Scary for opponents to know that we did not have a perfect match, but still winning: Rodrigues
On any other occasion, there would have been a build-up of excitement from cricket fans. But not this time.
India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, are coming into the showpiece event on the back of a hard-fought ODI series loss to Australia, where opener Smriti Mandhana slammed two back-to-back centuries and the spinners, led by Deepti Sharma, giving a good account of themselves.
'He doesn't play T20 cricket. So, he will not be a part of the World Cup in 2026 in India. But when they go to 2027 in South Africa, he will be 40 years old. And that's a big number in sport.'
The triumph at the Dubai International Stadium marked India's ninth Asia Cup title and showcased the team's grit, character, and ability to perform under pressure.
Afghanistan had 25 contracted women cricketers in 2020, most of whom have resettled in Australia with humanitarian visas due to restrictions at home under the hardline Taliban government.
'There has been no gentlemanness in the game. There have been very rude, arrogant gestures on the field.'
While new young stars have emerged in Indian cricket in the last few years, none can match the monumental batting feats or the electric fan frenzy that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli command.
The Pakistan Cricket Board's chief operating officer Sumair Ahmed has blamed the ICC for the mismanagement at the final presentation ceremony of the Champions Trophy in Dubai.
He also admitted to learning a lot from 'one of the best players in the world', his teammate Steve Smith.
'Funny enough, I'm not one for records, but when you mention Meg Lanning, I'm glad I'm above that one. As long as we are winning the games, then I'm all good.'
Pakistan's reported threat to pull out from the ongoing Asia Cup after demanding ICC match referee Andy Pycroft's removal won't be particularly easy
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The Indian trio of all-rounder Hardik Pandya, mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy and aggressive opener Abhishek Sharma retained their respective top positions in the ICC T20 rankings.
India defeated Pakistan by 88 runs in their Women's World Cup match in Colombo on Sunday.
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The Asia Cup trophy was ultimately not awarded to champions India in the customary ceremony after they refused to accept it from Naqvi in Dubai on Sunday.
Mike Hesson is free to rank Pakistan left-arm spinner Mohammed Nawaz as high as he wants but India know where their spinners are placed in the world order.
'...the only match that really counts is the one at the end. And that will be our focus. Trying to play our best game when it counts.'
The other venues for the eight-team tournament include Guwahati, Indore, Visakhapatnam and Colombo.
'You are talking about legends like Gavaskar, Tendulkar, Dravid and Virat. Rohit does not fit in there.'
'We are going to play in front of a huge crowd in India, and it's going to be a memorable campaign and we are ready for it.'
That is the level of trust we have in each other.'
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has issued fresh guidelines barring journalists from asking political questions at press conferences in an apparent bid to diffuse the volatile situation that has persisted since the India-Pakistan match last Sunday.
'Should a player with such deep understanding of the ODI format be removed from captaincy when neither age nor performance has dimmed his brilliance?', asks veteran cricket correspondent K R Nayar.
Returning to the bowling crease would mark the final stage of Green's carefully looked-after return to cricket after a spinal fusion operation in Christchurch.
The timing of his decision comes just months before England's highly anticipated Test tour of Australia, where the two sides will contest a five-match ICC World Test Championship series beginning November 21 in Perth.
Third-placed India close in on England in latest Women's ODI rankings update
Fresh from a hard-fought 2-2 draw in England, Shubman Gill's men will be eager to translate their overseas resilience into home dominance.
Asian Cricket Council chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the PCB chief, walked away with the Asia Cup trophy after India refused to take the silverware from his hands.
The India-Pakistan tensions have had no impact on the bonhomie within the UAE cricket team, which is a mix of expatriates from the two countries, insisted skipper Muhammad Waseem.
India's middle-order mainstay Shreyas Iyer was on Tuesday nominated alongside New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra and Jacob Duffy for the ICC Player of the Month award for March following his remarkable performance in last month's Champions Trophy.
Seasoned all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner's commanding century and disciplined effort from the bowlers helped defending champions Australia thrash trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand by 89 runs in their ICC Women's World Cup opening match in Indore on Wednesday.
Speculation of Tendulkar being next BCCI Prez unfounded, says India legend's management firm
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia addressed the uncertainty revolving around the future of the board's president after Roger Binny completed his tenure and announced that the Indian cricket board will reveal its next course of action in the next two days.
Mithun Manhas' name came to the fore after an informal meeting held in New Delhi, during which it was decided to push his name forward for the role of BCCI president.
Pakistan qualified for the tournament in April this year.
'If tomorrow India says there should be no no-balls or wide balls, the ICC will find a way to make it happen.'
On Friday morning, the ICC World Test Championship winner's name popped up in Samoa's squad as they prepare to embark on the final journey towards the qualification of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.
'It is a very exciting moment for us and I just want all of us to stay in a very positive frame of mind where we can give our best.'
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