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Afghanistan have named three uncapped players – opening batter Riaz Hassan, offspin allrounder Shams Ur Rahman and fast bowler Khalil Ahmed – in their 16-member squad for the one-off Test against New Zealand in Greater Noida, starting on September 9.In Rashid Khan’s injury-forced absence, Zahir Khan and Zia-ur-Rehman will lead the spin attack. Rashid had not played Afghanistan’s previous Test as well, against Ireland in February-March.Fast bowler Naveed Zadran, who picked up five wickets in the Test against Ireland, has been ruled out with a side strain. He has been advised to “rest for three-four weeks hoping that he gets better before the South Africa ODI series in the UAE”.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Naveed is one of the four players to miss out from the 20-member preliminary squad announced last month. The others are Gulbadin Naib, Fareed Ahmad and Yama Arab.Ikram Alikhil and Afsar Zazai will compete for the wicketkeeper’s position in the Hashmatullah Shahidi-led side.”The squad is finalised based on players’ performance in the preparation camp,” the ACB said. “It is worth mentioning that 19 players participated in the preparation camp for around ten days in Greater Noida and eventually, after consultation with the captain and coaching staff, the 16-member squad was finalised.”

Afghanistan squad for New Zealand Test

Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Abdul Malik, Riaz Hassan, Afsar Zazai (wk), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Bahir Shah, Shahidullah Kamal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Shams Ur Rahman, Zia-ur-Rehman, Zahir Khan, Qais Ahmad, Khalil Ahmad, Nijat Masood

Harry Came scored a maiden List A hundred as Derbyshire moved to the top of Group A in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup with a thumping nine-wicket victory over Middlesex at Derby.Derbyshire’s second win in the competition was set up by Came and Luis Reece, 88, who shared an opening stand of 216 off 202 balls. Came was unbeaten on 110 from 130 balls as Derbyshire reached their target of 267 with seven overs to spare to condemn Middlesex to a second defeat.Joe Cracknell top-scored for Middlesex with 56 but the loss of three wickets in 19 balls undermined them before Martin Anderrson, 46, and the lower order lifted the total to 267, with Daryn Dupavillon taking 3 for 47.After being put in, Middlesex had looked on course for a more substantial total until a middle-order collapse forced them to regroup in the second half of the innings. Sam Robson appeared set before Sam Conners found some late movement to have him caught behind for 32 off 28 balls in the 10th over.Cracknell struggled initially but a pulled six off Conners got him going although he was dropped at slip off Dupavillon on 33. England Under-19 fast bowler Harry Moore again impressed with his control and he got one to lift to have Nathan Fernandes caught behind in the 17th over.Cracknell reached his 50 from 74 balls by lifting Reece over midwicket for his fifth four and with Mark Stoneman starting confidently, Middlesex were well placed at 117 for 2. But Stoneman then flashed at a wide ball from Dupvaillon and Jack Davies skied a pull to deep midwicket before Cracknell missed a sweep at Samit Patel to reduce the visitors to 131 for 5.Andersson and Luke Hollman had to temper aggression with the need to get their side up to a competitive score and they worked the ball around to add 61 from 77 balls. The return of Moore broke the stand when Hollman cut him to point but Josh De Caires helped Anderrson push Middlesex towards 250.He put a dent in Patel’s figures by launching him over long off for six but the Derbyshire skipper responded by bowling Andersson as he made room to cut. De Caires made 23 from 19 balls before he pulled Zak Chappell to deep midwicket but Middlesex were back in the game.To have a chance of building on the recovery, they had to bowl well from the start but both Noah Cornwell and Blake Cullen conceded five wides in their opening overs. Reece climbed into Cullen’s second over, pulling him into the car park and whipping him over the ropes at long leg before driving the last ball past mid off for four.Ethan Bamber also gave away five wides in his first over and Reece and Came sailed along serenely at six an over with Middlesex struggling to contain them. Reece reached his 50 from 48 balls and Came brought up his half-century off 72 by pulling Cornwell for his sixth four.Stoneman rotated his bowlers to no avail as the openers did much as they pleased with Came straight driving Hollman for six in the 30th over. The stand was finally broken when Reece was lbw sweeping Hollman but Came reached his century off 116 balls as Derbyshire cruised home in the early evening sunshine.

Australia’s 24-run defeat against India in the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup 2024 means their semi-final chances now depend on the result of the last group game, between Bangladesh and Afghanistan. For Australia to qualify, Bangladesh need to beat Afghanistan, but by a margin of under 62 runs if they bat first (assuming a total of 140). If Bangladesh chase, they’ll need to get to 141 in at least 12.4 overs for Australia to finish with a higher run rate.That means Bangladesh, whose net run rate is currently languishing at -2.489, need a huge win on Monday night to surpass Australia’s -0.331. A win by 62 or more runs, and a chase of 141 in 12.3 overs or earlier, will push them to second place on the points table. (If they level the scores and then win with a six, they can push the chase to 13.1 overs.) If Afghanistan score 160, Bangladesh can stay ahead of Australia by chasing it down in 12.5 overs or sooner (if they score 161), or in 13.3 overs if they level scores and win with a six.For Afghanistan, the equation is much easier: a win will ensure second place in the group and a place in the semi-finals, while a defeat will knock them out. That’s because even with a Super Over defeat, their NRR will only improve to -0.433, which is still below Australia’s -0.331.The team which qualifies in second place in this group will take on South Africa, the Group 2 toppers, in Tarouba in a night game on Wednesday, while India will take on England in the second semi-finals in a day game on Thursday in Providence.

Bangladesh captain Litton Das has said the current crop of players were “almost ready” for the 2026 T20 World Cup after an improved fielding performance in the 2-1 series win against Ireland.Bangladesh have played 30 T20Is in 2025, the most for them in a year. The victory against Ireland was their fifth in T20I series this year after consecutive wins against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Netherlands and Afghanistan. They had lost to Pakistan and UAE before that streak, and West Indies after.Against Ireland, Bangladesh bounced back from 0-1 down to win the second and third T20Is. On Tuesday, they won by eight wickets and 38 balls to spare after an emphatic all-round display.Related

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“I wanted the team to win from pressure situations,” Litton said after the third T20I. “We couldn’t overcome the pressure in the first game but we fought back to win the series. There are many positive sides. We are not a good fielding unit, but we took some brilliant catches in this series. At least in the fielding department, we have shown improvement. After playing the most number of T20Is in a year, I think our players have become more mature.”The credit goes to all the players and coaching staff. Our team was ready since the Asia Cup. We have only used a certain number of players since then. I think we want these players to play their best cricket in the BPL, which we then expect them to replicate for the national team. I am not concerned about anyone’s performance, but about injuries. We will all pray that we remain safe in the next two months.”Litton said Bangladesh had experimented this year, to find their best combination for the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka in February. For instance, Bangladesh used all their opener options in the top four in the third T20I against Ireland, while also mixing up their spinners and fast bowlers.”We have conducted a lot of experiments. We made certain changes that were risky – like Fizz [Mustafizur Rahman] didn’t bowl the last over today,” Litton said. “[Mohammad] Saifuddin bowled the last over. I wanted to see what a player will do after not playing two matches. I think we tried almost everything in every aspect of the team. This bunch of players are almost ready for the next World Cup.”Bangladesh, however, do not have a settled middle order, with at least one position still up for grabs. They tried Jaker Ali, Nurul Hasan and Shamim Hossain in each of the three matches, though Shamim didn’t get to bat in the third game.”I am not too concerned about it [the No. 6 position],” Litton said. “Not everyone will get runs in every series. You saw [Towhid] Hridoy doing well in this series. I want them to score runs in the BPL, and then bring that to the World Cup.”Litton also said he had to rotate between three spinners in the XI, which means one of his “match-winners” ends up on the bench.”Mahedi [Hasan], Rishad [Hossain] and Nasum [Ahmed] are my match-winners, so I have to take a tough call when I have to pick [only] two spinners in the XI,” he said. “Sometimes, my performer has to sit out. They have accepted my decisions. They are good team-mates. It will keep happening in the future, but of course we explain to them [why we didn’t pick any of them].”

South African quick Anrich Nortje, who has not played any cricket since the IPL in May, will return to action in the CSA T20 Challenge this weekend. Nortje, who is no longer on a national contract, has been signed by the Durban-based team, the Dolphins, for this season’s T20 competition and is expected to play in their opener against the Tuskers at Kingsmead on Saturday.Nortje has now fully recovered from his latest injury setback, a stress reaction which made him unavailable for South Africa’s winter fixtures. Nortje was not named in the squad to play a T20 series in Zimbabwe or on white-ball tours to Australia and England. He last played for South Africa at the T20 World Cup final in June 2024.Since then, Nortje has come into consideration, and was even on the verge of a Test comeback last summer, but a fractured toe and then a back injury put paid to those thoughts. He missed out on the SA20, came back briefly at the IPL, where he played two matches for Kolkata Knight Riders, but did not play the MLC or any international cricket as he embarked on an extensive rehabilitation program.”From a personal perspective and a group perspective it’s going to be great to get back out on the park,” Nortje said in a statement issued by the Dolphins on Tuesday. “I’m always positive, always motivated, and excited but when you get towards the end of rehab, you want to get going because you know what is around the corner. So the last week or two have probably been more frustrating than the other months”The T20 Challenge runs from October 29 to November 30 and sees all eight Division 1 teams play each other once before an IPL-style Eliminator and two Qualifiers ahead of the final. That means Nortje could have a maximum of 10 matches over the next month albeit not for his home union, Eastern Province. Although Nortje has not indicated he is aiming for a national comeback, he could push for one if he stays fit and also has a good SA20, where he will play for Sunrisers Eastern Cape.”It’s always been about trying to see the positives and working towards a new goal of being better than I was before so I’m really happy where I am now and it’s all about getting out there and getting some games under my belt,” he said.The Dolphins reached the final of last year’s CSA T20 Challenge, where they lost to the Johannesburg-based Lions.

Harry Brook could be in line to replace Ollie Pope as Ben Stokes’ deputy in Australia this winter, after Brendon McCullum revealed that the identity of England’s Test vice-captain will be part of their pre-Ashes discussions this week.McCullum is set to fly home to New Zealand on Monday evening following the conclusion of England’s home international summer, after their final T20I against South Africa ended in a wash-out at Trent Bridge on Sunday. He is due to meet managing director Rob Key in London prior to his flight to discuss selection for the Australia tour, and though he anticipates picking the squad to wrestle back the urn after 10 years will be “pretty easy”, he admits there are important details to iron out.Undoubtedly, one of the trickier matters to broach will be the issue of the vice-captaincy. McCullum confirmed there has been no conversation with Pope yet, who was originally appointed to the role in 2023, and has led the team on five occasions, most recently in the fifth Test of the India series when Stokes was ruled out with a shoulder injury. However, Brook has emerged as an impressive option since being elevated to the limited-overs role at the start of the summer.”We will work on that one as well,” McCullum said, when asked if there would be a new vice-captain for the Ashes. “We will chat about that over the coming days, as we finalise our Ashes squad.”You’re always looking at things, right? Every time you get together with a series, you discuss things. I think it’s no secret that Harry Brook is emerging as a leader within English cricket, so that’s something we need to work out. But whatever happens, a great team man understands that just because you haven’t got a title, doesn’t stop you from being a leader.”McCullum has clearly been impressed at how Brook has operated in his new role. The pair have been working closely this summer since McCullum assumed control of the white-ball teams at the start of the year, with Brook stepping up as captain in March, when Jos Buttler resigned in the wake of the team’s early Champions Trophy exit.”I’ve enjoyed working with Brooky, I think he’s taken to the role really well, really quickly. Still a work in progress but he’s got a demanding schedule himself and we have to be aware of that as we move forward.”He’s got a good head on his shoulders, he’s well connected within the group. He keeps things very simple. We’ve got a really good relationship and I think that started well.”Pope, 27, has won three and lost two of his five matches in charge, which encompasses a 2-1 series win over Sri Lanka last summer. In that period, he has impressed teammates and staff with his leadership qualities, and emerged as a vital cog in the dressing room.Ollie Pope has led England in five Tests to date•Getty Images

The Surrey batter has also averaged 41.60 at No.3 during Stokes’ tenure. However, the emergence of Jacob Bethell has led to uncertainty as to whether Pope will start the Ashes in that position – and without the insulation of the vice-captaincy, that speculation is likely to grow.Bethell’s breakthrough 2024 was capped off when he averaged 52.00 away to New Zealand on his first Test assignment. And though he has had little game-time this summer, the 21-year-old was able to register his first professional hundred in the third ODI against South Africa. This week, he is set to become England men’s youngest-ever captain, leading a T20I tour of Ireland.”We’ll slow ourselves down a bit there,” McCullum said, when asked if Bethell could break into the XI for the first Ashes Test. “We’ll wait till we get down there before we start making those decisions.”McCullum suggested Pope will be considered England’s reserve wicketkeeper as cover for Jamie Smith. Similar considerations on alternates and the general make-up of the squad will be thrashed out in the coming days.A decision will also be made on back-up for England’s primary spinner Shoaib Bashir, with legspinning allrounder Rehan Ahmed, and left-arm orthodox options Liam Dawson and Jack Leach the candidates with Test experience.The touring party may also include seven fast bowlers to deal with the rigours of a five-match series, particularly given continued uncertainty over the fitness of Mark Wood. The Durham quick, who underwent left knee surgery in March, is unlikely to play any competitive cricket ahead of the first Test in Perth beginning on November 21.”I think it’s a pretty easy squad to pick really,” McCullum said.Jacob Bethell’s impact on debut in New Zealand makes him a strong candidate for the Ashes•AFP via Getty Images

“From our point of view, our very good back-up wicketkeeper is Ollie Pope, he’s done a great job for us in similar conditions in New Zealand. We know where we are at, probably the only one is the second spinner which we need to chat about to make sure we pick the person who will give us the greatest chance. It’s pretty settled.”We are also in the lucky position that, because of the schedule, we know that the Lions are going to be in Australia at the same time. A lot of the guys in that Lions set-up, if needed, will be playing cricket down there, up and running, and if needed can come across into the full squad anyway.”We don’t need too big a squad, but as we have prepared for over the last couple of years, we have a very settled group of batters, a cartel of fast bowlers, and Shoaib Bashir as our frontline spinner. He will give us the greatest opportunity with his bounce when required. We have a counter-attacking batsman at No 7 and a captain with the bit between his teeth and is super excited.”England are also set to employ their third seam bowling consultant of the year with Tim Southee unable to fulfill that duty due to a stint with Sharjah Warriors in the ILT20. James Anderson, who had previously held the role, is also unavailable.Related

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“Tim won’t be available for the Ashes,” McCullum confirmed. “There’s a couple of guys I’m talking to at the moment. Hopefully we will confirm one of those. They’re good names. It would be nice to add them.”Southee’s last engagement this year will be the white-ball series in New Zealand in October, which is also likely to feature members of the Ashes squad not involved in the ODI or T20I sides.The third ODI against the Blackcaps (November 1) in Wellington is just 12 days before the start of an England vs England Lions warm-up at Lilac Hill. Given the proximity of the tours, there is scope to use New Zealand as a pre-Australia base. The Lions are expected to be in Perth from the first week of November.”When it comes to this New Zealand tour, there is a chance we may bring one or two others in,” McCullum said, “to make sure that we we get their final bits of their preparation and the cherry ripe before Australia.”But we will also use the Lions set-up as well, to make sure we get some loading into some guys when we all meet together in Perth. We’ll finish our preparation with our warm-up game and look forward to it.”With McCullum taking Ireland off – assistant coaches Jeetan Patel and Marcus Trescothick will assume charge – he insists he will refresh before “welcoming the boys” back to New Zealand. While he promises to make them as comfortable as possible, with all the trappings his homeland has to offer, he is allowing himself to get excited about his maiden Ashes tour.”Ramp it up now, we’re ready to go,” he said. “I thought it would be exciting. We’re very keen to make sure that we treat every series in isolation and give it the respect and the focus it deserves, because the minute you get too far in front of yourself, you’re going to get your arse kicked. So we always deliberately try and do that. But now the Ashes is our next assignment in the Test team, so we can’t wait. It’s going to be awesome.”We try to do our best to insulate the environment, on good days and bad, from a lot of that noise and we know the noise is going to be extreme. But it doesn’t mean we’re not excited about that. It’s going to be a huge series and we go down there with the type of team that we want. We’ll give ourselves every chance against the very, very good Australian side in their own conditions. It’s going to be a ripper.”

As far as Sri Lanka are concerned, they are defending champions at this year’s Asia Cup. The case they are making is that the ODI version of the Asia Cup – which India last won in 2023 – is a different tournament entirely.The tournament alternates between the two white-ball formats based on which World Cup is around the corner. In 2023, it was the 50-over World Cup. In 2025, it is the T20 World Cup. And as far as the T20I version of the Asia Cup goes, Sri Lanka are the most-recent victors, having taken the title in 2022.”Mentally, the fact that we are defending champions is a really good thing,” Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka said ahead of his team’s first Asia Cup game, against Bangladesh on Saturday. “It was a lot of these players that played in that last tournament here [in UAE] as well. We know that because we are champions we can go far. The players are using that as motivation.”Related

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At home, both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh tend to play on slower tracks not especially suited to batting. But Asalanka expected the Abu Dhabi surface to be different.”When you’re rating these conditions with other venues in the UAE, I think Abu Dhabi is the best pitch for batters. Once the ball gets softer it’s much easier to bat here, and the outfield is very nice. Every batsman wants to play in Abu Dhabi.”Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are very familiar with each other, having played three T20Is, three ODIs and two Tests since the start of the year. Sri Lanka won the ODI and the Test series but Bangladesh took the T20I series.