Cricket
Pakistan ‘A’ squad announced for ACC Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars
Lahore (PCB Report):The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced the Pakistan Women’s ‘A’ squad for the upcoming ACC Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026. The 20-over tournament is scheduled to take place from 13 to 22 February in Bangkok, Thailand. Pakistan ‘A’ are placed in Group A alongside India ‘A’, UAE and Nepal, while the Group B comprises of Bangladesh ‘A’, Sri Lanka ‘A’, Malaysia and hosts Thailand. Top two sides from each group will play semi-finals after playing three games each. Off-spinning all-rounder Umm-e-Hani is set to lead the 15-member Pakistan ‘A’ squad in the tournament and will be aided by the experience of her fellow capped players including pacer Waheeda Akhtar and batter Shawaal Zulfiqar. Among other players, Pakistan Women’s U19 captain Eman Naseer and batter Komal Khan have also received call-ups to Pakistan Women’s ‘A’ after demonstrating quality skills during the recent 3-2 T20 series win over Bangladesh Women’s U19. Gull Rukh, Hafsa Khalid, Huraina Sajjad are the other batters in the squad, while Yusra Amir is set to take the wicket-keeping duties. Left-arm spinners Anosha Nasir and Momina Riasat form a four-pronged spin attack with Hani and all-rounder Noreen Yaqoob. Meanwhile, experienced Waheeda will lead the pace attack comprising Lubna Behram, Neha Sharmin Nadeem and Syeda Masooma Jafri. In the eight-team tournament, UAE, Nepal, Malaysia and Thailand will field their national women’s teams, while the other four teams are participating with ‘A’ teams. A total of 30 players were called up to Hanif Mohammad High Performance Centre for a week-long probables camp from 25 January after which the 15-member squad has been shortlisted. The Thailand-bound squad will now take part in a pre-tournament camp at the same venue before departing on 10 February. Pakistan Women’s ‘A squad:Batters: Eman Naseer (Islamabad), Gull Rukh (Dera Ghazi Khan), Hafsa Khalid (Karachi), Huraina Sajjad (Karachi), Shawaal Zulfiqar (Lahore)Wicket-keeper: Yusra Amir (Karachi), Komal Khan (Lahore)All-rounders: Noreen Yaqoob (Lahore) and Umm-e-Hani (Faisalabad)Spinners: Anosha Nasir (Karachi), Momina Riasat (Abbottabad)Pacers: Lubna Behram (Hunza), Neha Sharmin Nadeem (Karachi), Syeda Masooma Jafri (Karachi), Waheeda Akhtar (Lahore)Schedule of Pakistan ‘A’ matches: (all matches at Terdthai Cricket Ground) Group A 13 February – Pakistan ‘A’ v Nepal – 9.30am local time 15 February – Pakistan ‘A’ v India ‘A’ – 2pm local time 17 February – Pakistan ‘A’ v UAE – 2pm local time 20 February - Semi final 1 and 2 – 9am and 2pm local time22 February – Final – 2pm local time
ACB Chairman Praises the Under-19 National Team Performance in World Cup
Islamabad (Sports Desk): The Chairman of the Afghanistan Cricket Board, Mirwais Ashraf, during an online meeting today, congratulated the Under-19 national team, along with their coaches and supporting staff, on the team’s recent successes and praised their efforts and performances for qualifying to the world cup semifinals.He said I feel proud that the team has reached the World Cup semi-finals for the third time in a few years. He added that he was pleased to see the results of the players’ hard work, especially following the preparation camps held inside the country and the series played against Bangladesh and India. He also praised the efforts of the coaching staff and the management team, saying that every time they have trusted domestic coaches, they have achieved positive results.The Chairman advised the young players not to dwell on defeats and to always move forward with a positive mindset. He assured them of continued support and said that the board will address all their needs.Raees Ahmadzai, the team head coach also praised the players’ performances, saying that although the team fought until the final over in the Asia Cup matches, they still faced defeat. He expressed his happiness that the players were mentally and physically prepared again in a short time, enabling them to believe in themselves and achieve success in such important matches. He thanked the administration for its constant support and praised the efforts of all supporting staff, including coaches, the manager, trainer, doctor, and video analyst, noting that their role was crucial in the team’s success.In the final part of the meeting, team captain Mahboob Taskeen, speaking on behalf of the players, expressed gratitude to the administration and coaches for preparing the team in the best possible way for the World Cup. He added that their journey is not over yet and that they will give their full effort to win the semi-final and, upon reaching the final, bring the honor of World Cup championship to Afghanistan.
Pakistan U19 to take on India U19 in decisive Super Six fixture on Sunday
Bulawayo (Sports News): Pakistan U19 will be aiming to repeat their ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup heroics when they take on India U19 in the Super Six fixture of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Sunday. The match is scheduled to begin at 9.30am local time, with the toss taking place at 9am.Ahead of Sunday’s encounter, Pakistan trained at the Queens Sports Club on Saturday where the players, besides taking part in fielding drills, also had net sessions under the supervision of the coaching staff led by head coach Shahid Anwar.Pakistan, who currently have four points and are placed third in Group 2 of the Super Six stage, need to defeat India by a healthy margin to secure a place in the semi-finals. England sit at the top of the table with eight points and have already secured a semi-final berth in the ongoing mega event. From Group 1 of the Super Six stage, Afghanistan and Australia have already qualified for the semi-finals.In head-to-head encounters at the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, both sides have faced each other 10 times, with Pakistan and India winning five matches apiece. Outside the ICC event, in the last five meetings between the two teams, Pakistan U19 have emerged victorious on four occasions, while India U19 have managed to win once.At the conclusion of today’s training session, Pakistan U19 captain Farhan Yousaf and batter Sameer Minhas in a conversation hosted by Daniyal Ali Khan shared their thoughts on the upcoming contest.Farhan Yousaf said:“Our preparations have been very good. I had an enjoyable and productive net session today. Over the last few games, I have tried to play positive cricket, learn from my mistakes and carry forward the good things into the next match.“The morale of the squad is very high. Not only for this match, but over the last few games as well, the players have shown great intensity and we are confident of putting in a strong performance.”Sameer Minhas said:“We played a scenario-based match yesterday on a challenging surface, which helped us understand how to survive, score runs and bowl in difficult situations.“Today we trained at the Queens Sports Club, where the match will be played. Along with focused net sessions, we also had fielding drills and games, which helped with team bonding. The environment in the squad is very positive.“The team has been performing well in recent matches and we are looking to carry the momentum forward and take confidence into the next game.”Updated squad:Farhan Yousaf (captain), Usman Khan (vice-captain), Abdul Subhan, Ahmed Hussain, Ali Hasan Baloch, Ali Raza, Daniyal Ali Khan, Hamza Zahoor (wk), Huzaifa Ahsan, Momin Qamar, Mohammad Sayyam, Niqab Shafiq, Sameer Minhas and Umar Zaib.
T20 World Cup: ICC appoints Match Official for group stage
Islamabad (Sports News):Kumar Dharmasena and Wayne Knights will be the on-field umpires for the opening match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 between Pakistan and the Netherlands to be played at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground on 7 February.Dharmasena, an off-spinner who was a member of the Sri Lankan team that won the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 1996, has overseen 37 matches at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup including the finals of 2016 and 2022, putting him fourth on the all-time list.New Zealander Knights, in contrast, is at his first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and will reach the landmark of 50 T20Is as on-field umpire in the Group A match in Colombo.The complete match-day appointments for the group stage of the 20-team tournament were announced today while the appointments for the Super Eight and knockout stages will be confirmed in due course.Elsewhere on the opening day, Nitin Menon and Sam Nogajski will be in the middle for the Group C clash between Scotland and the West Indies. Menon was part of the on-field team for the first semi-final at the 2024 World Cup, between Afghanistan and South Africa, while Nogajski’s four group matches last time out included India’s clash with the United States of America.Those two teams meet again this year, rounding off a triple-header on 7 February, and this time Paul Reiffel and Rod Tucker will be the on-field duo.Tucker leads the way for matches officiated in this competition, on 46, and will bring up his half-century during the tournament. The Australian will also be in charge of the England versus Nepal, India against Namibia and the South Africa against the United Arab Emirates fixtures.Chris Gaffaney and Richard Illingworth stood alongside for the 2024 final and reunite for the Group B clash between Australia and Ireland on 11 February.Illingworth will also be in the middle, alongside Dharmasena, for the crunch clash between rivals India and Pakistan in Colombo on 15 February.In all, 24 officials will be on-field umpires during the group stage, with Richard Kettleborough, Ahsan Raza, Langton Rusere and Adrian Holdstock among the other returnees.Match Referees: Dean Cosker, David Gilbert, Ranjan Madugalle, Andrew Pycroft, Richie Richardson and Javagal Srinath.Umpires: Roland Black, Chris Brown, Kumar Dharmasena, Chris Gaffaney, Adrian Holdstock, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Wayne Knights, Donovan Koch, Jayaraman Madanagopal, Nitin Menon, Sam Nogajski, KNA Padmanabhan, Allahuddien Paleker, Ahsan Raza, Leslie Reifer, Paul Reiffel, Langton Rusere, Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, Gazi Sohel, Rodney Tucker, Alex Wharf, Raveendra Wimalasiri and Asif Yaqoob.
Mohammad Waseem to lead UAE in two-match T20I series against Ireland
Dubai (Sports News): Prolific opener Mohammad Waseem will lead the UAE side in the two-match T20I series against Ireland which will be played at the Dubai International Stadium. The first match of the series will begin at 6:30pm local time tomorrow (Thursday). The first ball in the second match will be bowled at 10:00am local time on Saturday, 31 January. UAE squad: Mohammad Waseem (captain), Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Basil Hameed, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Mohammad Arfan, Mohammad Farooq, Mohammad Jawadullah, Mohammad Zohaib, Rahul Chopra (wicketkeeper), Rohid Khan, Sohaib Khan and Simranjeet Singh.
Pakistan vs Australia: T20 Series to start on Thursday at Lahore
Lahore (Salman Khan):Pakistan will lock horns with Australia in the three match T20I series at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore as the visitors return to the country after last year’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The three T20Is will take place on 29, 31 January and 1 February.The first ball will be bowled at 4pm PKT in all games with the coin toss set to take place at 3.30pm. Australia’s 17-member squad arrived in Pakistan on Wednesday led by Mitchell Marsh.Among the players Jack Edwards, Josh Philippe, Mahli Beardman, Matthew Kuhnemann and Xavier Bartlett are visiting Pakistan for the first time. Beardman and Edwards are uncapped at the international level.Pakistan’s 16-member squad convened in Lahore on 25 January and have prepared for the T20I series with training sessions and a solitary scenario-based T20 match on Monday.Babar Azam – the leading run-scorer in T20I history – and Shaheen Shah Afridi – the second-leading wicket-taker in T20Is for Pakistan – return to Pakistan squad after missing the Sri Lanka series earlier in January.On the bilateral front, the two teams have faced each other 28 times in T20Is since their first contest at Johannesburg on 18 September, 2007. Pakistan have won 12, while Australia hold the edge with 14 wins including one at the Gaddafi Stadium in April 2022.The two teams have faced off in nine bilateral series, four of which comprised of one off T20I. Pakistan have won in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2018. Australia have secured series wins on five occasions against Pakistan. Salman Ali Agha, Pakistan captain:“We have prepared really well for this series in the previous 10 days. There are no weak opponents in T20 cricket and our focus is on executing our plans and playing smart, quality cricket.“Having the experienced and senior players in the group is vital, it makes a big difference when you are trying to win a series.”Mitchell Marsh, Australia captain:“I’m really excited to be here as this series is ideal preparation of the World Cup. Pakistan have a great tradition of fast bowling and I’m looking forward to facing Shaheen Shah Afridi.“Winning away from home is always tough, especially in these conditions, but that’s exactly what makes it a great challenge for us.”Pakistan 16-member squad:Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk) and Usman TariqAustralia squad:Mitchell Marsh (c), Adam Zampa, Ben Dwarshuis, Cameron Green, Cooper Connolly, Jack Edwards, Josh Inglis, Josh Philippe, Mahli Beardman, Marcus Stoinis, Matt Short, Matthew Kuhnemann, Matthew Renshaw, Mitch Owen, Sean Abbott, Travis Head and Xavier Bartlett.
Pakistan U19 beat New Zealand U19 by eight wickets
Harare (Sports News):A four-wicket haul by Abdul Subhan, followed by a fluent unbeaten 76 from Sameer Minhas guided Pakistan U19 to a comprehensive eight-wicket win over New Zealand U19 in their Super Six Group 2 fixture of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup at the Harare Sports Club in Zimbabwe on Tuesday.After winning the toss and opting to field, Pakistan bowled New Zealand out for 110 in 28.3 overs, an effort that included five maiden overs – three by Subhan and two by Ali Raza. Right-arm fast bowler Subhan returned impressive figures of four for 11 to earn the player of the match award, while Ali Raza (3-36) provided solid support as Pakistan’s bowlers applied sustained pressure throughout the innings.New Zealand’s resistance came mainly through Hugo Bogue, who scored 39 off 27 balls. However, regular wickets meant New Zealand side never gained momentum, slipping from 59 for one to 67 for seven as Pakistan tightened the screws in the middle overs.In turn, Pakistan achieved the modest target in just 17.1 overs, losing only two wickets and with 197 balls to spare. Opening batter Sameer anchored the innings with yet another half-century. His unbeaten 76 came off 59 balls which included 10 fours and two sixes. He shared key partnerships, first steadying the innings after the early loss of wicketkeeper-batter Hamza Zahoor (8, 11b, two fours) and then adding 67 runs with Usman Khan (15, 24b, one four) for the second wicket.Following today’s win, Pakistan U19 will travel to Bulawayo on Wednesday to take on India in their second Super Six fixture at the Queens Sports Club on Sunday, 1 February. The first ball of the match will be bowled at 9.30am local time.Scores in brief:New Zealand U19 110 all out, 28.3 overs (Hugo Bogue 39; Abdul Subhan 4-11, Ali Raza 3-36)Pakistan 112-2, 17.1 overs (Sameer Minhas 76 not out)Player of the match – Abdul Subhan (Pakistan U19).
Pakistan announce squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
Lahore ( Sports News): The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced a 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, where they are placed in Group A and scheduled to face Netherlands in their opening game on 7 February in Colombo.The names were unveiled during a press conference addressed by the PCB Director High Performance and member men’s national selection committee Aqib Javed, Pakistan’s T20I captain Salman Ali Agha and white-ball head coach Michael James Hesson at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Sunday morning.Among the players, skipper Salman Ali Agha, Faheem Ashraf, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Sahibzada Farhan and Usman Tariq have received their maiden mega-event call-ups to the Pakistan squad.Meanwhile, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan and Usman Khan have played in at least one or more editions of the tournament since 2021. In the 20-team tournament, each team is set to play four group games before the Super Eight and Knockout Stage, all between 7 February and 8 March.Pakistan are also set to face Australia in a three-match T20I series at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on 29, 31 January and 1 February with the preparation camp starting today.15-member squad:Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk) and Usman Tariq
Lower Dir’s Mohammad Sayyam on his journey to Pakistan U19 colours
Harare (Sports News):Pakistan U19 left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Sayyam’s rise is a story of persistence, self-belief and support from mentors who spotted his talent early, despite limited facilities in his hometown of Lower Dir in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.Sayyam’s association with cricket began at a young age while he was still in school. Speaking to PCB Digital in Harare ahead of Pakistan U19 Super Six stage matches, Sayyam reflected on his early cricketing days, saying: “My journey in cricket began during my school days, where my interest in the game developed at a very young age. I first got noticed during school trials when I bowled well and was selected in the team. My performances in those matches helped build my confidence.”Elaborating further, he added, “One of my teachers, Mohammad Tahir, identified my potential early and encouraged me to join an academy. With his support and guidance, I was able to take that important step in my career.”Talking about his early development, the 17-year-old said, “I later joined the DCA Cricket Academy, where coach Ijaz-ul-Haq worked closely with me. He has played a significant role in my development and I am very grateful for his continuous support.”Sayyam’s performances at the district level paved the way for regional selection and in 2023, he represented Peshawar region in the Inter-Region U16 One-Day Tournament. Although he managed to play two matches due to rain, the exposure proved valuable in building his confidence.Last year marked a major breakthrough when Sayyam featured in the National Men’s U19 Cup, where he claimed 14 wickets in seven matches for Peshawar region. His impressive showing earned him selection in the Pakistan U19 squad, including the training camp in Multan, where he continued to impress the coaching staff.Sayyam carried that momentum into the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup in Dubai, finishing with 10 wickets in five matches, including two wickets in the final against India. Reflecting on his performances and representing Pakistan on the global stage, he said, “Representing Pakistan at the U19 level is a moment of great pride for me and my family. I am extremely happy to be here and hope to continue performing well for the team.“I belong to Dir, where there are limited cricketing facilities and very few players make it to this level. That makes this achievement even more special for me. Every cricketer dream of playing for Pakistan and it has always been my goal as well. Wearing the national colours is an honour and a big responsibility.”Sayyam draws inspiration from legendary left-arm pacer Wasim Akram, whom he considers his role model. He said, “Wasim Akram is my role model. As a left-arm fast bowler, I admire him greatly and aspire to follow in his footsteps.”When asked about his goals in the ongoing ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, the left-arm pacer said,“My main focus in the World Cup is to deliver strong performances and help my team succeed. I want to contribute towards winning the trophy for Pakistan.”The young fast bowler, who grabbed three wickets in the tri-series in Zimbabwe and has featured in two of Pakistan’s three World Cup matches in Harare, expressed gratitude to his family, coach and teachers, acknowledging their unwavering support throughout his journey.
ICC appoints Match Official for Namibia Super 6 stage of U19 World Cup
Islamabad (Sports News):The Emirates ICC International Panels of Umpires and Referees have been announced for the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 Super Six stage matches taking place in Namibia.Faisal Afridi and Nitin Bathi will be the on-field umpires for Australia’s clash with South Africa at the Namibia Cricket Ground, with Cory Black in place as TV Umpire and Forster Mutizwa as Fourth Umpire.Afridi was in the middle for South Africa’s group stage defeat against Afghanistan, while Bathi oversaw the Proteas’ victory over Tanzania.Also on January 25, Shaun Haig and Iknow Chabi will be the on-field duo as the West Indies take on Ireland. They will be supported by TV Umpire Graham Lloyd and Fourth Umpire Virender Sharma.It will be Haig’s third match as an on-field umpire involving the West Indies, as he also took charge of their defeat against Afghanistan and victory over South Africa in the group stage.The following day, Afghanistan take on Sri Lanka, with Cory Black and Forster Mutizwa in the middle. Haig will be the TV Umpire, with Chabi in place as Fourth Umpire.Black and Mutizwa will also be the on-field team for the 13th-16th place play-off match between Japan and Tanzania at the High Performance Oval.The Match Officials for the Super Six matches in Zimbabwe will be announced once those match ups are confirmed.24 January – Japan v Tanzania – High Performance Oval, WindhoekOn-field: Cory Black and Forster MutizwaTV: Graham LloydFourth: Deighton ButlerReferee: Prakash Bhatt25 January – Australia v South Africa – Namibia Cricket Ground, WindhoekOn-field: Faisal Afridi and Nitin BathiTV: Cory BlackFourth: Forster MutizwaReferee: Prakash Bhatt25 January – West Indies v Ireland – High Performance Oval, WindhoekOn-field: Shaun Haig and Iknow ChabiTV: Graham LloydFourth: Virender SharmaReferee: Neeyamur Rahul26 January – Afghanistan v Sri Lanka – Namibia Cricket Ground, WindhoekOn-field: Cory Black and Forster MutizwaTV: Shaun HaigFourth: Iknow ChabiReferee: Neeyamur Rahul
Most Popular
