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Cricket Australia (CA) chief executive Todd Greenberg has confirmed that Pakistan players have been cleared to participate in the upcoming 15th season of the Big Bash League (BBL), following the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision to grant No Objection Certificates (NOCs).

The development comes after weeks of uncertainty surrounding the participation of Pakistani cricketers in overseas leagues.

The PCB had earlier announced a temporary halt on issuing NOCs for foreign T20 tournaments, sparking concerns over the availability of several star players contracted by BBL franchises.

However, Greenberg confirmed on Saturday that the matter has now been resolved, with all Pakistani players set to arrive as scheduled for the tournament.

“They’ll all be playing, they’ve all been cleared to play, which we’re really excited about because we’ve got some great Pakistan players in the BBL. We’re looking forward to seeing them here this summer,” Greenberg stated.

The confirmation ends speculation that had been circulating since PCB Chief Operating Officer Sumair Ahmed Syed issued a directive last month to withhold NOCs for overseas leagues.

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Earlier this week, sources within the PCB hinted that the restriction had been lifted, and Greenberg’s remarks now make it official.

BBL 15 will witness a strong Pakistani presence, with some of the country’s biggest names set to feature across franchises.

Babar Azam will turn out for the Sydney Sixers, Shaheen Shah Afridi for Brisbane Heat, Hasan Ali for Adelaide Strikers, Mohammad Rizwan for Melbourne Renegades, Haris Rauf for Melbourne Stars, and Shadab Khan for Sydney Thunder.

The star-studded season will kick off on December 14, 2025, with a blockbuster clash between defending champions Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers at Perth Stadium.

The tournament will run until January 25, 2026, featuring 44 matches in total.

READ: Graeme Cremer returns to Zimbabwe squad after seven-year hiatus

Former Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer will wear the national colors again after nearly seven years, as he has been recalled for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, starting October 29 in Harare.

Cremer, who last represented Zimbabwe in 2018, had stepped away from cricket to pursue a professional career in golf and relocated to the UAE, where his wife works as an airline pilot.

However, the veteran spinner recently returned home and reignited his cricketing ambitions through local club competitions, a move that has now paved the way for his international comeback.

The Zimbabwe selectors have rewarded Cremer’s persistence, drafting him into a largely unchanged 15-member squad that went unbeaten through the ICC Africa Regional Qualifiers earlier this year.

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He replaces fast bowler Trevor Gwandu in the lineup, as Zimbabwe continue preparations for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

All-rounder Sean Williams remains unavailable due to personal reasons, Zimbabwe Cricket confirmed.

The series against Afghanistan will be played entirely at the Harare Sports Club, which also hosted the one-off Test earlier in the tour.

The T20Is are scheduled for October 29, 31, and November 2.

Zimbabwe squad for Afghanistan T20Is

Sikandar Raza (c), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Graeme Cremer, Brad Evans, Clive Madande, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Brendan Taylor.

READ: Fatima Sana calls for ICC action after Pakistan’s rain-ruined World Cup campaign

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana has called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to ensure venues with appropriate playing and weather conditions for future tournaments.

Sana’s statement came following her team’s frustrating, rain-affected ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 campaign, which ended without a single victory.

The Green Shirts’ final group match against co-hosts Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium was abandoned due to persistent rain.

Notably, this was their third washed-out fixture of the tournament, leaving them seventh on the table with just three points from seven matches.

Speaking after the match, Fatima Sana expressed disappointment at how weather disruptions derailed Pakistan’s campaign and urged the ICC to address scheduling and venue selection more carefully in future global events.

“The weather did not go in our favour in the England match and others as well,” Fatima said. “ICC must arrange good venues for World Cups because we wait four years for this opportunity.”

The 23-year-old all-rounder, who captained Pakistan for the first time in a senior ICC event, acknowledged the team’s limitations but also highlighted areas of progress.

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“We were very good in bowling and fielding, but our batting needs improvement,” she reflected.

“In a couple of matches, we came very close, against Australia and England, but couldn’t cross the line. That’s the main thing we have to work on.”

Despite the disappointing results, Fatima maintained a positive outlook, saying that the experience of leading Pakistan in a major tournament had been invaluable.

“As the youngest captain, these matches give me a lot of confidence,” she said.

“I’m in a learning phase, and I always watch Kane Williamson. He also lost a close World Cup but was still smiling. As a captain, you have to believe in yourself.”

Looking ahead, the Pakistan skipper emphasised the need for more international exposure ahead of next year’s Women’s T20 World Cup.

“We haven’t played much cricket recently. Hopefully, we get more matches before the next big event so we can prepare well,” she added.

READ: Kane Williamson breaks silence on his future with New Zealand

Batting great Kane Williamson says a changed “life situation” will reduce his availability for New Zealand as he prepares for his first international match since March.

Former captain Williamson will take part in the three-match ODI series against England starting in Mount Maunganui on Sunday, having been unavailable for New Zealand in any format since they lost the final of the Champions Trophy against India in March.

In that period, the 35-year-old, arguably his country’s finest batsman, missed a Test series in Zimbabwe and the home T20I series this month against Australia and England.

Speaking ahead of the England series, Williamson said his international availability is limited by a desire to spend more time with his young family, as well as play in lucrative professional leagues.

“As your life situation changes, as mine has, the balance between where you spend your time and give your attention is really, really important,” Williamson told New Zealand Cricket.

“So still being able to play for New Zealand and play the sport that I love at the highest level is great. But the balance is the most important thing for me.”

Since his debut in 2010, Williamson has scored 9,276 Test runs at an average of 54.88 to be comfortably New Zealand’s most prolific batter.

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He has gradually reduced his commitments over the last two years, relinquishing the captaincy in all formats. His “casual” contract with the national body requires him to commit to only certain series and tournaments.

Kane Williamson has spent much of this year in England, where he was captain of London Spirit in the men’s Hundred competition, as well as playing for Middlesex.

He is yet to play under new national coach Rob Walter, but has spoken with him extensively about availability.

“It’s just an ongoing communication with New Zealand Cricket and with Rob, and I’m grateful for that,” Williamson said.

“It’s a lot about the balance, with family and time away, but also the delicate balance of being a part of this team that I’ve really loved and enjoyed for such a long period of time.”

Williamson is one of five Black Caps on casual playing agreements with New Zealand Cricket, including Lockie Ferguson, Devon Conway, Finn Allen and Tim Seifert.

READ: Lionel Messi brace lifts Inter Miami to edge past Nashville SC

Argentine superstar Lionel Messi scored twice to lift Inter Miami to a 3-1 victory over Nashville SC on Friday in the opening game of their Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup round one playoff series.

Tadeo Allende also scored for Inter, who took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series, with game two in Nashville on November 1.

Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi was presented with the Golden Boot award before the game after topping the regular-season scoring chart with 29 goals in 28 games.

He wasted no time in demonstrating how he earned it, putting Miami up 1-0 with a diving header off a pass from Luis Suarez in the 19th minute.

Sergio Busquets had gained control of the ball near the sideline and passed to Rodrigo De Paul.

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De Paul found a charging Messi, who handed off to Suarez on the right and pressed forward to connect when Suarez fed it back.

Allende’s header from a pass by Ian Fray put Miami up 2-0 in the 62nd minute.

Messi made sure of the win nine minutes into second-half injury time when Nashville keeper Joe Willis leapt forward to stop a ball from Jordi Alba, the left wing, but failed to corral it, leaving Messi to slot home.

That meant Hany Mukhtar’s strike in the 11th and final minute of stoppage time was nothing but window dressing.

The victory comes a day after Messi inked a three-year contract extension that will keep the 38-year-old in Florida through 2028.

READ: Shahid Afridi reacts to Shan Masood’s new role

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has congratulated Shan Masood on his appointment as PCB’s Consultant for International Cricket and Players’ Affairs, calling it a great choice and praising the board for making “thoughtful and forward-looking” decisions.

The all-rounder took to social media and shared his views on the decision.

Congratulations to Shaan Masood on being appointed as the International Director of PCB, a great choice,” he wrote on X.

He suggested that wicket-keeper batter Sarfaraz Ahmed should be a strong candidate to lead domestic cricket, praising the decision.

“I recommend, Sarfaraz Ahmed would be an excellent fit to lead domestic cricket. Only cricketers truly understand the challenges and needs of their fellow players, these roles couldn’t be in better hands. Great to see PCB making thoughtful and forward-looking decisions for Pakistan cricket,” he wrote.

Earlier today, PCB named Test skipper Shan Masood as the Consultant for International Cricket and Players’ Affairs.

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However, the PCB announcement press release did not indicate if Shan would remain as captain while taking on the new role.

The decision came after the board had advertised for the Director of International Cricket Operations following Usman Wahla’s resignation from the role.

The designation is newly created and encompasses the responsibilities previously advertised under the Director, International Cricket Operations role.

As per the PCB’s advertisement, the director’s role involves numerous responsibilities, including planning and organizing international cricket events and preparing and finalizing MOUs for home and overseas tours of Pakistan’s national, Shaheens, U-19, U-16, and emerging teams.

“The role also involves preparing for ICC meetings on cricket-related matters and developing logistics and tournament budgets. The director will oversee negotiations, contract execution, and itinerary planning for FTP tours and all formats of matches,” the advertisement read.

Till now, Shan Masood has played 44 Tests, 9 ODIs, and 19 T20Is for Pakistan, having made his international debut against South Africa in 2013.

Overall, he has captained Pakistan in 14 matches so far, winning only four and losing 10. His most recent stint as skipper came against South Africa, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

READ: Salman Naseer reveals major update on new teams, venues in PSL 11

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is set to expand, with Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Salman Naseer revealing plans for additional venues and the inclusion of two new teams — marking the next phase in the tournament’s evolution.

During a PSL podcast, Salman expressed his desire to expand the league beyond the four cities — Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi — and discussed home-and-away games for the teams.

“I think from our side, as management and even all the other stakeholders, even the franchises, everyone wants our footprint to increase beyond these four cities. Yes. So that desire is there, and we are very seriously considering that this time we have to go to six venues. Okay. PSL 11, by the will of Almighty Allah, will be across six venues,” he said.

“And the home and away concept is also necessary, which is something that we have always talked about, and we always tried to implement: that Karachi plays its home games in Karachi, Lahore plays in Lahore, Multan plays in Multan. Islamabad is having to play in Pindi, but it’s close. Quetta and Peshawar have a little trouble with their home matches,” he added.

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Regarding stadiums, he emphasized Peshawar’s Imran Khan Stadium and stressed the need for upgradation to host the tournament’s matches.

“So, Peshawar’s Imran Khan Stadium is almost ready. Yeah. And there is a slight requirement for an upgrade to bring it to a standard where international cricket and PSL can take place.

I went there as well, and we looked around, and we discussed which things need improvement. And I think they [Peshawar Zalmi] know, we know, a little bit of work is left. The effort is that we will, by the will of Almighty Allah, get it ready for PSL 11,” Naseer revealed.

He mentioned that Faisalabad is another venue where matches are being scheduled for PSL 11. Salman noted that the plan involves introducing two new teams and that the sales process would begin in November due to high interest and expected competition.

“The other venue, and I think people have already gotten an inkling because matches have started being scheduled there in preparation for PSL 11, which is Faisalabad,” he continued.

“The plan is to have two new teams for PSL 11, and the process, which is the sales process, tender process, will begin in November. There is a lot of interest, and we are very keen to explore that interest, and it looks like there will be a lot of competition here as well,” he concluded.

READ: Women’s World Cup: Winless Pakistan bow out after washout against Sri Lanka

COLOMBO: Pakistan final group-stage fixture against Sri Lanka ended in a washout at the ICC Women’s World Cup here at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Friday.

Following this, the women in Green ended their campaign on a disappointing note, finishing in seventh place without winning a single game, only ahead of Bangladesh on three points.

The persistent rain in Colombo continued today as Pakistan opted to bat after a toss delay, with the match reduced to 34 overs per side.

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Pakistan had scored 18-0 in 4.2 overs, after which rain had the final say, and the match was abandoned. Opening batters Muneeba Ali scored seven and Omaima Sohail remained unbeaten on nine.

Pakistan were already out of the tournament semi-final race on Tuesday when they faced a big 150-run defeat (DLS method) to South Africa.

Playing XIs

Pakistan: Omaima Sohail, Muneeba Ali (wicket-keeper), Sidra Amin, Aliya Riaz, Natalia Pervaiz, Fatima Sana (captain), Eyman Fatima, Rameen Shamim, Syeda Aroob Shah, Nashra Sandhu, and Sadia Iqbal.

Sri Lanka: Vishmi Gunaratne, Chamari Athapaththu (capt), Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Sugandika Kumari, Dewmi Vihanga, Malki Madara, and Inoka Ranaweera.

READ: Shan Masood appointed Consultant International Cricket and Players’ Affairs

Bruno Fernandes has revealed he rejected a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia in favour of pursuing his Manchester United dreams.

United captain Fernandes is set to make his 300th appearance for the club in Saturday’s Premier League match against Brighton at Old Trafford.

United have struggled for much of Fernandes’ time in Manchester, and last season they finished 15th — which ranked as the club’s worst final top-flight position since 1973-74.

They also lost the Europa League final against fellow strugglers Tottenham to shatter their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.

Fernandes was offered an escape route during the close-season when Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal reportedly expressed interest.

But he spurned the move to focus on unfinished business with the 20-time English champions, who last won the title in 2013.

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“We always say we have an offer from Saudi because obviously, wherever I have to go, they have to come. They can choose not, but I’d prefer them to come,” he said in reference to wife Ana and his family.

“And obviously the first thing she said was ‘have you achieved everything you wanted to achieve at the club?’ Because she knows that I haven’t.”

Fernandes has sometimes been criticised for an overly emotional attitude on the pitch, with team-mates subjected to frustrated tirades.

But United boss Ruben Amorim accepts the Portugal midfielder’s fiery personality is part of his burning desire to win the Premier League and Champions League.

“The manager spoke with me,” Fernandes said. “He said I was still part of the project. He wanted me to stay. The club said the same.

“I always said that if the club was like ‘Bruno, we want to cash in, we want to make some money, we don’t think you can be part of the future project’ or whatever, I would be like ‘OK, I have to find a solution for myself, whatever is best for me and my family, and I will leave’.

“But obviously that wasn’t the case. I felt that I was still part of the plan, that I could still help the club to achieve whatever was our aims.”

Fernandes has a contract until 2027, with the option of a further year.

And the 31-year-old has no intention of discussing his future with anyone until after the World Cup next year.

“As I’ve always said, I feel good here,” he said. “I want to achieve my dreams still. But obviously I can’t talk by the side of the club.

“I’ve seen a lot of news. I’ve seen a lot of people talking that I had an agreement to go already next season. If the club has done that agreement, it wasn’t made with me, so I haven’t spoken with anyone.

“My agent also knows how I work, so if he wants to talk to me, it will be after the World Cup. Because until then, I won’t speak to anyone.”

READ: Maxwell returns as Australia ring changes for final ODI, T20Is against India

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday announced Test skipper Shan Masood as the Consultant for International Cricket and Players’ Affairs.

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi made the announcement during a dinner at the Prime Minister’s house.

The decision came after the board had advertised for the Director of International Cricket Operations following Usman Wahla’s stepping down from the role.

Usman Wahla was appointed as the Director in May 2023 after Zakir Khan, whose contract expired on April 3, 2023.

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As per the PCB’s advertisement, the director’s role involves numerous responsibilities, including planning and organizing international cricket events and preparing and finalizing MOUs for home and overseas tours of Pakistan’s national, Shaheens, U-19, U-16, and emerging teams.

“The role also involves preparing for ICC meetings on cricket-related matters and developing logistics and tournament budgets. The director will oversee negotiations, contract execution, and itinerary planning for FTP tours and all formats of matches,” the advertisement read.

Till now, Shan Masood has played 44 Tests, 9 ODIs, and 19 T20Is for Pakistan, having made his international debut against South Africa in 2013.

Overall, he has captained Pakistan in 14 matches so far, winning only four and losing 10. His most recent stint as skipper came against South Africa, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

READ: Maxwell returns as Australia ring changes for final ODI, T20Is against India