Cricket South Africa has apologised for poor communication regarding ticket availability for the New Year’s Test against England cricket team at Newlands Cricket Ground in January 2027, following widespread criticism from fans on social media. The controversy erupted after tickets for the highly anticipated Test match went on sale earlier this week and sold out within minutes. Fans were left frustrated after learning that less than 1,600 tickets per day had been made available to the general public. Out of the stadium’s 17,544 general-access seats, more than half were reserved for travel packages, hospitality, and complimentary allocations. According to CSA, 39% of tickets were allocated to local and international tour operators, while 21% were reserved for hospitality and complimentary purposes. Another 19% went to sponsors, stakeholders, and team contingents, leaving only 13% for public sale. Of that 13%, only 9% of tickets were initially released, with CSA confirming that the remaining 4% — along with any unused tickets from reserved allocations — will be sold closer to the match date. In a statement released on Thursday, CSA admitted it “did not provide the clarity supporters expected” before tickets went on sale and apologised for the confusion caused. The organisation also warned fans against purchasing tickets from unauthorised resale platforms, where prices have surged dramatically. While official ticket prices range between R250 and R400 (US$15 to US$25), some resale websites have listed tickets for as much as R3,500 (US$211). “CSA maintains a strict prohibition on ticket scalping and unauthorised resale,” the statement read. “Fans are urged not to buy tickets from unauthorised resellers to avoid being denied entry into the stadium.” This season marks the first time CSA has partnered with a travel company, Tourvest, to offer all-inclusive travel packages that include accommodation, transport, and meals. The move has sparked concern among local supporters, many of whom fear the majority of seats could be occupied by overseas fans, including groups such as the Barmy Army. CSA chief executive Pholetsi Moseki defended the allocation strategy but acknowledged supporters’ frustrations. “We remain committed to ensuring that ticket access is managed fairly, transparently and in a way that balances supporter demand with the operational requirements of hosting a major international sporting event,” Moseki said. CSA also confirmed that future ticket-sale announcements would be communicated more clearly and in advance. The next batch of tickets is expected to be priced slightly higher, ranging from R420 to R500.

Mohammad Ali will join Nottinghamshire ahead of the upcoming Vitality T20 Blast after the county extended his contract following the unavailability of veteran Australian seamer Peter Siddle. The 33-year-old Pakistan fast bowler was initially signed for Nottinghamshire’s One-Day Cup and County Championship campaigns during August and September. However, the club has now confirmed that Ali will also feature in the T20 Blast squad. Ali arrives in England after an impressive season in the Pakistan Super League, where he represented Hyderabad Kingsmen. The right-arm pacer claimed 20 wickets during the tournament, playing a major role in helping the franchise reach the final and earning recognition in ESPNcricinfo’s Team of the Tournament. Speaking about the opportunity, Ali expressed his excitement about playing at Trent Bridge and featuring in English domestic cricket. “I am really pleased to get the opportunity to come to Trent Bridge earlier than expected, and I am really looking forward to the Vitality Blast,” Ali said. “I have heard a lot about how good Trent Bridge is to play at, and I can’t wait to meet the team and play in front of the brilliant fans.” Ali has represented Pakistan national cricket team in eight international matches across formats, with his most recent appearance coming in March 2025. Nottinghamshire were forced to revise their overseas plans after Siddle became ineligible for the Blast due to his participation in the World Legends Pro T20 League in Goa, a tournament categorized as “disapproved cricket.” Head coach Peter Moores welcomed the signing and praised Ali’s recent performances and experience. “When it became clear last month that we'd have to find another overseas player for this year's Vitality Blast, Mohammad was the obvious choice,” Moores said. “With his recent performances in the PSL, I’m really excited by what he can bring to our group.” Nottinghamshire begin their Vitality Blast campaign on Friday against Yorkshire in the North Group. Alongside Ali, the club will also feature South African spinner George Linde as one of their overseas players.

Three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders have staged one of the most remarkable turnarounds of the IPL 2026 season, bouncing back from a disastrous start to emerge as serious playoff contenders. After 25 matches of the season, KKR’s campaign appeared all but over. The side had suffered five defeats in their first six matches, with another game ending in a washout, leaving them near the bottom of the points table and struggling for momentum. However, the Kolkata-based franchise has since scripted an impressive revival, winning six of their last seven matches to reignite their playoff hopes. Their latest triumph — a four-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians at Eden Gardens on Wednesday — further strengthened belief within the camp. Speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show, former India batter Abhinav Mukund praised KKR’s tactical improvements and growing confidence. “They’ve got their tactics and combinations right now,” Mukund said. “Their batting may still not be firing on all cylinders, but they’ve become very effective in the areas we expected them to dominate, especially spin bowling. A form team is always dangerous.” KKR’s resurgence has largely been built around their spin attack. Veteran all-rounder Sunil Narine has been exceptional, claiming 14 wickets while maintaining a tournament-best economy rate of 6.40. Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, despite a difficult start to the season, has rediscovered rhythm and contributed ten wickets at an economy rate of 8.78. Support from spinner Anukul Roy and pacer Kartik Tyagi has further strengthened KKR’s bowling unit, while all-rounder Cameron Green has chipped in with crucial breakthroughs. Former India opener Wasim Jaffer highlighted how KKR’s slow start was partly due to unsettled combinations and player availability issues. “Finding the right opening pair, deciding where Cameron Green fits, and dealing with bowling absences hurt them early on,” Jaffer explained. “Players like Mustafizur Rahman and Harshit Rana missed games, while Matheesha Pathirana joined late. But they’ve found the right balance at the perfect time.” With just one league-stage match remaining — against Delhi Capitals at Eden Gardens on Sunday — KKR now stand on the brink of an unlikely playoff qualification. A victory, combined with favorable results elsewhere, could complete what many are calling one of the season’s great comeback stories.

David Payne, the experienced left-arm seamer for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, has been ruled out of the remainder of the T20 Blast campaign after opting to undergo ankle surgery following an injury sustained during his IPL stint with Sunrisers Hyderabad. The 35-year-old was signed by Sunrisers Hyderabad earlier this season as an injury replacement for Australian all-rounder Jack Edwards. However, Payne managed to feature in only two matches during the tournament. He picked up figures of 2 for 35 in three overs against Royal Challengers Bengaluru before returning 0 for 35 in two overs against Kolkata Knight Riders. Before joining the IPL, Payne had enjoyed an outstanding winter in franchise cricket. He played a key role in helping the Desert Vipers and Perth Scorchers secure titles in the ILT20 and Big Bash League respectively. The seamer delivered match-winning performances in both finals, recording figures of 3 for 42 in the ILT20 final and 3 for 18 in the Big Bash League final, the latter earning him the Player-of-the-Match award. After returning home from India in early April, Payne and Gloucestershire’s medical staff decided surgery was the best long-term option for his career. In a statement shared on Instagram, Payne expressed disappointment at missing the competition.“I’m absolutely gutted to be missing the Blast, and I’m very sorry to all our supporters,” Payne wrote.“The decision to have surgery was an incredibly difficult one, and it was only taken after exhausting every possible avenue to get me back playing.” He also thanked the club’s coaching and medical teams for their support during the process and said he would continue supporting the side from the sidelines. Payne’s absence represents a major setback for Gloucestershire, especially considering his remarkable impact in recent T20 Blast campaigns. During Gloucestershire’s title-winning run in 2024, Payne finished as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 33 wickets at an average of 12.75. He also starred in the final against Somerset County Cricket Club at Edgbaston, taking 3 for 27 as Gloucestershire sealed an emphatic eight-wicket victory. In the following season, Payne continued his strong form by claiming 17 wickets at 21.58, although Gloucestershire were unable to progress beyond the group stage in their title defence. The club will now have to navigate the remainder of the T20 Blast campaign without one of their most experienced and reliable bowlers as Payne begins his recovery and rehabilitation process.

Assistant coach Shane Watson has praised Varun Chakravarthy for continuing to play through injury as Kolkata Knight Riders kept their IPL 2026 playoff hopes alive with a victory over Mumbai Indians at Eden Gardens on Wednesday night. Watson revealed after the match that Varun has been “playing through a bit of pain,” amid reports that the mystery spinner is carrying a hairline fracture in his left foot. Despite the injury, Varun has continued to feature for KKR during the crucial final phase of the season. Against Mumbai Indians, the spinner returned economical figures of 0 for 28 from his four overs, helping KKR maintain pressure during the middle overs even though he went wicketless. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Watson praised Varun’s determination and commitment to the franchise.“He’s obviously playing through a bit of pain at the moment, which just shows how brave he is and how much he wants to contribute for KKR,” Watson said. The former Australia all-rounder also highlighted Varun’s impressive turnaround this season after a difficult start. The spinner had gone wicketless while conceding heavily in KKR’s opening games but later emerged as one of the side’s most dependable performers alongside veteran spinner Sunil Narine. Watson added that KKR were fortunate to have a player willing to push through discomfort for the team’s cause.“With the pain that he’s managing, he could have easily decided to rest. But he’s all in for KKR,” he said. Varun’s injury has also reportedly come under the observation of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), although the board has left the management of his fitness to the franchise during the IPL season. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia stated that while the board’s Centre of Excellence physios continue monitoring player workloads and injuries, franchises are primarily responsible for player management during the tournament. The match also saw a worrying collision involving Varun and young batter-wicketkeeper Angkrish Raghuvanshi. During the 11th over of Mumbai’s innings, Raghuvanshi sprinted toward a top-edged catch off Varun’s bowling and collided with the spinner just as the catch was being completed. The impact caused Varun to spill the ball. Raghuvanshi later left the field in the 14th over and did not return to bat. Watson confirmed that the youngster experienced neck pain, dizziness and headaches following the collision.“He ran a long way for that catch, but unfortunately the collision caused some neck pain, dizziness and a headache,” Watson explained. The KKR coach also praised Raghuvanshi’s fighting spirit, calling him one of the toughest competitors in the squad. His absence was felt, especially given that he has been KKR’s leading run-scorer this season. KKR will now prepare for their final league-stage fixture against Delhi Capitals on Sunday, with the team hopeful that Raghuvanshi recovers in time while Varun continues his rehabilitation ahead of the crucial clash.

Gaby Lewis will lead the Ireland women's national cricket team at the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England, marking the first time she will captain the side at a global tournament. However, the star batter has been rested from Ireland’s forthcoming T20I tri-series against Pakistan and West Indies in Clontarf as she continues recovering from a recent leg injury. In Lewis’ absence, vice-captain Orla Prendergast will take charge of the side during the home tri-series. Cricket Ireland has not named a vice-captain for the tournament. Ireland have suffered another injury setback with right-arm medium pacer Jane Maguire ruled out of contention. However, there was positive news with the return of left-arm spinner Aimee Maguire, who has recovered from injury and earned selection in both the tri-series and World Cup squads. The 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup remains largely unchanged from the 14-player tri-series group, with Lewis returning for the global event. At the World Cup, Ireland face a challenging group featuring hosts England, defending champions New Zealand, Scotland, Sri Lanka, and former champions West Indies. Ranked ninth in the ICC Women’s T20I rankings, Ireland are ahead of only Scotland among the teams in their group. Ireland will begin their World Cup campaign against Scotland in Manchester on the second day of the tournament. The Irish side last competed in the Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers held in Nepal earlier this year, where they finished runners-up to Bangladesh. Lewis starred during the qualifiers, emerging as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 276 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 119.48. Currently ranked joint-14th among T20I batters, Lewis remains central to Ireland’s hopes at the World Cup. Orla Prendergast is ranked No. 26 among batters and sits seventh in the ICC rankings for women’s T20I all-rounders, while Amy Hunter is ranked 29th among batters. Ireland Women’s Squad for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Gaby Lewis (captain), Orla Prendergast (vice-captain), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Alana Dalzell, Laura Delany, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Aimee Maguire, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Rebecca Stokell. Ireland Women’s Squad for Tri-Series vs Pakistan and West Indies Orla Prendergast (captain), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Alana Dalzell, Laura Delany, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Aimee Maguire, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Rebecca Stokell.