Cricket news round-up – December 24: Jasprit Bumrah, Shikhar Dhawan return to India sides for upcoming home series

India have recalled Jasprit Bumrah and Shikhar Dhawan for the upcoming home series against Sri Lanka and Australia. Elsewhere, Vernon Philander announces his intention to retire, Pakistan seals a historic win, and Ireland announce their 2020 fixture list.

Bumrah, Dhawan return for Sri Lanka, Australia series

Jasprit Bumrah and Shikhar Dhawan have returned to the India limited-overs squads after recovering from their respective injuries, and is in line to play in the home series against Sri Lanka and Australia.

Bumrah has recovered from the stress fracture that kept him out from September – he missed the series against South Africa and West Indies. Dhawan, meanwhile, sustained ankle bruising during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and missed the West Indies series.

Their returns come as Rohit Sharma and Mohammed Shami are rested, for the series against Sri Lanka. It also means Mayank Agarwal, who was reserve opener for the West Indies series, will return to the Karnataka side for the ongoing Ranji Trophy.

Vernon Philander set to retire after England series

South Africa ace Vernon Philander is set to retire from international cricket after the upcoming four-Test series against England, CSA announced on Monday.

Philander, who has taken over 200 wickets in his 60 Tests so far, which puts him seventh in South Africa’s all-time wicket-takers’ list, said the decision was “coming for a while”.

“I would like to hereby announce that I will be retiring from international cricket at the conclusion of the Test series against England,” Philander said in a statement. “I feel that it is the appropriate time to conclude what has been an amazing journey. It has been a honour and privilege to have played alongside the very best in the game as well as being part of the best test team for a number of years.”

Pakistan take 2.4 overs to wrap up win

Pakistan won their first Test series in Pakistan since 2006 after taking just 2.4 overs on the fifth morning to complete a 263-run win over Sri Lanka in Karachi.

Naseem Shah, the 16-year-old pacer, completed his maiden Test five-wicket haul, taking the wickets of Lasith Embuldeniya and Vishwa Fernando in his two overs.

The victory took Pakistan to third place on the ICC World Test Championship table, with 80 points from four matches.

Ireland line-up fixtures against Bangladesh, New Zealand, Pakistan

Ireland have announced their fixture list for 11 home international matches for 2020, including fixtures against New Zealand, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

They will play three ODIs against Bangladesh in May at Stormont, which could be followed by four ODIs, once the venues are confirmed. New Zealand then visit in June, for three T20Is in Bready followed by three ODIs in Stormont.

Pakistan then visit in July for a two-match T20I series against Pakistan at Malahide.