As a former international cricketer and current coach of Sri Lanka Under-19s, Jehan Mubarak has more than one World Cup on his mind.
While anticipation builds ahead of the battle for the top prize in the men’s one-day game starting in India next month, Mubarak is also preparing for the equivalent under-19 tournament on home soil in 2024.
Yet before either of those events take place, another international competition begins as Chennai hosts the second Street Child Cricket World Cup.
View this post on InstagramAnd again Mubarak will have more than a passing interest having helped mentor and prepare the side that will represent his country.
“It’s huge for them,” Mubarak, who made 69 appearances for Sri Lanka across three formats, told the PA news agency. “You see the joy – pure joy – of kids playing a sport. It’s fantastic.
“Some of them are coming to Colombo for the first time – seeing a big city for the first time – and now they are going to get on a plane to go to India.
“I feel so happy for them. It is just going to expand their horizons and the stories they will bring back to Sri Lanka can show to everyone that anything is possible no matter who you are.”
The tournament, a mixed-gender event played with a soft ball, features teams from unheralded cricketing outposts such as Mexico, Hungary and Rwanda as well as established nations like England, South Africa and Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lanka team is being run by the charity Child Action Lanka, a growing organisation which supports vulnerable children and has centres around the island.
Mubarak’s involvement is voluntary and part-time, when professional commitments allow, and came about by chance but has developed into a passion.
“One of my wife’s cousins was volunteering at CAL and they were looking for some cricketers to have a cricket day for some of the kids,” said the 43-year-old.
“When I was there it was like, ‘Wow’ and I started to see things from a different point of view.
“There are stories from the city which you may have known but conveniently don’t pay attention to.
“Now, everywhere I go, I see things differently. I see people less advantaged than us.
“I spent a couple of days with the kids, which was great. It led to every time CAL did a cricketing thing, they would call me. Then this World Cup came about.
“I am not the coach of this team. It is more of a supporting role. I help whenever I can.
“The purpose here is not just to put out your best team and win. It’s to give everyone an opportunity to experience the sport and different communities through sport.”
A dream for Mubarak would be to see one of the youngsters involved go on to make their name in the game, although that is not an objective.
“There are stories of kids coming through programmes like this and going on to become superstars,” he said.
“There are a couple who look good. Who knows? Something might come out of this. There is a girl now who is playing for her district team.
“I have spoken to a couple of the district coaches and said these kids are here, have a look.
“They won’t get an opportunity through their schools. Some of them don’t even go to school, and those who do may not get highlighted because of their circumstances.
“But everyone can play. Even if someone gets hit for six sixes the others are cheering them on all the time. It is really good. I love it.”
Stokes to have scan on hamstring injury before Pakistan tour
Ben Stokes will have a scan on his hamstring injury next week with the England captain in a race to be fit for their first Test in Pakistan.
Stokes sustained the injury at the start of August and was subsequently absent from the series win over Sri Lanka.
The 33-year-old revealed earlier this month he was being cautious with his recovery rather than risking further damage with a premature return.
As well as netting throughout his recovery, Stokes has also featured in this week's Celebrity Pro-Am at the PGA Championship in Wentworth.
Despite the issue, he has been named as captain of England's 17-man squad, which is due to depart on October 1 before beginning the three-match series six days later.
England paceman Wood sidelined until 2025 with elbow injury
England bowler Mark Wood will miss the remainder of 2024 after sustaining an injury to his right elbow.
Wood played a full part in the first Test versus Sri Lanka at Old Trafford last month, despite suffering from stiffness and discomfort while bowling during July's series against West Indies.
Wood managed two wickets in that match as England sealed a five-wicket victory, but he was then replaced by Olly Stone for the second Test at Lord's, which ended in another comprehensive home win.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has now confirmed Wood's injury will rule him out of red-ball tours of Pakistan in October and New Zealand in December.
The ECB said it will closely monitor Wood's rehabilitation ahead of a potential return to action in early 2025, with England embarking on a white-ball tour of India – their first with Brendon McCullum in charge of their limited-over sides – in January.
They then head to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy, which begins on February 19.
Bairstow and Moeen left out of England's white-ball squad
Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali have both been left out of England's white-ball series squad, with five uncapped players named.
As Jos Buttler looks to the future, Warwickshire batting all-rounders, Jacob Bethell and Dan Mousley, have been given their first international call-ups for the three-match T20 series against Australia next month.
Essex batter Jordan Cox, Hampshire seamer John Turner and Leicestershire left-arm bowler Josh Hull, who was named as Mark Wood's replacement in the Test squad to play Sri Lanka, have also been picked.
The latter three will also be involved for the five one-day internationals that follow.
World Cup winners Bairstow and Moeen, who have been regular fixtures in England's white-ball squad for over a decade, could have made their final international appearances after being left out of the squad, with Chris Jordan also being overlooked.
Brydon Carse, however, has been recalled for both squads after serving a betting ban, while Saqib Mahmood returns for the T20 series after recovering from injury. Buttler will also be fit to feature after overcoming a calf injury.
Marcus Trescothick will lead England for the first time against Australia after being named Matthew Mott's interim replacement.
Mott left in July following England's semi-final exit to eventual champions India in the T20 World Cup, having also failed to help England defend their 50-over world title in 2023.
The first match of the T20 series will take place on September 11 at The Ageas Bowl in Southampton.
England T20 squad to play Australia:
Jos Buttler (captain), Jofra Archer, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Sam Curran, Josh Hull, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Saqib Mahmood, Dan Mousley, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, John Turner.
England ODI squad: Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Josh Hull, Will Jacks, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Jamie Smith, Reece Topley, John Turner.
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