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Veteran England batter Joe Root has said it would be “silly” to change the team management after losing the Ashes, with players “absolutely committed” to the current set-up.

England meekly surrendered the famous urn after just 11 days of play with back-to-back eight-wicket defeats in Perth and Brisbane and an 82-run loss at Adelaide.

Their capitulation was compounded by criticism of their low-key preparations and allegations of excessive drinking during a mid-series beach break in Noosa.

The team restored some pride with a frantic four-wicket win in Melbourne, snapping an 18-match winless streak on Australian soil.

It relieved pressure on coach Brendon McCullum, skipper Ben Stokes and cricket chief Rob Key, who have all indicated they want to stay in their roles.

“In terms of the playing group, we’re absolutely committed to the management,” Root, England’s all-time leading Test run-scorer and a former captain, told English media in Melbourne.

“Yes, we can be better, and there are certain areas that we’ll continue to keep working at, but the management works extremely hard.

“They might do things in a slightly different way, but I think we’ve made great strides as a group, and a big reason for it is because of the guys we have behind us.”

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Management’s case to stay on would be strengthened by another win in the fifth Test in Sydney starting Sunday.

Joe Root was captain on England’s last tour of Australia in 2021-22 when they were crushed 4-0, costing coach Chris Silverwood and cricket director Ashley Giles their jobs.

But Root said a lot of progress had been made since under the current regime.

“You look at the group of players we’ve got, and you look at the guys that were involved in the team when I was captain, four years ago, and you look at their records individually, and every single one of them has improved as a player,” he said.

“This team has improved. I think it would be silly (to consider change) for the amount of hard work and things that have been done.”

Victory in Melbourne was Root’s first in Australia in more than a decade of trying, and he said it “would be better if we win next week as well”.

“If we can build on it and do it again next time, it’s momentum in the right direction for the next tour here (in 2029-30),” he added.

READ: Injured England pacer ruled out of fifth Ashes Test in Sydney

England pace spearhead Gus Atkinson was, on Monday, ruled out of the fifth and final Ashes Test against Australia, scheduled to be played in Sydney, with a hamstring injury.

The Surrey right-armer hobbled off early on day two of the fourth Test in Melbourne, clutching his left leg and taking no further part in the game.

“Gus Atkinson has been ruled out for the remainder of the Ashes tour after scans confirmed he has sustained a left hamstring injury,” the England Cricket Board (ECB) said.

With one Test remaining in Sydney, scheduled to begin on January 4, England has decided not to bring in a replacement player.

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This decision paves the way for either Matthew Potts or Matthew Fisher, both of whom are in the squad but have yet to feature in any game.

Notably, Gus Atkinson is the third England quick to be sidelined after Mark Wood (knee) and Jofra Archer (side strain), leaving Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue and Ben Stokes to shoulder the attack.

England are 3-1 down ahead of the Sydney Test starting on Sunday.

They suffered back-to-back eight-wicket defeats in Perth and Brisbane and an 82-run loss at Adelaide before bouncing back to clinch a four-wicket win in Melbourne.

READ: Van Dijk urges Liverpool to improve ‘killer’ set-piece goals

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said the Premier League champions have to improve a woeful record defending set-pieces if they are to continue an upturn in form.

The Reds only edged past bottom-of-the-table Wolves 2-1 on Saturday after conceding a 12th league goal in 18 games from a set-piece.

No team has conceded more, and, at the other end, Liverpool have only scored three times from set-pieces, excluding penalties, themselves.

That minus nine differential is their worst in any Premier League season.

“The fact is we’ve conceded too many set-piece goals and we don’t score enough,” said Van Dijk.

“It’s something we have to improve. I would say at least 75 percent of the time, or even more, it’s not even about the first contact. It’s the second phase that is the killer.

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“Is it a mental thing? I hope not. If that’s in your head then it’s an issue. Personally, it’s not in my head.”

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has bemoaned his side’s dead-ball defending for much of the season.

But the Dutchman sees signs of progress overall as Liverpool beat nine-man Tottenham and Wolves in their last two matches despite conceding from a corner in each of them.

“Unfortunately we’re maybe the only team that hardly ever scores from a set-piece and, even worse, we constantly concede,” said Slot.

“But then, I think I said two, three or four weeks ago, we have to make sure that when things go against us – it could be a set-piece, it could be other things – we still need to find a way to win.

“In the last two games we conceded from a set-piece but we were able to win and that hasn’t happened many times this season. That’s progress for me, but it’s obvious there are more things for us to improve and this is definitely one of them.”

Despite a string of unconvincing performances, Liverpool are on a seven-match unbeaten run.

Three consecutive league wins have lifted Slot’s men back into the top four, but they remain 10 points adrift of leaders Arsenal.

READ: Hakimi to feature in Morocco’s final AFCON group game

African player of the year Achraf Hakimi will make his first appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) when hosts Morocco play Zambia on Monday, coach Walid Regragui confirmed.

“What he has done to come back is extraordinary. What I can say is that Achraf will play tomorrow,” Regragui said Sunday in Rabat, on the eve of Morocco’s last group game.

“Whether he starts or not, it will be his first match at the AFCON.

“What we want — because we want to go as far as possible — is that Achraf progresses with the team and that we can keep him for the whole competition.”

Hakimi has not played since suffering an ankle injury in action for Paris Saint-Germain at the beginning of November and was an unused substitute in Morocco’s first two matches at the Cup of Nations.

Without him, Morocco beat Comoros 2-0 in the tournament’s opening game before being held to a 1-1 draw by Mali on Friday.

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They sit top of Group A with four points from two outings and a win against Zambia will allow them to advance to the last 16 in first place in their section. A draw will also guarantee their spot in the knockout phase.

“I think people don’t realise what Achraf brings to our team,” Regragui added.

“We have played two games without our best player, our leader and captain, but we have not hidden. Other players have stood in for him.

“But would we be a different team with Achraf? Of course. He is the best player in Africa, one of the best in the world.”

Hakimi admitted his frustration at not having taken part in either of the first two matches and said he was disappointed that Moroccan supporters had jeered the hosts during the draw against Mali.

“We know it is not easy sometimes, that they want us to win and finish games by half-time, but we have to respect our opponents too,” said the defender who helped PSG win the Champions League last season.

“It is not normal for them to boo us. We want to have the supporters behind us.

“I experienced that at Paris Saint-Germain when we were not winning in the Champions League, we were losing games, people said we were not a great team and didn’t have a great coach, but we went on to be champions of Europe.

“If the fans are behind us we can be champions of Africa together.”

Meanwhile, Hakimi added he was delighted to see his friend and former PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe, now with Real Madrid, in the crowd at the match against Mali.

“It is really nice to see my friend here in my country. He really likes Morocco and comes here whenever he can with his family. He loves the food here!”

READ: Wasim Akram named brand ambassador for PSL 11

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has named legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram as the brand ambassador of the PSL 11. 

The decision was announced by PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi in a press conference held here on Sunday alongside PSL CEO Salman Naseer.

“One good thing for PSL is that we have named Wasim Akram as the brand ambassador,” he told reporters.

“Not only that, on the day of the bid, he will be overseeing the auction process,” Naqvi added.

Wasim Akram’s involvement in the PSL has evolved over the years from a brand ambassador to various coaching and management roles with different franchises.

He further said that PSL 11 could start on March 23 instead of the announced date of March 26. The chairman also lauded Aqib Javed for playing a pivotal role in improving the U19 and Pakistan Shaheens performances.

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“Since Aaqib Javed’s arrival, camps have been organized for the Shaheens and age-group cricket teams,” said Mohsin Naqvi. “The performance of the Under-19 and Shaheens teams is improving consistently.”

Mohsin Naqvi also highlighted investment in youth and other sports, noting that a detailed plan for covering other sports is under discussion.

“Our focus is heavily on youth, and this is where new talent will emerge,” he maintained. School cricket has been completed in Lahore and Faisalabad, Mohsin Naqvi stated.

“News channels should also cover other sports, and a plan is in place for this, the PCB chief concluded.

For those unaware, the Pakistan Super League, which began in 2016 with five outfits, is set to expand with the addition of two new teams.

The league will undergo its first major restructuring with the inclusion of two new franchises, for which the auction process will be held on 8 January in Islamabad.

READ: PCB to take control of Multan Sultans for PSL 11

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced on Sunday to take over control of the Multan Sultans for the upcoming edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Naqvi, at a press conference, revealed the decision, noting that the auction of the outfit will be held following the conclusion of PSL 11.

“Multan Sultans will be operated by the PCB this year. Once the PSL concludes, we will carry out the auction process and put the franchise up for sale. However, for this season, the board will run the Sultans,” Naqvi said.

He shed light on the decision and stated that a professional cricketer will take charge of the Sultans for PSL 11.

“For this purpose, we will appoint an acting head within the next eight to ten days who will oversee the team. A professional cricketer will be brought in to manage Multan Sultans for this season,” he continued.

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For those unaware, this comes after Sultan’s former owner, Ali Tareen, said goodbye to the franchise he owned in 2018. Tareen cited finances as a reason for parting ways with the team.

Meanwhile, the auction of the two new outfits is set for 8 January 2026, with 10 bidders gearing up to compete for the teams.

A day earlier, PCB completed the technical Evaluation of the proposal submitted by bidders for the sale of two new PSL outfits.

“A total of 12 proposals were received from interested parties within the stipulated deadline from across the globe and were scrutinised by the PCB Bid Committee over the last three days,” the board had said in a press release.

“Following a thorough and transparent evaluation process, the PCB Bid Committee has qualified 10 Bidders who have successfully met the technical criteria and now enter the second stage,” it added.

The Pakistan Super League, which began in 2016 with five outfits, is set to expand with the addition of two new teams.

Notably, the league expanded to five teams in 2018 with the addition of Multan Sultans. With the addition of two new franchises, the league will undergo its first major restructuring in seven years, taking the total to eight teams.

READ: Imad Wasim announces separation from his wife

Former Pakistan cricketer Imad Wasim on Sunday announced his separation from his wife, Sania Ashfaq, after months of conflict.

Imad shared the news on his Instagram handle, revealing the reason behind the decision.

“After much thought, and due to repeated conflicts that could not be resolved over the past few years, I have filed for divorce,” he wrote.

“I sincerely request everyone to respect our privacy and avoid using or sharing any old couple photos. Please also refrain from referring to her as my spouse going forward,” he added.

 

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A post shared by Imad Wasim (@imadwasim)

He also urged the followers and fans not to engage in or believe any misleading narratives related to the matter and warned that any attempts to defame or involve others would be addressed through legal channels.

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“I request everyone not to engage in or believe any misleading narratives. Any attempt to defame or involve others in this personal matter will be addressed through the proper legal channels if necessary.”

“Regarding the children, I remain their father and will continue to care for them fully and responsibly. Thank you for your understanding and respect,” he concluded.

For the unversed, Imad Wasim and Sanif Ashfaq tied the knot in 2019. The couple has three children.

The all-rounder, who retired from international cricket in December 2024, is currently playing in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

READ: BBL 15: Haris Rauf shines as undefeated Stars crush Thunder

CANBERRA: Haris Rauf continued his impressive run in the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 as Melbourne Stars romped to a nine-wicket victory over Sydney Thunder in the 14th fixture of the tournament here at the Manuka Oval on Sunday.

Set a partly 129, Stars aced the chase inside 14 overs, losing only one wicket in the process.

Joe Clarke and Sam Harper came out firing all cylinders, adding 86 in 9.4 overs, which made the competition a one-sided affair.

Clarke remained the core aggressor, top scoring with 60 off 37 with the help of eight fours and a six.

Sam Harper unbeaten 29 off 27, including two fours, whereas Glenn Maxwell also got going with a quick-fire 39* from 20, striking five fours and two sixes.

For Sydney Thunder, Chris Green remained the solitary wicket-taker.

Earlier, Haris Rauf led bowling attack bundled out the Sydney Thunder for a modest 128 at the end of their 20 overs.

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After a decent start, Rauf removed Matthew Gilkes for 24 to give Stars an opening. The opener hit a six and two fours before getting caught.

Soon after, Sam Konstas was sent back as well after managing just 11 from 15 balls. The hiccup reduced them to 39-2 in 5.1 overs as veteran batter David Warner arrived at the crease in a bid to stabilize the innings.

Warner and Cameron Bancroft added only 16 before both were dismissed in quick succession to leave Thunder in disarray.

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As a result, Thunder were 63-4 in 9.5 overs before a brief partnership of 27 between Sam Billings and Shadab Khan took their score to near the 100-run mark.

However, Thunder had a similar plot: losing quick wickets in a short span of time that could get their innings going, and eventually the whole team was bundled out for a modest score.

Shadab remained the top scorer with 25 off 24 with the aid of two fours, whereas Sam Billings hit two fours and a six in his 23 from 19 balls.

For Melbourne Stars, Haris Rauf picked up three in his four overs, while Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, and Tom Curran were equally good with two wickets to their name.

With this, the Melbourne Stars extended their undefeated run, winning four out of four games, and are at the top of the points table.

READ: Haris Rauf lights up BBL 15 with fiery spell

MELBOURNE: The curator of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) Matt Page said he was left shocked and disappointed after the fourth Ashes Test ended inside two days.

With the series already done and dusted, the fourth Test — like the first Test also concluded within two days as England managed to register their win in Australia since 2011.

Following the result, former and current cricketers criticised the pitch behaviour and called for a better balance between bat and ball.

Page admitted that he was disappointed with the outcome of the Boxing Day Test, which drew a record crowd on the opening day, but failed to last beyond two days.

“I was in a state of shock after the first day, to see everything that happened, 20 wickets in a day,” he said. “I’ve never been involved in a Test match like it, and hopefully never involved in a Test match like it again.

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Reflecting on the pitch conditions in th recent years, Page reiterated the need to strike a balance between batters and bowlers.

“Every year is different and the margins are very small, but in the back of your mind, you’re always trying to provide that contest. We’re about trying to provide captivating Test cricket, that balance between bat and ball going four or five days,” he remarked.

“We’ve produced a Test that’s been captivating, but it hasn’t gone long enough, and we’ll take ownership of that. We’ll learn from it, we’ll grow, and we’ll make sure that we’ll get it right next year,” he added.

The curator also recalled the 2017 flat deck and stressed the importance of seam movement to avoid lifeless pitches.

“We don’t want to go back to where we were in 2017,” he said, referring to the Test in which former English skipper Alastair Cook scored an unbeaten 244.

“If we don’t have seam movement here at the MCG, we become very dull, very lifeless and very flat, which is no good for the players, no good for the spectators, and no good for the game,” Matt Page concluded.

READ: Shadab returns as Pakistan announce refreshed squad for Sri Lanka T20Is

LAHORE: All-rounder Shadab Khan returned to the fray as Pakistan named a refreshed 15-member squad for the upcoming T20Is against Sri Lanka, as part of their preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Salman Ali Agha will continue to lead the side, while Wicketkeeper-batter Khawaja Mohammad Nafay has earned his maiden call-up to the national T20 side.

The squad also includes Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jr and Naseem Shah.

Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, and Usman Tariq complete the selection.

Interestingly, except for Shadab, none of the players currently featuring in the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 — Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Hasan Ali were included in the side.

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Meanwhile, Shadab, who last played for the Greens in June, has been added to boost the squad’s all-around strength ahead of the World Cup.

The 27-year-old was sidelined from the side after a recurring shoulder injury, which required surgery.

On the other hand, Nafay has been in the T20 circuit for the past couple of years and played 32 T20 matches, amassing 688 runs at a strike rate of 132.81.

The Pakistan team is scheduled to depart for Sri Lanka in phases on January 4 and 5.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka will contest a three-match T20 International series, with all fixtures to be played in Dambulla on January 7, 9, and 11.

Pakistan squad for T20I series vs Sri Lanka

Salman Agha (capt), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmad, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Usman Tariq

READ: BPL: Imad Wasim helps Dhaka Capitals edge past Rajshahi Warriors