Welcome to Friday’s live cricket blog!
The Sport360 team is in place bringing you the latest news from the world of cricket including updates from Pakistan’s second T20I against Australia.
We’ll also be looking ahead to India’s third ODI with West Indies.
Get in touch on Facebook and Twitter throughout the day.
23:20 – Pakistan clinch T20 series against Australia
Pakistan have beaten Australia by a margin of 11 runs in the second T20 held at Dubai. Having set Australia a target of 148 to win, Sarfraz Ahmed’s men restricted the tourists to 136-8 in their 20 overs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
To read more about the game in depth, read our talking points here. For a closer look at Imad Wasim’s sensational spell of 1-8 in four overs, click here.
Imad Wasim (far left) was the star of the show for Pakistan.
21:45 – MS Dhoni dropped from India’s T20 squad
India veteran MS Dhoni was left out of the squad for the T20 series in the tour of Australia in what was the biggest surprise in the various squads announced by the selectors on Friday.
India named their squad for the upcoming T20 series against the West Indies along with the Test and T20 outfits for the year-end tour of Australia.
Read more on this breaking story here.
MS Dhoni is the surprise omission in India’s T20 squad.
21:30 – Pakistan set Australia a target of 148 in second T20
Pakistan’s innings in the second T20 against Australia has drawn to a close and Sarfraz Ahmed’s have been restricted to 147-6 in their 20 overs. Babar Azam top-scored for Pakistan once again with a 44-ball 45 while Nathan Coulter-Nile was the pick of the Aussie bowlers with figures of 3-19.
See how Australia fare in their chase of 148 in our ball-by-ball live coverage here.
Who will get the biscuit?
20:30 – AB de Villiers rules out South Africa return
AB de Villiers has refuted all recent speculation of him making a return to international cricket for South Africa.
The Proteas ace called time on his international career earlier this year in what came as a shock move, with the batsman citing the increasing pressure and workload as a reason for his retirement.
Read what De Villiers had to say on a possible international cricket return here.
No Proteas return for AB de Villiers.
19:45 – Pakistan bat first in second T20 against Australia
The toss for the second T20 between Pakistan and Australia has concluded and it is Sarfraz Ahmed who has won it. The Pakistan skipper has elected to bat first at Dubai with both teams making one change each from the first T20. Shoaib Malik has come in for Hussain Talat while Mitchell Marsh will take the place of Ashton Agar.
Do not miss ant of the action from the crunch T20 clash by following our live ball-by-ball coverage here.
Who will get the biscuit?
19:30 – India’s middle-order in focus ahead of third ODI
With all still to play for in the five-match series, there will be plenty on the line for both teams when India and West Indies lock horns in the third ODI at Pune on Saturday.
Virat Kohli’s men currently lead the series 1-0 after their eight-wicket win in Guwahati was followed by a dramatic last-ball tie in Vishakapatnam.
Read our talking points ahead of the all-important third ODI here.
Pressure is rising on Dhoni to perform with the bat.
19:00 – Wasim Akram, Misbah to serve in PCB’s cricket committee
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday constituted a four-member cricket committee which includes former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram and Misbah-ul-Haq.
Former player and selector Mohsin Khan will serve as the chairman of the committee which also comprises of ex-Pakistan women’s team cricketer Urooj Mumtaz.
Read more on this story here.
Misbah (l) and Wasim Akram (r) have been handed important roles.
17:15 – Warner, Lamichhane to play for Sylhet Sixers in BPL
Australia’s David Warner will play for Sylhet Sixers in the 2018-19 edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
Along with Warner, the Sixers have also roped in Lamichhane for the upcoming edition.
Read more on this breaking story here.
David Warner has confirmed his participation in the BPL.
17:00 – Ben Stokes looks to put off-field issues behind him
Ben Stokes is focusing on his future with England as he bids to leave off-field issues behind him.
It has been 13 months since the all-rounder was arrested after a night out in Bristol and two months since he was found not guilty of affray, but the unhappy chapter is not yet fully closed.
Read what the star all-rounder had to say about his off-field issues here.
Ben Stokes
16:00 – Ben Stokes wants to focus on England career.
Ben Stokes is focusing on his future with England as he bids to leave off-field issues behind him.
Ben Stokes
14:45 – Quote of the day
Words to live by from the Indian skipper…
11:30 – Kohli’s secret to reaching milestone in record time
He may have shattered Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar’s record on his way to becoming the fastest batsmen to reach 10,000 ODI runs but Virat Kohli is not taking anything for granted.
“Even after playing for 10 years, I don’t feel like I’m entitled to anything here,” Kohli told BCCI.tv.
As for what it was that catapulted him to the milestone in record time, he puts it down to never taking it easy.
Fastest to 10,000: Virat Kohli.
