BCCI Restricts Printing Pakistan On Team India Jersey For Champions Trophy 2025

Team India Jersey Champions Trophy 2025

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has given a big no to print Pakistan’s name on Team India’s jerseys for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.  Team India To Play Champions Trophy 2025 In Dubai Pakistan and Dubai are going to co-host the event while India’s matches will be held in Dubai. The reason was that, although the match was to be played in Pakistan, Team India wouldn’t be donning the tag on their jersey, a tradition according to which all the teams used to wear the tag of the host country on the jersey. BCCI’s Stand Against Political Issues The decision followed long term political issues between India and Pakistan. Earlier, BCCI had announced that they would not travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy due to security reasons. According to a hybrid model adopted by the ICC, all of India’s matches would be played in Dubai, and other teams in Pakistan. Much controversy has been seen because the BCCI refused to print Pakistan’s name on Team India jerseys when one of the Pakistan Cricket Board officials described the BCCI as mixing politics with cricket. BCCI And PCB Disputes The PCB and BCCI have been in strained relations for years as India and Pakistan rarely get a chance to play cricketing matches due to the political climate. They had confronted only against each other in the ICC matches or Asia Cup, but bilateral cricket match series were long-overdue. Before this controversy arising out of an incident where India captain Rohit Sharma skipped the inauguration ceremony has excited fresh news regarding this championship; it is highly expected to take off on 19 February. As far as function date goes, an opening ceremony seems to be tentatively scheduled either for February 16 or 17, 2025. India At Champions Trophy 2025 India will kickstart their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign by playing against Bangladesh on February 20, 2025. The India-Pakistan showpiece contest of the ICC Champions Trophy will take place on February 23, 2025. Until date, the BCCI hasn’t made an official statement about jersey designing and other issues of playing few key players during this ceremony when both the sides were in friction. Will Rohit Sharma Attend The Opening Ceremony In Pakistan? The opening ceremony of the ICC Champions Trophy is set to be held in Pakistan. The opening ceremony of an ICC event usually features all the Captains representing their countries. However, as per reports, Rohit Sharma won’t be traveling to Pakistan for the opening ceremony.  The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye

BCCI Wants The Indian Cricket Team To Travel Together

BCCI

The Board of Control for Cricket In India (BCCI) has sent a detailed ten-point policy document to the state associations that are scheduled to host India’s upcoming matches against England. The series will start off with the first T20I at the Eden Gardens on January 22, 2025 and will have five T20Is followed by three ODIs. BCCI Establishes Guidelines For Team Travel and Training The Cricket Association of Bengal, which is hosting the first T20I between India and England at the Eden Gardens, said on Sunday it had made necessary arrangements for the Indian team with regard to new BCCI policy. This fact was highlighted when the Indian Cricket Team began training at the venue on the first day. BCCI Asks The Team To Travel Together One of the main points in the policy document mandates that the whole team travel together to training and matches on a team bus. This decision was taken after a review meeting in which BCCI officials, including head coach Gautam Gambhir, ODI and Test Captain Rohit Sharma, chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar and BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, discussed India’s recent performances, especially in test match cricket. BCCI Tightens Team Discipline With New Travel Rule According to the new rules set by BCCI, a player would require permission from either the head coach or head selector if he wanted to leave the team and travel alone for training or matches. The policy also states that all players should stay at the ground until the end of the entire training session or game before leaving. This rule is meant to instill a strong work ethic and commitment in the team. BCCI Declares Mandatory Domestic Cricket Participation Another important aspect of the policy was that players need to play for their domestic teams. Rohit Sharma had, earlier, tackled this issue with a press conference in Mumbai at the time the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad was declared. Ajit Agarkar also clarified the fact that all these new rules were not being imposed as any form of punitive measure but only as necessary requirements for all of them to comply with when they wore the national badge. Will the new guidelines set by BCCI add more discipline to the Indian Cricket Team or will it add more unwanted restrictions?  The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye

Team India Announce Squad For The ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Team India Champions Trophy 2025

Team India today announced the team that will represent it at theICC Champions Trophy 2025, which starts on February 19, 2025. Team India will face Bangladesh the very next day and will have a much-awaited Pakistan encounter on February 23 in Dubai. Hybrid Model For Team India During Champions Trophy After the breakthrough agreement last month, the ICC has decided on a hybrid model for the 2025 Champions Trophy. In this, the matches involving India will be played in Dubai despite the tournament officially being hosted by Pakistan. Team India To Take On England Before Champions Trophy Team India’s preparation will begin with a bilateral ODI series against England. India will play three bilateral ODIs against England on February 6, 9, and 12 – the first 50-over cricket for the team since the series against Sri Lanka in August 2024. Bumrah And Kuldeep Return Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav have been named in India’s provisional 15-man squad for the Champions Trophy. The final squad must be submitted to the ICC by February 11. Team India Schedule For Champions Trophy Team India will be featuring in the Group A at the Champions Trophy. Under this group, Team India will be playing Bangladesh on February 20, 2025, Pakistan on February 23, 2025 and New Zealand on March 2, 2025. All the matches will be played in Dubai as the Indian authorities refused permission for the team to travel to Pakistan. Team India For The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye

WPL 2025: BCCI Unveils Women’s Premier League 2025 Schedule

WPL 2025

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) unveiled the schedule for the third edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL). The WPL 2025 will take place in four cities across India; Baroda, Bengaluru, Lucknow and Mumbai. WPL 2025 To Start In Baroda The WPL 2025 is set to commence on February 14, 2025 at the newly constructed BCA Stadium in Baroda, where Gujarat Giants (GG) are going to take on the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Six matches are going to be played in Baroda. Bengaluru To Host A Couple Of WPL 2025 Fixtures The next challenge now goes to Bengaluru as the tournament advances to the preliminary games from Baroda. RCB will host a home game at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on February 21, 2025 against the Mumbai Indians (MI). RCB has three home games after this against UP Warriorz (UPW) on February 24, 2025, followed by a fixture against Gujarat Giants (GG) on February 27, 2025 and lastly, against the Delhi Capitals on March 01, 2025. Lucknow To Witness WPL 2025 Action Lucknow will debut in the WPL 2025 as another venue. UP Warriorz will have three of their fixtures at their home ground Lucknow’s WPL 2025 debut is expected to add an additional excitement for locals. Mumbai To Hosts The Last Phase And The WPL 2025 Playoffs The last leg of the WPL 2025 will be held in Mumbai where the last two league matches along with the much-awaited play-offs will be played at the Cricket Club Of India (CCI) Brabourne Stadium. Mumbai Indians will finish their league stage schedule by playing back to back home games against the Gujarat Giants on March 10, 2025 and RCB on March 11, 2025.  WPL 2025 Playoffs The conclusion of playoffs will be with a cliffhanger-type finale, where the top team will enjoy direct passage to the final. The second and third-ranked teams will compete on March 13, 2025 in an Eliminator, which will be a fantastic opportunity to survive to the championship match. The WPL 2025 grand finale will be held on Saturday, March 15, 2025, where the winner shall bag the prestigious WPL 2025 title. Single-Header Format For WPL 2025 As was the case in the previous seasons, all the matches in the third edition are going to be single-header fixtures, so every game is going to be of immense importance in the quest for supremacy. The WPL 2025 is going to be another exciting chapter in the growing legacy of women’s cricket in India, as there are diverse venues and teams eager to flaunt their skills. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye

SA vs IND: Sanju Samson Becomes The 1st Indian To Do This

Sanju Samson

While no one ever doubted his ability to score, concerns were only about him grabbing the opportunity. And boy, did Sanju Samson do it in style. Sanju Samson smashed his second T20I hundred in as many games, putting the South African attack to sword at Kingsmead with some extraordinary hitting. Samson Delivers It Back-To-Back Sanju Samson continued his scorching form as he completed two consecutive T20I centuries, taking India to a commanding position in the on-going series against South Africa at Kingsmead. The wicketkeeper-batter who had made an explosive 111 off 47 balls against Bangladesh in his previous outing, produced another masterclass in aggressive batting when he amassed a scintillating 100 off just 47 balls to lead India to set a daunting target. Samson Gives A Fiery Start To The Innings Samson’s scorching knock off 47 balls came as an onslaught from the very start. He raced to 35 runs from just 20 balls in the Powerplay, displaying excellent timing and power. Even after the field spread out, Samson’s intent remained clear as he launched into Nqaba Peter, smashing back-to-back sixes in the eighth over. The South African bowlers had little answer as Samson continued accelerating, cruising past the 50-run mark before setting his eye on three figures. Samson Breaks New Records Blistering hundred by Samson sets new records for Indian cricket. He became the first Indian to hit back-to-back T20I centuries and also registered the highest T20I score for India against South Africa. His performance included a devastating display of power hitting, smashing 10 sixes and 7 fours, at an astonishing strike rate of 214.00. Samson’s Shift From Middle-Order To Opening A transformation has been real for Samson after being seen largely as a middle-order batter. The 29-year-old batsman was patchy for some time and then was given the responsibility of opening the batting for India in T20 Internationals where he has produced rich dividends in matches played thus far. The adaptability with which he has performed in the top order has been worth gold, while even the fact that he managed consecutive centuries speaks to how crucial he is becoming for India’s T20I team. It is, in fact, one of his best plays that has sealed his place as one of the most thrilling T20 talents in India. He has raised himself to greater heights simply because of his fearlessness and now refuses to take on the bowlers around the globe; thus, making his remarkable strides in the shortest format of the game worth noticing by the cricketing world. Samson Sets Benchmark Other than being the first Indian to score successive T20I hundreds, Samson also set a new benchmark for Indian players against South Africa with his hundred standing as the highest ever hundred scored by an Indian in T20Is against the Proteas. He also registered the second-fastest T20I hundred against South Africa, thereby making it crystal clear that he is capable of delivering in high-pressure situations. What’s In Store For Samson Sanju Samson is the bright star India is looking for, for them to extend their dominance in T20I cricket. His splendid form is the glimpse of what he may become, however more importantly, a pronouncement of things to come in Indian T20 cricket, with Samson now firmly established as one of the leaders to watch out for in cricket. With the series on, all eyes would be glued to Sanju Samson as he looks to possibly continue that kind of form in this series and carry India further up the T20I leaderboard. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye

IND vs NZ: Sports Technology Advancements Provoked Sarfaraz To Appeal For DRS

Sports Technology

The day one of the second test match between India and New Zealand witnessed timely intervention from India’s Sarfaraz Khan to convince his captain, Rohit Sharma to go for the review at the Decision Review System (DRS) that actually proved to be vital for the Indian Cricket Team. The dismissal, overturned from not out, of Will Young against New Zealand was the turning point of the day. That this has been the game-changer wherein Ravichandran Ashwin claimed his second scalp of the morning speaks largely to just how DRS has reshaped modern-day cricket. How is DRS technology changing the landscape of contemporary cricket? The integration of DRS in modern cricket alters the way teams strategize their decisions on the field. Just a few years back, decisions provided by umpires were final and often became controversial. With DRS, there is an improvisation that allows players and teams to challenge close calls. The change in the game now has made players play an active role concerning decision-making. DRS gives fair play and adds to the level of transparency in places of decision in the game. How technology in cricket has benefitted Players, Umpires and Match Referees? For players like Sarfaraz Khan, the DRS system meant they could influence the game directly, providing information to their captain. That this was in fact an example where wicketkeepers like Rishabh Pant were not solely responsible for calls. Technological advancements in cricket are not limited only to DRS. All of them have been game-changers for players, umpires and match referees. For instance, ultra-edge, ball-tracking systems and Hawk-Eye can help the umpires make tough decisions. Snickometer and HotSpot proved to be very useful tools in checking minor edges or bat-pad touches that one may miss with his naked eyes. Thus, not only do these innovations decrease errors but also they ease a bit of burden from umpires who can now make decisions based on technological support. Snickometer Invented by English computer scientist Allan Plaskett in the mid-1990s, the Snickometer was first broadcast on UK Channel 4 in 1999, accompanied by such technologies as Hawk-Eye and the Red Zone. The Snickometer helps umpires decide whether or not the ball has made contact with the bat by measuring differences in magnitude of sound waves. Renamed “Ultra Edge” after its premiere, it eventually lost first position to the more advanced Real-Time Snicko in 2013. Hawk-Eye Hawk-Eye is ball-tracking technology which predicts whether a delivery would have hit the stumps had it not been obstructed by the batsman, most of the times his pad. It is really crucial in making LBW decisions. It was developed by British computer scientist Paul Hawkins and launched in 2001. Ten years later, the Sony company bought the technology, so it plays a leading role in making modern sports officiating more high-tech. Hot Spot Hot Spot is a television imaging technology which employs infrared cameras to detect whether or not the batsman has made contact with the ball. The first part of this technology was invented by French scientist Nicholas Bion. A Melbourne-based company BBG Sports introduced Hot Spot into cricket. Data Analytics The ICC employs analytics software such as SAP HANA Cloud Platform and SAP Lumira to analyze scorecard statistics, player performances, profiles and other key data. Techniques in data mining are also applied to determine dynamic rankings for players. The main idea is to enable real-time, engaging statistics for the fans through the ICC app and website. How is sports technology taking the game of cricket forward? The match referees and analysts also gain from technological integration. This allows them to carefully watch the incidents that occur in the field and assess the players’ adherence to the rules before disciplining them when necessary. Detailed data analytics assist teams in planning. Coaches and players can then study the strengths and weaknesses or patterns of the opponents as an edge in competition. Technology advancements are changing the way fans experience the game. Slow-motion replays, tracking of the ball, virtual reality just make the viewing experience far more immersive and gives fans access to a whole new perspective in action and cricket becomes widely appealing across borders. In other words, cricket would just adapt new equipment to include more as a sure and fair principle of the game, thus raising the enjoyment quotient for a player who plays the game today. To Sarfaraz Khan and all those like him, DRS and all the technological assistance means he will be able to tap instinct, analytic ability and above everything else, bring the balance in which to propel the game on. On the first day of the second test match in Pune, for example, we observed changes in cricket that surely is going to take the game forward. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye

IND vs NZ: Milestones To Watch Out For

milestones

India and New Zealand are scheduled to lock horns against each other in a three-match test series with the first game set to commence at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on October 16th, 2024. Both the teams have a lot to play for while fighting out for a seat at the World Test Championship (WTC) final, making it a series that could be a total belter for one looking to seal a top-two position in the WTC points table. India will be high on momentum after securing a 2-0 victory over Bangladesh, while New Zealand would be looking for redemption after a 2-0 loss against Sri Lanka. Milestones To Watch Out For During IND vs NZ Test Series Apart from team stakes, the series will also provide an opportunity for a handful of cricketers to achieve some big individual milestones. Here are some of the key records to look out for over the next three weeks: 1. Kohli’s Pursuit of 9,000 Test Runs Virat Kohli, is just 53 runs away from entering a very exclusive club of Indian batters who have gone past the 9,000-line mark. If he does so, then only four Indians would have gone past this line, after legends Sachin Tendulkar with 15,921, Rahul Dravid with 13,265 and Sunil Gavaskar with 10,122. 2. Williamson’s Chase into the 9,000-Run Club Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson is on the cusp of history, being the first Kiwi batter on the cusp of 9,000 test runs. With 8,881 runs to his name, Williamson will need 119 more runs for this historic figure. He has already bagged the top spot for New Zealand both in test cricket and across all formats, with an outstanding tally of 18,266 international runs. However, Williamson’s availability for the series is still hanging on the line given that he is recovering from a groin injury. Check more on groin injuries in cricket here. 3. Ashwin’s Bid to Surpass Kumble Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin stands at the doorstep of topping various all-time test cricket lists by removing Anil Kumble from the charts – with him now tying for most five-wicket and 10-wicket hauls by an Indian bowler.   Ashwin and Kumble are tied with 37 five-wicket hauls and eight 10-wicket hauls, respectively, in tests.  Another five-wicket haul would make Ashwin the man to second place on all-time list, Muralitharan being on top with 67. If he can pull off another 10-wicket haul, he will join two others who have such as the number of hauls in Test history: Richard Hadlee and Rangana Herath. 4. Kuldeep’s 300-Wicket Milestone 4. Kuldeep’s Entry In 300 Wickets Club Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav remains only six wickets away from achieving the milestone of 300 wickets across all formats. With 172 wickets in ODIs, 53 wickets in test matches and 69 wickets in T20Is, Kuldeep is likely to become the 13th Indian bowler if he adds a few more wickets to his tally in this series. However, in what is looking like to be an exciting contest between India and New Zealand, records in individual events will add another element of the thrill of the battle for WTC qualification, as the competition for qualification has been highly competitive. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye

IPL 2025: BCCI Looks for Saudi Arabia as Venue for Mega Auction

BCCI plans IPL 2025 auction

BCCI is looking at Riyadh and Jeddah as possible destinations for the much-awaited IPL 2025 mega auction that is scheduled to take place in the last week of November. It was earlier considered to be held in Dubai, however not anymore. The BCCI officials are said to have found it challenging to source a suitable venue or hotel in Saudi Arabia since the costs have gone higher than what it used to be in Dubai where the last IPL auction took place successfully in December 2023. Even though the Indian Premier League franchises and BCCI boast of financial muscles, the search for the right location seems tight. London First Perturbation London was initially considered, but BCCI removed the UK from their list citing unfavourable cold weather at this time of the year. Now, they are eyeing a venue that will easily accommodate an auction spread over two days and a huge IPL entourage involving 10 franchise representatives and other major broadcasters like Jio and Disney Star. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye

IPL Governing Council to Release New Retention Rules Amid Speculations

IPL

The Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council will discuss new retention rules during their meeting in Bengaluru. The much-awaited announcement on the retention rules of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is expected soon, as the IPL Governing Council (GC) convenes today at 11:30 AM at the Four Seasons Hotel in Bengaluru. The notices for the meet were dispatched only on Friday evening, and it is quite evident that the decision-making process has hastened, leading to widespread speculation about the kind of retention policy the BCCI would select. Mega-Auction Expected in November, Possibly in the Gulf The retention rules are expected to come into play big time while determining team strategies before the mega-auction, which is stated to be scheduled tentatively for late November. The auction is likely to happen overseas, and cities in the Gulf are said to be battling for the hosting rights. The strong contender has emerged as Saudi Arabia and Riyadh is likely to host the event if the GC gives nod to it. Retention Decision May Depend On General Body Meeting While an announcement is likely to be made post the much-awaited GC meeting later today, the final decision on retention is now said to await the all-important general body meeting scheduled for Sunday in Bengaluru. It would ensure that the interests of all stakeholders are in symmetry when the official word is spilled. Number of Retentions to Be Speculated Speculations regarding the number of players retained are rife, with some guessing between 2 and 8 players. More than likely, the BCCI will have to compromise on the numbers on the retention list at 5-6 players, along with the right to match. Then owners of the IPL teams are consulted by the BCCI in a July meeting to get their feedback on key matters, including retention. The details are expected to be finalized here today and with that setting the stage for another auction ahead of IPL 2025. Cricket fans can now wait with bated breath for the official announcement. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye

IPL 2025 to Stick with 74 Matches Amid Player Workload Concerns

IPL 2025

The 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will remain at 74 matches. The same number will be seen as in the last three seasons, despite the IPL having planned for one more game on its initial schedule for next year. According to reports, the IPL had outlined a growing schedule in its media rights tender for the 2023-27 cycle. This was said to project the next two seasons with 84 matches each in 2025 and 2026, then increase to 94 by 2027. Player Load Identified However, the IPL authorities have barred expansion in 2025 as they say that player load for Indians needs to be managed. This relates particularly to the WTC final where India will participate on June 11 at Lord’s, wherein players will need sufficient rest and preparation. BCCI on the Player’s Well-being Confirming recently, the outgoing BCCI secretary Jay Shah said that though the contract allows for up to 84 matches, the board is prioritizing player well-being. He also brought to notice the fact that the discretion to organize the IPL with either 74 or 84 matches each season lies with the BCCI. For 2025, they have opted for the conservative number. Media Rights and Special Package The BCCI sold the media rights of the IPL for 48,390.5 crores in 2022, for a sum approximating USD 6.2 billion, packaged in four categories including one, for instance, which contained high-profile matches such as playoff games. With an increase in the total number of games in the IPL, the number of matches in that special package rose and it included 18 with the total number of games amounting to 74. Had the IPL had been expanded to 84 matches, that special package would have increased to 20 games. IPL Tentative Schedule 2025 It’s not yet officially confirmed, however IPL 2025 probably will take place from mid-March to late May. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye