Author: WebDesk

Vaibhav Tripathi It’s official. Ben Stokes has made a U-turn on his ODI retirement and returned to the side with an eye on helping England retain the World Cup to be played in India. The all-rounder has been named in the squad for the ODI series against New Zealand to be hosted by England in September. The four-match series will be preceded by four T20Is. The inclusion of Stokes and return of Joe Root have prompted the omission of Yorkshire’s Harry Brook. This might mean a blow to Brook’s World Cup chances. Uncapped fast bowler Gus Atkinson has been named in…

Vaibhav Tripathi Wahab Riaz, Pakistan fast bowler, once touted as the next fast bowling sensation, has retired from international cricket at the age of 38. The seasoned left-arm bowler announced his decision on his official X account on Wednesday, August 16. With his international retirement, Wahab intends to focus his energies on participating in white-ball leagues across the globe. “Stepping off the international pitch. After an incredible journey, I’ve decided to retire from international cricket. Big thank you to PCB, my family, coaches, mentors, teammates, fans, and everyone who supported me,” Riaz wrote. “Exciting times ahead in the world of franchise…

For years, we’ve been told that women’s sport languished behind its male equivalent because there was no public interest. And this alleged apathy meant no sponsors and no prime-time television. Of the many lies that have floated around the sporting ecosystem for years, this is the worst. A crowd of over 86,000 watched the Australia-India final at the Women’s T20 World Cup in 2020, and the ongoing Women’s World Cup football has further exposed this myth. After a sellout crowd of 43,217 at Eden Park in Auckland watched Spain clinch their place in the final with victory over Sweden, more…

The evening of Independence Day witnessed an awe-inspiring spectacle as the Bengali community was treated to a radiant display of patriotism by none other than the illustrious ‘Maharaj’, Sourav Ganguly, who elegantly donned the persona of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. The astonishing photograph, unveiled by Ganguly himself on his social media platform, swiftly gained viral momentum, capturing the hearts and minds of cricket enthusiasts who hold their historical ‘hero’ in the highest regard. This striking portrayal of Ganguly as Netaji during the freedom struggle of Bengal has sparked a wave of admiration and pride. The question on everyone’s mind is:…

Vaibhav Tripathi Australia captain Pat Cummins remains optimistic about his return for the three-match ODI series against India in September, ahead of the ODI World Cup. Cummins sustained a wrist injury during the final test of the intense England series. Presently undergoing rehabilitation to ensure his full fitness for the significant event in India, he is slated to rejoin the squad during the South Africa series. Reflecting on the injury, Cummins shared, “Initially, it didn’t seem too severe, but as days passed, the discomfort increased, indicating it was likely a bone-related issue rather than muscular. I’ll be joining the South…

If a star was born in Spain’s Women’s World Cup quarterfinal against the Netherlands, it reached its zenith in the semi-final against Sweden, with Salma Paralluelo, the 19-year-old Barcelona star, scoring the opening goal and changing the tide as Jorge Vilda’s side booked their place in Sunday’s final. Spain, who had never gone past the round of 16 in their two previous World Cup appearances, will now face either Australia, the co-hosts, or England. Paralluelo’s goal had come in the 81st minute, and Spain, as they had in the game against Netherlands, were guilty of switching off. There were just…

Vaibhav Tripathi At the age of 26, Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga has announced his retirement from Test cricket. Although Hasaranga has participated in just four Test matches over the past two years and has struggled to make an impact as a bowler, taking four wickets at an average of 100.75, he did manage to score a half-century in South Africa. His move is believed to be aimed at increasing his availability for franchise cricket tournaments. “We will accept his decision and are confident that Hasaranga will be a vital part of our white-ball program going forward,” Ashley De Silva, CEO…

Vaibhav Tripathi Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced their ODI and T20I squads for the upcoming home series against Australia. Dewald Brevis earns his debut call-up for both formats, while Donovan Ferreira, Gerald Coetzee, and Matthew Breetzke secure their maiden T20I selections. Temba Bavuma captains the ODI team, featuring experienced players Rassie van der Dussen, Quinton de Kock, Heinrich Klaasen, and Kagiso Rabada, alongside David Miller. The announcement sets the stage for the series starting on August 30. ODI SQUAD: Temba Bavuma (c), Keshav Maharaj, Dewald Brevis, Aiden Markram, Gerald Coetzee, David Miller, Quinton de Kock, Lungi Ngidi, Bjorn Fortuin, Andrich…

Vaibhav Tripathi Steven Finn, 34, has retired retirement from all forms of cricket. The announcement arrives amid Finn’s struggle with a series of injuries, including a recent knee ailment that kept him out of the entire 2023 domestic season. During his international career from 2010 to 2017, the England pace bowler took 125 wickets in 36 Tests. He also bagged 102 wickets in 69 ODIs, and 27 wickets in 21 T20Is. “I have been fighting a battle with my body for the last 12 months and have admitted defeat to it,” he told BBC. “I feel incredibly lucky to have…

Injuries are part and parcel of any major football competition. You will seldom see a World Cup, whether that’s at junior or senior level, where every team is at full strength. England came into the Women’s World Cup without the Arsenal duo of Beth Mead and Leah Williamson, who had captained the team to Euro 2022 glory. The Netherlands’ challenge ended in the last eight against Spain, but many of their fans were left to wonder how different their tournament destiny might have been had Vivianne Miedema been fit to play. The Spanish team that take the field against Sweden…