Asia Cup 2025 Begins Today

The Asia Cup 2025 officially kicks off today (9 September) with the opening clash between Afghanistan and Hong Kong at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. This is a T20 format edition of the tournament and will run until 28 September, with matches being played across the UAE in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
The Asia Cup features eight participating nations – India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Nepal, and UAE – making it one of the most competitive editions in recent years.
India’s opening match is scheduled for tomorrow (10 September) against UAE in Dubai. Ahead of this, India captain Suryakumar Yadav addressed the press, stressing that no team can be taken lightly in T20 cricket. He also mentioned the ongoing debate around India’s opening pair – whether Shubman Gill should open with Sanju Samson or not – and said the team management will finalize combinations based on conditions.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha, speaking before the tournament, emphasized that the team is not missing veterans Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, and instead is focused on building a stronger, younger unit. Pakistan come into the tournament with confidence after their successful tri-series campaign in the UAE.

🏏 England vs South Africa ODI Series – Historic Result

On 7 September in Southampton, England defeated South Africa by a record-breaking 342 runs in the third ODI, marking the heaviest defeat in ODI history.
England posted a massive 414/5, powered by centuries from Joe Root (100) and youngster Jacob Bethell (110 off 87 balls). This mammoth score set the stage for a one-sided contest.
In response, South Africa were bowled out for just 72 runs, unable to cope with Jofra Archer’s fiery spell of 4/18. His pace and accuracy marked his complete return to international cricket after a long injury layoff.
This win surpassed the previous ODI record margin of victory (317 runs) and highlighted England’s dominance just ahead of the Ashes 2025, which begins later this year.
England coach Brendon McCullum praised Archer, calling him “box-office cricket,” and said the team’s careful management of his workload was now paying off at the perfect time.
To add to South Africa’s woes, the team was fined by the ICC for a slow over-rate, compounding their misery after the record defeat.

The Irish camp has suffered a major setback with three frontline seamers – Josh Little, Fionn Hand, and Mark Adair – all ruled out due to injury ahead of their upcoming T20 series against England.
In their absence, the selectors have drafted in uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Ben Calitz, hoping to strengthen the squad with new talent. Ireland will rely heavily on experienced batters like Paul Stirling and Harry Tector to provide resistance against England’s in-form side.

In the English County Championship, Surrey and Nottinghamshire started strong in their matches this week. Surrey’s young pacer Tom Lawes starred with an incredible 3 wickets for just 6 runs, while Nottinghamshire’s bowlers dismantled Worcestershire’s batting lineup early on, putting them in control of the match.

Australia’s new 2025–26 kits were unveiled. The ODI jersey will be in classic yellow, while the T20 kit features a green design with Indigenous artwork “Land & Sea” created by Aunty Fiona Clarke, symbolizing heritage and culture. The Test kit remains mostly unchanged, though Westpac has been added as the new sponsor.
Saudi Arabia has announced the World Cricket Festival (WCF) 2025, scheduled for November in Jeddah. This festival will combine international cricket matches, cultural programs, and entertainment events, aligning with the kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy to expand its sports and cultural footprint globally.

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