January 2025 - News Digest

January 30

Shapoor Zadran retires from international cricket

Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran has called time on his international career. The tall left-arm pacer, who shot to fame during the 2015 ODI World Cup, hasn't played for Afghanistan since 2020. Shapoor's moment of reckoning in the 2015 ODI World Cup came during Afghanistan's iconic win over Scotland where he first shone with the ball and then had to do the finishing bits with the bat in a thrilling finale. He was also menacing through the tournament, impressing everyone with his pace and disconcerting bounce. The 37-year-old made the announcement through his Facebook page.

Afghanistan Women's team to be funded by MCC's Global Refugee Fund

The Global Refugee Fund, an initiative by the MCC, shall be funding the Afghanistan women's team amongst others in its efforts to promote unity and harmony across the globe using cricket as a tool. With Afghanistan banning the women's team, the players have been forced to move to other countries due to several reasons. The Global Refugee Fund's initial project will be to raise funds for Pitch Our Future, an initiative from Australia that focuses on supporting former players of the Afghanistan women's cricket team.

Christina Matthews inducted into Australian Cricket Hall of Fame

Former Australia vice captain Christina Matthews has been inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame. Matthews becomes the 65th inductee and follows Michael Clarke, who was inducted last week into the prestigious list.

Matthews played a record 20 Tests and 47 One Day Internationals for Australia from 1984-95 and was part of the the victorious 1988 and also the 1993 ODI World Cups.

After her playing career, Matthews served in various senior roles across the game including coaching and development, events, commercial operations and communications. In December 2024, she was elected as the President of The Australian Cricketers' Association, making history as the first female President.

January 24

Hasan Ali returns to Warwickshire for 2025 season

Pakistan pacer Hasan Ali will return to Warwickshire for a third straight season after signing a new deal. Having already played for Warwickshire in 2023 and 2024, Hasan will now be available to play all three formats in 2025.

The 30-year-old's new contract will see him being available from May 29, in time for the start of the T20 Blast campaign, until the end of September. He picked up 24 wickets in the Championship and nine in the T20 Blast in his maiden campaign. Last year, Hasan picked 10 wickets from the first five T20 games before an elbow injury ruled him out.

Following a surgery and rehab, Hasan is ready to return to action but isn't centrally contracted by the PCB and that has given Warwickshire assurances over his availability. "I said last year that Edgbaston felt like a second home to me... but it's becoming more like a first home now," Hasan said. "I love playing for Warwickshire, playing for the Bears fans. And I hope they see by the way I play how much I want to win for this Club. Last year was unlucky with the injury. I felt I was bowling well and taking plenty of wickets in the Blast. But I'm back bowling 100 per cent in training and focused on joining up with Warwickshire next season."

January 23

Lancashire sign Marcus Harris for 2025 season

Lancashire have bolstered their squad by signing Australian opener Marcus Harris for the 2025 season. Harris will be available to play the One-Day Cup and the County Championship to aid the club in their bid to get promoted to Division One following their relegation to the second division in 2024. The left-hander has played 14 Tests in total for Australia so far with the latest appearance coming at home during the 2021-22 Ashes.

Harris has been in good form in domestic cricket and was amongst the contenders to replace David Warner in the Australian Test squad. In this season's Sheffield Shield, the 32-year-old has made 445 runs at an average of 49.44. He has had successful spells in the Championship in recent years as well having played for Leicestershire and Gloucestershire previously. Harris will link up with England veteran James Anderson, who recently signed a deal to play the upcoming season.

"I am really excited by the opportunity to join Lancashire for the English summer and will give my all to help this great Club win promotion back to Division One of the County Championship," Harris said. "Emirates Old Trafford holds some special memories for me after we retained the Ashes there back in 2019 and I know that Nathan Lyon and Chris Green have both spoken so highly about their time at the Club. I have really enjoyed my time playing county cricket in England over the last few years and to start a new challenge with Lancashire is something which I am really looking forward to getting stuck into."

January 21

Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli to play Ranji Trophy

India captain Rohit Sharma will feature for Mumbai in the next round of Ranji Trophy fixture - against Jammu & Kashmir. This fixture begins on January 23.

Virat Kohli meanwhile, has made himself available for the subsequent fixture for Delhi - against Railways - from January 30.

January 19

Gerald Coetzee out of remainder of SA20

Gerald Coetzee has been ruled out of the remainder of the ongoing SA20, the Joburg Super Kings announced in a press release on Sunday (January 19). The 24-year-old fast bowler picked up a hamstring injury during the game against the Durban's Super Giants on January 14. He made only a solitary appearance in the third edition of the competition where he bagged two wickets.

"Proteas Men's fast bowler Gerald Coetzee, who will miss the remainder of the Betway SA20 due to a left hamstring strain, remains in contention for selection for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan," CSA said in a release. "Coetzee will be closely monitored by the Proteas medical team, with a decision on his inclusion to be made within the first week of February."

After a bright start to his career, for country and T20 franchises across the world, Coetzee has been plagued with injuries since the start of December when he was ruled out of the second Test against Sri Lanka and thereafter the all-format tour against Pakistan due to a groin injury. He also missed out on the Champions Trophy squad for South Africa earlier this week.

January 16

Ireland fined for slow over rate

Ireland have been fined for maintaining a slow over rate in the final ODI against India at Rajkot. After time allowances were taken into consideration, Ireland were found to be two overs short in what turned out to be a memorable game for India. As a result, the players were fined 10 percent of their match fee.

January 15

Australia's tour of Sri Lanka revised to add an extra ODI

Australia's tour of Sri Lanka will feature an additional ODI, the boards of the two countries decided. Originally, the itinerary involved two Tests at Galle and a solitary one-dayer on February 13 at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

The revision to add a second ODI is in keeping with the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 that will be played in the 50-over format in Pakistan and Dubai. While Sri Lanka didn't qualify for that eight-team event, Australia are likely to use that extra game as a tune-up to the event they last won in 2009.

Room for an additional ODI was made by advancing the first ODI to February 12, which is less than 48 hours after the scheduled end of the second Test, should it go all five days. The second ODI will be played two days later on February 14.

January 10

Anderson signs one-year contract with Lancashire

James Anderson has signed a one-year contract with his home County, Lancashire, and will be available to play in both the County Championship as well as the T20 Blast. The 42-year-old pacer, who has been associated with the club since 2001, signed the contract with Lancashire following the end of his central contract with the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Speaking about the news, Anderson said, "I am incredibly excited to sign this contract with Lancashire and resume playing professional cricket again next season. This Club has played a huge part in my life since I was a teenager, so to have the opportunity to wear the Red Rose again and help the side in both red and white ball cricket is one that I am really looking forward to.

"I have been working hard on keeping my fitness levels high and continuing to bowl regularly during my time as a coach with England throughout the winter, with the aim of being able to hit the ground running when the county season starts in April.

"I love playing at Emirates Old Trafford and to have the chance to walk out and bowl in front of our Members and supporters again this summer is going to be really special."

Warwickshire sign Webster

Warwickshire have signed Australian all-rounder Beau Webster for the 2025 season of English domestic cricket. He will be available for Warwickshire's County Championship games during the three-month spell and for Bears' during the T20 Blast North Group campaign.

He was also a mainstay of Gloucestershire's push to the 2024 Blast title, hitting 237 runs and claiming six wickets to help them secure a place in Finals Day. He is expected to make his debut at Headingley for the Championship clash with Yorkshire starting May 2.

"I'm really pleased to sign for the Bears for part of the 2025 season," said Webster, who could make his Warwickshire "Having played Birmingham League Cricket in the past, I have great memories of the people and the area. I played some Championship cricket last summer with Gloucestershire and loved the challenge of the competition."

January 11

Ireland's Maguire reported for suspect action

Aimee Maguire, Ireland's left-arm spinner, has been reported for a suspect bowling action during the first ODI against India in Rajkot. An ICC release stated: "The match officials' report, which was handed over to the Ireland team management, cited concerns about the legality of the 18-year-old's bowling action."

Maguire's action will now be tested according to the ICC protocols for suspect bowling actions. She can continue to bowl in international cricket until the results of her test are known.

January 10

Hales, Tamim in a heated exchange at BPL

Former England opener Alex Hales took a swipe at Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal for being personal, insisting it was 'pathetic' during their clash for their respective franchises in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League T20 tournament at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Thursday. Rangpur Riders' Hales was seen having heated exchange of words with Fortune Barishal skipper Tamim during the customary handshake following the game.

Rangpur were celebrating their miraculous victory and Tamim, who looked visibly upset, seemed to be charging toward Hales when Riders team director Shanian Taneem stepped in to pull him away while Mahedi Hasan was grabbing Hales to avoid confrontation the other side of the ground. It is learnt that a gesture made by Hales during their handshake angered Tamim which led to the heated argument, though Hales begs to differ.

"I don't know he (Tamim) was upset about something I am not sure may be because his team just lost he just asked.. we shook hands nothing was said when he asked me if I have something to say and say it to his face but I didn't say anything and then he was getting very personal," Hales was quoted by Channel 24 after the game.

"He was saying asking if I was embarrassed for getting banned for drugs for England and he was saying am I still taking drugs and he was very very rude and it's a real shame really because if anything happens on the field that just end on the field but to get personal and that after the game I think is pathetic to be honest," he said.

Hales, who scored 218 runs in six games at an average of 54.50 and strike rate of 155.71 in the BPL, left for Dubai following the game against Fortune Barishal to feature in the ILT20.

January 9

Glasgow, Fraser recalled for Bangladesh series

Jannillea Glasgow and Cherry Ann Fraser have been recalled to the West Indies' squad for the upcoming white-ball home series against Bangladesh. It will be Bangladesh's maiden tour of West Indies, which will include three ODIs and three T20Is. Meanwhile, veteran all-rounder Stefanie Taylor has been sidelined as she is still recovering from a knee injury.

While Glasgow played the last of her two T20Is in May against Pakistan, Fraser featured in her last T20I in June against Sri Lanka. She has, however, not featured in an ODI since October 2023.

West Indies squad: Hayley Matthews (captain), Shemaine Campbelle (vice-captain), Aaliyah Alleyne, Nerissa Crafton, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Cherry Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Jannillea Glasgow, Chinelle Henry, Zaida James, Qiana Joseph, Mandy Mangru, Ashmini Munisar, Karishma Ramharack

January 4

ICC formally sanctions European T20 Premier League

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has formally sanctioned the European T20 Premier League (ETPL), a new T20 franchise competition, which has taken shape following a partnership between Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands. The maiden edition of the ETPL will be held from July 15 to August 3, 2025. The T20 league will feature players from the three cricketing nations along with cricketers from around the world.

"We are delighted to confirm the ICC sanction of the ETPL and agreements are now in place across the joint venture partners. This is an important day in the development of the event, as it effectively fires the starting pistol on work around three important areas - franchise ownership, broadcast and the player draft," said Warren Deutrom, Chair of the interim working group.

"A formal launch event for the ETPL will be held in due course to unveil key franchise and fan information, including franchise ownership, names and brands - and details about the players draft, which has become a popular feature of many franchise tournaments.

"I would like to thank staff from Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland, Cricket Netherlands and our business partners who have been working tirelessly for the last year to bring this tournament to fruition.

"These are exciting times for cricket in Europe, and for local cricket fans, as we showcase some of the best cricket talent from Europe and around the world," added Deutrom.

January 3

Zimbabwe to host Ireland for multi-format series

Zimbabwe are set to welcome Ireland for an all-format series that includes a solitary Test, three ODIs and three T20Is. The development was revealed by Zimbabwe Cricket through their official press release. The tour kicks off in February this year with the one-off Test in Bulawayo before the caravan moves to Harare for the white-ball leg. All six limited-overs games will be played at the capital city. This will be the second successive all-format home series for Zimbabwe after the ongoing assignment against Afghanistan.

Jackson announces retirement from white-ball cricket

Saurashtra wicketkeeper-batter Sheldon Jackson has announced his retirement from white-ball cricket. Jackson scored 2792 runs in 86 List A matches, scoring nine centuries and 14 fifties. He also played 84 T20 matches, where he scored one 100 and 11 fifties. Jackson was also key to Saurashtra's Vijay Hazare Trophy 2022-23 victory.

"Sheldon has always been integral part of the game in all formats, "Niranjan Shah, former BCCI secretary said. "I have seen his passion and dedication to the game from his very young age. He has always craved for better performances and continued having remarkable achievements. Sheldon has been one of the standout performers in shorter formats of the game.

"Sheldon has consistently delivered strong performances in List A and T20 cricket, showcasing his ability to excel across different formats. I sincerely appreciate his valued contributions to White-Ball Cricket."

"I would like to extend my deep gratitude to Sheldon as he announced his retirement from white-ball Cricket. His dedication, hard work and exceptional performances over the years have made him a key player for Team Saurashtra," SCA President Jaydev Shah said.

"His commitment and passion of Cricket in each format has been true testament to the spirit of the Game. As he bid farewell to the White-Ball formats, his contributions shall continue to echo and keep inspiring countless budding cricketers."