Cricket - Int News
Professional County Club Select XI beat Pakistan Shaheens by 7 wickets
Kent (PCB Report): Professional County Club Select XI defeated Pakistan Shaheens by seven wickets in the second one-day match at the County Ground, Beckenham, on Friday afternoon to level the three-match series 1-1. The deciding match of the series will be played on Sunday, 27 July at the 1st Central County Ground, Hove.After being put in to bat, Pakistan Shaheens were bowled out for 152 in the 30th over, with opening batter Azan Awais top-scoring with 68 off 85 balls, including three fours and a six. For the hosts, Jafer Chohan was the most successful bowler, taking four wickets for 43 in 5.3 overs. Scott Currie grabbed three wickets for 26 runs in six overs.In turn, an unbeaten half-century by Hamza Shaikh (54 not out, 63 balls, 4x4s, 1x6), which featured an unbroken 59-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Luc Benkenstein (23 not out, 32 balls, 2x4s), helped the side achieve the target in 26 overs. For the touring side, fast bowlers Mir Hamza, Shahid Aziz and Ubaid Shah snapped one wicket each.Scores in brief:Pakistan Shaheens 152 all out, 29.3 overs (Azan Awais 68; Jafer Chohan 4-43, Scott Currie 3-26)Professional County Club Select XI 153-3, 26 overs (Hamza Shaikh 54 not out, Tom Lawes 37, Luc Benkenstein 23 not out; Shahid Aziz 1-26, Mir Hamza 1-37, Ubaid Shah 1-45)
PCB announces T20 and ODI squads for West Indies Series
Mohammad Rizwan to lead Pakistan in three ODIs, Salman in T20 against West IndiesSports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: Mohammad Rizwan will lead Pakistan in the three-match ODI series against West Indies as the Men’s National Selection Committee named a 16-member ODI squad on Friday. The series will be played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad & Tobago on 8, 10 and 12 August. Right-handed batter Hasan Nawaz is the only uncapped player in the ODI squad, while Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi are part of the ODI squad.Pakistan will also play three T20Is against the West Indies, scheduled on 31 July, 2 and 3 August, at the Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill, USA. Salman Ali Agha will captain the T20I side, while fast bowlers Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi return to the squad in this format. Following the conclusion of the three-match T20I series in Bangladesh, Pakistan team will arrive in the USA on Sunday, 27 July.15-member squad for T20Is: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wicket-keeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufyan Moqim16-member squad for ODIs: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufyan MoqimTeam management: Naveed Akram Cheema (manager), Mike Hesson (head coach), Ashley Noffke (bowling coach), Hanif Malik (batting Coach), Shane McDermott (fielding Coach), Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Grant Luden (strength and conditioning coach), Talha Ejaz (analyst), Syed Naeem Ahmad (media manager), Irtaza Komail (security manager), Dr Wajid Ali Rafai (team doctor) and Mohammad Ehsan (masseur)Tour schedule:31 July – First T20I v West Indies, Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill, USA2 Aug – Second T20I v West Indies, Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill, USA3 Aug – Third T20I v West Indies, Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill, USA8 Aug – First ODI v West Indies, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad & Tobago10 Aug – Second ODI v West Indies, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad & Tobago12 Aug – Third ODI v West Indies, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad & Tobago
Test off-spinner bowler Sajid Khan ruled out of England tour
Sports Bulletin ReportKent (England): Test off-spinner Sajid Khan has been ruled out of the Shaheens’ tour of England after suffering a fracture to his right thumb during a training session at the Tonbridge School Ground in Kent.Pakistan Shaheens are set to take on the Professional County Club Select XI in the opening match of the three one-day matches, scheduled later today at the Kent County Cricket Ground in Beckenham.Sajid will return to Pakistan on the first available flight and will undergo further treatment at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. The team management has not requested Sajid’s replacement.
Pakistan-Bangladesh to contest three-match T20I series from Sunday
Sports Bulletin ReportDhaka (Bangladesh): Pakistan and Bangladesh will lock horns in a three-match T20I series beginning on Sunday, 20 May with the remaining two games to be staged on 22 and 24 May at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. All matches are set to begin at 5pm PKT with the toss to take place at 4.30pm. Pakistan are visiting Bangladesh for the first time since December 2021 as they arrived in the country on Wednesday, 16 July after taking part in an extensive training camp in Karachi. Salman Ali Agha, who has so far led Pakistan in 12 T20Is, will marshal the side in fourth T20I series.Pace duo of Ahmed Daniyal and Mohammad Salman Mirza are the two uncapped players in Pakistan’s squad and will be in line to make their international debuts during the series. Earlier, Pakistan had white-washed Bangladesh in a home three-match T20I series bagging 37-run, 57-run and seven-wicket wins at the Gaddafi Stadium in May and June. Litton Das-led Bangladesh will take the field on the back of an away 2-1 T20I series triumph over Sri Lanka last week. The overall T20I record between Pakistan and Bangladesh depicts the former’s domination as they have won 19 out of 22 T20Is since the first clash between both sides in September 2007 in Nairobi. Pakistan T20I captain, Salman Ali Agha: “We have changed the way we want to play but knowing the conditions is going to be the key. If the conditions allow us to play aggressively then we’ll surely play that way and in other case we’ll go accordingly. In our training we have tried to make sure that we experience match-like situations in order to get game ready.“Bangladesh are a tough opposition especially in their home conditions. We know what the challenges are going to be thrown at us and we are very excited to play here.”Pakistan T20I squad: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza and Sufyan MoqimBangladesh T20I squad: Litton Das (captain), Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mohammad Naim Sheikh, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mustafizur Rahman, Nasum Ahmed, Parvez Hossain Emon, Rishad Hossain, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Shamim Hossain Patwari, Shoriful Islam, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed and Towhid Hridoy.
Pakistan Shaheens players start training in Kent
Kent (SBR):Pakistan Shaheens held their first training session on Friday afternoon at the Tonbridge School Ground in Kent. The squad led by Test cricketer Saud Shakeel, arrived in England on Thursday evening to feature in a series comprising three one-day matches and two three-day fixtures.The one-day matches will be played against the Professional County Club Select XI on 22, 25 and 27 July, with the first two matches taking place at the Kent County Cricket Ground in Beckenham. The third one-day match will be held at the 1st Central County Ground in Hove.The first three-day match between Pakistan Shaheens and the Professional County Club Select XI will be staged at the 1st Central County Ground in Hove from 29 to 31 July. Pakistan Shaheens second three-day match, which will also be the final fixture of the tour, will take place against the South Asian Cricket Academy & MCC Young Cricketers XI at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence in Canterbury from 3 to 5 August.
Irfan Khan to lead Pakistan Shaheens in Top End T20 Series
Lahore(SBR): Mohammad Irfan Khan, who has featured in nine ODIs and 14 T20Is for Pakistan will lead Pakistan Shaheens in the Top End T20 Series scheduled to take place in Darwin, Australia from 14 to 24 August. Pakistan Shaheens will play the opening match of the 11-team tournament against Bangladesh ‘A’ on 14 August at TIO Stadium in Darwin.The 15-member squad announced includes Abdul Samad (five T20Is), Faisal Akram (three ODIs), Haider Ali (two ODIs, 35 T20Is), Mubasir Khan (one T20I) – all featured for Pakistan men’s team previously, while Ahmed Daniyal and Mohammad Salman Mirza are part of Pakistan T20I squad for upcoming Bangladesh series.Shaheens’ second fixture in the T20 tournament will be against Scorchers at the TIO Stadium on 16 August, with the first ball set to be bowled at 4pm local time. The third Shaheens’ encounter in the tournament will be against Renegades on 18 August at the same venue with the first ball to be bowled at 6pm local time. On 19 August, Shaheens will take on Kingsmen at the DXC Arena with first ball to be bowled at 1pm local time.Shaheens’ fifth fixture in the event will be against Strikers at the DXC Arena, with the first ball to be bowled at 7pm. The sixth and final fixture of Shaheens will be against Nepal on 22 August at the DXC Arena with the first ball to be bowled at 7pm local time.The semi-finals and final of the event are scheduled for 24 August.The training camp for the Darwin-bound squad will be announced in due course.15-member squad:Mohammad Irfan Khan (captain), Abdul Samad, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Haider Ali, Maaz Sadaqat, Mehran Mumtaz, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wicket-keeper), Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicket-keeper), Mubasir Khan, Saad Masood, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Shahid Aziz, Ubaid Shah and Yasir KhanTeam management:Ghulam Ali (head coach), Sami Ullah Niazi (bowling coach), Mansoor Amjad (fielding coach), Mohammad Ibrahim (analyst) and Mohammad Aleem (physio)Pakistan Shaheens fixtures:14 Aug – vs Bangladesh ‘A’, TIO Stadium (7pm local time)16 Aug – vs Scorchers, TIO Stadium (4pm local time)18 Aug – vs Renegades, TIO Stadium (6pm local time)19 Aug – vs Kingsmen, DXC Arena (1pm local time)20 Aug – vs Strikers, DXC Arena (7pm local time)22 Aug – vs Nepal, DXC Arena (7pm local time)24 Aug – Semi-finals and final
Bat Speed Meets Brainpower : Julian Wood's Formula for Lankan Firepower
BIPIN DANIIn the ever-evolving landscape of modern cricket, where boundary-hitting has become an indispensable art, one man stands out for his scientific approach to unleashing brute force with finesse—Julian Wood. The former Hampshire cricketer turned power-hitting specialist has revolutionized the way batters train to clear the ropes, combining cricketing nuances with cutting-edge biomechanics and baseball-inspired methodologies.Wood’s trademark invention, the Power Hitting Program, isn't just a buzzword—it's a transformation toolkit. With stints at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), various county teams, and IPL franchise Punjab Kings, Wood’s reputation as a hitter-whisperer has crossed continents. His upcoming assignment with Sri Lanka Cricket, set from 30th July to 5th August, marks a strategic investment into sharpening the big-hitting blades of both men’s and women’s national teams.Purpose-Driven PartnershipIn a bid to ready its arsenal for prestigious assignments like the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Asia Cup, and the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, Sri Lanka has roped in Wood to collaborate with National Coaches. His goal? To decode the science behind explosive stroke play and empower the next generation of Lankan finishers.Speaking to this reporter from England, Wood exudes optimism, "Yes, hopefully, the Sri Lankan cricketers will benefit more with this new technique. I have already spoken with head coach Sanath Jayasuriya and have worked with Dasun Shanaka and Kusal Mendis in Abu Dhabi during T10 tournaments."He further revealed his special focus on uplifting women’s cricket, "I will be devoting two days with the women players in Sri Lanka. My service will benefit all the Lankan players—men and women—when they play 10-over tournaments. I will make them understand the techniques behind this."Innovation Born of BaseballWood’s methodology isn’t simply about muscle—it’s about mechanics. Years of studying biomechanics in the USA, particularly within baseball training regimes, led him to craft bespoke cricket-specific aids and drills that refine swing efficiency and generate greater bat speed. His patented training techniques are now sought-after by players craving consistency in striking the long ball under pressure.A Global VoyageWhile Wood won’t meet the Indian squad touring England currently, his cricketing footprint continues to expand. He shared, “I’ll be heading to the Cayman Islands next Monday to train players there.”That globe-trotting schedule is a testament to his stature as a pioneer in cricket’s brave new world—a world where power is no longer raw, but refined.
Pakistan Shaheens squad announced for England tour
Lahore(PR):The Pakistan Cricket Board has today announced an 18-member Pakistan Shaheens squad to tour England from 17 July to 6 August for two three-day and three 50-over matches. The dates and venues of the fixtures will be announced in due course.Saud Shakeel (19 Tests) is set to lead the team, while he will be joined by three other Test capped players in Mir Hamza (seven Tests), Musa Khan (one Test) and Sajid Khan (12 Tests). Among other players, Azan Awais (844) and Maaz Sadaqat (646), who finished as the leading run scorers, respectively in Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2024-25 have been selected.Other batters include Ali Zaryab, Haider Ali, Mohammad Suleman, Omair Bin Yousuf, Shamyl Hussain, while Rohail Nazir will perform the wicket-keeping duties. The pace arsenal consists of Mushtaq Ahmed, who bagged 77 wickets in two recent most first-class competitions (QeA Trophy & President's Trophy), FATA pacer Shahid Aziz and Ubaid Shah.Wrist spinner Faisal Akram will accompany left-arm spinner Mehran Mumtaz and off-spinning all-rounder Mubasir Khan to form the spin quartet along with experienced Sajid for the Shaheens across the red and white-ball fixtures.The 18-member squad will take part in a training camp at the Hanif Mohammad High-Performance Centre in Karachi before departing for England on 16 July.Squad:Saud Shakeel (captain), Ali Zaryab, Azan Awais, Faisal Akram, Haider Ali, Maaz Sadaqat, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Suleman, Mubasir Khan, Musa Khan, Mushtaq Ahmed, Omair Bin Yousuf, Rohail Nazir (wicket-keeper), Sajid Khan, Shahid Aziz, Shamyl Hussain and Ubaid ShahPlayer support personnel:Imran Farhat (head coach), Rehan Riaz (bowling coach), Mohtashim Rasheed (fielding coach), Usman Hashmi (analyst) and Ali Sufyan (physio)
Pakistan squad announced for Bangladesh T20I series
Lahore (SBR): The Men’s National Selection Committee has announced the 15-member squad for the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh. Salman Ali Agha will continue to lead the side in the T20Is.The three-match T20Is series between Pakistan and Bangladesh will be played from 20 to 24 July at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. The squad for the white-ball series against West Indies will be announced in due course. Names of players: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza and Sufyan MoqimTeam management:Naveed Akram Cheema (manager), Mike Hesson (head coach), Ashley Noffke (bowling coach), Muhammad Hanif Malik (batting Coach), Shane McDermott (fielding Coach), Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Grant Luden (strength and conditioning coach), Talha Ejaz (analyst), Syed Naeem Ahmad (media manager), Irtaza Komail (security manager), Dr. Wajid Ali Rafai (doctor) and Mohammad Ehsan (masseur)
MH Developers Appoints Rashid Khan as Brand Ambassador
Dubai (PR): MH Developers, a leading Dubai real estate company, today announced the appointment of Afghan cricket icon Rashid Khan as its new brand ambassador. This strategic partnership underscores the company's commitment to growth during a period of strong market momentum and economic stability in the emirate.Dubai's real estate market is experiencing a significant upward trend, with the first half of 2025 figures showing a 15% year-on-year increase in average property prices and a 20% surge in transaction volumes. This growth is driven by Dubai's resilient economy, strategic governance, and investor-friendly policies, making it one of the safest and most attractive property markets globally."We view this partnership as a strategic move to capitalize on Dubai's rising profile as a global hub for investment and luxury living," said Murtaza Hashmi, CEO of MH Developers. "Partnering with Rashid Khan, whose global reputation and relentless pursuit of excellence mirror our own values, will enable MH Developers to engage with a wider audience and strengthen our foothold in this thriving market."Rashid Khan, one of the world's highest-paid cricketers and the leading wicket-taker in T20 cricket, brings a spirit of determination and success. "The UAE has been like a spiritual home for Afghan cricket for many years, providing a safe haven and platform amid the challenges back home," Khan said. "I am honored to represent MH Developers at a time when Dubai is not only growing rapidly but doing so in a stable and secure economic setting."With this collaboration, MH Developers aims to harness the ongoing real estate upswing, delivering projects that combine sophisticated design with robust investment opportunities, all within Dubai's safe and forward-looking economic framework.About Rashid KhanRashid Khan is one of the world's leading cricketers and a global ambassador of Afghan sports. Known for his explosive leg-spin and match-winning performances across formats, Khan has represented Afghanistan on the international stage since 2015 and has featured in major T20 leagues around the world.
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