New Zealander Mike Hesson has expressed willingness to take on the Pakistan Test head coach role on a permanent basis. He was handed interim charge of the side for the Edgbaston Test against England. Pakistan cricket officials are now considering appointing him across all formats. Hesson, a former New Zealand head coach, brings significant international coaching experience to the potential role.
England completed a 3-0 series sweep after Joe Root and Jordan Cox both scored half-centuries to guide the team to a comfortable chase. The pair steadied England's innings after Mohammad Abbas struck twice in quick succession to create early pressure. Root and Cox's partnership proved decisive, allowing England to cruise past the target without further alarm. The victory sealed a clean sweep of the series for England, capping a dominant all-round team performance.
India are set to face Afghanistan in a T20I match to be held in Delhi. Captain Shreyas Iyer faces a difficult selection decision regarding the opening batting positions. Three contenders — Sanju Samson, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, and Abhishek Sharma — are vying for just two spots at the top of the order. The abundance of opening options has made the team combination a key talking point ahead of the fixture. Afghanistan will be playing as the host side for this match.
India and Sri Lanka are set to face off in the Asia Cup final, with spin bowling expected to be the decisive factor for both sides. The two teams are closely matched in their spin departments, making it a competitive contest in that area. However, India have demonstrated stronger all-round performances throughout the tournament. As a result, India enter the final as the clear favourites to lift the Asia Cup title.
Indian cricketer Harleen Deol has been signed by Barbados Tridents for the remainder of the Women's Caribbean Premier League (WCPL). Her addition brings the total number of Indian players participating in the tournament to five. The move strengthens Barbados Tridents' squad as the competition progresses. Deol's inclusion reflects the growing presence of Indian women cricketers in franchise-based T20 leagues abroad.
Mehidy Hasan's four-wicket performance powered the Amazon Warriors to their eighth victory of the CPL season. The win further cemented the Warriors' strong standing in the tournament standings. Meanwhile, Trinbago Knight Riders, the defending champions, suffered their seventh defeat of the season. The loss condemned TKR to the bottom of the points table, a stark contrast to their title-winning campaign. It marks a disappointing tournament for a side that entered the season as reigning champions.
Devdutt Padikkal has been named captain of the India A side for the upcoming four-day series against Australia A. The left-handed batter believes the added responsibility of leadership has had a positive effect on his batting rather than adding pressure. Padikkal acknowledged the demanding nature of domestic cricket, emphasizing the hard work required to progress through the system. The assignment represents a significant step in Padikkal's development as a senior player in Indian cricket.
Pakistan's Razaullah made a remarkable impression on his international debut with an astonishing knock at Edgbaston. The debutant expressed that he approached his innings in a relaxed and enjoyable manner, embracing the challenge of playing at the highest level. His performance at the famous Birmingham ground drew widespread attention and praise. Razaullah's composed attitude during the innings suggested a player unfazed by the pressure of making his debut for Pakistan.
Ben Aitchison claimed a five-wicket haul as Derbyshire defeated Kent by 181 runs in a County Championship Division Two match. The result was a significant blow to Kent's hopes of winning promotion from the second division. Derbyshire's commanding victory pushed Kent down to third place in the Division Two standings. The win highlighted Aitchison's impact as a key bowler for Derbyshire in their own push up the table.
Sri Lanka secured their place in the Asia Cup final, where they will face India on Sunday. The team faced a challenging top-order collapse during their semifinal match but managed to recover and pull through. Pakistan's Fatima Sana posed a significant threat to Sri Lanka's innings but was ultimately unable to prevent their progression. Sri Lanka's resilience in the middle and lower order proved decisive in overcoming the pressure and sealing the result.
South Africa secured a 2-0 lead in their ODI series against Namibia with a commanding victory. Lhuan-dre Esterhuizen marked the occasion with a maiden ODI century, while Duan Jansen claimed four wickets to dismantle the Namibian batting lineup. Set a target of 336, Namibia fell well short despite a 79-run contribution from De Zorzi. Eathan Bosch picked up three wickets for the visitors, but it was not enough to prevent the defeat. The loss ranks as Namibia's fourth-biggest in ODI cricket.
Surrey extended their lead over Leicestershire in their County Championship encounter, building a useful buffer in the match. The result carries significant stakes for Surrey, who still require points to steer clear of a relegation battle. Leicestershire's Tom Haines offered resistance with a half-century, but it was not enough to prevent Surrey from gaining the upper hand. The match, however, failed to produce the sustained intensity expected, with play described as subdued overall. Surrey's position remains precarious despite the progress, as they continue to fight for safety in the standings.
The Bryce sisters delivered a dominant all-round performance to help the Blaze defeat Essex by nine wickets in their Metro Bank Women's competition match. The emphatic victory secured the Blaze's place at the top of their group and earned them direct progression into the final. Essex were bowled out for a low total, with the Bryce sisters sharing wickets between them before the openers chased down the target with ease. The result means the Blaze advance to the Metro Bank final without needing to play a semi-final.
Pakistan left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has stated that red-ball cricket remains his foremost priority. The pacer expressed a strong desire to reclaim his place in Pakistan's Test squad. Shaheen has been a prominent figure in Pakistan cricket across all formats, but his Test appearances have been inconsistent of late. His comments signal a renewed focus on the longer format of the game as he looks to cement his position in the national side.
South Africa secured a comfortable win over Zimbabwe in what proved to be a one-sided contest. Tristan Bosch's knock of 83 runs was the cornerstone of South Africa's competitive total. Zimbabwe were reduced to a precarious 12 for 4 within the first four overs of their chase. The lower-order batters fought back to bring Zimbabwe close to a run-a-ball scoring rate, but the recovery ultimately proved insufficient. South Africa's disciplined bowling in the powerplay set the tone for the eventual victory.
Durham have secured promotion back to Division One of the County Championship with two rounds of matches still remaining. The team sealed their return to the top flight with a commanding victory over Middlesex. Brydon Carse and Callum Parkinson were key contributors in helping Durham achieve the result. The promotion marks a significant milestone for the club, confirming their place among English county cricket's elite division ahead of the season's end.
Sri Lanka have made two changes to their playing eleven for their match against Pakistan. Batter Vishmi Gunaratne and seamer Chethana Vimukthi have been dropped from the side. Nilakshi de Silva's Perera and Ayodhya have been brought into the lineup as replacements. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bowl first against Pakistan.
Pakistan has decided to switch from Dukes to Kookaburra balls for its first-class cricket season starting 2026-27. The change marks a significant shift in the equipment used in Pakistan's domestic red-ball cricket. The Kookaburra ball is expected to be more favorable for batters, potentially allowing them to spend longer periods at the crease. The switch is also anticipated to give spinners greater influence in matches compared to conditions under the Dukes ball.
Pakistan openers Shan Masood and Azan Awais combined for a century stand to put up resistance against England in their ongoing Test match. The pair showed resilience after Pakistan had struggled to assert themselves earlier in the series. England's Dan Lawrence was the only bowler to claim a wicket during the morning session, limiting the hosts' progress. The century partnership marked a significant shift in Pakistan's approach, as the team appeared more determined and combative than in previous innings.
Olly Stone delivered a dominant bowling performance to help Nottinghamshire defeat Hampshire in their County Championship fixture. Stone claimed three crucial wickets in the closing stages, dismissing Hampshire's final batters in quick succession. The result keeps Nottinghamshire in contention for the title, which remains a three-way contest. The win ensures the defending champions stay on track as they look to retain their County Championship crown.
