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LONDON: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is set to investigate an alleged video of Ben Duckett, which went viral after he reportedly got lost on his way back to the team hotel.

The alleged video emerged on the X platform on Tuesday, just after England men’s managing director Rob Key said that there would be an investigation into the Three Lions refreshing trip during the break between Second Ashes Test.

England took a four-day break in Noosa, a beautiful Sunshine Coast resort town in Queensland, which was booked by head coach Brendon McCullum a year in advance for players’ refreshment.

However, things turned ugly as England lost their third Test in a row, handing Australia the Ashes with two matches still to play.

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Following the video, the ECB confirmed the probe and noted that they will follow the necessary protocols for a thorough investigation.

“We are aware of content circulating on social media,” the board said.

“We have high expectations for behaviour, accepting that players are often under intense levels of scrutiny, with established processes that we follow when conduct falls below expectations. We also support players that need assistance,” it added.

“We will not comment further at this stage while we establish the facts.”

For the unversed, Ben Duckett is going through a poor run in the Ashes, managing just 97 at an average of 16.`16 with a highest score of 29.

Notably, this is not the first time the 31-year-old has been under scrutiny for disciplinary conduct.

Eight years ago, Duckett, who was part of the Lions squad for the 2017-18 series, was sent back home with a fine and a suspension by the ECB for pouring a drink over James Anderson.

READ: Tottenham manager hits back at Arne Slot, defends Van de Ven

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has hit back at Arne Slot after the Liverpool boss criticised Micky van de Ven for a “reckless” tackle that left Alexander Isak with a broken leg.

Defender Van de Ven crashed into Isak with a sliding tackle in a failed attempt to stop the Sweden striker scoring in Liverpool’s 2-1 win at Tottenham on Saturday.

Isak, who limped off after Van de Ven’s challenge, underwent surgery on an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture.

The 26-year-old is expected to be sidelined for at least two months after the injury to his left leg.

Slot launched a scathing attack on the centre-back when he faced the media on Tuesday, saying he was guilty of a “reckless challenge”.

“If you make that tackle 10 times, I think 10 times there’s a serious chance that a player gets a serious injury,” he said.

But Frank defended his player in his own press conference.

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“I obviously disagree in many ways,” he said. “We are talking about a defender that will do everything he can to avoid the goal.

“It is a transition, there is a ball down the side, and he is doing everything he can to block the shot, so he is sliding.

“Unfortunately, Isak plants his foot so it makes it look worse than it is, but that is a natural action for a defender.

“Put it this way, if my defender does not do that, they are not true defenders.”

Frank said Van de Ven would not put an opponent’s health at risk with a dangerous foul.

“Reckless challenge? I don’t think you see anything like that from Micky,” he said.

“I see him as a very fair and competitive player. That’s one thing. I know the two players have sorted it out, so that’s a good sign.”

Tottenham’s defeat against Liverpool added to the mounting pressure on Frank.

The former Brentford boss has struggled since arriving in north London in the close-season to replace the sacked Ange Postecoglou.

Postecoglou ended Tottenham’s 17-year trophy drought by winning the Europa League, but the poor domestic form that haunted the Australian has continued under Frank’s watch.

Tottenham are languishing in 14th place in the Premier League ahead of this weekend’s trip to Crystal Palace, but Frank remains confident he can turn the tide.

“This is one of the biggest clubs in the world so it makes it a bigger and different challenge,” he said.

“Where this makes it extra challenging is we also play Champions League and Premier League at the same time. We are trying to improve when at 100 miles per hour.”

READ: BBL 15: Haris Rauf’s three-fer helps Stars ease past Strikers

LONDON: Wicket-keeper Thomas Rew is set to lead the 15-member England side for the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup 2026, which is set to be hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Somerset batter Rew has recently been involved in the England Lions tour of Australia and has been handed the responsibility of leading the side, while Farhan Ahmed, who previously led the side against West Indies U19 in the Youth ODI series, is named as his deputy.

Among the notable inclusions is left-arm spinner Ali Farooq, who is included in the squad for the first time.

Following the announcement, head coach Michael Yardy expressed confidence in the side’s ability to do something special.

“This is an amazing opportunity for the players we have selected to not only wear an England shirt at a World Cup but also to go out and try and do something special,” he said.

“We have a balanced squad with a core group of players who already have county experience and who have developed a camaraderie while playing together for the U19s that will serve them well during the tournament,” he added.

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He backed players to shine and show their real gameplay in the World Cup.

“I really want the players to enjoy the opportunity to play at a World Cup, in a beautiful country like Zimbabwe, and to embrace the chance to compete against different countries and show their quality,” Yardy concluded.

For the unversed, the 16th edition of the event will be held from 15 January to 6 February 2026.

The tournament will continue with its familiar format: 16 teams, four groups, 41 matches, and a Super Six stage leading into semi-finals and a final.

The sides will begin arriving on 8 January for warm-ups scheduled from 9–14 January while England will play their opening match against Pakistan in Harare on Friday, 16 January.

England U19 Squad

Thomas Rew (c), Farhan Ahmed, Ralphie Albert, Ben Dawkins, Caleb Falconer, Ali Farooq, Alex French, Alex Green, Luke Hands, Manny Lumsden, Ben Mayes, James Minto, Isaac Mohammed, Joe Moores, Sebastian Morgan.

READ: Ali Raza credits Sarfaraz’s ‘instrumental leadership’ in Asia Cup triumph

Pakistan U19 fast bowler Ali Raza said mentor and manager Sarfaraz Ahmed leadership skills played a decisive role in the national side’s ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2025 triumph.

Speaking during an interview with a private news channel, Raza credited team mentor and manager Sarfaraz Ahmed for guiding them and shaping the team’s winning mindset.

“The Pakistan U19 team worked incredibly hard, and our efforts finally paid off. Sarfaraz Ahmed’s experience and leadership were instrumental in shaping the team’s mindset,” he remarked.

“He never let us feel homesick. Instead, he created a family-like environment for the team, which really boosted our morale,” Raza maintained.

The bowler also thanked the team management for backing him during his challenging time while emphasizing the hard work which played a crucial role in glory for Pakistan.

“During my injury, there were times when I didn’t feel like practising. However, the management placed their trust in me, which motivated me to continue working hard.”

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Every day, the U19 team focused on learning and improving. The management encouraged us to give 100% on the field, and the result was evident in lifting the U19 Asia Cup trophy,” the 17-year-old said.

He revealed his idol fast bowlers while praising arch-rivals India for demonstrating sportsmanship.

“In cricket, there is no small or big player—what matters is showing sportsmanship. India displayed great sportsmanship, and we focused on playing our best cricket against them,” he said.

“I watch bowlers like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Mohammad Asif, Rana Naved, and Mohammad Sami.

In the Asia Cup final, I remembered Mohammad Amir’s spell from the Champions Trophy. Seeing former greats praise my performance, like Wasim Akram and Ian Bishop tweeting in my support, is a matter of pride for me,” Raza concluded.

For the unversed, Ali Raza played a crucial role in the victory against arch-rivals India with a four-wicket haul.

After Pakistan posted a daunting 347-run target,  India’s response never gathered momentum, as Pakistan’s bowlers ran riot to bowl them out for 156 in 26.2 overs, sealing a thumping 191-run victory.

Ali Raza led the charge with an impressive spell of 4 for 42, while Ahmed Hussain and Huzaifa Ahsan claimed two wickets apiece to complete a memorable triumph for the boys in green.

READ: Sameer Minhas reveals his cricketing idol

ADELAIDE: Pacer Haris Rauf delivered a fiery three-wicket spell to lead Melbourne Stars to a six-wicket win over Adelaide Strikers in the 10th match of Big Bash League (BBL) 15 here at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday.

Set 156, Stars chased down the target on four wickets with 11 balls to spare.

Sam Harper remained the top scorer, scoring 55 from 36 balls with the help of five fours and two sixes.

Skipper Marcus Stoinis remained the other notable contributor with 32* from 22 to his name. The right-hander hit three fours and a six in his brisk knock.

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Melbourne Stars were off to a flyer as they posted 67 at the end of the powerplay, losing just one wicket in the process. Joe Clarke hit two fours before getting dismissed on 23.

Meanwhile, Harper continued to charge and stitched a brief 23-run partnership with Campbell Kellaway. The duo brought the total to 90 in 9.5 overs.

However, Hasan Ali took two crucial wickets in quick succession to jolt Stars in the chase. The right-arm pacer first removed well-set Harper, followed by the big wicket of Glenn Maxwell for two to reduce them to 96-3 in 11.3 overs.

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But Marcus Stoinis remained till the end to ensure his side crossed the finishing line. He added 37 and 28* run stands with Campbell Kellaway and Hilton Cartwright to take his side home.

For Stars, Hasan Ali remained the pick of the bowlers, managing to take two wickets in his three overs.

Earlier, after being given the opportunity to bat first, the home side Adelaide Strikers were unable to post a big total as they ended their innings on 155 for 8 in 20 overs.

Tom Curran ripped through their top order, removing Chris Lynn and Jason Sangha in the second over to put his side on top.

After an early hiccup, skipper Matthew Short batted with responsibility, crafting a 55-run partnership with Liam Scott to take the score to 62-3 in 7.5 overs.

The stand culminated with Scott’s wicket, trapped lbw by Stoinis for 25, despite it being another 48-run partnership that carried them over the 100-run mark, before a middle-order collapse saw them reeling.

Alex Ross and Short brought the total to 110 in 13.4 overs as Curran removed the latter, who top-scored with 56 from 42 with the help of four boundaries.

Eventually, the home side were limited to a below-par total at the end of their innings.

For Stars, Haris Rauf and Tom Curran combined and shared six wickets between them.

READ: Sameer Minhas reveals his cricketing idol

Pakistan’s emerging middle-order batter Sameer Minhas has revealed that national team star Babar Azam is his favourite cricketer, following a record-breaking campaign in the recently concluded ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2025.

Speaking in an interview with a local news platform, the 19-year-old was asked to name the Pakistani player he admires the most. Minhas responded without hesitation, stating that Babar Azam remains his top inspiration within the national side.

Minhas was the standout performer of the tournament, playing a central role in Pakistan’s historic run to their maiden U19 Asia Cup title in the competition’s 35-year history.

The right-handed batter finished as the leading run-scorer, piling up 471 runs in just five matches at a staggering average of 157.00 and a strike rate of 117.45.

His tally included two centuries and a half-century, underlining his dominance throughout the event.

His most prolific outing came against Malaysia U19, where he produced a commanding unbeaten 177, setting the tone for Pakistan’s campaign.

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The teenager saved his best for the final against arch-rivals India, delivering a match-defining knock under pressure.

Minhas struck a superb 172 off 113 deliveries, peppering the boundary with 17 fours and nine sixes, as Pakistan posted an imposing total of 347 for eight after being put in to bat.

Ahmed Hussain provided valuable support in the middle order with a composed 56 off 72 balls.

India’s response never gathered momentum, as Pakistan’s bowlers ran riot to bowl them out for 156 in 26.2 overs, sealing a thumping 191-run victory.

Fast bowler Ali Raza led the charge with an impressive spell of 4 for 42, while Ahmed Hussain and Huzaifa Ahsan claimed two wickets apiece to complete a memorable triumph for the boys in green.

READ: Indonesia’s Gede Priandana creates T20I history with five-wicket over

Alexander Isak is expected to be out of action for two months after fracturing his leg against Tottenham, with Liverpool manager Arne Slot accusing Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven of making a “reckless challenge”.

The Swedish striker was injured in a tackle from the defender in the act of scoring the opening goal in Saturday’s 2-1 victory and limped off the pitch.

Liverpool said in a statement on Monday that the forward had had an operation on an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture.

“It’s going to be a long injury, for a couple of months,” Slot told reporters on Tuesday, “So, yeah, that’s a big, big, big disappointment for him. And as a result, also of course for us.”

Arne Slot described Van de Ven’s tackle as “reckless”.

“I think I said a lot about the tackle of Xavi Simons (sent off earlier in the game for Spurs), which, for me, was completely unintentional, and I don’t think you will ever get an injury out of a tackle like that.

“The tackle of Van de Ven, if you make that tackle 10 times, I think 10 times there’s a serious chance that a player gets a serious injury.”

Isak’s injury is the latest setback for the forward after he signed from Newcastle for a British record £125 million ($168 million) in September.

A dispute with Newcastle meant he did not have a proper pre-season programme and arrived at Liverpool well behind his team-mates in terms of fitness. His season was then interrupted by a groin injury.

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The 26-year-old has scored just three goals in 16 appearances since completing his protracted move to Anfield.

Isak’s absence will be a major blow for Reds boss Slot, with Mohamed Salah at the Africa Cup of Nations and Cody Gakpo not ready to return from a muscle injury until early in the new year.

It leaves Slot with Hugo Ekitike, who has five goals in his past four games, and the little-used Federico Chiesa as his only senior forwards.

Liverpool, whose Premier League title defence collapsed after a shocking run of results, have climbed to fifth in the table after extending their unbeaten league run to five games.

Isak’s injury raises the prospect of Liverpool moving to boost their attack in the January transfer window, with Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo linked with a move to Anfield.

It may also change the conversation around Salah, who had been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia following his recent claim that he had been thrown under the bus by the club and no longer had a relationship with Slot.

Salah’s rant, which came after he was left on the bench for three successive matches, prompted Liverpool to leave him out of the squad for a Champions League match at Inter Milan.

But he returned to action as a substitute against Brighton before leaving for international duty.

READ: Indonesia’s Gede Priandana creates T20I history with five-wicket over

BALI: Indonesia fast bowler Gede Priandana created history on Tuesday by becoming the first player to take five wickets in a single over in a men’s or women’s T20I.

He achieved this feat during the opening T20I against Cambodia, steering Indonesia to a dominant 60-run victory at the Udayana Cricket Ground.

The 28-year-old right-arm quick produced a spell for the ages in the 16th over of Cambodia’s chase of 168, completely dismantling the opposition’s middle and lower order in a dramatic collapse that effectively ended the contest.

Cambodia were still in the hunt at 106 for 5 after 15 overs, but Priandana, bowling his first over of the match, turned the game on its head instantly.

He struck with the first three deliveries to claim a stunning hat-trick, dismissing Shah Abrar Hussain, Nirmaljit Singh and Chanthoeun Rathanak.

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After a dot ball, he removed Mongdara Sok and Pel Vennak, conceding just a solitary wide in the over as Cambodia crumbled to be bowled out well short of the target.

With that extraordinary effort, Gede Priandana became the first bowler in T20 international cricket, across both men’s and women’s formats, to claim five wickets in a single over where fall-of-wicket data is officially recorded.

Earlier in the match, Priandana had also contributed with the bat, scoring six runs while opening the innings alongside wicketkeeper-batter Dharma Kesuma.

Kesuma starred with the bat for Indonesia, hammering an unbeaten 110 off 68 balls, an innings that included eight fours and six sixes, to set up a challenging total of 167.

While the five-wicket-over feat has been achieved twice in domestic men’s T20 cricket, by Bangladesh’s Al-Amin Hossain in 2013–14 and Karnataka’s Abhimanyu Mithun in the 2019–20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Priandana’s performance stands alone in the international arena.

READ: Former captain says ‘sacking Stokes, McCullum will not solve England’s woes’

Former England cricket chief Andrew Strauss has warned that removing coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes will not be enough to change a “depressingly one-sided story” in Australia following another painful Ashes defeat.

Strauss, 48, was the last England captain to win an away Ashes series, when his team triumphed 3-1 in 2010-11.

Since then, England’s record has been pitiful; they have lost 16 and drawn just two of their Tests in Australia.

McCullum and Stokes are under pressure after the visitors went 3-0 down in the series on Sunday, with two matches still to play.

But Strauss, England’s director of cricket from 2015 to 2018, has urged those within the game to avoid knee-jerk responses.

In the aftermath of England’s previous defeat in Australia, a 4-0 loss in 2021-22, Strauss led a high-performance review of the domestic game.

His eventual report made numerous suggestions, including cutting the number of first-class matches, restructuring the domestic game and focusing on incentivising elite player development, but they were largely thrown out by the English counties.

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Although he made no reference to the review in a wide-ranging post on the social network LinkedIn on Monday, Andrew Strauss appears to be arguing for a fresh look at such proposals.

“So there it is, another ambitious set of England cricketers made the journey to Australia, full of hope and optimism, only for their dreams to come crashing down around them after only 11 days of cricket,” he wrote.

“McCullum and Stokes will come under extreme scrutiny for the decisions they took in preparation for this tour in the same way that (Ashley) Giles and (Chris) Silverwood did after the last tour. And Andy Flower after 2013/14 and Duncan Fletcher after 2006/07.”

He added, “While they will know that this goes with the territory, none of the above are responsible for England losing so incredibly consistently in Australia since 1986/87.

“We have been badly mauled time after time over there because Australia are a better team, served by a better high-performance system.

“If we are genuinely serious about changing this depressingly one-sided story, then we need to look beyond sacking England coaches and captains and ask whether we are genuinely willing to make the changes necessary to break the trend.”

READ: Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon ruled out of remainder of Ashes

Mohamed Salah scored in added time to snatch a 2-1 victory for record seven-time champions Egypt over lowly ranked Zimbabwe in an Africa Cup of Nations Group B thriller in Agadir on Monday.

Salah came to Morocco after not starting in five consecutive Liverpool matches, with his omission leading to an outburst against manager Arne Slot.

But his uncertain future at Anfield was forgotten as he pounced on a loose ball inside the box and beat 40-year-old Zimbabwe goalkeeper Washington Arubi with a perfectly placed shot into the corner.

What was expected to be a comfortable start for Egypt in Group B proved anything but as Prince Dube gave Zimbabwe a 20th-minute lead, they retained it until Omar Marmoush equalised after 63 minutes.

Victory leaves Egypt level on three points after the first series of group matches with South Africa, who beat Angola 2-1 in Marrakesh earlier.

Egypt were quick to apply pressure, forcing all 11 Zimbabweans to retreat deep into their half at the 40,000-seat stadium in the southern coastal city.

Salah delivered a dangerous cross that did not bear fruit, then had a close-range shot blocked as the Pharaohs laid siege to the Warriors’ goalmouth.

Then, 20 minutes into the first half, Zimbabwe silenced the largely Egypt-supporting crowd by taking the lead.

Emmanuel Jalai crossed into the box, Dube won possession, turned and fired a low shot past veteran goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy into the corner of the net.

It could have been even worse for Egypt as the ball ran loose in their six-yard area soon after, before El Shenawy finally grasped it.

Egypt coach and former star Hossam Hassan grew increasingly frustrated on the touchline as he shouted instructions.

There was a moment of hope for the former champions when Marmoush beat an offside trap, but Arubi dashed out of his area, won the race for possession and cleared.

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Marmoush went close as half-time drew near, unleashing a long-range shot that produced a superb finger-tip save from Arubi.

As the frustration of the Egyptians grew, former Aston Villa striker Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan took a dive inside the box and was yellow-carded by the Senegalese referee.

Mohamed Salah was in perpetual motion and had a half-chance in added time at the end of the opening half, but Zimbabwe blocked his attempt.

The second half was a repeat of the first, with endless Egyptian pressure and heroic Zimbabwean defending.

After several near misses, Egypt levelled on 63 minutes when Marmoush got behind the defence, picked up a pass, darted forward and slammed the ball into the net from a tight angle.

Salah found himself one-on-one with a defender 12 minutes from the end of regular time, but his hurried shot flew over. Then came his added-time winner.

Ahead of the match, Salah had shown no signs of being distracted by the uncertainty surrounding his future at Liverpool, according to Hassan, an AFCON winner as a player.

“I feel his motivation is very, very strong. Salah is an icon and will remain so. He is one of the best players in the world, and I support him in everything he does,” said Hassan.

Salah did not start any of the last five Liverpool games before the AFCON, and things came to a head following a Premier League draw at Leeds United when he claimed he had been “thrown under the bus” by Slot.

That suggested a move away from the troubled league champions during the January transfer window was a real possibility.

Salah wants to lead Egypt to a record-extending eighth AFCON title. He has never won the continental title, coming closest by being part of the teams that were runners-up in 2017 and 2022.

READ: Napoli beat Bologna to lift Italian Super Cup