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Men’s Central Contracts announced for 2025-26 international season
Babar, Shaheen, and Rizwan fail to impress PCB, 30 players awarded contractsAbdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has awarded central contracts to 30 male cricketers for the upcoming 2025-26 international season, as trio Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Mohammad Rizwan bounded in Category B, as they were in the A category last year.According to PCB, the contracts will be effective from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, reflect the Board’s continued commitment to recognising and supporting national talent. This year’s roster sees 10 players each placed in Categories B, C, and D. Notably, no player has been selected for Category A in this cycle.Compared to last year’s list of 27 contracted players, the PCB has expanded the pool to 30, including 12 fresh additions, highlighting the emergence of promising new talent and the Board’s strategic focus on squad depth and future development.The new entrants are: Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Mirza and Sufyan Moqim.Name of five promoted players: Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha and Shadab Khan – all promoted from C to B category.Nine players retained positions: Abdullah Shafique (Category C): Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jnr – all in Category D, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel: all in Category C, Fakhar Zaman and Shaheen Shah Afridi – both in Category B.Eight players have missed out: Aamir Jamal, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Irfan Khan and Usman Khan – all in Category (D).List of this year’s centrally contacted players:Category B (10 players): Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan and Shaheen Shah AfridiCategory C (10 players): Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Sahibzada Farhan, Sajid Khan and Saud ShakeelCategory D (10 players): Ahmed Daniyal, Hussain Talat, Khurram Shahzad, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Salman Mirza, Shan Masood and Sufyan Moqim
SPORTS NEWS - National 19 Aug, 2025
Karachi (Sports Report) Thanks to Salman Saeed’s brilliant batting, Showbiz XI won the Naya Nazimabad Fame wheels Stars Premier League Season Seven cricket tournament. In the final, Social Media Stars were defeated by 35 runs.The match was played under the lights of electric lights at the Naya Nazimabad Cricket Stadium, organized by Uzee Brothers and supported by Fame Wheels. Showbiz XI won the toss and elected to bat first and scored 136 runs for the loss of four wickets in the allotted eight overs. Opener Salman Saeed played an innings of 63 runs off 20 balls with the help of three sixes and four fours. Rayed Khan scored 20 runs.In reply, the team of social media stars could score one hundred and one runs for the loss of eight wickets in the allotted overs. Faisal Qureshi took two wickets. He was declared the man of the match for his brilliant batting. The special guest, Chairman Fame Wheels Munawar Abbas Sheikh, distributed prizes among the players. He said that his circle will continue to patronize sports.On this occasion, President Naya Nazimabad Gymkhana Syed Mohammad Talha, Founder of Stars Premier League Zubair Ilyas, Manager Sports Muhammad Asif, along with a large number of citizens including players and artists were also present. After the prize distribution ceremony, a musical concert and spectacular fireworks were also organized. Which was greatly appreciated by the audience.
Mohammad Salman replaces Ahmed Daniyal in Top End T20 Series
Lahore (PR):Right-arm fast bowler Mohammad Salman has replaced Ahmed Daniyal in Pakistan Shaheens squad for the ongoing Top End T20 Series in Darwin, Australia.Ahmed, who has represented Pakistan in two T20Is, sustained a hairline fracture on his right thumb during a fielding session in Darwin. Salman will depart for Australia on Wednesday, 20 August.
Samad’s unbeaten 110 hands Shaheens 73-run win over Renegades
Darwin (SBR): Abdul Samad’s unbeaten 110 off 63 balls helped Pakistan Shaheens bag their second win in the Top End T20 Series as they beat Melbourne Renegades by 73 runs here at the TIO Stadium in Darwin on Monday evening.Pakistan Shaheens will face Chicago Kingsmen in their next fixture on Tuesday with the first ball expected to be bowled at 1pm local time.Shaheens dismissed Renegades for 105 in 19.2 overs after posting 178-5 in their allotted 20 overs on the back of Samad’s 56-ball century. The right hander walked in to bat in the first over and found Shaheens reeling at 2-2 as both opening batters returned for ducks.Samad stitched a 32-run stand with Mohammad Faiq (21, 18b, 2x4s, 1x6) before the latter fell in the seventh over, while Maaz Sadaqat followed him in the 10th over with the scorecard reading 55-4.From thereon, Samad and skipper Mohammad Irfan Khan put on a game-changing 109-run stand. Samad struck six fours and as many sixes during his unbeaten stay at the crease, while Irfan returned for a run-a-ball 23 comprising one four and a solitary six.For Renegades, Oliver Peake, Fergus O’Neill, Will Sutherland, Callum Stow and Michael Archer picked up one wicket each.In turn, Renegades slid to 66-8 and then 105 all out after being 25-1. Apart from opening batter Josh Brown (36, 30b, 5x4s, 1x6) none of the top eight batters entered double figures.Xavier Crone (11, 17b), Callum Stow (15, 16b, 1x4) and Michael Archer (14 not out 19b) pushed their team past the 100-run mar batting at no.9, 10 and 11, respectively.For Shaheens, Maaz Sadaqat returned figures of 4-0-22-3, while Faisal Akram backed up his five-for from previous game with 2-19 in four overs. Mubasir Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Ubaid Shah and Saad Masood dismissed one batter each.Scores in brief:Pakistan Shaheens beat Melbourne Renegades by 73 runs at the TIO Stadium, DarwinPakistan Shaheens 178-5, 20 overs (Abdul Samad 110, Muhammad Irfan Khan 23, Mohammad Faiq 21; Oliver Peake 1-12)Melbourne Renegades 105 all out, 19.2 overs (Josh Brown 36; Maaz Sadaqat 3-22, Faisal AkrramPlayer of the match – Abdul Samad (Pakistan Shaheens)Pakistan Shaheens’ Top End T20 schedule:14 Aug – Pakistan Shaheen won by 79 runs16 Aug – Perth Scorchers won by two wickets18 Aug – Pakistan Shaheens won by 73 runs19 Aug – vs Kingsmen, DXC Arena (1pm local time)20 Aug – vs Strikers, DXC Arena (7pm local time)22 Aug – vs Nepal, DXC Arena (7pm local time)
Pakistan announce squads for UAE T20I tri-series and Asia Cup
Lahore (PR)::The Men’s National Selection Committee has announced Pakistan squads for the upcoming T20I tri-series and Asia Cup scheduled to take place in the UAE from 29 August to 28 September. The tri-series, featuring Afghanistan, Pakistan and UAE will be played at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium from 29 August to 7 September.The eight-team ACC Asia Cup T20I tournament will be staged in Abu Dhabi and Dubai from 9 to 28 September. Pakistan are placed in Group ‘A’ alongside India, Oman and UAE.17-member squad:Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufyan Moqim.Tri-series schedule (all matches at Sharjah Cricket Stadium):29 August – Afghanistan v Pakistan – 7pm local time30 August – UAE v Pakistan – 7pm local time1 September – UAE v Afghanistan – 7pm local time2 September – Pakistan v Afghanistan – 7pm local time4 September – Pakistan v UAE – 7pm local time5 September – Afghanistan v UAE – 7pm local time7 September – Final – 7pm local timeACC Asia Cup T20 2025 (Pakistan fixtures, Super Fours and Final)12 September – Oman v Pakistan, DICS, 6pm local time14 September – India v Pakistan, DICS, 6pm local time17 September – UAE v Pakistan, DICS, 6pm local time20-26 September – Super Fours fixtures (Abu Dhabi and Dubai)28 September – Final, DICS, 6pm local time
CAM STRIKERS EMERGE VICTORIOUS IN JASHN-E-AZADI CUP
TAXILA (Sports Report): In a thrilling match played at the Faisal Hills Cricket Ground, Cam Strikers defeated URCC by 19 runs to lift the Jashn-e-Azadi 35 overs cup.Batting first, Cam Strikers set a challenging target of 276 runs, thanks to a brilliant century by Sohail Afiridi. The team's innings was marked by significant contributions from Qadeer Haider (29), Hasan (27), and Tahir Naqash (17), with Najeeb providing a quick finish with 25 not out.In response, URCC put up a strong fight but ultimately fell short of the target, scoring 257 runs in 33rd overs. Junaid top-scored for URCC with 44, while Aizaz contributed 43 and Rohan added 28. The Cam Strikers bowling unit was led by Farman Senior, who claimed 3 crucial wickets. Idrees chipped in with 2 wickets, while Tahir Naqash, Saleem Jr., Abdul Rehman, and Sohail each picked up 1 wicket.Sohail Afiridi's all-round performance earned him the Player of the Match award. The Faisal Hills Management congratulated both teams on a game well played and commended the efforts of the players and officials involved.
Saliya Saman banned for five years under Anti-Corruption Code
Dubai (PR): Former Sri Lankan domestic cricketer Saliya Saman has been banned from all cricket for five years after an ICC Anti-Corruption Tribunal found him guilty of breaching the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) Anti-Corruption Code.Saman was among eight people charged in September 2023 for breaching the Code.The charges relate to the 2021 Abu Dhabi T10 Cricket League and attempts to corrupt matches in that tournament which were disrupted by the ICC, the Designated Anti-Corruption Official (DACO) for the purposes of the ECB’s Code for the tournament.
TENPIN BOWLING - National 15 Aug, 2025
By: faisalISLAMABAD: Ghazanfar Bilal won the men’s singles title in the Azadi Cup Ten-Pin Bowling Championship, while Ijaz-ur-Rehman bagged second position and Daniyal Shah secured third position. In the team event, the Islamabad team won the field, while the teams of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab were in second and third place respectively.Deputy DG, Pakistan Sports Board, Muhammad Shahid Islam was the chief guest at the concluding ceremony of the championship and distributed medals, trophies and cash awards among the successful players. President, Pakistan Tenpin Bowling Federation, Ijaz-ur-Rehman, Secretary General, Lt. Col. (retd) Kamran Khalid Janjua, President, Pakistan Taekwondo Federation (Women’s Wing), Madam Saba Shamim Jadoon and President, Pakhtoon Action Committee, Javed Bangash, besides a large number of spectators, were also present and they also distributed prizes among the players of different categories.Ghazanfar Bilal lifted men's singles title with 492 points, Ijaz-ur-Rehman won 2nd position with 359 points, Daniyal Shah got 3rd position with 339 points and Faheem Khan secured 4th position with 307 points. In the team event category, the players of the Islamabad team, Ijaz-ur-Rehman, Daniyal Ijaz, Aizaz Ijaz and Afzaal Akhtar won the victory with 885 points. The second position was won by the players of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa team, Daniyal Shah, Faheem Khan, Shahrukh and Naveed-ul-Haq with 694 points, while the players of the Punjab team, Muhammad Hussain Chatha, Salem Baig, Junaid and Shahzad were in the third position with 659 points.
German men qualify for FIH Hockey World Cup 2026
Lausanne (Switzerland): At the ongoing EuroHockey Championships 2025, following their progression into the final of the competition, Germany have qualified for the upcoming FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026!Germany will take on the Netherlands in the final, but as hosts of the event, Netherlands are already assured of a place at the upcoming World Cup, which leaves Germany to take the direct qualification spot available from Europe to the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026.Germany started off their EuroHockey campaign, at home in Mönchengladbach, with an absolute thriller against France in the Pool B. France held a two-goal lead going into the final ten minutes of the match but two goals from Justus Weigand and one from Gonzalo Peillat saw the hosts roar back and take all three points. A tight 1-1 draw against England followed, putting Germany firmly in command of Pool B. A final flourish in their last pool game against Poland, which they won 10-0, sent the Honamas into the semi-final as the table toppers, ahead of France who finished second in the pool.Germany were pitted against Spain in the second semi-final. Just over a month ago, Spain had pipped Germany to a World Cup qualification spot at the end of the FIH Hockey Pro League season by denying the Honamas victory in their final two matches of the season in Berlin. This time however Germany turned the tables on the Red Sticks. The Honamas were in the lead throughout the match, scoring two goals in the first quarter. Whilst they conceded a goal in the second one - putting the scoring at 2-1 at half-time - they added a third and a fourth one on the scoresheet in the last quarter, giving Spain no chance for a potential come-back.Commenting on Germany’s qualification for FIH’s flagship event, Justus Weigand said: “Obviously happy to qualify for the World Cup! After our FIH Hockey Pro League match against Spain we were a little bit disappointed. Tonight, in front of our home crowd, winning this match and qualifying for both the World Cup and the final of the EuroHockey Championship is a special feeling. Hopefully we can win the final against the Netherlands!”Germany become the sixth men’s team to qualify for the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026. Belgium and Netherlands, on account of being hosts of the event, gained direct qualification. Australia and Spain qualified through the previous two editions of the FIH Hockey Pro League. Argentina secured their qualification recently by winning the Pan American Cup. Continental championships in Asia, Africa and Oceania over the coming months will determine three more direct qualifiers for the event, with the remaining seven teams qualifying through the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers in 2026.(SBR)
Mahad and Sara claim titles in Kazakhstan Junior Open Championship
Almaty (Kazakhstan): Mahad Khan and Sara Amin Khan Crowned Champions at Kazakhstan Junior Open Golf Championship 2025. Pakistan’s rising golf stars delivered a historic performance at the Kazakhstan Junior Open Golf Championship 2025, held at the renowned Zailjau Golf Club, Almaty, with Mahad Khan winning the Boys Category and Sara Amin Khan securing victory in the Girls Category.In the Boys division, Mahad Khan showcased exceptional skill and consistency to outplay a competitive international field, while Zayd Omer Arshad secured the Runner-up position with an equally commendable performance. In the Girls division, Sara Amin Khan displayed great composure under pressure to lift the championship trophy, marking a proud moment for Pakistan.The Pakistan Team also claimed two special accolades including Longest Drive – Mahad Khan (remarkable distance and power) and Closest to Pin – Zayd Omer Arshad (precision and accuracy).The President of the Pakistan Golf Federation (PGF) congratulated both champions, the runner-up, and the entire team for bringing glory to Pakistan, and praised the Secretary PGF for his excellent team selection and preparation. He described this victory as a beautiful Independence Day gift to the nation on 14 August 2025.The championship saw enthusiastic support, with many parents traveling to Kazakhstan to witness their children compete. A large crowd of international spectators warmly applauded the team’s outstanding performance among participants from multiple countries. (SBR)
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