more fans, followers and viewers domestically and globally, helping it to grow the game in the USA and to extend its cooperation with commercial stakeholders.

ACE plans to build 10 world-class facilities by 2030, investing over US$150 million, MLC said. The six teams officially announced for Season 4 are Los Angeles Knight Riders (Knight Riders Group), MI New York (Indiawin Sports), San Francisco Unicorns (Anand Rajaraman, Venky Harinarayan), Seattle Orcas (GMR Group, Satya Nadella, S Somasegar), Texas Super Kings (Chennai Super Kings, Anurag Jain, Ross Perot Jr), and Washington Freedom (Sanjay Govil).

MLC is also thinking beyond that with plans to add two more teams by 2027 and also possibly foray into Canada. In the 2025 tournament, MI New York claimed their 2nd title in 3 seasons, edging Washington Freedom by five runs in the final.

Uncapped allrounder Flora Devonshire has been named in New Zealand’s squad for the Women’s ODI World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, while the experienced Katey Martin was left out. The squad will be heavily relying upon the experience of Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates and Amelia Kerr, but the inclusion of new talent indicates a combination of youth and experience.

Devonshire is joined by fellow teenagers Polly Inglis, Bella James and Bree Illing, who between them have only eight ODIs and are poised to play their first World Cups. The 22-year-old left-arm spinner, Devonshire, who made her T20I debut against Sri Lanka earlier this year, travelled to England in June and July with New Zealand A. Her inclusion in the 15-player squad resulted in left-arm spinner Fran Jonas – with 26 ODIs under her belt – being a big-name absentee.

Head coach Ben Sawyer said it was a challenge to make the call but that the competition is fierce among the squad. Cutting like Fran only to choose Flora was a hard decision. We know Fran is a very good player and at just 21 years of age, I feel her best years are still to come.

Bree Illing, a left-arm seamer who took four ODI wickets on debut during the series against Sri Lanka, and Bella James, who made her ODI debut late last year against Australia, complete the pace line-up. Polly Inglis, who scored an unbeaten 34 from 21 balls on her second ODI appearance against Sri Lanka in March, will also provide wicketkeeping cover for first-choice keeper Izzy Gaze.

Sawyer gave a special shout out to the fresh faces: “I would also like to thank the four girls to play their first ever World Cup- they have been working hard and it will be interesting to see the impact that they can make. I am really happy with the balance in the team. I feel we’ve got the combination to try to do that to whatever we get and the opposition.”

“She puts batters under pressure early with her swing and has great ability (with the) new ball,” he said. She and Flora have both proven that they can bowl consistently on the stumps, and that will be very helpful in the conditions we are likely to face. Flora hits the ball with a positive mindset and has some good hand eye, which is useful down the order. Bella is a really good player who can play 360 degrees of the ground and can bat in multiple positions in the line-up.”

With the old hands and the young guns, the Kiwis will feel they have a team that can handle the challenge of the World Cup.

Australia’s rising star Sam Konstas is ready for a high point in his young career as he aims to nail down a place in the home Ashes series. The 19-year-old opener’s season will start with two four-day games in India for Australia A, before a month that could define Sheffield Shield cricket with NSW.

Konstas, who hit headlines with a fearless 60 on Test debut against India at the MCG last year, says he has no regrets about his no-fear approach – even if runs have been hard to come by since. Even though Imam hasn’t reached the 25-run mark in nine Test innings, the teenager is still adamant about ‘playing his natural game’.

“I wouldn’t change it. I don’t have any regrets. It’s as aggressive as I can be in the game assuming my opponent is making all the right moves, and try to find ways to win,” Konstas said.

Blocking out the noise

To keep concentrated, Konstas has remained off social media. His initial knock sent him to more than 281,000 Instagram followers and counting, but the young gun reckons switching off from social media will be the key to sharpening his game.

“I used to be on social media for a year but now I’ve stopped so that I’m more present and concentrate on cricket,” he said.

Eyeing Ashes glory

With Usman Khawaja yet to announce his opening partner, Konstas is among the favorites to open the batting. His immediate goal is to score as many runs in India and then take calls on continuing the confidence in the domestic season.

Already exposed to conditions in the West Indies, Sri Lanka and the MRF Academy in India, Konstas is expecting getting used to the different surfaces to help his growth.

“A key part of the process is the more games I get, the more I’ll keep learning and keep adapting. It’s about defining my strategy for every single position,” he said.

As preparations intensify for the Ashes in Australia, Konstas is down-to-earth, focused and happy to press his case – without a backward glance for critics or regrets.

Hong Kong vs Afganistan: Overview The Asia Cup 2025 begins in Abu Dhabi with an interesting battle in prospect as winless Hong Kong takes on a wounded Afghanistan who are in the doldrums following their tri-series final loss at the hands of Pakistan.

A high-stakes opener

Though the Asia Cup is by far the largest non-ICC international cricket tournament, the opening clash between Afghanistan and Hong Kong may not be the most glamorous match of the tournament. But with a short format and no margin for error, every match amounts to something.

The challenge is about as tough as it gets for Hong Kong. They have been drawn in a pool with Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and, they have it all to do. Having contested 16 T20Is this year, the gulf in class is a worry. Their preparations in the UAE – four warm-up games including two apiece won and lost against Oman and local clubs – reflect the difficult road lying in wait.

Afghanistan looking to bounce back

Afghanistan come into the series on the back of a hammering from Pakistan in the final of the tri-series. Their batsmen seemed to have hit rock bottom against spin in Sharjah, not a good sign if you are looking ahead to the Asia Cup. However, following the wins against Pakistan and UAE in recent weeks, Rashid Khan’s men are expected to bounce back sooner rather than later.

One area of concern, though, is the form of opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Afghanistan’s man in a hurry. After scuffling in the tri-series, this game against Hong Kong is a golden opportunity for Bumrah to get his mojo back. Gurbaz will be a key component of Afghanistan batting along side Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal.

Hong Kong backing on Rath & Zeeshan Profile: Hong Kong banking on Rath & Zeeshan Ads by Valueimpression Some good knocks from Anshuman, Rath after middle-order wobble Anshuman Rath then played the role of the anchor.

Hong Kong, meanwhile, will bank on their star duo of Anshuman Rath and Zeeshan Ali for the motivational aspect. Both have been in excellent form with centuries in T20Is this year and have been scoring at a SR of over 140. Rath in particular has been a model of consistency averaging just under 50 with six half centuries to his name. An explosive start from the openers is Hong Kong’s only chance of unsettling the Afghan bowlers.

Team news

• Afghanistan (probable XI): Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan (capt), Mohammad Nabi, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
• Hong Kong (probable XI): Anshuman Rath, Zeeshan Ali (wk), Babar Hayat, Nizakat Khan, Matthew Coetzee, Yasim Murtaza (capt), Ehsan Khan, Aizaz Khan, Ateeq Iqbal, Nasrulla Rana, Ayush Shukla.

Conditions and stats

The game is in Abu Dhabi, a ground with slightly lesser assistance to spinners as compared to that in Dubai. Afghanistan themselves boast a good record here, 11 victories in 16 matches. Curiously enough, Hong Kong has only ever beaten them in UAE, and that too on this very ground, in 2015.

History has hardly been kind to Hong Kong. Over 21 years of the Asia Cup, not once they have emerged victorious – crashing in all 11 matches that they have contested so far.

What’s at stake?

Afghanistan will seek to make a statement and their confidence back after the big-win against Sri Lanka in their massive group clashes, Hong Kong would be looking to script history with their first-ever win in the Asia Cup. With Afghanistan overwhelming favourites, an enterprising Hong Kong display could help ensure an entertaining lid-lifter.

Queensland’s highly-ranked teenage fast bowler Callum Vidler has been ruled out of the Australia A white-ball tour of India this month after scans revealed a partial stress fracture in his back. One of the country’s most promising young players of which inAaparkaaraaget) that wehave had for many years, the 19-year-old will also be unavailable for the beginning of the domestic campaign.

Vidler initially felt discomfort while competing in the T20 Max competition in Queensland, where he had played three games for Valley as part of his preparation for the India tour. Subsequent scans detected a fracture to his L3 vertebrae and Queensland and Cricket Australia have placed him on a rehabilitation program straight away.

The disappointment comes as Vidler’s profile was rapidly rising. He shone in the Sheffiled Shield final earlier this year, picking up 4 for 64 and 1 for 60 against South Australia at Karen Rolton Oval. His pace and bounce on dead pitches made him on of the most effective young quicks in the country.

Queensland’s general manager of high performance, Joe Dawes, confirmed the news and said: “Callum had some back pain during training and we are fortunately all over it. Unfortunately, the scans revealed a stress fracture. Simply put, he’s understandably frustrated but knows injuries come with the territory. We’ll work in tandem with him and give him all the help he needs to recover from the surgery and rehab after that, and get him back playing cricket some time during the next year.He returned to Ireland midway through the first Test at Lord’s citing exhaustion, and his international future now seems in some doubt yet England don’t anticipate him requiring surgery until the autumn.

His latest back injury further extends the list of Australian fast bowlers who have been ruled out of the game. Test captain Pat Cummins is nursing a hot spot, while Lance Morris has had back surgery that could sideline him for at least 12 months. Brody Couch, who had been drafted in to replace Morris in Australia A red-ball matches, also suffered a side strain, and South Australia’s Henry Thornton stepped up to share the fetching and carrying in India red and white-ball matches.

Vidler was one of a crop of emerging fast bowlers identified after Australia won the Under-19 World Cup, along with Tom Straker, Mahli Beardman and Charlie Anderson. Beardman is coming back from stress fractures, and Anderson has been managing ongoing back problems the past few years. Given there are so many young quicks at the moment out of action, concern is also gathering about the workload of Australia’s express battery.

Vidler’s timeframe on the sideline is indefinite at this stage and he will spend a period rehabilitating. Queensland, meanwhile, will go into next week’s start to the Dean Jones Trophy season with a weakened pace attack, but the hope their young spearhead will be back firing later in the summer.

ST Kitts and Nevis Patriots kept their hopes of reaching the playoff alive in the CPL 2025 with a five-run victory over Guyana Amazon Warriors at Providence. Whilst Defending 149 it went till the last over, where Naseem Shah kept his cool to bowl excellent death balls to win it for the visitors. Requiring 11 off the last six balls, Naseem trapped Keemo Paul leg before on the first delivery and used the yorker and slower ones shrewdly to give away only five in the final over. This vital win halted the Patriots’ three-match losing run, but they must still defeat Barbados Royals in their last league game and also rely on other results.

The win was done and dusted when Mohammad Rizwan played one of his best CPL innings under pressure. Cornered at 26 for 3 inside the powerplay, Rizwan batted through the innings with a splendid 85 off 62 balls. He was both cautious and attacking, making 36 from 30 balls before stepping on the accelerator and plundering 49 from the next 32. His knock, studded with eight fours and three sixes, was instrumental in guiding the Patriots to 149 for 6 despite a wobbly beginning. Rilee Rossouw and Navin Bidaisee created little but useful partnerships, Bidaisee was not out on 22. Rizwan’s late surge was particularly crucial, as it helped his side score 45 runs in the last four overs.

Early on, the Amazon Warriors appeared in control, and made 41 for 1 after six overs. But the Patriots hit back with wickets at crucial moments. Hassan Khan smacked to mid-wicket where Dominic Drakes took a sharp caught and bowled chance and Shai Hope was bowled by a low one from Navin Bidaisee. Waqar Salamkheil’s twin blows in the middle overs, dismissing Dwaine Pretorius too, compounded Guyana’s chase. Romario Shepherd and Keemo Paul had made a late bid for a counter-attack, with Shepherd surviving a close call and hitting a six to take the match to the last over. But Jason Holder removed Shepherd in the 19th over and that win was enough for the Patriots.

Quenton Sampson gave the Warriors a glimmer of hope with two boundaries to make it 11 runs from the last over, but Naseem Shah once again showed his class to seal things. The Patriots came out winners thanks to his accurate bowling and Amazon Warriors fell agonisingly short on 144 for 8. The reward was two vital points for the Patriots and was a demonstration of the value of their Pakistan stars, Rizwan’s batting heroics and Naseem’s death bowling the difference. For now its not yet known where they end up in the playoffs but an ugly victory keeps them in contention, and sets up an all-important contest against Barbados Royals.

Cricket is a game of legends, and one among them is Ross Taylor, for sure. Considered by many to be New Zealand’s greatest ever batsman, Taylor stunned the world of cricket when he announced his retirement from international cricket in 2022. His exit closes a golden age for New Zealand, the legacy a mix of consistency, resoluteness and match winning performances. However, Taylor has made a surprise move to join the ranks of competitive cricket-not for New Zealand but for Samoa.

A Surprising Comeback

The announcement that Ross Taylor would be playing for Samoa in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific Qualifiers hit social media like a bolt from the blue. Taylor, 37, had appeared to have put away the international bat. But his love for the sport and his abiding ties to his Samoan heritage pulled him back. For Taylor, his return is less about personal glory, and more about giving back to a community that has had a huge role in shaping who he is.

Representing Heritage and Pride

While Taylor is recognised across the world for what he has done for New Zealand, his Samoan heritage has never been far from his thoughts. His commitment to competing for Samoa is about much more than sport – it is a cultural statement. By representing Samoa, Taylor is supporting efforts to spotlight cricket in the Pacific Islands, an area dominated by rugby. His involvement should not only motivate more young Samoans to pick up a cricket bat or ball, but also generate an international focus on the growth of the sport in developing nations.

What This Means for Samoa

And the reality is that Taylor’s involvement, is a game changer for Samoa. Not normally associated with cricket, the island emirate with new provider ICC qualifiers to work towards international recognition. Players with Taylor’s talent in the side enhances their prospects and inspires young players to dream a little bigger. His experience – whether playing against the best teams in the world or excelling under the pressure – will be invaluable to a side that is still very much finding its feet on the international scene.

The Legacy of Ross Taylor

Taylor’s time with New Zealand was studded with milestones. He is New Zealand’s leading run-scorer, across all formats, having scored over 18000 International runs and is a consistent performer in big matches. His composure, versatility and knack for knuckling down for an innings meant he was an indispensable figure in Black Caps successes. Many fans thought they had seen the last of him when he retired, but his choice to play for Samoa goes to show a true legend never really leaves the game, they only retire and find ways to contribute even more.

More Than Cricket

When it comes to Ross Taylor’s return practise is not just about runs the same as matches simply aren’t all about winning. It’s a tale about identity, belonging and giving back. His decision serves as a reminder to the world of sport that cricket is not the preserve of the strong nations but the birthright of all who love the game. In representing Samoa, Taylor is so doing much more than playing a sport, she is growing the game around the world, inspiring future generations to play cricket.

Zimbabwe and Namibia have made significant strides in women’s cricket after confirming their slots at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier 2025 to be staged in Nepal early next year. It will determine the four sides that take places at the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England, which will be the first Women’s T20 World Cup to have 12 teams.

Zimbabwe and Namibia both secured their spots on the back of victories at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Region Qualifier – Africa division one in Windhoek. Zimbabwe earned their trip with a win over Uganda in the first semi-final while Namibia defeated Tanzania in the second semi-final to book their place. The two teams will now meet in the regional final on September 6th.

This is especially historic as neither Zimbabwe nor Namibia have ever qualified for a women’s World Cup in any form. By entering in the global qualifier, they are joined with Bangladesh, Ireland, Thailand, Nepal and the USA who have already qualified. Three additional squads will qualify from the regional qualifiers, Europe and East Asia-Pacific.

The Global Qualifier in Nepal will have ten teams divided into two groups of five each. The Super Six stage will followed by final. The event is to be held from January 12-February 2, 2025 and both Lower Mulpani and Upper Mulpani cricket grounds in Kathmandu would be the venue for the matches.

With the Women’s T20 World Cup expanding to 12 teams in 2026, Zimbabwe and Namibia’s progression is indicative of the increasing quality of African women’s cricket. Now it’s up to both countries to take this momentum onto the world stage, and make a historic first-ever appearance at a World Cup a reality.