Cricket
Mohammad Waseem to lead UAE in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier
Dubai (SBR): UAE will compete in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia and EAP Qualifier next month. Prolific opener Mohammad Waseem will lead the 15-member squad. Three teams will earn qualification from the Qualifier for next year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 which will be played in India and Sri Lanka. A total of nine teams are competing in the tournament – divided into three pools of three teams each. UAE have been placed in Group 1 along with Malaysia and Qatar. The team will play Qatar on Wednesday, 8 October and Malaysia on Friday, 10 October. The top two teams from each pool will progress to the Super Six Stage. Super Six matches will take place from 12 to 17 October – the top three teams from the Super Six Stage will earn ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 qualification. UAE (squad): Mohammad Waseem (captain), Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Jonathan Figy, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Mohammad Farooq, Mohammad Irfan, Rahul Chopra (wicketkeeper), Rohid Khan, Simranjeet Singh and Zahid Ali.Support Staff: Amjad Ezzi (team manager), Lalchand Rajput (head coach), Azharuddin Qureshi (strength and conditioning coach), Manipreet Sidhu (video analyst) and Manish Pradeshi (physiotherapist). Schedule (Oman – UAE matches):Wednesday, 8 October – UAE vs Qatar – 2:30pm – Al Amerat Cricket Stadium Friday, 10 October – UAE vs Malaysia – 10:00am – Al Amerat Cricket Ground Turf 2 Super Six Stage – 12 October to 17 October – Al Amerat Cricket Stadium and Al Amerat Cricket Ground Turf 2
Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2025-26 to begin from 6 October
Abdullah Asjad ISLAMABAD: The 10-team Quaid-e-Azam Trophy is all set to begin in four cities - Abbottabad, Islamabad, Peshawar and Rawalpindi from Monday, 6 October as the domestic cricket season 2025-26 gets into full swing, the PCB announced today.The four-day first-class tournament will be played on single-league round-robin format as a total of nine rounds have been penciled in from 6 October to 26 November, while the five-day final between the two top teams will take place from 29 November to 3 December.The venues for the 46-match QeA Trophy are Abbottabad Cricket Stadium in Abbottabad, Shoaib Akhtar Stadium in Rawalpindi, Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar and Diamond and Marghzar Cricket Grounds in Islamabad. The venue for the final will be announced later.Four of these venues except Peshawar also played host to the previous edition of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy as well.The participating teams are Abbottabad, Bahawalpur, FATA, Faisalabad, Islamabad, Karachi Blues, Lahore Whites, Multan, Peshawar and Sialkot.FATA, Faisalabad, Karachi Blues and Multan have qualified for the QeA Trophy after finishing with the most number of points in the recently concluded Hanif Mohammad Trophy.In the first round, Sialkot – the defending champions of the tournament – will face Peshawar at the Imran Khan Stadium in a re-match of the previous edition’s final, which the former won by one wicket in a nerve-wrecking contest at the UBL Sports Complex in Karachi.The squads of each of the 10 teams will be announced in due course.First round fixtures (October 6 to 9): Abbottabad v Bahawalpur at Abbottabad Cricket StadiumLahore Whites v Islamabad at Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium, RawalpindiPeshawar v Sialkot at Imran Khan Stadium, PeshawarFATA v Multan at Diamond Cricket Ground, IslamabadFaisalabad v Karachi Blues at Marghzar Cricket Ground, Islamabad
DP World ILT20 and Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation join forces to advance cricket in the region
Dubai (SBR): The DP World International League T20 (ILT20) today announced a strategic partnership with the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation (SACF), under which SACF has sanctioned and licensed the DP World ILT20 as an official T20 league (men and women) to host matches within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as part of the forthcoming seasons.The milestone serves as another important step in DP World ILT20’s efforts to expand and enrich cricket across the Gulf region.Through this partnership the DP World ILT20 will work closely with the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation and its commercial arm, the Cricket Investment Company (CIC), on developing cricket in the country besides identifying and nurturing talent. In another exciting development, Saudi Arabia players will also have a direct pathway into the DP World ILT20. Notably, the DP World ILT20 Season 4 Player Auction, scheduled for Wednesday, 1 October, will require each franchise to secure at least one player from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.In the coming years, DP World ILT20 matches will also be staged in Saudi Arabia. Chairman ILT20 Khalid Al Zarooni: “We are very proud to announce our partnership with the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation. Saudi Arabia is a key part of the Gulf region, and its commitment to developing cricket is inspiring.“This partnership is built on our shared vision of growing the game beyond borders. The DP World ILT20 will create opportunities for players and hopefully bring world-class cricket closer to the fans.”Prince Saud Bin Mishal Al-Saud, Chairman of Saudi Arabia Cricket Federation (SACF): “We are proud to partner with the DP World ILT20. This collaboration reflects our commitment to developing cricket in the country and providing our players with opportunities to grow and succeed on an international stage. It also provides a platform for fan engagement within the Kingdom and opens up further avenues for developing the game across infrastructure and tourism.“With Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 placing strong emphasis on sport and community engagement, we believe this partnership will inspire more young men and women to take up cricket and will play a vital role in the sport’s growth in the country as part of SACF’s strategy to enable the private sector within Saudi Arabia.“This partnership is of immense significance to both SACF and the DP World ILT20, as we jointly expand across borders and become a catalyst for the growth of cricket in the Gulf region.”David White, CEO DP World ILT20: “This is a significant step in our vision to grow the game across the Gulf region. We have seen first-hand how young players from the UAE, and the broader ecosystem, have benefited from the DP World ILT20 platform under world-class coaching and playing alongside international stars. With Saudi Arabia’s dynamic growth in sport and entertainment, this partnership provides a tremendous opportunity for Saudi cricketers to develop.”“In the coming years we will be hosting DP World ILT20 tournament matches in Saudi Arabia while from next year, a development tournament will also be staged there which will provide an excellent opportunity to the local talent to make a claim for the main event. The league will also help Saudi Arabia in cricketing infrastructure development.” The DP World ILT20 Season 4 will begin on Tuesday, 2 December - with the six-team, 34-match tournament set to conclude with the Final on Sunday, 4 January 2026.
PCB announces an 18-member squad for South Africa Test series
Lahore (SBR):The national selection committee has named an 18-member squad for the two-Test match series, part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 against South Africa, commencing on 12 October. The squad will be further trimmed before the start of the first Test.Shan Masood will continue to lead the side, while three uncapped players – Asif Afridi, Faisal Akram and Rohail Nazir have also been included.South Africa, champions of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25, will take on Pakistan in the first Test at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore from 12 to 16 October, while the second Test will be staged at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi from 20 to 24 October.The two-Test match series will be followed by three T20Is and as many ODIs to be played from 28 October to 8 November. The squad for the white-ball series will be announced in due course.The players for the pre-series camp will undergo training under red-ball head coach Azhar Mahmood and NCA coaches later today till Wednesday, 8 October. The players who featured in the recently concluded ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup will join the squad on 4 October.Pakistan squad:Shan Masood (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Asif Afridi, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wicket-keeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah AfridiSouth Africa tour to Pakistan12-16 October – First Test at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore20-24 October – Second Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi28 October – First T20I at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi31 October – Second T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore1 November – Third T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore4 November – First ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad6 November – Second ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad8 November – Third ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad.
U19 One-Day Cup: FATA, Dera Murad Jamali, Bahawalpur and Rawalpindi clinch wins
Peshawar (SBR): Four more matches have been decided in the National Men’s Under-19 One-Day Cup. FATA Region defeated Islamabad Region by 223 runs at Mir wais Ground, Shah Alam to secure their fourth victory. Batting first, FATA Region scored 308 runs for the loss of seven wickets. In-form batsman Usman Khan scored his second consecutive century of the tournament. He played a brilliant and captivating innings of 151 runs. The innings of 140 balls included eleven fours and six sixes. Apart from him, Mohammad Abbas Afridi scored 37 runs. Taimur Ali scored 23, Mohammad Tahir scored 22 and Jiyad scored 18. Mohammad Nayyar took three wickets.In reply, Islamabad were all out for 85 runs. Owais Ahmed was the top scorer with 23 runs. Naveed Khan captured three wickets while Taimur, Jamshedullah and Mohammad Tahir each took two wickets apiece. Usman Khan was declared the man of the match. The match was supervised by Alae Haider and Abdul Karim Nesvi. The match referee was Ghulam Mustafa and the scorer was Noor Mohammad. At the Hayatabad Stadium, Dera Murad Jamali unexpectedly defeated Hyderabad Region by two wickets and achieved its first victory. Hyderabad team was bowled out for 167 runs. Ibad Ali scored 43 and Abdul Ahad scored 29 runs. Farhanullah took four wickets for Dera Murad Jamali, giving away 32 runs. Muzammil Ali took three wickets and Qudratullah took two wickets. In reply, Ishratul Ibad’s brilliant innings Thanks to the century, Dera Murad Jamali achieved the target in the last over for the loss of 8 wickets. Ishratul Ibad remained unbeaten on 113 runs, which included twelve fours and two sixes. Ali Waris dismissed two players for Hyderabad. Majid Hussain and Aqeel Adil umpired in the match, while Nadeem Akhtar was the official scorer of the match. Bahawalpur defeated Karachi by seven wickets in the match played at Shamma Ground. Batting first, Karachi's team was bowled out for 198 runs. Sajjad Ahmed scored 62 and Huzaifa scored 38 runs. Hammad Alam scored 24 and Asad Umar scored 21 runs. Mohammad Huzaifa and Mohammad Makki took two wickets. In reply, Bahawalpur achieved this target for the loss of three wickets. Waleed Iqbal scored 69 and Sameer Akhtar scored 63 runs. Rawalpindi defeated Azad Jammu and Kashmir by 135 runs. Rawalpindi batted first and the entire team was bowled out for 233 runs. Abdul Qadir played an aggressive innings of 121 runs and saved his team from complete destruction. His innings included ten fours and eight sixes. Arsh Zaman, Zain Jamil and Bilal Waheed took three wickets each. In reply, the Azad Jammu and Kashmir team was bowled out for 98 runs. Bilal Waheed scored fifty and Uzair Naveed scored 18 runs. Mohammad Hussain and Syed Ali Mehdi took two wic
Wheelchair T20 Cricket: Pakistan beat Afghanistan by 5 wickets
Sports Bulletin ReportKarachi: Pakistan wheelchair cricket team defeated Afghanistan by 5 wickets in the opening fixture of the 4-match T20 Cricket Series here at UBL Sports Complex. Chasing 146, the hosts sealed victory in just 15.5 overs. Usama Tariq dazzled with a quick-fire 66, while leg-spinner Imran Arain delivered a match-winning spell, claiming five wickets to earn the Player of the Match award.Batting first, Afghanistan posted 145 in 19.4 overs after winning the toss. Asif top-scored with 28, Raheem made 26, and Zar Alam chipped in with 13. Pakistan’s bowlers dominated the innings, with Imran Arain taking 5 wickets, Muhammad Fayyaz 3, and Ayub 1.Pakistan’s chase was anchored by Usama Tariq’s 40-ball 66, supported by Mohammad Fayyaz’s unbeaten 37. Ahmed added 16 runs, while contributions from Misal (5), skipper Mohammad Zeeshan (5), and Mubeen (6) ensured a smooth pursuit. Imran Arain remained not out alongside Fayyaz as Pakistan reached the target with ease.Speaking after the match, captain Mohammad Zeeshan expressed pride: “After 20 years, we are finally hosting international wheelchair cricket on home soil. Later this year, Pakistan will also stage the Wheelchair Asia Cup featuring six teams.Afghanistan’s captain Mansoor Adil praised the occasion: “Pakistan’s hospitality has been excellent. This series is a valuable preparation for the upcoming Asia Cup.The second T20 will be played on Tuesday at 7:30 PM at the UBL Sports Complex, Karachi.
New Era starts in Islamabad’s Hills: Inauguration of Ambani Cricket Stadium
Imran SattiISLAMABAD: A historic milestone was achieved as the long-awaited Ambani Cricket Stadium was officially inaugurated on Simly Dam Road, Islamabad. Nestled in the foothills, this state-of-the-art stadium is being hailed as a revolutionary step towards the promotion of sports in the Region. The inauguration ceremony was attended by a large number of locals, youth, and dignitaries, including Raja Ghalib of Charrah, Advocate Raja Aftab, and the well-known Raja Zia alias "Pappu." The stadium was inaugurated by Raja Abdul Khan and Raja Master Rasheed, father and uncle of stadium owner Raja Munawar Zaman۔Speaking to the media on the occasion, Raja Munawar Zaman said: “Ambani Cricket Ground was once a dream, and today it has become a reality. Our foremost priority is to provide healthy recreational activities and high-quality sports facilities to our youth.”He revealed that the project, which was initiated two years ago, has now been completed with international-level facilities, including floodlights, practice pitches, and a professional-grade cricket field.Launch of Hardball Cricket League & Cricket Academy During the event, the management also announced the launch of a Hardball Cricket League, set to begin on October 3rd and run until October 16th. Six prominent local teams will participate, with the goal of nurturing local talent and offering a platform for young players.In addition, plans were unveiled to establish a Cricket Academy at the venue, further solidifying the stadium’s role as a hub for cricketing excellence.The administration also revealed an upcoming Tape Ball Cricket League at the union council level in Islamabad, with participation open to teams from across the country. Each team will be allowed to include two guest players.The local community warmly welcomed the development, calling the stadium a "great gift" for the area. Residents praised the initiative and lauded Raja Munawar Zaman for turning a long-held dream into a tangible asset for the youth of the region.Facilities of this standard are rarely seen in rural or hilly areas,” said one attendee. “Ambani Cricket Ground is a shining example of what can be achieved through vision, commitment, and community spirit.”
PCB grants first-ever Scorer contracts for 2025-26 season
Lahore (SBR): In a groundbreaking move, the Pakistan Cricket Board has introduced first-ever Scorer contracts, which run from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026, it was confirmed on Saturday.Before this development the scorers only received remuneration in the form of match fees but the announcement of the monthly retainers will strengthen them financially as they aim to serve Pakistan Cricket with more dedication.A total of 20 scorers from 16 regions have been granted the contracts for the 2025-26 season.Aamir Sharif (Abbottabad), Aamer Manzoor Faridi (Multan), Adnan Farooq (Islamabad), Arif Abdul Majeed (Hyderabad), Azhar Hussain (Lahore), Faiz Muhammad Baloch (Dera Murad Jamali), Farrukh Ilyas Raja (Sialkot), Hafeez-ur-Rehman (Bahawalpur), Junaid Shah (Kohat), Muhammad Ammad (Quetta), Muhammad Aslam Sahto (Larkana), Muhammad Atiq (Sahiwal), Muhammad Zeeshan (Rawalpindi), Nadeem Akhtar (Peshawar), Najmus Saeed (Lahore), Nasir Khan (Sargodha), Salman Hussain Kazmi (Karachi), Shakeel Ahmed (Rawalpindi), Syed Imran Ali (Karachi), Tahir Suhaib (Faisalabad)Director Domestic Cricket Operations PCB, Abdullah Khurram Niazi said:“The PCB is delighted to offer first-ever annual contracts to 20 of our esteemed scorers across the country. I’m confident this move will contribute towards the strengthening of our domestic cricket ecosystem as we look to safeguard all those who contribute towards its well-being and conduct.“It is also a testament of the PCB’s vision to recognise all the cogs of the wheel in Pakistan’s Cricket fraternity and help them grow and give back to our sport with more enthusiasm and dedication than before.”
U19 One-Day Cup. FATA, Peshawar, Lahore White and Lahore Blues post wins
Peshawar (SBR): Four more matches have been decided in the third round of the National Men’s Under-19 One-Day Cup. Fata defeated Hyderabad by 7 wickets to claim their third consecutive victory.At the Ashfaq Ground, Charsadda, Hyderabad batted first and the entire team was dismissed for 151 runs. Abdul Wahab scored 29, Yahya Shah scored 28 and Abdul Ahad scored 24 runs. Jamshed ullah and Naveed Khan took three wickets each. Taimur Ali, Mohammad Tahir, Usman Khan and Abdul Basit grabbed one wicket each.In reply, FATA Region achieved the target for the loss of three wickets. Usman Khan, who represented Pakistan U-19, maintained his form and scored a magnificent unbeaten century as he hit 10 fours and 5 sixes. Usman Khan was dismissed for 96 runs in the previous match. Haris Shah was not out on 31 runs. Mohammad Salman captured 2 wickets for Hyderabad . The match was supervised by Majid Hussain and Dilshad Ali.In the 2nd match played at Hayatabad stadium peshawar, Lahore White batted first and scored 303 runs for the loss of five wickets. Opener Alian Salman scored 136 runs and remained unbeaten. His innings included thirteen fours. The other opener Hamza Zahoor scored 54 runs. Mohammad Farhan scored 48 runs. Islamabad's Zeeshan, Mujahid Ali, Owais and Faisal Afridi dismissed one player each.In reply, the Islamabad Region team could score 125 runs. Fahad Saleem scored 26, Munib scored 19 and Ajmer scored 15 runs. Hussain Abbas and Mohammad Ayyas took three wickets each. Lahore White's Hamza Zahoor took six catches behind the stump. Man of the match was Aalian Salman. Aale Haider and Abdul Karim were the umpires and Nadeem Akhtar was the scorer. Fazal Akbar Shah was the match referee.In the third match, Peshawar batted first and scored 213 runs. Ahmed Hussain scored 56, Mohammad Zubair scored 49 and Zainullah scored 48 runs. Mohammad Musa took four wickets. In reply, Sialkot was bowled out for 154 runs. Hayam Khan scored 55 runs. Haroon Khan took three wickets while Muhammad Siam, Mohammad Owais and Ahmed Hussain took two wickets each. Ahmed Hussain was declared the man of the match for his all-round performance.In the 4th match Lahore Blues defeated Abbottabad by 61 runs at the Rana Naveed Cricket Academy in Sheikhupura. Ali Hassan Baloch scored a brilliant 143 runs to help his team score 284 runs for the loss of six wickets in 50 overs. Ali Hassan Baloch's 143 runs were hit by 13 fours and 7 sixes. In reply, Abbottabad's team was bowled out for 223 runs in 44.2 overs despite Mohammad Shayan's 53 runs. Jahangir Bilal took five wickets for 26 runs.
CRICKET - Physically Handicap 26 Sep, 2025
KARACHI (SBR): The Pakistan-Afghanistan Wheelchair T20 Cricket Series is set to kick off on September 29 at the UBL Sports Complex, Karachi. The opening match will be played on Monday at 6 PM, while the trophy unveiling ceremony is scheduled for Sunday. According to the Pakistan Wheelchair Cricket Council, this marks Afghanistan’s first-ever wheelchair cricket tour to Pakistan—an important step in strengthening sports diplomacy between the two countries. The series will also provide Pakistan valuable preparation ahead of the Asia Cup. The four-match series will continue with fixtures on September 30, October 1, and October 2.Pakistan will be led by captain Muhammad Zeeshan, with Imran Arain as vice-captain. The squad features Mohammad Fayaz, Ahmed Yar Senior, Misal Khan, Sadar Ayub, Tauseef Malik, Mubeen Iqbal, Osama Tariq, Jumma Khan, Ayaz Khan, Zawar Khan, Waqas Saeed, Saeed Bannu, and Sajid Khan. Reserves include Saeed Khan, Shah Faisal, and Gohar Afridi. Syed Faizan Baqir Naqvi will serve as head coach, while Rizwan-ul-Haq has been appointed as team manager. Pakistan will also host the 3rd Wheelchair Asia Cup in November, with six teams set to compete.
Most Popular
