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Tamim Iqbal, the former Bangladesh captain, suffered a heart attack during a Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League match in Savar, following which he underwent emergency angioplasty.Doctors said that Tamim Iqbal had regained consciousness and spoken to a family member following the emergency surgery on Monday. Tamim will remain in the coronary care unit (CCU) for the next 48 hours as doctors will monitor his recovery from the heart surgery.Tamim was leading Mohammedan Sporting Club against Shinepukur Cricket Club but fielded for just one over of the game’s first innings. After feeling discomfort in his chest, Tamim left the field and went to the KPJ Specialised Hospital and Nursing Home (formerly Fazilatunnesa Hospital) nearby to see doctors.”He was in good spirits during the toss,” Montu Dutta, the BKSP chief cricket coach, told reporters in the afternoon. “When he felt sick, he left the field and went to the hospital. The doctors there did not want to let him leave at the time, but Tamim left anyway.”As he returned to the ground a family member had made arrangements for an air ambulance to take Tamim to Dhaka. But Tamim was unable to do so as his condition worsened, to the extent that the Mohammedan team physio had to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on him. He was then rushed back to the KPJ hospital as doctors at the ground felt lifting him on the air ambulance was out of the question.He arrived at the hospital in critical condition, according to doctors, and tests revealed a blockage in his arteries. An hour after the surgery was completed, the hospital held a short press briefing where it confirmed that Tamim had come to the hospital twice on Monday, the second time having suffered a heart attack. Cardiologist Dr. Moniruzzaman Maruf performed Tamim’s surgery, the hospital said.”He returned to us in a critical condition,” said Dr Rajib Hasan, of the KPJ Hospital. “We can call it a heart attack, and we subsequently did an angiogram and angioplasty to remove the blockage. The medical procedure has gone smoothly. He is currently under observation. The swift coordination between the medical staff at BKSP and the hospital ensured Tamim was treated quickly.”BCB’s chief physician Dr Debashis Chowdhury confirmed later that Tamim had regained consciousness. “Tamim Iqbal has regained consciousness. His vital signs are improving so we also hope that his overall health will also get better in the next 24 hours. The hospital has briefed you that they have put a ring in one of his arteries. The other arteries are healthy.”BCB cancelled their scheduled directors’ meeting soon after they heard of Tamim’s situation. President Faruque Ahmed rushed to the hospital alongside chief executive Nizamuddin Ahmed and director Akram Khan, Tamim’s uncle.”We are very thankful to all the medics and specialists for their swift actions in this critical situation,” BCB president Faruque Ahmed said in a statement*. “The outpouring of concern for Tamim reflects how much he is loved and appreciated by the nation.”The Chief Advisor’s Office, The Ministry of Youth & Sports, and the National Sports Council have been in constant touch with us and are receiving regular updates on Tamim’s condition.”The BCB is closely monitoring his health and continues to remain in contact with the hospital’s medical team. The board is committed to providing every support and assistance to ensure Tamim’s swift recovery.”Later in the afternoon, Tamim’s Mohammedan team-mates Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam visited him. A large number of reporters, camerapersons were at the hospital reception, apart from many fans and on-lookers.Having confirmed his international retirement in January this year, Tamim has continued to play domestic cricket. He led the Fortune Barishal franchise to a second successive BPL title last month. He had already struck two centuries in the ongoing Dhaka Premier League, having now led Mohammedan to six wins in eight outings.GMT 1314 The report was updated with BCB president Faruque Ahmed’s statement.

Grace Scrivens will be given another chance to enhance her captaincy credentials as she leads England A’s red-ball team in their four-day match against Australia A in Sydney this week, at the conclusion of their multi-format series.Scrivens, 21, was handed the captaincy of the T20I leg of the seven-match tour, and succeeded at the first attempt where her senior counterparts had failed in their Women’s Ashes whitewash earlier this year.England A won that opening match of the series by three wickets at Hurstville Oval in Sydney, with Scrivens herself making 35 from 38 balls, before the remaining two matches were washed out.Hollie Armitage, Durham’s captain, then took over the reins for the three 50-over matches that followed, with England’s thrilling one-wicket win in Monday’s third ODI leaving the teams with two wins each in the four completed games so far.Although there are no official points at stake in the multi-format series, the series finale has an element of winner-takes-all to it, and will take place at Cricket Central from April 12-15.Scrivens, Essex’s captain, has yet to make her full England debut and so is unlikely to be considered as Heather Knight’s replacement, following the latter’s removal from the role after a nine-year tenure.However, Scrivens is widely considered as an England captain in the making, having led the Under-19 team to the T20 World Cup final in South Africa in 2023. Andy Tennant, her director of cricket at Essex, recently described her as “the English Graeme Smith”, in reference to the South Africa captain who led his side for 11 years after taking over at the age of 22 in 2003.With Charlotte Edwards now installed as England’s head coach, a new captain is due to be announced ahead of the team’s first series of the summer, against West Indies in May. Nat Sciver-Brunt, the current vice-captain, is currently on maternity leave following the recent birth of her son, Theodore.

Kyle Jamieson last played international cricket a year ago. Since then, there were ten months out with a stress fracture of the back – for the second time in his career. Having been named in New Zealand’s squad for the Champions Trophy as an injury replacement for Lockie Ferguson, Jamieson feels he is in the best place ever “from a cricket point”.Jamieson last played an ODI in September 2023, against Bangladesh just before the World Cup. Looking back at his time off, Jamieson said his comeback worked out “roughly around the time-frames we looked at”.”I had a good crew around me, and the start of it was trying to put that all together around, what that’s going to look like, and how we’re going to get from where I was at the bottom of the cliff and how we’re going to get back up to the top of it,” he said after reaching Rawalpindi ahead of New Zealand’s match against Bangladesh.Related

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Jamieson has had his share of injures in a short international career so far. In June 2022, he experienced “sharp pain” in his lower back and walked off midway through his 17th over in a Test at Trent Bridge. Just ahead of the home Tests against England in early 2023, a suspected recurrence of the back injury ruled him out and he underwent surgery. It was only in August that year that Jamieson was back on the field, when he played five T20Is and three ODIs across the tours of the UAE and England. He then toured Bangladesh, where he played in two of the three ODIs.New Zealand even named Jamieson as cover for an injured Matt Henry for the World Cup in 2023, before drafting him into the squad proper. Although Jamieson didn’t get to play the tournament, he featured in both Tests on the subsequent tour of Bangladesh. However, a stiff hamstring ruled him out of the ODI series at home against the same opposition, and he also sat out of the T20Is on “medical advice”. It was after that, halfway through the home series against South Africa, that Jamieson found himself out again.”It’s been a long one. Obviously, a lot of hard work [has gone into the comeback],” he said. “I had to go back to square one, and rebuild a few things. [I had to] try and solidify the foundations so I can get back to this arena and take on the different forms of cricket again. It’s certainly been a long road, but it’s quite funny once you’re back in the mix and forget about how long it’s taken.”In the lead-up to the Champions Trophy, Jamieson worked his way back by representing Canterbury in the Super Smash and Ford Trophy, New Zealand’s domestic T20 and 50-over competitions respectively. He bagged 14 wickets at an average of 18.71 to be Canterbury Magicians’ highest wicket-taker in the Super Smash, where he played in all 12 matches.”I really enjoyed being a part of a full campaign. You don’t often get a chance to be a part of long stretches of time with your domestic team,” he said. “From the cricket point of view, it was great to be back in the park and just see where your game’s at. I was always reasonably confident that part was going to be okay, but it’s just nice to obviously put it back into that arena. I guess those are some of the pressures and challenges that come with that sort of high-pressure cricket.”New Zealand face Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on Monday, after beating Pakistan comfortably in the tournament opener. They then face India on March 2 in Dubai in what is the final group fixture of the tournament.

A defiant maiden Test century by Nitish Kumar Reddy, brought up with No. 11 Mohammed Siraj for company, led an outstanding rearguard from India at the MCG to give them hope of at least avoiding defeat in the fourth Test although Australia were still set to take a significant first innings lead.Reddy, who had shown his batting prowess at various stages through his first Test series, arrived at the crease early on the third morning after a Rishabh Pant dismissal that prompted some strong reactions and was still there when bad light and rain brought an early close. He forged a stand of 127 in just under 48 overs with Washington Sundar to halt Australia in their tracks when they appeared likely to take a stranglehold on the game.However, Reddy’s crowning moment came amid huge tension after Washington was dismissed. In what appeared to be a lack of communication, he and Jasprit Bumrah came back for a second run off the final ball of an over which exposed the No. 10 to Pat Cummins and he edged to slip as Reddy watched from the non-striker’s end on 99. But Siraj was able to negotiate three deliveries from Cummins to huge cheers from the Indian supporters.Related

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Now, facing Scott Boland, Reddy defended two deliveries before unleashing a lofted straight drive down the ground to bring up a magnificent century, just the second of his first-class career. His father was in the crowd, among those on the edge of the seat as the landmark approached, and couldn’t contain his emotion.When the players left the field for a second time – rain having earlier brought an early tea – Australia’s advantage had been whittled down to 116, far fewer than looked on the cards when they had India 221 for 7 before lunch. They will still hope for a lead in three figures but could now face a race against time to earn victory on a true pitch that hasn’t shown significant signs of deterioration.The second evening had finished with Australia claiming 3 for 6 around the run out of Yashasvi Jaiswal, the ramifications of which were still being hotly debated when play resumed, with India 310 behind. Pant led the scoring early on the third morning, but fell in a manner that created many headlines when he attempted to scoop Boland over fine leg and got a leading edge to deep third. In a Test that had been dominated by Sam Konstas’ scoops, this was an example of when things go badly.Rishabh Pant’s dismissal drew strong reactions•Getty Images

Ravindra Jadeja played a largely defensive innings before being defeated by a superb piece of bowling from Lyon who skidded one through to trap him lbw. It was just Lyon’s fourth wicket of the series but, having later made one bounce to remove Washington, he could yet have a key role to play. When Jadeja fell, India were still 253 runs adrift with the follow-on the first target as Washington joined Reddy, although there’s almost no chance Cummins would have enforced it.Reddy had been positive when he arrived, quickly overtaking Jadeja’s score despite his partner having a 35-ball headstart. Shortly after Lyon had removed Jadeja, Reddy skipped down to the offspinner and sent him straight for six. His half century came up with a rasping back-foot drive against Mitchell Starc and, as it had previously in the series, his technique shone of someone who will be higher up the order as his career develops.Washington, who played a vital role with the bat in the famous 2021 victory at the Gabba, was watchful throughout, collecting his first and only boundary from his 103rd ball when he sent Starc through point with an elegant drive. The selection of the extra allrounders over Shubman Gill had been the topic of much debate but they could have done little more with the bat justify it.Washington did have one moment of fortune, in rather unusual circumstances, when he went to turn Starc through the leg side in the first over of the second new ball with it flying off the back of his bat towards second slip where Steven Smith, taken by surprise that it came in his direction, couldn’t holding on diving to his right.There was later a moment of concern for Australia when Starc grabbed his back midway through an over. However, he appeared to come through unscathed and continued to bowl at good pace although ended the day wicketless from 25 overs as the workload of the quicks mounted ahead of the final Test in Sydney.Mitchell Marsh was used for a spell either side of an extended tea break, but his 120kph medium pace was unconvincing although he did play a role in drying up the scoring early in the final session.The eighth-wicket pair showed few signs of being separated until Lyon got one to bounce against Washington which took the shoulder of the bat to Smith at slip. At that point, Reddy was on 97 and the day’s most compelling few minutes was about to unfold.

Shaheen Shah Afridi has been left out of Pakistan’s squad for the two-Test series in South Africa in December and January. Afridi, who was released from Pakistan’s Test side after their defeat in the first Test against England in October, remains part of the white-ball squads for the tour. Babar Azam and Naseem Shah, who were released alongside Afridi after that first Test, return to the Test squad.Afridi’s absence specifically from the Tests, though, appears to signal a point in his career where the red-ball format has become less of a priority than it has before, a state that may even become permanent for him. When he was dropped in October, the belief was that the more pace-friendly surfaces in South Africa, where he played his second and third Test matches five years earlier, would suit him better as he tries to return to form in the format.Since returning from a knee injury he picked up during a Test in Sri Lanka in July 2022, Afridi has played just a handful of Tests, and been ineffective while doing so; in six games, he has 17 wickets at an average of 45.47. His omission from these Tests makes it exceedingly unlikely he will win his place back for Pakistan’s home Test series against West Indies in January, following which Pakistan have no Test matches at all till October 2025.There’s also a return for seamer Mohammad Abbas, who last played Test cricket for Pakistan in 2021. Abbas, whose metronomic accuracy and ability to seam the ball initially saw him come into the Pakistan side when they played their home Tests in the UAE, is the only fast bowler in the squad who was also in the side for Pakistan’s last Test tour to South Africa in 2018-19.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Sajid Khan, meanwhile, has been left out of the travelling party, Alongside Noman Ali, Sajid was instrumental in turning the series against England around when Pakistan rejigged their pitches to suit the spinners, taking 19 wickets across the two Tests. But surfaces in South Africa will be vastly different to those, and Pakistan travel with just the one spinner, and have opted for Noman’s left-arm orthodox spin instead.That means Abrar Ahmed, at the start of this season considered Pakistan’s premier Test spinner, has also been omitted.Khurram Shahzad returns to the Test side for the first time since a recurring rib injury sidelined him following Pakistan’s home Tests against Bangladesh in August. Initially, he was thought to be out for just a few days, but it would turn into a much longer absence as he missed the entirety of the England Test series. Since returning at the end of October, though, he has been in sparkling form, taking 13 wickets in two Quaid-e-Azam trophy matches, and a further 15 in three innings against the Sri Lanka A side.It leaves Pakistan’s squad somewhat bereft of high pace, a quality more valuable in South Africa than perhaps anywhere else. Naseem is Pakistan’s only true fast bowler for the series, with Aamer Jamal, Shahzad, Abbas and Mir Hamza the others in the squad. This is likely to stand in stark contrast to South Africa’s Test squad, which currently possesses a battery of fast bowlers who can push into the high 140s and even beyond.There’s much less flux in Pakistan’s white-ball squads, with Pakistan opting to stick largely to the team that played the ODI and T20I series in Australia. Sufiyan Muqeem’s bright start in Zimbabwe has seen him rewarded, as he keeps his place for both white-ball teams against South Africa, while Omair Yousuf is part of the T20I squad.Pakistan play three T20Is and three ODIs in South Africa between December 10 and 22, and two Test matches in Centurion and Cape Town beginning on December 26 and January 7. South Africa is, statistically, Pakistan’s least happy hunting ground in Test cricket, where they have won just two Test matches, and never a Test series.

Pakistan squads for South Africa tour

Tests: Shan Masood (capt), Saud Shakeel (vice-capt), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah (wk), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha
ODIs: Mohammad Rizwan (capt, wk), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan (wk)
T20Is: Mohammad Rizwan (capt, wk), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan (wk)

It is rare for a Test to have shifted as far back and forth as this third Test between Pakistan and England has in the space of two days. But a gutsy century from Saud Shakeel, and allround brilliance from Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, lifted the hosts from the gutter to the top of the mountains of Rawalpindi. A first home series win since 2021 is in view.Shakeel’s remarkable 134 from 223 deliveries – his fourth in Tests – dragged Pakistan to 344, boasting a vital first-innings lead of 77. That was ultimately achieved thanks to vital lower-order assistance from Noman Ali (45) and Sajid Khan (48 not out) in stands of 88 and 72 before they resumed their primary roles to run roughshod over England’s top-order once more, leaving them 24 for 3 at the close.The tourists will be wondering how the script has been flipped onto them so comprehensively. It seemed unthinkable when Shakeel arrived on Thursday evening at 46 for 3. Or when Rehan Ahmed’s pre-lunch spell of 3 for 24 from eight overs had the hosts reeling on 177 for 7, still 90 behind. The legspinner bagged No.11 Zahid Mahmood first-ball to finish with figures of 4 for 66 in his first appearance of the series.Resuming on 16 overnight, Shakeel brought old world-style and substance. There were just five boundaries during his vigil, the fourth of those a firm sweep in front of square which took him to 50 from 92 deliveries. His fifth and final one came 108 balls later. It was appropriate that he had the honour of taking Pakistan to 267, cancelling out England’s opening effort, with a comfortable single driven down the ground off the penultimate ball before tea.He was also the glue throughout, present in all four of Pakistan’s half-century stands in their first innings. While the 53 and 54 with Shan Masood and Mohammed Rizwan respectively had been about consolidation and rebuilding, the partnerships with Noman and Sajid set a new agenda. The former did his bit to achieve parity, the latter unfurled a heavy assault with four sixes among six boundaries, which included blasting off-spinner Shoaib Bashir out of the attack as his final over went for 19.England had gone into lunch in the ascendancy, using an extended opening session to reduce Pakistan to 187 for 7, with Rehan taking three of the four wickets to fall after the resumption from 73 for 3. That included trapping Rizwan and Salman Agha leg before in the space of nine deliveries, before bowling Aamer Jamal via a drag on off a googly.Shakeel was able to bat through the morning but could have been removed on 26 when Bashir – who dismissed Shan Masood – found a leading edge through to Jamie Smith, who was unable to claim a low catch. The ball ended up ricocheting off the wicketkeeper’s left shin, reflecting the difficulty of the chance due to a lack of bounce.Still 80 behind after lunch, Shakeel and the very capable Noman set about drawing level with England’s first innings. The latter was the main aggressor, clouting Rehan for six down the ground as the 20-year-old struggled to find the full length that had come so easily in an excellent eight-over spell before the first break.Saud Shakeel reached a fine century in partnership with Noman Ali•Getty Images

Perhaps because there were two left-handers, Ben Stokes decided not to keep the legspinner on for the start of the session. When he did reintroduce Rehan, it was from the Media rather than the Pavilion End, where he had bowled all of his previous nine overs.The skipper’s frustration was compounded when Joe Root, brought on to bowl the 78th over, got his first delivery to spit out of the rough and take the shoulder of Noman’s bat when the left-hander was on 35. Stokes, fielding close in at first slip, got fingertips on the ball diving to his left. Noman had earlier corrected an LBW dismissal when on 10, with DRS confirming an inside-edge. It was the third decision umpire Sharfuddoula had overturned in this innings.The following over, Shakeel knocked another comfortable single into leg side to bring up his first hundred against England, and second at this venue. The celebrations from his batting partner and teammates in the home dressing room were far more animated than his, all too aware there was plenty of work to be done.Noman’s stay was ended by Bashir, getting the second new ball to skid into the pads of the No.9. But he found himself on the receiving end of Sajid’s acceleration at the start of the evening session, all while Shakeel was more than happy to hand the moustachioed whirlwind the strike. Even the blow Sajid wore on his chin that spilled blood on his shirt came from his blade, attempting to scoop Rehan over his shoulder.Shakeel’s stay was eventually capped at five hours and eight minutes, neither pulling nor defending a Gus Atkinson short delivery to sub-fielder Matthew Potts at midwicket. That Atkinson was not used sooner was another blight on Stokes’ captaincy after lunch, and it was odd that he did not turn to his own seam when Pakistan’s lower order were having their way with spin.When the innings was brought to a close by Rehan’s excellent googly into Mahmood’s stumps, a 5.20pm sunset suggested England did not have much to see out. But it was still enough time for a cascade of three wickets in 28 deliveries for just five runs.Ben Duckett, the most proactive player against spin, was trapped LBW on the back leg by Sajid, a decision the offie needed a DRS review to achieve. An arm ball from Noman then trapped Crawley – the fourth time the left-armer has pocketed the opener in as many innings – before Ollie Pope finished a dismal series with low hands offering a catch to slip, via a deflection from Rizwan’s gloves, for Noman’s second of the innings.The deficit is 53, and there is hope for England that Root and Harry Brook can make amends on day three. It was these two who combined for 454 in the first Test at Multan. But as all involved in Pakistan cricket will tell you, a lot can change in two weeks.

Cricket Australia is creating a new role for a national pace-bowling coach to oversee the management of fast bowlers across international and domestic programmes, in a bid to prevent the spate of injuries that have been occurring and ensure a more coordinated approach to the handling of Australia’s quicks.The new role, which would be based in Brisbane, comes after a limited-overs tour of the UK where six fast bowlers were injured and six others were unavailable, although the role was devised before that tour. A debate is also raging within Australian cricket about whether the current contracting model for the best male cricketers is fit for purpose in the age of franchise cricket, with the management of fast bowlers front and centre in that discussion.Daniel Vettori is Australia’s current bowling coach travelling with the team and will continue in that position. The new job will be largely Australia-based and focussed on the management of contracted fast bowlers as well as Under-19 and Australia A quicks, although the successful candidate will tour with the men’s international side at various stages.Related

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Vettori is highly regarded within the Australian set-up but is not working for CA around the year, as he has been allowed to take contracts as the head coach of Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL and Birmingham Pheonix in the Hundred. It has meant that the likes of Clint McKay and Rob Cassell have been seconded into the Australian team as bowling coaches on an ad-hoc basis in recent times, but the new role would create some continuity. There would also be some consistency within the Australia A coaching staff, which has cycled through a multitude of different coaches in recent years on a series-to-series basis.Australia’s fast-bowling stocks have long been one of its great strengths, but the reliance on the big three in Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood in all forms and recent injuries to the next crop, as well as the stress fracture to Cameron Green, have only served to highlight the importance of managing the next generation.Green, Nathan Ellis, Xavier Bartlett, Riley Meredith, Spencer Johnson and Ben Dwarshuis all picked up injuries on the tour of the UK, while Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, Michael Neser, Scott Boland and Will Sutherland were all unavailable as they recovered from differing ailments. Cummins also didn’t travel in order to do a block of training at home, focussing on getting his body right for the upcoming summer.While there were a variety of injuries, there have also been some common themes including side strains, and soft tissue and back stress injuries that continue to plague Australia’s fast bowlers. Green has become the fourth Australian fast bowler behind James Pattinson, Dwarshuis and Jason Behrendorff to undergo significant spine surgery to stabilise vertebrae in his back and prevent future stress fractures.Xavier Bartlett was one of the bowlers to pick up an injury on the UK tour•AFP/Getty Images

The injuries led to a situation where West Australian youngster Mahli Beardman was called up for the UK tour with just one List A game to his name, which raised some eyebrows among the state associations.There has been some friction between CA and the state associations over the management of some of Australia’s fringe fast bowlers in recent years, with the demanding international playing schedule meaning more players are required than ever before. Franchise opportunities have only added to the burden as individual players want to maximise their earnings during the winter months while the national and state teams would prefer them to manage their bodies in preparation for national and domestic duty.The new pace-bowling role has been designed to be a central point under Australia’s head coach Andrew McDonald to coordinate an approach to managing Australia’s current and next generation of quicks to avoid some of the friction.One of the key job descriptions in the advertisement is “performing a lead role in the case management (including load planning and monitoring), off tour preparation and individual skill development of CA contracted pace bowlers and pace bowlers of national interest”.Spencer Johnson suffered a side strain in the Hundred and has yet to return to playing•Cricket Australia via Getty Images

This has been a crunch point in recent years. CA’s high-performance team has been able to manage its contracted fast bowlers fairly successfully, but issues have arisen when the men’s team has needed to look beyond their contracted players. CA currently has nine contracted fast bowlers among a list of 23, not including the pace-bowling allrounders Green, Aaron Hardie and Mitchell Marsh.But ahead of the UK tour, where the selectors wanted to rest Cummins entirely in order to prepare for India, and have Hazlewood and Starc play the England portion only, they needed bowlers for the six T20Is. With contracted bowlers Morris and Richardson unavailable, Johnson was selected alongside Bartlett and Ellis.But CA were unable to tailor Johnson’s preparation as an uncontracted player. He played 39 T20s and a first-class game between December and August including the BBL, Sheffield Shield, internationals, the IPL, T20 Blast, MLC and the Hundred without a break to do a pre-tour build in the same mould as Hazlewood and Starc were. He suffered a side strain in the Hundred and has yet to return to playing. There was a similar occurrence in 2023 where Johnson played the MLC, Global T20 in Canada and the Hundred before making his international debut for Australia, only to tear his hamstring on his ODI debut bowling more than four overs for the first time in five months.Under the current memorandum of understanding, CA only offers up to 24 central contracts but there is a pool of money for players to qualify for a contract upgrade if they play enough games in the 12-month financial year. There is a thought within Australian cricket that that model is outdated, and the men’s team would be better served contracting 30-plus players initially each year and carefully tailoring the 12-month playing and preparation schedules for a large group of fast bowlers in particular to avoid injuries and situations like the one the arose in the UK.

Bangladesh vs Scotland

Sharjah, 2pm local timeBangladesh squad: Nigar Sultana (capt, wk), Nahida Akter, Murshida Khatun, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Sobhana Mostary, Rabeya Khan, Sultana Khatun, Fahima Khatun, Marufa Akter, Jahanara Alam, Dilara Akter, Taj Nehar, Shathi Rani, Disha BiswasScotland squad: Kathryn Bryce (capt), Chloe Abel, Abbi Aitken-Drummond, Olivia Bell, Sarah Bryce (wk), Darcey Carter, Priyanaz Chatterji, Katherine Fraser, Saskia Horley, Lorna Jack, Ailsa Lister, Abtaha Maqsood, Megan McColl, Hannah Rainey, Rachel SlaterTournament form guide: In the pre-tournament warm-up games, Bangladesh lost to Sri Lanka by 33 runs, and beat Pakistan by 23 runs. Scotland beat Pakistan by eight wickets, and lost to Sri Lanka by five wickets.News brief: Scotland are in a Women’s Cricket World Cup – be it 50 overs or 20 – for the first time. They got there by making the final of the Qualifier earlier this year. They have lost each of their four T20Is against Bangladesh, the last of which came in September 2022. Bangladesh, though, last won a Women’s T20 World Cup game in 2014, when they were hosts. A chance to tweak the record then, after going four editions winless.Player to watch: Nahida Akter, on 99 T20I wickets, could hold the key to Bangladesh’s progress in the competition. She is on the verge of becoming the first woman from Bangladesh – and only the third across genders, behind Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman – to 100 T20I wickets. With a plethora of right-hand batters in Scotland’s line-up, she could be licking her lips.Scotland defeated Pakistan during the warm-ups•ICC/Getty Images

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka

Sharjah, 6pm local timePakistan squad: Fatima Sana (capt), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Muneeba Ali (wk), Nashra Sandhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab, Tuba HassanSri Lanka squad: Chamari Athapaththu (capt), Harshitha Samarawickrama, Vishmi Gunaratne, Kavisha Dilshari, Nilakshika Silva, Hasini Perera, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Sachini Nisansala, Udeshika Prabodhani, Inoshi Priyadharshani, Achini Kulasuriya, Inoka Ranaweera, Shashini Gimhani, Ama Kanchana, Sugandika KumariTournament form guide: In the pre-tournament warm-ups, Pakistan lost to Scotland by eight wickets, and lost to Bangladesh by 23 runs. Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by 33 runs and Scotland by five wickets.News brief: Sadia Iqbal was named in the Pakistan squad subject to fitness. She bowled seven overs across the two warm-up games and returned two wickets against Bangladesh. That would come as relief for Pakistan because Iqbal has not just played all of Pakistan’s completed 32 T20Is since the start of 2023 but also is their leading wicket-taker in that period. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have won their last three T20I outings against Pakistan, including the semi-final of the Asia Cup this year.Player to watch: Chamari Athapaththu is used to having the spotlight firmly on her when she takes the field for Sri Lanka. For the first time though, she comes to a World Cup with her team portrayed as the tournament’s dark horse. And that could pose a challenge of a different kind – that of living up to expectations with the bat and as a leader. But when has Athapaththu ever shied away from a tough gig?

Ihsanullah Janat, the Afghanistan top-order batter, has been banned from “all forms of cricket activities” for five years for corruption, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said on Wednesday. The ban is effective immediately. The board said that the breaches of the ACB’s and ICC’s anti-corruption code had been committed during the second edition of the Kabul Premier League earlier this year.”Janat was found guilty of violating Article 2.1.1 of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code, which involves improper influence or efforts to fix the result, progress, conduct, or any other aspect of a match,” the ACB said in a statement. “In light of this violation, he has been handed a five-year ban from all cricket-related activities. Janat has admitted to the charges and confessed to his involvement in corrupt activities.”The statement added that the ACB’s anti-corruption unit has been investigating “three other players” for possible involvement in corrupt activities. “Decisions regarding their involvement will be made upon confirmation of their guilt,” the ACB said.Related

• Ihsanullah, another jewel in the Mangal family

Ihsanullah, 26, was in action for Shamshad Eagles at the Kabul Premier League 2024, and scored 72 runs in four innings at an average of 18 and strike rate of 150. The team finished last on the six-team league table with just one win from five games.Internationally, Ihsanullah has appeared in 20 games for Afghanistan across the three formats. Following his debut in an ODI against Zimbabwe in Harare in February 2017, Ihsanullah has played 15 more times in the format, scoring 307 runs (average 21.92) and has also turned out in three Tests (110 runs at 22.00) and one T20I, where he scored a 14-ball 20. That T20I, in June 2022 against Zimbabwe in Harare, was his last appearance for his national team.Ihsanullah comes from a family with close ties to the game, with his brother Nawroz Mangal one of the country’s stalwarts in their early years of international cricket. Nawroz was the captain of the national team when they became the first Affiliate nation to gain ODI status at the 2009 World Cup qualifiers, and again when they qualified for the 2010 T20 World Cup.

Nick Hockley has announced he will step down as Cricket Australia chief executive in March 2025 after five years in the job.Hockley, who has worked in the Australian game in various positions for 13 years, initially came into the role in an interim capacity early in the Covid-19 pandemic after Kevin Roberts resigned following unrest at CA’s initial handling of crisis which included a mass stand down of staff.He was appointed full time in May 2021 having helped the game navigate the 2020-21 season amid border closures which included successfully hosting the Test series against India that ensured the game was able to survive financially.”This was a difficult decision, however following what promises to be a blockbuster summer and with our five-year strategic plan well progressed, this is the right time to pursue another challenge, while giving the Board plenty of time to find its next CEO to build on the strong foundations now in place,” Hockley said.”This is not the time for goodbyes, as I remain completely focussed on the season ahead and supporting the Board on succession and a smooth transition.”Hockley’s final season in charge of CA will again see India visit, this time for a five-Test series, as well as the hosting of the Women’s Ashes in January.Alongside the pandemic, the major challenges on Hockley’s watch included an associated stand-off with broadcaster Channel Seven who pushed for a discount. Relationships were later repaired to an extent that Seven has remained a long-term broadcast partner, although the new seven-year deal signed with them and Foxtel in 2023 did not produce a significant uplift in value.However, he was able to oversee a much smoother MoU agreement compared to 2017 which included large pay increases in the women’s game.Hockley had to contend with the controversial departure of Tim Paine as Test captain on the eve of the 2021-22 Ashes, although the transition to Pat Cummins eventually proved smooth and successful, and an ugly split with head coach Justin Langer.Hockley also attempted to have David Warner’s lifetime leadership ban overturned although that fell apart in late 2022 when Warner angrily withdrew his case amid pressure from an independent panel to relive what happened at Newlands in 2018.He has been in charge during a period of significant on-field success which has included the men’s and women’s teams winning T20 and ODI World Cups plus the men claiming last year’s World Test Championship and the women gold in the Commonwealth Games. Significantly, in 2022 the men’s team also toured Pakistan for the first time since 1998.One of the major projects he has led in recent years has been the implementation of CA’s Multicultural Action Plan which aims to improve participation and attendance among the South Asian communities.”As CEO, Nick navigated the sport through a period of unprecedented challenge during the pandemic and has delivered significant growth and stability,” CA chair Mike Baird said. “Under Nick’s leadership, several major deals are now in place – many for the next seven years – and the game is set up for continued success.”As Nick says, his full focus is on delivering another successful summer for our fans, players, broadcasters, partners and the whole of Australian Cricket and there will be time to celebrate his legacy and achievements when he steps down from the role next year.”Prior to his hasty elevation into the top CA role, Hockley had been chief executive of the 2020 T20 Women’s World Cup committee that had staged the record-breaking tournament in Australia. Before that, he had worked on the 2015 Men’s World Cup, having also previously been involved in the London Olympics.CA will search globally for Hockley’s successor although Todd Greenberg, the current CEO of the Australia Cricketers’ Association, will likely be a frontrunner if he is interested in the job.