BCCI strict on fitness, players will be double checked
Declaring a player fit in Indian cricket will no longer be so easy. Learning from the repeated instances of players being dropped from the team due to fitness issues, the BCCI, the selection committee, and the Center of Excellence (CoE) have tightened their stance on fitness. Now, before declaring a player available for an international series, efforts will be made to ensure their fitness is fully assured.
According to a Cricbuzz report, the new policy aims to avoid situations where a player is ruled out of the squad just days after being selected. According to a BCCI source, the board now wants to be 200 percent confident about a player’s availability, not just 100 percent. Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Harshit Rana have been included in the India squad announced for the T20I series against Afghanistan, with fitness requirements imposed on them.
India A to play three crucial matches in Christchurch
Before the Test series against New Zealand, the Indian team will have a great opportunity to acclimatize to the conditions there. Before the senior Indian players take the Test field, India A will play three four-day matches against New Zealand A. These matches are considered crucial in India’s preparations for the New Zealand tour.
India’s tour of New Zealand will take place between October and November. The two teams will play five T20Is, five ODIs, and two Test matches during this period. The matches between India A and New Zealand A will be held before the senior team’s Test series. The four-day matches will provide the Indian players with an opportunity to prepare for New Zealand’s fast and bouncy pitches. They will also provide the selectors with an opportunity to identify players who could be included in the Test squad if needed.
Ben Stokes is set to become the most expensive player in BBL history
Former England captain Ben Stokes has turned to franchise cricket following his retirement from international cricket. After signing with the Adelaide Strikers, he is poised to become the most expensive player in the history of the Big Bash League (BBL). Stokes will be available for the entire 2026-27 season, becoming the first overseas player to join under the new contracting structure, as the BBL has reverted to a direct-signing model.
The return of this model could lead to lucrative deals for players like Ben Stokes. According to a report by 7News, his deal is valued at around AUD 500,000 (approximately ₹3.42 crore), significantly higher than the previous top contract of AUD 420,000 at the draft’s ‘Platinum’ level. Other overseas players could also secure substantial deals in the coming weeks.
A Cricinfo report indicates that several BBL clubs had shown interest in signing Stokes, but the Strikers secured the one-year deal. The team is coached by former Australian captain Tim Paine, who was leading the Australian Test side during Stokes’s miraculous innings at Headingley in 2019.
Auqib Nabi joins Surrey, will play three matches
Indian fast bowler Auqib Nabi is set to play for Surrey in their upcoming three matches against Yorkshire, Sussex, and Glamorgan. His stint begins with a match against Yorkshire at ‘The Oval’ on September 2, followed by games against Sussex at Hove on September 8 and Glamorgan at ‘The Oval’ on September 15.
According to various reports, a source familiar with the matter stated, “Yes, Auqib has received his visa to travel to England after the completion of all formalities. If everything goes according to plan, he could be available for the match starting on September 2.” A key objective of this tour is for the Indian team management and selectors to assess whether Nabi can effectively swing the ball in English conditions—a skill he will need to demonstrate with the red Kookaburra ball during the upcoming Test series in New Zealand.
PCB issues show-cause notice to selectors over selection of Imam and Rizwan
The turmoil in Pakistan cricket shows no signs of abating these days. After making major changes to the team midway through the England tour, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has now sought answers from its own selectors. The board has issued a show-cause notice to the selection committee members, questioning the decision to include Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Rizwan in the squad.
According to a Cricbuzz report, the PCB has asked the selection committee members to explain the full reasoning behind the selection of Imam and Rizwan. The selection committee includes former players Aaqib Javed, Misbah-ul-Haq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Asad Shafiq. All members have been given 24 hours to respond.
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