Sunday, April 20
Eighteen-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius made a remarkable debut with 97 off 51 balls to lead Paarl Royals to a nine-wicket victory over Sunrisers Eastern Cape in SA20 on Saturday. Pretorius and Joe Root's 132-run opening partnership was crucial, with Root praising Pretorius's skills and composure. Royals' bowlers restricted the Sunrisers to 175/5.
Hashmatullah Shahidi will captain Afghanistan in their first ICC Champions Trophy, starting February 19. Key players include Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rashid Khan, and Mohammad Nabi. Spinner Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman will miss the tournament. Afghanistan's group matches are against South Africa, England, and Australia.
The BCCI is likely to seek an extension to announce India's provisional squad for the Champions Trophy by January 19, past the ICC deadline of January 12. The decision follows the selection of the squad for the T20I series against England, with ODIs and the Champions Trophy squad announcement postponed.
Jemimah Rodrigues' maiden ODI century helped India secure a dominant 116-run victory over Ireland, clinching the series 2-0 in Rajkot. Rodrigues anchored the innings with 102 runs, while Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, and Harleen Deol also contributed significantly. Deepti Sharma's three-wicket haul led India's bowling attack.
Manchester City trounced Salford City 8-0 in the FA Cup, with youngsters Divin Mubama and Nico O'Reilly contributing significantly. Liverpool, Chelsea, and Brighton advanced convincingly, while Plymouth upset Brentford 1-0. Bournemouth, Leicester City, and Wolverhampton also secured wins, continuing their strong performances in the competition.
Dewald Brevis' extraordinary boundary catch to dismiss Faf du Plessis highlighted the SA20 clash at Wanderers. Despite Brevis' effort and Kagiso Rabada's impressive bowling, rain ultimately led to a six-run Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) victory for Joburg Super Kings. MI Cape Town posted 140/6, but rain and a revised target of 136 runs benefited Joburg Super Kings.
Bangladesh fast bowler Tanzim Hasan Sakib faced controversy after a verbal exchange and shoulder bump with Pakistan's Mohammad Nawaz during a Bangladesh Premier League match. The altercation occurred after Nawaz's dismissal, requiring intervention to prevent a further escalation. Tanzim also had previous on-field disputes in the season.
New Zealand Cricket announces its 15-member squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, featuring young pacers Will O'Rourke, Ben Sears, and Nathan Smith. The squad is a mix of experience and youth, led by new captain Mitchell Santner. Kane Williamson and Tom Latham provide veteran support. The tournament begins for NZ on February 19 against Pakistan in Karachi.
India's star pacer Jasprit Bumrah's participation in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is uncertain due to a back swelling. His absence could weaken India's bowling attack and increase pressure on the team, especially ahead of crucial matches against strong contenders like Pakistan and New Zealand.
Joburg Super Kings secured a six-run victory over MI Cape Town using the DLS method in a rain-affected SA20 clash. A revised target of 136 runs from 19 overs saw JSK ahead by six runs when rain halted play. Leus du Plooy and Wihan Lubbe were not out at the stoppage, while MI Cape Town's Kagiso Rabada excelled with 2/10.
