South Africa coach Shukri Conrad said he expects Kagiso Rabada to be available for the three-match Test series against Australia starting October 9 in Durban. Rabada has been sidelined with a right hamstring injury sustained during training in mid-August and will miss the ODI series.

Conrad said Rabada's rehabilitation is progressing well and a final decision on his availability would be made within days. The coach noted Rabada has taken 58 wickets in 11 Tests against Australia at an average of 21.39.

Conrad acknowledged that Rabada's presence would be significant but said the team had capable alternatives if needed. Gerald Coetzee, Corbin Bosch and Kwena Maphaka are likely to shoulder greater responsibility in the fast bowling department.

Former domestic cricketer Rachit Bhatia sits at the centre of a Tehelka undercover report that claims a fixing network is running through the Delhi Premiere League. The investigation says he acted as the go-between for a fake bookie and a Central Delhi Kings player, promising the playing XI for every one of their 10 matches.

The same report alleges Bhatia offered to arrange spot-fixing in both the IPL and the DPL, and that he made Rs 3 crore by passing inside information on five Chennai Super Kings matches in 2025. He played six first-class games for Nagaland, 70 runs and 13 wickets, before the allegations surfaced. No word yet from the BCCI or ICC on whether any formal inquiry has begun.

Mohammad Rizwan asked the PCB twice for permission to speak publicly about the NCCIA inquiry into alleged financial dealings and information leaks. Both requests were turned down, Geo News reported. The board pointed to the central-contract clause that requires prior approval for any statement on covered matters.

Rizwan wanted to lay out the sequence of events and his own position, not to criticise the board. His phone is still with investigators after forensic checks.

The PCB will decide on disciplinary steps once the NCCIA finishes examining Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq.

Tamil Nadu have handed the Ranji Trophy captaincy to left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore for the 2026-27 season. He will lead the side from the front in their opening fixture against Rajasthan at Jaipur starting 11 October.

C Andre Siddarth, 20, steps up as vice-captain after finishing last season with 409 runs, third-highest in the squad. Two uncapped pacers, RD Pranav Ragavendra and D Deepesh, also earn their first call-ups.

Wicketkeeper-batter B Sachin drops out of the squad as the selectors weigh up SR Athish and G Ajitesh for that slot.

India A take on Australia A in the first of two unofficial Tests at the Cricket Association Pondicherry Siechem Ground, starting Tuesday. Devdutt Padikkal leads India A after scoring two centuries against Sri Lanka last month, while Sai Sudharsan returns from injury to open the batting.

India A named Aman Mokhade, Ayush Pandey, Yash Rathod, Shaik Rasheed and Kumar Kushagra from domestic performances. Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian will handle spin duties. Australia A include Peter Handscomb, Todd Murphy and Jhye Richardson in their squad.

The series comes four months before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and provides an opportunity for emerging players to stake claims for Test selection. Both sides will use the matches to fill gaps ahead of the senior series.

R. Sai Kishore will lead Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy 2026-27 season. The TNCA senior selection committee has picked a 16-member squad for the opening fixture against Rajasthan in Jaipur from October 11 to 14.

C. Andre Siddarth, who will play his third season, has been named vice-captain. The 20-year-old was TN's third-highest run-scorer with 409 runs last term. Left-arm spinner S. Ajith Ram returns after missing last year due to injury, while pacers R.D. Pranav Ragavendra and D. Deepesh received their first call-ups.

Sunil Subramanian, chairman of the selection committee, said the two young pacers represent the future of the attack. On opener B. Sachin missing out, Subramanian said backup wicketkeeper S.R. Athish and G. Ajitesh's strong show in the practice match forced the decision.

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.