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First T20I: Farhan, Sadaqat power Pakistan to four-wicket win over Sri Lanka

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Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by four wickets in the first T20I, with captain Sahibzada Farhan’s 89 and Maaz Sadaqat’s half-century powering the hosts to a successful chase of 183 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday. Chasing a target of 183 runs, Pakistan got off to a blistering start as openers Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman smashed 54 runs in the first five overs. With Pakistan at 54-1, Farhan was joined by Maaz Sadaqat after Fakhar (21 off 13 balls) was dismissed by Eshan Malinga. The pair added 92 runs for the second wicket, with both batters scoring freely. Sadaqat scored 50 off 29 balls, hitting three sixes and four fours before being trapped lbw by Maheesh Theekshana. Sri Lanka struck back with three quick wickets as Pakistan slipped from 144-1 to 156-4 in the 16th over. Hasan Nawaz and Saim Ayub failed to make an impact, falling to Dushmantha Chameera and Theekshana, respectively. Farhan, who brought up his half-century off 33 balls, went on to score 89 off 53 delive...
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PSL 12 to commence in March 2027, announces PCB

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The 12th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will be played from March 18 to May 2, 2027, with all eight franchises returning to compete for the title, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Thursday. The eight-team format will return for the second successive season following a record-breaking PSL 11. The playing window was finalised after extensive consultations with key stakeholders following the PSL Governing Council meeting held in London on September 1, 2026. Owners and representatives of all eight PSL franchises attended the meeting. The last season of the league cricket marked several milestones, with eight teams competing for the first time and a first-ever player auction replacing the draft system. The final at Gaddafi Stadium attracted a record crowd of 32,461. Peshawar Zalmi were crowned champions after defeating debutants Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wickets on May 3, 2026, ending a nine-year hiatus for the title. With the PSL 12 window now confirmed, the ...
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Emotion, tears as Messi retires from Argentina national team

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Lionel Messi brought the curtain down on his 21-year international career on Tuesday, bidding farewell to adoring Argentina fans in an emotional final appearance for the former world champions in Buenos Aires. In a perfectly scripted finale, the 39-year-old widely regarded as the greatest football player in history signed off with his 126th international goal in front of 85,000 supporters as Argentina cruised to a 3-0 victory over Benin. Messi, playing in his record-extending 208th international, also provided the assist for the opening goal scored by veteran Nicolas Otamendi, with Nico Paz also scoring. But the match was a footnote to the occasion itself, which saw Messi savoring the adulation of the Monumental Stadium crowd one last time for an event which had been billed as 'The Last Tango'. "It was a huge source of pride for me to defend this jersey for more than 20 years," Messi told fans in a post-match address. "Not coming anymore is going to be deepl...
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Pakistan announce squads for Sri Lanka T20Is and ODI tri-series

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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday announced the national squads for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka and the seven-match ODI tri-series featuring England and Sri Lanka. Sahibzada Farhan has been named captain for the T20I series, with Shaheen Shah Afridi retaining the ODI captaincy. Farhan, who led Pakistan at the recently concluded Asian Games, will captain the side in the three T20Is against Sri Lanka, scheduled to be played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 9, 11 and 13. Razaullah, who impressed with his batting performance during the third Test against England, has earned his maiden white-ball call-up. Wicketkeeper-batter Saad Baig has been included in the ODI squad, while Mohammad Imran Randhawa has received his maiden T20I call-up. All-rounder Salman Ali Agha has been left out after being removed as T20I captain, while wicketkeeper-batter Usman Khan and spinner Usman Tariq have also been omitted from the squads. From the Asian Games squa...
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Sri Lanka unveil squad for ODI tri-series in Pakistan

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Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Sunday announced a 16-member squad for the upcoming ODI tri-series against hosts Pakistan and England, with matches scheduled in Rawalpindi and Lahore from October 18 to 31. Kusal Mendis will captain the Sri Lankan side, with Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kamil Mishara, Pavan Rathnayake, Sahan Arachchige, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage and Dasun Shanaka among the players named in the squad. Opening batter Pathum Nissanka has been included in the lineup, but his travel remains subject to medical clearance. He will join the team only if he is declared fit to play. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka have dropped former captain Charith Asalanka from the squad for the ODI tri-series, which also features England. Asalanka, who averages 40.55 in 88 ODIs, has been left out after managing scores of 1, 11 and 7 during the ODI leg of Sri Lanka’s recent tour of England. Sri Lanka will first arrive in Pakistan on October 4 for a three-match T20I series against the hosts. All...
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Pakistan beat Bangladesh to set up Asian Games cricket gold showdown with India

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Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by six wickets in the first semi-final of the Asian Games men's cricket competition at Korogi Sports Club, Nisshin, on Thursday, booking a final clash with arch-rivals India. Set to chase a daunting 112-run target in 13 overs, the Green Shirts comfortably knocked the winning runs for the loss of four wickets and three balls to spare. The Green Shirts, however, got off to a contrasting start to the pursuit as they lost captain Sahibzada Farhan (one) in the first over with just six runs on the board. His opening partner Maaz Sadaqat, who made a spirited start to his knock, which saw him smash two fours and a six, followed suit in the next over as he fell victim to Nasum Ahmed after scoring a seven-ball 15. Following Sadaqat's dismissal, Saim Ayub walked out to bat at No.5 and made a similar start to his innings, hitting Mustafizur Rahman for two sixes and a four, but the experienced pacer hit back in the fourth over, sending him back to the pavili...
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Pakistan qualify for Asian Games hockey semi-finals after 7-2 win over Oman

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Pakistan qualified for the semi-finals of the men’s hockey event at the 20th Asian Games on Monday after defeating Oman 7-2 in their final Pool B match in Japan. Pakistan dominated the contest at Kawasaki Juko Stadium to finish their pool campaign with four wins from five matches, having suffered their only defeat against Malaysia. Sufyan Khan opened the scoring for Pakistan in the 22nd minute through a penalty corner before Oman’s Al-Bara Al-Nofali levelled the score in the 28th minute. Sufyan restored Pakistan’s lead later in the same minute to give the Green Shirts a 2-1 advantage. Pakistan extended their lead before the end of the second quarter to take a 3-1 lead into half-time. Rana Waheed Ashraf added to Pakistan’s tally in the 34th minute before Oman’s Mudit Aiman pulled one back two minutes later. Rana Waheed completed his hat-trick, while Ghazanfar Ali and Muhammad Imad also found the net as Pakistan sealed a 7-2 victory. The semi-finals are scheduled for October 1, wit...
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