Several former Pakistan players have formally announced their retirements from international cricket in order to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to participate in the Masters Champions League (MCL).

It was a great day at the home of cricket - Lord's - on Thursday, when the International Pakistanis XI came over convincing winners against the PCA England Masters.

Every single sports team, from your local club's junior team to the best Test, One-Day International and Twenty20 International sides in the world, go through the same processes of having to replace key players who suffer injuries, retire, or move on.

Auckland found conditions to their liking in Johannesburg and used them with ruthless efficiency to dispatch Pakistan's Sialkot Stallions with almost three overs to spare in their opening Champions League T20 match.

There were wins for Derbyshire, Durham and Worcestershire in today's Friends Life t20 action.

Nottinghamshire comfortably dispatched Durham at Trent Bridge to stay second in the North Group of the Friends Life t20. The Outlaws posted a formidable 210 for three from their 20 overs after choosing to bat, with England hero Alex Hales hitting 88 from only 51 balls and sharing a second-wicket partnership worth 142 with Riki Wessels.

Plus news of an approach by Derbyshire for Worcestershire seamer Richard Jones.

Rain washed out three of today's five Friends Life t20 matches, with only those at Derby and Lord's played to a result.

Surrey and Somerset got their Friends Life t20 tournament off to a winning start with wins over Essex and Warwickshire on the second day of matches in this season's competition. We also preview the third day of matches.

The sun finally shone on the final day of matches in the 10th round of the LV= County Championship, and allowed for some entertainment at Trent Bridge and Tunbridge Wells as well as a Sussex win at Horsham.

The rain continued to dampen spirits in the 10th round of the LV= County Championship, and meant that the matches at Grace Road and Chester-le-Street were drawn. Elsewhere, the Netherlands' impressive run in the Clydesdale Bank 40 ended in humiliating fashion at The Hague.

Cricket World looks ahead to the County Championship which begins tomorrow and predicts how each county will fare in 2012.

Cricket World looks ahead to the County Championship which begins tomorrow and predicts how each county will fare in 2012.

Lancashire's bowlers hauled their team back into the match on the second day in Abu Dhabi as they reduced MCC to 81 for eight in their second innings after they themselves had been bowled out for 199 earlier in the day.

A century and a late wicket from Durham and former England all-rounder Ian Blackwell gave MCC the plaudits on the opening day of the Champion County match in Abu Dhabi.

Kent have signed West Indies international batsman Brendan Nash for the entire 2012 season while Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait is to link up with the MCC squad in the United Arab Emirates. Left-hander Nash, who has played 21 Tests and nine One-Day Internationals, will be with the squad ahead of the opening game of the summer against Yorkshire.

The MCC have named the eleven players that will take part in the traditional Champion County match against reigning champions Lancashire which will be held from 27th to 30th March. Surrey and former England batsman Mark Ramprakash will captain the side, which also includes the spin pairing of Gareth Batty and Ian Blackwell, alongside younger players such as Somerset all-rounder Lewis Gregory and Worcestershire and England Lions batsman Moeen Ali.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board have announced that the first edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) will get underway on the 9th February 2012, with the tournament final pencilled in for 29th February.

Lancashire completed the line-up for the Friends Life t20 Finals Day with a comfortable 20-run victory over Sussex at Hove.

Australian Test and One-Day International captain Michael Clarke has ruled himself out of the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash League in order to focus on his preparation for Test cricket. The squads for the eight-team city-based tournament have been confirmed with a host of international players, including Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzzaq, Chris Gayle and Herschelle Gibbs involved.