Hyderabad, Telangana, India (Sports News): England defeated hosts India 2–0 in the final at the GMC Balayogi Hockey Stadium on Saturday to clinch the gold medal at the FIH Hockey Women's World Cup Qualifiers 2026, while both the teams secured qualification for the FIH World Cup later this year in Belgium and Netherlands. England finished on top of the final standings unbeaten, while it was the first defeat of the tournament for India.Earlier in the day, Scotland booked their place at the FIH World Cup 2026 with a narrow victory over Italy, which earned them the third qualification spot. In the classification matches, Uruguay and Austria ended their campaigns on a winning note with victories over Wales and Korea, respectively. 7/8 Place - Korea 1 – 1 Austria (SO: 1-2)Korea hit a nadir in their concluding game of a disappointing campaign, going down to Austria in a shootout to finish last in the eight-team competition. It was their third defeat in five matches, besides a draw and a win. The Austrians held their nerves in the shootout for a 2-1 victory after the regulation 60 minutes ended at 1-1.Austria began in fine fashion, earning a penalty corner in just the third minute and converted it through Kristine Vijkovich. They defended their 1-0 lead going into half-time. Korea drew level in the opening minute of the third quarter when Yuri Lee scored off a set-piece. Both the teams tightened their defence thereafter, as the game produced no more goals despite chances created by strikers on both sides.The shootout turned out to be a who-blinks-first battle, with goalkeepers Michaela Streb (Austria) and Seoyeon Lee (Korea) defending their respective post resolutely. After Yujin Lee and Johanna Czech scored off the first attempts, none of the attackers from both the teams could find the mark – until Carla Kemper beat the Korean goalkeeper on the fifth and last attempt to win it for Austria. 5/6 Place - Wales 0 – 3 Uruguay Uruguay finished their tournament on a winning note when they defeated Wales 3-0 on the concluding day, which also earned them a 5th-place finish.The South Americans dominated the game right from the start, but it took a penalty stroke in the 23rd minute for them to break through as the in-form Teresa Viana made no mistake to put her team ahead with her fifth goal of the tournament.Uruguay continued to pepper the Welsh circle in the second half, which resulted in their second goal off the stick of Magdalena Verga in the 36th minute from a penalty corner. Wales failed to string together meaningful attacks, which showed up in the statistics with just nine circle penetrations by their strikers. Uruguay put the final nail in the coffin with their third goal in the 57th minute when Lupe Curutchague provided the finishing touch to an incisive move. It was Uruguay’s third win in five matches. 3/4 Place - Scotland 1 – 0 Italy With a place in the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 on the line, the European battle between Scotland and Italy was understandably a cagey affair, which eventually was decided by a solitary goal scored by the Scots – booking them a ticket to the showpiece event in Belgium and Netherlands later this year. Scotland joined England and India as the three teams to progress to the World Cup from the qualifiers in Hyderabad. This also meant that Japan, who finished fourth in the qualifiers in Santiago, also made it to the World Cup as the highest world-ranked fourth-placed team from the two qualification tournaments. The Scotland vs Italy match-up wasn’t expected to be a battle of defence, especially after Scotland got on the scoreboard as early as the 7th minute when Amy Costello ensured the penalty-corner wasn’t wasted. In the next 53 minutes, Scotland earned just one more PC with Italy fortifying their backline while trying to find the equaliser. But it never came. The chances created by the Italians were few and far in between against a determined Scottish defence that conceded just one penalty corner and held its structure to protect the 1-0 lead for a ticket to the World Cup. Final - England 2 – 0 IndiaEngland took home the gold medal and a place in the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 with a 2-0 win over India in the final. The hosts had to settle for a silver medal, but it was enough to punch a ticket to the quadrennial event.In-form penalty-corner specialist Grace Balsdon put England ahead in the 13th minute, which made her the tournament’s joint top-scorer with five goals. India tried to piece together their A game but failed to find the equaliser despite having an almost equal share of ball possession and more circle entries than England. It remained 1-0 at half-time. India continued to pose a threat to England’s lead, which grew to 2-0 in the 43rd minute when Elizabeth Neal was awarded the goal that India challenged with a referral. However, the on-field official’s decision was upheld after video referral.The hosts were left with a stiffer chase in the last 15 minutes, where England held their nerves and defended in numbers to secure victory.

Lahore (Staff Report):Former Test captain and ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2006 and ICC Champions Trophy 2017 winning captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing an end to a distinguished career spanning around two decades.Karachi-born wicketkeeper-batter, who made his ODI debut in 2007 before making his Test and T20I debuts in 2010, went on to represent Pakistan in 54 Tests, 117 ODIs and 61 T20Is.He scored 6,164 runs across formats, including six centuries and 35 half-centuries. Behind the stumps, he grabbed 315 catches and completed 56 stumpings during his international career.Sarfaraz captained Pakistan in 100 international matches across formats (50 ODIs, 37 T20Is, 13 Tests) and led the side to the No.1 ranking in T20I cricket. During his captaincy, Pakistan achieved a world-record streak of 11 consecutive T20I series victories and recorded six clean sweeps, which include against West Indies (2016 and 2018), Sri Lanka (2017), Australia (2018), New Zealand (2018) and Scotland (2018).Sarfaraz’ leadership era also saw the emergence of several future stars, including Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan, whom he backed at the start of their international careers.Sarfaraz Ahmed led Pakistan to historic triumph in the ICC Champions Trophy, beating India by 180 runs in the final at the Oval in England. With that victory, Sarfaraz became the first Pakistan captain to win the Champions Trophy and the only captain till date to win ICC titles at both junior and senior levels, having earlier led Pakistan to win in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in 2006 in Sri Lanka.In recognition of his services and the Champions Trophy triumph, Sarfaraz Ahmed was awarded the Pride of Performance in 2018, becoming the youngest Pakistan captain to receive the honour.Talking about his individual records, Sarfaraz has the Pakistan record of 10 catches in a Test match, which he took against South Africa in Johannesburg 2019. He is till date only Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter to score an ODI century at Lord’s which he scored against England in 2016.Sarfaraz who played his first international match (ODI) in 2007 made his last international appearance in an international match (Test) against Australia in Perth in 2023.Sarfaraz Ahmed said:“It has been the greatest honour of my life to represent Pakistan. From leading the U19 team to a world title in 2006 to lifting the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017, every moment in Pakistan colours has been special. I am grateful to my teammates, coaches, family and the fans for their unwavering support throughout my career.“Captaining Pakistan across all formats was a dream come true. I always tried to play fearless cricket and build a united team. Seeing players like Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali,Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan and others grow into match-winners during my captaincy is one of my proudest achievements.“I would like to thank the Pakistan Cricket Board for the trust they placed in me over the years. Pakistan cricket has always been very close to my heart and I will continue to support the game in every possible way.”

Mohammad Ali SalaarPeshawar: Bahawalpur Region pulled off a four-wicket win over Lahore Region Whites in a last-over thriller, while Faisalabad Region defeated Peshawar Region by 15 runs on the seventh day of the ABS Developers National T20 Cup 2026 here at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar on Friday.In the second game of the night, Bahawalpur edged Lahore Whites by four wickets with two balls to spare while chasing 197.With 11 required off the final over of the innings bowled by skipper Aamer Jamal, Haider Ali was beaten off the first delivery before sending the second ball over midwicket into the stands for a maximum.Haider fetched two runs off the third delivery before striking the winning runs with a boundary off the fourth to seal a four-wicket win for his side. Haider remained unbeaten on 65 off 43 balls, hitting five fours and four sixes.In pursuit of the target, Bahawalpur lost opening batter Mohammad Sudais for naught in the first over before Mohammad Faizan Zafar (28, 22b, 2x4s, 1x6) added 68 with top scorer Saad Khan. Saad then shared another 45-run alliance with Haider Ali before being dismissed in the 12th over after scoring 65 off 30 deliveries laced with seven fours and four sixes as the scoreboard read 115 for three in 11.1 overs.Mohammad Rameez Jnr returned figures of 4-0-21-3, while Aamir, Ubaid Shah and Naseem Shah picked up one wicket each.Electing to bat first, Lahore Whites lost opening batter Muhammad Akhlaq (2) and Mohammad Saleem (4) in the third over with 14 on the board. Top-scorer Faiq (63, 42b, 5x4s, 3x6s) then shared a 110-run stand for third wicket with Tayyab Tahir (46, 34b, 7x4s).Following Tayyab and Faiq’s dismissal in the 15th over to Mohammad Sarwar Afridi (4-0-39-2), Farhan Yousaf added 67 off 31 with Mohammad Mohsin for the fifth wicket to lift Lahore Whites to 196 for five in 20 overs.Mohsin remained unbeaten on 32 off 16, smashing three fours and two sixes while Farhan got out on the final delivery of the innings after scoring an 18-ball 39, supported by four fours and one six.In the first game of the day, Faisalabad Region were inserted to bat by Peshawar and lost Muhammad Faizan for seven in the fourth over, before player of the match Atiq-ur-Rehman and Asim Ali Nasir steadied the innings. The pair added 35 runs for the second wicket, with Asim contributing 14 off 13 balls, hitting two fours. Atiq top-scored with 72 off 44 deliveries, striking 10 fours, while skipper Muhammad Irfan Khan made 32 off 23 balls, which included one four and two sixes. Mubasir Khan’s (27, 15b, 2x4s, 2x6s) late cameo lifted Faisalabad Region to 170 for nine.For Peshawar, Usman Tariq (4-0-20-2) and Mohammad Nawaz (3-0-23-2) shared four wickets.In reply, Peshawar Region’s chase got off to a shaky start as they were reduced to 32 for four in 4.2 overs. Shehzad Gul struck twice in his opening spell, dismissing Abuzar Tariq (11, 8b, 1x4) and Mohammad Haris, while Afaq Afridi and Zaman Khan (1-0-4-1) accounted for Yasir Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed, respectively.Zaman sustained a shoulder injury, which ruled him out of the match, trying to field a ball on midwicket boundary with a dive on the second ball of the 11th over. Nabi Gul and Israrullah, in a bid to revive the innings, stitched a 71-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Nabi departed after scoring 43 off 39 balls, laced with three fours and two sixes, while Israrullah made 47 off 40 deliveries, striking as many boundaries as his partner. Mohammad Imran Jnr also chipped in with an unbeaten 18 off 10 balls aided with one four and one six, but Peshawar Region fell 16 runs short of the target.For Faisalabad Region, Afaq returned figures of 3.5-0-38-4, while Shehzad bagged three wickets for 21 runs in four overs. Faisalabad have played out their four Group A matches and currently sit third with four points and near to no chances for qualification to the semi-finals. On Saturday in Group B, third-placed Sialkot will take on second-placed Abbottabad, while defending champions Lahore Blues will be up against fourth-placed Karachi Blues.Scores in brief: Match 13: Faisalabad Region beat Peshawar Region by 15 runs at Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, PeshawarFaisalabad 170-9, 20 overs (Atiq-ur-Rehman 72, Mohammad Irfan Khan 32, Mubasir Khan 27; Usman Tariq 2-20, Mohammad Nawaz 2-23)Peshawar 155 all out, 19.5 overs (Israrullah 47, Nabi Gul 43; Afaq Afridi 4-38, Shehzad Gul 3-21)Player of the match: Atiq-ur-Rehman (Faisalabad)Match 14: Bahawalpur Region beat Lahore Region Whites by four wickets at Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, PeshawarLahore Whites 196-5, 20 overs (Mohammad Faiq 63, Tayyab Tahir 46, Farhan Yousaf 39, Mohammad Mohsin 32 not out; Mohammad Sarwar Afridi 2-39)Bahawalpur 198-6, 19.4 overs (Haider Ali 65 not out, Saad Khan 65, Mohammad Faizan Zafar 28; Mohammad Rameez 3-21)Player of the match: Haider Ali (Bahawalpur)Saturday’s FixturesSialkot v Abbottabad at 4.30pm PKTLahore Blues v Karachi Blues at 9.30pm PKT

Abdullah AsjadRAWALPINDI: Pindiz have officially unveiled their coaching and management staff ahead of the upcoming season, bringing together a highly experienced group of cricketing minds to guide the franchise.Pakistan legend Inzamam-ul-Haq will serve as President and Mentor, providing strategic direction and leadership to the team. Former South Africa all-rounder Justin Kemp has been appointed Head Coach, bringing valuable international and T20 franchise experience.Former Pakistan spinner Abdur Rehman joins as Head of Competitive Strategy and Assistant Coach, while West Indies legend Courtney Walsh will lead the bowling unit as Bowling Coach.The staff also includes Shahid Aslam as Performance Coach and Rafatullah Mohmand as Fielding Coach.The experienced lineup reflects Pindiz’s ambition to build a strong, competitive setup and establish a solid foundation for success.

Hyderabad, Telangana, India (Sports Report): England and India secured qualification for the women’s FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026 after winning their respective semi-finals at the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup Qualifiers 2026 at the GMC Balayogi Hockey Ground in Hyderabad on Friday, setting up a title clash between two unbeaten sides of the tournament. England defeated Scotland 2–0 in the first semi-final, while India edged past Italy 1–0 in a closely fought second semi-final to book their tickets to the global showpiece.The two classification matches of the day saw Wales producing a spirited comeback to defeat Korea 2–1 and advance to the 5th–6th place playoff, while Uruguay registered an emphatic 3–0 victory over Austria to join them. Losing semi-finalists Scotland and Italy will now battle for the third place, which also assures World Cup qualification. Korea 1 – 2 Wales (5/8)Korea’s finishing cost them dear as they lost to Wales 1-2 and will now play for the 7th-8th place. Wales, despite fewer circle penetrations, were better with their conversion rate and booked their place in the battle for the 5th place. The Koreans entered the Welsh circle 20 times, but scored just one goal and created only two penalty corners. In comparison, Wales scored off a penalty corner and a penalty stroke that resulted from two of their six circle penetrations. Skipper Beth Bingham was the star of Wales’s comeback after Korea scored first with a field goal from Yeongeun Park in the 46th minute following three goal-less quarters that saw the Welsh defence standing tall. But Wales upped the ante when they needed it the most, resulting in Bingham scoring the equaliser from a 49th-minute penalty corner and then finding the winning goal off a penalty stroke awarded in the 53rd minute.Talking about the game, ‘Player of the Match’ Beth Bingham said, “I’m delighted with the team’s effort and performance today against a higher-ranked team, especially in the heat. We were disappointed not to get anything out of the group stage. So, to bounce back and get a win against Korea was really important for us. We spoke about punching above our weight and we have done exactly that; I couldn’t be prouder of the 20 players.”Uruguay 3–0 Austria (5/8)Uruguay got the better of Austria with a comprehensive 3-0 victory and will now feature in the 5th-6th place playoff against Wales on the tournament’s concluding day, while the Austrians will take on Korea. Teresa Viana led the South American side with a brace after Manuela Vilar’s penalty-corner goal in the fourth minute put them ahead early. The teams went into half-time at 2-0 after Uruguay extended their lead when Viana found the mark on a penalty corner. In all, Uruguay earned seven penalty corners compared to none for Austria. The barrage of attacks from Uruguay continued in the third quarter and produced their third goal in the 44th minute off Viana’s stick. It remained 3-0 at the full-time hooter, with no goal-scoring action in the last quarter. Viana was named the ‘Player of the Match’. “Happy to win this match and bounce back after missing out on the semi-final. Now we aim to close out the tournament with another win tomorrow,” she said.England 2–0 Scotland (1st Semi-final)England secured their place in the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 by entering the final after they defeated neighbours Scotland 2-0 in the first semi-final. England will definitely be happy with their fourth consecutive win, but not with the number of chances they missed. Their attacking intent showed up in the statistics, as they had 26 circle penetrations, but their success rate on penalty corners was zero in four set-pieces. Scotland, too, were not on target on penalty corners – not managing to score in six attempts.After coming close to scoring several times in 24 minutes, the English team found the target in the next minute when Lottie Bingham provided the finishing touch to a circle entry. Four minutes later, in the 29th, Darcy Bourne gave England breathing space at 2-0.Desperation crept into the Scottish game in the second half, with umpire Cookie Tan spotting yellow-card offences and punished Amy Costello (50rd minute) and Ellie Mackenzie (53rd) with five-minute suspensions, while England defence held tight to take the team to the final. Scotland will now have their eyes on 3rd-4th place playoff. Top three teams qualify directly from Hyderabad to the World Cup.  “I think how we have come together as a team (is the biggest strength of this group),” said ‘Player of the Match’ Sophie Hamilton after England’s unbeaten run. “It’s not just one person’s performance, it’s the whole team. That’s what is really great and why we have got four wins out of four.” India 1–0 Italy (2nd Semi-final)India punched their ticket to the World Cup with a 1-0 win over Italy in the second semi-final on Friday, setting up a title clash against England. Both the teams have remained unbeaten on their way to the final. India’s 22 circle entries, nine penalty corners and eight shots on target resulted in just one goal, but it proved to be the differentiator in the end. The Indian backline played out of its skin to defend the thin lead against a resolute Italian team that threatened enough but had nothing to show for it in the end. The game’s only and the all-important goal took 40 minutes to come, when Manisha Chauhan struck off a penalty corner to put India ahead.

Lahore (PR): Lahore Qalandars have announced that Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage will replace his West Indian counterpart Gudakesh Motie, who has withdrawn from the upcoming 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Wellalage, the 23-year-old left-arm orthodox spinner, joins the Qalandars alongside Sri Lanka's T20I captain Dasun Shanaka, who was picked by LQ at the first ever PSL auction. He had a productive T20 World Cup, claiming eight wickets at an economy rate of 7.22. Wellalage is also a handy lower-order batter, capable of sticking around with the tail and hitting big shots. The Qalandars are excited to welcome him to the team and look forward to his contributions in the PSL.

Karachi (Hammad Kayani):The trophy of the HBL Pakistan Super League 11 was unveiled in a ceremony held at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi today marking the beginning of a new era for the country’s marquee T20 tournament.The unveiling ceremony was attended by HBL PSL Chief Executive Officer Salman Naseer, representatives of all eight teams, officials from title sponsor HBL, representatives of Hanif Jewellers and members of the media. The trophy designed and manufactured by Hanif Jewellers, has been handcrafted by 18 master artisans who devoted more than 2,600 hours to complete the masterpiece. The design reflects the journey and growth of the HBL Pakistan Super League over the past decade.At the base of the trophy, eight emerald-cut Gemstones represent the colours of the eight HBL PSL franchises, symbolising the pride of the cities they represent. The tall structure of the trophy signifies discipline, determination and teamwork required to reach the pinnacle of the competition, while the Crescent and Star at the top reflect unity, hope and national pride. The trophy is adorned with more than 1,600 Gemstones, highlighting the craftsmanship and attention to detail that went into its creation.Speaking at the ceremony, HBL PSL Chief Executive Officer Salman Naseer said:“This is a historic occasion for the HBL Pakistan Super League as we step into a new era after successfully completing 10 seasons. Over the years, the league has grown stronger with the addition of new teams, record-breaking player auctions, landmark broadcast agreements and ever-increasing support from fans across Pakistan and around the world.“We are grateful to HBL for standing with the Pakistan Super League from day one and playing a vital role in its success. I would also like to thank our franchise owners for their continued trust and commitment and Hanif Jewellers for crafting a magnificent trophy that truly reflects the prestige and ambition of this league.”The 11th edition will feature eight teams and 44 matches across six venues with the opening match set to take place between defending champions Lahore Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen on Thursday, 26 March. 

Peshawar (SBR):Abbottabad Region and Multan Region emerged victorious against Karachi Region Blues and Lahore Region Blues, respectively, in the fourth day’s fixtures of the ABS Developers National T20 Cup 2026 at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar on Tuesday night.In the first game, Kamran Ghulam’s unbeaten 42-ball 81, his second successive unbeaten half-century, and Shahzaib Khan’s 75 off 38 deliveries sealed Abbottabad’s comprehensive eight-wicket win while chasing 202 against Karachi Blues. This was Abbottabad’s second successive successful chase of a target beyond 200-run mark after they overhauled Multan’s 204-run target in their opening match. After the early loss of a wicket, Kamran and Shahzaib turned the game on its head with a 115-run stand for the second wicket off just 58 deliveries. Shahzaib brought up his third T20 half-century as he hit 11 fours and three sixes, before falling in the 12th over.Kamran, who collected consecutive player of the match awards, then joined forces with Khushdil Shah to put the result beyond doubt. The pair added an unbeaten 70 off 29 balls, with Kamran finishing on a superb 81 not out laced with 11 fours and two sixes, while Khushdil built on his heroics from the previous game with a brisk unbeaten 38 off 16 balls, hitting four fours and two sixes.Earlier, Karachi Blues had posted 201-4 in their 20 overs, built around opening batter Ahsan Ali’s 67 off 36 balls, which included seven fours and four sixes. His partner Jahanzaib Sultan chipped in with 42 off 29, hitting two fours and three sixes, as the pair stitched together an 88-run stand.Usman Khan contributed 39 off 25 balls with seven fours, while Saad Baig added 26 off 23 deliveries, featuring one four and one six to push their team past the 200-run mark. For Abbottabad, Shadab Khan was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4-0-32-2.Arshad Iqbal and Shahab Khan picked up one wicket each.In the night’s second game, Aamer Yamin and Arafat Minhas’ all-round performance handed Multan their first win of the tournament by a mere three runs against Lahore Region Blues. With rain falling and 11 needed off the last over, Aamer held his nerve brilliantly, conceding only two runs off the first two deliveries with a pair of pinpoint yorkers. An overthrow off the third ball brought three runs, leaving the batting side needing six off the remaining three deliveries.Aamer then nailed two more yorkers, allowing just a single and reducing the equation to five needed off the final ball. Facing the last delivery, Shahid Aziz (10 not out, 9b) could only manage a hit to long-on for one, as Multan sealed a thrilling three-run win.In pursuit of the target, Lahore Blues’ opening batter Umar Siddiq all but handed his side the victory before departing in the penultimate over after scoring a 51-ball 91 smashing 13 fours and three sixes.After Lahore slipped from 70 for no loss to 99-4, Umar also forged a threatening 79-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Ali Razzaq, who hammered 45 off 26 balls, striking two fours and four sixes. Aamer got rid of Ali in the 18th over to bring his team back in the game. Earlier, Imran Butt (20, 15b, 3x4s) combined with Umar to provide their team a head start with a brisk 70-run opening stand inside 5.2 overs.Arafat castled Saad Nasim and Qasim Akram to return figures of4-0-23-2, while Sirajuddin dismissed two batters. Moheer Saeed removed Umar in the penultimate over to give his team a sigh of relief.Batting first, Multan managed to score 200-6 in 20 overs courtesy Muhammad Shahzad’s 54 off 40 including three fours and four sixes after coming in to bat at 49-3 in 6 overs. From 147-4 in 17 overs, Multan hit 53 off the last three overs to reach the total. Arafat Minhas (35, 17b, 2x4s, 2x6s) and Aamer’s (24 not out, 8b, 3x4s, 2x6s) late onslaught was aided by Waseem Akram Jnr’s cameo of an unbeaten 17 off seven, hitting three fours.Bismillah Khan also chipped in with 27 off 23 balls. For Lahore Blues, Mohammad Rizwan bagged three for 39 in four overs. On Wednesday, Faisalabad will take on Bahawalpur, while Karachi Whites will lock horns with Peshawar in Group A.Scores in brief: Match 7: Abbottabad Region beat Karachi Region Blues by eight wickets at Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, PeshawarKarachi Blues 201-4, 20 overs (Ahsan Ali 67, Jahanzaib Sultan 42, Usman Khan 39, Saad Baig 26; Shadab Khan 2-32)Abbottabad 203-2, 16.4 overs (Kamran Ghulam 81 not out, Shahzaib Khan 75, Khushdil Shah 38 not out)Player of the match: Kamran Ghulam (Abbottabad)Match 8: Multan Region beat Lahore Region Blues by three runs at Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, PeshawarMultan 200-6, 20 overs (Mohammad Shahzad 54, Arafat Minhas 35, Bismillah Khan 27, Aamer Yamin 24 not out, Waseem Akram Jnr 17 not out; Mohammad Rizwan 3-39)Lahore Blues 197-6, 20 overs (Umar Saddiq 91, Ali Razzaq 45, Imran Butt 20; Arafat Minhas 2-23, Siraj Uddin 2-45, Moheer Saeed 1-21, Aamer Yamin 1-29).

Dhaka (Sports News):Pakistan and Bangladesh will lock horns in the three-match ODI series starting Wednesday at the Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. The second and third match of the series will take place on 13 and 15 March, respectively at the same venue. All the matches are set to begin at 1.15pm PKT with the coin toss scheduled at 12.45pm.The series will be broadcast live on PTV Sports and live-streamed on Tapmad, Myco and Tamasha in Pakistan. Pakistan’s 15-member squad arrived in Bangladesh during wee hours of Sunday, 8 March and has taken part in two training sessions.The team also trained at the Hanif Mohammad High Performance Centre in Karachi on 6 and 7 March before assembling on 5 March.For Pakistan, Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat and Shamyl Hussain will become ODI cap 255, 256 and 257 as the trio is set to form Pakistan’s top order in the opening ODI as confirmed by captain Shaheen Shah Afridi.This is the third white-ball bilateral series between Pakistan and Bangladesh since May 2025 as both the teams have faced each other home and away in T20I series. The two teams have played a total of 39 ODIs with the visitors winning 34 of them, while one game ended as no result.While addressing the pre-series media conference Shaheen Shah Afridi said, “All the teams are very good in their home conditions and similarly Bangladesh have done well in their home ground as well. As a team we are prepared well and we have won our previous two ODI series at home against South Africa and Sri Lanka.“There will be three debutants for us in the first game. Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat will open the batting, while Shamyl Hussain will bat at three. I hope they will play their own game and show their skills. We are all excited to see them play for Pakistan not just for one series but future as well.”Pakistan squad:Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha and Shamyl HussainBangladesh squad:Mehidy Hasan Miraz (c), Afif Hossain, Litton Das, Mahidul Islam Bhuiyan, Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Rishad Hossain, Saif Hassan, Shoriful Islam, Soumya Sarkar, Tanvir Islam, Tanzid Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Tawhid HridoySeries schedule: (all matches at Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka, all matches to begin at 1.15pm PKT)March 11 – First ODIMarch 13 – Second ODIMarch 15 – Third ODI

Islamabad (fsisal): Pakistan Men’s Under-20 team head coach Shehzad Anwar has announced a 26-member preliminary squad for the upcoming SAFF Under-20 Championship.The tournament will be held in the Maldives from March 23 to April 3, with Pakistan drawn in Group ‘B’ alongside Bangladesh and India.Pakistan will play Bangladesh in their opening match on March 24, before facing India two days later. The top two teams will advance to the semi-finals.“We have tried our best in forming a competitive team that will hopefully deliver results at the SAFF Under-20 Championship,” coach Shehzad Anwar said.The players are currently training at the Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad, with the squad having been finalised after week-long trials.Preliminary squad:Goalkeepers: Zulqurnain (Landikotal), Adil Ali Khan (Islamabad), Kashif (South Waziristan), Ghulam Abbas (Sargodha).Defenders: Umar Javed (Swabi), Zarib Haider (Parachinar), Majid Ali (Faisalabad), Waseem Abdul Rasheed (Karachi), Ubaid Ullah (Bhakkar), Abdul Khaliq (Chaman), Abdur Rehman (Faisalabad), Aabis Raza (Layyah), Sheraz Khalid (Karachi).Midfielders: Ali Zafar (Quetta), Zain Imran (Melbourne), Shahab Ahmed (Chitral), Khubaib (Bannu), Owais Ilyas (Karachi), Junaid (D.I. Khan), Mansoor Khan (Islamabad).Forwards: Najeeb Ullah (Bhakkar), Abdul Samad (Swat), Sajjad Hussain (Quetta), Abdullah (Rawalpindi), Faham (Islamabad), Umar Nawaz (Peshawar/UK).