Azhar was named Test captain this month in place of Sarfaraz Ahmed whose spot as wicketkeeper has been taken by Mohammad Rizwan.
The focus will be firmly on India's Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane and young prodigy Prithvi Shaw when Mumbai take on Karnataka in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group B game, beginning in Mumbai on Friday. Both Rahane and Shaw failed with the bat in the last Ranji Trophy game against Railways which the domestic giants lost by 10 wickets inside two and half days.
Rashid Latif said with no crowd pressure -- as the matches will be played without spectators -- it would be intriguing to see how both teams cope in the Test and T20 series.
Sarfaraz Khan first surpassed Sachin Tendulkar's record to hit the headlines and the 12-year-old cricket prodigy now wants to meet the batting great in person to achieve his long-cherished dream. Sarfaraz, who slammed 439 in the Harris Shield to better Tendulkar's inter-school unbeaten knock of 346, showed maturity beyond his years as he dismissed any comparison made between him and Tendulkar.
Inzamam-ul-Haq announced his decision to step down as Pakistan's chief selector when his contract expires on July 31.
Check out the Royal Challengers Bangalore squad for the eighth edition of the Indian Premier League.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has already announced that its revamped cricket committee will hold a robust inquiry into the team's performances
KXIP are riding a roller-coaster ride, having to endure a controversy involving their captain Ravichandran Ashwin who 'Mankaded' Rajasthan Royals batsman Jos Buttler in their first match, an act which was legal but criticised by some as against the 'Spirit of Cricket'.
They entered the Bihar poll battle to protect and carry forward their fathers' political legacy, but many of them could not win their own seat though some tasted victory.
India will witness its first major cricket tournament in the country since the COVID-19 disruption when the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy begins the much-delayed domestic season from Sunday, presenting a platform for the hopefuls to impress before the Indian Premier League players' auction.
Pakistani players have been ridiculed on social media and lambasted by former cricketers after the 89-run defeat to India in the marquee World Cup clash on Sunday.
Virat's captaincy may have come of age in this competition.
Mumbai trounced Himachal Pradesh by 200 runs in their final Elite Group D game to remain unbeaten in the league stage
Defending champions India crashed out of the Under-19 World Cup after suffering a three-wicket defeat at the hands of a disciplined England side in the quarterfinals in Dubai on Saturday.
It has been a dramatic turnaround for the KL Rahul-led side after a string a losses earlier in the tournament.
The nail-biting win over defending champions Mumbai Indians was certainly a morale-lifter but the inconsistent Kings XI Punjab have another tough battle at hand when they take on table toppers Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League, in Dubai, on Tuesday.
Keacy Carty hit an unbeaten fifty to steer the West Indies to a thrilling five-wicket victory in the ICC Under-19 World Cup final, in Mirpur, on Sunday. Chasing India's paltry total of 145, the West Indies won with three balls to spare and claimed their maiden Under-19 World title.
Their bowling attacks struggling to find form, Kings XI Punjab and SunRisers Hyderabad will look towards their power-hitters to do the job when the two erratic teams go head to head in an IPL match, in Dubai, on Thursday.
CSK have better resources but they must utilise them to the hilt. Teams:
Coming off heartbreaking losses, the Indian Premier League game between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab will be a test of character for both sides as they look to get back to winning ways, in Abu Dhabi, on Thursday.
Pakistan's centrally-contracted players are mentally prepared for pay cuts if the health crisis created by the coronavirus pandemic persisted for a few months, Test captain Azhar Ali said on Saturday.
