Posts

Saim Ayub dropped from Pakistan ODI squad

Image
Pakistan opener Saim Ayub has been dropped from the national squad following a series of disappointing performances in the ongoing tri-nation series, with Sahibzada Farhan named as his replacement in the ODI squad. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has directed Saim to play domestic cricket to regain his form, while Farhan will travel back from Nepal to join the national side. Saim Ayub struggled to make an impact in the first three matches of the tri-nation series, managing just 21 runs across the games. His continued lack of runs appears to have prompted the selectors to make a change, bringing an end to his place in the national squad for the time being. The PCB has decided that the left-handed opener should return to domestic cricket, where he will have an opportunity to regain his confidence and batting form. Farhan named as replacement Sahibzada Farhan has been included in Pakistan’s ODI squad as a replacement for Saim Ayub. Farhan, who captains Pakistan’s T20 side, is curr...

PCB opens direct signings for PSL 12, sets January 23 for player auction

Image
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday opened the direct signing window for all eight franchises ahead of the 12th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and also announced a pre-season roadmap that includes a player auction and matches across five to six venues. According to the PCB, PSL 12 will run from March 18 to May 2, 2027, featuring 44 matches over 46 days, including 40 league fixtures and four playoff matches. The direct signing window has been opened on October 23 and will remain available until November 23, 2026, allowing each franchise to directly sign one marquee player who did not feature in PSL 10 or PSL 11. The player auction is scheduled for January 23, 2027, while the tournament final will take place on May 2. In a significant step towards strengthening Pakistan's domestic cricket pipeline, the PCB has aligned its domestic competition calendar with the PSL pre-season cycle, the statement added. The National T20 Gold and National T20 Silver tournaments ...

Sri Lanka pull off second-highest chase in ODI history against England

Image
Sri Lanka produced a sensational batting performance to chase down England’s mammoth target of 430 runs in the third ODI of the tri-nation series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday, completing a remarkable victory with one ball to spare. Sri Lanka reached the target in 49.5 overs, pulling off what was billed as the second-highest successful run chase in ODI history after England had posted an imposing 429 for four in their allotted 50 overs. Sri Lanka endured a shaky start to their pursuit, losing opener Kamindu Mendis for 18 and skipper Kusal Mendis for a duck within the first five overs, leaving the team struggling at 24 runs. However, Rathnayake joined Fernando at the crease, and the pair launched a spirited counterattack against the England bowlers. Their third-wicket stand yielded 166 runs from just 137 deliveries, with both batters reaching their respective half-centuries. The partnership was finally broken by Jamie Overton on the opening delivery of the 28th over, whe...

Arafat Minhas stars as Pakistan thrash England by 87 runs in ODI tri-series

Image
Arafat Minhas delivered an all-round performance to help Pakistan defeat England by 87 runs, securing their second win in the ongoing ODI tri-series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. Chasing a target of 303, England were bowled out for 215 in 38.4 overs despite a strong start from openers Tom Banton and Ben Duckett. The duo stitched together a 91-run opening partnership, finding boundaries with ease as they took the attack to Pakistan’s bowlers during the early stages of the chase. However, Haris Rauf broke the stand in the 15th over by dismissing Duckett, who fell five runs short of his half-century after scoring 45 off 46 deliveries, including eight boundaries. Banton continued to bat sensibly, building a steady partnership with Harry Brook to take England past the 100-run mark. During the stand, Banton also brought up his third ODI half-century. The right-handed batter eventually fell to Arafat Minhas in the 19th over after scoring a fighting 57 off 53 deliveries, i...

Babar Azam completes 16,000 runs in international cricket

Image
Pakistan batter Babar Azam has completed 16,000 runs in international cricket across all formats on Sunday. He reached the milestone after scoring 45 runs against Sri Lanka in a match in the tri-nation series. Babar has emerged as the fifth Pakistani batter to score 16,000 runs in international cricket. Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan and Javed Miandad have also crossed the 16,000-run mark. Meanwhile, Pakistan set Sri Lanka a target of 306 runs in the opening match of the three-team ODI series in Rawalpindi on Sunday. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field. Pakistan were bowled out for 305 in the final over. Salman Agha top-scored with 107 off 90 balls, while Babar Azam made 45, Saad Baig scored 39 and Hasan Nawaz contributed 37. Saim Ayub scored seven, Fakhar Zaman made 16 and Arafat Minhas added 18. via Original Source

Agha century lifts Pakistan to 305 against Sri Lanka in ODI tri-series opener

Image
A hundred from Salman Ali Agha helped Pakistan put up a formidable total against Sri Lanka in the first match of the ODI tri-series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Pakistan, however, failed to capitalise fully on their strong position, surrendering their last five wickets for only 26 runs. Reduced from 279-5 to 305 all out, the hosts struggled against the bowling of Eshan Malinga and Asitha Fernando. After being asked to bat first, Pakistan were bowled out for 305 in 49.5 overs, with Salman leading from the front and receiving valuable support from Babar Azam, debutant Saad Baig and Hasan Nawaz. The Green Shirts made a positive start as openers Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub looked to build momentum, finding boundaries at regular intervals and putting together a promising opening partnership. However, Saim was the first batter to depart, falling to Dilshan Madushanka in the fourth over. His dismissal ended the 23-run opening stand, with the left-hander scoring seven off eight ...

Kusal Mendis leads Sri Lanka to consolation win as Pakistan secure series 2-1

Image
Kusal Mendis guided Sri Lanka to a convincing eight-wicket win over Pakistan, scoring an unbeaten half-century in the third and final T20I at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. Pakistan, however, won the series 2-1 after clinching victories in the first two games. Set to chase a 169-run target, the visitors comfortably knocked the winning runs for the loss of just two wickets and 17 balls to spare, courtesy of an unbeaten partnership for the third wicket between Kamindu Mendis and captain Kusal. Sri Lanka, however, got off to a shaky start to the pursuit as Mohammad Imran Randhawa trapped right-handed opener Lahiru Udara (one) lbw on the first delivery of the second over with 15 runs on the board. Udara's dismissal paved the way for Kusal to walk out at No.3, and the captain, alongside opener Sineth Jayawardena, put Sri Lanka into a commanding position by raising a 59-run partnership for the second wicket, which came at a brisk pace. Arafat Minhas eventually broke the thre...