Report: Misbah-ul-Haq could retire this month

Pakistan test skipper Misbah-ul-Haq could announce his retirement from test cricket after the conclusion of the final test against England in Sharjah, according to Express Tribune. 

The veteran batsman, who is country’s most successful Test captain is hopeful to finish the series on a winning note in the final test on Sunday.

“I was trying to make a decision before this Test but now I have just left it, I will really think about what I should do because there is a long gap before our next series. One should think about leaving the game with respect rather than leaving it when he is forced to leave,” Misbah said.

However, The PCB has asked the 41-year-old to continue play for the nation until Pakistan's tours of England and Australia in 2016. 

Pakistan to play for four Tests in England next year, and then travel to Australia for three Tests in the 2016-17 season.

Misbah already announced his retirement from the shorter forms of cricket. He averages 48.77 in his 60 Tests, having scored 4243 runs since making his debut against New Zealand in 2001.

Asia Cup 2016 to be held in Bangladesh

It has been confirmed - the next year’s Asia Cup will be scheduled in Bangladesh for the third consecutive time. 

The T20 format tournament will feature India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and an associate nation, starting on February 24 and the final match to be held on March 6.

"Pakistan raised the point that Bangladesh should host next year's Asia Cup and everyone agreed," BCB president Nazmul Hassan told reporters in Dhaka on Wednesday. 

"Four Test nations will get direct entry while one Associate nation will come through the qualifying tournament. We also discussed whether there can be more cricket at the Under-19 level between the Asian countries.”

Meanwhile, Afghanistan, Oman, Hong Kong and the UAE will compete to qualify for the Asia Cup as Associate nation.

The previous two season of the Asia Cup were held in Dhaka in 2012 and 2014. This will be the fifth time the tournament is being held in Bangladesh, having previously hosted in 1988 and 2000 too.

IPL: Jacques Kallis named KKR head coach

Former South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis has been appointed the head coach of Kolkata Knight Riders for the ninth edition of the Indian Premier League, starting next year.

The 40-year-old succeeds the current England coach Trevor Bayliss, who was managing KKR for four years.

Kallis said: ”KKR is my family in India and the association since 2011 has been one of the most enjoyable experiences for me. I look forward to the new challenge and feel honoured to be part of the KKR family" 

The 6 ft 2 in allrounder made his IPL debut with the Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2008, before moving to Shahrukh Khan co-owned franchise KKR in 2011 and had taken up the role of a mentor and batting consultant last year.

Kallis helped KKR lift two titles as a player.

Indian pacer Zaheer Khan retires from international cricket

India’s out-of-favour fast bowler Zaheer Khan has announced his retirement from an international cricket, according to the Indian Premier League chairman Rajeev Shukla.

Shukla took to twitter to reveal Zaheer's plans to retire.

Zaheer khan to announce his retirement today My best wishes to him for post retirement carrier

— Rajeev Shukla (@ShuklaRajiv) October 15, 2015

The left arm seamer, who was part of the Indian cricket team that won the 2011 World Cup at Mumbai, is expected to reveal the announcement today afternoon.

Zaheer made his Test debut against Bangladesh in 2000 and has claimed 311 wickets in 92 Tests, 282 wickets in 200 ODIs and 17 wickets in 17 Twenty20 games.

Cricketers playing in the ‘All Stars T20’ series

For the first time in cricket history - twenty eight legendary cricketers from around the world will be playing in the “Cricket All Stars Series” to be held in the United States of America in November across New York, Houston and Los Angeles.

Hey USA, look who's coming to play some cricket this November :) #CricketAllStars @ShaneWarne @sachin_rt pic.twitter.com/6fTGjOeHlr

— Cricket All Stars (@T20AllStars) October 5, 2015

The series is part of a league planned by two legends Shane Warne and Sachin Tendulkar.

In addition - Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting have been signed up for the T20 league featuring retired international cricketers.

Here are the complete list of the 28 cricketers:

India: Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Ajit Agarkar

England: Michael Vaughan, Graeme Swann

Australia: Shane Warne, Ricky Ponting, Glen McGrath, Mathew Hayden, Andrew Symonds

New Zealand: Daniel Vettori

Sri Lanka: Muttiah Muralitharan, Mahela Jayawardena, Kumar Sangakkara

Pakistan: Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Moin Khan, Saqlain Mushtaq

South Africa: Jacques Kallis, Lance Kluseners, Allan Donald, Jonty Rhodes, Shaun Pollock

West Indies: Brian Lara, Carl Hooper, Courtney Walsh, Curtley Ambrose

Somerset sign former Aussie batsman Chris Rogers

Former Australia batsman Chris Rogers has joined Somerset after signing a one-year contract at the County Ground in Taunton.

The thirty-eight-year-old, who recently announced his retirement from an international cricket at the end of the Ashes series 2015 in England, will be joining his fifth county club - having previously played for Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Middlesex.

The former Western Australia batsman has scored 24,460 runs at an average of 49.81 in 297 first-class matches till date.  

"I'm really pleased to be joining a club of the stature of Somerset,” he told the club's official website.

I'm looking forward to the challenge and can't wait to get started." 

BREAKING: We are delighted to announce the signing of Chris Rogers for the 2016 season! #WelcomeRogers pic.twitter.com/YHrjBwEL03

— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) October 7, 2015

Rogers becomes one of two new signings for Somerset, having also secured teenager wicketkeeper Ryan Davies from Kent on a three-year deal.

Excited to have signed for @SomersetCCC a great club and I can't wait to get down there and get going #exciting

— Ryan Davies (@RyanDavies777) October 7, 2015

England hopeful of huge success in the UAE

England Test skipper Alastair Cook and their head coach Trevor Bayliss confident of putting in good performances to beat Pakistan in the UAE.

England to face Pakistan in a three-match Test series starting on October 13.

Cook, 30, admitted that the three Test-match series will be a challenging and he is confident that his young side can bring a victory over Pakistan.

"We have got a young and exciting side and we are very clear in our mind how hard it is going to be and what a challenge it is,” said the Essex player.

"It is warm, something we have to get accustomed to, so the first two training sessions tend to be hard work. That's part of the conditions we've got to face. Pakistan are probably a bit more used to it than we are, but we'll be fine. Just a bit of sweat, blood and tears for the first bit.”

England suffered a 3-0 whitewash when the last time the two sides clash in the UAE in 2012.

"Last series we probably should have won it. We had opportunities to win that series but Pakistan hung in and really won the critical moments,” He added. "That can be the way in subcontinent conditions or UAE conditions, the game can turn very quickly and you have to make sure you grab those opportunities.”

The Tests series will be followed by four ODIs and three T20I.