The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is a tournament that has been under a question mark ever since Pakistan was announced as it’s hosts. Countless talks have been put forward by PCB and BCCI, with hosting rights under a scanner. On November 29, ICC scheduled a meeting, but it lasted only 15 minutes. The word on the table is that seven out of the eight participating teams are in agreement over a hybrid model. But ICC rescheduled the meeting for today, November 30. We can expect a viable solution announced today. Apart from this, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) tourney continued, with Prithvi Shaw and Sanju Samson failing. Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan clubbed a historic knock, and Hardik Pandya continued his stellar performances in SMAT. On Friday, we even had a groundbreaking news, with BCCI launching India’s new ODI jersey. On that note, let us look at six of the best cricketing stories from November 29.
New Team India ODI Jersey!
The BCCI and Adidas have unveiled a new ODI jersey for the Indian cricket team. This new jersey will be worn by both the men’s and women’s teams, including at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The women’s team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, will debut the jersey in their upcoming ODI series against the West Indies. The new design features a full Indian flag on the shoulders and a predominantly blue colour scheme, with the iconic adidas three strips now back in white colour.
15-min ICC meeting for Champions Trophy with PCB, BCCI
The ICC board meeting to decide the host of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 was adjourned in just 15 minutes. The meeting, which was scheduled for November 29th, was cut short due to disagreements among board members, primarily regarding Pakistan’s hosting rights. The PCB has insisted on hosting the entire tournament, while other members have proposed a hybrid model. The ICC is expected to reconvene on November 30th to further discuss the matter.
What has happened to Prithvi Shaw?
Prithvi Shaw’s cricketing career is facing a rough patch. After being dropped from the Ranji Trophy squad due to fitness issues and going unsold in the IPL 2025 auction, he has struggled to regain form. His recent performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he failed to capitalize on a promising start, showed his inconsistent form. The talented batter needs to address his fitness and consistency concerns to revive his career. Shaw managed to get just 23 runs off 13 deliveries in Mumbai’s match against Kerala in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Match-fixing players arrested for 8 years!
Three former South African cricketers, Thami Tsolekile, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, and Ethy Mbhalati, have been arrested in connection with a 2016 match-fixing scandal. They were implicated in a scheme to fix matches in the T20 Ram Slam Challenge 2015/16. The arrests follow an investigation by South African authorities, prompted by allegations made in 2016. Former Proteas player Gulam Bodi, who was also involved in the scandal, was convicted in 2019.
UNSOLD Shardul Thakur rattles Sanju Samson
Shardul Thakur’s omission from the IPL 2025 auction raised eyebrows. Despite his massive international experience, he went unsold. Undeterred, he took wickets in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, including those of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson. Known for his ability to swing the ball upfront, Thakur induced an edge and castled Samson, who’s been in great nick this year and the last few months especially. While these performances showcased his skill, his expensive spell in the same match showed potential concerns.
Why is everyone hating PBKS?
In a recent controversy, former player Krishnappa Gowtham publicly criticized Punjab Kings (PBKS), stating he wouldn’t give his 100% if the franchise bought him in the IPL 2025 mega auction. His claims of poor treatment resonate with past voices like Glenn Maxwell, who previously captained the team. Mike Hesson, a former PBKS head coach who left after just one season, publicly supported Gowtham’s sentiments too. The criticism suggests deeper cultural issues within the franchise that extend beyond on-field performance, sending alarm bells to the PBKS management at the ownership level.
