Telecom asia sport: Cricket News & Match Updates

Sydney Morning Herald: Sri Lanka's 1996 World Cup-winning captain and cricket icon Arjuna Ranatunga has expressed deep concerns about a proposal from cricket’s "Big Three" – India, England, and Australia – to restructure the Test cricket landscape. The three powerhouses are planning to create a two-tier system that prioritises matches among themselves, relegating other cricket-playing nations to a secondary status. Ranatunga fears that this move could severely harm the development of the sport, especially in smaller cricketing nations.

Telecom Asia Sport: The most successful bowler in the history of cricket, Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan on Wednesday praised fellow off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin of India who announced his retirement from international cricket, calling him an inspiration for aspiring cricketers. Ashwin retired from international cricket with 537 wickets in 106 Tests, following the conclusion of the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series between India and Australia in Brisbane on Wednesday.

ASHWIN IS THE GREATEST BOWLER: One of the premier off-spinner of his time, Saqlain Mushtaq of Pakistan reacted negatively when Ravichandran Ashwin was drafted into the Indian team as a replacement for Harbhajan Singh. Saqlain called Ashwin's entry into the team a “premature selection”. On Wednesday when the off-spinner from Chennai announced his retirement from international cricket as the second most successful off-spinner after Mittiah Muralitharan with 537 wickets in 106 Tests, Saqlain says Ashwin forced him to change his views.

Indian Premier League: Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir, who quit international cricket for a final time on Saturday, hung up his boots with two regrets -- not getting to bowl against India on home soil and hosting Virat Kohli at his Lahore residence. With a UK passport, Amir also hopes to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) if he can.

Telecom Asia Sport: From an Indian perspective, all eyes will be on how young left-handed opener Yashasvi Jaiswal fares in the second day-night Test against Australia at the Adelaide Oval, starting on Friday.

Indian Premier League: Afghanistan's rags-to-riches cricketer Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who at one time played a U19 match against India with a borrowed bat, is looking forward excitedly to playing in the Indian Premier League (2025) as a player bought in the auction for Rs 2 crore. But more than the big price tag, Gurbaz is happy as he will once again be playing on his favourite pitches at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

International Cricket Council: As he gets ready to take over the reins of the International Cricket Council (ICC) as its chairman, former Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal has asked Jay Shah to act as chairman of the global and not think of India alone.

International Cricket Council: As the world awaits a decision by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on the fate of the Champions Trophy 2025 with both India and Pakistan playing hardball, former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal says ICC should not schedule Indo-Pak matches till the two countries resume bilateral cricket.