India close in on England in latest Women’s ODI rankings
DUBAI, May 14: Buoyed by their victory in the Tri-Nation Series, India gained eight rating points to narrow the gap with second-placed England in the latest ICC Women’s ODI team rankings released on Wednesday.India now stands at 121 rating points, just six behind England, who hold 127. Despite the shuffle below, seven-time world champions Australia remain firmly at the top with 167 points, though their lead has slightly reduced – from 44 to 40 points.New Zealand (96), South Africa (90) and Sri Lanka (82) round out an unchanged top six, with the Proteas remaining in fifth placed despite dropping nine rating points in the update.The update provides a 50 percent weightage for matches between May 2022 and April 2024 and 100 percent for matches thereafter, with South Africa’s achievement in reaching the semifinals of the most recent 50-over World Cup in New Zealand at the start of 2022 no longer included.This also effects fellow 2022 semifinalists West Indies (72), who drop 10 rating points and fall from seventh to ninth overall and behind Bangladesh (79) and Pakistan (78) as a result. (PTI)
Mehidy Hasan Miraz wins ICC Men’s Player of the Month
DUBAI, May 14: Bangladesh all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz has won the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award for April 2025 after putting in solid all-round performances in the home Test series against Zimbabwe. He beat Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani and New Zealand’s Ben Sears to clinch the monthly award.Mehidy also becomes only the third player from Bangladesh to win the award and the first one to do it in over two years – Shakib Al Hasan was the last Bangladesh player to win the award in March 2023, while Mushfiqur Rahim is the other one to have been adjudged winner of the honour.“Mehidy enjoyed a prolific April 2025 with bat and ball, ending the two-match Test series against Zimbabwe as the Player of the Series. After picking ten wickets in the opening Test match defeat in Sylhet (5-52 and 5-50), Mehidy then hit 104 in the second game at Chattogram – his second Test century – before clinching another five wicket-haul to ensure the honours were shared. He also became the Player of the Match in Bangladesh winning the Chattogram Test. (IANS)
Paul Stirling to lead Ireland’s squad for series vs West Indies
DUBLIN, May 14: Ireland have announced their squads for the upcoming white-ball home series against West Indies, with experienced campaigner Paul Stirling set to lead the side in both formats. The three-match ODI series begins on May 21 at Clontarf, followed by three T20Is in June at Bready. The 14-member ODI squad features two exciting uncapped players—22-year-old top-order batter Cade Carmichael and 24-year-old pacer Tom Mayes, both of whom have earned maiden international call-ups on the back of impressive performances in domestic and Wolves-level cricket.Mayes, a consistent performer in Ireland’s domestic circuit, joins an ODI pace battery that includes Barry McCarthy, Josh Little, and Craig Young. Also breaking into the national setup is Liam McCarthy, who has been named in the T20I squad and is yet another example of Ireland’s growing seam-bowling depth.A notable absentee in the ODI squad is Ireland’s premier fast bowler Mark Adair, who is recovering from an injury. However, the 28-year-old is expected to return for the T20I series in June. His younger brother Ross Adair finds a place in the T20I setup, adding further interest to the squad dynamics.While Ireland have added fresh faces, the squads retain a strong core of experience. Andrew Balbirnie, Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, Lorcan Tucker, and George Dockrell bring stability to both formats, while all-rounders Campher and Dockrell offer flexibility with both bat and ball. Promising left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys also continues to be backed across formats. (IANS)
Squads:
ODI:Paul Stirling (c), Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, Cade Carmichael, George Dockrell, Matthew Humphreys, Josh Little, Tom Mayes, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Liam McCarthy, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young
T20I:Paul Stirling (c), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Matthew Humphreys, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Liam McCarthy, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young.