Rishabh Pant Record, Babar Azam Out And David Warner Punished- August 18 Cricket Highlights

Rishabh Pant and Babar Azam [Source: AP, AFP]

Rishabh Pant achieved a significant batting record on Day 4 against Sri Lanka. Babar Azam has been ruled out of Pakistan’s first Test against England. In other news, David Warner has been penalized in Australia for his drink-driving case.

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 Tuesday, August 18. 

Justin Greaves and Hayley Matthews win ICC POTMs

The ICC has named Justin Greaves and Hayley Matthews as winners of the ICC Player of the Month awards for the month of July 2026 in the men's and women's categories, respectively. Greaves enjoyed a prolific month at home against the visiting Sri Lanka side, courtesy of his splendid 180 in North Sound.

West Indies Women’s legend Hayley Matthews, meanwhile, plundered two hundreds during a three-match ODI series against Ireland.

Rishabh Pant becomes first Indian player to complete 100 Test sixes

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant made 66 off 69 balls with eight boundaries and two huge sixes against Sri Lanka on Day 4 of the Galle Test. In the process, the cricketer completed 100 Test sixes, attaining the landmark figure in just 89 innings.

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He has now become the first Indian player in history, and only the third overall after Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, to complete 100 maximums.

Sri Lanka’s concussion substitute Pasindu Sooriyabandara falls for duck on debut

Pasindu Sooriyabandara fell for a first-ball duck to India’s Manav Suthar on Day 4 of Sri Lanka’s series-opening home Test in Galle. Notably, the 26-year-old was named as a concussion substitute for experienced Dinesh Chandimal for the fourth innings of the match.

The occasion also marked Sooriyabandara’s Test debut, thus becoming Sri Lanka’s first debutant in nearly a decade to fall for a golden duck.

Salman Agha to lead as Babar Azam ruled out of first Test vs England

Babar Azam has been ruled out of the Pakistan line-up for the upcoming first Test of the three-match series against England at Headingley in Leeds. 

The legendary Pakistan batter is yet to fully recover from his injury, the one which intensified after he was struck on his hand during Pakistan’s warm-up match a few days ago.

The PCB has now named all-rounder Salman Agha as Pakistan’s interim captain for the match against hosts England.

David Warner fined for drunk driving case

Former Australian opener David Warner has been fined, and will also be required to use an ignition interlock device on his car if he intends to drive within the next 12 months. 

The cricketer was punished for his drunk driving case in Maroubra earlier this year, when he returned to Australia halfway into the PSL 2026 season. 

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