Jon Pike Cricket Column - players.bio

Aston Villa must build on Europa League win over Bologna, says Emery

Aston Villa must use their 1-0 home win over Bologna in the Europa League on Thursday as a springboard, manager Unai Emery said after his side picked up their first win of the season. John McGinn scored Villa’s first home goal of the season to earn the win and provide Emery with a measure of relief after their dismal start to the season left them 17th in the Premier League and out of the League Cup. Villa have three draws and two defeats from their five league games so far and Emery urged his side to build on the momentum from their win over the Italians when they host Fulham on Sunday. “We have to try to keep consistent, we had not been consistent until today,” Emery told reporters. “Today we won and it is important we have to try and keep consistent on Sunday. Different match, different rival, but a lot of things tactically we have to keep on building.

‘It’s not cricket’: Political divisions cast a growing shadow over the game

In England and across Europe, the sun is setting on an eventful 2025 cricket season. It will be remembered for the visit of India to England for a hard fought, sometimes acrimonious, five-match Test series, which was shared two wins apiece.

No Pakistan handshake aligned with government, says India captain

DUBAI: India’s victorious captain Suryakumar Yadav defended his team’s decision not to shake hands with the defeated Pakistan players on Sunday, saying that it was taken in alignment with their government and cricket board. India thumped Pakistan by seven wickets in a Group A Asia Cup clash in Dubai which ended on a bitter note as Indian players headed into their dressing room without a customary handshake. Pakistan, in protest, refused to attend the post match ceremony as tensions flared in a match which was the first between the bitter rivals since May’s military action. The cross border clashes were sparked after an attack in Pahalgam in Indian Kashmir in April which killed 26 people, with India blaming Pakistan. New Delhi resisted the calls to boycott the match and cleared the team to play Pakistan only in multi-national events. “We are aligned with the government and Board of Control for Cricket in India,” said Suryakumar after scoring 47 not out as India chased down a modest Pakistan target of 128 in 15.5 overs. Left-armer Kuldeep Yadav led India’s spin rout with 3-18 as Pakistan were restricted to a below-par 127-9 in 20 overs. Pakistan’s head coach Mike Hesson termed said he was disappointed with the Indian players’ refusal to shake hands. “We were ready to shake hands at the end of the game,” said Hesson.

Emotions run high as India and Pakistan face off after May clashes

DUBAI: An India-Pakistan cricket match is always a blockbuster but emotions will run even higher in Sunday’s Asia Cup clash between the nuclear-armed neighbors, who engaged in a four-day military conflict earlier this year. Even before the clashes in May, which nearly escalated into a full-blown war, bilateral cricket ties had been suspended. The arch-rivals now play each other only in multi-team tournaments. Political relations have deteriorated further since the clashes, with several former Indian players urging the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to boycott what will be the first meeting between the teams since the recent hostilities. While the threat of a boycott is over, sparks may fly with India captain Suryakumar Yadav and his Pakistan counterpart Salman Agha ruling out dialing down aggression in the much-anticipated Group A fixture. India, the reigning 20-overs world champions, are firm favorites to retain their Asia Cup title and are determined not to let geopolitics derail their campaign. “Once the BCCI said they are aligned with the government, we are here to play,” India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak told reporters on Friday. “Once we are here to play, I think players are focused on playing cricket.

Sri Lanka sprints to six-wicket win over Bangladesh for crucial Asia Cup T20 win

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates: Pathum Nissanka became the quickest Sri Lankan batter to reach 2,000 T20 runs as the opener sprinted his team to a six-wicket win over Bangladesh in a crucial Asia Cup match on Saturday. Nissanka perfectly manipulated the line and lengths of the Bangladeshi bowlers to score 50 off 34 balls and Sri Lanka breezed to 140-4 in a strong start to its campaign. Bangladesh, which handed Hong Kong a seven-wicket drubbing in its first Group B game, recovered from a horror start to score 139-5 after it lost both openers to fast bowler Nuwan Thushara and Dushmantha Chameera’s successive wicket maidens with the new ball. Nissanka batted fluently and scored six fours and a six as he reached the 2,000-run landmark in his 68th T20 innings when he completed his half century. Kusal Perera had the previous Sri Lanka record, achieving the feat in 76 innings. Nissanka fell soon after his entertaining 95-run stand with Kamil Mishara (46 not out) had all but sealed the game, when Shoriful Islam held on to a spectacular two-handed catch at deep backward square leg. Bangladesh had to pay a heavy price of dropping Mishra on 1 when Mahedi Hassan couldn’t hold on to a two-handed catch close to the 30-meter circle at wide mid-on.

Al-Ittihad sign Serbian defender Jan-Carlo Simic on 4-year deal

JEDDAH: Al-Ittihad has confirmed the signing of Serbian defender Jan-Carlo Simic from Belgian side Anderlecht on a four-year contract.

Dortmund defender Schlotterbeck needs more time until comeback, says Kovac

BERLIN: Borussia Dortmund and Germany defender Nico Schlotterbeck will need more time before he makes his comeback from a knee injury, coach Niko Kovac said on Thursday. Schlotterbeck underwent surgery five months ago for a meniscus tear in his left knee that he sustained in April and despite having come back to light team training in recent days, he is still not yet ready for a comeback. Schlotterbeck’s services were also badly missed in Germany’s two World Cup qualifiers in the international break, with the national team suffering a shock 2-0 loss to Slovakia before beating Northern Ireland 3-1. “Nico has come back after five months and has been doing some light training without contact,” Kovac told a press conference. “He is a key player, a top national team player. “Before we even consider the national team, he has to be healthy for the club and have playing minutes in training, in Bundesliga and Champions League matches,” he said. “It will take more time.

Risks in cricket sponsorship laid bare in India

Team India’s shirt front, for both men and women, has displayed Dream11 since 2023. This prominent sponsorship has disappeared with immediate effect, starting with the men’s Asia Cup, which opened on Sept. 9 in the UAE.

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Jon Pike Cricket Column Sport News

Aston Villa must build on Europa League win over Bologna, says Emery

‘It’s not cricket’: Political divisions cast a growing shadow over the game

No Pakistan handshake aligned with government, says India captain

Emotions run high as India and Pakistan face off after May clashes

Sri Lanka sprints to six-wicket win over Bangladesh for crucial Asia Cup T20 win

Al-Ittihad sign Serbian defender Jan-Carlo Simic on 4-year deal

Dortmund defender Schlotterbeck needs more time until comeback, says Kovac

Risks in cricket sponsorship laid bare in India