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Fit-again opener Usman Khawaja was left out of the third Ashes Test in Adelaide starting Wednesday as skipper Pat Cummins and veteran spinner Nathan Lyon were named in Australia’s Playing XI.

Khawaja, who turns 39 this month, had back spasms and failed to open in the first Test victory against England in Perth, then was ruled out injured for the second in Brisbane.

He has since recovered, but selectors opted to stick with Travis Head and Jake Weatherald at the top of the order, leaving the 85-Test veteran’s international future in grave doubt.

Asked if there was a way back for Khawaja, who has been on a lean run of form, Cummins replied: “Yeah, potentially.

“I think the selectors have been quite adamant we’re picking a side each week that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s got to be exactly the same team as the previous week.

“We do that with the bowlers, this week obviously Nathan Lyon’s coming back in, he missed last week.

“One of Uzzie’s (Khawaja) great strengths is [that] he has scored runs at the top, he scored runs in the middle,” he added.

“If we didn’t think he’d be good enough to come straight in, then he wouldn’t be here in the squad. So absolutely, I can see a path back at some point if needed.”

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As expected, Pat Cummins returns after missing the first two Tests with a back injury and will lead the attack alongside the outstanding Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland.

Veteran spin king Nathan Lyon is also back after being axed in preference for an all-pace attack at the Gabba, with Brendan Doggett and Michael Neser making way.

Cummins said he was firing on all cylinders and raring to go.

“If I played in Brisbane, I would have probably been in limited overs, but this week it’s just go and play like any other Test match,” he said.

“It’s been fantastic to watch,” he added of the series. “I think it’s lived up to the hype, captivating every session.

“I’ve loved it and itching to get out there. The boys have been fantastic, Steve (Smith) has led brilliantly, and I feel like I’m coming into a pretty settled and happy side.

“Couldn’t have gone any better from our point of view.”

Australia Playing XI for third Ashes Test

Jake Weatherald, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland

READ: Harmer bags ICC Player of the Month for November 2025

DUBAI: South Africa off-spinner Simon Harmer has been named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for November 2025, following a series of stellar performances during his team’s Test tour of India.

Harmer was nominated alongside Pakistan’s Mohammad Nawaz and Bangladesh’s Taijul Islam to claim the prestigious award.

Harmer delivered outstanding performances in the Test series against India, taking 17 wickets at a mouthwatering average of 8.94.

His heroics played a vital role in the Proteas’ first 2-0 series win against India, marking South Africa’s first in India since 2000.

The 36-year-old Harmer broke the back of India’s batting lineup with eight wickets in the opening Test, followed by nine in the second to seal a historic series win, hence earning him the Player of the Series award.

Following the announcement, Harmer expressed gratitude and pride in the achievement.

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“It’s a privilege to be named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for November,” ICC quoted Harmer.

“Playing for my country is a dream come true, and anything else that comes from it as a result is a bonus,” he remarked.

He further thanked the coaching staff and compatriots and felt proud to represent the South Africa team.

“I share this award with my teammates, coaches, and support staff and dedicate it to my family, who allow me to go out and live my dream, often having to leave them at home to do so.

“It’s a privilege to be a part of the Proteas team and I hope to enjoy many more successful seasons with this remarkable group of people,” Harmer concluded.

READ: Sri Lanka to arrest World Cup-winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga

Authorities in Sri Lanka plan to arrest World Cup-winning cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga on corruption charges relating to his time as petroleum minister, a court was told Monday.

Ranatunga and his brother are accused of changing the procedure for awarding long-term oil procurement contracts, making spot purchases at a higher cost, a corruption watchdog said.

“The total loss to the state from 27 purchases is 800 million rupees,” the equivalent of just over $5 million at the time the deals were made in 2017, according to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.

Arjuna was abroad and would be arrested on his return, the commission told Colombo Magistrate Asanga Bodaragama.

The former minister’s elder brother, Dhammika Ranatunga, then chairman of the state-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, was arrested on Monday and later released on bail.

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The magistrate imposed a travel ban on Dhammika, who is a dual citizen of Sri Lanka and the United States.

The next hearing is scheduled for March 13.

Arjuna, 62, a left-hand batter, lifted the 1996 Cricket World Cup for Sri Lanka after defeating Australia, his island nation’s greatest cricketing triumph.

The case against the Ranatunga brothers is part of a wider crackdown by the government of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who came to power last year on a pledge to tackle endemic corruption.

Another Ranatunga brother, Prasanna, a former tourism minister, was arrested last month over an insurance fraud case.

That case is pending, but he had previously been convicted in June 2022 for extorting money from a businessman. He is on a two-year suspended prison term.

READ: Blow for India as key player ruled out of remaining South Africa T20Is

MUMBAI: Shahbaz Ahmed has been named as a replacement for India all-rounder Axar Patel for the remainder of the T20I series against South Africa.

The news was confirmed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in a press release.

“He [Axar] is with the team in Lucknow [the venue for the fourth T20I], where he will be further medically assessed,” the BCCI said in a statement.

Axar Patel had also missed the third T20I fixture at Dharamsala, whereas he had modest outings in the opening two fixtures of the five-match series.

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In the opening match played at Cuttack, Axar managed to score 23 off 21 and returned with the bowling figures of 2 for 7.

On the contrary, he had a poor show in New Changigarh, where he picked up one wicket while giving away 27 in three overs. However, Axar’s batting came under the spotlight following a run-a-ball 21 after his promotion to the No.3 position.

Shahbaz Ahmed has represented India in three ODIs and two T20Is, with his last appearance coming in the final of the 2023 Asian Games against Afghanistan.

The fourth and fifth T20I is slated to commence on December 17 and 19 in Lucknow and Ahmedabad, respectively, with India leading the series 2-1.

India’s updated squad for last two T20Is

Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Shubman Gill (vice-capt), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed

READ: No need for experiments before T20 World Cup, says Afridi

DUBAI: Sri Lanka and Bangladesh reached the semi-finals of the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup after registering victories in their Group B fixtures here on Monday.

Sri Lanka reached the knockout stage with a two-wicket victory over the hosts, Afghanistan, who crashed out after the loss.

Set stiff 236, Sri Lanka hit the winning runs on the second ball of the final over, losing eight wickets in the process.

Viran Chamuditha and Chamika Heenatigala starred with the bat as both scored 62 and 51* runs respectively.

Heenatigala stayed till the end, ensuring his team crossed the finish line.

For Afghanistan, Nooristani Omarzai remained the standout bowler, managing to pick three wickets.

Earlier, after opting to bat first, Afghanistan were bowled out for 235 in 49.5 overs.

Osman Sadat remained the top scorer with 52 to his name from 87 balls.

For Sri Lanka, Sethmika Seneviratne and Dulnith Sigera shone with the ball, scalping three apiece.

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In the eighth fixture, Bangladesh chased down a mere target of 131 in 24.5 overs with seven wickets in hand.

Opener Zawad Abrar scored 70 from 68 balls with the help of three sixes and seven fours, while Kalam Siddiki remained the other notable contributor, scoring 34 from 66 balls.

For his outstanding batting, Abrar was named the player of the match.

For Nepal, Yuvraj Khatri and Abhisekh Tiwari picked up one wicket each.

After being invited to bat first, Nepal was skittled for 130 in 31.1 overs, thanks Md Sobuj and three wickets.

Abhisekh Tiwari was the highest scorer for Nepal with 30 from 43 deliveries.

Nonetheless, Sri Lanka is at the top of Group B with four points, while Bangladesh are second despite having similar points due to the net run rate.

Both semi-finalists will face each other on Wednesday whereas Afghanistan and Nepal will play in a dead rubber.

READ: WATCH: Sachin Tendulkar gifts iconic No.10 India jersey to Lionel Messi

Enzo Maresca insisted Monday that he “absolutely” remains committed to his job as Chelsea manager after saying at the weekend he had suffered his “worst 48 hours” since joining the club.

The Italian made the surprising comments after his side’s 2-0 win at home to Everton on Saturday, hitting out at unnamed parties for failing to support him and his players, though he stressed that he was not referring to fans.

He refused to clarify his comments at a press conference on Monday, on the eve of Chelsea’s League Cup quarter-final at third-tier Cardiff.

Maresca became visibly impatient with requests for him to make sense of remarks that have fuelled intense speculation he was taking aim at the club’s owners and sporting directors.

“I respect your (the media’s) opinion and I respect people’s opinion,” he said. “But again, I don’t have anything to add and my focus is just on tomorrow’s game where we can achieve a third semi-final in 18 months since I joined the club.”

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He also reiterated he was not talking about the club’s fans when he referred to a lack of support, saying: “I said after the game that I love Chelsea supporters. They deserve the best.”

Asked whether he remained committed to the job, he said: “Absolutely, yes.”

Maresca, who arrived at Chelsea in July 2024, won the UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup in his first season at Stamford Bridge.

His team are currently fourth in the Premier League table and still have a chance to qualify automatically for the last 16 of the Champions League.

The former Leicester boss said he was enjoying the season despite the intense pressure.

“When you are Chelsea manager, you understand that the expectations are higher, especially probably this season they are higher, raised a little bit compared to last season, probably because of the Club World Cup, Conference League, we finished fourth in the Premier League,” he added.

READ: Sachin Tendulkar shares heartfelt message after meeting Lionel Messi

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi on Monday dismissed the need for experimentation in the national T20 side ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

The mega event is slated to commence on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka.

Ahead of the World Cup, Pakistan will play a three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka as part of their preparation.

Speaking during a local event in the metropolitan city, Afridi shared his views on the Pakistan team’s combination ahead of the World Cup.

“There is no need for further experimentation in the Pakistan cricket team ahead of the series before the World Cup. The captain should be briefed that he has to move forward with the players included in the pool,” he remarked.

Catch Big Bash League (BBL) 15 news updates here!

Afridi also termed the Big Bash League (BBL) an opportunity for Pakistan players to familiarise themselves with Australian conditions.

“The participation of Pakistan players in the Big Bash League is a good sign. Players will learn about Australian conditions, the 48-year-old said.

Shahid also called the Pakistan Super League (PSL) roadshow a sign of the league’s popularity and hailed its expansion as a new chapter in the country’s cricketing future.

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“The PSL is our own brand, and the inclusion of two new teams will provide more oppurtunites for players,” he concluded.

For those unaware, the 10th edition of the mega event will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with the tournament slated to run from February 7 to March 8 next year.

The event will feature 20 teams, divided into four groups of five, with the top two from each group advancing to the Super Eight stage.

The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 opener will be played between Pakistan and the Netherlands, with hosts and the reigning champions India taking on the USA later in the day in Mumbai.

READ: BBL 15: Shaheen plans to use ‘Australian wickets’ to curtail Babar Azam

Brisbane Heat fast bowler Shaheen Afridi aims to take advantage of pace-friendly Australian pitches to limit star batter Babar Azam in the Big Bash League (BBL) 15.

Shaheen talked about his game plan and playing against Pakistan players during ‘The Surge’ Big Bash podcast.

Babar Azam is representing Sydney Sixers in the 15th edition of the BBL.

“We have been playing for the same team for seven or eight years,” he said of Pakistan players.

“It will be more exciting here. I hope the ball helps us more, not like in Pakistan with flat wickets! We will be enjoying it here. It’ll be exciting playing against each other,” Pakistan ODI skipper continued.

The left-arm pacer hailed Babar Azam’s stature as a batter ahead of his outing against Sydney Sixers on January 6.

“I don’t want to say that!,” he laughed when asked how he might try to limit Babar’s flow.

Catch Big Bash League (BBL) 15 news updates here!

“Babar is a world-class player, no doubt about that, and he had a lot of runs for Pakistan for many years. “My plan will be simple: Use the Australian wickets,” he explained.

For those unaware, Shaheen started poorly in his maiden BBL outing as he was removed from the bowling attack during the Brisbane Heat’s clash against the Melbourne Renegades.

Afridi’s debut summed up a rough opening week for Pakistan stars in the BBL this season, with the fast bowler struggling for control at the death.

The Pakistan pacer conceded 43 runs in just 2.4 overs, a disappointing return for a player Brisbane Heat had selected as their first overseas pick in the BBL 15 draft.

Brought back into the attack in the 18th over by Heat captain Nathan McSweeney, Shaheen immediately came under pressure as Oliver Peake launched him for a six over deep midwicket.

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Attempting to respond with fuller deliveries, the 25-year-old repeatedly missed his yorker length.

A low full toss first allowed the Renegades to escape with a single, before things unravelled further when Shaheen overstepped the mark with a waist-high full toss that was called a no-ball.

Eventually, due to two waist-high no-balls in the same over, the umpires stepped in and took Shaheen off the attack, bringing an abrupt end to a forgettable outing.

READ: Shaheen Afridi endures nightmare BBL debut as umpires take him off attack

GEELONG: Tim Seifert’s blistering century backed by a clinical bowling effort, which powered Melbourne Renegades to victory over Brisbane Heat in the second fixture of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 here at the GMHBA Stadium on Monday.

Set 213, Brisbane Heat fell short by 14 runs, managing to score 198-8 at the end of 20 overs.

Colin Munro remained the top-scorer with 55 from 32, striking five sixes and three fours, whereas wickets tumbled around him.

Jason Behrendorff removed opener Jack Wildermuth for a duck to provide the Heat a solid start, which was backed by skipper Nathan McSweeney’s wicket in the third over, who could only manage nine.

As a result, Brisbane Heat were reduced to 21-2 in 3.1 overs with Munro and Matt Renshaw at the crease. The duo tried to put the chase back on track with a brief 34-run partnership.

Renshaw made 18 off 12 with the aid of two boundaries and a six before being caught. At this stage, the scorecard read 55-3 in 6.5 overs.

Catch Big Bash League (BBL) 15 news updates here!

Meanwhile, Munro continued on and stitched another 45-run stand with Max Bryant, which propelled the score to the 100-run mark at the end of 11.2 overs.

The threatening stand culminated with Bryant’s wicket, who perished for 14 from 16 balls, which was also followed by two wickets in the 12th over.

As a result, Heat slumped from 100-4 to 108-6 in 13 overs. However, Jimmy Peirson and Hugh Weibgen provided their side with a hope with a brisk 78-run partnership of only 35 balls.

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Peirson hit three sixes and four boundaries in his brisk 22-ball half-century, whereas Weibgen remained unbeaten on 38 from 20 deliveries, hitting two sixes and four boundaries.

Eventually, it was not enough with the required rate ballooning as Heat fell short of the target.

For Melbourne Renegades, Will Sutherland stood out with three wickets to his name while Gurinder Sandhu and Jason Behrendorff scalped two apiece.

Earlier, put into bat first, Melbourne Renegades racked up 212-5 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to Tim Seifert’s 102 off 56, peppered with nine fours and six maximums.

Josh Brown was caught for 15 in the third over, followed by Mohammad Rizwan’s (4) dismissal after the powerplay. With Renegades 49-2, Siefert held firm at one end and shared a brief 33-run partnership, which brought the score to 8-3 in 9.3 overs.

Jake Fraser-McGurk made 14 from seven with the aid of a six and a four.

However, the highlight of the Renegades’ innings was the match-defining partnership between Tim Siefert and Oliver Peake, who added 121 from 57 balls on the fourth wicket.

As a result, Renegades’ scoring rate exceeded the 200-run mark, which eventually proved match-winning. Oliver Peake was caught after making 57 from 29, studded with half a dozen boundaries and three sixes.

For Brisbane Heat, Jack Wildermuth remained the stand out bowler, who picked up three wickets in his quota of four overs.

READ: Shaheen Afridi endures nightmare BBL debut as umpires take him off attack

GEELONG: Pakistan’s left-arm pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi suffered a difficult start to his Big Bash League (BBL) journey after being removed from the bowling attack during Brisbane Heat’s clash against Melbourne Renegades here on Monday.

Afridi’s debut summed up a rough opening week for Pakistan stars in the BBL this season, with the fast bowler struggling for control at the death.

Brought back into the attack in the 18th over by Heat captain Nathan McSweeney, Shaheen immediately came under pressure as Oliver Peake launched him for a six over deep midwicket.

Attempting to respond with fuller deliveries, the 25-year-old repeatedly missed his yorker length.

A low full toss first allowed the Renegades to escape with a single, before things unravelled further when Shaheen overstepped the mark with a waist-high full toss that was called a no-ball.

Catch Big Bash League (BBL) 15 news updates here!

Tim Seifert capitalised, muscling the delivery wide of long-on and racing back for two to complete a rapid century.

Although Shaheen briefly regained composure by firing in a pinpoint yorker on the free hit, his struggles soon returned.

Another beamer followed and was again ruled a no-ball by the on-field umpires. The delivery evaded both the batter and wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson, allowing the Renegades to steal two more runs as byes.

With two waist-high no-balls in the same over, the umpires stepped in and took Shaheen off the attack, bringing an abrupt end to a forgettable outing.

The Pakistan pacer conceded 43 runs in just 2.4 overs, a disappointing return for a player Brisbane Heat had selected as their first overseas pick in the BBL 15 draft.

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The match also saw Melbourne Renegades’ debutant Mohammad Rizwan struggle to make an impact.

The Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter managed only four runs, adding to the growing list of underwhelming first appearances by Pakistani players in this year’s tournament.

Rizwan and Shaheen’s tough nights followed a similar fate for Babar Azam, who endured a quiet BBL debut on Sunday.

Representing Sydney Sixers against Perth Scorchers in the tournament opener, the Pakistan batting star was dismissed for just two runs off five balls.

READ: Mohammad Rizwan dismissed cheaply on Big Bash debut