Babar Azam was bought by Desert Vipers at the ILT20 2026/27 player auction held in Dubai on Thursday. The Pakistan batter joins a squad that already includes Andries Gous, Dan Lawrence, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman and Shimron Hetmyer. Imran Tahir went unsold in the auction.

Each franchise entered the auction with a purse of USD 1.3 million in addition to any remaining amount from USD 700,000 allocated for pre-signings. MI Emirates started with the largest purse at USD 1.39 million, followed by Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at USD 1.365 million. Dubai Capitals and Sharjah Warriors entered with the smallest purses at USD 1.3 million each.

Teams must spend at least USD 1.5 million and their squads must comprise a minimum of 18 and a maximum of 23 players. Over 400 players from 23 countries were registered for the auction, including T20 stars Faf du Plessis, Phil Salt and Liam Livingstone.

Australia have recalled Nic Maddinson for the first Test against South Africa after the 34-year-old recovered from testicular cancer. He was diagnosed in April 2025 and completed chemotherapy in July before receiving the all-clear to resume his career.

Maddinson made five Big Bash appearances last season and scored 126 for New South Wales against Victoria in the domestic one-day competition on Sunday. He played three Tests for Australia in late 2016, with his last appearance coming against Pakistan at the MCG.

Sam Harper was also added to the squad as cover for injured wicketkeeper Josh Inglis, who suffered a fractured right index finger. The first Test begins in Durban on October 9.

Afghanistan left Mohammad Nabi out of their T20I squad for the three-match series against Zimbabwe after he failed to impress with bat or ball in three T20Is against India last month. Nabi remains in the ODI squad for the tri-series in the UAE.

Rashid Khan and Ibrahim Zadran stay rested for the Tests against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. Rahmat Shah will captain the one-off Test against Bangladesh and the two Tests against Zimbabwe, while Ibrahim Zadran leads the ODIs and T20Is.

Uncapped all-rounder Abdullah Tarakhil and Mohammad Akram received T20I call-ups, and Ijaz Ahmadzai and Shahidullah Kamal returned to the T20I group.

The International Cricket Council introduced new playing conditions on Thursday that apply to all international series starting October 1 or later. The changes address time-wasting, standardise ball specifications and clarify fielding rules.

Batters who waste time will receive a warning for the first offence, a final warning for the second, and five penalty runs for the third and each subsequent offence. Tighter size and weight tolerances have been introduced for women's cricket balls, creating three distinct specifications for men's, women's and junior cricket.

Pink balls may be used in daytime Tests by mutual agreement to reduce lost time due to bad light. The final over of a day's play will no longer end automatically at the fall of a wicket if conditions allow the over to be completed.

The International Cricket Council introduced new playing conditions on Thursday that apply to all international series starting October 1 or later. The changes address time-wasting, standardise ball specifications and clarify fielding rules.

Batters who waste time will receive a warning for the first offence, a final warning for the second, and five penalty runs for the third and each subsequent offence. Tighter size and weight tolerances have been introduced for women's cricket balls, creating three distinct specifications for men's, women's and junior cricket.

Pink balls may be used in daytime Tests by mutual agreement to reduce lost time due to bad light. The final over of a day's play will no longer end automatically at the fall of a wicket if conditions allow the over to be completed.

Teams finished their squads in the Abu Dhabi T10 League player draft on Wednesday, with November 7 just weeks away. Naseem Shah went to Royal Desert Champions, Noor Ahmad to Emirates Eagles, and Muhammad Amir to UAE Bulls. Dasun Shanaka, Shadab Khan and Chris Jordan were among the other big names taken.

KS Bharat, the former India wicketkeeper, landed with Emirates Eagles and will line up alongside Alex Hales and Rovman Powell.

Australia A set India A a target of 365 after the third day of their four-day match. India A lost Sai Sudharsan a few minutes before stumps on day three and still need another 337 runs for victory.

Sudharsan had returned to the side after an injury layoff. Australia A had earlier fought back with a century from Sam Harper.

Australia have called up Victoria wicketkeeper Sam Harper as a replacement for Josh Inglis ahead of the three-match Test series against South Africa. Inglis suffered a fractured right index finger before the tour and will miss at least the first Test.

Harper arrived in Potchefstroom late on Friday after selectors moved quickly to add cover. The three-match series forms part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle and begins on October 9.

Cricket Australia confirmed the change follows medical assessments on Inglis. Harper will provide backup behind the stumps while the team finalises its playing XI for the opening match in Durban.

Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has questioned the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency over its shifting explanation for investigating him. The initial enquiry focused on betting and gambling in Pakistan cricket, but a letter sent on Wednesday cited provisions under PECA 2016 instead.

Rizwan's legal team has asked the agency to clarify which specific provisions apply and what evidence has prompted the investigation. The agency has not yet responded to the request for clarification.

The investigation comes at a time when Pakistan cricket is under increased scrutiny following recent spot-fixing allegations in domestic competitions.

The ICC announced new playing conditions on Thursday that introduce a five-run penalty for batters who repeatedly waste time. The rules apply to all international series starting October 1 or later.

A first offence draws a warning, a second offence a final warning, and a third offence triggers the five-run penalty to the fielding side. Tighter size and weight tolerances have been set for women's cricket balls, creating three separate specifications for men's, women's and junior cricket.

Pink balls may be used in daytime Tests if both teams agree before the match. The decision must apply for the entire Test and cannot be changed once play begins. The final over of a day's play will no longer end automatically at the fall of a wicket if conditions allow the over to be completed.

Wasim Jaffer sees no real friction between Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. On his YouTube channel he put their relationship on a level with the respect he felt among his own generation of players.

He traced the turning point to the 2013 Champions Trophy, when Rohit first opened the batting. That switch, Jaffer said, turned Sharma into a fixture in India's top three and changed the shape of his career.

Kohli struck his 55th ODI hundred in the opening match against West Indies. In the second, Rohit reached 12,000 ODI runs, the third Indian after Tendulkar and Kohli to get there.

The International Cricket Council introduced new playing conditions on Thursday that apply to all international series starting October 1 or later. The changes address time-wasting, standardise ball specifications and clarify fielding rules across men's, women's and junior cricket.

Batters who waste time will receive a warning for the first offence, a final warning for the second, and five penalty runs for the third and each subsequent offence. Tighter size and weight tolerances have been introduced for women's cricket balls, creating three distinct specifications for men's, women's and junior cricket. An overthrow is now defined as an attempt to direct the ball towards the stumps, removing ambiguity around misfields.

Pink balls may be used in daytime Tests by mutual agreement to reduce lost time due to bad light. The final over of a day's play will no longer end automatically at the fall of a wicket if conditions allow the over to be completed.

England have recalled leg-spinner Mason Crane to their ODI squad for the tri-series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, eight years after his solitary Test cap in Sydney. Crane replaces Rehan Ahmed as the back-up wrist-spinner after consistent performances for Glamorgan this summer.

Jos Buttler is unavailable after suffering a hamstring injury against Sri Lanka last month. Jordan Cox is expected to keep wicket in Buttler's absence following his 76 against Sri Lanka at The Oval. Jofra Archer has been rested for the series.

Adil Rashid and Sam Curran return after recovering from injuries. Three uncapped players - Mason Crane, James Coles and Henry Crocombe - are in the 16-player squad. England will play Pakistan and Sri Lanka twice each before a possible final.