Sooryavanshi had a stellar IPL for Rajasthan Royals, finishing top of the batting charts with 776 runs, including a hundred and five half-centuries.

The left-handed opener is in line to be picked for two T20 matches in Ireland, followed by five games in England.

He would be the youngest debutant for India in history.

“The manner in which 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashed bowling attacks in his first full IPL season, and the way in which he responded to match situations, have convinced the selectors that he needs to be given the opportunity to play T20Is,” Indian website ESPNcricinfo said.

Batting great Sachin Tendulkar played his first Test for India at 16 years and 205 days in 1989.

Sooryavanshi sweeps IPL awards – but is too young to drive prize

Sooryavanshi has also been included in a 30-member of probables for the Asian Games in September-October in Japan, Indian media says.

He was named most valuable player in the IPL, despite his team narrowly failing to reach the final.

He also scooped the Orange Cap for leading the batting charts, and named emerging player of the season, among other prizes.

The India T20 team is expecting a leadership change, with Suryakumar likely to be removed from the captaincy – nearly three months after he led the country to World Cup glory at home.

Suryakumar has struggled with the bat, scoring just 242 runs in nine World Cup innings, with his unbeaten 84 against the United States the only significant knock.

Playing for Mumbai Indians in the IPL, the 35-year-old managed only 270 runs in 13 innings at an average of 20.76. His team ended ninth in the 10-team table.

Indian media have predicted Suryakumar will lose his place in the T20 squad with insiders calling it a “tough call”.

Suryakumar is likely to be replaced by Shreyas Iyer, who last played a T20 for India in December 2023 but has been an IPL-winning captain.

He led Kolkata Knight Riders to the title in 2024 and then captained Punjab Kings to a runners-up finish in 2025 and into the play-offs this year.

Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma are also in contention for the captaincy, with selectors set to name the squad at the weekend in Mumbai.

Earlier, Kyle Jamieson grabbed five wickets as England were dismissed for 140 in rain-interrupted conditions, but Robinson (4-10) struck three times in his opening over to leave ​the visitors in trouble as England hit back after their batting collapse.

“I can’t really put it into words, it feels ​a bit surreal. Couldn’t have dreamt it to be honest. It’s just so good to be back,” ⁠Robinson told Sky.

Jamieson’s five-wicket haul sinks England

Put in to bat first, England debutant Emilio Gay, who had earlier represented Italy in ​white-ball cricket, edged Jamieson (5-62) to the first slip after scoring eight runs.

The rain forced players into an early lunch shortly after, with England ​at 24-1.

When the match resumed, Nathan Smith trapped England’s other opener Ben Duckett (19) leg before wicket, and seven deliveries later Will O’Rourke condemned Jacob Bethell to a similar fate. O’Rourke struck again in his next over as Joe Root departed after scoring just one run.

Jamieson, playing in a test match for the ​first time since February 2024 after a long battle with recurring lower back stress fractures, then outwitted Jamie Smith with a good-length ball that ​cut into the off stump.

England were at 55-5 with Harry Brook, dropped at backward point earlier by Devon Conway, trying to hold the other end. But ‌Brook was ⁠waging a lonely battle, as captain Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson fell to Jamieson in quick succession.

Brook’s resistance also ended when he tried to hit Nathan Smith for six, but was caught by Jamieson, departing for 56.

Shoaib Bashir (14) and an unbeaten Josh Tongue added 22 runs for the last wicket to get England to 140, a miserable start to the series.

Robinson strikes back

But soon after New Zealand’s innings ​started, it became clear that ​the pitch, acting even less ⁠predictably after multiple bouts of rain, would be just as difficult for the visitors.

Robinson trapped opener Conway leg before wicket for one, and two balls later Kane Williamson was caught by Gay at short ​leg. In the very next delivery, Robinson dismissed Rachin Ravindra, leaving New Zealand at 2-3.

Daryl Mitchell (12) ​was the next ⁠to fall to Robinson, as the ball pitched around off stump and cut through the batter’s defensive stance to hit the wickets.

New Zealand were reeling at 29-6 when Glenn Phillips (31 not out) and Nathan Smith stabilised the innings with an unbeaten 32-run partnership, before poor light conditions ⁠forced umpires ​to end the day’s play after only 59 overs between the two teams.

“I ​was just trying to wobble it and hit a full length. This pitch reacts better when you try to wobble it,” said Robinson.

“It was my day. Two of ​the decisions were umpire’s call, which sometimes doesn’t go your way.”

Shaheen grabbed 3-30 to bundle Australia out for 157 while Shadab added a fighting 29 not out to his two wickets, helping Pakistan to the target in 41.5 overs.

The win gave Pakistan a 2-1 series win – their third successive ODI series win over Australia - after they won the first match by five wickers in Rawalpindi.

Australia won the second by 41 runs, also in Lahore.

Left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann with a career best 3-38 – including Babar Azam’s wicket for top score of 40 – had given the visitors some hope for an unlikely win.

At 112-6, Pakistan were in a spot of bother but Shadab found an able partner in Abdul Samad as the duo added a match-winning 49 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket stand to seal the win.

Shadab’s second boundary sealed the win, while Samad’s 18 not out had one boundary.

Earlier, Shaheen was ably supported by Abrar Ahmed (2-19) and Shadab (2-28) as Australia’s innings folded in 42 overs after they won the toss and batted.

Spinners Abrar and Shadab built on Shaheen’s early strikes as Pakistan made a strong comeback after a disappointing loss in the second game.

Josh Inglis top-scored with a 71-ball 65 which included eight boundaries and a six, with Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey scoring 19 each and Adam Zampa making 10.

Shaheen had Matthew Short caught off the second ball of the match before Inglis added 46 for the second wicket with Labuschagne and another 52 for the third with Carey.

But Australia lost their last seven wickets for a meagre 38 runs with two run outs also hurting their innings.

Archer was a member of the Rajasthan Royals team beaten by Gujarat Titans in the IPL qualifier last Friday and is not with England for the first Test against the New Zealand at Lord’s, starting Thursday.

The 31-year-old is now in Barbados, the country of his birth, and will not return to England until after the first Test. The second Test at the Oval begins on June 17 and Archer could now miss that match as well.

Archer, however, still has an England central contract.

Former England captain Michael Atherton has labelled the situation incredibly frustrating, with Simon Doull, a former New Zealand paceman, branding the injury-prone express quick’s absence from the series opener “absolutely ludicrous”.

But Stokes, speaking to reporters at Lord’s on Wednesday said there were two sides to the story.

“I totally understand people’s frustrations around it, but there is another side to it,” he said.

“A lot of it has to do with the landscape of cricket and where it is at the moment.

“A lot of points people are making around Jof and that situation, are to do with the landscape when they were playing.

“But it’s completely different now. There’s opportunities for cricketers now that there was not 10, 15, 20 years ago.

“Yes, in an ideal situation it would be unbelievably great to have everyone who you want available at every single opportunity.

“That is not the way of cricket at the moment. There is so much more out there for players.”

Stokes said that no one should question Archer’s desire to play for his country.

“There is a situation where it could get messy and players like Jofra might not play for England again if you handle it in a different way, and that is not good for anyone,” he said.

“Jofra has shown that he’s committed and loves playing for England. Just because he’s not available for this first Test match does not change that.”

India will open the tour with ​the T20s in late October and ​early November quickly followed by the ⁠ODI series.

The first test takes place ​at Wellington’s Basin Reserve from November 19 ​to 23. The second test will be at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval from November 27 to December ​1.

“When it comes to cricket – it ​simply doesn’t get bigger than India and we’re determined ‌to ⁠deliver New Zealanders a tour like no other,” said New Zealand Cricket’s Glenn Critchley. “We’re expecting all of these games to ​sell out.”

Ellis’s best helps Australia shock Pakistan to level ODI series

After ​travelling ⁠to play four tests in Australia around the New Year, New ​Zealand will also host Sri ​Lanka ⁠in three ODIs, three T20s, and two tests in January and February, 2027.

The White ⁠Ferns ​women’s team will host ​Bangladesh for three T20s and three ODIs in December.

The 33-year-old fast bowler first played in the IPL in 2014 and has earned $1.9 million a year as captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad in the last three editions of the blockbuster Twenty20 tournament.

Next year, though, Australia play four tests in India in January and February, have a 150th anniversary test against England in Melbourne in March, and go on a full Ashes tour before the ODI World Cup in southern Africa in October and November.

“Something has got to give at some stage next year and it’s not going to be test matches or an ODI World Cup,” Cummins told the Sydney Morning Herald on Wednesday.

“I will make a call a lot closer and work with the franchise to see what makes sense.

Things can change. I’ve had a couple of injuries pop up, so I don’t really want to lock in anything.

“The priorities for me are always the test matches and that ODI World Cup. I dare say if I play all of India, I need some sort of break before a pretty gruelling Ashes series.”

Cummins played only the Adelaide Ashes test in the last home summer and skipped the T20 World Cup as he dealt with a nagging back injury.

With his fellow fast-bowling stalwarts Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc also deep into their 30s, Cummins said consideration would be given to resting them for part of the home series against New Zealand around the New Year.

“It’s possible. I think we’re fairly open-minded to anything, as we’ve seen over the last couple of years,” Cummins added.

“I see a world where we’re potentially winding some bowlers down, even say at the back end of an Indian series if they don’t look like they’re going to play, to give them an extra rest ahead of the Ashes.

“It’s going to be a big push the next 18 months or so, but I think we’ll look back on it hopefully and see it as one of the more rewarding periods of our career.”

Australia’s total of 231-9 in 50 overs had fighting half centuries from Josh Inglis and Cameron Green before Ellis grabbed 4-33 to leave Pakistan 190 all out in 44 overs.

Pakistan won the first match by five wickets in Rawalpindi which now sets up a series-deciding match, also in Lahore on Thursday.

With a host of top ODI players including skipper Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, Australia’s second string staged a remarkable comeback, countering Pakistan’s spin and batting with confidence.

Allrounder Shadab Khan played a lone hand for the home team with a resolute 104-ball 71 and was the last man out, stumped off a spinner Tanveer Sangha’s wide ball for Australian victory.

Ghazi Ghori made 37 with five boundaries.

Shadab hit three sixes and a boundary and repaired Pakistan’s faltering position of 6-78 with a 59-run stand with Arafat Minhas (33) and another 31 with Shaheen Shah Afridi (11).

But Ellis – whose previous best of 2-13 was against India in 2023 – dismissed Minhas leg-before to give Australia the gateway for victory.

Part-time spinner Matthew Short also took a career best 3-36.

Ideal start

Ellis gave Australia an ideal start by dismissing Maaz Sadaqat off the third ball of the innings for nought before getting the prized wicket of Babar Azam for 16.

Earlier, Green knocked a polished 92-ball 53 while Inglis scored a 74-ball 51 after the visitors were put in to bat by Pakistan.

The Green-Inglis duo lifted Australia from 51-3 with a sedate 51-run stand after Pakistan attacked with the spin as early as from the fifth over.

But it was pacer Shaheen who bowled opener Alex Carey with the first ball of the match before spinners Abrar Ahmed and Minhas struck once each, removing Short (15) and Marnus Labuschagne for five respectively.

Inglis hit five boundaries in his fifth ODI fifty before he was bowled by Minhas in the 27th over.

Minhas, who took five wickets on debut in Rawalpindi on Saturday, finished with 2-27.

Green added another invaluable 65 runs for the fifth wicket with Matthew Renshaw (43) before Abrar removed Green to push the visitors hard.

Green’s third ODI half century had a single boundary and two sixes.

Oliver Peake ensured Australia post a fighting total with a brisk 32-ball 31 inclusive of two sixes and a boundary.

The tournament will mark a major milestone for women’s cricket in Pakistan, which has increasingly hosted international cricket events in recent years.

Under the existing ICC arrangement between Pakistan and India, matches involving India during the tournament will be played at a neutral venue.

The ICC board approved the event as part of a series of decisions covering tournament scheduling, playing conditions and governance matters.

Among the key changes, the governing body approved a trial permitting the use of the pink ball in Test matches when both participating teams agree, a move aimed at reducing playing time lost to poor light.

The ICC also extended the innings break in Twenty20 Internationals to 15 minutes.

In women’s cricket, the ICC Women’s Champions Trophy 2027 was rescheduled and will now take place from February 14 to 28, 2027, instead of the previously planned June-July window.

The board further confirmed that the Emerging Nations Trophy 2026 will feature 10 teams, including five Full Members and five Associate Members.

To expand qualification opportunities, the ICC approved a new 16-team global qualifying tournament for the Men’s T20 World Cup.

On governance issues, the ICC suspended the membership of the Canada Cricket Board over what it described as serious breaches.

However, Canada’s national team will remain eligible to participate in ICC competitions.

The cricket body also announced that a two-member delegation will visit Bangladesh to review various matters, including the electoral process of the Bangladesh Cricket Board.

The delegation has already completed a similar visit to Sri Lanka.

Expressing concern over the rapid expansion of franchise cricket worldwide, the ICC Board decided to establish a committee to examine ways of balancing the international calendar with franchise-based leagues while preserving the existing structure of the game.

The red balls usually used in Tests are not easily visible in fading light, while white balls used in limited-overs matches have been found to be not durable enough for the longer format.

Pink balls are already used in day-night Tests played under lights.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a statement its executive board had approved the “trialling the use of a pink ball in Test matches, with prior agreement from both teams, to maximise play in case of anticipated bad light”.

The global cricketing body said it had also given approval for new “research on lighting technology for match officials and venues to reduce lost play due to poor light”.

“Our discussions… have reinforced the ICC’s commitment to governance, administration and the growth of cricket globally,” said council chief Jay Shah, following a meeting in India’s Ahmedabad.

The Indian batting sensation plundered 776 runs at an average of 48.50 and a punishing strike-rate of 237.30 in 16 matches.

On Sunday he was named most valuable player, despite his team Rajasthan Royals narrowly failing to reach the final, and he also scooped the Orange Cap for leading the batting charts.

He was also named emerging player of the season, among other prizes.

The boy wonder was gifted a car, a TATA Sierra SUV, which at top price comes in at 2.1 million rupees ($22,000).

His total prize money was over $57,000.

However, he won’t be able to get behind the wheel in the near future because the minimum driving age in India is 18.

“It feels good, but I’m feeling a little pressure because I’m here for an interview,” Sooryavanshi said on winning the awards.

“But yes, it’s a proud moment, it feels great, and I’ll try to do even better next season.”

Virat Kohli led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their second straight title after they beat Gujarat Titans in the final in Ahmedabad.

Player of the match Kohli was seen speaking to Sooryavanshi during the presentation ceremony well past midnight.

Sooryavanshi struck 97 and 96 in his final two innings of this edition of the IPL, adding to the growing clamour for him to earn a maiden call-up to the senior national team.

According to Indian media, Sooryavanshi has been included in a 30-member of probables for the Asian Games in September-October in Japan.

Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten ‌75 off 42 balls as Bengaluru chased down 156 to secure a five-wicket win over Gujarat Titans in Sunday’s final.

Zimbabwean Flower, who was appointed ahead of ​the 2024 season, has helped Bengaluru shake off the “nearly ​men” tag they acquired after finishing runners-up three times in ⁠the first 17 editions of the IPL.

“I’ve played five seasons ​of the IPL and he is one of the best coaches. ​The way he handles players, not only those who play,” Patidar told reporters.

“For him, the players who aren’t playing, the first-timers, he spends a lot of ​time with every individual. I don’t have words to express, but ​he’s the best coach I’ve played under.

“The (team) culture has changed. I don’t know ‌what ⁠it was before 2021. But from when I’ve come in, there have been a lot of changes in the mindset of players. The coaching staff treats every player equally - that’s a big change.”

Speaking ​at a press ​conference in the ⁠early hours of Monday, Patidar said Bengaluru had set their sights on becoming the first team ​to win three IPL titles in a row.

“It’s my ​birthday. ⁠There can’t be a better gift than this,” added Patidar, who turned 32 on Monday.

“The individual that I am, I always focus on ⁠living in ​the present. We have won back-to-back, ​we’ll celebrate but the focus will be how we can now do this three ​in a row.”

Bengaluru, who ‌ended a 17-season drought by winning their maiden IPL title last year, carried that momentum into this season and chased down 156 with ease in 18 overs.

Put into bat, Gujarat never found their footing against Bengaluru’s incisive bowling, losing their in-form openers in the ​powerplay and managing only 155-8 at a packed Narendra Modi Stadium awash in red in support of the ​defending champions.

Bengaluru made light work of the chase, cruising through without any real alarm ⁠as Kohli and Venkatesh Iyer (32 off 16) set the tone early, helping the team post 70-2 in the powerplay.

Kohli, ​famously dubbed the ‘chase master’, tore into the attack with an unbeaten 75 off 42 balls, including three sixes and ​nine fours, also bringing up his fastest IPL fifty to take his tally to 68 half-centuries and nine hundreds.

“Such is the demand of the sport today. You have these super young players pushing you all the time and asking you to ​change your game and up the ante,” said Kohli after being named player-of-the-match.

“It’s an exciting situation because ​it gives you something to improve on, something to work towards. And I just take a lot of pride in ‌getting better ⁠and just trying to figure out areas where I can improve.”

The 37-year-old shrugged off a brief setback when Rashid Khan struck twice in the same over and rebuilt the chase with Tim David, who made a crucial 24 off 17.

He also required medical attention on his right leg after the 12th over and had ​it heavily strapped, but ​showed no signs of ⁠slowing down thereafter as he steered Bengaluru home with a six off the last ball.

Gujarat lost their leading scorers Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan early to slump ​to 45-2 in the powerplay, and though Washington Sundar struck an unbeaten 50 off 37 ​deliveries, the effort ⁠lacked support as the innings never gained momentum.

“I think if we would have gotten close to 180-190, it would have been a good match,” said Gujarat captain Gill.

“We lost a couple of early wickets and then we ⁠kind of ​lost the momentum in the middle, couldn’t really get going.”

Bengaluru ​delivered a disciplined, miserly bowling performance, with none conceding more than 10 an over, as Rasikh Dar took three wickets while Bhuvneshwar Kumar ​and Josh Hazlewood claimed two each.

Minhas finished with 5-32 as an under-strength Australia were bowled out for 200 in 44.1 overs before Pakistan chased down the target in 42.3 overs for a memorable win in their 1,000 ODI.

Babar Azam notched a 94-ball 69 while Ghazi Ghori hit an impressive 92-ball 65 as Australia’s inexperienced spinners failed to match Pakistan slow bowlers on a dry spin-assisting Pindi Stadium pitch.

Azam and Ghori added 127 runs for the third wicket after Sahibzada Farhan (28) and Maaz Sadaqat (eight) fell with the score at 49.

Azam hit four boundaries and a six while Ghori’s knock had eight hits to the rope before both falling to pacer Nathan Ellis, but with just 16 to win that did not hurt Pakistan.

Minhas smashed a six to complete the victory.

Australia are missing a host of key players including regular skipper Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood alongside opener Travis Head.

Australia, sent in to bat, saw Matthew Renshaw hitting a career best 63-ball 61 and opener Matthew Short scoring a 76-ball 55 amidst a spin assault with eight wickets going to slow bowlers.

It was Abrar (2-44) who broke the opening stand of 34 with the wicket of Alex Carey for 19, before Minhas destroyed the batting with guile and accuracy.

Minhas had stand-in skipper Josh Inglis (13) and Marnus Labuschagne (nought) in his fourth over before getting Cameron Green for a third ball duck in his next.

At 68-4 Australia were in a spot of bother, but Short and Renshaw fought hard through a fifth wicket stand of 55 before Minhas broke the stand, getting Short stumped.

Abrar returned for his second spell to dismiss Renshaw while Arafat completed his five-wicket haul by Nathan Ellis for eight.

Short hit six boundaries in his fourth ODI half century while Renshaw’s knock had five boundaries and a six.

The remaining two matches are in Lahore on Tuesday and Thursday.

On Court Suzanne Lenglen, the Japanese star once again made an eye-catching entry, wearing a gold jacket and a voluminous gold train, an outfit, bracketed by pink tennis sneakers and a black sponsor’s visor.

She shed the outer layers to play in another variation of her gold tennis dress, which shone in the blazing sun of the fading Paris heatwave.

After the match, Osaka refused to reveal if she had more outfits lined up in her hotel room.

“I think it’s a surprise every time,” she said.

The No. 16 seed continued what is already her longest Roland Garros run.

“I was a lot calmer than in my first matches,” said Osaka, who has won the Australian and US Opens twice each.

“In a slam the further I get the calmer I am. It such an honour to be here. It’s the furthest I have ever been here.”

She will next face either women’s No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka or unseeded Australian Daria Kasatkina.

In a match dominated by the serve, Osaka gained the decisive break in the 10th game of the third set. 

Jovic, seeded 17, opened the game with a 162kph ace, but after that, faltered when Osaka returned, finding the net twice and then hitting long on the first match point.

The players exchanged breaks early in the first set and midway through the second before both went to tiebreaks.

Osaka edged the first. Jovic, 18, raced away to win in the second.

The 28-year-old Osaka said her serve had been crucial against her young opponent.

“I am really glad it was working,” said Osaka. “Against some players you need to put your serve in and she was very aggressive on my second serve.”

The televised announcement of the 26-man team contained few surprises.

As expected, Bayern Munich’s Davies is included in the squad, as are other prominent players like Jonathan David of Juventus.

“We really think this is our strongest group,” said coach Jesse Marsch. Injuries have plagued the Canada team, but a number of recovering players are included in the squad.

Much of the chatter around the announcement had been about Davies, who suffered a hamstring injury in the Champions League semi-final against Paris St Germain.

Marsch has said Davies would join the rest of the team in Edmonton on May 31, allowing time for his injury to heal. His team mates spent this week training in Charlotte, North Carolina. Davies has been training separately this week, Marsch said.

Salah heads Egypt World Cup squad, teen talent Abdel Karim earns call-Up

Marsch has struggled with his starting goalkeeper choice, acknowledging he feels “tormented” in picking between Maxime Crepeau of Orlando City and Dayne St. Clair of Inter Miami. His choice is not expected for a few days.

The two keepers are friends and joked about how they are handling the stress of the selection process.

“We’re gonna play rocks-paper-scissors,” about who gets to start, St. Clair said on the TSN TV broadcast.

Davies is an exception to the general anonymity of soccer players to most Canadians, who favour ice hockey, American-style football, basketball and baseball. The Bundesliga fullback is known to millions, gathering swarms of fans at the 2022 World Cup.

David also has a large following in Canada, particularly with its millions of citizens of Italian and Haitian descent.

One popular 2022 player is not in the squad: Junior Hoilett. The longtime squad member has slowed in his 36th year, and Marsch is known to emphasize speed.

Marsch, an American, is a prominent coach, having managed both Germany’s RB Leipzig in 2021 and England’s Leeds United in 2022-23, as well as winning numerous honours in the MLS, both as a coach and a player.

Marsch said he wished injuries were not the focus of questions about Canada’s prospects, saying the squad is the best Canada has ever had.

“Guys are getting healthy,” he said.

Soccer has become a much more popular spectator sport in Canada in recent years, with English and Spanish football leagues becoming widely followed, a national league forming and Major League Soccer seeing strong fan support.

Canada squad:

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau from Orlando City SC, Owen Goodman from Barnsley FC (on loan from Crystal Palace FC), and Dayne St. Clair from Inter Miami FC.

Defenders: Moise Bombito from OGC Nice, Derek Cornelius from Olympique de Marseille, Alphonso Davies from Bayern Munich,  Luc de Fougerolles from Fulham FC, Alistair Johnston from Celtic FC, Alfie Jones from Middlesbrough FC, Richie Laryea from Toronto FC, Niko Sigur from Hajduk Split and Joel Waterman from Chicago Fire FC.

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed from Norwich City FC, Tajon Buchanan from Villarreal CF, Mathieu Choiniere from LAFC, Stephen Eustaquio from FC Porto, Marcelo Flores from Tigres UANL, Ismael Kone from U.S. Sassuolo Calcio, Liam Millar from Hull City FC, Jonathan Osorio from Toronto FC, Nathan Saliba from R.S.C. Anderlecht and Jacob Shaffelburg from LAFC.

Forwards: Jonathan David from Juventus FC, Promise David from Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, Cyle Larin from RCD Mallorca, and Tani Oluwaseyi from Villarreal CF.

The tourists won by an innings and 79 runs after putting aside their early struggles with the bat to secure a sizeable victory in the one-off test, with Blundell top-scoring with 186 runs during a 217-run partnership with Rachin Ravindra.

“We were put under pressure on that first day - to be four down reasonably early with not many on the board,” said Latham after seeing his side fall to 86 for 4 inside the opening 23 overs.

“The introduction of Tom absorbed quite a lot of pressure, and be able to put it back on them and form a really good partnership, over 200.”

New Zealand finished their first innings on 490 for 8 declared before bowling Ireland out for 179 in their first stint at the crease, with Smith claiming six wickets for 40 runs as the visitors enforced the follow-on.

The Irish could amass only a further 232 runs in their second innings to leave the New Zealanders comfortable winners before the first of their three tests against the English throughout June.

“A really pleasing performance,” said Latham. “We spoke as a batting unit of getting 400-plus in the first innings, and to get what we did and to push towards the back end to give us a chance to bowl before lunch.

“Nothing can replicate time on the park and backing days up, so it was a really good test match for us. We’ll take a little bit of confidence from that into what we’ve got coming up in a couple of weeks. But really pleased.”

Sooryavanshi delivered a fiery knock of 96 off 47, which was laced with eight fours and seven sixes, but Rajasthan’s campaign came to an end as they suffered a seven-wicket defeat by Gujarat Titans in the second qualifier on Friday.

Sooryavanshi, 15, has been a standout this year and leads the IPL scoring charts with 776 runs from 16 matches, while also having broken Chris Gayle’s record for most sixes in a season.

“The guy, at 15 years old, he’s very mature, he reads the game really well, he reads situations well, and he’s got no fear,” Sangakkara told reporters after Rajasthan’s defeat.

Teen Sooryavanshi stars as Rajasthan knock out Hyderabad to stay alive in IPL

“We are very, very proud of the season that he’s had, and we just want to make sure that he keeps going, keeps that intent, keeps that no fear attitude, and keeps growing. I think he’s going to be even better as the years go by.”

Sooryavanshi’s performances have earned him a call-up to the developmental India A squad, with many tipping him for a spot in the senior Twenty20 International side.

Asked if he was ready to play for India, Sangakkara said: “You never know if anyone’s ready until they play them.

“With everything Vaibhav has shown against some of the best bowlers in the world, I think he’s more than ready to take on any challenge that you throw at him.

“And I’m sure that he’ll get that call-up very, very soon. He’s back with a lot of maturity. He shouldered the responsibility of that opening partnership so well for us this season.”

Following their win over Rajasthan, Gujarat take on holders Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL final on Sunday in Ahmedabad.

Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub assumed majority ownership and commercial control of the 10-overs-a-side competition last week, transitioning the league - launched in 2017 by Shaji Ul Mulk - into a government-owned and managed tournament.

Boucher said the move was aimed at creating long-term stability for teams and restoring confidence in a league that had faced concerns over financial practices and integrity in previous seasons.

“The new licence from the Emirates Cricket Board empowers us to offer new 10-year licences to a selection of existing teams and a suite of new international franchise partners,” Boucher told Reuters.

“We’re currently in detailed conversations with some existing Abu Dhabi T10 teams regarding the future and we will soon launch a global invitation to new teams.”

The eight-team tournament has seen frequent franchise turnover, with 18 different teams involved over nine seasons, reflecting instability under the previous model.

With sponsorship value estimated at $512 million, the new structure aims to provide financial certainty, with each franchise guaranteed a share of central revenue.

“On the financial model, each franchise will receive a guaranteed share of the Central Pool Income annually for years one to 10, giving owners a foundation of revenue certainty,” he said.

WAGE ISSUES

The league has previously faced criticism over delayed and unpaid wages, with players and officials often registering complaints about the governance.

A 2020 report by the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations said some players and coaches were still owed up to half their salaries from the 2019 season months after it ended.

Integrity also came under scrutiny, with players banned for spot-fixing in 2021 and several individuals charged in 2023 over attempts to manipulate matches during the 2021 edition.

In 2024, ICC anti-corruption officials warned of a high risk of corruption in the Abu Dhabi T10, with further bans imposed on players.

“The real focus is on much stronger player governance and player welfare - together with the respective global governing bodies who oversee this,” Boucher said, adding that strengthening oversight would be central to the league’s overhaul.

Changes to squad composition have also been introduced, with teams now limited to two direct signings - an icon and one platinum player - and the remaining squad selected through a draft, replacing earlier systems that allowed multiple pre-signings.

The 2026 edition features one icon, two platinum players, including one from the draft, three each across categories A, B and C - ranked according to international stature and salary - along with UAE and associate players, with nine overseas and at least two UAE players required in the playing 11.

Boucher also welcomed the growth of cricket across the Middle East, including emerging competitions in neighbouring countries.

“Cricket in the Middle East has really taken off in the last 10 years, with the UAE leading the way,” he said.

“If our neighbours are now entering this cricketing ecosystem, and developing their own products, then that’s fantastic for our residential populations and for our governing bodies.”

The tournament is scheduled to run from November 7 to 20.

The 33-year-old suffered a calf tear playing in ​the domestic Women’s One-Day Cup in April ​and was ruled out of England’s series against New ⁠Zealand and India this month.

England face Australia and India ​in World Cup warm-up games before beginning their campaign ​against Sri Lanka on June 12 in Birmingham.

“Everything is sort of going to plan as far as it can do ​at the moment,” Sciver-Brunt said on a BBC podcast ​on Thursday.

“It’s been really frustrating watching from the sidelines and not ‌being ⁠able to help and feel like I’m missing out a little bit … I’m batting, but I haven’t been bowling yet, that’s to come.

Sooryavanshi a once-in-a-lifetime talent, says Hyderabad assistant Franklin

“All of the plans ​that we’ve been ​putting together ⁠to get me back on track is ending with that first game in ​mind. We’ve got a couple of warm-up ​games ⁠beforehand to practise my skills in as well. It’s going to plan thus far.”

England have not won the T20 ⁠World ​Cup since the inaugural edition ​in 2009. The 2026 edition runs from June 12 to July 5.

The 15-year-old also broke Chris Gayle’s record for most sixes in an IPL season, taking his tally to 65 in the match ​and surpassing the former West Indies captain’s 59 set in 2012.

Sooryavanshi’s ​performance helped Rajasthan secure a 47-run win that kept their hopes ⁠of reaching the final alive, and Franklin said his potential was frightening.“I ​don’t think anyone’s ever seen a talent like this. It’s freakish what he’s ​doing at the moment,” he told reporters. “To think that he’s potentially got 25 years left in the career, it’s quite scary.

“He’s only going to get better, stronger and ​more mature with how he bats. So, it’s just devastating at the ​moment.”

The season’s leading run-scorer struck 12 sixes in his innings, including three in a row ‌off ⁠Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins, but fell short of Gayle’s mark for the fastest IPL century (30 balls).

Teen Sooryavanshi stars as Rajasthan knock out Hyderabad to stay alive in IPL

Sooryavanshi, who last year hit the first ball he faced of his IPL career for a six aged 14 and later became ​the youngest player ​to score a ⁠Twenty20 hundred, has amassed 680 runs this season at a strike rate of 242.85.

“There’s a very small margin where ​you could bowl to him,” Franklin said.

“He’s an amazing ​talent that ⁠he can start playing around with it (bowling variations) and then start to cause the bowlers to have to go to other places, which tend to then ⁠go ​back into his strength.”

Rajasthan will play Gujarat ​Titans in the second qualifier on Friday, with the winner advancing to Sunday’s final against defending ​champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Chasing 244, Hyderabad fumbled in front ‌of an incisive Rajasthan attack and were bowled out for 196 in 19.2 overs at a sparsely filled New PCA Stadium, ending their campaign on a disappointing note.

Put into bat, Sooryavanshi tore into the Hyderabad attack from ​the outset, with the 15-year-old smashing a 16-ball half-century and surpassing Chris Gayle’s ​long-standing record for most sixes in a season.

He has now hit 65 ⁠sixes, eclipsing Gayle’s 59 in 2012.

Opening alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sooryavanshi drove Rajasthan’s charge as the ​pair raced to 80 without loss in the powerplay, leaving the Hyderabad bowlers struggling for ​control.

Sooryavanshi, the season’s leading run-scorer, went on to hammer 97 off 29 balls, including five fours and 12 sixes, but fell short of breaking Gayle’s fastest IPL century record of 30 balls.

Sooryavanshi miscued an upper cut ​to deep third, leaving him visibly dejected after the dismissal as Smaran Ravichandran completed ​the catch.

“I thought about it (the hundred) after I got out. At that time I was just focusing on ‌contributing ⁠as much as I can,” Sooryavanshi said after being named player of the match.

“Hundreds will come but the goal is to ensure how we win trophies.”

Following the teen’s dismissal, Dhruv Jurel (50 off 21) and captain Riyan Parag (26 off 12) tried to elevate the innings but Hyderabad’s ​bowlers soon stemmed the ​run flow.

They conceded ⁠just 36 runs while taking five wickets in the final five overs, though Rajasthan still posted a formidable total.

Ishan Kishan and Travis Head ​attempted to set the tempo for Hyderabad, but scoreboard pressure told ​as they slumped ⁠to 71-4 in the powerplay, with Jofra Archer leading the charge.

Archer returned figures of 3-58, while Ravindra Jadeja, Nandre Burger and Sushant Mishra took two wickets each.

“We stayed on the right ⁠track for ​most of the innings; just lost probably a couple ​too many wickets at the wrong time, so it was always going to be tough,” said Hyderabad captain Pat ​Cummins.

Rajasthan will play Gujarat Titans in qualifier two on Friday.

The 27-year-old spinner was advised to cut down on long-format cricket to manage workload as he plays in several Twenty20 franchise leagues.

Unfit opener Ibrahim Zadran will also miss the Test, which is scheduled for June 6-10 in New Chandigarh.

Hashmatullah Shahidi will lead the Test side as well as in three one-day internationals that follow, which will be played in Dharamsala (June 13), Lucknow (June 17) and Chennai (June 20).

Nangyal Kharoti, Bilal Sami and Rahmanullah Zadran were selected for a Test for the first time while leg-spinner Qais Ahmad made a return to the side.

Since gaining Test status in 2017, Afghanistan have played only one against India, in 2018.

Test squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Abdul Malik, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmanullah Zadran, Afsar Zazai, Ikram Alikhil, Azmatullah Omarzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Nangyal Kharoti, Qais Ahmad, Bilal Sami, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Saleem Safi

ODI squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, AM Ghazanfar, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Fareed Malik, Bilal Sami

Dhananjaya de Silva was retained as Test captain, while Kamindu Mendis was appointed vice-captain across all three formats.

Sri Lanka’s squad leaves for the West Indies on Tuesday, their first tour there in five years. They will play two Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is, the cricket board said on Monday.

Selectors included two uncapped players – Pasindu Sooriyabandara, 26, and 29-year-old Isitha Wijesundara – in the 17-member Test squad.

The tour begins with the first ODI on June 3, followed by matches on June 6 and 8 at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica.

The first Test will be played from June 25 and the second will start on July 3, both at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

The three T20Is will be played between June 11 and 14.

Sri Lanka drew the two-Test series on their previous West Indies tour in 2021, but lost all three ODIs.

Test squad: Dhananjaya de Silva (captain), Kamindu Mendis (vice-captain), Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Dinesh Chandimal, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Sonal Dinusha, Kusal Mendis, Milan Rathnayake, Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Isitha Wijesundara and Kasun Rajitha.

ODI squad: Kusal Mendis (captain), Kamindu Mendis (vice-captain), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Pavan Rathnayake, Janith Liyanage, Charith Asalanka, Milan Rathnayake, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando and Pramod Madushan.

T20 squad: Kusal Mendis (captain), Kamindu Mendis (vice-captain), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Lasith Croospulle, Pavan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka, Milan Rathnayake, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka, Eshan Malinga, Binura Fernando and Nuwan Thushara.

The players clashed during the T20 match between Head’s Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Friday.

Heated words were exchanged between the two before Kohli was dismissed for 15 and his team slumped to a 55-run defeat.

As the two sets of players lined up for the post-game handshakes, Kohli ignored Head’s outstretched arm but shook hands with the other players.

The Instagram accounts for Head and Jessica have since been flooded with abusive comments, apparently from fans of the former India captain.

Jessica told The Advertiser newspaper that her friends and family had also received hateful private messages.

Kohli refuses handshake with Head after heated verbal spat during IPL clash

“I woke up to my socials blasting… we are fine but they are attacking my friends and family,” she said Monday, according to the reports.

“Passion will always be part of sport, but so is remembering there are real people and families behind the game.

“Hopefully this encourages more kindness, and support for one another.”

She also said it felt like “a repeat of the abuse that happened after the World Cup”, referring to the 2023 50-over tournament when Australia beat hosts India in the final in Ahmedabad.

There are 22 years between the 37-year-old Kohli, who helped power defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru to the top of the regular season standings, and teenage prodigy Sooryavanshi whose batting fireworks have been the talk of the IPL season.

Kohli and Bengaluru will meet Gujarat Titans in the first “qualifying” play-off in Dharamsala on Tuesday with the winner going straight into Sunday’s final in Ahmedabad.

Sooryavanshi and Rajasthan Royals sealed the final play-off berth only on Sunday and will meet Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday in Chandigarh, where the losers will go home.

The winner will face the loser of Tuesday’s qualifying playoff in the final eliminator on Friday in Chandigarh.

“We don’t pick age, we pick ability,” Rajasthan head coach Kumar Sangakkara said, referring to the 15-year-old rising star.

“All guys, young and old, have done well to drag us to qualification.”

England fast bowler Jofra Archer has also been instrumental in Rajasthan’s campaign, scoring 32 runs and taking 3-17 in the win that saw them into the last four.

Kohli, who has stepped away from Test cricket and T20 internationals, is chasing a second straight IPL title with Bengaluru after waiting 18 seasons to lift his first in 2025.

“Even after all these years, it is the love for the game. I just love hitting the ball in the middle of the bat. That joy is still there,” said Kohli, who is ninth on the IPL batting chart with 557 runs and a top score of 105 not out.

Sooryavanshi is fifth on 583 runs with and a best of 103 off 37 balls.

Rajasthan’s opponents on Wednesday will be Sunrisers Hyderabad, who boast a formidable batting line-up featuring openers Travis Head of Australia, Abhishek Sharma and South African Heinrich Klaasen, who has hammered 606 runs with six half-centuries.

The batting chart is topped by Gujarat Titans openers Sai Sudharsan (638 runs) and Shubman Gill (616).

Gujarat won the IPL in their debut season in 2022 and if they reach the final again will play the showpiece in their home 130,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

The 10-team league has staged 70 matches over seven intense weeks of action but has seen a drop in its television audience, with BARC India and TAM Sports reporting average viewership down 26 percent.

But analysts have attributed the TV decline to a shift toward streaming on digital platforms rather than waning interest across cricket-obsessed India.

Iyer’s unbeaten knock of 101, featuring 11 fours and five sixes, guided his team over the finish line ​in their final league stage match on Saturday, with the ​win snapping a six-game losing streak for Punjab.

“In these matches ⁠you want your best players to stand up,” Haddin said.

“These are the ​matches you want to play where everything is on the line. The ​captain for the last couple of days had that look in his eye. He wanted to be the one that made the difference and turned things around ​and gave us an opportunity to play in the finals.

“You’d go a ​long way to see a better innings and a better captain’s knock than that… ‌He’s ⁠a tremendous leader of men. He reads the game well. The changing room follows him. He speaks with purpose.”

Punjab, fourth in the IPL standings, had a strong start to their season and won six of their ​opening seven games, ​but their form ⁠tailed off in recent weeks.

They occupy the last qualifying spot for the playoffs, but will need other results ​to go their way on Sunday if they are ​to ⁠progress.

India’s Iyer taken to hospital after fielding injury

“We just had to find some rhythm back in our game. There’s a lot of scenarios now that can play out,” former Australia batter Haddin ⁠said.

“It ​was important, we had to win the ​game. We had to play this game the way we did tonight under pressure to give ​ourselves an opportunity.”

The two exchanged heated words when Kohli opened for Bengaluru, looking to chase down a daunting target of 256. During the exchange, a visibly angry Kohli was seen gesturing towards Head to come and bowl.

Kohli also mockingly made the “impact player” substitution gesture, a reference to Head, who is primarily a batter, often being replaced by Hyderabad for a specialist bowler after the Australian finishes batting.

‘Captain’s dream’: Hyderabad’s Cummins hails fellow quicks after Bengaluru win

Head did not have much time to take Kohli up on his invite, as the Bengaluru opener fell soon after, scoring 15 off 11 balls. The Australian, however, bowled an over later in the game and dismissed Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar.

As the teams lined up to shake hands after the match, Head held out his hand but Kohli looked straight ahead and walked past him.

Friday’s win left third-placed Hyderabad on equal points with Bengaluru, but Kohli’s side remained top of the table with a superior net run rate. Both teams have qualified for the IPL playoffs starting Wednesday.

On Friday, Hyderabad racked up a total of 255-4 thanks to Ishan Kishan’s knock of 79 (46) before Hussain and Malinga took three key wickets to slow down Bengaluru’s chase.

Hussain and Malinga have bagged a combined 34 wickets in the IPL this season, while Cummins, who missed part of the campaign due to a lumbar bone stress injury, has eight wickets in seven matches.

“They’ve been fantastic. I’ve actually learned a lot of from those guys as well,” Australia’s Cummins said.

“Eshan Malinga has been the form bowler and he’s mixing up different things. And of course, you know, Sakib there as well. So a captain’s dream.”

Veteran Pandey adding value to Kolkata’s IPL campaign, says Watson

Hyderabad head coach Daniel Vettori said the performance of their bowling unit was a key factor in helping them overcome a poor start to the season.

“Those three fast bowlers have been exceptional,” he added,

“We have had contributions from Harsh Dubey, from Shivang (Kumar), from Nitish (Kumar Reddy), from (Praful) Hinge, that have allowed us to come back from losing three of our first four games.

“And then to win eight out of the next 12 is a real credit to them. We anticipated our batting unit doing what they did, and then for the bowlers to compliment them is the reason we’re in the position we are now.”

Despite the heavy defeat, Bengaluru finished the league stage atop the standings and will take on second-placed Gujarat Titans in the first playoff match on Tuesday, while Hyderabad play in the eliminator on Wednesday.

Gujarat, who won the title in their 2022 debut season, posted nine wins from 14 matches ​and trail only Royal Challengers Bangalore in the table.

Rashid said ​there was no danger of them getting carried away.

“You can’t ⁠really say we are a very perfect team or we ​are 100% perfect and we will win each and every game,” he ​told reporters.

“We just keep things simple. Whoever the opposition is, the focus is on how we can be more impactful and take responsibility when the opportunity comes ​in the middle.”

After setting Chennai to chase 230, Gujarat delivered a ​dominant bowling display with Rashid and pacers Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada each claiming ‌three ⁠wickets to bowl out the visitors for 140 in 13.4 overs.

Their bowlers have been central to Gujarat’s success this season, with Siraj, Rabada and Rashid all among the top seven wicket-takers. Rabada is the ​joint highest wicket-taker ​with 24 alongside ⁠Royal Challengers Bengaluru pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

“The bowling attack we have, especially the fast bowling unit, has done ​a really great job throughout the tournament,” said Rashid.

“The ​main thing ⁠for us is that we adjust ourselves to the conditions very quickly.”

Gujarat’s openers have also played a key role, with Shubman Gill and Sai ⁠Sudharsan ​topping the run charts. Sudharsan has scored ​638 runs in 14 matches, while Gill has amassed 616 in 13.

The IPL playoffs ​begin on Tuesday.

Chasing 147, Kolkata found themselves in a difficult spot at 54-3 before Pandey’s knock of 45 from 33 balls brought some much-needed stability and set ​up a victory which kept his side’s playoff hopes alive.

“This is ​the best I’ve seen him bat over the last few ⁠years,” Watson told reporters.

“He adds so much value. He’s obviously a ​super experienced guy. He’s an amazing fielder. He adds so much energy ​to our group, whether it’s off the field, on the field, around the group.

“Those types of people, you give anything to be able to have them in your ​squad, let alone then out in the middle when we’re chasing a ​challenging total on that pitch.”

Pandey is one of just three players, along with Virat ‌Kohli ⁠and Rohit Sharma, to have played in every season of the IPL since it began in 2008.

Pandya docked match fees as Mumbai woes persist

“I’m not sure how he’s doing it,” the former Australia all-rounder added.

“I know when I was at his age, I ​certainly was moving ​nothing like he’s ⁠moving in the field. He’s still incredibly fit.

“It seems the way he’s looking after himself, his preparation coming ​into this tournament as well, shows that he’s still ​got a ⁠number of years of really good cricket in front of him.”

Kolkata, who are sixth in the standings, play Delhi Capitals in their final league-stage game ⁠on ​Sunday.

The three-times IPL champions have an outside ​shot of qualifying for the play-offs, but need to beat Delhi and have other results go ​in their favour.