The missing trophy is back in Australia’s hands to continue a run of considerable success under Cummins

AAP06-Jan-20253:19

Cummins on making WTC final: ‘It’s huge, we talk about it a lot’

There’s no end in sight for Pat Cummins’ captaincy as he prepares to put family first and skip his first full tour since taking over from Tim Paine four years ago.Sunday’s six-wicket win over India at the SCG on Sunday sealed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and ensured Australia own every bilateral trophy for which they compete, capping a superb run for the team under Cummins.With ODI and T20 World Cups also captured in that time, Cummins was asked after the SCG win if he felt he “had completed cricket”.Related

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• Australia book WTC final date with South Africa at Lord's

Cummins will likely miss Australia’s next tour, admitting on Sunday he “likely might struggle” to play in Sri Lanka as he awaits the birth of his second child.Steven Smith is expected to return to the captaincy in his place, having already filled in four times previously in the past four years. But in the long run, Cummins is still driven and in no way feels as if his job as captain has been finished.”First of all, I absolutely love what I do. That’s the biggest driver in wanting to play Test cricket and work with this team and support staff,” Cummins said. “I absolutely love everything about it; it’s that much fun. If I can keep doing it for a while, even better.”The transition of the Test team has been a key talking point for the past year, with Sam Konstas the only player in the fifth Test side under 30. But Cummins still has several years left in him with a mega 2027 on the horizon, which includes away Test tours of India and England, despite him initially hinting at a shorter tenure when he took over in 2021.Pat Cummins remained calm in the face of criticism early in the series•AFP

“You always talk about [succession]. We have two vice-captains in the team. We have had three debutants in this series,” Cummins said. “You’re always balancing between the here and now, but have a bit of an eye towards the future.”They are conversations we always have, but I don’t think there is any point in doing things for the sake of it. Those can play out over the next few years.”Cummins’ leadership in the 3-1 Border-Gavaskar trophy triumph was immense. The Australian team under his watch has often become a target for criticism, of which there was plenty after they were thrashed by 295 runs in the series opener.Claims of fractures in the team were known to have frustrated players, after press-conference comments from Josh Hazlewood were picked apart by sections of the media. The team’s preparation also came under the microscope, after Cummins and other players skipped white-ball matches in the lead up to the Tests.But Cummins pulled the right rein at almost every opportunity after Perth, with his captaincy at its peak in the final-hour win at the MCG last week.”When you start a series behind, a lot of things get questioned, fairly and unfairly,” Cummins said. “But I think it shows a strength of the group to stay strong. Know we weren’t at our best but we can be better.”

A PCB official said that as this is an ICC tournament, the anthem playlist has been produced and distributed by the ICC

Danyal Rasool23-Feb-2025The PCB has reached out to the ICC for clarification after the Indian national anthem was erroneously played for a moment at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.Ahead of the game between Australia and England, the national anthem of the UK was played without incident. However, instead of following it up with the Australian national anthem, a recording of the Indian national anthem began to ring out before it was swiftly stopped and changed.ESPNcricinfo understands that the PCB is unhappy with the error, which it has blamed the ICC for. A PCB official told ESPNcricinfo that as this is an ICC tournament, the anthem playlist has been produced and distributed by the ICC, with the ICC in charge of playing the anthems before the matches. The PCB also questioned the presence of the Indian anthem in the playlist in the first place, given India are not playing any of their matches in Pakistan but in Dubai. The ICC believes the error was a technical one but is investigating the matter with the third-party supplier.Related

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This is the second time in as many days that the PCB has had to ask the ICC for an explanation following incidents it feels have undermined Pakistan as official hosts of the Champions Trophy. During the second game of the tournament in Dubai, when India played Bangladesh, Pakistan’s name was omitted from the logo on the official broadcast.This was a departure from the broadcast graphics for the other matches of the tournament so far, including the tournament opener between Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi where the event name as well as ‘Pakistan’ was visible on the broadcast.The ICC put that down to a technical glitch, though it was an explanation that didn’t satisfy the PCB. The ICC gave assurances that such a thing would not be repeated, regardless of where the games were being held. That means the feed for Sunday’s game between India and Pakistan in Dubai – the most high-profile contest of the tournament – will include Pakistan’s name on the official on-screen logo.The game between Australia and England drew the biggest crowd of the tournament so far, and was the most dramatic, as Australia chased down a record 351 to beat England by five wickets with 15 balls to spare.

The ICC is believed to have informally told PCB it was an early technical error, the explanation, however, has left PCB dissatisfied

Danyal Rasool21-Feb-2025The PCB has asked for an explanation from ICC over the omission of Pakistan’s name in the Champions Trophy branding during the live broadcast of Thursday’s match between India and Bangladesh in Dubai. The logo in the top left corner of the broadcast carried the event name – Champions Trophy 2025 – but not the name of Pakistan, the hosts, for the entirety of the match, which India won by six wickets.This was a departure from the broadcast graphics for the other matches of the tournament so far including the tournament opener between Pakistan played New Zealand in Karachi where the event name, as well as Pakistan’s name was visible on the broadcast. It was also visible for today’s game between Afghanistan and South Africa in Karachi. PCB is understood to be aggrieved at the situation and asked for assurances it will not happen again.While the ICC is believed to have informally told PCB it was an early technical error, the explanation has left PCB dissatisfied. Graphics are prepared by the ICC and provided to the live feed, produced by UK-based Sunset & Vine under ICC’s supervision, well in advance; that Pakistan’s name was on the logo for the opening game of the tournament has left PCB unconvinced over why the issue arose for the game between Bangladesh and India.The ICC maintains the incident occurred due to a technical glitch and has clarified this is not an issue that will affect any future games, regardless of whether they are played in Pakistan or the UAE. The next game in the UAE will also be the tournament’s most followed, with India taking on the official hosts Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday.The issue over where the tournament takes place became contentious in the months leading up to the tournament, with Pakistan demanding they host every game, since the ICC had awarded them rights to the whole tournament. The BCCI informed the PCB the Indian government did not permit them to play in Pakistan, and insisted on a neutral venue for India’s matches. Ultimately a deal was struck that guarantees India will not need to play in Pakistan, including if they reach the final. As a reciprocal arrangement, Pakistan will not travel to India for any ICC events for the next three years, with their games agreed to be played at neutral venues.

Mousley takes T20 best 4 for 19, Alex Davies puts Bears run-chase on course with 42 off 24

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay20-Jun-2025Birmingham took the local derby honours against Worcestershire Rapids with a thrilling one-wicket Vitality Blast victory in a low-scoring nerve-shredder at Edgbaston.The Rapids, put in, floundered to 134 all out in 18.4 overs in the face of the experienced Bears spin attack. Dan Mousley took a T20 best 4 for 19, Danny Briggs 2 for 20 and Jake Lintott 2 for 27 as no batter reached 30.Warwickshire then scraped to 135 for 9 with three balls to spare. Alex Davies supplied a violent start and, after Fateh Singh (3 for 18) and Ben Dwarshuis (3 for 32), forced a collapse, last pair Sam Hain (38 not out) and Lintott took the Bears over the line.The Rapids charged to 39 from 21 balls before Mousley struck twice in three balls. Seventeen-year-old Isaac Mohammed, a product of the Edgbaston youth system before joining Worcestershire earlier this year, showed his class with a glorious six over long-off off Ed Barnard but then missed a full toss and was bowled. Jake Libby, off-balance, sliced to extra cover and it was three wickets for four runs from ten balls after Kashif Ali made a porridge of a pull at Briggs and was bowled.Adam Hose struck four fours to restore some momentum but his demise accelerated the collapse. Hose chipped Mousley to deep midwicket, Gareth Roderick swept Lintott’s first ball into the gloves of wicketkeeper Davies and Ethan Brookes drove Briggs to extra cover to supply the bowler’s 300th wicket in all T20 competitions across the world.Mousley’s fourth scalp arrived when Tom Taylor slogged to long-on. Dwarshuis socked Lintott for three successive sixes but, after the sequence was broken by a shrewd off-side wide, hoisted the next ball to long -off.Eight wickets having fallen in 12 overs, the Rapids’ last two wickets found themselves with 26 balls at their disposal. They gathered 15 runs before Jacob Duffy holed out to Barnard to cap the catalogue of carelessness that was the Rapids’ innings.Birmingham soon lost Tom Latham, who skied a slog at Dwarshuis, but were put on course for victory by Davies’ cameo. The captain hit 34 of his 42 runs in fours and sixes before lifting Singh’s first ball to Taylor at long-off.The Bears then emulated the Rapids’ collapse. Taylor took another calm catch in the same position when Mousley attacked Duffy. Warwickshire were still well in control, needing only six per over, but Moeen Ali and Barnard tried to go big and only sent up catches. When Barnard and Kai Smith, pinned lbw, fell to successive balls from Singh, the home side were 86 for 6.The Rapids were on a roll but Hain and George Garton applied some belated intelligence to the batting to add 25 in five overs before the latter was brilliantly caught at point by Mohammed off Duffy. With 21 needed from three overs, the Bears were leaning, as so often, on Hain.Hasan Ali slogged six and glanced four from successive balls in the penultimate over from Dwarshuis to take his side within three of victory. The Pakistan star then skied to deep extra cover but the Bears needed three from the last over, with Hain on strike – and the Bears’ talisman, with mature support from Lintott, saw his side home.

England dominated the morning session on Day 2, but India’s quicks turned the tide

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Aug-2025

Mohammed Siraj pinned Joe Root lbw with seam in and low bounce•Associated Press

Tea Ladies and gentlemen, we have a ball game. A spirited second session of day two from India – namely Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna – has lit a fire under this fifth Test at The Oval, leaving England 215 for 7 at tea, trailing by nine. Harry Brook, fiery on 33 not out, remains England’s best hope of a worthwhile lead with England two wickets away from the end of their reply due to Chris Woakes’ shoulder injury.Three wickets each for Siraj and Prasidh more or less overturned the dominance asserted by openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett. They had propelled England to 109 for 1 at lunch, after Gus Atkinson’s fourth five-wicket haul had capped India’s first innings at 224.Any thoughts of that being under par have been struck from the mind, primarily down to an eight-over spell from Siraj that read 3 for 35, with stand-in skipper Ollie Pope, the prized wicket of Joe Root and Jacob Bethell seen off in the space of 12 overs of play.All three were found wanting by Siraj’s late movement off the surface, with the slightest lack of bounce, from The Micky Stewart Members’ Pavilion End. Pope’s required a review – despite striking the back pad plumb in front – before Root used one in vain to be dismissed for 29. Bethell simply walked.Prasidh could perhaps take an assist for Root’s wicket, having riled up the No. 2 on the all-time Test runs chart. Having thrown a ball at Crawley upon fielding in his follow-through – the pair exchanged an immediate apology and acceptance, respectively – Prasidh was in the book when Crawley failed to clear Ravindra Jadeja at midwicket for 64. He had earlier brought up his third half century of the series, and second in a row, from 42 deliveries.Root arrived and the pair became embroiled in a back and forth which left England’s No. 4 fuming. Prasidh then relieved Siraj and took India through to the break with two wickets in five deliveries; as Jamie Smith nicked high to KL Rahul at second slip and Jamie Overton was trapped LBW for what proved to be the final ball of the session.Prasidh Krishna struck twice in the last over before tea•Getty Images

It was a complete sea change from the morning, which featured Atkinson’s 5 for 33 upon his return to the side after two months out. He made light work of what remained of India’s first innings when they arrived on Friday morning on 204 for 6.It was all the more important after news this morning that Woakes would play no further part in the match after a suspected dislocated shoulder sustained in the field last night. And the Surrey quick, on his home ground, took three of the remaining four wickets that India had up their sleeve.Josh Tongue made the first key incision, albeit with a chaotic approach that would get any surgeon struck off. His first over, opening from the Vauxhall End, went for nine, but he was able to remove Karun Nair for 57 in his second. A sharp delivery that nipped into the stumps – Nair no doubt expected something short and wide either side of them – pinned the right-hander on the back leg. Plumb in front, Nair took one of India’s three reviews with him.Washington Sundar should have assumed the responsibility at that point as an elongated tail became exposed, but he fell five deliveries later, waltzing into a short ball trap, heaving Atkinson to deep square leg, where Jamie Overton sprinted in to take a smart catch.Atkinson would then skittle Siraj before Prasidh felt for a delivery outside off, completing a collapse of four for six in 18 balls. It also leaves Atkinson with an average of 21, the fourth best for an England seamer with fifty or more dismissals, and the second best strike rate, ever, at 34.9, for those who have taken 60 wickets.England’s openers were boundary happy, smoking 92 off just 77 deliveries, punishing India for every slight error in line or length. Duckett was the main driver, reverse-pulling Akash Deep over the cordon, then “conventionally” ramping Siraj into the sponge for the first two sixes of the match.Duckett fell to Akash Deep attempting a third, departing for 43 with the bowler putting his arm around the left-hander, as much in jest as respect.

Naveen-ul-Haq misses out with Abdollah Ahmadzai taking his place for matches starting Friday

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Aug-2025Afghanistan will get plenty of practice, and scope to gather information on their Asia Cup opponents, when they play Pakistan and UAE in a T20I tournament starting in Sharjah on Friday. They’ve named virtually the same squad for both competitions, with only Naveen-ul-Haq missing from the tri-series.Abdollah Ahmadzai takes his place in the 17-member squad. The 22-year-old fast bowler, with 14 wickets from 10 T20s, is still waiting for his first international cap and has been named among the reserves for the Asia Cup. These games will be Afghanistan’s first white-ball matches since the Champions Trophy ended in February 2025.Mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar is in line to make his T20I debut in the UAE tri-series, as he joins a strong spin unit comprising captain Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb ur Rahman and Noor Ahmad.Related

• Pakistan, Afghanistan, UAE gear up for Asia Cup rehearsal

• No Babar, Rizwan in Pakistan squad for Asia Cup

• Afghanistan bring in Ghazanfar to strengthen spin department for Asia Cup

• Junaid Siddique comes back as UAE ring in the changes for T20 tri-series

• Afghanistan bring back former Ireland allrounder John Mooney as fielding coach

The tri-series will also mark the return of Ibrahim Zadran, with the opener not a part of Afghanistan’s last T20I assignment in Zimbabwe in December 2024. From that squad, left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote has also been left out, although he is part of the reserves for the Asia Cup. Zadran returns having last played T20Is during the 2024 World Cup.The tri-series, which Afghanistan and Pakistan will kick off, has the three teams playing each other twice in round-robin format before the top two meet in the final on September 7. Should Afghanistan reach the final, they will only get a day’s rest before their first Asia Cup game, against Hong Kong, on September 9. UAE’s first game of the Asia Cup is on September 10 and Pakistan’s is on September 12.

Afghanistan squad for UAE tri-series

Rashid Khan (capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mohammad Ishaq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad, Abdollah Ahmadzai, Fazalhaq Farooqi

The legspinner played an important role in Bangladesh’s 3-0 win over Afghanistan in the recent T20I series

Mohammad Isam07-Oct-2025Rishad Hossain makes regular contributions for Bangladesh. The legspinner’s presence allows Bangladesh to have a varied bowling attack and gives them a fielder who can change the course of the game. Those skills have also raised his stock in franchise cricket. He played for Lahore Qalandars in PSL 2025, after which Hobart Hurricanes drafted him for the upcoming BBL season.Rishad is likely to be available for the full BBL season and is looking forward to link up with Ricky Ponting, the franchise’s head of strategy.”As a legspinner, if I get to play in these foreign leagues, it will be good for me and for my bowling,” Rishad said in an interaction organised by Hurricanes. “I’ll get opportunities to improve my skills.Related

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“Ponting was one of my favourite players growing up; I used to watch him play. I’m really looking forward to working with him. More than the players, I’m looking forward to working with Ricky Ponting and playing under his coaching.”For Bangladesh, Rishad plays the role of a middle-overs wicket-taker, something he wants to do for the Hurricanes as well.”As a legspinner, my job is to take wickets after the powerplay. I hope to continue that in Hobart,” he said. “My goal is to create doubt in the batter’s mind by using different angles. It’s just another variation. I believe in my strengths, and day by day I’m trying to improve – even if it’s just by one or two percent – without thinking too much about the future.”Rishad also has recent form on his side. He has taken at least one wicket in seven of the last eight T20Is – including five wickets in the recent T20I series against Afghanistan in Sharjah that Bangladesh won 3-0. He will be an important part of Bangladesh’s ODI attack too for the three-match series that begins on Wednesday.”I think it was important to get off to a good start right after the Asia Cup,” Rishad said. “Winning the series is always a good feeling.”What was particularly impressive about the Bangladesh spin attack was how they outbowled the Afghanistan spinners. Bangladesh’s spinners had a much better average and strike rate, even though they took ten wickets compared to 11 by Afghanistan’s spinners. Rishad’s bowling partner Nasum Ahmed was even adjudged the Player of the Series for five wickets at an economy rate of 5.58.”They have a lot of world-class bowlers in their side, so we tried to analyse them as much as we could before every game,” Rishad said about the Afghanistan spinners. “We got success [too].”Bangladesh are also finding out other sides of Rishad. His big-hitting ability became known last year when he cracked seven sixes in his of 30-ball 53 against Sri Lanka. His fielding impact was illustrated by his stunning run-out of Abhishek Sharma in the Asia Cup.”That situation demanded that we take a wicket,” Rishad said. “I was trying to create an opportunity, maybe with a diving catch or a fielding effort – anything to change the momentum of the game since it was on their side at that time, and it happened.”

The Athletic’s Manchester United correspondent Laurie Whitwell believes that Paul Pogba could leave the club this summer, per a Q&A following the club’s 5-0 victory over Club Brugge in the Europa League on Thursday evening.

What’s the word?

Pogba has struggled for minutes this season as he continues to battle an ankle injury.

Throughout the campaign, he has made just eight appearances in all competitions, with seven coming in the Premier League.

Quickfire Questions: Can you get 100% on this Man United prodigies quiz?

He last played for United domestically on Boxing Day, managing 45 minutes in a 4-1 win over Newcastle United. His other appearance came in the penalty shootout victory over Rochdale in the EFL Cup.

And Whitwell replied to a comment claiming that Pogba could “ruin the budding chemistry” of the midfield, which featured Scott McTominay and Fred in the centre of the pitch and January signing Bruno Fernandes at No.10.

He said: “Yes. I think the Pogba ship is sailing this summer.”

A distraction

The France international has forever been a distraction since his move to United.

Pundits have routinely dug the midfielder out – Sky Sports’ Graeme Souness in particular – and one feels that his sale would draw a line under a turbulent period at the club.

The 26-year-old has helped them win the Europa League and the League Cup since a world-record return to the club from Juventus but they have struggled to be competitive in the Premier League.

They did finish second under Jose Mourinho but the Portuguese and the Frenchman repeatedly clashed.

It feels like he has been a sideshow perhaps through no fault of his own; moving him on in the summer makes sense for everybody.

Meanwhile, United face one big problem this season!

Arsenal legend Jens Lehmann believes that Petr Cech will go on to have a fantastic season despite his wobbly debut against West Ham United last weekend, Goal.com reports.

Cech was signed from Chelsea via a £11million deal during the summer and enjoyed a successful pre-season tour with the Gunners, however the goalkeeper was partly at fault for the two goals Arsenal lost to West Ham at the Emirates last Sunday.

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The Czech Republic captain committed himself to punch away a free-kick driven in by Dmitri Payet, but Cech was beaten by Cheikhou Kouyate to the ball who headed in the first goal.

And for the second, Cech was slow to react to Mauro Zarate’s shot in the 57th minute that beat him on the near post.

The Hammers went on to record a memorable victory, however despite his performance, Gunners cult hero Lehmann insists that the former Rennes shot-stopper will soon adapt to his new environment and enjoy the rest of the campaign.

“It surprised me because I expected him to be really good from the beginning,” Lehmann said.

“But sometimes it takes a while to adapt to a new club, particularly when you are coming from a major enemy like Chelsea. It takes time, if he can forget about it at all.

“On the other hand, Chelsea disappointed him because he couldn’t play there last season. He has seen the cruelty in football – you are a hero one year and the next year you are not even playing any more.

“That could spur him on to play a fantastic season for Arsenal.”

The 33-year-old was pushed down the Chelsea pecking order by Thibaut Courtois last season, which saw him only make seven league appearances for the English champions.

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Wednesday’s smash and grab 2-1 victory away at Borussia Monchengladbach epitomised City’s Champions League story. Manuel Pellegrinni’s men were disjointed and looked vulnerable as the German Bundesliga side took the game to them, with Joe Hart making several crucial saves including a first half Raffael penalty.The German side, who are currently fifth bottom in the Bundesliga, finally went ahead on 54 minutes when Lars Stindl side footed home, but Nicolas Otamendi’s volley pulled City level and the Manchester club stole all three points when Sergio Aguero won and converted a 89th minute penalty.City’s Champions League history reads no better than last night’s performance. In their four previous Champions League seasons they have only made it through the group stages twice (2013-14 & 2014/15 season) and were then comfortably beaten, on both occasions, by Spanish giants Barcelona in the round of 16.The 2011-12 Champions League season saw City finish third in a group that contained Bayern Munich, Italians Napoli and Spanish outfit Villareal. The following (2012-13) season was no better for the Manchester giants in Europe as they failed to register a single win and finished rock bottom behind Borussia Dortmund, Spanish Giants Real Madrid and Ajax, of the Netherlands, in group D.[ffc-gal cat=”arsenal” no=”5″]City currently occupy third place in group D of this season’s competition, three points off leaders Juventus, with last night’s victory against Monchengladbach and a 2-1 home defeat against Italian Champions Juventus to their name and Seville their next opponents.But with their first two performances being under par, questions are yet again being asked about City’s European chances. So why do City have such a poor Champions League history? Why do they underperform in Europe with a squad brimming with world class talent?City are now in their fifth consecutive Champions League campaign and can, therefore, have no excuses or claims of inexperience hampering their performance. They have had more than enough time to adjust to the demands of European football and the pressures it will provide.I question whether City rely too much on their backbone of Joe Hart, captain Vincent Kompany, midfield genius David Silva and last night’s match winner Sergio Aguero. Hart has often kept them in games this season, including last night’s man of the match performance, and their defensive unit appears vulnerable without the leadership and organisation of the injured Kompany.Silva is a match winner on his day but, when he is not at his attacking best, do City really penetrate the opposition? Aguero has an unfortunate knack of picking up injuries that usually rule him out for at least a month per season; City then have to rely on Wilfried Bony who has only two goals to his name and looks overpriced at £25million.The two big money signings of Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne not only strengthened further an already world class squad, but it sent another statement of intent to the world of football. With City looking to regain the Premier League title and stamp their authority in Europe, it is time for their crop to come of age and finally make some head way in Europe’s elite club competition.After all, there are now no more excuses for City, or Pellegrini.

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