Aira Villegas, Albert Ian delos Santos PH flag bearers in Asian Games

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has officially revealed the schedules for the men’s and women’s Ashes series in 2027, with both competitions set to take place in England during the summer. The men’s Ashes series will begin on June 18 at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, while the women’s Ashes campaign will start six days later with a one-off Test match at Headingley in Leeds on June 24. The announcement has created controversy because no men’s Ashes Test match has been scheduled in the north of England, despite the region’s long and historic connection with the rivalry. Famous cricket venues such as Headingley and Manchester’s Old Trafford have been excluded from the 2027 men’s series, a decision that has attracted criticism from several figures in English cricket. Both Headingley and Old Trafford have played important roles in Ashes history and have witnessed some of the greatest moments in the sport. Headingley was the stage where Australia’s legendary batter Don Bradman produced two memorable triple centuries during the 1930s. The ground has also hosted some of England’s most iconic performances, including Ian Botham’s remarkable displays during the 1981 Ashes series. More recently, Headingley became famous worldwide after Ben Stokes produced an unforgettable unbeaten century in 2019, guiding England to a dramatic one-wicket victory over Australia. Old Trafford, meanwhile, has also been the setting for many historic Ashes battles and has traditionally been considered one of England’s most important cricket grounds. The absence of northern venues from the 2027 schedule has been criticised by former England captain Michael Atherton. Writing in The Times, Atherton questioned the decision and described it as disappointing that the north had been overlooked. He pointed out the timing of the announcement, coming when greater political attention is being given to expanding opportunities and investment outside London and the south-east. The entire five-Test men’s Ashes series in 2027 will now be played across venues in the Midlands and southern England. Trent Bridge will host the opening Test from June 18, followed by the second Test at Lord’s in London from June 30. The third match will take place at Edgbaston in Birmingham from July 8, while Hampshire’s Rose Bowl near Southampton will host its first-ever Ashes Test from July 21. The series will finish with the fifth Test at The Oval in south London, beginning on July 29. The Rose Bowl will become the 10th venue in the United Kingdom to stage a men’s Ashes Test match. Meanwhile, Headingley and Old Trafford are expected to return to the Ashes schedule in 2031. Australia currently holds the Ashes after securing a dominant 4-1 victory on home soil during the 2025/26 series. The previous Ashes contest in England ended in a closely fought 2-2 draw in 2023. England’s most recent Ashes triumph came in 2015, when they won the home series 3-2. Before the Ashes begins, England are scheduled to face Bangladesh in a one-off Test match at Lord’s starting on May 28. The Oval will also host the 2027 World Test Championship final from June 9, marking the second time the famous ground has staged the event. As part of their preparation for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in southern Africa, England will also play 10 One-Day Internationals, including five matches against New Zealand and five against Pakistan. The busy schedule promises a major summer of international cricket, although the decision to exclude northern England from the men’s Ashes fixtures is likely to remain a subject of debate among fans and former players.

  MULTAN: Pakistan’s white-ball head coach Mike Hesson has begun preparations for the country’s long-term one-day cricket plans by meeting the coaching staff of the four teams competing in the National Champions Cup. Hesson arrived in Multan on Sunday to monitor the tournament and interact with the coaches and players as Pakistan’s domestic cricket season gets underway. The National Champions Cup will be played from August 11 to August 18 at the Multan Cricket Stadium, with all seven matches scheduled as day-night fixtures. The tournament represents one of the first major events of Pakistan’s domestic season for 2026-27 and is expected to provide the national coaching setup with an opportunity to assess players ahead of future international commitments. During his visit, Hesson held a detailed meeting with the head coaches of the four participating teams. Pakistan Greens are being coached by former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq, while Ijaz Junior is in charge of Pakistan Gold. Iqbal Imam is leading Pakistan Whites, and former Pakistan fast bowler Aizaz Cheema is coaching Pakistan Blues. Pakistan’s white-ball bowling coach Ashley Noffke and National Cricket Academy coach Shahid Aslam were also present during the meeting. The discussions primarily focused on developing players’ one-day cricket skills and improving different aspects of their overall game. The coaching staff exchanged views on player development, performance standards and the areas that need greater attention as Pakistan looks to build a strong pool of players for the future. The National Champions Cup is particularly significant because it will provide an early platform for players hoping to push their claims for selection in Pakistan’s national white-ball squad. With the ICC World Cup 2027 on the horizon, the domestic tournament is expected to play an important role in identifying and developing talent capable of performing at the international level. The 2027 ICC World Cup will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, making long-term preparation essential for Pakistan. The national coaching staff is expected to closely monitor performances throughout the domestic season as they work towards assembling a balanced and competitive squad. The National Champions Cup will follow a single-league round-robin format. Each of the four teams will face the others once during the league stage, with the two highest-ranked sides progressing to the final. The competition will begin on August 11 when Pakistan Greens take on Pakistan Whites. Pakistan Blues will face Pakistan Gold on August 12, followed by another match involving Pakistan Blues against Pakistan Whites on August 13. On August 14, Pakistan Gold will meet Pakistan Greens, while Pakistan Blues will play Pakistan Greens on August 15. The final league match will take place on August 16, with Pakistan Gold facing Pakistan Whites. The tournament will conclude with the final on August 18 at the Multan Cricket Stadium. With Hesson and members of the national coaching setup closely involved, the competition is expected to provide valuable insight into Pakistan’s emerging one-day talent and strengthen preparations for the 2027 World Cup.