Asian Games draws set, West Indies brace for Pakistan Tests, India start winning in Zimbabwe — cricket digest 24 Jul 2026

· Cricombo Editorial

West Indies face Pakistan with Joseph absent, Jangoo a worry and Bishop handed first Test call

West Indies coach Daren Sammy confirmed fast bowler Alzarri Joseph has declined selection for the upcoming Test series against Pakistan, leaving a notable hole in a squad already trying to climb from eighth in the World Test Championship table. Sammy said Joseph had been selected after returning from injury but made himself unavailable, a situation he felt was for the directors to address given Joseph’s central contract.

There are also fitness concerns around wicketkeeper-batter Amir Jangoo after a shoulder injury in the ODI series against New Zealand, with Sammy indicating Shai Hope may again be asked to keep to help the team balance, alongside Joshua Da Silva. West Indies have brought in left-arm spinner Joshua Bishop for the first time and recalled top-order batter Kirk McKenzie, with the first Test starting on Saturday at Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, a venue hosting a Test for the first time, before the second match in Port of Spain from August 2.

Asian Games 2026 brackets confirmed: big four into men’s knockouts, women’s quarters set

The draws for the Asian Games cricket tournaments in September have been announced, with India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka receiving direct entry into the men’s knockout stage. Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal and Oman will play an opening round in two groups, with the top two from each progressing to meet the direct qualifiers.

The women’s competition begins at the quarter-final stage: India play Japan, Bangladesh face China, Sri Lanka meet Malaysia and Pakistan take on Thailand. Matches will be played in Nagoya in the T20 format, with the women’s event running from September 17 to 22 and the men’s from September 24 to October 1.

India end T20I losing streak in Harare as Sooryavanshi hits first international fifty

India finally registered a T20I win for the first time since lifting the T20 World Cup in March, beating Zimbabwe by seven wickets in Harare. Teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi led the chase with his maiden international half-century as India overhauled 125 with three wickets down.

Earlier, India’s attack kept Zimbabwe in check, with Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav picking up two wickets apiece. The match also came in a series where India had handed fast bowler Ashok Sharma a debut, while Zimbabwe debuted Ben Curran and left-arm seamer Newman Nyamhuri.

Cricket Australia chief Greenberg says Ashes Test in India is an option worth considering

Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg said he would be open to the idea of staging an Australia-England Test in India, pointing to opportunities to add “content” in key markets. Speaking on the BBC’s Stumped podcast, Greenberg stressed there are no current plans, but said the strength of relationships with both the ECB and BCCI meant it could be considered.

Any such move would require approval from CA and the ECB and cooperation from the BCCI, and Greenberg acknowledged the difficulty of fitting more cricket into an already crowded calendar.

PCB reshapes domestic season with new one-day tournament and a split Quaid-e-Azam Trophy

Pakistan’s domestic season will begin on August 11 in Multan with a new four-team one-day event, the National Champions Cup, created to help assess options for next year’s 50-over World Cup. The teams will be selected by the national selection committee, and the tournament is the first of two List A competitions this season, with the department-based President’s Cup following shortly after.

The PCB has also expanded region-based teams from 18 to 20, with Sialkot and Peshawar permitted to field an additional side each, and the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy will now run in Gold and Silver divisions, starting November 1.

In brief

  • Manchester Super Giants beat London Spirit by seven runs at Lord’s in The Hundred men’s opener, despite Liam Livingstone’s 69 and 2 for 14.
  • Manchester Super Giants began their Hundred women’s campaign with a seven-wicket win over London Spirit at Lord’s after Ryana MacDonald-Gay’s 4 for 17 helped bowl Spirit out for 80.
  • Phil Salt’s late boundary proved decisive as Welsh Fire beat Southern Brave in The Hundred men’s competition at the Utilita Bowl.
  • Nottinghamshire chased down 283 to beat Warwickshire by three wickets in the Royal London One-Day Cup, with George Garton’s maiden century for Warwickshire not enough.
  • Pakistan Women went 1-0 up on Sri Lanka Women with a five-wicket ODI win after half-centuries from Gull Feroza and Sidra Amin, and a three-for from Nashra Sandhu.
  • Sports Commune have been terminated as Jaffna Kings owners in the Lanka Premier League after an inability to fulfil financial obligations.
  • Afghanistan are set to host India for a three-match T20I series in Delhi in September, which would be the first time a team hosts India on Indian soil.
  • Trent Bridge and Headingley will stage the men’s and women’s Ashes openers in 2027, with the two series again running in parallel.
  • The ICC has confirmed the 2027 World Test Championship final will be played at The Oval, with Lord’s not hosting as the MCC works on improving pitches.
  • India Under-19s beat Sri Lanka Under-19s by 211 runs to seal a 1-0 series win, with Rohit Yadav taking four wickets in the second innings.
  • Charlie Dean says she has grown into leadership as she returns to captain London Spirit in The Hundred women’s competition.
  • The World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle continues to take shape as teams track points and fixtures across the series schedule.
  • Aamer Jamal’s route back into Pakistan’s Test plans has included overcoming injuries and fluctuating roles ahead of the West Indies series.
  • Mayank Yadav’s return from a long injury spell has offered India encouragement, with his pace and rhythm drawing attention in Zimbabwe.
  • Pakistan’s Quaid-e-Azam Trophy has been overhauled again, now split into Gold and Silver divisions as part of a wider domestic restructure.

Sources: ESPNcricinfo