Sri Lanka lose Women’s Champions Trophy hosting, England seal Pakistan series — cricket digest 31 Aug 2026

· Cricombo Editorial

Sri Lanka set to lose Women’s Champions Trophy as ICC moves event amid board interference

Sri Lanka are poised to be stripped of hosting rights for the inaugural six-team Women’s Champions Trophy, scheduled for February 2027, with the tournament expected to be staged elsewhere in the same window. India is the likeliest replacement venue, with the new hosts due to be confirmed at the ICC board meeting in October.

The move is linked to government interference at Sri Lanka Cricket, where a politically appointed Transformation Committee is overseeing constitutional changes. The shift could also affect qualification: Sri Lanka only made the cut as hosts, but sit seventh in the latest rankings; if they miss out, sixth-placed West Indies could come in.

England clinch Pakistan series at Lord’s as Abbas’ nine-for can’t stop another defeat

England sealed the series with a 194-run win over Pakistan at Lord’s, with Ollie Robinson leading the seamers as Pakistan fell short in the chase. Mohammad Abbas again stood out in a losing cause, taking five in the second innings to finish with nine wickets in the match.

After the defeat, Abbas said the side’s performances were worrying everyone, pointing to missed chances and costly drops that allowed England’s lower order to add decisive runs in the first innings. Pakistan’s run of results has left them bottom of the World Test Championship table, with the series loss extending a grim stretch of defeats.

Rabada out of Australia ODIs and racing the clock for Tests as South Africa’s injury list grows

Kagiso Rabada has been ruled out of South Africa’s three-match ODI series against Australia, and faces a race to be fit for the first Test on October 9 after a right hamstring injury. Cricket South Africa said he will be sidelined for at least the next four-and-a-half weeks, with a call on his Test availability to be made closer to the series.

South Africa’s concerns deepened in Namibia, where fast bowler Lutho Sipamla was forced out of the ongoing T20I tri-series with a left hamstring injury and replaced by Andile Simelane. With a packed schedule ahead, CSA may lean on its depth of quicks, and there is a potential opening for Anrich Nortje to push for a Test return.

Hazlewood targets ODI workload to stay sharp for South Africa Tests as Australia weigh selection calls

Josh Hazlewood says he wants to keep bowling regularly after a successful Test return against Bangladesh, and is eyeing the ODI legs in Zimbabwe and South Africa as a way to maintain intensity ahead of October’s Test series in South Africa. Australia’s ODI squads for both series are due to be named this week, with Hazlewood flagging he could play “two out of three” in each.

Selection focus is also building around Marnus Labuschagne’s place after a difficult Bangladesh series, with Australia’s Test squad for South Africa expected early next week. Hazlewood said Australia’s batters would keep an eye on Rabada’s fitness, while Michael Neser reported he is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a calf injury and aiming to be available for the tour.

In brief

  • India began their Women’s T20 Asia Cup campaign with a 94-run win over Thailand in Dubai, recovering from an eight-for-46 collapse to make 159 for 9 before bowling Thailand out for 65.
  • Thailand chose to bowl against India in Dubai, where India handed Pratika Rawal a T20I debut after Jemimah Rodrigues was ruled out injured, and Deepti Sharma played her 150th T20I.
  • Joe Root suggested a harder-seaming Dukes ball has contributed to lbw difficulties, as the England captain played down concerns over his own form despite a rare series win with him averaging under 40.
  • Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq is unlikely to take further part in the Lord’s Test against England after a grade-1 tear in his left calf, with a ten-day rest period advised.
  • A column argued Pakistan’s heavy series defeat in England reflects deeper systemic dysfunction, and that players deserve sympathy rather than blame.
  • Ben Foakes’ unbeaten 120 helped Surrey cling on for a draw against Essex at Chelmsford after rain cost time earlier in the match.
  • Hampshire and Glamorgan drew at Sophia Gardens after weather intervened, with Toby Albert’s 64 part of Hampshire’s push that ultimately couldn’t force a result.
  • Sussex and Somerset settled for a draw at Hove after a third-day washout, a result that kept Somerset among the Division One leaders and Sussex in contention.
  • Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire played out a draw, with Olly Stone taking five in Warwickshire’s first innings as the match became a bonus-points contest.
  • Durham wrapped up a ten-wicket win over Gloucestershire at Chester-le-Street in just six balls on the fourth morning to tighten their grip on Division Two.
  • Northamptonshire and Kent drew at Wantage Road after rain removed any realistic chance of a finish, despite hundreds from Ricardo Vasconcelos and Nathan McSweeney.
  • Worcestershire and Lancashire ended in a draw at New Road as rain wiped out the final-day prospect of a chase, after Beyers Swanepoel’s all-round efforts kept the game alive.
  • Middlesex’s attempt to force a result against Derbyshire fizzled into a draw despite an innings forfeit, though 20-year-old quick Naavya Sharma took four in Derbyshire’s first innings.
  • Jammu and Kashmir seamer Auqib Nabi is set to play three County Championship matches for Surrey from next week, with an eye on India’s two-Test tour of New Zealand in November.
  • A podcast discussion looked back on India’s 1-0 Test-series win in Sri Lanka and what it suggested about both sides’ direction.

Sources: ESPNcricinfo