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CA chief says approval has come through and players will join the league as scheduled

Andrew McGlashan25-Oct-2025Pakistan players with deals in the BBL have been given approval to join the competition after concerns they would be caught up in the PCB’s refusal to issue No Objection Certificates for overseas tournaments.In late September, the PCB’s chief operating officer Sumair Ahmad Syed sent a notice informing players and agents of the board’s decision to stop players joining T20 leagues. However, on Saturday, Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg confirmed the Pakistan players would arrive for the BBL as scheduled.”That came through last week,” Greenberg said. “So they’ll all be playing, they’ve all been cleared to play, which we’re really excited about because we’ve got some great Pakistan players in the BBL, so looking forward to seeing them here this summer.”Babar Azam (Sydney Sixers), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Brisbane Heat), Hasan Ali (Adelaide Strikers), Mohammad Rizwan (Melbourne Renegades), Haris Rauf (Melbourne Stars) and Shadab Khan (Sydney Thunder) are those with deals for the tournament that begins on December 14 and runs to January 25.An eagerly anticipated head-to-head are the contests between Babar and Shaheen which will take place on January 5 and 18. The Pakistan players will also come up against R Ashwin when they face Sydney Thunder, while he and Shadab will be in the same squad.Related

R Ashwin to play entire season of BBL with Sydney Thunder

PCB suspends player NOCs for overseas T20 leagues

Thunder’s signing of Ashwin was a significant moment for the BBL with the deal becoming season-long after he was not bought at the ILT20 auction. It has prompted talk of whether more Indian players later in their careers will follow Ashwin’s path of retiring to explore overseas opportunities, with Virat Kohli’s name naturally high on the list even though he has given few clues about his future.”Short, medium term I think it is realistic over time,” Greenberg said of whether more Indian players could join the league. “We’re going to keep the dialogue open. I think that Ravichandran Ashwin coming is a really important moment for the BBL and it will highlight the strength of bringing Indian players into the league. What that manifests over time I think is to be seen. Some of that will depend on whether we take private capital into the BBL which is an open conversation for us at the moment.Cricket Australia is currently exploring the potential of private investment in the BBL with Greenberg and chair Mike Baird hopeful of progress being made by the end of the year although there remains some uncertainty of the best path forward among some states.”We should have aspirations to make sure the very best players, both here in Australia and globally, can play in the BBL,” Greenberg said. “That costs money because players have leverage and opportunity to play all over the world. That’s one of the primary drivers [for] why we would consider bringing private capital into the BBL so that we can compete on the global stage. We’re a small domestic market here, but we’re competing globally and to do that we’ve got to be the best version of ourselves.”A critical extension of that is keeping hold of the best Australian players. A report in newspapers earlier this month said that Pat Cummins and Travis Head had turned down A$10 million offers to sign long-term deals with one of the IPL franchises which has teams around the world.Greenberg did not have significant concerns about the current group of senior Australia players walking away but said that it could develop into a major issue for the next generation.”I think it’s a realistic concern for everybody that players have leverage and choice to ply their trade all over the place,” he said. “But I’d say this, though, every player I talk to, priority A is to play for their country…so that’s a really important marker.”But, and there’s a big but here, the next generation is really what I’m focused on. It’s not this current crop that I’m as concerned about as the next generation of players. We’ve got to make sure we find ways for them to stay in Australian cricket, still generate central contracts, still want to play for their country in the same way generations have and this current generation does.”Greenberg was speaking as CA launched a new cricket format at community level for the summer, with the six-a-side Smash Series designed to be played within 60 minutes. The format is viewed as an introductory level to the sport, with six-a-side games, players batting in pairs and the use of different types of softer balls.

And were the 20 wickets that fell in Multan the most for the first day of a Test?

Steven Lynch28-Jan-2025Was Noman Ali’s hat-trick against West Indies the first for Pakistan in a Test? asked Nasir Ahmed from Pakistan
That hat-trick by slow left-armer Noman Ali, which reduced West Indies to 38 for 7 in the second Test in Multan, was the first by a Pakistan spinner in a men’s* Test, but it was their sixth overall. . (They also have one in a women’s Test, by legspinner Shaiza Khan, also against West Indies, in Karachi in March 2004.)The other men were all by quick bowlers: Wasim Akram took two in successive matches against Sri Lanka during the Asian Test Championship in 1999, and he was followed by Abdul Razzaq (2000), Mohammad Sami (2002) and Naseem Shah (2020). When he achieved the feat against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi, Naseem became the youngest to take a Test hat-trick; at 38, Noman is now the second-oldest (after Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath, who was a month senior against Australia in Galle in 2016). Here’s the list of hat-tricks in men’s Tests. Shaiza Khan’s is one of only three hat-tricks in women’s Tests.There were 20 wickets on the first day in Multan. Was this a record? asked Richard Arkwright from England
Twenty wickets on the first day of the second Test between Pakistan and West Indies in Multan was a new high for any Test in Asia, surpassing 18 on the first day between India and West Indies in Delhi in 1987. But it’s not the overall record: 25 wickets went down on the first day between Australia and England in Melbourne in 1902, and it’s only a year since 23 fell on the first day between South Africa and India in Cape Town last January.The most wickets on any day of a Test is 27, on the second day of the match between England and Australia at Lord’s in 1888.Which player was run-out while attempting to complete his 10,000th Test run? asked Ricky Dooley from Sri Lanka
The man who was run out one short was Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene, who was beaten by a throw from South Africa’s Jacques Kallis while trying for his 10,000th Test run in Centurion in 2011. He was, according to the ball-by-ball commentary, “less than a yard away from his 10,000th run”. Jayawardene got to five figures with his first scoring shot in the next Test, in Durban.This is a timely question, as Australia’s Steve Smith is currently sitting on 9999 Test runs after also being dismissed one short – caught in the gully rather than run-out – in the final Test against India in Sydney earlier this month. He’ll be looking to make it 10,000 in the Test that starts tomorrow in Galle.Andrew Flintoff was previously the youngest to score a century for England A or the Lions before being overtaken by his son, Rocky•Getty ImagesDid Rocky Flintoff become the youngest Englishman to score a first-class century the other day? asked Martin Hazell from England
Rocky Flintoff, who’s still three months short of his 17th birthday, scored 108 for England Lions in their four-day game against a Cricket Australia XI in Brisbane last week. Had it been a first-class match, he would indeed have become the youngest… but the teams were rotating 14 players, which means it doesn’t count as first-class. He does have another chance to take the record, in the unofficial A-team Test that starts in Sydney on January 30.Rocky’s century was apparently the youngest for England A or the Lions in any match, a record previously held by… his father Andrew Flintoff, who was 20 when he hit 104 for England A in a 50-over game against Kenya in Nairobi in 1998.And so the youngest Englishman to score a first-class century remains Shiv Thakor**, who was aged 17 years and 180 days when he made 134 on debut for Leicestershire against Loughborough MCCU at Grace Road in April 2011. Thank you for answering my question last week about Nos. 9, 10 and 11 top-scoring in a Test innings. But the three highest scores in West Indies’ first innings in the second Test against Pakistan also came from the last three. How often has your answer been made redundant in just three days?! asked Nadeem Moghal from the United States
I did notice, with some astonishment, that West Indies’ last three batters in Multan repeated their achievement in the first Test: No. 9, Gudakesh Motie, top-scored with 55; Jomel Warrican added 36 from No. 11; and Kemar Roach chipped in with 25 from No. 10: the next-highest score in the innings was 21 by the No. 4 Kavem Hodge (no one else reached double figures).This particular achievement did not happen at all in the first 2576 men’s Tests, but has now occurred in successive matches. I certainly didn’t expect last week’s answer to be out of date so quickly! However, even that wasn’t quite a record… during the 2011 World Cup, I was asked about batters who had scored ODI centuries on their birthday. There were three – but on the day the answer was published (March 8, 2011), Ross Taylor made it four with 131 not out for New Zealand against Pakistan in Pallekele on his 27th birthday.January 28, 2024, 15:08GMT
*The answer was amended to clarify that Noman Ali’s hat-trick was the first by a male Pakistan spinner.
** This answer was corrected after publishing.Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answers.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

Luis Reece shows why he is leading wicket-taker by claiming 4 for 67, while Anuj Dal finishes with 3 for 29

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay16-Sep-2025Derbyshire 17 for 0 trail Glamorgan 259 (Carlson 94, Reece 4-67, Dal 3-29) by 242 runs Kiran Carlson rescued Glamorgan on a hard-fought second day of the Rothesay County Championship match against promotion rivals Derbyshire at the Central Co-op County Ground.After high winds prevented any play on Monday, Derbyshire made up for lost time by reducing Glamorgan to 99 for 6 in helpful bowling conditions.But Carlson combined watchful defence with selective aggression to score 94 from 178 balls and shared a seventh wicket stand of 94 with Timm Van der Gugten who made 37 as the visitors recovered to 259.Luis Reece showed why he is the leading wicket-taker in Division Two by claiming 4 for 67 while Anuj Dal finished with 3 for 29 from 16 overs.Derbyshire, who need to win to have any chance of overtaking second-placed Glamorgan, closed on 17 without loss.After rain delayed the start by 30 minutes, Derbyshire’s decision to bowl first on a green pitch was quickly rewarded with Glamorgan’s openers falling in the space of seven balls.Reece claimed his 40th first-class wicket of the season when Asa Tribe played across the line in the fifth over and Zain Ul Hassan quickly followed, edging Ben Aitchison behind.There was plenty of assistance for the bowlers and Derbyshire exploited the conditions by bowling a challenging length to put pressure on the batters.Sam Northeast edged Reece just short of second slip before he had scored and with Carlson was starting to rebuild the innings until Zak Chappell claimed Derbyshire’s first bowling point.Chappell brought one in to trap Northeast lbw which brought in Colin Ingram who reached the milestone of 10,000 first-class runs before lunch.Glamorgan did well to go in at the interval only three down but they collapsed at the start of the afternoon session, losing three wickets in six overs.Reece found some inswing to get the ball between Ingram’s bat and pad before Dal struck twice in consecutive overs.Dal’s consistent off stump line forced Billy Root to steer to gully and when Chris Cooke edged his first ball to first slip, Glamorgan were in serious trouble.But not for the first time, Van der Gugten played a valuable innings to help Carlson guide the visitors towards respectability.He was solid in defence while Carlson became more expansive after reaching 50 from 120 balls.He twice pulled Rory Haydon for six and at tea, the pair had added 77 from 144 balls to take Glamorgan to 176 for 6.Carlson deserved what would have been a fourth hundred of the season but he was denied by a brilliant one handed catch at slip by Aitchison who plunged to his left to hold an edge off Dal.Aitchison then ended Van der Gugten’s stubborn innings by finding some lift to have him caught behind but Andy Gorvin and James Harris continued the lower order resistance.Derbyshire took the second new ball but the pair secured a batting point before Reece had Harris caught behind and the innings ended when Gorvin miscued to mid on.Reece then opened with former Glamorgan batter Aneurin Donald and they safely negotiated five overs to end an absorbing day 242 runs behind.

Shai Hope and Tagenarine Chanderpaul scored fifties, but no other batter made a big contribution as West Indies fell 64 behind in the first-innings exchanges

Hemant Brar03-Dec-2025

Jacob Duffy’s maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket gave New Zealand the upper hand on the second day of the first Test against West Indies in Christchurch. Matt Henry also chipped in with a three-for as West Indies folded for 167 in response to New Zealand’s first-innings total of 231. This despite New Zealand dropping four catches, three of those off Henry, and giving away 28 extras. For West Indies, Shai Hope and Tagenarine Chanderpaul scored half-centuries but only two others reached double-digits. At stumps, New Zealand were 32 for no loss in their second innings, extending their lead to 96.In the morning, West Indies needed only three balls to take the last New Zealand wicket, Zak Foulkes edging Jayden Seales down the leg side. But they themselves lost an early wicket as Foulkes struck with the first ball of the second over. Bowling around the wicket, he induced an outside edge from John Campbell, and Will Young took the catch diving to his left at third slip.However, a few overs later, Young dropped a much easier chance when Henry got Alick Athanaze to edge one. Henry wasn’t to be denied for long, though. In his next over, he got the ball to jag back in from around the wicket to make a mess of Athanaze’s stumps. All this while, the scoreboard moved at a snail’s pace. After 12 overs, West Indies were 10 for 2.Shai Hope batted in sunglasses because of an eye infection, and scored a half-century•AFP/Getty Images

Hope and Chanderpaul, though, hung around without worrying about the scoring rate. The first boundary of West Indies’ innings came in the 23rd over when Hope, batting in sunglasses because of an eye infection, drove Duffy through the covers. In the next over, he drove Nathan Smith through mid-on for another boundary.Chanderpaul, meanwhile, enjoyed his luck. He was dropped twice, on 5 and 24, both times by Devon Conway at leg slip, first off the bowling of Smith and then Henry.Hope brought up his fifty after lunch. With Chanderpaul also looking comfortable, New Zealand were forced to change their plan. Duffy went short against Hope and had him hopping around. Once a short leg was deployed, Hope’s problems increased. Eventually, he ended up gloving a short ball from around the wicket to Tom Latham, who was keeping in place of Tom Blundell. Blundell had hurt his hamstring while batting on the first day and didn’t take the field in the morning.New Zealand dropped four catches – here, Devon Conway reacts after giving Tagenarine Chanderpaul a reprieve•Getty Images

Once Duffy broke the 90-run stand, Henry returned to pick up two in one over. Bowling awayswingers just around off stump, he had Roston Chase and Justin Greaves caught behind for ducks, leaving West Indies on 106 for 5.It didn’t affect Chanderpaul, though. He carried on in his unhurried manner and brought up his half-century. He and Tevin Imlach added 34 for the sixth wicket, a stand that was broken when Conway finally held on to a catch. Chanderpaul pulled Foulkes aerially towards square leg, where Conway flung himself to his left, went with both hands, and landed with the ball in his left.Henry forced Kemar Roach’s outside edge soon after. The ball was going straight to first slip but Michael Bracewell dived across from second and spilled it.Soon, it became dark enough that only spinners were allowed to bowl. But after a short rain break, the sky brightened up again. When play resumed, Duffy did not take long to mop up the remaining four wickets. With the first ball after resumption, he had Imlach caught down the leg side. The batter reviewed the on-field decision only for replays to show he had gloved the bouncer. Johann Layne was caught and bowled in the same over. Duffy then went full and bowled Seales and Ojay Shields to complete his five-for.

Unai Emery hailed Morgan Rogers’ match-winning brace in Aston Villa’s 2-1 comeback win over Leeds – but warned the forward that his brilliance stemmed from being “hungry and angry” to deliver more goals. After a difficult start to the season, the England international erupted with a stunning performance that left his manager demanding even higher standards.

• Rogers bags spectacular brace in Aston Villa's Leeds win

  Aston Villa secured their sixth win in seven league matches as Rogers delivered a sensational brace to overturn an early Leeds lead at Elland Road. The 23-year-old equalised with an inventive near-post flick before stepping up again after the break to bury a superb free-kick, echoing Emi Buendia’s memorable strike against Bournemouth. His goals arrived at a crucial moment for a player who has been under scrutiny after a slow start to the 2025/26 season.

  Rogers had entered the campaign facing heightened expectations following last year’s breakout, but his form initially dipped as Aston Villa adjusted tactically and opposition sides paid closer attention to him. His brace against Leeds, though, represented a decisive resurgence, reaffirming his importance to Emery’s system.

  The Elland Road display came on the back of a confidence-boosting equaliser against Tottenham last month, suggesting Rogers is beginning to recover the sharpness that defined his 27-goal contributions last year. With Villa aiming for greater consistency in attack, the return of Rogers’ decisiveness could not have been better timed. His performance ensured Villa departed Leeds with momentum and renewed optimism.

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  Emery wants Rogers to remain 'angry'

  “Through numbers it is more brilliant and really relevant, his work today,” Emery said when speaking to reporters about Morgan. “His impact was positive with goals. Always he plays well. He does his task and he is versatile across different positions.

  “Maybe today he showed that he is angry to score. Being angry, he scored two goals, focusing on how he could get numbers. He did it, helping the team and for our victory today. He is a player who can get numbers. Last year he got double numbers for goals and assists. This year I think he will get this again.

  “He was playing fantastic before this match, not getting numbers, but helping the team. With those goals today, it’s more brilliant. I think Morgan is very important when he is scoring and when he is not scoring. He is working tactically, being versatile, and performing very consistently.”

  Asked what he meant by angry, Emery said: “Hungry and angry to score. Both. It is in this direction.”

• Emery opens up on Aston Villa's resurgence after poor start

  Emery continued on to talk about Aston Villa's overall performance: “Overall, I am happy with the team. Through our structure, tactically, we were disciplined and organised. We played with personality. Each player felt comfortable in their best position and getting confidence.”

  “There is still some work to do for some players, but how we are progressively getting better is really something I am proud of. I am very demanding in our way because now we are better in the table.”

  “My message is the same. We are not contenders for the top six or top four. We fought fantastic to be there or competing for those positions. Now we want to do the same.”

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  Aston Villa finally picking up form ahead of festive period

  Rogers’ brace sets up a pivotal stretch in which Villa will look to maintain their form heading into a tightly packed December schedule. First off, they will face off against Young Boys on Thursday, November 27. They will then face off against Wolves and Brighton before a crucial test against Arsenal at Villa Park.

  For Rogers, the challenge now is to turn a brilliant afternoon in Leeds into a sustained run of form after a testing start to the campaign. His underlying numbers have suggested a player close to finding rhythm, and the brace may prove the catalyst for an extended resurgence.

Veteran Brazilian defender Thiago Silva is wanted back at AC Milan, according to reports, with the Rossoneri looking to reunite the South American centre-half with his former Chelsea team-mate Christian Pulisic. Silva is now 41 years of age and back in his homeland with Fluminense, but he is not ready to retire just yet and could be lured back to European football.

• Thiago Silva won Champions League with Pulisic at Chelsea

  Silva headed home in the summer of 2024 when returning to his roots in Rio de Janeiro. He is now enjoying a third stint with Fluminense, having started out in their youth system and made over 140 appearances for the club between 2006 and 2008.

  It was that stint which earned the classy defender his first move to Italy. Milan bought into his potential and saw him grace over 100 matches for them – becoming a Serie A title winner in 2010-11.

  Silva was then lured away to France by the ambitious project at Paris Saint-Germain, spending eight years there before heading to Stamford Bridge in 2020. Champions League glory was savoured with Chelsea alongside USMNT star Pulisic.

  The United States international left west London for Milan in 2023, with Silva saying at the time: “He is a good boy and a fantastic player. Last year he didn't have a great chance to play with us. I don't know if he will go to Milan one hundred per cent, but if he were to go he would certainly do well.”

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  Milan want to sign an experienced defender in January

  Pulisic has starred for the Rossoneri, becoming a talismanic presence while posting personal bests in the goal scoring department. He would likely welcome the presence of another familiar face at San Siro.

  reports that Milan are looking into the possibility of bringing Silva back onto their books. They are said to be in the market for an experienced centre-half heading towards the January transfer window.

  They already have Matteo Gabbia, Strahinja Pavlovic, Fikayo Tomori, Koni De Winter and youngster Jan-Carlo Odogu to call upon, but want another proven operator to form part of that group. Milan missed out on Manchester City star Manuel Akanji, as he moved to Galatasaray, and versatile Liverpool defender Joe Gomez over the summer.

• Could Thiago Silva reunite with Allegri at San Siro?

  Reports in Italy claim that “the possibility of bringing back Thiago Silva, 13 years after his last appearance for Milan, is gaining traction”. He is considered to be the perfect option to add “leadership, stability and an immediate upgrade to the defensive unit” in Massimiliano Allegri’s squad.

  Silva worked with Allegri during his previous stint with the Rossoneri and has been showing no sign of slowing down in Brazil. He has made 41 appearances for Fluminense this season, scoring three goals, and impressed during a run to the semi-finals of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

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  Thiago Silva record: Appearances & trophy wins

  His contract is only due to run until the summer of 2026, with a man that earned 113 caps for Brazil previously stating that he wants to bow out at the top. That could mean hanging up his boots next summer, or embracing one last challenge.

  Silva has said: “This is the contract I have with Fluminense. In my mind, I was pretty certain about the decision to maybe stop. It’s not concrete yet, it’s just my thought. Because, as I said recently, recovery is very exhausting for me. Being away from my family for so long. I thought it would be easier. Honestly, I thought it would be easier and it’s not. It was our decision. Isabelle understood perfectly. My kids, a little less. We’re always together, but I mean physically. It’s very tiring for me.

  “I think every player would like to stop at their peak, still feeling good and delivering positive results. I wouldn’t want to stop at a moment when, suddenly, someone like Kaio Jorge easily gets past me, scores a goal, and we become a laughing stock. I intend to stop at a good level, performing well. That’s my thinking.”

  Whenever the day comes for Silva to bow out, he will do so having made over 860 appearances at club level while claiming Champions League, Serie A, Ligue 1 and Club World Cup titles – along with bronze and silver medals at the Olympic Games.