The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the BBC have come to terms with a rights agreement that covers both the BBC’s national and international highlights as well as live coverage of The Hundred over the course of four years.
Digital clips will also be included in the deal, along with highlights of all red and white ball internationals broadcast on television, iPlayer, and the BBC Sport website.
Each year, BBC Sport will continue to broadcast live coverage of the The Hundred men’s and women’s tournaments, including the TV and iPlayer finals and eight double-headers that take place each year.
More women’s live television will be broadcast on the BBC as a result than ever before.
However, the previous agreement included two men’s and two women’s T20s, which meant there won’t be any live international matches.
The women’s white-ball international series against West Indies kicks off England’s summer at home on May 21 before the one-off men’s test against Zimbabwe.
Later in the summer, the men play five Test matches against the same opponents while the women play whiteball against India.
Test Match Special will be broadcast until at least 2028 in addition to the BBC’s current audio arrangement with the ECB, along with a new four-year contract to broadcast county cricket for men and women.
Tony Singh, the ECB’s chief commercial officer, expressed his delight at the extension of our partnership, which will give us four more years of live cricket on BBC TV.
It’s exciting that the BBC will be showing even more live women’s matches in The Hundred each year, and that viewers will continue to have free access to highlights of England Men’s and Women’s home games in what promises to be an exciting time for cricket in this country.
The director of BBC Sport, Alex Kay-Jelski, said: “Cricket is a game of stories. It’s more than just a game of numbers.”
Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre is where BBC Sport journalists are based.
In their World Championship semi-final, Zhao Xintong defeated Ronnie O’Sullivan 12-4 to take the lead.
Zhao won the opening session 8-0 against O’Sullivan at the Crucible on Friday morning with the overnight score of 4-4, making him the only player to do so in the process.
After Thursday’s opening session, Englishman O’Sullivan, 49, made the decision to get a new tip and make additional changes after making no secret about his struggles with his cue since snapping his old one at the Championship League in January.
He missed a number of regulation pots against a player who brutally punished him, but it didn’t have the desired impact.
Zhao, a former UK Championship champion who is currently playing for amateur purposes, had a good game and put on a performance that suggests he might be ready to win the title in Sheffield.
Palestinians are facing a “daily struggle to survive” amid Israel’s war and blockade of the enclave, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The ICRC issued the warning on Friday, adding to the international aid organizations’ urgent requests for a resolution that would require Israel to grant a ceasefire and the opening of humanitarian corridors in exchange for Hamas’s release of captives.
The Red Cross will not have access to the food, medicines, and life-saving supplies needed to support many of its programs in Gaza, the ICRC stated in a statement.
In the wake of bombardment that has displaced the majority, destroyed the enclave, and claimed the lives of more than 52, 000 Palestinians, Israel strictly controls all international aid that is needed for the 2.3 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Two weeks before the ceasefire, which had begun in January and lasted for roughly six weeks, was broken, Israel restricted access for aid deliveries to Gaza on March 2.
The ICRC warned that its humanitarian efforts in Gaza, including the distribution of food, “will only be able to go on for a few more weeks” if the blockade persists.
According to international humanitarian law, Israel is required to “use every means at its disposal” to meet the needs of Palestinian civilians under its control, it added.
According to Pascal Hundt, ICRC deputy chief of operations, “Civilians in Gaza are facing an overwhelming daily struggle to survive the dangers of hostilities, cope with relentless displacement, and endure the consequences of being deprived of urgent humanitarian assistance.”
“This situation must not be allowed to worsen,” he said.
The UN has repeatedly warned about humanitarian catastrophe as the blockade drags on. Famine is a possibility.
UNWRA’s head of UNWRA, Philippe Lazzarini, claimed on Friday that the Israeli siege in Gaza is collectively punishing all of its members.
Amjad Shawwa of the Palestinian NGOs Network made the warning in an interview with Al Jazeera that many children in Gaza are likely to die from malnutrition and that the situation is quickly getting worse for tens of thousands of children.
Israel continued to bombard the enclave on Friday. 22 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes since dawn, according to medical sources, along with attacks on the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in northwest Gaza City and the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza.
Rugby League Commercial managing director Rhodri Jones has defended the quality of the Super League, dismissing Luke Keary’s criticism of the competition as “over-dramatic”.
In an interview with Wide World of Sports, former Sydney Roosters and South Sydney Rabbitohs star Keary, who joined Catalans Dragons in 2025, described Super League as “horrendous” and “unwatchable” and said clubs are “on their knees begging” for NRL investment.
The NRL, Australia’s premier competition, has been linked with purchasing a 33% stake in Super League, including taking full administrative control.
“If [the NRL] don’t buy it, they’re in a lot of trouble. All the players are open to it,” said Keary, who switched to play from Australia to Ireland in 2022. “[The Super League] is in such a bad way, the game is horrendous over here.
“It’s the product, the coverage, the news around the game, there is zero. You watch the games, they’re near unwatchable. The coverage and everything, and because we’re in French, they don’t show the games.
Responding to Keary’s comments on BBC Radio 5 Live, Jones confirmed conversations between Super League and NRL are ongoing and said the two organisations have a “positive working relationship”.
While he understands Keary’s position, based on his successful career in Australia, he believes Super League is “heading in the right direction” and pinpointed a number of upcoming events which he hopes will change his opinion.
“[The comments] were dramatic. Luke’s entitled to his own opinion, though I’m not in agreement with what he has to say,” Jones said.
“Our figures are showing that we’re having a very positive season. Our attendances are up, our TV audience, both across Sky Sports and BBC, are up.
“[Being in France] he might be a little bit out of the mainstream in terms of seeing the positivity for the game in the UK, but he’ll get a real feel for that this weekend with Magic Weekend at St James’ Park where he’ll play in front of 65,000 people against Leigh Leopards.
“Luke has played at the top of the game in Australia and the game in Australia is very much akin to the Premier League over here.
“We’re heading in the right direction. You saw us in Las Vegas earlier in the season with Wigan and Warrington. The Ashes are coming here in the autumn with two sell-out crowds at Everton and Headingley [and] Wembley over 30,000 tickets sold.
“We’ve got Magic Weekend this weekend which is raising the profile of the competition and he’ll also be involved in a sell-out next weekend in the Challenge Cup semi-final against Hull KR.
Sam Cook, an Essex bowler, will make his England debut after being chosen for the one-off Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge.
The 27-year-old, an outstanding seamer in domestic cricket in recent seasons, has a chance in a young attack that has lost a number of players due to injuries.
Jofra Archer continues his long reintroduction to red-ball cricket at the Indian Premier League (IPL), but Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Brydon Carse, and Olly Stone are all absent.
With a new-looking pace attack, England will kick off a defining year of Test cricket, including its marquee series against India and Australia.
Nottinghamshire seamer Josh Tongue makes his comeback almost two years after earning his second and final caps alongside Cook.
The 13-man party’s other specialist seamers are Matthew Potts (10 caps) and Gus Atkinson (10).
Atkinson, Tongue, and Cook’s starting XI on May 22 would likely have won 13 caps, which is the lowest total for England’s pace attack at home since Zimbabwe’s most recent Test, which was held in this nation 22 years ago.
After having hamstring surgery at Christmas, captain Ben Stokes is fit to lead a squad that has no surprises.
The all-rounder’s first game since suffering a left leg injury in the final Test against New Zealand in December will be at Trent Bridge. The 33-year-old’s bowling ability is likely to be constrained.
Jordan Cox, an uncapped Essex batter, makes his debut in the top order as cover for the top order. He missed out on a Test match against New Zealand due to a broken thumb.
Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope get a chance to cement their positions after Matte Jacob Bethell impressed in his first New Zealand series but is currently playing in the IPL. The sole spinner is Shaib Bashir.
Since England has made no secret of their desire for bowlers of high pace, Cook, a “english-style” seamer with strong accuracy and movement, has to wait for a chance.
The former student from Loughborough University has played three times for England Lions, including on an Australian tour earlier this year, and has taken 318 first-class wickets with an average of under 20.
In reality, Cook and Woakes are vying for a spot in the first-choice XI. Due to an ankle injury, the Warwickshire man hasn’t played this season.
Dan Worrall, who has now qualified to play for England after three one-day internationals, would have been a better choice, but he has been omitted.
The last Test match between Zimbabwe and England took place in 2003, a year known for Anderson’s Test debut as England’s all-time best wicket-taker.
Even though Zimbabwe recently won a respectable 1-1 draw in Bangladesh, England will be the clear favorites to win at Trent Bridge. On June 20 at Headingley, the five-test series against India will begin.
India and Pakistan are tense over a possible military offensive against its western neighbor days after the deadly attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, in the wake of rumors that New Delhi might launch a military campaign against its western neighbor.
In a picturesque meadow in Pahalgam, which only can be reached by foot or horseback, suspected rebels opened fire on male tourists as they emerged from the forests in the afternoon of April 22. A local Kashmiri pony rider and 25 tourists were killed.
The worst attack in Kashmir in a quarter-century sparked a string of diplomatic maneuvers by India and Pakistan, which have brought the nuclear-armed neighbors into imminent military conflict.
However, Kashmir is at the center of their tensions, despite India’s accusations of Pakistani involvement and Islamabad’s accusations that New Delhi has denied providing any proof to support its claims.
In the region of Kashmir it administers, India has responded to the Pahalgam attack by conducting numerous raids and demolitions of rebel-held homes. In some areas of the Kashmir valley, tourism has also been temporarily halted. Additionally, it is expeling Pakistanis who reside in India and Kashmir, including former rebel rebels’ families, which New Delhi had previously invited as part of a rehabilitation program.
Meanwhile, dozens of Kashmiris have reported experiencing physical assault, harassment, and leave threats in various cities across India.
Al Jazeera spoke with residents of the area about the impact the Pahalgam attack had had on their lives.
Ashiq Nabi attempted to promote Kashmir as a destination for adventure travel. His dream has now vanished [Al Jazeera].
35-year-old adventure tour operator Ashiq Nabi
When the attack happened, I was in Pahalgam. We all found it shocking.
I immediately became aware of the impact of the incident as an architect and tourism planner working in Kashmir to create adventure tourism.
My work has been directly impacted by the government’s decision to shut down 48 tourist destinations and suspend all trekking activities following the attack. The months of planning, coordination with local partners, and scheduled expeditions abruptly came to an end.
Local guides, porters, and service personnel were dismissed as a result of the attack, which resulted in numerous cancellations, losses of money, and other staff dismissals, many of whom are solely dependent on seasonal tourism for income.
Beyond just business, the impact shook the confidence of tourists and stifled hundreds of people’s livelihoods along the tourism value chain.
My efforts to promote Kashmir as a safe, adventure-friendly destination have come to an abrupt end. Although my work has suffered a significant setback, I’m optimistic that things will get better, that more people will visit, and that the sector will regain its footfall.
I have no other choice but to hope because I’m very stressed out right now about my livelihood.
[Al Jazeera] Rameez Ahmad, a taxi driver, claims that tourists are the source of his livelihood.
40-year-old tourist taxi driver Rameez Ahmad
The events that occurred in Pahalgam should never have occurred.
Our only source of income is destroyed by incidents like that, which don’t just cause panic. Since that day, there have been so many tourists that I haven’t taken a single ride in these days.
I wait patiently outside the door, hoping someone will call me, but the phone just stops ringing.
This year has already begun with some hope since March. Bookings were booming, and after years of struggle, it appeared as though we might finally experience a positive season. However, everything is now crashing in.
People like me, who have no government job, no land, and no business, will be left without money if this continues.
We can survive on tourism, but this incident has been very bad for me because I have no choice but to stay. I can’t save money on it. I need money to pay off my loans, my family, and my children. When visitors decline to visit, it’s more about how we’ll eat tomorrow than just a bad day at work.
Amir Ahmad’s family fears that a wider crackdown may result in his arrest by security forces. He had been summoned by police over a controversial social media post [Al Jazeera] months earlier.
A job seeker named as *Amir Ahmad 26
When the Pahalgam incident occurred, I was staying in a rented room in Srinagar, India’s largest city. I was ejected from central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district in response to reports of youth being taken across the border.
I was called to the neighborhood police station a few months earlier for a post I posted on social media that the police didn’t like. I was warned before being released, and I was then sent home. I have been confined to my home ever since I left the rented place I had previously rented. I’m not allowed to leave my house. I experience a wave of anxiety whenever I receive a call, which I believe might be from the police.
My mother had planned to have open-heart surgery in Delhi in a few days, but she is now too afraid to do so. One of my friends, a student, just came back and cautioned us that traveling at this level is incredibly dangerous. After the attacks against Kashmiri students, he had to rush home while he was a student in Punjab.
We are unsure about whether to worry about two meals, our job, our education, our homes being destroyed, or the political uncertainty that is roiling our worlds.
For some people, Kashmir may be a wonderland, a miniature of Switzerland, or a paradise, but for us, it is an open prison. Everyone experiences fear in their lives. What is the outlook?
Ajmal, a roadside snack vendor in Kashmir who works in eastern India, claims that outsiders are not currently feeling threatened.
Ajmal, a Bihar-born immigrant worker, age 21,
My sister and her husband have been raising children in Kashmir for more than ten years.
She also brought me here a few years ago. She never complained that she would suffer harm. She would frequently praise the locals and their warmth. That sparked my desire to try and establish a life here as well. I earn money by selling pani puri, a well-known street snack in South Asia, on a cart. Here, too, is excellent weather.
Fear was first sparked by the tourist attack, which did cause fear the day afterward. Without knowing what would occur, we were extremely afraid. However, people are gradually getting back to their daily routine and things are starting to normalize. Without much concern, I keep operating my stall and even shut it off late in the evening. So far, we feel secure.
For the moment, at least the atmosphere here doesn’t feel intimidating to outsiders.
In order to rehabilitate former separatists who had given up arms, Safiya Jan married a former rebel fighter in 2014 and moved from Pakistan to Indian-administered Kashmir. She is now concerned about being forced to leave the nation where she raises her children [Al Jazeera].
*Safiya Jan, 40
I’m a native of Karachi, Pakistan. In 2014, I visited Kashmir for the families of the former rebels who had fled to Pakistan but had given up their weapons and settled there under the [Indian] government’s rehabilitation plan.
I moved to Kashmir after marrying my husband, who is from Baramulla, north of the country. I have lived in this house with him and our two daughters for the past ten years. Our current home is this.
I become concerned when I learn today that Pakistanis are being resent. My heart breaks, dear. I’m not interested in returning. How can I go home alone and leave my husband behind? I prefer to pass away than to be separated from my family. Please don’t let us leave, I beg the government, with folded hands.
Here are my daughters studying. Year after year, we have continued to build a life in Kashmir. Nobody is in danger of us. We only want to be able to live peacefully as a family.
Who on Earth would cut an arm or leg from the body if I was to be sent back?
