Buttler set to miss Pakistan tri-series, WPL squads trimmed, Asian Games semis set — cricket digest 29 Sep 2026

· Cricombo Editorial

Buttler ruled out of Pakistan ODIs as Cox lines up extended chance ahead of World Cup

Jos Buttler will miss England’s ODI tri-series in Pakistan next month after suffering a hamstring injury, and he is a major doubt for the subsequent white-ball tour of Australia. Buttler was hurt during England’s defeat to Sri Lanka at Headingley, initially retiring hurt before briefly resuming his innings, with the ECB still awaiting the full extent of the damage.

Jordan Cox is set to take the gloves and a middle-order role for an extended spell, with Brendon McCullum keen to test England’s depth ahead of next year’s 50-over World Cup. McCullum also indicated Sam Curran and Adil Rashid could return for the Pakistan trip, while Jacob Bethell is not expected back until the Australia tour.

WPL 2027: RCB release Harris and Smith as Perry confirms she’s available; UPW and DC also reshape squads

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru have released Grace Harris, Linsey Smith, D Hemalatha and Gautami Nayak ahead of WPL 2027, while Ellyse Perry has confirmed she is available after missing the 2026 season for personal reasons. RCB head coach Malolan Rangarajan said Perry had indicated in August she was keen to return, and the franchise has retained a core of 13 players.

UP Warriorz, who finished bottom in 2026, released nine players including Deandra Dottin and Chloe Tryon and will go into the mini-auction with seven vacancies and the biggest purse (INR 3.65 crore). Delhi Capitals let go of Alana King, Lizelle Lee, Sneh Rana, Taniya Bhatia, Pragati Singh and Eddla Srujana, while Gujarat Giants released Danni Wyatt-Hodge among others; Mumbai Indians released six players and have seven slots open but the smallest remaining purse (INR 1 crore). The WPL runs from January 14 to February 7, with the mini-auction on October 28 in Kochi.

Asian Games men’s semi-finals confirmed after washouts: Pakistan-Bangladesh and India-Sri Lanka

The Asian Games men’s cricket competition has moved straight to the semi-finals after all four quarter-finals in Nisshin were washed out without a ball bowled. Pakistan will meet Bangladesh at 9am local time on Thursday, with India facing Sri Lanka at 2pm, and Nisshin will also host Saturday’s medal matches.

With rain still a possibility, the playing conditions put a Super Over in place for any tie, while the higher seed progresses if weather prevents a match or Super Over being completed. India and Pakistan are the higher seeds in their respective semi-finals; if the final is washed out, the gold medal will be shared.

Australia lose Ellis and Davies to injury in South Africa as squad options narrow for final ODI

Nathan Ellis has been ruled out of the third and final ODI against South Africa with a side strain, while left-arm spinner Joel Davies will also leave the tour after a hamstring strain suffered while fielding as a substitute in the second ODI in Johannesburg. Ellis had been Australia’s best bowler across the Zimbabwe and South Africa legs before breaking down after four overs in the second match.

Australia have not named replacements for the final ODI in Potchefstroom on Wednesday, leaving them with four fit quicks to choose from; Pat Cummins is likely to return after missing the first two games, and Mitchell Starc should play after being rested for the second. There is still no decision on whether Josh Inglis will be available for the Test series starting October 9 after breaking a finger in the opening ODI.

Rabada named in South Africa’s preliminary squad for Australia Tests as fitness call looms

Kagiso Rabada has been included in South Africa’s preliminary Test squad for the three-match series against Australia starting on October 9 in Durban, with his hamstring recovery to be assessed in an intra-squad match next week. Head coach Shukri Conrad said a final decision would come a day or two after that three-day game.

Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman and Kwena Maphaka were not considered due to hamstring issues, while Anrich Nortje is in an expanded group of seven quicks as he pushes for a first Test since March 2023. Uncapped top-order batter Marques Ackerman is the only new name in the squad, and Dewald Brevis has been left out, with Conrad describing him as more suited to subcontinent Tests.

In brief

  • Bangladesh batter Najmul Hossain Shanto has been ruled out of the Asian Games with fever and infections and will return to Dhaka to recover ahead of the one-off Test against Afghanistan on October 9.
  • Tom Westley has stepped down as Essex captain after a difficult season, with the club still at risk of relegation from County Championship Division One.
  • Durham have promoted Ryan Campbell to director of cricket following their Division Two title, with Campbell to lead the search for a new head coach and to hold discussions with Ben Stokes about his playing future.
  • Leicestershire’s pitch-related points penalty has been reduced by eight after a tribunal decision, as the club continues its appeal to stay in County Championship Division One.
  • Lakshya Raichandani hit 210 not out as India Under-19 reached 430 for 8 and led Australia Under-19 by 213 on day two of the first Youth Test in India.
  • Bangladesh’s Asian Games quarter-final against Malaysia in Nisshin was abandoned without a ball bowled, sending Bangladesh through on higher seeding to face Pakistan in the semi-finals.
  • Sri Lanka progressed to an Asian Games semi-final against India after their quarter-final with Nepal in Nisshin was washed out, with Sri Lanka going through on higher seeding.
  • Ireland have appointed Ed Joyce as high performance batting coach, with immediate responsibility for the senior men’s team and involvement in the male talent pathway.
  • South Africa are exploring exchangeable pitches as a way to protect major venues amid a record-heavy international and domestic schedule.
  • Australia A captain Peter Handscomb said he is determined not to be labelled only a player of spin as he leads the side on their red-ball tour of India.
  • India seamer Prasidh Krishna said clearer communication within the group has helped his growth as he leads an inexperienced pace attack in the ODI series against West Indies.
  • Malaysia’s Asian Games meeting with Bangladesh was framed as a repeat of their 2023 quarter-final, when Malaysia fell two runs short after restricting Bangladesh to 116 for 5.
  • Virat Kohli’s latest ODI hundred against West Indies included the milestone of bringing up both his fifty and century with sixes.
  • Veteran Paras Dogra, 41, is set to begin his 25th first-class season by captaining Jammu & Kashmir in the Irani Cup against Rest of India in Srinagar.
  • A stats explainer looked at whether six ODI hundreds across three matches on the same day is a record, and at the latest point in an English season that a first-class maiden hundred has been scored.
  • A Switch Hit podcast episode reviewed England’s home white-ball turnaround, including their ODI series win over Sri Lanka and a 3-0 T20I sweep.

Sources: ESPNcricinfo