Monday, May 11
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza deflected a reporter's question about Asian T20 team rankings, stating his focus is solely on his national team. He asserted Zimbabwe's position as the second-best team in Africa. Raza also suggested that reaching the tri-series final might be considered an upset by some.
A former India fast bowler has questioned the current batting group's preparation standards after India's Test defeat to South Africa. He believes T20 cricket has eroded defensive skills under pressure, citing a lack of commitment compared to past generations. Sandhu also criticized the management for repeating errors and failing to groom successors effectively.
South Africa is on the verge of a historic Test series win in India following their 30-run victory in the opening match. However, preparations for the second Test have been disrupted by injury concerns for key players Simon Harmer and Marco Jansen. This win propelled South Africa to second in the ICC World Test Championship standings.
The Eden Gardens pitch for the India-South Africa Test sparked debate after India's batting collapse. Coach Gautam Gambhir defended the surface, stating it was as requested and playable. Robin Uthappa supported Gambhir, emphasizing the coach doesn't play the game and highlighting a double standard in pitch scrutiny between domestic and international cricket.
Just days after ending an 807-day century drought, Pakistan's Babar Azam faces renewed scrutiny. He was fined by the ICC for a conduct breach and then dismissed for a duck against Zimbabwe, marking his third duck in six T20Is. This follows a period of intense criticism, with former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja urging patience and focus on performance.
Football icon Cristiano Ronaldo attended a White House dinner honouring Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, where President Trump highlighted Ronaldo's presence and his son's admiration. Ronaldo, a prominent figure in Saudi Arabia's Pro League, was acknowledged by Trump. The visit coincides with Saudi Arabia's upcoming 2034 World Cup hosting, a bid Ronaldo publicly supported.
A rare 'hit the ball twice' dismissal occurred in the Ranji Trophy, with Manipur's Lamabam Ajay Singh given out for deliberately using his bat to stop the ball from hitting the stumps. This unusual mode of dismissal, governed by MCC Law 34, hasn't been seen in the Ranji Trophy since 2005. R Ashwin reacted sharply to the same on X.
Stokes urged England to approach the contest with clarity after selectors kept their options open by naming off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in a 12-man squad for the first Test. In September, England head coach Brendon McCullum had said this Ashes was "the biggest series of all our lives". Stokes agreed, telling Sky Sports, "we’d be lying to ourselves" to say otherwise.
All-rounder Hardik Pandya is unlikely to feature in the upcoming ODI series against South Africa as he focuses on recovering from a quadriceps injury ahead of the T20 World Cup. Jasprit Bumrah is also expected to be rested from the ODI matches due to workload management, with the focus shifting to T20Is until the next IPL.
Mumbai captain Shardul Thakur lauded the current domestic cricket schedule for its balanced format rotation, aiding player workload and mental sharpness. He emphasized that performance, not age, should dictate selection, citing experienced players like Siddhesh Lad. Thakur also expressed his excitement about playing for Mumbai Indians at his home venue in IPL 2026.
