Greaves injured for West Indies in India, ILT20 faces UAE player squeeze — cricket digest 30 Sep 2026

· Cricombo Editorial

Greaves ruled out of Guwahati ODI as West Indies juggle top-order options

West Indies opener Justin Greaves has been ruled out of the second ODI against India in Guwahati because of a calf injury, and is also in doubt for the third match on October 3 in New Chandigarh. He picked it up during the series opener in Thiruvananthapuram, where he battled through visible discomfort to make his maiden ODI hundred (101 off 108) before sitting out the chase.

With West Indies already 1-0 down in the three-match series, Greaves’ absence leaves them reshaping the order: Jewel Andrew could be pushed up to open alongside John Campbell, while Sherfane Rutherford is likely to return to the middle order after missing the first ODI for personal reasons. Greaves is not part of the T20I squad for the five-match series that follows from October 6.

ILT20 franchises warned UAE player availability could be hit by World Cup qualifier clash

ILT20 teams heading into the October 1 auction in Dubai have been told to prepare for uncertainty around leading UAE players, with the tournament’s November 21 to December 20 window overlapping the 2027 ODI World Cup Qualifier playoffs scheduled for December 1 to 22 (venue still unconfirmed). The Emirates Cricket Board has asked the ICC about shifting the playoffs to January, but has been told the calendar is tight.

ILT20’s interim COO Mike Fordham said some leading UAE players are still likely to feature even if the UAE reach the playoffs, with those not selected for qualifiers remaining fully available. The auction shortlist includes 44 marquee players, half of them from the UAE, while Matheesha Pathirana, Michael Bracewell and Sonny Baker have withdrawn and won’t be eligible even as replacements or wildcards.

India weigh Jadeja vs Axar as ODI World Cup ‘utility’ call takes shape

India’s spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule said the team will use upcoming series and conditions at the 2027 ODI World Cup venues to decide which of Ravindra Jadeja or Axar Patel best fits their plans. Jadeja has returned to the ODI side after missing India’s previous two series, starting the West Indies series with 0 for 54 in Thiruvananthapuram, while Axar is currently with the T20I squad at the Asian Games.

Bahutule described Jadeja as a “utility player” because of his batting and experience, and said he has improved as a bowler over the last six months. He added that India are also using the West Indies ODIs to explore pace combinations, while Kuldeep Yadav’s role looks more settled, with Bahutule calling him a match-winner.

Maharaj and Lyon swap notes as South Africa’s spin shift meets Australia’s Test plans

Keshav Maharaj says he continues to “pick [Nathan Lyon’s] brains as much as possible” as the two off-field friends prepare to be on opposite sides again, with Australia’s tour moving from ODIs into Tests. Speaking in Potchefstroom, Maharaj said both share the view that spinners should be “first on the team sheet”, a stance underlined by South Africa’s preliminary Test squad including three spinners: Maharaj, Simon Harmer and Senuran Muthusamy.

South Africa are 2-0 up in the ODI series and Maharaj has led the wicket-taking charts, working in tandem with fellow left-armer Bjorn Fortuin. Lyon has flown in for the Tests, with South Africa’s early-season coastal surfaces expected to be slower than their pace-friendly reputation suggests; Australia also have spin resources in the squad, including Matthew Kuhnemann.

Rizwan asks cybercrime agency to return phone and set out inquiry in writing

Mohammad Rizwan has written to Pakistan’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), asking it to comply with the Lahore High Court’s directions by returning his mobile phone and specifying the nature of its inquiry. The phone has been with the NCCIA since it was taken from him on August 31 in England, the day after Pakistan’s defeat at Lord’s, when Rizwan says he was told it would be returned within three hours.

Rizwan’s letter says he remains unclear about what incident is being investigated and asks the agency to confirm in writing when he is required to appear. The correspondence follows the Lahore High Court dismissing his petition on jurisdiction grounds, while also instructing the NCCIA not to subject him to “harassment or unnecessary inconvenience” and allowing him to approach the relevant court to recover items not returned.

In brief

  • Australia women will be without captain Sophie Molineux (hip) and Lucy Hamilton (quad) for the Bangladesh ODI series, with Tahlia McGrath set to lead and both players expected back for the New Zealand T20Is.
  • India left-arm spinner N Shree Charani stayed No. 1 in the women’s T20I bowling rankings and set a new record peak rating of 817 points, while Smriti Mandhana returned to the top five of the T20I batting list.
  • A sunny forecast in Nisshin has India and Sri Lanka hopeful of finally getting their Asian Games men’s semi-final played, with India set to advance to the gold-medal match if a washout occurs because of their higher ranking.
  • Bangladesh and Pakistan are also banking on improved weather for their Asian Games men’s semi-final in Nisshin, with Pakistan due to go through on seeding if rain prevents play.
  • Sam Harper’s unbeaten 101 helped Australia A recover to 282 for 7 against India A in Puducherry after Nachiket Bhute and Shams Mulani reduced them to 104 for 5.
  • Tanisha Singh (92), Niki Prasad (78*) and Shubha Satheesh (59) lifted India A women to 351 for 9 against Australia A women on day one in Mohali, with Charli Knott and Maitlan Brown Mills taking three wickets each.
  • Lakshya Raichandani’s 240 set up an innings-and-48-run win for India Under-19 against Australia Under-19, with Ishan Om and Yashbhardan sharing all ten wickets in Australia’s second innings.
  • Madhya Pradesh will start the Ranji Trophy season without Venkatesh Iyer, who is recovering from right shoulder surgery, while Rajat Patidar and Arshad Khan are also unavailable for the first round.
  • Fast bowler Akash Deep says he is excited to return after seven months of rehab from a lower-back stress fracture and is set to play the Irani Cup for Rest of India against Jammu and Kashmir in Srinagar.
  • Australia head into the final ODI against South Africa needing a response after left-arm spin problems and a series defeat, while South Africa have the freedom to experiment with the result already sealed.
  • India will look to tighten their 2027 World Cup planning in the second ODI against West Indies in Guwahati, while West Indies search for more bite from their bowling to stay alive in the series.
  • Wicketkeeper-batter John Simpson will leave Sussex for Nottinghamshire at the end of his contract, joining Trent Bridge for the Championship and One-Day Cup.
  • South Africa are turning to exchangeable pitches as part of plans to cope with a record-heavy home schedule, with 78 match days across men’s and women’s internationals alongside expanded domestic commitments.
  • Sam Harper says he is “learning on the fly” after a breakthrough run with the bat, with his Australia A century on debut against India A adding to his case for higher honours.
  • Thailand left-arm spinner Thipatcha Putthawong continues her rapid rise after taking her 170th women’s T20I wicket, leaving her as the second-highest wicket-taker in the format.
  • West Indies teenager Jewel Andrew’s rapid progression has put him in line for greater responsibility, with a potential move up the order now in focus amid Justin Greaves’ injury.
  • A look at the numbers around ODI hundreds in a single day and the latest point in an English season that a first-class triple-century has been made.

Sources: ESPNcricinfo