BCCI president Mithun Manhas and members of the Indian team met Japan’s Ambassador to India, ONO Keiichi, in Delhi ahead of the historic India-Japan T20I. During the meeting, the ambassador presented The Daruma, a traditional Japanese good-luck charm.

India and Japan will face each other in the Suzuki Cup at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi on September 22. The match will be the first senior men’s international cricket fixture between the two countries and will form the first step of Sport 75, an initiative aimed at promoting sporting cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between India and Japan.

Daruma presented as Japan ambassador hosts BCCI delegation

At the meeting, Ambassador ONO Keiichi presented the group with ‘The Daruma’, a traditional Japanese good-luck charm. The gesture marked the diplomatic warmth surrounding the fixture, which has been named the Suzuki Cup.

The match on September 22 is part of an initiative called Sport 75, which stems from an agreement reached during a summit between Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The initiative is aimed at promoting human exchanges and cooperation in sports, with India’s ambition to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2036 noted as part of the broader context.

BCCI Honorary Secretary Devajit Saikia described the occasion as a significant moment for cricket, saying the board was delighted to be part of what he called a historic occasion as the Indian and Japanese men’s teams come together for a special T20 International in Japan.

Manhas on the significance of the India-Japan fixture

Manhas, who was elected as the 37th BCCI president at the board’s 94th annual general meeting on September 28, 2025, had earlier described the fixture as a landmark occasion for cricket and an important step in taking the game to new audiences. He noted that bringing the Indian team to Japan presents a wonderful opportunity to showcase the sport, engage with a new generation of fans and support the continued development of cricket in the country.

Manhas has also credited ICC Chairman Jay Shah for the groundwork behind the fixture, stating that the match is a reflection of the vision laid by Shah in taking cricket beyond its traditional strongholds and strengthening its global footprint. He added that Shah’s belief in cricket as a truly global sport has helped create a clear direction for the game, particularly with its return to the Olympic programme.

The third and final Test between England and Pakistan at Edgbaston, Birmingham, took a dramatic turn on September 12 when England began their fourth-innings chase needing 130 runs with all 10 wickets intact. The target looked manageable, but the opening over upended those expectations immediately. Mohammad Abbas struck twice in the first over, removing both England openers and leaving the hosts in early trouble.

Joe Root and Jordan Cox then came together to steady the innings. Root, who had already broken the record for most catches by a fielder in Tests during this match, reaching 220 to surpass Steven Smith’s previous mark of 219, was looking to anchor the chase from the top of the order.

Root’s dismissal overturned after third umpire intervenes

The pivotal moment arrived when Mohammad Ali bowled Root for 23. Root attempted a square drive but chopped the delivery back onto his stumps. Pakistan’s players celebrated immediately, aware that England were in a precarious position with 95 runs still required. The on-field umpire, however, received communication from the third umpire and called a no-ball, cutting the celebrations short and sending Root back to the crease. England were 35 for 2 at the time.

A clip of the incident was shared on X, capturing the moment the no-ball call overturned the dismissal and Pakistan’s reaction as the reprieve was confirmed.

This was Ali’s 17th no-ball of the series, a figure that highlights how costly his overstepping has been across the three matches. The dismissal was overturned solely on the basis of the front-foot infringement.

England’s position in the chase after the reprieve

By the drinks break after the 12th over, Root had moved on to 32 from 38 balls, hitting five fours, while Cox was on 16 from 32 balls with two fours. Ali’s figures at that stage read 3 overs, 0 wickets for 17 runs. England were 51 for 2 at that point, still requiring runs to complete the chase.

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Pakistan had fought back strongly in this match after a difficult start. From a position of 0-2 down in the series and 320 runs behind on first innings, they posted 449 all out in their second innings. Shan Masood made 95, Babar Azam contributed 76, and Azan Awais added 59. Debutant Razaullah smashed 81 from 63 balls, including nine sixes, equalling Tim Southee’s record for most sixes in a debut Test innings, and added 121 for the ninth wicket with Mohammad Abbas, who made 42 from 67 balls. That effort set England a target of 130 and gave Pakistan a genuine chance of avoiding a 3-0 series sweep.

David Warner, the retired Australian opener, has fired back at the Barmy Army on X after the England supporter group posted a dig aimed at him amid the ongoing three match Test-series between England and Pakistan. The exchange drew quick attention online, with Warner’s reply carrying a pointed statistical counter and a reference to an off-field controversy involving England cricket.

The Barmy Army, a fan group with a documented history of sharp social-media banter directed at opposition players, posted a message mocking Warner’s poor record against England. The post referenced his struggles at Hobart in 2022 and at Old Trafford in 2019, where he had registered a pair of ducks on both occasions against England.

Warner acknowledged a time-zone delay before turning the exchange into a statistical challenge directed at England’s Test batters.

“Hey guys, sorry time zone got the best of me. Interesting stat. When was the last time I went 42 innings without a Test hundred?? Oh do you guys still have a curfew, asking for a mate 🤣,” wrote Warner on his X account.

The ’42 innings without a Test hundred’ line served as a counter-dig at England, suggesting that one or more England batters had gone that long a stretch without reaching three figures in Test cricket. Warner did not name a specific player, leaving the target open to interpretation.

The closing curfew reference was a deliberate swipe at controversies that have surrounded England cricket. Warner framed it as a question asked on behalf of a friend, adding a laughing emoji to keep the tone light.

Warner’s history with the Barmy Army and Stuart Broad

Warner’s history with the Barmy Army is well established. The fan group’s digs at the left-handed batter have frequently been linked to his difficulties against Stuart Broad during the 2019 Ashes series. Broad dismissed Warner on a record 17 occasions in red-ball cricket across their career rivalry. Broad retired from all formats after the 2023 Ashes.

Warner played his final Test match for Australia in January 2024 and announced his retirement from ODI cricket at the same time. On June 25, 2024, he confirmed his exit from T20 internationals following Australia’s elimination from the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. He finished his Test career with more than 8,500 runs and 26 centuries.