Hardik Pandya and Harmanpreet Kaur [Source: AFP]Hardik Pandya will reportedly join the KKR franchise. Shubman Gill has sustained a thumb injury in Sri Lanka. In other news, the schedule of the 2026 Women’s Asia Cup has been unveiled. Capping an eventful day in the world of cricket, here we take a look at five of the biggest cricketing news that emerged out of Thursday, August 6. Women’s Asia Cup 2026 schedule announcedThe Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has unveiled the entire schedule of the upcoming 2026 Women’s Asia Cup. The tournament will be played between August 28 and September 13, and all 15 matches will be hosted by the iconic Dubai International Stadium in Dubai.Also Read- BCCI Announces India Women’s Asia Cup 2026 Squad; Harmanpreet Kaur Retained As CaptainAs many as eight teams are participating in the continental T20 event, with Team India being placed in Group A alongside arch-rivals Pakistan, Thailand and Hong Kong. Hardik Pandya likely to join KKRHardik Pandya will likely join the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) franchise ahead of next year’s IPL 2027 season. As reported by a Revsportz journalist, the legendary all-rounder is also tipped to become the captain of the KKR franchise, especially after the retirement of their regular skipper Ajinkya Rahane.It is worth noting that the CSK franchise had also shown keen interest in acquiring the Mumbai Indians skipper. However, the CSK management was unwilling to sack Ruturaj Gaikwad as skipper, which went against Pandya’s captaincy ambition. T20Is added to India Women’s tour of South AfricaIndia Women’s tour of South Africa later this year has been expanded by a three-match T20I series. Earlier, the ‘Women in Blue’ were schedule to take on the Proteas in only three ODI matches and a one-off Test. The tour will still start off with the Test match, set to be played between December 9 and December 12 in Gqeberha, before the action shifts to ODIs in Paarl, Cape Town and Bloemfontein. The T20I series will be played between December 26 and December 30 across Benoni and Potchefstroom.Injury scare for Shubman Gill in Sri LankaIndian captain Shubman Gill sustained an untimely thumb injury during a training session in Sri Lanka just a day before the team’s practice match in Colombo. While batting in the nets, the cricketer was hit on his right thumb, prompting the team doctor to attend him during the session. Fortunately for Team India fans, the injury is not serious and the elegant top-order batter will continue to train and play for his side in the impending practice match and the subsequent two-match Test series. Joe Root to lead as England name squad for Pakistan seriesThe ECB has unveiled a strong 15-member England squad for the upcoming three-match Test series against Pakistan at home. Jacob Bethell has been ruled out of the national squad owing to an injury, with the ECB recalling Dan Lawrence and Ollie Pope. The series will mark Joe Root’s first full-fledged assignment since getting re-appointed as England Test captain. Also Read- KL Rahul’s Plan Revealed To Counter Sri Lankan Spinners In Upcoming Test Series
