Home ministry will be involved: Anurag Thakur on India travelling to Pakistan for CT 2025

It hurts when you are dropped from the team you have loved the most: David Warner

Australia opener and former Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper David Warner has finally opened up about him being removed from the SRH captaincy and then getting dropped from the side. In an interview to Economic Times, Warner said, “When you are dropped from the team you have loved the most for years without any real fault of yours and stripped of captaincy without being given a reason, it hurts. At the same time there are no complaints. The fans in India have always been there for me.” Interestingly, Warner had led the Hyderabad-based franchise to the IPL title back in 2016 when they defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final. Warner further added that he might have been out of form then but he was pushing his limits during the practice sessions. “Whatever may have been the reason for me not finding a spot in an IPL team, I can tell you I was training the hardest I ever did. I didn’t not miss a single day. I was batting extremely well in the nets,” he added. The left-handed batsman did turn it around for himself in the T20 World Cup after he was adjudged the Man of the tournament as Australia lifted their first ever T20 title.

Mickey Arthur set to end tenure as Sri Lanka's head coach, to head Derbyshire County

Mickey Arthur has announced that he will part ways with Sri Lanka as their head coach after the conclusion of the upcoming series against the West Indies. He took to his Twitter account to make his decision public and said that he is walking away from the post with the belief that “SL cricket is in a better place now” than the time he had started. Arthur has been hired by the Derbyshire County Cricket Club as its head of Cricket. Arthur was appointed as the head coach of the Sri Lankan side in late 2019 and he has made some significant changes in the structure of the team and how they would like to play their cricket. He has also been known for his animated style of communication with players. Before taking up the role as Sri Lanka’s coach, Arthur had a long list of sides he had guided in the past that includes Pakistan, Australia and South Africa. Sri Lanka Cricket has empowered former captain Mahela Jayawardene to suggest the best candidates to replace Arthur.

Tim Paine to feature in Ashes series without any First-Class matches under his belt

Australia Test captain Tim Paine will go into the Ashes series without a First-Class match but the right-hander will feature in club cricket and second XI cricket for Tasmania in the coming week. Paine had undergone a neck surgery and has been out of action since. Australia's chairman of selectors George Baileyisnt has said that the wicket-keeper batsman’s surgery has gone well. "Just get some cricket under his belt, which we're really confident he's going to get back this weekend," Bailey said on Wednesday. "And I think from all reports, surgery has gone really well. He's feeling really, really confident. I think they've actually had to hold him back a little bit in the last couple of weeks to make sure the actual healing process has gone well,” he added. Australia earlier announced the squad for the Ashes series. The side would be led by Tim Paine while Pat Cummins will be his deputy. Apart from this, left-handed batsman Usman Khawaja has been rewarded for his good form in the recent past and was also picked in the side. The Ashes is set to begin on December 8 in Brisbane. Australia's Ashes squad Tim Paine (c), Pat Cummins (vc), Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

My dream is to win matches for the country: Venkatesh Iyer

India are all set to begin the T20I series against New Zealand on Wednesday in Jaipur. The selectors have given a chance to some new players and one of these is Venkatesh Iyer. In a video released by the BCCI, Iyer is seen talking about his journey and his close friend and new entrant in the Indian team Avesh Khan. “Avesh Khan broke the news to me. He came up to my room and told me that we both have been selected. I was obviously happy and called up my family and told them that I was selected. I was happier for Avesh more than me,” he said. Venky further revealed how Avesh has worked hard on himself and his game. “I have seen him grow not just as a player but as a person. We play for the same association and we share a good bond. I know him in and out and have seen the struggle that Avesh has gone through,” he added. Talking about his own plans, the all-rounder said that he dreams of winning matches and tournaments for the country. “My dream is to win matches and tournaments for the country.” Former India captain Rahul Dravid had been appointed as the new coach of the side while Rohit Sharma has taken up the captaincy responsibilities in the T20Is. Mentioning about both the coach and the skipper, Iyer said that he got a vey good welcome in the squad. “Everyone welcomed me with open arms and this shows the culture of the team that they are very good and welcoming to the new players. There is a lot to learn from Rahul sir and its about how we will pick up things,” he said.