The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has swelled its coffers with a sponsorship deal from SBI Life. The BCCI has announced SBI Life, the insurance wing of the State Bank of India, as one of its official partners for domestic and international cricket for the 2023-2026 season. The announcement was made in a statement released on Friday, September 20. Cricbuzz has learnt that SBI Life, one of India's largest insurance companies, secured the deal by agreeing to pay INR 85 lakh per game, surpassing the initial base price of INR 75 lakhs per game. The partnership commenced with the first ODI against Australia, which concluded in Mohali on Friday (September 22). This three-year deal with SBI Life covers 56 games, just like the agreement with IDFC First Bank, the title sponsor for all domestic bilateral series in India, who pays Rs 4.2 crore per game. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah expressed his satisfaction with the partnership, stating, "We are delighted to welcome SBI Life on board as an Official Partner for BCCI's Domestic and International Season for the next three years, leading up to the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023. "SBI Life's commitment to excellence aligns perfectly with BCCI's vision for cricket. This collaboration reflects our commitment to promoting and supporting the sport of cricket at all levels. We look forward to a fruitful partnership that will enhance the cricketing experience for fans and players alike," said Shah.

There was something historical about Mohammed Shami's five-wicket haul in the opening match of the three-game ODI series against Australia in Mohali on Friday (September 22). It was after a long 16-year wait that an Indian pacer had picked up an ODI fifer at home, Zaheer Khan being the last to do so back in 2007 against Sri Lanka. The fifer, which set the home team's victory, also propelled India to the No.1 spot in the ICC rankings across formats. On a day when he's achieved something sensational, the truth remains that Shami may not be a certainty in the starting XI come the World Cup. Particularly with the emergence of Mohammed Siraj in recent times. However, it isn't something that seems to be bothering Shami and the pacer is strongly in favour of the player rotation policy adopted by the think tank. Despite being a senior player in the squad, Shami isn't fazed about the fact that he isn't a sure shot in the playing XI even with standout performances like the one in Mohali. "This is a part and parcel of the game. It's important to understand the team's needs. It isn't possible that you'll always be part of the playing XI and team combinations. When we play regularly, someone or the other will have to sit out. There is no point being frustrated about it. Obviously it's good if you're in the XI but it's also crucial to be understanding when on the bench. That role is also very important," he said at the press conference after India's five-wicket win. Shami's fifer is the second successive game in which an Indian pacer has picked up the milestone (after Siraj in the Asia Cup final) and the fact that both matches were in the sub-continent elevates the achievements. With Jasprit Bumrah back and buzzing, India are spoilt for choices with their bowling combinations for the World Cup. In Indian conditions, two spinners are mandatory and with Hardik Pandya being a steady support seamer, one of the three frontline pacers will unfortunately have to miss out. "The idea from the team management is to rotate according to the conditions and the situation, or depending on the opposition. They know how to handle it and if you see, the recent results have been quite good. The rotation is going smoothly and before the World Cup, I don't think anyone should be burdened a lot. "It's good for us because rotating pacers is key in such conditions. It's more important for bowlers, not that it's easier for batters but still. Rotation is important especially before ICC tournaments. It particularly helps those who haven't been in rhythm to get some much-needed gametime," said Shami. Shami's performance in Mohali came on a pitch where fast bowling didn't seem an easy task. Especially once the ball got older and softer with the track slowing down a touch. Yet, he didn't back down from the challenge and delivered breakthroughs in each of his spells. If the delivery to take out Mitchell Marsh early was a lovely outswinger, getting one through the gate to remove a well-set Steve Smith was no lesser and the latter's dismissal proved to be a huge turning point in the Australian innings. While basking in his moment of glory, Shami didn't forget to highlight the importance of a collective bowling effort. "It's satisfying as a bowler when you find rhythm on a surface that isn't naturally responsive to you. These things change your momentum and if you've noticed the Indian attack over the last few years, you will notice that we always help each other out. If I take wickets, then Bumrah will be stopping runs at the other end. This kind of partnership bowling is very important. Someone will take more wickets than the other on a particular day but the supporting roles remain equally crucial." One of the major talking points in the first innings was the excessive heat on display in the afternoon. Such was the extreme nature of the conditions that Shardul Thakur was forced to take a momentary break in between an over to replenish himself. Shami, though, didn't appear to be stretched physically and looked in rhythm right from his first spell to the last. The 33-year-old felt that the break he took earlier this year helped him recharge his batteries but also played down the extreme heat factor as a concern for the team today. "I've always been in rhythm whenever I have come back to the team. But yes, that break was needed as I had been playing regularly for seven to eight months. I felt like I needed a break and I discussed that with the captain and coach. But my rest is never technically rest as my preparation happens a lot more while I'm at my home. There is a whole setup there for practice and conditioning. "We never talk much about this (extreme heat) with respect to tactics. It totally depends on the state of the game if we are to bowl long or short spells. Heat is definitely a factor but when you've been playing international cricket for so long, it cannot be an excuse. It doesn't mean a player's fitness has fallen or he is struggling. Players are also human. It also depends on how much effort you're putting in. Sometimes, if the surface isn't responsive enough, you have to put that much extra as a fast bowler and that makes a difference." While the bowling went according to plan, India will have been pleased with the batting effort. Shubman Gill continued his good form with yet another fifty while skipper KL Rahul also helped himself to one. Two other men got fifties too and it's their performances that would have delighted the hosts considerably. Ruturaj Gaikwad isn't part of the World Cup squad but he is definitely someone who is next in line to make the cut in case of an emergency. On the other hand, Suryakumar Yadav is part of that 15-member squad but has been in the firing line for his meagre ODI returns recently. Both batters did their reputation no harm with their knocks. "Before a big event, when you play such games against a strong opposition, it's important for the batters to do well. Confidence is the key. Getting such a boost before a big event is always great for the team. It's crucial that the batting and bowling departments are both firing together. I think that's the best preparation," said Shami.

Liam Dawson's fine 119 at no. 6 and a brilliant 184-run stand with skipper James Vince (89) helped . Set a target of 267, after Essex declared their second innings closed on 153/8, Hampshire were in serious trouble at 32 for 4 but the partnership for the fifth-wicket put them back on the victory course. , and quick fifties by Alex Less (60 off 74) and Oliver Robinson (84 off 66) were the highlights of the final day of the rain-marred Championship game between the two Div 2 table toppers. Lees had contributed 60 of Durham's 92 at the time of his dismissal, post which Borthwick and Robinson combined for a 159-run stand, where the latter played the aggressor before eventually missing out on a ton by just 16 runs. has washed away Leicestershire's hopes of earning a promotion. Leicestershire needed an outright win to make it, and even got their hopes up by triggering a collapse of 4 for 28 but Wharton's resurrected the innings and heavy showers did the rest to ensure a draw. was all in vain as Middlesex now face relegation after a heavy eight-wicket defeat to Warwickshire in their rain-marred game at Lord's. Openers Rory Burns (71 not out) and Dominic Sibily (67*) ensured in the second innings after being asked to follow-on by Northamptonshire. Even though the amount of rain in preceding days had ensured the game was clearly headed for a final day draw, Northamptonshire's relegation is all but confirmed. , who could be facing relegation despite the draw against Somerset. Denly combined with the lower order to take Kent to 235 in their first innings, but couldn't prevent the embarassment of a follow-on. Oliver Hannon-Dalby (3-52) and Craig Miles (3-53) starred in a that shot down Middlesex for just 251, setting up an easy 8-wicket win for Warwickshire. Danny Briggs also claimed two, effectively leading Middlesex to relegation. on 32/4 before Joe Denly temporarily resurrected the innings. Tom Abell then struck at regular intervals, picking 4-54 to wrap up the lower order cheaply, helping Somerset enforce the follow-on.

Several key decisions are anticipated during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and one of the significant changes under consideration is a potential alteration to the Governing Council of the Indian Premier League (IPL), along with the formation of a new Governing Council for the Women's Premier League (WPL). Cricbuzz has learned that the modification in the IPL Governing Council might involve the appointment of a players' representative, a role presently held by Pragyan Ojha. There is information indicating that the 37-year-old former Indian spinner is contemplating voluntarily stepping down from the position. Ojha has served on the council for three years, and only last year he was elected to the body by the Indian Cricketers' Association (CA). While he could extend his tenure for a couple more years or even longer, it appears that the former Hyderabad spinner is disinclined to do so. The AGM alludes to this matter rather indirectly. The third item on the agenda states, "Induction of 1 (one) representative of the Indian Cricketers' Association in the Governing Council of the IPL." Although the agenda point is somewhat generic in nature, Cricbuzz has received information suggesting that Ojha will vacate his position, necessitating a fresh election by the ICA to nominate a new representative to the Governing Council. Additionally, there is a possibility that a Governing Council will be established for the WPL, which was launched by the BCCI last year. The agenda for the September 25 meeting also includes the item which states, "Election and induction of 2 (two) representatives of the General Body in the Governing Council of the IPL." However, it is expected that the current members, Arun Singh Dhumal from the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) and Avishek Dalmiya from the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), will continue their roles. Another item on the agenda is the appointment of the Ombudsman and Ethics Officer, but perhaps the most significant business at hand is the review of the men's selection committee. There is a talk that the committee may undergo reconstitution by December with a few changes and a decision regarding this matter may be reached during the general body meeting. It is worth noting that Ajit Agarkar will retain his position as chairman.

A no. 1 trifecta isn't the worst way to begin proceedings for a home World Cup. Especially when the metaphorical base is otherwise shaky with injury troubles, selection dilemmas, form trouble, and the problem of plenty. India are now the no. 1 ranked team in all three formats after the win in Mohali - a run-chase where they took it deep and finished the job effectively, with four half-centurions in the batting order. India couldn't have timed it better. KL Rahul has a pressure hundred and an unbeaten captain's half-century under his belt. Suryakumar Yadav not only has a run against his name after four innings against Australia, he also scored a fifty at quicker than a run-a-ball -- an innings where he admitted to "playing slower and taking it deep". Shreyas Iyer is on the field. Two Indian pacers have taken five-wicket hauls in two consecutive ODIs, both in winning causes. No one is exactly out of form, even though Iyer lacks game time, and India's first choice XI remains a mystery. Nevertheless, India is roaring at the right time. Australia, however, has had a bit of an aberration. The loss against India was their fourth on the trot in ODI cricket - an anomaly in a World Cup year for the five-time champions. In fact, in the lead-up to the 2019 World Cup, Australia made a 3-2 comeback after being 0-2 down against India. This time, however, Australia were dealt a dose of their own medicine by South Africa - beating Australia 3-2, after being 0-2 down. The batting, despite the crucial absence of Travis Head, showed tremendous grit, with all the batters getting off to starts, but none of them converting it into a big hundred - and there are at least three capable of doing so on a consistent basis - Warner, Smith, and Labuschagne. The bowling, admittedly, has had its chinks, but they have two ODIs against the hosts and two warm-ups left before their campaign begins. Moreover, the bowling attack has kept its lethal weapon safe in the changeroom. Australia knows its shortcomings, and have come well prepared. It's World Cup year, and it's a crime to write Australia off. India vs Australia, 2nd ODI on Sunday, 24th September 2023, 1:30 PM local : Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore Runs. Oh, so many runs. Indore has seen some extraordinary innings played, including Virender Sehwag's once-highest ODI score of 219 in 2011, and Rohit Sharma's ridiculous 36-ball hundred against Sri Lanka in 2018. 400+ ODI scores, 250+ T20I scores. Expect an absolute road, and a major test for the bowlers in preparation for the World Cup, and the best possible opportunity for out-of-sorts batters to get some runs under their belts. Especially with straight boundaries shorter than 70 meters, and square boundaries shorter than 60 meters will certainly test the spinners who dare to bowl. With Kuldeep Yadav continuing his rest period, Ravichandran Ashwin should get another game given his impressive spell in the first. India will hope that Iyer and Kishan get back amongst the runs. However, the bowlers are likely to be rotated around again. With a gap of just two days between ODIs, it seems prudent to rest Jasprit Bumrah and play Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami in Indore. Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (c, wk), Tilak Varma/Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami/Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj Cummins had said after ODI series opener that Starc won't be ready for the second game yet, meaning Australia could likely stick to the same XI. David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins (c), Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa - In his only ODI innings in Indore, Shubman Gill scored 112 (78) vs NZ in 2023. - Ishan Kishan has played a List A innings in Indore against MP in the Vijay Hazare Trophy - and scored 173(94) [19 fours, 11 sixes] - Steve Smith averages 188 against Ravindra Jadeja at a strike-rate of 120.5 - Alex Carey averages 88 against Bumrah at a strike-rate of 93 - KL Rahul averages 93 against Starc at an average of 110.7, but averages only 23.5 against Zampa, with four dismissals "If you've noticed the Indian attack over the last few years, you will notice that we always help each other out. If I take wickets, then Bumrah will be stopping runs at the other end. This kind of partnership bowling is very important. Someone will take more wickets than the other on a particular day but the supporting roles remain equally crucial." - on the Indian bowling attack hunting in pairs "Maxi (Maxwell) has just arrived in India. Smudge has had his first hit as well, and Davey (Warner) was brilliant. We've got one eye on the big tournament, but you want to set the standards early and build a good rhythm." - Australia captain, is looking ahead at the bigger prize at stake after this series

New Zealand's batters got off to promising starts but Tom Blundell (68) was the lone half-centurion as Bangladesh came up with a disciplined bowling performance in the second ODI in Dhaka on Saturday (September 23) to keep the visiting side in check. Pacers and spinners complemented each other as the hosts struck at regular intervals to apply the brakes on New Zealand, who eventually finished with 254 thanks to Ish Sodhi's 35. After New Zealand skipper Lockie Ferguson decided to bat first, Finn Allen got off the blocks with a couple of boundaries but Will Young departed for an 8-ball duck, edging a Mustafizur delivery to the 'keeper. The left-arm seamer also accounted for Allen, getting him to edge to slip. Bowes, who looked in good touch, was the next to depart as he flicked debutant Khaled Ahmed's short delivery straight to square leg, with the visitors slipping to 36/3 in the eighth over. A good partnership between Blundell and Henry Nicholls ensued, as they steadied New Zealand with their measured approach. Timely boundaries and smart rotation of strike helped build the fourth wicket stand as Blundell brought up a 54-ball 50. But Nicholls missed out on one by a solitary run, getting an edge off Khaled, as a 95-run stand came to an end. Rachin Ravindra began in a positive manner, striking a couple of fours off Mustafizur while Blundell hit the first six of the innings as he put away a long-hop from Khaled. They added 26 before Mahedi Hasan ended Ravindra's stay by getting him trapped in front. Hasan Mahmud then bagged the important wicket of Blundell, who was bowled trying to flick a yorker. Cole McConchie was out lbw to an arm ball from Nasum Ahmed as Bangladesh reduced New Zealand to 187/7. New Zealand received some much needed impetus in the death overs through Kyle Jamieson and Sodhi as they pressed on the accelerator. Sodhi struck a six off Nasum while Jamieson hit two fours in an over off Mustafizur, who after finishing with 2-53 left the field picking up an injury while fielding. The eighth wicket stand, however, came to an end on 32 when Mahedi outsmarted Jamieson. In late drama, Mahmud had Sodhi, who had ventured out of the crease, run out at the non-striker's end but captain Litton Das decided to call back the batter. Ferguson managed some useful runs as he struck a four and a six before getting out stumped off Mahedi. Sodhi then hit a six off Mahedi, who finished with career-best figures of 3-45. Sodhi got his third six when Soumya Sarkar parried the ball over the boundary in the final over but Khaled ended his stay soon after, having him caught behind to pick up his third - with Bangladesh having to use a review - as New Zealand's innings ended with four deliveries remaining. New Zealand 254 in 49.2 overs (Tom Blundell 68, Henry Nicholls 49; Mahedi Hasan 3-45, Khaled Ahmed 3-60) vs Bangladesh.

Put into bat on a good-looking Trent Bridge surface that had a cracking outfield to boot, England ended up with a good total thanks to Will Jacks' career-best knock of 94 and a solid 89 from debutant Sam Hain. Ireland managed to fight back after a wayward start with the new ball but the duo's efforts, along with supporting contributions from Ben Duckett and Brydon Carse, got the hosts to a strong score of 334. Ireland skipper Paul Stirling's decision to bowl on a sunny morning was largely due to the expected dew later in the evening but the start was far from ideal for his side. He also expected the fresh surface to have some early assistance for his pacers, which explains the fullish lengths that were tried by Ireland's new-ball pair of Mark Adair and Josh Little. However, there wasn't any swing on offer and England's openers were off the blocks in a flash. Phil Salt and Jacks racked up a flurry of boundaries to get the innings going at breakneck speed. It was the introduction of Craig Young that gave Ireland the much-needed respite from the onslaught. With no swing available, he decided to hit the hard length and it was instantly evident that those areas weren't as easy to score. Young broke the opening stand in his very first over, getting rid of Salt and also had skipper Zak Crawley LBW in the same over to jolt England. Jacks, though, batted at a good tempo and found ideal support in Duckett as the pair went about rebuilding the innings. To their credit, Ireland never really allowed the scoring rate to go out of hand despite the odd big over. Both fell at a time when they were about to hit top gear and Jacks was unfortunate to miss out on a deserved ton. Debutant Jamie Smith didn't last long either as he holed out to long-on. These breakthroughs allowed Ireland some breathing space but Hain along with Carse put the innings back on track. The former wasn't his usual fluent self but that also had to do with the nature of the track as the slower deliveries did grip a touch. England looked set for a 350-plus score yet again but once more, Ireland came back well at the death to restrict the hosts. Apart from Young, George Dockrell had a good outing with three scalps, all of which were defining breakthroughs. England 334-8 in 50 overs (Will Jacks 94, Sam Hain 89; George Dockrell 3-43, Craig Young 2-38) vs Ireland.

Ish Sodhi's career-best performance (6-39) in ODI cricket set up New Zealand's 86-run victory in the second ODI against Bangladesh as they took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. After a useful contribution with the bat that lifted New Zealand to 254, Sodhi bagged his maiden five-wicket haul in ODIs to skittle Bangladesh out for 168 in Dhaka on Saturday (September 23). Litton Das reviewed in the very first over of the chase to reverse a leg-before decision after being struck on the pad by Trent Boult. The openers, though, weren't able to score freely as Boult and Kyle Jamieson bowled in the right channels to keep Litton and Tamim Iqbal in check. New Zealand reaped the reward soon as Litton, in his attempt to upper-cut a Jamieson delivery, was caught at third man. Tamim, who was on 10 off 20 at that stage, picked up pace with his scoring with regular boundaries - including three in an over off Jamieson. Tanzid Hasan also dealt in fours before Sodhi ended a promising stand by having the No.3 caught at mid off. Soumya Sarkar fell for a two-ball duck, handing a catch back to Sodhi in the same over. Sodhi bagged his third as he had Towhid Hridoy bowled with a wrong 'un. The senior pair of Tamim and Mahmudullah tried to steady the ship but their partnership ended on 22 as Sodhi struck again. Attempting a sweep, Tamim got a bit of a glove through to the 'keeper. The onfield decision was not out and New Zealand took the review but Tamim decided to walk, departing for 44 to leave Bangladesh at 92/5. Mahedi Hasan got an lbw decision overturned and then put on a 42-run partnership with Mahmudullah as they tried to get Bangladesh back in the chase. However, their association was ended by Sodhi as he had Mahedi bowled for 17. A few overs later Mahmudullah was dismissed by Cole McConchie on 49, caught at backward square leg. Sodhi returned to the attack and picked up his sixth, getting Hasan Mahmud bowled with a googly. Jamieson and Ferguson cleaned up the tail as New Zealand secured a facile win, ending Bangladesh's innings in the 42nd over. Earlier, Bangladesh's pacers and spinners complemented each other well as they combined to restrict New Zealand with disciplined bowling. Mahedi and debutant Khaled Ahmed picked up three wickets each after Mustafizur Rahman made early inroads with a couple of scalps. Tom Blundell resurrected the innings with a 66-ball 68 and put on 95 for the fourth wicket with Henry Nicholls (49). But Bangladesh hit back with quick wickets and it took Ish Sodhi's 35 to help them past the 250 mark. After New Zealand skipper Lockie Ferguson decided to bat first, New Zealand suffered early setbacks as Will Young departed for an 8-ball duck, edging a Mustafizur delivery to the 'keeper, and the left-arm seamer also accounted for Allen, getting him to edge to slip. Chad Bowes, who looked in good touch, was the next to depart as he flicked Khaled's short delivery straight to square leg. A good partnership between Blundell and Nicholls ensued, with timely boundaries and smart rotation of strike helping build the fourth wicket stand. But Nicholls missed out on a fifty by a solitary run, getting an edge off Khaled. Rachin Ravindra began in a positive manner while Blundell hit the first six of the innings as they added 26 before Mahedi ended Ravindra's stay. Mahmud then bagged the important wicket of Blundell and McConchie was out lbw to Nasum Ahmed as Bangladesh reduced New Zealand to 187/7. New Zealand received some much needed impetus in the death overs through Jamieson and Sodhi as they pressed on the accelerator. The eighth wicket stand, however, came to an end on 32 when Mahedi outsmarted Jamieson. In late drama, Mahmud had Sodhi, who had ventured out of the crease, run out at the non-striker's end but captain Litton Das decided to call back the batter. Ferguson scored some useful runs as he struck a four and a six before getting out stumped off Mahedi. Sodhi then hit a six off Mahedi, who finished with career-best figures of 3-45. Sodhi got his third six when Sarkar parried the ball over the boundary in the final over but Khaled ended his stay soon after, having him caught behind to pick up his third - with Bangladesh having to use a review. New Zealand 254 in 49.2 overs (Tom Blundell 68, Henry Nicholls 49; Mahedi Hasan 3-45, Khaled Ahmed 3-60) beat Bangladesh 168 in 41.1 overs (Mahmudullah 49, Tamim Iqbal 44; Ish Sodhi 6-39) by 86 runs.

The stigma around running a batter out at the non striker's end backing up was removed by the MCC last year when this type of dismissal was moved from the category of unfair play to run-out. In total, there have been five such run-outs in men's ODIs, four in men's Tests, and one-time each in men's T20Is, women's ODIs, and women's T20Is. Hasan Mahmud could have become the 14th to effect the dismissal but Litton Das decided otherwise. The Bangladesh skipper called Ish Sodhi back after Mahmud ran him out at the non-striker's end backing up in the second ODI. Sodhi, who was on 17 off 26 at that point, ended up scoring 35, which took New Zealand's total to 254. Sodhi then bagged a six-wicket haul to star in his team's 86-run victory on Saturday (September 23). Sodhi, who hugged Hasan after being called back, later said he was caught a bit off guard venturing out of the crease but was impressed with the gesture of Bangladesh. "We are competitive people. You are competing to win games for your country so it can get a bit heated. I think I was out by such a small fraction, it caught me off guard. I come from a bit of an old cloth when you give the batter a warning. I understand it is not the rules at the moment. I think it was a great gesture by Bangladesh. They handled it really, really well. I was fortunate that they were able to call me back. I'd like to think I'd do the same thing if I was the bowler," Sodhi said at the post match press conference. "I am not a very good batter. It was a nice gesture. I would do the same thing as a bowler. I have played under some great captains for New Zealand in the past few years. I think they would have done the same thing. I think Litton Das was exceptional in the way he handled it. I hugged the bowler and gave Litton a bit of a handshake. We all respect the game of cricket very highly and really endevour to keep the spirit intact," he said. "I understand that it is part of the rules of the game now. You've seen it all over the world. It is a bit of a controversial issue. They could have easily let me walk off. They showed huge sportsmanship out there today. We are fortunate to be in the winning side but it is important to keep the spirit of the game alive, especially when we are playing such competitive cricket to win games for our country," he said. Meanwhile, Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal said he did not see anything wrong with the dismissal, and said there should be a discussion in the team whether they effect such dismissals going forward. "I think he also shouldn't have done that," said Tamim about Sodhi getting out of the crease. "He shouldn't be surprised too. Whether we take it or not (the dismissal), it is the team's call. I don't see anything wrong in it. The rule is there. If we get someone out, or one of us gets out in that manner, I don't think we should react the way people are reacting nowadays. "There's no need for a warning here. It is like a bowled out. Maybe the captain felt that we won't take that wicket. So he called him back. There's no right and wrong. Either you do it, or you don't do it. Nothing wrong in either. I think we should discuss as a team if we want to do it or not. Going forward, I think you will see a lot of teams taking advantage of this. "I think it is a team decision. We will definitely talk about it after today's incident. If it is a team decision that we will take wickets in this way, we will. If we don't want to take it, we will not try it. I don't think it looks good to bring back a batter after getting him out. Either we take it, or we don't do it," said Tamim.

England registered a largely comfortable 48-run win over Ireland in the second ODI at Trent Bridge, Nottingham on Saturday (September 23). Young leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed registered his career-best ODI figures of 4-54 to derail Ireland's chase and although the visitors added 129 runs for their last three wickets, the result was never in doubt. Earlier in the day, Will Jacks had also got to his highest individual score in ODIs while Sam Hain kickstarted his 50-over career with a fluent 89. Chasing a competitive target of 335, Ireland started with a bang, much like their opponents in the first half of the game. George Scrimshaw, one of England's four debutants, had a horror beginning due to a flurry of no-balls that allowed Paul Stirling and Andrew Balbirnie to make a brisk start. Boundaries came aplenty, some even off those no-ball and the Free Hits were also duly dispatched. Before England could get a grip of things, Ireland were racing towards 50 well inside four overs. To his credit, Scrimshaw bounced back and broke the opening partnership with a ripper. He had Balbirnie caught at slip with a lovely delivery and Matthew Potts struck on the first ball of the next over to castle Stirling. These strikes halted Ireland's momentum briefly but Harry Tector kept the scoreboard ticking with his brand of fluid strokeplay. Unfortunately for the visitors, they kept losing wickets at regular intervals despite having a healthy run rate in the chase. The introduction of Rehan then changed the complexion of the game drastically. In his brief career so far, Rehan has shown the knack to bowl genuine wicket-taking deliveries and while the consistency is a work in progress, he has managed to trouble the best of batters across the various white-ball formats. Ireland had no clue about dealing with his potent googly and fell like a pack of cards to his guile. His spin partner Tom Hartley went wicketless but the left-arm spinner also bowled a tidy spell to put in the squeeze on the tourists. From 103-3, Ireland found themselves on the brink at 157/7. Statistically, the equation still was gettable with the Trent Bridge surface staying good for the entirety of the game. But the lack of wickets meant that it needed a miracle for England to be beaten. George Dockrell, who had earlier enjoyed a good outing with the ball, led the resistance along with the no. 8-11 as the tourists kept chipping away at the target. England's inexperienced bowling attack struggled to close out the game earlier and barring Brydon Carse, the seamers were quite inconsistent in their spells. Eventually, the scoreboard pressure and the lack of planning from Ireland's batters let them off the hook. Earlier in the day, England's gen-next batting line-up ended with a strong score but given the platform and surface, they left about 25-30 runs out there. Phil Salt and Ben Duckett were guilty of throwing away their starts but Jacks and Hain ensured that they batted deeper into their respective innings. Duckett and Carse provided the ideal supporting knocks needed to push the score past the 330-run mark. Ireland were indisciplined with the new ball and leaked plenty of runs in the first PowerPlay but came back well thereafter. Dockrell along with Craig Young were the pick of the bowlers and the latter's twin strikes in his first spell was what allowed Ireland to claw their way back into the game. The visitors kept taking wickets at regular intervals and barring the first 10 overs, generally found the right lengths to ensure that England never ran away with the game completely. The good length deliveries weren't as easy to hit but as is the case with Trent Bridge, the margin for error is also very small for the pacers. Ireland did well to keep England to 334 but in the end, that proved more than enough for the World Champions as they took an unassailable 1-0 lead in the three-match series with a game to spare. : England 334-8 in 50 overs (Will Jacks 94, Sam Hain 89; George Dockrell 3-43, Craig Young 2-38) beat Ireland 286 in 46.4 overs (George Dockrell 43, Barry McCarthy 41; Rehan Ahmed 4-54, George Scrimhaw 3-66) by 48 runs

Australia's tour of India for a three-match One-Day International series is set to begin in Mohali on Friday. It will serve as a much-needed preparation for both teams ahead of the 2023 50-over World Cup set to be played in the country. While India come into the series at the back of a victorious campaign in the Asia Cup, Australia squandered a 2-0 lead to lose the five-match series in South Africa. There are some injury concerns for Pat Cummins' team and they would hope to have many of their returning players fit and firing. Meanwhile, India's experiments continue. The latest one is with R Ashwin being drafted into the team, soon after Washington Sundar came in as a replacement for the injured Axar Patel in the Asia Cup final. The other focus would be on Shreyas Iyer who injured himself during the Asia Cup. The three matches of the series will be played in Mohali, Indore and Rajkot. Cricbuzz has acquired the broadcast rights for BCCI home series for the 2023-28 cycle for MENA and SEA countries - United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Algeria, Bahrain, Chad, Djibouti, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, Yemen, West Bank, Gaza Strip - Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Users can watch in full HD on big and small devices. To subscribe visit -

Hasan Ali has been named in Pakistan's 15-player squad for the 2023 World Cup, set to be played in India. The 29-year-old has been drafted into the squad after Naseem Shah was ruled out of the upcoming tournament after sustaining an injury in the recently-concluded Asia Cup. Hasan has featured in 60 ODIs for Pakistan since making his debut in 2017, picking up 91 wickets at an average of 30.36. His last ODI appearance came in the home series in January 2023 against New Zealand in Karachi Naseem suffered a shoulder injury during the Super 4 contest against India in the Asia Cup and was ruled out of the tournament. The Pakistan Cricket Board stated in a release on Friday, "Following thorough medical examinations and consultations with leading medical experts, Naseem has been advised to undergo surgery. He is expected to recover in three to four months." In the team led by Babar Azam, all-rounder Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Haris and Zaman Khan have been excluded from the squad that played in the Asia Cup, with the latter two being included as traveling reserves alongside mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed. Meanwhile, Shadab Khan has been retained as Babar's deputy for the tournament. The squad is largely along predicted lines with three spinners - Shadab Khan, Usama Mir and Mohammad Nawaz to go with the the four-man pace attack of Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Wasim Jr. Pakistan will play two warm-up games, against New Zealand and Australia respectively. Their tournament opener will be against Netherlands on October 5, in Hyderabad. Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jr. Speaking on the squad, chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq said, "World Cup is the most important event in any cricketer's life and I want to congratulate all the cricketers who have made it to the squad through their impressive performances. This team has performed wonderfully well over the last couple of years and that is why we have shown faith in the same bunch. "We were forced to make one change because of an unfortunate injury to Naseem Shah. We had a few injury scares in the recent Asia Cup, but I am glad to share that all the players are fully fit and are eager to perform for their country in the all-important tournament. I have received encouraging reports from our medical panel about Haris Rauf. He has started to (shadow) bowl at the National Cricket Academy and will be available for selection. "I have a firm belief that this squad can bring the World Cup trophy to Pakistan and make the whole nation proud with their incredible performances. It is time to get behind our team and provide them with the backing and support that they need."

Sri Lanka Women beat Thailand by eight wickets in the third quarter-final of the Asian Games, courtesy a phenomenal bowling spell from Inoshi Priyadharshani and some clinical batting to knock off the runs. The contest was reduced to 15-over-a-side due to incessant rain. Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bowl first, and the decision was quickly vindicated by Priyadharshani, who picked up two wickets in her very first over - those of Suwanan Khiaoto and Natthakan Chanthan. She returned in her second over to pick up her third wicket, getting Koncharoenkai caught by Prabodhani. Regular wickets meant that the Thailand innings never got going, with the 29-run stand between Sutthiruang and Phanita Maya being the most significant, ending the innings at 78-7. Sri Lanka were proactive in their chase from the get-go, with the openers scoring at a brisk run-rate in the first six overs to bring up the half-century stand. Thipatcha Puttawong got rid of the openers soon after, but this only delayed the inevitable, as Harshitha Samarawickrama and Vishmi Gunaratne knocked off the runs with 25 balls and eight wickets to spare. Sri Lanka are set to clash against Pakistan in the semi-final on Sunday, September 24. (Chanida Sutthiruang 31*, Inoshi Priyadharshani 4-10)(Anushka Sanjeewani 32, Thipatcha Putthawong 2-21) The fourth quarter-final between Bangladesh and Hong Kong was abandoned without a toss, given the incessant rain at the venue. Bangladesh have gone through to the semi-final due to a higher seeding, and will face India in the first semi-final on Sunday, September 24.

The ICC has released the schedule for the Men's Under-19 World Cup 2024, set to be held in Sri Lanka after 18 years. The event begins on January 13, 2024 and ends February 4, 2024, across 23 days. The event will be hosted across five different venues in the capital city of Colombo. This is set to be the 15th edition of the event, where sixteen teams will compete for the coveted trophy across 41 matches. Eleven full-member teams earned a direct qualification into the tournament, whereas five other teams earned their spot through regional qualifiers, including Namibia, Scotland, USA, Nepal and New Zealand. The opening match will see hosts Sri Lanka competing against Zimbabwe, and will be followed by two more matches on the same day. Defending champions India will start their campaign on January 14 against Bangladesh. In a new, revised format, the best teams in the group stages will qualify into a Super six stage, where two groups of six teams each will face off to determine the semi-finalists. Group A: India, Bangladesh, Ireland, USAGroup B: England, South Africa, West Indies, ScotlandGroup C: Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, NamibiaGroup D: Afghanistan, Pakistan, New Zealand, Nepal The five venues set to host the event are the P. Sara Oval, Colombo Cricket Club, Nondescripts Cricket Club, Singhalese Sports Club and the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium - the last of which is the venue chosen to host the semi-finals and the final. "The ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup has a long-standing history of introducing global audiences to future stars of the sport." said ICC Head of Events, Chris Tetley during the schedule release. "Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson and Angelo Mathews are some of the names that made their entrance onto the world stage at this event, and we are certain to see this tradition continue as the drama unfolds across the 41 tournament fixtures." "Sri Lanka is renowned for its passionate, cricket-loving fans, and we are looking forward to giving them the opportunity to watch some of the most promising young cricketers in the world over 23 days of competition, " said Samantha Dodanwela, the Tournament Director. "The five venues selected to host the event in January and February next year have been graced by many exceptionally talented cricketers over the years, and it will be fitting for these historic grounds to host the future stars of the game. With so much to look forward to, we have no doubt that the event will help showcase Sri Lanka as an ideal destination for cricket." January 13: Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe, New Zealand vs Nepal, England vs Scotland January 14: Bangladesh vs India, Australia vs Namibia, South Africa vs West Indies January 15: Pakistan vs Afghanistan, Ireland vs USA, January 16: South Africa vs England, Sri Lanka vs South Africa January 17: Nepal vs Pakistan, West Indies vs Scotland, Namibia vs Zimbabwe January 18: India vs USA, Afghanistan vs New Zealand, Bangladesh vs Ireland January 19: Zimbabwe vs Australia, England vs West Indies January 20: India vs Ireland, Scotland vs South Africa, Afghanistan vs Nepal January 21: Pakistan vs New Zealand, Sri Lanka vs Namibia, USA vs Bangladesh January 23: A4 vs D4, B4 vs C4 January 24: A1 vs D2, C2 vs B3, C1 vs B2 January 25: D3 vs A2, C3 vs B1, D1 vs A3 January 26: B3 vs C1 January 27: A1 vs D3, D2 vs A3, B1 vs C2 January 28: B2 vs C3, D1 vs A2 January 30: Semi-final 1 (AD1 vs BC2) February 1: Semi-final 2 (BC1 vs AD2)_ February 4: Final

India managed to strike at regular intervals that helped nullify fledgling partnerships right through Australia's innings and kept them down to 276 eventually, with Mohammed Shami being the pick of the bowlers getting 5-51. Shami kickstarted the innings on a good note after India opted to bowl, having Mitchell Marsh caught in the lone wide slip in just the first over. However, Australia fought back through a sprightly 94-run stand between David Warner and Steve Smith. The former was put down on 14 by Shreyas Iyer at mid off, and made India pay for it with his 29th ODI fifty. Along with Smith, who kept one end busy, Warner was threatening to up the ante in the middle overs with not much assistance on offer for the bowlers. But Warner fell, holing out to long on against Jadeja while Shami came back for another spell and got the better of Smith with a sharp incoming delivery. Australia recovered from the double blow with a steady stand between Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green before a brief rain interruption halted play. Soon after the break, R Ashwin got another ODI wicket against his name when Labuschagne was a trifle unlucky to be out stumped off a ricochet from KL Rahul's pad. India's largely lacklustre fielding efforts did not prevent the run out of Cameron Green after a big mix-up with Josh Inglis. Inglis made amends though with Marcus Stoinis as Australia hit back with a counterattacking partnership worth 62 runs in 41 balls. The duo were lethal with their power-hitting with Inglis' slashed six over extra cover against Bumrah being the pick of the innings. But just as Australia were threatening to get away, Shami came back to first have Stoinis bowled and then Inglis caught at deepmidwicket. He finished up with a well-deserved second five-fer in ODIs when Sean Abbott dragged on against a slower delivery. Cummins chipped in with a 9-ball 21 that lifted Australia past 270 eventually. Australia 276 all out in 50 overs (David Warner 52, Josh Inglis 45; Mohammed Shami 5-51) vs India.