Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has once again been re-appointed as the chairperson of the ICC Men’s Cricket Committee, reaffirming his continued influence in the cricketing world. The announcement came from the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday.

Ganguly, who first took on the role in 2021, replaced another Indian legend, Anil Kumble, after he served the maximum tenure allowed. Known for his bold and transformative leadership during his stint as India’s captain from 2000 to 2005, Ganguly has carried that same sharp cricketing mind into his post-playing career, including his term as BCCI President.

Laxman and Other Legends Join the Panel

Joining Ganguly on the committee is his longtime teammate and fellow Indian batting icon VVS Laxman, who has also been reappointed. The rest of the panel brings together a truly global mix of cricketing experience:

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• Desmond Haynes – West Indies batting legend
• Temba Bavuma – South Africa’s current Test and ODI captain
• Hamid Hassan – Former Afghan fast bowler
• Jonathan Trott – Former England batter and current Afghanistan head coach

Together, the committee will advise on key aspects of the men’s game, including playing conditions, rules, player behavior, and technological advancements in the sport.

Catherine Campbell to Head ICC Women’s Cricket Committee

In a parallel announcement, the ICC named Catherine Campbell, former New Zealand off-spinner, as the chairperson of the Women’s Cricket Committee. This move comes at a time when women’s cricket is rapidly expanding and gaining global attention.

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Supporting Campbell on the panel are:

• Avril Fahey – Former Australian cricketer
• Pholetsi Moseki – CEO of Cricket South Africa (CSA)

The committee will be essential in determining the future of women's cricket through developing, structuring, and professionalizing the sport.

These new appointments reflect the ICC's vision for balancing tradition and modernization so that both the men's and women's games can move forward with robust leadership and diverse opinions.

India will be welcoming its biggest cricket stadium, as the International Cricket Council (ICC) has given approval for a world-class stadium in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh. The 1.32 lakh-seat stadium will be bigger than the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and is one of the largest cricket grounds in the world.

This stadium is not only a matter of expanding seating, this stadium is also a milestone achievement for India to push forward its sport infrastructure developments. It will be within a 200-acre Sports City, which will make Amaravati a world-class cricketing and sporting hub. The initiative is expected to raise the bar for cricket in India and attract both domestic and foreign competitions.

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Key Facilities of the Amaravati Cricket Stadium

The new Amaravati stadium will be constructed to deliver a world-class experience for players and viewers, include:

• Seating Capacity: 1.32 lakh, biggest in India.
• World-Class Pitches: Specifically built for Test, ODI, & T20 cricket games.
• Advanced Floodlights: Promising day-night matches with good visibility.
• Premium Spectator Experience: VIP areas, corporate suites, and lounge seating.
• Sustainable Design: Green building features and energy-conserving systems.

A Big Boost to Indian Cricket and Sports Tourism

This biggest cricket stadium in India will not just bring international cricket matches to Andhra Pradesh but also benefit the local economy. The project is likely to:

• Generate thousands of jobs during the construction phase and post-completion.
• Accommodate top cricket tournaments, such as IPL matches, ICC tournaments, and domestic matches.
• Increase sports tourism, with cricket enthusiasts from all over the country.
• Development of Local Talent: A committed cricket academy will develop young players.

India's Vision for Sports Infrastructure Development

This massive cricket stadium's approval is a step closer to India's goal of becoming a major global sporting force. The 200-acre Sports City, will have a number of athletic facilities that will encourage the growth of sports other than cricket.

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A Historic Addition to Indian Cricket

With ICC's approval, Amaravati cricket stadium is going to become a legendary ground in Indian cricket history. Upon completion, it will offer cricket enthusiasts a world-class match-day experience and enhance Andhra Pradesh's position in the international cricketing scene

The BCCI will announce a new policy that will allow Indian cricketers to get their families along for an extended overseas tour. The decision was taken after cricketers asked the board for a work-life balance. Players are likely to apply for permission using this policy.

As per the new guidelines, players who want their families with them for an extended period will have to seek permission from BCCI. In the past, families were allowed only for a limited period with strict guidelines, especially regarding ICC events.

A BCCI official said that “We understand the importance of family support for players, especially during long overseas tours. While we will maintain certain guidelines, players will now have more flexibility.” Cricketers are away from family for long overseas tours due to which their mental space is affected. Hopefully, they will get emotional support, which will help them in their game.

🚨 BCCI TO ALLOW FAMILIES. 🚨

- The BCCI likely to adjust the family rule on foreign tours. if players want families for a long duration, they can apply for permission with the BCCI. (Vipul Kashyap/ANI). pic.twitter.com/1Gsprn326l

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 18, 2025

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According to reports, the senior players have welcomed the decision with some saying that having family members on tour relieves them of the stress of constant travel and competition.

While this policy change is seen as a positive step, BCCI is likely to monitor its impact on team dynamics and performance. BCCI will implement certain restrictions, especially in the critical stages of the tournaments.

All in all, this change shows that players’ well-being is becoming an increased focus in today’s cricket. As a result, the top cricketers of India will be able to give their best efforts while managing their personal relationships.

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma is not ready to take it easy yet. As per Cricbuzz reports, Rohit has a carefully planned strategy to maintain fitness levels and stay in competition for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup.

For ensuring that he stays at his prime, Rohit will have his trusted mentor and coach, Abhishek Nayar, regularly in touch. There will be focus on his fitness, shaping his batting talent, and forming his general outlook towards the sport.

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At 37, Rohit knows the harsh realities of playing top-level cricket but his love for the game remains undeterred. He has just led India in the 2023 World Cup, and even if there was disappointment at the end in the final, his leadership and batting were throughout greatly admired. Today, he intends to stay India's captain until the next World Cup cycle.

With experience, consistency, and a hunger for success, Rohit's journey to 2027 would be one to watch. Does he lead India to glory? Only time will say.

India has won numerous ICC trophies in the past, with some players giving excellent performances at the right time.

The players who received the most Man of the Match awards during each winning campaign:

1983: Mohinder Amarnath

Mohinder Amarnath was a crucial member of India's historic World Cup victory. He received two Man of the Match awards, one for the semi-final against England and another for the final against West Indies. His all-round play, providing important wickets and solid batting, assisted India in capturing the trophy.

2002: Virender Sehwag

India co-shared the Champions Trophy with Sri Lanka in 2002, and Virender Sehwag was one of the stars of the tournament. He received two Man of the Match awards for his explosive batting and effective bowing contributions.

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2007: Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj Singh played a major role in India's success in the first T20 World Cup. He received two Man of the Match awards, both for one against England when he hit six sixes in an over and the second for his aggressive knock against Australia in the semi-final.

2011:Yuvraj Singh

The 2011 World Cup was ruled by Yuvraj Singh, who collected four Man of the Match awards. He scored important innings with the bat and also chipped in with the ball, thus becoming the pillar of India's campaign. His all-round excellence guided India to lift the trophy after 28 years.

2013:Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja was one of the star performers in India's 2013 Champions Trophy victory. He secured two Man of the Match awards for his all-round performances, including match-winning bowling efforts and aggressive lower-order hitting.

2024: Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah was the match-winner for India in the 2024 T20 World Cup. He secured two Man of the Match awards for his superb bowling performances, contributing significantly to India's victory.

2025:Virat Kohli

One of the all-time great batsmen, Virat Kohli once again rose to the occasion in the 2025 Champions Trophy. He earned two Man of the Match awards to establish himself as a player who can perform under pressure and took India to another ICC title.

From Mohinder Amarnath in 1983 to Virat Kohli in 2025, each ICC victory has been crafted by the players who played when it counted. With additional tournaments in store, people can't help but wait for the next big star who will lead India to victory.

The ICC has released the hosts for future tournaments, and to our bad luck, Pakistan is not on the list. This has disappointed many fans, as they were expecting a big ICC event in the country.

Upcoming ICC Events:

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Upcoming ICC Events

26 T20 WC – India & Sri Lanka
27 ODI WC – SA, Zimbabwe & Namibia
28 T20 WC – Australia & New Zealand
30 T20 WC – England, Ireland & Scotland
31 ODI WC – India & Bangladesh

Hope Pakistan gets more ICC events after 2031, especially a T20 World Cup. It would be… pic.twitter.com/MGe83lrr69

— junaiz (@dhillow_) March 5, 2025

Why No ICC Event in Pakistan?

Pakistan has also successfully hosted foreign cricket in the recent past with teams coming over for Test matches, ODIs, and the PSL. Large-scale events such as those organized by ICC would need significant arrangements, and issues of security and logistics could have been the reasons why Pakistan was not assigned a big event this time.

The Hope for the Future

Pakistan is a cricket-crazy country with ardent fans and fabulous stadiums. Organizing a T20 World Cup here would be an experience to remember. With time, things could be different, and hopefully, Pakistan will have the opportunity to host a major ICC event after 2031.

Until then, the fans will just keep supporting their side and waiting for cricket's biggest events to come back to Pakistan sooner rather than later!

Australian opener Matthew Short is expected to miss the Champions Trophy semifinal against India or New Zealand following the in-form batsman's quad injury in the rain-abandoned game against Afghanistan.
Short had scored 20 off 15 balls on Friday but had appeared to be in obvious discomfort before being bowled by Azmatullah Omarzai as Australia made it to the semifinals with four points.

🚨 REPORTS 🚨

Matt Short is likely to miss the Champions Trophy semi-final due to a quad injury. 🏆🇦🇺

Who should replace him in Australia's XI? 🤔#Cricket #Australia #ODI #ChampionsTrophy pic.twitter.com/5KN57Oclw6

— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) March 1, 2025

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Short suffered an injury late in Afghanistan's innings, and though opening the batting with Travis Head, he could not move freely between the wickets, and mostly played shots for boundaries. He scored 20 from 15 deliveries in an important opening partnership of 44 runs in 4.3 overs before being caught at mid-on. Post-match, captain Steven Smith recognized the time limit on Short's recovery.
I believe he'll be fighting. I believe we got to see tonight he wasn't running that well. I believe it's most likely going to be too fast between games for him to recover," Smith claimed during the post-match ceremony.
Jake Fraser-McGurk, a replacement for the injured Mitchell Marsh, is the spare batter in the squad and could be a direct swap for Short at the top of the order. However, other options are available, with all-rounder Aaron Hardie possibly stepping in if someone else is moved up to open.
“We’ve got a few guys available to fill the role," Smith said.
If Short is officially ruled out of the tournament for the remainder of it, left-handed batsman and left-arm spinner Cooper Connolly may be brought in as a traveling reserve. Short's absence would also take away a spin-bowling option since he had bowled seven superb overs for 21 runs against Afghanistan. Australia still has other spin-bowling options in the form of Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne, who claimed two wickets against England but were not given a run on Friday.
Australia was already struggling with a few injuries heading into the tournament, with Marsh (back), Pat Cummins (ankle), Josh Hazlewood (hip), Mitchell Starc (ankle) out of action, and Marcus Stoinis retiring.
The other Group B team's fate is still unclear, but South Africa is most likely to accompany Australia. But the venues for the semi-finals will only be known after the India-New Zealand match on Sunday evening. The standings at the end of Group B will be determined after South Africa plays England on Saturday, but India and New Zealand are already destined for their respective venues in Dubai and Lahore.
Australia will play the winner of the India-New Zealand match in the semi-final. Australia will play the loser of that match.
Regardless of which team goes to Dubai, they will have only slightly more than 24 hours to prepare. Conditions in Dubai, where India hosts all their matches, have been spin-friendly, and Australia has leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha as a possible frontline choice.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has reached its knockouts, with four teams qualifying for the semi-finals. Following the grueling group stage with gripping matches, the best teams have come out to fight for the prestigious trophy.
The Semi-Finalists
India: Indiathundered into the semi-finals as the best team from Group A. With consistent performances throughout the tournament, they have proved their might in both batting and bowling. With a potent captain leading the team, India will be looking to do what they have been doing till now and reach the final.
New Zealand: Kiwis have proved once more why they are among the most competitive sides in international cricket. With deciding wins in the group stage, they reserved their place in the semi-finals of Group A for themselves, along with India. Their well-balanced side, comprising old warriors and dashing young blood, will be keen to leave an impression in the knockout stages.
Australia: Australia progressed to the semi-finals from Group B when their last group game against Afghanistan was rain-abandoned. Their attacking style of cricket, supported by a strong batting pool and a deadly pace attack, makes them a top contender to lift the trophy.
South Africa: South Africa captured the last semi-final berth on the back of some great showings in the group stage. They possess a great bowling line-up and have a dynamic top-order batting, which will pose a stiff test to their knockout stage opponents.
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Road to the Knockouts
1. India dominated Group A with dominating victories against tough teams. Their all-round performance has made them stand out as a strong title favorite.
2. New Zealand trailed just behind, earning their spot with a formidable group-stage performance.
3. Australia earned their place in the semi-final based on their higher Net Run Rate (NRR), despite interruptions due to weather.
4. South Africa is the last semi-finalist from the top teams, establishing themselves. 
What's Next?
The semi-finals guarantee high-octane drama, with every team having something special to offer. India and New Zealand will hope to carry forward their momentum, while Australia will seek to carry on their winning tradition. South Africa, with their well-rounded team, will be keen to end their knockout-stage curse and make it to the final.
With cricket enthusiasts across the globe waiting with bated breath for the knockout stage, the Champions Trophy 2025 promises to bring some unforgettable moments.

India secured their place in the Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finals after New Zealand defeated Bangladesh by 5 wickets in Rawalpindi on Monday in a comprehensive win. Rachin Ravindra made a stunning century after a scintillating bowling display from Michael Bracewell to help New Zealand overpower Bangladesh. The victory also saw New Zealand secure their place in the knockout stages of the tournament as the second team from Group A. But it also left Bangladesh and Pakistan out of the tournament since the two teams already have two defeats apiece. India will host New Zealand in their last group stage game and Bangladesh will face Pakistan but both matches will serve no purpose aside from determining who will lead the group to the semifinals.

INDIA WILL PLAY THE FIRST SEMI-FINAL ON MARCH 4 AT DUBAI...!!!! 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/8PrEh4ZHvR

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 24, 2025

ALSO SEE: Pakistan’s Champions Trophy Nightmare: First Team Eliminated After 29-Year Wait

March 2nd - IND vs NZ.

March 4th - IND vs AUS/SA/AFG/ENG.

MISSION CHAMPIONS TROPHY IS ON 🙇 pic.twitter.com/Ctxze6u7O3

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 24, 2025

New Zealand defeated Bangladesh by five wickets in a Group A Champions Trophy game here on Monday, a triumph that placed the Kiwis and India in the Champions Trophy semifinals. The victory ensured Bangladesh and the two-time defending champions Pakistan, having lost both of their two games till date, were eliminated from the tournament.

India and New Zealand both have four points apiece from two victories till now in Group A. The top two teams of each group advance to the semifinals.

AI creating a cricket team is very interesting. So, AI will list the best of the best, and it will be interesting to see how it selects them. AI will analyze all the data on players throughout the game's history and select the best team for the ICC Champions Trophy.

With all statistics, impact, and match-winning knocks, AI is given the best possible team and a tough-to-see squad for Champions Trophy.

AI-Generated Best XI for Champions Trophy:

This AI-generated team will be powerful, considering it is an open challenge. Let's see the AI-generated team.

This lineup is powerful to see, and each player has their style of play.

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Why Al Selected This Team: 

This lineup is powerful. While observing closely, the team is very balanced in batting and bowling. The team is so stable that batting is explosive, bowling is world-class, and all-rounders are deep. This team is known for its aggressiveness in nature. They can adopt any nature of grounds, and defeating them is not easy. 

If this team is taken into the field, there will be no team to stop, and no answers will be given to them. There is no doubt that this team is the best playing team in the world, which is generated or given by AI. The uniqueness is that no team will stand in their way. This team will beat and become champions in any format of the game. The opposition will have one thing, and that is fear of facing them.