Skipper Rohit Sharma is preparing to head to Australia in the next few days. He will join the Team in Perth on November 24, the third day of the First Test at Optus Stadium. His departure was delayed due to the birth of his second child.

Team India left for Australia in three batches between November 10 and 11 but Rohit Sharma stayed back for the birth of his second child. Skipper Rohit Sharma was blessed with a baby boy on November 15 and still, his travel plans to Australia were uncertain.

See Also:- Ashwin set for Test debut in Perth after 5 tours

Although some reports claimed that Rohit Sharma would arrive in Perth well ahead of the first Test on Friday (November 22) morning, it was always evident that he would postpone his travel. But now it is being confirmed that he has informed the concerned authorities Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that he would join the squad on Sunday.

Team India will play the two-day pink-ball warm-up game against the Australian Prime Minister's XI before the day-night Test in Adelaide which starts on December 6.

The 0-3 whitewash at home against the Black Caps has raised alarm bells within the BCCI administration, compelling them to revisit their 'A' program which involves bolstering their bench strength for the top-tier Indian team. As per a recent report from TOI, National Cricket Academy (NCA) head VVS Laxman is reportedly devising a strategy to create a player resource pool.

The 'A' program worked as a charm under the supervision of former India head coach Rahul Dravid who used to tour with developmental teams throughout the year thereby offering the highest degree of exposure to young budding India cricketers. 

The issues surrounding the 'A' program in the past

The 'A' program suffered a setback in the past following the advent of the Covid pandemic. These A tours presented a huge financial burden on the other boards as they refrained from sponsoring the India U-19 series and 'A' teams. Despite the pressing challenges, BCCI made concise efforts to organize a couple of shadow 'A' tours like the one that preceded India's Test tour of Australia. 

"Other boards have communicated to the BCCI that they can't bear the expenses of an 'A' tour. The BCCI has still tried to organize a couple of shadow 'A' tours like the one which precedes India's Test tour of Australia. Laxman is working on it to come up with a plan that will offer greater exposure to the next generation of cricketers," a source said.

The major reason behind several boards' reluctance to host the 'A' tours vastly stems from the financial implications. These tours do not generate any revenue and all the expenses have to be incurred by the local boards which makes the 'A' program a highly unsustainable prospect in the long run.  Laxman will have a tricky task at hand and needs to find a viable solution to make these tours more affordable. 

A look into India's most recent 'A' tour

India featured in an 'A' series earlier this year against the England Lions prior to the start of the five-match Test series against England. That series offered an all-round view to the selectors on the players' current standing which in turn provided a baseline for them to make suitable selections ahead of the competitive Test series. 

Moreover, the 'A' program also came into focus in India's previous BGT outing down under where the likes of Siraj, Thaku, Saini, and Sundar all of whom stepped up in the absence of senior players. These players were the by-product of the 'A' series that was scheduled just before the start of the series. On the back of some formidable performances in the 'A' series, these budding youngsters were able to book their place in the Indian playing Xl which subsequently triumphed under dire conditions to clinch the series by 2-1.  

See also: Nitish Reddy included in Ravi Shastri's playing Xl in the upcoming Perth Test

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially named Pakistan as the host for the 2025 ICC Men’s Champions Trophy, scheduled to take place from February to March next year. The announcement, accompanied by a new visual identity for the men's and women's Champions Trophy tournaments, comes amid escalating diplomatic concerns, as India’s government has expressed reluctance to send its cricket team to Pakistan. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has relayed this stance to the ICC and proposed a hybrid model, allowing India to play its matches outside Pakistan.

ICC releases visual identity, affirms Pakistan’s host status

The ICC’s latest video showcases Pakistan as the official venue for the Champions Trophy, highlighting cultural landmarks like Lahore’s Shahi Qila and unique elements of Pakistani truck art. An ICC statement describes the Champions Trophy as a "thrilling two-week competition" with top teams competing in a tournament format where "every match counts." The men’s event, returning for the first time since 2017, will see eight teams competing for the white jackets awarded to champions, while the newly introduced women's Champions Trophy, set for 2027 in Sri Lanka, will adopt the T20 format with six teams competing.

In its statement, the ICC added, "The Champions Trophy will now occur every two years, alternating between a men’s ODI tournament and a women’s T20 event, bringing intense competition and historic moments as teams battle for the iconic white jackets."

ICC reveals Logo and Brand Identity for Champions Trophy. pic.twitter.com/ckJN5vZZT6

— Ragav 𝕏 (@ragav_x) November 13, 2024

See Also: Sunil Gavaskar shares untold anecdote of India-Australia rivalry with Allan Border

India’s hybrid model proposal sparks diplomacy and debate

The BCCI’s hybrid model proposal is aimed at enabling India to participate in the tournament without crossing borders into Pakistan. However, the Pakistan government has reportedly directed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) not to relocate any games outside Pakistan. The tension surrounding this arrangement continues as the PCB and BCCI seek a resolution. Despite the ongoing discussions, the ICC’s promotional video reinforces Pakistan’s position as host, underscoring the anticipation for the nation to welcome international teams after nearly a decade.

Pakistan is the reigning champion of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy, having defeated India in a memorable final in 2017 in the UK. With the tournament's return, cricket fans and players alike are eager to witness the unfolding of one of cricket’s premier events. The inclusion of the first-ever women’s Champions Trophy in 2027 marks a significant step for the ICC’s commitment to elevating women’s cricket on the global stage, offering both excitement and opportunity for players worldwide.

As the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed its decision to not travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and International Cricket Council (ICC) are busy to find solutions quickly. 

Pakistan is getting ready to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. It is the first time since the 1996 ODI World Cup that Pakistan will host an ICC tournament. 

India last toured Pakistan in 2008. Even in the last Asia Cup (2023), which was played in the ODI format, Pakistan was the host nation, but the BCCI’s decision to not travel to Pakistan forced the PCB to host the tournament in a hybrid model. Sri Lanka majorly hosted the Indian matches and the final. 

So, the BCCI’s negative decision to tour Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 was highly expected. 

SEE ALSO: Rohit Sharma to miss first Test against Australia in Perth

What did the BCCI tell the ICC?

According to media reports, the BCCI has clarified that the hybrid model for the ICC Champions Trophy is acceptable to them only if Dubai hosts the tournament final.  

A source told PTI, “Unless the PCB decides to pull out of hosting the Champions Trophy the current plan is to hold India’s matches in UAE and the final in Dubai. The Indian Cricket Board has told the ICC that a Hybrid Model is acceptable to them only if the final is held in Dubai and not in Pakistan. The ICC has told the PCB that if it decides to go ahead with the hosting of the mega event on a Hybrid Model it would get its full hosting fees and majority of the matches.”

Present status on hosting the ICC Champions Trophy on a hybrid model

Meanwhile, the PCB wants clarifications from the ICC on BCCI’s decision to not travel to Pakistan. According to media reports, the PCB is still not thinking of hosting the tournament on a hybrid model and is hopeful to host the complete tournament in Pakistan. 

A PCB source told PTI, "There is no talk about having the Champions Trophy on a Hybrid Model system as of now. An email is to be sent to the ICC with the advice of its legal department in which the Board wanted clarifications from the ICC on the Indian decision. As of now, the entire situation is being gauged by the PCB. No decision has been taken on the next step. Yes, the PCB is in touch with the government for consultation and directives if required."

The ICC Champions Trophy is returning after eight years. England and Wales hosted the last ICC Champions Trophy 2017, where Pakistan won their first title in the competition after beating the defending champions India in the final of the tournament.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will run between eight teams. Apart from the hosts and defending champions Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, South Africa, New Zealand, and England will participate in the upcoming edition of the Champions Trophy. 

For the past few weeks, speculation regarding the future of the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 has been rife. The focus has been mostly centered on the ongoing tussle between PCB and BCCI as the Indian government stands firmly opposed to sending its cricket team to Pakistan. Out of eight participating teams, India is the only team that willfully wants to refrain from traveling to Pakistan citing "security reasons". The Indian team last toured Pakistan during the 2008 Asia Cup right before the tragic terror attacks in Mumbai which claimed countless lives.

Relations since the in-famous terror attack have been sour and the bilateral cricketing ties have plummeted to an all-time low. Very recently, right before the release of the official Champions Trophy schedule, the BCCI blatantly refused to tour Pakistan for the Champions Trophy and has also issued a formal communication to the ICC about the same. This puts PCB in a difficult situation who are reportedly taking all possible measures to host its first major ICC event since 1996. 

How did the PCB respond to BCCI's denial to travel Pakistan? 

As soon as BCCI's decision was conveyed to the ICC, it was learnt that the PCB had reportedly referred the matter to its government which is currently reviewing this highly sensitive situation. Previously, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi expressed that his board is unwilling to make any compromises and quashed any hopes of adopting a hybrid model unless a written explanation is issued by the Indian government. 

As per a PCB spokesperson, the ICC had communicated this news to the PCB via email on Friday but a formal reason for India's omission was missing. 

"The ICC emailed the PCB informing them about the inability of the BCCI to send its team to Pakistan. No reason was given. There is nothing in writing we have received from the BCCI. The PCB has apprised the federal government of the situation."

Unlike last year's Asia Cup where the PCB gave in to India's "hybrid model" approach, the stance will be a lot more stringent by the PCB. And since Naqvi is also part of Pakistan's interior ministry, the stance can be viewed as representative of the government in this case. As per sources, the Pakistan government will advise the PCB to remain resolute in this matter and work with the governing bodies to host the Champions Trophy successfully in Pakistan. 

How will ICC respond amidst the political standoff between the two boards?

As the countdown for the much-anticipated Champions Trophy draws close, ICC will have a little under 100 days to finalize the future and the outcome of the tournament. As cricketing ties continue to get impacted amidst worsening geopolitical ties between the two nations, ICC now finds itself in a tight situation. Picking either side in a situation like this can invite consequences that the ICC may not be able to ascertain at this stage. Both Naqvi and jay Shah have close ties to their respective head of states. The situation will not become any simpler when Shah takes over as the ICC chair, on December 1.

The tug of war between PCB and BCCI continues to rage on as the Champions Trophy 2025 schedule nears its official announcement. BCCI openly expressed its displeasure about visiting Pakistan citing "security" concerns and rather suggested the ICC to have all their matches shifted to a neutral venue, Dubai. 

However, the PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi strongly voiced his objection to BCCI's inclination towards having a proposed "hybrid" model. He reiterated firmly that the entire tournament will be hosted in Pakistan and the Indian team, like other participating teams, are obliged to visit the country. In a recent media discussion at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Naqvi revealed that the PCB is yet to receive any official confirmation from the BCCI regarding India's objection to playing in Pakistan. 

What is Mohsin Naqvi's stance on this issue?

Amidst growing reports on the India team's unwillingness to participate in the upcoming Champions Trophy in Pakistan, Naqvi has said that he is actively in touch with his Indian counterpart and assures that he is working around the clock with his team to make progress on this issue. He further clarified his stance and explained that if any objections need to be conveyed by the BCCI then it has to be in the form of writing. As of now, the PCB has not received any official complaint or an objection in the written format.

"In the last two months, the Indian media has been reporting that India isn't traveling. I discussed this with them and my team, and our stance is clear: they need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one. The Indian media are reporting it, but no formal communication has reached the PCB."

Additionally, Naqvi also debunks any possibility of adopting a hybrid model and states that there has been no discussion between the PCB and the BCCI of having a hybrid model and neither are they in a position to adopt one. 

Distraught cricketing ties between India and Pakistan

Both India and Pakistan have been bitter rivals off the field but due to the ongoing political standoff. Despite the bitter geopolitical ties, cricket between the two Asian cricketing giants blossomed and the rivalry between the two nations was something to behold. Since the infamous terror attacks in Mumbai, India has never toured Pakistan for a bilateral series since 2008. Pakistan too, have severed their cricketing ties with India and last came on a bilateral series tour in 2012-13. However, the two nations continue to face each other in major ICC events. 

Naqvi elaborates that Pakistan has been very cooperative in this matter and despite BCCI's refusal to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, PCB still made a decision to send their cricket team to play the ODI World Cup 2023. That tournament eventually adopted a hybrid model, with the latter stages played in Sri Lanka. He expects BCCI to adopt a positive approach. Furthermore, he has been a long believer in the fact that sports should not get embroiled in politics. Whether or not two countries get along has nothing to do with sports.

"Cricket should be free of politics. If you don't get along with another country, that's another matter, but politics should not be involved in sport."  

At this stage, it is hard to ascertain the fate of the Champions Trophy. PCB remains adamant about its position to host all Champions Trophy matches inside Pakistan but it is also clear that BCCI will not make any decisive move on this matter without the clearance from their government. 

See also: Watch: Bangladeshi and Pakistani cricketers' hilarious interview moments

England Test captain and all-rounder Ben Stokes has marked himself unavailable for the mega auction for a second straight season in a row. The decision comes as the star all-rounder wants to prolong his red-ball career over franchise cricket. As per current IPL regulations, any overseas player opting out of the mega auction will automatically be ineligible for selection in the next year's IPL season. 

Such has been the case with Ben Stokes. As per the player registration list unveiled by the BCCI, there has been no mention of Stokes' name in that list which effectively keeps him out of action till 2027. 

What are these stringent measures introduced now by BCCI?

Traditionally, the BCCI offered a lot of flexibility to the overseas players to omit mega auctions and rather make inroads via mini auctions which would often result in hefty contracts. Stokes, in particular, benefitted the most from this practice. After skipping the 2022 IPL mega auction, Stokes made an entry in the 2023 IPL season and by doing so attracted a whopping contract worth Rs. 16.25 crore bid from the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the mini-auction.

But as the current situation stands, such leeway is now being taken away by the governing authority. This move has been put in place to discourage overseas players from entering the mini-auction at potentially higher bids. Moreover, the screws have been further tightened by the BCCI which will now hand a two-year ban to any player who withdraws after being picked up in the auction. These measures have been reinstated in a bid to foster consistency and dependability within the franchises.

What does the future hold for Stokes & Root? 

Both Stokes and Root will miss out on the upcoming IPL season and will continue to wait on the sidelines till the year 2027. Stokes has been a key asset in the IPL marketplace with his ongoing valuation expected to range between Rs 15-20 crore. Root, on the other hand, was picked for his base price of Rs. 1 crore at the 2023 IPL auction and played three matches for Rajasthan Royals, scoring 10 runs and bowling two overs without picking a wicket. The English duo will have to enter through a likely mini-auction format as per the current regulations.   

See also: WPL 2025 retention names revealed; T20 WC winner released

While Jay Shah is set to leave the secretary post of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to start his journey as the next chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), then who will be the next BCCI secretary?

Last August, Jay Shah was elected unopposed for the next ICC chairman post. He will start the new role officially on December 1, after Greg Barclay ends his second tenure as the ICC chairman. Shah is going to be the youngest ICC chairman. He is set to be the fifth Indian to become the ICC chairman. 

Two names in strong candidates

Now, the BCCI needs a new secretary as Shah has to leave this role to become the ICC chairman. According to recent media reports, there are two strong candidates to take up this role. 

One name is Rohan Jaitley, the present President of the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA). The other name is Anil Patel, the present secretary of the Gujarat Cricket Association.

An India Today report claims that there will be no Special General Meeting (SGM) for the appointment of the next BCCI secretary.  

According to the India Today report, Rohan Jaitley is the favourite to take up the next BCCI secretary role. He started his journey in cricket administration four years ago after becoming the new DDCA President. His father was the previous DDCA President who held the role for 14 years. 

Rohan Jaitley's experience in the DDCA

Under Rohan Jaitley’s tenure, the DDCA has experienced massive improvement. His tenure successfully hosted five matches of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. 

Jaitley also played an important role in successfully organise the first edition of the Delhi Premier League. Rishabh Pant, Ishant Sharma, etc were the popular faces in the first edition of the tournament.  

The BCCI has rejected the Cricket Association of Bengal's (CAB) request to postpone their two home matches due to the threat of Cyclone Dana threat. The CAB requested to postpone one game each of the Ranji Trophy in Kolkata and the Under-23 Col CK Nayudu Trophy in Kalyani.

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The Senior Bengal side will take on Kerala in the third round of the Ranji Trophy at Jadavpur University Campus 2nd Ground. BCCI has kept a longer gap between the matches this season which gave hope to CAB getting the request approved. After the Bengal vs. Kerala match ends on October 29, Bengal will have nearly a week off before their next game against Karnataka, which starts on November 6 in Bengaluru. Same for Kerala as they will return home to face Uttar Pradesh in the fourth round at Thumba.

The Bengal Under-23 side will take on the Railways Under-23 side from 27 to 30 October at Bengal Cricket Academy Ground in Kalyani where the Bengal versus Bihar Ranji Trophy game was completely washed out due to constant rain. Their next fixture is scheduled from 8 November to 11 against Vidarbha in Nagpur which is also a one-week gap.

See Also:- Ravichandran Ashwin becomes all-time leading wicket-taker in World Test Championship history

The Bengal side will miss the services of Abhimanyu Easwaran, Abhishek Porel, and Mukesh Kumar for the next couple of rounds in the Ranji Trophy as they have been picked for India A side for the Australia Tour. India A are scheduled to play Australia A in two four-day matches in Mackay from October 31 to November 3 and in Melbourne from November 7 to 10. They will then play the India squad in a warm-up match in Perth from November 15 to 17 before the first Test against Australia begins on November 22.

Abhimanyu, 29, has been part of India's Test squad previously - in Bangladesh in 2022 - and he has been in superb form this domestic season, scoring two hundreds in the Duleep Trophy, and another century in the Irani Trophy. Even Pacer Mukesh Kumar looked in fine form as he picked 6 wickets in their Ranji Trophy game against Uttar Pradesh. He picked up 5fer as well in Irani Trophy against Mumbai.

It took a moment of absolute brilliance from Sarfaraz to dismiss Will Young who was batting nicely on 26 during the second Test of the three-match Test series in Pune. Yong had got a faint glove on the way while guiding the ball down the leg side off the bowling of Ashwin who came in to bowl from over the wicket. There was a hesitant appeal from team India at first which was swiftly dismissed by the umpire Richard Illingworth. But Sarfaraz, who was standing at leg slip was confident that he had heard something and pleaded with the Indian skipper to go for the review. 

Rohit at first was not confident about going upstairs but after intense pleading from Sarfaraz and several other close-in fielders, the Indian skipper signaled for the DRS referral. 

Watch the dismissal unfold here:

in #2nd_Test
Keeper Bowler Captain kisi ko nahi Suna
Sarfaraz khan Bola Please Mujh Par Bharosa Karo.#INDvsNZ pic.twitter.com/wkyTUNmMqp

— A. Wahid (@A__Wahid) October 24, 2024

After winning the toss, the Kiwi skipper made the decision to bat first. The visitors made a steady start and were cruising along nicely at 76-1. The wicket fell during the last ball of the 24th over of the New Zealand innings. Ashwin was the bowler who floated a traditional off-break delivery outside the line of leg stump. Young tried to nude it fine down the leg side and Pant took a good take behind the stumps.

At first impression, it appeared that Young had not got anything on it. But the DRS review revealed that the ball was passing very close to his glove. Ultraedge was needed to ascertain whether there was any willow involved. Subsequently enough, the ultra-edge technology returned positive visuals for team India and its fans as the big screen showed a whisker of a spike when the ball passed close to his gloves.  

The on-field decision was overturned which helped India earn a vital second wicket to break the momentum of the visitors. At the time of writing, New Zealand concluded the first session by posting 92 for the loss of 2 wickets at Lunch with Ravindra and Conway still unbeaten.