West Indies cricket icon Sir Garry Sobers has passed away at the age of 89. The former allrounder died at his home in Barbados. Sobers is widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers in the history of the sport. He represented the West Indies and was renowned for his exceptional skills both as a batsman and a bowler.
Bangladesh secured a victory over Zimbabwe in the fourth T20I, keeping the series alive with a chance to level the contest. Their openers provided a solid foundation at the top of the innings, while spinners Mahedi Hasan and Rishad Hossain made crucial contributions. Zimbabwe struggled with their fielding, committing costly errors that aided Bangladesh's cause. The hosts also lost wickets in clusters during their batting innings, failing to build consistent partnerships. The series will now go to a decider, setting up a winner-takes-all final match.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has updated its injury replacement trial following consultations with stakeholders. Under the revised rules, teams are now only permitted to bring in a replacement player during both teams' first innings. The previous like-for-like requirement has been relaxed, with the stipulation now applying only to the skillset of the replacement rather than a strict player match. The changes aim to bring greater clarity and fairness to how injury and illness substitutions are handled during matches.
Northern Diamonds' Blaze defeated Surrey in the Vitality Blast semi-final, eliminating the defending champions from the tournament. Amy Knott claimed four wickets while Ballinger took three, combining to dismantle Surrey's batting lineup. Kathryn Bryce and Tammy Beaumont then guided a comfortable run chase to seal the victory. The win sends Blaze through to the final, ending Surrey's hopes of retaining the title.
India allrounder Washington Sundar has been ruled out of the third ODI against England after sustaining a leg injury. His absence opens the door for a potential return of wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav to the playing eleven. The development comes as India look to manage their squad ahead of the crucial final match of the series. No official timeline has been provided for Washington's recovery from the injury.
Former England batting coach Andy Flower has confirmed he is not a candidate for the England men's Test head coach position. Flower held talks with England's managing director Rob Key, but made clear he does not wish to be considered for the role. The position became vacant following the end of Brendon McCullum's tenure with the Test side. Flower, who previously served as England team director from 2009 to 2014, has chosen to take himself out of the running despite his extensive experience with the setup.
Sri Lanka have announced their squad for the upcoming ODI series against Pakistan, with Vishmi Gunaratne returning to the side. Wicketkeeper Anushka Sanjeewani and uncapped fast bowler Rashmika Sewwandi have also earned recalls to the squad. The selections mark a notable shake-up, with promising seamer Malki Madara missing out despite her recent form. The squad changes reflect the selectors' intent to refresh the lineup ahead of the series against Pakistan.
Former England batter Joe Denly has announced he will retire from professional cricket at the end of the 2026 season. The 40-year-old will bring the curtain down on a career spanning more than two decades. Denly represented England at the international level and has been a long-serving figure in domestic cricket. His retirement announcement marks the end of an era for one of English cricket's experienced campaigners.
Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to bowl first against Bangladesh in their T20 match. The home side kept an unchanged lineup from their previous game. Bangladesh made one change to their squad, bringing in leg-spinner Rishad Hossain to replace left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed. The spin bowling change suggests Bangladesh are looking to vary their bowling attack for the conditions on offer.
The Lanka Premier League's 2026 season faced controversy just hours before its opening match after reports emerged that an owner of the Jaffna Kings franchise had been arrested. Sri Lanka Cricket issued a statement saying it would cooperate fully with local authorities in connection with the matter. The incident cast a shadow over the tournament's start, raising questions about franchise ownership standards in the league. SLC did not provide further details about the nature of the arrest or its potential impact on the franchise's participation in the tournament.
Associate cricket nations have strongly criticized the ICC's revamped ODI World Cup format, calling it 'incredibly disappointing.' The newly introduced Super Series structure is at the center of their concerns, as they argue it significantly reduces their chances to compete at the global level. Smaller cricketing nations believe the format hampers their growth and development on the international stage. The criticism reflects a broader frustration among Associate members about limited pathways to major ICC tournaments.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has handed Pakistani cricketer Nawaz a three-month ban after he was found to have breached the anti-doping code. The ban carries retroactive consequences, with Nawaz's match records disqualified starting from a game against the Netherlands on 7 February. All results and statistics from that match onward have been scrapped until 1 May 2026. The ICC confirmed the sanctions through an official release, underlining its commitment to maintaining clean sport standards in cricket.
Washington Freedom secured their place in the Major League Cricket final for the third year in a row, defeating San Francisco Unicorns in a high-scoring contest. D'Arcy Short starred for the Unicorns with an unbeaten 121, but his effort was not enough to chase down a challenging target of 239. San Francisco came close to overhauling the total but ultimately fell short, unable to complete the run chase. Washington Freedom's victory extends their remarkable streak of consecutive MLC final appearances.
Luke Ronchi has been appointed as head coach of the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League. The former New Zealand wicketkeeper departs his role with New Zealand cricket to take up the position, marking his second senior franchise coaching role. Cameron White, meanwhile, has moved across Melbourne's BBL divide, switching from the Renegades to the Melbourne Stars. The coaching reshuffle signals fresh directions for both Melbourne-based franchises ahead of the upcoming BBL season.
New Zealand have taken the series lead against West Indies following a dramatic collapse by the visitors. Left-arm spinner Lennox was the standout performer, claiming four wickets to dismantle the West Indies batting lineup. The tourists were bowled out for just 140, losing their last six wickets for a mere 19 runs. The hosts' disciplined bowling display proved too much for West Indies to handle in the home conditions.
Joe Root remained unbeaten on 99 as England secured a victory to level their ODI series against India. The veteran batter fell one run short of a century but prioritised the team result over his personal milestone. Root reportedly told fast bowler Gus Atkinson not to feel concerned about leaving him stranded on 99. The England win came as a crucial response to level the series after an earlier defeat.
Cricket South Africa held its annual awards ceremony, recognising outstanding performers from the past season. Simon Harmer, Aiden Markram and Laura Wolvaardt were among the biggest winners, taking home top honours in their respective categories. Quinton de Kock and Lungi Ngidi also had strong nights, each collecting multiple awards. Matthew Breetzke was notably recognised for his impressive breakout season, earning the Men's ODI International Player of the Year award.
New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl first in their match against West Indies. The home side made notable selection changes, recalling Shimron Hetmyer after a lengthy absence from the team. Keemo Paul was also brought back into the playing XI, marking another familiar face returning to the side. The match-up sees both teams making roster adjustments as they look to gain an early advantage in the contest.
India were dismissed for 233 in their innings despite half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer. England pacers Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson were the standout bowlers, claiming three wickets each. The pitch offered reasonable batting conditions, making India's total a below-par effort. The two fifties provided some resistance but were not enough to build a commanding score for India.
Cricket legend Mithali Raj has stated that Smriti Mandhana should have been appointed India women's captain two to three years ago. Raj made the remarks in the context of India needing a clearer and more structured succession plan for team leadership. She also raised concerns about current captain Harmanpreet Kaur's fitness as a key factor in planning for the future. Raj's comments suggest she believes the transition in leadership should have been managed more proactively by team management. The remarks highlight ongoing discussions around leadership continuity in the Indian women's cricket setup.
