Cricket - Int News
Tri-Nation ODI Series: Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 37 runs in Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi (Sports Reporter): Pakistan got off the mark in the One-Day International tri series with a 37-run win over Sri Lanka in the opening match after they successfully defended their 305-run total here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday night. After Salman Ali Agha’s superb 107 off 90 balls took Pakistan to a healthy total, the pace attack – led by captain Shaheen Shah Afridi – eked out all 10 Sri Lankan wickets despite a match-threatening 119-run stand for the fifth wicket between Janith Liyanage and Pavan Rathnayake. Pakistan will now face England on Tuesday, while Sri Lanka will also be up against the same opposition on 22 October before the action moves to Lahore. On Sunday, Kusal Mendis won the toss and opted to bowl first. Pacer Dilshan Madushanka removed Pakistan openers Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub within the first 5.5 overs before debutant Saad Baig and Babar Azam built a 74-run stand to put the innings on course. During the course of his 57-ball 45-run (6x4s) knock, Babar Azam also reached the 16,000-run mark in international cricket, becoming just the fifth batter besides Inzamam-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf and Javed Miandad to reach this milestone. Saad, who became the 262nd men’s player to represent Pakistan in ODIs, looked fluent in his 40-ball stay at the crease which yielded 39 runs with the help of three fours and two sixes. Saad and Babar both fell to Eshan Malinga in 20th and 22nd overs as Sri Lanka struck back. It was at this juncture that centurion and player of the match Salman joined forces with Hasan Nawaz to put on 97 runs for the fifth wicket off just 94 balls. Hasan fell after scoring 37 off 49 balls and hit two fours as many sixes. Salman reached his century in the 45th over with a boundary off 82 balls before falling to Asitha Fernando as Sri Lanka struck back in the last five overs, giving away just 26 runs for fours wickets. Eshan picked up four for 46, Asitha Fernando had three and Madushanka removed two batters. In reply, Pakistan pacers hit the ground running as Naseem Shah provided the first breakthrough removing Avishka Fernando for five, Faheem Ashraf got rid of Kusal Mendis for 18, meanwhile Kamindu Mendis (44, 50b, 4x4s) and Sahan Arachchige fell to Shaheen as Sri Lanka slipped to 91-4 in 19.3 overs. Rathnayake (79, 74b, 6x4s, 2x6s) and Liyanage (60, 74b, 5x4s) then put on a strong show with a century partnership and threatened to take the game away from Pakistan. Sri Lanka required 96 off the last 13 overs when Pakistan finally struck with Faheem removing Rathnayake. From this moment onwards, Pakistan ran riot taking five for 15 as Sri Lanka’s chase was derailed with the visitors getting bowled out for 268 with 11 balls to spare. Shaheen returned figures of three for 55, while Naseem, Haris and Faheem all took two wickets each. Scores in brief Match 1 – Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 37 runs at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium Pakistan 305 all out, 49.5 overs (Salman Ali Agha 107, Babar Azam 45, Saad Baig 39, Hasan Nawaz 37; Eshan Malinga 4-46, Asitha Fernando 3-59, Dilshan Madushanka 2-67) Sri Lanka 268 all out, 48.1 overs (Pavan Rathnayake 79, Janith Liyanage 60, 44, Dasun Shanaka 28; Shaheen Shah Afridi 3-55, Naseem Shah 2-43, Haris Rauf 2-48, Faheem Ashraf 2-49) Player of the match – Salman Ali Agha (Pakistan)
Live from Rawalpindi: Sri Lanka captain wins toss
Abdul Jabbar FaisalRAWALPINDI: The opening match of the Tri-Nation One Day International Series started here at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, as Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to field first against hosts Pakistan.
Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 8 wickets in 3rd T20I, Hosts claim Series 2-1
Abdul Jabbar FaisalRAWALPINDI: Sri Lanka finished the three-match T20 International cricket series 2-1 down, as they registered a massive victory against the Green Shirts and won the last match by 8 wickets here at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday evening.Sri Lankan captain won the toss 3rd time in a row and put Pakistan into bat first, as the conditions were cloudy owing to light rain in the morning in the twin cities Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Pakistan managed 168 for 8 in 20 overs, courtesy a commanding 76 from captain Sahibzada Farhan and an unbeaten 34 from Arafat Minhas. Farhan led Pakistan’s batting effort with a 47-ball knock featuring seven fours and three sixes. The right-handed batter held the innings together despite wickets falling at regular intervals at the other end.Pakistan lost Fakhar Zaman (12, 7b, 1x4, 1x6) and Maaz Sadaqat (0, 3b) in the fourth over, leaving the hosts at 34 for two. Hasan Nawaz (16, 17b, 2x4) added 33 runs with Farhan for the third wicket before departing in the ninth over. The hosts suffered further setbacks as Khawaja Nafay (3, 5b), Mohammad Imran (6, 10b) and Abdul Samad (15, 10b, 2x4, 1x6) departed, leaving Pakistan at 102 for six in 13.4 overs.Farhan then joined Arafat Minhas in a crucial 66-run partnership for the seventh wicket, helping Pakistan reach a competitive total. Arafat struck two fours and as many sixes in his unbeaten 20-ball innings, while Farhan was dismissed on the penultimate delivery of the innings. This was Farhan third successive half-century in the series, who was leading the side for the first time in Pakistan.For Sri Lanka, Dasun Shanaka returned figures of three for 21, while Nuwan Thushara and Eshan Malinga took two wickets each.Defending 169, Pakistan made an early breakthrough when Mohammad Imran trapped Lahiru Udara leg-before for one in the second over. However, Sri Lanka recovered through a 59-run second-wicket partnership between Sineth Jayawardena and captain Kusal Mendis. Arafat Minhas provided Pakistan their second breakthrough when he dismissed Jayawardena for 38 off 26 balls, including five fours and two sixes.Kusal then combined with Kamindu Mendis in an unbeaten 98-run third-wicket stand to guide the visitors to win in 17.1 overs. Right-handed batter Kusal top-scored with an unbeaten 87 off 48 balls, hitting nine fours and four sixes, while Kamindu contributed 40 not out off 27 balls.Scores in brief:Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by eight wicketsPakistan 168-8, 20 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 76, Arafat Minhas 34 not out; Dasun Shanaka 3-21, Nuwan Thushara 2-38, Eshan Malinga 2-38)Sri Lanka 172-2, 17.1 overs (Kusal Mendis 87 not out, Kamindu Mendis 40 not out, Sineth Jayawardena 38; Mohammad Imran 1-31, Arafat Minhas 1-26)Player of the match – Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka)Player of the series – Sahibzada Farhan (Pakistan)
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 83 runs in second T20I to earn 2-0 lead in Series
Rawalpindi (Sports Reporter): Pakistan outclassed Sri Lanka by 83 runs in the second T20 International match of the 3-match series on Sunday here at Pindi Cricket Stadium. Maaz played a great inning of 94 runs and lost his wicket on the final ball of the innings.Captain Farhan also played a remarkable innings that helped Green Shirts to put a big total on the scoreboard.After Pakistan posted their second-highest T20I total of 215-3 in 20 overs on the back of half-centuries from Maaz and Sahibzada, Sri Lanka were restricted to 133-7 in 20 overs with pacer Muhammad Imran, playing his second T20I, registering frugal figures of 4-0-11-3. Imran was backed by Mohammad Salman Mirza, who picked up 2-28 in three overs, and spin duo of Shadab Khan and Saim Ayub – who both accounted for a wicket each. The incoming left-arm pacer Salman Mirza, who replaced Razaullah in the lineup, provided Pakistan the first breakthrough in opening over by removing Lahiru Udara - Sri Lanka’s top-scorer with 91 in first T20I – for five. It was given not out by the on-field umpire but reversed after Pakistan reviewed the decision. Sri Lanka slipped from 35-1 to 5.5 overs to 74-6, losing five for 39 in 36 balls as Pakistan bowlers ran riot. In the top order, Sineth Jayawardena (22, 21b, 4x4s) and Kamindu Mendis (23, 19b, 2x4s, 1x6) got starts but couldn’t convert them. Imran got two wickets in as many balls in the eighth over but couldn’t clinch a hat-trick as he bowled his four overs on the trot. Chamindu Wickramsinghe (29, 24b, 1x4, 1x6) and Maheesh Theekshana (32 not out, 26b, 4x4s) – the no. 7 and 8 batters – stretched Sri Lanka’s score to 133-7 in 20 overs with the help of 50-run seventh-wicket stand. Earlier, Pakistan were asked to bat first and they responded by setting up the platform for their highest T20I total at home with a 55-run opening stand. Top-scorer Maaz Sadaqat walked out to bat when Fakhar Zaman (22, 17b, 4x4s) fell to Maheesh Theekshana in the seventh over. Maaz and Sahibzada’s blazing alliance for the second wicket yielded 88 runs off 49 balls as the duo kept on taking digs at Sri Lanka bowlers. Sahibzada, playing his 50th T20I, began the assault by hitting Theekshana for two consecutive sixes in in ninth over and brought up his 12th half-century an over later. Pakistan ransacked 125 runs off the last 10 overs despite Sri Lanka giving just one run in the 14th over and eking out the wicket of Sahibzada in the following over. Sahibzada fell for 73 off 44 balls hitting four boundaries and five sixes. He had smashed Shanaka for a six and a four on consecutive deliveries before departing. Maaz welcomed Theekshana in the 16th over by hitting three sixes off the first four balls as Pakistan took 22 off the over – the best of their innings. Maaz added 72 off 31 balls in Hasan Nawaz’s (19 not out, 9b, 1x4, 1x6) company as Pakistan charged towards the total beyond 200-run mark. Pakistan took 37 runs off the last three overs with Maaz hitting three fours in the penultimate over to enter the 90s. He was 92 off 46 at the start of the last over and was denied his maiden T20I century by Eshan Malinga, who removed him off the last ball for 96 off 51 and giving away only five runs. Scores in brief Pakistan 215-3, 20 overs (Maaz Sadaqat 96, Sahibzada Farhan 73, Fakhar Zaman 22, Hasan Nawaz 19 not out; Dasun Shanaka 1-30) Sri Lanka 133-7, 20 overs (Maheesh Theekshana 32 not out, Chamindu Wickramsinghe 29, Kamindu Mendis 23, Sineth Jayawardena 22; Mohammad Imran 3-11, Mohammad Salman Mirza 2-28) Player of the match – Maaz Sadaqat (Pakistan)
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 4 wickets in T20 International
Sports Bulletin Report Rawalpindi: Sahibzada Farhan scored a match-winning 89 as Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by four wickets in the first T20I of the three-match series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday evening.The win gave Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the series, with the second T20I scheduled at the same venue on Sunday, 11 October.Chasing 183 to win, Pakistan achieved the target in 18.5 overs, courtesy of Farhan’s 53-ball 89, which included 10 fours and four sixes. Leading Pakistan for the first time in T20Is in a bilateral series, Sahibzada was adjudged player of the match for his outstanding batting display.Sahibzada and Fakhar Zaman provided Pakistan a solid start, stitching a 54-run opening partnership. Fakhar contributed 21 off 13 balls, including four boundaries, before departing in the sixth over.Sahibzada then joined Maaz Sadaqat as the pair added 92 runs for the second wicket to put Pakistan in a commanding position. Maaz struck four fours and three sixes in his 29-ball 50 before being dismissed in the 14th over.Sahibzada departed in the 18th over, while Khawaja Nafay remained unbeaten on 12 off seven balls as Pakistan completed the chase.Earlier, after electing to bat first, Sri Lanka posted 182 for eight in 20 overs. Lahiru Udara top-scored with 91 off 55 balls, hitting 11 fours and a six.For Pakistan, Naseem Shah returned figures of three for 36, while T20I debutant Mohammad Imran bagged two wickets for 21 runs in four overs.Razaullah, who also made his T20I debut, Saim Ayub and Shadab Khan took one wicket apiece.Scores in brief:Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by four wickets at Rawalpindi Cricket StadiumSri Lanka 182-8, 20 overs (Lahiru Udara 91; Naseem Shah 3-36, Mohammad Imran 2-21)Pakistan 187-6, 18.5 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 89, Maaz Sadaqat 50; Eshan Malinga 2-33, Maheesh Theekshana 2-36)Player of the match – Sahibzada Farhan (Pakistan)
Abbas Afridi to lead Pakistan in Hong Kong Sixes
Lahore (Sports Reporter): The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced the squad for the Hong Kong Sixes, with Abbas Afridi named captain for the six-a-side tournament, which will be held at the Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground in Hong Kong from 30 October to 1 November.Pakistan will depart for Hong Kong on 28 October and will compete alongside 11 other teams in the three-day tournament.The 12 participating teams have been divided into four pools of three teams each. Pakistan have been placed in Pool C.Pakistan squad:Mohammad Abbas Afridi (captain), Abdul Samad, Ahmed Daniyal, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Shahzad and Saad Masood.Team Manager: Raza Kitchlew
UAE to compete in Hong Kong Sixes – 12 teams to participate in the tournament
Dubai (Sports Reporter): A seven-member UAE squad will feature in the Hong Kong Sixes 2026. The 12-team tournament will be played at the Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground from Friday 30 October to Sunday, 1 November. UAE feature in Group C, India and Pakistan are the other two sides in the group. UAE will play Pakistan on Friday, 30 October and India on Saturday, 31 October. Both these matches will begin at 10:35am local time. The Bowl, Plate and Cup semi-finals will be played on Saturday with the Playoffs and Bowl, Plate and Cup finals scheduled for Sunday, 1 November. *UAE squad – Hong Kong Sixes 2026:* Ansh Tandon, Khalid Shah, Maroof Merchant, Mohammad Faraazuddin, Mohammad Farooq, Mohammad Zuhaib and Zahid Ali Support Staff: Naveed Ahmed (coach cum manager) Hong Kong Sixes – UAE matches schedule (Local time – Hong Kong):*Friday, 30 October – Pakistan vs UAE – 10:35am, Tin Kwong Road Recreation GroundSaturday, 31 October – UAE vs India – 10:35am, Tin Kwong Road Recreation GroundSaturday, 31 October – Bowl, Plate and Cup semi-finals Sunday, 1 November – Playoffs and Bowl, Plate and Cup finals
Pakistan squads announced for Sri Lanka T20Is and ODI tri-series
Rawalpindi (faisal): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced Pakistan men’s squads for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka and the ODI tri-series involving England and Sri Lanka.Right-handed opening batter Sahibzada Farhan, who led Pakistan in the recently concluded Asian Games will lead Pakistan in the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, while left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi will continue as captain of the ODI side for the tri-series.The T20I series will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, with the opening match scheduled for 9 October. The second and third T20Is will be played on 11 and 13 October, respectively.Following the T20I series, Pakistan will feature in a seven-match ODI tri-series alongside England and Sri Lanka. Rawalpindi will host the opening three matches, before the tournament moves to Lahore for the remaining league matches and the final.15-member T20I squad:Sahibzada Farhan (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Arafat Minhas, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz, Muhammad Imran Randhawa, Khawaja Nafay (wk), Maaz Sadaqat, Naseem Shah, Razaullah, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Shadab Khan and Sufiyan Moqim16-member ODI squad:Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Razaullah, Saad Baig (wk), Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan and Sufiyan MoqimTeam Management:Naveed Akram Cheema (manager), Mike Hesson (head coach), Shaun Tait (bowling coach), Michael Smith (batting coach), Mansoor Amjad (fielding coach), Mohammad Tahir (Physiotherapist), Grant Luden (strength &conditioning coach), Nabeel Edger Pace (team analyst for Sri Lanka T20I), Usman Hashmi (team analyst for tri-series), Shafqat Shabbir (media manager for Rawalpindi-leg and Syed Nazir Ahmed for Lahore-leg), Col. Usman Anwari (security manager), Dr. Wajid Ali Rafai (team doctor) and Muhammad Ehsan (masseur)
Match officials announced for U17 bilateral series in Multan
Multan (Sports Reporter): The match officials have been announced for Sri Lanka U17’s tour of Pakistan, which will feature one three-day match and five one-day matches at the Multan Cricket Stadium.The three-day match will be played from 9 to 11 October, while the five one-day matches will take place from 15 to 24 October.Match-by-match appointments (all matches at Multan Cricket Stadium):9-11 October – Three-day match – Imtiaz Iqbal and Saqib Khan (on-field umpires), Imranullah Aslam (reserve umpire), Sohail Idrees (match referee)15 October – First one-day match – Imtiaz Iqbal and Imranullah Aslam (on-field umpires), Farooq Ali Khan (reserve umpire), Iqbal Sheikh (match referee)17 October – Second one-day match – Saqib Khan and Farooq Ali Khan (on-field umpires), Imtiaz Iqbal (reserve umpire), Iqbal Sheikh (match referee)19 October – Third one-day match – Farooq Ali Khan and Imtiaz Iqbal (on-field umpires), Imranullah Aslam (reserve umpire), Iqbal Sheikh (match referee)21 October – Fourth one-day match – Imranullah Aslam and Saqib Khan (on-field umpires), Farooq Ali Khan (reserve umpire), Iqbal Sheikh (match referee)24 October – Fifth one-day match – Farooq Ali Khan and Imranullah Aslam (on-field umpires), Saqib Khan (reserve umpire), Iqbal Sheikh (match referee)
Afghanistan Future Stars to Face Bangladesh and Oman in Youth ODI Matches
Kabul (SBR): Afghanistan Future Stars will travel to Oman on October 10, where they will feature in a five-match Youth ODI series against Bangladesh U19 from October 13 to 23, before facing the Oman U19 side in two Youth ODI matches on October 27 and 30.These matches are part of Afghanistan Future Stars' preparation for the ACC U19 Men's Asia Cup 2026, scheduled for early November.Afghanistan Cricket Board’s National Selection Committee has also finalized the Afghanistan U19 squad for the upcoming matches, with Sohail Khan appointed as captain. The squad comprises 15 players in the main squad, along with three players named as reserves.
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