'The unexpected turn of events and assertion of sovereignty by the Taliban has baffled the Pakistan security establishment.'
Suryansh Shedge has been named as the replacement for the injured Nitish Reddy in India's T20I squads for the upcoming series against Ireland and England in the UK. Shedge's call-up follows impressive performances for India A and Mumbai in domestic tournaments.
Rohit Sharma was dismissed for 48 by Rashid Khan, while Yashasvi Jaiswal's return to the ODI side ended in disappointment as he was out cheaply. Both Indian openers failed to convert their starts in the second ODI against Afghanistan in Lucknow.
Nitish Reddy is set to be a key player to watch in the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan, as India looks to groom him as a potential successor or back-up for Hardik Pandya. His recent IPL performance showcased significant improvement in both batting and medium-pace bowling, making him a vital prospect for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are set to return for India's three-match ODI series against an upbeat England, aiming to lift the team's spirits after a dismal T20I performance.
Afghanistan spinner Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar urged the international community, including India, to intervene after a Pakistani military airstrike on a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul on Monday killed nearly 400 people.
Afghans have deep self-respect and are the last people to put up with humiliation. Is it any surprise that relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have touched an all-time low and the two countries are now at war? asks M R Narayan Swamy.
Following India's dominant win over Afghanistan in the second ODI in Lucknow, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar praised young fast bowler Gurnoor Brar for his standout performance, highlighting his rhythm, run-up and ability to extract steep bounce.
Having observed Rohit Sharma up close during his stint with Mumbai Indians, Afghanistan's rising spin star AM Ghazanfar is eager to put those learnings to the test when he takes on the Indian batting great in the upcoming ODI series.
Harshit Rana returns to the Indian after regaining fitness even as Yashasvi Jaiswal will have to prove his ODI credibility as India look to sweep series against Afghanistan.
Afghanistan Test captain Hashmatullah Shahidi addressed Rashid Khan's Test future, stating it's a matter for selectors. Shahidi emphasised the need for Afghanistan to play more Test matches to develop their red-ball team, despite their domestic red-ball structure. He also highlighted the talent beyond T20 leagues and expressed confidence in his team's ability to handle conditions and compete against India.
Outgoing Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott reflects on his three-year stint with the team, highlighting achievements and areas for future improvement following their exit from the T20 World Cup.
Pacer Gurnoor Brar's impressive 10-wicket match haul and Sai Sudharsan's century led India A to a resounding 10-wicket victory over Sri Lanka A in the second unofficial Test in Galle. This performance strengthens Brar's case for a Test debut in the upcoming series against Sri Lanka, while other Test regulars also gained valuable game time.
Ibrahim Zadran and Darwish Rasooli slammed half-centuries as Afghanistan outclassed West Indies by 38 runs in the first T20 International in Dubai on Monday.
'Islamabad feels it has no alternative, but to address the challenges from the Afghan-Taliban through an open war.'
Virat Kohli upped his style game with a vibrant pastel colour.
Pakistan has announced a temporary pause in its ongoing operation against the Afghan Taliban in response to requests from Islamic countries and in view of the upcoming Eid festival, following accusations from Afghanistan regarding an attack on a rehabilitation hospital in Kabul.
Pakistan confirms its armed forces targeted terrorist hideouts and military installations in Afghanistan's Kandahar province, claiming the action was in response to attacks by the Afghan Taliban. The strikes, part of Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, targeted technical support infrastructure and equipment storage used by terrorists, according to Pakistani officials.
Adding another feather to his illustrious cap, Rohit Sharma on Saturday became only the second Indian opener after Virender Sehwag to score 16,000 international runs while opening the batting.
Rohit Sharma remains an important member of the Indian ODI team not just for his batting but also for his leadership abilities, spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule said.
Manav Suthar starred on Test debut with figures of 6 for 33 as India bowled out Afghanistan for 152 and enforced the follow-on. The Rajasthan spinner registered the second-best bowling figures by an Indian on Test debut.
After a dream debut in the one-off Test against Afghanistan recently, India spinner Manav Suthar signed a short-term deal with English county side Warwickshire.
Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of India's upcoming series against England due to a leg strain. This injury follows previous back spasms that affected his IPL performance. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli is also sidelined with a hamstring injury and is awaiting a fitness test. The BCCI has announced the T20I squad, with the ODI squad announcement pending.
The strikes targeted the Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi, the 12th Brigade base in Quetta, Balochistan, and the Khoizai camp in the Mohmand Agency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, along with other military sites housing key facilities and centres.
Captain Shubman Gill became only the 11th Indian to complete 1000 Test runs as skipper, attaining the landmark during the one-off Test against Afghanistan in Mullanpur on Saturday.
Shubman Gill climbed to eighth in the latest ICC Test batting rankings, while Harry Brook returned to the top spot, replacing England teammate Joe Root.
India's assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak has provided an update on the fitness of Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya, who are awaiting clearance for the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan after sustaining injuries during the IPL.
Sanju Samson has been dropped from the Indian T20I squad for the upcoming series against Zimbabwe, making way for Punjab Kings' wicketkeeper-batter Prabhsimran Singh.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, at just 15 years and 91 days, has become the youngest player to represent India in international cricket, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's 37-year-old record. He also set a new benchmark as the youngest T20I debutant from a Full Member nation, making his debut against Ireland in Belfast.
Several Afghanistan cricketers, including Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi, condemned Pakistan's military airstrike at a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabulinvestigation.
Four brothers were killed in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province after a bullet allegedly fired from the Afghan side struck near their house.
Afghanistan-Sri Lanka white-ball series likely to be postponed indefinitely as West Asia conflict deepens
Debutant left-arm spinner Manav Suthar is blessed with amazing skills-sets and will be a treat to watch in the coming days, reckoned all-rounder Washington Sundar.
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan discusses India's ODI series against Afghanistan as a crucial opportunity to assess squad depth for the upcoming ICC World Cup, highlighting key players and their roles, especially for South African conditions.
Rajasthan all-rounder Manav Suthar has made his Test debut for India against Afghanistan in Mullanpur, becoming the 319th player to represent the country in Test cricket.
Veteran fast bowler Ishant Sharma's coach, Shravan Kumar, has criticised the national selectors for not including pace sensation Auqib Nabi in the Indian team's playing XI for the upcoming one-off Test against Afghanistan. Kumar highlighted Nabi's exceptional performance of 60 wickets in the Ranji Trophy, which was instrumental in Jammu & Kashmir's maiden title triumph, arguing that such achievements should not be overlooked by relegating him to a backup role.
Former India leg-spinner Sairaj Bahutule has been appointed as the spin-bowling coach for the men's national team, commencing with the Test against Afghanistan. He brings extensive coaching experience from domestic cricket and the IPL.
Punjab pacer Gurnoor Brar was more excited than under pressure on his India debut against Afghanistan and his first wicket settled the semblance of nerves, helping him walk away with a memorable outing in the rain-shortened first One-day International in Dharamsala.
Nitish Kumar Reddy's recent work on his bowling action and run-up has paid dividends and that improvement was visible in India's ODI series opener against Afghanistan in Dharamshala on Saturday.
Anvay Dravid was named as the wicketkeeper-batter in the one-day squad which will play three limited overs matches in Sri Lanka.
