74 m. ago Gillespie brands Pakistan successor Javed ‘a clown’ amid coaching row

Australian claims he and Gary Kirsten were underminedJaved’s interim role extended for tour of New ZealandThe former Pakistan Test coach Jason Gillespie labelled his successor Aaqib Javed a “clown” and accused the former fast bowler of undermining him and ex-white-ball coach Gary Kirsten in order to take charge of the national team across all formats.Gillespie’s comments were in reply to a social media post containing quotes from Javed a few days after hosts Pakistan had crashed out of the Champions Trophy without a win. Javed told reporters on Tuesday that Pakistan had changed 16 coaches and 26 selectors in around two years, and that any side would struggle in such circumstances. Continue reading...

Politics

20 h. ago Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra lead New Zealand into Champions Trophy final

The Black Caps piled the pressure on South Africa with a new tournament-record before securing a 50-run victory

Politics

21 h. ago New Zealand smash South Africa to set up Champions Trophy final with India

Lahore: NZ, 362-6, beat South Africa, 312-9, by 50 runsBlack Caps hit record score to book place in Dubai finalNew Zealand will take on India in the final of the Champions Trophy after centuries from Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson enabled them to outmuscle South Africa in their Lahore semi-final.The Black Caps piled on the pressure with a new tournament-record score of 362 for six, Ravindra with 108 and Williamson adding 102, and their bowlers finished the job in clinical fashion to seal a comfortable 50-run win. Continue reading...

Sport

21 h. ago New Zealand secure Champions Trophy final spot after beating South Africa

The Black Caps had piled the pressure on South Africa with a new tournament-record score of 362 for six.

Sport

22 h. ago New Zealand beat South Africa by 50 runs to reach ICC Champions Trophy final – as it happened

Centuries from Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson set up an ultimately comfortable win for New Zealand, whose captain, Mitchell Santner, bowled superblyOne of my favourite writers, Andrew Fidel Fernando of Cricinfo fame, has this to say on X:I hope, today, NZ and South Africa put on a semi final for the ages in Lahore. I hope it is a match the city will revel in. The cricket world is increasingly unkind, held to ransom by the lowest impulses of South Asian geopolitics, and now a near-slavish worship of commerce. Continue reading...

Sport

25 h. ago New Zealand set South Africa target of 362: ICC Champions Trophy semi

Live updates from 9am UK timeWhy not email Daniel with your thoughtsOne of my favourite writers, Andrew Fidel Fernando of Cricinfo fame, has this to say on X:I hope, today, NZ and South Africa put on a semi final for the ages in Lahore. I hope it is a match the city will revel in. The cricket world is increasingly unkind, held to ransom by the lowest impulses of South Asian geopolitics, and now a near-slavish worship of commerce. Continue reading...

Events

30 h. ago India coach Gautam Gambhir tells critics to ‘grow up’ after claims of Champions Trophy advantage

India reached the final having played all of their games at the tournament in Dubai after refusing to travel to Pakistan, the host nation

Sport

30 h. ago Steve Smith retires from ODI cricket after Australia make semi

The 35-year-old won the ODI World Cup twice and won 170 caps in the 50-over format

Politics

40 h. ago India beat Australia to reach Champions Trophy final against South Africa or New Zealand

Rohit Sharma’s side triumph by four wickets in Dubai as strong form continues

Sport

46 h. ago Virat Kohli steers India past Australia and into Champions Trophy final

Australia 264 all out; India 267-6 in DubaiVeteran’s 84 takes his team to four-wicket victoryMany changes of personnel, one simple change of sequence. The World Cup final in 2023 began with Pat Cummins choosing to give Australia’s bowlers the chance to choke out India’s batting. A year and a half later, in the Champions Trophy, Steve Smith as injury substitute decided that a very different Australian team should bat first. Late-career struggles or no, Virat Kohli remains one-day cricket’s greatest chaser. And while a miniature tournament semi-final in Dubai is not an equal trade for a World Cup decider in a packed house at home, there will be partial catharsis for this Indian side beating Australia in a global tournament knockout.The target was 265, at a ground where scoring in this tournament has been modest, but after an early stutter the pursuit rarely looked a challenge in a win that felt much safer than margins of four wickets or 11 balls. Australia anticipated turn, leaving ou...

Sport

46 h. ago India beat Australia by four wickets: Champions Trophy cricket semi

Over-by-over report: India chasing 265 to win in DubaiSign up for our newsletter, The Spin | And mail Daniel1st over: Australia 2-0 (Head 1, Connolly 0) Shami was millimetres away from the early breakthrough. Just mistimed his attempt at a return catch, palming it round the post as opposed to pouching the leading edge off Head’s bat. Head collected a single from a full blooded drive that was well stopped in the covers. Connolly swiped and missed at one. Apart from the wide up front, it was a tidy start with the ball.Dropped off the first (legal) ball! Continue reading...

Politics

55 h. ago New Zealand feel ‘lucky’ to face South Africa in Lahore for Champions Trophy semi

The Kiwis had success on this ground in the warm up matches and feel confident they can perform strongly again

Politics

3 d. ago Jos Buttler counts the cost of muddled methods as England hit the reset button again

A disastrous Champions Trophy brought Buttler’s time as captain to an end with England now in search of fresh direction

Economics

3 d. ago Adam Zampa hoping to rediscover best form ahead of crunch semi

The leg-spinner has taken four wickets in the tournament but admits he isn’t ‘bowling at my best’

Politics

3 d. ago Arsenal news: Pep Guardiola shares Mikel Arteta complaint as Gunners transfer failure laid bare

Arsenal have a big few weeks up ahead as they look to keep alive their trophy chances in the Champions League while overcoming a mini-blip in the Premier League

Sport

3 d. ago Champions Trophy: Chakravarthy spins out New Zealand to ensure India top group

India 249-9; New Zealand 205 – India win by 44 runsAustralia await for India in Dubai semi-finalIndia beat New Zealand by 44 runs in a low-scoring contest at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday to top Group A in the Champions Trophy.Electing to field, New Zealand restricted India to 249 for 9 with Matt Henry, who took five for 42, leading a fine team bowling display backed up by their characteristic sharp catching. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Virat Kohli falls to stunning catch as India battle New Zealand in Champions Trophy

The batter fell cheaply as New Zealand reduced India to 30-3 during the group stage clash in Dubai

Events

4 d. ago South Africa beat England by seven wickets: Champions Trophy cricket – live reaction

Champions Trophy updates, 9am GMT start in KarachiHussain’s truth-bomb fights back against AI robotsHow to keep 50-over cricket relevant | Email Daniel2nd over: England 18-1 (Duckett 9, Smith 0) England have two players who have held their heads high throughout this troubled tour – Ben Duckett and Joe Root. Duckett, facing Lungi Ngidi, plays two serene clips for four, as if he hadn’t even noticed that he’d lost his opening partner.1st over: England 9-1 (Duckett 0, Smith 0) Marco Jansen’s left-arm angle was a foreign language to poor Salt, who hadn’t even been able to face it in the nets as England left all their lefties at home. He managed a spank over cover for four but played and missed twice, almost gave a catch in the ring with a shovel to leg, and then got that top edge. One of the worst run-a-ball innings you will ever see. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Jos Buttler’s England reign ends in painful defeat by South Africa

Gp B: South Africa, 181-3, bt England, 179, by 7 wktsEngland limp out of Champions Trophy with three lossesJos Buttler called the Champions Trophy a brutal format before the start of the tournament but in the end it proved mercifully short. Had this been a World Cup, stretched out over weeks to milk even more television money, England could easily have surpassed that bleak title defence in India 18 months ago by way of ignominy.Instead, it was off to the airport, via the hotel, after this third and final defeat; the first time they have exited a global event without a single group win. South Africa, who topped Group B with a crushing seven-wicket win, were due to fly to Dubai on Sunday, even if the farcical schedule – dictated by India having to play all their matches in the gulf state – meant they do not know whether this will actually be the scene of their semi-final. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Champions Trophy: England thrashed by South Africa in miserable end to Jos Buttler reign

England have lost 10 of 11 matches since Brendon McCullum took charge of white-ball sides

Politics