Category: Cricket

DUBAI: New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell on Wednesday surpassed Virat Kohli to claim the No.1 spot in the latest ICC Men’s ODI batting rankings.

The 34-year-old now sits in the top position with 845 ranking points, replacing Kohli, who drops to the second spot with 795 points.

Kohli’s stay at the top was short-lived, having held the position for just a week despite an impressive series against New Zealand.

The Hamilton-born batting all-rounder rose to the top spot on the back of his stellar series against India, where he amassed 352 runs across three games, hence playing a vital role in the BlackCaps first ODI series win on Indian soil.

Mitchell rose to the top spot on the back of his stellar series against India, where he amassed 352 runs across three games, hence playing a vital role in the BlackCaps first ODI series win on Indian soil.

Mitchell started the series with an 81 off 71 balls, top-scoring for his side, which was followed by an unbeaten 131 off 117. His century helped New Zealand level the series and earned him the Player of the Match award.

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In the final game, Daryly Mitchell put on a batting masterclass, scoring 137 from 131 deliveries, which propelled his side to a massive 337-run total.

Notably, Mitchell’s tally of 352 runs is the highest ever by a Kiwi player in a three-match ODI series and the third highest of all time.

Only Pakistan’s Babar Azam, who amassed 360 runs against the West Indies in 2016, and India’s Shubman Gill, who scored 360 runs against New Zealand in 2023, sit above him on the list.

Besides Mitchell and Kohli, Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran climbed to third place, replacing Rohit Sharma.

Meanwhile, there were no major changes for Pakistan players in the overall rankings.

READ: Waugh suggests Sydney Sixers to drop Babar ahead of BBL 15 Challenger

Former Australian batter Mark Waugh has suggested dropping Pakistan star Babar Azam ahead of the Sydney Sixers’ crucial Big Bash League (BBL) 15 Challenger clash.

Sydney Sixers will face the winner of Wednesday’s knockout clash between Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Stars in the Challenger to determine the second finalist.

Waugh highlighted the Sixers’ growing dependency on Steve Smith and expressed concerns over the lack of form across the top order.

“I think a bit of tough love. They need to rejiggle their batting because, at the moment, they are almost totally reliant on Steve Smith,” Waugh said.

“Sam Curran got them out of jail in another game. He’s gone. So at the moment, there aren’t a lot of players in form.”

The former player then directly questioned Babar’s impact in the tournament so far, insisting the team needs better returns from its top order if they want to challenge for the title.

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“So, I’m bringing in either Daniel Hughes or Jordan Silk. Unfortunately, I’m going to have to drop Babar Azam,” Waugh added.

“You know, I don’t think he’s done enough at the top of the order. I know he’s world-class, but when you’re thinking about winning this tournament, so far he just hasn’t delivered.”

Waugh also explained his vision for a refreshed opening partnership, suggesting the Sixers could opt for a more aggressive or in-form option at the top.

“So I’m thinking about a new opener. You can either have Moises Henriques to open, or bring in Daniel Hughes or Jordan Silk, one of those two. That’s the way I’m thinking,” he said.

Babar’s BBL campaign this season has been below expectations. In 11 matches, the right-hander has scored 202 runs at an average of 22.44, striking at 103.06, with just two half-centuries to his name.

READ: Sialkot franchise reveals name ahead of PSL 11

Sialkot’s newly inducted Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise has officially revealed its name ahead of the landmark season 11, confirming long-standing rumours by branding the team as Sialkot Stallionz.

The announcement was made through a 3D animated video posted on the team’s official X account.

The video introduced the franchise’s identity, with the caption:
“You guessed it. You waited. Now, I am proud to officially introduce SIALKOT STALLIONZ. Excited to be part of the Pakistan Super League journey.”

From the heart of Sialkot,
a name that carries resilience and pride.
Introducing Sialkot Stallionz. 🐎🔥#SialkotStallionz pic.twitter.com/MCyDxyS8Eg

— Sialkot Stallionz (@PSLStallionz) January 21, 2026

The name has strong domestic cricket roots, paying homage to the iconic Sialkot Stallions, a powerhouse of Pakistan’s domestic T20 cricket.

The team claimed six National T20 Cup titles between 2005 and 2012 and remains one of the most successful sides in the country’s domestic history.

Sialkot Stallions also held a world-record 25-match unbeaten run, a feat that still stands as a benchmark in Pakistan’s T20 circuit.

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The team’s legacy includes notable players such as Shoaib Malik, Imran Nazir and Haris Sohail, among others.

The newly named PSL franchise was acquired by OZ Developers, owned by Hamza Majeed and Kamil Khan, during the historic PSL 2026 auction held at the Jinnah Convention Centre on January 8.

OZ Developers won the bid with a record price of Rs 1.85 billion, securing the rights to the Sialkot franchise.

READ: PCB backs Bangladesh in T20 World Cup venue dispute, writes to ICC

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Wednesday named a 17-member squad led by Charith Asalanka for a three-match ODI series against England.

The three-match one-day international series will begin on Thursday, 22 January and end on Tuesday, 27 January.

The series will be followed by a three-match T20I series, starting on Friday, 30 January, before concluding on Tuesday, 3 February.

Notably, England’s last ODI tour of Sri Lanka was in 2018 when they won the series 3-1.

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Asalanka, who was recently replaced as T20I captain, was rumoured to be removed as ODI skipper as well.

However, the country’s cricket board on Wednesday confirmed that the all-rounder will continue as ODI captain.

Sri Lanka squad for England ODIs

Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Pavan Rathnayake, Dhananjaya de Silva, Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jeffrey Vandersay, Maheesh Theekshana, Milan Rathnayake, Asitha Fernando, Pramod Madushan and Eshan Malinga.

Schedule:

1st ODI: Thursday 22 January 2026, RPICS, Colombo

2nd ODI: Saturday 24 January 2026, RPICS, Colombo

3rd ODI: Tuesday 27 January 2026, RPICS, Colombo

1st T20I: Friday 30 January 2026, PICS, Pallekele

2nd T20I: Sunday 1 February 2026, PICS, Pallekele

3rd T20I: Tuesday 3 February 2026, PICS, Pallekele

READ: Smith, Marsh sign up for Waugh-owned franchise in European T20 League

Australia’s senior stars Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh are set to feature in the upcoming European T20 Premier League (ETPL), with both players committing to a franchise owned by former Test captain Steve Waugh.

The six-team competition, scheduled to begin later this year, is set to make history as the first ICC-sanctioned T20 league to be staged across multiple countries.

The ETPL will operate across Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands, marking a significant push to expand the game’s footprint in Europe.

Steve Waugh is part of a consortium that owns the Amsterdam-based franchise, Amsterdam Flames, and has confirmed that Smith and Marsh are among the headline players signed for the team.

Netherlands captain Scott Edwards has also joined the Flames, while discussions are ongoing with Australian power-hitter Tim David.

“We’ve approached a number of players and haven’t had one negative comment at all,” Waugh told.

“They’re fascinated by the concept, especially because it’s in Europe. They know what I stand for in terms of values, teamwork and success, and they see this as a serious project.”

The six-team league features franchises owned by several high-profile cricket figures. Glenn Maxwell will co-own the Ireland-based Irish Wolves alongside Rohan Lund, the former Group Chief Executive Officer of Australian insurance firm NRMA.

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Former New Zealand internationals Kyle Mills and Nathan McCullum have acquired the Edinburgh franchise.

So far, franchises in Amsterdam, Belfast and Edinburgh have been sold, while teams based in Dublin, Rotterdam and Glasgow are expected to be finalised in the next phase of the league’s rollout.

Waugh stressed that the ETPL is designed to be more than a symbolic gesture towards European cricket.

“We want this to be a meaningful competition,” he said. “It’s not just about supporting European cricket in name. The aim is to build one of the best leagues in the world. That might be ambitious, but you have to set high standards.”

He also highlighted the role that senior players, such as Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh, can play in developing emerging talent.

“They’re at a stage of their careers where it’s not just about personal success, but the impact they can have on other players and the growth of the game,” Waugh added.

The inaugural season of the European T20 Premier League is scheduled to run from August 26 to September 20. Matches will be played in Ireland and the Netherlands, with final venue details expected to be announced in due course.

READ: Steve Waugh, Glenn Maxwell among team owners in European T20 League

The European T20 Premier League (ETPL) has taken a major step forward with the announcement of its first set of franchise owners, headlined by Australian great Steve Waugh and current all-rounder Glenn Maxwell.

The six-team competition, scheduled to begin later this year, is set to make history as the first ICC-sanctioned T20 league to be staged across multiple countries.

The ETPL will operate across Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands, marking a significant push to expand the game’s footprint in Europe.

The league is a joint venture between Cricket Ireland and India-based Rules Global (Rules X), in strategic collaboration with Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB).

Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan is a co-owner of the league, alongside three Indian investors, including Dhiraj Malhotra, the former CEO of IPL franchise Delhi Capitals.

Among the franchises already sold, Amsterdam, Belfast and Edinburgh have confirmed ownership groups, while teams in Dublin, Rotterdam and Glasgow are expected to be finalised in the coming weeks.

Steve Waugh is part of a consortium that will own the Amsterdam-based franchise, named Amsterdam Flames. The group also includes former Australian field hockey star Jamie Dwyer.

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Glenn Maxwell, meanwhile, will co-own the Irish Wolves franchise alongside Rohan Lund, the former Group Chief Executive Officer of Australian insurance giant NRMA.

Former New Zealand internationals Kyle Mills and Nathan McCullum have also invested in the league, with the duo purchasing the Edinburgh franchise.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Waugh expressed enthusiasm about the response from the cricketing community and the league’s broader vision.

“We’ve approached a number of players and haven’t had one negative comment at all,” Waugh said.

“They’re fascinated by the concept, particularly because it’s something new in Europe. The potential to grow the game in a new market and help develop European and continental players is really exciting.”

The inaugural season of the ETPL is scheduled to run from August 26 to September 20, with matches to be played in Ireland and the Netherlands. Final venue details are expected to be confirmed in due course.

READ: PCB backs Bangladesh in T20 World Cup venue dispute, writes to ICC

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formally written to the International Cricket Council (ICC), throwing its support behind Bangladesh’s stance in the ongoing controversy over venues for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, according to a report by ESPNcricinfo.

The PCB sent an email to the ICC on Tuesday, backing the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) request to have its World Cup matches shifted out of India due to security concerns.

The email was also copied to other members of the ICC Board, although it remains unclear whether the PCB’s intervention directly prompted the ICC to call an emergency Board meeting scheduled for Wednesday.

The ICC, however, has so far remained firm on its position and is understood to be unwilling to move Bangladesh’s fixtures away from India.

The governing body has repeatedly conveyed to the BCB that the tournament schedule will not be altered, despite Bangladesh pushing for their matches to be staged in Sri Lanka, the co-hosts of the event alongside India.

The issue is expected to be discussed at the ICC Board meeting, which has been convened to address the BCB’s concerns.

January 21 had been set as the informal deadline for a resolution, with the tournament less than three weeks away from getting underway.

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The ICC and the BCB have held multiple rounds of discussions over the past week, including a meeting in Dhaka last weekend, but both sides have remained entrenched in their positions.

Bangladesh have maintained that they are unable to send their team to India for the T20 World Cup 2026, while the ICC has insisted that matches must go ahead as originally planned.

The deadlock has fuelled speculation over possible alternative arrangements, including unverified reports suggesting that Pakistan had offered to host Bangladesh’s matches.

Neither the PCB nor the ICC has officially responded to ESPNcricinfo’s queries regarding the email or the wider implications of the dispute.

The standoff reportedly began after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) instructed Kolkata Knight Riders to remove Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their squad for IPL 2026.

The move triggered a strong reaction in Bangladesh, with the country’s government subsequently stating that the national team would not play its World Cup matches in India.

READ: Struggling Suryakumar Yadav will not adapt style to find form before T20 World Cup

India captain Suryakumar Yadav said on Tuesday he would not change his style of batting as he bids to stop an alarming slump in form heading into the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

His team will face New Zealand in the first game of a five-match warm-up series on Wednesday in Nagpur, ahead of the World Cup starting February 7 in India and Sri Lanka.

But Suryakumar, formerly the ICC’s top-ranked T20I batter, has scored just 244 runs across his last 22 innings in the format dating back to October 2024, without a single fifty.

“I have been batting really well (in the nets),” Suryakumar, who is set to play his 100th T20 international in the series opener, told reporters.

“And also talking about the runs, it will definitely come, but at the same time, I can’t do things differently. I don’t want to change my identity.

“What has given me success in the past three, four years, I would like to bat the same way. And then if (the) performance comes I will take it, if it doesn’t I will go back to the drawing board, practise again, work hard and come back stronger.”

Suryakumar, 35, boasts a punishing T20I strike-rate of 163.23, although that does drop slightly as skipper.

He took over the T20 captaincy full-time when Rohit Sharma stepped down following India’s World Cup triumph in 2024.

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Suryakumar Yadav has flourished as a leader despite his personal struggles with the bat, leading India to six consecutive bilateral series wins and victory in last year’s T20 Asia Cup.

India are favourites to defend their World Cup title, sitting top of the ICC rankings and unbeaten in T20 series since a 3-2 loss to the West Indies in August 2023.

“If I have to take everyone’s responsibility, then I will have to think well about the team,” said Suryakumar.

“In that, I think there is no room for personal milestone. It’s a team sport. Everyone has to step up; everyone has to do well.”

Batter Tilak Varma and spinner Washington Sundar are both racing against time to be fit for the World Cup despite being named in the squad.

Ishan Kishan will return to the team against New Zealand for the first time since 2023 after being recalled to the squad, with Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill a surprise omission.

India were beaten at home in an ODI series by New Zealand for the first time ever earlier this month.

An under-strength Black Caps backed up their remarkable maiden Test series win in India, when they powered to a 3-0 clean sweep in 2024.

READ: Litton Das ‘unsure’ over Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup participation

MIRPUR: Bangladesh T20I skipper Litton Das is unsure about the national team’s participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which begins on 7 February.

Bangladesh is slotted in Group C in the marquee event alongside West Indies, Nepal, and England. The Tigers’ first three matches are scheduled in Eden Gardens, Kolkata, with their last match taking place in Mumbai.

However, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has refused to send its team to India for the tournament, citing safety concerns for players and support staff, and has requested that the ICC shift the matches outside India.

The decision followed an IPL-related dispute involving pacer Mustafizur Rahman, which triggered strong reactions in Dhaka.

Despite multiple discussions, the ICC’s proposal to change venues within India was rejected by the BCB, which remains firm on playing its matches in Sri Lanka, prolonging the standoff.

Das spoke to the media after Rangpur Riders lost to Sylhet Titans in the Eliminator of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

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“It’s not safe [to answer],” Das told reporters regarding the ongoing impasse in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup.

“You don’t know, I don’t know, we’re on the same page. The World Cup is still a long way away. We’re not even sure yet whether we’ll go to the World Cup at all,” he maintained.

He emphasized opponents and pointed out the clarity regarding the decision, which would ease some nerves.

“Everyone is playing the BPL, that is true, but if we had known who our group opponents were or which country we were going to, that would have helped. Until now, no player knows which country we are going to or whom we will play against. Like me, the whole of Bangladesh is now in uncertainty.

The skipper also revealed that the team had been kept in the dark regarding participation in the mega event.

“I don’t know but there has been no communication with me. Many things in life are not ideal, but you have to accept them according to the situation,” he concluded.

READ: West Indies umpire Chris Taylor to officiate President’s Trophy matches

KARACHI: West Indies umpire Christopher Mark Taylor is set to officiate three matches of the President’s Trophy Grade- I as part of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Umpire Exchange Programme, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced today.

Taylor will officiate the Ghani Glass vs Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) fixture set to start on Wednesday, 21 January at the National Bank Stadium.

“The Ghani Glass v Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) game at the National Bank Stadium beginning on Wednesday, 21 January will be Taylor’s first game in the tournament,” the board said in a press release.

“He will also be the field umpire in Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) v SNGPL fixture at the KCCA Stadium starting 27 January, and Sahir Associates v Pakistan Television (PTV) game at the National Bank Stadium, scheduled to start on 2 February,” it added.

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Overall, Chris Taylor has officiated in five women’s one-day and three T20Is besides his 41 first-class, 56 List-A, and 53 T20s experience.

Taylor last served as an umpire in the West Indies domestic 50-over competition in November 2025.

It is worth noting that the fourth round of the tournament resumes on Wednesday, with WAPDA squaring off against OGDCL at the KCCA Stadium.  Meanwhile, in another fixture, Ghani Glass will face SNGPL at the National Bank Stadium.

While Sahir Associates will face State Bank of Pakistan at the State Bank Stadium, defending champions PTV will take on KPL at the UBL Sports Complex.

READ: U19 World Cup: Australia crush Japan to seal Super Six berth