SPORTS MANIA

Phil Salt smashed a robust career-best 41-ball 88 not out to help England thrash Pakistan by eight wickets in the sixth Twenty20 international in Lahore on Friday. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/pakistan-vs-england-6th-t20i-swashbuckling-phil-salt-spices-up-englands-series-levelling-win/articleshow/94574434.cms

Former captain Andrew Strauss last week presented a High-Performance Review commissioned by the England and Wales Cricket Board after the team's Ashes debacle in January. The proposals, which include a 15% reduction in men's domestic cricket, have polarised opinion. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/dawid-malan-backs-andrew-strauss-review-geoffrey-boycott-fears-death-of-county-cricket/articleshow/94555677.cms

Pakistan fast bowler Naseem Shah will travel with the team to New Zealand next week after completing two-day isolation at home because of COVID-19, the Pakistan Cricket Board said on Friday. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/naseem-shah-to-travel-with-pakistan-team-to-new-zealand/articleshow/94552494.cms

It is said that the journey is more important than the destination. Now that the 'Chakdah Express' has finally come to a halt, former India skipper Jhulan Goswami admits to being in the grip of nostalgia. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/this-bunch-of-players-is-fearless-focused-and-fun-loving-jhulan-goswami/articleshow/94548578.cms

This should provide some relief to millions of fans of Team India and Jasprit Bumrah. A stress fracture of the back could put India's ace pacer out of the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia next month, but stress fractures cannot derail the star bowler's sparkling career, assures Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, who is on the ICC medical advisory committee. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/back-stress-fractures-not-career-threatening/articleshow/94548262.cms

If you had watched the first 20 minutes of the India-SA T20 match here at the Greenfield stadium on Wednesday, you would have felt that a Test match was on in coloured clothing under lights. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/icc-mens-t20-world-cup/t20-world-cup-team-indias-pace-conundrum/articleshow/94547174.cms

India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was on Thursday ruled out of the T20 World Cup with a stress fracture, dealing a massive blow to the team's chances in the ICC event. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/icc-mens-t20-world-cup/jasprit-bumrah-ruled-out-of-t20-world-cup/articleshow/94531425.cms

England white ball captain Jos Buttler and his deputy Moeen Ali said that running out a non-striker for backing too is not "their thing" and that they would rather call the player back if any of their teammates used it as a mode of dismissal. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/jos-buttler-moeen-ali-not-in-favour-of-running-out-batters-at-non-strikers-end/articleshow/94528941.cms

Prolific opener Mohammad Rizwan hit a fighting half-century before debutant all-rounder Aamer Jamal starred with the ball as Pakistan beat England by six runs in another last-over finish in the fifth T20 international in Lahore on Wednesday. Rizwan's 46-ball 63 was the cornerstone of Pakistan's 145 all out in 19 overs after express pacer Mark Wood grabbed 3-20 to derail the home team who were asked to bat first at Gaddafi Stadium. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/mohammad-rizwan-aamer-jamal-help-pakistan-down-england-in-fifth-t20i/articleshow/94522350.cms

On a pitch that aided prodigious swing, Suryakumar Yadav and KL Rahul's unbeaten half centuries propelled India to a convincing eight-wicket win over South Africa in a one-sided contest at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/south-africa-in-india/india-vs-south-africa-1st-t20i-india-rout-south-africa-on-a-spiteful-track/articleshow/94521236.cms

Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly relived one of his career-defining moments on top of the Lord's balcony -- but this time in India on a replica, and with his shirt on. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/sourav-ganguly-relives-lords-balcony-triumph-in-india/articleshow/94508112.cms

India batter Suryakumar Yadav jumped a place to reach a career-best-equalling second position in the latest ICC men's T20I Player rankings issued on Wednesday. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/suryakumar-yadav-rohit-sharma-rise-in-icc-t20i-player-rankings/articleshow/94505663.cms

Pakistan's Naseem Shah will miss the fifth T20I against England in Lahore on Wednesday after the pacer was rushed to the hospital on the eve of the game with a severe viral infection. Naseem was set to to feature in the fifth T20I but the youngster had to hospitalised late Tuesday night after his health deteriorated. Although he is feeling better, his participation in the rest of the series is under doubt. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/naseem-shah-rushed-to-hospital-with-viral-infection-to-miss-5th-t20i-against-england/articleshow/94503216.cms

Prolific batter Hanuma Vihari will lead the Rest of India side against 2019-20 Ranji Trophy champions Saurashtra in the Irani Cup clash, which is returning to the calender after three years. The BCCI announced a 15-man squad for the red-ball tournament, which is set to be held in Rajkot from October 1-5. The Irani Cup could not be played in the previous two seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/hanuma-vihari-to-lead-rest-of-india-against-ranji-champions-in-irani-cup/articleshow/94502110.cms

South Africans have replaced Australians as India rivals for their last three T20 matches before that big tournament Down Under and the two teams will square off in the first of those games at the Greenfield stadium, Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday night. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/south-africa-in-india/india-vs-south-africa-1st-t20i-team-indias-preparations-for-t20-world-cup-hit-the-final-stretch/articleshow/94493524.cms

All-rounder Cameron Green has been rewarded for his performances in India with a spot in the Australia Twenty20 squad for two World Cup warm-ups against West Indies in Queensland next week. Opener David Warner, all-rounders Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis as well as paceman Mitchell Starc all return to the squad after missing the trip to India, where Green was a standout as Australia lost the series 2-1. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/icc-mens-t20-world-cup/cameron-green-retained-in-australia-squad-for-west-indies-warm-ups/articleshow/94493195.cms

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma feels facing the swinging ball in the powerplay will be one of the main challenges for his team in the three-match T20 series against India, beginning on Wednesday. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/south-africa-in-india/facing-new-ball-quite-a-challenge-in-india-temba-bavuma/articleshow/94481844.cms

Riding on her stupendous show against England, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur on Tuesday jumped four spots to reach the fifth spot in the ICC Women's ODI Player Rankings. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/harmanpreet-kaur-moves-up-to-fifth-in-icc-odi-rankings/articleshow/94478763.cms

Virat Kohli has got back his "power game" and things have started falling in place for him ahead of the T20 World Cup, feels former India Test cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/australia-in-india/virat-kohlis-power-game-is-coming-back-at-right-time-sanjay-manjrekar/articleshow/94475865.cms

India will be looking to round off their T20 World Cup preparation with a marked improvement in their death bowling besides providing crucial game time to its untested players in the three-match series against South Africa, beginning in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday. India skipper Rohit Sharma singled out death bowling as an area that requires improvement following the series win over Australia. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/south-africa-in-india/india-vs-south-africa-india-look-to-address-death-bowling-concerns-in-final-tune-up-ahead-of-t20-wc/articleshow/94473073.cms

Nepali police have sought help from Interpol to locate the country's fugitive suspended national cricket captain, they said on Tuesday. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/nepal-seeks-interpols-help-to-find-fugitive-cricket-star/articleshow/94473969.cms

Former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja has called Virat Kohli as one of the best chase masters in the world of cricket, adding that the solidity the former skipper provides to the team is just unrivalled. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/australia-in-india/virat-kohli-one-of-the-best-chase-masters-in-the-world-his-consistency-is-amazing-ajay-jadeja/articleshow/94472613.cms

The ICC has legitimized the run out by a bowler at the non-striker's end if the batter backs up too far from October 1. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/south-africa-in-india/if-bowler-has-to-keep-his-feet-in-non-strikers-must-too-tabraiz-shamsi/articleshow/94468145.cms

England cricketer Charlie Dean on Monday broke her silence on her controversial run out in the match against India saying she will stay in the crease from now on. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/ill-just-stay-in-my-crease-from-now-on-englands-charlie-dean-breaks-silence-on-run-out-by-deepti-sharma/articleshow/94466032.cms

Nepali cricket star Sandeep Lamichhane defended failing to return home to face rape allegations almost three weeks after an arrest warrant, saying he intends to do so "as soon as possible". A Nepali court issued the warrant on September 8 following an allegation by a 17-year-old girl, but Lamichhane is thought to have remained in the Caribbean, where he was playing in a tournament. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/nepal-cricketer-sandeep-lamichhane-vows-to-return-home-to-fight-rape-claim/articleshow/94451555.cms

Virat Kohli on Sunday surpassed Rahul Dravid to become the second highest run-scorer for India in international cricket. The star batter accomplished this feat in the third T20I against Australia in Hyderabad. In the match, the 'Chase Master' Kohli was in full flow, switching from attacker to anchor, from anchor to attacker at will. He struck 63 runs in 48 balls, consisting of three fours and four sixes. His strike rate was also pretty solid at 131.25. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/australia-in-india/virat-kohli-surpasses-rahul-dravid-becomes-indias-second-highest-run-scorer-in-international-cricket/articleshow/94448271.cms

source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/australia-in-india/web-stories/3rd-t20i-india-beat-australia-to-win-series-2-1/photostory/94444287.cms

Shoriful Islam ended the United Arab Emirates victory chase with wickets from consecutive balls in the last over to give Bangladesh a seven-run victory in the series opener in Dubai on Sunday. Trying to overhaul Bangladesh's 158-5, the hosts started the last over needing 11 runs with two wickets in hand. Shoriful, a 21-year-old left-arm pace bowler, gave up three runs from the first two balls before striking. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/shoriful-islam-ends-uae-hopes-as-bangladesh-win-t20i-opener/articleshow/94443754.cms

Pakistan halted England with three wickets in six balls to take a sensational three-run win in the last over of the fourth Twenty20 international in Karachi on Sunday. Haris Rauf grabbed three wickets as the hosts tied the seven-match series. Earlier in-form opener Mohammad Rizwan struck a brilliant 88 as Pakistan made 166-4. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/mohammad-rizwan-haris-rauf-help-pakistan-edge-out-england-in-fourth-t20i/articleshow/94443138.cms

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has gone into full election mode now. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/bcci-announces-election-schedule/articleshow/94432688.cms

The BCCI has described Jhulan Goswami's two decade-long international career as "monumental", saying an era has come to an end with the retirement of one of women's cricket's greatest players. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/end-of-an-era-bcci-says-after-jhulan-goswamis-retirement/articleshow/94432040.cms

West Zone thrashed South Zone by 294 runs to win the 2022 Duleep Trophy here on Sunday, completing the formalities before lunch on the fifth and last day's play. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/duleep-trophy-west-zone-crush-south-by-294-runs-to-win-title/articleshow/94431713.cms

India women's team captain Harmanpreet Kaur says her side had committed "no crime" after completing a first-ever whitewash in ODIs on English soil with a legal yet debatable run out. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/whatever-we-have-done-i-dont-think-it-was-any-crime-harmanpreet-kaur/articleshow/94430411.cms

Going by the ICC manual, India all-rounder Deepti Sharma's run out of Charlie Dean in the third ODI was perfectly legal, but it still divided opinions with some backing it and Englishmen, such as Stuart Broad and James Anderson, expressing their annoyance. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/india-vs-england-3rd-odi-run-out-perfectly-legal-but-still-leaves-opinions-divided/articleshow/94429792.cms

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Saturday hailed iconic India pacer Jhulan Goswami for her "exceptional international career" that saw her finish as the world's most successful bowler in women's ODIs. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/icc-hails-jhulan-goswamis-incredible-achievement/articleshow/94428092.cms

After crashing out of the Asia Cup and with just under a month remaining before they lock horns with arch-rivals Pakistan in their opening game of the T20 World Cup Down Under, the Indian team wanted to iron out some of their 'deficiencies' in the three-match series against Australia. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/australia-in-india/3rd-t20i-india-and-australia-will-look-to-address-death-overs-bowling-in-the-series-decider-in-hyderabad/articleshow/94421287.cms

Bangladesh and Ireland booked spots at next year's women's Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa after winning their semi-finals in the qualifying tournament on Friday. Bangladesh, who lost the toss and were put in to bat by opponents Thailand, posted a modest total of 113/5 but were able to defend it with a strong bowling performance to record an 11-run win, with Salma Khatun taking three wickets. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/bangladesh-ireland-qualify-for-womens-t20-world-cup/articleshow/94413904.cms

India skipper Rohit Sharma is extremely pleased with Axar Patel's bowling effort but is eagerly waiting to see how he bats in crunch moments after the spin all-rounder made an impression in the team's win in the second T20I against Australia. The left-arm spinner grabbed two wickets -- Glenn Maxwell and Tim David -- and conceded only 13 runs in his two overs in the must-win game for the hosts. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/australia-in-india/would-like-to-see-axar-patels-batting-wont-analyse-jasprit-bumrahs-bowling-much-rohit-sharma/articleshow/94409957.cms

Middle-order batters Harry Brook and Ben Duckett smashed robust maiden half centuries in England's thumping 63-run win in the third Twenty20 international against Pakistan in Karachi on Friday. Brook scored a 35-ball 81 not out while Duckett cracked an unbeaten 42-ball 69 to lead England to an impressive 221-3 in their 20 overs after they were sent in to bat at National stadium. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/harry-brook-ben-duckett-help-england-thump-pakistan-in-third-t20i/articleshow/94410122.cms

India skipper Rohit Sharma didn’t put a foot wrong on Friday. Right from bringing in Axar Patel in the Powerplay to driving his team’s chase, the skipper aced it all as India won the rain-shortened second T20I in Nagpur on Friday. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/australia-in-india/2nd-t20i-india-vs-australia-rohit-sharma-axar-patel-sparkle-as-india-clinch-truncated-tie/articleshow/94409209.cms

Rohit Sharma displayed his six-hitting prowess with an unbeaten 46 after Axar Patel snapped two wickets in a fiery spell as India notched up a series-levelling six-wicket win over Australia in a rain hit second T20I here on Friday. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/australia-in-india/india-vs-australia-2nd-t20i-highlights-six-hitting-rohit-sharma-guides-india-to-series-levelling-win-over-australia/articleshow/94405558.cms

source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/australia-in-india/india-vs-australia-2nd-t20i-live-score-updates-sep-23/liveblog/94397886.cms

Not being able to win an ODI World Cup will be her "only regret" in an otherwise sterling two decade career, said India's fast bowling great Jhulan Goswami on the eve of her final international game on Saturday. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/not-winning-a-world-cup-title-remains-retiring-jhulan-goswamis-only-regret/articleshow/94397428.cms

Sussex chair Jon Filby said the recommendations proposed in the England & Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) high-performance review of men's cricket in England were needed for the game but were "unworkable" when looked at through a holistic lens. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/proposals-from-ecbs-high-performance-review-unworkable-sussex-chair/articleshow/94393687.cms

Jhulan Goswami, a name synonymous with 'fast bowling' in women's cricket, will walk into her cricketing sunset at the Lord's on Saturday and the Indian team will strive to make it a memorable swansong for her by completing a historic ODI series clean sweep on English soil. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/3rd-odi-india-eye-memorable-farewell-for-jhulan-goswami-at-lords/articleshow/94392869.cms

England captain Moeen Ali said his one over of off-spin bowling against Pakistan was a "gamble" that did not pay off after the visitors lost the second Twenty20 International in Karachi on Thursday. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/2nd-t20i-moeen-ali-says-one-over-gamble-cost-england-against-pakistan/articleshow/94387878.cms

The combination of Harshal Patel and Jasprit Bumrah is expected to give the struggling Indian attack a much-needed boost. The Rohit Sharma-led side has not only been out of sorts in the middle overs but also at the death. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/australia-in-india/india-vs-australia-2nd-t20i-suryakumar-yadav-bats-for-harshal-patel-says-cut-him-some-slack/articleshow/94386830.cms

Fresh from shocking defeats in Asia Cup, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma had nonchalantly said he has found '90-95 percent' core of his team for the World Cup. Cut to a couple of weeks later, lively talks on India's death bowling are still afloat. India's derailment in the death overs twice in this month means the auditions for death over specialists are well and truly on. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/australia-in-india/india-vs-australia-2nd-t20i-time-for-team-india-to-leave-experiments-behind/articleshow/94386295.cms

Azam hammered 110 not out for his second T20I hundred while Rizwan scored an undefeated 88 as the the Pakistan openers completed a chase of 200 in 19.3 overs at a packed National Stadium. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/2nd-t20i-record-breaking-babar-azam-and-mohammad-rizwan-star-as-pakistan-down-england/articleshow/94386330.cms

Andrew Strauss has insisted "the status quo is not an option" as he called on county chiefs to back his reform plan for English cricket which includes cutting the number of first-class Championship matches. source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/andrew-strauss-says-status-quo-no-option-as-he-unveils-english-cricket-reform-plan/articleshow/94377242.cms