ILT20 auction record for Farooqi, Afghanistan squads reshaped, Green injury worry — cricket digest 02 Oct 2026

· Cricombo Editorial

Farooqi breaks ILT20 auction record as Vipers load up on Pakistan quartet and Afghan demand surges

Fazalhaq Farooqi became the most expensive signing in ILT20 auction history after MI Emirates landed the Afghanistan left-arm seamer for USD 380,000, eclipsing the previous record set by Andre Fletcher in 2025. Liam Livingstone was the next biggest purchase, going to Gulf Giants for USD 350,000, while Rahmanullah Gurbaz also crossed USD 300,000 before Giants used their Right-to-Match option to retain him.

Defending champions Desert Vipers again leaned heavily into Pakistan talent, picking up Babar Azam for his first ILT20 stint alongside Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman and Naseem Shah, all at base price (USD 80,000 each) and without rival bids. Afghanistan players were in particularly strong demand under new squad rules, with 25 Afghan cricketers selected across the six teams; among other moves, MI Emirates brought back AM Ghazanfar for USD 150,000 and retained Muhammad Waseem for USD 210,000, while Abu Dhabi Knight Riders added Usman Tariq for USD 80,000. UAE selection uncertainty also hovered over the auction, with Vriitya Aravind signed by Vipers for USD 70,000 and Harpreet Singh going unsold amid a potential clash between ILT20 and the 2027 World Cup Qualifier playoffs.

Afghanistan drop Nabi from T20Is, leave out Rasooli, and keep Rashid and Ibrahim rested from Tests

Afghanistan have left Mohammad Nabi out of their T20I squad and omitted Darwish Rasooli from both ODI and T20I plans as they named groups for an all-format run in the UAE featuring Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. The schedule starts with a one-off Test against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi from October 9, which will be Rahmat Shah’s first assignment as full-time Test captain after taking over from Hashmatullah Shahidi.

Rashid Khan and Ibrahim Zadran remain unavailable for Tests on medical advice, while Zia-ur-Rehman returns to the red-ball squad after a 14-month injury layoff. There are also Test recalls for Ismat Alam, Shahidullah, Yamin Ahmadzai and Khalil Gurbaz, and a maiden T20I call-up for fast bowler Abdullah Tarakhail. Nabi, though dropped from the T20Is, is still in the ODI squad with Afghanistan keen for him to continue through to the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Green injury cloud and Inglis ruled out as Australia add Harper and Maddinson ahead of Durban

Australia’s build-up to the first Test against South Africa at Kingsmead has been complicated by a fresh fitness concern for Cameron Green, who is racing to recover from an abdominal injury picked up in the final ODI in Potchefstroom. Josh Inglis has already been ruled out of the Durban opener with a fractured finger.

With selection suddenly squeezed, Australia have called up uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Sam Harper and, in a surprise move, Nic Maddinson to join the touring group, while Beau Webster continued his own preparations and spoke about needing to adapt to tough conditions on his first trip to South Africa.

England rest Archer for Pakistan ODIs as Baker targets reverse swing and Crane returns after eight years

England have rested Jofra Archer for this month’s ODI tri-series in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, with young quick Sonny Baker set for more opportunities after a rapid rise through the summer. Baker said he wants to use the tour to sharpen his death-over execution and learn more about reverse swing in Asian conditions, with ODI regulations now leaving a single ball in play for the final 16 overs of an innings.

Legspinner Mason Crane has been recalled to the ODI squad for the first time since 2017-18 and will act as Adil Rashid’s back-up as Rashid returns from a hand injury. Sam Curran is included after a groin issue, while Jacob Bethell (knee) and Jos Buttler (hamstring) miss out; James Coles has been added after previously being named only for the T20Is against Sri Lanka, and Henry Crocombe retains his place.

Wanderers to stage 2027 ODI World Cup final, with India v Pakistan set for Johannesburg

The ICC has confirmed Johannesburg’s Wanderers will host the 2027 men’s ODI World Cup final on November 21, and will also stage India v Pakistan on October 10. Newlands will host the opening match of the main round on October 7, with India facing defending champions Australia, and will also get a semi-final on November 17; the other semi-final is scheduled for Centurion on November 18.

The tournament runs from October 2 to November 21 across 12 venues in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, with Windhoek hosting a preliminary Super Series. The 12 teams will be split into two groups of six, with Afghanistan, Australia, India, Pakistan, Zimbabwe and a qualifier in Group A, and Bangladesh, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and the other qualifier in Group B.

In brief

  • New ICC playing conditions in effect from October 1 include a five-run penalty for batters found time-wasting on three occasions in an innings, and a clearly specified ball size for women’s cricket distinct from the men’s game.
  • Warwickshire’s Ethan Bamber, fresh from a 69-wicket Championship-winning season, said he has no expectations of England or Lions involvement this winter despite praise from captain Ed Barnard.
  • Nic Maddinson and Sam Harper have been added to Australia’s Test squad in South Africa, with Cameron Green in doubt for the Durban opener and Josh Inglis ruled out.
  • A separate look at Maddinson’s recall underlined both the human and cricketing significance of the 34-year-old returning to the Test frame after treatment for testicular cancer last year.
  • Lungi Ngidi said South Africa coach Shukri Conrad’s backing — and not being treated as anyone’s stand-in — has been a major factor in his progress over the past 18 months.
  • Australia A set India A 365 in the second unofficial Test and then struck late on day three, leaving the hosts needing 337 more runs for victory with one wicket down in the chase.
  • India A Women thrashed Australia A Women by 281 runs, with Vaishnavi Sharma taking 9 for 110 across the match and Niki Prasad contributing 91 and 7 for 77.
  • India brought in Anshul Kamboj for the final ODI against West Indies after Prasidh Krishna suffered a hamstring injury, while Washington Sundar was withdrawn from the T20I series and replaced by Naman Dhir.
  • A match report from Barsapara described a run-fest in the India-West Indies ODI series, after West Indies posted 405 and the evening became about milestones as much as the chase.
  • India stormed into the men’s Asian Games final by beating Sri Lanka by 124 runs in Nisshin, setting up an India v Pakistan gold-medal match.
  • Bangladesh and Sri Lanka head into their Asian Games bronze-medal playoff in Nisshin, with Bangladesh described as favourites against a second-string Sri Lanka side.
  • Eden Carson is back in New Zealand’s squad for the women’s T20Is against Australia from October 18, with Bella James, Molly Penfold and Hannah Rowe also recalled while Izzy Gaze remains unavailable after thumb surgery.
  • Faf du Plessis, Trent Boult and Kieron Pollard are among 156 players listed for the SA20 mini-auction on October 7, with Boult and Pollard setting the top base price of R1.5 million.
  • Gujarat Giants coach Michael Klinger said Danni Wyatt-Hodge’s release ahead of the WPL 2027 auction was driven by the team’s overseas balance and her England commitments, while calling it a “no-brainer” to retain Yastika Bhatia and backing Bharti Fulmali as a finisher.
  • Cricket West Indies CEO Chris Dehring said the proposed 25% retainer pay cut for contracted players is “not ideal but necessary” and that CWI does not want players to feel pressured into signing.
  • Mohammad Rizwan again asked Pakistan’s NCCIA to clarify why he is being investigated, saying the agency’s explanation has shifted from betting and gambling to “relevant provisions of PECA 2016”.
  • A feature on the Irani Cup highlighted Jammu & Kashmir seamers Lone Nasir and Sunil Kumar stepping up after Auqib Nabi’s absence, delivering key spells after being overlooked earlier.

Sources: ESPNcricinfo