NEW DELHI: BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia credits Jammu and Kashmir’s Ranji Trophy triumph to the sub-committee appointed by the cricket’s governing body in 2021 to run the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), and to the panel led by current BCCI president Mithun Manhas, Brigadier Anil Gupta and Sunil Sethi, who worked tirelessly to bring about an overhaul in Jammu and Kashmir cricket.In an exclusive interaction with TimesofIndia.com, Saikia reflects on the emotional moment of watching J&K lift their maiden Ranji crown and traces the journey from administrative turmoil to Paras Dogra lifting the trophy after edging domestic powerhouse Karnataka in the final in Hubballi. He cites the emergence of pacer Auqib Nabi as a symbol of domestic cricket’s strength. Saikia also elaborates on the talent identification process, the role of selectors at the grassroots level, and why no performer goes unnoticed in the current system. In the end, he also shared an update on the much-awaited 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) schedule.

Excerpts:

What was your first reaction to witnessing J&K’s historic win? Does it feel like a fairy-tale story?

It is a momentous occasion for Indian cricket as well as for the cricket of Jammu & Kashmir. It was a big moment because a lot came out of it. Every place and every state of the country is a stronghold of cricket nowadays under the patronage of the BCCI. If you look at the history of the BCCI and J&K vis-à-vis, you will see that the J&K Cricket Association was in a mess in from 2018 to 2020.

Jammu and Kashmir’s captain Paras Dogra and others celebrate with the tournament trophy after winning the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 final cricket match against Karnataka, at KSCA Stadium, in Hubballi, Dharwad district. (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak) (PTI02_28_2026_000333A)(PTI03_01_2026_000561A)

A lot of litigation was going on in the High Court of J&K. In this situation, in June 2021, when Jay Shah was the secretary of the BCCI, there was a direction from the J&K High Court that a committee should be constituted under the BCCI to look after the development of cricket in J&K. Jay Shah took a very firm decision and laid the roadmap with three persons in hand. That sub-committee was constituted with Mithun Manhas, Brigadier Anil Gupta and Sunil Sethi. That committee worked day in and day out to develop the game of cricket under the monitoring of the BCCI.Everybody was giving inputs from the BCCI as well. That committee worked very hard and today you see the results. Within a period of five years, from being minnows in cricket in India, they are now the champions of the Ranji Trophy in India. This is a huge leap for cricket in J&K. The BCCI also takes pride in this journey of J&K.

After J&K’s historic triumph, will we see a world-class facility coming up in the state?

It is very important to note that there is no such infrastructure in J&K from where they can host international matches. But the time has come now. With their performance, they have given us the roadmap. They have indicated that the BCCI should take a major step for the development of cricket in J&K, especially in the area of infrastructure development.We are already working on indoor cricket facilities in J&K. It is in the pipeline. But we should also have a proper stadium in J&K. Wherever they decide, land allotment has to be done. That is the call of the time now.So, it is a major victory in Indian cricket today. The road is very bright for J&K cricket as well as for cricket in India because the BCCI’s prime objective is to develop cricket not only in the main locations but also in every nook and corner of the country. States should have proper infrastructure and proper growth of cricket so that the boys and girls there get the best opportunities to hone their talent, come into the limelight, build their careers and bring laurels to the country.

Jammu and Kashmir’s Auqib Nabi with teammates celebrates the team’s victory in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 final cricket match against Karnataka, at KSCA Stadium, in Hubballi, Karnataka. (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)(PTI02_28_2026_000260B)

Auqib Nabi has taken 100 wickets in two Ranji seasons. Does his success story reflect the importance of domestic cricket and the systems BCCI has built?

He has played very well. His contribution has been major to the success of the team. He took five wickets in the quarter-final, five wickets in the semi-final and left nothing in the final. His spell changed the final. So, everybody is taking note of it.We have entrusted our selectors to be present at each and every Ranji Trophy game. In the final and in other matches, our selectors were present. I am sure they have done their job well. He was already in the limelight. The selectors will take a call.The BCCI has set the stage right so that no proper talent goes unnoticed. Everybody has to be noticed. When selectors are present, their only focus is on players’ performances, which they are doing extremely well. That is why so many players from small and lesser-known places are getting opportunities to represent the country.When a player performs well, take Ishan Kishan as an example. He was out of the limelight for two years. Then he performed and was immediately selected for the Indian team. Now you see how he is progressing and contributing to the team’s success.

Will BCCI introduce a more centralised scouting system to support talent identification beyond state associations and IPL franchises?

At the central level, we have only the selectors. For scouting and other aspects, franchises do their own work. But cricket is basically state-based. Every state brings its own team. So, it is based on the state structure.Every state has its own constitution. There are positions for spotters and cricket committees, and they do this job.Regarding Nabi, he has come from Baramulla. Who brought him to this position? The selectors in J&K. The BCCI selectors did not bring him. But when he plays domestic cricket and represents his state team, the BCCI selectors keep an eye on domestic matches. For example, a player from Hubli in Karnataka has to play at the district level first. Then he will come into the line of the selectors for the zonal team as well as for the national team.

When is the IPL schedule expected to be released?

Please wait for two to three days for the IPL schedule. We will release it as soon as possible. We know that it is getting late because elections are being held in three or four states such as Assam, Bengal and Tamil Nadu. We are waiting for the announcement from the election authorities. We have to take a call in a day or two. After that, we will inform you how we are going forward with the IPL.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan issued a warning for Team India ahead of their semifinal match with England on March 5 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The England cricket great opined that the English spinners will prove heavy on the Indian batters on a possible turning track at Wankhede.

Michael Vaughan takes a massive bet on the spinners of the England National Cricket Team. Adil Rashid, Liam Dawson, and Will Jacks can do their job with precision, Vaughan felt. He also praised the efforts of the England cricket team players displayed on the ground while fielding.

England has a better spin attack than India- Michael Vaughan

Taking a bold stance, the ex-cricketer, who is now working as a cricket expert and commentator, claimed that England can go through Team India to play the Final of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026.

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“England has a better spin attack than India. [Varun] Chakravarthy has been got at. Dawson, Rashid, and Will Jacks have been the best trio in the tournament in terms of spin. England’s fielding has been absolutely exceptional. They look really alert”, the 51-year-old told the BBC on March 3.

“England’s running between the wickets has been exceptional. The small percentage of things you can control yourself, England seems to be doing very well. I just have a funny feeling England can get the job done in Mumbai”, he added.

They seem to have found a way of winning- Michael Vaughan

For example, Vaughan mentioned England’s match against New Zealand in the Super 8, a dead rubber, won by the Harry Brook-led team. He was impressed to see how the boys put in their efforts to even win an inconsequential match.

“They seem to have found a way of winning. The win against New Zealand, even though a dead rubber, to get over the line was a great effort”, Michael Vaughan mentioned.

England spinners mentioned by Michael Vaughan vs India in T20Is:

On the other front, Team India has multiple options as spinners in their squad. Varun Chakaravarthy and Axar Patel are likely to feature for the team in the semi-finals. Let’s take a look at the stats of Varun and Axar against the England cricket team:

Indian Spinners vs England in T20Is:

If we compare the above mentioned stats of the Indian spinners and the England spinners, then Varun and Axar together claimed a total of 23 wickets against England in the T20Is. For England, only Adil Rashid, who bagged 14 wickets against India, has a significant amount of experience of facing India in the format.

Read More: Secret Training Move! India changes strategy before T20 WC clash vs England

BCCI President Mithun Manhas (R) with Auqib Nabi of Jammu & Kashmir after they won the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy title. (PTI)

For Mithun Manhas, the sight of Jammu and Kashmir captain Paras Dogra lifting the Ranji Trophy was more than a ceremonial moment.Manhas has his roots in the state. He was born there, grew up there and studied there, and ended his first-class career playing for Jammu and Kashmir. He was later part of the sub-committee appointed by the BCCI to run the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA). A giant of Indian domestic cricket, Manhas played from 1997-98 to 2016-17 in 157 first-class matches, scoring 9,714 runs, and was pivotal in Delhi’s Ranji Trophy win in 2007-08, amassing 921 runs that season.

Manhas today stands at the helm of Indian cricket administration as BCCI president. But his emotional investment in J&K cricket runs deeper than designation. In this candid conversation with TimesofIndia.com, Manhas speaks about redemption, reform, Auqib Nabi’s rise, infrastructure challenges, and why belief remains the most powerful force in cricket.Excerpts:You have been a domestic giant and won the Ranji Trophy for Delhi. You ended your glittering career with J&K and have your roots in the state as well. What was going through your mind while handing over the trophy to Paras Dogra?Emotions were running high. That is natural when you put in so much effort. The journey began in 2021 when the sub-committee was appointed in June. From there, the work started. We began from scratch and gradually built ourselves up.I am very thankful to Jay Shah for supporting us throughout these four years. He was the secretary then and the first person in 67 years of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association to personally visit the grounds. He saw the ground reality, met players, coaches and staff. From there, things began to fall into place.Paras has been a seasoned campaigner for over two decades. We brought him in because he understands similar conditions, having played a lot of cricket in Himachal and in England as a professional. He brings calmness and commands respect in the dressing room.

BCCI President Mithun Manhas (L), secretary Devajit Saikia (R) hand over the Ranji Trophy title to J&K’s Paras Dogra. (PTI)

Cricket has a way of giving it back. You were a stalwart of domestic cricket and were probably born in the wrong era. Did it feel like a redemption?Not really. That chapter is in the background now. This is a new role and a new opportunity. I see it from a completely different perspective. When results come and favour your team, you feel satisfied.We faced criticism while making changes, and that is bound to happen. Change is not easily accepted. But evolution is constant. We believed we were on the right track, and fortunately, the results followed.Where was Aquib Nabi all these years?Since we began in 2021, he has been part of our set-up and a regular member of the team. Not just him, there are others as well.Auqib has been phenomenal this year. He has done exceedingly well and even scored a hundred in the limited-overs format. He is a complete player who has gone through the grind of domestic cricket. Any youngster listening to me should play at least two or three seasons of first-class cricket. Go through the grind and you will become a better player.

Auqib Nabi (PTI Photo)

People say you brought discipline to J&K cricket. Someone once told me that a couple of IPL players came late for training and you gave them a proper dressing down…The sub-committee was formed after careful thought. Brigadier Anil Gupta has 35 years of administrative experience. My roots are in J&K. It was a strong combination.When a couple of players came late, I took them to task. It is not about me. If you come late, you disrespect teammates who are on time. Mutual respect is essential for growth.Earlier, belief was missing. There was too much changing and chopping. Around 25 to 35 players would feature in a single Ranji season. You cannot expect results with constant changes. That had to stop. Players, support staff, selectors and the CAC were given continuity. Stability brings results.Most of the boys in J&K have played cricket growing up on turf wicket. After October and November, it is hard to play cricket in most of J&K. Is there any infrastructure upgrade in the pipeline?We have spoken to the BCCI and they have been supportive. However, building a stadium is the association’s prerogative. Elections have just been held and soon a full-fledged association will be in place.In 67 years of affiliation, we do not own assets. In Jammu, practice happens at a college ground. In Srinagar, we use the Sher-e-Kashmir ground, which is not ours. We need infrastructure not only in Jammu and Srinagar but also in Rajouri, Poonch and the Chenab Valley. Players come from diverse regions and must be given proper facilities.You were one of the finest when it comes to playing spin. Do youngsters come to you for tips?They may be a little hesitant to approach me (smiles). But whenever I see a youngster’s video, whether from the senior or junior team, I speak to them and share my experience. I offer pointers that suit their game.Lastly, on the Indian team, do you think Suryakumar Yadav-led India will win the T20 World Cup?Everyone knows our team is strong. We had one off day against South Africa and people began to panic. There is no need for that. It is a World Cup and pressure is natural. Back the boys instead of criticising them. I am confident they will bring the trophy home.

Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after reports that the board fined players following the team’s exit from the Super 8 stage of the 2026 T20 World Cup. According to media reports, the PCB imposed a fine of PKR 50 lakh on each member of the squad for not meeting performance expectations in the ICC event. The reported fine was not linked to discipline but to results. Pakistan won their final Super 8 match against Sri Lanka, but the victory margin was not enough to go past New Zealand’s net run rate, leading to elimination. Earlier, their match against New Zealand was washed out and they also lost narrowly to England. Speaking on the Pakistani show Haarna Mana Hai, Amir criticised the PCB’s decision and urged chairman Mohsin Naqvi not to target only players. He said selectors and administrators should also be held responsible and even face stricter penalties. “If fines are the solution, apply them to everyone — from selectors to the administration. Players weren’t forced at gunpoint. Hold selectors accountable for wrong combinations. Double the fine for them. Stop scapegoating players. This isn’t the real solution. Why do players have to suffer all the time?” Amir said. Amir also questioned whether all players should be fined, mentioning Sahibzada Farhan, who set the record for most runs in a single T20 World Cup edition with two centuries, and Fakhar Zaman, who played only two matches. “If you can’t pick the right combination, the ones who selected the squad and chalked out the plans must answer. Will you fine Fakhar Zaman as well, who played just two games? What about Sahibzada Farhan?” he asked. He added that if the PCB is unhappy with certain players, leaving them out of the team would send a stronger message than financial penalties. Amir said players who underperform should be asked to prove themselves in domestic cricket for at least two years before being considered again. “Fines aren’t the solution. I’ve said it from day one — invest in domestic cricket. That is where you will find quality players. If you are angry with someone, don’t fine them; drop them and tell them to perform consistently for two years in domestic cricket. The biggest punishment for a player is being left out of the team,” he added.

NEW DELHI: Ramzan and Easter are important dates in the calendars of several fruits and vegetables exporters to West Asia and Europe. Some of them, in fact, source seeds and grow vegetables meant specially for Europe as Jan to April is lean season for cultivation there.“We were ready with our consignments of onions for Europe, but now we have to deal with higher freight, longer sail times of 40-45 days (instead of 20-25 days) and a lot of uncertainty. Even transshipment hubs have been hit,” said Danesh Shah, a Pune-based fruits and vegetables exporter, who had booked large orders from West Asia and Europe.While Shah is looking to offload stocks of bananas meant for the Gulf markets at a discount, he fears that a lot of onions will be wasted.Kushal Thakkar of Kay Bee Exports has reduced spot purchases as goods in transit are affected and air freight is either too expensive or unavailable. Thakkar exports to supermarkets in the UK and UAE and his list includes fresh vegetables, ranging from okra and lauki to baby corn.

Most exporters are complaining of hefty freight rates, wherever space is available. Airlines are charging a significant premium – 30-40% – for goods going to Europe. Their bargaining power has gone up as airports in West Asia, which accounted for nearly half the traffic to Europe, are shut.Sending goods by sea is also expensive. Indian Rice Exporter’s Federation vice-president Dev Garg said that a 20-feet container to Saudi Arabia is seeing costs skyrocket to $2,600 in 48 hours as shipping lines, such as Maersk and MSC imposed a war surcharge of $2,000. “There is a 20% increase even for Africa as availability of vessels is not there and shipping lines are unwilling to place orders,” he said.The industry body has advised its members to either call back cargo meant for Iran and UAE or reroute it to other ports, including in Europe or the US. Besides, wherever goods have reached their destinations, members are being advised to ask buyers to share the cost and going forward, book cargo on free-on-board basis, given the uncertainty in freight and insurance charges. One estimate suggested that there is 4 lakh tonnes of rice in transit at the moment.Thakkar said that there are buyers in Europe who are willing to pay a premium for food and his company has loaded cargo but added that uncertainty is not something that augurs well with global retailers.

NEW DELHI: In a big boost for the Navy and Indian Coast Guard, the defence ministry on Tuesday signed contracts worth Rs 5,083 crore for the acquisition of six Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Mk-III (maritime role) for the Coast Guard and surface-to-air vertical launch-Shtil missiles for the Navy.While the contract for ALH Mk-III (MR) was signed with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) for Rs 2,901 crore, the deal for procurement of Shtil missiles worth Rs 2,182 crore has been signed with Russia’s JSC Rosoboronexport. The two contracts were inked in the presence of defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh in New Delhi. The missile contract underscores the longstanding and time-tested defence partnership between India and Russia, founded on mutual trust and strategic alignment.The contract for ALH Mk-III (MR) with HAL has been signed under the ‘Buy’ (Indian-indigenously designed, developed and manufactured) category. These twin-engine helicopters incorporate state-of-the-art features superior to the currently operated airborne platforms and are capable of undertaking a wide spectrum of maritime security missions from shore-based airfields as well as from ships at sea. Their induction will significantly enhance the Indian Coast Guard’s capability to protect artificial islands, offshore installations, and fishermen & marine environment, a ministry release said.The ALH contract, which comes with operational role equipment, an engineering support package and performance-based logistics support, reinforces the govt’s commitment to Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make-in-India initiative.Shtil is a Russian-origin naval surface-to-air missile system designed for area air defence on warships. The advanced Shtil-1 variant is used by the Indian Navy on its Shivalik-class and Talwar-class frigates, featuring vertical launch systems with a range of up to 70 km. The acquisition is intended to substantially enhance the air defence capabilities of frontline warships against a wide spectrum of aerial threats. The missile provides all-weather, omnidirectional protection for ships against aircraft, helicopters and anti-ship missiles. Its key features include vertical launch capability, rapid reaction times, a 2–3 second launch interval and the ability to engage multiple targets simultaneously.

NEW DELHI: Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has raised concerns over Abhishek Sharma’s batting form after the right-hander scored just 10 off 11 balls against the West Indies in India’s latest outing. Although Sharma had earlier struck a half-century against Zimbabwe, Pathan feels he needs to make certain technical corrections.“One concern is Abhishek Sharma’s form again. After scoring that fifty, it felt like he would continue making runs, but when he went for that shot, his back knee was bent too much, and his body weight was falling backwards. Ideally, more weight should have been on the front foot, as that suits him better. He will need to pay attention to that,” Pathan said on his YouTube channel.

In the match, India won the toss and chose to bowl. West Indies made a solid start, with Roston Chase (40 off 25 balls) and captain Shai Hope (32 off 33 balls) adding 68 for the opening wicket. However, despite a brisk cameo from Shimron Hetmyer (27 off 12 balls), the visitors slipped to 119/4 in 14.1 overs.A late surge came through Jason Holder (37* off 22 balls) and Rovman Powell (34* off 19 balls), who stitched together a 76-run partnership in just 35 deliveries to power West Indies to 195/4 in 20 overs. Jasprit Bumrah led India’s bowling effort with figures of 2/36, while Varun Chakaravarthy and Hardik Pandya conceded 40 runs each in their four-over spells.India’s chase began shakily as they fell to 41/2 inside the powerplay. A 58-run partnership between Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav (18) steadied the innings. Contributions from Samson, Tilak Varma (27 off 15 balls), Hardik Pandya (17) and Shivam Dube (8*) then guided India to a five-wicket win.Commenting on Suryakumar Yadav, Pathan stressed the importance of converting starts into significant scores. “Suryakumar will need to score runs against bigger teams, and that is something he must keep in mind,” he said. Yadav is India’s leading run-scorer in the tournament with 231 runs in seven innings, but he has not registered a major knock since his unbeaten 84 against the USA.India are now set to take on England in the semi-finals at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday.

The cricketing summer in New Zealand is reaching a historic crescendo as the White Ferns prepare to host Zimbabwe Women in a landmark three-match One Day International (ODI) series. Starting on March 5, 2026, this series marks the first-ever bilateral ODI meeting between the two nations on Kiwi soil. While the atmosphere in Dunedin is electric with anticipation, the home side has faced a significant setback. Rising star Georgia Plimmer has been officially ruled out of the upcoming series due to a persistent shoulder injury, prompting a swift change in the squad dynamics.

Injury blow for Georgia Plimmer ahead of the Zimbabwe ODI series

Plimmer, a vital cog in New Zealand’s top-order machinery, sustained a shoulder injury while throwing during a training session in the recently concluded T20I series. The injury was severe enough to sideline her for the final two T20Is, and after further medical assessment, she has been deemed unfit for the 50-over format. This is a tough break for the 22-year-old, who recently reached the milestone of 1,000 international runs during the first T20I in Hamilton.

In her absence, the national selectors have turned to Bella James. James, who was initially brought in as injury cover during the T20Is, will now remain with the squad as the official replacement for the ODI series. With nearly 100 List-A matches under her belt and a career highlighted by two domestic centuries, James brings a wealth of experience to the table.

White Ferns Head Coach Ben Sawyer expressed his disappointment for Plimmer but voiced full confidence in James:

“Georgia is a key player for us at the top of the order and the energy she brings into the group is something we really value. Bella is a natural fit; her experience is extremely valuable, and she’ll fit straight back into the side seamlessly.”

Also READ: Top 5 wicket-keeper batters with most runs in women’s international cricket ft. Alyssa Healy

New Zealand vs Zimbabwe 2026: ODI schedule and squad

This series is not just a friendly contest; it is a critical fixture in the ICC Women’s Championship cycle, serving as a qualification pathway for the 2029 World Cup. Zimbabwe, led by Mary-Anne Musonda, is making its debut in this championship, making the stakes incredibly high for both teams. All three matches are scheduled to take place at the picturesque University Oval in Dunedin, a venue known for its balanced pitches and brisk coastal winds.

New Zealand’s updated ODI squad

Melie Kerr (c), Izzy Gaze (wk), Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Bella James, Jess Kerr, Emma McLeod, Rosemary Mair, Nensi Patel, Molly Penfold, and Izzy Sharp.

Match schedule (Dunedin)

Also READ: Alyysa Healy, Beth Mooney sizzle as Australia whitewash India in Women’s ODI series

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.