The correct answer is D. Cricket was being played by the boys.
The other options are incorrect because they do not accurately describe the action that is taking place in the sentence. Option A, Cricket had been played by the boys, implies that the boys have already finished playing cricket. Option B, Cricket has been played by the boys, also implies that the boys have already finished playing cricket, but it also suggests that the boys have played cricket on multiple occasions in the past. Option C, Cricket was played by the boys, implies that the boys played cricket at some point in the past, but it does not specify when.
The sentence “The boys were playing cricket” describes an action that is happening in the present. The boys are currently playing cricket, and the action is ongoing. This is why the correct answer is D, Cricket was being played by the boys.