Cricket

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reappointed Shahid Aslam as the batting coach of the national white-ball squads, effective immediately. Aslam, a qualified coach, has previously worked with the Pakistan team in various capacities, including assistant coach, fielding coach, and assistant manager.Aslam's appointment comes after the team's recent struggles in the ODI series against Australia, where Pakistan's batting lineup failed to perform consistently. The PCB has identified the need for a dedicated batting coach to address these issues and improve the team's performance in the upcoming white-ball series against Zimbabwe and South Africa.Aslam's return to the coaching staff is based on the recommendation of interim white-ball coach Aaqib Javed, who was appointed by the PCB in November 2024. Javed, who is also the senior national selector, has left to join the players in Zimbabwe, where they will play three ODIs and three T20Is before moving on to South Africa for another white-ball rubber.Aslam's appointment is expected to provide stability and expertise to the team's batting unit. He has a proven track record of working with young players and developing their skills. His experience in the High Performance Centre in Lahore will also be valuable in identifying and nurturing future batting talent.The PCB's decision to bring back Aslam is a sign of their commitment to improving the team's performance in white-ball cricket. The upcoming series against Zimbabwe and South Africa will be crucial for Pakistan as they prepare for the ICC Champions Trophy in early 2025.

Carl Hopkinson and Richard Dawson, two integral members of England's white-ball coaching staff, will depart their roles following the conclusion of the ongoing tour of the Caribbean. Their departure paves the way for Brendon McCullum's arrival as the new head coach across all three formats.Hopkinson, England's esteemed fielding coach, joined the men's setup in 2018 and played a pivotal role in England's recent triumphs in ICC global events. He was instrumental in the team's 50-over World Cup victory on home soil in 2019 and the T20 World Cup triumph in Australia in November 2022.Dawson, a former offspinner who represented England in seven Tests between 2001 and 2003, served as head coach of the Young Lions team that reached the Under-19 World Cup final in 2022. He joined the senior coaching team ahead of the 2022 T20 World Cup.Reflecting on his time with England, Hopkinson expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to be part of the coaching setup and contribute to the team's historic World Cup victories. He highlighted his involvement in developing young players and assisting some of the world's best white-ball players in their growth.Dawson echoed Hopkinson's sentiments, expressing his enjoyment of working with the England team and the exceptional white-ball players it comprises. He emphasized the highlight of his career as head coach of the England U19 team that reached the World Cup final and the pleasure of working with top spinners and developing the depth of spin bowling talent in the country.Rob Key, England Men's managing director, acknowledged the significant contributions of Hopkinson and Dawson to the success of England's white-ball teams. He praised their coaching expertise and their role in developing young players, which has laid the foundation for the next generation of white-ball cricketers.

India's women's cricket team will host West Indies and Ireland for white-ball tours in December and January as part of the 2022-2025 Future Tours Programme (FTP). The series will provide valuable preparation for India ahead of the ODI World Cup, which they will host next year.West Indies will tour India for three T20Is in Navi Mumbai and three ODIs in Vadodara in December. The T20Is are scheduled for December 15, 17, and 19, followed by the ODIs on December 22, 24, and 27. The ODI series will be part of the ICC Women's Championship.Ireland will make their first-ever bilateral tour of India in January 2025, playing three ODIs in Rajkot. The matches are set for January 10, 12, and 15, and will also be part of the ICC Women's Championship.India has been preparing for the ODI World Cup with a series of home matches. They recently defeated New Zealand 2-1 in an ODI series in Ahmedabad and will face Australia in three ODIs in December before the West Indies tour.India last played in Vadodara in 2019, while Rajkot will host India women after a 14-year gap. West Indies last played a white-ball series in India in 2016, winning the T20Is 3-0 but losing the ODIs 0-3. Ireland has lost all 12 ODIs they have played against India, with their last meeting coming in the 2023 T20 World Cup, which India won by five runs.The upcoming series will provide India with an opportunity to fine-tune their preparations for the ODI World Cup, while West Indies and Ireland will be looking to gain valuable experience against a top-ranked team.

Mohammad Nabi, the former Afghanistan skipper, has expressed his desire to participate in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled for next year in Pakistan. The 39-year-old played a pivotal role in Afghanistan's 2-1 series victory over Bangladesh in Sharjah, contributing 135 runs and two wickets.Nabi's performance in the series, including a crucial 34* in the final match, helped Afghanistan chase down Bangladesh's total of 244/8 with just 10 deliveries remaining. His valuable contributions and experience were instrumental in the team's success.Despite being in the twilight of his international career, Nabi is determined to make the Champions Trophy his final chance to win an ICC trophy. "In my mind from the last (50-over) World Cup, I thought of retiring, but if I can play one Champions Trophy, it will be great for me," Nabi said. "Just small contributions from my side to the youngsters and my insight to them will be more useful."Afghanistan's recent performances in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup and ICC Men's T20 World Cup have established them as one of the most exciting white-ball teams globally. Nabi's experience and leadership will be invaluable to the team as they aim to make a mark in the Champions Trophy.Before the Champions Trophy, Afghanistan will embark on a multi-format tour of Zimbabwe, including three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Test matches in Bulawayo. These matches will provide the team with an opportunity to fine-tune their preparations and build momentum ahead of the major tournament.

Former England Test captain Sir Alastair Cook has emphasized the need for the team to finalize Jos Buttler's role in the white-ball setup. Buttler, who has been sidelined since the T20 World Cup semi-final due to a calf injury, will return as captain for the upcoming T20I series against the West Indies.Cook believes that England must determine whether Buttler will continue as a wicketkeeper or transition to a specialist batter. This decision will significantly impact the team's lineup and strategy. He also expressed his confidence in Buttler's commitment to England, despite his recent signing of a two-year central contract.Cook highlighted the emergence of several promising young players in the T20I squad, including Phil Salt, Will Jacks, Jacob Bethell, Jordan Cox, and Liam Livingstone. He praised their modern approach to the game and their ability to execute a wide range of shots.However, Cook emphasized the need for these players to gain experience and make the step up to international cricket. He believes that one of them will eventually establish themselves as a standout performer.Cook also expressed his satisfaction with Jofra Archer's return to the ODI team. Archer has played all three ODIs against the West Indies, indicating his improved physical condition. Cook believes that Archer's versatility and ability to bowl in all phases of the game make him a valuable asset to the English bowling attack.

Marcus Trescothick, England's batting coach, has expressed concerns over the lack of domestic 50-over cricket, which he believes is hindering the development of the team's young white-ball players.England's recent ODI series defeat in Barbados marked their third consecutive loss since the 2023 World Cup, with the team fielding a largely inexperienced lineup due to the overlap with Test commitments. Several key players were absent, including Jordan Cox and Rehan Ahmed, who were the only members of the Pakistan tour group to feature in the Caribbean.Trescothick emphasized the importance of domestic 50-over cricket in providing players with the necessary experience and understanding of the game. However, he acknowledged the challenges posed by the current structure, which sees the One-Day Cup clashing with the Hundred."It's not helping because you're not getting the volume of games that players would like to get and really build an understanding of the game," Trescothick said. "But you kind of know why that is and that is the structure we're given to play, and we'll make a fist of it and make it work as much as we can."Phil Salt, who scored 74 in the final ODI, echoed Trescothick's sentiments, calling for more domestic 50-over opportunities. "I don't think there's many players in this team that you could go through and go 'oh they're doing a great job right now'," Salt said. "That's the reality of it because we've not played a lot of 50-over cricket."Trescothick acknowledged the challenges of finding a balance between Test cricket, domestic T20 competitions, and the Hundred. However, he stressed the need to address the lack of 50-over cricket, which is essential for the development of England's white-ball players."It's really challenging," Trescothick said. "We know how important Test cricket is in England and obviously having the domestic T20 competition and the Hundred, that's vitally important to our game. How do we get that balance right? That's for the powers above to look at, but it's not going to be easy."Trescothick also provided an update on Jofra Archer, who successfully completed the series without any injury issues. The fast bowler took only one wicket, but Trescothick expressed satisfaction with his performance as England look to build him back to potentially playing Test cricket in the summer.

Pakistan's Test captain Shan Masood believes that Babar Azam's temporary absence from the Test squad will ultimately benefit the star batsman. Babar was omitted from the Pakistan squad for the last two Tests against England, which Pakistan won to claim the series 2-1, after a prolonged lean patch.Masood, in an interview with BBC Stumped, expressed his confidence in Babar's abilities, stating that he is "one of the best batsmen in the world" and has the potential to be "one of the greatest batsmen in Test cricket." He emphasized that sometimes players need a break to regain their form.Pakistan has indicated that Babar's absence from the Test side is temporary, as he has been called up for the upcoming white-ball series against Australia. Masood expects Babar to "come back a stronger player" after his break.Masood also discussed his role as captain and the changes in the selection process. He emphasized the importance of collective decision-making and praised the new selectors for their collaboration. He stated that the team's focus is on taking 20 wickets and that they believe playing on used pitches with three spinners will benefit them.Regarding the controversial post-match interview with commentator Ramiz Raja, Masood expressed no hard feelings. He stated that he is open to constructive criticism and is focused on reflecting his character in a positive way.

Interim head coach Marcus Trescothick has defended his young ODI squad after their crushing eight-wicket defeat to the West Indies, emphasizing that the result does not accurately reflect the state of English white-ball cricket.England's loss to the West Indies marked their twelfth ODI defeat in 18 matches since the start of the 2023 World Cup. The match featured a new-look eleven with four debutants, highlighting the team's ongoing transition.On a challenging surface, England was bowled out for 209. Despite a promising display with the ball, Windies opener Evin Lewis's explosive 94 off 69 balls ultimately sealed the victory for the home team.Trescothick acknowledged the challenges faced by the young squad, stating, "I think it's certainly not where England cricket is at. Because for a long period of time now, you've not had our main team in white-ball games. You don't really know where white-ball cricket is."He emphasized the need to invest in the next generation of players, despite the recent setbacks. "I think with the system that we've had and the volume of cricket that we've been trying to play and still look after the players, I think you could put a team together tomorrow for a World Cup, and it would probably look different to what you had this series and some of the series that we played against Australia."The current series lacks several key players due to England's Test tours of Pakistan and New Zealand. However, Trescothick believes that the team's focus on youth development is crucial. "It's probably a better question for the selectors more than anything else. It's not my decision who comes in," he said. "But I think you can see from the plan of the England team in the last year, probably, and maybe a little bit further back, how much we want to invest in the next generation."England's innings saw five of the top six batsmen caught in the 30-yard circle, highlighting their struggles to balance defense and attack. "We've got to try and bat 50 overs first and foremost," said Trescothick. "The real skill in white-ball cricket in particular is the tempo and the balance between aggression and batting for long periods of time."Trescothick's tenure as white-ball coach will end in January when Brendon McCullum takes over. He has faced the challenge of balancing the need to emphasize opportunity for young players with the desire to win. "I am trying to get the priority right at the moment. I want to win every game and we dictate that in the dressing room. But we also want to see a few players in the environment before the structure changes and Brendon takes over. So, why not give them the opportunity to thrive in this environment?"Trescothick's future role in the white-ball setup remains uncertain. "I don't know just yet," he said. "We've got a bit of a plan behind the scenes, but nothing has been confirmed as such."

England's cricket team has made a bold move by awarding Jamie Smith a lucrative two-year central contract, signaling their intention to build their future around the rising star. Smith, 24, has impressed in both Test and white-ball cricket, earning recognition as the PCA's Young Player of the Year.Despite limited opportunities in white-ball cricket, Smith showcased his potential in the recent ODI series against Australia. He is expected to play a key role in England's upcoming white-ball tour of India and the Champions Trophy. Fast bowler Gus Atkinson has also received a two-year deal, extending his existing contract.England's Test captain, Ben Stokes, and white-ball captain, Jos Buttler, have both signed two-year deals, demonstrating their commitment to the team. Buttler's contract is a show of faith despite his ongoing calf injury.England's contract system has been revamped to reflect the growing influence of T20 franchise cricket. 18 of the 26 offers are multi-year deals, with 19 of this year's 29 deals being for one year only.Five players have signed their first central contracts: Shoaib Bashir, Phil Salt, Olly Stone, Will Jacks, and Jacob Bethell. Three players have been handed development contracts, including Josh Hull and John Turner.Seven players have been cut from England's list, including Moeen Ali, Dawid Malan, and James Anderson, who have retired. Ollie Robinson and Ben Foakes, who were dropped from the Test team in the summer, are also notable absentees."The strength and depth of talent across England Men's red and white-ball cricket is clear," said Rob Key, England men's managing director. "These contracts reward the players we believe will play an important role for our England Men's teams."