India reigns supreme in ODI and T20I formats, securing the No. 1 spot in the latest ICC rankings, fueled by their Champions Trophy victory. New Zealand trails in ODIs, while Australia dominates the Test arena, despite a minor dip. England’s Test resurgence propelled them to second, pushing India to fourth. The T20I rankings now encompass 100 teams, reflecting global participation.
Trent Alexander-Arnold declared his departure from Liverpool, his childhood club, upon the contract’s expiration at the season’s end. He acknowledged it as the “hardest decision” of his life. The English defender has been strongly linked with free transfer to Real Madrid.
Tim Paine has criticised the lack of transparency surrounding Kagiso Rabada’s failed drug test, deeming the situation “extremely wrong.” Paine argues that Rabada’s positive test for a banned recreational substance during the SA20 league should not be concealed under “personal issues.” He insists on public accountability, demanding clarity on the offence, punishment, and overseeing body.
India A is set to tour England, with the first batch of players departing on May 25, as arranged by the BCCI. They will play three four-day games against England Lions, starting May 30, before the Test series. Senior players may participate in an unofficial Test for acclimatisation, depending on IPL progress and medical clearance.
With his skill to swing the ball both ways and his dexterity to hit the 6m length consistently, Arshdeep Singh is arguably the best of his type India has had since Zaheer Khan. The 26-year-old’s opening spell against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) is a gentle reminder to Ajit Agarkar and co. of why he should be on the plane for the five-match Test series against England, starting June 20.
Aaron Finch suggests Rishabh Pant relinquish wicketkeeping to Nicholas Pooran to improve communication and leadership amid a poor IPL season. Pant’s struggles with both batting and captaincy, highlighted by a slow scoring rate and on-field frustrations, are impacting LSG’s performance. Finch believes this change could help Pant regain rhythm and directly manage the team’s strategies, crucial for their playoff push.
Prabhsimran Singh’s explosive batting for Punjab Kings in the IPL is a source of joy for his ailing father, Surjit Singh, who is battling kidney failure. Despite his health struggles, Surjit finds solace and happiness in watching his son’s performance. Prabhsimran has produced 437 runs in 11 innings for PBKS at a strike rate of 170.
The Indian selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, is set to announce the squad for the England tour in May, with captaincy a key point of discussion. While Rohit Sharma’s recent performance and Jasprit Bumrah’s injury raise questions, the BCCI is considering Shubman Gill for a leadership role, potentially as vice-captain.
Punjab Kings’ head coach Ricky Ponting lauded Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy, particularly the strategic promotion of Josh Inglis, which proved pivotal in their dominant victory against Lucknow Super Giants. Inglis’ aggressive innings against Mayank Yadav shifted the momentum, while Prabhsimran Singh’s explosive 91 and Arshdeep Singh’s impactful bowling further solidified PBKS’s win, propelling them to second place in the table.
Pakistani cricket legends, including Javed Miandad and Basit Ali, have expressed disappointment over Sunil Gavaskar’s comments regarding Pakistan’s Asia Cup participation. Gavaskar suggested political tensions might prevent Pakistan’s inclusion, a statement Miandad found hard to believe, given their past camaraderie.