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Bali, Nov 11 (IANS) The International Cricket Council (ICC) begins its Board meetings here, running from November 11 to 15. Eight ICC Committees will meet across the four-day programme, with the ICC and IBC Board meetings concluding proceedings.

ICC World Test Championship matchups will be proposed for the 2027-29 and 2029-31 cycles, while windows for all established ICC major men’s events for 2028-35 will be submitted for approval, the ICC said in a release.

It added that, with several qualifying events under consideration, the ICC Development Committee has played a key role in designing ICC event qualification frameworks that will provide greater context and competitiveness at every stage of the qualification journey, particularly for emerging nations.

Discussions will include the initial feedback from the Franchise League Review Group and the Governance Review Committee, both established at the ICC Annual Conference in July 2026.

The Franchise League Review Group has set out to consider ways to enhance the current ICC sanctioning framework of regulations, further protecting and strengthening the ecosystem to address new challenges arising from the increasing number of franchise leagues.

Meanwhile, the Governance Review Committee will report its initial recommendations after completing a thorough review of the ICC’s governance.

Elsewhere, the Task Force for Afghan refugee women cricketers will present proposed next steps for the Development Pathway Programme to the ICC Board. The ICC’s DRS Accreditation Programme will also be considered by the CEC and ICC Board.

"The ICC Board and Committee meetings demonstrate the strength of the ICC as the sport's global governing body. Bringing together a diverse group of Directors and chief executives representing members from across the world provides an important opportunity to exchange perspectives, strengthen collaboration and shape the future of our sport. Through our shared vision and collaborative efforts, we remain committed to building a stronger, more inclusive and sustainable future for cricket worldwide," said ICC chair Jay Shah.

Indonesia hosts the meetings at a time of significant growth for cricket in the country, with Persatuan Cricket Indonesia making considerable strides in participation, international competition, and infrastructure development.

Indonesia’s men’s team played more T20Is than any other country in 2025, while their senior women’s team made its Women’s Asia Cup debut in 2026 and its Under-19 women’s team qualified for the Under-19 Asia Cup for the first time.

The country is currently investing in new facilities, including the development of the Bali International Oval, which is set to host the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific Qualifier in 2027.

Persatuan Cricket Indonesia Chairman Abhiram Singh Yadav said, “On behalf of Persatuan Cricket Indonesia, I thank Jay Shah for trusting Indonesia to host the ICC Board and Committee meetings in Bali. We take great pride in welcoming the global cricket community to Indonesia, and believe this occasion will inspire our players, supporters and aspiring cricketers while providing further momentum to our ambition of growing the game across the country.”

--IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 11 (IANS) Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar will gift 26 bats, including those used during his record-breaking international career, along with other prized memorabilia, to the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) for display at the MCA Sharad Pawar Cricket Museum.

The collection, which will be housed in a dedicated section titled ‘Batography’, will be unveiled on November 16.

The date marks 13 years since Tendulkar brought the curtain down on his international career, playing his 200th and final Test against the West Indies at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium in November 2013.

The exhibition will trace the Master Blaster’s remarkable journey through the bats that accompanied him during some of the most defining moments of his career. Among the collection are bats that helped him register his 100 international centuries, offering visitors a glimpse into the stories behind some of cricket’s most celebrated milestones.

Conceived as a biography told through cricketing equipment, ‘Batography’ will feature 26 bats alongside a selection of memorabilia, including helmets, jerseys and personal notes from significant occasions in Tendulkar's career.

Speaking about the initiative, MCA president Ajinkya Naik said, “Sachin Tendulkar's contribution to Indian and world cricket goes far beyond the records he has created. His journey is woven into the memories of millions of cricket fans, and these bats are among the most personal artefacts of that journey. Through Batography, we are bringing a unique dimension to the MCA Museum, allowing visitors to experience the story behind the milestones through the very instruments with which they were created. We are honoured that Sachin has chosen to share these prized possessions with the MCA, ensuring that this extraordinary legacy remains accessible to generations of cricket lovers.”

The dedicated exhibition is intended to preserve and showcase the personal artefacts associated with Tendulkar’s career, while allowing cricket enthusiasts to revisit the milestones and memories that defined his time on the field.

The initiative adds a significant collection to the MCA Sharad Pawar Cricket Museum, offering fans an opportunity to explore the journey of one of the game’s most influential figures through the equipment and memorabilia associated with his achievements.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 11 (IANS) Peter Collins, a key figure in the independent review into Sandpapergate, turned up the heat on Cricket Australia after chief executive Todd Greenberg said the governing body would not be investigating further, stating that the board must launch further investigation to uncover the truth.

Collins' comment came after Usman Khawaja, in his new book, Sabr, which detailed the events of 2018 Sandpapergate, claimed that the entire Australian Test team was aware of the use of sandpaper during the 2018 Cape Town Test in South Africa.

The internal investigation in the aftermath of the Sandpaper Controversy during the Cape Town Test resulted in David Warner and Steve Smith copping 12-month playing bans and Cameron Bancroft a nine-month suspension.

Smith was also told he would not be allowed to hold a leadership position for two years, while Warner was slapped with a lifetime leadership ban, although that was lifted in 2024.

Following extracts of the book being released in the lead-up to its launch, Warner backed Khawaja’s version of events. But Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg said on Tuesday that the investigation would not be reopened, as the governing body is “comfortable with the outcome” of the 2018 probe.

Collins, who helped facilitate a review into the team’s on-field culture in the wake of the 2018 scandal, stated that on fresh investigation into the incident, examining Khawaja's personal notes must be a central starting point.

“We need to have a further investigation,” Collins told nine.com.au. “Khawaja needs to be interviewed, and his contemporaneous notes need to be reviewed."

He believes CA must establish why Khawaja’s account appears to contradict the bowling quartet of Pat Cummins, Mitchel Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon's longstanding denial of knowledge of the ball-tampering plot.

“What we don’t know is whether or not what Khawaja is saying is true, and until we can get to that, this cloud of doubt hangs over the four bowlers and Smith and the team. It is not right that their integrity is questioned without a chance to resolve the issues raised in the book (his memoir, Sabr, released on Tuesday)," he added.

"The tragedy for me is Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and Smith are all great players, and this very different version of events provided by Khawaja and backed by Warner shouldn’t be allowed by Cricket Australia to hang over their heads.

“Cricket Australia cannot just hope it all goes away. Failing to investigate won’t resolve the issue. And God knows what’s in Warner’s book," Collins further said.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 11 (IANS) Former Bangladesh women’s team head coach Sarowar Imran has questioned the squad’s fitness standards and training culture, claiming that his attempts to introduce greater discipline and push players beyond their comfort zones led to his departure from the role.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) allowed Sarowar’s contract to expire in October, following the Asian Games, and subsequently appointed David Hemp as his replacement.

The board had concerns over Sarowar’s temperament, and according to a Cricbuzz report, some senior players had also approached the BCB with complaints about his behaviour and expressed reservations about his methods.

Sarowar had earlier spoken about unrest in the dressing room after Bangladesh’s Asian Games exit, following which the board considered issuing him a show-cause notice. The proposed action was eventually dropped, with the BCB taking his long association with Bangladesh cricket into account.

Sarowar said the board never sought his explanation before deciding against continuing with him. “BCB did not communicate with me after the Asian Games and Asia Cup. I got a letter that I am not going to the Australia tour as another coach will go. This is all the communication I had with BCB,” he was quoted as saying by Ekattur TV.

He argued that the coaching environment had become too accommodating, leaving little room for improvement. Recalling his experience after joining the women’s team, he said, “As far as my ill temper is concerned when I entered the women’s team, what I saw was that there from bowling coach to spin bowling coach, batting coach, trainer, physio all were very quiet. They listen to whatever the women cricketers say and they cannot improve living in this comfort zone. That is the reason our team is still the same as it was five years back.

“A spinner after bowling 30 deliveries tells the coach that she won’t bowl any more and the coach agrees. One or two batters bat for the whole day and after seeing all these I started interfering. I also interfered regarding their fitness. When I needed to scold them I did that and if you say this is ill temper in that case I don’t feel Bangladesh cricket can improve,” he said. “I felt I could improve them and had seven to eight tours and everything ended just because of failing in one or two tours.

Sarowar rejected the suggestion that his coaching style reflected an inability to control his temper, insisting that professional responsibilities sometimes required difficult decisions.

“I have my own dignity and I am aware of what I am capable of and I don’t work to show off. I don’t have any problem and there is no reason to feel that my prestige has gone down because I know my work. If anyone says that I am ill-tempered that is wrong because in life I can have temper but when I am coaching I am not ill-tempered because I am a professional and I know what needs to be done. A coach cannot be a friend of a player because if I am a friend of a player I cannot drop the player. I am a coach and I am not their friend,” said Sarowar.

He further alleged that members of the coaching staff had prioritised keeping players comfortable, potentially at the expense of performance standards.

“I think whoever worked with them (women cricketers) adjusted with them but the women cricketers won’t improve if they are in the comfort zone and I felt foreign coaches also did the same. I feel a coach ensures his job by doing this (adjusting and remaining silent).”

Fitness was another major concern for the former coach. He claimed that a significant portion of the national team’s first-choice players fell short of international standards.

“I am telling you more than half of the first XI cricketers do not have the required fitness level. Most of them are below average (in fitness) while some of them are medium while a couple have standard fitness level,” said Sarowar.

“Fitness is a big issue and when the fitness test is conducted the trainer can say how many of them match international fitness level. They don’t have that (fitness level). If I feel that I will be world champion only by bowling 30 balls, that will never happen,” he said.

Sarowar also addressed questions about possible divisions within the squad, stopping short of confirming the existence of factions but suggesting that relationships with captain Nigar Sultana were not uniform across the group.

“I cannot say about grouping but some were close to the captain while some others were not close to the captain.”

--IANS

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Auckland, Nov 11 (IANS) India forward Ryan Williams is drawing on his previous experience of playing in New Zealand to prepare for Indian men's maiden visit to the country, as the national team gears up to face the All Whites in the first of two international friendlies at Go Media Stadium in Auckland on Thursday.

The match, scheduled to kick off at 11:40 IST, will be only the third senior international meeting between the two sides, following their previous encounters in 1981 and 2018. While the trip is unfamiliar territory for most members of the Indian squad, Williams has played in New Zealand during his time with Australian club Perth Glory.

The 33-year-old featured in Glory’s 2-2 draw against Wellington Phoenix in Palmerston North in January 2023, a fixture popularly known as the ‘Distance Derby’. Having experienced the demands of travelling across the Tasman, he knows the challenges that come with the long journey and time difference.

“Every time I’ve come to New Zealand to play, it’s always been difficult because of how far away it is from everything. From Perth, it’s a long way. The time difference is something you have to manage as well,” Williams said.

With Auckland seven and a half hours ahead of India, managing the change in body clock was among the squad’s immediate priorities after arrival. Williams said he followed a planned sleep routine during the journey, drawing on years of experience travelling between Australia and the United Kingdom.

“My plan was to sleep for the first part of the flight, which was to Malaysia. I slept a couple of hours, then pretty much didn’t sleep until we got here. It kind of resets your whole body clock, so you can come here, go straight to sleep and try to sleep through the whole night. I feel good. I’ve done this plenty of times before, so it definitely helps in situations like this,” he said.

The weather has provided another adjustment for the visiting players. During India’s training session at the North Harbour Stadium Outer Oval on Tuesday, pleasant conditions gave way to a cold spell of heavy rain. Williams, accustomed to such surroundings, found the reaction of some teammates amusing.

“Having trained in pouring rain, cold and on wet, muddy ground, I’m used to it. But these boys came out, and it was quite funny. It was like a scene out of Cool Runnings,” he joked.

“Everyone enjoyed it, though. Testing yourself in different climates, temperatures and parts of the world is what we want to do as footballers. It’s really exciting. Everyone is happy, glad that we’re here, and thankful that these games have been put on.”

Williams has also faced New Zealand previously at the youth international level, representing Australia’s U20 side in a 5-0 friendly win in Wollongong in June 2013. Thursday’s fixture, however, will mark his first international appearance on New Zealand soil.

For India, the two matches offer another opportunity to test themselves against World Cup-level opposition after their recent encounters with Panama, Brazil and Uruguay

“It’s a really cool couple of games for us. Coming off the back of playing Panama, Brazil and Uruguay, we’ve got that taste for wanting to play teams that have been in the World Cup. We’ve learned a lot from those games and know how we can improve,” he said.

“There were periods in those three games when it didn’t look like there was much difference. Our goal is to take that forward and try to sustain those good periods for longer against equally strong teams. These are teams that have all played in the World Cup, and that’s where we aspire to be as a country. The more games we play against these big teams, the better it will be for everyone.”

India will meet New Zealand again in the second friendly at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch on Sunday, November 15, with kick-off scheduled for 08:40 IST.

--IANS

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Indian Wells, Nov 11 (IANS) Linda Noskova continued her impressive WTA Finals debut as she defeated Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-3 in 75 minutes to improve to 2-0 in Group 1 play and become the first player to clinch a semifinal berth.

Noskova is the youngest player to reach the semifinals in her first WTA Finals appearance since Petra Kvitova in 2011. She is also the youngest player to win her first two round-robin matches since Gauff in 2024 and the first No. 8 seed to do so since Anett Kontaveit in 2021, as per WTA stats.

"First of all, I did not even know I was in the semis, to start with that," Noskova told reporters. "Right after the match finished, I was already focusing on how I'm going to play Jessie (Pegula) in two days. So not much really changes for me. I still want to win. I still want to get whatever score, whatever win possible. I'm not really playing the math here, so it's not going to be any different."

Noskova broke Gauff five times, including four times in the opening set. She converted five of nine break-point opportunities and won 75 per cent (18 of 24) of the points on Gauff's second serve. The pressure Noskova applied on return helped her build 4-1 leads in both sets.

It is a sixth top-10 victory of the season for Noskova, who won her maiden Grand Slam at Wimbledon in July.

Gauff will face Marta Kostyuk in her third round-robin match, needing a win to advance to the semifinals. Gauff, who is looking to become the youngest player to reach her third semifinal at the WTA Finals since Maria Sharapova in 2006, has won four of six head-to-head meetings.

However, Jessica Pegula, with a 6-2, 7-5 victory in one hour and 29 minutes over Kostyuk, also remains in contention to advance to the tournament's knockout stage.

The straight-sets victory was exactly what Pegula needed after enduring a physical battle with compatriot Gauff to open her campaign, and she'll prepare for Linda Noskova in a Berlin final rematch on Thursday.

Kostyuk, meanwhile, is eliminated from knockout round contention as a result of two straight-set losses.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 11 (IANS) In a major player trade ahead of the Indian Premier League 2027, Mumbai Indians (MI) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) have completed the swap of Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh.

MI captain Hardik Pandya will move to PBKS, while India’s leading wicket-taker in T20I Arshdeep will join the five-time champions.

"Pandya will join PBKS at a fee of Rs 18 crore, up from his existing fee of Rs 16.35 crore, while Arshdeep will join MI at his existing fee of Rs 18 crore.

Besdies PBKS, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have also been in the running to acquire the premier seam-bowling all-rounder.

IANS had reported that PBKS had edged ahead of others in the race to secure the services of Hardik with MI ahead of the November 17 retention deadline as the paperwork was completed for the trade deal last week.

Pandya’s trade brought the curtain down on his second stint with MI, a franchise with which he won four IPL titles. Having first joined MI in 2015, Pandya developed into one of the league’s most impactful all-rounders, contributing with both bat and ball during the team’s title-winning campaigns in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020.

After seven seasons with MI, Pandya moved to Gujarat Titans (GT) ahead of IPL 2022 and made an immediate impact as captain, leading the franchise to the title in its debut season.

GT also reached the final in 2023 before Pandya returned to MI in 2024 and took over the captaincy. Across 162 IPL matches, he has scored 2,955 runs at a strike rate of 146.28 and claimed 82 wickets, underlining his value as a proven match-winner.

Arshdeep, meanwhile, moves to MI after eight seasons with PBKS, the franchise where he made his IPL debut in 2019 and established himself as one of the competition’s leading left-arm fast bowlers. With 111 wickets in 96 IPL matches, he is PBKS’ all-time leading wicket-taker.

Arshdeep’s ability to make early breakthroughs with the new ball and deliver under pressure in the death overs has made him a key component of Punjab’s bowling attack.

He claimed 21 wickets in IPL 2025 and followed that with 14 wickets in the 2026 season. His left-arm pace and ability to deliver across different phases of an innings will add considerable depth to MI’s bowling attack.

--IANS

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Wellington, Nov 11 (IANS) Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra amd Tom Blundell, who are nursing their respective injuries, have been named in Tom Latham-led swuad for two-match series that commences in Wellington on November 19.

The two-match series which begins in Wellington at the Cello Basin Reserve will be the New Zealand's first red-ball face off with India since the team's remarkable 3-0 Test series victory in 2024 - the first ever Test series white-wash of India at home by a visiting team.

Conway had sustained a concussion while fielding during training session ahead of the ODIs, while Rachin suffered a dislocated right shoulder during a promotional shoot in Auckland ahead of T20Is against India.

Wicketkeeper Blundell, who is currently poised on 48 Test caps and is in line to play his 50th Test for New Zealand in Christchurch at Hagley Oval, is recovering from a quadriceps injury.

NZC said "Tom Blundell (quadricep), Devon Conway (concussion), and Rachin Ravindra (shoulder), are working through their respective injuries and aiming to be available for the first Test."

New Zealand's squad has a similar look to the Test side that toured England earlier this year, with the exceptions of Ben Sears (ankle injury), Zak Foulkes (hip injury), and Will O’Rourke (return-to-play programme), and the addition of Jacob Duffy.

The three-Test tour of England was another historic series for the BlackCaps, as they handed the hosts their first home Test series defeat of three or more matches in 14 years.

Head coach Rob Walter will be joined by bowling coach Jacob Oram, departing batting coach Luke Ronchi, and newly appointed batting coach BJ Watling who begins his tenure on November 16.

Walter said he was looking forward to competing in Tests in front of home crowds.

"The squad is largely consistent with the team that competed in England earlier this year, so it’ll be great to be back together to try and recreate some of that success on home soil.

“We’ve experienced great crowds so far during the white-ball series and we’re really looking forward to having that support during the Tests," Walter said.

Walter acknowledged the significance of the series with an eye to the ICC World Test Championship.

“There are ten Tests scheduled between now and March, so there’s no shortage of action for red-ball fans. Valuable Championship points are on the line of course, but our focus remains on playing our best cricket against a high-quality team like India," he added.

New Zealand currently sit in second spot on the World Test Championship standings behind only first-placed South Africa, while India lie in fourth place with reigning runners up Australia in front of them in third.

New Zealand squad: Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Will Young

--IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 11 (IANS) Chennai has been awarded the hosting rights for the 2029 Asian Athletics Championships, marking the fourth time that India will stage the continental event after previously hosting it in New Delhi, Pune and Bhubaneswar.

The Asian Athletics Association announced the decision in a statement on Tuesday, saying the award was subject to the presentation of letters of guarantee from the government.

“Subject to presentation of letters of guarantee from the Govt, Asian Athletics Association is pleased to award the 2029 Asian Athletics Championships to Chennai, Tamil Nadu,” the statement read.

C. Latha, chairman of the Tamil Nadu Athletics Association (TNAA), said the championships are likely to be held in August. Speaking from Tokyo after attending the Asian Athletics Federation Council meeting on Tuesday, Latha said Chennai’s infrastructure and facilities were highlighted during the presentation made by the state.

“We made our presentation (the online presentation was made by Meghanatha Reddy, Member Secretary of SDAT) and highlighted the legacy of the Nehru Stadium in hosting international meets and the availability of the practice facility at the Nehru ‘B’ ground. We also stressed that Chennai has an international airport and good hotels close to the venue. The State Government will, in any case, relay the main athletics track soon,” Latha said.

C.K. Valson, a member of the Competition Commission for Asian Athletics, had inspected the Nehru Stadium last week and was reportedly satisfied with the main track and practice ground.

“Valson was happy with the infrastructure. He told us to make arrangements for VIP lounges, modify the seating arrangements and install LED screens. All that remains is for the State Government to send a letter to the president of the Asia Athletics Federation confirming that it will bear the entire cost of hosting the meet,” Latha added.

India last hosted the Asian Athletics Championships in 2017 in Bhubaneswar, having previously staged the competition in New Delhi in 1989 and Pune in 2013.

The award to Chennai adds to India's upcoming international athletics calendar. The country is also set to host the Asian Relays Championships in Chandigarh in 2027, followed by the Asian Indoor Championships and the World Indoor Championships in Odisha in 2028.

Gujarat is also in contention to host the Under-20 World Championships in 2028.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 10 (IANS) India's Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei stormed into the men's 50kg semifinals with a commanding quarterfinal victory over Namibia's Abraham Kalenga, assuring the country of a medal at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.

Lairenlakpam secured the win through a Referee Stops Contest (RSC) in the opening round, with the bout stopped at 1:57, as the Indian delivered an emphatic performance to book his place in the last four.

India's medal tally in boxing received another boost with Gunjan also assuring the country of a podium finish in the women's 48kg category. She defeated Mexico's Atena Sofia Juarez Calero 5-0 in her quarterfinal bout to advance to the semifinals.

Both Indian boxers are now assured of at least bronze medals, with their victories taking them into the medal rounds of the competition.

Lairenlakpam's dominant win highlighted India's promising campaign in the boxing competition, while Gunjan's unanimous victory underlined her control in the quarterfinal contest.

The fourth edition of the Youth Olympics will be a landmark occasion for African sport, with Dakar becoming the first African city to host an Olympic sporting event. Around 2,700 athletes are expected to compete across 25 sports for 153 medal events, with competitions spread across Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly.

India have won 23 medals across the three previous editions, comprising three gold, 16 silver and four bronze. The country also has four medals from mixed-National Olympic Committee events, where athletes from different nations compete together, although those medals are not included in India’s official tally.

The most successful campaign came at Buenos Aires 2018, when India secured 13 medals, including three gold, nine silver and one bronze.

--IANS

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