October 2024 - News Digest

October 12

Viral infection rules Harshit Rana out of the final T20I

A viral infection ruled fast bowler Harshit Rana out of the Hyderabad T20I against Bangladesh. As per a BCCI update, Rana didn't travel with the team to the stadium.

Rana was in line to feature in the final match of the series with assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate hinting at an international debut for the 22-year-old ahead of the series finale. "We are trying to expose as many guys as we can to international experience with what we have got coming up," ten Doeschate said on the eve of the game.

"So someone like Harshit Rana we are keen to give a game to. And certainly the plan originally was to win the series and then try a few new faces for the last game."

Interestingly, Rana's unavailability for the game will mean he is likely to remain an uncapped player at the October 31 deadline for player retentions ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auctions. As per the latest rules and regulations issued by the IPL Governing Council, uncapped players can be retained for INR 4 crores. In a breakthrough 2024 season, Rana took 19 wickets from 13 games in KKR's run to their third title.

October 10

BCCI gets new ACSU head

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has a new head of its Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU). Sharad Kumar, a retired IPS officer of Haryana cadre of 1979 batch, has been appointed the ACSU chief recently and he will take over the reins of the unit from Sabir Khandwawala.

Cricbuzz can confirm that Kumar, 68, has assumed charge on October 1. In fact he was at the first two T20Is against Bangladesh on October 6 and 9 in Gwalior and New Delhi. He will also travel to Hyderabad to get a feel of the matches.

Kumar worked at National Investigation Agency (NIA) for four years. Asked about his new rule, Kumar said he has just taken over and that it was too early to comment.

Kumar's early days at the ACSU will overlap with the last days in the job for Khandwawala, who has been heading the ACSU for the last four years. He will leave the BCCI on November 30.

October 8

Masters League to kick off on November 17

The International Masters League (IML), with legends Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar on board, will begin on November 17, with the inaugural match between India and Sri Lanka at DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai. The final will be held in Raipur on December 8 with Lucknow hosting some games The 18-match, six-nation league has attracted numerous cricket greats, with Tendulkar leading the Indian team as captain. Other captains include Brian Lara (West Indies), Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka), Shane Watson (Australia), Eoin Morgan (England), and Jacques Kallis (South Africa).

October 5

Back injury rules Shivam Dube out of Bangladesh T20Is

Shivam Dube has been ruled out of the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh with a back injury. The 31-year-old all-rounder, a member of the T20 World Cup-winning squad from earlier in the year, will be replaced in the squad by Tilak Varma.

Varma, 21, last played for India at the start of the year in the T20I series against Afghanistan. He was most recently part of the Duleep Trophy, where he hit a century against India D.

India's updated squad for the T20I series against Bangladesh: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Riyan Parag, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakaravarthy, JItesh Sharma (wk), Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav, Tilak Varma

October 4

Nandre Burger out of Ireland ODIs and Bangladesh Tests

South Africa fast bowler Nandre Burger has been ruled out of the remainder of the Ireland ODIs as well as the forthcoming Test series against Bangladesh. The 29-year-old discomfort in his lower back, and subsequent scans revealed a lumbar stress fracture.

He will return home and undergo further assessments and a replacement for him in the Test squad will be named soon.

Uncapped duo Musekiwa, Maposa named in Zimbabwe squad

Zimbabwe have named uncapped all-rounder Tashinga Musekiwa and right-arm fast bowler Tinotenda Maposa in their 15-player squad announced on Friday for the sub-regional T20 World Cup qualifier, set to begin in Kenya later this month.

Squad: Sikandar Raza (Captain), Faraz Akram , Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Trevor Gwandu, Madande , Wesley Madhevere, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Brandon Mavuta, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava

The team, led by Sikandar Raza, will also see the return of Ryan Burl to the squad. The 30-year-old all-rounder last featured for Zimbabwe in May 2024, in the series against Bangladesh. Pacer Trevor Gwandu has also returned to the side, having last played for Zimbabwe against Ireland last year.

The top two sides in the tournament will advance to the regional final, where they will be joined by Namibia and Uganda, who were given a bye after having participated in the previous ICC Men's T20 World Cup, and four other teams from sub-regional qualifiers A and C.

Speaking on the squad selection, Zimbabwe's Convener of Selectors, David Mutendera said, We have picked a young squad that is good enough to make us qualify and I am confident they will deliver in Kenya.

"If you look at the direction we are taking, with the 2026 T20 World Cup and the future in mind, we have been blooding in youngsters who will definitely do the job like they did in winning single matches against Bangladesh and India in our last two series.

"Raza is still there for now, but we had to start the process of building a younger team for the future. Of course, there are some players who have missed out on selection this time but they are still part of our plans."

October 3

England U19 Women's T20 World Cup squad released

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced the U19 Women's T20 World Cup squad on Tuesday (October 3).

Left-arm spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman who impressed for the Southern Brave in The Hundred and domestically as well has been included in the squad. Davina Perrin who was part of the 2023 World Cup squad has also been included. The second edition of the competition shall be played in Malaysia in 2025.

Full squad:Phoebe Brett, Olivia Brinsden, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Trudy Johnson, Katie Jones, Charlotte Lambert, Abi Norgrove, Eve O'Neill, Davina Perrin, Jemima Spence, Charlotte Stubbs, Amuruthaa Surenkumar, Prisha Thanawala, Erin Thomas, Grace Thompson

October 2

Bumrah rises to no.1 in Test rankings

After another phenomenal performance in recently concluded Kanpur Test, Jasprit Bumrah has risen to the top of the ICC Test bowler rankings, overtaking teammate Ravichandran Ashwin who previously held the no.1 rank. The off-spinner is now at no.2 spot and is fresh off his 11th Player of the Series award, the joint highest in the format's history alongside Muttiah Muralitharan. Meanwhile, Bumrah is now at the top of the highest wicket-takers chart with 38 wickets, level with Sri Lanka's Prabath Jayasuriya. However, the Indian pacer's average and strike-rate are far superior.