T20 World Cup 2022 | India-Pakistan game tickets get sold out in 5 minutes

Australia taking full-strength squad to Pakistan for Test tour

After much speculation that several senior players might snub the Pakistan tour, Australia have finally been able to name their squad for the Pakistan Test series. And to much surprise, they have been able to name a full strength squad for the long format series which is scheduled to begin on March 4. The team will be led by Pat Cummins and all senior players will be present alongside him as Australia visit Pakistan for the first time in about 25 years. The last match that the Aussies have played in Pakistan dates back to 1998 where the visiting side won a high scoring match by 6 wickets in Lahore. In what looks like a balanced unit, Australia have chosen to include three full time spinners in Ashton Agar, Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Swepson. They also have taken a full strength pace bowling attack barring the services of Jhye Richardson, who struggled for fitness in the recently concluded Ashes series. Full Squad Pat Cummins (captain), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner.

New Zealand finding it difficult to field full strength batting unit against South Africa

New Zealand’s full time captain Kane Williamson’s return has been further delayed due to his long-standing elbow injury. The ICC Test captain of the year has been away from action since the 1st Test between India and NZ in November 2021 for an elbow strain that has been bothering him over the last two years. Williamson was advised a sustained period of rest by the doctors and it was speculated that the right handed batter will return in the South Africa home series. Coach Gary Stead confirmed the news and stated that they would now be eyeing for a March window where the Kiwis have white ball matches scheduled against the Netherlands. In the absence of Williamson and recently retired Ross Taylor, NZ will be fielding their weakest batting line-up in years and have been forced to call up Hamish Rutherford, who played his last long format game in 2015. Colin de Grandhomme has also been added to the team. New Zealand take on South Africa on a two-game tour starting 17 February.

AUSW vs ENGW | 3rd ODI: Australia thump England in final showdown to remain unbeaten in Ashes 2022

Australian women's team remained unbeaten against England after defeating them in the third ODI by 8 wickets in Melbourne. Chasing a target of 164, Australia were off to a good start after Alyssa Healy and Rachael Haynes stitched a partnership of 74 runs for the first wicket before Healy departed for 42 off 56. Haynes soon followed her after she was dismissed for 31 of 46, leaving Australia at 74/2. But captain Meg Lanning and Ellyse Perry then came in for the rescue with an unbeaten 90-run stand for the third wicket. While Lanning went on to score a fifty, Perry remained unbeaten at 31 off 46 to take the side home. Sophie Ecclestone was the pick of the bowlers after she scalped one wicket at the cost of only 18 runs in 10 overs. Earlier, in the day, England had a disappointing start as they lost a couple of early wickets but Beaumont and Sciver then tried to steady the ship. The two batters scored 88 runs for the third wicket before Beaumont was sent back in the hut for 50. Her wicket certainly broke the shackles as the visitors lost wickets at regular intervals to get reduced to 138/8 before eventually getting bowled out for 163 in the final over. Sciver scored 46 for the side. Sutherland scalped a four-wicket haul for 31 runs in 9 overs while Schutt had two wickets to her name for 25 runs in 10 overs. "It's been an outstanding series. First of all, big thank you to England and their support staff for coming here and playing. There are always a few spanners that are thrown at us during a series. But it was good to see different people stand up and perform for us. I think we have had pretty good games in different patches," Lanning said after the match.

Cheteshwar Pujara returns to Ranji Trophy in search of form

Indian veteran Test batsman Cheteshwar Pujara is set to return to Ranji Trophy in search of runs. Having been criticised for several months now, Pujara has put his name in the Saurashtra squad to play the premiere red ball competition which is set to begin on February 10. Board of Control for Cricket in India President Sourav Ganguly teased earlier last week that Pujara along with Ajinkya Rahane might go back to the Indian domestic set up to revive their form. While Rahane will be playing under Prithvi Shaw for Mumbai, Pujara will be captained by one of the best red ball bowlers in the domestic circuit - Jayadev Unadkat. Ranji Trophy is scheduled to begin on February 10 and will be played in two halves this year. The first half of the tournament will be played till March 15 and then the tournament will go on a break for BCCI to concentrate on the Indian Premier League. The second half will be played from May 30 to June 26. Saurashtra are placed in Elite Group D alongside Mumbai, Odisha and Goa.