Sunday, May 03
Pakistan batter Sahibzada Farhan sparked online ridicule by choosing Ahmed Shehzad over cricketing legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag in a questionnaire. Farhan cited Shehzad as an inspiration for his own cricket journey. Former Pakistan cricketers Basit Ali and Kamran Akmal expressed disbelief and apologized for Farhan's controversial selection.
Bangladesh Cricketers’ Welfare Association president Mohammad Mithun faces death threats after advocating for players subjected to derogatory remarks. He insists his actions are solely for player welfare, especially with the T20 World Cup approaching. Mithun expressed shock at the threats, emphasizing his commitment to player rights and national interest, not politics.
While Virat Kohli shines with consecutive fifties, Rohit Sharma faces scrutiny in the ongoing ODI series. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate attributes Sharma's recent modest scores to challenging pitch conditions and a lack of recent match practice, emphasising his team-first approach and overall strong ODI record.
David Warner smashed an unbeaten 110 in the BBL 2025-26 season. This century was his tenth in T20 cricket, surpassing Virat Kohli's nine. Warner's performance also marked his eighth century in the current BBL season, a new record. The match also saw Mitchell Starc's return to the BBL after eleven seasons. Sam Curran took three wickets for the Sydney Sixers.
Indian spinner Yuzvendra Chahal says his divorce from Dhanashree Verma is a closed chapter, emotionally settled once legal proceedings ended. Choosing peace over bitterness, he says both have moved on happily. Unfazed by rumours, dating speculation, or online trolling, Chahal focuses on personal growth, maturity, and moving forward without resentment.
Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has voiced strong criticism of the team management's handling of Arshdeep Singh, who has been overlooked for the first two ODIs against New Zealand. Ashwin emphasized the detrimental impact on a player's confidence and argued Arshdeep's consistent performances warrant automatic selection, questioning the logic of his late inclusion.
Riyan Parag, one of the early picks in Gautam Gambhir’s coaching era, is nearing full fitness after a shoulder injury layoff. Currently training at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, the all-rounder has resumed full-intensity bowling and batting. With injuries hitting India’s white-ball setup, Parag could re-enter contention pending clearance.
Virat Kohli's return to the No. 1 ODI batting ranking was marred by an ICC error regarding his days at the top. Initially stated as 825 days, the figure was corrected to 1,547 days, placing him third all-time and first among Indians. This correction followed a backlash from fans and statisticians.
The ICC is expected to visit Bangladesh for discussions regarding the national team's participation in the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup. Bangladesh's sports ministry and cricket board are firm on not traveling to India due to security concerns, insisting matches be played only in Sri Lanka. Dialogue continues to explore solutions.
