Archive August 11, 2025

T20 Blast to be revamped in 2026

By in News, Sports News
Getty Images
Gideon Brooks
BBC Sport England

A shake-up to the domestic white-ball summer will take place in 2026, including a slimmed down Vitality Blast played in one block before the start of The Hundred.

A review into the white-ball domestic structure led by the counties – in consultation with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) – recommended changes with an eye on player welfare and competition narrative.

From next summer the T20 Blast competition reduces the group stages by two games to 12 matches per side, with the quarter-finals and Finals Day following on directly so the competition is wrapped up in one block.

The two groups of nine sides will be replaced by three groups of six split into north, central and south groups as they were in 2020.

The Women’s T20 Blast competition has a similar reduction in games with the group stages featuring 12 games, down from 14. Finals Day will mirror the men’s finale with two semi-finals and a final on the same day.

With Yorkshire Women moving to Tier 1 on professional terms, the structure of the women’s T20 changes to two groups of nine with the second-tier sides playing eight group games and a three-team two-match Finals Day.

The six-week break between the group stages and quarter-finals in the T20 Blast has come under fire, with critics saying the competition loses its “momentum”.

What will happen from 2026

Men’s Vitality T20 Blast

The group stage of the Vitality T20 Blast reverts to three groups with North, Central and South Groups with the eight best-placed teams on points and net run-rates going through to the quarter-finals.

North Group: Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire, Durham, Yorkshire and Leicestershire

Central Group: Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, Birmingham, Somerset, Glamorgan, Worcestershire

South Group: Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Middlesex, Essex, Hampshire

Each county plays the other teams in their group home and away – a total of 10 matches.

They will additionally play one home game against a county from outside their group and one away game against a side from another group.

Changes to the women’s white-ball summer

Surrey won the T20 Blast Final at The Oval in JulyGetty Images

Vitality Blast women’s competition (Tier 1)

Group: Bears, Durham, Essex, Hampshire Hawks, Lancashire Thunder, Somerset, Surrey, The Blaze, Yorkshire.

Each county will play 12 group-stage matches – six home and six away. They will play four counties twice and four counties once.

The top four counties at the end of the group stage will progress to women’s Vitality Blast Finals Day, which will include two semi-finals and the final.

Vitality Blast Women’s League 2 (Tier 2)

Group: Derbyshire Falcons, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Kent, Leicestershire Foxes, Middlesex, Northamptonshire Steelbacks, Sussex Sharks, Worcestershire Rapids.

Each county will play eight group-stage matches – four home and four away. They will play each county either home or away.

The top three counties at the end of the group stage will progress to Vitality Blast Women’s League 2 Finals Day, which will include an eliminator and final.

Metro Bank One-Day Cup women’s competition (Tier 1)

Group: Bears, Durham, Essex, Hampshire Hawks, Lancashire Thunder, Somerset, Surrey, The Blaze, Yorkshire.

Each county will play 16 group-stage matches – each county plays each other county at home and away.

The top three counties at the end of the group stage will progress to the knockout stages. The top county progresses straight into the final to meet the winner of the eliminator between second and third place.

Metro Bank One-Day Cup Women’s League 2 (Tier 2)

Group: Derbyshire Falcons, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Kent, Leicestershire Foxes, Middlesex, Northamptonshire Steelbacks, Sussex Sharks, Worcestershire Rapids.

Each county will play eight group-stage matches – four home and four away. They will play each county either home or away.

Related topics

  • Northamptonshire
  • Essex
  • Gloucestershire
  • Durham
  • Hampshire
  • Glamorgan
  • Lancashire
  • Surrey
  • Derbyshire
  • Kent
  • Nottinghamshire
  • Worcestershire
  • Sussex
  • Leicestershire
  • Yorkshire
  • Warwickshire
  • Middlesex
  • County Cricket
  • Somerset
  • Cricket

Christine McGuinness ‘scared to date’ after Paddy split as she walks out of Celebs Go Dating mixer

By in Entertainment News, News

Christine McGuiness has admitted that the thought of going on a date “scares her” as she walked out of her first Celebs Go Dating mixer due to being overwhelmed during Monday’s episode.

(Image: Channel 4)

Christine McGuinness says the thought of going on a date “scares me so much” after splitting from Paddy McGuinness, as she took to the screen tonight for the new series of Celebs Go Dating but couldn’t face the show’s first task.

The mum-of-three admitted earlier this year that she had pulled out of the show shortly after filming began, with the first episode already showing her getting some cold feet.

“I got diagnosed with autism six years ago, it affects me a lot with socialising, it takes me a while to feel relaxed and be open to getting to know someone. The thought of going on a date scares me so much, it’s all brand new for me but I’m in the best place for it,” Christine, 37, said just minutes into the show, before she was seen heading into a dating mixer with singles and fellow celebrities Kerry Katona, S Club 7’s Jon Lee, Love Island star Olivia Hawkins and Too Hot To Handle’s Louis Russell. The episode comes as Kerry Katona has revealed her devastating her health condition after split from ex-fiancé.

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Celebs Go Dating 2025 cast
Christine was seen on the show with Kerry Katona, S Club 7’s Jon Lee, Love Island star Olivia Hawkins and Too Hot To Handle’s Louis Russell(Image: Channel 4)

Christine, who describes her sexuality as “free spirited” was seen getting to know both men and women during the mixer, but quickly found herself “freaked out”.

“Tonight, you’ll be making your first choices on your dates,” said the show’s relationship expert Paul C. Brunson as he arrived to the mixer with fellow experts Anna Williamson and Dr. Tara. “But there’s a catch. Your first date will be in a different country, in the beautiful Spanish island of Ibiza,” continued Paul, as the camera panned to a worried-looking Christine.

The thought of bringing someone abroad quickly had Christine in a spin, as she said to the camera, “How can I go abroad with someone that I don’t even know? This is not normal.”

Pulling Kerry aside to confide in her, Christine said, “I need a minute, I can go for a minute, can’t I?” as they headed for the stairs leading outside. “I need a minute. I don’t want to just take someone away,” admitted Christine, as Kerry replied, “It’s a lot, isn’t it?”

Christine and Paddy McGuinness in 2021
Christine was married to Paddy for 11 years until their 2022 split(Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
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Christine split from TV presenter Paddy, 51, in 2022 after 11 years of marriage, with the couple yet to share what led to the divorce. However, they remain living together in their Cheshire home for the sake of their three children; 12-year-old twins Leo and Penelope and youngest Felicity, 8, who have all been diagnosed with autism.

“We both know that we can date and we’re allowed to. We’re adults and we’re single, so we can, but we also know that we don’t need to overshare any information about anything because we are still exes and we are still living in the same house,” she said earlier this year of her relationship with Paddy.

Keyamo Says Worker Behind Indecent Video Of Ibom Air Passenger Will Be Sanctioned

By in News, Nigeria News

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has condemned the release of an indecent video of the Ibom Air Passenger, Comfort Emmanson, who was accused of assaulting a crew member at the on Sunday.

Keyamo said that while the filming of her unruly behaviour as evidence to prosecute her was in order, the release of the video to the public to ridicule her was deplorable and unacceptable.

The minister said he had directed that whoever released the indecent part of the video should be identified and sanctioned.

READ ALSO: ‘Justice Should Be Fair,’ Obi Faults Arraignment, Remand Of Ibom Air Passenger

“Whilst we support the filming of her recalcitrant behaviour as evidence to prosecute her, what is deplorable is to release such evidence containing indecent exposure to the public to ridicule her. That is totally unacceptable to us.

“We will not fold our arms and tolerate the debasing of womanhood. I have therefore directed that whoever RELEASED that part of the video containing the indecent exposure amongst the staff should be singled out and adequately sanctioned.

“I have also directed that the airlines must continue to train and retrain their staff in public relations and how to deal with potentially explosive situations in order to diffuse them promptly or nip them in the bud, except when it becomes inevitable,” said the senior advocate of Nigeria in a post on X on Monday.

Keyamo said he had also directed a joint security meeting between relevant agencies next week for better coordination of security measures in situations like this or similar ones we witnessed recently.

He urged genuinely aggrieved passengers to follow laid-down remedies to address grievances.

The minister stated, “The Consumer Protection Directorate of the NCAA has consistently advertised these remedies, and there is no point in trying to take the law into one’s hands that may lead to dire consequences. We will continue to apply equal sanctions available to us in aviation on any such erring passengers, that is, lengthy flight bans, and report the matters to other law-enforcement agencies to do their bit within their powers.”

No-Fly Life ban

The Airline Operators of Nigeria has imposed a no-fly life ban on a female passenger, Comfort Emmanson, who allegedly assaulted airline officials on an Ibom Air flight inbound Lagos from Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

The AON, in a statement by its spokesperson, Obiora Okonkwo, on Monday, said the ban on Emmanson from flying with any AON member, either domestically or internationally, for life, takes immediate effect.

Ibom Air had placed a travel restriction on Emmanson, for assaulting members of the airline’s Uyo–Lagos flight crew at the Lagos airport on Sunday.

Viral videos showed the passenger lashing slaps on one of the airline’s flight attendant, even as security officials tried to restrain her.

The airline said that shortly before take-off from Uyo, she was instructed to switch off her mobile phone.

“She bluntly refused to comply until the Pilot-in-Command made an announcement, after which a fellow passenger seated beside her took the phone and switched it off.

“This action prompted a verbal tirade from Ms. Emmanson. The situation was eventually calmed, and the flight departed as scheduled.

Celebrity SAS chaos as two more stars leave – with one axed by fuming instructors

By in Entertainment News, News

Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins’ new series had already seen four contestants quit in the first two episodes but two more were shown leaving the process in the latest episode

Two more celebrities left the new series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins in tonight’s episode(Image: Channel 4)

Another two contestants were seen leaving Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins in the latest episode. One of them became the fifth celebrity to voluntary withdraw, whilst their co-star was axed from process by the chief instructor instead.

The Channel 4 show continued with the fourth episode of its new series, which launched earlier this month, this evening. It saw the remaining contestants face yet more challenges together in Wales, which is considered the home of the first phase of SAS Selection.

Four contestants had already left the experience in previous episodes. Another two were shown departing in tonight’s episode, with the first coming during a mission described as “one of the most physically demanding tasks yet”.

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Adebayo Akinfenwa on a beach whilst filming Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
Adebayo Akinfenwa became the fifth celebrity to withdraw from the new series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins during tonight’s episode(Image: Channel 4)

Former footballer Adebayo Akinfenwa, 43, became the fifth recruit to leave. He withdrew during the mission, which saw the contestants tasked with carrying an inflatable boat through “rugged, coastal terrain” in teams.

Adebayo said he was struggling with a pre-existing knee injury towards the end of the mission and decided to voluntarily withdraw. Amid struggling with carrying the boat and concerns that he wasn’t contributing as much as others, he said to his teammates: “I’m messing you up, f***!”

Later, after the mission, the Traitors winner Harry Clark, 23, became the next contestant to leave. He was removed from the process after he had been told off by the unimpressed instructors, who got Harry to admit that he’d lied about “cutting corners”.

After assuring instructors Billy Billingham and Chris Oliver that he doesn’t cut corners, Harry was shown footage of himself doing only 11 burpees after being tasked with doing 20 earlier in the experience.

Harry was later brought in front of the other celebrities, with him admitting to them that he had “cut corners”. Billy said: “I asked you three times about honesty and integrity, and what did you do?” Harry replied: “I lied, staff.” The reality TV star was then asked to hand in his armband, with the instructor saying “now”. Billy then shouted moments later: “Now!” Harry fulfilled the request and then left, becoming the sixth departure.

Harry Clark on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
Harry Clark was later asked to leave the Channel 4 show in the episode after ‘cutting corners’ and admitting to having ‘lied’ to instructors(Image: Channel 4)

The new series of Celebrity SAS, which launched earlier this month, has already seen four contestants voluntarily withdraw. Two quit in the first episode, followed by two more celebrities who walked away during the second episode.

Former S Club member Hannah Spearritt, 44, and dancer Louie Spence, 56, quit too in the first episode. Hannah withdrew amid a mission on the show, with her having said at the time: “Sorry – I’m done. Sorry. I’ve reached a point.”

Louie later quit following a subsequent task. Sharing that he wanted to leave the process, he said: “I wanna do an immediate withdrawal.” He added: “I just don’t have the conviction and I feel as though I’m not dedicated enough.”

Viewers then saw Love Island stars Chloe Burrows, 29, and Tasha Ghouri, 27, quit in the second episode. Chloe withdrew whilst trekking up a hill, on the way to a challenge set over a ravine. After struggling, and her complaints being met with frustration from an instructor, she declared: “I’m done, I’m done.”

Tasha made the same decision shortly afterwards during the same task in the episode. After falling behind some of the other contestants whilst on the trek up the hill, she said: “I’m not mentally here. I’m not mentally here to do this.”

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Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins continues on Sunday night from 9pm on Channel 4.

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US to extend China tariff pause another 90 days

By in News, World News

United States President Donald Trump has signed an executive order extending the China tariff deadline for another 90 days.

The extension came only hours before midnight in Beijing, when the 90 day pause was set to expire, CNBC reported on Monday, citing a White House official.

The White House did not immediately respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment.

Earlier on Monday, Trump said he has been “dealing very nicely with China” as Beijing said it was seeking positive outcomes.

If the deadline had passed, duties on Chinese goods would have returned to where they were in April at 145 percent, further fuelling tensions between the world’s two largest trading partners.

While the US and China slapped escalating tariffs on each other’s products this year, reaching prohibitive triple-digit levels and snarling global trade, both countries in May agreed to temporarily lower tariffs at a meeting between negotiators in Geneva, Switzerland.

But the pause comes as negotiations still loom. Asked about the deadline on Monday, Trump said: “We’ll see what happens. They’ve been dealing quite nicely. The relationship is very good with [China’s] President Xi [Jinping] and myself.”

“We hope that the US will work with China to follow the important consensus reached during the phone call between the two heads of state,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian in a statement.

He added that Beijing also hopes Washington will “strive for positive outcomes on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit”.

In June, key economic officials convened in London as disagreements emerged and US officials accused their counterparts of violating the pact. Policymakers again met in Stockholm last month.

Even as both countries appeared to be seeking to push back the reinstatement of duties, US trade envoy Jamieson Greer said last month that Trump will have the “final call” on any such extension.

Ongoing negotiations

Kelly Ann Shaw, a senior White House trade official during Trump’s first term and now with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, said she expected Trump to extend the 90-day “tariff detente” for another 90 days later on Monday.

“It wouldn’t be a Trump-style negotiation if it didn’t go right down to the wire,” she said.

“The whole reason for the 90-day pause in the first place was to lay the groundwork for broader negotiations, and there’s been a lot of noise about everything from soybeans to export controls to excess capacity over the weekend,” she said.

Ryan Majerus, a former US trade official now with the King & Spalding law firm, welcomed the news.

“This will undoubtedly lower anxiety on both sides as talks continue, and as the US and China work toward a framework deal in the fall. I’m certain investment commitments will factor into any potential deal, and the extension gives them more time to try and work through some of the longstanding trade concerns,” he said.

For now, fresh US tariffs on Chinese goods this year stand at 30 percent, while Beijing’s corresponding levy on US products is at 10 percent.

Since returning to the presidency in January, Trump has slapped a 10-percent “reciprocal” tariff on almost all trading partners, aimed at addressing trade practices Washington deemed unfair.