Former Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has welcomed the Pakistan Cricket Board's decision to award central contracts to Under-19 players for the first time. The PCB announced the decision on Monday after chairman Mohsin Naqvi met the Pakistan Under-19 squad following their 3-1 series win in England.

Hafeez called for greater financial support and professional opportunities for all 18 regional Under-19 players. Pakistan Under-19 head coach Shahid Anwar said the initiative would motivate young cricketers to perform at a higher level. Captain Farhan Yousuf praised the development camps held in Multan over the past two years.

The contracts are aimed at recognising performances and encouraging the development of young talent. Farhan said meeting Naqvi was an encouraging experience for him and his teammates.

South Africa's ODI series against Australia begins on September 24 in Durban. The absence of senior fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi due to hamstring injuries has created an opportunity for Marco Jansen to step into a more prominent role within the bowling unit.

Jansen, aged 26, has played 83 internationals across all formats. Speaking about the responsibility ahead, he said he is ready to lead from the front. His approach centres on creating a calm environment within the bowling group rather than imposing solutions.

Jansen emphasised the importance of timing when offering guidance to teammates. He believes in identifying the right moments to provide support and direction by asking simple, focused questions that help bowlers refocus on their plans.

Former India captain and chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar backs 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to crack the demands of all formats. Sooryavanshi, the highest run-getter in the 2026 IPL with 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30, has not received automatic selection in the playing XI.

India coach Gautam Gambhir stuck to the 2026 T20 World Cup winning opening combination of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson for the upcoming assignments. Sooryavanshi was made vice-captain of champions East Zone in the Duleep Trophy, scoring 92 and 40 against Central Zone and 44 and 8 against South Zone in the final.

Vengsarkar said he does not understand why there is an issue between white and red ball. He believes Sooryavanshi is an excellent player with excellent skills who is bound to keep improving because he is playing at the top level all the time.

Lancashire have parted ways with director of cricket performance Mark Chilton and director of women's cricket David Thorley as part of a performance restructure at Old Trafford. The moves come after a difficult 2026 season for both the men's and women's teams.

Chilton, a former Lancashire captain, had been in his current role since 2021 and part of the coaching staff since 2014. The men's team sit seventh in Division Two of the County Championship with one match remaining and could finish bottom. Thorley had led the women's side since 2020, overseeing the switch from regional to county structure, but the team finished bottom of the T20 Blast table and failed to reach the One-Day Cup knockouts in 2026.

Chief executive Daniel Gidney said the club needed to restructure to compete for trophies. Richard Kenyon will succeed Gidney as chief executive.

Lancashire director of cricket performance Mark Chilton will leave the club after more than two decades. David Thorley, director of women's cricket, is also departing as the county restructures behind the scenes.

Chilton, a former Lancashire captain, had been in his current role since 2021 and part of the coaching staff from 2014. The Red Rose are set for their lowest ever finish in the County Championship and sit seventh in Division Two with one match left.

Thorley held his post since 2020, overseeing the switch from a regional to a county set-up in the women's game. Lancashire won both the One-Day Cup and T20 County Cup in 2025 under his tenure but finished bottom of the T20 Blast table this season.

South Africa coach Shukri Conrad has provided an encouraging assessment of Kagiso Rabada's recovery from a right hamstring injury. Rabada sustained the injury during training in mid-August and was ruled out of the September ODI series against Australia.

Conrad said early signs from the medical team are positive and a final clearance decision will come within days. Rabada has taken 58 wickets at an average of 21.39 in 11 Tests against Australia, demonstrating his value in this particular matchup.

A final medical clearance decision is expected close to the end of September once Rabada completes several weeks of intensive treatment. Conrad acknowledged that while Rabada's presence would be significant, the team has capable alternatives ready to step up if needed.

MS Dhoni played a decisive role in Chennai Super Kings appointing Zaheer Khan as head coach for IPL 2027. The franchise wanted an Indian coach after parting ways with Stephen Fleming following 18 years in charge.

Dhoni recommended Zaheer after the cricket management committee, comprising owner Rupa Gurunath and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, agreed he fitted the role. Zaheer has previous IPL coaching experience with Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants. He received a one-year contract that is open to extension.

CSK managing director Kasi Viswanathan said the franchise wanted a coach who would focus solely on the IPL without ties to other global leagues. Zaheer has no such associations apart from co-owning Antwerp Anchors in the European T20 Premier League.

Chennai Super Kings named Zaheer Khan as head coach for the 2027 IPL season on Monday. The 47-year-old former India pacer replaces Stephen Fleming, who ended an 18-year association with the franchise after five IPL titles. Zaheer, CSK's first Indian head coach since Keppler Wessels in 2008, previously served as director of cricket operations at Mumbai Indians and mentored Lucknow Super Giants in 2024.

B Sai Sudharsan will open the batting for India A in the first unofficial Test against Australia A starting Tuesday in Puducherry. The vice-captain returns from a toe stress fracture that ruled him out of India's Test series in Sri Lanka.

Devdutt Padikkal took Sudharsan's place at number three and scored two centuries. Sudharsan opened during India A's tour of Sri Lanka in July, scoring 132 and 168, and will compete with Aman Mokhade for the reserve opener's spot ahead of the New Zealand tour.

Australia A include several Test hopefuls, among them openers Sam Konstas and Nathan McSweeney and spinner Todd Murphy. The series offers both teams preparation for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Mitchell Marsh will continue as Australia's captain for the first ODI against South Africa at Kingsmead on Thursday despite the arrival of official skipper Pat Cummins. Cummins has been rested to manage his workload ahead of the three-Test series that begins next month.

Marsh led Australia in a three-match ODI series in Zimbabwe last week, securing two comfortable wins and one last-ball victory. He said Cummins' main focus remains the Test group and that he is happy to lead in the 50-over matches until Cummins is available.

Cummins could return for one or both of the remaining ODIs in Johannesburg on Sunday and Potchefstroom next week. The series forms part of Australia's preparation for the 2027 World Cup co-hosted by South Africa.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has twice refused Mohammad Rizwan permission to make a public statement about the ongoing National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency inquiry, sources told Geo News on Monday. Rizwan wanted to address the seizure of his mobile phone after the Lord's Test against England and to share details of a letter he wrote to the ICC. Under his central contract he requires board approval before commenting on employment-related matters.

Rizwan's lawyer, Qazi Umair Ali, told the Lahore High Court that the player was questioned without notice at a hotel and that his phone was taken with an assurance it would be returned within three hours. The device has not yet been returned. Rizwan sought guidance from the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit on whether proper procedure was followed.

The inquiry concerns allegations of online betting and gambling, as well as possible leaks from the Pakistan dressing room during the England series. No final findings have been announced.