Former England captain Ben Stokes is in talks with multiple Big Bash League franchises and could become the competition's highest-paid overseas player. Reports from Code Sports indicate the Sydney Sixers lead the bidding ahead of the 2026-27 season. The proposed deal is valued at approximately AUD 600,000.

Stokes retired from international cricket in June 2026 after England's series against New Zealand. He has since returned to Durham in county cricket and expressed interest in continuing across franchise competitions. The Sixers' pursuit is strengthened by the appointment of former England white-ball coach Matthew Mott, who worked with Stokes during the 2022 T20 World Cup.

Stokes previously played in the BBL for Melbourne Renegades in 2014-15. Scheduling remains a factor, with the SA20 beginning in January potentially clashing with a proposed Christmas break in England. An IPL return remains blocked until 2028 under current BCCI rules.

Manchester Super Giants defeated Sunrisers Leeds by 20 runs in the men's Hundred eliminator at The Kia Oval to reach the final. Paul Walter scored 80 off 46 balls, hitting eight sixes, as Super Giants posted 187. Sunrisers Leeds could not reach the target despite contributions from Harry Brook and Ryan Rickelton.

Super Giants will face Trent Rockets in the final. The result eliminates Sunrisers Leeds from the competition after they had posted 201 for four to beat Welsh Fire by 71 runs earlier in the week.

Mitch Marsh scored 50 off 34 balls in that match and added 89 for the first wicket with Rickelton before Brydon Carse took three for 24 to restrict Welsh Fire to 130 for six.

ICC chairman Jay Shah inaugurated the Tanzania Cricket Arena in Dodoma, the country's first ICC-approved cricket venue. The facility marks a milestone in cricket development across Tanzania and the broader African region. Shah congratulated Cricket Tanzania on establishing world-class infrastructure through collective efforts.

Shah described the venue as a landmark moment and noted it was an honour to officially open the facility. The arena represents sustained investment in growing the sport in a region where cricket infrastructure has historically been limited. Tanzania now joins other African nations with approved international-standard facilities.

The opening aligns with broader ICC initiatives to expand cricket's footprint beyond traditional markets and establish sustainable development pathways on the continent.

The inaugural European T20 Premier League will begin on August 26 with Rotterdam Dockers facing Amsterdam Flames. The six-team tournament will run for 26 days across Voorburg Cricket Club in the Netherlands and Malahide in Ireland.

Each team will play the others twice in a double round-robin format. The top side qualifies directly for the final while second and third meet in the qualifier. The first 15 league matches will be played at Voorburg before the tournament moves to Malahide.

Prominent international players including Steve Smith, Ravichandran Ashwin, Faf du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell, Heinrich Klaasen, Mitchell Marsh, Lungi Ngidi and Trent Boult will feature. Co-owners Jonty Rhodes, Steve Waugh, Rahul Dravid and Matthew Hayden attended the launch.

Bodugum Akhilesh Reddy has been banned from all forms of cricket for eight years by an ICC Anti-Corruption Tribunal. The tribunal found him guilty of match-fixing, soliciting fixes, and obstructing an investigation during the Abu Dhabi T10 tournament in 2025. The sanction was handed down on Sunday.

Reddy, a USA cricketer, faced charges related to his conduct in the T10 event. The violations included attempts to influence match outcomes and interference with the inquiry process. The eight-year ban is the full period requested by the anti-corruption unit.

The decision closes the case for the player. No appeal details were immediately available from the tribunal ruling. Reddy will remain ineligible until 2034.

Claire Taylor can still picture the 2009 Oval semifinal. Unbeaten on 76, everything she'd worked on — dominating attacks, building partnerships — came together in one innings. England won the T20 and ODI World Cups that year.

Fifteen years on, she sees a game she barely recognises. Full-time coaches, proper kit deals, access to the best grounds. Players don't have to choose between cricket and a roof over their heads.

Taylor made that choice herself. She left Procter & Gamble knowing there was no salary waiting on the other side. Years later she ran into old colleagues with mortgages and cars; she was still living with her parents. The gamble paid off in silverware, but the trade-off was real.

Sir Alastair Cook believes Joe Root isn't the long-term answer for England's Test captaincy, but he's confident Root can lead the side through the next year and prepare them for the home Ashes in 2027.

Root has been reappointed after Ben Stokes resigned. Cook, who captained England from 2010 to 2016, said Root looked refreshed and ready to take on the job again.

England host Australia in the 2027 Ashes.

Nottinghamshire have signed Pakistan white-ball international Tayyab Tahir on a short-term deal covering their next three One-Day Cup fixtures. The 28-year-old will join the county for matches against Warwickshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire.

Tahir has represented Pakistan in limited-overs cricket since his debut in 2023, and played in their recent white-ball series against New Zealand and Australia. His availability will hinge on national commitments during the English domestic season.

Nottinghamshire sit mid-table and need wins to reach the knockout stage.

Albie Morkel has been named head coach of Joburg Super Kings for the next SA20 season. The former South Africa all-rounder steps in after Stephen Fleming left to become England's Test head coach.

Gurjapneet Singh said Fleming and MS Dhoni made sure bowlers were used in roles that matched their strengths when he was at Chennai Super Kings. Fleming had already won five IPL titles with CSK before taking the England job.

Fleming won't be in charge for England's Pakistan series and will start preparing for the South Africa tour. Marcus Trescothick is handling the team in the meantime.

Rajat Patidar will lead Central Zone in the Duleep Trophy, with Rinku Singh as his deputy. The tournament starts later this month at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

Central Zone are the defending champions after beating South Zone in last year's final. Recent India debutants Harsh Dubey and Yash Thakur are also in the squad, along with Saransh Jain, who has been picked for the Sri Lanka Tests.

Patidar captains Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL. Saransh Jain is expected to miss early matches while with the national team.