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Former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan has reversed his retirement from Tests and T20Is, confirming that he is “officially not retired from any format” and intends to play one final all-format home series before ending his international career.

Speaking on the Beard Before Wicket podcast alongside Moeen Ali, the former Bangladesh captain said he wants to return to the country, feature in a full series comprising ODIs, Tests and T20Is, and retire immediately after.

“My plan is to go back to Bangladesh, play one full series of ODI, Test, and T20, and retire,” Shakib said.

“It can start from T20I, ODI and Test, or Test, ODI, T20I. Either way, I’m fine, but I want to play a whole series and retire.”

Shakib has not played for Bangladesh since October 2024, when he featured in the second Test against India in Kanpur.

His long absence has been tied to political unrest in Bangladesh, where the Awami League, the party he represented as an MP, was ousted from power in August.

After the regime change, Shakib remained outside the country while continuing to feature in away Tests in Pakistan and India.

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Despite the uncertainty surrounding his return, Shakib appeared optimistic.

“I am hopeful,” he said when asked about returning home. “That’s why I’m playing T20 leagues. I think it will happen.”

The all-rounder, widely regarded as Bangladesh’s greatest cricketer, said he wants his farewell to be about gratitude rather than performance pressure.

“It doesn’t matter if I play well or not. I don’t need to continue after that,” he stated.

“It’s just a nicer way to say bye to the fans who supported me always, to give something back by playing a home series.”

Shakib Al Hasan had previously announced a step back from T20Is and said he wished to play his final Test during the home series against South Africa last October.

However, protests around the Shere Bangla National Stadium and security concerns led the BCB, under the interim government, to omit him from the squad.

When asked about his long-term plans, Shakib hinted that his political career may continue once cricket ends.

“[I have] done my cricketing part. Maybe the political side is left. It’s something I want to do for the people of Bangladesh and Magura. That was my intention, and it still is.”

READ: Rohit Sharma joins Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar in elite list

VISAKHAPATNAM: Rohit Sharma has added another glittering chapter to his storied career as he joined teammate Virat Kohli, as well as legendary Sachin Tendulkar, in an elite list of Indian batters.

During the third ODI against South Africa at the Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Sharma became the fourth Indian batter in history to cross 20,000 runs in international cricket.

He reached the landmark while nudging a length delivery from Keshav Maharaj into the leg side for a single in the 14th over. That run, his 27th of the innings, pushed him into an elite club alongside Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid.

Rohit has now amassed 20,048 runs across formats in 538 innings, continuing a career defined by longevity, elegance, and big-match temperament.

Only Tendulkar (34,357), Kohli (27,910) and Dravid (24,208) have scored more for India at the international level.

Most international runs for India

• Sachin Tendulkar – 34357 runs in 782 innings

• Virat Kohli – 27975 runs in 622 innings

• Rahul Dravid – 24208 runs in 605 innings

• Rohit Sharma – 20048 runs in 538 innings

• Sourav Ganguly – 18575 runs in 488 innings

Once the milestone was out of the way, Rohit shifted gears, crafting a fluent 75 off 73 balls, decorated with seven fours and three booming sixes, before Maharaj returned to remove him in the 26th over.

His innings laid the perfect platform for India in the series decider. From there, the hosts barely broke a sweat.

Yashasvi Jaiswal turned the chase into a one-man exhibition, smashing an unbeaten 116, while Virat Kohli chipped in with a controlled 65* as India cruised to a nine-wicket win with overs to spare.

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South Africa, earlier put into bat, were lifted to 270 courtesy of a vintage Quinton de Kock hundred.

The left-hander hammered 106 off 89 balls, striking eight fours and six sixes in a typically authoritative knock.

Captain Temba Bavuma offered support with 48 off 67, but the visitors ultimately fell short as India’s bowlers tightened the screws in the final phase of the innings, bundling them out in 47.5 overs.

READ: Nine-man Real Madrid stunned at Bernabeu by Celta Vigo

Real Madrid crashed to a damaging 2-0 home defeat at Bernabeu by Celta Vigo on Sunday in La Liga, finishing the game with nine men after red cards for Fran Garcia and Alvaro Carreras.

Williot Swedberg struck twice in the second half for Celta, with Madrid’s second league defeat of the season leaving rivals Barcelona four points clear at the top of La Liga.

Xabi Alonso’s side, second, also lost defender Eder Militao to injury on a difficult night in the Spanish capital, before they host Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Madrid were playing their first home match after six on the road across all competitions, following an NFL match at the Bernabeu, a poor run of form that has now seen them win just one of their last five league games.

With the juicy European battle against Erling Haaland’s City approaching, Alonso chose to rest centre-back Antonio Rudiger, starting with Carreras in the heart of defence.

Rudiger’s break did not last long, with the German defender coming on midway through the first half after Militao pulled up injured.

Raul Asencio started at right-back after Trent Alexander-Arnold was sidelined for two months with a thigh injury, continuing a tough start to life in the Spanish capital for the former Liverpool defender.

Celta Vigo goalkeeper Ionut Radu made a handful of good saves in the first half, keeping out a Jude Bellingham header and Arda Guler’s drive from range.

Madrid were struggling to create serious danger as Celta set up in a tough-to-crack low defensive block, denying dangerous forwards Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior space.

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Guler missed Madrid’s best chance of the first half, with the Turkish playmaker sending a shot wide on the swivel after Mbappe teed him up.

Radu also thwarted Vinicius after Aurelien Tchouameni chopped a ball in behind the defence for the Brazilian to run onto, a rare crack in Celta’s armour.

Celta’s Romanian goalkeeper turned away a fierce Fede Valverde effort from distance early in the second half, before Celta stunned the hosts.

Bryan Zaragoza crossed from the left for Swedberg, who produced a gorgeous flicked finish to beat Thibaut Courtois to send the Galicians ahead.

Real Madrid were wounded, literally in the case of Bellingham, with blood running down his face from a cut sustained in a tussle with Celta target man Borja Iglesias.

Adding insult to injury, Fran Garcia earned two yellow cards in a minute, the second for a clumsy foul on Swedberg, leaving Los Blancos with 10 men for the final third of the match.

Mbappe sent a lob over Radu but down onto the roof of the net, and substitute Gonzalo Garcia headed just wide as Madrid searched for an equaliser, which did not come.

Carreras was dismissed in stoppage time as Madrid lost their heads, for dissent, as he protested a decision by referee Alejandro Quintero.

With Real Madrid down to nine and in disarray, Celta Vigo wrapped up their win as Swedberg rounded Courtois and ran the ball home.

READ: ‘Not a place for weak men’: Ben Stokes demands more from under-fire England

England captain Ben Stokes has demanded his players toughen up after another embarrassing defeat to Australia left the Ashes hanging by a thread, making clear the team is “not a place for weak men”.

Two Tests into the five-match series and England are reeling, crashing by eight wickets in both Perth and Brisbane and waking Monday to yet more fierce criticism.

Facing an almost impossible task to win the last three Tests to regain the Ashes, Stokes wants to see more fire from his players.

“There is a saying that we have said a lot here, Australia is not for weak men,” Stokes told the BBC. “A dressing room that I am captain of is not a place for weak men either.”

Stokes was particularly critical of England’s crumbling under pressure moments, in contrast to Australia, who have been able to dig deep and get the upper hand.

“Do we need to start thinking about what mentality we are taking into those pressure moments?” Stokes said.

“When we are on top, we are great, and when behind the game, we are also very good, but when that moment is neck and neck, we are not coming out on top on enough occasions.”

Australian media had a field day at England’s expense with headlines including “Humiliated”, “Humbled” and “Bazball in Ashes”, referring to the aggressive style favoured by Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum that has failed so far.

Former England great Geoffrey Boycott was scathing in his assessment.

“Brisbane was a horror show: irresponsible batting, bowling too short, too wide or too full and catches dropped,” he said in a newspaper column.

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“With this sort of batting and bowling, they couldn’t win an egg cup, let alone the Ashes urn.”

England have more than a week to regroup before the must-win third Test in Adelaide on December 17, where Australia are set to be strengthened by the return of skipper Pat Cummins.

But a scheduled four-day mini holiday on the beach at tourist playground Noosa after two crushing defeats may not be the best look.

Ben Stokes defended the decision, saying it was important for players to decompress.

“We have been here four weeks, and they have been pretty full on,” he told reporters. “As physical as this game is, a huge part of it is also the mental side of it. I know that. I have experienced that.”

“I know what the game can do to you when things aren’t quite feeling right or going well.

“Trust me when I say it is so, so important for teams to be able to go away as a team and almost put the pressures aside for a couple of days,” he added.

Adding to England’s woes, McCullum has been slammed for suggesting the team “trained too much” in the lead-up to the day-night clash in Brisbane.

Following the Perth defeat, England opted against putting their first-choice players into a pink-ball tour game in Canberra and instead had five intense sessions in the Brisbane nets.

“I actually feel like we over-prepared to be honest,” he said. “I think the boys just need a few days off, and we probably need to change up a few of the training methods.”

READ: South Korea jails woman who blackmailed football star Son

A woman who blackmailed South Korean football superstar Son Heung-min was handed a four-year jail sentence on Monday, Yonhap News TV reported.

“The Seoul Central District Court gave a four year term for the defendant surnamed Yang, who is in her 20s, charged with blackmailing,” the broadcaster said.

Another defendant, a man identified by his surname Yong, was given a two-year term for attempted blackmail, Yonhap said.

The two have been in custody since May.

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Yang has been accused of extorting 300 million won ($200,000) from Son Heung-min in 2024 by sending him a foetal ultrasound image and threatening to go public with claims that she was pregnant with his child.

She reportedly spent the money on luxury and designer goods, according to media reports.

This year, she attempted to extort an additional 70 million in collaboration with the second defendant, Yong, prompting the South Korean football star to report them to the authorities and leading to their subsequent arrest and indictment.

Son Heung-min appeared at a closed trial session and gave testimony as a witness last month, local media reported.

READ: Chelsea to play Tottenham Hotspur in historic Sydney first

English Premier League (EPL) heavyweights Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur will meet for the first time outside Britain next year when they face each other on a pre-season tour in Sydney, officials said Monday.

The London rivals have signed on for the “Sydney Super Cup” with Chelsea also meeting A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers while Spurs play Sydney FC.

They will then face each other on August 1 at the 83,000-capacity Olympic Stadium.

“I’ve heard all about our passionate fan base in Australia, and it’s something the club is very proud of,” said Spurs manager Thomas Frank.

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“I can’t wait to experience that for myself.”

Chelsea are also bringing their women’s team, spearheaded by Australian superstars Sam Kerr and Elie Carpenter, for a match against a women’s A-League All-Stars side on August 12.

“The 2026 Sydney Super Cup is set to be a fantastic exhibition of world-class football,” said A-League chief Stephen Conroy.

“It’s a great opportunity for the international talent across our leagues to test themselves against giants of world football.”

READ: South Africa thump Ireland to seal T20I series

PAARL: Faye Tunnicliffe starred with a half-century as South Africa women outplayed Ireland women in the second T20I to clinch the series 2-0 here at the Boland Park on Sunday.

Set a daunting 202, Ireland could only muster 136-3 in their allotted 20 overs.

Orla Prendergast remained the top scorer with 51* from 43, striking four boundaries and a six, whereas Leah Paul remained the other notable contributor with 41 off 29 with the aid of six boundaries.

With an uphill task to climb, Ireland’s openers started sluggishly, adding 34 in 6.3 overs before their skipper Gaby Lewis fell after making 19 from 22 balls.

The second wicket fell in the same over as wicket-keeper batter Amy Hunter was cleaned up by Chloe Tryon, which reduced them to 35-2.

After two wickets in quick succession, Paul and Prendergast stitched a 76-run partnership, bringing the score to 111 in 16.2 overs. The partnership was broken with the former’s dismissal.

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With a surmountable run-rate, Ireland had already lost the match and ended their innings on 136 runs in 20 overs.

For South Africa, Chloe Tryon remained the standout bowler, who picked up two wickets in her quota of four overs.

Earlier, after winning the toss, South Africa racked up 201-5 in their allotted 20 overs.

Sune Luus and Faye Tunnicliffe forged a 78-run partnership for the opening wicket in 9.2 overs. Luss hit six boundaries in her 37 from 24 balls.

South Africa kept on scoring at a brisk rate despite losing wickets at regular intervals.

Faye Tunnicliffe fell in the 13th over, lbw by Aimee Maguire after making 51 from 42, studded with seven fours.

However, it was returning Dane van Niekerk that provided South Africa’s innings with a late flourish with a brisk 41 from only 19, featuring three sixes and three fours.

For Ireland, Aimee Maguire starred with the ball and picked up three wickets.

The third T20I of the series will be played on 10 December in Benoni.

READ: WATCH: Smith, Archer involved in verbal spat during Ashes Test

Lando Norris claimed his maiden Formula One world drivers’ title in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, ending Max Verstappen’s four-year reign.

The Briton finished third in the season-closer behind race winner Verstappen and the other title challenger, McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, to claim the crown by two points.

Norris, in tears on the team radio, said: “Thanks so much. I love you mum, I love you dad.”

“That was exciting, a little too exciting, awesome,” said McLaren team principal Zak Brown.

Norris becomes Britain’s first world champion since Lewis Hamilton in 2020 with this 13th drivers’ crown for McLaren.

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The 26-year-old’s success comes over half a century after Emerson Fittipaldi claimed the British marque’s first drivers’ title in 1974.

A galaxy of F1 greats followed – James Hunt (1976), Niki Lauda (1984), Alain Prost (1985, 1986, 1989), Ayrton Senna (1988, 1990, 1991), Mikka Hakkinen (1998, 1999) and Hamilton in 2008.

McLaren, headed by team principal Andrea Stella and CEO Brown, secured back-to-back constructors’ titles in Singapore last month.

Sunday’s season-closer was the first time the title was decided by a contest involving more than two drivers since a four-way scrap at the final race in Abu Dhabi in 2010.

READ: Salah opens door to Liverpool exit with ‘thrown under the bus’ rant

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday revealed the schedule of the eight-team President’s Cup Grade-I One-Day Cup 2025-26, with State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) set to defend its title.

The tournament will comprise 31 matches, running from 8 to 25 December, with the semi-final matches on 22 and 23 December.

“The eight teams will take on each other in a single-league round-robin format with four matches taking place in each of the seven rounds,” the cricket board announced in a press release.

Moreover, the tournament will be live-streamed on Tapmad in Pakistan and the PCB YouTube channel for the viewers outside Pakistan.

The league-stage fixtures will be day games, with the coin toss taking place at 9am, and the first ball expected to be bowled at 9.30am.

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In addition, a hefty prize of PKR 5 million has been announced for the winners, while runners-up will receive PKR 2.5 million. The best batters

“Best batter, bowler, wicket-keeper, and player of the tournament will be awarded PKR 100,000, while player of the match in each league stage and semi-final game will get PKR 25,000, with the player of the final getting PKR 50,000,” it added.

Squads

Ghani Glass

Moeez Ghani (captain), Abdul Rafay, Afaq Afridi, Ali Razzaq, Ali Shabbir, Hammad Butt, Haseeb-ur-Rehman, Hussain Talat, Kashif Ali, Khawaja Mohammad Arham, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rameez Jnr, Mohsin Riaz, Muhammad Umair, Noman Ali, Saad Nasim, Saaed Ali, Sameen Gul, Shadab Khan, Shahbaz Javed (wicketkeeper), Sharjeel Khan, Shawaiz Irfan, Shoaib Akhtar, Tayyab Tahir, Ubaid Shah, Yahya bin Abdul Rehman, and Zafar Gohar

Khan Research Laboratories (KRL)

Iftikhar Ahmed (captain), Abdul Faseeh, Ahmad Bashir, Ahmed Hassan, Aqib Liaqat, Arshad Iqbal, Hamza Nazar, Iftikhar Ahmed, Muhammad Amir Barki, Muhammad Hamza, Muhammad Shayan Sheikh, Muhammad Usman, Mohammad Qaisar, Saad Baig, Saqib, Sarmad Bhatti, Shahzaib Khan, Syed Aqib Shah, Syed Junaid Ali, Waqar Ahmed

Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDL)

Adil Amin (captain), Abbas Ali, Abdul Rehman Muzammil, Alai Imran, Arshadullah, Asif Afridi, Danish Aziz, Haroon Arshad, Imam-ul-Haq, Israrullah, Jawad Ali, Khayyam Khan, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Amir Khan, Mohammad Sarwar Afridi, Muhammad Abuzar, Muhammad Arsal Sheikh, Muhammad Huzaifa, Muhammad Imran, Muhammad Umair, Muhammad Umar, Mushatq Ahmed, Raja Hamza Waheed, Sameer Saqib, and Umar Siddiq (wicketkeeper)

Pakistan Television (PTV)

Ammad Butt (captain), Ali Usman, Faisal Akram, Hasnain Khan, Irfan Khan, Israr Hussain, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Ilyas Khan, Mohammad Mohsin, Mohammad Suleman, Mohammad Taha, Mehran Sanwal, Musa Khan, Muhammad Meesam, Obaid Shahid, Shamyl Hussain, Taimur Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Salahuddin, Waqar Hussain, Yasir Khan, Zahid Mehmood

Sahir Associates

Asim Ali Nasir (captain, wicketkeeper), Abdullah, Ahmed Khan, Ahmer Ashfaq, Asfand Mehran, Attaullah, Fahad Usman, Hafiz Muhammad Suleman, Intasar Ali, Khan Zeb, Khawaja Muhammad Abdullah, Mohsin Khan, Muhammad Afaq, Muhammad Afzal, Muhammad Azeem Dar, Muhammad Basit, Muhammad Bilawal, Muhammad Zahid Khan Mehmand, Muhammd Kashif, Rawayat Khan, Razaullah, Saad Din Muhammad Athar, Saleem, Shahid Ali, Syed Ameer Abdullah Hamdani, and Usman Khan

Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL)

Shan Masood (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdul Samad, Abdul Subhan, Abid Ali, Ali Zaryab, Athar Mehmood, Azan Awais, Bilawal Bhatti, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Mubasir Khan, Muhammad Awais Zafar, Muhammad Irfan, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Azab, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Salman, Mohammad Shahzad, Omair bin Yousuf, Saad Khan, Saifullah Bangash (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Shahnawaz Dahani

State Bank of Pakistan (SBP)

Imran Butt (captain), Ali Shan (wicketkeeper), Hassan Raza, Kashif Ali, Kashif Bhatti, Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Faizan, Mohammad Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Hurraira, Mohammad Ismail, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Niaz Khan, Qasim Akram, Rameez Aziz, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shahid Aziz, and Sirajuddin

Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA)

Khalid Usman (captain), Abdul Razzaq, Ahmed Safi Abdullah, Akif Javed, Aqib Khan, Azan Afridi, Ayaz Tasawar, Bismillah Khan (wicketkeeper), Fakhar Zaman, Malhar Rasool, Mohammad Ammar, Mohammad Asghar, Mohammad Imran Dogar, Mohammad Waseem Jnr, Mohammad Zeeshan, Muhammad Adil, Muhammad Akhlaq (wicketkeeper), Muhammad Arif, Muhammad Ismail, Muhammad Naeem, Muhammad Naveed, Muhammad Umair, Mujtaba Khan, Nabi Gul, Naqeebullah, Rafay Rana, Rehan Afridi, Sharoon Siraj, and Usman Iqbal

READ: WATCH: Smith, Archer involved in verbal spat during Ashes Test

BRISBANE: Australia skipper Steve Smith and England fast bowler Jofra Archer were involved in a heated altercation during the second Ashes Test here at the Gabba on Sunday.

Smith propelled Australia over the line with an unbeaten 23 off just nine balls, which was laced with two sixes and two fours, including two boundaries and a maximum in Archer’s over.

With this, Australia took a 2-0 lead in the Ashes, defeating England by eight wickets in a commanding all-round display.

However, things got heated. Smith took on Archer, who was bowling at 150km/h. The right-hander hit a four off the first off Archer and missed the next ball in a bid to hit an uppercut.

 

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After this, both exchanged words with the pacer, asking Smith why he was playing shots when there was nothing on the scoreboard.

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“Why play your shots when there’s no rush on the scoreboard?” Archer had asked Smith.

The ace batter gave a cheeky reply, “You bowl fast when there’s nothing going on, champion.”

Archer did not bowl another over, as Smith launched Gus Atkinson over deep square leg for six before an animated celebration with Weatherald.

After the match, Smith commented on the spat and explained the reason behind his aggressive approach.

“I heard there’s a bit of a storm coming around. We obviously had a few behind us. It was a chance to just play a few shots,” he said.

“The adrenaline was pumping at the end there. Obviously, we didn’t need too many to win, and Jof was bowling pretty quick.

I had a short boundary behind me, and I thought, ‘Why not just try to get up and under a few, and put a few in the stands?’ Fortunately, it hit the middle of the bat on a couple of occasions,” Smith explained.

READ: Former Pakistan coach joins Namibia men’s team as consultant