DRS Nov 29: Pakistan to host Champions Trophy, Another Auction’s date announced & Shubman Gill is back!

The ICC Champions Trophy – 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 and today, November 29 would be the day that could end all the debate. The ICC is scheduled to conduct a meeting with the boards over the matter. Meanwhile, PCB has firmly put forward their stand of not hosting the tournament in a hybrid model. Apart from this, Team India that landed in Canberra on November 27 were invited to the Australian Parliament House, where skipper Rohit Sharma addressed with a speech. As for the Indian team, a delightful news came through as Shubman Gill has been confirmed to practice for the first time after his thum injury. On that note, here are six of the best cricketing stories from November 28, Thursday.

WPL Auction date announced!

Another auction beckons! The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 auction is scheduled for December 15 in Bengaluru. Top Indian players like Sneh Rana, Poonam Yadav, and Veda Krishnamurthy will go under the hammer. Foreign players like Heather Knight, Lea Tahuhu, and Deandra Dottin will also be up for grabs. Each of the five franchises has a budget of ₹15 crore. The WPL 2025 schedule and venue are yet to be announced, but it’s likely to be held in February-March.

Pakistan to host Champions Trophy?

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has rejected the hybrid model for hosting the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, insisting that Pakistan will be the sole host of the eight-team event. The decision comes amid India’s uncertain participation due to the BCCI’s strict travel policies. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi emphasised that Pakistan will not co-host the tournament and threatened that Pakistan will not participate in future events in India if the BCCI continues to refuse sending the Indian team to Pakistan .

Shubman Gill is back for BGT!

Star Indian cricketer Shubman Gill is set to practice with the team for the first time since his injury. Gill was hit on the left thumb during a match simulation on November 16 and was forced to miss the first Test against Australia in Perth. He will practice with the team in Canberra on November 29 and is expected to play in the practice game against the Prime Minister’s XI on November 30-December 1.

Indian pacer retires!

Indian pacer Siddarth Kaul has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. The 34-year-old made his T20I debut in 2018 and last played for India in 2019. After going unsold in the IPL 2025 auction, Kaul took to social media to share an emotional note, thanking IPL teams for the opportunities he had to represent them. Kaul played for several IPL teams, taking 58 wickets in 55 matches.

What did ex-PAK player say on Champions Trophy?

Former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif has claimed that the ICC, BCCI, and PCB have agreed to a hybrid model for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. According to Latif, India will play their matches at a neutral venue, while Pakistan will host the rest of the tournament. The semi-final and final will be played outside Pakistan if India reaches the knockout stage. However, no official announcement has been made about the hybrid model.

No Mohammed Shami at BGT

Mohammed Shami’s potential return to the Indian cricket team for the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) in Australia has been put on hold. Initially, it was reported that Shami would join the team in Australia after recovering from an injury. However, the BCCI is now unwilling to rush his return, prioritizing his natural recovery process instead. Shami may not travel to Australia for the remainder of the series too.