Sky Sports will broadcast all World Cups in the UK and Ireland under an exclusive eight-year deal struck with the ICC for an undisclosed sum. The arrangement marks the first time the two organisations have shared a direct contractual relationship and forms part of the ICC’s drive to sell media rights individually in key markets. Last August, Disney Star* bagged the broadcast rights for the Indian market to show all…
India chose to bowl vs New Zealand Unlike in the ODI series, India chose the more convenient option of chasing upon winning the toss in the T20I series opener in Ranchi. India’s captain Hardik Pandya spoke of the dew expected; in fact, he said, he could feel some dew at 6.30pm itself, which should even the odds a little. India recalled left-arm wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav into their T20I XI after…
Brisbane Heat 203 for 5 (Khawaja 94, Labuschagne 73, Green 2-29) beat Sydney Thunder 52 for 1 (Warner 36*, Bazley 1-3) by eight runs (DLS method) Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne emerged from T20 droughts with spectacular half-centuries before rain thwarted Sydney Thunder’s hopes of chasing down Brisbane Heat’s massive total in the BBL elimination final. Kicking off the finals series, Khawaja and Labuschagne combined for a 128-run partnership to…
Haider Ali, the Pakistan batter, will join Derbyshire for the 2023 county season. The 22-year-old Ali has played 35 white-ball matches for his country, including two appearances at the recent ICC T20 World Cup, where Pakistan were runners-up to England. In 33 T20I appearances, he has scored 499 runs, including three half-centuries, one of which came against England at Emirates Old Trafford in 2020. Announcing Ali’s signing on Friday, Derbyshire…
The relationship between Pakistani cricket and politics has thrown up another candidate set to straddle the two, with fast bowler Wahab Riaz named as the caretaker Sports Minister of Punjab. Wahab, who is currently playing for Khulna Tigers in the Bangladesh Premier League, will take his oath of office once he returns home. There is no official word on what this means for his involvement with the Pakistan Super League,…
Tom Harrison, the ECB’s former chief executive, has switched sports from cricket to rugby, following his unveiling as the new CEO of Six Nations Rugby. Harrison, 51, stepped down from his cricket role in May 2022 after a controversial seven-year tenure that was defined by his driving-through of the Hundred, the ECB’s new city-based white-ball competition that has proven especially divisive in the first two years of its existence. As…
Toss South Africa chose to bat vs England South Africa won the toss and chose to bat in the first of three ODIs against England in Bloemfontein. Jos Buttler in turn announced an XI littered with noteworthy inclusions. Harry Brook continues on from a breakthrough 2022 with a 50-over debut, his cap presented to him by former Yorkshire teammate David Willey, who also plays. Ben Duckett makes his first appearance…
The upcoming women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa will have an all-woman line-up of match officials, in what will be a landmark first in the game. On Friday, the ICC announced the panel of three match referees and ten umpires, featuring officials from seven countries. The match referees are GS Lakshmi (India), Shandre Fritz (South Africa) and Michell Pereira (Sri Lanka). The on-field and TV umpires will be Sue…
Cricket West Indies (CWI) has roped in Brian Lara as a performance mentor to work with the West Indies international teams across formats and with the board’s academy. Lara will be supporting the various head coaches “in providing players with tactical advice and improving their game sense, as well as working closely with the Director of Cricket [Jimmy Adams] on ICC World Cup Tournament strategic planning,” a CWI press statement…
Usman Khawaja believes this generation of the Australia men’s Test team will be remembered as a great side if they can sweep the three major challenges ahead of them in the next six months. The squad flies to India next week for the first of a trio of overseas assignments that will shape where the team sits in the history of the game. Australia have not won in India since…