Babar back in Pakistan’s first-class grind, England lay down Carse marker — cricket digest 15 Sep 2026

· Cricombo Editorial

Babar Azam returns to Pakistan domestic first-class cricket after seven-year gap

Babar Azam is set to play in the President’s Trophy Grade 1 after being signed by Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) as a guest player, following his request to the PCB to be placed with a side so he can stay in touch with the longer format. It will be his first domestic first-class appearance since 2019.

The move comes amid scrutiny of his Test returns since the start of 2023 and after Pakistan’s 3-0 defeat in England, with the PCB’s central contracts also mandating minimum first-class appearances for players across categories. OGDCL were relegated last season but are back in the competition after the PCB removed WAPDA and Sahir Associates for failing to meet this season’s regulations.

England double down on discipline message as Carse remains out amid ongoing investigation

Brydon Carse has been told by Brendon McCullum to “get his house in order” before he can push his way back into England contention, after Carse was arrested and later de-arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly following a night out in Derby. Derbyshire Police have confirmed an ongoing assault investigation linked to the incident, with a Cricket Regulator investigation to follow once the police matter is closed.

Carse was stood down from the Test squad for the Pakistan series and then left out of the white-ball matches against Sri Lanka despite the ECB saying he was available for selection. McCullum’s warning about professionalism was echoed to the current T20I group by new batting mentor Kevin Pietersen, while incoming Test head coach Stephen Fleming is due to link up with the squad in Manchester later in the week.

Green sits out, Hazlewood rested as Australia choose to bat on a greener Harare surface

Australia won the toss and batted first against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club, with Mitch Marsh opting to set a total on a surface carrying more grass than usual. Travis Head returns to open alongside Marsh, with Cooper Connolly listed at No. 3.

Cameron Green misses out with shoulder soreness and Josh Hazlewood is rested as his workload is managed; Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc remain at home after being rested for the Zimbabwe leg. Nathan Ellis leads the attack alongside Xavier Bartlett and Spencer Johnson, playing his first ODI since the 2025 Champions Trophy, while Zimbabwe are captained by Sikandar Raza in the absence of the injured Richard Ngarava and welcome Brendan Taylor back behind the stumps for his first ODI in a year.

Melbourne Stars lose Kapp for WBBL 2026 but keep Jones and Gibson on board

Marizanne Kapp has opted out of the next WBBL season, despite having a year left on her contract, with Melbourne Stars citing her international commitments. South Africa play a Test against India from December 9, four days after the WBBL final.

The Stars have moved quickly to bolster their overseas contingent by signing England pair Amy Jones and Dani Gibson, both of whom played for the club last season. The Stars still have room to add one more international player ahead of the 12th WBBL campaign.

Former Australia captains write to Penny Wong with humanitarian concerns over Imran Khan’s detention

Seven former Australia captains have written to Australia’s foreign minister, Penny Wong, raising humanitarian concerns around Imran Khan’s detention in Pakistan. The signatories are Allan Border, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark, Kim Hughes, Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh, who said they were writing as former captains rather than political figures.

The letter states the group is not taking a position on the legal or political case, but calls for basic standards of treatment for anyone in detention. It follows an August 23 letter from 22 former international captains to Pakistan prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, which requested an independent medical assessment including Imran’s own doctors, reinstated weekly family visits, and timely treatment based on the medical findings.

In brief

  • Stephen Fleming has arrived in the UK for a short visit that includes linking up with England’s T20I squad in Manchester as he prepares to begin his stint as Test head coach.
  • England begin their three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka with the hosts looking to extend a run of strong form against opponents who have not beaten them in the format since 2014.
  • Surrey will be without Jamie Smith for the rest of the County Championship season after the England wicketkeeper dislocated his left ring finger during the third Test against Pakistan.
  • India and Bengal seamer Mukesh Kumar has signed for Nottinghamshire for the final two County Championship matches, against Sussex and Yorkshire.
  • Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya are among the key talking points ahead of India’s selection meeting for the three ODIs against West Indies starting September 27, the last meeting of Ajit Agarkar’s current tenure.
  • India spinner Varun Chakravarthy will miss the rest of the T20I series against Afghanistan in Delhi with a side injury, though he is still expected to travel for the Asian Games later this month.
  • Afghanistan face a must-win second T20I against India after being outplayed in the series opener, with India unlikely to change their XI.
  • Afghanistan are keen for 41-year-old allrounder Mohammad Nabi to continue through to the 2027 ODI World Cup, with his form again underlining his value.
  • Sushma Verma has joined Trinbago Knight Riders as a replacement for Yastika Bhatia, who has left the WCPL early for India A duty ahead of matches against Australia A.
  • Chaminda Vaas and Amit Mishra are set to join Delhi Capitals as bowling coaches for IPL 2027, in a staff led by head coach Sourav Ganguly with Yuvraj Singh as assistant coach.
  • India fast bowler Kranti Gaud has been fined 10% of her match fee and given one demerit point for a send-off to Sri Lanka opener Imesha Dulani in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup final, while Pakistan players were fined 5% for a slow over-rate in their semi-final against Sri Lanka.
  • India’s Women’s Asia Cup campaign drew praise for Shafali Verma’s impact, though the middle order’s collapses and some sub-par fielding were noted despite the title win over Sri Lanka.
  • Eighteen-year-old JJ Basson took 11 for 99 on first-class debut for Lions, the best match figures by a seamer on red-ball debut in South Africa.
  • Ollie Robinson ended England’s Test series against Pakistan with 21 wickets at 8.76, prompting debate about where it sits among the best bowling returns in a single series.
  • Pakistan’s Test squad faces an uncertain regroup after the England tour, with players dispersing to other commitments as questions linger over who will form the core next time out.
  • A podcast review of England’s 3-0 Test sweep over Pakistan reflected on the Edgbaston finish and the wider implications for Pakistan’s World Test Championship campaign.
  • A rolling list of current and upcoming series and tournaments includes Afghanistan’s tour of India, the Asian Games, the Women’s Asia Cup and West Indies’ tour of India.

Sources: ESPNcricinfo