Zaheer Khan has joined Anchor Sports as co-owner of the Jaffna Kings following the previous owners' removal over alleged match-fixing.
Zaheer Khan is now co-owner of the Jaffna Kings with Stockholm-based Anchor Sports AB. The previous owners, Sports Commune, lost their rights after Sri Lanka Cricket terminated the franchise agreement two weeks ago.
Manjot Kalra and Mayank Goel co-owned Sports Commune. Kalra was arrested on July 16 on match-fixing allegations involving Sri Lankan players. Police have recorded phone calls and video evidence, but Kalra denies wrongdoing and no verdict has been reached.
Anchor Sports already runs the Antwerp Anchors in Belgium's European T20 Premier League and teams in Canada's Super60 League. Zaheer said the move matters because he admires Sri Lankan bowling talent. Jaffna have won four titles in the LPL's first five seasons.
Rashid Khan's six-wicket haul helped Afghanistan to a 92-run victory in the second ODI after Ireland were bowled out for 207 chasing 300.
Rashid Khan took six wickets as Afghanistan defeated Ireland by 92 runs in the second ODI of their five-match series at Bready on Friday. Ibrahim Zadran scored 84 as Afghanistan posted 299 before bowling Ireland out for 207. Ireland lost seven wickets for 63 runs during the chase. The opening ODI was washed out, ending Ireland's hopes of securing direct qualification for the 2027 ODI World Cup. The hosts must now go through the 10-team World Cup Qualifier, where only the winner advances directly to the main 12-team tournament. Gary Wilson is coaching Ireland in his first ODI in charge.
Sophie Devine and Danni Wyatt-Hodge have both been ruled out of the remainder of The Hundred with calf injuries, leaving their teams to adjust mid-tournament.
Welsh Fire captain Sophie Devine will miss the rest of the Hundred after straining her calf. Ireland all-rounder Orla Prendergast steps in, while Georgia Wareham takes the captaincy. Devine had made 130 runs in four innings at 43.33, striking at 164.55, and picked up three wickets.
MI London's Danni Wyatt-Hodge tore her left calf during a narrow loss to Southern Brave and is out for the remainder of the tournament. She had scored 93 runs in three innings at 46.50. Ella Claridge replaces her. MI London sit bottom with two points from four matches.
Flintoff left the England Lions role immediately after deciding his Big Bash League commitments and other work would prevent full dedication to the position.
Andrew Flintoff has resigned as England Lions head coach with immediate effect, citing commitments to his role with Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League along with television work and family obligations. The 48-year-old took charge of the second-string side in September 2024. Mike Yardy, the England Under-19 head coach, will lead the Professional County Club Select XI that faces Pakistan in a four-day warm-up match at Beckenham starting Wednesday. England opener Emilio Gay suffered a shoulder injury while batting for Durham in the One-Day Cup and is a doubt for the first Test against Pakistan at Headingley on August 19.
Chahal's four-wicket haul ended a spell in which he had taken only six wickets in four previous matches.
Yuzvendra Chahal claimed four for 60 in nine overs to help Northamptonshire defeat Lancashire by 67 runs in the One-Day Cup on Sunday. Chahal dismissed Marcus Harris, Arav Shetty, Jack Blatherwick and Ollie Sutton as Lancashire were bowled out for 280 while chasing 348.
Kuldeep Yadav took one for 55 from ten overs for Yorkshire but could not prevent a 35-run defeat to Middlesex. Yorkshire restricted Middlesex to 247 but fell short in their chase.
Ashutosh Sharma had a difficult outing for Hampshire against Durham, scoring a four-ball duck and conceding 13 runs in two wicketless overs during a nine-wicket loss.
Sri Lanka Cricket announced free entry for the two-Test series against India to boost attendance at the matches.
Sri Lanka Cricket has decided that fans won't pay to watch India play two Tests this month. Galle hosts the first from August 15, and the SSC in Colombo stages the second between August 23-27. The board made the call after years of empty stands, even when India toured. Crowds were thin again during the Lanka Premier League, so the hope is that free entry might pull people back.
Former South Africa all-rounder Albie Morkel was appointed head coach of Joburg Super Kings ahead of the upcoming SA20 League season. Morkel replaces Stephen Fleming, who stepped down from all Super Kings head-coaching roles and was named England men's Test team head coach. Morkel played one Test, 58 ODIs and 50 T20Is for South Africa between 2004 and 2015. He has been part of the Joburg backroom since the franchise's inception and also served as a T20 consultant with South Africa and Namibia. Rupa Gurunath, owner of Joburg Super Kings, said Morkel understands the Super Kings philosophy and has built strong relationships with players and staff. The fifth edition of SA20 starts on January 17, 2027.
Shubman Gill will miss day one of the warm-up match after injuring his right ring finger in practice.
Shubman Gill sat out the opening day of India's warm-up against Sri Lanka XI in Colombo. He took an impact blow to his right ring finger in the nets, then again during slip-catching drills. KL Rahul stepped in to lead the side. Sri Lanka XI won the toss and made 363 for 8, with Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Manav Suthar each picking up two wickets. The BCCI medical team is watching Gill's finger ahead of the first Test on August 15. India are already missing Jasprit Bumrah with a knee issue, and Auqib Nabi has come in for him. Washington Sundar and Sai Sudharsan are out too.
Sarfaraz Khan signals he has not given up on an India return after missing the Sri Lanka Test squad.
Sarfaraz Khan posted a cryptic Instagram message after India's selectors left him out of the two-Test series against Sri Lanka. His last appearance came in 2024 against New Zealand, where he made 171 runs across six innings.
He shared a movie still with the caption: "I may not fit in, but I'll fight with everything I've got." The 27-year-old hasn't played a Test since.
Shubman Gill missed the first day of the warm-up match after injuring his right ring finger in practice, leaving KL Rahul to lead the side.
John Turner ends his career after a stress fracture and recurring injuries cut short his progress.
England fast bowler John Turner has retired from professional cricket at the age of 25. Persistent injuries, including a stress fracture that sidelined him for over a year, prompted the decision.
Turner played two ODIs and two T20Is against the West Indies in 2024 and took 97 wickets in 53 matches across formats for Hampshire. He made his professional debut in the 2021 Royal London Cup.
Hampshire director of cricket Giles White said Turner had been a key part of the county's recent success, including four T20 Finals Day appearances.
Tendulkar's brand value stays at Rs 1,189 crore while Rahane calls him India's greatest cricketer.
Sachin Tendulkar still carries a brand value of Rs 1,189 crore, the Kroll India Celebrity Brand Valuation 2025 report shows. He's the only retired athlete who stays inside India's top ten celebrity brands.
Ajinkya Rahane made the call right after his own retirement. Tendulkar is the greatest Indian cricketer ever, Rahane said, pointing to the 24-year career, 200 Tests, and the run records that still stand. Those numbers read 15,921 Test runs, 18,426 ODI runs, and the most centuries in both formats.
Nissanka and Athapaththu headlined Sri Lanka's annual awards night for their performances across formats.
Pathum Nissanka and Chamari Athapaththu received Sri Lanka's top individual honours at the annual SLC awards ceremony. Nissanka scored 1,084 runs in 19 matches at an average of 54.20, including four centuries.
Athapaththu scored 436 runs and took 15 wickets across 15 matches in the 2024-25 season. Both players were also named best batter and best all-rounder in their respective T20I categories.
Kamil Mishara and Imesha Dulani were named emerging players of the year for men and women. Lifetime achievement awards went to Michael Tissera, Anura Tennekoon and two other recipients.
Travis Head retains Australia's highest individual honour after another prolific season across formats.
Travis Head won the 2026 Allan Border Medal on 1,437 runs across 30 matches. He beat teammate Alex Carey by a single vote, Mitchell Starc third.
The numbers came with a match-winning 123 in the first Ashes Test and a career-best 170 in Adelaide. Mitchell Starc took Shane Warne Men's Test Player of the Year after 57 wickets in 11 Tests.
Mitchell Marsh collected the ODI award; Tim David claimed the T20I prize on 395 runs, including Australia's fastest T20I century.
Ashwin said MI should demand Harshit Rana and Rinku Singh from KKR, arguing that only such a package would strengthen the five-time champions in any trade.
Ravichandran Ashwin said Mumbai Indians should only accept a trade involving Hardik Pandya with Kolkata Knight Riders if they receive Harshit Rana and Rinku Singh in return. That's the only way MI would strengthen their squad in any deal.
Ashwin warned that KKR would become a lethal batting lineup with Pandya added to their existing strength. He said MI must consider how much stronger CSK or KKR would become through any Hardik trade, given both franchises already have multiple IPL titles. MI can't afford to strengthen a direct rival without significant compensation.
Pandya scored 206 runs and took four wickets in 10 matches as Mumbai Indians finished ninth in IPL 2026. The 32-year-old hasn't played competitive cricket since the season ended, and speculation over his future has grown.
Hamza Nazar received a two-year ban after the PCB inquiry found he submitted misleading information in a visa application.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has suspended all-rounder Hamza Nazar for two years and fined him Rs 1 million. A three-member committee reviewed the evidence, gave him a chance to respond, and found he provided misleading information on a visa application. Hamza had been performing well on the domestic circuit and was reportedly in contention for Pakistan's two-Test tour of the West Indies. The PCB says misrepresentation and non-disclosure breach the standards expected from anyone associated with Pakistan cricket. The ban covers domestic and international cricket.
Ashwin believes Hardik Pandya's trade options are limited to CSK or KKR, with MI needing specific returns to strengthen their squad.
R Ashwin said Hardik Pandya won't be pursued by any franchise outside Chennai Super Kings or Kolkata Knight Riders if a trade deal happens. Ashwin added that Mumbai Indians should only accept a swap with KKR if they receive Harshit Rana and Rinku Singh in return. Hardik has been out of action since the conclusion of the IPL 2026 season.
Matt Kelly ends his career after a decade with Western Australia and the Perth Scorchers.
Matt Kelly won't bowl another ball for Western Australia or the Scorchers. The 31-year-old fast bowler is retiring after a decade, and recurring injuries made the decision for him.
He leaves with 87 Sheffield Shield wickets from 28 matches at 28.4, plus 47 BBL appearances that brought three titles. Australia A picked him and he earned an ODI call-up in 2023, but injury kept him out of the side for good.
India's spinners struck back in the final session to restrict Sri Lanka XI to 363 for 8 on the opening day of their three-day warm-up match.
India's spinners claimed four wickets in the final session to restrict Sri Lanka XI to 363 for 8 at stumps on the opening day of their three-day warm-up match in Colombo. Ravindu Rasantha top-scored with 71, while Nishan Madhushka added 66 and captain Sonal Dinusha contributed 52 as all three batters registered half-centuries. Ravindra Jadeja, Manav Suthar and Kuldeep Yadav shared the bowling honours, picking up two wickets each. Sri Lanka XI won the toss and batted first at the Nondescripts Cricket Club ground.
Vinay Kumar will become Karnataka's new head coach when the present term concludes.
Vinay Kumar will take charge as Karnataka's head coach after the current tenure ends. The appointment follows his successful stint as a domestic coach and his prior experience with the state side.
The 42-year-old former pacer played 105 first-class matches for Karnataka and represented India in one Test and one ODI. He has coached Karnataka's under-19 and under-23 sides in recent seasons.
Karnataka are currently placed third in the Ranji Trophy table with two matches remaining in the league phase.
Nirankar Sharma impressed with three for 21 on his TNPL debut for Dindigul Dragons despite the absence of key spinners Ashwin and Varun Chakravarthy.
Dindigul Dragons opened their Tamil Nadu Premier League campaign by beating iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans, and the man who made it happen was Nirankar Sharma. The 26-year-old leg-spinner, who left Madhya Pradesh for a shot at Tamil Nadu cricket, came up with three for 21 in his first match.
Ashwin is mentoring this year, not playing, and Varun Chakravarthy is out with a hamstring. Nirankar waited years for the chance and said the Dragons management, Ashwin and B Indrajith had all backed him. He called it the perfect debut and is picking up tips from Ashwin as he goes.
