New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) All India Junior ranking medallists Tanvi Patri and Abhinav Garg will lead a strong Indian contingent for the Badminton Asia Junior (U-19) Championships to be held in Yatsushiro, Japan, from June 26-July 5, 2026.The team championships will be conducted from June 26-30, with the individual championships scheduled thereafter.Patri and Garg were directly selected for the team after winning the All India U-19 ranking tournament in Bengaluru last month, along with the top do…

New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) Former skipper Anjum Chopra believes no side can claim favourites status in the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, but insists India carries a distinct advantage going into the tournament – the confidence of being 50-over World Cup winners.Buoyed by last year’s ODI World Cup triumph, India will aim to get its first Women’s T20 World Cup title when they open their Group 1 campaign against Pakistan at Edgbaston on Sunday. Harmanpreet Kaur-led India are entering the Wor…

Wellington, June 12 (IANS) New Zealand batting great Kane Williamson announced his retirement from international cricket on Friday, bringing the curtain down on a remarkable 16-year career during which he established himself as the country’s highest run-scorer across formats and one of the finest batters of his generation. The 35-year-old departs as New Zealand’s leading international run-getter with 19,346 runs from 378 matches, including 48 centuries and six double hundreds. Widely regarded …

New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) West Indies vice-captain Chinelle Henry is being monitored by the team’s medical staff after aggravating a previous injury during a Women’s T20 World Cup warm-up match against Australia, Cricket West Indies (CWI) confirmed on Wednesday.Henry raised concern ahead of the tournament after being stretchered off the ground in a warm-up fixture following an awkward fall while trying to take a catch. The all-rounder had lost her footing as she went to take the catch, falling a…

New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) Kayla Reyneke loves a laugh, but it’s her knack for closing out games that has been the highlight of her short international career so far. Twice in the space of two months, Kayla has turned what looked like lost causes into wins for South Africa and made it all look routine. On T20I debut against Pakistan in Potchefstroom, she walked in and hit 29 not out, including hitting a match-winning six. Later, in Christchurch, on ODI debut against New Zealand, she went one be…

Kabul, June 12 (IANS) The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced that the inaugural edition of the Afghanistan Premier League (APL) will begin on December 27, 2026, marking a significant step in the country’s cricketing journey.The T20 tournament will be hosted in the UAE and feature 5 franchises from the main cricketing areas of Afghanistan – Kabul, Kandahar, Balkh, Paktia and Nangarhar.The launch of the league follows Afghanistan’s impressive emergence on the international stage in the …

Jalandhar, June 12 (IANS) A dream nurtured in the narrow lanes of Ram Nagar and backed by years of sacrifice has finally come true for young cricketer Arjun Rajput, who has been selected in the Indian Under-19 squad for next month’s tour of Sri Lanka. The left-handed batter and right-arm off-spinner will don the India jersey for the first time when the team departs for Sri Lanka on July 4, marking a major milestone in a journey defined by perseverance and hard work.Arjun comes from a modest fa…

New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes the selectors have already started planning for the Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 in South Africa, with the inclusion of players capable of thriving in conditions that offer pace, bounce and movement.Speaking ahead of India’s first ODI against Afghanistan, Pathan said the selection of tall left-arm pacer Gurnoor Brar reflects the team’s long-term vision for the World Cup in South Africa.”Gurnoor Brar has been selected becaus…

New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has underlined the importance of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli ahead of India’s first ODI against Afghanistan, saying the experienced duo will be central to the team’s chances in the upcoming ODI World Cup in South Africa.Pathan praised Rohit’s ability to counter fast bowling in challenging overseas conditions and described Virat as the ideal batter to anchor India’s innings from the No.3 position.”Rohit Sharma’s biggest strength is …

New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) South African pace great Dale Steyn believes one of the most rewarding aspects of his post-playing career has been watching the next generation of fast bowlers flourish on the international stage, with players such as Marco Jansen and Ottniel Baartman carrying forward many of the principles that defined his own success.Having transitioned into coaching roles after retirement, including a stint as bowling coach of Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20, Steyn said seeing bow…