Cricket
Defending champions Pakistan set for ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup in Oman
Oman (Sports News): Defending champions Pakistan are all set to feature in the eight-team ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup, scheduled to take place in Oman from 5 to 14 November. Pakistan are placed in Group A alongside Nepal, the United Arab Emirates and India.Pakistan defeated India by 191 runs in the final of the previous edition of the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates in December 2025. The side arrived in Oman ahead of the tournament to acclimatise to the conditions and prepare for the event.Before travelling to Oman, Pakistan U19 enjoyed a successful tour of England, winning the four-match one-day series 3-1. They narrowly lost the only four-day match by 10 runs.Farhan Yousaf will lead Pakistan in the tournament. The right-handed batter scored 223 runs in four one-day matches during the England tour, including a century and a half-century.In the upcoming edition, Pakistan will begin their title defence against UAE on 6 November before taking on India on 8 November and Nepal on 10 November. The Group B includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.The semi-finals of the tournament will take place on 12 November, while the final is scheduled on 14 November.Pakistan U19 head coach Shahid Anwar while talking to PCB Digital said:“First of all, I would like to thank the Pakistan Cricket Board for sending us to Oman four to five days ahead of the tournament, allowing the players to acclimatise to the conditions. “The players have trained hard over the past few days and are 100 per cent fit, committed and motivated to defend the title and bring the trophy back to Pakistan.“Our mindset is to play fearless cricket. Every player is eager to perform and contribute to the team’s success. Being the defending champions is not a pressure but a privilege. Having won the title in the past gives us confidence that we can do it again.“We are satisfied with the way the players and coaching staff have prepared for the tournament. We will try to win the hearts of our fans, defend our title and bring the trophy back to Pakistan.”15-member squadFarhan Yousuf (captain), Abdul Qadir (wk), Abdul Subhan, Ahmed Hussain, Ali Raza, Hamza Zahoor (wk), Hasnain Abbas Dar, Hayam Khan, Huzaifa Ahsan, Jahangir Bilal, Mohammad Huzaifa, Mohammad Seyam, Niqab Shafiq, Rizwanullah, Usman KhanPlayer support personnelShahid Anwar (head coach & team manager), Rao Iftikhar Anjum (fast bowling coach), Zohaib Khan (spin bowling coach), Humayun Farhat (fielding coach), Ubaid Ullah (Physiotherapist), Ibrar Ahmed (trainer) and Ali Hamza (performance analyst)
National Cup T20: Champions beat Incredibles by 14 runs
Faisalabad (Sports Reporter): Pace-bowling all-rounder Ayesha Rehman was the key for Tuba Hassan-led Champions as she starred in their 14-run win over Incredibles in the fourth match of the PCB Women’s Super-3 T20 Tournament at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad on Sunday. Champions posted 143-8 in the allotted 20 overs with Ayesha top-scoring with 35 not out. In turn, Incredibles were bowled out for 129 in 19.5 overs with only Syeda Aroob Shah putting up a fight with a quickfire 32. Ayesha also picked up the first and last wicket of the innings returning 2-18 in 3.5 overs. Champions opted to bat and their opening batters Komal Khan (24, 20b, 4x4s) and Shawaal Zulfiqar (17, 11b, 2x4s, 1x6) gave a decent start with a 41-run stand. Incredibles’ spin-bowling trio of Anosha Nasir, Umm-e-Hani and Aroob then started to cut through Champions’ batting line-up as they slipped to 79-5. Najiha Alvi (28, 31b, 2x4s) and Saira Jabeen (23, 18b, 2x4s, 1x6) then put in an effort to take their team out of danger which worked. It was a crucial 44-run stand between Najiha and no.9 Ayesha that propelled Champions to a winning score. Ayesha struck four fours and one six in the 16 balls she faced during her unbeaten stay at the crease. For Incredibles, Anosha picked up 3-16 in four overs, Hani 2-29 in four and Aroob 1-18 in as many overs. In pursuit of the 144-run target, Incredibles’ top five batters stuttered with Gull Feroza scoring 33 off 39 balls, Omaima Sohail (17, 14b, 2x4s) and Samiya Afsar (12, 12b, 2x4s) departing after getting starts. Aroob, batting at no.6, showcased her hitting prowess by striking two fours and as many sixes in her 17-ball 32, which threatened the Champions but they managed to reign in the Incredibles, taking six for 45 towards the latter stage. Ayesha, Tayyaba Imdad and Tania Saeed picked up two wickets each. Scores in brief Champions 143-8, 20 overs (Ayesha Rehman 35 not out, Najiha Alvi 28, Komal Khan 24, Saira Jabeen 23; Anosha Nasir 3-16, Umm-e-Hani 2-29) Incredibles 129 all out, 19.5 overs (Gull Feroza 33, Syeda Aroob Shah 32; Tayyaba Imdad 2-18, Ayesha Rehman 2-18, Tania Saeed 2-18)Player of the match – Ayesha Rehman (Champions)
APL T20 Players’ Draft ceremony to take place on November 3, 2026, at Dubai
Dubai (PR): The Afghanistan Cricket Board, in partnership with its official partner, announced that the APL T20 Players’ Draft will take place on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at 2:30 PM at Le Méridien Dubai Hotel, UAE.The leadership roles of all participating teams were announced last week, marking an important step in preparations for the upcoming edition of the APL T20. The Players’ Draft will now bring together team representatives, officials, players and other key stakeholders for one of the tournament’s major pre-event activities.Approximately 1,500 Afghan and international players registered for the APL T20 across the Platinum, Diamond, Gold, Silver and Emerging categories. Following the evaluation and shortlisting process, 462 players have been selected for inclusion in the draft pool and will be presented to the participating teams during the draft ceremony.The event will provide teams with the opportunity to build their squads by selecting players from the available categories in accordance with the tournament’s draft regulations.
Afghanistan beat Australia in final to lift Hong Kong International Sixes 2026 title
Hong Kong (Sports News): Afghanistan delivered an outstanding all-round performance to defeat Australia in the final and lift the title of the Hong Kong International Sixes 2026. Batting first, Australia posted a challenging total of 115 runs in their six-over innings. In response, Afghanistan produced a remarkable batting display to chase down the target and secure a memorable victory.Imran Mir led the charge with a blistering unbeaten 53 off just 14 deliveries, while Farmanullah Safi contributed an unbeaten 27 off seven balls. Skipper Gulbadin Naib also played a crucial role, scoring 17 off just six deliveries to help Afghanistan complete the chase and seal a four-wicket victory.With this triumph, Afghanistan have been crowned champions of the Hong Kong International Sixes 2026.#HK6 | #HongKongSixes2026
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 3 wickets to win Tri-Nation Cricket Series final
Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE: Pakistan clinched the ODI tri-series title after securing a dramatic three-wicket victory over Sri Lanka at the Gaddafi Stadium. Spearheaded by a monumental, record-breaking century from veteran left-handed opener Fakhar Zaman and crucial supporting knocks from Saad Baig and Arafat Minhas, the hosts successfully chased down a daunting target of 326 with nine balls to spare.Chasing a challenging target of 326, Pakistan faced early jitters when Sri Lankan fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka struck twice in his opening two overs. He dismissed emerging opener Maaz Sadaqat (5) and star batsman Babar Azam (0) in quick succession, leaving the hosts stuttering at a precarious 14 for 2.However, young wicketkeeper-batter Saad Baig joined Fakhar Zaman at the crease to launch a sensational rescue mission. The duo constructed a magnificent 149-run partnership for the third wicket, completely shifting the momentum back in Pakistan's favor. Saad contributed a sparkling 74 off 75 deliveries, laced with 11 boundaries, before Maheesh Theekshana broke the stand in the 27th over.Continuing his phenomenal touch, Fakhar Zaman anchored the chase brilliantly and brought an end to his century drought with a majestic knock. The 36-year-old left-hander hammered 127 runs off just 99 deliveries, featuring 11 boundaries and six towering maximums, marking his 12th ODI century.Fakhar then shared a vital 57-run stand for the fourth wicket with all-rounder Salman Ali Agha (17) before Madushanka cleaned him up in the 34th over. Despite his departure, the foundation for victory was firmly set.As the innings progressed into the closing stages, youngsters Hasan Nawaz and Arafat Minhas stepped up with a crucial 94-run partnership. Minhas played a blazing cameo of 61 runs from only 31 balls, hitting four sixes and three fours.Although a late double-strike by Asitha Fernando in the 48th over caused a sudden flutter, captain Shaheen Shah Afridi kept his cool. On the third delivery of the penultimate over, Shaheen smashed Madushanka for a massive six towards the square-leg boundary to seal a memorable victory for Pakistan. Dilshan Madushanka was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers with figures of 3 for 63.Earlier, put in to bat, Sri Lanka posted a competitive total of 325 for 8 in their allotted 50 overs. Opener Kamindu Mendis played a sensational, career-best innings of 131 off 128 balls, supported brilliantly by Pavan Rathnayake, who contributed an aggressive 77 off 65 deliveries. Together, they formed a massive 146-run third-wicket partnership.Despite late breakthroughs from Pakistan’s bowling attack—where captain Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha, and Haris Rauf claimed two wickets each—Sri Lanka crossed the 300-run mark, setting up a thrilling final that ultimately ended in Pakistan's favor.
Afghanistan beat Oman by 4 wickets in the Hong Kong Sixes
Hong Kong (Sports News): Afghanistan put on an incredible batting effort to beat Oman by 4 wickets for their second successive victory in the Hong Kong Sixes campaign, top their group, and qualify for the semifinals.Batting first, Oman posted 120/4 in their six-over innings. In reply, Afghanistan produced an outstanding batting display and chased down the target with 4 wickets and four balls to spare.Sediqullah Pacha smashed an unbeaten 45 off just 10 balls and was equally supported by Farmanullah Safi, who scored an unbeaten 37 off just 11 deliveries. Skipper Gulbadin Naib contributed 21 off 7 balls, while Karim Janat scored 17 off 6 deliveries.#HK6 | #HongKongSixes2026
Pakistan to take on Sri Lanka in ODI tri-series final on Saturday
Lahore (Sports Report): Shaheen Shah Afridi-led Pakistan will take on Kusal Mendis-led Sri Lanka in the final of the ODI tri-series at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Saturday, 31 October.The toss will take place at 12.30pm PKT, while the first ball is scheduled to be bowled at 1pm.The ongoing ODI tri-series is the fourth such tournament to be held on Pakistan soil, following the editions featuring Australia and South Africa in 1994, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in 2004 and New Zealand and South Africa in 2025.Pakistan, who became the first side to qualify for the final of the ongoing tri-series after registering two wins against England and one against Sri Lanka, will be aiming to clinch their maiden ODI tri-series title on home soil.In the batting charts, Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha is the leading run-scorer for the hosts with 158 runs from four outings in the tournament, including a century against fellow finalists’ Sri Lanka in the opening match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.In the bowling department, young Arafat Minhas has bagged nine wickets in four matches, including a six-wicket haul in Pakistan’s 87-run win over England at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. He will be aiming to deliver another match-winning performance if given an opportunity in Saturday’s final.Captain Shaheen is joint second on the tournament’s leading wicket-takers list alongside Sri Lanka’s Dilshan Madushanka with eight scalps from four matches.Shaheen Shah Afridi, Pakistan captain talking to PCB Digital ahead of the final said:“We have performed well as a team, but there are still areas where we need to improve, particularly scoring runs at the top and building partnerships.“The crowd has always supported us and we hope fans will turn out in large numbers tomorrow to witness an exciting contest.“We are hopeful of maintaining our team combination and putting up a good performance in the final.”Pakistan squad for tri-series final:Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Abrar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Razaullah, Saad Baig (wk), Sahibzada Farhan and Shadab Khan Kusal Mendis, Sri Lanka captain in an exclusive talk to PCB Digital ahead of the final said:“The final is a big game for us. Pakistan have played good cricket in their recent matches. We are well prepared and looking forward to the final.“We played really well against Pakistan in our previous encounter. We have done several things right and are focused on following our processes and sticking to our basic plans.“Everyone in Sri Lanka is very happy with our performances. Pakistan fans have also shown great support for Sri Lankan players, which is encouraging for us.”Sri Lanka squad for tri-series final:Kusal Mendis (c), Sahan Arachchige, Dushmantha Chameera, Sachindu Colombage, Avishka Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Janith Liyanage, Dilshan Madushanka, Eshan Malinga, Kamindu Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Lahiru Udara, Pavan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage
Muneeba’s 87*, Sadaf’s 55 hand Warriors second-consecutive win in Super-3 T20
Faisalabad (Sports Reporter): Muneeba Ali and Sadaf Shamas’ half-centuries followed by three wickets for left-arm pacer Shahar Bano led Warriors to a 35-run over Incredibles in the third match of the PCB Women’s Super-3 T20 Tournament here at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad on Friday. Chasing 195-run target, the Incredibles were restricted to 159 all out in 19.3 overs with Gull Feroza and Eman Naseer scoring 38 runs each. The teams will rest on Saturday, 31 October before Incredibles return on Sunday to take on Champions at the same venue with the first ball expected to be bowled at 10am PKT. On Friday, Warriors opted to bat first and got off the blocks with a 98-run second-wicket partnership between Muneeba and Sadaf Shamas (55, 40b, 7x4s, 2x6s) after Ravail Farhan fell early. Muneeba finished unbeaten on 87 off 55 balls striking 12 fours and two sixes. Eyman Fatima, Warriors’ best batter in the previous game, only scored nine and its was a 10-ball 26-run cameo by Gull Rukh, which took Warriors to 194-6 in the allotted 20 overs. Gull hit three fours and two sixes in her outing. Shahar Bano hit two fours in her five-ball eight. For Incredibles, Omaima Sohail and Waheeda Akhtar picked up two wickets each. In reply, Incredibles got off to a decent start with contributions from Gull Feroza (38, 19b, 7x4s), Samiya Afsar (15, 5b, 2x4s, 1x6) and Eman Naseer (38, 29b, 5x4s) but their chase stuttered later. From 95-2, they lost eight for 64 despite some resistance from Umm-e-Hani (16, 16b, 1x4) and Mahnoor Zeb (14, 13b, 1x4). Bano removed three batters for 38 runs, while Hafsa Khalid and Rameen Shamim picked up two wickets each. Scores in brief Match 3 – Warriors beat Incredibles by 35 runs at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad Warriors 194-6, 20 overs (Muneeba Ali 87 not out, Sadaf Shamas 35, Gull Rukh 26; Omaima Sohail 2-30, Waheeda Akhtar 2-36) Incredibles 159 all out, 19.3 overs (Gull Feroza 38, Eman Naseer 38; Shahar Bano 3-38, Hafsa Khalid 2-6, Rameen Shamim 2-26) Player of the match – Muneeba Ali (Warriors)
Pakistan squad announced for ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy
Wicketkeeper-batter Muneeba Ali to lead Pakistan’s squad in the tournament Lahore (Sports Reporter):Muneeba Ali will lead Pakistan in the upcoming ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy 2026 as Pakistan Cricket Board announced a 14-member squad on Tuesday for the tournament which is set to be staged in Ajman, United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 12 to 25 November.Batter Ayesha Zafar has been named vice-captain, while Eman Naseer, Eyman Fatima, Sadaf Shamas, Saira Jabeen and Shawaal Zulfiqar are the batters named in the squad. Gull Feroza, who was named best wicketkeeper-batter in the recently concluded National Women’s T20 Tournament, is also part of the team.Left-arm spinner Nashra Sundhu will lead the bowling attack with Momina Riasat, Tuba Hassan and Umm-e-Hani forming the spin bowling quartet. Tasmia Rubab and Waheeda Akhtar are the frontline pace options in the squad.Pakistan women’s team most recently won the Bronze Medal in the Asian Games in Japan. 12 players have retained their place in the squad from Pakistan’s last assignment, while Sadaf and Waheeda have been recalled. Pakistan will also be without regular captain Fatima Sana as she will be in Australia to feature in her maiden Women’s Big Bash League season.The 30-match tournament comprises of 10 teams divided into two groups. Pakistan are in Group B alongside Bangladesh, Thailand, Netherlands and Zimbabwe. Group A consists of Sri Lanka, Ireland, Scotland Papua New Guinea and hosts United Arab Emirates (UAE).Following single-league round-robin stage, three teams from each group will progress to the Super Six stage, where they will play three matches each. The top two teams of the Super Six stage will play the final on Wednesday, 25 November.Pakistan squad will assemble in Lahore on 6 November and will undergo a pre-tournament training camp on 7, 8 and 9 November before departing for UAE.14-member squadMuneeba Ali Siddiqui (captain, wk), Ayesha Zafar (vice-captain), Eman Naseer, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza (wk), Momina Riasat, Nashra Sundhu, Sadaf Shamas, Saira Jabeen, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Tasmia Rubab, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani, Waheeda AkhtarPlayer support personnelWahab Riaz (mentor), Ayesha Ashar (team manager), Abdur Rehman (spin bowling coach), Umaid Asif (fast bowling coach), Abdul Majeed (fielding coach), Imran Farhat (batting coach), Waleed Ahmed (performance analyst), Moeen (strength & conditioning coach) and Dur Samand (physiotherapist)
Young Lions squad named for Sri Lanka and Pakistan
Islamabad (Sports Report): An 18-player squad has been named for the England Young Lions’ tours of Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The Young Lions will play Pakistan U19s Men in three Youth ODIs and a Youth Test at Rawalpindi in December. The majority of the squad will begin the tour with a training camp in Colombo, Sri Lanka from November 19-30. Neil Killeen will step in as Head Coach for the Young Lions’ winter programme with the team also set to tour Australia in January.England U19s Men squad (18 players): Ralphie Albert (Surrey – Captain), Farhan Ahmed (Nottinghamshire), Subhaan Ali (Yorkshire), Robbie Bowman (Durham), Tom Bradley (Yorkshire), Thomas Edwards (Glamorgan), Luke Hands (Lancashire), Theo Lamey (Somerset), Manny Lumsden (Hampshire), Bertie Michael (Somerset), Isaac Mohammad (Worcestershire), Joe Moores (Lancashire), Jack Nelson (Middlesex), Leo Selvey-Clinton (Kent), Marley Simpson (Surrey), Luke Symington (Durham), Charlie Taylor (Warwickshire), Jeet Varaich (Worcestershire)England U19s Men's head coach, Neil Killeen, said: “I am really looking forward to leading an exciting group of young players and coaches across their winter programme. “This is an opportunity for these young players to experience new countries and conditions and for our coaching team to help develop their game in a world-class environment, which will only help in their journey towards international cricket. Sri Lanka is an excellent venue for our training camp, where we can build towards what we know will be a tough contest in Pakistan following our series in the summer."England U19s Men (Schedule):November 19-30: Training Camp in Colombo, Sri Lanka.December 5: 1st Youth ODI v Pakistan U19s Men, RawalpindiDecember 7: 2nd Youth ODI v Pakistan U19s Men, RawalpindiDecember 9: 3rd Youth ODI v Pakistan U19s Men, RawalpindiDecember 13-16: 1st Youth Test v Pakistan U19s Men, Rawalpindi
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