South Africa have made a number of changes as they look to bounce back from their opening defeat, with captain Ronwen Williams leading the side with Ikram Rayners, Oswin Apolis and Jayden Adams.

Czechia, meanwhile, have star striker Patrik Schick up front alongside Adam Hlozek, while captain Ladislav Krzyński takes charge of the defence. Tomas Holes and Vladimir Kofal also start in a team desperate for its first points of the tournament.

Since both teams lost their opening Group A matches, there is very little margin for error in Atlanta tonight. A defeat would leave knockout qualification hanging in the balance.

South Africa XI: Ronwen Williams (captain), Teboho Mokoena, Thalante Mbatha, Aubrey Modiba, Oswin Apolis, Thapelo Maseko, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Ikram Rayners, Khuliso Mudau, Ime Okon, Jayden Adams.

Czechia XI: Matej Kovar, Tomas Holes, Robin Hranek, Vladimir Kaufal, Ladislav Krajci (captain), Vladimir Darida, Adam Hlozek, Patrik Schick, Lukas Serva, Michal Sadilek, Aleksander Sojka.

India captain Shubman Gill (AP Photo/Manish Swaroop)

Shubman GillThe remarkable purple patch continued on Wednesday as the India captain produced another batting masterclass, earning high praise Sunil Gavaskar After India’s emphatic ODI series win over Afghanistan in Lucknow.Gill has enjoyed great form over the last three weeks, scoring runs across all formats and competitions. The 26-year-old started the order with a brilliant century for Gujarat Titans against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026 Qualifier 2 and registered his 11th Test century in the one-off Test against Afghanistan. He followed this with an unbeaten 85 in the rain-affected ODI in Dharamshala and a brilliant 154 in Lucknow, leading India to a spectacular victory.The latest innings came in challenging conditions and helped India post a mammoth total of 402 runs. Gill made a match-defining partnership of 224 runs. Ishan KishanThe pair, who scored 125 runs, completely took the game away from Afghanistan.Speaking on Geostar’s ‘Cricket Live’ show, Gavaskar said that Gill’s success with the bat is also having a positive impact on his captaincy.“When you’re not scoring, you’re not confident about making those marginal moves that come from your gut, like stopping a bowler who has bowled well, giving him an extra over, or taking the fielder out of a certain spot. That gut feeling is much stronger when you’re performing individually. But if you’re not performing, even when you have that gut feeling, you’re afraid of making that call because you’re afraid of being wrong.” Are worried about. Since you are not performing well even as a player, you will also be criticized for your captaincy,” Gavaskar said.While Gill and Kishan grabbed the headlines with the bat, India’s young fast bowlers also played a key role in securing the win. Afghanistan were all out for 232 runs, with fast bowlers Gurnoor Brar and Prince Yadav taking five wickets together.Gavaskar was particularly impressed by Brar’s performance, praising both his bowling rhythm and his ability to unsettle the batsmen with sharp bounce.“His run-up is very good, his rhythm is very good, he was hitting the deck and taking the ball up. The wicket he took of Gurbaz was particularly impressive because of the way the bouncers chased him. It is very accurate. It comes right at you, exactly where the batsman doesn’t want it. I think the selection committee deserves all the congratulations. If you look at his stats, or his India A performances, they are okay, but not to the extent where you would say he deserved an India cap. However, the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar saw something in him and hence selected him. He also has the support of the management, which is very important,” said the former India captain.India’s all-round performance secured a 170-run win and gave them an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series, with Gill’s stellar form being one of the biggest positives for the team.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has allowed 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s parents to accompany him on India’s upcoming white-ball tour of Ireland and England, with secretary Devjit Saikia saying the teenager needs support as he adjusts to life in the senior team environment.

The decision comes ahead of Suryavanshi’s maiden call-up to the Indian T20 set-up, where he is expected to feature in seven matches across the two countries. The move underlines the board’s cautious approach Nurturing one of the brightest young talents of Indian cricketBalancing typical performance with age-appropriate support structures.

“You see, all the national teams at the senior level do not have a 14 or 15-year-old player in their squad. After several decades, we have someone like Vaibhav Suryavanshi,” BCCI secretary Devjit Saikia told PTI.

Saikia said the board’s priority is to ensure that Suryavanshi can make a smooth transition to professional cricket without being overwhelmed by the demands of international touring. The teenager has attracted significant attention with his performances at age-group and domestic level, making his inclusion in the senior setup a major milestone in his development.

“At one time, it was Sachin Tendulkar who made it to the national team at such a young age. When such a young kid is part of the senior team, obviously a lot of issues can come up. So, to make him comfortable and help him get used to the adult environment, where all the other players are above 18 years of age, and members of the team management are also adults, we felt this would be helpful.”

Referring to the case of a schoolboy accompanying his teacher during an excursion, Saikia said: “Even when a schoolboy goes on an excursion, he is usually accompanied by a senior person. Vaibhav is still a kid. He is just out of school, or maybe in his final year of school.”

“Therefore, we felt it appropriate to allow his parents to travel with him. I am very happy that his parents are also taking good care of their child, who is an asset to Indian cricket not just now but for the next two or three decades.”

The upcoming tour, which begins in Belfast on 26 June, Will provide Suryavanshi first continuous experience in international level competition With senior players. BCCI officials believe that the presence of his parents will help him adapt to the unfamiliar surroundings while keeping him focused on his cricket.

No action on dispute on field

Saikia also rejected the speculations That BCCI is considering disciplinary action against Suryavanshi Following his on-field altercation with Sri Lanka A cricketer Vishen Halambage during the recent India A match.

The incident occurred after an exchange of words between the two players, with Suryavanshi visible During the confrontation, the Sri Lankan pushed Halambay when he approached him.. The episode was discussed on social media, with some reports suggesting that the BCCI might intervene.

“There is a lot of talk on social media that BCCI is considering action etc. Do you want BCCI to step into the field of match refereeing?” Saikia said.

He stressed that matters arising from on-field incidents fall under the jurisdiction of the match officials rather than the board.

“BCCI is not an authority, we should not interfere in that area where the match referee and umpire are the main persons who can take any decision regarding any incident that happened on the field of play,” he said. “Whatever happened was part of the game and BCCI has no role in it. The role is of the match referee. If anything is going wrong, he will take a decision, the umpires will take a decision and there is a system in place.”

Saikia’s comments effectively ended speculation about possible disciplinary measures, while reinforcing the board’s commitment to supporting Suryavanshi as he takes the first steps in what is expected to be a long international career.

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The IPL window is likely to be scheduled before the normal window. (Image: X)

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is considering a significant schedule change for the Indian Premier League (IPL), with plans to start the tournament before the 2027 season. The move aims to minimize the impact of extreme weather conditions on players, fans and match operations.BCCI Secretary Devjit Saikia revealed that discussions are underway to shift the IPL window to around March 10-May 15 instead of the traditional late March to late May. The proposed change will coincide with the league’s historic 20th edition in 2027.

Climate concerns prompt proposed change

Speaking to PTI, BCCI’s Devjit Saikia believes that the latter stages of the IPL have been affected by rising temperatures and the possibility of pre-monsoon rain in many parts of the country. “This year, the IPL started around March 29 (28) and it ended by May 31,” Saikia told PTI. The only thing we are discussing is that there is a possibility of rain in the final stages of the tournament after May 15 or the start of the pre-monsoon season. On the other hand, there is hot weather which is not very favorable for either the players or the spectators. He said that the board is considering extending the tournament by about two weeks.“Therefore, discussions are going on within the BCCI as well as our IPL Governing Council on whether we can start the tournament a little before the end of March,” he said.“From next year, we will make an effort and I have already instructed our general manager (game development) (former fast bowler AB Kuruvilla) to look at the window if we can start it by March 10 and finish it by May 15. Saikia said, so that there are no adverse weather conditions before the playoffs and final of IPL 2027, which will be the 20th edition. Saikia also revealed that both players and fans have raised concerns over the state of the game.“I am hearing a lot of complaints from fans as well as players, as all the players are not very well equipped or adapted to play in such hot conditions, therefore, in order to provide a pleasant atmosphere for the tournament, we want to call it off till May 15. “This is our first target now, and it is a major area of ​​concern for next year’s 20th edition of the IPL, which will be a big event,” he said.

No plan to increase match number

Despite periodic discussions about increasing the size of the tournament, Saikia clarified that there are no plans at the moment to expand the IPL beyond the current 74-match format.“…It is not possible at the moment because we have to consider many other factors with regard to different players coming from different countries. With a lot of difficulties we are getting this two-month window,” he said.Saikia categorically said, “It will be very difficult to go beyond two months because other countries will also have to pay for bilateral matches… So at this moment there is no discussion about increasing the number of matches from 74 to 94. It is not happening immediately.”

Luis Diaz produced a brilliant performance as Colombia marked their return to the FIFA World Cup with an impressive 3-1 win over tournament debutants Uzbekistan in their group opener at the lively Azteca Stadium on Wednesday.

After missing out on qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Colombia arrived in Mexico looking to make an immediate impact. They were given an added boost before kick-off when fellow Group K contenders Portugal were held to a surprising 1–1 draw by DR Congo, opening the door for Nestor Lorenzo’s side to take early control of the group.

Uzbekistan vs Colombia, FIFA World Cup 2026: Highlights

While Colombia were favorites against an Uzbekistan team playing its first World Cup match, the South Americans initially had difficulty converting their dominance into goals. They controlled possession and camped inside the opposition for long periods, but Uzbekistan remained disciplined and organized in defence.

The breakthrough finally came four minutes before halftime, and it was produced by Colombia’s brightest star. Diaz, who troubled the Uzbek defense all evening, delivered a brilliant ball into the penalty area and Daniel Munoz fired it past his marker before delivering an instinctive hooked finish.

The goal capped a first half in which Colombia had largely dictated the proceedings. Uzbekistan rarely threatened and struggled to enter Colombia’s half, but they emerged from the break with new confidence and gradually progressed in the competition.

His historic World Cup moment arrived just in time. Eldor Shmurodov’s effort forced a save from goalkeeper Camilo Vargas, who could only stop the ball in a dangerous area. Abbosbek Faizullaev reacted quickest, heading home a header from close range and scoring the first goal for Uzbekistan. FIFA World Cup.

For a short time, the competition appeared to be more complicated than Colombia expected. The equalizing goal boosted the Central Asian team’s confidence and gave their supporters hope of a memorable result on the biggest stage.

However, Diaz quickly dashed those hopes.

Just five minutes after Uzbekistan equalised, the Liverpool winger restored Colombia’s lead with a quality moment befitting his performance. Receiving the ball on the left side of the area, Díaz cut inside and calmly fired past the goalkeeper to score his first World Cup goal and send the heavily supported Colombia crowd into celebration.

With the lead restored, Colombia took control of the match and continued to create openings. Uzbekistan refused to back down and threatened to counter-attack, but as the game approached its final stages, Colombia’s superior quality began to emerge.

The South Americans were asked to wait until stoppage time to put the result beyond doubt. Substitute Jaminton Campaz headed home inside the box to score Colombia’s third goal, sealing a convincing victory and ensuring there would be no late drama.

The result sent Colombia top of Group K with three points after Portugal and DR Congo shared the spoils earlier in the day.

Colombia will now travel to Guadalajara to face DR Congo on 23 June, knowing that another win could seal their place in the knockout round. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan continues its first World Cup outing against Portugal in Houston, still searching for the first point in its World Cup history but boosted by a spirited performance against one of South America’s strongest sides.

FIFA World Cup | fifa world cup schedule | fifa world cup points table | football news

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Rohit Sharma He became only the fifth Indian batsman to complete 14,000 runs in List A cricket during India’s second ODI against Afghanistan on Wednesday.The former India captain reached this milestone during a quickfire innings of 48 runs in 39 balls. His innings included six fours and two sixes and his strike rate was over 123 before being dismissed by Rashid Khan. With that innings, Rohit took his List A run tally to 14,038 runs in 356 matches. He has also scored 37 centuries in this format, which includes one-day matches played at international, domestic and state level.Among Indian batsmen, only four players have scored more List A runs than Rohit. Sachin Tendulkar leads the list with 21,999 runs and 60 centuries in 551 matches. He is followed by Virat Kohli (16,447 runs), Sourav Ganguly (15,622 runs) and Rahul Dravid (15,271 runs).In the second ODI, Afghanistan won the toss and decided to bowl first.The captain took India’s inning forward Shubman Gill And Ishan KishanWho made a partnership of 224 runs for the third wicket and helped the host team to be all out for 402 runs.As part of India’s preparations for next year’s World Cup, Yashasvi Jaiswal opened the innings with Rohit Sharma, while Gill came in at No. 3. However, Jaiswal was out after scoring 4 runs in the second over.Rohit looked comfortable while at the crease and looked ready for a big score but Rashid Khan’s googly took an inside edge and hit the stumps.After this Gill took over the innings and scored 154 runs. This was his ninth century in ODIs and his first after becoming India’s full-time ODI captain.Kishan provided strong support and scored 125, registering his second ODI century and first since his double century against Bangladesh in December 2022.The pair’s 224-run partnership laid the foundation for India’s total of 402 runs, putting the hosts in a strong position.In the second ODI match played in Lucknow on Wednesday, India won the match by 170 runs and won the three-match series 2-0.

England began their World Cup campaign with a 4-2 win over Croatia in a lively Group L encounter. Harry Kane scored twice to put England ahead, before Croatia hit back on both occasions through Martin Baturina and Petar Musa.

Thomas Tuchel’s side responded strongly after the break, with Jude Bellingham restoring the lead just two minutes into the second half after a surging run from midfield. Substitute Marcus Rashford sealed the victory with a sharp counterattack late in the night.

The result gives England early lead in Group L and a valuable three points in the opening match.

(more to follow)

FIFA World Cup | fifa world cup schedule | fifa world cup points table | football news

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Gurnoor Brar has taken three wickets each in his first two matches for India. (AP)

TimesofIndia.com in Lucknow: Gurnoor Brar may have gained attention early on at the international level for his pace, tough length and ability to trouble batsmen, but the right-arm pacer believes his journey is firmly rooted in the domestic circuit and the India A structure that bridges the gap between first-class cricket and the national team.Brar was once again the best bowler for India, with the six feet five inches tall fast bowler taking three wickets in the second ODI against Afghanistan at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Wednesday. He also took three wickets in the rain-interrupted first ODI in Dharamshala. At the post-match press conference in Lucknow, Brar was asked about his reputation as a fast bowler who is able to hit the deck consistently. However, the 26-year-old was quick to downplay labels and numbers.“I don’t think too much about reputation or expectations. I believe in myself and the work I am doing. Whether it is bowling hard lengths or full lengths, I focus on what I need to do rather than the result,” Brar said after India’s massive 170-run win.For the Punjab fast bowler, continuity of preparation is more important than returning to the match.“Preparation matters most and can I repeat my processes consistently every day. Even in these two matches, I feel I can do better. I know I can bowl better than I did today, and hopefully I will improve in the coming matches.”

According to Brar, a significant part of that growth came through the India A setup. The fast bowler called it an important step in his progress and credited domestic cricket for giving him the platform to dream big.“The India A setup was a big step forward. The performance in ranji trophy Can take you to India A, Duleep Trophy and Irani Cup. I was very happy when I was included in the India A team.”More importantly, Brar found that the methods that had brought him success in domestic cricket were also effective at the higher level.“The same things that worked for me in domestic cricket, bowling fast, hitting good lengths and swinging the ball, I tried to replicate at India A level as well.” The India A dressing room also gave him access to experienced international cricketers. One of them was Mohammad Siraj, whose guidance proved valuable.“Siraj bhai was also there and I talked to him a lot,” Brar revealed.The pace of his learning was further accelerated at Gujarat Titans, where he spent time watching and interacting with some of the leading fast bowlers in the country.“The environment at Gujarat Titans helped me a lot. There are experienced people there like Ashish Nehra sir, Siraj bhai, Prasidh bhai and Ishant Sharma.” You learn a lot from them,” he said.

Gurnoor Brar celebrates the wicket of Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi during the second ODI in Lucknow. (PTI)

Although opportunities were not always guaranteed, Brar used every day as a learning experience.“I was waiting for my chance, but I was also looking at what they did well and where they made mistakes. My focus was always on learning as much as possible so that I can perform better whenever I get the chance.”This growth has also been reflected in his death-bowling skills. Brar stressed the importance of the yorker in modern cricket and said that it is an area that every fast bowler should work on.

I am never satisfied. I am happy that I performed well, but I want to perform even better for Team India

Gurnoor Brar

“I think every fast bowler should work on yorkers. I also spend a lot of time on death bowling and improving my yorkers as they are very important, especially against quality hitters.”Even after a successful debut in Indian colours, Brar is not satisfied.“I am never satisfied. I am happy that I performed well, but I want to do more for Team India. I want to continue to improve and contribute.”Brar is being seen as someone who could be useful in South African conditions at the 2027 ODI World Cup, and the fast bowler has made the right start to his international career.