Author: WebDesk

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha has shed light on how his team may shape their squad for next year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, scheduled to be played in India and Sri Lanka. Under Salman, the Men in Green have fared well, winning five bilateral series out of six, and also reaching the final of the Asia Cup, where they lost to India. That defeat prompted selectors to recall the likes of Babar Azam and Naseem Shah, and the move paid off in the team’s last two T20I assignments. Discussing the team combination and players’ roles, Salman indicated that there…

New Zealand have been hit by three injury blows, with Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry and Nathan Smith ruled out of the upcoming second Test against the West Indies. Uncapped pacers Kristian Clarke and Michael Rae have been called up to bolster the pace-bowling attack. Henry (calf) and Smith (side) suffered injuries during the first Test of the three-match series against the West Indies. Santner, who did not play due to injury, has not recovered, which has also ruled him out of the second and third Tests against the Roston Chase-led West Indies team. Kyle Jamieson and Will O’Rourke will remain…

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has reversed his decision to retire from international cricket. The former Bangladesh skipper wishes to play all three formats on home soil, in front of his fans, before officially retiring from international cricket. After announcing his retirement from Tests and T20Is, Shakib has not played international cricket for over a year, despite being available, due to rifts with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). Shakib has been living in exile in the United States with his family following the change of government in Bangladesh. A Member of Parliament under the previous government, he has been unable…

After losing the second Test in Brisbane by eight wickets, Ben Stokes weighed in on England’s inability to execute their plans with bat and ball, which resulted in the defeat — their second in the five-match series. Dropped catches, a lack of batting partnerships and indiscipline with the ball left England 2–0 down at the Gabba, making the road ahead tough as the remaining three games now become must-win encounters. “We weren’t able to execute with bat and ball, and we’ll be having some conversations in the dressing room,” Stokes said in an interview with TNT Sports. “It seems…

Cricket Namibia have appointed Gary Kirsten as a consultant for the men’s national team ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup, scheduled to be played in India and Sri Lanka. Namibia are one of the 20 teams that will take part in the global event. The upcoming edition will mark the fourth consecutive time the African nation have qualified for the 20-over World Cup. Kirsten, a World Cup-winning coach, brings immense experience with him. The former South Africa international has worked with teams in the past such as India, South Africa, and, more recently, on a short-term basis with Pakistan.…

England have made one change to their playing XI for the second Test of the five-match Ashes series in Brisbane, starting on 4 December. Will Jacks has replaced Mark Wood for the day–night affair. Jacks has been preferred to the specialist spinner Shoaib Bashir, who has played more Tests than the off-spinning all-rounder. In Perth, England went with an all-pace attack. While the bowlers fared well, the batting imploded, which is why the visitors have brought in a more balanced option in Jacks, who can contribute with both bat and ball. “It’s something I’m really looking forward to,” he told…

Robin Smith, a tough-as-teak middle-order batter who was considered England’s best for a period In the early 1990s, passed away suddenly in Perth on December 1. He was 62. The Durban-born Smith played 62 Tests and 71 ODIs between 1988 and 1996, and gained a reputation as one of the few with the steel to take on the fearsome West Indies pace attacks of the day. “It is with the deepest and most profound sense of sadness and loss that we must announce the passing of Robin Arnold Smith, beloved father of Harrison and Margaux and cherished brother of Christopher,”…

Veteran Australian batter Usman Khawaja is all but ruled out of the second Ashes Test in Brisbane after failing to prove his fitness two days ahead of the series opener on Thursday. Due to a back spasm, Khawaja, the designated opener, was unable to bat in either innings of the first Test in Perth. The 38-year-old underwent a 30-minute net session on Tuesday in a bid to prove his fitness but appeared uncomfortable. Stand-in captain Steve Smith, head coach Andrew McDonald, and chief selector George Bailey closely monitored the session before releasing a statement. “Usman Khawaja remains short of full…

England pacer Brydon Carse has revealed that his team has prepared specific plans if centurion of the last game, Travis Head, decides to open again in the second Ashes Test at the Gabba, Brisbane, starting December 4. In the Ashes series opener at Perth Stadium, Australia surprised England by promoting Travis Head to open in the fourth innings. The South Australian thwarted all of England’s plans against him en route to a match-winning century. Head will return to the Gabba, a venue where he scored a hundred last summer against India. Carse, who was on the receiving end of Head’s…

Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell on Tuesday confirmed that he will put his name forward for the upcoming IPL 2026 auction, scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi on December 16. Maxwell took to social media to announce that he will not take part in the next season after a great deal of deliberation. The 37-year-old cricketer was released by the Punjab Kings, who had acquired him for Rs 4.2 crore in the IPL 2025 auction. It was a forgettable season for Maxwell, who scored only 78 runs and took four wickets in the nine games he played before being ruled…