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Multan Sultans’ 163 proved too much for Lahore Qalandars, who lost by 28 runs

Danyal Rasool23-Feb-2022Lahore Qalandars might have beaten them in the group stages, but Multan Sultans showed why they won the other nine, squeezing out a gritty 28-run win over the home side to book their place in their second successive final. An unbeaten 42-ball 65 from Rilee Rossouw on a pitch that proved especially tricky to bat on helped the Sultans post 163, which in hindsight was a better total than it appeared at the time. The bowlers picked up the mantle from thereon, a disciplined showing as a unit withstanding an onslaught from Fakhar Zaman that threatened to throw the Sultans at the mercy of Friday’s eliminator. Once the in-form opener was trapped in front by David Willey for 63 off 45, the Qalandars middle and lower order crumbled, and the relentless defending champions closed the game out with comfort.After the Qalandars won the toss and opted to field, Mohammad Rizwan carried his bat, though failed to find his rhythm all innings in a scratchy – albeit unbeaten – 51-ball 53. It might be the surface, but the Qalandars were especially parsimonious, with Hafeez allowing just 16 runs in his four overs, while Shaheen Afridi and Samit Patel kept things tight up top. The dangerous Shan Masood was trapped in front off Hafeez’s first ball, and the surface, combined with a nervy abundance of caution from the defending champions saw them restrained for much of the innings.The Sultans had been dealt a huge blow after Tim David was ruled out with a positive Covid test, and Aamer Azmat was promoted to No. 3 after the early dismissal. His intentions were clear straight away, taking a couple of boundaries off Shaheen Afridi’s second over, taking control while Rizwan took his time to bed in. By the time he fell, looking to take on Samit Patel and finding himself out of his crease, he’d struck a crisp 22-ball 33, and the Sultans had a platform.With Khushdil Shah and Johnson Charles waiting in the dugout, there was perhaps a case for Rizwan throwing caution to the wind, but the decisive moves were made by Rossouw down the other end. Even the South African didn’t quite find his timing early on, managing 28 off his first 22, but pushed through the gears in the final six overs. A key 18th-over onslaught against Haris Rauf, where Rossouw smashed a four and six, brought up a 33-ball half-century, and that the Sultans plundered 83 off the last eight overs was almost solely down to the left-hander.For the last two games on the trot, Qalandars had fallen short chasing what seemed like low totals, and they began extremely cautiously once more. Unlike those occasions, however, Fakhar didn’t give his wicket away early, though on a pitch where bowlers were hard to get away, the rising asking rate remained a perennial concern. Asif Afridi cleaned Abdullah Shafique up and Kamran Ghulam felt chancing his luck on a risky single. Khushdil, who has been a revelation with the ball this season, then trapped Mohammad Hafeez for a three-ball duck the following over. By the halfway stage, the Qalandars had shuffled along to 59 for 3, with the asking rate already in double digits.Fakhar’s presence at the crease provided the most realistic source of hope to a near-capacity crowd at the Gaddafi Stadium, and in the 12th over against the wily old Imran Tahir, the left-hander made his move. Three successive sixes – the third a monstrous strike into the second tier – suddenly reminded the Sultans the game wasn’t over, and from under a run-a-ball, Fakhar was all of a sudden bringing up a 37-ball 50.But Sultans’ varied slew of bowlers know what it takes to chip away, and chip away they did. Shahnawaz Dahani, who’s purple patch last year has been replaced by occasional patches of form this time, struck Harry Brook in front of the stumps and removed the man who’s scored one of this season’s three PSL hundreds. But it was Willey who truly put the nail in the home side’s coffin when he trapped Fakhar lbw. It was one of two key wickets in a three-over spell from the Englishman, and finally broke Qalandars’ back.What followed was a blur of Sultans’ dominance as Shaheen Afridi’s side collapsed in on themselves. They would lose six wickets for 26 runs as the lower order offered no resistance, with Dahani, who finished with three wickets, the pick of the bunch. Lahore may get another bite at the cherry, but the home side are now one game away from watching their dream of an elusive PSL title go up in smoke once again. The embers, this time, were lit by the irrepressible defending champions, who remain on fire, with every side clueless as to how to put it out.

Derbyshire coach says it’s “unacceptable” for the Blast to be given “so much disrespect”

David Hopps08-Jul-2022Mickey Arthur has condemned the failure to ring fence the Vitality Blast knockout stages and give them their own place in the cricket calendar as a decision that shows “disrespect” to the county game.Arthur, one of the most respected international coaches of the past 20 years, has guided Derbyshire to the Blast quarter-finals in his first season coaching at county level.He is mystified by the fact that the knockout stages of England’s long-running professional T20 tournament are drained by England call-ups at a time when its appeal should be at its highest and feels it shows scant regard for the overwhelming majority of professional cricketers.Related

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• Hopps: One of the great county rivalries, stripped of all that's good

Arthur said: “Surrey played Yorkshire this week with only a few international cricketers because there is an England series on at the same time. For me, that is unacceptable.”The absence of England players – they are engaged in a T20I series against India this week – might be viewed as a potential opportunity for Derbyshire who are one of the more unsung counties without any players currently in the England senior squads.If they beat Somerset on Saturday night, their future opponents could conceivably have to face further withdrawals because of England’s primary claims in a series against India that by then has moved on to a 50-over series, with the third ODI due to be played the day after Finals Day.But Arthur has no interest in main chancing. His concern is the message that not giving the Blast a dominant week in England’s cricket calendar gives to the county professionals.”100%, the Blast knockout stages should be ring-fenced,” he said. “For our players, it is the showpiece of the summer. Take the Hundred out of the argument for a moment. For the Blast to be given so much disrespect is not great for the counties. I am quite strong on that view.”Chris Jordan, Surrey’s captain, missed their quarter-final defeat on Wednesday•Associated Press

England’s willingness to release players has been described as “fluid” with “fairness” to both counties involved in a tie regarded as the main criteria.That meant when Ollie Pope played for Surrey in Wednesday’s quarter-final, only 24 hours after the rescheduled fifth Test against India, but Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow opted for rest ahead of the ODI series, that England’s white-ball set-up agreed to release Yorkshire’s captain, David Willey.Willey’s call-up was so late that he realised he was short of county kit and travelled from the Ageas Bowl to the Kia Oval in a shirt bearing the name of his Yorkshire team-mate Harry Brook.Eight players missed Yorkshire’s dramatic victory over Surrey at the Kia Oval: Dawid Malan, Root, Brook and Bairstow for Yorkshire; Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, Jason Roy and Reece Topley for Surrey.Unless there is a late release of players, Jos Buttler, Liam Livingstone, Matt Parkinson and Richard Gleeson are expected to be missing for Lancashire’s quarter-final against Essex Eagles on Friday, though Phil Salt is expected to be made available.Late decisions could also be a feature of Finals Day on July 16 because it must compete with international demands. England face India at Lord’s on Thursday and again at Old Trafford on Sunday and a new white-ball team of Buttler, the captain, and coach Matthew Mott are likely to be resistant to all but the most token flexibility in releasing players.It would be understandable if a former international coach of such repute – Arthur has variously taken charge of South Africa, Australia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka – responded with horror towards the lack of preparation time on the county circuit. Arthur’s natural response is to make light of the rigours of a non-stop schedule although he is not blind to the difficulties it creates.”I’ve really enjoyed it because I could be on a cricket ground every day of my life, but it challenges everyone without a doubt,” he said. “I’ve often sat with the coaching staff and when we’ve been talking and planning, particularly with the strength and conditioning guys a lot, is ‘how are you feeling?’ And he says ‘I’m slightly tired’. Imagine then how the players are feeling? It’s been a very, very taxing programme.”I don’t know what’s going to happen if we get some rain in Taunton on Saturday because we start a four-day game in Durham on Monday morning. So that kind of highlights the fixture schedule. But, you know, we’ve just had to get on with it. And the one thing we’ve been very strong on within our dressing room is that we can never use that as excuse.”

“Why do the other countries allow that to happen,” the former Sri Lanka captain says, suggesting that other boards are intimidated by the BCCI

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Sep-2023Criticising the decision to add a reserve day for the Asia Cup Super Four match between Pakistan and India – the only game in the tournament apart from the final to get the advantage – the tournament had started, Arjuna Ranatunga has warned that favouring one team (read India) over others will put international cricket in peril.”You take the Asia Cup. You have rules before the tournament, but before that one game, they changed the rules,” Ranatunga was quoted by PTI as saying at an interaction with members of the media. “Where is ACC? Where is ICC? I am not very comfortable when you have a tournament where you change rules for one team. You are looking at a disaster in the future.”I feel very sad for ICC and ACC because they just want to hold the positions. Former cricketers too don’t open, simply because they need the bucks.”The Asia Cup had started on August 30, and the marquee Pakistan vs India contest on September 2 produced no result after rain forced the match to be abandoned after one innings. That match was hosted in Pallekele. The playing conditions were then changed on September 8, two days before the Pakistan vs India Super Four game in Colombo, giving that game a reserve day.At the time, Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusinghe and Sri Lanka coach Chris Silverwood had expressed their surprise at the update. “I haven’t seen this kind of thing in another tournament, this changing rules in the middle of the tournament,” Hathurusinghe had said at a press conference, while Silverwood had said, “It was a little surprise when I first heard [that].””I won’t be surprised if they change the rule before the India-Pakistan game [at the upcoming ODI World Cup],” Ranatunga went on. “ICC will keep their mouth shut and say ‘okay, do it’. ICC just talks rubbish, nothing happens.”Ranatunga said world cricket should not be governed by one board or individual, and that other boards should stand up for their rights.”Why do the other countries allow that to happen,” Ranatunga said. “Because the BCCI is powerful, or one particular person is powerful. No, it can’t happen like that. They should have given an extra day for all the games if that was the case.”

Ben Stokes says Durham quick has “a massive engine on him”

Vithushan Ehantharajah13-Dec-2024Matthew Potts will earn his 10th Test cap as England make one change for their final Test against New Zealand at Seddon Park. Chris Woakes, who played the first two Tests, will be the one to miss out.Potts has taken 31 wickets at 29.22 since making his debut in the summer of 2022, playing the first five matches of Ben Stokes’ tenure as captain. The first three were against New Zealand, with Potts excelling with 14 wickets.However, after being left out for the returning Ollie Robinson for the second Test of the South Africa series that summer, the Durham quick has found his opportunities limited.Related

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The 26-year-old played just one Test in 2023 (against Ireland at Lord’s), and, after playing the first two Tests against Sri Lanka this summer, was left out for the third as England opted to have a look at Leicestershire left-arm seamer Josh Hull. A solitary appearance on the Pakistan tour came for the second Test in Multan, on a surface tailored towards the home spinners though Potts took respectable match figures of 3 for 85 in 31.2 overs.With England 2-0 up and the series secure heading into Hamilton, Stokes has decided to give give Potts an outing in the team’s 17th and final Test of 2024. He is likely to take the new ball in Woakes’ abscence.”It’s another opportunity to look at one of the fast bowlers that we see playing a big role going forward,” said Stokes on Potts’ selection. “Two-nil up, you obviously put yourself in an easier position to make the change.”Pottsy’s got a massive engine on him. He can go all day, bowl a lot of overs, but not just that, he’s a very skilful bowler, which he’s got better at by being here, working with Jimmy [Anderson] on a few things here and there. He’s someone who is another versatile bowler, you can use him with the new ball, the short-ball plan that we go to because he’s so fit. He can bowl you 20 overs one day, then rock up again and bowl you another 20.”Stokes also praised Woakes’ output on this tour. The 35-year-old has taken six wickets at 29.16 with the Kookaburra ball as the leader of the attack. That has included Kane Williamson twice.An overseas average of 51 coming into the winter has been reduced slightly to 48.93. And though there is uncertainty as to whether Woakes makes the trip to Australia next winter for the 2025-26 Ashes, Stokes believes the Warwickshire veteran has shown his class.”Chris Woakes came into the winter tours with a bit of scrutiny behind his away record but I think what he has done over the winter has proved a lot of people wrong,” said Stokes. “He’s been fantastic, he was great in Pakistan and pretty influential over here.”

Former allrounder will take charge of men’s and women’s cricket at Headingley

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Sep-2024Yorkshire have appointed Gavin Hamilton, their former allrounder who played a Test for England in 1999, as their new general manager of cricket. Hamilton effectively replaces Darren Gough, who left his role as director of cricket earlier this year, though he will have oversight of the women’s team as well as the men’s.Hamilton, 50, played his only Test in November 1999, a match best remembered for England’s top-order collapse to 2 for 4 on the opening morning. He made a pair, bowled 15 wicketless overs, and never played another international match for England – though he had a longer career for Scotland, whom he represented at two ODI World Cups and two World T20s.At Yorkshire, he scored more than 2000 first-class runs and took over 200 wickets, and was part of the squad that won the County Championship title in 2001. He later played for Durham towards the end of his career.Since retirement, Hamilton has worked for Caledonian Brewery, the Professional Cricketers’ Association and Pure Co, who sell herbal supplements. Hamilton will start his new role on November 1 and will work closely with Ottis Gibson’s successor as men’s coach, with Essex’s Anthony McGrath believed to be the favourite for the role.”I am delighted to soon be starting my new role at the Yorkshire County Cricket Club, the club where I started my career and enjoyed over a decade playing with some great players,” Hamilton said. “This is a fantastic opportunity and my ambition in this role is to support the club in achieving sustainable success and to encourage and improve the players and the teams both on and off the pitch.”It is clear the club is very ambitious and driven to deliver success for the men and women’s teams. I believe that so much of what we need is already in place and I am looking forward to working with a talented staff and passionate board to help them to unlock the potential of this fantastic club.”Sanjay Patel, Yorkshire’s interim chief executive, said: “Through the interview process we were impressed by Gavin’s cricket knowledge, business acumen and ability to bring people together. We are confident that he will work with the excellent team here at the club to achieve that vision.”Yorkshire’s men are closing in on promotion to Division One of the County Championship, while their women’s team will play in Tier 2 of the new domestic structure next year before their elevation to Tier 1 in 2026.

Left-arm spinner played a key role in county’s 2015 T20 Blast triumph

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Nov-2020Stephen Parry has left Lancashire after 16 years at the county, and will take up a coaching position at the Thunder, the Manchester-based women’s regional hub, over the winter.Parry, the left-arm spinner, is Lancashire’s all-time leading wicket-taker in T20 cricket, and won seven England white-ball caps between 2014 and 2015 after years of consistent performances in the county game. Most notably, he finished joint-top of the wicket charts in the 2015 T20 Blast alongside team-mate James Faulkner, with the pair leading Lancashire to their only T20 title.His opportunities in the County Championship were limited by the presence of two other left-arm spinners – Gary Keedy and Simon Kerrigan – in the first team, though he did play 13 games in the 2017 season, taking 25 wickets.After signing a one-year extension with the club ahead of the 2020 season, Parry was awarded a testimonial year in recognition of his service. While that was blighted by the Covid-19 pandemic, the club has agreed to extend it into next summer instead.ALSO READ: County ins and outs, 2020-21Parry made only one first-team appearance in the shortened 2020 summer, taking 1 for 17 in four overs against Derbyshire in the Vitality Blast. He has not officially retired from playing, and will play as a professional for Lowerhouse CC in the Lancashire Leagues next season.”It has been an honour to represent this great club for such a long period of time,” Parry said. “I am truly grateful to everybody at Emirates Old Trafford for their support since I very first walked through the doors. I started representing Lancashire at U-10 level so to graduate through the academy and play for the red rose for 16 years has been a dream come true.”I feel extremely lucky to have not only represented my boyhood to county but to have also tested myself on the international stage, which would not have been possible without the platform given to me by Lancashire. I am sad to be leaving behind a great dressing room – many who are now friends for life – and I wish nothing but the best for the Club as they move forward with an exciting, young squad.”Paul Allott, Lancashire’s director of cricket, said: “His work ethic and love for the club consistently shone through and he has been part of some huge moments, none more so than the 2015 Blast win.”In recent seasons, Stephen has seen first XI opportunities limited. However, he took on a senior role in the club’s Second XI passing on his invaluable experience to our next generation of up and coming players. I know how much he’s looking forward to getting involved in a coaching capacity with Thunder and we all agreed that it was important to support him with his extended testimonial year.”

Left-arm seamer to focus on franchises opportunities after missing out on ECB contract

Matt Roller01-Nov-2023David Willey has announced that he will retire from international cricket at the age of 33 after England’s final match at the World Cup in India, following the ECB’s decision not to offer him a central contract for the 2023-24 cycle.Willey is among the few England players who have enhanced their reputation over the last four weeks in India, taking five wickets at 27.20 and hitting 42 runs from the lower order in his three appearances since he came into the side for their heavy defeat to South Africa in Mumbai.But he was “not best pleased”, in the words of Rob Key, to be the only member of their World Cup squad who did not feature in the list of 26 central contracts announced in Bangalore last week. Even with a T20 World Cup on the horizon next June, he has decided to quit international cricket for good.”I never wanted this day to come,” Willey wrote in a post on his Instagram page. “From a young boy, I’ve only ever dreamed of playing cricket for England. So, with careful thought and consideration, it is with great regret that I feel the time has come for me to retire from all forms of international cricket at the end of the World Cup.”I have worn the shirt with immense pride and given my absolute everything to the badge on my chest. I’ve been very lucky to be a part of such an incredible white ball team with some of the best players in the world. I’ve made some special memories and great friends along the way and been through some very difficult times.”To my wife, two children, mum and dad, I wouldn’t have been able to follow my dreams without your sacrifice and unwavering support throughout. Thank you for sharing the special memories and picking up the pieces when I’ve fallen apart – I’m eternally grateful.”Related

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Willey said that he will continue to give “my everything and more” in England’s final three group games against Australia, Netherlands and Pakistan. “I feel I still have a lot more to give on and off the field while I am still playing my best cricket, and my decision has nothing to do with our performance during the World Cup,” he said.The timing of Willey’s decision is not helpful for England as they look to finish a miserable World Cup campaign on a high following five defeats in their first six games. “There’s no hiding from it,” Mark Wood told the BBC on Wednesday. “We have got to try and stick together as a team and in these last three games, try and get some sort of positive outcome.”Willey will continue to play short-form cricket at home and around the world. He captained Northamptonshire in the T20 Blast last year and represented Welsh Fire in the Hundred, and is due to play for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the ILT20 in January. He may also be retained by Royal Challengers Bangalore ahead of next year’s IPL.”Being completely honest, knowing and being able to plan a calendar year with all the cricket that’s going on will be helpful,” Willey told England’s social media channels. “It’s difficult, never knowing whether you’re involved. Spending some time with the family will be top of my list and I look forward to the opportunities that are ahead.”Willey made his England debut in a no-result against Ireland in Malahide in May 2015, shortly after their group-stage elimination World Cup, and became a regular member of their white-ball squads as part of their rebuild under Eoin Morgan, Trevor Bayliss and Andrew Strauss. He has so far claimed 94 wickets in 70 ODIs, and a further 51 in 43 T20Is, the last of which came at Canberra in October 2022.David Willey was part of the England squad that won the 2022 T20 World Cup•Getty Images

He was part of the side that finished second at the 2016 World T20, taking 3 for 20 in England’s last-gasp defeat to West Indies in the final, and was named in their provisional squad for the 2019 World Cup, but was brutally dropped at the last minute to accommodate Jofra Archer’s selection.Willey assumed that marked the end of his international career, but was recalled for an ODI series against Ireland in 2020 and was their second-highest wicket-taker in the format between World Cups. He was also an unused squad member at both the 2021 and 2022 T20 World Cups.He was left out at the start of the ongoing 50-over World Cup, but has impressed since coming into the side, most recently dismissing Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav while taking 3 for 45 in Sunday’s defeat against India. “I’m sure everybody who knows me does not doubt that, whatever my involvement in the remainder of this campaign, I will give my everything and more,” he said. “That’s the only way I know.”Key said in a statement: “Playing over 100 white-ball games for your country is a massive achievement and something David can be immensely proud of. He has given everything he has to England, every time he’s taken to the field, and I’d like to thank him for all that he’s done over many years. I wish him all the very best for the future.”

Isy Parry gets her maiden contract for Otago; Northern Districts sign Carol Agafili

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Aug-2024

Central Districts

Uncapped right-arm seamer Grace Foreman has been awarded her maiden contract. Foreman, who hails from New Plymouth, has impressed through Taranaki and Central Districts’ pathway systems in recent years.She represented the team at the Under-15 and Under-19 levels and was part of the side that won the 2022 NZC Under-19 national championship. She debuted for a Districts A side last season and was also invited to a NZC Under-19 national camp last season.Related

• Dodd opts out of Hinds' list, U-19 star Browning moves to Otago

Foreman joins right-arm quick Anna Gaging as the new face on the list and completes the Districts’ contracted player roster for the 2024-25 season.”I’m really grateful and honoured to get this opportunity with the Hinds,” Foreman said. “I was shocked when [head coach] Jacob Oram phoned me to offer me the contract as it has been a goal of mine for some time now. The prospect of playing with some of my role models is surreal, and I am really looking forward to joining the team.”Foreman hails from a cricketing family. Her elder sister Amy Foreman has coached the Taranaki women’s team in the past and was on NZC’s pathway-to-performance coaching scholarship last season. Their mother, Helen, has also been involved in Taranaki cricket.This list of 15 players also consists of two NZC-contracted players Rosemary Mair and Hannah Rowe who will represent the team when available. Captain Natalie Dodd was unavailable as she is expecting her first child later this year.Contracted players: Aniela Apperley, Georgia Atkinson, Ocean Bartlett, Flora Devonshire, Grace Foreman, Anna Gaging, Kate Gaging, Claudia Green, Mikaela Greig, Ashtuti Kumar, Emma McLeod, Thamsyn Newton, Kerry Tomlinson
NZC contracts: Rosemary Mair, Hannah Rowe

Canterbury

Canterbury have signed batter Emma Irwin as their 13th and final signing for the season. This will be Irwin’s second stint with Canterbury. Irwin, 20, was part of the New Zealand Under-19 side at the World Cup in January last year.Contracted players: Kate Anderson, Sarah Asmussen, Missy Banks, Natalie Cox, Jodie Dean, Harriet Graham, Abigail Hotton, Laura Hughes, Frankie Mackay, Izzy Sharp, Jess Simmons, Gabby Sullivan, Emma Irwin

Auckland

Fast bowler Sophie Court is Auckland’s final signing for the season. Court’s elevation to the contract list comes after her rise through Auckland Cricket’s Talent and Pathway programme, where she represented Auckland Under-19 and Auckland A. She was part of the Auckland Under-19 team that won the women’s national under-19 tournament in Lincoln earlier this year.”There were a lot of emotions when I got the call,” Court, 19, said. “I would like to thank my parents and all my coaches. Their support over the years has been great. It means a lot to me and I’m excited and honoured to be a part of this group. I’m looking forward to learning heaps and gaining lots of experience.”Contracted players: Olivia Anderson, Bella Armstrong, Elizabeth Buchanan, Prue Catton, Amie Hucker, Bree Illing, Kate Irwin, Rishika Jaswal, Cate Pedersen, Josie Penfold, Saachi Shahri, Anika Todd, Sophie Court

Northern Districts

Allrounder Carol Agafili is Northern Districts’ 13th signing as they round up the contracts list for the season. Agafili has represented Districts in the past and also turned out for Samoa in three T20Is earlier this year.Contracted players: Bernadine Bezuidenhout, Caitlin Gurrey, Eve Wolland, Holly Topp, Jess Watkin, Jesse Prasad, Kayley Knight, Marama Downes, Marina Lamplough, Nensi Patel, Shriya Naidu, Tash Wakelin, Carol Agafili

Wellington

Right-hand batter Gemma Sims is the final addition to Wellington’s roster. Sims played six Super Smash matches last season for Wellington but failed to deliver a big performance.Contracted players: Antonia Hamilton, Caitlin King, Hannah Francis, Jess McFadyen, Kate Chandler, Leigh Kasperek, Tash Codyre, Nicole Baird, Phoenix Williams, Rachel Bryant, Rebecca Burns, Xara Jetly, Gemma Sims

Otago

Isy Parry has been awarded her maiden Otago contract and is their final signing for the upcoming season.Contracted players: Emma Black, Caitlin Blakely, Anna Browning, Harriet Cuttance, Chloe Deerness, Olivia Gain, Bella James, Louisa Kotkamp, Felicity Robertson, Molly Loe, PJ Watkins, Saffron Wilson, Isy Parry

Number one pick in the inaugural BBL overseas draft pulls out due to his increased international commitments with England

Alex Malcolm22-Nov-2022The BBL has suffered a major blow just weeks out from the start of a new season with Liam Livingstone, the number one pick in the inaugural overseas draft, withdrawing from the tournament due to his increased international workload.Livingstone was the first player picked by Melbourne Renegades in August and was the most sought-after player in the draft as the BBL looked to reinvigorate the tournament ahead of the next Cricket Australia TV rights negotiation which is set to be finalised in 2024.Livingstone was initially set to play the first part of the BBL and miss the second half having signed to play in the new SA20 league in January. He was then selected for England’s Test tour of Pakistan in December. Renegades signed Andre Russell on a short-term four-game deal for the start of the season in the hope Livingstone could join Renegades for a short stint following the Pakistan tour and prior to the SA20 getting underway.Related

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But Livingstone has opted to withdraw from the BBL entirely, leaving the competition without another overseas platinum player after David Willey also withdrew from the tournament.”We’re obviously disappointed that we won’t have Liam as part of our team this summer, but we understand his decision,” Renegades general manager James Rosengarten said.”Liam is a fantastic cricketer and there’s a reason we used our first pick in the draft to select him. Since then, his schedule has changed with added international duties and we wish him the best as he pushes for a Test debut.”We know Liam had been looking forward to working with our head coach, David Saker, and playing for our club. Hopefully, we can make that happen in the coming seasons.”We have been in regular communication with Liam and his management over the last couple of months, which has allowed us to execute a plan that is best for the Renegades for this season.”We’ve already secured Andre Russell for the first four matches and know the match-winning ability he will add to our team.”This news has allowed us to explore replacement options with greater availability beyond the first half of the tournament, and we look forward to being able to announce another big-name addition for the Renegades soon.”The news comes after it was revealed that Perth Scorchers’ overseas signing Laurie Evans had tested positive for a banned substance following a routine anti-doping test during this year’s Hundred, with the club announcing they had cancelled his deal.Australia star Glenn Maxwell is also likely to miss most of the BBL after breaking his leg in a freak accident on November 12.

South Africa, who had also shifted to Dubai ahead of the knockouts, will now fly back to Lahore for the second semi-final

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Mar-20252:32

Do India have an unfair advantage at the Champions Trophy?

India will face Australia in the first semi-final of the Champions Trophy in Dubai on Tuesday after they beat New Zealand by 44 runs in the final group-stage fixture at the same venue on Sunday. New Zealand, meanwhile, will travel to Lahore to meet South Africa in the second semi-final on Wednesday.Due to tangled scheduling, both Australia and South Africa had already flown to Dubai, with an ICC official saying the decision had been taken to allow the side that plays the semi-final in Dubai (Australia in this case) on March 4 the maximum time to prepare for that contest. However, it means South Africa find themselves in the sub-optimal position of having flown from Pakistan to Dubai recently, only to return to Pakistan soon after.The tangled scheduling was a result of India not playing any of their games in Pakistan for the tournament, and they were supposed to play the semi-finals in Dubai, regardless of their standings in Group A. Such a scenario became all but inevitable after India refused to travel to Pakistan for the tournament, despite the country officially being the sole host of the tournament. The PCB had spent several months trying to get India to visit Pakistan, at one stage proposing hosting all their games in Lahore. However, the BCCI said the Indian government did not grant the team permission to play cricket in Lahore.Related

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• SA and Australia to travel to Dubai due to tangled Champions Trophy scheduling

• Varun takes five as India top group and set up Australia showdown

New Zealand are set to take an early-morning flight to Lahore from Dubai on Monday while South Africa will fly back to Pakistan later in the day after having spent around 36 hours in Dubai.”Yeah…we will leave [Dubai] at 12.30 or 1 o’clock,” New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said at the post-match presentation. “We get there and we can rest up and train and be ready to go.”While Rohit Sharma was pleased with India’s showing – they are the only team with three wins in as many games in the Champions Trophy – he turned his focus to the semi-final against Australia.”I think it [momentum] is very, very critical when you’re playing such a short tournament,” Rohit said after the win against New Zealand. “You try and possibly win every game that is in front of you and try and do everything right and while doing that, there are bound to be mistakes but as long as you correct them quickly, that is what matters. I thought the mistakes that we’ve been making from game one now, we tend to correct those mistakes and that is what is required.”It [semi-final] is going to be a good game and obviously we know Australia has a rich history of playing ICC tournaments well. We do understand that; it’s about what we want to do against the opposition and try and do that right. We’re all looking forward to that contest and hopefully we can stitch one [more win] towards us.”