India’s Nitish Kumar Reddy out of England Test series with knee injury
The Board of Control for Cricket in India confirmed on Monday that Reddy will return home. “Nitish will fly back home and the team wishes him a speedy recovery,” the BCCI said in a statement.
Reddy played two matches in the series, scoring 45 runs and taking three wickets. (Photo: Getty Images)
INDIA allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out of the remaining two Tests against England due to a knee injury.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India confirmed on Monday that Reddy will return home. “Nitish will fly back home and the team wishes him a speedy recovery,” the BCCI said in a statement.
India currently trail the five-match Test series 2-1 after a 22-run defeat at Lord’s last week.
Reddy played two matches in the series, scoring 45 runs and taking three wickets.
The fourth Test is scheduled to begin on Wednesday at Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh will miss the fourth Test after injuring his thumb during a net session.
Uncapped all-rounder Anshul Kamboj has been added to India’s squad.
Pakistan's Abbas Afridi (L) celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Bangladesh's Shamim Hossain during the third and final T20I at the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore on June 1, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)
PAKISTAN captain Salman Agha said his side is building well for next year’s World Cup as they prepare to face Bangladesh in a three-match T20 series starting in Dhaka on Sunday.
Agha has been leading the T20 side in the absence of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, who have not played since last year.
Shaheen Shah Afridi has been rested for the series, while Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah and Mohammad Wasim are unavailable due to injuries.
Agha said the sidelined players could still be in contention for the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka next year.
"We have changed the way we want to play but we are confident of our build-up and direction," Agha said on Saturday.
"We are going for this series with ample preparations as Bangladesh can be a challenging team in their home conditions."
Mike Hesson of New Zealand is Pakistan’s new white-ball coach. His first assignment was a 3-0 home series win over Bangladesh last month.
With Shadab Khan also out due to injury, Pakistan have included two uncapped fast bowlers – Salman Mirza and Ahmed Daniyal – in the squad.
Bangladesh won their most recent T20 series 2-1 in Sri Lanka last week.
"What happened in Sri Lanka is in the past," said Bangladesh captain Litton Das.
"We have to face a new challenge starting tomorrow. We are ready for this challenge.
"We have the mentality to beat any team, but we have to play well on the particular day and not entirely bank on home conditions."
Bangladesh have retained the same squad from the Sri Lanka tour.
The second and third matches will be played on Tuesday and Thursday, also in Dhaka.
By clicking the 'Subscribe’, you agree to receive our newsletter, marketing communications and industry
partners/sponsors sharing promotional product information via email and print communication from Garavi Gujarat
Publications Ltd and subsidiaries. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the
unsubscribe link in our emails. We will use your email address to personalize our communications and send you
relevant offers. Your data will be stored up to 30 days after unsubscribing.
Contact us at data@amg.biz to see how we manage and store your data.
The team management had earlier decided that Bumrah would play in three of the five tests on the tour of England. (Photo: Getty Images)
JASPRIT BUMRAH has been used carefully since returning from back surgery, but with the five-test series against England on the line, India are considering including him in the fourth test in Manchester next week.
The team management had earlier decided that Bumrah would play in three of the five tests on the tour of England.
A win in Manchester would give England a 3-1 lead and seal the series. To prevent that, India are looking at the possibility of fielding Bumrah — who missed the second test in Birmingham — rather than holding him back for the final test at the Oval.
“We know we have got him for one of the last two tests,” assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate told reporters after Thursday’s training session.
“It’s pretty obvious that the series is on the line now in Manchester, so there will be a leaning towards playing him.”
“But again, we have got to look at all the factors: how many days of cricket are we going to get up there, what do we feel is our best chance of winning that game, and then how that fits in together with the Oval.”
Bumrah took five-wicket hauls in both the tests he has played so far on this tour — at Leeds and Lord’s — though India lost both matches.
India wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, who suffered a finger injury during the Lord’s test, did not bat in Thursday’s practice.
Ten Doeschate said he was confident Pant would take on both his usual roles with the bat and behind the stumps in Manchester.
“Look, I don’t think you’re going to keep Rishabh out of the test no matter what,” ten Doeschate said.
“He batted with quite a lot of pain in the third test and it’s only going to get easier and easier on his finger.”
(With inputs from agencies)
Keep ReadingShow less
Zafar Gohar of Middlesex bowls during the Vitality Blast Men's T20 match between Kent Spitfires and Middlesex at The Spitfire Ground on July 13, 2025 in Canterbury, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens - ECB/ECB via Getty Images)
FORMER Pakistan international Zafar Gohar has been signed by the Oval Invincibles for the upcoming edition of The Hundred. The left-arm spinner was one of 32 players selected in the Vitality Wildcard Draft, the final round of player recruitment for the tournament.
Gohar, 30, was born in Lahore and played one One-Day International for Pakistan against England in 2015 and a Test match against New Zealand in 2021.
He represented Gloucestershire as an overseas player between 2021 and 2024 before joining Middlesex ahead of the 2025 season as a local player, having obtained a British passport, a statement said.
Now eligible to play for England, Gohar will take part in The Hundred for the first time. The competition runs from August 5 to 31.
Gohar said his move to Middlesex and aim to qualify for England were motivated by opportunities in domestic cricket. “I have put myself forward for the drafts in previous years but hadn’t been picked up before, so to now have the chance to play in The Hundred is very exciting,” he said.
Gohar is one of two British Asian players selected in this year’s Wildcard Draft, alongside fast bowler Ajeet Singh Dale, who has been picked by Welsh Fire.
Six other British Asian players were selected in the main draft earlier this year, including Rehan Ahmed, Jafer Chohan, Mahika Gaur, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid and Saif Zaib.
The Wildcard Draft offers opportunities to players who were not selected earlier, based on their performances in the Vitality Blast.
Notable signings in this year’s Wildcard Draft include England fast bowler James Anderson, selected by Manchester Originals, and Rocky Flintoff, who joins Northern Superchargers. Flintoff, 17, will play under the coaching of his father, Andrew Flintoff.
Keep ReadingShow less
Sophia Dunkley of England bats during the 1st Women's Metro Bank ODI match
England Women post 258/6 in first ODI at The Rose Bowl
Sophia Dunkley top-scored with 83, sharing a 106-run stand with Alice Davidson-Richards
India Women reach 34/0 after 6 overs, needing 225 more to win
Smriti Mandhana and debutant Pratika Rawal remain unbeaten
Kranti Goud and Sneh Rana take two wickets each for India
England build solid total after winning toss
In the first match of the three-game ODI series between England Women vs India Women, the home side posted a competitive total of 258/6 at The Rose Bowl, Southampton, after choosing to bat first.
England’s innings was anchored by Sophia Dunkley, who struck 83 runs off 92 balls, including timely boundaries and smart rotation of the strike. She shared a crucial 106-run fifth-wicket partnership with Alice Davidson-Richards, who added a steady 53 from 73 deliveries.
Earlier in the innings, Emma Lamb provided a solid platform at No. 3, scoring 39 from 50 balls, while captain Nat Sciver-Brunt contributed 41 off 52 deliveries. Their top-order consistency ensured that England kept the scoreboard ticking throughout.
Dunkley’s knock came to an end on the final ball of the innings, bowled by Amanjot Kaur, as England closed at 258/6 in their allotted 50 overs.
India share the wickets
India’s bowlers delivered a disciplined performance, with Sneh Rana (2/31) and Kranti Goud (2/55) leading the attack. Both bowled their full 10-over spells, containing the scoring while picking up key wickets.
Amanjot Kaur and Shree Charani chipped in with one wicket apiece, with Amanjot dismissing the dangerous Dunkley at the death. Despite the strong partnership in the middle overs, India managed to restrict England to under 260.
India’s chase begins solidly
In reply, India got off to a calm and composed start. At the end of 6 overs, the visiting side reached 34 without loss, requiring 225 more runs from 264 balls at a required run rate of 5.11.
Smriti Mandhana, batting at her fluent best, is on 14 off 12 deliveries, while young debutant Pratika Rawal has shown early promise with 12 runs off 18 balls. The pair has rotated the strike well and punished loose deliveries, including two boundaries from both batters.
Mandhana's elegance was on display when she clipped Lauren Bell off her pads for four in the fifth over and followed it up with a crisp drive. Pratika too showed confidence, threading a boundary through cover-point off Kate Cross in the fourth over.
Match situation: India well placed in early chase
With a healthy scoring rate and all wickets intact, India appear comfortable in their pursuit of 259, though they will need to navigate the upcoming middle overs cautiously. The England pace attack of Kate Cross, Lauren Bell, and Sophie Ecclestone will look to break the opening stand early and expose India’s middle order.
As of the latest update:
India Women: 34/0 in 6 overs
Smriti Mandhana: 14 (12)
Pratika Rawal: 12 (18)
Kate Cross: 0/18 (3 overs)
Lauren Bell: 0/16 (3 overs)
Match details
Fixture: 1st ODI – England Women vs India Women
Venue: Utilita Bowl (The Rose Bowl), Southampton
Date: 16 July 2025
Toss: England Women won the toss and opted to bat first
Series: 3-match ODI series
Playing XIs
England Women: Tammy Beaumont, Amy Jones (wk), Emma Lamb, Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Sophia Dunkley, Alice Davidson-Richards, Charlotte Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Kate Cross, Lauren Filer, Lauren Bell
KING CHARLES met and consoled Indian cricketers at Clarence House on Tuesday, a day after their narrow defeat to England in the third Test at Lord's.
The King hosted the Indian team less than 24 hours after they lost the match by 22 runs in the final session of the last day. India, chasing a target of 193, were bowled out before the close.
The last wicket fell when Mohammed Siraj tried to block a delivery from Shoaib Bashir, but the ball spun back and dislodged the bail.
Charles told India captain Shubman Gill that he had watched the final moments of the game on television. Referring to the ball that dismissed Siraj, he said: "really annoying just to touch the bails".
India now trail 2-1 in the five-match series. The fourth Test is scheduled at Old Trafford next week, followed by the final match at The Oval in London.
Gill said, "He did tell us that the way our last batsman got out was quite unfortunate – the ball rolling on the stumps, and he was just asking us how did we feel after that.
"And we told him it was an unfortunate match for us, but it could have gone either way and hopefully we'll have better luck in both the next games."