Monday, May 04
India's ODI campaign kicks off against New Zealand with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in top form. Captain Shubman Gill faces scrutiny after T20 World Cup omission, while Shreyas Iyer's return bolsters the middle order. New Zealand, missing key players, aims to leverage a winning mindset led by Michael Bracewell.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women began their WPL 2026 campaign with a thrilling three-wicket win over Mumbai Indians in Navi Mumbai. Chasing 155, Nadine de Klerk starred with an unbeaten 63 and hit the winning boundary off the last ball. “It was De Klerk's night in Navi Mumbai,” the commentator roared. Earlier, MI posted 154, with Sajeevan Sajana and Nicola Carey leading the charge.
Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal urged the BCB to carefully consider the national team's T20 World Cup participation, warning against hasty decisions driven by public emotion. He emphasized prioritizing Bangladesh cricket's long-term future and suggested dialogue over public pronouncements. Iqbal stressed the BCB's need for independent decision-making while acknowledging government involvement.
Ex-Bangladesh Cricket Board official Syed Ashraful Haque criticised political meddling in cricket administration, saying the Mustafizur Rahman row reflects how World Cup matters are being driven by immature, election-linked politics rather than sporting logic, potentially jeopardising Bangladesh’s participation
The Indian government is monitoring the Bangladesh situation regarding the T20 World Cup and will follow its sports policy of welcoming all participating nations. Bangladesh's decision to withdraw or relocate matches remains solely theirs, with India awaiting their final stance. Unlike Pakistan, where a specific sports policy exists, Bangladesh will receive full security if they choose to participate.
The start of the 2026 T20 World Cup is less than a month away and Smith wants his team to beat India in the final of the multi-nation tournament. Speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing SA20, league commissioner Smith said the Proteas have all bases covered with their squad.
Bangladesh Cricket Board has formally requested the ICC to shift their T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka due to security concerns. The team has refused to travel to India, escalating uncertainty just weeks before the tournament. The BCB's stance has hardened following the IPL release of Mustafizur Rahman.
