Pakistan have been fined for a slow over-rate for the third time in four ODIs, with another fine imposed upon them after they were found one over short during the second game against New Zealand in Hamilton.

This is their second successive over-rate offence in the current series. Captain Mohammad Rizwan admitted the charge, resulting in a five percent deduction from the match fees of the players.

Match referee Jeff Crowe handed down the penalty under Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which deals with over-rate offences. Under the rule, players are fined 5 percent of their match fees for every over the team does not bowl within the time limit. The charge was brought by on-field umpires Michael Gough and Wayne Knights, third umpire Paul Reiffel, and fourth umpire Chris Brown.

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Repeated Over-Rate Violations

Pakistan were earlier discovered two overs short in the first ODI of the three-match series in Napier, where they lost by 73 runs. Their woes continued in the second ODI, where they lost by 84 runs, losing the series with a game to spare. Pursuing a score of 293, Pakistan folded to 72 for 7 before No. 7 Faheem Ashraf and No. 10 Naseem Shah resisted with half-centuries, taking the team to 208. New Zealand wicketkeeper Mitchell Hay's unbeaten 99 earlier took his team to 292, while fast bowler Ben Sears took his career-best ODI figures of 5 for 59.

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Pakistan were fined for a slow over-rate as well in the first match of the 2025 Champions Trophy, which was against New Zealand as well. Pakistan has now been fined in three consecutive ODIs against New Zealand and three of their previous four completed matches.

English cricket is likely to undergo captaincy changes in both shorter formats, with swashbuckling batsman Harry Brook the most probable new T20I skipper. Captain of England’s ODI team, though, could either be Brook or the one with lots of experience, Ben Stokes.

Brook to Replace in T20Is

Harry Brook is reportedly England's pick to be the new T20I captain. The 25-year-old is one of the names on the lips of English cricket fans due to his aggressive batting style and his skills displayed when the situation calls. England goes into the T20 World Cup with the appointment of Brook, which obviously means that they are looking to play with more intent and without fear.

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As it is, Brook has been playing a frontline role in England's T20 team and has made an impact in the world through his various domestic and franchise performances. Awards and recognition have also been coming his way for his excellence in leadership, and because of that, he has been named as the next captain to Jos Buttler if he leaves his place eventually.

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ODI Captaincy: Brook vs Stokes

While it may seem that Brook has got the T20I captaincy already, ODI captaincy is a different story. Ben Stokes is not out of the picture of becoming the ODI captain of England; he currently serves his national team in Test formats and is still determined to lead it as a senior and recognised player in his upcoming games in the World Cup and the Ashes series.

🚨 BROOK & STOKES AS CAPTAINS. 🚨

- Harry Brook set to become England's T20i captain.

- Brook or Ben Stokes could become England's ODI captain. (Telegraph). pic.twitter.com/EB8hzoo4zG

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 3, 2025

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The choice of Ben Stokes as England ODI captain would still be sensible considering that he led his country to a historic World Cup victory in 2019 and contributed to the other important successes of the team in different formats. On the other hand, Stokes recently declared his retirement from ODIs, which implies doubts about him as the long-term captain. If a long-term leader is essential, Brook would be the perfect choice, ensuring that the 50-over match continues under new dynamics among players.

England’s Leadership Transition

England is in a dilemma with the future of Buttler as the limited-overs captain being unclear and Eoin Morgan still highly revered for his leadership. If they now hand the baton to Brook to lead the limited-overs format for both white-ball and red-ball, this will be where it all begins, but handing Stokes the ODI reins would provide stability and experience.

As England’s cricket board deliberates, all eyes will be on the official announcement that could shape the team’s white-ball future for years to come.

India’s Cricket Schedule Till the 2026 T20 World Cup

India celebrated a major victory by winning the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, defeating New Zealand by four wickets in the final. This was India’s third Champions Trophy title and their first in 12 years. But now, the attention is given to the future matches and tournaments.

India did not make it to the WTC 2023-25 final after losing to New Zealand and Australia. But they will now start their journey towards the next phase of the WTC with a Test series against England.

Key Highlights

• India will play 9 Test matches and 12 ODIs over the next year.

• The T20I team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, will play 18 T20 matches in addition to the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup.

• India aims to win the Pataudi Trophy against England after 18 years.

• With possible leadership changes, a new captain could take charge in red-ball cricket.

• India will defend its T20 World Cup title in February March 2026.

India’s Upcoming Series

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Before the England series, Indian players will participate in the IPL 2025. The tournament starts on March 22 at Eden Gardens, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru facing Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening match. The final will also be held at Eden Gardens on May 25.

The next year promises exciting cricket for Indian fans, with key tournaments and series lined up before the big T20 World Cup

New Zealand has again demonstrated their superiority over Pakistan, taking the ODI series 2-0* after thrashing them 4-1 in the T20I series. What's more impressive? They did it without 11 of their most important players!

No Big Names? No Problem!

New Zealand was missing some of their biggest stars:

• No Kane Williamson
• No Mitchell Santner
• No Rachin Ravindra
• No Devon Conway
• No Lockie Ferguson
• No Glenn Phillips
• No Matt Henry
• No Kyle Jamieson
• No Tom Latham
• No Will Young
• No Ish Sodhi

Despite this, the Black Caps dominated Pakistan across formats, demonstrating the depth and power of their cricketing system.

Pakistan Left Pondering Answers

Pakistan entered the series with a close to full-strength team but couldn't keep up with New Zealand's intensity and execution. The T20I series was concluded in a 4-1 thrashing, and now the ODIs have been concluded in New Zealand's favor as well.

This overawing performance is indicative of New Zealand's phenomenal team culture and depth of talent pool. Even with their superstars missing, they still manage to win.

Pakistan, however, will have to look back on these crushing losses and work on how to regain their momentum.

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T20I Series: A 4-1 Thrashing

Pakistan, with their near-strength team, had great expectations of victorious wins in the T20I series. New Zealand's second-string team crushed them 4-1, revealing glaring gaps in Pakistan's game.

ODI Series: Kiwis Seal the Trophy 2-0

The ODIs were also on the same page. New Zealand was merciless, dominating Pakistan with intelligent strategies and clinical performances. Even without their lead stars, they appeared much stronger than Pakistan, who fought with both bat and ball.

What This Means for New Zealand

This series victory is an exhibition of the solidity and robustness of New Zealand's cricket structure. Despite lacking their established players, they have managed to secure victories comfortably. Their capacity to develop young cricketers and sustain a stable team culture is one of the largest explanations of their ongoing performance in international cricket.

What This Means for Pakistan

This is a wake-up call for Pakistani cricket. Beating a decimated New Zealand team in both T20Is and ODIs is a serious cause for concern. With their full-strength team, they should have done better, but instead, they seemed clueless. Their batting was inconsistent, and their bowling was ineffective.

New Zealand has again humiliated Pakistan on their home soil, even though they were missing 11 of their main players. This overawing performance says a lot about their cricket set-up, whereas Pakistan has to return to the drawing board and sort out problems before their next major challenge.

The ODI series between Pakistan and New Zealand has so far consisted of one match, with the series 1–0 in favor of New Zealand. The second encounter is scheduled for Seddon Park in Hamilton. With the momentum after their victory in the first ODI, the hosts will seek to clinch the series, while Pakistan hope to recover and keep the series alive.

Match Details – 2nd ODI

1st ODI Recap

New Zealand began the series on a high note with a convincing 73-run victory. Given to bat first, the hosts put up a huge score of 344/9, with a scintillating 132 from Mark Chapman and a steady 76 from Daryl Mitchell.

In reply, Pakistan scored 271 before being bowled out in the 45th over. Babar Azam scored the highest with 78, while Salman Agha contributed a 58-ball 58. Nathan Smith was the star of the bowling attack, taking 4 wickets, while Jacob Duffy took 2.

Predicted Playing XI – New Zealand

Bench: Nick Kelly, Mohammad Abbas, Rhys Mariu

Predicted Playing XI – Pakistan

Bench: Faheem Ashraf, Irfan Khan Niazi, Akif Javed, Sufiyan Muqeem

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What to Watch

The second ODI promises several key mini-battles. New Zealand’s young squad has shown maturity and composure, but can they maintain consistency to close out the series? Pakistan will be hoping that their experienced top order, led by Babar and Rizwan, can guide them to a comeback. The middle overs will be crucial, particularly the contest between Pakistan’s spinners and New Zealand’s left-handers like Chapman and Bracewell.

Venue Watch – Seddon Park, Hamilton

Seddon Park generally has a good batting wicket with true bounce and quick outfields that reward stroke play. Spinners may come into the picture towards the later part of the day as the wicket deteriorates. Historically, run chases have been a preferred choice at this ground, and therefore, the toss may again be crucial.

What to Expect

With New Zealand replete with confidence and Pakistan desperate to hit back, the second ODI is going to be a thrilling contest. The Kiwis will want to wrap up the series at the earliest opportunity, while Pakistan possesses the arsenal to hit back. Hamilton will be the stage where all attention will be concentrated as the series gathers momentum.

Will Pakistan discover their rhythm and attract level of attraction, or will New Zealand keep extending their winning streak? The answers lie in the second ODI encounter.

Joe Root has confirmed he is not in the running to become England’s next white-ball captain following Jos Buttler’s resignation after the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The 34-year-old batter, who led England’s Test team from 2017 to 2022, stated that his time as captain is over.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Root said, “I think that ship has sailed. I’ve done my time as a captain in an England shirt. I’m sure whoever gets the opportunity will be extremely proud and do a brilliant job.”

While Root never captained England in limited-overs formats, he returned to the ODI side this year and finished as one of the top performers in the Champions Trophy. He was England’s leading batter in the tournament, finishing as the fourth-highest run-scorer overall, and nearly took his team over the line in their final match against Afghanistan with a gritty century.

Despite his personal success, England endured a disappointing campaign, failing to reach the semifinals. Jos Buttler stepped down as captain shortly before their final group game against South Africa. Since then, England has yet to announce a new leader for the ODI side.

Among the contenders, vice-captain Harry Brook is currently seen as the front-runner. However, managing director Rob Key has hinted that Ben Stokes could be considered for the white-ball captaincy, potentially uniting both red and white-ball leadership under one figure. Brendon McCullum has not ruled out the option of having separate captains for ODIs and T20Is.

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Root acknowledged England’s recent struggles but remains confident in the squad’s potential. “We didn’t play anywhere near what we’re capable of. But there’s so much talent and so much more to come. This is a good opportunity to reset and move forward as a group.”

Despite not being a regular in England’s T20I squad since 2019, Root's form in franchise cricket has drawn attention. He impressed in this year’s SA20 tournament with the Paarl Royals, scoring 279 runs at an average of 55.80 and a strike rate of 140.20.

Looking ahead, Root turned his focus to the upcoming Test summer, starting with a five-match series against India at home from June 20. The series will kick off the new cycle of the World Test Championship.

“India coming over means there’s no hiding place. It’s a long series, and we’ll need to deliver match-winning performances consistently,” Root said.

With Root stepping aside from the leadership conversation, England’s white-ball future now rests on the next generation to take the team forward.

Ex-Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu recently made highlight of his retirement from ODI cricket, a subject that generated a lot of controversy in 2019-20. He retired in 2019 after being omitted from India's World Cup team twice.

He was initially not added to the 15-man roster for the World Cup in 2019. Subsequently, when Shikhar Dhawan and Vijay Shankar got injured, selectors picked Rishabh Pant and Mayank Agarwal ahead of him. Disappointed by this, Rayudu chose to retire from international cricket.

Ambati Rayudu's Cricket Journey

Rayudu came to be recognized initially as the skipper of India's Under-19 side during the 2004 World Cup. His teammates were future greats such as Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Karthik, and Robin Uthappa. He however waited nearly a decade to represent India.

He made his first ODI in 2013 against Zimbabwe but rose to prominence during India's tour of England in 2014. His consistent performances earned him a spot in the team. Even though he was selected for the 2015 World Cup, he did not get to feature in any of the matches.

Though he was in and out of the Indian team he did well in domestic cricket and the IPL. He was a key player for Mumbai Indians, winning championships with them in 2013, 2015, and 2017 before shifting his base to Chennai Super Kings in 2018.

Rayudu on why he retired so early 🤣#TimeOut pic.twitter.com/rbUX92Bhba

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) March 27, 2025

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2019 World Cup Snub and Retirement

Rayudu was a major contributor to CSK's 2018 IPL title, with 602 runs in the season. He earned a place in India's Asia Cup team and the West Indies series on the basis of his performance. But he didn't perform well against Australia and lost his spot in the 2019 World Cup team and hence his international career.

He ended his ODI career with 1,694 runs in 55 matches at a stunning average of 47.06. He also had three centuries and ten fifties to his name. He, however, featured in just six T20Is, making 42 runs, and never had the opportunity to play Test cricket.

Rayudu's Funny Reply to a Fan

During ESPNCricinfo’s Time Out show, a fan from Bihar asked Rayudu why he retired early despite having good stats. The fan also said he wanted to meet him.

Rayudu humorously responded that it would take an entire week to tell the entire story, leaving everyone in splits. He has, over time, suggested that Virat Kohli, Ravi Shastri, and MSK Prasad were involved in his not being picked for the 2019 World Cup team.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have decided to swap the One Day International (ODI) matches with Twenty20 International (T20I) games in the upcoming bilateral series between the two nations. This is done as part of preparations for both teams for the Asia Cup 2025 and the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

The initial series, the tour of Pakistan by Bangladesh in May 2025, had three ODIs in it originally but has now been changed to a series of five T20I matches by the boards. This will provide both the teams with great experience in the T20 format as they prepare for upcoming international tournaments.

The second series, the Pakistan tour of Bangladesh in July 2025, was also to be made up of three ODIs. But it will now include three T20I matches instead. This is done to provide the teams with more emphasis on T20 cricket, as both are gearing up for the challenges in the upcoming big T20 tournaments.

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This shift from ODIs to T20Is is happening when T20 cricket is rapidly gaining popularity throughout the world with the majority of the world's major cricket nations placing greater significance on this version due to its fast and short nature. It is being considered a major part of the run-up to the upcoming international tournaments like the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup.

This change places particular importance on the increasing importance of T20I cricket within today's game and offers Bangladesh and Pakistan a chance to iron out their plans and improve their T20I side in preparation for the much-awaited Asia Cup 2025 and the T20 World Cup 2026.

The Indian cricket team for men will tour South Africa to play a limited-overs series during November and December 2025. The three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and five Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) will be played across cities in India.

ODI Series Schedule

India will first play three ODIs against South Africa. Here is the complete schedule:

• 1st ODI: November 30 – Ranchi
• 2nd ODI: December 3 – Raipur
• 3rd ODI: December 6 – Visakhapatnam (Vizag)
• T20I Series Schedule

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After the ODI series, both teams will play five T20 matches at different venues.

• 1st T20I: December 9 – Cuttack
• 2nd T20I: December 11 – Nagpur
• 3rd T20I: December 14 – Dharamshala
• 4th T20I: December 17 – Lucknow
• 5th T20I: December 19 – Ahmedabad

The Schedule of India vs South Africa 2025: (Gaurav Gupta/TOI).

1st ODI - 30th Nov at Ranchi.
2nd ODI - 3rd Dec at Raipur.
3rd ODI - 6th Dec at Vizag.

1st T20I - 9th Dec at Cuttack.
2nd T20I - 11th Dec at Nagpur.
3rd T20I - 14th Dec at Dharmshala.
4th T20I - 17th Dec at… pic.twitter.com/A6MvIqQiZ6

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) March 22, 2025

Faisalabad's Iqbal Stadium will host an international game for the first time in 17 years. The city's old stadium will host May 2025 white-ball series between Pakistan and Bangladesh. It is a great moment for Faisalabad because international cricket was not being organized there for several years.

The match will be One Day International - Wikipedia and T20 between Pakistan and Bangladesh and will be held in three cities, Faisalabad, Lahore, and Multan. The competitions will feature the best of both teams with heart-stopping cricketing action for the spectators.

Faisalabad's Iqbal Stadium is famous for its cricket-loving supporters and will have an electric feel when it will host the eagerly awaited international game. The stadium has hosted various domestic games previously, but it had been nearly a decade since an international-grade game was planned there last in 2008. Now after nearly two decades, the stadium gates will once again open up for international cricketers and spectators.

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Lahore and Multan will be equally crucial centers in this series. Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium and Multan's Multan Cricket Stadium are among the best grounds of Pakistan, and they have hosted more than enough wonderful cricket matches already. The white-ball series will be a grand spectacle for all three cities, as the crowd will get to see their home teams play at home.

This Bangladesh-Pakistan tournament will be significant for both sides as they build momentum for the future international tournaments. It is also the perfect time for cricket fans in these cities to witness good cricket firsthand.

Overall, this is a big win for cricket fans in Multan, Lahore, and Faisalabad, and something to look forward to for the sport of cricket in Pakistan.