![England team and Babar Azam [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1783097379797_England_and_Babar_Azam.jpg?type=hq)
England team and Babar Azam [Source: AFP]
Babar Azam will likely be re-appointed as Pakistan Test captain. The ECB has named England’s playing XI for the second T20I, as well as announced their ODI squad for the series against India. In other news, PCB has handed out NOCs to 21 cricketers.
Capping an eventful day in the world of cricket, here we take a look at five of the biggest cricketing news that emerged out of Friday, July 3.
Jofra Archer returns for ENG vs IND 2nd T20I
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has named England’s playing XI for the upcoming second T20I of the five-match series against India in Manchester. Fast bowler Jofra Archer will be making his return to the field after missing the series-opener earlier this week.
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The ECB will also hand T20I debut cap to Nottinghamshire star Josh Tongue. Harry Brook will continue to lead the side, and the team also includes senior pros like Jos Buttler and Adil Rashid.
James Coles named in England ODI squad vs India
The ECB also announced a strong 16-player England squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Team India. The selection committee picked one uncapped star in the form of Sussex spin-bowling all-rounder James Coles.
Fast bowlers Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson and Saqib Mahmood are making their respective returns to the national 50-overs line-up after missing the Sri Lanka tour earlier this year.
Angkrish Raghuvanshi joins Mumbai’s pre-season camp
KKR star Angkrish Raghuvanshi has undergone a successful surgery in London for the finger injury he sustained during the fag end of the recently-concluded IPL 2026 season. The rising star has joined the Mumbai cricket team in Mumbai for their pre-season training camp ahead of India’s domestic home competitions for the 2026-27 cycle.
However, as per reports, he will not be able to bat or field for the first 15 days of the training camp, and will only be able to undertake fitness routines for the time being.
PCB grant NOCs to Shadab Khan and other Pakistan players
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has granted NOCs to 21 Pakistan players, including Shadab Khan, for participating in upcoming leagues like The Hundred 2026, LPL 2026, CPL 2026 and GSL 2026 seasons.
Ace spinner Abrar Ahmed is also among those players, as the cricketer is slated to represent the India-owned Sunrisers Leeds franchise in England, despite having made controversial anti-India social media posts in the past.
Babar Azam set to become Pakistan Test captain: Reports
Babar Azam will likely be re-appointed as Pakistan Test captain going ahead. As reported by several Pakistan media outlets, the legendary ‘Men in Green’ batter is being considered for national captaincy following Pakistan’s underwhelming results under Shan Masood.
Under Masood’s captaincy, Pakistan recently lost its two-match away Test series against Bangladesh by a 0-2 margin.
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