PSC steps in as Asian Tour’s 108th Philippine Open dangles $1 million

NEW DELHI: India have turned to middle-order batter Sarfaraz Khan as their injury problems continue to pile up ahead of the two-Test series against Sri Lanka, bringing the right-hander into the squad as a replacement for Sai Sudharsan. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that Sudharsan has been ruled out after suffering a stress reaction in his right foot. He is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and has reportedly shown significant improvement. Sarfaraz’s inclusion gives India another experienced domestic performer as the team prepares for an important World Test Championship assignment. The 28-year-old made his Test debut in 2024 and has so far played six Tests, scoring 371 runs at international level. His record includes one century and three half-centuries, highlighting his ability to make an impact when given opportunities in the longer format. Sarfaraz has also remained a prolific performer in India’s domestic cricket. During the 2025 Ranji Trophy season, he represented Mumbai in seven matches and accumulated 429 runs, strengthening his case for another opportunity at Test level. His return comes at a challenging time for India, who are dealing with injuries to several important players. Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and all-rounder Washington Sundar are also among the players whose fitness has become a concern ahead of the Sri Lanka tour. The changes have added uncertainty to India’s final combination, particularly in the batting and bowling departments. Sarfaraz’s selection could provide the team with additional depth in the middle order as the management assesses its options. India and Sri Lanka are scheduled to play the opening Test in Galle on August 15, followed by the second Test at the SSC Ground in Colombo from August 23. The two-match series carries added significance because it forms part of the ongoing World Test Championship cycle. Both sides will therefore be looking to begin the campaign strongly and collect valuable points. For Sarfaraz, the opportunity arrives at a crucial moment. After producing strong numbers in domestic cricket and making a promising start to his international career, his inclusion gives him another chance to establish himself in India’s Test middle order. With injuries already forcing India to rethink their plans, Sarfaraz could now find himself at the centre of attention when the first Test begins in Galle.

COLOMBO: Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has reportedly withdrawn from the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2026, bringing an early end to a turbulent campaign that was overshadowed by an administrative mix-up and below-par performances. According to media reports, the 26-year-old informed his franchise, Kandy Royals, that he was leaving the tournament for personal reasons. Neither Afridi nor the franchise has disclosed further details, while Kandy Royals are yet to announce a replacement. Afridi’s departure comes just days after he was at the centre of an unusual selection controversy. Reports claimed he had initially been listed as the team’s Impact Player for a match against Colombo Capitals, but was unable to feature after an administrative error left his name off the official team sheet. The mistake reportedly occurred after Kandy Royals elected to bat first, with team officials later informing Afridi that an analyst had accidentally omitted his name from the final squad submitted before the match. The incident prompted the Pakistan pacer to raise the issue with an official from the tournament’s Anti-Corruption Unit, after which the matter was referred to the match referee for review. Franchise officials and tournament organisers later apologised to Afridi for the error. Reports suggested the left-arm fast bowler had briefly considered leaving the competition immediately after the incident but decided to stay with the squad following the apology. Despite remaining in the tournament, Afridi struggled to make his usual impact with the ball. He claimed seven wickets in six matches, averaging 32.00, while conceding runs at an economy rate of 10.18, figures well below the standards expected from one of Pakistan’s premier fast bowlers. Meanwhile, the LPL continues to see changes in team combinations, with two more Pakistani cricketers joining the competition as replacement signings. Young batter Khawaja Nafay has been drafted by Jaffna Kings to replace Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zadran, while experienced all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed has signed with Dambulla Sixers as a replacement for Afghanistan fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi. Shaheen’s reported withdrawal marks another twist in an eventful LPL campaign and is likely to spark further discussion about player management and tournament administration as the competition heads toward its decisive stages.