Brook | Pakistan

England captain Harry Brook said on Saturday that it would be “a shame” if Pakistani players were shut out of England’s domestic white-ball Hundred competition by Indian-owned franchises. Former England skipper Michael Vaughan on Friday urged the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to “act fast” on BBC reports that Pakistani players will be “overlooked” in the player auction next month. Ahead of England’s opening Super Eights clash against Sri Lanka in Kandy on Sunday, Brook — who will play for Indian-owned Sunrisers Leeds in the Hundred this year — was asked about the issue. “Our main focus now is what’s coming up in the T20 World Cup. It’s not really any of our business, to be honest,” said Brook. “But what I would say is Pakistan have been a great cricket nation for many years.” Long-standing political tensions between India and Pakistan have led to the border rivals only playing each other in international cricket events. Their Colombo showdown at the ongoing T20 World Cup only went ahead after Pakistan...

New Zealand overcame a blitz from centurion Harry Brook to beat England by four wickets on Sunday in the opening game of their three-match one-day international series, with Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell scoring half-centuries. The hosts wobbled chasing 224, losing four quick wickets, including former captain Kane Williamson for a first-ball duck in his first match for the side since March, but Mitchell took them home with an unbeaten 78 after being dropped on 33. Bracewell also earned a reprieve early on and ran himself out for 51 to open the door for England after the initial burst from Brydon Carse (3-45), but New Zealand got back on track thanks to Mitch Santner’s 27 and prevailed in 36.4 overs. “There was still a lot in the wicket,” skipper Santner said. “We lost a couple more than we would have liked in the chase but the intent was great … Daryl and Michael’s partnership was massive for us.” England recovered from a disastrous start as captain Brook bludgeoned 135 from 101 balls and Jamie Overton...