Posts

Pakistan, Sri Lanka play out draw in weather-hit opening Test

Image
Pakistan and Sri Lanka played out a draw in the weather-hit opening Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday after the hosts declared their second innings at 284-8, extending their overall lead to 272 runs. Experienced batter Saud Shakeel narrowly missed out on a century, falling for 97 as Pakistan consolidated their position before both teams agreed to a draw. The hosts resumed their innings in the final session with Shakeel closing in on his fifth Test century. However, Lahiru Kumara ended his impressive knock by clean bowling the left-hander for 97 off 210 deliveries, including seven boundaries. Razaullah remained unbeaten at the other end as Pakistan declared their innings at 284-8, after which both teams agreed to a draw. Earlier, Shakeel and Ghazi Ghori continued Pakistan’s batting charge in the second session, putting together a crucial 92-run partnership to take the hosts’ lead beyond the 200-run mark. Shakeel registered his 13th Test half-century, while Ghori prov...
Post a Comment
Read more

Rawalpindi Test: Rain, bad light cut short Day 4 as Pakistan extend lead over Sri Lanka

Image
Pakistan stretched their lead over Sri Lanka to 45 runs despite losing opener Tayyab Arif early, before bad light and rain forced early stump on the fourth day of the first Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday. The hosts made a steady start, with Tayyab finding the boundary twice in the opening overs. However, the right-handed batter was trapped LBW by Asitha Fernando for 11 off eight deliveries, leaving Pakistan at 15-1 after 2.2 overs. Azan Awais and Mohammad Taha then joined forces at the crease and steadied the innings with a valuable partnership, helping Pakistan extend their overall lead. At lunch, Azan was unbeaten on 16, while Taha had contributed 12 as Pakistan continued their second innings. The pair resumed after the interval and added further runs to Pakistan's advantage. However, deteriorating weather conditions, with bad light and rain, forced the players off the field, bringing the day's play to an early conclusion after 21.2 overs in Pakistan's ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Pakistan crush Bangladesh to book place in U19 Asia Cup final

Image
Defending champions Pakistan secured a place in the U19 Asia Cup 2026 final with a nine-wicket win over Bangladesh at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman on Thursday. Rizwanullah led Pakistan's bowling attack with a five-wicket haul, while half-centuries from Hayam Khan and Usman Khan guided the team to victory. Chasing a modest target of 139, the Green Shirts cruised to victory in just 21.5 overs, losing only one wicket as their openers dominated the Bangladesh bowling attack. Usman Khan and Hayam Khan provided a flying start, both batters scoring half-centuries and putting together an impressive opening partnership to take Pakistan past the 100-run mark. Hayam was eventually dismissed after scoring 69 off 72 deliveries, including eight fours and a six. However, Usman remained unbeaten to guide Pakistan home, scoring 64 off 54 balls, featuring seven fours and two sixes. Abdul Qadir contributed an unbeaten eight as the defending champions sealed their place in the final. Ear...
Post a Comment
Read more

Centurions De Silva, Mendis foil Pakistan as Sri Lanka dig in

Image
Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis showed great staying power as both posted centuries to lift Sri Lanka to 404-4 on day three of the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Wednesday. De Silva was unbeaten on a polished 167 while Mendis was 117 not out as the pair frustrated Pakistan in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 249, bringing Sri Lanka within 30 runs of the home team's total of 434-9 declared. Mendis became the first Sri Lankan to score a century in his maiden Test as captain, after taking the reins from De Silva before this series. Their stand is a record for Sri Lanka against Pakistan, improving upon the 207 by Thilan Samaraweera and Tillakaratne Dilshan in Lahore in 2009. De Silva, lucky to be dropped on 38 by Saud Shakeel off pacer Razaullah, took full advantage of the reprieve and has so far struck 20 boundaries in his 241-ball knock. Mendis was more aggressive with four sixes and 10 boundaries as Sri Lanka added 290 in the day, before bad light ended play...
Post a Comment
Read more

Scotland suspends cricket ties with Afghanistan outside ICC events

Image
Cricket Scotland said it will not schedule matches against Afghanistan outside International Cricket Council (ICC) events, citing concerns over the treatment of women ​and girls under the Taliban government and broader human rights ‌issues. Women's sport has effectively disappeared in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, while access to education and employment opportunities for women has been severely curtailed. The ​Taliban say they respect women's rights in accordance with their ​interpretation of Islamic law and local customs and that internal ⁠matters should be addressed locally. Scotland's move aligns with decisions by Cricket Australia ​and the England and Wales Cricket Board to suspend bilateral ties with ​Afghanistan, which the ICC made a Full Member in 2017. "This policy will be kept under review annually or following any significant ICC decision or material change in circumstances," ​Cricket Scotland said on Monday. It added tha...
Post a Comment
Read more

PAK vs SL: Mendis, de Silva look to steer Sri Lanka out of doldrums

Image
Kamindu Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva were looking to steer Sri Lanka out of the doldrums before the day two of the first Test against Pakistan ended on Tuesday at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Earlier, after the Green Shirts decided to declare on 434-9, Sri Lanka faced early hiccups as they lost two early wickets for 12. Pasindu Sooriyabandara was the first one to depart on (0), followed with the dismissal of Sri Lanka’s most experienced batter in Dinesh Chandimal, who made his way back to the pavilion. It was Mohammad Abbas, who struck first by dismissing Sooriyabandara. Subsequently, it was Dinesh Chandimal, who lost his wicket on 1 and he was removed by debutant Saqib Khan, who also removed the settled batter in Lahiru Udara (42). After the 53-run stand between Udara and Mendis broke, the latter stitched an unbeaten 49-run partnership with de Silva. The pair will start the proceedings for Sri Lanka on day three on 114/3 (27.1). Kamindu Mendis has remained unbeaten on 40, lac...
Post a Comment
Read more

Cristiano Ronaldo announces retirement from Portuguese national team

Image
Cristiano Ronaldo said on Thursday he was retiring from the Portugal team, bringing the curtain down on one of the most illustrious international careers in the history of football. The 41-year-old announced that he would 'hand back the number 7 shirt' after the November international break. Ronaldo captained Portugal to their first major trophy at Euro 2016 and helped them win the 2019 and 2025 Nations Leagues. "It was not an easy decision, because there are decisions that are not made only with the head. They are also made with the heart," said Ronaldo. "If I ever made you happy, if one of my goals ever made you hug someone, forget a worry or feel proud of our country, then it was all worth it." Ronaldo thanked his family, the Portuguese people and the teammates, coaches and staff he worked with over his 23-year career with national team. "Portugal will always be a part of me," he captioned the announcement video. Ronaldo has made 234 appe...
Post a Comment
Read more