Sports Bulletin

Islamabad (Sports Desk): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) selected the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the neutral venue for upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 cricket fixture, as this mega cricket event will be hosted by Pakistan under the banner of International Cricket Council (ICC).According to a spokesman for PCB, Amir Mir, Pakistan Cricket Board has formally informed the ICC about the neutral venue decision. Now, India and Pakistan's Champions Trophy matches will be held in the UAE.The decision regarding the neutral venue for the Champions Trophy was to be made by the host, Pakistan, and the final decision on the venue was made after a meeting between Mohsin Naqvi and Sheikh Al Nahyan.It is pertinent to mention here that Sheikh Al Nahyan, currently in Pakistan, is also the Chairman of the Emirates Cricket Board.

Islamabad (Sports Desk): The England Men’s selection panel has named the squads for next month’s white-ball tour of India, which includes three ODIs, five IT20s, and the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, hosted by Pakistan in February and March 2025. Both squads feature 15 players, marking the first tour and tournament under Head Coach Brendon McCullum.Names of selected players: Jos Buttler (Lancashire-Captain), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Brydon Carse (Durham), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Jamie Overton (Surrey), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Liam Livingstone (Lancashire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Phil Salt (Lancashire), Mark Wood (Durham)England Men’s IT20 Squad for India Tour: Jos Buttler (Lancashire-Captain), Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Brydon Carse (Durham), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Jamie Overton (Surrey), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Liam Livingstone (Lancashire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Phil Salt (Lancashire), Mark Wood (Durham)Yorkshire batter Joe Root makes his return to the ODI side for the first time since the ICC Men’s World Cup in November 2023. Durham all-rounder Ben Stokes was not considered for selection as he continues to be assessed following a left hamstring injury sustained during the third Test match against New Zealand earlier this month. Leicestershire leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed joins the IT20 squad, while Root is selected only for the ODIs. The tour party will depart on 17 January 2025.Schedule IT20s in India:1st IT20: India v England, Wednesday 22 January, Eden Gardens, Kolkata2nd IT20: India v England, Saturday 25 January, MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai3rd IT20: India v England, Tuesday 28 January, Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot4th IT20: India v England, Friday 31 January, MCA Stadium, Pune5th IT20: India v England, Sunday 2 February, Wankhede Stadium, MumbaiSchedule ODIs in India:1st ODI: India v England, Thursday 6 February, VCA Stadium, Nagpur2nd ODI: India v England, Sunday 9th February, Barabati Stadium, Cuttack3rd ODI: India v England, Wednesday 12 February, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

Paarl, South Africa (SBR): Pakistan and South Africa are ready to lock horns in a key three-match ODI series beginning from December 17, 2024 (Tuesday) at the Boland Park in Paarl at 5pm PKT. The second and third fixture of the series will be played at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town and The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg on 17 and 19 December, respectively.South Africa had won the T20I series 2-0 after the third T20I was washed out on 14 December. The ODI series holds a lot of significance for both the teams as they look to fine tune their preparations for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy in February and March 2025 in Pakistan.Pakistan’s squad has been bolstered with the return of pacer Naseem Shah, opening batter Abdullah Shafique and top-order batter Kamran Ghulam while wrist-spinner Sufyan Moqim and Usman Khan have received their maiden ODI call-ups. This will be Mohammad Rizwan’s third ODI series as skipper of the side as he has started his stint with back to back ODI series wins over Australia and Zimbabwe.In their last bilateral face-off in the 50-over format, Pakistan won the three-match series 2-1 in South Africa in April 2021.Pakistan’s ODI captain Mohammad Rizwan said: “This is a vital ODI series in terms of our preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy and with Allah’s help we will look to emulate our performances from the ODI series against Australia. We couldn’t get the ideal results in the T20I series but I am really happy with some of the performances put in by our players in these conditions especially Saim’s batting was brilliant in both games. Our batting, pace and spin stocks are decent enough to challenge South Africa and win the series with the help of almighty. I see a lot of potential in our ODI squad with players young and experienced both willing to put the best step forward, which makes us an exciting prospect as a one-day side not just going into this series but also in the home tri-nation series and the blockbuster white-ball mega event at home.”Pakistan ODI squad: Mohammad Rizwan (captain & wk), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wk)South Africa ODI squad: Temba Bavuma (captain), Aiden Markram, Andile Phehlukwayo, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Marco Jansen, Ottneil Baartman, Rassie van der Dussen, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tony de Zorzi, and Tristan StubbsSchedule of matches:17 Dec – 1st ODI vs South Africa at Boland Bank Park, Paarl (5pm PKT)19 Dec – 2nd ODI vs South Africa at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town (5pm PKT)22 Dec – 3rd ODI vs South Africa at The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg (5pm PKT)26 Dec – 1st Test vs South Africa at SuperSport Park, Centurion (1pm PKT)3 Jan – 2nd Test vs South Africa at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town (1pm PKT). 

India's cricketing journey in Australia has witnessed some remarkable moments, especially since 2020. The narrative is intriguingly shaped by the fact that India's last three Test victories on Australian soil came under the leadership of stand-in captains rather than the full-time skippers. This compelling story is brought to light by the world's leading Indian cricket statistician, Mohandas Menon.The first of these victories was orchestrated by Ajinkya Rahane at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), where his calm and composed leadership steered India to a memorable win. Rahane's leadership was further highlighted during the historic triumph at the Gabba, a fortress where Australia had remained unbeaten for 32 years. Under Rahane's captaincy, India not only won but also sealed the series, a feat celebrated widely.Adding another layer to this fascinating tale is Jasprit Bumrah, who led India to a Test victory in Perth. Bumrah, primarily known for his bowling prowess, stepped up to the captaincy role and guided the team to success, showcasing his versatility and leadership qualities.Notably, these victories were not achieved under the two full-time captains, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. This observation highlights an interesting narrative within Indian cricket. It raises questions about the dynamics of leadership and the impact of captaincy on team performance.This intriguing pattern invites a deeper analysis of the role and influence of stand-in captains in high-pressure scenarios. It underscores the significance of adaptability and resilience in cricket, where leadership can come from unexpected quarters, leading to historic achievements.As India continues its cricketing journey, the contributions of Rahane and Bumrah as stand-in captains will be remembered as pivotal moments in the team's success Down Under.

Rohit Sharma, one of India's cricketing stalwarts, has recently been the center of a strategic debate regarding his batting order. Traditionally an opener, Rohit has been moved down the order to accommodate KL Rahul at the top. This decision has sparked discussions among cricketing legends, with former players like Sunil Gavaskar and Harbhajan Singh suggesting that Rohit should instead bat at number one.Rohit's move to the middle order is not entirely new. He has previously batted at various positions, including number five and six, where he has shown considerable success. His adaptability and experience make him a valuable asset regardless of where he bats. However, the recent decision to drop himself down the order has raised questions about the best use of his talents.What are your thoughts on Rohit Sharma's batting order? Do you think he should open the innings, or is the middle order a better fit for him? We asked this question to former opening batter, Lalachand Rajput, who is now a coach. "I feel Rohit should open the innings or no 3, not lower than that. He has been opening for a long time in all formats, so you are used to playing the new ball, which comes on to bat quicker, and your reflexes are set to it. Whereas when you bat lower down you might have to face the spinners first and the pacers with the old ball which you are not used to. It is better to play spinner after you have faced the pacers first with the new ball.its the mind set which you are used to, some change it quickly and some take time to get used to it", he says."As an opening batsmen, I used to face spinners after I negotiated the new ball, and I felt easy to face them. If Rohit wants to bat lower down, then he should play lower down the order in Ranji Trophy so that he gets used to it. As a batsman if you had opened for a long time for a number of years then you might feel that you want to relax and bat in the middle order, but to do that you have to prepare for it and get used to it before doing it at the international level"."Sunil Gavaskar decided to bat in the middle for a series or 2 but again ended up opening. So, it is all in the mindset to get used to the situation quickly. Cricket is played 9 inches above the shoulder (head). Hence, if your mindset is strong and adapts quickly, you are the winner", Rajput signed off.Rohit's childhood coach, Dinesh Lad wants him to open the batting rather than coming down the order. "He is more successful as an opener", he says.As India continues to strategize for future matches, the role of Rohit Sharma in the batting lineup will be a key factor in their quest for victory. Whether he opens the batting or bats lower down the order, his contributions will be crucial to India's success. 

PCB ReportLAHORE: The Pakistan men’s selection committee has announced the squads for the upcoming South Africa tour, scheduled from 10 December to 7 January. The tour comprises three T20Is, three ODIs and two Tests.Babar Azam has been named in all three squads along with Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha, while Naseem Shah has been selected for the Tests and ODIs. Shaheen Shah Afridi, who also missed the last two Tests against England, has been picked for the white-ball matches as part of his workload management so that he is in his best fitness and form for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.Also returning to the Test side is fast bowler Mohammad Abbas, who last played in Jamaica in August 2021. Abbas, who has taken 90 wickets in 25 Tests, had a stellar Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, claiming 31 wickets in five matches. Naseem Shah has also been named in the four-man pace attack after missing the last two Tests against England. The 21-year-old, who has played 19 Tests since making his debut in November 2019, has taken four wickets to date for Lahore Whites against Peshawar in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy match in Abbottabad.Fast bowler Khurram Shahzad has also been named in the Test side after claiming 15 wickets for Pakistan Shaheens against Sri Lanka ‘A’ last month. Mir Hamza is the fourth fast bowler in the 15-man Test squad and is presently playing for Peshawar against Lahore Whites in Abbottabad.However, off-spinner Sajid Khan has missed out on selection despite his 19 wickets against England. The selectors, after taking into consideration the Centurion and Newlands conditions as well as South Africa as the opposition, have opted for only one specialist spinner in Noman Ali, who took 20 wickets against England and has 67 wickets in 17 Tests.Also earning the selectors nod for the first time in ODIs is Sufyan Moqim, the left-arm wrist spinner who has taken eight wickets in two T20Is, including five wickets for three runs in the second T20I.The T20I squad will depart for South Africa on Friday, 6 December, after Thursday’s third T20I against Zimbabwe, while the ODI and Test players will depart for Johannesburg on 13 December. Pakistan men’s red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie will also arrive in Johannesburg on 13 December to supervise the pre-Test series camp.Names of selected players for South Africa tour:Tests: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah (wk), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali AghaODIs: Mohammad Rizwan (captain & wk), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wk)T20Is: Mohammad Rizwan (captain & wk), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wk)Aqib Javed, member selection committee and interim white-ball head coach said: “We have adopted a horses for courses policy to ensure all three squads are well-balanced and capable of performing strongly in South Africa. Leaving out Sajid Khan, despite his stellar performances against England, was an extremely tough and difficult decision. However, considering the pace-friendly conditions at Centurion and in Cape Town, we opted for Mohammad Abbas instead, who is an outstanding exponent of seam bowling. Shaheen Shah Afridi’s exclusion from the Test squad is a strategic decision to ensure he remains physically and mentally fresh for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Similarly, Fakhar Zaman was not considered as he is yet to regain form and match fitness. Our aim is to maintain consistency in ODI selections as part of our ICC Champions Trophy 2025 preparations, while also giving emerging talent opportunities in T20Is alongside experienced players. For Tests, we have focused on assembling a squad that can adapt to challenging conditions and consistently compete at the highest level. The Test series against South Africa will be highly competitive, but we are confident in our team’s ability to secure a historic series win. Our focus in ODIs is to continue building momentum ahead of the Champions Trophy, while the T20I series provides a platform to blend experience with emerging talent.”The series will begin with the first T20I in Durban on 10 December, followed by the first ODI in Paarl on 17 December. The Test matches will be hosted at Centurion and in Cape Town on 26 December and 3 January, respectively.Tour schedule:10 Dec – First T20I, Durban13 Dec – Second T20I, Centurion14 Dec – Third T20I, Johannesburg17 Dec – First ODI, Paarl19 Dec – Second ODI, Cape Town22 Dec – Third ODI, Johannesburg26-30 Dec – First Test, Centurion3-7 Jan – Second Test, Cape Town.

ISLAMABAD (Sports Desk): England and Warwickshire batter Jacob Bethell has been awarded an England Men’s Central Contract upgrade. The 21-year-old, who made his Test debut last week during England’s first Test victory over New Zealand in Christchurch, has signed a two-year contract running until September 2026. This follows his recent development contract, awarded just last month.Bethell made an impressive start to his Test career, scoring a maiden half-century in the second innings to help secure England’s win at Hagley Oval. In addition, three of England’s prominent seamers – Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, and Matthew Potts – have all extended their contracts until September 2026.England Men Centrally Contracted Players 2024/2025 (2 years): Jofra Archer (Sussex), Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Brydon Carse (Durham), Matthew Potts (Durham), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Ben Stokes (Durham), Mark Wood (Durham)England One-Year Central Contracts: Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Shoaib Bashir (Somerset), Zak Crawley (Kent), Sam Curran (Surrey), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Will Jacks (Surrey), Jack Leach (Somerset), Liam Livingstone (Lancashire), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Phil Salt (Lancashire), Olly Stone (Nottinghamshire), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire), Reece Topley (Surrey), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)England Development contracts: Josh Hull (Leicestershire), John Turner (Hampshire).

Sports Bulletin ReportDubai (UAE): Opener Shahzaib Khan stroked a superlative 159 as Pakistan U19 convincingly defeated India U19 by 43 runs in a Group-A ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup fixture at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.Shahzaib’s 147-ball knock, featuring five fours and 10 sixes, propelled Pakistan to a total of 281 for seven in their allotted 50 overs. In reply, India U19 were bowled out for 238 in 47.1 overs after slipping to 81 for four and then 190 for nine. Promising fast bowler Ali Raza starred with the ball, claiming three wickets for 36 runs.The Mansehra-born Shahzaib laid a solid foundation with fellow opener Usman Khan, sharing a 160-run stand in 30.4 overs. Usman contributed a steady 94-ball 60, including six boundaries. Both openers came into this match in fine form, having scored 330 and 314 runs, respectively in a recent tri-series involving Afghanistan and hosts UAE.For the third wicket, Shahzaib added 71 runs with Muhammad Riazullah (27). Pakistan batters accelerated towards the end, adding 74 runs in the last 10 overs after reaching 207 for two in 40 overs. Captain Saad Baig’s decision to bat first proved fruitful as his side posted a challenging total of 281.Fast bowler Samarth Nagaraj was the standout performer for India, taking three wickets for 45 runs, while Ayush Mhatre chipped in with two for 30. India began their chase positively but suffered early blows. Abdul Subhan dismissed Mhatre (20) at 28 in 3.4 overs before Ali Raza removed Vaibhav Suryavanshi in the next over. Usman Khan and Faham-ul-Haq added to India’s woes, reducing them to 81 for four.A 53-run fifth-wicket partnership between Nikhil Kumar and Kiran Chormale briefly revived India. However, Faham broke the stand by dismissing Chormale (20). Kumar, who top-scored with a 77-ball 67, added 40 runs with wicketkeeper-batter Harvansh Pangalia (26) before falling to off-spinner Naveed Ahmed Khan at 174 in the 36th over.The innings finally wrapped when No.10 Mohamed Enaam was run-out for 30 with the India scorecard showing 238 in 47.1 overs. For Pakistan, Ali Raza’s figures of 9-1-36-3 stood out, while Abdul Subhan (2-45) and Faham-ul-Haq (2-41) provided excellent support. Pakistan's next match is against the UAE on 2 December at the same venue.Scores in brief (Pakistan U19 beat India U19 by 43 runs, Dubai International Cricket Stadium):Pakistan U19 281-7, 50 overs (Shahzaib Khan 159, Usman Khan 60, Muhammad Riazullah 27; Samarth Nagaraj 3-45, Ayush Mhatre 2-30)India U19 238 all-out, 47.1 overs (Nikhil Kumar 67, Mohamed Enaan 30, Harvansh Pangalia 26, Kiran Chormale 20, Ayush Mhatre 20; Ali Raza 3-36, Abdul Subhan 2-45, Faham-ul-Haq 41)Player of the match – Shahzaib Khan (Pakistan U19) 

Islamabad (Sports Desk): England Men's batter-wicketkeeper, Jordan Cox, has been ruled out from the upcoming Test series against New Zealand after sustaining a fractured right thumb during a net session in Queenstown.The Essex player, poised to make his Test debut in Christchurch next week as a stand-in for Jamie Smith (on paternity leave), suffered the injury ahead of play on day two of the two-day tour match against the New Zealand Prime Minister’s XI at Sir John Davies Oval. In Cox’s absence, Surrey’s Ollie Pope stepped in as wicketkeeper for the final day of the warm-up fixture.England Men’s Head Coach, Brendon McCullum, said: “I’m gutted for Jordan (Cox). He has been shaping up nicely, both with the bat and gloves, since we got to New Zealand. That’s sport, and unfortunately, these things happen. We will get around him and look after him. He is resilient, and his time will come at some point in the future.”

Sports Bulletin ReportAbu Dubai (UAE): The 2024 Abu Dhabi T10 which is being played at the Zayed Cricket Stadium unveiled another nail-biting contest between Morrisville Samp Army and UP Nawabs. The Samp Army clinched a win by 3 runs after defending a target of 101 against the Nawabs.UP Nawabs needed 11 runs from the final over of the innings but some phenomenal bowling from Amir Hamza who returned with bowling figures of 2/9 in two overs helped Morrisville Samp Army steal away a win.Batting first, the Samp Army managed to put 100/7 in 10 overs on the board. Opener Sharjeel Khan top-scored with 37 off 23 while Pakistan's Imad Wasim chipped in with a late surge and struck 15* off 6 to take his side to the 100-run mark.Binura Fernando who hails from Sri Lanka and England pacer Tymal Mills picked up two wickets each for their side.Later, the Nawabs were off to a perfect start as Dawid Malan and Rahmanullah Gurbaz stitched a stand of 61 runs for the first wicket. While Malan departed for 15 off 13, Gurbaz continued his form with the bat. But the UP team lost the plot in the final two overs of the innings and only managed to gather 14 runs. Gurbaz remained unbeaten at 60 off 32 but the side was eventually restricted to 97/3.Bowlers hand New York Strikers easy win:The New York Strikers took away a convincing win by 7 wickets against Bangla Tigers in the second encounter of the day. Batting first, the Tigers didn't really get the start they needed and were eventually restricted to 66/8 in 10 overs.Akeal Hosein, Reece Topley, Mohammad Amir scalped two wickets each while Sunil Narine and Matheesha Pathirana picked up one apiece.Later, the Strikers chased down the target in just 6 overs. Donovan Ferreira (wk) struck 21* off 9 and returned as the top-scorer for the side.