New Zealand was hit by the injury of their premier all-rounder, Glenn Phillips, who was picked during the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 and was ruled out of the T20I tri-series against South Africa and Zimbabwe recently. The depth of the injury was such that he won’t be able to recover in time for the upcoming two-match Test series against Zimbabwe.

As a replacement, the New Zealand Cricket board has added the off-spin all-rounder, Michael Bracewell, for the first Test of the series in Bulawayo. The 34-year-old was not initially part of the original squad due to his commitments with the Hundred. He, however, was already in Zimbabwe as a part of the Blackcaps’ T20I squad of the tri-series.

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However, with the schedule allowing him to feature at least for the first Test of the series, their head coach, Rob Walter, reckoned that it was a straightforward decision to get him into the 15-member squad, thanks to the skills he brings to the table in any format of the game.

Michael Bracewell replaces injured Glenn Phillips for New Zealand’s first Test against Zimbabwe

‘Glenn's injury provided a gap in the Test squad, and Michael is the closest like-for-like replacement. His experience and skillset will be a great asset and allow us to keep the same balance of the team.’ The former Protea and current New Zealand head coach, Rob Walter, expressed this during a recent statement.

The Otago batter has a short experience of the longest format with 259 runs in 14 innings at an average of under 20, with the best score of unbeaten 74 runs, besides picking up 24 wickets at an average of 41.79. His last Test match came in 2024 at Wellington against Sri Lanka, having debuted at Trent Bridge a year ago against England.

Bracewell will later return to the United Kingdom and link up with his franchise of the Hundred, Southern Brave, after the first Test. A decision on the replacement for the second Test will be taken in due course, as the released statement of the NZC informed. The two-match series begins later this week, marking the return of the Kiwis to Zimbabwe after nine years.

A major controversy sparked debate among fans and game lovers when Matthew Short fired a dead delivery to batter Michael Bracewell during the eliminator of the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas. San Francisco Unicorns and MI New York met each other on July 10, after the former finished in the third position of the points table while New York was in fourth.

The incident happened on the very first ball of the ninth over. The New York side was comfortable in their chase at 49/2 as the left-handed batter, Michael Bracewell, got ready to face the part-time off-spin of Matthew Short, the captain of the Unicorns. It wasn’t a great evening for the side, which couldn’t handle the pressure of the eliminator with the bat.

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Short tried to fire the ball into the leg side of the southpaw, but on his way to the delivery, the ball slipped out of his hands and flew in the air before ending in the backward point region. The batter had no clue of the entire incident as the umpires called the ball dead. Short went back to his bowling mark with a huge smile on his face as the commentators addressed the incident as ‘spot the ball challenge.’

Watch: Matthew Short’s dead-ball drama stuns MLC 2025

The league had its flaws from the start of the season. The fourth-placed side, MI New York, secured their qualification despite winning just three group-stage encounters in 10 fixtures, with a net run-rate of -0.518. They now faced the third-positioned team, which had seven victories in 10 encounters, boasting a net run-rate of +1.330.

What’s happening there, Matt? 😂 pic.twitter.com/MlmV7My72k

— Cognizant Major League Cricket (@MLCricket) July 10, 2025

Put into bat first, the Unicorns got bundled out for just 131 runs on the board in 19.1 overs. At one point, they were 62/7 in the 12th over. Only Copper Connolly had a double-digit score of 23 besides his name among the top six before Xavier Bartlett displayed his power with the bat, thanks to 44 runs in 24 balls. Trent Boult was excellent with 2/19, while Rushil Ugarkar finished with 3/19.

The chase was not a cakewalk for the New York side. Even after a 43-run opening stand, they kept losing wickets regularly, and their struggling middle order put more pressure on them. Hasan Khan picked 4/30 while Matthew Short, along with his dead-ball stunner, picked 3/22. However, Boult’s unbeaten 22 runs in 13 balls with two sixes in the 19th completed the job.

The Seattle Orcas vs MI New York (SEA vs NY) has been scheduled for the 18th match of the MLC 2025 on Friday evening, June 27 (starting at 05:30 IST on June 28), at Grand Prairie Stadium (Grand Prairie).

MLC 2025, Match 18: SEA vs NY Probable XIs

Seattle Orcas Predicted Playing XI: Shayan Jahangir (wk), Aaron Jones, David Warner, Kyle Mayers, Heinrich Klaasen (Captain), Shimron Hetmyer, Sikandar Raza, Harmeet Singh, Cameron Gannon, Obed McCoy, Jasdeep Singh

MI New York Predicted Playing XI: Monank Patel, Quinton de Kock (wk), Nicholas Pooran (Captain), Kieron Pollard, Michael Bracewell, Heath Richards, Tajinder Dhillon, Nosthush Kenjige, Trent Boult, Naveen-ul-Haq, Sunny Patel

See Also: MLC 2025: Probable Playing XI for SEA vs NY

MLC 2025, Match 18: SEA vs NY Dream11 Top Captains And Vice-captains

Top 3 Dream11 Captain choices

Monank Patel: The USA cricketer Monank Patel is the third leading run-scorer in the MLC 2025 with 267 runs in five innings (average 53.40, and strike rate 165.83), including three half-centuries. His scores in this tournament are 62, 20, 93, 32, and 60 runs, respectively. 

Quinton de Kock: Former South African wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock has scored 210 runs in five innings of the MLC 2025, including three half-centuries. He has scored 8, 63, 14, 55, and 70 runs, respectively, this season. 

Michael Bracewell: New Zealand cricketer Mitchael Bracewell has scored 147 runs and taken four wickets in the MLC 2025. His scores with the bat in this tournament are 38, 17, 50*, 42*, and 0 runs, respectively.

Top 3 Dream11 Vice-captain choices

Harmeet Singh: USA left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh has taken seven wickets in five matches in the MLC 2025, including picking up three wickets in their last game of the season. 

Naveen-ul-Haq: Afghan right-arm pacer Naveen-ul-Haq has taken eight wickets in five matches of the MLC 2025, including recording two wickets in three games. He has taken at least one wicket in every match of this season.  

Kieron Pollard: Caribbean legend Kieron Pollard has scored 131 runs and taken two wickets in five matches of the MLC 2025, while the right-handed batter’s strike rate in this tournament is 195.52 with the help of 13 fours and eight sixes. Pollard’s scores in this tournament are 32, 30, 26*, 9, and 34* runs, respectively, while he picked up two wickets in the last game. 

Major League Cricket (MLC) third edition is building towards the final round as teams fight hard to secure a playoff spot, but the early champions, MI New York, are still struggling. With one win from five games, the Nicholas Pooran-led team is sitting precariously after another big loss—this time against the San Francisco Unicorns.

In their recent match, MI New York lost by 47 runs while pursuing a massive 247. Even with the star-studded lineup of Quinton de Kock, Kieron Pollard, and skipper Pooran, the team failed with the bat once again. The game renewed question marks about their continuing inability to translate talent into consistent performances, something that has been plaguing their campaign so far.

Winning the toss and choosing to field first, MI were besieged early. San Francisco Unicorns' opening batsmen Matt Short (91 off 43) and Jake Fraser-McGurk (64 off 26) tore into the bowling unit and led their side to a mammoth 246/4. In reply, MI New York made a bright beginning with Monank Patel's 60 from 33 and Quinton de Kock's patient 70 from 46, but the momentum was soon lost after their fall, and a middle-order collapse wrapped up their destiny.

Bracewell’s Bizarre Review Caps Frustrating Night

One highlight of the match happened in the tense run chase when Michael Bracewell was bowled out by Romario Shepherd. In a confusing moment, Bracewell first assumed he had been given LBW and started signaling for a review, not realizing the ball had struck the stumps. Shepherd indicated towards the fallen bails, making the dismissal obvious and leaving Bracewell rather embarrassed.

Watch the video here

Michael Bracewell tried to take a review after getting bowled out. 🤣pic.twitter.com/ypeWzcb3yc

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 24, 2025

See Also: MLC 2025, TEX vs LAS Match 15: Grand Prairie stadium stats and Head to Head

Finally, MI New York ended on 199/8 from 20 overs, losing by 47 runs. The defeat also came on what was a record day for Kieron Pollard, who featured in his 700th pro match. But the veteran would have been disappointed, as his side could not celebrate the day with a win.

In the 14th match of the MLC 2025, MI New York vs San Francisco Unicorns (NY vs SF) will be played on Monday evening, June 23 (starting time at 05:30 IST on June 24) at Grand Prairie Stadium (Grand Prairie).

MLC 2025, Match 14: NY vs SF Probable XIs

MI New York Predicted Playing XI: Monank Patel, Quinton de Kock (wk), Nicholas Pooran (Captain), Kieron Pollard, Michael Bracewell, Heath Richards, Tajinder Dhillon, Nosthush Kenjige, Trent Boult, Naveen-ul-Haq, Sunny Patel

San Francisco Unicorns Predicted Playing XI: Matthew Short (Captain), Finn Allen, Jake Fraser McGurk, Tim Seifert (wk), Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Hassan Khan, Cooper Connolly, Haris Rauf, Xavier Bartlett, Brody Couch, Carmi le Roux

See Also: MLC 2025: Probable Playing XI for NY vs SF

MLC 2025, Match 14: NY vs SF Dream11 Top Captains And Vice-captains

Top 3 Dream11 Captain choices

Finn Allen: New Zealand cricketer Finn Allen is in great form as the leading run-scorer in the MLC 2025 has scored 294 runs in four innings with an average of 73.50 and a strike rate of 247.05. His scores in this tournament are 151, 52, 13, and 78 runs. 

Haris Rauf: Pakistan right-arm pacer Haris Rauf is the leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 11 wickets. In this competition, he picked up three, four, two, and two wickets, respectively. 

Michael Bracewell: New Zealand cricketer Michael Bracewell has scored 147 runs and taken four wickets in the MLC 2025. The all-rounder’s scores in this tournament are 38, 17, 50*, and 42*, respectively.

Top 3 Dream11 Vice-captain choices

Quinton de Kock: With the help of two half-centuries, former South African wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock has scored 140 runs in four innings of this tournament, including his brilliant 63 and 55 runs knocks. 

Monank Patel: USA cricketer Monank Patel is the third most run-scorer in the MLC 2025 with 207 runs in four innings, an average of 51.75 and a strike rate of 161.71, including two half-centuries. His scores in this tournament are 62, 20, 93, and 32 runs. 

Jake Fraser McGurk: Australian youngster Jake Fraser McGurk has scored 132 runs in four innings, including his 88-run knock against Los Angeles Knight Riders. 

On Wednesday evening (June 18), the MI New York vs Seattle Orcas (NY vs SEA) match will be played at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland during the ninth match of the MLC 2025. It will be the third match for both teams in this tournament. 

Monank Patel: USA cricketer Monank Patel has scored 62 and 20 runs in MI New York's first two matches of the MLC 2025. 

Harmeet Singh: USA left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh is in good form with the ball, and he picked up three wickets in the first two matches of this MLC season.

The much-anticipated tenth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL 10) is just around the corner, and excitement is at an all-time high. With the PSL 2025 Draft officially concluded, the squads are locked in, and all eyes are on the Multan Sultans (MUL), one of the most consistent and formidable teams in the league’s history.

Over the years, MUL have built a reputation for assembling a well-balanced squad, mixing experienced international stars with top-performing local talent. Their sharp selections have regularly taken them to the tournament finals, and this year’s lineup looks just as promising.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the top players who have made it into the Multan Sultans squad for PSL 10. From powerhouse foreign signings to emerging local stars, here’s everything you need to know about the team aiming to dominate PSL 2025.

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Multan Sultan (MUL) Squad 2025

The following list includes all the projected players who are now officially part of the Multan Sultans squad for PSL 10. Some names come as no surprise — loyal performers who’ve consistently stood by the team and contributed to its success over the years. With a strong mix of seasoned campaigners and exciting new additions, the MUL are geared up for yet another title challenge.

There are six majorly categories in which the players are divided:

1. Platinum
2. Diamond
3. Gold
4. Silver
5. Emerging
6. Supplementary

There’s no doubt that MUL are entering the tenth edition of PSL with one of the strongest squads in the competition. Leading the charge is none other than Mohammad Rizwan, who is Pakistan’s national team captain, a consistent top-order batter, and one of the best wicketkeepers in the modern game. His leadership has been pivotal in guiding Multan Sultans to the finals in past seasons, and he’s determined to clinch the trophy this time around.

Multan Sultans: Key Players to watch out for

Despite being an overall strong team, there are certain pillars of the team who have contributed much to the success of the team over the years.

1. Mohammad Rizwan
2. Kamran Ghulam
3. Tayyab Tahir
4. Shai Hope
5. Usama Mir
6. David Willey
7. Chris Jordan
8. Michael Bracewell

From 2021 to 2024, Multan Sultans consistently reached the PSL final, showcasing their remarkable performance and team strength. Although they fell short in the finals for three consecutive years, their consistent appearances highlight the strategic efforts of the team management. It’s clear that Multan Sultans carefully build a competitive squad each season, ensuring they remain strong contenders for the title year after year.

In his absence, Michael Bracewell continues with the captaincy after leading the team in the T20I series. In his stead, Henry Nicholls has been brought in, while Mitch Hay will assume the role of the new wicketkeeper. 

Also Read: Watch: Ishan Kishan and Umpire Anil Chaudhary making fun of Mohammad Rizwan

Latham was set to lead New Zealand with Qd the IPL Santner; however, he suffered an injury earlier this week that did not allow him to participate. Latham did get x-rays to assess the damage. After the first ODI in Napier, Will Young steps out of the squad to support his wife as they prepare to welcome their first child. He is replaced by rhythmic 23-year-old batter Rhys Mariu, who has a first-class career average of 61.73.

Michael Bracewell will lead New Zealand in the ODI series against Pakistan, with Tom Latham ruled out after suffering a fractured hand during training; Henry Nicholls has been called up.

More details: https://t.co/xOG4E0k833 #NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/6nDXzA42yH

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) March 27, 2025

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Head coach of New Zealand, Garry Stead, spoke of the changes to the squad, admitting they had several players unavailable, and it did indeed pose a challenge; however, it did create opportunities as well. He also honored two players coming into the squad for their performance and remained confident in Bracwell's leadership. “Disappointing as it is losing Tom is, Michael did an excellent job leading the T20I series, and I am pleased to see the shape Michael's leadership of the team is in,” Stead responded. He also extended best wishes to Young and his wife, Elise.

The squad had already included uncapped players Muhammad Abbas and Nick Kelly, while Kane Williamson opted out of the series. New Zealand will now rely on a mix of experience and fresh talent as they take on Pakistan.

Michael Bracewell will lead New Zealand in their five-match T20I series against Pakistan. He also captained the team during their tour of Pakistan last year, which ended in a 2-2 draw. Bracewell is stepping in as captain since Mitchell Santner, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Glenn Phillips, and Rachin Ravindra are all in India for the IPL.

Michael Bracewell will take over as captain for the Pakistan T20Is while Mitchell Santner is unavailable.

He played a big role in the Champions Trophy, where New Zealand finished as runners-up. In the final against India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, he scored a crucial half-century and took four wickets against Bangladesh. To manage the workload of fast bowlers, Kyle Jamieson and Will O’Rourke will only play the first three matches. Matt Henry, who missed the final against India, will return for the last two games.  

“It’s a huge honor to captain my country. I really enjoyed leading the team in Pakistan last year, and it’s great to have many of the same players in this squad,” Bracewell said in a statement from New Zealand Cricket.  

New Zealand squad for Pakistan T20I series

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Ben Sears is back after recovering from a hamstring injury, while leg-spinner Ish Sodhi returns after missing the Sri Lanka series. Kane Williamson has decided to sit out and wasn’t considered for selection. Bevon Jacobs, who was in the squad for the recent T20I series against Sri Lanka, couldn’t play as he was busy with the IPL. The T20I series between Pakistan and New Zealand begins on Sunday, March 16, at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

The moment that shocked Indian fans came in the 20th over of India’s innings. Virat Kohli had just walked in after Shubman Gill’s dismissal when New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner introduced Michael Bracewell into the attack. The move paid off immediately, as the off-spinner claimed Kohli’s crucial wicket.

Bowling from over the wicket, Bracewell tossed the ball up, tempting Kohli to play a flick. However, the ball turned sharply and struck him on the front pad. The New Zealand players went up in a loud appeal, and the umpire raised his finger.

ALSO SEE: Watch: Rohit Sharma’s Wicket vs New Zealand in the Champions Trophy 2025 Final Match

Kohli opted for a review, but HawkEye showed three reds, confirming the LBW decision. The Indian star had to walk back, leaving fans disappointed.

pic.twitter.com/UIcYlXt7QQ

— kuchnahi123@12345678 (@kuchnahi1269083) March 9, 2025

India Loses 2 Wickets As Iyer Joins Captain Rohit

Following Kohli’s departure, Shreyas Iyer came to the crease, looking to steady the innings alongside Rohit Sharma, who had already crossed his fifty. At the time of writing, India was 122 for two, with Rohit unbeaten on 76* and Iyer on 9*.