Cricket

Hasan Ali's hopes of representing Pakistan in the upcoming T20 World Cup have suffered a setback after he was released from the squad for the ongoing series against England. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Wednesday that Ali would resume his stint with Warwickshire in county cricket.Ali's release comes as a surprise, as he was initially selected as an injury cover for Haris Rauf. However, after a disappointing performance in the series decider against Ireland, where he conceded 42 runs in three wicketless overs, Ali has been deemed surplus to requirements.Pakistan's provisional squad for the T20 World Cup is expected to be announced soon, and Ali's omission from the squad is a significant blow to his chances of making the final cut. The deadline for submitting the final list of 15 players to the ICC is Saturday.Warwickshire, who were initially caught off guard by Ali's international recall, will welcome his return ahead of their County Championship fixture against Lancashire on Friday. Ali is also expected to feature in the T20 Blast, which starts next week, and will remain with the club until the end of July.Meanwhile, Ali's compatriot Aamer Jamal has struggled to make an impact at Warwickshire, taking just one wicket in his first two appearances. He has lost his place in the side to Michael Rae, who has impressed with five wickets in his debut match.With several other bowlers injured, Warwickshire have also handed a first-class debut to Barbados-born Che Simmons, who recorded match figures of 5 for 71 against Essex.

Sussex chairman Jon Filby has dismissed the notion of a breakaway league by the Hundred-hosting counties as "completely not to be feared." The ECB and the 18 first-class counties have been engaged in discussions regarding changes to the Hundred's ownership model, with a proposal to open up the eight teams to private investment.However, the counties have yet to reach an agreement on revenue sharing. The ECB initially requested a decision by May 10, but the non-host counties are seeking independent advice, potentially delaying the process. Filby emphasized the importance of thorough due diligence before making a decision.Despite concerns raised by ECB chief executive Richard Gould about losing momentum, Filby expressed confidence in reaching a deal. He acknowledged the need to capitalize on the Hundred's upcoming season as a showcase for the competition.The prospect of a breakaway league has been raised, but Filby believes it is unlikely. He questioned the viability of such a league, given the lack of opposition and player availability.The non-host counties are reportedly seeking a fair distribution of revenues, with Filby stating that they will not be rushed into a decision. He emphasized the need for a clear position before the Hundred's season concludes.The discussions over the Hundred's future have highlighted the growing influence of the top counties in English cricket. Leicestershire chief executive Sean Jarvis has compared the situation to the Premier League in football. However, Filby believes that the non-host counties should remain firm in their negotiations.

County cricket is facing a pivotal moment as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) prepares to sell equity stakes in the Hundred. Leicestershire's chief executive, Sean Jarvis, has raised concerns that the move could create a significant divide between the haves and have-nots in the sport, similar to the situation in English football.Despite Leicestershire's recent successes, including winning the Metro Bank One-Day Cup and topping Division Two of the County Championship, the club was overlooked for a Tier 1 team in the new women's competition from 2025. This decision has left Leicestershire as one of seven first-class teams that will not host international men's cricket, Hundred matches, or top-flight women's domestic games from next year onwards.Jarvis believes that this could have a detrimental impact on Leicestershire's ability to remain relevant in a rapidly changing game. He compares the situation to the Premier League's breakaway from the Football League in 1992, which led to a widening gap between the top clubs and the rest.The ECB's decision on the future of the Hundred is expected to further exacerbate this divide. Host venues are likely to receive a 51% equity share of their respective teams, while the remaining counties will share up to 30% of the competition's remaining value.Jarvis argues that the "Open Pyramid" option for the Hundred, which would allow all 18 counties to compete in a two-tiered structure with the prospect of promotion and relegation, should be considered. He believes that this would ensure that all clubs have the opportunity to win silverware and compete at the highest level.Despite the challenges, Jarvis recognizes that a major overhaul of Leicestershire's home ground, Grace Road, is overdue. He believes that the club's share of the Hundred windfall, combined with strategic partnerships, will allow Leicestershire to create a venue that can better serve the needs of its large sporting community.

The English Cricket Board (ECB) has granted counties until the end of May to propose revisions to the visa criteria for overseas players, following a challenging offseason for directors of cricket.Securing high-caliber overseas players has become increasingly difficult for counties due to a congested domestic schedule, overlapping franchise leagues, and the unprecedented occurrence of a T20 World Cup during the English summer. Consequently, many counties have resorted to signing relatively unknown overseas players this year.Previously, visa eligibility was solely based on international caps. However, in 2019, the ECB successfully lobbied the UK Home Office for a change, allowing players with 20 T20 appearances in a full-member country within the past three years to qualify.While this change has opened up new avenues for overseas players to obtain visas, it has also led to some peculiar situations. One player agent revealed that some clients who would have been eligible for Division One cricket in the County Championship were denied visas due to the current T20-based criteria.Chris Tremain, the leading wicket-taker in this season's Sheffield Shield, was only able to stay at Northamptonshire for a month because his sporadic appearances in the Big Bash League in recent seasons made him eligible only for a short-term "permitted paid engagement" visa.Other top Sheffield Shield bowlers, including Fergus O'Neill, Gabe Bell, and Corey Rocchiccioli, are reportedly ineligible for the "international sportsperson" visa typically used by overseas players for county seasons.Simon Cook, Kent's director of cricket, initially found South African seamer Beyers Swanepoel ineligible due to insufficient T20 appearances. However, Swanepoel eventually qualified for a longer visa after playing enough matches in the CSA T20 Challenge.The ECB has an annual consultation period where counties can propose changes to existing criteria. While the governing body has no immediate plans to alter the criteria, it will consider any proposals. These proposals would then be submitted to the ECB's board for approval and presented to the Home Office.Any changes must adhere to the Home Office's requirement that players seeking visas should "make a significant contribution to the development of their sport at the highest level in the UK."Cook emphasized the importance of balancing the need for overseas players with the development of domestic talent. "The danger with opening it up too much is that you end up blocking opportunities for academy or second-team players," he said. "You want overseas players coming over that will add value and drive your existing group forwards."Kent will briefly have four overseas seamers competing for two spots in June, reflecting the increasingly competitive overseas market for counties.

Will Pucovski's highly anticipated stint with Leicestershire has been abruptly canceled due to another concussion suffered during a Sheffield Shield match. The 26-year-old Australian batsman was set to make his county cricket debut but was forced to withdraw after being struck by a bouncer from Riley Meredith.Pucovski has a history of concussions, which have plagued his career and sidelined him for extended periods. The latest incident occurred earlier this month, prompting immediate concerns about his health. He was immediately substituted out of the game and has not played since.Leicestershire had signed Pucovski as a temporary replacement for South African all-rounder Wiaan Mulder for the first five games of the County Championship. He was expected to join his Victoria teammate Peter Handscomb, who had a successful season with the club in 2023."It's a huge shame to lose Will at this stage, but his health must come first," said Leicestershire's director of cricket, Claude Henderson. "Given the proximity to the start of the English season, it has been agreed by all parties to allow him the necessary time to recover, and we want to wish Will all the best as he continues to recuperate in Australia."Henderson added that the club has contingency plans in place and will announce a new overseas addition shortly.Pucovski has represented Australia once in Tests, averaging 45.19 in first-class cricket. However, his career has been marred by concussions and mental health issues, which have forced him to prioritize his well-being.The cancellation of Pucovski's contract is a setback for both the player and Leicestershire. It remains to be seen when he will be able to return to the field and whether he can overcome the challenges that have hindered his progress.