Franchise Cricket

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Australia batter Steve Smith will play in the Pakistan Super League for the first time after signing for new franchise Sialkot Stallionz.

Smith, 36, is available after failing to earn a contract in the Indian Premier League and joins up with his former Australia captain Tim Paine.

The right-hander has scored 6,242 runs in 272 T20s, at a healthy average of 32.68, but has been left out of Australia's squad for this month's T20 World Cup.

Paine posted on X, saying that Smith is "one of the all-time great players" and the signing was "huge for our franchise and the PSL".

The announcement came on the day that the six existing sides had to name their retentions for the new season.

Each side were allowed to retain up to four players, with a maximum of one in each price category.

Sialkot and the other new side, Kingsmen Hyderabad, have until 6 February to make direct signings, before all eight sides complete their squads at the inaugural auction on 11 February.

The new season starts on 26 March.

PSL retentions:

Islamabad United: Shadab Khan, Salman Irshad, Andries Gous

Karachi Kings: Hasan Ali, Abbas Afridi, Khushdil Shah, Saad Baig

Lahore Qalandars: Shaheen Afridi, Abdullah Shafique, Sikandar Raza, Mohammad Naeem

Multan Sultans: No retentions

Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abdul Samad, Ali Raza

Quetta Gladiators: Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq, Hasan Nawaz, Shamyl Hussain

Huzaifah Khan
BBC Sport journalist

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Delhi Capitals secured a spot in the Women's Premier League final for the fourth successive year with a seven-wicket win over Gujarat Giants.

The victory means the Capitals face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Thursday's final.

The Capitals won the toss and decided to bowl, and at the halfway stage the game looked well poised after the Giants set their opponents 169 to chase down.

Beth Mooney top-scored for the Giants with 62 not out off 51 balls while Georgia Wareham added late impetus with 35 off 25.

However, the Capitals raced away and never looked back as openers Lizelle Lee (43) and Shafali Verma (31) put them in a commanding position.

Giants bowler Wareham did threaten to halt the momentum as she dismissed both openers in her first over but it was too little too late as the Capitals needed just 77 from 72 balls with eight wickets remaining at this point.

Captain Jemimah Rodrigues hit 41 before Laura Wolvaardt's 34 not out saw the Capitals home by seven wickets with 26 balls remaining.

It was the first time the Capitals have had to qualify for the final through the Eliminator, having finished top of the table for the last three years, yet they are still on the hunt for their first title after losing on each occasion to the side that won through this play-off.

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Delhi Capitals booked their place in the Women's Premier League play-offs with a five-wicket win over UP Warriorz.

The victory means Capitals will face Gujarat Giants in Tuesday's Eliminator, for a place against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Thursday's final.

The defeat leaves UP Warriorz bottom of the five-team table, and defending champions Mumbai Indians drop down to fourth and miss out on the play-offs for the first time in the tournament's four-year history.

Capitals won the toss in Vadodara and elected to bowl first and got off to a superb start with West Indies all-rounder Chinelle Henry trapping Meg Lanning lbw with the game's first ball.

It set the tone for the innings as Warriorz struggled up to 122-8 with opener Deepti Sharma top-scoring with 24.

South Africa's Marizanne Kapp was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 3-30, including the wicket of Deepti and West Indies all-rounder Deandra Dottin.

Capitals lost Lizelle Lee in the second over but Shafali Verma and Laura Wolvaardt put on 73 for the second wicket to put them in control.

However, both fell in quick succession, and Kapp and Henry followed to leave Capitals 101-5 and needing 22 from 22 balls.

They got over the line with eight balls to spare with captain Jemimah Rodrigues making an unbeaten 34 off 18 balls.

• WPL fixtures

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Gujarat Giants sealed their place in the Women's Premier League play-offs with an 11-run victory that leaves defending champions Mumbai Indians vulnerable to an early exit.

Mumbai, who won the tournament in 2023 and 2025, failed to chase 168 and will be eliminated if Delhi Capitals beat UP Warriorz on Sunday.

A Warriorz win could also see Mumbai eliminated, but it would need a big net run-rate swing for that to happen.

They slipped to 37-3 with West Indies all-rounder Hayley Matthews out for six and England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt dismissed for two.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and New Zealand's Melie Kerr put on 45 for the fourth wicket, before the former shared 42 with Amanjot Kaur.

However, they slipped to 127-6 after 17.2 overs, before Harmanpreet hit two fours in the 19th over, leaving 26 required off the last.

She hit Ash Gardner's first ball for six, before doing the same with the third delivery.

However, she was only able to take a single off the fourth and then Poonam Khemnar was caught attempting to clear the ropes.

Harmanpreet was left stranded on 82 not out off 48 balls, while Sophie Devine and Georgia Wareham picked up 2-23 and 2-26 respectively for Giants.

Wareham had earlier made 44 not out off 26 balls to help Giants get up to 167-4, with Gardner top-scoring with 46.

Giants will face one of Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals or UP Warriorz in the Eliminator on Tuesday, with the winner of that game facing Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Thursday's final.

• WPL fixtures & table

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Australia's Grace Harris starred as Royal Challengers Bengaluru booked their place in the Women's Premier League final with a comfortable eight-wicket win over UP Warriorz.

The all-rounder took 2-22 with the ball as RCB opted to bowl first and restricted Warriorz to 143-8.

South Africa's Nadine de Klerk took 4-22, including the key wickets of Meg Lanning (41), that broke an opening stand of 74 with Deepti Sharma (55), and England wicketkeeper Amy Jones (1) on her WPL debut.

England's Lauren Bell (1-21) again impressed, bowling 14 dot balls in her four overs.

Harris then led the charge in the chase as she crashed 75 off 37 balls in an opening stand of 108 with Smriti Mandhana.

She was dismissed off the first ball of the 10th over, but RCB returned to winning ways with 41 balls to spare, with Mandhana making an unbeaten 54.

RCB had already secured a play-off place after wins in their opening five games, but will now have a week off before attempting to win their second WPL title in the final at Vadodara International Cricket Stadium on 5 February (14:00 GMT).

The defeat leaves Warriorz bottom and they could be eliminated on Friday if Mumbai Indians beat Gujarat Giants.

If Giants win, and seal a play-off place, then Warriorz's game against Delhi Capitals on Sunday will decide which of the three sides takes the final spot.

• WPL fixtures & table

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Former Australia captain Tim Paine has been appointed as the head coach of new Pakistan Super League side Sialkot Stallionz.

Paine, 41, has been assistant coach at Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League and has led a Prime Minister's XI against India and England in the past two winters.

He was captain of 23 Tests between 2018 and 2020, winning 11 and losing eight.

He stepped down in November 2021 after an investigation into historical messages with a colleague and never played for Australia again.

The wicketkeeper played state cricket in the 2022-23 season, before retiring at the end of the campaign.

Paine will have to build their squad from scratch at the PSL's first auction on 11 February, before leading the team in the new season from 26 March.

Sialkot are one of two new sides - alongside a Hyderabad-named franchise - for the 2026 season.

Paine's appointment follows Jason Gillespie being named Hyderabad coach and Luke Ronchi taking over at Islamabad United.

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Former Australia all-rouner Jason Gillespie has been named head coach of the new Hyderabad franchise in the Pakistan Super League.

Gillespie, 50, will have to build their squad from scratch at the PSL's first auction on 11 February, before leading the team in the new season from 26 March.

Hyderabad are one of two new sides - alongside a Sialkot-named franchise - for the 2026 season.

It is Gillespie's first involvement in Pakistan cricket since he resigned as head coach of the national Test team days before their series against South Africa in December 2024.

He later said he was "blindsided" by decisions about the set-up around the team.

On his latest appointment, Gillespie posted on X, saying: "Beyond excited to be part of the @KingsmenCricket family. So looking forward to being part of the Hyderabad team!"

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England wicketkeeper Amy Jones has replaced the injured Phoebe Litchfield at UP Warriorz in the Women's Premier League.

Australia's Litchfield has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament with a quad injury.

Litchfield leaves with 243 runs - the most by a Warriorz batter and the third-highest in this year's tournament.

Jones, 32, is yet to feature in the WPL, and last played in Australia's Big Bash League on 9 December.

Warriorz are bottom of the five-team table and likely need to win their final two games on Thursday and Sunday to be in contention for the play-offs.

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Gujarat Giants boosted their hopes of qualifying for the Women's Premier League play-offs with a thrilling three-run win over Delhi Capitals.

Capitals, who were chasing 175, needed nine from the final over but New Zealand's Sophie Devine took two wickets and conceded just five to seal the win.

It was a remarkable turnaround for Devine, who had conceded 23 in her previous over as Capitals looked to pull off an incredible win.

They needed 60 from the final four overs, but took 23 off Devine, eight off Tanuja Kanwar and 20 off Ash Gardner to take the game to the final over.

They had slipped to 100-6 with Rajeshwari Gayakwad taking three wickets and Devine two and Gardner one.

However Niki Prasad (47 off 24) and Sneh Rana (29 off 15) crashed 70 off 31 balls, before both were dismissed by Devine (4-37) in the final over.

Earlier, Giants posted 174-9, with Beth Mooney making 58 and Deepti Sharma 39.

Giants climb to second with the win and know victory in their final game would secure a play-off spot.

Capitals sit fourth and will need to beat UP Warriorz in their final match and then rely on other results going their way.

• WPL fixtures & table

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Former New Zealand and Australia international Luke Ronchi has been named as the new head coach of Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League.

Ronchi, 44, played 31 games for Islamabad between 2017 and 2021, scoring 1,020 runs.

The aggressive right-hander scored 94 not out in the 2018 final to give United their second title - and they have since won a joint-record third.

"Islamabad United has always felt like home to me," said Ronchi.

"The bond I share with this team, the owners, the fans, and the entire ISLU family is something genuinely special.

"Islamabad United stands for fearless cricket, character, and a winning mindset. I'm excited to carry that legacy forward and help develop the next group of leaders and match-winners for this great team."

Ronchi's first challenge will be building Islamabad's squad at the first-ever PSL auction on 11 February, before the season starts on 26 March.

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Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has signed a new two-year contract with Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League, amid links with Sydney Thunder.

There were reports, external over the weekend that Thunder, who finished bottom in the recently concluded season, had made a "lucrative offer" to Maxwell.

However, Maxwell, who is the third-highest run-scorer in Big Bash history, has opted to extend this 13-season stay with Stars.

"The Melbourne Stars have been a massive part of my cricket career and I'm really passionate about this team having success," said Maxwell.

"This current group is building towards something special and I'm confident we're in a place to contend for the title in the next two seasons."

Maxwell's signing was the big announcement on the Big Bash's deadline day with Campbell Kellaway and Austin Anlezark also staying with Stars.

Matthew Gilkes and Ryan Hadley extended at Thunder, while Tom Rogers stays at Melbourne Renegades and Jerrssis Wadia at Adelaide Strikers.

Uncontracted players are now free agents and can move during the player movement window, which starts on Wednesday and ends on 5 February.

Australia leg-spinner Adam Zampa, batter Travis Head and wicketkeeper Josh Inglis are among those uncontracted, alongside Usman Khawaja and Chris Lynn.

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The fourth edition of the SA20 has ended with Sunrisers Eastern Cape winning their third title with victory over Pretoria Capitals.

But who was the leading run-scorer and wicket-taker? And who else impressed? BBC Sport looks at all the key stats.

Top run-scorers

1. Quinton de Kock (Sunrisers Eastern Cape) - 390 runs

2. Dewald Brevis (Pretoria Capitals) - 370

3. Ryan Rickelton (MI Cape Town) - 337

4. Sherfane Rutherford (Pretoria Capitals) - 334

5. Aiden Markram (Durban's Super Giants) - 309

Rutherford finished with the highest average (66.80), Joburg Super Kings' Leus Du Plooy had the highest strike-rate (175.51) and Brevis hit the most sixes (30).

Top wicket-takers

1. Ottneil Baartman (Paarl Royals) - 20 wickets

2. Anrich Nortje (Sunrisers Eastern Cape) - 18

3. Sikandar Raza (Paarl Royals) - 15

=4. Marco Jansen (Sunrisers Eastern Cape), Nqobani Mokoena (Paarl Royals) & Corbin Bosch (MI Cape Town) - 13

Paarl Royals' Hardus Viljoen had the best average (11.66 - min 10 overs), Joburg Super Kings' Dan Worrall had the best economy rate (5.75) and Baartman had the best strike-rate (8.90 - min 10 overs).

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The 15th edition of the men's Big Bash League has ended with Perth Scorchers winning a record-extending sixth title against Sydney Sixers.

But who was the leading run-scorer and wicket-taker? And who else impressed? BBC Sport looks at all the key stats.

Top run-scorers

1. Finn Allen (Perth Scorchers) - 466 runs

2. David Warner (Sydney Thunder) - 433

3. Sam Harper (Melbourne Stars) - 381

4. Mitchell Marsh (Perth Scorchers) - 360

5. Aaron Hardie (Perth Scorchers) - 339

Warner finished with the highest average (86.60), Hobart Hurricanes' Mitch Owen had the highest strike-rate (195.29) and Allen hit the most sixes (38).

Top wicket-takers

1. Haris Rauf (Melbourne Stars) - 20 wickets

2. Jack Edwards (Sydney Sixers) - 19

3. Gurinder Sandhu (Melbourne Renegades) - 18

=4. Peter Siddle, Tom Curran (both Melbourne Stars) & Ben Dwarshuis (Sydney Sixers) - 16

Adelaide Strikers' Tabraiz Shamsi had the best average (10.50 - min 10 overs), Hobart Hurricanes' Nikhil Chaudhary had the best economy rate (4.77) and Gurinder Sandhu had the best strike-rate (10.33 - min 10 overs).

Timothy Abraham
BBC Sport Journalist

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European T20 Premier League co-owner Abhishek Bachchan says there has been "global interest" in the tournament's three remaining unsold franchises including from investors in the UK.

The ETPL have agreed deals for three of the city-based franchises in Amsterdam, Belfast and Edinburgh with two consortiums from Australia and one from New Zealand.

BBC Sport understands the franchises were sold for £11.1m ($15m) over a 10-year period with former Australia captain Steve Waugh, current Aussie batter Glenn Maxwell and ex-New Zealand international Kyle Mills among those involved.

Attention will now switch to the sale of the ETPL teams based in Glasgow, Dublin and Rotterdam with investors from India understood to be prominent.

But Bachchan said there are also potential owners "from Europe and England" expressing interest in buying a team.

"The ETPL is like this wonderful new swimming pool where everybody's just standing around to see who's going to jump in first and take the plunge," Bachchan told BBC Stumped.

"Well, three of them have taken the plunge. And there's a lot of new enquiries. There's been interest from all over the globe.

"Obviously, the process to choose the right people to come on board is something that we take very seriously as you can see is evident from the three teams so far."

Bollywood actor and film producer Bachchan is a part-owner of the ETPL in conjunction with Rules Sport Tech, a private Indian company.

The ETPL is being run in collaboration with the cricket boards of Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands.

Polly Starkie
BBC Sport journalist

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Laura Wolvaardt hit an unbeaten 42 as Delhi Capitals cruised past a previously unbeaten Royal Challengers Bengaluru to seal a seven-wicket win in the Women's Premier League.

With five wins from five, RCB could have sealed a place in the final with another victory but Delhi Capitals delayed what feels inevitable.

RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana got off to a strong start with the bat but Minnu Mani dismissed her for 38, picking up her first wicket of the tournament.

After the halfway stage, a middle-order collapse left RCB scrambling for runs with their overseas signings failing to fire.

Nandni Sharma once again proved useful at the death taking three wickets, as RCB were restricted to 109.

Shafali Verma looked to cause damage in response, striking at 200, but was quickly removed by the in-form Sayali Satghare.

Overseas stars Wolvaardt and Jemimah Rodrigues steadied the ship for the Delhi Capitals, putting on a 52-run partnership.

After Rodrigues was dismissed, fellow South Africa international Marizanne Kapp joined Wolvaardt at the crease to ease their side across the line with four overs remaining.

Scorecard; Table

Jonty Colman
BBC Sport journalist

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Pretoria Capitals have "tapped into" the experience of coaches Sourav Ganguly and Shaun Pollock to reach their second SA20 final, says former England bowler Tymal Mills.

Ganguly took on his first head coach role for this season, having previously been director of cricket, while Pollock is assistant coach having focused on commentary since retirement.

They led Capitals to a second-placed finish in the group stage, but then beat Sunrisers Eastern Cape in Qualifier 1 to reach their first final since the inaugural season in 2023.

Two-time winners Sunrisers were then victorious in Qualifier 2 to secure their place in a fourth successive final.

"I've loved it - it's been awesome so far both on and off the field," Mills, who has taken five wickets in five games, told BBC Sport.

"Ganguly has been good. He's all in, he's very committed and watching footage and always talking about the game and I think we've responded well to him.

"Polly's been good fun. He's high energy, he talks a lot, he's got stories for days which keep the boys entertained.

"It's been great to pick his brains and talk to him and just little bits around training.

"Between Polly and Sourav there's obviously a lot of experience there and we've tapped into it as much as we can."

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Two-time winners Sunrisers Eastern Cape booked their place in a fourth successive SA20 final with a comprehensive seven-wicket win over Paarl Royals.

Sunrisers, who won the tournament in 2023 and 2024 before being beaten in last year's final, raced to their target of 115 in 11.4 overs to continue their 100% record of reaching the showpiece event.

Quinton de Kock made 25 at the top of the order, while Sussex's James Coles finished the job, smashing an unbeaten 45 off just 19 balls.

Coles had earlier taken 1-15 from his four overs as Royals were restricted to 114-7.

They struggled for fluency against both pace and spin, with quick Anrich Nortje claiming 2-31 and spinner Senuran Muthusamy 3-15.

Kyle Verreynne top-scored with 52 not out but Royals continue their record of having never reached a final.

Sunrisers will face Pretoria Capitals - who beat them in Qualifier 1 - in Sunday's final (13:30 GMT).

Capitals are looking for their first SA20 title.

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Sydney Sixers booked their place in Sunday's Big Bash League final against Perth Scorchers with a comfortable 57-run win over defending champions Hobart Hurricanes in the Challenger.

After being asked to bat, Sixers posted 198-8 with Steve Smith top-scoring with 65.

There were also quick contributions from Moises Henriques (19 off eight), Joel Davies (27 off 12) and Lachlan Shaw (21 off 13), while Australia quick Riley Meredith claimed 3-52.

In reply, Hurricanes lost key batter Mitch Owen (13) early, caught by Smith off Mitchell Starc (2-29), while fellow opener Tim Ward fell to leave them 29-2.

Beau Webster put on 48 with captain Ben McDermott, but the Australia all-rounder struggled for fluency, with his 24 coming off 27 balls.

When he was dismissed by Ben Dwarshuis (3-26), Hurricanes needed 122 off 61 balls and that pressure led to regular wickets falling.

They were 91-6 less than three overs later, with Matthew Wade, Nikhil Chaudhary and Chris Jordan all out cheaply.

McDermott followed for 40 in the 14th over to effectively end Hurricanes chances and they were bowled out for 141 in 17.2 overs.

Sunday's showpiece will be the sixth time that Sixers and Scorchers have met in the final. Scorchers are looking for a record-extending sixth title, while Sixers will be aiming for a fourth success.

Listen to ball-by-ball commentary on the Big Bash League final on 5 Sports Extra 3, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app from 08:00 GMT on Sunday, 25 January.

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Paarl Royals moved into the second SA20 qualifier with a 36-run win over Joburg Super Kings in the Eliminator.

After being asked to bat first, Royals posted 210-5 with Lhuan-dre Pretorius making 51 at the top of the order.

There were lots of contributions too, with Dan Lawrence making 36, Sikandar Raza 35 and England Lions batter Asa Tribe an unbeaten 30 off 16 balls after he was dropped down to the middle order.

In reply, Super Kings slipped to 14-3 in the fourth over with Hardus Viljoen picking up two wickets.

Leus Du Plooy also fell in the powerplay to leave Super Kings 40-4 and despite James Vince's 47 they were unable to seriously challenge Royals' total.

They eventually finished 174-8 with Viljoen finishing with 3-24 and Ottneil Baartman 2-47.

Royals will play two-time champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape in Friday's second qualifier, with the winner progressing to Sunday's final against Pretoria Capitals.