logo
Sikandar Raza saga shows the sinister trend haunting cricket's T20 franchise leagues - and the dangerous world it opens up

Sikandar Raza saga shows the sinister trend haunting cricket's T20 franchise leagues - and the dangerous world it opens up

Daily Mail​27-05-2025

If you hadn't followed the story closely, you might have been surprised to tune in to the last few balls of this year's Pakistan Super League on Sunday evening, and see a guy at the crease called Sikandar Raza.
After all, barely 24 hours earlier, a guy called Sikandar Raza had been scoring 60 for Zimbabwe against England at Trent Bridge. How many Sikandar Razas does cricket need?

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

The annual journey of a Roman Catholic saint's 440-year-old hand
The annual journey of a Roman Catholic saint's 440-year-old hand

BBC News

time23 minutes ago

  • BBC News

The annual journey of a Roman Catholic saint's 440-year-old hand

Early 17th century England was a dangerous place to be member of the Roman Catholic faith. The religion was outlawed, and priests such as Edmund Arrowsmith paid the ultimate price for their beliefs. Knowing he would be tortured and executed if he held masses, he travelled the north-west of England on on horseback and in heavy was killed in 1628, but to this day, Catholics in the region have a lasting reminder of him - his mummified hand. It rests inside a small, glass-domed case and is often transported between the St Oswald and Edmund Arrowsmith church in Ashton-in-Makerfield, near Wigan, to the picturesque Arrowsmith cottage in the Lancashire village of Brindle. The man charged with the responsibility for the unusual cargo is Canon John Gorman, parish priest in Ashton-In-Makerfield. "I feel like I am the custodian of his legacy and it is a very big responsibility," he says. Fr Gorman, a canon of Liverpool Archdiocese, recently celebrated Mass in the upper room in Brindle where Arrowsmith said his last Mass. Every year, on the anniversary of his execution, hundreds of Catholics flock to the church that bears Arrowsmith's is said and parishioners have the chance to be blessed with the hand. The next day, the hand is sometimes taken to St Joseph's RC Church Brindle, and worshippers there retrace Arrowsmith's last ride with a walk over the marshland where he was eventually captured as he was thrown from his horse while trying to escape his commemoration culminates with a Mass in St Joseph' this year's ceremony could be the last, as the church is threatened with closure. Arrowsmith was born in 1585 and was steeped in Catholic parents were jailed and his uncle, Fr John Gerard, once escaped from the Tower Of Arrowsmith's capture he was hanged until nearly unconscious before being cut down and dragged through the streets of Lancaster on a was then quartered and his body parts displayed to scare others from defying King Charles I. Devotees would salvage these relics, and they were passed down through the was how the hand of Arrowsmith - one of the 40 English martyrs canonised by Pope Paul VI in 1970 - came to be in Ashton-in-Makerfield."We are not likely to be executed for our faith, but what we believe is not popular in the current climate," says Fr Gorman. "We all have to have the same fidelity of St Edmund." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.

Bicester Motion fire: Charity football match in honour of victims
Bicester Motion fire: Charity football match in honour of victims

BBC News

time23 minutes ago

  • BBC News

Bicester Motion fire: Charity football match in honour of victims

A charity football match in honour of three people killed in a fire at a business park is about "getting the community together", one of its organisers has told the Jennie Logan, 30, and Martyn Sadler, 38, along with father-of-two Dave Chester, 57, were killed in the blaze that engulfed a hanger on the Bicester Motion site on 15 United, based near the town, will face off against a team of Oxford United legends to raise funds for the Firefighters Charity on 20 club's chairman, Ian Feaver, said it "needed to do something" as the incident had "affected the whole of the Bicester community". "When we think about Jennie, Martyn and David, pretty much everyone knows someone who knew one of those three people - so it really does affect everybody in quite a bad way," he said."Raising funds for the Firefighters Charity is important, but [it's also important] to get the community together to have an enjoyable evening whilst remembering those people." Mr Feaver said Oxford United had been "absolutely fantastic" in "supporting us to do something to raise funds".Several U's legends, including three players who secured the club's return to the Football League at Wembley in 2010, will feature in the Constable, who scored the second goal in that win over York City, said he was "massively looking forward" to the encounter."It's something really tough hearing that news that people have lost their lives trying to keep us all safe," he said."As soon as there was a mention of a game and something as simple as kicking a ball around with mates and raising money, it was something that I was keen do."The match - which will be refereed by current Football League ref and former firefighter Sam Allison - is a ticket-only event, with all money raised going to the Firefighters Charity. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.

Test Match Breakfast: Headingley has a new hero and how Shubman Gill broke the rules
Test Match Breakfast: Headingley has a new hero and how Shubman Gill broke the rules

Daily Mail​

time32 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

Test Match Breakfast: Headingley has a new hero and how Shubman Gill broke the rules

Test Match Breakfast takes a look at some of the biggest issues around cricket during England's huge first Test against India at Headingley. England fought back with an Ollie Pope century, ending day two at 209-3, after India dominated day one. Ahead of day three, DAVID COVERDALE discusses Headingley's new hero, Rishabh Pant's stunning celebrations and why India captain Shubman Gill's attire sparked plenty of conversation Headingley's new hero After being given the backing of Ben Stokes and England, Ollie Pope has also now won over the hard-to-please folk of Yorkshire. It was notable that the Surrey star was serenaded by fans at Headingley on Saturday as he neared his century, even if his song of 'Ollie, Ollie Pope' lacked creativity. There was even the sighting of a group of blokes dressed in pope costumes in the Western Terrace. It appears Headingley has a new hero. Crowd-pleaser Rishabh Pant celebrates in style... again Rishabh Pant produced perhaps the most elaborate century celebration in Test match history when he performed a somersault in the middle. 'Rishabh's celebration is as entertaining as his batting!' wrote India icon Sachin Tendulkar on X. However, it is not the first time crowd-pleaser Pant has celebrated in such style. The India wicketkeeper also marked his 54-ball hundred for Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL last month with a front flip, a moment which went viral. It appears Pant's party trick is here to stay – and cricket is all the better for it. Shubman Gill breaks the rules... with his socks Shubman Gill's black socks provoked plenty of conversation on the first day of the Test. 'Very natty,' commented Mail Sport columnist David 'Bumble' Lloyd, while Mark Butcher called them 'village'. It now turns out, however, that the India captain actually broke ICC rules by wearing them. The global governing body's clothing regulations state that players are only permitted to wear white, cream or light grey socks in Test matches. Sanctions for breaching the rules include a formal warning or a deduction of up to 20 per cent of the player's match fee. Someone clearly had a word in Gill's ear on Friday night, as he resumed his innings on Saturday wearing white socks. Karun Nair's unhappy return A penny for the thoughts of Karun Nair. The India batsman – who hit an unbeaten 303 against England in 2016 - has had to wait seven years for another Test chance. Yet having watched three of his team-mates hit centuries in India's first innings, when Nair got his long-awaited opportunity at the crease, he was dismissed for a fourth-ball duck. Mark Wood on commentary duty Mark Wood is a man in demand here at Headingley. The injured England bowler will not be available to play against India until the final Test at best. However, Wood has been making the most of his time away from the middle by trying his hand at commentary. The 35-year-old was part of the BBC Test Match Special team on Friday. Then on Saturday, he switched from radio commentary to TV, calling an international match on Sky Sports for the first time. The charismatic Wood, who also hosts his own podcast, has long been one of the most media-friendly players in the England dressing room. And the Durham paceman is sure to have plenty of offers of work when he hangs up his bowling boots in the not-too-distant future. Harry Brook left in a heap Getting roughed up by the India bowlers is one thing. Taking a blow from your own team-mate is another. Harry Brook was minding his own business when Ben Duckett fielded Pant's edge off Shoaib Bashir. But when Duckett picked the ball up and rifled it towards the stumps, Brook was in the direct path of the throw and was struck flush on his back, leaving him in a heap. England players initially looked concerned, while India's stars winced up on the Headingley balcony. Fortunately, Brook was soon back on his feet and laughing about the incident, even if he did rush off the field for treatment. Ben Stokes eats rabbit pie For Josh Tongue, it was the feast after the famine. Having toiled away without success on Friday, the England quick picked up four quick wickets to mop up India's tail on Saturday. When Tongue clean bowled No11 Prasidh Krishna to end India's first innings, his captain Ben Stokes mimicked an eating motion, leaving commentators confused. It was left to Broad on Sky Sports to explain that Stokes' gesture meant 'eating rabbit pie', i.e. knocking over the lower order. Dickie Bird's golden anniversary Yorkshire legend Dickie Bird was given a huge ovation by the Headingley crowd when he was shown on the big screen during the second day's play. The iconic umpire's appearance here was not significant in itself - he always takes his seat in the pavilion during an England Test match. It was, though, a special day for Bird as July 21 marked the 50th anniversary of the first-ever Cricket World Cup final at Lord's, which he umpired

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store