Tag: australia

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a 28-player white-ball training camp ahead of the upcoming ODI series against Australia, with emerging stars Hunain Shah and Sufiyan Muqeem among the notable inclusions.

The camp, which will be held at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore, is scheduled to begin on May 15 and conclude on May 21.

According to the PCB, the seven-day camp will feature training sessions and practice matches as Pakistan intensify preparations for the three-match home ODI series against Australia.

Muqeem and Hunain earned selection following impressive performances in the recently concluded Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11.

Left-arm spinner Muqeem finished as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 22 wickets and played a key role in guiding Peshawar Zalmi to the title.

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Meanwhile, fast bowler Hunain claimed 17 wickets during the campaign to finish as the fourth-highest wicket-taker while representing runners-up Hyderabad Kingsmen.

The PCB further confirmed that the NCA coaching staff will work closely with Pakistan’s white-ball team management throughout the camp to monitor and prepare the players.

The training group also includes Pakistan Under-19 fast bowlers Abdul Subhan and Ali Raza, both of whom represented Pakistan in the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup earlier this year in Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Notably, underperforming opening batter Saim Ayub has been excluded from the camp.

Pakistan will host Australia for three ODIs in Rawalpindi and Lahore between May 30 and June 4. All three matches are scheduled to begin at 4:30pm local time, with the toss set for 4pm.

Players named in Pakistan white-ball camp: Aamir Jamal, Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Arafat Minhas, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Hamza Nazeer, Haris Rauf, Hunain Shah, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Maaz Sadaqat, Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Faik, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Saad Baig, Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan, Shadab Khan, Shamyl Hussain, Sufiyan Muqeem and Usman Khan.

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Australia fast bowler Darcie Brown was a surprise omission from the 15-player squad, named on Wednesday, for next month’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in England.

The squad will be captained by experienced all-rounder Sophie Molineux in the first World Cup since the retirement of Australia great Alyssa Healy, with Ashleigh Gardner and Tahlia McGrath as deputies.

“Darcie Brown was unlucky to miss out, but the decision was based on the conditions we’re expecting and the make-up of the side,” selector Shawn Flegler said.

“These squads are never easy to select, but we’re confident with the balance and stability we’ve got across the group.”

Left-arm fast bowler Lucy Hamilton comes in for her first World Cup in place of Brown.

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“With at least six right-arm pace options in the mix and raw pace expected to be less effective, we opted to go with Lucy Hamilton, who offers something different as a left-arm quick,” said Flegler.

“Grace Harris comes into the side having missed the recent series against the West Indies. She’s a handy all-round option and someone who can take the game away from an opposition.”

New Zealand were shock winners in 2024 but did so without having to face Australia or England, the world’s two top-ranked T20 teams.

The tournament takes place in England beginning on June 12. The final is at Lord’s in London on July 5.

Australia are in Group A with South Africa, India, Bangladesh, the Netherlands, and Pakistan. They will open their campaign against South Africa at Old Trafford in Manchester on June 13.

Australia women’s T20 World Cup squad

Sophie Molineux (captain), Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Nicola Carey, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham.

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Mal Anderson, the first unseeded player to win the US Open men’s singles title, has died aged 91, Tennis Australia said on Monday.

Anderson’s career started on a dirt court on a farm, and he went on to become an Australian tennis great, winning the US crown in 1957 and three major doubles titles.

Although unseeded at what was then the United States Championships, Anderson beat three seeds and dropped only two sets on his way to the title.

He also won the Davis Cup twice.

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After retirement, Anderson mentored young Australian players, including Pat Rafter, who went on to become world number one.

“I was really sad to hear of Mal’s passing. He was one of those people who helped shape my tennis from very early on,” said Rafter, who twice won the US Open.

“He was a true legend of the game, but more importantly, he was a terrific bloke, humble, generous with his time and always happy to help younger players along.

“Tennis in Australia has lost one of its greats, and a lot of us have lost a mate and mentor. I feel very lucky to have known him.”

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LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on Thursday the schedule for the three-match One-Day International (ODI) series against Australia, set to begin on May 30. 

The 2023 World Cup winners will touch down in Islamabad on 23 May ahead of the first ODI, which will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

The last two matches of the series are scheduled at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on June 2 and 4. All three ODIs will start at 4:30pm local time, with the toss at 4pm.

“Australia will arrive in Islamabad on 23 May and take on the hosts in the first ODI scheduled at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on 30 May,” the board said in a press release statement.

“The second and third ODIs of the series between both sides will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on 2 and 4 June, respectively,” it added.

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After completing the tour, Australia will head to Bangladesh for a three-match ODI and T20 series.

For the unversed, it will be Australia’s first bilateral ODI series in Pakistan since March-April 2022. The series is continuation of Australia’s tour of Pakistan for a three-match T20I series in January and February, where Pakistan completed a 3-0 clean sweep over them.

Australia also visited Pakistan during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, registering a five-wicket win over England at the same venue on 22 February.

Pakistan-Australia Series schedule

23 May – Australia arrive in Islamabad
30 May – First ODI, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
2 June – Second ODI, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
4 June – Third ODI, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

READ: Sri Lanka confirm participation in Pakistan ODI tri-series

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly finalised a tentative schedule for the upcoming home ODI series against Australia, with all three matches likely to be staged at the Gaddafi Stadium, sources revealed on Thursday.

According to the proposed plan, the series is expected to begin on May 31, with the second and third ODIs scheduled for June 2 and June 4, respectively.

The official confirmation from the PCB is still awaited, with the final itinerary expected to be announced in due course.

If confirmed, the series will mark Australia’s return to Pakistan for a 50-over assignment for the first time since 2022. On that occasion, the home side secured a memorable 2–1 victory in a closely contested three-match series.

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Historically, Australia have maintained the upper hand in ODI cricket between the two sides, leading Pakistan 71-36 in 111 encounters, with four matches ending without a result.

Following the Pakistan tour, Australia are also scheduled to travel to Bangladesh for a full white-ball series in June 2026, marking the end of a long gap between bilateral ODI engagements in the country.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s international calendar remains packed as they prepare for a key red-ball assignment in Bangladesh ahead of the home series against Australia.

They will feature in a two-match Test series in Bangladesh as part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 cycle.

Tentative schedule for Pakistan vs Australia

May 31: 1st ODI, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

June 02: 2nd ODI, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

June 04: 3rd ODI, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

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Afghanistan’s premier leg-spinner, Rashid Khan, has made a remarkable revelation about his career, sharing that he turned down offers of citizenship and the chance to represent both India and Australia in international cricket.

The disclosure comes through his autobiography, Rashid Khan: From Streets to Stardom, where the 27-year-old sheds light on a defining moment that underlined his unwavering commitment to Afghanistan cricket.

According to Rashid, one such approach came during the 2023 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he was representing the Gujarat Titans. He revealed that he was told that a senior figure in Indian cricket wanted to meet him

“I went over and greeted him. We started talking, and he said: The situation in your country is very bad. Come stay in India. We will give you Indian documents, live here, play cricket here,” Rashid revealed.

The star spinner admitted the conversation caught him off guard, but his response was immediate and firm.

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“I was surprised by what he was saying and didn’t know how to respond. But I smiled and said, Thank you very much. I am playing for my country, Afghanistan,” he wrote.

Rashid Khan further disclosed that India were not the only ones to express interest. Australia had also explored the possibility of bringing him into their cricketing system, a testament to his stature in world cricket.

“I received such offers from both Australia and India. But I told them, ‘If I don’t play for my country, I won’t play for any other country either,’” he stated.

The leg-spinner’s decision reflects not just personal loyalty, but also his role as a symbol of Afghanistan’s rise in international cricket. Emerging from a war-affected nation, Rashid has become one of the most recognisable figures in the sport.

Since his debut, he has represented Afghanistan across all formats, featuring in 6 Tests, 117 ODIs and 115 T20Is, while picking up a combined 448 wickets. With the bat, he has contributed over 2,000 runs, further highlighting his all-round value.

READ: Pakistan’s Test selections raise more questions than answers

Cricket Australia (CA) have officially confirmed their schedule for a historic full men’s white-ball tour of Bangladesh in June 2026, marking the first such bilateral visit in 15 years.

According to the board’s statement, Australia will play six white-ball matches on the tour, three One Day Internationals (ODIs) followed by three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), in a short but significant subcontinent assignment.

“Australia will end a 15-year gap between one-day matches in Bangladesh this winter with confirmation of six white-ball fixtures in the country in June,” the statement said.

The tour comes after Australia’s last full ODI series in Bangladesh in 2011, when they completed a 3-0 sweep in Dhaka, a series remembered for standout batting performances from Shane Watson, Michael Clarke, and Michael Hussey.

Their most recent T20I tour of Bangladesh came in 2021, where they suffered a surprise 4-1 series defeat despite a debut hat-trick from Nathan Ellis.

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A key development this time is a new broadcast rights agreement, which ensures the series will be available to Australian audiences, unlike the 2021 tour, which was not televised live in Australia.

“With the tour to also include three T20I fixtures, a fresh broadcast rights agreement struck this week will mean there is no repeat of Australia’s previous tour, which was blacked out to Australian viewers, making this the first men’s white-ball bilateral series in Bangladesh that has been viewable in Australia since 2011,” the statement said.

Australia’s ODI leg will take place at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka, with matches scheduled on June 9, 11, and 14.

The T20I series will follow in Chattogram, with all three matches set to be played at the Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium on June 17, 19, and 21.

Australia men’s tour of Bangladesh 2026 schedule

June 9: 1st ODI, Sher-e-Bangla Stadium, Dhaka

June 11: 2nd ODI, Sher-e-Bangla Stadium, Dhaka

June 14: 3rd ODI, Sher-e-Bangla Stadium, Dhaka

June 17: 1st T20I, Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium, Chattogram

June 19: 2nd T20I, Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium, Chattogram

June 21: 3rd T20I, Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium, Chattogram

READ: PCB, Cricket Australia in talks over white-ball series schedule in Pakistan

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is in active discussions with Cricket Australia (CA) regarding the scheduling of Australia’s upcoming white-ball tour of Pakistan, with both boards working to finalise dates and venues.

According to sources, Pakistan are set to host Australia for a three-match One Day International (ODI) series, with the visitors expected to arrive towards the end of May.

The matches are tentatively planned between May 31 and June 5, with one fixture likely to be held in Rawalpindi and the remaining two in Lahore.

Australia last toured Pakistan earlier this year in January, when they featured in a three-match T20I series.

Following their Pakistan assignment, they are scheduled to travel to Bangladesh for another white-ball tour, with the first ODI there expected to begin on June 9.

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Pakistan, meanwhile, are gearing up for a busy international window. Before hosting Australia, they are set to tour Bangladesh for a two-match Test series, provisionally scheduled from May 8 to 20.

This will mark their first red-ball assignment since their home series against South Africa in October last year, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Looking further ahead, Pakistan’s schedule in the ongoing ICC Future Tours Programme (2023–27) includes a tour of the West Indies for a two-Test series in July-August, followed by a three-match Test series in England from August 19 to September 13.

Later in the cycle, Sri Lanka are set to visit Pakistan for a two-Test series in November, while New Zealand are scheduled to tour in March 2027 for another red-ball assignment.

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India will host Australia in a high-profile five-match Test series starting January next year to end the 2026/27 home season, the country’s cricket board announced on Thursday.

“The season will culminate with the prestigious and much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy, featuring a five-match Test series against Australia, beginning on January 21, 2027, in Nagpur,” the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said.

“The contest will then move to Chennai, Guwahati, Ranchi and Ahmedabad,” the board said.

India suffered a 2-0 Test whitewash against South Africa at home last year and are placed sixth in the World Test Championship (WTC) table, led by Australia.

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India’s home season will begin with a white-ball series, comprising three one-day matches and five T20 Internationals against the West Indies, starting on September 27.

The cricketing powerhouse will host Sri Lanka in December 2026 for a white-ball series, comprising three ODIs and three T20Is.

Zimbabwe will be in India for three 50-over matches in January.

India home fixtures 2026/27

West Indies Tour of India (2026)

• 1st ODI: Sun 27 Sep, 2:00 PM – Trivandrum
• 2nd ODI: Wed 30 Sep, 2:00 PM – Guwahati
• 3rd ODI: Sat 03 Oct, 2:00 PM – New Chandigarh
• 1st T20I: Tue 06 Oct, 7:00 PM – Lucknow
• 2nd T20I: Fri 09 Oct, 7:00 PM – Ranchi
• 3rd T20I: Sun 11 Oct, 7:00 PM – Indore
• 4th T20I: Wed 14 Oct, 7:00 PM – Hyderabad
• 5th T20I: Sat 17 Oct, 7:00 PM – Bengaluru

Sri Lanka Tour of India (2026)

• 1st ODI: Sun 13 Dec, 2:00 PM – Delhi
• 2nd ODI: Wed 16 Dec, 2:00 PM – Bengaluru
• 3rd ODI: Sat 19 Dec, 2:00 PM – Ahmedabad
• 1st T20I: Tue 22 Dec, 7:00 PM – Rajkot
• 2nd T20I: Thu 24 Dec, 7:00 PM – Cuttack
• 3rd T20I: Sun 27 Dec, 7:00 PM – Pune

Zimbabwe Tour of India (2027)

• 1st ODI: Sun 03 Jan, 2:00 PM – Kolkata
• 2nd ODI: Wed 06 Jan, 2:00 PM – Hyderabad
• 3rd ODI: Sat 09 Jan, 2:00 PM – Mumbai

Australia Tour of India (2027) – Border-Gavaskar Trophy

• 1st Test: Thu 21 Jan – Mon 25 Jan, 9:30 AM – Nagpur
• 2nd Test: Fri 29 Jan – Tue 02 Feb, 9:30 AM – Chennai
• 3rd Test: Thu 11 Feb – Mon 15 Feb, 9:00 AM – Guwahati
• 4th Test: Fri 19 Feb – Tue 23 Feb, 9:30 AM – Ranchi
• 5th Test: Sat 27 Feb – Wed 03 Mar, 9:30 AM – Ahmedabad

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Australia coach Andrew McDonald is adamant the players he took to the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 were good enough, but the evidence suggests otherwise, with a rebuild looming before they co-host the next tournament with New Zealand in 2028.

The 2021 champions were seen as title contenders again at the showpiece in India and Sri Lanka, but the former white-ball heavyweights instead suffered a calamitous exit in the group stage for the first time since 2009.

They head home to a significant pile-on from former Australian greats and an acerbic media who expected more.

They have been quick to lob sharp criticism at the underperforming players and perceived selection blunders.

“We said at the start of this World Cup that we were concerned about Australia,” pace great Glenn McGrath told reporters, pointing to the absence of fast bowlers Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc as exposing a soft underbelly.

“All of a sudden, the aura of that Australian team is no longer there when other teams play it … unfortunately, not surprising.”

The warning lights were flashing before the event even started when they capitulated heavily to Pakistan in a three-game warm-up, outplayed with bat and ball.

In those matches they lost by 22, 90 and 111 runs, the final two Australia’s largest in terms of runs in T20Is.

At the time, skipper Mitchell Marsh said: “Absolutely no stress from our end.” That soon became: “It’s a devastated group” as their T20 campaign unravelled with defeats to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.

Australia’s three selectors, George Bailey, McDonald and Tony Dodemaide, have come in for particular criticism, notably their continued faith in under-performing all-rounders Cameron Green and Cooper Connolly.

They were also blasted for their head-scratching failure to play Steve Smith and to drop in-form Matt Renshaw for the Sri Lanka clash when they were still mathematically alive.

“Look at the selections, look at (Glenn) Maxwell, Connolly, Green and (Josh) Inglis, these guys are all out of form,” lamented Mark Waugh, himself a former selector.

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“The selectors have their plans in place, but you’ve got to be smart enough to see which players are in form and which players are out of form.

“And you’ve got to play the percentages a lot better than what our selectors have played.”

A defiant McDonald said there was “always going to be differing opinions from the outside”, suggesting they “don’t understand what the moving parts are and the conversations are on the inside”.

“The build into this tournament and the style of cricket, the balance of our batting unit and the balance of our bowling attack, we felt really confident coming into this tournament,” McDonald added.

“I think the decisions that we made and the squad that we picked, we’ve got a room full of players that are incredibly disappointed knowing that they were good enough to progress, and we’ve just got to own the fact that we haven’t.”

A forensic review of their disastrous performance is set to kick in once they return home, ahead of planning for the next T20 World Cup when only three in the current squad, Green, Connolly and quick Xavier Bartlett, will be aged under 30.

What becomes of some of their ageing champions like Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Hazlewood, and Cummins remains to be seen.

McDonald noted that with a heavy Test load ahead and an ODI World Cup in 2027, Australia’s T20 schedule was light going forward, giving them limited opportunities to fine-tune the team in the immediate future.

“In the next 12 months, we’ll have a lack of T20 cricket, as is the way of the schedule,” he said. “We go to Bangladesh, and we’ve got a series against England.”

“They won’t really ramp up until pretty much that World Cup year, which is similar to what happened in this cycle.

“That’s probably not enough to start to build out what your direction is. I think that’ll come a little bit closer.”

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