Afghanistan beat Ireland by 3 wickets
Afghanistan defeated Ireland in the third ODI match of the series. A low-scoring thriller was witnessed in Belfast. Coming to bat first, the hosts Ireland were all out for 206 runs. Afghanistan achieved the target in the 45th over by losing 7 wickets. The team won the match by three wickets. With this, Afghanistan has taken a 2-0 lead in the 5-match series. One match was washed out due to rain. This victory has helped Afghanistan qualify for the 2027 World Cup.
Rashid Khan took 3 wickets for 44 runs in bowling. He dismissed two key batsmen of the team, Cade Carmichael as well as Harry Tector. He played an inning of 37 runs while batting and took the team to the target. In the 36th over, the team suffered its 7th blow at 176 runs. From here, Rashid made an unbeaten partnership of 31 runs with Yamin Ahmadzai. Yamin contributed 4 runs in 26 balls while Rashid scored 26 runs in 29 balls to take the team to victory. For this performance, he was also awarded the Player of the Match award.
Ajinkya Rahane wants Team India batters to play aggressively aganist the Lankans
Former captain Ajinkya Rahane has advised Team India batters to play aggressively in the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, starting in Galle on August 15. Rahane played a pivotal role in India’s 3-0 series victory during the 2017 tour of Sri Lanka, scoring a century and a half-century. Speaking to PTI in an interview, he said, “I believe the pitch in Sri Lanka is good on the first day, but it is crucial to dominate the bowler. What I have learned in Sri Lanka is that you cannot play defensively.”
He added, “You have to be more aggressive because the pitches there assist spinners. Sri Lanka possesses excellent spinners, and defeating the host team is always a challenge. Based on my years of experience, I can say that no opponent can be taken lightly.”
Sandeep Lamichhane named Nepal’s ODI team captain
Nepal cricket has seen a major change as on Monday, the cricket board announced a 14-member squad for the ACC Premier League, with the biggest change being the captaincy. 26-year-old spinner Sandeep Lamichhane has been appointed the new captain of the ODI team, replacing Rohit Paudel. Rohit had been leading the team in that format since 2022. He has only stepped down as captain; he retains his position as a player in the team.
This is the same Sandeep Lamichhane who was once accused of rape. In December 2023, a lower court in Nepal convicted Sandeep in the rape case. In January 2024, the Nepali cricketer was sentenced to eight years in prison. Following this, Nepal Cricket suspended Sandeep from international and domestic cricket.
MCA invited bids for a ninth team for Mumbai T20 League
The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has asked for bids for the rights to operate a new team in the prestigious T20 Mumbai League, which will increase the number of teams in the men’s league from eight to nine for the upcoming season. In a statement, the MCA said, “This season witnessed tremendous fan interest and fierce competition, further cementing the league’s status as one of India’s premier franchise-based domestic T20 tournaments.” Interested parties can obtain the bid documents from the MCA office at the Cricket Centre, Wankhede Stadium, Churchgate, Mumbai, between 11:00 AM and 6:00 PM from August 10 to August 25, 2026.
Will return to Bangladesh if assured of safety: Shakib Al Hasan
Former Bangladesh captain and star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has stated that he is willing to return to Bangladesh and face the ongoing legal proceedings against him, provided the government guarantees his safety. Shakib has been away from Bangladesh for a long time and is currently playing for the Jaffna Kings in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) in Sri Lanka.
Speaking to Reuters, Shakib said that if he receives a clear assurance regarding his safety from the government, he would not hesitate to return to the country. Dismissing the case filed against him as ridiculous, he asserted that he had done nothing wrong. He added that he is prepared to appear in court and cooperate with the legal process.
Scotland and the Netherlands unhappy with the World Cup 2027 format
Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB) have strongly criticized the changes made to the format of next year’s ICC Men’s ODI World Cup. In a joint statement, both boards asserted that these changes risk undermining the fairness and credibility of international cricket. They also questioned the process through which such significant changes were implemented. Under the new format, a total of 14 teams will participate in the 2027 ODI World Cup. However, a preliminary qualifying stage will be held involving the teams ranked 12th, 13th, and 14th, with only one team advancing to the main competition. Subsequently, the main tournament will feature 12 teams divided into two groups of six.
Expressing their displeasure with the ICC’s decision, the two cricket boards issued a joint statement criticizing the format changes made less than 18 months before the tournament—which is set to be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. The statement read, “Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association are extremely disappointed with the major changes made by the ICC to the qualification pathway and tournament format of the Men’s 50-over World Cup.”
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