The BCCI is set to announce the new central contract list in the near future, with a number of changes expected. Shreyas Iyer will be set to regain after his fine performances, while R Ashwin will be axed after his international retirement.

Will Kohli, Rohit, and Jadeja Be Demoted

Fans are debating if Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja will be moved from their Grade A+ deals as they have retired from T20Is. Nevertheless, the news is that all three will still maintain their place in the higher order, as they continue to be important players in Tests and ODIs, especially for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Virat and Jadeja will likely be in India's team for the upcoming Test series against England, with Rohit's availability still doubtful. He is said to have decided to go out of the tour, but there is no official word as yet.

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Axar Patel's Promotion Certain

Axar Patel is likely to be elevated to a Grade A contract since he has continued to play consistently across all three formats. His timely contributions, like a match-winning 47-run support in the 2024 T20 World Cup final, have further cemented his case.

Ishan Kishan's Contract Status in Doubt

While Iyer is set to return to the contract list, Ishan Kishan’s status remains unclear. Both players were previously dropped for skipping domestic cricket. It remains to be seen if the board reinstates Kishan this time.

Final Decision Soon

Selectors, the central contracts to discuss the squad for the England tour.The last word on Rohit Sharma's position and leadership adjustments is also imminent. While Jasprit Bumrah's fitness remains an issue, the team administration is yet to pinpoint a obvious candidate for the captaincy job.

Wait for the official announcement from BCCI including chief selector Ajit Agarkar, head coach Gautam Gambhir, and BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, are going to meet on March 29 in Guwahati.

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 finale of the T20I series between Pakistan and New Zealand is here. With New Zealand's lead standing at 3-1, the last match presents Pakistan with the opportunity to limit the series margin, while New Zealand is looking to intensify its grip on the series. The 5th T20I will take place at the infamous Sky Stadium in Wellington, which is infamous for its lively pitch and avid support from the crowd.

Match Details

Pakistan Probable Playing XI

Pakistan's combination of experienced campaigners and new players will be eager to finish the series on a positive note. Skipper Salman Agha will try to motivate his men, while pace pair Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf will try to test the Kiwi batsmen.

New Zealand Probable Playing XI

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New Zealand, under captain Michael Bracewell, has provided depth and steadiness throughout the series. New Zealand's opening three of Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, and Mark Chapman have worked tirelessly to ensure competitive scores are posted, with the bowling lineup, led by Jacob Duffy, keeping the Pakistani batsmen under wraps.

What to Expect

Sky Stadium's pitch has traditionally been hospitable to both the batsmen and bowlers, with the prospect of an interesting contest. Since the series is already decided, both sides could try out their combinations, giving fringe players chances to prove themselves. Spectators can expect a rollercoaster encounter as Pakistan looks for redemption and New Zealand attempts to end the series on a high note.

The fourth T20I series game between Pakistan and New Zealand will be played at the scenic Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. The series, with New Zealand currently 2-1 up, will see Pakistan aiming to level the series and arrange an exciting climax.

Match Details

Pakistan Probable Playing XI

There is a combination of veterans and rookies in Pakistan's team. Salman Agha is the captain of the side, while Mohammad Haris handles the wicketkeeping duties. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf head the speed bowling, to tackle the Kiwi batsmen at speed and precision.

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New Zealand Probable Playing XI

Michael Bracewell leads the New Zealand team. Opening batsmen Tim Seifert and Finn Allen offer solidity at the batting end with their aggressive style of play. Ish Sodhi and Jacob Duffy lead a bowling attack with experience and youth.

With both sides having a combination of old warhorses and new faces, the 4th T20I is going to be an interesting match. Will New Zealand seal the series, or will Pakistan stage a comeback to make the series level? Keep watching to know!

Pakistan did what only Pakistan can surprise the world with brilliance at the very moment when you least expect it. After two disappointing showings in the first two T20Is of their five-match series against New Zealand, the visitors came back stunningly on Friday in Auckland, chasing down a record 205 in 16 overs to keep the series alive.

The overnight hero was 22-year-old Hasan Nawaz, who appeared in his third T20 International. Having scored ducks in his initial two games, the young batsman made a statement with his knock, hammering 105 from 45 deliveries to guide Pakistan's record-breaking chase. He achieved his hundred in a mere 44 deliveries, smashing Babar Azam's record for the quickest T20I hundred by a Pakistani batsman earlier 49 balls against South Africa in 2021.

- He's 22 Year old.
- He's playing debut series.
- Vs New Zealand in NZ.
- Chasing 205 runs.
- Smashed fastest T20I Hundred for PAK.
- He scored 105*(45).

HASAN NAWAZ - A SPECIAL TALENT FOR PAKISTAN. ⭐ pic.twitter.com/Lefb94GhxG

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) March 21, 2025

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Pakistan reached the target with nine wickets in hand, producing one of their most comprehensive performances in recent times. Skipper Salman Ali Agha played the ideal supporting role, staying unbeaten on 51 off 31 balls.

The 205 chase is now Pakistan's second-highest successful T20I run chase and the joint-highest overseas an assertive reaction from a side under pressure following consecutive losses.

With the series currently standing at 2-1 in favor of New Zealand, Pakistan will hope that this nail-biting victory is the catalyst they need to bring the tide around.

Anil Chaudhary Steps Down As International and IPL Umpire
Veteran Indian umpire Anil Chaudhary has confirmed his retirement from international cricket and Indian Premier League (IPL). After serving for years at the international level, he has decided to relinquish these duties and look for other prospects.

New Role in Cricket
Though retiring from international umpiring and IPL, Chaudhary will be very much engaged with the game. He has already expressed his desire to be a commentator and also officiate for UAE and US T20 leagues. These are growing very fast, and his experience will elevate their umpiring panels to the next level.

🚨 ANIL CHAUDHARY RETIRES FROM INTERNATIONAL & IPL UMPIRING 🚨

- He will be concentrating in commentary and umpiring in T20 Leagues in UAE & US. [Gaurav Gupta from TOI] pic.twitter.com/8xKbmOyoyJ

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 21, 2025

Anil Chaudhary's Umpiring Career Chaudhary has umpired international matches, domestic cricket, and the IPL as a neutral umpire. He has umpired a few ODIs, T20Is, and IPL matches, making important on-field decisions. His temperament and extensive experience of the game have earned him the respect of players and fans alike.

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T20 Leagues and Commentary With franchise T20 leagues gaining more traction, players like Chaudhary are in demand. The fact that he has played for UAE and US-based T20 leagues indicates that such leagues are able to attract the best cricketing talent, even umpires. Moreover, his transition to commentary will enable him to pass on his experience and expertise to an even larger number of people.

Match Details

The battle between New Zealand and Pakistan will be an entertaining match, as both teams will feature a strong side. Let us see the likely playing XIs of both teams.

Pakistan Probable Playing XI:

Pakistan's team has a mix of experience and youth, with Salman Agha as the captain. Mohammad Haris will be taking up wicketkeeping responsibilities, while Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf will lead the bowling attack.

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New Zealand Probable Playing XI:

Michael Bracewell is captaining a similarly balanced team in New Zealand as well. A sound batting setup headed by finisher-style hitters like Finn Allen and Tim Seifert can be expected from it. Variety and depth are promised in the bowling ranks headed by Ish Sodhi and Jacob Duffy.

With both sides having a combination of seasoned and rising stars, this game promises to be an exciting affair. Pakistan's pace bowling prowess will be tested against New Zealand's powerful batting lineup, and it will be an interesting battle between bat and ball.

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.

For nearly a decade, cricket fans worldwide admired the legendary 'Fab Four': Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, and Joe Root. These four players were the biggest faces in international cricket, across formats, for almost a decade, bombarding records with great consistency, technique, and leadership. However, as time passes, the once-invicible quartet is now showing signs of fading away, raising questions about the next era of cricketing greats.

The Fab Four In Tests
Test cricket has been the ultimate proving ground for these four marstros. Kohli's dominant captaincy and stroke play, Smith's unorthodox but very effective technique, Williamson's calmness, and Root's classical style make them a force to reckon with. However, with age comes a different team dynamic, slowly nearing the edge of this sheer joy. Though Root and Williamson continue to be key players for their teams, Smith and Kohli have, in more recent years, struggled to provide that consistency.

The Fab Four In ODIs
The Image in below post a noticeable shift - Smith has turned black and white, suggesting that he is no longer capable of using his own skills. While modern-day cricket embraces power-hitting and aggressive strike rates, the dominance of the Fab Four in ODIs has been challenged by rising stars such as Babar Azam and Shubman Gill. While Kohli is still as formidable as ever, his role continues to evolve, while Williamson and Root seem to be throwing in the towel and unable to maintain their high standards in ODIs.

The Fab-four are fading away 😢 pic.twitter.com/4bWDFpsdDP

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) March 5, 2025

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The T20I Scenario of the Fab Four 
If there is one thing to take away from this image of T20 cricket, it is that the influential players of the format—Captain Kohli, Captain Smith, and Captain Root—all have reduced influences on T20. Power hitters and batting with a focus on the strike rate have largely edged out these players. Even though Williamson is hailed as an astute captain, he has not been hitting it big in terms of strike rates. As for Root, he has rarely made an appearance on the T20I stage.

The Future of the Fab Four 
Now as the Fab Four slowly dissolve, they leave behind unanswered questions: who will be winning these winks instead? Enter Babar Azam, Marnus Labuschagne, and Shubman Gill, who are already making their presence felt. But Kohli, Smith, Williamson, and Root will be an impossible feat to replicate. Cricket is in a state of transition.

Although the Fab Four show every sign of no longer being in their prime, their endeavors have forever inscribed them into history. Whether they will have a second innings or leave the scene gracefully will still play out. For now, it is the fans who can only turn back the pages of history and reminisce about the golden age they created.

Pakistan will tour New Zealand for a T20I series, and the selection committee is likely to bring some new faces along with seasoned players. The team has a combination of all-rounders, pace bowlers, and hard-hitting batters.
The team has players such as Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, and Sufiyan Muqeem, along with new faces like Irfan Khan and Jahandad Khan. Following is the likely squad:

Likely Squad

🚨Pakistan's likely T20I squad for New Zealand tour.

- Shadab, Haris, Sufiyan, Arafat, Irfan Khan, Zaman Khan, Wasim Jr, Abbas Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Agha Salman, Abrar, Omair Bin Yousuf, Khushdil, Hassan Nawaz, Ali Raza, Abdul Samad, Akif Javed and Khawaja Nafay. pic.twitter.com/gKNp0Uci1s

— Salman 🇵🇰 (@SalmanAsif2007) March 2, 2025

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This team represents Pakistan's plan to strike a balance between inexperience and experience. Having youth players included means that the management has the strategy of developing future stars well before big events.
Pakistan will be looking for a good outing against New Zealand, and people cannot wait to witness how this team fares