Wednesday, November 27
Mohammad Rizwan, appointed as Pakistan's new white-ball captain, emphasized serving his team and maintaining humility. Rizwan promised a strong fighting spirit and left results to Allah. The Pakistan Cricket Board appointed him after Babar Azam’s resignation. The upcoming tours of Australia and Zimbabwe will include new players like Aamer Jamal, Arafat Minhas, and Saim Ayub.
New Zealand's Sophie Devine led her team to a series-levelling win against India in the second ODI, scoring 79 runs and taking 3 wickets. Despite Radha Yadav's effort with a top score of 48, India was bowled out for 183. New Zealand tied the series 1-1 after setting a target of 260.
In a remarkable week for New Zealand cricket, the Black Caps secured their first-ever Test series win in India, ending a 36-year winless streak, while the White Ferns claimed their maiden ICC Women's T20 World Cup title in Dubai. These unprecedented victories have thrust New Zealand cricket into unprecedented global prominence.
Mitchell Santner's exceptional bowling led New Zealand to their first-ever Test series win in India with a 113-run victory in Pune. Santner's standout 7-53 spell in the first innings set the stage for the triumph, marking India's first home series defeat since 2012. India and New Zealand will now head to Mumbai for the third and final Test, beginning November 1, at the Wankhede Stadium.
Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali believes that India's overconfidence led to their first home series loss in 12 years against New Zealand. He criticized India's batting and bowling performances while highlighting the absence of Mohammed Shami for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, predicting difficulties for India's fast bowling attack in Australia.
Team India faced criticism after their first home Test series loss since 2012, succumbing to New Zealand. Mitchell Santner's 13 wickets on a turning Pune track led to the defeat. AB de Villiers noted that Indian players' reputation as the best against spin is a perception, and turning tracks can backfire against smart teams like New Zealand.
Former off-spinner Harbhajan Singh criticizes India’s reliance on turning pitches, arguing it harms batters' confidence and careers. He highlights Ajinkya Rahane's struggles and questions the team’s strategy, suggesting better pitch management and reliance on genuine spinners like Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
India's top-order batsmen now struggle against visiting spinners, as highlighted by their recent Test series loss to New Zealand. Mitchell Santner's 13-wicket haul in the second Test in Pune led to India's rapid downfall on a turning pitch. Former skipper Dilip Vengsarkar attributes this vulnerability to the lack of domestic cricket experience among current Indian batsmen.
Mohammad Amir expressed disappointment over the exclusion of Fakhar Zaman from Pakistan's squads for upcoming series against Australia and Zimbabwe. PCB cited fitness concerns and social media controversies as reasons. Zaman’s absence has led to backlash. PCB also announced new central contracts, with Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan retaining top-tier status.
Former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja faced backlash for taunting Pakistan captain Shan Masood with inappropriate questions after their series win over England. Ramiz's remarks overshadowed Pakistan's comeback victory, leading former cricketers and fans to criticize his lack of professionalism. Mohammad Amir also condemned Ramiz's behavior, urging him to show respect and acknowledge the team's achievements.
