Kate Cross and Salman Ali Agha - (Source: AFP)
The Babar Azam-less Pakistan team suffered a huge defeat to England in the first Test at Leeds. In other news, Kate Cross has announced her retirement from all forms of the game.
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, August 21.
Robinson, Jofra Archer sink Pakistan as England take 1-0 lead
England fast bowlers Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue picked up three wickets each to bundle out Pakistan for just 135 in 37.3 overs on Day 3 of the first Test in Leeds. Robinson completed eight wickets in the match as England secured a huge win to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match Test series.
Also Read- Updated WTC Table After ENG vs PAK 1st Test 2026, World Test Championship Points Table
The Pakistan team also slipped to the bottom of the 2025-27 WTC points table following their demoralizing result.
Kate Cross announces retirement from all forms of the game
England Women’s fast bowler Kate Cross has announced her retirement from all forms of the game. The cricketer took to her Instagram account and shared an emotional social media post.
Cross recently played The Hundred Women 2026 season for the Sunrisers Leeds franchise. She played 76 ODIs, 18 T20Is and eight Test matches for England during her playing days, and was part of the England team that reached the final of the 2022 Women’s World Cup.
Mushfiqur Rahim’s availability yet to be decided for second Test vs Australia
Mushfiqur Rahim is yet to be confirmed to play Bangladesh’s upcoming second Test against Australia in Mackay. The Bangladesh team management is still waiting for a medical clearance before taking a call on the senior batter’s participation.
It is worth noting that Mushfiqur sustained a finger injury during a training session earlier this week just a couple of days before the final match of the tour.
Esha Oza to lead as UAE name squad for Women’s Asia Cup 2026
The Emirates Cricket Board has unveiled a strong 15-player squad for the UAE Women’s team for the upcoming 2026 Women’s Asia Cup at home. Esha Oza will continue to lead the national side and she will be accompanied by fellow star performers like Heena Hotchandani and Suraksha Kotte.
Players like Archara Supriya and Siya Gokhale are making their return to the UAE squad, while Uttara Iyer will start out as a potential debutant.
Saim Ayub joins Jamaica Kingsmen for CPL 2026
Pakistan opening batter Saim Ayub has joined the Jamaica Kingsmen squad in the Caribbean for the ongoing CPL 2026 season. The cricketer was initially declined NoC by the PCB as he was scheduled to take part in the President's Cup. However, the PCB has now granted him an NoC to take part in the remainder of the CPL 2026 season.
Also Read- Will Babar Azam Return For 2nd Test? Pakistan’s Salman Agha Drops Huge Hint After Defeat
