We know the challenges of facing India at home: Ajaz Patel

IND vs NZ | KL Rahul ruled out of first Test; Suryakumar Yadav named as replacement

It has been reported that KL Rahul, one of India’s most experienced batters in the current Test squad, has been ruled out of the first Test against New Zealand due to a muscle strain on his left thigh. India are scheduled to play a two-match Test series against the World Test Championship titleholders, with the first game starting on 25 November in Kanpur. The Board for Control of Cricket in India has confirmed that Suryakumar Yadav will be Rahul's replacement for the game. The injured right hander will be sent to the National Cricket Academy for his rehabilitation programme where he will prepare for the South Africa series. The India team is already without the services of regular skipper Virat Kohli and experienced opener Rohit Sharma who have asked the BCCI for rest after a heavy 6-month schedule where they had to jump bio-bubbles to accommodate their schedule. While it is not clear as to what the injury is, but it would mean that Shubman Gill will be back in the opening slot and one among SKY or Shreyas Iyer might get a chance to occupy a position in the middle order.

Halal trends on Twitter as cricket fans ask BCCI to withdraw its decision to serve only halal meat

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is now marred in a fresh controversy as their new dietary plan of serving only Halal meat for meat consuming players has enraged many fans and their religious sentiments. The anger towards the Indian cricket board was evident on social media with Halal trending on Twitter in India. The new menu plans were introduced by the BCCI on Monday, November 22 for the upcoming first Test of the two-match series against New Zealand. For the Kanpur Test, the BCCI is said to have asked the catering company ti serve only Halal meat and that provoked many fans. Having won the T20I series 3-0, the Indian team would be looking to add to their World Test Championship points when it takes on the defending champions New Zealand in the three-match series. While India’s WTC 2021-23 campaign started with its England tour in August this year, the Kiwis would start their title defence with this series against India. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is now marred in a fresh controversy as their new dietary plan of serving only Halal meat for meat consuming players has enraged many fans and their religious sentiments. The anger towards the Indian cricket board was evident on social media with Halal trending on Twitter in India. The new menu plans were introduced by the BCCI on Monday, November 22 for the upcoming first Test of the two-match series against New Zealand. For the Kanpur Test, the BCCI is said to have asked the catering company to serve only Halal meat and that provoked many fans. Having won the T20I series 3-0, the Indian team would be looking to add to their World Test Championship points when it takes on the defending champions New Zealand in the three-match series. While India’s WTC 2021-23 campaign started with its England tour in August this year, the Kiwis would start their title defence with this series against India.

Tamim Iqbal ruled out of New Zealand tour

Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal has been ruled out of the Test series against New Zealand due to a thumb injury. The chief physician of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Debashish Chowdhury confirmed that Tamim won’t be able to travel to New Zealand and would need one month of rest to recover from the injury. The batsman sustained the injury while playing the Everest Premier League in Nepal. "He (Tamim) met the physician and they have advised him to take a one-month rest though he won't require any surgery," Debashish told Cricbuzz. "In that case, he's missing the New Zealand tour." The Bangladesh side is likely to leave for New Zealand in the latter part of December and will begin the series which is a part of the second cycle of the World Test Championship on January 1 in Tauranga. The teams will then travel to Christchurch to play the second Test which is slated to begin on January 9. Presently, Bangladesh are hosting Pakistan in a three-match T20I series which concluded on Monday and the two teams will now lock horns in two Tests. New Zealand on the other side, are touring India for a three T20Is series and a two-match Test series. The visitors have already suffered a 0-3 defeat in T20Is and will now begin the Test series on Friday in Kanpur.

Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Rejaur Raja earn maiden Bangladesh call up for Pakistan Test series

Bangladesh announced a 15 member squad for the two-match Test series against Pakistan starting November 26 at Chattogram. While Shakib Al Hasan has been named as probable in the squad and his entry is subject to fitness clearance, Two new names in Batter Mahmudul Hasan Joy and fast bowler Rejaur Rahman Raja have earned their maiden call ups for Bangladesh. The decision to include Joy and Raja have been included as experienced players such as Mahmudullah, Shoriful Islam and Taskin Ahmed have not been named in the squad due to retirement and injury concerns. "It is still early days for him but Mahmudul has shown good temperament for the longer version. With injury concerns to Taskin (Ahmed) and Shoriful (Islam), we needed to keep our pace-bowling options open and Raja got the nod. We have been monitoring his performances in first-class competitions. He is strong and energetic and has a knack for taking wickets,” Minhajul Abedin, the Bangladesh chief selector said. Both Joy and Raja did well in the ongoing National Cricket League. While the 21-year-old Joy, who was part of the Bangladesh Under-19 World Cup-winning squad made back-to-back centuries for Chattogram Division, the 22-year-old Raja, who plays for Sylhet Division, took 12 wickets at an average of 16.91, with best match figures of 8 for 82. The rest of the squad has experience in the likes of skipper Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das with the bat and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam and Eabadot Hossain. Pakistan clean swept the T20I series 3-0 and would look to do the same in the two-match Test series which is part of the World Test Championship 2021-23. Bangladesh squad for first Test: Mominul Haque (capt), Shadman Islam, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das, Nurul Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Ebadat Hossain, Abu Jayed, Yasir Ali, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Shakib Al Hasan (subject to fitness)