Category: Cricket

by Abhishek Shukla

Cricketing legends and renowned commentators set to call DP World ILT20 Season 2

Dubai, 8 January, 2024: The DP World International League T20 and the tournament’s broadcast partners ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) have unveiled a star-studded panel of commentators for the league’s Season 2. The world’s second most-watched league will be brought to life by a panel rounded-off with some of the leading cricketing experts in the world.

The voices behind some of the most iconic moments in the sport in recent years — Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, Rohan Gavaskar, Saba Karim, Nikhil Chopra, Vivek Razdan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar will be joined by Alan Wilkins, Simon Doull, Daren Ganga, Danny Morrison and Niall O’Brien.

With an illustrious array of distinguished personalities and renowned voices gracing the commentary panel, the DP World ILT20 and ZEE Entertainment promises to deliver captivating action from the league’s second season in an engaging and dynamic fashion. Former India captain Anjum Chopra as well as high-profile sports broadcasters Reema Malhotra and Natalie Germanos will be three esteemed female commentators on the panel.

These accomplished individuals bring a wealth of experience, knowledge, and a deep passion for the game, promising to deliver comprehensive coverage and expert insights throughout the league’s upcoming season, elevating the cricket-viewing experience. The commentary will be available in English and Hindi languages.

The tournament begins on Friday 19 January at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium with a clash between defending champions Gulf Giants and Sharjah Warriors. Cricket fans can watch the DP World ILT20 Season 2 on Zee’s most widely distributed and viewed 10 linear TV channels: &Pictures, &Pictures HD, Zee Cinema HD, Zee Anmol Cinema, Zee Zest, Zee Ganga, Zee Cinemalu HD, &Flix, &Flix HD and Zee Zest HD and leading OTT platform ZEE5.

All single header matches will be broadcast Live at 8:00 pm India time, starting with the pre-match presentation at 7:30 PM.

The afternoon match on the double-header’s day will start at 4:00 PM – IST.

The commentators are meanwhile looking forward to a riveting DP World ILT20 Season 2 which will include some of the biggest T20 stars from around the world.

Alan Wilkins: “I am honoured to be part of the esteemed commentary panel for the upcoming season of DP World ILT20. The recognised global league will be a celebration of the spirit of cricket as the sporting extravaganza unfolds across the UAE. As the second-most watched T20 cricket league globally, I believe that ZEE Entertainment is committed to making the league bigger and better, offering a fresh and exciting experience to a global audience.”

Rohan Gavaskar: “As we step into the exciting journey of the DP World ILT20’s second season, I invite viewers to get ready for a captivating cricket experience on &Pictures and ZEE5. Featuring a global array of talent and strategic team plays, this season promises fans worldwide a thrilling and engaging spectacle.”

Virender Sehwag: “UAE’s meteoric rise as a cricketing powerhouse in recent years is truly remarkable, and the DP World ILT20 is undoubtedly another jewel in its cricketing crown. As the highly-anticipated Season 2 of the league is around the corner, I am anticipating electrifying performances from power-packed players. Following the phenomenal success garnered by the league’s inaugural season, I am confident in ZEE’s unwavering commitment to amplify the league and offer an exhilarating experience on display for global audiences.”

Waqar Younis: “DP World ILT20 is truly a cricketing rendezvous, featuring a mix of seasoned players and rising stars, making the league a must-watch for cricket enthusiasts globally. It is a celebration of cricketing diversity, with an array of player and team rivalries. I am very excited to be part of the commentators’ panel for the upcoming edition.”

Wasim Akram: “I am truly thrilled to be part of the commentary team for the second season of DP World ILT20. The three iconic venues in the UAE will serve as the canvas for some of the most prominent T20 stars to showcase their talent.”

Some of the world’s most prominent cricket stars are slated to play in the Season 2, including David Warner, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Ambati Rayudu, Corey Anderson, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Trent Boult, Dasun Shanaka, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sam Billings, David Willey,  Alex Hales, Tom Curran, Rovman Powell, Shimron Hetmyer, James Vince, Chris Woakes and Martin Guptill.

by Abhishek Shukla

ICC announces December Player of the Month nominees

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has today revealed the shortlists of contenders for the ICC Men’s and Women’s Player of the Month awards for December 2023.

The shortlist for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month contains three top performers from key ICC World Test Championship clashes last month.

Pat Cummins has enjoyed a remarkable 12 months as captain of Australia, and caps a fine year with his first ICC Men’s Player of the Month nomination following a commanding bowling performance to secure series victory over Pakistan. Taijul Islam of Bangladesh also welcomes his maiden nomination thanks to impressive bowling displays in the series against New Zealand. The Blackcaps’ Glenn Phillips provided plenty of heroics in the final Test between the two sides to level the series, and is the third name in contention for the December award.

The ICC Women’s Player of the Month shortlist for December includes two of India’s primary match-winners during their multi-format month, plus a Zimbabwe veteran who stole the show at the ICC Women’s T20WC Africa Qualifier.

Precious Marange bowled Zimbabwe to a landmark victory at the Africa Qualifier, with a sparkling run of form which included a hat-trick in the final outing. Jemimah Rodrigues led India’s batting charge superbly in December, hitting valuable runs in Tests and ODIs against England and Australia. Her teammate Deepti Sharma completes the shortlist thanks to blistering displays at both ends of the wicket – with notable runs and wickets against the same opposition.

An independent ICC Voting Academy* and fans around the world will now be invited to cast their votes to decide the winners, which will be announced next week. Fans registered at icc-cricket.com/awards will be able to vote for their favourite performers until Saturday.

ICC Men’s Player of the Month Nominees for December:

Pat Cummins (Aus)

Cummins has enjoyed many moments of brilliance in 2023, all of which see him firmly in contention for the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy in the ICC Awards 2023. December capped a fine 12-month period across formats, and Cummins produced another inspiring display as Australia’s spearhead, bowling them to victory in the second Test in Melbourne with ten wickets in the match, including five for 48 in the second innings to clinch victory as the match headed towards a nervy climax. With 13 wickets over the two Test matches, including his 250th in the longest format, he could win his first Player of the Month crown.

Taijul Islam (Ban)

Taijul Islam is another celebrating his maiden nomination in the Player of the Month awards, and the experienced left-arm spinner produced a decisive spell as Bangladesh won the first of their Tests against the visiting Blackcaps in Sylhet. Four wickets in the first innings was followed by a memorable six for 75 as New Zealand fell short by 150 runs. More success followed, where despite losing the second Test, Taijul claimed another five wickets and earned the Player of the Series accolade.

Glenn Phillips (NZ)

With Taijul starring for Bangladesh, Phillips was the shining light for New Zealand as they battled to victory in the second outing to clinch a 1-1 series draw. Before his second Test heroics, Phillips had taken five wickets and chipped in with valuable runs, albeit in vain. On a difficult pitch for batters, Phillips scored 87 of New Zealand’s 180 runs, and followed this with a match-winning 40 as the Blackcaps rallied to reach the required target of 137 after having been 69 for six.

ICC Women’s Player of the Month Nominees for December:

Precious Marange (ZIM)

Zimbabwe’s veteran bowler enjoyed a career-defining series of performances in December as her side secured safe passage from the Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier. Two wickets in their opening match against Kenya was followed by a wicket-less performance against Botswana. Marange then stepped up, with three successive Player of the Match showings, taking three for 13 against Tanzania, then three for nine against Namibia before her crowning glory – five for seven in the final against Uganda to restrict them to 79 all out, which included a 19th over hattrick.

Jemimah Rodrigues (IND)

Rodrigues exhibited superb versatility in December, producing impressive batting displays in all formats of the game. A modest start to the month in T20Is was followed by classy first innings knocks of 70-plus in India’s two Test victories over England and Australia. Rodrigues also continued her run-scoring spell in the subsequent ODI encounters against the Australians, hitting 82 and 44 in the first two matches to end the month having averaged over 60 in Tests and ODIs in December.

Deepti Sharma (IND)

The all-rounder was also a key performer in India’s Test and ODI outings during December. The Test victory over England was a particular highlight for Sharma, striking 67 and 20 with the bat as well as taking nine opposition wickets. She then top-scored for India in the following Test success against Australia before also outlining her ODI strengths, which included five for 38 in the second match as India fell agonizingly short.

The ICC Player of the Month Voting Process: 

The three nominees for either category are shortlisted based on performances from the first to the last day of each calendar month. The shortlist is then voted on by the independent ICC Voting Academy* and fans around the world. The ICC Voting Academy comprises prominent members of the cricket fraternity including well-known journalists, former players, broadcasters and members of the ICC Hall of Fame. The Voting Academy submit their votes by email and hold a 90 per cent share of the vote. Fans registered with the ICC can vote via the ICC website, accounting for the remaining 10 per cent. Winners are announced every second Monday of the month on ICC’s digital channels. 

Voting Academy for ICC Player of the Month December 2023: 

Afghanistan: Hameed Qayoomi and Javed Hamim; Australia: Scott Bailey and Lisa Sthalekar; Bangladesh: Mohammad Sekander Ali and Md Ariful Islam Roney; England: Elizabeth Ammon and Lydia Greenway; Ireland: Ger Siggins and Clare Shillington; India: S Gomesh and Irfan Pathan; New Zealand: Merryn Anderson and Craig Cumming; Pakistan: Sawera Pasha and Sana Mir; South Africa: Zaahier Adams and Ashwell Prince; Sri Lanka: Azzam Ameen and Farveez Maharoof; West Indies: Daren Ganga and Stacy Ann King; Zimbabwe: Daniel Nhakaniso and Grant Flower; Others: Ajit Vijaykumar and Dirk Nannes.

by Abhishek Shukla

The Inauguration of IndusInd Bank Women’s National T20 Cricket Tournament for the Blind 2024 was held at Hubli with Grandeur

Hubli (Karnataka) [India], January 7:The Grand inauguration of the Women’s National T20 Cricket Tournament for the Blind 2024 was held here at the Indira Glass House Hubli in the august presence of Shri. Santosh Lad, Minister of Labour Government of Karnataka, Shri. Jagadish Shettar Former Chief Minister of Karnataka and the CABI officials.

Sixteen teams are set to ignite the cricketing fervor as they step onto the fields in Hubli-Dharwad on Monday to kick start the Women’s National T20 Cricket Tournament for the Blind 2024. The 16 teams will compete at Karnataka Gymkhana Cricket Ground, Indian Railways Cricket Ground, BDK Cricket Ground, and SDM Cricket Ground respectively.  

Welcoming the gathering Dr Mahantesh G Kivadasannavar, Chairman, Cricket Association for the Blind in India(CABI) said “Cricket for the Blind has travelled a long way and it is CABI’s responsibility to take this game to the cities where cricket for the blind is unheard off. I place on record the great support received from the respective State and Central governments over the years for the promotion of cricket for the Blind. Let this tournament bring the best talent.”

The President of CABI, Mr Buse Gowda addressed the gathering with the details of the tournament and the journey of Women’s Cricket for the Blind.

“Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled and Cricket Association for the Blind in India have brought so many laurels to the country. There is always a great feeling to attend all the events and Cricket for the Blind brings everyone together” said Shri. Jagadish Shettar Former Chief Minister of Karnataka and the CABI officials.

Shri. Santosh Lad, Minister of Labour Government of Karnataka inaugurating the tournament said” I was speechless and was in tears when I attended the previous event at Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled in Dharwad. I am a cricketer and I have represented at the various level. The vision of Dr Mahantesh G K makes me more committed to the cause of Inclusivity and promotion cricket for the Blind”.

The 16 state teams participated in the inauguration with lot enthusiasm. Mr Chandrashekar, Chairman Women’s Cricket proposed the Vote of thanks.  The Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI), Karnataka Cricket Association for the Blind (KCAB) in association with Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled is organising the IndusInd Bank supported Women’s National T20 Cricket Tournament for the Blind 2024

Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, Chandigarh and Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Karnataka will simultaneously kick off the tournament on Monday. Every day in the league stage, there will be eight matches, four in the morning and the other four in the afternoon.

A total of 16 teams, divided into four groups, will engage in spirited competition for the ultimate showdown scheduled on January 12. The league stage kicks off on Monday.

The League stage will end on January 10 and the four teams qualifying for the semi-finals will battle it out for the top spot on Thursday. A total of 27 matches will be played in the IndusInd Bank Women’s National T20 Cricket Tournament for the Blind 2024

The final showdown, coinciding with National Youth Day, also known as Vivekananda Jayanti, is set for January 12, promising a fitting culmination to this remarkable tournament.

The groups for the women’s national.

Group A: Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Telangana

Group B: Karnataka, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Assam

Group C: Delhi, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal

Group D: Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chandigarh, Haryana

by Abhishek Shukla

Fixtures revealed for historic ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in West Indies and the USA

The fixtures for the ninth edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup have been revealed with the event to be co-hosted by the West Indies and the USA from 1 to 29 June 2024.

The pinnacle ICC men’s T20 event will see a record 20 teams divided into four groups competing across 55 games for the right to be crowned ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Champions 2024, including co-hosts the West Indies and the USA, together with the other qualifiers: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, England, India, Ireland, Namibia, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Scotland, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Uganda.

The 20 teams have been divided into four groups of five, with the top two teams progressing to the Super Eights:

Group A: India, Pakistan, Ireland, Canada and the USA

Group B: England, Australia, Namibia, Scotland and Oman

Group C: New Zealand, the West Indies, Afghanistan, Uganda and Papua New Guinea

Group D: South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Netherlands and Nepal

The event commences with the two co-hosts starting their campaigns on the first two days of June. The USA will take on Canada in the tournament opener at the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Dallas on Saturday 1 June, while the West Indies will kickstart their campaign against Papua New Guinea at the Guyana National Stadium on Sunday 2 June.

Defending champions England will begin their title defence on Tuesday 4 June in Barbados against Scotland and 2022 finalists, Pakistan, will get their challenge going on Thursday 6 June, when they play the USA in Dallas.

Among the plethora of blockbuster matchups scheduled in the group stage, fans can look forward to Sri Lanka taking on South Africa in New York on Monday 3 June, while England will go up against archrivals Australia in Barbados on Saturday 8 June. Another highly anticipated fixture will see the West Indies taking on New Zealand on Wednesday 12 June at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad and Tobago.

First-time Qualifiers Uganda will play their first ever ICC Men’s T20 World Cup fixture in Guyana against Afghanistan on Monday, 3 June. Nepal, who qualified for the T20 World Cup for the first time since 2014, will open their campaign against Sri Lanka in one of four matches to be played at Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida.

Upon completion of the group stage, the top two teams from each of the four groups will move into the Super Eight stage of the competition. Teams seeded first and second in their groups in the first round will retain that seeding in the Super Eight, provided they qualify. Super Eight matches are scheduled to be played in popular Caribbean tourist destinations Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

The two top teams from each group in the Super Eight will progress to the semi-finals, which will be held in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 June respectively. The final will be held at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday 29 June.

ICC Chief Executive, Geoff Allardice said: “The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 marks an exciting expansion of our sport with more teams than ever before set to compete in this event. It’s going to be an incredible spectacle bringing together 20 international teams from Africa, the Americas, Asia, East-Asia Pacific and Europe.

“The release of the fixtures is made even more exciting for fans as we enter a new frontier, with the USA hosting a major ICC event for the first time. With 16 matches being played across three venues in the USA, it allows us to make a statement in the world’s biggest sports market.

“It will also be great to have an ICC event back in the West Indies, which has such a rich history of the game. It has hosted World Cups with great success in the past and this tournament will certainly provide a boost to the game there, especially with the final being played in Barbados.”

CWI Chief Executive Johnny Grave said: “The announcement of the match schedule for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 marks a significant milestone in our preparations for this year’s tournament.  We know that teams, fans and cricket enthusiasts worldwide have been eagerly awaiting this announcement, and now that it is available, it provides a roadmap for the thrilling journey that lies ahead.

“In addition to the match fixtures, the announcement also highlights the host countries and iconic venues that will set the stage for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Each host country and city will bring its own unique flavour to the tournament, and fans from every corner of the globe can expect an exciting blend of T20 cricketing entertainment, local culture and warm hospitality.

“From classic rivalries to history making upsets and continental showdowns, fans can start looking forward to an action-packed month of games at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup next June, and we encourage everyone to get tickets as soon as they go on sale as we expect the demand to be high.”

The Chair of T20 World Cup Incorporated, the entity established in the USA to deliver the event, Peter Hutton said: “The USA is already one of cricket’s biggest audiences for ICC events and bringing the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to New York City, Dallas and Florida is a massive opportunity to exponentially grow the sport. We’ve got three fantastic venues to host matches and we strongly encourage fans in the USA and around the world to start planning to secure their tickets for what will be a unique cricket spectacle featuring the best players in the world.”

Vijay Srinivasan, co-Founder, Major League Cricket said: “Major League Cricket is delighted to host the marquee opening match for the biggest-ever ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the premier MLC venue, Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in North Texas.

“We know that cricket fans from across the country will be out in force on June 1 as the United States hosts Canada in the curtain-raiser for the tournament. The match will mark a new chapter in a rivalry dating back longer than any other in international cricket, all the way to 1844.

“In addition, we can’t wait to welcome fans from Pakistan, the Netherlands, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to the Lone Star State for a further three matches at Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium where many of the stars of Major League Cricket will be playing for their countries.”

Full fixtures for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024

Sat, 1 June 2024 – USA v CANADA, Dallas

Sun, 2 June 2024 – WEST INDIES v PAPUA NEW GUINEA, Guyana

Sun, 2 June 2024 – NAMIBIA v OMAN, Barbados

Mon, 3 June 2024 – SL v SOUTH AFRICA, New York

Mon, 3 June 2024 – AFGHANISTAN v UGANDA, Guyana

Tue, 4 June 2024 – ENGLAND v SCOTLAND, Barbados

Tue, 4 June 2024 – NETHERLANDS v NEPAL, Dallas

Wed, 5 June 2024 – INDIA v IRELAND, New York

Wed, 5 June 2024 – PAPUA NEW GUINEA v UGANDA, Guyana

Wed, 5 June 2024 – AUSTRALIA v OMAN, Barbados

Thur, 6 June 2024 – USA v PAKISTAN, Dallas

Thur, 6 June 2024 – NAMIBIA v SCOTLAND, Barbados

Fri, 7 June 2024 – CANADA v IRELAND, New York

Fri, 7 June 2024 – NEW ZEALAND v AFGHANISTAN, Guyana

Fri, 7 June 2024 – SRI LANKA v BANGLADESH, Dallas

Sat, 8 June 2024 – NETHERLANDS v SOUTH AFRICA, New York

Sat, 8 June 2024 – AUSTRALIA v ENGLAND, Barbados

Sat, 8 June 2024 – WEST INDIES v UGANDA, Guyana

Sun, 9 June 2024 – INDIA v PAKISTAN, New York

Sun, 9 June 2024 – OMAN v SCOTLAND, Antigua

Mon, 10 June 2024 – SOUTH AFRICA v BANGLADESH, New York

Tue, 11 June 2024 – PAKISTAN v CANADA, New York

Tue, 11 June 2024 – SRI LANKA v NEPAL, Florida

Tue, 11 June 2024 – AUSTRALIA v NAMIBIA, Antigua

Wed, 12 June 2024 – USA v INDIA, New York

Wed, 12 June 2024 – WEST INDIES v NEW ZEALAND, Trinidad

Thur, 13 June 2024 – ENGLAND v OMAN, Antigua

Thur, 13 June 2024 – BANGLADESH v NETHERLANDS, St. Vincent

Thur, 13 June 2024 – AFGHANISTAN v PAPUA NEW GUINEA, Trinidad

Fri, 14 June 2024 – USA v IRELAND, Florida

Fri, 14 June 2024 – SOUTH AFRICA v NEPAL, St. Vincent

Fri, 14 June 2024 – NEW ZEALAND v UGANDA, Trinidad

Sat, 15 June 2024 – INDIA v CANADA, Florida

Sat, 15 June 2024 – NAMIBIA v ENGLAND, Antigua

Sat, 15 June 2024 – AUSTRALIA v SCOTLAND, St. Lucia

Sun, 16 June 2024 – PAKISTAN v IRELAND, Florida

Sun, 16 June 2024 – BANGLADESH v NEPAL, St. Vincent

Sun, 16 June 2024 – SRI LANKA v NETHERLANDS, St. Lucia

Mon, 17 June 2024 – NEW ZEALAND v PAPUA NEW GUINEA, Trinidad

Mon, 17 June 2024 – WEST INDIES v AFGHANISTAN, St. Lucia

Wed, 19 June 2024 – A2 v D1, Antigua

Wed, 19 June 2024 – B1 v C2, St. Lucia

Thur, 20 June 2024 – C1 v A1, Barbados

Thur, 20 June 2024 – B2 v D2, Antigua

Fri, 21 June 2024 – B1 v D1, St. Lucia

Fri, 21 June 2024 – A2 v C2, Barbados

Sat, 22 June 2024 – A1 v D2, Antigua

Sat, 22 June 2024 – C1 v B2, St. Vincent

Sun, 23 June 2024 – A2 v B1, Barbados

Sun, 23 June 2024 – C2 v D1, Antigua

Mon, 24 June 2024 – B2 v A1, St. Lucia

Mon, 24 June 2024 – C1 v D2, St. Vincent

Wed, 26 June 2024 – Semi 1, Guyana

Thur, 27 June 2024 – Semi 2, Trinidad

Sat, 29 June 2024 – Final, Barbados

by Abhishek Shukla

ICC Awards 2023: Final nominees revealed for Sobers, Heyhoe Flint and Test Awards

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today revealed the final group of outstanding performers shortlisted in three ICC Awards 2023 categories; the ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year, the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year and the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year.

The reveal of the final set of categories means that global cricket fans can now vote for their favourite cricketers from 2023 in nine ICC Awards categories.

The nominees for the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy see Australia and India share two candidates each after a year in which they met in both the ICC World Test Championship Final and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Final.

Pat Cummins lifted the silverware on both of those occasions, and the Australia skipper is nominated in the top men’s category following a landmark year. Cummins, a former ICC Test Cricketer of the Year (2019), hit new heights in 2023, showcasing outstanding captaincy skills and also dazzling with ball in hand, taking 59 wickets in Tests and ODIs. 

Travis Head also enjoyed a momentous year as one of the primary architects of Australia’s trophy-winning success. Head became the player for the big occasion in 2023, starring with the bat in both Finals to claim the Player of the Match award. The all-rounder amassed almost 1700 runs across formats during the year and claimed important wickets with the ball.

India icon Virat Kohli is in contention to win his third Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy after more notable run-scoring feats in 2023. Kohli eclipsed ICC Hall of Famer Sachin Tendulkar last year with a record-breaking 50th ODI century, and can also boast the Player of the Tournament award from CWC23 and 2048 international runs.

Ravindra Jadeja completes the lineup of nominees for the top men’s award following a year in which he took 66 wickets – more than any other player – and recorded 613 runs across formats, providing valuable contributions in India’s spin attack on their way to two Finals.

The shortlist for the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy features 2022 winner Nat Sciver-Brunt, after another year of dominance across formats in women’s international cricket. The England all-rounder took nine wickets and scored 894 runs in 2023, holding an impressive batting average of 45.50 in T20Is and 131.00 in ODIs.

Chamari Athapaththu is the only player nominated in three categories in the ICC Awards 2023 thanks to a standout year in the women’s game. The Sri Lanka skipper was in dazzling form for much of 2023, leading from the front as her side claimed landmark series victories and scoring 885 runs along the way in ODIs and T20Is.

Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner took more wickets than anyone else in women’s internationals in 2023, taking 58 wickets in Tests, ODIs and T20Is. Beyond the statistics, Gardner also won the Player of the Tournament award at the record-breaking ICC Women’s T20 World Cup for her all-round brilliance, and became the first player to win back-to-back ICC Women’s Player of the Month prizes in June and July.

Her compatriot Beth Mooney also stands in contention for the top women’s award thanks to a memorable year in which she scored more runs than anyone else in women’s international cricket. Mooney registered 1040 runs in 2023, which included a match-winning 74 not out in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Final victory over hosts South Africa.

The ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year contenders include two heroes from Australia’s World Test Championship winning campaign.

Opener Usman Khawaja topped the run-scoring charts in the longest format last year, amassing 1210 runs at an average of 52.60 which included three centuries. As well as his crucial performances in Australia’s maiden WTC triumph, Khawaja was leading run-scorer in the high octane Ashes series in June and July.

Also nominated is Travis Head, the all-rounder recording 919 runs in the longest format at an average of 41.77. The highlight of his Test year was undoubtedly his starring role in the WTC Final win over India hitting a memorable knock of 163 in the first innings at the Oval.

R Ashwin ended the year as the top ranked Test bowler in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s Bowler Rankings, taking 41 wickets at a striking average of 17.02 and recording the most five-wicket hauls of anyone in Tests in 2023 with four.

England’s Test resurgence continued in 2023, and Joe Root was at the forefront of England’s success. Root last claimed the Test Cricketer of the Year award back in 2021, and this time around he registered 787 runs in eight Tests, finishing the year with a strong average of 65.58.

More information about each of the nominees can be found here.

Fans are now able to vote for their favourite players in selected ICC Awards categories here.

Shortlists have revealed in nine ICC Awards 2023 categories, and have been determined by a specialist panel of cricket writers and broadcasters, who selected the nominees according to on-field performances and overall achievements in international cricket through the calendar year.

Fan voting results will be combined with selections made by the ICC Voting Academy to identify the winner in each of the shortlisted categories.

Other categories which will be celebrated in the ICC Awards 2023 include the ICC Men’s and Women’s Associate Cricketers of the Year, the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award and the ICC Umpire of the Year, making a total of 13 prizes.

In addition to the individual awards, five ICC Teams of the Year will be also decided by the ICC Voting Academy, identifying the standout XIs across men’s and women’s international cricket in 2023.

Winners of the ICC Awards 2023 will be announced later in January 2024.

ICC Awards 2023 – Shortlists

Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year; Pat Cummins (Australia), Travis Head (Australia), Ravindra Jadeja (India), Virat Kohli (India)

Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year; Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka), Ashleigh Gardner (Australia), Beth Mooney (Australia), Nat Sciver-Brunt (England)

ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year; R Ashwin (India), Travis Head (Australia), Usman Khawaja (Australia), Joe Root (England)

ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year; Shubman Gill (India), Virat Kohli (India), Daryl Mitchell (New Zealand), Mohammed Shami (India)

ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year; Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka), Ashleigh Gardner (Australia), Amelia Kerr (New Zealand), Nat Sciver-Brunt (England)

ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year; Mark Chapman (New Zealand), Alpesh Ramjani (Uganda), Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe), Suryakumar Yadav (India)

ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year; Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka), Sophie Ecclestone (England), Hayley Matthews (West Indies), Ellyse Perry (Australia)

ICC Emerging Men’s Cricketer of the Year; Gerald Coetzee (South Africa), Yashasvi Jaiswal (India), Dilshan Madushanka (Sri Lanka), Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand)

ICC Emerging Women’s Cricketer of the Year; Marufa Akter (Bangladesh), Lauren Bell (England), Darcey Carter (Scotland), Phoebe Litchfield (Australia)

by Abhishek Shukla

DP World ILT20 introduces Super-Sub and Wildcard for Season 2

Dubai, 5 January 2024: The DP World International League T2o has introduced the Super-Sub and Wildcard for Season 2. The UAE’s biggest T20 tournament commences on Friday, 19 January with a clash between defending champions Gulf Giants and Sharjah Warriors at the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

The two new features are set to add even more excitement for the fans with the six tournament franchises required to put on their thinking cap while putting together their strategies for both the composition of their final tournament squads through the Wildcard as well as their playing elevens and Super-Sub nominations during the 34-match tournament.

Super-Sub – DP World ILT20 Season 2:
Each team will have an option to substitute one player at any stage of the match after completion of the first over of the innings. If desired by the team, Super-Sub can be introduced right from the start of the second innings. A player once substituted cannot participate in the remaining part of the match.

The Head Coach shall nominate the Super-Sub to the fourth umpire and the on-field umpire will signal the scorers (wrists crossed above the head) indicating that the Super-Sub is being introduced.

The Super-Sub can be introduced after the start of the match or after completion of an over or in case of a batter, at the fall of the wicket or the batter retiring at any time during the over. The bowling team may also utilise a Super-Sub at the fall of a wicket, but that Super-Sub will not be permitted to bowl the remaining balls in that over if the wicket has fallen mid over.

Wildcard – DP World ILT20 Season 2:
Each franchise is permitted to add up to two additional players to its squad, beyond the original limit of 22 players. This is an option and not mandatory. If franchises have already reached the maximum $2.5m salary spend, they will be permitted to spend a maximum of 10% of the salary cap which is $250,000 on Wildcard players.

If teams still have some room within the original maximum $2.5m salary spend, they will be able to spend that remaining amount and if required, a further amount up to $250,000  while remaining within the Wildcard player spend.

Wildcard players may come into DP World ILT20 at any stage during the season. Wildcard players will not be eligible to be replaced by further replacement or Wildcard players.

DP World ILT20 CEO David White: “We are excited to introduce the Super-Sub and Wildcard in the DP World ILT20 Season 2. The Wildcard will help the teams further strengthen their squads in the lead-up and during the season while the Super-Sub provides the teams, the tactical option of replacing a player during a match.
“The DP World ILT20 saw some thrilling on-field action in Season 1, the two new Season 2 features are set to make the tournament even more interesting and engaging for both the spectators at the stadiums and viewers from around the world.”

by Abhishek Shukla

ICC Awards 2023: Top ODI performers celebrated as more shortlists revealed

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today revealed the second batch of shortlists in the ICC Awards 2023, highlighting the best individual performers in men’s and women’s ODI cricket from the past year.

A trio of Indian stars feature among the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year nominees. Shubman Gill spent a lengthy time atop the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI batter rankings in 2023, scoring an impressive 1584 runs during the calendar year and picking up two ICC Men’s Player of the Month Awards along the way.

Competing alongside Gill for the ODI honours is fellow countryman Virat Kohli, fresh from his Player of the Tournament spell at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. Kohli, who is a two-time Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy winner and three-time Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year, scored six ODI centuries in the twelve-month period – more than any other player.

Strike bowler Mohammed Shami also features, having taken the third most ODI wickets during the year (43), and after producing an array of scintillating displays during CWC23 in which he was top wicket-taker. Completing the shortlist is New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell, who also enjoyed a stellar year with the bat, recording 1204 runs and posting five centuries for the Blackcaps in 2023.

The ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year category is littered with top all-rounders, with Nat Sciver-Brunt in contention to claim back-to-back honours. Last year, the England star scooped the top two awards, and 2023 was equally prolific, as she hit three centuries in ODI outings and ended the year averaging 131 with the bat. She is joined on the shortlist by Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu, who scored freely atop the order, ending the year with a startling strike rate of 125.37 in ODI cricket.

Ashleigh Gardner won an unprecedented three ICC Women’s Player of the Month awards during the calendar year, including successive awards in June and July. As well as scoring valuable runs in the middle order in 50-over cricket, she took more wickets than anyone else (24). The final contender is New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr, nominated for the second year running for her ODI exploits, ending 2023 as the top run-scorer in the format with 541 runs at 67.62, in addition to eight wickets with the ball.

More information about each of the nominees can be found here.

Fans are now able to vote for their favourite ODI, T20I and Emerging players here, with the final categories unlocked as the last group of nominees are revealed by the ICC tomorrow.

Shortlists are being revealed in nine ICC Awards 2023 categories between 3 and 5 January, and have been determined by a specialist panel of cricket writers and broadcasters, who selected the nominees according to on-field performances and overall achievements in international cricket through the calendar year.

Fan voting results will be combined with selections made by the ICC Voting Academy to identify the winner in each of the shortlisted categories.

Other categories which will be celebrated in the ICC Awards 2023 include the ICC Men’s and Women’s Associate Cricketers of the Year, the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award, and the ICC Umpire of the Year, making a total of 13 prizes.

In addition to the individual awards, five ICC Teams of the Year will be also decided by the ICC Voting Academy, identifying the standout XIs across men’s and women’s international cricket in 2023.

Winners of the ICC Awards 2023 will be announced later in January 2024.

ICC Awards 2023 – the shortlists revealed to date

ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year; Shubman Gill (India), Virat Kohli (India), Daryl Mitchell (New Zealand), Mohammed Shami (India)

ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year; Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka), Ashleigh Gardner (Australia), Amelia Kerr (New Zealand), Nat Sciver-Brunt (England)

ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year; Mark Chapman (New Zealand), Alpesh Ramjani (Uganda), Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe), Suryakumar Yadav (India)

ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year; Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka), Sophie Ecclestone (England), Hayley Matthews (West Indies), Ellyse Perry (Australia)

ICC Emerging Men’s Cricketer of the Year; Gerald Coetzee (South Africa), Yashasvi Jaiswal (India), Dilshan Madushanka (Sri Lanka), Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand)

ICC Emerging Women’s Cricketer of the Year; Marufa Akter (Bangladesh), Lauren Bell (England), Darcey Carter (Scotland), Phoebe Litchfield (Australia)

by Abhishek Shukla

India Tops WTC25 Standings After Historic Win in Cape Town

India’s cricket team has soared to the top of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC25) standings, following a remarkable seven-wicket victory against South Africa in Cape Town. This win, not only crucial in terms of points but also historic in its nature, has propelled India to the forefront in the ongoing WTC cycle.

The series between India and South Africa, which ended in a 1-1 draw, saw a dramatic shift in the WTC25 standings. South Africa, initially leading after their opening match win, saw their win percentage dip to 50% post the loss in Cape Town, aligning them with New Zealand, Australia, and Bangladesh.

India’s resurgence in the series was nothing short of spectacular. Trailing 1-0, they staged a stunning comeback on the first day of the second Test, dismissing South Africa for a meager 55 runs. However, India’s own batting lineup suffered a collapse, ending at 153 all out from a promising 153/4.

Despite the batting falter, India’s bowling attack, spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah’s five-wicket haul, shone in the second innings, restricting South Africa to 176. Aiden Markram’s exceptional century stood out for the hosts, preventing a complete debacle.

The current ICC World Test Championship standings, powered by MRF Tyres, are as follows:

POSTEAMPCT (%)PTSWLDPEN
1India54.1626211-2
2South Africa50.00121100
3New Zealand50.00121100
4Australia50.0042421-10
5Bangladesh50.00121100
6Pakistan45.8322220-2
7West Indies16.6740110
8England15.009221-19
9Sri Lanka0.0000200

India’s final chase of 79 runs in the Cape Town Test was brisk, completing it in just 12 overs, albeit losing three wickets. This Test also set a record for being the shortest completed Test in terms of balls bowled, a mere 642, surpassing a 92-year-old record.

With the WTC25 cycle still in its early stages, India looks forward to accumulating more points in their upcoming home Test series against England, comprising five matches beginning January 25. This series represents a significant opportunity for India to solidify its position at the top of the WTC25 standings.

by Abhishek Shukla

Bumrah’s Brilliance Leads India to Historic Win in Cape Town Test

In an exhilarating display of cricket, Jasprit Bumrah’s exceptional bowling led India to a monumental seven-wicket victory against South Africa on the second day of the second Test in Cape Town. This win not only leveled the two-match series at 1-1 but also marked India’s first Test triumph at Newlands after six unsuccessful attempts.

The day began with South Africa resuming their innings at 62 for 3. However, they faced an immediate setback as David Bedingham, attempting an ambitious drive against Bumrah, edged the ball to the wicketkeeper. The South African batting lineup continued to crumble under pressure, with Kyle Verreynne and Keshav Maharaj falling prey to Bumrah’s bowling prowess, bringing the score to a worrying 111 for 7.

Amidst this collapse, Aiden Markram emerged as a beacon of resilience for South Africa. Exhibiting remarkable skill on a challenging pitch, Markram played a series of stunning shots, scoring 47 of his 106 runs in the arc between backward point and extra cover. His spectacular innings included two sixes and two fours off Prasidh Krishna in a single over. Markram’s century, a rare feat where no other teammate crossed 20 in either innings, was the highlight of South Africa’s batting. However, his effort ended in vain as Mohammed Siraj, who previously recorded an impressive 6 for 15 in the first innings, eventually dismissed him.

Following Markram’s dismissal, South Africa’s innings quickly concluded at 176, setting a modest target of 79 runs for India.

India’s chase was brisk and aggressive, with openers Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal putting up a quick 44 runs. Despite losing Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli in quick succession, India comfortably reached the target, thanks to Shreyas Iyer’s winning boundary.

This match, lasting just 107 overs, became the shortest Test to yield a result, emphasizing the dominance of the bowlers, particularly Bumrah and Siraj. Siraj’s remarkable performance in the first innings earned him the Player of the Match award.

The Test also marked the end of Dean Elgar’s captaincy tenure, leaving him and his team to reflect on their performance. For India, this victory in Cape Town is not just a win but a statement of their growing prowess in international cricket.

by Abhishek Shukla

DP World ILT20 Season 2: Enticing activities awaits cricket buffs ahead of ILT20 Season 2

Dubai, 4 January 2024: With just a fortnight left for the start of Gulf region’s most-awaited cricket leagues – the DP World International League T20 Season 2, there is plenty of fanfare planned in the days leading up to the grand opening night scheduled on 19th January in Sharjah. The upcoming season promises to be a blockbuster with star-studded action-packed matches while there will also be plenty of entertainment on the side-lines of the month-long league creating a memorable experience for fans and their families traveling from across the globe for the event.

Starting with the Big Balloon – Meet & Greet event from 5 to 7 January at the Al Majaz Park, Sharjah where organisers are taking the excitement a notch above by facilitating exclusive Meet & Greet with one of the super legends taking part in the ILT20. Adding to the buzz, the iconic DP World ILT20 trophy will also be on display, allowing fans and park-goers to seize the moment with memorable pics. The cricket turf, which has been set up over the past few weeks, has drawn over 2000 cricket enthusiasts. Here, fans can also pick up their favourite ILT20 merchandise.   

From 7 January to 14 January, the iconic Global Village which averages a daily footfall of 40,000 to 50,000, will be abuzz with visitors who can partake in exciting games to secure match tickets and also win exclusive merchandise. The collaboration with Global Village promises exposure to a diverse global audience, magnified through their extensive social media channels.

Community engagement being at the heart of this season’s DP World ILT20, ticketing partner Virgin will set up activation zones in four strategic outlets in cities where the League will be held – Dubai Mall, Mall of Emirates, Zahia Mall in Sharjah, and Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi. The events in these iconic malls will feature trophy display, Meet & Greet sessions with Super Legends and players, influencer and RJ promotions, lucky draws, merchandise giveaways and in-store display across all 14 Virgin Megastores.

While these enticing fan engagement activations across UAE will set the tone of the DP World ILT20 Season 2, the efforts to groom and identify talented young players continues with the Development Tournaments for Schools spanning across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai and Sharjah. With over 600 players from 30 schools vying for honours, the program’s impact is widespread. The final round is set to take place at the ICC Academy Ovals in Dubai from 4 January to 14 January 2024.

Following the start of the Season 2 which will feature Australia’s World Cup hero David Warner, Andre Russell, David Willey, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Alex Hales, Shimron Hetmyer, Chris Jordan, Trent Boult, Nicholas Pooran, Chris Woakes and Maheesh Theekshana among other legendary players, all weekends starting 19th January will host Fan Carnivals at the respective venues for spectators ensuring they have an experience of a lifetime.

More than 100 international and 24 UAE players will feature in the tournament.
The DP World ILT20 will be a memorable occasion for all, the tournament final will be staged at the iconic ‘Ring of Fire’ Dubai International Stadium on Saturday, 17 February. 

by Abhishek Shukla

ICC Awards 2023: First set of nominees announced, unveiling T20I and Emerging contenders

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced the first four shortlists in the ICC Awards 2023, highlighting the outstanding performers in contention for the Men’s and Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year Awards, and the Emerging Men’s and Women’s Cricketer of the Year Awards.

A thrilling year of competition in the shortest format sees eight different nations among the nominations for the T20I categories, highlighting the vast spread of talent across the global game.

In the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year category, India’s Suryakumar Yadav stands in contention to win his second successive prize, after being crowned in the same category back in 2022. This year, the top-ranked T20I batter lines up against New Zealand’s Mark Chapman, Uganda’s Alpesh Ramjani and Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza, after all enjoyed landmark years in the shortest format.

The ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year shortlist honours some of the biggest names in the women’s game. Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu was in sparkling form throughout the year, and is joined by England spin maestro Sophie Ecclestone, West Indies’ all-round icon Hayley Matthews, and the evergreen Ellyse Perry, a former two-time winner of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year (2019 and 2017).

Elsewhere, a wealth of exciting new talent emerged onto the world stage in 2023, providing us with memorable performances in pinnacle events such as last year’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.

The ICC Emerging Women’s Cricketer of the Year category features four stellar up-and-coming talents in women’s cricket. Bangladesh’s Marufa Akter, England’s Lauren Bell, Scotland’s Darcey Carter and Australia’s Phoebe Litchfield are named as the four leading contenders for the crown after they enjoyed remarkable form in 2023.

Also revealed today is the shortlist for the ICC Emerging Men’s Cricketer of the Year – a hugely competitive field which boasts four ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup prodigies. Gerald Coetzee will aim to emulate last year’s winner, fellow Protea Marco Jansen to claim the 2023 award, where he comes up against India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sri Lanka’s Dilshan Madushanka and New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra.

More information about each of the nominees can be found in the news section of the ICC website.

Fans are now able to vote for their favourite T20I and Emerging players at www.icc-cricket.com, with other categories unlocked as further nominees are revealed by the ICC over the next two days.

Shortlists are being revealed in nine ICC Awards 2023 categories between 3 and 5 January, and have been determined by a specialist panel of cricket writers and broadcasters, who selected the nominees according to on-field performances and overall achievements in international cricket through the calendar year.

Fan voting results will be combined with selections made by the ICC Voting Academy to identify the winner in each of the shortlisted categories.

Other categories which will be celebrated in the ICC Awards 2023 include the ICC Men’s and Women’s Associate Cricketers of the Year, the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award, and the ICC Umpire of the Year, making a total of 13 prizes.

In addition to the individual awards, five ICC Teams of the Year will be also decided by the ICC Voting Academy, identifying the standout XIs across men’s and women’s international cricket in 2023.

Winners of the ICC Awards 2023 will be announced later in January 2024.

ICC Awards 2023 – the shortlists revealed to date

ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year; Mark Chapman (New Zealand), Alpesh Ramjani (Uganda), Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe), Suryakumar Yadav (India)

ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year; Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka), Sophie Ecclestone (England), Hayley Matthews (West Indies), Ellyse Perry (Australia)

ICC Emerging Men’s Cricketer of the Year; Gerald Coetzee (South Africa), Yashasvi Jaiswal (India), Dilshan Madushanka (Sri Lanka), Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand)

ICC Emerging Women’s Cricketer of the Year; Marufa Akter (Bangladesh), Lauren Bell (England), Darcey Carter (Scotland), Phoebe Litchfield (Australia)

by Abhishek Shukla

Kohli back in top 10 of MRF Tyres ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings

Former India captain Virat Kohli has returned to the top 10 of the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings while South Africa opener Dean Elgar has made a huge jump after his Player of the Match effort in the first Test of the two-match ICC World Test Championship series in Centurion, which the home side won by an innings and 32 runs to take a 1-0 lead.

Kohli, a formerly top-ranked batter who dropped out of the top 10 in mid-2022, has advanced four slots to ninth position after scores of 38 and 76 but is 103 ratings points adrift of top-ranked Kane Williamson of New Zealand (864 points). Joe Root is a close second in the list at 859 while Steve Smith is third with 820 rating points.

Left-hander Elgar’s knock of 185 has lifted him 19 places to 17th position as he leads the team in the second Test in Cape Town, which will be his last international match as he has announced his retirement after the series.

Others to gain after their performances in the first Test are first innings centurion KL Rahul (up 11 places to 51st) of India and Marco Jansen of South Africa, who has advanced in all three lists. Jansen, who scored 84 not out and finished with four wickets in the match, has progressed 13 places to 72nd among batters, is up three places to 22nd among bowlers and jumped from 13th to fifth in the list of all-rounders.

In the latest weekly update that also considers performances in the second Test between Australia and Pakistan, Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne has inched up one slot to seventh after notching a half-century in the first innings while Alex Carey (up four places to 41st) and Mitchel Marsh (up 16 places to 52nd) have also gained.

Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel (up one place to 13th), Abdullah Shafique (up three places to 21st) and Mohammed Rizwan (up four places to 27th) are the Pakistan batters to advance after the Melbourne Test, which Australia won by 79 runs to go 2-0 up in the three-Test series.

by Abhishek Shukla

ICC Awards 2023 nominees set to be revealed this week ahead of global vote

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced the upcoming programme for the ICC Awards 2023, which will celebrate the standout performers in international cricket following another blockbuster year of action.

2023 saw no shortage of memorable moments and performances, including the breathless action that epitomised the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, the dramatic conclusion of the ICC World Test Championship, the record-breaking ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, and a host of other international competitions.

A total of 13 categories will comprise the ICC Awards 2023, honouring the outstanding individual performers across the specific formats of men’s and women’s international cricket, as well as the best overall performers who will receive the coveted Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year and the iconic Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year.

Shortlists for nine of the 13 categories will be revealed between 3 and 5 January 2024 on ICC official channels, with each shortlist featuring four names.

Shortlist Announcements

3 January sees the shortlists for ICC Emerging Men’s and Women’s Cricketers of the Year revealed along with the Men’s and Women’s T20I Cricketers of the Year.

4 January sees nominees announced for the Men’s and Women’s ODI Cricketers of the Year.

5 January will see the final set of shortlists revealed; the ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year, the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year and the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year.

Shortlists for these categories have been determined by a specialist panel of cricket writers and broadcasters, who identified the star performers according to on-field performances and overall achievements in international cricket through the calendar year.

Voting

Individual winners in the ICC Awards 2023 will be determined by a larger panel of global media representatives, the ICC Voting Academy and global cricket fans, who will be able to vote for their top performers on the ICC website from 3 January 2024.

Results of the ICC Voting Academy selections and the fans’ vote will be combined to determine the winner in each of these nine categories.

Other categories which will be celebrated in the ICC Awards 2023 include the ICC Men’s and Women’s Associate Cricketers of the Year (determined solely by the Voting Academy), the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award, and the ICC Umpire of the Year, making a total of 13 prizes.

In addition to the individual awards, five ICC Teams of the Year will be also decided by the ICC Voting Academy, identifying the standout XIs from the international stage in men’s and women’s cricket.

Following the conclusion of the voting period, winners of the ICC Awards 2023 will be announced later in January 2024.

ICC Awards 2023 – full list of award categories:

  1. Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year
  2. Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year
  3. ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year
  4. ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year
  5. ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year
  6. ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year
  7. ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year
  8. ICC Emerging Men’s Cricketer of the Year
  9. ICC Emerging Women’s Cricketer of the Year
  10. ICC Men’s Associate Cricketer of the Year
  11. ICC Women’s Associate Cricketer of the Year
  12. ICC Spirit of Cricket Award
  13. ICC Umpire of the Year
by Abhishek Shukla

Cricket Asutralia Announces Best Test XI of 2023

In a remarkable year of Test cricket, cricket.com.au has unveiled its Best Test XI for 2023, showcasing the standout performers in the format. The team, led by Australia’s World Test Championship (WTC) Final-winning captain, is a blend of seasoned veterans and rising stars, each making significant impacts throughout the year.

  1. Usman Khawaja (Australia): Dominating the field, Khawaja notched up 1,210 runs at an average of 52.60, including three centuries. His performance at Edgbaston was pivotal in Australia’s famous victory.
  2. Dimuth Karunaratne (Sri Lanka): A consistent opener, Karunaratne scored 608 runs at an average of 60.80. His ability to withstand the new ball in every innings played a crucial role in his selection.
  3. Kane Williamson (New Zealand): Despite injuries, Williamson’s 696 runs at 57.91, including four centuries, showcased his class. His performances were instrumental in New Zealand’s Tests, especially against England and Sri Lanka.
  4. Joe Root (England): Root continued his prolific form, scoring 787 runs at an average of 65.58. His adaptability and increased scoring rate were evident, marking a significant evolution in his batting approach.
  5. Harry Brook (England): The young English batsman made a mark with 701 runs at 53.92. His aggressive batting, especially against New Zealand and in the Ashes, has made him one of the most feared bats in Test cricket.
  6. Lorcan Tucker (wk) (Ireland): Tucker emerged as a bright talent, scoring a century on Test debut and aggregating 351 runs. His selection as wicketkeeper highlights his impressive performances despite limited first-class cricket experience.
  7. Ravindra Jadeja (India): Jadeja’s all-round capabilities shone through with 281 runs and 33 wickets. His performances against Australia and in the WTC final were particularly noteworthy.
  8. Ravichandran Ashwin (India): Ashwin’s 41 wickets at 17.10, along with key batting contributions, earned him a spot. His performances were crucial in India’s series wins and almost earned them the WTC final.
  9. Pat Cummins (c) (Australia): Leading Australia to its maiden WTC win, Cummins’ 42 wickets at 27.50 were crucial. His leadership and bowling, especially in the Ashes, were standout features of his game.
  10. Kagiso Rabada (South Africa): Rabada’s 20 wickets at an average of 17.10 made him the most efficient fast bowler of 2023. His performance was central to South Africa’s success, particularly against India.
  11. Stuart Broad (England): Broad’s 38 wickets at 26.28 in his final year before retirement illustrated his enduring skill and effectiveness, particularly in the Ashes series against Australia.

This lineup represents a blend of exceptional talent, adaptability, and consistent performance in Test cricket for the year 2023.

by Abhishek Shukla

India penalised for slow over-rate in Centurion Test

India have been fined 10 per cent of their match fee and penalised two ICC World Test Championship points for maintaining a slow over-rate against South Africa in the first Test in Centurion.

Chris Broad of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction after India were ruled to be two overs short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration.

In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined five per cent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time.

In addition, as per Article 16.11.2 of the ICC World Test Championship playing conditions, a side is penalised one point for each over short. Consequently, two World Test Championship points have been deducted from India’s points total.

India captain Rohit Sharma pled guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing.

On-field umpires Paul Reiffel and Langton Rusere, third umpire Ahsan Raza and fourth umpire Stephen Harris leveled the charge.

by Abhishek Shukla

“DP World ILT20 was my first taste of cricket with world-class players,” says UAE left-arm pacer Muhammad Jawadullah

Dubai, 29th December 2023: From time to time, we come across stories of seemingly unheard talents popping up and rising up the ranks to catch everyone’s attention. Muhammad Jawadullah, who was a regular in tennis ball cricket, was an unknown entity in the professional cricket circuit until he took part in a nation-wide talent hunt for bowlers in April 2022 organized under the watchful eyes of Robin Singh, the coach of the UAE national cricket team at that point in time.

Rest is history, as he went on to debut for the UAE national team in both ODI’s and T20I’s in 2023 and he credits his exposure in the DP World International League T20 for propelling his career. “I went into the first edition of the DP World ILT20 without any experience. Once I got to play more and more games, it not only helped me build my confidence but the exposure even helped me in getting my first international cap for UAE in both ODI and T20I for the UAE. The learning process hasn’t stopped. I’m looking to get better with every passing day,” he said.

The 24-year-old left arm quick spoke about his first time on such a big stage with a great deal of delight. “The DP World ILT20 is a very big tournament and I was indeed fortunate to have been included in the Sharjah Warriors squad for the first edition. This was my first taste of cricket with world-class players. The feeling was surreal and will stay with me for life,” he said.

For the Season 2 of Gulf region’s biggest T20 League scheduled to begin on 19 January, Muhammad Jawadullah has been retained by the Sharjah Warriors. He was part of the same franchise in the inaugural edition of the tournament where they finished fifth and will look to help the team better their performance in the forthcoming edition.

Muhammad Jawadullah maintains that the DP World International League T20 is a massive platform to take off from. He said, “This is one of the best leagues going around and it is a ginormous opportunity for all the UAE players to leave a mark. A good tournament here can propel one’s career to the next level.”

Emphasizing his goals for the upcoming edition, Jawadullah said, “I obviously would love it if we can go on to win the tournament. At the same time, I would like to learn whatever I can from the senior players as well as all the international players coming in to play the league that can help me improve my game,” he said. “I’d also like to learn about the execution of out swing deliveries, slower balls and yorkers from the widely experienced cricketers whom I’ll be playing with,” he concluded.

The Sharjah Warriors boasts of world class players like Chris Woakes, Maheesh Theekshana, Daniel Sams and Johnson Charles while the Season 2 of DP World ILT20 will feature Australia’s World Cup hero David Warner, Andre Russell, David Willey, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Alex Hales, Shimron Hetmyer, Chris Jordan, Trent Boult, Nicholas Pooran among others. More than 100 international and 24 UAE players will feature in the tournament.

The DP World ILT20 will be a memorable occasion for all, the tournament final will be staged at the iconic ‘Ring of Fire’ Dubai International Stadium on Saturday, 17 February. 

by Abhishek Shukla

Team Environment Key For Success Says Sanchit Sharma as Adani Sportsline owned Gulf Giants Gears Up to Defend ILT20 Crown

Young UAE pacer Sanchit Sharma was a key player for the Adani Sportsline-owned Gulf Giants, who went on to win the inaugural edition of the International League T20 in 2022, under the coaching of Zimbabwean legend Andy Flower. He took seven wickets in nine matches and was integral to the side during the run in to the trophy.

The Adani Sportsline-owned Giants were brilliant in the inaugural season of the ILT20 and secured the trophy with a tough fight. Sharing his thoughts on what took them the distance, Sanchit said, “When I got selected for the Gulf Giants, all my fellow UAE teammates, all the players that got selected from UAE, and everyone agreed that for us to even qualify for the eliminators, let alone winning the tournament, looked tough.

“But, in terms of the environment, we have the best environment. Players understood each other very well, and their capabilities, which led us to the title,” he added.

However, this victory and the career that Sanchit has had till now was almost not meant to be. He met with an accident just before Diwali in 2021, but his resilience, and the help of the doctors, revived his fledgling career. “I can still remember it was two years ago on the eve of Diwali. I had instructions from home ‘Please don’t go on a festival day’, mom was insisting. I told her, ‘I’ll just go for a couple of hours, I’ll train and come back’. Just as I was about to reach the training centre when the accident happened. I was hurt pretty badly.”
 
“I just got into the UAE men’s side, and I thought everything would go away. And that’s when I thought, ‘You got to be stronger mentally.’ It took me four or five months to get off my bed. God gave me a second chance, I always tell this to myself,” he recalled.
 
Now having been retained by the Adani Sportsline-owned Gulf Giants, Sanchit revealed the reason behind his team’s form and what makes them tick. “The management is brilliant with us. Maybe that’s what has led to the environment to be nice. Coming in, I’ve always seen all these players on TV and always wanted to play against them. I had this feeling that I wouldn’t get any better with them because they’re big stars. But then the way they welcomed all the UAE players, that is what I meant by the environment is very good.”

“We have the best environment, which is very important for any team,” added Sanchit. “That is what will help us hopefully win the title again. And being a T20 bowler, the pitches are a lot flatter comparatively. We just need to level up our games. We just have to get on with our game and try to make the most of whatever opportunities we get,” concluded the young pace icon.
by Abhishek Shukla

Biggest Cricket World Cup ever smashes Broadcast and Digital records

The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 hosted in India smashed broadcast and digital records across the world, making it the biggest World Cup ever.

The event, which saw Australia crowned champions for the sixth time, registered a record 1 trillion global live viewing minutes of broadcast, which included new technological innovations such as the vertical video feed, providing fans with an easier and more intuitive viewing experience on their mobile devices.

The global live viewing hours were an increase of 38% from the last edition of the tournament held in the Indian sub-continent, in 2011, and by 17% compared to 2019 when it was held in the United Kingdom.

The final between India and Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the biggest cricket stadium in the world, became the most watched ICC match ever. There were 87.6 billion live viewing minutes globally, representing a 46% growth compared with the 2011 final that featured co-hosts India and Sri Lanka.

The event was carried by a total of 20 broadcast partners across 209 territories. For the first time, Hindi coverage was made available outside India by ESPN+, Fox Sports, Sky Sports and Willow TV.

ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice said: “We are delighted to announce the record-breaking viewership and engagement numbers for the Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, making it the biggest World Cup ever. The incredible numbers continue to show the increased appetite for ICC events across the world and the consumption of innovative and engaging content that fans can enjoy.”

The viewership numbers are staggering across territories, most notably in host country India, where it became the most watched Cricket World Cup ever, with 422 billion viewing minutes on the Disney Star Network alone, resulting in a whopping 54% increase from 2011 and a significant 9% rise from 2019.

The tournament was the most broadcast in India, about five times more hours of coverage compared to 2011, thanks to the 22 channels that showcased the tournament across nine different languages (English, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada & Malayalam).

The female viewership share rose from 32% for the 2011 edition of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup to 34% this year, reflecting the universal excitement surrounding the country’s home tournament. The final between the hosts and Australia became the most watched Men’s Cricket World Cup match ever with a peak TV audience of 130 million, with a total of 300 million people watching it on the Disney Star network on linear alone in India.

The 2023 edition was also the most broadcast tournament in the United Kingdom and Australia that saw huge jumps in viewership compared to 2011 when it was played in the same time zone.

The UK saw 800 hours of live coverage and 5.86 billion minutes (of live viewing compared to 4.74 billion minutes) in 2011, a 24% increase. In Australia, there were 602 hours of live coverage with 3.79 billion minutes of live viewing, 92% more than the 1.98 billion minutes recorded in 2011.

Coupled with Australia’s success, this led to significant increase in overall audience with 9.1 million people watching India 2023 compared to the 2019 edition in England and Wales which saw 6.1 million tune in.

Pakistan saw record viewership with 237.10 billion viewing minutes of live viewing. The corresponding figures were 230.49 billion minutes in 2019 and 220.63 billion minutes in 2011.

The 2023 edition was the most shown World Cup in South Africa and saw a 32% increase in viewership from 2019 with 5.01 billion minutes of live coverage watched.

Similar was the case in the United States, where 395 hours of live coverage made it the most broadcast Cricket World Cup, the coverage hours rising 14% from 2019. The final was the most watched match with 48 million live viewing minutes, 47% more than the second most watched (India vs Pakistan). Nine of the 10 most watched games in the US featured India.

The decision to make coverage freely available for mobile users via Disney+ Hotstar in India led to a whopping 295 million LIVE Tournament viewers tuning in. Across the event, there were five world records broken on Disney+ Hotstar for digital peak concurrency, with the final attracting cricket’s highest concurrent audience ever, having already made history at four other 2023 World Cup matches, demonstrating the appeal of cricket and the excitement the ODI format continues to offer:

  1. India vs Australia (Final) – 59 million peak concurrent viewers
  2. India v New Zealand (Semi-Final) – 53 million peak concurrent viewers
  3. India v South Africa – 44 million peak concurrent viewers
  4. India v New Zealand (Group match) – 43 million peak concurrent viewers
  5. India v Pakistan – 35 million peak concurrent viewers

More records were broken on ICC platforms, with this World Cup becoming the most digitally engaged ever with an astonishing 16.9 billion video views, an 158% increase from the previous record set at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. Engagements on ICC social channels also saw a massive increase with a record 1.23 billion, an increase of 142% from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 and 155% from 2019 edition in England and Wales.

These numbers reflected the ICC’s commitment to bring fans closer to the event no matter where they were in the world, whether it was showcasing India through the ‘It Takes One Day’ preview shows or going behind-the-scenes with teams after huge match wins like Australia’s victory in the final (19 million video plays on Instagram) or Afghanistan’s upset of Pakistan.

Having some fun and reimagining Glenn Maxwell’s cramp-afflicted heroics after his undefeated double-century against Afghanistan also had a major audience impact with 50 million video plays on Instagram. And host nation hero Virat Kohli’s Player of the Tournament feats created huge engagement, including a hug with his idol Sachin Tendulkar attracting 40 million video plays on Instagram after breaking his ODI centuries record (78 million video plays on Instagram) to his World Cup wicket with the ball (39 million video plays on Instagram).

The ICC’s partnership with Meta, which included the Meta Creator Squad India collaborating with players ahead of the event and the launch of the Meta Super 50 creators that shared their behind-the-scenes mobile view of matches through the tournament, also contributed to the various digital records broken and helped cricket reach new audience cohorts. Princy Parikh’s translation skit with Kane Willamson (128 million video plays on Instagram) was the most-watched piece of the entire event, which saw a total of 16.3 billion video plays across Meta channels (9.7 billion on Facebook and 6.6 billion on Instagram).

Web and app platforms set a record for users, with 97.5 million unique users for the event, a 29% increase from the 2019 edition. Page views on icc-cricket.com were also up to 704 million, totaling a 96% increase from a year ago at the Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia.

by Abhishek Shukla

Shubham Dubey: Vidarbha’s blue-eyed boy takes off on dream IPL journey

Nagpur, 27 December 2023: 220 runs, 7 innings, a monstrous strike rate of 185+ and a blazing 58 off 20 balls as an ‘Impact Player’ in Vidarbha’s highest-ever run-chase at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2023, Shubham Dubey’s timing to leave a lasting impression couldn’t have been better.

The left-handed middle-order batter had little idea that his life was about to take a drastic turn just one month later, at the IPL 2024 Auction. Delhi Capitals opened the bid for the 29-year-old uncapped player, whose base price was set at INR 20 lakh. The Royals soon joined them, and thus began the war of bids that went well beyond the realm of anyone’s imagination. Let alone that of an excited Shubham, who was watching all the action unfold right in front of his eyes. The Royals eventually had the final say, signing the hard-hitter up for a whopping INR 5.8 crore, knowing well and truly what the Nagpur-based cricketer brought to the table.

We caught up with Shubham for a quick, exclusive tête-à-tête soon after the auction madness and just in time before his phone got bus(ier).

Q. What was your first reaction when Rajasthan Royals bought you at the IPL 2024 auction? Where were you when it happened?
I had mixed feelings ahead of the auction because I had no idea which team would pick me. So that excitement was always there. On the day of the auction, I started with my usual practice. With the Ranji Trophy coming up, all my preparations are focused on that tournament. I had a good outing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy so I was confident about my chances. Honestly, I didn’t expect the bidding to be so high so that was a pleasant surprise. The way the bids kept shooting up one after the other was astonishing to watch. My parents were sitting right across from me in the room when this happened, so watching them get emotional was a priceless moment for me. I touched their feet immediately after and thanked god as well because, without their blessings, this wouldn’t have been possible. My brother and close friends were present with me at home, and they were all very happy for me.

Q. Tell us a bit about your journey. When did you first start playing cricket?
Just like thousands of other kids in the country, my cricket journey also started in typical fashion. When I was in school, I would play gully cricket in the neighbourhood, and watch the Indian cricket team on television. At that time, I would get very excited to watch the likes of Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag, etc. So I started playing locally with a few of my friends. I come from a very humble background, my family couldn’t afford to buy a full-fledged cricket kit but my father still managed to buy me one. Then one of my uncle’s friends suggested I should get enrolled in a club called ‘Advocate XI’ that trains talented young kids who can’t afford to pay fees for free.

It was there that I first saw Faiz Fazal, who was Nagpur’s Ranji Trophy captain at the time. His personality, the confidence he carried and the way everyone treated him with so much respect made me feel I wanted to reach that level too. He’s also a left-handed batter so I could relate to him even more. So I joined the club and started practising regularly and eventually got a chance to play matches at the club level. I would like to thank the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA), they gave me plenty of opportunities at the camps. One day, a coach asked me about my fees and I burst into tears because I couldn’t afford to pay it. He then started providing me with gloves, pads, etc. as I continued to play well and score runs. He also got me to play matches at the U-19 and U-23 levels, and then I went on to become the club captain. In my final year of U-23 cricket, coach Sudhir Wankhede gave me a chance to play in the Bapuna Cup and I scored some runs there. That was the moment I thanked him and decided that cricket was indeed what I wanted to pursue going forward. From then on, my hard work resulted in opportunities here and there, and I never looked back.

Q. Who was your inspiration growing up?
As a kid, I enjoyed watching cricket overall on television but I never thought I would become a cricketer. I loved watching Yuvraj Singh and the way he used to hit the big shots. I have also grown up playing a lot of tennis-ball cricket as back then, players would get paid to play in such competitions. I also like MS Dhoni and I know that he also played tennis-ball cricket in his early days before he took over Indian cricket.

Q. How did your family support your dream?
My parents have been incredibly supportive of my decision right from my childhood. They never forced me to do something else despite our struggling financial situation. My father is a modest man who took up odd jobs to support the family, right from operating a paan stall to working as a hotel manager, to even getting into real estate. My mom is very religious, even she didn’t stop me from chasing my dream. I would assure both of them that something good will come out of this and if I play well, it can also open up doors to employment as I had seen my friends getting jobs because of playing cricket.

Q. When was the first time you interacted with Rajasthan Royals? Any particular moment you remember?
A chance visit to the Royals’ High-Performance Centre in Talegaon (Nagpur) with a friend just after the pandemic led me to meet Romi sir (Romi Bhinder, Team Manager) and Zubin sir (Zubin Bharucha, Director of High Performance). When I went there, I saw Yashasvi Jaiswal practising in the nets and I was in awe of the facilities and the huge ground there. Cut to this year, I was there once again for the trials and that’s when Zubin sir took notice of my batting. He said to me, “You have the potential and the calibre, now we need to give it the finishing touches. It’s not just about playing in the IPL, but also beyond that and your ability to do that is clearly visible.”  

Q. Which teammate/coach are you looking forward to meeting in the IPL 2024 season?
Sanga (Kumar Sangakkara) sir for sure. I have followed his journey till his retirement and he is such a respected figure in the cricketing fraternity. He was also a lefty like me so just being around him will surely be a learning experience for me. I can’t wait to get going!

Q. What was the first thing that came to your mind after the auction? What is it that you want to do first?
There are a lot of people who have helped me reach this stage of my life. And I’ve found my biggest supporters in my family. My twin brother took care of the house financially without letting the pressure affect me, my parents were right behind me through thick and thin. Even on my worst days, when I was injured and out of action for a while, they encouraged me and kept me in a positive state of mind. I want to give them the comfort and happiness they deserve, so I wish to first buy a house for the family.

I’ve been fortunate to have friends who would always lend a helping hand, whether it was giving me a ride to the grounds when I had no other means of transport, or bowling to me day in, day out at the nets, or just introducing me to coaches, academies, from where I could carve my path. I would like to give back to them in whichever way possible to express my gratitude towards them.

Q. What is your favourite batting position?
I just want to win the match for my team, be it at any position. The fact that I am flexible in the batting order works well in my favour.

Q. What can fans expect from you in the upcoming IPL season?
The most important thing for me is to repay the franchise that has shown so much faith in me. And the only way to do it is through my performances so I’ll try my best to do that.

by Abhishek Shukla

Hoque, Kapp move up in MRF Tyres ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings

Bangladesh opener Fargana Hoque and South Africa’s new-ball bowler Marizanne Kapp have made notable gains in the MRF Tyres ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings after their ICC Women’s Championship series which South Africa won 2-1.

Hoque, who scored 102 in the second match in Potchefstroom, has advanced two slots to a career-best 13th position while Kapp has inched up one place to eighth after returning identical figures of two for 21 in the second and third matches of the series, which counted towards the latest weekly rankings update.

Sune Luus has progressed three slots to 22nd after scores of 47 not out and 34, Tazmin Brits is up 32 slots to 41st after scores of 50 and 118, while Anneke Bosch has jumped 71 places to 70th following a match-winning 65 not out off 63 balls in the second match.

Nadine de Klerk (up four places to 19th) and Nonkululeko Mlaba (up six places to 24th) are the bowlers from the home side to move up the table.

For Bangladesh, leg-spinner Rabeya Khan has advanced four slots to 52nd while Ritu Moni has progressed in both lists – up eight places to 68th among batters and up four places to 90th among bowlers.

by Abhishek Shukla

India Weather Early Storm to Reach 208/8 on Day 1 of the 1st Test Against South Africa

In the opening day of the first Test against South Africa at the SuperSport Park Cricket Stadium in Gqeberha, India faced a challenging start but managed to post a respectable total of 208 for 8 at stumps.

The pitch at SuperSport Park, known for its pace and assistance to batsmen, set the stage for an exciting day of cricket. However, India’s batting lineup stumbled early on, with the top order failing to make significant contributions. Yashasvi Jaiswal (17), Rohit Sharma (5), and Shubman Gill (2) were dismissed cheaply, leaving India reeling at 24 for 3.

Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer attempted to stabilize the innings, with Kohli scoring an elegant 38 and Iyer contributing 31. However, Kagiso Rabada’s outstanding bowling, claiming 5 wickets for 44 runs, kept the pressure on the Indian batsmen.

KL Rahul emerged as the top scorer for India, showcasing resilience and skill to remain unbeaten on 70, bolstering India’s total. His knock was critical in steering India past the 200-run mark, despite losing partners at the other end.

South Africa’s debutant Nandre Burger also made an impact, taking 2 wickets for 50 runs. His early breakthroughs set the tone for South Africa’s bowling dominance throughout the day.

An unfortunate incident for South Africa was the injury to their captain, Temba Bavuma, who had to leave the field due to a hamstring strain. This could be a significant blow for the host team if Bavuma is unable to participate in the remainder of the Test.

India vs South Africa 1st Test, Day 1 – Brief Scoreboard

  • India 1st Innings: 208/8 (59 overs)
    • Yashasvi Jaiswal: 17 (37 balls)
    • Rohit Sharma (c): 5 (14 balls)
    • Shubman Gill: 2 (12 balls)
    • Virat Kohli: 38 (64 balls)
    • Shreyas Iyer: 31 (50 balls)
    • KL Rahul (wk): 70* (105 balls)
    • Ravichandran Ashwin: 8 (11 balls)
    • Shardul Thakur: 24 (33 balls)
    • Jasprit Bumrah: 1 (19 balls)
    • Mohammed Siraj: 0* (10 balls)
    • Prasidh Krishna: Did not bat
  • Fall of Wickets:
    • 13-1 (Rohit Sharma, 4.6 ov),
    • 23-2 (Yashasvi Jaiswal, 9.4 ov),
    • 24-3 (Shubman Gill, 11.1 ov),
    • 92-4 (Shreyas Iyer, 26.6 ov),
    • 107-5 (Virat Kohli, 30.6 ov),
    • 121-6 (Ravichandran Ashwin, 34.6 ov),
    • 164-7 (Shardul Thakur, 46.2 ov),
    • 191-8 (Jasprit Bumrah, 54.3 ov)
  • South Africa Bowling:
    • Kagiso Rabada: 17 overs, 3 maidens, 44 runs, 5 wickets
    • Marco Jansen: 15 overs, 1 maiden, 52 runs, 1 wicket
    • Nandre Burger: 15 overs, 4 maidens, 50 runs, 2 wickets
    • Gerald Coetzee: 12 overs, 1 maiden, 53 runs, 0 wickets
by Abhishek Shukla

Coca-Cola extends partnership with the International Cricket Council (ICC) for eight years

The International Cricket Council (ICC) and Coca-Cola are thrilled to announce an eight-year global partnership encompassing ICC World events across all three formats, up until the end of 2031. 

The official signing ceremony which took place at ICC’s Headquarters marked a historic milestone for the partnership and demonstrated Coca-Cola’s commitment to sports. This eight-year partnership as a Global Partner of the ICC, confirmed the collaboration as one of the longest ever associations formed by the ICC with a single brand, spanning a total timeline of 13 years (2019 – 2031). 

The relationship will see The Coca-Cola Company’s brands becoming exclusive non-alcoholic beverage partners. The agreement includes all men’s and women’s events at the pinnacle of the sport including the ICC Cricket World Cups, ICC T20 World Cups and ICC Champions Trophies through to the end of 2031. During the course of the partnership, there will be both a major international men’s and women’s event every year as well as a World Test Championship Final every two years.

ICC Chief Commercial Officer, Anurag Dahiya said: “I am thrilled to welcome back The Coca-Cola Company as an ICC Global Partner as we enter a landmark eight-year partnership, which unites one of the world’s leading brands with the second largest sport in the world. This long-term collaboration ushers in a new commercial era, filled with exciting prospects for the sport. With the Men’s T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies, and the Women’s edition in Bangladesh just around the corner, we’re poised for unprecedented global growth and engagement. This partnership not only celebrates our sport’s expansion but also promises innovative opportunities to enhance our fans’ experience worldwide.”

Bradford Ross, Vice President of Global Assets, Influencers, and Partnerships at The Coca-Cola Company, stated, “In alignment with our rich history of global sports partnerships, the collaboration with ICC reinforces our commitment to refreshing sports fans and elevating their entertainment experiences. Sports holds immense power to unite people, and this partnership provides us with a unique opportunity to blend our brand affinity with the fervor for the world’s cricketing game. We endeavor to continue to delight consumers with our diverse portfolio and create unique experiences for fans.” 

During the recent ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup India 2023, Thums Up and Limca Sportz were the exclusive beverage and sports drink partners, activating a host of online and offline fan engagement activations. Additionally, Sprite took center stage with its captivating ‘Thand rakh’ campaign, aimed at elevating and sustaining the enthusiasm of cricket fans throughout the biggest World Cup ever.

by Abhishek Shukla

India Women’s Cricket Team Ready for High-Octane Series Against Australia

Mumbai, India – In a significant development for women’s cricket, the Women’s Selection Committee has announced the Indian squads for the upcoming One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) series against Australia. Sponsored by IDFC First Bank, the tour includes three ODIs and three T20Is, promising a thrilling cricketing spectacle.

ODI Squad: A Blend of Experience and Youth

The ODI team, led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, boasts a mix of seasoned and emerging talents. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, along with key players like Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, and all-rounder Deepti Sharma, will be pivotal in India’s batting lineup. Yastika Bhatia and Richa Ghosh, as wicketkeepers, bring agility behind the stumps and in the batting order. The squad is further bolstered by promising talents like Amanjot Kaur, Shreyanka Patil, Mannat Kashyap, and others, ensuring a balanced side capable of challenging the formidable Australian team.

ODI Squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Richa Ghosh (wk), Amanjot Kaur, Shreyanka Patil, Mannat Kashyap, Saika Ishaque, Renuka Singh Thakur, Titas Sadhu, Pooja Vastrakar, Sneh Rana, Harleen Deol

T20I Squad: Agility and Power-Hitting on Display

The T20I squad, also captained by Harmanpreet, mirrors the ODI team in its core structure. Notable inclusions like Kanika Ahuja and Minnu Mani add to the squad’s depth, especially in the game’s shortest format, where agility and power-hitting are crucial. The team’s composition reflects a strategic mix, aiming to capitalize on the format’s dynamics.

T20I Squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Richa Ghosh (wk), Amanjot Kaur, Shreyanka Patil, Mannat Kashyap, Saika Ishaque, Renuka Singh Thakur, Titas Sadhu, Pooja Vastrakar, Kanika Ahuja, Minnu Mani

Venues and Schedules: A Cricketing Fiesta at Iconic Stadiums

The ODI series will commence on December 28, 2023, at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, with subsequent matches on December 30, 2023, and January 2, 2024. The T20I series shifts to DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, with matches scheduled for January 5, 7, and 9, 2024.

India Women vs Australia Women (ODI Series Schedule)
S. No.DateTimeMatchVenue
128-Dec-2301.30 PM ISTODIWankhede Stadium, Mumbai
230-Dec-2301.30 PM ISTODIWankhede Stadium, Mumbai
302-Jan-2401.30 PM ISTODIWankhede Stadium, Mumbai
India Women vs Australia Women (T20I Series Schedule)
105-Jan-2407.00 PM ISTT20IDY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai
207-Jan-2407.00 PM ISTT20IDY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai
309-Jan-2407.00 PM ISTT20IDY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai

The series is more than just a set of matches; it’s a showcase of the growing stature and competitiveness of women’s cricket globally. With both teams featuring top-ranked players in various cricketing disciplines, the series is expected to offer high-quality cricket and thrilling contests.

The Road Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities

The Indian team faces a tough challenge against the Australians, known for their aggressive and strategic gameplay. However, the Indian squad’s recent performances and their blend of experience and emerging talent make them a formidable opponent.

As fans eagerly await the series, the matches are set to be a testament to the evolving landscape of women’s cricket, highlighting skill, resilience, and the spirit of competition at its best. Stay tuned for what promises to be an enthralling series full of memorable moments and cricketing brilliance.

by Abhishek Shukla

History Made: India Triumphs Over Australia in Landmark Women’s Test Match

In a historic cricket match, India’s women’s team achieved their first-ever Test win over Australia, concluding the game with an eight-wicket victory. This monumental achievement was highlighted by Smriti Mandhana’s match-winning strike, leading India to a comfortable chase of the 75-run target in under 19 overs.

Australia, facing an uphill battle from the onset of the final day, struggled to gain momentum. India had previously established a commanding lead, amassing 406 runs in their first innings, the highest they’ve ever scored against Australia. The Australian team’s second innings failed to ignite, unable to recover from this substantial deficit.

The collapse of Australia’s batting order was evident, with five wickets falling for just 28 runs at the start of the fourth day. Key players like Ash Gardner and Annabel Sutherland were quickly dismissed, despite initial hopes of a comeback. Indian bowlers, especially Pooja Vastrakar and Sneh Rana, played crucial roles in dismantling the Australian lineup, with Rana nearly achieving a hat-trick.

India’s run chase commenced with aggressiveness, marked by Shafali Verma’s boundary off the first ball. Despite losing Verma early, steady contributions from Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, and Jemimah Rodrigues ensured a smooth path to victory.

This match not only signifies a landmark win for India but also underscores the growing competitiveness and skill in women’s cricket on the international stage.

by Abhishek Shukla

India’s Tour of South Africa: Gaikwad Ruled Out, Easwaran Steps In

Gqeberha, South Africa – In a significant blow to the Indian cricket team, opening batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad has been ruled out of the ongoing Test series against South Africa. The unfortunate development came after Gaikwad sustained an injury to his right ring finger during the second One Day International (ODI) held in Gqeberha. Following medical evaluations, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Medical Team confirmed the extent of his injury, necessitating his withdrawal from the tour.

The injury occurred while Gaikwad was fielding, leading to immediate concerns about his participation in the rest of the series. Subsequent scans and consultations with medical experts revealed the severity of the injury, prompting the decision for him to return to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for further treatment and rehabilitation.

In response to this setback, the Men’s Selection Committee has announced Abhimanyu Easwaran as Gaikwad’s replacement. Easwaran, a promising talent in domestic cricket, is expected to join the squad imminently. This change brings a fresh dynamic to the team, as Easwaran’s performance in domestic circuits has been closely watched and highly regarded.

In a parallel development, fast bowler Harshit Rana has also been sidelined due to a hamstring injury. Rana was set to feature in the upcoming four-day match against South Africa A, commencing on December 26th at Willowmoore Park in Benoni. The Selection Committee, responding to this latest injury concern, has made significant additions to the India A squad.

Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Avesh Khan, and Rinku Singh have been called up to join the India A team, bringing in a blend of batting and bowling prowess. These players have shown considerable promise in domestic competitions and are seen as vital in fortifying the team’s composition. Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav has been released from the squad.

The updated India A squad for the four-day match against South Africa A now includes Abhimanyu Easwaran as captain, alongside Sai Sudharsan, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Tilak Varma, Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Avesh Khan, Navdeep Saini, Akash Deep, Vidhwath Kaverappa, Manav Suthar, and Rinku Singh.

These changes present both challenges and opportunities for the Indian contingent. The team’s depth and adaptability are set to be tested, with new players stepping into pivotal roles. As the tour progresses, all eyes will be on how these adjustments impact India’s performance in the highly competitive environment of international cricket.