Author: Zahid Noor

LONDON: England will host Pakistan for a three-match Test series in the summer of 2026 as part of a packed international home season that features top-tier cricket across formats for both men’s and women’s teams.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Thursday confirmed the complete home calendar for 2026, with five international teams, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and Ireland, set to tour.

England Women will enjoy a historic summer that includes home series against New Zealand, India, and Ireland, along with the milestone staging of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will run from June 12 to July 15.

England is hosting the tournament for the first time since 2009.

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In a significant first, Lord’s will also host an England Women’s Test match, with the one-off red-ball clash against India set for July 10.

Meanwhile, Ben Stokes-led England Men’s Test side will play two red-ball series against New Zealand and Pakistan. Meanwhile, Harry Brook’s white-ball side will take on India and Sri Lanka in ODIs and T20Is.

The Test series between Pakistan and England is scheduled to begin on 19 August at Headingley, Leeds. The second Test will be played at Lord’s on 27 August, followed by the final match at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on 9 September.

England’s home international fixtures

England Women v New Zealand

• 10 May – 1st ODI – Banks Homes Riverside, Durham
• 13 May – 2nd ODI – The County Ground, Northampton
• 16 May – 3rd ODI – Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
• 20 May – 1st T20I – The Central Co-op County Ground, Derby
• 23 May – 2nd T20I – The Spitfire Ground, Canterbury
• 25 May – 3rd T20I – The 1st Central County Ground, Hove

England Women v India

• 28 May – 1st T20I – Ambassador Cruise Line Ground, Chelmsford
• 30 May – 2nd T20I – Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol
• 2 June – 3rd T20I – The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton
• 10 July – Only Test – Lord’s, London

England Women v Ireland

• 1 September – 1st ODI – The Uptonsteel County Ground, Leicester
• 3 September – 2nd ODI – The Central Co-op County Ground, Derby
• 6 September – 3rd ODI – Visit Worcestershire New Road, Worcester

England Men v New Zealand

• 4 June – 1st Test – Lord’s, London
• 17 June – 2nd Test – The Kia Oval, London
• 25 June – 3rd Test – Trent Bridge, Nottingham

England Men v India

• 1 July – 1st T20I – Banks Homes Riverside, Durham
• 4 July – 2nd T20I – Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
• 7 July – 3rd T20I – Trent Bridge, Nottingham
• 9 July – 4th T20I – Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol
• 11 July – 5th T20I – Utilita Bowl, Southampton
• 14 July – 1st ODI – Edgbaston, Birmingham
• 16 July – 2nd ODI – Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
• 19 July – 3rd ODI – Lord’s, London

England Men v Pakistan

• 19 August – 1st Test – Headingley, Leeds
• 27 August – 2nd Test – Lord’s, London
• 9 September – 3rd Test – Edgbaston, Birmingham

England Men v Sri Lanka

• 15 September – 1st T20I – Utilita Bowl, Southampton
• 17 September – 2nd T20I – Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
• 19 September – 3rd T20I – Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
• 22 September – 1st ODI – Banks Homes Riverside, Durham
• 24 September – 2nd ODI – Headingley, Leeds
• 27 September – 3rd ODI – The Kia Oval, London

READ: Rishabh Pant set to miss remainder of England Test series

BIRMINGHAM: Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has shared his thoughts following the cancellation of the high-stakes encounter between India vs. Pakistan Champions at the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025.

The much-awaited encounter between arch-rivals was officially cancelled just hours before the two teams were set to meet at Edgbaston on Sunday.

The organisers made the announcement through a statement posted on the tournament’s official social media platforms, confirming the cancellation of what was expected to be a marquee clash.

“We at WCL have always cherished and loved cricket, and our only aim has been to give fans some good, happy moments,” the statement read.

Now, Shahid Afridi has stated that they came to England to play cricket, noting that politics should be kept away from cricket.

“There is no fault of mine in this, and I have always advocated keeping politics away from cricket. We have come here to play cricket, and we must move forward,” he said.

“Nations that aim to achieve something in the world focus on progress and do not get bogged down by trivial matters,” Afridi added.

Former all-rounder also questioned the India Champions for not facing the Pakistan Champions, despite being aware of the tournament’s scheduling.

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“I would just like to say that one should be a good ambassador for their country, not a source of embarrassment.

We are here to play cricket. If you were not willing to play against Pakistan, you should have refused before coming here. Yet, you came, participated in practice sessions, and then on the very day, everything unfolded like this,” he said.

Shahid Afridi noted that if he had known the situation, he would not have come to the ground while emphasizing that the game is bigger than any of the players.

“If I had known that the match was being cancelled because of me, I wouldn’t have even gone to the stadium.”

“Cricket is bigger than all of us. The game comes first, even bigger than Shahid Afridi. Don’t bring politics into the sport. If someone doesn’t want to play, then let them play their own game elsewhere. Cricket is far greater than all this,” he concluded.

For the unversed, the ongoing edition marks the second installment of the WCL, following the inaugural tournament held in 2024, in which India and Pakistan competed in the final.

READ: Pakistan Champions owner reacts to WCL calling off India-Pakistan clash

BIRMINGHAM: Pakistan Champions owner Kamil Khan has responded to the cancellation of the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan Champions fixture at the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025.

The much-awaited encounter between arch-rivals was officially cancelled just hours before the two teams were set to meet at Edgbaston on Sunday.

The organisers made the announcement through a statement posted on the tournament’s official social media platforms, confirming the cancellation of what was expected to be a marquee clash.

“We at WCL have always cherished and loved cricket, and our only aim has been to give fans some good, happy moments,” the statement read.

Now, on behalf of the Pakistan Champions, owner Kamil Khan has expressed his disappointment over the cancellation of the WCL marquee clash between Pak vs India legends.

“On behalf of Pakistan Champions, we express our deep disappointment over WCL’s decision to call off the match against India. This decision not only undermines the spirit of the game but has let down cricket fans across the globe,” the statement reads.

“We believe cricket should rise above and transcend political differences. Sport has the unique power to unite, and our participation in this tournament is rooted in a commitment to peace, positivity, and the genuine spirit of the game,” it added.

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The owner of Pakistan Champions expressed confidence in continuing to represent the country with dignity and integrity.

“Despite this setback, we will continue with the same passion, discipline, and professionalism that define our team. We remain proud ambassadors of our country and are committed to representing Pakistan with honour and integrity.”

The Pakistan Champions owner also acknowledged the tournament’s organisers’ challenging position on the Pak vs India legends match, expressing gratitude for their efforts.

“Finally, we appreciate the difficult position the tournament organisers have been placed in during this unfortunate development and would like to extend our sincere gratitude to them for their tireless efforts in trying to resolve the situation and uphold the integrity of the tournament,” it concluded.

For the unversed, the ongoing edition marks the second installment of the WCL, following the inaugural tournament held in 2024, in which India and Pakistan competed in the final.

READ: Emon, Taskin star as Bangladesh thump Pakistan in T20I series opener

SINGAPORE: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday announced that England will host the upcoming editions of the World Test Championship (WTC) final until 2031. 

The WTC decision was taken during the ICC’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Singapore where several key resolutions were taken.

The decision to hand over the hosting rights to England was made in light of the successful hosting of previous editions of the WTC finals. England has previously hosted the inaugural 2021 edition, as well as the 2023 and 2025 editions.

For the unversed, South Africa is the current holder of the ICC WTC title, having defeated the defending champions Australia in the final held at the iconic Lord’s in the previous month.

WTC final venues and winners so far:

1) New Zealand, 2021 at The Rose Bowl, Southampton

2) Australia, 2023 at The Oval, London

3) South Africa, 2025 at Lord’s, London

The ICC has also made a decision regarding Afghanistan’s women’s cricket. To support displaced women cricketers of Afghan descent, the ICC is providing valuable engagement opportunities at various events.

This includes the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, the T20 World Cup in England next year, and access to high-performance programs and domestic playing opportunities.

The initiative is being advanced through a collaborative effort led by the ICC under the supervision of Deputy Chair Mr Imran Khwaja, in collaboration with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), and Cricket Australia (CA).

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Apart from that, the ICC also announced the global winners of the 2024 ICC Development Awards during its annual AGM meeting.

The initiative, launched in 2002, celebrates the innovation and growth of the sport worldwide. Bhutan, Indonesia, Namibia, Nepal, Scotland, Tanzania, the USA, and Vanuatu are the eight Members receiving top honours.

At the annual meeting, the ICC also welcomed two new Members, with the Timor Leste Cricket Federation and the Zambia Cricket Union being included as Associate Members, bringing the ICC’s total membership to 110.

READ: WATCH: Salman Mirza makes his debut for Pakistan in first T20I against Bangladesh

BIRMINGHAM: The highly anticipated India vs. Pakistan Champions fixture at the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 has officially been called off, just hours before the two sides were set to meet at Edgbaston on Sunday.

The organisers made the announcement through a statement posted on the tournament’s official social media platforms, confirming the cancellation of what was expected to be a marquee clash.

“We at WCL have always cherished and loved cricket, and our only aim has been to give fans some good, happy moments,” the statement read.

“After hearing the news that the Pakistan hockey team will be coming to India this year, and seeing the recent India vs Pakistan volleyball match along with a few other fixtures between the two nations in different sports, we thought of continuing with the India vs Pakistan match at WCL — just to create some happy memories for people around the globe.

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But maybe in the process, we ended up hurting the feelings of many and stirring emotions.

“More than that, we unintentionally caused discomfort to our Indian Cricket Legends, who have brought so much glory to the country, and we ended up affecting the brands who supported us purely out of love for the game.

“Hence, we have decided to call off the India vs Pakistan match.

“We sincerely apologise again for hurting the sentiments and hope people will understand that all we ever wanted was to bring a few happy moments to the fans.”

The development comes amid growing tension surrounding the fixture. Indian media reports earlier claimed that five prominent Indian cricketers had raised objections to former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi’s inclusion in the tournament, threatening to withdraw from the match if he was part of the squad or even entered the stadium.

According to reports, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, and Shikhar Dhawan conveyed their concerns to the organisers. Harbhajan and Yusuf are said to have already pulled out, while Dhawan reportedly confirmed his withdrawal through a post on his Instagram story.

READ: South Africa edge West Indies in bowl-out to kick off WCL 2025

James Anderson and Rocky Flintoff will both take part in The Hundred this season after being selected in the wildcard Draft.

Anderson, 42, an England great and one of the finest bowlers to ever play the game, was selected by Manchester Originals.

Flintoff, 17, will join up with his father, Andrew, Head Coach at Northern Superchargers.

The pair were two of 32 names drafted in the wildcard Draft, the final updates to the 16 squads ahead of the fifth year of The Hundred.

Essex’s Esmae Macgregor will join Anderson at Originals, off the back of a domestic campaign which sees her top the wicket-taking charts in the Vitality Blast women’s competition.

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The wildcard Draft gives an opportunity to players previously unselected in The Hundred to earn selection through outstanding performances in the Vitality Blast men’s and women’s competitions across the first three months of the domestic season.

Hilton Cartwright was the only overseas player selected, filling a spot at Southern Brave vacated by Faf du Plessis, who had to withdraw through injury. Jason Roy will replace du Plessis at Brave.

“I’m really looking forward to The Hundred, and I’m really happy to be part of the Manchester Originals squad,” said James Anderson.

“I’ve loved my time with Lancashire this season, so I’m excited to have the opportunity to add value in The Hundred.”

“It’s a competition I’ve really enjoyed watching. When you’re at the games, you can really see that it does attract a slightly different crowd, a lot of younger people and families, and you can’t underestimate how important that is for our game. I can’t wait to get out there.”

• Birmingham Phoenix: Mary Taylor, Phoebe Brett, Liam Patterson-White, Louis Kimber
• London Spirit: Abi Norgrove, Kate Coppack, Sean Dickson, Ryan Higgins
• Manchester Originals: Esmae Macgregor, Darcey Carter, James Anderson, Marchant de Lange
• Northern Superchargers: Katherine Fraser, Sophia Turner, James Fuller, Rocky Flintoff
• Oval Invincibles: Daisy Gibb, Rebecca Odgers, George Scrimshaw, Zafar Gohar
• Southern Brave: Phoebe Turner, Amara Carr, Toby Albert, Hilton Cartwright
• Trent Rockets: Grace Thompson, Sophie Morris, Callum Parkinson, Ben Sanderson
• Welsh Fire: Charley Phillips, Alex Griffiths, Ajeet Singh Dale, Ben Kellaway

READ: PCB unveils three-tier departmental structure for 2025-26 domestic season

Sophie Ecclestone has been named in England Women 15-member squad for the forthcoming three-match One Day International (ODI) series against India, scheduled to begin later this month.

Left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone returns to the 50-over squad, having missed the West Indies series. Moreover, there is a recall for top-order batter Maia Bouchier, who last featured in the Three Lions lineup in January 2025 against Australia.

Meanwhile, captain Nat Sciver-Brunt is expected to play a full part in the series despite missing the end of the T20I series against India with a groin injury.

Among the notable inclusions is Lauren Filer, who’ll be looking to make her first ODI appearance since the Ashes in the winter. The seamer, who bowled a match-defining four-over spell at the Kia Oval on Friday night, is continuing her return from a knee injury.

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England Women’s Head Coach Charlotte Edwards shared her thoughts following the announcement of the squad.

“India have really pushed us during the T20I series. We knew they would and we’ve learned a lot about the team in the three games so far,” she said.

“There have been some good moments but we’re a team in transition and we need to keep working hard to do what we’re trying to do more consistently, and for longer. That’ll be asked of us again in the ODIs, Edwards added.

“Friday night was high drama and we were delighted to keep ourselves in the series, I’m very proud of the character and the fight the players showed. Hopefully we can keep that going at Emirates Old Trafford and Edgbaston and into the Bank ODI series,” she concluded.

England Women Squad

Em Arlott, Tammy Beaumont,  Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Alice Davidson-Richards, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Amy Jones, Emma Lamb, Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Linsey Smith

England vs India ODI series Schedule

Wednesday, July 16: 1st ODI, Utilita Bowl

Saturday, July 19: 2nd  ODI, Lord’s Cricket Ground

Tuesday, July 22: 3rd ODI, Seat Unique Riverside

READ: Sarfaraz Ahmed joins Pakistan Champions for WCL 2025

Portuguese footballer Diogo Jota, who played for Liverpool FC, has tragically died in a car accident in Spain, according to the Spanish news agency EFE.

The 28-year-old player was killed near Zamora in northwestern Spain. His brother, André, also lost his life in the same accident, which occurred Thursday morning near Palacios de Sanabria on the Requejo Bajas Highway (A-52).

The accident took place at approximately 12:40 PM local time, and the car reportedly caught fire on the road.

Jota had tied the knot just ten days ago. He is survived by his wife and three children.

 

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According to the Spanish authorities, two male victims aged 28 and 25 were found dead at the place of the scene. The bodies of the deceased were taken to a forensic facility in Zamora for autopsies.

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Following the tragic news, Liverpool FC stated it is “heartbroken at the tragic passing of Jota.”

“The club have been informed the 28-year-old has passed away following a road traffic accident in Spain along with his brother, Andre,” the club wrote on social media.

“Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre’s family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss.

“We will continue to provide them with our full support,” the club added.

For the unversed, Diogo Jota debuted for Liverpool in 2020 and appeared in 182 matches for the club, amassing 65 goals across all competitions.

The 28-year-old was also pivotal in the club’s recent triumphs, which included their 2024-25 Premier League title, FA Cup victory in 2022, and League Cup victories in 2022 and 2024.

Apart from his club appearances, Diogo Jota represented the Portugal national team in 49 matches, featuring in the UEFA Euro Tournament and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

READ: Pakistan Champions unveil new jersey for WCL 2025

Fast bowler Jofra Archer has been named in the England squad for the upcoming second Test of the five-match series against India, scheduled to be played at Edgbaston from 2 July.

This decision comes after England’s five-wicket victory against India in the first Test at Headingley earlier this week.

Archer, who has been out of the Test team since the 2021 tour of India, recently made his return to red-ball cricket, playing for Sussex against Durham in the last round of the County Championship.

After the 2021 tour of India, he faced an elbow issue and later suffered a stress fracture in his back, resulting in him playing only seven limited-overs internationals between March 2021 and May 2024.

“It felt all right today,” Archer said after his return to red-ball cricket. “I’ve been playing for a year, and bowling for two years, including the build-up, so everything is fine.”

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“Now it’s a different challenge, because I know my body can hold up to it. The mental part of the game [will be tough].

“Over the next couple of days, I’m going to have to battle a bit with it, but it’s all good. It’s a new challenge, and I’ll keep trucking along.”

It’s worth mentioning that after the second Test, the two teams will travel to London for the third match of the series, which is scheduled at the iconic Lord’s from 10 to 14 July.

Following that, the fourth Test will commence at Old Trafford on 23 July. The series will conclude with the fifth Test at The Oval, scheduled from 31 July to 4 August.

England squad for the second Test against India

Ben Stokes (capt), Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes

READ: South Africa name new captain for tri-series in Zimbabwe

The new Anderson-Tendulkar trophy honouring the two greats of the game has been unveiled ahead of the Test series between India and England, set to commence tomorrow at Leeds.

The Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy, a joint initiative between the ECB and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), will now represent all future Test series between England and India.

Previously, the series in England was played for the Pataudi Trophy and the series in India for the Anthony De Mello Trophy.

The Pataudi family will continue to be honoured, with a newly commissioned Pataudi Medal to be presented to the winning captain of each England–India Test series.

The trophy features imagery of Anderson and Tendulkar in action, along with their engraved signatures– a fitting tribute to two of the game’s most iconic figures.

Both Anderson and Tendulkar are widely regarded as all-time greats. They are the most-capped players in the history of Test cricket: Tendulkar played 200 matches, and Anderson 188.

Anderson, considered one of the finest exponents of swing bowling, took 704 Test wickets, the most by a fast bowler in the format. The Lancashire seamer ranks third on the all-time list, behind only spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne.

Tendulkar, one of the most complete batters to have graced the game, remains the highest run-scorer in Test history with 15,921 runs. He made his debut at the age of 16 and went on to enjoy a distinguished 24-year international career.

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Speaking on the occasion, James Anderson expressed pride to have his name on this prestigious trophy.

“It’s a proud moment for me and my family to have this iconic series named after Sachin and myself. The rivalry between our two nations has always been something special, full of history, intensity and unforgettable moments, James Anderson said.

“To be recognised in this way is a real honour. I’m looking forward to seeing the next chapter unfold in England this summer. It promises to be compelling, competitive cricket – exactly what you’d expect from two great sides. This is elite sport at its finest,” James Anderson added.

Sachin Tendulkar mentioned the longest format of cricket, noting that it teaches a player to fight against all odds.

“For me, Test cricket embodies life – you give your best, and if things go wrong, it gives you another day to regroup, think, unlearn, and bounce back. It is the highest form of the game that teaches you endurance, discipline and adaptability, against all odds. I owe my foundation to Test cricket, as it has seen me grow from disappointments to triumphs, from aspirations to fulfilment, Sachin Tendulkar stated.

Sachin Tendulkar further highlighted both teams’ role in nurturing the future of Test cricket, emphasising the celebration of red-ball cricket.

“India and England have played a big role in shaping Test cricket in a way that it remains an evolving inspiration for subsequent generations.

And now, as I share this recognition with my on-field challenger and an off-field gentleman, James, I hope that the world celebrates the essence of Test cricket even more, allowing it to traverse boundaries yet untrodden,” Sachin Tendulkar concluded.

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