Sports Bulletin

Lahore (Sports News): The Pakistan Cricket Board has today unveiled the ODI and T20I squads of the Pakistan Women’s team for the upcoming tour to South Africa starting 10 February in Potchefstroom. Fatima Sana will continue to lead the side in both the formats as Pakistan build towards the ICC Women’s T20I World Cup 2026 in June. Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Gull Feroza, Muneeba Ali, Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, and Tasmia Rubab are part of both the squads, while uncapped batter Saira Jabeen and right-arm fast bowler Humna Bilal have earned their maiden T20I call-ups. Opening batters Ayesha and Gull along with left-arm pacer Tasmia and wicketkeeper-batter Najiha Alvi have been called up to the 15-member ODI squad after missing out on the ODI World Cup selection. Diana Baig, Najiha, Sadaf Shamas and Syeda Aroob Shah are just part of the 50-over squad, while Humna, Saira, Tuba Hassan and Eyman Fatima are in the T20I squad only. During the tour, mentor Wahab Riaz will be assisted by a seasoned set of coaches including Imran Farhat (batting coach), Umaid Asif (fast bowling coach), Abdur Rehman (spin bowling coach) and Abdul Majeed (fielding coach). The pre-series training camp will commence from Sunday, 1 January at the Hanif Mohammad High Performance Centre, Karachi. The T20Is will be played in Potchefstroom, Benoni and Kimberley from 10 to 16 February with all being day-night fixtures. Pakistan will warm up for the ODI series with a 50-over game at Kimberley followed by the three ODIs at Bloemfontein, Centurion and Durban from 22 February to 1 March. The second ODI will begin in the afternoon and will also be played under lights, while the warm-up, first and the third ODI will be day games. Fast bowling all-rounder Pakistan Women’s team is set to return to South Africa for a bilateral series after January 2021, when they took part in a three-match ODI series in Durban. In February 2023, Pakistan took part in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa and played their matches in Cape Town and Paarl. T20I squad: Fatima Sana (captain), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza (wicket- keeper), Humna Bilal, Muneeba Ali (wicket-keeper), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadia Iqbal, Saira Jabeen, Sidra Amin, Tasmia Rubab, and Tuba HassanODI Squad: Fatima Sana (captain), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Gull Feroza, Muneeba Ali (wicket-keeper), Najiha Alvi (wicket-keeper), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah and Tasmia RubabPlayer support personnel: Wahab Riaz (Mentor), Imran Farhat (batting coach), Umaid Asif (fast bowling coach), Abdur Rehman (spin bowling coach), Abdul Majeed (fielding coach), Moeen (strength & conditioning coach), Waleed Ahmad (performance analyst), Ayesha Ashar (Team manager), Tehreem Sumbal (physiotherapist) and Raza Rashid Kitchlew (media manager) Pakistan Women’s tour of South Africa Schedule: (10 February to 1 March) 1st T20I – 10 February – JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom (day/night)2nd T20I – 13 February – Willowmoore Park, Benoni (day/night)3rd T20I – 16 February – Kimberley Oval, Kimberley (day/night) 50-over warm-up match – 19 February - Kimberley Oval, Kimberley (day) 1st ODI – 22 February - Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein (day)2nd ODI – 25 February – SuperSport Park, Centurion (day/night)3rd ODI – 1 March – Kingsmead Stadium, Durban (day).

Islamabad (Sports News): Preparations for the ICC Under-19s Men’s Cricket World Cup continued with West Indies, Pakistan and Tanzania all winning their warm-up matches.​Tanzania clinched a nail-biting encounter with Ireland by one wicket, recovering from 21 for six to chase 198, while the West Indies were victorious over Japan by 229 runs.​Pakistan eased past the USA by 69 runs, while Bangladesh’s match with Scotland was eventually abandoned because of rain.​Tanzania fight back to defeat IrelandTanzania elected to field first and their decision paid dividends as they dismissed Ireland for 197, Khalidy Juma leading the way with five for 35.Discipline with the ball repeatedly stopped Ireland from building partnerships, despite defiant knocks from Adam Leckey (38) and Freddie Ogilby (36).Tanzania’s response got off to a difficult start, Dylan Thakrar and Darpan Jobanputra falling for ducks as they slipped to seven for two.Wickets continued to fall early, with Oliver Riley removing all of Tanzania’s top four batters to put his side in control with Tanzania reeling on 21 for six.​However, Mohamed Simba Mbaki was undeterred and sparked Tanzia’s resurgence, scoring 49 from 59 before being removed by Luke Murray having dragged his side to 134 for eight.​Abdulazak Mohamedi continued the resistance with 46 from 68 deliveries, which was backed up by Acrey Hugo’s 29 not out from 48.That put Tanzania in striking distance at 190 for nine and Ally Hafidhi then came in and wrapped up victory.​West Indies dominate JapanWest Indies warmed up in style with a dominant 229-run victory over Japan in Windhoek.West Indies were put into bat first and got off to a fine start as Tanez Francis and Zachary Carter put on 40 for the first wicket in just seven overs.​Francis, who finished on 122 not out, and Shamar Apple later put on 194 for the fifth wicket to take their side out of sight.​Apple’s 124 came from just 65 deliveries, including 10 fours and eight sixes.​West Indies set Japan an imposing target of 347 for victory and Taylor Waugh (32) led the charge but wickets fell consistently around him as they were bowled out for 117.R’Jai Gittens was the pick of the bowlers with figures of four for eight, while Vitel Lawes took a further three wickets.​Pakistan ease past USA​Pakistan defeated the USA by 69 runs in Bulawayo after impressive performances with bat and ball.​Pakistan’s opening pair, Sameer Minhas and Mohammed Shayan, put on 105 before Sameer retired out having made 74 off 55 deliveries with eight fours and four sixes.​Almost all of Pakistan’s batters earned starts, with eight reaching double figures. Ahmad Hussain impressed for his 43 from 62 balls, and Ali Hassan Baloch scored a quick-fire 36 from 19 balls, featuring two fours and three maximums.​Pakistan went on to score 294 from their 50 overs and bowled well in response, bowling the USA out for 225.​The attack shared the load as seven bowlers took wickets, which fell at regular intervals to curb any US momentum.​Momin Qamar and Abdul Subhan both made sizeable impacts, taking two for 24 and two for 27, respectively.​There were positives to take for the USA batting line-up, however, particularly Sahil Garg’s knock of 75 from 83.Rain abandons play between Bangladesh and ScotlandBangladesh's contest with Scotland was abandoned late on with the Tigers agonisingly close to victory.The Tigers could sense victory after the Scottish innings was reduced to 20 overs but rain meant there could be no further play.​Bangladesh scored 161 for four from their 29.2 overs, opener Rifat Beg leading the charge with an unbeaten 75.Shreyas Tekale impressed the ball for Scotland, removing Kalam Siddiki (25) and Rizan Hossan (10) to end on two for 19.​In tough conditions, the Scottish batters struggled to respond. Max Chaplin top-scored with 31 from 27 deliveries backed up by Theo Robinson’s 27 from 24.​Only two others reached double figures, with Md Samiun Ratul taking three for 15, including the wickets of Chaplin and Robinson.​That left them on the cusp of victory with Scotland requiring 54 from their final 15 balls but rain meant no result could be reached.Scores in brief:Ireland v Tanzania at Wanderers Cricket Ground, Windhoek​ Ireland 194 all out in 46.1 overs (Adam Leckey 38, Freddie Ogilby 36; Khalidy Juma 5/35, Augustine Mwamele 2/33)Tanzania 201/9 from 44.2 overs (Simba Mbaki 49, Abdulazak Mohamedi 46; Oliver Riley 5/28, Adam Leckey 2/30)Result: Tanzania won by one wicketWest Indies v Japan at United Cricket Club, WindhoekWest Indies 346/6 from 50 overs (Shamar Apple 124, Tanez Francis 122*; Kai Wall 2/36, Gabriel Hinze 1/17)Japan 117 all out in 42.3 overs (Taylor Waugh 32, Chihaya Sekine 28; R’Jai Gittens 4/8, Vitel Lawes 3/28)Result: West Indies won by 229 runsPakistan v USA at Bulawayo Athletic Club, BulawayoPakistan 294/8 from 50 overs (Sameer Minhas 74, Ahmad Hussain 43; Utkarsh Srivastava 3/26, Adit Kappa 2/56)USA 225 all out in 43.5 overs (Sahil Garg 75, Utkarsh Srivastava 36; Ahmad Hussain 2/22, Momin Qamar 2/24)​Result: Pakistan win by 69 runsBangladesh v Scotland at Prince Edward School Ground, Harare​Bangladesh 161/4 from 29.2 overs (Rifat Beg 75, Kalam Siddiki 25; Shreyas Tekale 2/19, Ethan Ramsay 1/24)​Scotland 122/9 from 19.3 overs (Max Chaplin 31, Theo Robinson 27; Md Samiun Ratul 3/15, Rizan Hossan 2/10)Result: Abandoned

Dubai (Sports News): Season 4 of the DP World ILT20 marked a significant step in the league’s regional development efforts, with players from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia earning selection at the league’s first ever auction and featuring across all six franchises. Each team acquired at least one player from both countries, offering emerging cricketers the opportunity to train and compete alongside some of the world’s leading players at one of the globe’s premier T20 leagues. DP World ILT20 Season 4 culminated on 4 January, with Desert Vipers overcoming MI Emirates to secure their first title.Speaking over the course of the tournament, the Kuwait players reflected on their experiences and the opportunity to work alongside established international cricketers.Captain of the Kuwait cricket team, Mohamed Aslam, who turned out for the Sharjah Warriorz, said: “It’s a great opportunity for me to represent Sharjah Warriorz in the DP World ILT20, and we are getting a lot of experience in the dressing room.As the captain of the Kuwait national team, I am sharing the dressing room with leaders like Tim Southee and Sikandar Raza. I have gotten a lot of information from them and learned many things by asking questions. As an associate cricket player, this is a very good opportunity. I hope to apply all of this in Kuwait and do our best.”Mohammed Shafeeq became the first player from Kuwait or Saudi Arabia to feature in a DP World ILT20 fixture when he took the field for MI Emirates against the Dubai Capitals. Reflecting on his experience, he said: “The support from the coaching staff has been amazing because this is a completely different feeling for us. It will help us in the future, as the coaches are always watching us and giving technical inputs.”It is a very big moment for me to be part of this team and to play alongside players like Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran and Jonny Bairstow. All of them are top players and operate at different levels. They consider us for every match, and that means a lot to me.”Dubai Capitals’ Anudeep Chenthamara said: “I would like to thank the Kuwait Cricket Board and DP World ILT20 for giving me this opportunity, it is a big one for me and the whole team. There has been a lot of experience and learning over here. We have worked with experienced players and coaches; I have been able to work on many things from the basics to the higher level. For example, I have changed the base of my run-up.”Echoing these sentiments, Gulf Giants’ Meet Bhavsar, who has played 73 T20Is for Kuwait, said: “It’s been a great experience to share the dressing room with the superstars of modern-day cricket. Facing somebody like Tabraiz Shamsi in the nets has been really challenging and helped me immensely. I will try to share as much as I can with the rest of the Kuwait team, and I am grateful for the chance to be here.”Representing the Season 4 champions, Desert Vipers, Bilal Tahir remarked: “We are learning a lot every day. We have very good coaches, a great environment, and the style of teaching really helps us improve. Playing with these stars is a dream for us because they are legends, and we learn so much from them. Just the other day in the nets, Fakhar Zaman told me how to improve certain things. I am very thankful to the Desert Vipers for giving us this opportunity.”Adnan Idrees, whose services were secured by the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, added: “It’s a great experience and I’m really enjoying my time here. Learning from legends is always a blessing, and sharing the dressing room with players like Andre Russell, Jason Holder, Phil Salt and Liam Livingstone makes me feel my game will improve a lot.“I keep getting tips from them about staying focused on my game, and I’ve learned a lot already. They are gems as people and as cricketers, and it’s a joy to share the dressing room with them. I feel blessed to be part of the DP World ILT20 and hope more players get the chance to come here.”

Bulawayo (Sports News): Pakistan U19 will take on USA U19 in their second warm-up match of the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup at the Bulawayo Athletic Club in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe on Tuesday. The first ball of the match will be bowled at 9.30am local time, with the toss scheduled at 9am.Pakistan team held a training session at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Monday, where the players took part in net sessions as well as fielding drills for three hours. Pakistan, who are placed in Group C of the mega event, saw their first warm-up match on Saturday against Bangladesh washed out, with only 36.3 overs of Bangladesh’s innings possible at the Masvingo Sports Club.The 16-team tournament is scheduled to take place from 15 January to 6 February in Namibia and Zimbabwe. Champions of the 2004 and 2006 ICC U19 editions, Pakistan will face England in their opening fixture at the Takashinga Sports Club in Harare on 16 January.Pakistan will enter the mega event on the back of winning two tournaments – the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup and the U19 tri-series. Pakistan defeated India by 191 runs in Dubai to clinch the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup title, while they beat hosts Zimbabwe by nine wickets in Harare to secure the tri-series trophy.Looking ahead to the team’s preparations for the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup, head coach Shahid Anwar, said:“The players’ strong performances in the past have boosted their confidence, which is very encouraging. Our preparations are progressing well and everything has been planned with the objective of winning the World Cup.“We are fortunate to have this group of players and all the coaches feel equally privileged. One in-built quality in these boys is that they never give up and continue to fight till the last ball.“The teamwork within the group is outstanding, with everyone complementing each other. Unity, faith and discipline remain our core values.“The entire coaching staff works with the players individually, focusing on their natural strengths and enhancing their super strengths. If we continue to rely on our strengths against any opponent, I am confident we will achieve positive results.” 15-member squad: Farhan Yousaf (captain), Usman Khan (vice-captain), Abdul Subhan, Ahmed Hussain, Ali Hasan Baloch, Ali Raza, Daniyal Ali Khan, Hamza Zahoor (wk), Huzaifa Ahsan, Momin Qamar, Mohammad Sayyam, Mohammad Shayan (wk), Niqab Shafiq, Sameer Minhas and Umar ZaibICC U19 World Cup Pakistan fixtures:16 January – Pakistan v England, Takashinga Sports Club, Harare19 January – Pakistan v Scotland, Takashinga Sports Club, Harare22 January – Zimbabwe v Pakistan, Takashinga Sports Club, Harare24 January to 1 February – Super 6 matches3 February – First semi-final, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo4 February – Second semi-final, Harare Sports Club, Harare6 February – Final, Harare Sports Club, Harare 

Masvingo (Sports News): Ali Raza grabbed three wickets as Pakistan U19 put in a disciplined bowling performance against Bangladesh U19 before persistent rain forced the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup warm-up match to be called off without a result at the Masvingo Sports Club in Zimbabwe on Saturday afternoon.After winning the toss, Pakistan opted to field and made early inroads into the Bangladesh batting line-up. Right-arm fast bowler Ali struck twice in his first over to reduce Bangladesh to 10 for two, dismissing Zawad Abrar and Rifat Beg, while Umar Zaib accounted for skipper Azizul Hakim shortly after to leave Bangladesh reeling at 12 for three.Rain continued to interrupt play at regular intervals. Kalam Siddiki scored an unbeaten 71 off 98 balls, which included six fours. Mohammad Sayyam chipped in with a wicket, while Momin Qamar and Usman Khan picked up one scalp each to keep Bangladesh in check. Ali later returned to dismiss wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Abdullah, completing his three-wicket haul as Bangladesh reached 152 for seven in 36.3 overs when rain interrupted play once again. With rain continuing and conditions failing to improve, the match was eventually called off. Ali Raza said: “I worked closely with the bowling coach during the tri-series and he gave me confidence. In today’s match, I managed to take two wickets early and another later in the innings, which was encouraging for me. It was a bit difficult due to the rain as conditions kept changing, which made it challenging for the players. However, I tried to adapt whenever I got the chance and gave my 100 per cent. We have won two tournaments recently. The entire team put in a lot of effort, everyone is confident and we will give our best in the World Cup.”Pakistan U19 are set to travel to Bulawayo from Masvingo on Sunday, where they will take on USA U19 in their second warm-up match on Tuesday, 13 January at the Bulawayo Athletics Club. The 16-team ICC U19 Men’s World Cup is set to take place in Namibia and Zimbabwe from 15 January to 6 February. Farhan Yousaf-led side are placed in Group C and will take on England in their opening match on 16 January at the Takashinga Sports Club in Harare.Scores in brief:No resultBangladesh U19 152-7, 36.3 overs (Kalam Siddiki 71 not out, Rizan Hossan 18; Ali Raza 3-34) 

 Abdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of the HBL PSL Teams Auction 2026 for induction of two new Franchises, marking a significant milestone in the continued growth and evolution of the league. As a result of the auction process, Team 7 has been awarded to Hyderabad, while Team 8 will represent Sialkot, officially expanding the HBL PSL to eight teams.The auction attracted strong interest from prospective investors, with nine bidders participating in the Live Auction at Jinnah Convention Centre, Islamabad, reflecting the growing commercial strength, global appeal, and long-term sustainability of the HBL PSL. The induction of Hyderabad & Sialkot Teams further strengthens the league’s national footprint and underscores PCB’s commitment to inclusivity, regional representation, and fan engagement across Pakistan.In the first round of the Auction, the base price for the seventh team was set at PKR 110 crore and after a fierce round of bidding US-based FKS Group led by Mr Fawad Sarwar made the winning bid worth PKR 1,750,000,000 and chose Hyderabad out of the six available city names.The second round saw the base price of the eighth team set to PKR 170 crore, which led to deep interest from the investors as there were two calls for strategic timeout. In the end OZ Group led by Mr Hamza Majeed snapped the eighth team for PKR 1,850,000,000 and chose Sialkot as their team.Congratulating the successful bidders, PCB Chairman, Mr. Mohsin Naqvi, welcomed the new franchise owners into the HBL PSL family:“The expansion of the HBL Pakistan Super League with the addition of Hyderabad and Sialkot is a landmark moment for Pakistan cricket. We warmly welcome the new franchise owners and look forward to their contribution in strengthening the league, enhancing competition, and further elevating the HBL PSL’s global stature.”Chief Executive Officer of the HBL PSL, Mr. Salman Naseer, also expressed his confidence in the expansion:“The successful live and competitive auction reflects the immense trust investors have in the HBL PSL brand. Hyderabad and Sialkot bring with them rich sporting heritage and passionate fan bases. We are keenly looking forward to working closely with the new owners to deliver an even more compelling and competitive HBL PSL experience for fans worldwide. The League is thriving and we can't wait for the next few weeks to unfold as they promise to be even more exciting.”The owner of the Hyderabad franchise, Mr. Fawad Sarwar expressed their appreciation and enthusiasm:“We are delighted to have successfully secured the Hyderabad franchise in the HBL Pakistan Super League. This is an exciting new chapter for FKS Group, and we look forward to bringing our philosophy of professional management, innovation, and excellence of execution to the HBL PSL. The league presents both tremendous opportunity and meaningful challenges, and we are fully committed to building a franchise that represents Hyderabad with pride and contributes positively to the growth of Pakistan cricket across the world.Similarly, the owner of the Sialkot franchise, Mr. Hamza Majeed shared his excitement at joining the league:“"It is a tremendous honour to acquire a franchise in the HBL Pakistan Super League, and we are delighted to bring the league to Sialkot, a city that has contributed immensely to Pakistan’s sporting identity. It is both a privilege and a huge responsibility to become the league's eighth team as we begin our journey in HBL PSL 11 with pride and ambition."Sialkot has a rich legacy of cricket and sporting excellence, from producing world-class sports equipment to achieving notable success in domestic cricket, including T20 titles. This team is for the people of Sialkot and their energy, pride and love for the game will be our greatest strength. We are honoured to represent this historic city on the HBL PSL stage and are committed to building a franchise that reflects its winning spirit. We also look forward to contributing to the continued success of the league in close coordination with HBL PSL management and the seven other teams."With the addition of Hyderabad & Sialkot, the HBL PSL enters a new era of expansion, competitiveness, and opportunity. The PCB and HBL PSL Management will work closely with the new franchises to ensure seamless integration ahead of upcoming HBL PSL 11 and beyond.

Islamabad (Sports News): Seventeen umpires and four match referees from the Emirates ICC International Panels of Umpires and Referees will officiate at the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 in Zimbabwe and Namibia.Thirteen different nationalities will be represented, including two umpires from one of the host nations, Zimbabwe.Forster Mutizwa, who represented Zimbabwe 21 times across all three formats, will be joined by compatriot Iknow Chabi as two of the 18 umpires.Among the others who will officiate in the tournament are former West Indies international Deighton Butler, and Englishman Graham Lloyd, whose father David was an accomplished umpire in his own right before going onto become an acclaimed broadcaster.The four match referees are Dean Cosker, of England, India’s Prakash Bhatt, as well as Graeme La Brooy and Neeyamur Rahul, who represented Sri Lanka and Bangladesh internationally respectively.ICC CEO, Sanjog Gupta said: “This ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup is a tremendous opportunity for rising stars in the game to shine, but it is also an invaluable reward system for up-and-coming match officials.“We hope that this will be the perfect springboard for their careers as we see them progress in their officiating journeys.”Match officials for the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2026:Umpires: Ahmad Shah Durrani (Afg), Aidan Seaver (Ire), Cory Black (NZ), Deighton Butler (WI), Faisal Afridi (Pak), Forster Mutizwa (Zim), Graham Lloyd (Eng), Iknow Chabi (Zim), Lubabalo Gcuma (SA), Masudur Mukul (Ban), Nitin Bathi (Neth), Prageeth Rambukwella (SL), Russell Warren (Eng), Shaun Haig (NZ), Shawn Craig (Aus), Virender Sharma (Ind), Zahid Bassarath (WI).Referees: Dean Cosker (Eng), Graeme La Brooy (SL), Neeyamur Rahul (Ban), Prakash Bhatt (Ind).

   Dubai (Sports News): Legendary Pakistan cricketer and DP World ILT20 commentator Wasim Akram has praised the DP World ILT20’s rise as a global T20 league, highlighting the quality of cricket and the rapid development of UAE players across four seasons.On Sunday night, the Desert Vipers clinched their maiden DP World ILT20 title with a victory over MI Emirates in front of a full house at the Dubai International Stadium.Reflecting on the atmosphere at the blockbuster final, Wasim Akram said, “You can see the atmosphere outside, it’s a packed house. Families, kids, all enjoying the game. My call time was at four in the afternoon and when I arrived it was already full. That shows this league is going places. I think it’s definitely up there with the top leagues in the world. The cricket has been exceptional, so many games going down to the last over, including a Super Over and that’s what makes this tournament special.”The icon with 916 wickets across formats pointed to the impact made by UAE players as one of the most encouraging aspects of the season.He opined, “What makes me happy is the way the UAE players performed. Players like Mohammad Waseem [MI Emirates], Khuzaima Tanveer [Desert Vipers], Ajay Kumar [Abu Dhabi Knight Riders], and of course Zahoor Khan [MI Emirates] before his injury — they’ve all done well.“Tanveer got 17 wickets, and his length was excellent. Ajay Kumar also impressed everyone. Zahoor is a specialist — after 12 or 13 overs he would come in and bowl three overs, and he was MI Emirates’ main bowler at the back end.”Associated with the DP World ILT20 since its inaugural season, the 59-year-old noted the league’s evolution and the clear improvement in local talent, reflected in the race for the tournament’s signature belts. Mohammad Waseem finished second in the race for the Green Belt (Best Batter) and secured the fourth place in the hunt for the Red Belt (Most Valuable Player). Meanwhile Abu Dhabi Knight Riders’ Ajay Kumar picked up 18 wickets – the same number as the White Belt (Best Bowler) winner, Dubai Capitals’ Waqar Salamkheil.“If you look from the first year to the fourth year, you can see how much the local talent has improved. There are belts for batting, for MVP, for bowling — and now your bowlers are competing for them. That tells you how much this league is about developing local talent. Everyone knows their names now. You didn’t know them in the first year, not even the second, but you’re getting better performances every year.”Looking ahead, he stressed the importance of longer-format cricket as a foundation for sustained progress for UAE.“If you want to further improve your cricket, you must play longer formats as well. You can start with two-day cricket, 75 or 90 overs an innings, so players learn how to bat long, bowlers can learn how to set up a batter, how to get him out without just relying on them hitting shots. Eventually you can move to three-day cricket. That’s very important if you want to play against top teams in the future.”

Harare (PCB Report): A record-breaking century from Sameer Minhas powered Pakistan U19 to a commanding nine-wicket win over hosts Zimbabwe U19 in the final of the U19 tri-series at the Old Hararians in Harare on Tuesday afternoon. This success marked Pakistan U19 back-to-back titles, following their eight-team ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup win last month, where they defeated India by 191 runs in the final in Dubai.Chasing 159 to win, Pakistan wrapped up the contest in just 16.2 overs, finishing with 202 balls to spare.Right-handed batter Sameer scored a blistering 114 off 51 balls, an innings that included 17 fours and five sixes. It was Sameer’s second century of the tri-series. He brought up his hundred in just 42 balls, surpassing India’s Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who had struck a 52-ball century against England U19 in July 2025.Earlier, Pakistan captain Farhan Yousaf opted to field first, a decision that paid rich dividends as the bowling unit kept Zimbabwe under constant pressure. Right-arm fast bowler Umar Zaib led the charge with an impressive four-wicket haul, while Abdul Subhan provided able support by taking two wickets.Zimbabwe struggled to build momentum after losing early wickets and were reduced to 15 for five inside seven overs. Michael Blignaut top-scored with 60 off 102 balls, while Tatenda Chimugoro added an unbeaten 28. However, regular breakthroughs ensured the hosts were dismissed for 158 in 44.4 overs.In turn, Sameer turned the final into a one-sided affair, sharing a 145-run opening-wicket partnership with Mohammad Shayan, who remained unbeaten on 38 off 42 balls, including four fours and one six.With this emphatic win, Pakistan U19 will now turn their attention to the ICC U19 World Cup, set to begin in Zimbabwe and Namibia from 15 January.Scores in brief:Pakistan U19 won by nine wicketsZimbabwe U19 158 all out, 44.4 overs (Michael Blignaut 60, Tatenda Chimugoro 28*; Umar Zaib 4-20, Abdul Subhan 2-25)Pakistan U19 160-1, 16.2 overs (Sameer Minhas 114, Mohammad Shayan 38 not out)Player of the match: Umar Zaib (Pakistan U19)Player of the tournament: Sameer Minhas (Pakistan U19)

Dambulla (Sports News): Pakistan men’s team will take on Sri Lanka in a three-match T20I series in Dambulla, with matches scheduled on 7, 9 and 11 January, as preparations intensify for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to be held in India and Sri Lanka from 7 February to 8 March. The first ball of the match will be bowled at 7pm local time.The series will help the national selection committee to finalise Pakistan’s 15-member squad for the mega event. Pakistan will play all their World Cup fixtures in Sri Lanka, making the forthcoming bilateral series a vital opportunity to adapt to local conditions and fine-tune combinations.Salman Ali Agha will continue to lead the T20I side, who saw his side winning two tri-series tournaments and bilateral T20I series against Bangladesh, West Indies and South Africa in 2025. The series also offers players a chance to stake their claim for World Cup selection through impactful performances against a competitive Sri Lankan outfit.In the recent times, Pakistan have won three of the last five T20Is against Sri Lanka, which include win in the knockout match of the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup in Dubai and tri-series final in Rawalpindi. Salman Ali Agha in the pre-series press conference said:“The series provides a great opportunity for everyone to perform. Playing here ahead of the World Cup is a significant advantage for us, and we will look to acclimatise to the conditions as quickly as possible.“We have good players in our squad who are future prospects. We want to give them opportunities, and I am hopeful they will deliver strong performances in the series.15-member squad:Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, ⁠Abrar Ahmad, ⁠Faheem Ashraf, ⁠Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, ⁠Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, ⁠Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Usman Tariq