Ballance apologises to Rafiq for 'racist' language
Former England batsman Gary Ballance has apologised to Azeem Rafiq for the "racist" language he used towards his former Yorkshire team-mate.
Zimbabwe Sport News
Sitanshu Kotak to be in charge of India A for NZ series
Former India leg spinner Sairaj Bahutule will join Kotak in the coaching staff for the three Test matches in Bengaluru and Hubbali, and three one dayers in Chennai. Normally the NCA chief heads the A teams, but with VVS Laxman named interim head coach of the senior team after Rahul Dravid tested positive for COVID-19, Kotak was given the job.
Watch: India Captain Rohit Sharma Takes On Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin In Nets Ahead Of Pakistan Clash In Asia Cup
Cricket fans will be in for treat when India take on arch-rivals Pakistan in their opening match of the upcoming Asia Cup on Sunday, August 28. The Indian players have been sweating it out in the nets to prepare of the high-octane clash in Dubai. India are place in Group A alongside Pakistan and Hong Kong. In a video shared on social media, India captain Rohit Sharma can be seen taking on spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin in the nets. Rohit can be seen hitting big shots around the park.
Form, Bragging Rights On Line As Giants Clash In Asia Cup
India's Virat Kohli has the chance to find form before the World Cup while Babar Azam will look to keep Pakistan's psychological edge when the rival countries clash as the headline acts of the Asia Cup starting this weekend. Cricket giants India and Pakistan could square up three times during the two weeks of the T20 competition in the United Arab Emirates. The six-nation tournament was moved from Sri Lanka because of political unrest and it takes on extra significance this year because the T20 World Cup in Australia is coming up fast, in October and November.
"His Energy Was A Bit Sapped": How Virat Kohli Will Benefit From Break, Australia Great Explains
Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson feels Virat Kohli will be mentally and physically rejuvenated after a month-long break from cricket ahead of the Asia Cup, starting later this week. Kohli is enduring his worst phase of career and has not scored a century in international cricket since November 2019. The star batter will return to cricket after missing out the series against the West Indies and Zimbabwe.
Watch: Virat Kohli Smashes India Bowlers During Practice Ahead Of Asia Cup
The Indian team has arrived in the UAE for the Asia Cup and all eyes will be on star batter Virat Kohli, who is back in the team after a lengthy break. Kohli, who has been struggling for runs, was rested for the series against West Indies and Zimbabwe and he will be looking to get back to big scoring form in the continental tournament.
Jemimah Rodrigues, Washington Sundar All Smiles In Selfie From Manchester
India all-rounder Washington Sundar, who was recently ruled out of the Zimbabwe series due to injury, had a moment of fun when he bumped into India women's team all-rounder Jemimah Rodrigues in Manchester on Wednesday. Rodrigues has also been ruled out from The Hundred competition, where she was a part of the Northern Superchargers Women, while Washington was a part of the Lancashire team in County Cricket as well as the Royal London Cup. Taking to Twitter, Washington's Indian Premier League franchise, Sunrisers Hyderabad, posted the picture of the two and captioned it, "Just a couple of Indian No.5s bumping into each other in Manchester."
Red-hot Babar Azam to struggling Virat Kohli: Five to watch at Asia Cup
Asia Cup begins on Saturday with top cricketers, including Pakistan skipper Babar Azam and India superstar Virat Kohli, in action in the United Arab Emirates. Here are five players to watch in the six-nation tournament, which is an important warm-up for the T20 World Cup in Australia in October. BABAR AZAMPakistanWith key pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi out injured, Pakistan will depend heavily on Babar Azam's blazing batting. The 27-year-old leads the T20 and one-day batting rankings and comes into the tournament on the back of two big half-centuries in Pakistan's 3-0 ODI sweep of the Netherlands. He scored an unbeaten 68 as his side demolished India by 10 wickets in the last meeting between the arch-rivals in the 2021 T20 World Cup -- at the same venue where they meet this Sunday.