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BRISBANE: Australia’s fast bowler Mitchell Starc scripted history under lights at the Gabba on Thursday, overtaking Pakistan great Wasim Akram during the ongoing Ashes clash against England.

Starc became the highest wicket-taker among left-arm pacers in Test cricket, leaving behind the legendary Pakistani pacer.

He crossed the landmark by dismissing Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope and Harry Brook in a devastating opening spell of the day-night Test, taking his tally to 415 wickets in just 102 matches.

Akram had previously held the record with 414 wickets from 104 Tests.

Most Wickets in Test cricket by Left-Arm Pacers:

Moreover, Starc also strengthened his remarkable dominance in pink-ball cricket.

He now has 84 wickets in day-night Tests, the most by any bowler globally, and has become the first player in Test history to claim more than 20 wickets against a single opponent in pink-ball matches.

Australia went into the match with an all-pace bowling attack, resting veteran spinner Nathan Lyon for only the second time at home since 2012, while regular skipper Pat Cummins was unavailable for the contest.

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Despite the early jolts, England responded through a measured recovery led by opener Zak Crawley, who top-scored with 76 from 93 balls, striking 11 boundaries.

Joe Root anchored the innings with a composed unbeaten 88, while Brook added a brisk 31 before becoming Starc’s third victim of the day.

At the time of filing, England were 240-6, with Root and Will Jacks at the crease.

READ: Ravindra, Latham tons put New Zealand in command of West Indies Test

CHRISTCHURCH: Big centuries by Tom Latham and Rachin Ravindra put New Zealand firmly in control of the first Test against the West Indies with a lead of 481 at stumps on day three in Christchurch on Thursday.

The pair put on 279 for the third wicket before Latham was out for 145. Ravindra followed soon after for 176.

At stumps, Will Young was 21, Michael Bracewell was on six, and New Zealand were 417-4 to go with their 64-run first innings lead.

The West Indies would need to break their own record fourth innings chase to overhaul New Zealand, having reached 418-7 to beat Australia in 2003.

After two days of overcast skies favouring swing and seam bowling, the pitch flattened out under bright sunshine as day three progressed.

The West Indies attack was not so threatening, and they also suffered from a lack of discipline, conceding runs to fielding lapses and giving away 23 extras, including 11 wides.

Latham and Ravindra presented contrasting styles as they set a New Zealand-best third wicket partnership against the West Indies, and Latham passed 6,000 Test runs.

New Zealand captain Latham laid the foundations of the innings in a clinical 84-run opening stand with Devon Conway, who made 37.

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After a brief partnership with Kane Williamson, who fell for nine, Latham was on 40 when he was joined by Ravindra in an aggressive move.

While Latham was methodical and largely chanceless, Ravindra took to the bowling in one-day mode and made the West Indies suffer for dropping him on eight and 13.

His 176 came off 185 deliveries, with one six and 27 fours, including one from the first ball he faced.

He also smacked fours to pass the 50, 100 and 150 milestones.

Latham faced 250 deliveries for his 145 and hit 12 fours.

For the West Indies, Kemar Roach had both Latham and Williamson caught behind to return figures of 2-61.

He accounted for Latham with a shorter length delivery that found an inside edge on its way to Tevin Imlach.

Ojay Shields took 2-64, bowling Ravindra with a yorker and having Conway caught at square leg.

READ: Pakistan stars unlikely to participate in full BPL season: sources

Several Pakistan cricketers are unlikely to be available for the full duration of the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) season 12 due to overlapping international commitments, sources revealed on Thursday.

A strong group of Pakistan players has been picked by various franchises for the new BPL season, including Saim Ayub, Khawaja Nafay, Sufiyan Muqeem, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Nawaz, Jahandad Khan, Ihsanullah, Haider Ali, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed and Mohammad Amir.

However, their extended stay in the tournament now appears uncertain.

According to sources, it is “highly unlikely” that centrally contracted players will be cleared for the entire BPL window.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is also weighing the option of restricting No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) for players who are permanent members of Pakistan’s T20I setup.

While all requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, sources emphasized that the board has not yet issued any outright refusals.

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The BPL is scheduled to run from December 26, 2025, to January 23, 2026, a period that directly clashes with Pakistan’s international calendar.

During the same window, Pakistan are scheduled to tour Sri Lanka for a three-match T20I series, followed by a home T20I series against Australia later in January.

Franchises participating in the BPL have already been informed of the potential uncertainty regarding the availability of Pakistan players and may consider backup options accordingly.

Sources noted that players such as Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usman Khan and Abrar Ahmed are now considered regular members of Pakistan’s T20I core, further complicating their chances of featuring throughout the tournament.

Pakistan’s three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka is scheduled for January 7, 9 and 11 in Dambulla and will form a key part of preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will be co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India from February 7 to March 8.

Following the Sri Lanka tour, Australia are set to arrive in Pakistan for a three-match T20I series at the end of January.

READ: Oval Invincibles renamed MI London in latest Hundred franchise deal

Kylian Mbappe scored twice and set up another as Real Madrid beat Athletic Bilbao 3-0 to cut Barcelona’s La Liga lead back down to one point on Wednesday.

Xabi Alonso’s side curtailed a run of three consecutive league draws away from home with one of their best displays of the season at Athletic’s San Mames.

Mbappe opened the scoring early on as Trent Alexander-Arnold provided his first La Liga assist, with Eduardo Camavinga nodding in the second before the break.

French superstar Mbappe slammed home another in the second half for his 16th league goal of the season to seal Madrid’s victory.

One negative for Los Blancos were apparent injuries for Alexander-Arnold and Camavinga in the second half, with both players replaced.

Mbappe missed a penalty in the same fixture last winter while still finding his feet at Madrid, later saying that was his “rock bottom”, but on his return, Athletic found themselves up against arguably the best player in the world.

Mbappe almost sent Real Madrid ahead in the fourth minute, but Unai Simon made a smart save at his near post, and then parried a Vinicius effort.

Madrid came out of the blocks strongly against eighth-place Athletic and took the lead in the seventh minute, through a brilliant Mbappe goal.

Alexander-Arnold picked out the forward with a fine long pass, and Mbappe drifted menacingly towards the box and produced a perfect finish to beat Simon.

Gorka Guruzeta fired over and forced Thibaut Courtois into a good save at the other end, on one of Athletic’s rare forays forward.

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Their best chance came when Nico Williams and Alex Berenguer combined, but Courtois produced a superb stop to deny the latter.

It woke Madrid back up, and they took control once again, threatening twice through Vinicius, who was connecting efficiently with Mbappe.

The Brazilian winger hit the outside of the post with a low effort from a tight angle, with Simon out of his goal attempting to block him off.

The goalkeeper made an excellent save to thwart Vinicius one-on-one a few minutes later after Eder Militao sent him through on goal.

Madrid grabbed their second before the interval at the end of a fine team move, with Mbappe nodding Alexander-Arnold’s cross back across goal for Camavinga to head home from point-blank range.

Courtois tipped over Mikel Jauregizar’s fierce effort from range early in the second half to stop Athletic from earning a foothold in the game.

The first of two sour notes came for Madrid when Alexander-Arnold pulled up with an apparent muscular injury and had to be replaced by Raul Asencio.

Mbappe put the game beyond doubt with another long-range effort, which flew in at the near post for his 25th goal across all competitions. Simon might have done more to keep it out, perhaps undoing some of his earlier good work.

Camavinga was taken off hurt later on in another potential injury blow for former Real Sociedad player Alonso, on an otherwise dream outing in the Basque Country against his former rivals.

The coach even got a warm embrace from Vinicius when he substituted the Brazilian, despite the player seeming to be at loggerheads with him over the past few weeks.

READ: Oval Invincibles renamed MI London in latest Hundred franchise deal

Oval Invincibles, the most successful franchise in The Hundred, will be re-branded as MI London from 2026 after a deal between the franchise and the owners of the Mumbai Indians.

Surrey, who host the Invincibles matches at their Oval stadium, will retain a 51 per cent share in the team, while Reliance Industries Limited now hold the remaining 49 per cent.

Both the men’s and women’s teams will be renamed as MI London in the Hundred next year.

The Invincibles have won five titles in five years across both men’s and women’s tournaments and are the latest team to become part of the Mumbai Indians name.

“We’re pleased to have reached an agreement with the Reliance team over our partnership in the Hundred franchise team,” Surrey chairman Oli Slipper said.

“Reliance bring a significant depth of cricket and business expertise and have had great success with their franchise teams in India and around the world. There’s no doubt that they are here to win.”

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Mumbai Indians are the joint most successful men’s team in the Indian Premier League (IPL) after winning the title five times.

Reliance, who also have MI franchises in New York, Cape Town and Abu Dhabi, are reported to have paid around £60 million ($80 million) for their share in the Invincibles.

“We are delighted to welcome MI London into the family and take the MI legacy to new frontiers,” Reliance founder Nita Ambani said.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) also confirmed on Wednesday that Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly’s Cain & Ares Management Credit group finalised their investment in Trent Rockets in October.

Deals involving all eight Hundred sides have now been completed after stakes in the other six franchises were sold in July.

READ: Rizwan ‘excited’ to make mark in maiden BBL appearance

Pakistan wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan is excited and geared up for his maiden stint with the Melbourne Renegades in Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL) 15.

Speaking in an interview with Cricket Australia, Rizwan shed light on his cricketing career  and deemed performing well in Australia crucial for a player’s success.

“If you perform there, the world will know you. I’m very excited to play in the Big Bash,” Rizwan said.

He highlighted difficult conditions down under while recalling his career-defining innings against Australia.

During Pakistan’s 2019 tour, Rizwan scored a gritty 95 at the Gabba against a full-strength Australian attack comprising Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon.

“I love the conditions in Australia because they challenge both batters and bowlers. One innings in Australia changed my career,” the former Pakistan captain recalled.

“After that series, people said, ‘This is Rizwan, the one who performed in Australia,’” he continued.

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The 33-year-old praised Australia’s players’ mentality and their passion on the field, which brings a different competition in the game.

“They play with heart, they’re brave, and they stick to what they decide. I love that.

Rizwan will be playing alongside several ace Pakistan players in the upcoming BBL.

“In PSL, when Shaheen comes, he attacks me, and I attack him,” Rizwan said of Shaheen Afridi while mentioning that he has never played his compatriots outside of Pakistan’s domestic cricket.

“We’ve never played against each other outside Pakistan domestic cricket. We are very close, but this is different. They’ll come with energy.”

For those unaware, the 15th edition of the BBL will run from 14 December to 25 January 2026, featuring 44 matches in prime early-evening slots.

Babar is set to make his BBL debut for the Sydney Sixers. Shaheen Afridi was signed by Brisbane Heat as their first overseas platinum pick, and Rizwan joins Melbourne Renegades.

Rauf will represent Melbourne Stars, Shadab Khan was signed by Sydney Thunder, Hasan Ali was drafted by Adelaide Strikers, and Hassan Khan will play for the Renegades.

READ: Pakistan players set to prioritise national duty over BBL 15: reports

Opener Aiden Markram hit a sparkling century to help South Africa chase down 359 for a series-levelling win over India in the second one-day international on Wednesday.

Virat Kohli’s second successive century went in vain after South Africa achieved the target with four balls and four wickets to spare in Raipur.

Number eight Corbin Bosch hit the winning boundary in his unbeaten 29 and let out a roar with the three-match series level at 1-1 and the decider on Saturday in Visakhapatnam.

Virat Kohli, who made 102 for his 53rd hundred in the ODI format, put on 195 runs for the third wicket with Ruturaj Gaikwad, who hit 105, as India posted 358-5.

In reply, Markram made 110 and put on 101 runs for the second wicket with captain Temba Bavuma (46) to lay the foundations for the joint-highest target chased down against India. Australia chased down 359 in 2019 in Mohali.

Markram, who survived a dropped catch on 53 by Yashasvi Jaiswal in the deep, lost partner Bavuma in the 21st over but kept firm to raise his fourth ODI ton in 88 balls.

Pace bowler Harshit Rana dismissed Markram on a slower ball to raise the noise of the 60,000-capacity packed stadium.

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Dewald Brevis, who hit 54 off 34 balls, joined Matthew Breetzke, who made 68, and the two kept the chase on track in their fourth-wicket partnership of 92.

Brevis reached his maiden ODI fifty with a six off Kuldeep Yadav, but the left-arm wrist spinner had his revenge next ball to get the batter caught out at long-on.

Breetzke was next to go after Krishna trapped him lbw, and Arshdeep Singh dismissed Marco Jansen (2) in the next over.

There was more drama when Tony de Zorzi retired hurt on 17, clutching his hamstring in pain after taking a run with Bosch, who then kept calm to take the team over the line alongside Keshav Maharaj (10 not out).

Earlier, Kohli was on fire, taking on the opposition bowlers after India lost Rohit Sharma for 14. The in-form batter began his scoring with a six off pace bowler Lungi Ngidi.

Jaiswal fell for 22 after he handed India a brisk start, but Kohli and Gaikwad steadied the innings and then took the attack to the opposition.

Both looked fluent as they struck regular boundaries, and Gaikwad reached his maiden ODI ton with a boundary.

Gaikwad departed, but Kohli went on to register his 84th century across the three international formats as fans stood up to applaud.

Kohli finally fell to Ngidi and walked back to a standing ovation before skipper KL Rahul hit an unbeaten 66.

The 37-year-old Kohli only plays the 50-over format these days after he and fellow stalwart Rohit, 38, retired from T20 and Test cricket.

READ: India pacer announces retirement from international cricket

LAHORE: The star-studded lineup for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) landmark roadshow at Lord’s Cricket Ground has been revealed, with ace batter Babar Azam and former captain Wasim Akram headlining the event.

A day earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that the PSL is set to host a road show at the Home of Cricket — highlighting the league’s growth over the years.

“The HBL PSL has rapidly evolved into one of the world’s most exciting and commercially robust T20 leagues.

As the league prepares for expansion with the addition of two new teams, it has already received significant interest from potential ownership groups across the United Kingdom – a testament to HBL PSL’s rising global profile and its strong connection with UK-based cricket stakeholders,” the board had said in a press release.

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The lineup for the event was released on the PSL social media handles with an animated poster.

 

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A post shared by Pakistan Super League (@thepsl)

“London Roadshow brings cricket’s biggest names to the Home of Cricket. Join us for an exclusive evening with Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Sahibzada Farhan, Wasim Akram, Ramiz Raja & Ali Zafar,” the caption of the post read.

Ace batter Babar Azam, former captain Wasim Akram, and opener Sahibzada Farhan will feature in the event, whereas pacer Haris Rauf, commentator Ramiz Raja, and singer Ali Zafar will also add to the lineup of the mega event.

It is pertinent to mention that PSL, 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 teams, the league will undergo its first major restructuring in seven years, taking the total to eight teams.

READ: India pacer announces retirement from international cricket

India pacer Mohit Sharma on Wednesday bid adieu to his international career, bringing the curtains down on a journey nearly spanning 14 years.

Mohit, 37, earned his debut cap in 2013 and went on to represent India in 26 ODIs and eight T20Is, scalping 37 wickets across formats.

The right-arm pacer was part of India’s squad that reached the 2015 Men’s ODI World Cup, hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

Mohit Sharma announced his retirement via a social media post.

“Today, with a full heart, I announce my retirement from all formats of cricket. From representing Haryana to wearing the India jersey and playing in the IPL, this journey has been nothing short of a blessing,” he wrote on his Instagram post.

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He thanked his domestic side association for nurturing him as a player, alongside thanking his coaches and mentors for backing him throughout his journey.

 

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A post shared by Mohitmahipal Sharma (@mohitsharma18)

“A very special thank you to the Haryana Cricket Association for being the backbone of my career. And my deepest gratitude to Anirudh Sir, whose constant guidance and belief in me shaped my path in ways words cannot express,” Mohit said

Thank you to the BCCI, my coaches, my teammates, IPL franchises, support staff, and all my friends for their love and support,” he added.

It is pertinent to mention that Mohit remained a seasoned bowler in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and represented four different outfits since making his debut in 2013.

Overall, Mohit took 134 wickets in 120 matches played during his IPL career. The pacer, best known for his slower balls, delivered his best IPL performance in the 2022 season, bagging 27 wickets in 14 matches for the Gujarat Titans, finishing behind his teammate Mohammad Shami.

Notably, he also remained the Gujarat Titans’ highest wicket-taker in 2024, with 13 wickets in 12 matches.

READ: India reveal squad for South Africa T20Is

LAHORE: Pakistan cricketers set to feature in the Big Bash League (BBL) 15, commencing on 14 December in Australia, will prioritize national duty over the league, reports claimed on Wednesday.

This comes after the announcement of the T20I series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which will be played on 7, 9, and 11th January in Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium.

The series between the Green Shirts and the Islanders will serve as preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India from 7 February to 8 March.

Following the Sri Lanka tour, Australia is scheduled to tour Pakistan for a three-match T20I series at the end of January.

According to the reports, Conditional No Objection Certificates (NOCs) are issued to national players for participation in overseas leagues, in which they are directed to prioritize the national duties over franchise cricket.

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Furthermore, the reports claim that players will prioritise the Sri Lanka tour over the BBL, and permanent members of the T20 squad are unlikely to receive exemptions from the series.

Notably, NOCs for the BBL have reportedly been granted to national cricketers from 14 December to 28 January.

The players who have received NOCs are Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, and Hasan Ali.

For the unversed, the 15th edition of the BBL will run from 14 December to 25 January 2026, featuring 44 matches scheduled in prime early-evening slots.

Babar is set to make his BBL debut for the Sydney Sixers. Shaheen Afridi was signed by Brisbane Heat as their first overseas platinum pick, and Rizwan joins Melbourne Renegades.

Rauf will represent Melbourne Stars, Shadab Khan was signed by Sydney Thunder, Hasan Ali was drafted by Adelaide Strikers, and Hassan Khan will play for the Renegades.

Pakistan Sri Lanka T20I Series schedule

First T20I: Wednesday, January 7, Dambulla

Second T20I: Friday, January 9, Dambulla

Third T20I: Sunday, January 11, Dambulla

READ: WATCH: BBL showcases Babar Azam in Cricket 26 game