The Cricket Bulletin: Major Talking Points

Fatima Sana registers world record ahead of T20 World Cup

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana recorded the fastest half-century in women’s T20Is with her fifty off just 15 balls against Zimbabwe in the third T20I in Karachi. Sana surpassed players like Sophie Devine, Phoebe Litchfield and Richa Ghosh – who had scored their fifties off 18 balls to enter the chart. Nida Dar, fifth in the list currently, previously held the record for the fastest fifty for Pakistan.

Pakistan opted to bat in the final T20I, and Sana came out during the chase with team score on 152/4 in 16.2 overs. Sana is the top-scorer for Pakistan in T20Is this year, with a tally of 229 from five innings at a strike rate of 206.30. She is currently also the record holder of the joint-fastest fifty in women’s T20 along with Marie Kelly (for Warwickshire against Gloucestershire in 2022) and Laura Harris (for Otago against Canterbury in in 2025).

ICC suspends funding to Cricket Canada: Report

According to ESPNcricinfo, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has suspended funding to Cricket Canada for the next six months due to governance-related concerns. Despite the suspension, ongoing cricket operations are expected to continue without disruption. The decision came immediately after Cricket Canada’s annual general meeting last weekend (May 9-10). The board also elected a new nine-member board of directors.

Reportedly, the decision was communicated to Cricket Canada earlier this week. However, the ICC had not publicly detailed the concerns behind the decision. Cricket Canada is heavily depended on ICC funding and going through a tough phase already following integrity and corruption related controversies. Both ICC and Cricket Canada are yet to release a formal statement in response.

Sanju Samson has put himself there for a leadership role: Ravi Shastri

Former India coach Ravi Shastri believes Sanju Samson to be potential candidate for India’s T20I captaincy. According to Shastri, Samson’s experience in Rajasthan Royals would be helpful. Sanju Samson led Rajasthan Royals in the IPL for five seasons including 2022 when they finished runners-up. Although India won the T20 World Cup 2026 under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, his stay in the line-up has been the talk of the town for months.

“India, come the next (T20) World Cup (in 2028), might be looking for a new captain, depending on how Surya goes over the next couple of years,” Shastri said, speaking to Sanjana Ganesan on The ICC Review. He added, “But Sanju Samson has put himself there for a leadership role because he’s done that in the past for Rajasthan (Royals). And he’s a certainty in the side, at the top of the order, extremely destructive. So I see him, this is just the start of something more you’ll see from Sanju over the next two or three years.”