County

LONDON: Geoffrey Boycott has said he fears English domestic first-class country cricket could die within 20 years. After England's recent 4-0 Ashes series loss in Australia, many pundits accused the governing England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) of marginalising four-day County Championship matches, which are supposed to prepare players for Tests, by scheduling fixtures at the start and end of the summer rather than at the height of a season where Twenty20 fixtures now predominate. Boycott, an outstanding opening…

BEIJING: Authorities in a Muslim-majority county in northwest China have banned schoolchildren from going to mosques during their winter holidays, a state-run daily reported Friday, the latest tightening of regulations on religious freedoms. The decision was outlined in a notice sent to all high schools, primary schools and kindergartens in Gansu province's Guanghe county, according to the Global Times. "Schools should require students to not enter religious venues for activities, nor attend scripture schools or…

MANCHESTER: Former West Indies captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul has signed a new contract with Lancashire at the age of 43, the club said on Friday. The Guyanese left-hander, struck 819 runs at an average of over 50 in last year’s County Championship, including three centuries as Lancashire finished second in Division One, the club’s highest position since the 2011 title triumph. “The Club is extremely ambitious and there is a group of hugely talented young cricketers in the squad. I’ve really enjoyed playing my part…

LONDON: A new city-based Twenty20 tournament for English cricket intended to rival the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Australia's Big Bash moved a step closer on Monday following a key presentation by the sport's governing body. In a break with 130 years of tradition, none of England's existing 18 counties are due to feature in the new event. Instead eight new teams, drawn from cities, would compete from 2020. The proposed change would be one of the most sweeping ever introduced to the English game's structure, with…

LONDON: Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir will continue his career rehabilitation with Essex in 2017 after the English county announced his signature for the second half of next season on Tuesday. The 24-year-old left-arm seamer, who completed a five-year ban for spot-fixing last year, will link up with Essex on June 19 after the Champions Trophy in England. "I am very excited about becoming part of the Essex family," Amir told the Essex website. "(Head coach) Chris Silverwood and (chairman) Ronnie Irani have both…

LONDON: England stars Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow warmed up for next week's first Test against Sri Lanka in record-breaking style as they shattered a host of Yorkshire records in their triple-century stand against Surrey on Monday.

KARACHI: Pakistan star cricketer Shahid Afridi has excused himself from attending the fitness camp set up by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ahead of the England tour, ARY News reported.

KARACHI: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq said Sunday he hopes to stay in the view of selectors and prolong his Test career by playing in domestic matches and possibly for an English county.