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Former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan has reversed his retirement from Tests and T20Is, and has said that he wishes to play all three formats. Shakib has not played international cricket in over a year and had announced his retirement from Tests and T20Is last year.”I am officially not retired from all formats,” Shakib said on the podcast, which features Moeen Ali, on Sunday. “This is the first time I’ll be revealing that. My plan is to go back to Bangladesh, play one full series of ODI, Test, and T20, and retire.”I mean, [I can] retire from all formats in a series. So it can start from T20I, ODI and Test, or Test, ODI, T20I. Either way, I’m fine, but I want to play a whole series and retire. That’s what I want.”Related

• BCB says door still open for Shakib to play for Bangladesh

• Bangladesh sports advisor won't 'allow Shakib to wear Bangladesh jersey' again

• Shakib on his illegal action: 'I was doing it a little bit intentionally'

Shakib hasn’t returned to Bangladesh since May 2024, once the Awami League government was dethroned on August 5. Shakib was an MP for that party. He was named in an FIR in an alleged murder case, although he was not in the country at the time. He then went on to play Tests in Pakistan and India. The second Test against India in Kanpur was his last international game.When asked whether he will return to Bangladesh, Shakib said, “I am hopeful. That’s why I’m playing [T20 leagues]. I think it will happen.”Shakib further said that he will not be burdened by results and he wants to “give something back to the fans” for years of support in a home series.”I think when a player says something, they try to stick to their words,” he said. “They normally don’t change it all of a sudden. It doesn’t matter if I play well or not. I might play a bad series after that, if I want to play. But I don’t need to do that.”I think this is enough. It’s just a nicer way to say bye to the fans that they supported me always, give something back to them, playing a home series.”Shakib Al Hasan last played a Test in late 2024•AFP/Getty Images

Ahead of the Kanpur Test in September last year, Shakib announced he wasn’t going to play T20Is anymore, while expressing his desire to play his last Test in the home South Africa series that was scheduled for October.There were some protests and clashes around the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka ahead of the Test series, after which Shakib issued an apology for his silence during the students-led protest which led to hundreds of deaths in July and August.The BCB then dropped Shakib for the Tests against South Africa, mainly because Bangladesh’s interim government couldn’t guarantee his safe exit from the country.Earlier this year, a BCB official said that Shakib was welcome to return to the Bangladesh team. In September, Bangladesh’s sports adviser Asif Mahmud declared that Shakib would not be allowed to play for the country after Shakib wished former prime minister Sheikh Hasina on her birthday.Shakib, who was elected as an MP from his hometown Magura in January 2024, also suggested that he wasn’t done with his political career when he was asked what legacy he wants to leave. “[I have] done my cricketing part. Maybe political side is left,” he said. “It’s something I want to do for the people of Bangladesh and people of Magura. That was my intention, and it is still my intention. Let’s see where Allah takes me.”

Former India allrounder Manoj Prabhakar has stepped down as the head coach of the Nepal men’s national team, the country’s cricket board said in a statement. He had been appointed to the role in August this year.Prabhakar only worked five T20Is and seven ODIs with Nepal, including four matches in the World Cup Super League 2.Related

• Lamichhane taken into custody upon landing at Kathmandu airport

• Nepal awarded five penalty runs after UAE's Sharafu uses saliva to shine the ball

Nepal had a successful tour of Kenya under Prabkhakar, winning a five-match T20I series 3-2 and then sweeping the one-dayers 3-0. A 2-1 home ODI series win against UAE followed in November.In the World Cup Super League, they suffered two defeats to Scotland and one to Namibia, with their other game against Namibia ending in a no result.Nepal currently sit second from bottom in the World Cup Super League 2 table, with just eight wins from 24 matches.A bowling allrounder, Prabhakar played 39 Test matches and 130 ODIs for India. He has coached the Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh teams, and was the bowling coach of Delhi when they won the Ranji Trophy in 2008. Prabhakar has also worked with Afghanistan when he joined them as their bowling coach in 2015, continuing on to the 2016 T20 World Cup.

Kieron Pollard will return to the Pakistan Super League for the first time since 2019 after he was picked by Multan Sultans in the replacement draft. The draft, which took place over a conference call on Wednesday, allowed each of the PSL sides to add two more supplementary players, as well as to name partial replacements for those whose availability was limited. Each side was allowed a maximum of one foreign player among the two supplementary picks.Haris Sohail, who recently returned to the Pakistan ODI side for the first time since 2020, was picked by his former side Peshawar Zalmi. Saud Shakeel, who recently made his mark in Pakistan’s home Test series against England and New Zealand, will play for Quetta Gladiators.All the movements at the PSL replacement draft•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

There were a number of replacement picks owing to availability issues for the duration of the PSL, primarily due to a bilateral series between West Indies and South Africa, as well as potential international commitments for Afghanistan. A white-ball series between England and Bangladesh spanning much of the length of the PSL means several England players also needed to be partially replaced, with Adil Rashid, Moeen Ali and Jason Roy potentially unavailable.Related

• Qalandars rebuild around Afridi; Sultans retain successful core

• Karachi Kings lack batting firepower; Peshawar Zalmi missing premium fast bowlers

• PCB invites department teams to return to domestic cricket

• PSL 2023 to kick off with Multan Sultans vs Lahore Qalandars in repeat of last season's final

• PCB postpones women's T20 league to September

In the Platinum category, Lahore Qalandars picked Sam Billings for Rashid Khan; Peshawar Zalmi replaced Rovman Powell with Richard Gleeson; Islamabad United picked Gus Atkinson and Tymal Mills for Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Alex Hales. Multan Sultans replaced David Miller with Izharulhaq Naveed. Quetta reserved their pick for Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga, who will depart the tournament on March 3, meaning he will be available for Quetta’s first six games.In the Diamond category, Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi reserved their picks for Fazalhaq Farooqi and Mujeeb ur Rehman; Quetta Gladiators picked Dwaine Pretorius and Will Jacks for Odean Smith and Jason Roy.The PSL begins on 13 February in Multan, with the final taking place in Lahore on 19 March.

CA – Cricket Australia contract, R – Rookie contract

ACT

Women Angela Reakes, Katie Mack, Kayla Burton, Gabrielle Sutcliffe, Chloe Rafferty, Carly Leeson, Matilda Lugg, Olivia Porter, Rebecca Carter, Amy Yates, Zoe Cooke, Holly Ferling, Alisha Bates, Angelina Genford, Annie WikmanIn Holly Ferling (Queensland), Alisha Bates, Annie Wikman, Angelina Genford | Out Erin Osborne (retired), Madeline Penna (South Australia), Nicola Hancock, Erica Kershaw

New South Wales

Men Sean Abbott, Trent Copeland, Pat Cummins (CA), Oliver Davies, Liam Doddrell (R), Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Mickey Edwards, Matthew Gilkes, Ryan Hackney, Ryan Hadley, Liam Hatcher, Josh Hazlewood (CA), Lachlan Hearne, Moises Henriques, Baxter Holt, Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr, Nathan Lyon (CA), Blake Nikitaras (R), Jack Nisbet (R), Kurtis Patterson, Will Salzmann (R), Daniel Sams, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, Lachlan Shaw (R), Steven Smith (CA), Mitchell Starc (CA), Chris Tremain, Hunar Verma (R), David Warner (CA), Adam Zampa (CA)In Liam Doddrell, Ryan Hadley, Hayden Kerr, Blake Nikitaras, Lachlan Shaw, Will Salzmann | Out Josh Baraba, Harry Conway (SA), Peter Nevill (retired)Women Jade Allen, Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Stella Campbell, Lauren Cheatle, Hannah Darlington, Ashleigh Gardner (CA), Rachael Haynes (CA), Alyssa Healy (CA), Saskia Horley, Emma Hughes, Sammy Jo-Johnson, Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Claire Moore, Lauren Smith, Tahlia WilsonIn Saskia Horley | Out Rachel Trenaman (Tasmania)

Queensland

Men Usman Khawaja (CA), Marnus Labuschagne (CA), Mitchell Swepson (CA),Joe Burns, Michael Neser, Sam Heazlett, Jack Wildermuth, Matthew Renshaw, Mark Steketee, Jimmy Peirson, Xavier Bartlett, Bryce Street, James Bazley, Gurinder Sandhu, Matthew Kuhnemann, Jack Clayton, Kane Richardson, Max Bryant, Liam Guthrie, Sam Truloff, Connor Sully, Blake Edwards, Hugo Burdon (R), William Prestwidge (R), Jackson Sinfield (R), Matthew Willans (R)In Kane Richardson (SA), Liam Guthrie (WA), Hugo Burdon, Jackson Sinfield | Out Billy Stanlake (Tas), Jack Wood, Lachlan PfefferWomen Jess Jonassen (CA), Lucy Hamilton, Nicola Hancock, Grace Harris, Laura Harris, Mikayla Hinkley, Ellie Johnston, Ruth Johnston, Charli Knott, Caitlin Mair, Grace Parsons, Georgia Prestwidge, Georgia Redmayne, Courtney Sippel, Georgia Voll

South Australia

Men Wes Agar, Jordan Buckingham, Kyle Brazell (R), Aiden Cahill (R), Alex Carey (CA), Bailey Capel (R), Jake Carder, Harry Conway, Brendan Doggett, Daniel Drew, David Grant, Travis Head (CA), Isaac Higgins (R), Henry Hunt, Spencer Johnson, Thomas Kelly, Ryan King (R), Jake Lehmann, Nathan McAndrew, Nathan McSweeney, Ben Manenti, Harry Mathias (R), Harry Nielsen, Lloyd Pope, Liam Scott, Henry Thornton, Jake Weatherald, Nick WinterIn Harry Conway (NSW), Spencer Johnson, Thomas Kelly, Ben Manenti, Henry Thornton | Out Ryan Gibson, Corey Kelly, Sam Kerber, Joe Mennie, Kane Richardson (Queensland), Daniel Worrall (Surrey).Women Jemma Barsby, Sam Betts, Darcie Brown (CA), Emma de Broughe, Josie Dooley, Ellie Falconer, Paris Hall, Brooke Harris, Tahlia McGrath (CA), Annie O’Neil, Bridget Patterson, Madeline Penna, Kate Peterson, Megan Schutt (CA), Courtney Webb, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Ella WilsonIn Madeline Penna, Ella Wilson, Paris Hall | Out Tegan McPharlin (retired), Alex Price, Eliza Doddridge

Tasmania

Men Tom Andrews, Gabe Bell, Jackson Bird, Iain Carlisle, Jake Doran, Nathan Ellis, Brad Hope, Caleb Jewell, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Lawrence Neil-Smith, Sam Rainbird, Peter Siddle, Jordan Silk, Billy Stanlake, Matthew Wade, Charlie Wakim, Tim Ward, Beau Webster, Mac Wright, Nick Davis (R), Jarrod Freeman (R), Mitch Owen (R), Nivethan Radhakrishnan (R)In Nick Davis, Billy Stanlake | Out Tim PaineWomen Nicola Carey (CA), Julia Cavanough, Maisy Gibson, Heather Graham, Emma Manix-Geeves, Sasha Moloney, Clare Scott, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Amy Smith, Naomi Stalenberg, Molly Strano, Emma Thompson, Rachel Trenaman, Elyse Villani, Callie WilsonIn Rachel Trenaman (New South Wales), Clare Scott, Callie Wilson, Julia Cavanough | Out Corinne Hall (retired), Chloe Abel, Rachel Priest, Emily Smith, Belinda Vakarewa.

Victoria

Men Peter Handscomb, Scott Boland (CA), Travis Dean, Zak Evans, Aaron Finch (CA), Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Mackenzie Harvey, Jon Holland, Nic Maddinson, Cameron McClure, Glenn Maxwell (CA), Jono Merlo, Todd Murphy, Tom O’Connell, Wil Parker, James Pattinson, Mitchell Perry, Will Pucovski, Matt Short, Will Sutherland, Ashley Chandrasinghe (R), Brody Couch (R), Sam Elliott (R), Campbell Kellaway (R), Fergus O’Neill (R)In Ashley Chandrasinghe, Campbell Kellaway | Out Xavier Crone, Seb Gotch (retired), James Seymour, Tom JacksonWomen Tiana Atkinson, Sam Bates, Makinley Blows, Lucy Cripps, Sophie Day, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Kim Garth, Ella Hayward, Olivia Henry, Meg Lanning (CA), Rhys McKenna, Sophie Molineux, Rhiann O’Donnell, Ellyse Perry (CA), Sophie Reid, Annabel Sutherland (CA), Tayla Vlaeminck (CA), Georgia Wareham (CA)In Olivia Henry, Sophie Reid | Out Anna Lanning, Lara Shannon, Amy Vine

Western Australia

Men Ashton Agar (CA), Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Hilton Cartwright, Cooper Connolly (R), Sam Fanning, Cameron Gannon, Jayden Goodwin (R), Cameron Green (CA), Sam Greer (R), Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis (CA), Bryce Jackson, Matthew Kelly, Hamish Mckenzie (R), Mitchell Marsh (CA), Shaun Marsh, David Moody, Lance Morris, Joel Paris, Josh Philippe, Jhye Richardson, Corey Rocchiccioli, D’Arcy Short, Charlie Stobo, Marcus Stoinis (CA), Ashton Turner, Sam Whiteman, Teague Wyllie.In Sam Fanning, Bryce Jackson, Sam Greer, Hamish Mckenzie, Teague Wyllie | Out Liam Guthrie (Queensland)Women Charis Bekker, Zoe Britcliffe, Mathilda Carmichael, Piepa Cleary, Sheldyn Cooper, Maddy Darke, Ashley Day, Amy Edgar, Lisa Griffith, Alana King (CA), Lilly Mills, Beth Mooney (CA), Taneale Peschel, Chloe Piparo, Poppy Stockwell, Georgia WyllieIn Beth Mooney (Queensland), Lilly Mills (Queensland), Piepa Cleary

R Ashwin has become the first batter to be tactically retired out in the IPL, by Rajasthan Royals against Lucknow Super Giants on Sunday evening. Promoted to No. 6 in the tenth over, presumably to allow the regular No. 6 Riyan Parag a more suitable point of entry, Ashwin walked off after two balls of the 19th over when the team’s total was 135 for 4, having scored 28 runs off 23 balls. Parag ended up scoring eight off four balls. The move bumped up Royals’ projected score from 152 to 159 on ESPNcricinfo’s Forecaster, but thanks to a finishing kick from Shimron Hetmyer, they ended with 165.At the time it wasn’t clear who had initiated the move: Ashwin or the dugout. Hetmyer told Star Sports in the mid-match interview that he had no clue about the move, which does explain the shocked expression on his face when Ashwin walked off during Avesh Khan’s over. But post-match it emerged that it had been a joint on and off-field decision.The relevant law states: “A batsman retires out if he retires without the umpire’s permission and does not have the permission of the opposing captain to resume his innings. If such a return does not occur, the batman is marked as ‘retired out’ and this is considered a dismissal for the purposes of calculating a batting average.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd

This was the first tactical retired-out dismissal in the IPL, but it has happened before [check graphic] in the format, even in international cricket. In 2019, in the South Asian Games, Bhutan’s Sonam Togbay retired out at the end of the 19th over against Maldives.This mode of dismissal has long been anticipated as the next innovation in T20 cricket because the innings in T20 cricket are so short teams want to maximise each ball, and can’t afford a less-than-ideal batter batting in situations suited to other batters. However, some coaches have felt it is a step too far.”Nah, that’s part of the battle, isn’t it?” Stephen Fleming had told ESPNcricinfo when asked about it. “Even if you are not hitting it well, that constant battle to come right. Some guys have started terribly and ended up with the best hundreds you can see. I like that battle.”That’s the beauty of it, isn’t it? Not let someone get away with it just because they can tap out – ‘Not my day today, I am out’.”Kumar Sangakkara, the Royals head coach, said both Ashwin and the team management had had a hand in the decision to retire him out.”It was a combination of both,” Sangakkara said at his post-match press conference. “It was the right time to do that, Ashwin himself was asking from the field as well, and we had discussed it just before that, as to what we would do.”I think as the coach I got one call wrong, not sending Riyan Parag ahead of Rassie van der Dussen and holding Rassie back, so we couldn’t get the full benefit of Riyan, but I thought the way Ashwin handled that situation, walking in under pressure, the way he batted to support the team, and then finally sacrificed himself in terms of being retired out, was just magnificent, and then he went out in the field and backed it up with an excellent, excellent bowling effort.”Royals’ captain Sanju Samson reiterated the same during the post-match presentation.”It’s about being Rajasthan Royals. We keep trying different things. We have been talking about it before the season,” Samson said. “We thought that if some situation occurs, we can use it. It was a team decision.”

The ECB disciplinary hearing into allegations of racism at Yorkshire is set to be postponed until the new year, following a series of appeals against a controversial ruling that the case should be heard in public.The Cricket Discipline Commisson (CDC) had been set to convene on November 28, with seven individuals as well as Yorkshire CCC itself all charged with offences, in the wake of allegations made by the club’s former player, Azeem Rafiq.It was Rafiq’s request for greater transparency that led the CDC to break with precedent, with previous cases held behind closed doors before written judgements were handed down.Michael Vaughan, the former England captain, is among those facing charges, following Rafiq’s allegations that he had told a group of Asian Yorkshire players in 2009 that “there are too many of you lot” and “we need to do something about it”.Last week, the Telegraph, the newspaper for which Vaughan writes a column, reported that Vaughan himself was “happy for the proceedings to be held in public”.Others, however, are reportedly less keen, among them, the newspaper added, the former Yorkshire and England fast bowler, Matthew Hoggard. According to Rafiq’s testimony before MPs at the DCMS hearings in November 2021, Hoggard had rung the player to apologise for his behaviour during their shared time at the club, with Rafiq subsequently telling the panel that “all I ever wanted was an apology”.Andrew Gale, Yorkshire’s former captain and head coach, and another of the charged players, has already stated that he will take no part in what he described as a “tainted process”, after walking away from the sport earlier this year, while Roger Hutton, the club’s former chairman, also announced this week that he will not attend the hearings.Hutton, who was one of the few Yorkshire administrators, past or present, to attend last year’s DCMS hearings, was similarly critical of the decision to make the proceedings public, stating: “I simply do not have confidence in the ECB, its governance or its agenda and who notably escape all scrutiny themselves.”In a statement, the ECB said: "Appeals have been filed by a number of the respondents in relation to the decisions of the CDC panel following the preliminary issues hearing last month. The appeals now need to be heard and therefore the full CDC hearing into the ECB’s charges against Yorkshire CCC and a number of individuals will no longer start on November 28. That hearing is now expected to take place in early 2023.”;Related

• Azeem Rafiq: 'It's unquantifiable what I've lost'

• Gary Ballance apologises for 'racist' language towards Azeem Rafiq

• Yorkshire agree to pay Andrew Gale, Rich Pyrah compensation

• Azeem Rafiq, Andrew Gale among five cricketers reprimanded for historic social-media posts

• Yorkshire racism hearings to be held in public following CDC ruling

The prospect of a postponement gives rise to the possibility that Adil Rashid, England’s T20 World Cup-winning legspinner, could now attend the hearings in person, having previously stated that he would be out of the country, at the Abu Dhabi T10s and a subsequent family holiday, during the original hearing date.Rashid, who was in Yorkshire’s team at the time of Vaughan’s alleged comments, at Trent Bridge in 2009, previously corroborated Rafiq’s version of events, as did Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, the former Pakistan international who was then one of the club’s overseas players.Rafiq, who is also due to attend a follow-up DCMS select committee hearing on December 13, was this week accused of two counts of indecent exposure during his time at Yorkshire, in court documents relating to a lawsuit from the former club physiotherapist, Wayne Morton, who was sacked last year in a mass purge of the back-room staff.A spokesperson for Rafiq, who has since left the country for an indefinite period following threats against his family, said: “People who have been desperate for the sport to retain its toxic culture have spread numerous variations of these false allegations since Azeem spoke at the select committee last year.”Every time they have been shown to be incorrect and falsified, details always changing. This twisted campaign of lies has been never ending and it has seriously compromised Azeem’s and his family’s safety, which is why he has left the country.”This level of lies and vengeance only proves the sport is not ready to change and why whistle-blowers need proper protection.”

There has been a flurry of public lobbying from state leaders regarding the fifth men’s Ashes Test, with Tasmania facing stiff competition in its bid for hosting rights.Cricket Australia confirmed on Monday the showpiece series finale, slated to start January 14, would not take place in Perth because of border restrictions.Every rival state has since thrown its hat in the ring for what will be a pink-ball Test, ensuring broadcasters aren’t denied the prime-time fodder they would otherwise have access to. ACT chief minister Andrew Barr has also put forward a case for Manuka Oval.CA, weighing up several factors, is expected to land on its replacement venue within a week. The obvious temptation is to bank the biggest cheque on offer, believed to be the MCG unless Tasmania premier Peter Gutwein or a rival leader tips in millions of dollars to bridge the gap.Yet the decision will be more complex than just money, coming two months after CA’s state-association shareholders forced the resignation of chair Earl Eddings.The governing body will be desperate to be as collaborative as possible, while also pleasing broadcasters and players, but finding the middle of that Venn diagram will be incredibly tricky.Logistics will form a major part of the decision, with accommodation for the series’ travelling circus to be a key challenge in Melbourne given the Test overlaps with the Australian Open.Tasmania premier Peter Gutwein urged CA to do the “right thing by the game” and lock in Hobart for its first ever Ashes Test, rather than staging two legs of the series at another ground.”We are currently finalising our proposal to Cricket Australia, which we will submit within the next 24 hours,” Gutwein said. “We are very confident we can more than meet all of their requirements to host the fifth Test in Hobart.”Hobart has only been allocated 13 Tests in the 32 years since hosting our first Test. CA should not be seduced by the larger states, they should act in the best interests of the country, make history.”Similar sound bites came from around the country on Tuesday.”Why not have it at the best cricket oval in the world?” South Australia premier Steven Marshall spruiked.Marshall may have some support in the Australian dressing room. Captain Pat Cummins didn’t offer an opinion on where the final Test should be, but noted Adelaide Oval has “really nailed” what constitutes the best possible pitch for day-night Tests.”At times in Sheffield Shield cricket [at other grounds], if the wicket is not quite right then you can see some long, slow pink-ball matches,” Cummins told reporters in Brisbane. “If it’s a pink-ball match and they get the wicket right, no stress from us [wherever it is played]. If it’s Sydney great, I can stay home, but I’m not too bothered.”

Matthew Hayden, the Pakistan batting coach, has singled out the late Dean Jones for special praise, on the eve of the second semi-final between Australia and Pakistan in the T20 World Cup in Dubai. Jones, the hero of Australia’s tied Test against India in Chennai, arguably made a bigger impact on one-day cricket, with his lively batting helping Australia to their first World Cup victory in 1987.After ending his playing career, Jones went onto become a commentator and coach. He was a particularly prominent figure in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he would often be spotted writing notes in his famous red book.Related

• Hayden, Philander appointed Pakistan coaches for T20 World Cup

• Dean Jones, ODI batting pioneer, dies aged 59

Jones was in charge of Islamabad United when they secured the PSL titles in 2016 and 2018. He then took over as Karachi Kings’ head coach for the fifth season of the tournament that was halted before the playoffs due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Jones, however, died suddenly after a heart attack in September 2020, when he was a commentator in India for the IPL.”I want to make a special mention of my former team-mate and colleague and that is Dean Jones,” Hayden said during a virtual media interaction. “He gave a lot of himself to Cricket Australia but also a lot of himself to Pakistan cricket. His closing words to me I can hear in my ears: ‘These are my boys and this is something I’m so passionate about’.”He was just beautifully connected to Pakistan cricket and may he rest in peace now, knowing the fact that he’s left a legacy within this team which will last not only this generation but generations to come. If I can add value to those closing comments from Deano, that will be my greatest honour.”Although Hayden was only roped in for this T20 World Cup in the UAE, he has seen enough promise in the main team – and the reserves – that will serve Pakistan cricket well in the future.”It is obvious that I’ve been with the team [for] a very short time, which has meant it has been really important to have a heart connect with the players, the administrators and also the management team,” Hayden said. “I felt that has been achieved and I felt in many ways that was my individual and personal aim throughout throughout this tournament to get a sense of the commitment of all the layers within the game and Pakistan in Pakistan. And understand one of the most beautiful things and that is that raw talent and talent is there in abundance for Pakistan cricket. And [with] right leadership and mentoring and guide, this side has got possibilities, as it has shown in five matches so far, to take on anyone.”Hayden also likened the immense pressure surrounding the India-Pakistan clash to the Ashes and credited the Pakistan side for pulling off a tone-setting victory against India in their tournament opener.”The highlight and the obvious eye will go to the first game that we played here in Dubai, where we are playing tomorrow night,” he said. “Just how under immense pressure…pressure that I’ve never understood till I was inside the dressing room and only comparable of course to England-Australia Ashes series. Just how these boys wonderfully handled [the situation] every calmly and confidently – their approach to playing such a huge match.”I think that game really set us up for what has been a really lovely four weeks of solid work, great commitment to training and great purpose in general and a wonderful heart connect to Islam and how spirituality has played its role within the Pakistan team as a great guide and tool for everyone to come together. Very optimistic [of Pakistan’s future] and I see wonderful potential.”

Cricket Australia has targeted the inclusion of the sport at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics as part of a strategic plan to expand participation and maintain the game’s position at the heart of the country’s sporting culture.The ambitious “Where the Game Grows” plan released on Monday aims to double the number of children aged five to 12 playing the game to 210,000 over the next five years, with girls making up 60,000 of that tally.Another of the targets is to get cricket back into the Olympics for the first time since 1900 – if that goal has not already been achieved at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.Cricket has been shortlisted for possible inclusion at the 2028 Olympics along eight other sports and the International Cricket Council (ICC) will make a presentation to organisers later this month.The host city can include any sport but needs the approval of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).Women’s T20 cricket made its Commonwealth Games debut in Birmingham last month with Australia beating India by nine runs in the final to claim the inaugural gold medal.Brisbane has plans to rebuild the city’s Gabba cricket ground as a 50,000-seater Olympic Stadium to host the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2032 Games.The inclusion of cricket in the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics is part of the “sustainable future” strand of the plan, which also aims to improve fan experience, expand the grassroots and continue Australia’s success on the world stage.CA has set a target of at least three ICC tournament triumphs over the next five years for both the men’s and women’s national teams.Elsewhere, it has committed to publishing an action plan related to environmental sustainability.”Cricket is a quintessential part of the Australian summer. However, recent years have shown how vulnerable our game is to a changing climate,” the document said.There is also a strong focus on the BBL and WBBL with this season labeled the “Rebound” following the impact of Covid, especially on attendance, before a period that has been called “Reimagine”. The challenges are particularly acute for the BBL given the rapid growth of T20 leagues in the January window.”This strategy contains both a vision and a clear plan for how we can achieve bold, transformative change while also meeting our core responsibilities,” said CA chief executive Nick Hockley.”I would like to thank everyone across the game for their passion and commitment as we work to unite and inspire everyone to love and play cricket, and in so doing make cricket a sport for all that makes Australians proud.”

Hampshire 410 (Brown 83, Dawson 61, Gubbins 58) and 198 for 8 (Dawson 67, Gubbins 42) beat Yorkshire 428 (Hill 131, Brook 76, Bess 51*, Wheal 4-59) and 178 (Wheal 3-32, Barker 3-48, Abbott 3-50) by two wicketsFor Yorkshire’s Championship challenge to have lasted so long in this troubled season is something of an achievement, but realistically it ended at the Ageas Bowl, shortly before six o’clock on the final day, when Hampshire took a two-wicket win from a gripping final day.Hampshire are a resilient bunch, and deserve better than the dismal Championship crowds often seen at the ground. Their pursuit of 198 in 59 overs was wracked with uncertainty, but Nick Gubbins and Liam Dawson summoned the enterprising innings required to secure their fifth win in seven with more than 18 overs still to bowl.Yorkshire can be forgiven for feeling disorientated this season. A new management team, defined by its necessary commitment to diversity as well as the need to promote cricketing success, must now defend the county against ECB charges of breaching anti-racism rules. They must do so even though they are uncomfortable with defending the indefensible and, in any case, those involved at the time under scrutiny probably won’t want to talk to them anyway. Yorkshire are likely to just point to their plans for a better future and otherwise take the hit.Add to that, David Willey has had a pop about the politics on the day it was confirmed he will return to Northants next season on a four-year contract, quite a gesture of faith at 32. For him to suggest that Yorkshire are putting cricket second to repairing their reputation sounded unfair to the coaching staff who have done much to rebuild morale in difficult times and who entrusted him with the T20 captaincy, even though he didn’t get back to England from the IPL until May 30. Nevertheless, it will find favour in much of the dressing room among many young pros whose priority is simply to play cricket and who prefer others to consider the bigger picture and resolve differences as fast as possible.Somehow, amid all the noises off, Yorkshire have been mounting a Championship challenge that few expected. At least they think they have been, because if they are docked points after the end of the season, once the ECB disciplinary commission determines its verdict, they might actually be fighting against relegation.The Championship contenders are now realistically reduced to three – all of them winners in this round. Hampshire remain within three points of the leaders, Surrey, with Lancashire a further 16 points back in third. Yorkshire drop to fourth.After victory in their opening match of the season, and five successive draws that have revealed the limitations of their bowling attack, Yorkshire finally experienced defeat. Their faith that they could force victory appeared to waver once the off-spinner, Dom Bess, who briefly appeared to be a potential matchwinner, was driven from the attack by Dawson, whose 67 from 68 balls rescued Hampshire from 103 for 6.Dawson might have played on against Steve Patterson on 14, but he took the target below 50 when he drove Bess for six over long-on and, one bounce, into the hotel, then swept him for four next ball. In Bess’ defence, nobody knew better than Dawson that this final-day pitch, as scruffy as it looked, would not easily bestow its favours upon slow bowlers: Dawson himself had been wicketless in Yorkshire’s second innings. This surface produced an excellent match but, just for once, it would be nice to see a surface, somehow, somewhere, break up for the spinners.”I feel like I’ve been in decent form all year without big scores and I’m really happy with that innings,” Dawson said. “I was in a bit of a daze, just watching the ball and reacting to it and luckily it paid off. It’s a brilliant comeback and it shows the character in the group. It is probably one of the best wins I’ve been involved in with Hampshire in four-day cricket.”Yorkshire’s spirit was equally evident as, five-down overnight with a vulnerable lead of 128, they survived the loss of three wickets in the first 20 minutes to stretch their second innings into the afternoon thanks to the defiance of Matthew Revis and Dominic Drakes which burned overs and added runs. A target of 198 left the match perfectly balanced.Considering that Hampshire are pushing so strongly for the Championship, their opening partnership of Felix Organ and Ian Holland fails to convince. Whether you consider their Championship averages this season, or over their career, the mid-20s is as high as it gets. In some ways, they might be representative of the shortage of quality opening batters across the entire professional circuit.In the first innings, they were two-down for 12; on this occasion, two down for 23. Jordan Thompson, who did not set the tone with his first two balls, stiff-limbed efforts which Organ cut to the boundary, perked up to remove them both. Organ edged to third slip and Holland played around his front pad to be lbw.Gubbins, though, has been at a more elevated level since his move from Middlesex. His run-a-ball 42 promised to ease Hampshire’s chase. Revis’ introduction as first change backfired as two overs leaked 18, Gubbins pulling him for six and four in successive balls.Patterson restored order. That’s what Patterson does. You could imagine him calling Give Order like an MC at an old-style working men’s club, his common-sense cutting through the stale cigarette smoke. This season of all seasons, with players understandably unsettled over what the future holds, his attributes have been invaluable.He had Gubbins lbw, striking him low on the thigh as he tried to sweep. James Vince then feathered Bess behind six balls later. Hampshire still 117 runs away from the target. When Lyth plucked out a slip catch above his head as Ben Brown lay back to cut Bess, and Patterson bowled Aneurin Donald through the gate, Yorkshire were favourites.Dawson then cut loose, supported by Keith Barker who looked solid enough apart from on the pull. Two lobbed tauntingly over slips, Patterson and Thompson despairing, before a third pull, against Drakes, gave Harry Duke a catch down the leg side as Barker tried to move his hefty frame inside the line of the ball.With seven down and 27 needed, Dawson was grateful for a couple of Thompson half-volleys. Revis had him caught, hooking, at long leg with the runs required down to eight, but a driven boundary by Kyle Abbott and, lo and behold, a ramp over the slips by James Fuller took Hampshire home.”The difference in the end is the experience in their team,” said Ottis Gibson, Yorkshire’s coach, who is squeezing everything he can out of this Yorkshire attack.Yorkshire were left with a long journey north. A quick update on the politics and then headphones in, trying to block out the noise, the only sensible way to survive the season.