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South Africa Complete 3-0 ODI Sweep of Namibia With Emphatic Nine-Wicket Win
South Africa completed a dominant 3-0 ODI series sweep of Namibia , cruising to a nine-wicket win in the third and final match at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek. Put in to bat, Namibia never got going against South Africa's disciplined attack, slipping to 19 for 2 early on before Alexander Busing-Volschenk (31) and Louren Steenkamp (23) added 53 to steady things. Bjorn Fortuin then took control, breaking the stand and triggering a middle-order collapse that saw Namibia's captain Gerhard Erasmus fall for just 3. The left-arm spinner finished with career-best figures of 4 for 33 , with Zane Green's 33 the only real resistance as the hosts were bowled out for 156. South Africa's chase was a formality from the start, with openers Jordan Hermann and Connor Esterhuizen putting on 150 in just 21 overs. Hermann struck 13 boundaries in a rapid 77 off 59 balls before falling with the target almost complete, while Esterhuizen finished unbeaten on 68 off 68 balls. Dewald Brevis sealed victory in style, launching his second ball for six as South Africa reached 157 for 1 with more than 29 overs to spare. The result caps a near-perfect tour of Namibia for South Africa's experimental squad, having also swept the earlier T20I tri-series against Namibia and Zimbabwe, giving the national selectors plenty to consider ahead of future assignments.
India Win Record 8th Women's Asia Cup as Shafali-Mandhana Shatter Opening Stand Record
India won a record eighth Women's Asia Cup title, beating Sri Lanka by 70 runs in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, powered by a record-breaking opening stand between Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana . Batting first, the pair put together a 129-run opening partnership , the highest in Women's Asia Cup history, surpassing the previous record of 128 set by Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma against the UAE in 2022. It also stands as the highest opening stand in the final of any women's T20I tournament ever played. Shafali was the standout, smashing 68 off 39 balls with nine fours and two sixes, reaching her fifty in just 24 balls , the fastest half-century in Women's Asia Cup history, beating Mandhana's own record of a 25-ball fifty from the 2022 edition. Mandhana added a fluent 59 off 39 balls at the other end, as India posted 183 for 5. Sri Lanka's reply never got going, with Shree Charani the pick of the bowlers, taking 4 for 20 in her four overs, ably supported by Deepti Sharma's 3 for 19, as the defending champions were bowled out well short of the target. The win crowns a dominant tournament for Shafali, who finished as the leading run-scorer with 236 runs in five innings at an average of 47.20 and a strike rate of 171.01, registering three fifties, the joint-most in a single edition alongside Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu. It also extends the remarkable partnership numbers for Mandhana and Shafali, who have now amassed 3,909 runs together in Women's T20Is, the most by any pair in the format's history.
India Women Crowned Women's Asia Cup 2026 Champions After 72-Run Final Win Over Sri Lanka
India Women completed an unbeaten campaign to win the Women's Asia Cup 2026 , thrashing Sri Lanka Women by 72 runs in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Sent in to bat after winning the toss, India put on a batting masterclass. Shafali Verma (68 off 39) and Smriti Mandhana (59 off 39) blazed through the powerplay with a 129-run opening stand, before a late flourish from Gunalan Kamalini (15* off 5, including the final-over six) took India to a formidable 183/5 — the second-highest total ever in a Women's T20I tournament final. Sri Lanka's chase never got going. Chamari Athapaththu (36) and Vishmi Gunaratne (20) added 58 for the second wicket, but once that stand was broken, wickets tumbled steadily. Shree Charani ran through the middle and lower order with 4/20 , while Deepti Sharma chipped in with 3/19, as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 111 , never threatening the chase. Shree Charani was named Player of the Match for her spell. The win completes a perfect tournament for India, who won all six of their matches without dropping a single game, lifting the Women's Asia Cup trophy in style.
Abhishek Sharma's 82 Powers India to 7-Wicket Win Over Afghanistan in T20I Opener
India made a winning start to the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan , chasing down 157 with a 7-wicket win at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, powered by a blistering 82 from Abhishek Sharma . Put in to bowl after winning the toss, India's attack pegged Afghanistan back early when Jasprit Bumrah struck in his first over, before a middle-order collapse left the visitors 43/5 inside 10 overs. Azmatullah Omarzai then rescued the innings with a counter-attacking 64 not out off 44 balls , adding 47 with Mohammad Nabi (33) and a late 25 with Mujeeb Ur Rahman, dragging Afghanistan up to 156/8 . Arshdeep Singh was the pick of India's bowlers with 3/19 . India's chase never looked in doubt. Abhishek Sharma tore into Afghanistan's bowling with 82 off just 32 balls , striking seven fours and seven sixes, sharing a 121-run stand with Ishan Kishan (42) that effectively settled the contest inside the first 11 overs. Both fell in quick succession to Mohammad Nabi, but Shreyas Iyer (8*) and Tilak Varma (3*) saw India home in just 13.4 overs . The result gives India a 1-0 lead in the series, with the second T20I to be played at the same venue on September 15 .
Joe Root Surpasses Tendulkar for Most Test Fifties, Reaches 110 Scores of 50-Plus
Joe Root etched his name into the record books once again, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar for the most half-centuries in Test cricket history during England's series-sealing win over Pakistan at Edgbaston. Root brought up his fifty off just 39 balls, striking nine fours, and stayed unbeaten on 62 as England chased down 130 to complete a 3-0 sweep of the series. The knock took his tally of Test fifties to 69 , one clear of Tendulkar's long-standing mark of 68, a record the Indian great had held since retiring from international cricket. Root had actually drawn level with Tendulkar back at Headingley in the series opener, before finally moving past him in the decider. Combined with his 41 Test centuries, the milestone also means Root has now recorded 110 scores of fifty or more in his Test career. The list behind him reads like a who's who of batting greats: Shivnarine Chanderpaul sits third with 66 fifties, Allan Border and Rahul Dravid share fourth on 63 apiece, and Ricky Ponting rounds out the top six on 62. Root also ticked off another landmark in the same innings, becoming the first batter ever to pass 1,000 Test runs at Edgbaston , joining Lord's, Old Trafford and The Oval as venues where he has crossed the milestone. With 14,278 Test runs to his name, Root now sits second on the all-time run-scoring list behind only Tendulkar's 15,921, keeping alive the conversation about just how far the England captain's remarkable consistency might ultimately take him before his career is done.
Pakistan's Troubled England Tour Ends in 3-0 Whitewash Despite Late Fightback
Pakistan's troubled tour of England ended in a 3-0 series whitewash , falling to an eight-wicket defeat in the third Test at Edgbaston despite a spirited late fightback that briefly threatened to extend the match into a tense finish. The tourists never recovered from a chastening first-innings collapse to 133 at Edgbaston, following similarly one-sided defeats at Headingley and Lord's earlier in the series. A mid-series overhaul that saw seven players dropped, five uncapped cricketers introduced and head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed sacked in favour of white-ball coach Mike Hesson failed to arrest the slide, though it did produce a rare bright spot in debutant Razaullah , whose sensational 81 off 63 balls with nine sixes, on the back of a four-wicket haul with the ball, offered a genuine highlight amid the wreckage. Mohammad Abbas was named Pakistan's standout performer across the series, sharing the Player of the Series award with England's Ollie Robinson, a rare individual recognition in an otherwise deeply disappointing tour. Pakistan will now have plenty to reflect on during the off-season, with the whitewash raising fresh questions about the squad's depth and preparation heading into the format's next major assignments, even as promising performers like Razaullah offer some hope for the future.
England Complete 3-0 Whitewash of Pakistan, Robinson Named Player of the Series
England completed a dominant 3-0 series sweep of Pakistan, chasing down the modest target of 130 with an eight-wicket win in the fourth day of the third Test at Edgbaston. Having bowled Pakistan out for 133 in the first innings and posted 453 in reply, England were given a stern late fright by debutant Razaullah's record-breaking 81 that pushed the tourists to 449 second time around, but the 130-run target was always likely to be within reach for the world's most dominant home Test side of the summer. Dan Lawrence was named Player of the Match, contributing a first-innings 65 alongside figures of 2 for 17 with the ball, continuing the all-round contributions that have defined England's series. Ollie Robinson was named Player of the Series after an extraordinary campaign with the ball, finishing with a series haul that took his tally to 21 wickets at an average of 6.66, one of the most dominant bowling performances by an Englishman in home Test cricket in recent memory. The award was shared with Pakistan's Mohammad Abbas , whose experience and control were among the few consistent positives for the tourists across a lopsided series. The result caps a perfect home summer for England, who won all three Tests comfortably at Headingley, Lord's and Edgbaston, continuing their strong recent home form and setting up a promising platform heading into the winter's international assignments.
Aasif Sheikh's Century Powers Nepal to ACC Premier Cup Title, 2027 Asia Cup Spot
Nepal beat the UAE by 44 runs in the final of the ACC Men's Premier Cup at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur, securing the title and a place at the 2027 Asia Cup , to be hosted in Bangladesh. Opener Aasif Sheikh anchored Nepal's innings with a superb 102 off 106 balls, his second ODI century, sharing a 97-run opening stand with Arjun Kumal (43) before Gulshan Jha provided a late flourish with 52 off just 38 balls. Nepal posted a competitive 313 for 9, with captain Rohit Paudel also chipping in with 40. Chasing 314, the UAE were undone by a batting collapse despite a battling unbeaten century from Rahul Chopra , who could not find enough support at the other end as his side were bowled out for 269 in 49.1 overs. Karan KC led Nepal's attack with 3 wickets, while Lalit Rajbanshi took two, with captain Sandeep Lamichhane among five other bowlers to chip in with a wicket apiece. Sheikh was named Player of the Match for his century, continuing his standout tournament with the bat. The win marks Nepal's second ACC Premier Cup title after their 2023 triumph, extending their record of Asia Cup qualifications to two, while the UAE, who had entered the final unbeaten, will miss out on the continental tournament having failed to defend their previous qualification.
Razaullah's Record-Breaking Debut Ton-Up Drags Test Into Day Four at Edgbaston
Razaullah produced one of the most sensational Test debuts in recent memory, smashing 81 off 63 balls with nine sixes to drag Pakistan to 449 and force the series-deciding third Test against England into a fourth day at Edgbaston. The 21-year-old walked out with Pakistan reeling at 318 for 8, still trailing and staring down another innings defeat. He brought up Pakistan's fastest-ever fifty on Test debut in just 43 balls, smashing back-to-back sixes off Jofra Archer, before continuing to target the boundary with remarkable clarity, striking three sixes off Gus Atkinson in the space of four balls. His nine maximums equalled Tim Southee's 18-year-old world record for most sixes hit by a player on Test debut, while also matching Ben Stokes' mark for most sixes in a Test innings on English soil. He shared a defiant 121-run ninth-wicket stand with Mohammad Abbas (42) before being stumped off Dan Lawrence, having briefly forgotten to review an earlier lbw decision. Remarkably, the innings was merely the second act of an extraordinary debut. Razaullah had already made his mark with the ball in England's first innings, finishing with figures of 4 for 148 , with his maiden Test wicket coming in the form of Joe Root himself. "That was simply sensational," said Sky Sports' commentary team. "A perfectly written first chapter of his Test career... He's come off the plane and has absolutely no baggage." The rescue act, backed by fifties from Shan Masood (95), Babar Azam (76) and Azan Awais (59), leaves England needing 130 to complete a 3-0 series sweep on day four, a target well within reach but one that arrives only after Pakistan's most spirited display of an otherwise one-sided series.
India's Three-Match T20I Series Against Afghanistan Begins Tomorrow in Delhi
India's three-match T20I series against Afghanistan gets under way tomorrow, September 13, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, with the remaining two matches following on September 15 and 17 at the same venue. Shreyas Iyer leads the side with Tilak Varma as his deputy, in a squad that includes Jasprit Bumrah's return from injury, subject to fitness, alongside Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma at the top of the order. The series arrives at a busy time for India, coming just days before the squad shifts focus to defending their men's cricket gold at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, under head coach VVS Laxman. Afghanistan , led by Ibrahim Zadran, bring a dangerous spin-heavy attack featuring Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Noor Ahmad, and will look to cause an upset against a full-strength Indian side fresh off a dominant run at the Women's Asia Cup. The series offers both sides a final tune-up opportunity before the Asian Games, with several fringe India players looking to cement their T20I credentials ahead of the tournament.
Mumbai Cricket Association Commits ₹500 Crore Corpus Fund for Grassroots Cricket
The Mumbai Cricket Association has committed to building a ₹500 crore corpus fund for grassroots cricket over the next 10 years, a fivefold increase from the ₹100 crore fund set up just last year. MCA president Ajinkya Naik announced the decision following the association's 87th Annual General Meeting at Wankhede Stadium. "We looked at a corpus fund of Rs 500 crore which was Rs 6 crore to start with, then Rs 10, then Rs 12 crore in the last three years," Naik said. "In the last AGM, we raised it to Rs 100 crore, but this time we did it Rs 500 crore for our grassroots cricketers, including maidan clubs, schools and colleges." The fund will operate as an endowment, with the MCA contributing ₹40 crore annually to build the corpus while keeping the principal invested in fixed deposits. Only the interest generated will be distributed to affiliated maidan, school and college clubs, providing a sustainable, recurring source of funding rather than a one-off grant. The money can be used flexibly by clubs for equipment, playing kits, logistics and other facilities, marking one of the most significant grassroots cricket investments undertaken by the MCA in a city whose maidan cricket culture has long served as a pipeline for producing elite Indian cricketers.
Esterhuizen's Maiden ODI Century Seals Series Win for South Africa Over Namibia
South Africa clinched their ODI series against Namibia with a match to spare, thrashing the hosts by 157 runs in the second ODI in Windhoek to go 2-0 up, with Connor Esterhuizen striking his maiden ODI century in the victory. The result continues a dominant tour of Namibia for South Africa's experimental squad, following their earlier triumphs in the T20I tri-series against Namibia and Zimbabwe. Esterhuizen, who had already enjoyed a breakout few weeks with the bat across formats, converted his growing white-ball form into a maiden century at the 50-over level, anchoring South Africa to a commanding total that Namibia never got close to chasing down. The result seals the series for South Africa ahead of the third and final ODI on September 13, capping an outstanding week for a South African touring party that has used the assignment to test fringe players across both white-ball formats, with several individuals pushing their case for future international selection.
Pakistan Fight Back to 449 All Out, Leave England Needing 130 to Complete Whitewash
Pakistan staged a stunning fightback on the fourth day of the series-deciding third Test at Edgbaston, rallying from a dire position to be bowled out for 449 in their second innings, leaving England needing just 130 runs to complete a 3-0 series sweep. Having been reduced to 52 for 2 in reply to England's first-innings 453, Pakistan's much-changed batting order showed far greater resolve than in their first-innings capitulation to 133, with the tourists building a substantial total that at least restored some pride after a series dominated by the hosts from the outset. The recovery, while falling well short of saving the match, ensures Pakistan avoid the ignominy of an innings defeat and gives England a small target to chase down. England will resume their pursuit of the 130 runs required with confidence, having already wrapped up the series with wins at Headingley and Lord's. A win here would complete a first home whitewash of Pakistan for the hosts, capping a dominant summer in familiar fashion after the tourists' mid-series overhaul, which saw seven players dropped and the head coach sacked, failed to arrest the tide.
India vs Sri Lanka Set for Women's Asia Cup 2026 Final Showdown
The Women's Asia Cup 2026 final is set: India Women will take on Sri Lanka Women at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 13 , with both sides arriving unbeaten in their group stages before contrasting semi-final routes. India have been the standout side of the tournament, winning all five of their matches so far, headlined by Smriti Mandhana's record-breaking 124 and Shafali Verma's blistering 64 in the semi-final win over Bangladesh. They will start firm favourites, having not dropped a single game across the competition. Sri Lanka topped Group B unbeaten before needing a nervy 4-wicket chase to see off Pakistan's Fatima Sana in the semi-final, with Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari steering them home. Captain Chamari Athapaththu's side will look to their strength in depth and spin bowling to trouble an in-form Indian batting line-up. The final promises to be a fitting climax — a clash between the tournament's two form teams, with the trophy and continental bragging rights on the line in Dubai.
Sri Lanka Edge Past Fatima Sana's Fireworks to Reach Women's Asia Cup Final
Sri Lanka Women survived a scare from Pakistan Women's Fatima Sana to reach the Women's Asia Cup 2026 final , chasing down 131 with a 4-wicket win in Dubai. They will face India in Sunday's final. Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl, but Pakistan recovered from an early wobble thanks to captain Fatima Sana , who blasted an unbeaten 47 off 36 balls in a rescue act that took Pakistan to a competitive 130/5 . Chamari Athapaththu picked up 2/24 with the ball. In the chase, Sri Lanka lost both Athapaththu and Sanjana Kavindi inside the second over, but Harshitha Samarawickrama (36) and Kavisha Dilhari (33) put on a crucial 67-run stand to steady the innings. When both fell in quick succession with the target still 25 away, Nilakshika Silva (18* off 10) and Kaushani Nuthyangana (10* off 4, including the winning six) finished the job with 8 balls to spare. Remarkably, Fatima Sana also picked up a career-best 4/38 with the ball despite the defeat, and was named Player of the Match for her all-round effort. Sri Lanka now set up a final showdown with unbeaten India Women on September 13 in Dubai, in what promises to be a fitting climax to the tournament.
Joe Root Extends Test Cricket Record for Most Catches to 220
Joe Root has extended his own men's Test cricket record for most catches by a fielder, taking his tally to 220 during the third Test against Pakistan at Edgbaston. Root first broke Rahul Dravid's long-standing record of 210 catches back in July 2025, before briefly being drawn level by Australia's Steve Smith and reclaiming outright ownership of the record during the first Test of this series against Pakistan at Leeds in August, when he reached 219. The latest addition to his tally further cements his position at the top of a list that also includes Mahela Jayawardene (205), Smith (200) and Jacques Kallis (200). The milestone adds to an extraordinary summer for the England captain, who also entered this Test level with Sachin Tendulkar on the all-time record for most Test half-centuries. Root's combination of longevity, consistency in the slip cordon and sustained excellence with the bat continues to place him among the greatest all-round contributors the format has ever produced, with the 35-year-old showing no signs of slowing down as he approaches the twilight of a career already among England's finest.
England Lead Pakistan by 268 Runs Heading Into Day 3 at Edgbaston
England head into Day 3 of the series-deciding third Test firmly in control, leading Pakistan by 268 runs with the tourists reduced to 52 for 2 in their second innings at Edgbaston. Having bowled Pakistan out for 133 on day one before piling on 453 in reply, England will look to press home their advantage on day three and push toward a series-clinching victory. Pakistan's overhauled batting order, missing several senior names after a mid-series shake-up, face a daunting task to bat out the remainder of the Test and salvage anything from a series they already trail 2-0. A win here would complete a 3-0 clean sweep for England, continuing their dominant home summer, while anything less than a determined rearguard from Pakistan's reshuffled top order looks unlikely to prevent the hosts from wrapping up victory well before the scheduled close on day five.
Robinson's Early Double Strike Extends England's Dominance Over Pakistan at Edgbaston
England moved firmly in control of the series-deciding third Test against Pakistan at Edgbaston, posting 453 in their first innings before reducing the tourists to 52 for 2 in their second innings, a lead of 268 with eight wickets standing. Ollie Robinson continued his remarkable summer with the ball, striking twice in his very first over of Pakistan's reply to leave the tourists reeling early. The wickets took his tally for the series to an extraordinary 21 , at an average of just 6.66 , underlining the dominant role he has played since his recall to the side this summer after a lengthy absence from the Test setup. Pakistan's overhauled batting lineup, already reeling from a first-innings collapse to 133 on day one, now face an uphill task to avoid a series whitewash, with England's substantial first-innings total putting them in a commanding position heading into the remainder of the Test. The tourists' revamped squad, put together after seven players were dropped and the head coach was replaced following the Lord's defeat, will need a big rearguard effort to keep the match, and the series, alive.
Shafali Verma's 64 Powers India Past Bangladesh Into Seventh Straight Asia Cup Final
India Women continued their remarkable run in the Women's Asia Cup , beating Bangladesh Women by 40 runs in Semi-Final 1 to reach a seventh consecutive final of the tournament — a streak stretching back to its very first edition. Sent in to bat after Bangladesh won the toss, India were powered by a stunning 64 off 40 balls from Shafali Verma , laced with 7 fours and 3 sixes. Contributions from Pratika Rawal (20), Richa Ghosh (21) and an unbeaten 24 from captain Harmanpreet Kaur pushed India to 149/6 on a surface that offered plenty for the spinners. Bangladesh got starts throughout the order — Dilara Akter (21), Juairiya Ferdous (14), Sobhana Mostary (18) and Nigar Sultana (19) all made contact but couldn't convert. Deepti Sharma was the pick of India's bowlers with 3/26, and Nandani Sharma returned to finish things off with two wickets in the final over as Bangladesh fell to 109/7 . Shafali Verma was named Player of the Match. India now await their final opponents, to be decided when Sri Lanka face Pakistan in Semi-Final 2 on September 11, with the final scheduled for September 13 in Dubai.
Yash Thakur Replaces Harshit Rana in India's T20I Squads for Afghanistan and Asian Games
Yash Thakur has replaced Harshit Rana in India's T20I squads for both the upcoming series against Afghanistan and the Asian Games , the BCCI has confirmed. Rana had originally been named in both squads subject to fitness clearance, and his replacement suggests he has not recovered in time for either assignment. Thakur, who has previous India T20I experience, steps in as a fresh pace-bowling option across both commitments, with the same swap applying to the Afghanistan series in New Delhi (September 13, 15 and 17) and India's title defence at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The change comes with Shreyas Iyer continuing to lead the side and Tilak Varma as vice-captain, in a squad that also includes Jasprit Bumrah's return from injury, subject to fitness, alongside Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma at the top of the order. India go into the Afghanistan series fresh off a dominant run at the Women's Asia Cup, before shifting focus to defending their men's cricket gold from the 2023 Asian Games under VVS Laxman's Asian Games coaching setup.
Cricket Australia Pushes Ahead With BBL Privatisation Despite Opposition, Renegades to Be Sold by Christmas
Cricket Australia has confirmed it will push ahead with Big Bash League privatisation , pressing forward with the plan despite ongoing opposition from New South Wales and Queensland, with the Melbourne Renegades set to be sold by Christmas. The decision was given the green light at a CA board meeting, with the governing body choosing Sydney as the location to announce the venture it hopes will bring hundreds of millions of dollars into grassroots cricket and player payments. In a bid to win over players amid pushback from the Australian Cricketers' Association, CA enlisted top-level men's and women's cricketers to help make the announcement. The Renegades, now being administered out of CA's headquarters following Cricket Victoria's move to merge its two Melbourne franchises earlier this year, are expected to be the first club sold under the new model. Western Australia has also joined Victoria and Tasmania in backing the plan, with the all-conquering Perth Scorchers set to be floated on the open market, partly to help fund the redevelopment of the WACA Ground. Queensland remains wary of being worse off either way, while the exact scope of which franchises will change hands and when continues to be worked through on a state-by-state basis. The privatisation push explains the increasingly active BBL free-agent market this offseason, with the competition's revised contracting rules already producing headline moves like Adam Zampa's switch to Hobart Hurricanes.
India A Name Squads for One-Day and Multi-Day Series Against Australia A
India A have named their squads for the upcoming series against Australia A , with separate captains leading the one-day and multi-day legs as selectors look to fine-tune fringe options ahead of the international season. Ruturaj Gaikwad will captain the one-day squad, with Devdutt Padikkal as his deputy, while the multi-day squad flips the leadership with Padikkal at the helm and Sai Sudharsan as vice-captain. Hardik Pandya has been included in the one-day squad, subject to fitness, as he continues his path back into the senior setup. One-Day squad vs Australia A: Priyansh Arya, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal (vc), Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Rajat Patidar, Kumar Kushagra (wk), Nishant Sindhu, Vipraj Nigam, Arshin Kulkarni, Arshad Khan, Naman Dhir, Hardik Pandya*, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Gurjapneet Singh, Yash Thakur. Multi-Day squad vs Australia A: Aman Mokhade, Ayush Pandey, Devdutt Padikkal (c), Sai Sudharsan (vc), Yash Rathod, Shaik Rasheed, Kumar Kushagra (wk), Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Tushar Deshpande, Anshul Kamboj, Praful Hinge, N Jagadeesan (wk), Nachiket Bhute, V Vyshak*. The two-format series continues the now-familiar pattern of using India A fixtures as an audition ground for fringe players across formats, with several names looking to force their way into selection conversations for the senior side over the coming months.
England Lead by 23 at Stumps After Bowling Pakistan Out for 133 on Day 1
England ended day one of the series-deciding third Test in the ascendancy, reaching 156 for 4 at stumps to lead Pakistan by 23 runs after bowling the tourists out for just 133 earlier in the day at Edgbaston. Pakistan's overhauled batting lineup, featuring three debutants after a mid-series overhaul that saw seven players dropped and head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed sacked, collapsed inside 34 overs. Josh Tongue led the attack with 4 for 42, while Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer claimed three wickets apiece, with Robinson's opening breakthrough bringing up his 100th Test wicket. Captain Babar Azam made just 7, and only Saud Shakeel, with 43, offered any real resistance. In reply, England made early inroads into the 23-run lead but lost four wickets along the way to finish the day in front, setting up a pivotal second day with the hosts chasing a 3-0 series sweep after already wrapping up the series with wins at Headingley and Lord's. Pakistan will need a big response with the ball on day two to peg back England's advantage and keep the Test alive.
Robinson's 100th Test Wicket Headlines Pakistan's Collapse to 133 at Edgbaston
Pakistan collapsed to just 133 all out on the opening day of the third and final Test against England at Edgbaston, with Ollie Robinson reaching his 100th Test wicket as the tourists' overhauled batting lineup made little impression. Recalled opener Saim Ayub fell for a duck, trapped lbw by Robinson's trademark nip-backer to bring up the milestone wicket. Jofra Archer and Robinson shared the next three wickets between them to leave Pakistan reeling at 26 for 4 inside 10 overs. Captain Babar Azam , without a Test century in nearly four years, was then bowled for just 7 by an excellent Josh Tongue delivery that jagged back off the seam, before debutant wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori fell for 4 to leave Pakistan 64 for 6. Saud Shakeel offered the only real resistance with 43 off 47 balls before Tongue removed him too, finishing with figures of 4 for 42 , with Robinson and Archer taking three apiece. The reshuffled Pakistan side, which included three debutants after seven players were dropped and head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed was sacked following the Lord's defeat, showed little sign the changes had addressed their batting issues, having now failed to pass 200 in five consecutive innings on the tour. England, chasing a 3-0 series sweep, reached 35 for 2 at tea in reply.