Sports Bulletin

Karachi (PCB Report): The Women’s National Selection Committee has named a 17-member Pakistan Women’s U19 squad for the South Africa series set to take place in Karachi from 14 to 24 July. The five-match T20 series between the two sides will be played at the National Bank Stadium, with the first ball of each match set to be bowled at 8pm local time.South Africa Women’s U19 team will embark on their maiden tour of Pakistan and will arrive in Karachi on 10 July. Both sides will take part in training sessions from 11 to 13 July before the first T20 takes place on Tuesday, 14 July.Pakistan team will be led by Fizza Fiaz, who was part of the side that won the series 3-2 against Bangladesh U19 in Bangladesh in December 2025. The right-handed batter featured in two matches in the five-match T20 series, scoring 72 runs, including a half-century. The 19-year-old also featured in the National Women’s T20 Tournament and participated in the National Women’s U19 Tournament 2025-26 as well.For the forthcoming T20 series, nine of the 17 squad members featured in the previous series against Bangladesh. Alongside captain Fizza, Aqsa Habib, Areesha Ansari, Komal Khan, Memoona Khalid, Raahima Syed, Ravail Farhan, Rozina Akram and Zoofishan Ayyaz were all part of that tour.The squad members also featured in two U19 fitness and skills camps held in Karachi as part of the team's preparations for the upcoming series.Pakistan U19 squad:Fizza Fiaz (captain), Alzoha Hammad, Aqsa Habib, Areesha Ansari, Barirah Saif, Hadia Mina, Komal Khan, Mah Noor, Maham Nazakat, Mahnoor Zeb, Memoona Khalid, Raahima Syed, Ravail Farhan, Rozina Akram, Shahar Bano, Zainab Khanum and Zoofishan AyyazTeam management:Aisha Jalil (manager), Mohammad Masroor (head coach), Shoaib Khan (batting coach), Naeem Tayyab (bowling coach), Jaweria Rauf (fielding coach), Eman Arbab (analyst), Taimoor Mehmood (strength and conditioning coach) and Surakhsha Shaker (physiotherapist)Series schedule (All matches at National Bank Stadium and will begin at 8pm):10 July – South Africa team arrival in Karachi11-13 July – Pakistan and South Africa teams training sessions at National Bank Stadium14 July – First T2017 July – Second T2019 July – Third T2022 July – Fourth T2024 July – Fifth T20

Media releaseAustralia opener Beth Mooney has regained the No.1 position in the ICC Women’s T20I Batting Rankings after winning the Player of the Tournament award in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.The wicketkeeper-batter, who had also been named Player of the Tournament in the 2020 edition at home, has overtaken team-mate Georgia Voll, who had occupied the top spot since 23 March this year.Mooney won the Player of the Match award in Sunday’s final at Lord’s for a solid 64 off 49 deliveries in a seven-wicket win over England that helped her finish the tournament with 238 runs and start her fifth stint as number one. Only Karen Rolton has occupied the spot longer than Mooney, who has spent more than four years as No. 1.In other notable movements, South Africa opener Tazmin Brits has advanced three places to 11th after scoring 51 in the second semifinal against England at The Oval, while England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt’s 75 in that match and 58 not out in the final have helped her move up five spots to 16th. Freya Kemp’s unbeaten 44 in the final has lifted her 27 spots to 63rd.The bowling rankings still see India’s left-arm spinner Shree Charani at the top of the table even as Sophie Ecclestone has leapfrogged team-mate Charlie Dean to second place after taking one wicket each in the semifinal and the final.Australia all-rounder Kim Garth’s economical spell in the final has earned her a five-slot rise to 15th position while South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp has moved back into the top 10 after a fine effort in the semifinal. Ash Gardner (up two places to 20th), Sophie Molineux (up 21 places to 66th) and Shabnim Ismail (up 29 places to 69th) are others to progress.

Dubai (Sports Bulletin Report): Four players from the victorious Australian side have been named in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Team of the Tournament.The champions, who lifted the trophy for the seventh time, are the best represented nation, with runners-up England providing two players to the team.The remaining players in the XI, plus the 12th player, come from six different nations.Sophie Molineux has named as captain after skippering Australia to the title in her first tournament as leader, while Beth Mooney takes the gloves after a starring performance in the final.The team was selected by a panel consisting of ICC representative Gaurav Saxena, members of the tournament commentary team Ian Bishop, Anjum Chopra, Julia Price and Ebony Rainford-Brent, and media representative Valkyrie Baynes.England’s opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge crashed more runs than have ever been scored before by an individual at an ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, with 302 from seven games at a strike rate of 149.5.Wyatt-Hodge also had two of the top five scores in the tournament, including making the first century of the competition in England’s opener against Sri Lanka.She is partnered by Mooney, who made history by becoming the first women’s player to win both Player of the Final and Aramco Player of the Tournament for the second time.Mooney hit back-to-back half-centuries in the knockout stages, making a match-winning knock of 64 from 49 balls in the Final.England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt is named at three having only played four matches of the tournament.She hit four consecutive scores over 40, including a match-defining 75 against South Africa in the last four before following up with 58 not out in the final, the third ICC showpiece in a row where she has top-scored for England.Ellyse Perry continues to age like fine wine, hitting back-to-back half-centuries in the group stages, with a starring performance against Pakistan as she made 71 and took two wickets for nine runs.Perry was named Player of the Match three times, a joint-high with Wyatt-Hodge, including in Australia’s record chase against at India.Ireland’s Orla Prendergast has been recognised after steering her side to their first-ever win at a World Cup.The all-rounder scored 63 in the victory over the West Indies, her second half-century of the tournament, also taking wickets in all bar one of the matches.In at No.6, Nilakshika Silva was twice named Player of the Match for Sri Lanka, including her 54 not out in the famous win over New Zealand.She also made 21 not out to see her side home against Scotland as Sri Lanka won three matches at a T20 World Cup for the first time.Marizanne Kapp’s all-round brilliance saw South Africa to their fourth consecutive T20 World Cup semi-finals.Kapp made a stunning 81 not out to see the Proteas chase down India, also taking eight wickets in the tournament including three for 23 against Pakistan.Ashleigh Gardner has been selected at number eight as the Australia vice-captain contributed with bat and ball.She twice made half-centuries, including her 53 not out blitz to see Australia complete the highest chase in World Cup history against India, before posting best figures of two for 13 against West Indies in the semi-final.Pakistan’s Fatima Sana is the third captain to be part of the team, having led her side with distinction in the tournament.She finished joint-second in the wicket-taking charts with 11 dismissals across five games, also making 55 not out in a narrow loss to South Africa.Just below her is Molineux, who also took 11 wickets in the tournament, as the skipper extracted dismissals in all but one game.India’s Sree Charani completes the XI having ended as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker, despite only playing five games.The slow left armer took 14 wickets, the second most-ever at a single T20 World Cup, with best figures of four for 19 as she took at least two wickets in every match.Darcey Carter has been named as the 12th player, a historic first appearance for a Scotland player in the list.Carter made 208 runs from five matches at the top of the order, including 72 not out against New Zealand.T20 World Cup: Team of the TournamentDanni Wyatt-Hodge, Beth Mooney [wk], Nat Sciver-Brunt, Ellyse Perry, Orla Prendergast, Nilakshika Silva, Marizanne Kapp, Ashleigh Gardner, Fatima Sana, Sophie Molineux [captain], Sree Charani, Darcey Carter

BIPIN DANIIndia’s rising star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi etched his name into cricket history when he became the nation’s youngest male international cricketer — and the youngest debutant from a major Test‑playing country in T20Is — at just 15 years and 99 days during his debut against England at Old Trafford.While the milestone has thrilled Indian fans, the official record for the youngest men’s international cricketer still belongs to Pakistan’s Hasan Raza, who made his Test debut in 1996 at the tender age of 14 years and 227 days.Speaking exclusively over telephone from Dubai, where he has been based for the past year on a coaching assignment, Raza warmly welcomed Sooryavanshi to the elite list: “I am happy for this young boy. I followed his performance in the recent match against England. I also followed his first IPL career season. He has been playing really well and I am sure he will bring glory for the nation. I wish him good luck for his bright future.”Raza is also aware of the special facilities provided to the Indian opener in Ireland and England, including separate change‑room arrangements due to his age. Reflecting on his own teenage debut, Raza recalled a very different era: "At that time in the 1990s, I was not required to use a separate change room. There was no law as such for under‑16 boys. Neither my parents accompanied me on the tour. I was sharing the hotel room with my team captain Aamer Sohail. At that time, the players were accommodated in twin‑sharing rooms.”Now 44, Hasan Raza’s career included 7 Tests and 16 ODIs for Pakistan. Though his record as the youngest debutant remains intact, he expressed genuine delight at seeing another teenager step onto the international stage, carrying forward the legacy of precocious cricketing talent.

Lahore (SBR): :Pakistan Men’s National Selection Committee has announced Test squads for the tours of the West Indies and England during a press conference at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday, 5 July.Babar Azam has been named captain for both series. Pakistan will play a two-match Test series against the West Indies from 25 July to 6 August, followed by a three-match Test series in England from 19 August to 13 September.A 16-member squad has been named for the West Indies series, while a 17-member squad has been announced for the England series. Saud Shakeel has been included as the 17th member for the England series, subject to fitness.Left-arm spinner Ali Usman, right-handed batter Mohammad Awais Zafar, right-arm fast bowler Ubaid Shah and wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Ghazi Ghori are the uncapped players in the squad.16-member squad (in alphabetical order) for West Indies series:Babar Azam (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam ul Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Awais Zafar, Mohammad Ghazi Ghori (wicket-keeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah17-member squad for England series:Babar Azam (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam ul Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Muhammad Awais Zafar, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicket-keeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel (subject to fitness), Shan Masood and Ubaid ShahSchedule for West Indies series:25-29 July – First Test, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba2-6 August – Second Test, Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Port of SpainSchedule for England series:19-23 August – First Test, Leeds27-31 August – Second Test, Lord’s9-13 September – Third Test, Birmingham

Dubai (PR): Pacer Samaira Dharnidharka will lead the 14-member UAE Women’s U19 team in the 13-team ACC Women’s U19 Premier Cup 2026 which begins in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Saturday, 11 July. The tournament is the qualifier for the ACC Women’s U19 Asia Cup 2026 which will be played later this year. The top four teams from the ACC Women’s U19 Premier Cup 2026 (winners of the four quarterfinals) will earn qualification for the ACC Women’s U19 Asia Cup 2026. UAE have been drawn in Group B with Oman and Bhutan, the other two teams. UAE play Oman in their opening game on 11 July at the YSD UKM Oval at 9:30am local time. They play Bhutan on Thursday, 14 July at the Bayuemas Oval. The match will begin at 2:00pm local time. The top two teams from each of the four tournament groups will compete in the quarterfinals which will be played on Friday, 15 July. The semifinals will be played on Sunday, 17 July with the final scheduled for Monday 18 July at the Bayuemas Oval. The winners of the quarterfinals will earn ACC Women’s U19 Asia Cup 2026 qualification. *UAE U19 Women’s squad – ACC Women’s U19 Premier Cup 2026:* Samaira Dharnidharka, (captain), Afsha Afzal Khan, Al Maseera Jahangir, Avanee Patil, Emily Thomas (wicketkeeper), Janani Thirukkumaran, Lavanya Keny, Mehul Kulkarni, Mehak Thakur, Neha Kumari, Rishitha Rajith, Sai Nikhil Thite, Simran Sheth and Vaishnave Mahesh. *Support Staff:* Subha Venkataraman (interim head coach), Shyla Alam (strength and conditioning coach) and Merin Saji (manager and physiotherapist). *ACC Women’s U19 Premier Cup 2026 – UAE matches schedule:*Saturday, 11 July – UAE vs Oman, YSD UKM Oval – 9:30amThursday, 14 July – UAE vs Bhutan, Bayuemas Oval – 2:00pmFriday, 15 July – QuarterfinalsSunday, 17 July – Semifinals, Bayuemas Oval Monday, 18 July – Third position playoff and final,

Lahore, 27 June 2026:The domestic cricket season 2026-27 is set to begin in August, while the departmental cricket tournaments in this iteration are set to kick off in September as opposed to the December-January start in the previous two seasons, the Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed today.  The departmental cricket tournaments include the four-day first-class President’s Trophy Grade-I, List A President’s Cup and the three-day President’s Trophy Grade-II Gold and Silver tournaments.  The eight-team President’s Trophy and Cup will be of critical importance in the coming domestic season with the PCB set to work closely with the departmental teams on a number of fronts to ensure high competition, player development and creating stable and transparent revenue streams for the domestic players. The eight-team President’s Cup One-Day tournament will be in the spotlight due to the focus on preparation for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027. The PCB will also work with the departments across the four tournaments to maintain best possible standards of fitness as well, comprising pre-season fitness tests for selection of players. In order to maximise the playing opportunities for centrally contracted and national pool players, the Guest Player concept will also be introduced for the upcoming departmental cricket season. The finalists of the President’s Trophy Grade-II Silver, which recently concluded in Faisalabad, are set to be promoted to the Gold tournament, while the bottom two teams of the Gold tier will be relegated. The winner of the President’s Trophy Grade-II Gold final between MIT Solutions and Kingsmen Academy will secure berth in the President’s Trophy Grade-I starting in September and will replace the bottom team from previous edition of the tournament. The bottom finishers of the President’s Trophy Grade-I 2025-26 are set to feature in Grade-II Gold. (SBR)

Ahmedabad (SBR); Adani Sportsline today announced Gulf Giants' coaching and support staff for the upcoming season of the DP World UAE ILT20, assembling a group that blends continuity with fresh expertise ahead of the new campaign.Michael Klinger has been appointed Batting Coach, joining a coaching team led by Head Coach Simon Helmot. Shane Bond continues as Bowling Coach, Kadeer Ali joins as Fielding Coach, James Pipe remains Physiotherapist, Gary Brent takes over as Strength and Conditioning Coach and Saurabh Walkar continues as Analyst.The appointments reinforce a support structure designed to build on Gulf Giants' strong record in the competition, including their title-winning campaign in the inaugural ILT20 season in 2023.Helmot, whose appointment was announced last month, arrives with an accomplished track record in white-ball cricket and extensive experience across leading T20 leagues. He will lead a coaching group that combines established relationships within the franchise with specialist expertise drawn from across the global game.Klinger brings extensive experience as both a player and coach. Currently Head Coach of Gujarat Giants in the Women's Premier League (WPL), he is well acquainted with Adani Sportsline's high-performance environment and player development approach.Bond, one of the most respected fast-bowling coaches in world cricket, continues in his role after joining the franchise last season. The former New Zealand international has worked with elite teams and players around the world and will continue to oversee the development of Gulf Giants' bowling unit.Kadeer joins from Worcestershire County Cricket Club, where he serves as Assistant Head Coach, adding specialist fielding expertise to the coaching setup.Pipe continues as Physiotherapist, providing continuity in player care and recovery, while former Zimbabwe international Brent joins as Strength and Conditioning Coach after previous stints within the Adani Sportsline ecosystem. Walkar also retains his role as Analyst, supporting match preparation and performance planning.Speaking on his appointment, Klinger said, “I’m familiar with Adani Sportsline’s philosophy through my time with Gujarat Giants, so this is an exciting opportunity to join another team within the group. Gulf Giants have strong foundations and I’m looking forward to working closely with Simon and the rest of the staff to help build a solid unit that can make a big impact in the new season.”Bond added, “We’ve got a strong setup at Gulf Giants and I’m excited to continue working with the group as we prepare for the new season. There’s quality in the squad, and with Simon coming in as Head Coach as well as Klinger joining as Batting Coach, it’s a great opportunity for us to keep building and push standards even higher.”The coaching group brings experience from international cricket, franchise leagues and domestic competitions across multiple countries. As preparations gather pace, Gulf Giants will look to build the momentum required to challenge for a second title in the DP World UAE ILT20, which was launched in 2023 and has quickly established itself as one of the leading T20 leagues in world cricket.

Southampton (Sports News) Pakistan women were restricted to 100 for eight in pursuit of 124 as Bangladesh secured a 23-run win in the 15th match of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton on Saturday.Pakistan will now take on Australia on 23 June at the Headingley Cricket Ground in Leeds.Opting to bat, Bangladesh Women lost early wickets. Skipper Fatima Sana struck twice in the second over to deliver a double-wicket maiden, having Dilara Akter caught by Nashra Sundhu for five and trapping Sharmin Akter leg-before for a duck. Tasmia Rubab then removed Juairiya Ferdous for seven to send the top order back in the hut with Bangladesh 13-3 in 4.3 overs.Captain Nigar Sultana and Sobhana Mostary then rebuilt the innings with a steady 35-run stand. Nigar, who also shared a 24-run stand with Ritu Moni and a 20-run sixth-wicket stand with Shorna Akter, scored 36 off 38 balls before Sadia Iqbal had her caught by Saira Jabeen in the 18th over after Bangladesh had recovered fairly from the earlier setbacks.Sobhana Mostary struck 22 before falling to Nashra as the scoreboard read 48 for four after 9.4 overs.Shorna anchored the lower order with an unbeaten 39 off 22 balls striking five fours to lift Bangladesh to 123 for six from their 20 overs. Fatima returned two for 18 from her four overs, while Sadia, Tasmia, Nashra and Tuba Hassan claimed a wicket apiece.In reply, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui and Gull Feroza added 49 for the opening wicket before Nahida Akter struck twice. Gull fell for 23 off 18 balls aided by four fours, while Muneeba scored 25 off 30 with the help of a six and a four.Bangladesh squeezed the middle and lower order with their disciplined bowling with Shorna and Sanjida Akter taking three wickets each. Rabeya Khan and Ritu dismissed one batter each as Pakistan fell 23 runs short.Scores in brief:Match 15 – Bangladesh beat Pakistan by 23 runs at Hampshire Bowl, SouthamptonBangladesh 123-6, 20 overs (Shorna Akter 39 not out, Nigar Sultana 36, Sobhana Mostary 22; Fatima Sana 2-18)Pakistan 100-8, 20 overs (Muneeba Ali Siddiqui 25, Gull Feroza 23; Nahida Akter 3-18, Sanijda Akter Meghla 3-21)Player of the match: Shorna Akter (Bangladesh)Pakistan's fixtures at ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026:14 June – India beat Pakistan by 64 runs17 June – South Africa beat Pakistan by two wickets20 June - Bangladesh beat Pakistan by 23 runs23 June v Australia, Headingley, Leeds – 10.30pm PKT | 6.30pm local time27 June v Netherlands, Bristol County Ground, Bristol – 2.30pm PKT | 10.30am local time

Lahore (PR):South Africa Women’s U19 team will embark on their maiden tour to Pakistan to play a five-match T20 series, the PCB announced today. The five-match T20 series will be staged at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi from 14 to 24 July. Match timings will be announced in due course.South Africa Women’s U19 team will arrive in Karachi on 10 July and undergo training sessions at the National Bank Stadium from 11 to 13 July before taking on the hosts in the first T20 scheduled for Tuesday, 14 July. Pakistan Women’s U19 last featured in a bilateral T20 series in Bangladesh, where they won the five-match series 3-2.The forthcoming T20 series will provide an opportunity for the hosts to prepare for the ACC Women’s U19 T20 Asia Cup, scheduled to take place later this year and the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place early next year.The PCB Women’s Cricket Department recently hosted a series of camps for U19 cricketers in Karachi to prepare them for the forthcoming events