Category: Cricket

KARACHI: Former captain Younis Khan has expressed his willingness to return to the national cricket setup in any capacity if offered a role by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), as speculation around his potential appointment as red-ball head coach continues to grow.

Speaking to the media during a visit to a newly constructed sports complex in Baldia Town, Younis said his priority has always been to serve Pakistan cricket, regardless of the position assigned to him.

“If I am given an opportunity, I am ready to serve Pakistan in any capacity,” he said. “In any role, I will try to perform at my best for Pakistan.”

His comments come at a time when reports have linked him with a possible role within the PCB setup, including suggestions that he could be considered for a red-ball coaching position in the future.

The speculation has emerged amid uncertainty surrounding the national team’s coaching structure, with Pakistan recently struggling in the longest format.

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Former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, who was appointed head coach in April this year, began his tenure with a two-match away Test series against Bangladesh as part of the World Test Championship cycle.

However, Pakistan suffered a 2-0 series whitewash, marking a difficult start and their second consecutive Test series defeat against the same opposition.

Younis, however, avoided directly addressing any formal negotiations, instead focusing on the broader need for experienced former players to contribute to the system.

“Retired players and those who understand the game should come forward and serve Pakistan cricket. Whoever gets the chance should serve Pakistan as a Pakistani,” he added.

During his visit, Younis also inspected the under-construction 24-acre sports complex in Baldia Town, where officials briefed him on planned facilities, including cricket training nets, hockey and football grounds, and indoor gaming courts.

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DUBAI: Pakistan women’s team batter Gull Feroza has been named among the nominees for the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award for May 2026. 

The right-handed batter earned the nomination following an outstanding series against Zimbabwe, where she scored 256 runs in three matches at an impressive average of 128 with a strike rate of 103.64.

She hit a fifty in the series opener, followed by a century and an unbeaten 106, helping Pakistan complete a 3-0 sweep over Zimbabwe. For her outstanding performances, she was named Player of the Series.

Gull Feroza’s rich vein of form continued in the T20I series against Zimbabwe. She made 82 runs in four matches at a strike rate of 157.69. The 27-year-old hit a blistering 37 from 19 balls against Zimbabwe, followed by a quick-fire 32 from just 15 deliveries against Ireland in the recently concluded tri-series.

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England fast bowler Lauren Bell is also included in the nominations after impressing across all formats in the past months. She finished as the top wicket-taker in England’s ODI series against New Zealand, with figures of 2/38 in the first match and 3/20 in the third.

Over these two games, Bell took five wickets at an average of 13.40 and an economy rate of 4.36. She continued her strong performance into the following T20I series against New Zealand and India.

In four T20Is, she took eight wickets at an average of 14 and an economy rate of 7.00. Her notable performances included 2/23 in the first T20I against New Zealand and 3/34 in the first T20I against India at Chelmsford, highlighting her vital role in England’s bowling ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.

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Michael Vaughan has backed Ben Stokes to retain the England captaincy despite being investigated for breaking the team’s curfew.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced they were looking into Stokes’ involvement in a nightclub incident on Monday morning following England’s win in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s.

England team-mate Gus Atkinson and Saracens rugby player Totoa Auvaa were also involved. Media reports on Tuesday suggested Stokes may resign as Test skipper.

The second Test against New Zealand at the Oval gets underway in a week’s time.

But former England captain Vaughan said Stokes had sufficient “credit in the bank” to avoid being sacked.

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“Yes, Ben Stokes broke a curfew,” Vaughan wrote in the Daily Telegraph. “Yes, he made a mistake. But is that a sacking offence as England’s Test captain? I do not think som” he added.

“Stokes has a lot of credit in the bank for all he has done for England as captain and all-rounder. There is no way that those making the big decisions at the England and Wales Cricket Board have the same credit in the bank.”

“I do not see how you can tell Stokes he is not captain anymore just for going over the curfew by a couple of hours after a win.”

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“A short suspension would be fine, but this is not a big enough incident over which to lose the captaincy,” Vaughan concluded.

It is the latest controversy concerning the England team after the tour of Australia where the side faced allegations of a drinking culture during a 4-1 Ashes series loss.

Earlier, England announced the squad for the second New Zealand Test, leaving out Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson, with Joe Root named as interim captain.

England Squad for Second Test

Joe Root (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, James Rew, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith and Josh Tongue.

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England have announced the squad for the second Test against New Zealand, with Joe Root named as interim captain after Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were left out due to an ongoing investigation.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that the duo was unavailable for selection as the investigation into the nightclub incident continues.

“The England & Wales Cricket Board can confirm that, given the ongoing investigation, Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have not been made available for selection for the Rothesay 2nd Test against New Zealand, which starts at the Kia Oval on Wednesday 17 June,” the board said in a statement.

Stokes and Atkinson have been replaced by Jofra Archer and Jordan Cox in the 15-man squad. Meanwhile, Root has been picked as the stand-in captain ahead of the vice-captain, Harry Brook.

Previously, Root has led the side in 64 matches between 2017 and 2022. The ace batter has opted not to take the role after handing over the reins to Stokes.

However, Brook himself was fined and cautioned for the New Zealand nightclub incident last year. Root has stepped in as captain as the most senior member of the English side.

For the unversed, Stokes and team-mate Gus Atkinson are facing a probe by the ECB for breaking team rules in the early hours of Monday morning following England’s win in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s.

It is the latest controversy involving the England team following a tour of Australia during which the side faced allegations of a drinking culture amid a 4-1 Ashes series defeat that concluded in January.

The second Test between England and New Zealand will begin on 17 June at the Kia Oval.

England Squad for Second Test

Joe Root (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, James Rew, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith and Josh Tongue.

READ: ICC reveals Men’s Player of the Month nominees for May 2026

Rod Bransgrove has stepped down from his role as Hampshire chairman, following the completion of the takeover by GMR Global, the English county cricket side announced on Wednesday.

The 76-year-old businessman saved the county from financial collapse when he bought the club in 2000, and led the move to the Rose Bowl from Hampshire’s old Northlands Road headquarters in Southampton.

Bransgrove has long campaigned for the Rose Bowl to stage a Test against Australia and his dream will be realised during the 2027 Ashes in England.

GMR, who co-own Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Delhi Capitals, have now finalised the staged acquisition of the Hampshire Sport and Leisure Holdings Group, a process that began in 2024.

GMR’s Kiran Kumar Grandhi will take over from Bransgrove, who becomes honorary life president and a director on the board.

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“This moment brings to a close a chapter that has meant more to me than words can express,” said Bransgrove.

“What we have built at Hampshire has been a collective effort, driven by incredible people, loyal supporters and partners who believed in a shared vision.”

He added: “I have immense pride in what we have achieved here and unequivocal confidence that, under GMR’s full ownership, the club and venue are in the safest of hands. The future is incredibly exciting, and I will be watching closely.”

Grandhi, meanwhile paid tribute to Bransgrove’s “extraordinary leadership and vision”, saying GMR were “excited to build on the remarkable legacy that has been established here, investing in long-term growth and innovation”.

For the unversed, GMR is an Indian consortium and has e

GMR, an Indian infrastructure conglomerate, has greatly expanded its cricketing interests in recent years. Besides the IPL and Women’s Premier League (WPL) with Delhi Capitals, it also manages Dubai Capitals in the ILT20 and Seattle Orcas in Major League Cricket.

READ: ICC reveals Men’s Player of the Month nominees for May 2026

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday announced the player of the month nominees for May 2026, including veteran Bangladesh batter Mushfiqur Rahim. 

Mushfiqur starred with the bat during Bangladesh’s 2-0 Test series triumph over Pakistan. He scored 253 runs across two Tests at an average of 63.25, including a sublime 137 in the second Test.  For his outstanding performance, the 39-year-old was adjudged the Player of the Series.

Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam is also among the nominees, following his bowling heroics in the Test series against Pakistan. He finished as the leading wicket-taker, collecting 13 wickets at an average of 19.61, including a six-wicket haul in the second at Sylhet.

In addition, he also chipped in with the bat, scoring a vital 58 runs during the series.

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The third nominee on the list is Nepal all-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee, following his impressive performance in the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 campaign.

Airee finished with 249 runs to his name in six ODIs at an average of 49.80 with a strike rate of 110.66. His most notable performance came against the UAE, where he scored 100 off 94 balls.

Airee also created an impact with the ball, scalping eight wickets at an average of 19.12 at an economy rate of 4.52. His standout performance was a match-winning spell of 4/24 against the United States.

READ: Harry Brook reclaims No.1 spot in Test batting rankings

DUBAI: England’s flamboyant batter Harry Brook has overtaken Joe Root to reclaim the No.1 spot in the latest ICC Test batting rankings released on Wednesday.

This is the first time since 2024 that Brook has regained the top spot. His compatriot Root moved down to the number three position with Australia opener Travis Head climbing to second.

Harry Brook reached the pole position on the back of 56 that helped England win a low-scoring first Test against New Zealand, while Root could only manage one and eight.

India captain Shubman Gill now sits at No.08 following his century against Afghanistan in the one-off Test. Gill made 126 in his side’s biggest Test win in the longer format.

In bowlers, Gus Atkinson entered the top 10 rankings after a fifer against New Zealand in the second innings. With this, he now sits in the No. 10 position.

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In ODI bowling rankings, Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed climbed to a career-best second place in the latest ICC Men’s ODI Bowling Rankings following his standout performances against Australia.

The spinner was one of Pakistan’s key performers during their recently concluded three-match ODI series victory over Australia, claiming six wickets and playing a pivotal role in the hosts’ 2-1 triumph.

His impressive returns earned him a significant boost in the rankings, moving him up from fourth to second place with 675 rating points.

Abrar now trails only Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan, who continues to lead the ODI bowling rankings with 705 points. England fast bowler Jofra Archer slipped to third after the latest update.

Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi also enjoyed a notable rise after spearheading the pace attack against Australia. The left-arm quick, who finished the series with seven wickets, jumped four places to break into the top 10, reaching ninth position with 604 rating points.

Among other Pakistani bowlers, Haris Rauf moved up one spot to 18th, while Naseem Shah slipped two places to 47th. Fast bowler Mohammad Wasim Jr also dropped three positions and is now ranked 68th.

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LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday revealed the schedule for the women’s team’s tour of Sri Lanka, which will take place in July after the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Pakistan women’s team will play six white-ball matches during the tour, with all matches scheduled to be played at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium.

The three ODIs, scheduled to take place on 23, 25 and 28 July, are part of the ICC Women’s Championship 2025-29.

Pakistan are currently occupying second place in the Women’s Championship standings, having won four of their six matches so far and earned eight points.

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New Zealand currently lead the Championship table with 13 points, having played three more matches than Pakistan.

Pakistan will also feature in three T20Is, which will be staged on 31 July, 2 August and 4 August. Both Pakistan and Sri Lanka women’s teams are currently in the UK to take part in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, which begins on 12 June.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka have competed against each other in a total of 21 T20I matches, with the former winning 11 games. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka have secured victory in nine and one match ending in a no result.

In One Day Internationals (ODIs), the two teams have faced off 34 times, with Pakistan winning 11 matches and Sri Lanka winning 22. One ODI match also ended without a result.

Tour schedule

• 23 July – First ODI
• 25 July – Second ODI
• 28 July – Third ODI
• 31 July – First T20I
• 2 August – Second T20I
• 4 August – Third T20I

READ: Abrar Ahmed closes in on No.1 ODI bowler ranking

DUBAI: Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed has continued his rapid rise in international cricket, climbing to a career-best second place in the latest ICC Men’s ODI Bowling Rankings following his standout performances against Australia.

The spinner was one of Pakistan’s key performers during their recently concluded three-match ODI series victory over Australia, claiming six wickets and playing a pivotal role in the hosts’ 2-1 triumph.

His impressive returns earned him a significant boost in the rankings, moving him up from fourth to second place with 675 rating points.

Abrar now trails only Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan, who continues to lead the ODI bowling rankings with 705 points. England fast bowler Jofra Archer slipped to third after the latest update.

Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi also enjoyed a notable rise after spearheading the pace attack against Australia. The left-arm quick, who finished the series with seven wickets, jumped four places to break into the top 10, reaching ninth position with 604 rating points.

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Among other Pakistani bowlers, Haris Rauf moved up one spot to 18th, while Naseem Shah slipped two places to 47th. Fast bowler Mohammad Wasim Jr also dropped three positions and is now ranked 68th.

In the ODI batting rankings, former Pakistan captain Babar Azam retained his sixth-place position, while vice-captain Salman Ali Agha fell two spots to 16th with 630 rating points.

Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan dropped to 31st, while opener Fakhar Zaman slipped to 36th in the latest rankings.

New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell remains at the top of the ODI batting rankings, with India star Virat Kohli occupying second place and Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zadran sitting third.

Abrar’s strong performances also brought rewards in the all-rounders’ rankings, where he surged 13 places to reach 32nd. Shaheen, meanwhile, climbed one spot to 22nd among ODI all-rounders.

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LAHORE: Top-order batter Sahibzada Farhan has been named as captain of the Pakistan squad for the upcoming Asian Games 2026, set to take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from 19 September to 4 October.

The men’s cricket event will commence on 24 September, featuring 10 teams; meanwhile, the medal matches will be played on 3 October. All games will be played at Korogi Athletic Park in Aichi Prefecture.

30-year-old Farhan has featured in 46 T20I matches for Pakistan, scoring 1,305 runs, including two centuries and 10 half-centuries. Meanwhile, Abdul Samad, who has played five T20Is for Pakistan, has been named vice-captain of the side.

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Among the 15-member squad, Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Maaz Sadaqat and Saad Masood are the four players yet to represent Pakistan in the T20I format.

Additionally, 14 of the 15 players selected for the Asian Games squad are part of the NCA White-Ball Camp, which is set to commence in Lahore from Monday, 15 June.

Pakistan squad for Asian Games 2026

Sahibzada Farhan (captain), Abdul Samad (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Arafat Minhas, Haider Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Saad Masood, Saim Ayub, Sufyan Moqim and Usman Khan (wicket-keeper)

Support staff: Mike Hesson (head coach), Ashley Noffke (bowling coach), Shane McDermott (fielding coach), Muhammad Tahir (physiotherapist), Imran Ullah (trainer), Usman Hashmi (analyst-cum-team operations coordinator)

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