Cricket

Jafer Chohan, the 22-year-old Yorkshire legspinner, has been recalled from England's white-ball tour of the Caribbean to manage his workload ahead of the upcoming Lions tour of South Africa. Chohan made history last month as the first graduate of the South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA) to be named in an England squad.Chohan's opportunity with Yorkshire arose after he was released by Middlesex as a 17-year-old in 2019. He has since flourished under the guidance of Adil Rashid, his mentor at Yorkshire. Chohan's fast-tracking into the England set-up is a testament to his talent and the progress he has made in recent years.However, the England management has decided to prioritize Chohan's long-term development by sending him home before he has a chance to make his international debut. The team has a wealth of spin options available, including Rashid, Rehan Ahmed, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Dan Mousley, and Will Jacks.Chohan's release from the England squad is also a reflection of the team's current success in T20Is. England has taken a 2-0 lead in the five-match series against the West Indies, with Chohan playing a supporting role in the nets.Despite not making his international debut on this tour, Chohan's inclusion in the England squad is a significant milestone for British South Asian cricketers. The SACA, launched in 2021, aims to address the under-representation of South Asian players in the professional game. Chohan's journey is an inspiration to aspiring cricketers from all backgrounds.In addition to the Lions tour, Chohan is also set to play for Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League, which commences on December 15. His release from the England squad will allow him to focus on these upcoming commitments and continue his development as a legspinner.

Andrew Flintoff, the newly appointed England Lions head coach, will lead a 19-man squad to South Africa next month for a training camp and an unofficial four-day Test against South Africa A. The tour, scheduled from November 20 to December 14, aims to replicate the training methods of the senior men's squad, who will be playing a Test series in New Zealand during the same period.The squad includes six new inclusions, including Jafer Chohan, the Yorkshire legspinner who recently earned his first senior white-ball call-up. Chohan, the first graduate of the South Asian Cricket Academy to be named in an England squad, will have a limited role due to prior Big Bash League commitments.Other notable inclusions are Josh Hull, who withdrew from the ongoing Test tour of Pakistan with a quad injury, and Matt Hurst, the Lancashire wicketkeeper-batter making his first Lions tour. The squad also features several recent graduates from England's Under-19 set-up, such as Harry Moore, a highly-rated 17-year-old Derbyshire fast bowler, and Freddie McCann, the Nottinghamshire opener who played a crucial role in preserving his team's top-flight status in the County Championship.Flintoff expressed his excitement about the potential of the squad, stating, "We're delighted to have such a high-potential group of players heading to South Africa. We have a mix of well-established performers who've been in the England setup and excelled in the domestic game, through to some of the most exciting young talent coming through."England Men's performance director, Ed Barney, emphasized the alignment of the selection with England's short and long-term needs across all formats, particularly in supporting pace bowlers. He added, "We are also excited about the competitive match opportunities, with a four-day fixture against South Africa A offering the opportunity for the squad to enjoy putting their skills on show against strong opposition."The full coaching and support staff for the tour will be announced shortly.

Yorkshire's Vitality Blast campaign received a much-needed boost as they secured a crucial seven-wicket victory over Durham at Headingley. Legspinner Jafer Chohan played a pivotal role in the triumph, claiming a maiden five-wicket haul to restrict Durham to a paltry 107.Chohan, celebrating his 22nd birthday, wreaked havoc on the Durham batting lineup, taking three wickets in the 15th over. His superb spell of 5 for 14 from 3.4 overs left Durham reeling at 97 for 9. Despite a brief recovery, Durham's innings ended on 107, setting Yorkshire a modest target of 108.Yorkshire's chase was a relatively straightforward affair. Openers Adam Lyth and Dawid Malan put on a 64-run partnership before falling. Lyth top-scored with 30, including two sixes, while Malan contributed 29. Despite losing a few wickets along the way, Yorkshire cruised to victory with 3.2 overs to spare.Durham's batting woes continued in this match, as they were bowled out for the fifth time in 11 games. Ben Raine top-scored with 33, but their middle order failed to provide any substantial support. The defeat leaves Durham in a precarious position in the North Group, as they slipped out of quarter-final contention.Yorkshire, on the other hand, have revived their hopes of reaching the knockout stages. The win snapped a three-match losing streak and moved them up to fifth place in the standings. A victory at Lancashire tomorrow could secure their place in the top four.Chohan's performance was a major highlight for Yorkshire. The South Asian Cricket Academy product had missed the previous two matches due to injury but made a triumphant return. His five-wicket haul was Yorkshire's third-best figures in Blast history.