Shaheen Afridi's dominant performance in the recent series against Australia has propelled him back to the top spot in the ICC ODI Bowler Rankings. He is joined by his compatriot and team captain Babar Azam, who remains at the top of the ODI batting rankings. Pakistan's bowlers Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah also saw significant improvements in their rankings, while other players from England, Bangladesh, and India have also made strides in the T20I rankings.
The inaugural Women’s U19 Asia Cup, scheduled to take place in Malaysia, will see India and Pakistan battling it out in the same group. The tournament will include six teams, divided into two groups. Group A consists of India, Pakistan, and Nepal, while Group B includes Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia. The tournament will commence on December 15, with the hosts facing Sri Lanka in the opening game. India and Pakistan are set to clash on the same day while the top two teams from each group will compete in the Super Four round on December 19 and 20.
The battle between Afghanistan and Bangladesh in the first ODI of their three-match series is set to begin. Bangladesh, who lost their last Test and ODI series against India, will be looking to bounce back, while Afghanistan is riding high after their historic ODI series win against South Africa. The match will be held in Sharjah and will start at 3:30 PM IST, but unfortunately, it will not be televised in India.
"SAFF Women’s Championship: India Continues Dominance, Bangladesh Makes History" The SAFF Women’s Championship 2024 is set to kick off in Nepal, with seven South Asian nations competing for the title. In its history, the tournament has seen a mix of teams competing for the trophy, with India emerging as the most successful country, winning five consecutive titles. However, in a historic moment, Bangladesh claimed their first-ever SAFF title in 2022, defeating Nepal on their home turf. With both teams showcasing their strength, the upcoming championship is expected to be an intense battle for the title.
South African batters Tristan Stubbs and Tony de Zorzi both registered their maiden Test centuries as they helped the Proteas reach a formidable 307/2 on the first day of the second Test against Bangladesh in Chattogram. This marked the first time since 2019 that two or more Protean batters have scored hundreds in the same Test innings, a feat which last happened against India in 2019. Stubbs and De Zorzi also broke records with their partnership of 201 runs for the second wicket, which is the third best in South African history. The Proteas now lead the 2-match series 1-0 after winning the first Test in Dhaka.
The interim government of Bangladesh has banned the student body of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, citing their involvement in violent attacks on student protests that ultimately led to Hasina's ouster in August. With public anger and protests against Hasina's government increasing, the ban on the Bangladesh Chhatra League has been implemented under the Anti-Terrorism Act in an effort to preserve public security. Despite her attempts to record a farewell speech before fleeing the country, Hasina's 15-year-long administration has come to an end and the ban serves as a symbolic end to her controversial reign.
South Africa were struggling against Bangladesh in the Dhaka Test, but Kyle Verreynne's impressive century, along with support from Wiaan Mulder, helped the Proteas take a significant lead of 202 runs in the first innings. This also makes Verreynne only the third designated South African wicketkeeper to score a Test century in Asia. On the other hand, Bangladesh will need their captain and senior players to step up in order to avoid another defeat and salvage some pride after their recent whitewash against India.
Star wicket-keeper batter Sanju Samson is expected to make a return to Kerala's squad for their second match of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25, where they will face Karnataka. Loyal fans will be eagerly waiting to see Samson back in action, especially after his explosive performance in the recent T20I series against Bangladesh, where he smashed a remarkable 40-ball century. However, his home team's leadership duties will continue to remain with Sachin Baby, who impressively guided Kerala to a victory in the opening round against Punjab. With Samson expressing his desire to play Test Cricket for India, all eyes will be on his performance in the upcoming match as he tries to make a strong case for his selection in the Indian team.
The highly anticipated ACC Men's Emerging T20 Asia Cup is set to kick off on Friday with a double-header featuring Bangladesh A vs Hong Kong, China and Sri Lanka A vs Afghanistan A. This edition marks the tournament's switch to the T20 format and will be held at the Oman Cricket Academy Ground in Muscat. India A, led by Tilak Varma, will also be competing against arch-rivals Pakistan in the evening encounter on Saturday. While the tournament will not be broadcasted on any TV channel in India, fans can catch all the action live on the FanCode app and website.
Despite heavy rain delaying the start of the first Test match between India and New Zealand in Bengaluru, local hero Virat Kohli still managed to bring excitement to the disappointed crowd. Kohli, a beloved member of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru franchise, made his way to the field amidst cheers from his loyal fans. The weather has been a major disruptor in the lead up to the match, with both teams having to cancel training sessions. Nevertheless, India remains the favored team coming off a successful sweep of Bangladesh, while New Zealand will be without star batsman Kane Williamson.