Eng Test captain Stokes back for Pak tour

LONDON:

Ben Stokes returns as captain for England's three-Test tour of Pakistan next month while Brydon Carse could make his debut just weeks after completing a ban for breaches of betting rules.

Stokes will skipper the side after missing the 2-1 home series win against Sri Lanka with a hamstring injury. Opener Zak Crawley is also in the squad announced on Tuesday after missing the same series with a broken finger.

Bowling all-rounder Carse, who returned to action in late August after serving a three-month ban for historical betting violations, appears to be the main beneficiary of a year-ending elbow injury to Durham team-mate and fellow quick Mark Wood.

The South Africa-born 29-year-old, who has featured in 17 white-ball internationals for England, takes his place in a 17-strong squad alongside another player yet to make his Test bow, Jordan Cox.

The tour is scheduled to get under way on October 7 in Multan.

There are due to be further Tests in Karachi and Rawalpindi but renovations ahead of next year's Champions Trophy are causing problems at those venues.

One or more of the games could be moved to the United Arab Emirates or Sri Lanka.

Dan Lawrence, a makeshift opener against Sri Lanka in the absence of Crawley, has been dropped.

Young left-arm fast bowler Josh Hull has been retained while Jack Leach and Rehan Ahmed -- two spinners who featured in England's historic 3-0 series whitewash over Pakistan in 2022 -- are recalled.

Leach was displaced as England's number one spinner this season by Shoaib Bashir but the Somerset pair, plus Leicestershire's Ahmed, form Stokes's trio of frontline slow bowling options.

England squad for three-match Test tour of Pakistan:

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

Malik, Misbah among key signings for US Masters T10 season

This year's roster features top global cricket talent, including Dwayne Bravo, Suresh Raina, Shoaib Malik, Misbah-ul-Haq, James Neesham, Angelo Perera, and Aaron Finch

As anticipation builds for the highly anticipated second season of the US Masters T10, cricket enthusiasts in North America are eagerly awaiting a spectacle of explosive cricket action. The franchises have finalized their squads, setting the stage for an exhilarating tournament that promises to deliver thrilling matches and unparalleled entertainment.

The US Masters T10 is set to take center stage once again. With the inaugural season having set high standards, the upcoming season is expected to surpass all expectations with its riveting contests and big hits. This year's roster boasts an impressive array of cricketing talent from around the globe, including stalwarts like Dwayne Bravo, Suresh Raina, Shoaib Malik, Misbah-ul-Haq, James Neesham, Angelo Perera, and Aaron Finch, among others.

Nawab Shaji Ul Mulk, Founder and Chairman of T10 Global Sports, expressed his enthusiasm for the growth of cricket in the US.

"Cricket in US has been growing rapidly, and we want to be a part of this special journey. The ICC T20 World Cup this year made a significant impact in the region, and we want to build on that momentum and carry it forward. With Season 2 of the US Masters, we aim to provide fans with more memorable contests and help accelerate the growth of cricket in a non-traditional market like USA," Shaji Ul Mulk said.