The International Cricket Council (ICC) has imposed a ban on Sri Lankan lef-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama for a year under its Anti-Corruption Code. 

The player has been banned from all forms of cricket. He also faces a suspension of six months after the player had admitted of breaching Article 2.4.7 of the code which deals with: 

“Obstructing or delaying any investigation that may be carried out by the ACU, including concealing, tampering with, or destroying any documentation or other information that may be relevant to that investigation and/or that may be evidence or may lead to the discovery of evidence of corrupt conduct under the Anti-Corruption Code,” a statement released by the ICC reads.

The left-arm spinner last represented his national team in 2022 after he played five Test, ODIs and T20Is for the Lankans.

The bowler took 32 wickets in the 15 international matches he played representing the Sri Lankan cricket team.

Jayawickrama debuted for Sri Lanka in a Test against Bangladesh in 2021 and his figures of 11/178 in that match currently hold the record of the seventh best bowling figures on Test debut.

His charges relate to international cricket and the matches of the Lanka Premier League (LPL).  

Former South Africa skipper AB de Villiers weighed in on star batter Babar Azam’s decision to step down as the of Pakistan’s white-ball team captain.

Last night, Babar announced that he was stepping down from the white-ball captaincy, saying that it was time for him to focus on his playing role and personal growth.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had reappointed Babar as the national team’s captain for T20I and one-day internationals (ODIs) on March 31. He had earlier ended his years-long stint as skipper in November 2023 after he stepped down as captain of the national side.

Expressing his support for Babar’s choice, De Villiers highlighted that this decision could allow the star batter to focus on his game and return to his best form.

Reacting to Babar’s X post, the South African wrote, “Congrats. You’ve been great. Now for plenty more runs for your team.”

A day earlier, speaking about his role as the skipper, Babar said captaincy had been a rewarding experience but it added a significant workload. “I want to prioritise my performance, enjoy my batting, and spend quality time with my family, which brings me joy,” he stressed.

“By stepping down, I will gain clarity moving forward and focus more energy on my game and personal growth,” Babar wrote.

Expressing his gratefulness for the support, the star batter said he is excited to continue contributing to the team as a player.

This is the second time Babar left the captaincy of the national side.

He had stepped down from captaincy amid severe criticism after Pakistan failed to perform in the Asia Cup and continued the same performance into the World Cup — where they crashed out before reaching the semis.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that Babar Azam resigned as Pakistan men’s white-ball captain on Tuesday evening, and it has accepted his resignation.

Notably, the national selection committee has been tasked with beginning the process of formulating future white-ball cricket strategies, including recommending a new captain.

“Although the PCB had backed Babar Azam as the white-ball captain, his decision to step down reflects his desire to focus more on making a greater impact as a player,” the cricket board said in a statement.

“This decision is a testament to his professionalism and commitment to Pakistan cricket. He believes that dedicating himself fully to his batting will enable him to play a more decisive role in the team’s success in the shorter formats,” the statement added.

It further stated: “The PCB acknowledges Babar’s contributions as white-ball captain, his ability to prioritise the team’s needs and his unwavering dedication to Pakistan cricket. The PCB will continue to support Babar Azam, recognising he still has much to offer both as a world-class batter and a senior statesman of the team.”

Earlier, Azam, while highlighting his role as the former captain of the Pakistan cricket team, had said: “Playing for Pakistan has always been my greatest honour and I’ve always placed the team’s success above everything else. Stepping down as captain will help me deliver even more for the team as a player and I’m fully committed to that path. The team’s success is what matters most.”

“I’ve had the privilege of leading Pakistan for five remarkable years, always trying to give my best as both captain and player. At this stage, I strongly believe I can make a bigger impact by concentrating on my batting. I am grateful for the constant support from my teammates, coaches and the PCB throughout my captaincy,” he said.

Azam also added: “While it has been a great honour to lead Pakistan, now is the right time to shift my complete focus on batting, team’s objectives during this transitional phase and back the new captain and emerging players as we prepare for a crucial season ahead, including the defense of the ICC Champions Trophy on home soil next year.”

KARACHI: England cricket team on Wednesday landed in Multan for a three-match Test series against Shan Masood-led Green Shirts.

The visitors are set to lock horns with the national side in the first Test October 7 at the Multan Cricket Stadium.

The second match will also be played at the same venue whereas the third match is scheduled from October 24 to 28 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

The Ben Stokes-led side will start practicing for the long-format game from October 4 after two days’ rest on October 2 and 3.

The home series is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25.

Pakistan Test team captain Shan Masood has said that he was optimistic for the future ahead of the upcoming Test series against England despite disappointing whitewash against Bangladesh last month.

Pakistan Squad for 1st Test

Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper), and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Left-arm spinner Noman Ali, who has taken 47 wickets in 15 Tests, has replaced fast bowler Khurram Shahzad, who is injured.

Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Ali, who were part of the squad for the Bangladesh Tests, remain firmly in the selectors’ plans.

However, due to the selection policy’s emphasis on consistency and continuity, and the belief that 15 players are sufficient for a Test, they have been advised and encouraged to continue representing their teams in the Champions One-Day Cup and the President’s Cup, starting on 3 October, to ensure they stay match-ready through competitive cricket.

Pakistan men’s red-ball head coach Gillespie said: “With a busy domestic and international cricket schedule, it makes sense to give our players some much-needed rest ahead of the Test series against England.”

“We are very much looking forward to the series against England here in Pakistan and cannot wait for it to begin. We are excited about playing in front of our wonderful supporters,” he added.

England Squad

Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Ben Stokes (c), Brydon Carse, Rehan Ahmed, Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Josh Hull, Jack Leach, Matthew Potts, Shoaib Bashir, and Olly Stone.