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.

Ollie Robinson claimed his 100th Test wicket on September 9, 2026, trapping Saim Ayub in front of the stumps at Edgbaston, Birmingham, to hand England the first breakthrough of the third Test against Pakistan. Ayub, who came into the Pakistan side specifically for this match, was dismissed for a duck.

Umpire Chris Gaffaney took a moment before raising his finger. Ayub reviewed immediately, but ball-tracking returned three reds, confirming the delivery would have struck leg stump. The on-field decision stood, and Robinson had his landmark wicket.

Robinson bowled from round the wicket to the left-handed batter, and the ball slanted in with the angle and went past the inside edge of an attempted cover drive. The ball struck Ayub on his back leg and England knew they had their man.

Robinson’s 100th wicket: how the dismissal unfolded

Robinson had entered the match on 99 Test wickets from 23 appearances, needing just one more to reach the milestone. The wicket arrived in his 24th Test, placing him alongside Tony Lock in the list of England bowlers who have reached 100 Test wickets in the fewest matches since World War Two.

The full post-WW2 England list reads: Ian Botham in 19 matches, Derek Underwood, Steve Harmison and Graeme Swann each in 23 matches, and Tony Lock and Robinson both in 24 matches. Botham’s record of 19 matches remains the fastest by any England bowler in the post-war era.

Robinson reached the landmark with a bowling average of 19.34, a sub-20 figure that is exceptionally rare at the 100-wicket mark in Test cricket. In the 21st century, only Vernon Philander has also arrived at 100 Test wickets with a bowling average below 20, matching Robinson in that regard.

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England won the toss and chose to bowl first in a match that is part of the WTC 2025-27 cycle. Joe Root’s side came into the contest with a 2-0 series lead, having won both previous Tests by convincing margins. Pakistan, led by Babar Azam, faced several changes to their touring party and coaching staff ahead of this fixture.