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India captain Shubman Gill missed Day 1 of India’s three-day warm-up match against the Sri Lanka Cricket XI after suffering an impact injury to his right ring finger during a training session in Colombo. As a precautionary measure, the team management decided not to risk their skipper, with KL Rahul leading the side on the opening day. The injury has raised concerns ahead of India’s upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, although early reports suggest the decision was largely precautionary. The BCCI is expected to monitor Gill’s recovery closely before making a call on his participation in the remaining warm-up days and the first Test.

Ireland's hopes of securing direct qualification for the 2027 ICC Men's ODI World Cup suffered a major setback after the first ODI against Afghanistan at Bready was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to persistent rain. The washout officially ended Ireland's chances of earning an automatic World Cup berth through the ICC ODI rankings pathway. Ireland needed a flawless 5-0 series sweep over Afghanistan and favorable results elsewhere to climb into the automatic qualification spots before the rankings cut-off. However, the abandoned match made that scenario impossible, confirming that Ireland will now have to take the longer route through the 2027 ODI World Cup Qualifier tournament. The 10-team Qualifier, scheduled to be played from February 22 to March 23, 2027, will determine the remaining places for the World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Ireland will be among the teams competing for a spot in cricket's biggest 50-over event.

Former India pace legend Zaheer Khan has expanded his footprint in franchise cricket by joining the Lanka Premier League’s Jaffna franchise as a co-owner.  Following the acquisition of the team by Stockholm-based sports ownership group Anchor Sports AB, the franchise has been rebranded as Anchor Jaffna Kings . Zaheer will work alongside Anchor Sports owner Nagendra Siddoutam as the ownership group looks to strengthen its presence in global cricket. The Jaffna franchise is one of the most successful teams in LPL history, and Zaheer’s vast experience as a former Indian fast bowler is expected to add significant value both on and off the field. His involvement marks another major step in the growing trend of former cricketers taking leadership and ownership roles in franchise leagues around the world. Speaking on the development, the franchise highlighted a new chapter under its revamped ownership structure. With Zaheer Khan joining the management team, fans will be eager to see how A...

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially appointed former South African first-class cricketer and coach Michael Smith as the batting coach of the Pakistan men's cricket team on a two-year contract. Smith will work with both the red-ball and white-ball squads, aiming to strengthen Pakistan's batting performances across all formats. A highly respected Level 4-qualified coach, Smith brings extensive coaching experience from domestic and franchise cricket. He has previously worked with PSL franchises including Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, and Multan Sultans, giving him valuable insight into Pakistan cricket. His appointment comes at a crucial time as Pakistan look to address recurring batting inconsistencies and improve their performances in international cricket. Smith is expected to join the squad ahead of the upcoming Test series against England, where his expertise will be put to the test immediately. The PCB hopes Smith's experience and modern coaching methods ...

India has appointed Subhadeep Ghosh as the new fielding coach of the senior men’s cricket team, replacing T.  Dilip ahead of the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka. The experienced coach and former Assam and Railways cricketer brings a wealth of domestic and international coaching experience to the national setup. Ghosh, 57, has previously worked with the India Women’s team and has been involved in various coaching roles across domestic cricket. His first assignment with the senior men’s side will be the two-match Test series in Sri Lanka later this month. The appointment is part of India’s support-staff reshuffle under head coach Gautam Gambhir, with the BCCI looking to strengthen the team’s fielding standards ahead of a busy international calendar.

England have appointed former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming as the new head coach of the men's Test team, while Joe Root has been reappointed as full-time Test captain, marking a dramatic leadership reshuffle ahead of a crucial phase in English cricket. Fleming, 53, has signed a four-year contract with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), keeping him in charge until September 2030. The appointment comes shortly after he ended his successful 18-year association with Chennai Super Kings, where he guided the franchise to five Indian Premier League titles. A familiar figure in English cricket, Fleming previously represented Middlesex, Yorkshire, and Nottinghamshire during his playing career, leading Nottinghamshire to the County Championship title in 2005. He also coached Southern Brave in the Hundred and shares a close working relationship with England white-ball coach Brendon McCullum. However, Fleming will not take charge immediately. Marcus Trescothick will serve as ...