Australia's pacer Josh Hazlewood says he saw a 'few cracks' while rattling their top-order in their World Cup league clash last month.
After defeats in their opening two matches, Australia came roaring back, winning their next nine games in succession
Top teams have declined to play in Pakistan since a 2009 militant attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in the city of Lahore, though international cricket returned to the country in 2015 when Zimbabwe played limited-overs matches.
India were also heavily fancied to beat New Zealand at the same stage of the 2019 edition, only to lose by 18 runs at Old Trafford.
The series starts with the first T20I in Mohali on Thursday, and Afghanistan will look to take inspiration from their impressive outing in the ODI World Cup in October-November last year to prepare in earnest for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
While England failed miserably on the field under his watch, Thorpe's departure was also expedited after reports emerged that police had to be called in to the team hotel in Hobart after he had lit a cigar inside the premise following a drinking session that lasted till 6 a.m.
Mumbai Indians owner Aakash Ambani revealed the plan to sign Jofra Archer was more of an investment point of view.
Former coach John Buchanan does not consider David Warner as one of the greats of the game.
Stuart Broad said the defending champions will miss his aura but have enough resources to replace him as a player.
Mark Boucher's appointment comes after Mahela Jayawardene stepped down as head coach to take on a bigger role at the franchise due to its increasing international presence.
Images from the English Premier League matches played on Sunday night.
A well-informed source close to Shaheen said that the bowler was upset that not even once the PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi or the national selectors have spoken to him about their future plans as far as the captaincy or appointment of coaches is concerned.
IMAGES from the Premier League matches played on Tuesday.
Israel debutant Yarden Shua scored an 86th-minute winner as they upset more fancied Belgium 1-0 in Budapest on Sunday.
An own goal by Stoke City keeper Jack Butland gifted Leicester City an equaliser in a 1-1 Premier League draw at the King Power Stadium on Saturday and denied Paul Lambert's side a rare win on the road.
Wood had knee surgery this week to clear up excess cartilage.
The selectors had announced the squad for the first two matches but Thakur has been ruled out of the five-ODI series after sustaining a right adductor tendon injury.
The eight seeded South African fought back after losing the first two sets to defeat the Swiss ace 2-6, 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-4, 13-11.
New Zealand's stand-in captain Tom Latham was delighted to have found a new hero in ton-up Rachin Ravindra as they began their World Cup campaign, obliterating champions England by 9 wickets in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
Rohit hit an unprecedented five hundreds in a single edition of the World Cup last year and had a great run last year.
Australian Shane McDermott has already been roped in as team's new fielding coach.
Arsenal substitute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice in three minutes and captain Mesut Ozil played a starring role as they extended their winning run with a 3-1 victory over Leicester City in the Premier League on Monday.
Norwich City fought back to draw 1-1 with Everton after Romelu Lukaku scored on Saturday for the sixth successive Premier League match to give the visitors an early lead.
Ahead of England's first ODI against West Indies, England skipper Jos Buttler said that there is a lot of exciting new talent in the team and he will personally take the responsibility to bring back the Three Lions to the previous days of glory.
IMAGES from the Premier League matches played on Saturday.
Rohit Sharma's request to the BCCI for a break from white-ball cricket in South Africa despite being offered T20 captaincy has been accepted, while Jasprit Bumrah has been named his deputy for the two Tests starting December 26.
He was clearly disappointed to miss out the Indian Open title, but star Indian shuttler Satwiksairaj Rankireddy on Sunday said "losing is better than winning always" and hoped the defeat in the final will spur him and his doubles partner Chirag Shetty to win a bigger crown in coming days.
"Glenn was proactive in identifying these issues and engaging with support staff."
Colombian super-sub Jhon Duran scored two late goals as Aston Villa salvaged a 3-3 home draw with Liverpool.
Images from Sunday's action in the Premier League.
Westley has enjoyed a prolific season for Essex in the CountyChampionship, scoring 478 runs, including two centuries, at an average of 53.11.
A summary of Thursday's action in the Premier League.
Pakistan finished the third day of the first Test in a strong position after Yasir Shah took six wickets as England were dismissed for 272 then the visitors reached 214 for eight in their second innings for a lead of 281.
'I still feel my body is serving me, is listening to me well. That's the key I think when you get to 35-plus.'
India last won a Test series in England in 2007 under Rahul Dravid, and it will be no easy task ahead of the Virat Kohli-led side to replicate that feat.
Lakshya Sen is aware that his Olympic qualification is still in choppy waters but said he has been working on his "variations" and "deceptions" during the off-season to regain his world's top-10 position and seal his Paris Games berth.
Warner set new standards for explosive openers in his early years in the Test game
Finch's place in the team is under scrutiny ahead of Australia's World Cup title defence on home soil.
Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja has been elected the new chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for a tenure of three years after winning an unopposed election.
It was an optional session at the Supersport Park but for India skipper Rohit Sharma, skipping the nets wasn't an option.
