Injured Burger, de Zorzi out of third ODI against India

Nandre Burger and Tony de Zorzi have been ruled out of the series-deciding third ODI against India due to injury.Left-arm seamer Burger suffered a hamstring injury that curtailed his participation in the second ODI in Raipur, while de Zorzi experienced a right hamstring strain towards the end of South Africa’s chase and retired hurt on 17 after the 45th over.The CSA said that both players underwent scans on Friday, which confirmed the extent of their respective injuries. “De Zorzi has also been ruled out of the upcoming five-match T20I series against India, which gets underway on Tuesday, and will return home,” the release said. “No replacement has been named.”Related

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Fast bowler Kwena Maphaka has been withdrawn from the T20I squad as well, as he did not “progress as expected during the final phase of his rehabilitation” from a left hamstring injury. Fast bowler Lutho Sipamla has been added to the side.

South Africa’s T20I squad

Aiden Markram (capt), Ottneil Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock (wk), Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, George Linde, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Lutho Sipamla, and Tristan Stubbs

Greaves, Rutherford, Warrican get Cricket West Indies contracts for 2025-26 season

Cricket West Indies (CWI) has made three changes to their list of men’s international retainer contracts for 2025-26, with former Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite, Joshua Da Silva and Kavem Hodge missing out. Justin Greaves, Sherfane Rutherford and Jomel Warrican have been added to the 15-player roster in their place.In their list of women’s international retainers, seamers Jannillea Glasgow and Shawnisha Hector have been added to the 13-player roster, while Shamilia Connell, Cherry Ann Fraser, Chedean Nation and Rashada Williams are not part of the list.The core group remains in place. Among the men, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie and Jayden Seales have all been retained, while the women’s list continues to feature Hayley Matthews, Stafanie Taylor, Deandra Dottin and Shemaine Campbelle. The contracts commence from October 1, 2025.Miles Bascombe, CWI’s director of cricket, said that the retainers were given out keeping in mind “current performance and long-term potential, while keeping a close eye on our broader strategy of building towards major global tournaments”. These decisions, he said, aligned with the pathways designed for West Indies’ cricket’s long-term success.Starter (development) contracts were also offered for Jewel Andrew, Jediah Blades, Johann Layne, Jahzara Claxton and Realeanna Grimmond. Additionally, academy contracts were given out to 15 men’s cricketers and 14 women’s cricketers.West Indies – more so in men’s cricket, but also in women’s cricket – are looking to regain their identity after a string of disappointing performances. The women’s team failed to qualify for the ongoing ODI World Cup in India and Sri Lanka although they beat South Africa in a T20I series in June. The men’s team was blanked in the Test series against Australia at home in July – with the 27 all out in the last innings the lowest of lows – and was followed by an “emergency meeting”, but then went down 2-1 to Nepal in a T20I series in late September. They did win an ODI series against Pakistan at home in August but lost the corresponding T20I series.

West Indies men’s contracts 2025-26


Senior men: Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Justin Greaves, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd, Jomel Warrican.
Starter contracts: Jewel Andrew, Jediah Blades, Johann Layne.
Men’s academy: Ackeem Auguste, Ryan Bandoo, Jediah Blades, Rivaldo Clarke, Mavendra Dindyal, Giovonte Depeiza, Nathan Edward, Damel Evelyn, Amari Goodridge, Mbeki Joseph, Johann Layne, Zishan Motara, Kelvin Pittman, Renico Smith, Carlon Tuckett.

West Indies women’s contracts 2025-26


Senior women: Aaliyah Alleyne, Shemaine Campbelle, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Jannillea Glasgow, Shawnisha Hector, Chinelle Henry, Zaida James, Qiana Joseph, Hayley Matthews, Ashmini Munisar, Stafanie Taylor, Karishma Ramharack.
Starter contracts: Jahzara Claxton, Realeanna Grimmond.
Women’s academy: Abigail Bryce, Asabi Callender, NaiJanni Cumberbatch, Shabika Gajanbi, Brianna Harricharan, Trishan Holder, Djenaba Joseph, Nyia Latchman, Samara Ramnath, Amrita Ramtahal, Selena Ross, Shunelle Sawh, Steffie Soogrim, Kate Wilmott.

Ibrahim Zadran fined, handed demerit point for breaching code of conduct

Afghanistan batter Ibrahim Zadran has been fined 15% of his match fee and handed a demerit point for breaching the ICC’s code of conduct during their third ODI against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi on October 14.The incident happened during the 37th over of Afghanistan’s innings when Zadran hit an equipment near the dressing room with his bat after being dismissed for 95 off 111 balls. This was Zadran’s second successive dismissal in the 90s. In the second ODI, too, he was out for 95.This meant a breach of Article 2.2 of the ICC code of conduct for players and player support personnel, which relates to “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an international match”.Related

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Since Zadran admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Graeme Labrooy, there was no need for a formal hearing.This was Zadran’s first offence in a 24-month period. When a player reaches four or more demerit points within a 24-month period, they are converted into suspension points and a player is banned. Two suspension points equate to a ban from one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is – whatever comes first for the player.Zadran’s innings was central to Afghanistan sweeping Bangladesh 3-0 in the ODI series.

Asia Cup 2025 in UAE starting September 9; India vs Pakistan on September 14

India and Pakistan are pitted against each other in Group A at the 2025 men’s Asia Cup, set to be held in the UAE from September 9 to September 28. Their group-stage meeting will be on September 14 in Dubai*, with two more potential games between them should both reach the final. Dubai, where the final will also be played, will host 11 games while Abu Dhabi will host eight fixtures.Last week, the dates for the 17th edition of the tournament were announced by Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president and PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi. Keeping in mind the T20 World Cup, the tournament will be played in the T20I format and, for the very first time, will feature eight teams, a bump of two from the previous edition.

Key group-stage matches

Ban v SL, Sept 13, Abu Dhabi
Ind v Pak, Sept 14, Dubai
Ban v Afg, Sept 16, Abu Dhabi
SL vs Afg, Sept 18, Abu Dhabi

Apart from India and Pakistan, Group A includes Oman and hosts UAE. Group B has Afghanistan and Hong Kong, who kickstart the tournament in Abu Dhabi on September 9, alongside Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.The top two teams from each group will move on to another four-team group for the second stage, with the top two teams of that group proceeding to the final on September 28.The venue and dates for the tournament were finalised at the ACC’s annual general meeting in Dhaka last Thursday, where the Asia Cup was one of the key points on the members’ agenda. The fate of the tournament had briefly been thrown into uncertainty following the India-Pakistan military skirmish in May. After the AGM in Dhaka, Naqvi had addressed a press conference about the imminent notification of the Asia Cup dates, though he had stopped short of confirming specific details at the time.The India-Pakistan fixture is, by far, the most financially lucrative fixture in the Asia Cup. The format of the tournament and the placement in the same group make at least two India-Pakistan matches likely, the second on September 21 – also in Dubai – if it happens. It also leaves open the possibility of a third meeting in the final in Dubai on September 28. There has, however, never been an India-Pakistan final in the Asia Cup.India are the official hosts of the tournament, but, after an agreement between the BCCI and the PCB earlier this year, tournaments held in India or Pakistan will see a neutral venue provided for the other side for a three-year period. The agreement came about ahead of the Champions Trophy held in Pakistan earlier this year. India played all their games, including the one against hosts Pakistan, in Dubai. The final, which India qualified for and won, was also held in Dubai.India are the defending champions, having beaten Sri Lanka in the final of the previous edition in 2023. Sri Lanka won the previous T20I edition, beating Pakistan in the final in 2022.*1700 GMT, Aug 2: The news story was updated after the ACC released the detailed schedule

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