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With the SSC pitch not expected to be as spin-friendly as in the past, both teams could add an extra quick bowler in their XIs

Andrew Fidel Fernando01-Feb-2024

Big picture: A fresh chapter for Sri Lanka

The Afghanistan men’s team has played seven Tests in their history; for Sri Lanka, this is the first of eight (perhaps nine) scheduled for 2024. This is, on the surface, a mismatch.Rashid Khan is not with Afghanistan to provide his menacing legbreaks and general inspiration – he is still recovering from back surgery, and has not played competitive cricket since November. Their most experienced spinner in a nation where spin frequently decides matches is left-arm wristspinner Zahir Khan, who has an average of 44.90 from his four Tests. And having arrived in Sri Lanka only on Tuesday night, they have given themselves less than three days to acclimatise. This, increasingly, is the amount of respect Tests are given in some parts of the world.Where Afghanistan will feel they can meet Sri Lanka on more equal terms, however, is with the bat. In the shorter formats, Ibrahim Zadran has had success against Sri Lanka, as has Rahmat Shah, while captain Hashmatullah Shahidi averages 53.57 in Test cricket. In the ODIs Afghanistan have played in Sri Lanka, it is their batting that has most impressed. They will take no little confidence in their recent dominance over Sri Lanka’s bowling in that format.Sri Lanka are at the beginning of a fresh chapter – Dhananjaya de Silva is getting his first Test at the helm. So far, he has not promised anything radical. A greater emphasis on fielding, perhaps, but no wholesale overhauling of strategy or personnel. He has been a dynamic presence in the Sri Lanka Test side, having lately grown into a decent lower-middle-order batter, who contributes substantially with ball and in the field as well. How he marshals an attack without any out-and-out matchwinners and how frequently he bowls himself will make for fascinating viewing.

Form guide

Sri Lanka LLWWL (last five Tests, most recent first)
Afghanistan LWLLWIf there are good batting days at SSC, expect Dimuth Karunaratne to cash in•AFP/Getty Images

In the spotlight: Dimuth Karunaratne and Ibrahim Zadran

Dimuth Karunaratne had asked to step down from the captaincy after the last World Test Championship cycle. The selectors had asked him to hang on for one more year, but have now finally let him go. Karunaratne is the only Sri Lanka player to have made the ICC’s Test teams of the year since 2017 – he has been there three times, including in 2023 – and, since the start of 2021, has averaged 56.18, outstanding for an opener. If there are good batting days at SSC, which is his home ground in domestic cricket, expect him to cash in.Ibrahim Zadran‘s ODI scores against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka are: 22, 54, 98, 162, 10, 106. It is around him that the top order has tended to rally on the island, and from him they have taken cues on how to play spin. He has not been quite so consistent in Tests, with three fifties in the ten innings he has played so far. But with the SSC surface expected to be decent for batting over the first three days (and particularly after the first morning), Ibrahim is best placed from his side to make a substantial score.

Team news

Sri Lanka have a settled batting order but may toy with the idea of playing a third seamer if they feel Afghanistan are susceptible to good seam bowling.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Dimuth Karunaratne, 2 Nishan Madushka, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Angelo Mathews, 5 Dinesh Chandimal, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), 7 Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), 8 Ramesh Mendis/Kasun Rajitha, 9 Prabath Jayasuriya, 10 Asitha Fernando, 11 Vishwa FernandoShahidi spoke on the eve of the match about testing Sri Lanka’s batters with pace, which could mean that Mohammad Saleem is in for a Test debut. Zahir will likely be among the frontline spinners, with left-arm fingerspinner Zia-ur-Rehman another possible option, especially as Zia can add value with the bat.Afghanistan (probable): 1 Ibrahim Zadran, 2 Abdul Malik, 3 Rahmat Shah, 4 Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), 5 Nasir Jamal, 6 Bahir Shah, 7 Ikram Alikhil (wk), 8 Zia-ur-Rehman, 9 Yamin Ahmadzai, 10 Mohammad Saleem, 11 Zahir KhanMohammad Saleem could get a Test debut if Afghanistan feel Sri Lanka can be troubled by pace•AFP/Getty Images

Pitch and conditions

There was a tinge of green at the SSC on the eve of the game, which suggests there will be some seam movement on the first morning. Expect it to flatten out and get better for spin later, however. At first glance, this did not seem the spinner’s paradise the SSC has often been for Tests over the past six years. The weather has been relatively dry in Colombo over February. Only brief showers are forecast.

Stats and trivia

• Karunaratne has scored more runs and more hundreds as an opener than any other Sri Lanka batter. He has 6538 runs when opening the batting, with 16 hundreds. Sanath Jayasuriya is in second with 5932 runs.
• Afghanistan won three of their first six Tests. By comparison, Sri Lanka took 42 Tests to notch three wins.
• With this match, Sri Lanka become only the second team to have played all 11 men’s Test nations, Bangladesh having been the first.

CSK are yet to win an away game this IPL and their next two matches are on the road

Srinidhi Ramanujam13-Apr-20242:57

Moody’s advice to CSK:’ Deny Bumrah wickets’

Match details

Mumbai Indians (P5 W2 L3 7th) vs Chennai Super Kings (P5 W3 L2 3rd)
Mumbai, 7.30pm IST (2pm GMT)

Big picture

It’s the IPL’s biggest rivalry. At the Wankhede Stadium. On a double-header Sunday. But has the rivalry mellowed down this time? Possibly because it’s the first time in over a decade the CSK-Mumbai game will not witness Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni as captains, as Hardik Pandya and Ruturaj Gaikwad have taken over at the helm. So, what’s in store in this new era?Two away games and two losses. It’s a small sample size, but CSK are yet to post a win away from home in this IPL. After winning three out of five games, they now go on the road – the first stop is Mumbai and then Lucknow – before going back to Chepauk after 15 days. Can they be at home, away from home, when they meet a strong host?Mumbai, though, registered two wins in a row after succumbing to three straight defeats. The turnaround was possible due to their strong batting performances. Their top six batters strike at more than 147 each and this firepower reflected in their scores of 234 for 5 and 199 for 3 in their last two games, which were played at the Wankhede Stadium. With Suryakumar Yadav finding his feet sooner than later with a 19-ball 52 in his second game after returning from injury, Mumbai’s line-up is looking solid again.However, the same cannot be said of the bowling group. Barring Jasprit Bumrah, Mumbai’s bowlers have been guilty of going for plenty of runs. They have been expensive at the death, especially, going at 12.31 runs an over – the third-most runs leaked by any team thus far in this IPL (before the Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals game on Saturday).CSK would also want to tighten their bowling. In their two away losses in Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad, their bowlers struggled for early wickets. There’s still uncertainty surrounding their pace mainstay Matheesha Pathirana’s participation. Against a dangerous Mumbai side on a seam-friendly surface, CSK will be expecting the likes of Mustafizur Rahman and Deepak Chahar to do the bulk of damage.Related

• CSK-Mumbai rivalry enters new era

• 'I am six foot three, 100 kgs' – Mitchell is easing himself into Rayudu's role at CSK

Form guide

Mumbai WWLLL (most recent match first)
CSK WLLWW

Team news and Impact Player strategy

Mumbai Indians
Mumbai opted to bring in Shreyas Gopal as the like-for-like replacement for Piyush Chawla in their last game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. A fit and firing Suryakumar could be used as an Impact Player, swapping for fast bowler Akash Madhwal.Likely XII: 1 Ishan Kishan (wk), 2 Rohit Sharma, 3 , 4 Hardik Pandya (capt), 5 Tilak Varma, 6 Tim David, 7 Mohammad Nabi, 8 Romario Shepherd, 9 Shreyas Gopal, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Gerald Coetzee, 12 Chennai Super Kings
Matheesha Pathirana did some bowling before CSK’s previous game against Kolkata Knight Riders at home but didn’t feature as a precautionary measure. Coach Stephen Fleming is hopeful of having his death-bowling specialist back for Sunday’s game or next Friday’s clash against Luckow Super Giants. While Mustafizur, who had to leave for home to work on getting a US visa, returned to the XI at Chepauk, Chahar had missed that match with a niggle. He might return to the team against Mumbai, if he’s fit.Likely XII: 1 Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt), 2 Rachin Ravindra, 3 Ajinkya Rahane, 4 , 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 Sameer Rizvi, 8 MS Dhoni (wk), 9 Deepak Chahar, 10 Tushar Deshpande, 11 Matheesha Pathirana/Maheesh Theekshana, 12 1:48

Who will be CSK’s key batter in Mumbai?

In the spotlight – Bumrah and Chahar

Jasprit Bumrah is fresh off a five-wicket haul against RCB and has been phenomenal in containing the batters. He is the only Mumbai player to have an economy rate under six this IPL and he has claimed seven of his ten wickets in three innings at the Wankhede, at a stunning economy rate of 5.75. In an otherwise misfiring bowling unit, Mumbai will once again rely on Bumrah, the most experienced fast bowler in the attack, to keep CSK quiet, especially at the death.For CSK, how Deepak Chahar performs in the powerplay will be key to their success. At the Wankhede, he has fared well in the first six overs, picking up ten wickets in ten games at an economy rate of 7.59. Chahar is also the only player who hasn’t played for Mumbai Indians to have taken wickets in double digits in this phase at Wankhede. With four wickets in four matches this season, can Chahar step up against the likes of Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav?1:25

McClenaghan: The Wankhede conditions will suit Ravindra

Stats that matter

The left-arm seamer took 17 wickets in last season’s competition and has full availability

Andrew McGlashan23-Aug-2024Allrounder Paul Walter, who was a key figure in Brisbane Heat’s BBL title success last season, could be in line for a return to the competition after he was confirmed among the latest batch of nominations for next month’s draft.Walter, a left-arm seamer and hard-hitting batter, became a cult hero for Heat as he claimed 17 wickets, celebrating with a trademark aeroplane each time, and was named in the team of the tournament voted for by the eight head coaches.Related

• 'Tall' Paul Walter makes big splash at the Big Bash

• Heather Knight: Dani Gibson's 'bravery' elevates her T20 World Cup credentials

• Shamar Joseph nominates for BBL draft; Harmanpreet confirmed for WBBL draft

• Ollie Pope signs for Adelaide Strikers, Akeal Hosein joins Sydney Sixers

Heat have retention rights for Walter should they want to bring him back and another team tries to select him. A key factor is he has full availability including the finals and he would again seem a good fit for them after supplementing their varied attack which includes Michael Neser, Xavier Bartlett, Spencer Johnson plus spin twins Matt Kuhnemann and Mitchell Swepson.”I think we’ve got the best bowling unit in the competition,” he told ESPNcricinfo during last season’s campaign. “I feel like I complement the rest of the attack quite well and we’ve been good at managing games. Kuhny and Sweppo have bowled so well through the middle that teams have come hard at me, which is probably what you want with my style of bowling.”I’ve worked a lot on my defensive bowling, trying to figure out how to get batters off strike and trying to keep the ball away from the shorter pockets. I normally bowl the overs where the right-handers are hitting to the short leg side, so I’ve had to get quite clever with getting them to hit to the other side of the ground. I do a lot of work off the field figuring out what I’m going to do in different situations.”English cricketers dominated the list of names released on Friday although most only have availability for between six and nine games. England have a Test series in New Zealand that finishes three days after the BBL begins and then have a limited-overs tour of India starting on January 22 next year. A significant number of players also have ILT20 or SA20 deals.However, some will likely attract interest including Olly Stone, Dan Lawrence, Jordan Cox and Joe Clarke. Legspinner Rehan Ahmed, who was initially drafted by Sydney Sixers last season before withdrawing when he was selected to tour West Indies, has again nominated.Pakistan allrounder Imad Wasim, who Melbourne Stars have retention rights for, has full availability as does slingy fast bowler Zaman Khan who played for Sydney Thunder last season.England players are also strongly represented in the latest WBBL nominations. Dani Gibson, who played a defining role in the Hundred final last week and earned praise from captain Heather Knight, impressed for champions Adelaide Strikers last season striking at 147.43 in the middle order and claiming ten wickets. She is currently down as having full availability although England have a T20I series against South Africa which overlaps with the WBBL finals.”We saw the game she played at Lord’s, a reverse-sweep to go and win the game against Australia last year, and that’s the sort of mindset that we want in that England side: the willingness to take risks, take the game on and express what your talent, and Dani epitomises that,” Knight said.South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt, who was announced among the initial batch of nominations and has been a regular for Strikers, now has availability of six to nine games rather than the entire tournament.Strikers in the WBBL are the only club yet to name a pre-draft signing although they are expected to fill that spot next week. Each club across BBL and WBBL can sign one player ahead of the draft. In the draft, a club can use their retention option once and only if they have not already selected the player in the relevant round.

Current BBL nominations by retention clubs

Adelaide Strikers: Adam Hose, Jamie Overton, David Payne
Brisbane Heat: Paul Walter, Tom Banton
Hobart Hurricanes: Corey Anderson, Sam Hain
Melbourne Renegades: Joe Clarke, Jordan Cox, Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Melbourne Stars: Dan Lawrence, Imad Wasim, Liam Dawson, Olly Stone, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf
Perth Scorchers: Zak Crawley, Stephen Eskinazi, Laurie Evans, Tymal Mills
Sydney Sixers: Izharulhuq Naveed, Rehan Ahmed, James Vince
Sydney Thunder: Alex Hales, Zaman Khan, Tom Kohler-Cadmore
Nominations with no retention club: Jason Roy, Lockie Ferguson, Shadab Khan, Shamar Joseph

Current WBBL nominations by retention clubs

Adelaide Strikers: Dani Gibson, Georgia Adams, Laura Wolvaardt
Brisbane Heat: Bess Heath
Hobart Hurricanes: Shabnim Ismail, Bryony Smith
Melbourne Renegades: Eve Jones, Harmanpreet Kaur
Melbourne Stars: Alice Capsey, Sophia Dunkley
Perth Scorchers: Amy Jones, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Danni Wyatt
Sydney Sixers: Suzie Bates, Sophie Ecclestone, Jess Kerr, Chloe Tryon, Linsey Smith
Sydney Thunder: Heather Knight
Nominations with no retention club: Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues

An ECB update at tea stated Stokes will not return to the field for NZ’s second innings

Vithushan Ehantharajah16-Dec-20240:48

Trescothick on Stokes injury: We didn’t see it coming

Ben Stokes was forced to leave the field during day three of England’s third Test against New Zealand at Seddon Park after a recurrence of a left hamstring injury. He will undergo a scan this evening to understand the full extent of the injury.England’s captain pulled up after the second ball of the 56th over of New Zealand’s second innings – his 13th, and third of the day – on Monday afternoon, immediately feeling the back of his left thigh after delivering a bouncer that Rachin Ravindra pulled for four. It was the same hamstring he tore in August while batting for Northern Superchargers against Manchester Originals in the men’s Hundred, which kept him out for two months.Bowling from the City End, Stokes put his hand on his face and kept walking in the direction of the team dressing room away at the newly renamed Tim Southee End. New Zealand were leading by 409 at the time, as left-arm spinner Jacob Bethell finished the over.An ECB update at tea stated Stokes will not return to the field for New Zealand’s second innings while he receives treatment, with a further assessment to be made on whether he will bat. England finished the day 18 for 2, chasing a mammoth 658, though they have already secured the series after victories in the first two Tests.”It’s the same hamstring that he’s had before,” confirmed England assistant coach Marcus Trescothick. “He’s been going so well, he’s been bowling and playing the role that he does as an all-rounder and captain.”We didn’t see it coming, you don’t have any signs of these sort of things…generally they just happen.”Stokes’ 36.2 overs in Hamilton were the most he has bowled for in a Test since 40 at Trent Bridge in 2022 (also against New Zealand). On day one, his 23 overs were the most he has managed in a single day, split between spells of eight, eight and seven. It is worth noting England’s first innings capitulation for 143 meant their seamers only had 34.5 overs of rest after 97.1 between them for New Zealand’s opening effort. The hosts went further in their second innings, keeping England in the field for 101.4 overs, eventually finishing on 453.This series has brought Stokes seven dismissals at 36.85 from 66.1 overs – his most as captain – accompanied by a batting average of 52.66 across four innings. After struggling to effectively fulfill the allrounder role, this series had been a welcome return to the Stokes of old.It was only on the previous evening (Sunday) that assistant coach Paul Collingwood lauded Stokes’ return as a talismanic allrounder. Following today’s events, Trescothick stated Stokes might have to tailor his bowling loads going forward.”I still think he’s shown signs over the course of this series that getting back to fitness he is going to have that level. Maybe it’s a case that you manage his bowling loads and he doesn’t bowl the volume that he’s potentially bowled in this game.”Injuries happen, right? they’re always going to be part of the game. he works dramatically well with his fitness. to try and get into the shape he can be. He bowled 24 in the first innings, and he was bowling quite a few in this (second) innings [12.2 overs]. We’ll just have to look at how we manage it.”Stokes looked understandably crestfallen as he walked off, having only just overcome the physical and psychological toil from the initial hamstring tear which derailed his return to full fitness in the summer.Related

• England rekindle the joy after Bazball's year of transition

• Brendon McCullum: Jacob Bethell's emergence is 'a good problem to have'

• Stokes on his workload: 'I ain't holding back'

• Williamson ton has England staring down prospect of heavy defeat

• Stokes urges England to stay in the now as Ashes year looms once more

Having arrived into the home summer following successful knee surgery in October 2023, he bowled 49 overs across three Tests against West Indies, with five wickets that took him past 200 career dismissals. The tear subsequently set him back, ruling him out of the three-match series against Sri Lanka at the end of the season, and the first Test of the Pakistan tour.Stokes returned for the final two matches of that series but England lost both, succumbing to a 2-1 defeat having won the first Test. He admitted his drive to regain full fitness led him to “physically drain and ruin himself”. When the squad gathered at Queenstown at the start of the series, Stokes apologised for the negative effect he had on the team environment.Prior to this final Test, Stokes was optimistic he was in a good place, with a better understanding of his body.”I have to work so much harder on the physical side of the job to allow me to go out and do my job but I got a good amount of overs in during the last two games and I am more confident about getting through a lot of spells in a day.”That is where I got to before I pulled my hamstring. I bowled nice in summer, had a setback but now feel out of that and worrying about anything else happening again. As you get older you think about your body a bit more but I work harder because I have to.”Now, the 33-year-old must undergo another period of rehabilitation. England’s next Test match is not until May 22, against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, but a lucrative £800,000 with MI Cape Town in the SA20, which begins on January 9, may have to be forgone. Having signed a two-year central contract in October, the ECB has the power to withdraw him outright from the tournament, even if he is able to regain fitness prior to the end of the group stages, with MI’s final match on February 2.This latest setback also complicates any prospective white-ball return for Stokes. The man himself has remained coy on whether he will make himself available for the upcoming Champions Trophy, with Test head coach Brendon McCullum assuming control of the limited-overs sides. Now, perhaps, the decision has been made for him.

Usman Khawaja hopes to start forging something good with Sam Konstas in the West Indies in the lead up to the Ashes

Andrew McGlashan24-Jun-20251:10

Head not fazed by big-name absences

Usman Khawaja won’t overstay his welcome in the Australia team but is adamant he has more to contribute and sees a significant role for himself in helping nurture Sam Konstas on his return to Test cricket against West Indies.Khawaja scored a career-best double-century earlier this year against Sri Lanka but his form returned to the spotlight with twin failures against Kagiso Rabada in the World Test Championship final. That continued a trend of lean returns against pace bowling following the challenges posed by Jasprit Bumrah last season and New Zealand’s quicks earlier in 2024. However, speaking after Lord’s, head coach Andrew McDonald all but confirmed that Khawaja’s position was secure for the Ashes later this year.Khawaja, who was the second-highest-scoring opener in the last WTC cycle, behind Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Australia’s leading scorer overall, stands by his longer-term record and believes any downturn is more a symptom of his role in the side at a time when top-order batting has been a challenging prospect. Since the start of 2024 he averages 25.29 against pace, only a little below the global average of all openers of 27.84, compared to 65.80 against spin.Related

• McDonald asks for 'a bit of patience' as spotlight remains firmly on Konstas

• Australia's new-look batting order 'prepared for anything'

• Konstas keen to settle into Test cricket

• Voges backs Inglis as top-four Test batter

“I can’t understand how I can [have a problem against seam bowling] if I can score so many runs in [Sheffield] Shield cricket or be the highest run-scorer for Australia in the WTC cycle,” he said in Barbados ahead of the opening Test. “I open the batting for Australia. So I get out to seam more than I get out to anyone else. It’s just part and parcel of the game.”I wish I could face more spinners, but you don’t always get that opportunity. So, I’m facing the new-ball bowlers with the new ball every single time. I went back from Sri Lanka to domestic cricket and scored a hundred against Tasmania. I pretty much faced seam the whole time there [and] against Riley Meredith, who is one of the fastest bowlers in the country.””I understand I’m 38 years old. People will be looking for an excuse. [But] I think I’ve got a role to play: open the batting, starting off, and setting a good platform for Australia.”Since David Warner’s retirement in early 2024, Khawaja has had five opening partners: Steven Smith, Nathan McSweeney, Konstas, Travis Head and, latterly, Marnus Labuschagne in the WTC final. Khawaja spoke of the rapport he built with Warner in their 41 innings together at the top, which included almost a sixth sense of what the other was thinking – “I knew when and where he was going to drop and run a quick single, and I was ready for it” – and hoped to start forging something similar with Konstas in the West Indies with an eye to the Ashes.”With young Sammy coming in, it’s an added role [for me],” he said. “To help Sammy along through his journey, trying to impart as much knowledge as I can. I won’t be around forever. But it’s very important that I can do whatever I can, obviously first and foremost, [to] have a solid partnership between us but then bit of stability at the top [and] also guide him through this journey. He’s still very young, he’s a 19-year-old boy, and it’s quite exciting.”There’s obviously this series and then a big Ashes coming up. [You] probably want a little bit of stability at the top. It’ll be tough to chop and change, and opening is a tough place. Mentally it can be very tough. Going out there against the new ball and sometimes just getting a good ball and low scores.Australia are hoping Sam Konstas is the answer to the spot left vacant by David Warner•Getty Images

“I’m just looking forward to playing with Sammy, as much as on the field as helping him off the field. I’ve been through a lot in my life, a lot of ups and downs. There are lots of things I’ve seen throughout my career and most of them are not technical. More mindset things. If I can help Sammy through this journey, especially over the next couple of series, try and impart as much knowledge I can to him.”The Sydney Test at the end of the Ashes is often referenced as a stepping-off point for Khawaja but, unlike Warner, he is not outlining a precise route to retirement. After the England series, Australia won’t play Tests again until Bangladesh visit for a series in the Top End in August.”For me, I feel like I have plenty to give still,” he said. “To be playing this series and the Ashes is the pinnacle. That’s the one we all love winning and being involved in… after that there is a bit of a gap between that and the next Test series. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there but for me it’s about making sure I stay in the moment. Because if I’m not in the moment, I don’t think I’m doing the right thing by myself and the team.”I’m not the guy who’s going, ‘I want to play for another ten years’. I’m very attuned to whatever is best for the team [and that] is what I’m trying to do. I’m not here for myself anymore. I’m here for the team. I could have stopped playing two years ago, really. But I found that I was still contributing, still trying to be the best player for the team at that opening spot, trying to do what I can do, [and] that hasn’t changed for me. When it does, you guys will surely find out.”

Bids were due to be submitted by December 22, but after the meeting between the PM and PCB head, bidders were informed that the process would be delayed

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Dec-2023The bidding for the broadcast and media rights for the PSL has been delayed by two weeks to the beginning of January, meaning the ninth season of the league will only land a broadcast deal a month before it is due to start. Though bids will be submitted to the PCB, the winner will have to be approved by IPC, the government’s ministry for inter-provincial coordination.The delay once again highlights the limitations of the current interim PCB administration, which is under a government mandate to only make decisions on day-to-day affairs and organise elections to set up the Board of Governors. Zaka Ashraf, the current PCB head, met with the interim Prime Minister and patron of the PCB in Islamabad earlier in the week and was told once again that organising the elections and managing daily affairs were his priority.”The Prime Minister/Patron PCB directed PCB that all decisions having financial and contractual implications shall only be taken with the approval of Prime Minister/Patron PCB,” reads a note sent by the IPC to Ashraf after the meeting, and seen by ESPNcricinfo. “Any appointment or awards of rights or contracts of any sort will be violation of the directions of Patron PCB.”The note ends with another reminder that no progress report has been given by the PCB on the organisation of its elections.Related

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• Gladiators rope in Shaun Tait as bowling coach

• Shehzad quits PSL in a huff, points to 'deliberate effort' to deny him a team

• Sams, Hendricks, Ngidi set for maiden PSL stints

Technical bids for PSL broadcast were due to be submitted by December 22, but after the meeting between the Prime Minister and Ashraf, potential bidders were informed by the PCB that the process would be delayed. The PSL’s broadcast rights have been an important source of revenue for the PCB, fetching USD 24 million for two seasons under the deal just ended. That, in itself, represented a 50% boost on the preceding deal.It is believed the new deal will be for two seasons, in 2024 and 2025. A number of local sports channels are expected to submit bids and there has been speculation about multiple broadcasters forming a consortium to submit bids. Traditionally, the PSL is broadcast live on multiple channels available for viewing in Pakistan, including PTV (Pakistan Television, the state-run broadcaster).Though the draft for the ninth season was held last week, a schedule has not yet been finalised for the ninth season. The start of the season is complicated by general nationwide elections in the country from February 8. The tenure for the current administration also ends on February 4. It is likely the season will begin in mid-February and though there had been talk of moving the start to the UAE, it will go ahead in Pakistan.It is unusual for the state to be directly involved in approving broadcast deals, but it illustrates the administrative limbo the game is in Pakistan at the moment. Because the authority of the administration is so limited, they have been unable to fire the previous team management set-up, but have new personnel in place. Mickey Arthur, the former team director, and Grant Bradburn, the head coach, have been replaced by Mohammad Hafeez in both capacities, but neither of them have been officially ousted by the board. When Ashraf’s tenure ends, and depending on the new government post-elections, it is very likely a new PCB administration will be in place, which may involve yet more upheaval.

Ellie Anderson three-for trumps Kate Cross’ hard-fought fifty for hosts

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay04-Sep-2025An impressive bowling display set Somerset up for an entertaining five-wicket DLS victory against high-flying Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford as they boosted their Metro Bank One-Day Cup semi-finals hopes.Sixth-placed Somerset restricted their second-placed hosts to 169 for nine from 44 overs and chased a revised 164 from the same allocation inside 35 for a bonus point.Ellie Anderson’s seam accounted for three wickets and Amanda-Jade Wellington’s leg-spin two before Niamh Holland and unbeaten Dani Gibson contributed 44 apiece to help secure a fifth win in 11 games. Wellington also added a steadying 25 not out to cap her impressive day.Inserted, Lancashire had been put under early pressure at 69 for seven inside 24 overs before England seamer Kate Cross’s composed 51 off 58 balls led a fightback which ultimately failed to prevent a fourth defeat in 11.Both sides maintained the group-table positions they held at the start of the day.This fixture was interrupted for just over an-hour-and-a-half by rain from 1.10pm onwards.The Red Rose made a disastrous start on an overcast and damp Manchester morning.Anderson – three for 44 from 10 overs – did the early damage with three of the first four wickets, including Ireland overseas batter Gaby Lewis superbly caught low down at cover by Holland for a debut eight.She also bowled Seren Smale and had Fi Morris caught at backward point following a sliced drive. The 21-year-old was bowling from the end named after her fellow Anderson, Sir James.Somerset let a few catches go begging, but none were too damaging.Australian Wellington’s spin then further tightened the screw.She had Ailsa Lister caught behind and a sweeping home captain Ellie Threlkeld caught at short fine-leg, finishing with an excellent two for 19 from 10 overs.But Cross and fellow England fast bowler Mahika Gaur calmly settled the ship with their side’s highest eighth-wicket partnership in List A cricket since the start of the professional era in 2020, including regional Thunder matches.Gaur contributed a determined career best 20, while Cross was more expansive. She was particularly strong against spin in hitting nine fours.It has been a bittersweet few weeks for Cross having been left out of England’s squad for the forthcoming World Cup before – on Sunday – winning the Hundred with the Northern Superchargers.Just after Gaur miscued the left-arm spin of Olivia Barnes to cover – 141 for eight in the 39th over – the rain came.Cross reached her fifty off 57 balls shortly after the resumption before heaving Mollie Robbins’ seam to deep midwicket. Robbins claimed the first and last wickets of the innings.Somerset made a stress-free start to their chase, with Holland and Bex Odgers sharing 64 inside 14 overs for the first wicket.The latter contributed 24 before falling lbw on the reverse sweep to the spin of Hannah Jones.And that was the start of a collapse which threatened their victory as the score slipped from 64 for none to 109 for five.Holland was caught behind off the seam of Danni Collins – 82 for two in the 19th over – before Fran Wilson and captain Sophie Luff both fell cheaply. Cross bowled the latter.But Gibson and Wellington steadied the ship and saw their side home by sharing 58 unbroken. Gibson hit four fours and a six in 36 balls.In the semi-finals race, Somerset are three points behind fourth-placed Surrey with three games remaining. Lancashire, meanwhile, are five points clear of Durham in fifth.

Shamar Joseph ensured the home side had to bat again then gave them a late injury scare

Andrew McGlashan19-Jan-20242:28

Malcolm: ‘A very one-sided match at Adelaide’

Australia wrapped up a 10-wicket victory before lunch on the third day in Adelaide as Josh Hazlewood claimed career-best match figures, but there was late drama when Shamar Joseph drew blood from Usman Khawaja with a bouncer when the scores were level, forcing him to retire hurt.Shamar Joseph again showed his batting prowess at No. 11, which will surely mean a promotion in the near future, as he and Kemar Roach added 26 for the last wicket to follow the 55 they put on in the first innings.It meant a brief second innings for Khawaja and Steven Smith. Oddly, Shamar Joseph, who claimed Smith with his first ball in Test cricket, was not given the new ball. He was eventually introduced in the fifth over with 14 needed and after being cut to the boundary first ball by Khawaja produced a lovely delivery beat Smith’s edgeRelated

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Then came a lifter that beat Khawaja before an awkward bouncer clattered into his helmet around the jaw area as he tried to sway out of the line. Khawaja had blood coming from his mouth and after a few moments left the field leaving Marnus Labuschagne to hit the winning runs. In more ways than one, Shamar Joseph had left an indelible mark on his debutWest Indies had resumed 22 behind with four wickets in hand after losing Justin Greaves to the final ball of the second day. They whittled the deficit down to 11 before Joshua Da Silva gave his innings away by falling for the well-telegraphed short-ball plan, top-edging a hook to deep backward square off Mitchell Starc.Alzarri Joseph showed a solid technique and played a brace of strong cover drives against Starc but got a thin edge from around the wicket. When Gudakesh Motie became Hazlewood’s fifth wicket, shouldering arms to one that was far too tight to leave, West Indies were still a run behind.However, that lasted just one more delivery as Shamar Joseph played a first-ball cover drive that would have pleased a top-order player, bringing huge cheers from a healthy crowd who had flocked in despite the risk of very little cricket.Each run added by the last-wicket pair was greeted by warm applause, while it added to Australia’s recent difficulties over getting through lower-order stands. The return of Nathan Lyon, who had started the day bowling a single delivery, ended the resistance when Shamar Joseph charged and missed.The second Test begins in Brisbane on January 25 and will be a day-night encounter.

Both teams are in the top three at this stage, and the winners of this game will feel very secure about their future

Shashank Kishore31-Oct-20235:40

Manjrekar: South Africa still don’t look convincing

Big picture – Not a must-win, but a win-for-momentum

It started with a World Cup quarter-final that turned into a proper scrap in Mirpur in 2011. It marked the arrival of a cricket rivalry that isn’t talked about a lot, but often gives us games that ain’t good for the heart – just like the rugby World Cup final from a few nights ago.Auckland 2015 and Birmingham 2019, the two most recent men’s ODI World Cup fixtures since the rivalry sprung to life, were both thrillers of different kinds. One a semi-final with everything on the line, and the other a league fixture, like Wednesday’s will be. This one will dictate how the top half of the points table shapes up heading into the last bit of the league stage.All told, for three straight men’s World Cups in a row, the New Zealand games have been must-wins for South Africa; in fact, South Africa have lost five World Cup games in a row to New Zealand. In Pune on Wednesday, the stakes aren’t as high, given both teams are still pretty comfortably placed for the semi-finals, but it’s one both sides will want to win for momentum’s sake at the very least.Related

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New Zealand endured back-to-back losses to India and Australia as their smooth sail of a campaign – they had started with four wins on the trot – hit a rough patch amid a growing list of niggles. South Africa have been gung-ho, proving their only loss – to Netherlands – was an aberration, their batting depth looking increasingly menacing and bowling effective enough, as they were expected to be.Their one-wicket win over Pakistan in Chennai the other night saved them from that dreaded word that had begun doing the rounds even as their lower order collapsed, before Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi saw them home. A favourable result in Pune will further underpin their status as one of the dominant teams at this World Cup. That they aren’t great chasers, though, is a suggestion they haven’t been able to dispel.Results and all that aside, the match promises an explosive cocktail of firepower with the bat, and thrill with the ball. There’s aesthetics in the form of Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra and Rassie van der Dussen, big-hitting from Henrich Klaasen, David Miller and Glenn Phillips, and the genius of Quinton de Kock to boot.With the ball, there’s pace royalty in the form of Kagiso Rabada, the swing of Trent Boult, the hustle of Gerald Coetzee, and the bounce of Marco Jansen – each of them brings a unique flavour that makes fast bowling thrilling. If all of them play, it’ll truly mark a spectacle.Now for a good pitch and great weather to make it all come together.

Form guide

New Zealand LLWWW
South Africa WWWLW3:51

Van der Dussen: ‘We’re blessed that we’re in a great space now’

In the spotlight – Temba Bavuma and Rachin Ravindra

In a top order that has mostly been in top gear, Temba Bavuma seems some sort of a weak link at the moment for South Africa. He has had starts in three of his four innings, but hasn’t been able to top 35. As such, Bavuma is an accumulator, but has seemed anxious at different times to break out of that mould. It hasn’t worked yet. While there is no threat to his captaincy, he’ll want a big score to feel a bit more at ease.Will he? Won’t he? Kane Williamson has walked around with more questions on his fitness and participation during this campaign than he has at any other point in his career. Williamson is not fit yet, but in his absence, Rachin Ravindra has made the No. 3 spot his own. Williamson’s presence as part of the leadership group has lent a lot of calm and tactical nous, but he would be itching to return and make an impact. As for Ravindra, he is already making plenty of it.

Team news

Kagiso Rabada missed the previous game because of a niggle, but is understood to be fit and is expected to return to the XI. That’ll mean South Africa will be left with a tricky call on whom to leave out. Gerald Coetzee and Tabraiz Shamsi both had important roles to play in their win over Pakistan in Chennai, but one of them will probably have to make way, depending on the pitch.South Africa (probable): 1 Temba Bavuma (capt), 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Rassie van der Dussen, 4 Aiden Markram, 5 Heinrich Klaasen, 6 David Miller, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Keshav Maharaj, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Gerald Coetzee/Tabraiz Shamsi, 11 Lungi NgidiNew Zealand have an injury list that’s slowly growing. Lockie Ferguson bowled all of three overs before walking off with a heel injury against Australia. Mark Chapman is recovering from a minor calf strain. Tim Southee was on the mend for a broken finger, but might be ready to return. Williamson has resumed training, but he has been ruled out of the game against South Africa, while Ferguson will take a fitness test before the toss.New Zealand (probable): 1 Will Young, 2 Devon Conway, 3 Rachin Ravindra, 4 Tom Latham (capt, wk), 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Glenn Phillips, 7 Mitchell Santner, 8 Jimmy Neesham, 9 Matt Henry, 10 Trent Boult, 11 Tim Southee/Lockie Ferguson2:29

Latham: ‘Focusing on the things that we do well’

Pitch and conditions

Pune is unusually hot and dry for this time of the year, but the surfaces have been good for batting, with even bounce and excellent carry. In the two games so far, dew hasn’t had too big an effect, but it should be humid. The toss might not be too big a factor if the dew stays away.

Stats and trivia

• Conway has been dismissed twice in six games by left-arm spin at this World Cup. South Africa have Maharaj in the mix. In all, Conway has hit 17 runs off the 21 balls from bowlers of this variety. It’s only a small sample size but worth looking out for nonetheless, especially given that he loves the sweep shot, and Pune has relatively bigger squares.
• Ravindra’s tally of 406 runs is already the most by a New Zealander in his maiden World Cup. The standout aspect has been his game against spin – he has scored 210 against them at a strike rate of 109. His eight sixes are the most against spinners in the tournament so far.
• South Africa’s seven 300-plus totals in a row batting first in ODIs – including four this World Cup – is the longest streak in the game. They have hit the most sixes and fours, and have the most hundreds (six) in the tournament.
• South Africa’s pace pack has taken 44 wickets at an average and a strike rate of 23.3 and 23.5, respectively. Their wickets tally and their bowling strike rate are the best for a team in this World Cup.

Quotes

“We’ve got a few guys to get through a few fitness tests, and I guess once we train, we’ll have a clearer idea of what the XI looks like. So fingers crossed all those guys can get through a bit of work today at training and be ready to go tomorrow.”

“It feels like that question could have been asked a few days ago as well – with regards to Pakistan. So no, no chat really about that. I mean, that’s all in the past. We don’t really carry any of that with us.”

Home side trails by 148 with five wickets down after Will Rhodes 82, Dan Mousley 45*

ECB Reporters Network20-Jul-2023Warwickshire 197 for 5 (Rhodes 82, Mousley 45*) trail Lancashire 327 (Balderson 116, Bailey 75) by 148 runsGeorge Balderson’s maiden first-class century illuminated a grey second day as Warwickshire and Lancashire grind towards a draw in their LV=Insurance County Championship match at Edgbaston.On a cloudy morning, Lancashire all-rounder Balderson extended his overnight 94 to 116 out of his side’s 327 all out before the home side replied with 179 for 5.On a slow pitch, diligence has been required throughout from batters and Balderson showed plenty of it, spending 44 balls in the nineties before reaching his richly-deserved ton. Warwickshire captain Will Rhodes then showed similar resolve to compile 82 from 168 balls.With time lost to the weather on day two and a forecast suggesting little or no play on the fourth day, this match appears doomed to a draw already with batters forced on to the defensive by capable seam bowling on a slow pitch.After resuming on 295 for 7 on the second morning, Lancashire lost Tom Bailey for 75 to the second ball, lbw to a big inswinger from Hamza Mir. That concluded a partnership of 145 in 45 overs between Bailey and Balderson and when Will Williams quickly fell the same way, Balderson still required five runs for his maiden ton with just last man Jack Morley for company.Unlike at Lord’s in 1895, when Sammy Woods generously served up a deliberate leg-side full toss so that WG Grace could reach his hundredth hundred, Balderson was made to earn every run towards his milestone before he edged Olly Hannon-Dalby to the boundary at third.Morley stuck around while 30 were added and doubled his previous first-class run tally of nine before nicking a slog at Danny Briggs.In reply, Warwickshire’s openers fell in the first seven overs, both deciding too late to leave the ball as Alex Davies played on to Williams and Rob Yates edged Bailey behind. Rhodes and Sam Hain then added 68 in 28 overs either side of a rain break, Hain arriving into double-figures after 69 balls before falling, strangled down the leg side off Balderson, for 15 off 79.At 82 for 3, further quick wickets would have moved Lancashire into a strong position, but Rhodes and Dan Mousley batted watchfully to add 77 in 22 overs. Bailey continued his impressive match by trapping Rhodes lbw and Ed Barnard tickled Balderson down the leg side to the keeper but Mousley, after a skittish start, settled to play with authority and reach the close unbeaten on 45.