The Pakistan Super League (PSL) will resume on Saturday 17 May after its postponement because of the hostilities between India and neighbouring Pakistan.
The tournament was suspended over safety concerns on 8 May, and plans to play the rest of the matches in the United Arab Emirates were then scrapped.
There are eight games remaining, with the final to be played on 25 May – one week later than its originally scheduled date.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) was also postponed but it has since been confirmed that it will resume on Saturday as well, with all outstanding fixtures rescheduled.
The PSL schedule change means that Pakistan’s series against Bangladesh will likely be rearranged, as the first T20 was set for the new date of the final.
The league’s overseas players had all left Pakistan once the suspension was confirmed, and it is unlikely that they will return to the country.
Sam Billings, James Vince and David Willey were among the English players participating.
There are four PSL group matches left to play before a knockout stage that features a qualifier, two eliminators and the final, which will take place at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
The qualifier involves the top two sides in the six-team group table, with the winner reaching the final. The team finishing third will play fourth in the first eliminator, with the winner facing the loser of the qualifier for the second spot in the final.
Leaders Quetta Gladiators are the only side to have secured a knockout spot, with bottom-placed Multan Sultans the only team eliminated.
PSL fixtures
May
17 Peshawar Zalmi v Karachi Kings, Rawalpindi
18 Multan Sultans v Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi vs Lahore Qalandars, Rawalpindi
Wales scrum-half Tomos Williams says he does not think he would have been called up to the British and Irish Lions squad if he had not been playing for Gloucester this season.
The number nine moved to the Cherry and Whites last summer from Cardiff Rugby and has been one of their stand-out players, making 23 appearances in all competitions so far.
Williams was one of three scrum-halves, along with Ireland’s Jamison Gibson-Park and England’s Alex Mitchell, selected by head coach Andy Farrell.
“I don’t think I’d be in this position if it wasn’t for Gloucester,” Williams told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.
“I said before I’m grateful for the coaches, Lights [attack coach James Lightfoot Brown], Dom [defence coach Waldouck] and Skivs [director of rugby George Skivington] for allowing me to play the way we play at Gloucester.
Williams’ arrival in Gloucester has been instrumental in helping transform the club into one of the most potent attacking sides in the league this season.
He has scored eight Premiership tries and assisted another eight, made 23 line breaks, tops the standings for most passes (845), second for kick metres (4,246) and sits in the top five overall for offloads (19) in stats provided by Oval.
His ball-handling trickery has also caught the eye – against Bristol he collected the ball in the air before a no-look pass set up Seb Atkinson to score under the post.
The 30-year-old, who has 64 caps for Wales, was the final name to be called out at the selection ceremony in London last Thursday and said the news took a couple of hours to sink in.
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Williams is one of just two Welshman in the 38-player squad for the summer series in Australia, along with back row Jac Morgan – the lowest number picked for the squad in the modern era.
Yet Williams said he hoped the duo will represent the Welsh flag “strongly”.
“I’m massively proud of Jac and really happy for Jac, he’s such a good player. You’ve seen that throughout the last couple of years and he’s such a good bloke,” Williams said.
The Senate has confirmed the defection of Senators Adamu Aliero, representing Kebbi Central; Yahaya Abdullahi of Kebbi North Senatorial District, and Garba Maidoki from Kebbi South senatorial zone, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The defection was formally announced during a plenary session on Tuesday, following their recent resignation from the opposition PDP.
With this move, the number of APC senators in the 10th National Assembly has increased to 68, further strengthening the party’s majority in the upper chamber.
The National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje; Governor of Kebbi State, Nasir Idris; and the Minister of State, Humanitarian Affairs, Yusuf Sununu, among others, were present at the event.
Following the defection, the composition of the Senate now stands as follows: APC – 68, PDP – 30, Labour Party – 5, NNPP – 1, SDP – 2, and APGA – 1.
Their official defection came days after they announced their move to the ruling party following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu.
READ ALSO: PDP In Dilemma As Three Kebbi Senators Defect
Bills Scale Second Reading
A file photo of members of the House of Representatives. Photo: X@HouseNGR
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has rejected seven constitutional amendment bills.
The bills failed to scale 2nd reading during plenary presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
They include: A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to remove from Independent National Electoral Commission, the Powers of Registration and Regulation of political Parties in Nigeria and Transfer same to the Office of the Registrar General of Political Parties and for Related Matters (HB. 2227) (Hon. Abbas Tajudeen and Hon. Francis E. Waive)
A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Cap. C23, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to Provide for the Principle of Rotation of the Offices of the President and the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria among the Six Geopolitical Zones of the Country, Namely: North Central, North East, North West, South East, South South, and South West and for Related Matters (HB. 2291) (Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu)
A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Cap. C23, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to provide for Establishment, Independence, and Functions of the Office of the State Auditors-General for Local Governments and the Federal Capital Territory Area Councils, to Strengthen Fiscal Oversight, Promote Accountability and enhance Good Governance at the Grassroots and for Related Matters (HB.2288) (Hon. Julius O. Ihonvbere)
A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Cap. C23, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, to provide for the Number of Judges of the Federal High Court to be not less than one hundred or such other Number as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly and for Related Matters (HB.2279) (Hon. Julius O. Ihonvbere)
A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Cap. C23, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to expand the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court to include Admiralty Jurisdiction, including Shipping and Navigation on the River Niger, River Benue and their effluents, and on such other Inland Waterways as may be designated by an Act of the National Assembly as International Waterways, all Federal Ports, and Carriage by Sea and for Related Matters (HB.2280) (Hon. Julius o. Ihonvbere)
A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Empower the National Judicial Council to Fix and Review, in conjunction with the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, the Salaries, Allowances, and other Emoluments of Judicial Officers and Staff of the Judiciary, and for Related Matters (HB.2281) (Hon. Julius o. Ihonvbere)
A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Create Ughelli East Local Government Area in Delta State and for Related Matters (HB.2248) (Hon. Francis Ejiroghene Waive)
The bills were initially lumped together and put to a vote, as lawmakers voted against them.
Five players involved in the Indian Premier League have been named in England’s squad for the one-day international series against West Indies later this month.
Following the rescheduling of the IPL, the final will now be played on 3 June, the same day as the third and concluding ODI against the Windies.
Jos Buttler, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer and Will Jacks are all in a 16-man ODI squad that includes a recall for spinner Tom Hartley and fit-again pace bowler Brydon Carse, but not Liam Livingstone.
A sixth IPL player, Phil Salt, is in the England squad for the three-match T20 series, which begins three days after the tournament ends.
The England and Wales Cricket Board issued no-objection certificates (NOC) up to the original date of the final, 25 May. The ECB said those will now be under “review”.
All 10 English players involved with the IPL will hold a meeting with the Professional Cricketers’ Association on Tuesday to discuss the security arrangements around a potential return to India.
England ODI squad: Harry Brook (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jamie Smith.
From the five players included in the ODI squad, Archer and Overton play for Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings respectively, two sides that will not reach the knockout stage. That clears the path for both to return in time to play a full part in the Windies series.
Buttler (Gujarat Titans), Bethell (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) and Jacks (Mumbai Indians), could all feature in the knockouts, leaving potential decisions to make. All-rounder Bethell had already opted to skip next week’s one-off Test against Zimbabwe in order to play at the IPL.
If the trio wish to complete the IPL, England would then have to rule on an NOC. It may be that the ECB wish to avoid a confrontation with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
In addition, the IPL has implemented a policy of enforcing two-year bans on any players pulling out of deals, though an exception could be made in these extreme circumstances.
The ECB said: “We’re keen to support the IPL and the BCCI in getting the schedule up and running, and to facilitate players’ return should they choose to go back.
“No Objection Certificates have been granted based on the original IPL dates, so we’ll need to review any potential extensions, particularly in relation to any clash with the final white-ball squad. We’ll continue to work closely with the BCCI and the IPL as the situation develops.”
The one-day series against West Indies is significant as Harry Brook’s first as England’s new white-ball captain.
Dawson recalled but Curran misses out
England are looking to rebuild their white-ball teams following an awful 18-month period, which culminated in defeat in all three of their games at the Champions Trophy in February.
Opener Salt and all-rounder Livingstone are out of the ODI squad, with left-arm spinner Hartley back in an England party for the first time since the T20 World Cup last June. Jacks is also recalled after being omitted for the Champions Trophy and could open the batting.
Spin-bowling all-rounder Liam Dawson, a World Cup winner in 2019, is named in the T20 squad and is in line to play international cricket for the first time in three years.
Chosen with an eye on the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka in the early part of next year, the Hampshire man is rewarded for his consistent good form both in domestic cricket and overseas franchise leagues.
There is no place in either squad for Sam Curran or Reece Topley, two left-armers with central contracts and involved in the IPL.
Could England really fail to qualify for 2027 World Cup?
While England’s path to the World Cup in 2027 is precarious, it is not as straightforward as they would like.
The top eight teams in the International Cricket Council rankings qualify directly for the tournament, or the top nine should co-hosts South Africa be in the top eight.
England are currently eighth after a dismal run in 50-over cricket.
West Indies are currently below them in ninth but would swap places with England if they win the upcoming series and win a three-match contest against Ireland beforehand.
England then do not play 50-over cricket again until September, by which time they could have dropped out of the top nine if Bangladesh win a series in Sri Lanka.
England would still have time to recover the situation, however, as the qualification cut-off for the places via the rankings is not until 2027.
Pope Leo XIV was once a student called Robert Francis Prevost, and studied a surprising degree at Villanova University where he walked the same halls as two of the most famous faces on Earth
Pope Leo XIV was an honour roll student as school before going on to the same university as two other famed figures(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Pope Leo XIV has been the new head of the Catholic Church for less than a week, after being elected on May 8. Considering how many loved his predecessor Pope Francis I, the papal conclave took over social media by storm, with countless people – Catholic or not – watching with baited breath to see who would become the next supreme pontiff.
While several frontrunners became clear, not many expected Robert Francis Prevost to win the vote, with the Chicagoan becoming the first American pope. Considering his background, Leo XIV has an all-American history with many surprising twists and turns – and internet sleuths have just uncovered a very interesting tidbit about his university years.
On X, formerly known as Twitter, social media users are going wild about a photo of the young pope in his old college yearbook. Born in 1955, Prevost went to Villanova University. It turns out that he’s not the only famous face to have attended the school, but he’s taken a very different path to some of his fellow alumni.
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In the photo of young Leo XIV, the bishop is seen rocking a full head of dark hair, and posing with a serious expression while sporting a slick suit. ‘Robert F. Provost’ is written above the pope-to-be. The world leader joined the private Catholic university after leaving St. Augustine Seminary High School on the honour roll – and serving as an altar boy at his local St. Mary of the Assumption Church – and graduated in 1977 with a degree in mathematics.
While becoming the pope is hardly an easy task, Provost isn’t alone in exceeding expectations after graduating from Villanova. Jill Biden, the wife of Joe Biden and former First Lady of the United States of America, also attended the institution. Jill had already bagged plenty of degrees, but went to Villanova for her second graduate degree and gained her Master of Arts in 1987.
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Jill Biden, an educator and the former First Lady, got her Master of Arts at Villanova(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
On the flip side, Hollywood star Bradley Cooper also went to Villanova straight out of high school. The actor only attended for one year, before he switched to Georgetown University – which is also private and Catholic but took him out of his birth state of Pennsylvania.
While Bradley was raised Catholic and still identifies with the Church, his path has taken him far away from the Vatican. Unlike Prevost, you’re more likely to see the star on the red carpet than blessing babies – and Bradley has taken on some very unorthodox roles in films such as Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle, and The Hangover.
Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper also walked the hallowed halls of the private Catholic school(Image: Getty Images)
Villanova is now in the public eye thanks to its connection to Pope Leo XIV, and even rang church bells around its campus to mark its old student’s appointment as head of the Catholic Church. The institution also released a statement, with President Rev. Peter M. Donohue enthusing: “As an Augustinian Catholic institution, we celebrate this significant day for our University community and the global Church.
“Villanova, built on the teachings of St. Augustine, has always been grounded in advancing a deeper understanding of the fundamental relationship between faith and reason, between spirituality and wisdom.
The Federal Government has announced the planned closure of the Ijora-Marine Bridge in Apapa, Lagos, for 21 days beginning Sunday, May 18 2025, to carry out critical repair works.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, the Federal Ministry of Works stated that the closure would commence at 7:00 a.m. and affect both full and partial sections of the bridge.
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Olukorede Kesha, noted in the statement that the project is aimed at enhancing road safety and improving the driving experience for motorists.
“This critical project involves lifting the entire bridge deck to replace the faulty bearings underneath, among other essential repair works. This will ensure a smoother and safer roadway,” Kesha explained.
READ ALSO: Commuters Stranded As Fallen Containers Ground Movement On Lagos-Ibadan Road
The ministry further assured the public that comprehensive traffic diversion plans and management strategies have been put in place to minimise disruptions.
“Appropriate signage and traffic control measures will be in place to guide drivers and pedestrians,” the statement added.
Residents, commuters, and business owners within the affected areas have been advised to plan accordingly during the period of closure.
While acknowledging the likely inconvenience the project may cause, the ministry appealed for public understanding and cooperation.
“We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate the public’s patience as we work to improve our infrastructure,” Kesha said.
