Author: ali.hassan

LAHORE: Pakistan opener Saim Ayub is progressing well in his recovery from a right ankle injury and will continue his rehabilitation in England, the country’s cricket board revealed on Friday.

According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Saim has been ruled out for 10 weeks from the date of injury (3 January) following comprehensive MRI scans, X-rays, and medical assessments.

For the unversed, Saim suffered a right ankle fracture while fielding on the first day of the second Test between Pakistan and South Africa in early January.

The incident occurred in the seventh over of South Africa’s first innings when Ryan Rickelton played a fuller-length delivery from Mohammad Abbas past the slip cordon into the deep third-wicket region.

Saim, quick on his feet, dashed in to act as the relay fielder, as Aamir Jamal valiantly attempted to haul the ball back from the boundary at deep third-man.

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However, in a heartbreaking moment, Saim Ayub lost his balance and stumbled backwards, struggling to regain his footing.

He was attended to by medical staff on the field, but his painful grimaces made it evident that he was in significant distress. Ultimately, he was carried off the field after he struggled to stand on his feet.

The PCB also shared that the young opener’s availability for the New Zealand tour will be subject to clearing all fitness tests and medical requirements.

Pakistan will tour New Zealand for five T20Is and three ODIs from 16 March to 5 April, which will be followed by the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 10, which starts on 8 April.

READ: Virat Kohli faces injury scare ahead of Champions Trophy 2025

Dubai: The physical tickets for the much anticipated eight-team tournament ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will go on sale from Monday, 3 February.

Following this week’s sale of online tickets, physical tickets will be available to fans at the 108 Tranzum Courier Service (TCS) centres located in 26 cities across event-hosting Pakistan.

Meanwhile, ticket information for India matches to be played in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 20 and 23 February and 2 March, will be released in due course.

The tickets for the Champions Trophy Final to be played on Sunday, 9 March – will be available for purchase following the conclusion of the first semi-final in Dubai.

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For the unversed, the ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy will kick off on 19 February with host and defending champions Pakistan taking on New Zealand in the curtain-raiser in Karachi’s National Bank Stadium.

The eight-team tournament will consist of 15 matches over 19 days and will take place in Pakistan and Dubai.

In Pakistan, Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi will be the three venues to host Champions Trophy 2025 matches. Each Pakistan venue will feature three group games apiece, with Lahore hosting the second semi-final.

Lahore will also host the final on 9 March, unless India qualify, in which case it will be played in Dubai.

Both the semi-finals and the final will have reserve days. The three group matches involving India, as well as the first semi-final, will be played in Dubai.

READ: Tickets for ICC Champions Trophy 2025 to go on sale from THIS date

Former England Test cricketer Ryan Sidebottom termed Pakistan as favourite for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

In an exclusive conversation with ARY News, Sidebottom termed the Pakistan team as favourites for the upcoming mega event which will commence on 19th February. However, he will support his home country in the Champions Trophy 2025.

“Pakistan will have an advantage of home conditions and are among the favourites for the tournament,” said Sidebottom. “As an Englishman, I will support the England team,” he stated.

While talking about Pakistani bowlers, Sidebottom emphasized the role of hard work in success for their continued success.

“If Pakistani bowlers work harder they can achieve great success,” he added.

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During the conversation, the former pacer also revealed his admiration for Pakistani fast bowler Wasim Akram.

“I am a fan of Wasim Akram and have learned a lot from him,” he added.

Ryan Sidebottom further highlighted the importance of mental strength and fitness in cricket.

“Pakistani players need to be mentally strong along with maintaining their fitness,” he concluded.

The former English cricketer arrived in Pakistan last Friday to serve as the bowling coach in a private cricket coaching Project.

The initiative aims to nurture young cricketing talent across the country, with the first phase focusing on under-17 players and the second phase dedicated to under-19 cricketers.

READ: Australia suffer major blow ahead of Champions Trophy 2025

Former England Test cricketer Ryan Sidebottom reached Pakistan on Friday to serve as the bowling coach in a private cricket coaching Project.

The initiative aims to nurture young cricketing talent across the country, with the first phase focusing on under-17 players and the second phase dedicated to under-19 cricketers.

Sidebottom expressed his excitement to visit Pakistan after 20 years and shared that he loves the food in the country.

“I am thrilled to be here [in Pakistan] again and enjoying every moment. The people are amazing, and the food is exceptional,” he stated. “I was here 20 years ago, and it’s wonderful to see how cricket in Pakistan continues to flourish.”

He also commended the country’s vast talent, noting that young people are eager to learn.

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“Pakistan cricket has always been full of extraordinary talent. The boys here are eager to learn, and that’s a coach’s dream,” Sidebottom added.

The former pacer further shared that the upcoming camp goes beyond just batting, bowling, and fielding, delving into the finer aspects of the game.

“I keep my bowling tips simple and focus on the basics. My goal is for players to challenge themselves in every net session,” he further stated. “This is a great learning experience for me as well.”

He highlighted Pakistan’s legacy of producing legendary fast bowlers and revealed his admiration for Wasim Akram.

“As a left-arm fast bowler, Wasim Akram has always been my hero. Pakistan’s history of producing world-class pacers is truly inspiring,” Ryan Sidebottom concluded.

READ: No Pakistan player named in Pat Cummins-led ICC Test Team of the Year 2024

Legendary Pakistan batter Younis Khan and iconic all-rounder Shahid Afridi will be honored with enclosures named after them at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi ahead of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025.

This initiative is part of the extensive renovation efforts underway at the stadium, which is nearing completion. The officials are committed to finalizing the renovations in time for the highly anticipated tournament.

According to the decision, the Majid Khan Enclosure and the Quaid Enclosure will be renamed after Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi respectively. Meanwhile, the Zaheer Abbas Enclosure will be renamed after Nazar Mohammad.

Additionally, the newly constructed Patron Enclosures at the National Bank Stadium will be named after legendary cricketers Zaheer Abbas and Majid Khan.

The renovation includes a five-story building equipped with modern facilities, including ICC Anti-Corruption and Anti-Doping units, physio rooms, and match officials’ rooms on the ground floor.

Dressing rooms on the second floor are almost complete, while 24 hospitality boxes across the third and fourth floors, accommodating up to 1,000 spectators, are nearing readiness. The Chairman’s Box and Admin Block on the fifth floor are also in the final stages.

Technological upgrades are also a major highlight of the renovation. Two new digital scoreboards are being installed, with the primary screen measuring 80×30 feet.

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Modern LED floodlights, similar to those used in Australian and South African stadiums, are being set up on six poles, promising a world-class viewing experience.

Spectators can also look forward to enhanced seating during the Champions Trophy 2025, with comfortable chairs being installed, some of which have been relocated from Gaddafi Stadium.

VIP pavilions surrounding the new building will provide exclusive seating arrangements, and a state-of-the-art pathway is being constructed to ensure seamless entry for players from the central building to the field.

The renovation work of the National Bank Stadium has had an impact on domestic matches, with the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final being moved to UBL Ground and the first Test against the West Indies relocated to Multan due to ongoing construction.

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Former Pakistan international cricketer Usman Qadir is all set to be part of the Women’s Ashes Test celebrations at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Qadir, who has retired from international cricket for Pakistan recently and now resides in Australia, will attend the Test to support and promote the women’s game as part of Cricket Australia’s (CA) special programs for the event.

The Women’s Ashes Test, scheduled to start on January 30, promises to be a vibrant celebration of cricket.

Cricket Australia (CA) has invited several notable personalities, including Usman Qadir, former Sri Lankan women’s captain Shashikala Siriwardene, and Melbourne Renegades player Ruwantha Kellopatha, to enhance the atmosphere and bring a global flavor to the festivities.

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In addition to these prominent figures, various community groups and fan collectives will add their energy to the event.

The stands will come alive with performances from Sri Lanka’s Papare Band, England’s Barmy Army, and a Pakistani group led by Tariq Naveed, who made waves by purchasing 850 tickets for a Brisbane T20I last year.

Day one of the Test will highlight enthusiastic fan participation, while day three is expected to draw the largest crowd, with over 1,000 fans dressed in full fan gear, led by the Ryan and Tony Podcast group.

The 31-year-old leg-spinner, son of the legendary Abdul Qadir, played one ODI and 25 T20Is for Pakistan, claiming 32 international wickets.

After shifting to Australia, Qadir has continued to showcase his talent with the Hawkesbury Club in Sydney. He had previously played in the Big Bash League (BBL) with Perth Scorchers and Sydney Thunder.

READ: Saqlain Mushtaq visits Pakistan Strike Force camp, reviews player development

KARACHI: The renovation work of the National Bank Stadium has reached its final stages, with officials pledging to complete the work by January 31 for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025.

This marks the third time the deadline has been extended, but authorities remain confident that the stadium will be ready to host three crucial matches of the Champions Trophy, set to begin on February 19.

General Manager of the National Stadium, Arshad Khan, and Project Director Muhammad Bilal Chauhan provided a detailed update during a media briefing, assuring that the stadium’s transformation is progressing at full pace.

Construction work began on October 22 and has been carried out in three shifts to meet the tight schedule.

The renovation includes a five-story building equipped with modern facilities, including ICC Anti-Corruption and Anti-Doping units, physio rooms, and match officials’ rooms on the ground floor.

Dressing rooms on the second floor are almost complete, while 24 hospitality boxes across the third and fourth floors, accommodating up to 1,000 spectators, are nearing readiness. The Chairman’s Box and Admin Block on the fifth floor are also in the final stages.

Technological upgrades are also a major highlight of the renovation. Two new digital scoreboards are being installed, with the primary screen measuring 80×30 feet.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Modern LED floodlights, similar to those used in Australian and South African stadiums, are being set up on six poles, promising a world-class viewing experience.

Spectators can also look forward to enhanced seating, with comfortable chairs being installed, some of which have been relocated from Gaddafi Stadium.

VIP pavilions surrounding the new building will provide exclusive seating arrangements, and a state-of-the-art pathway is being constructed to ensure seamless entry for players from the central building to the field.

To improve accessibility, a pedestrian bridge is being built, connecting the National Coaching Centre to the stadium, allowing fans to park their vehicles at China Ground and enter the venue with ease.

The parking facility can accommodate up to 2,700 vehicles, pending ICC approval.

Security measures are also being bolstered with the installation of a 10-foot spiked iron fence around the ground. However, plans for a surrounding trench have been postponed.

The renovation work of the National Bank Stadium has had an impact on domestic matches, with the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final being moved to UBL Ground and the first Test against the West Indies relocated to Multan due to ongoing construction.

READ: Ramiz Raja lauds Rizwan, Saud after Pakistan’s victory over West Indies

Pakistan mountaineer Asad Ali Memon has achieved a remarkable feat by successfully summiting Mount Vinson, the highest peak in Antarctica.

This latest achievement marked a significant milestone in his ambitious journey to conquer the Seven Summits challenge. Asad has so far reached the summit of six out of the seven peaks in his pursuit of climbing the highest mountains on each continent.

His final adventure lies ahead as he prepares to face the challenging ascent of Puncak Jaya in Indonesia.

Asad confirmed his triumph through a social media post on his official Facebook page, acknowledging the physical and mental challenge he went through to scale Mount Vinson.

“From Karachi to Antarctica, the journey ends here. I have successfully summited Mount Vinson, the highest, coldest, and remotest peak in the world,” Asad Ali Memon posted.

“The past two weeks in the harshest conditions on Earth, battling sub-zero temperatures, relentless winds, and extreme isolation, tested every ounce of my strength.

“But nothing is impossible when fueled by purpose, discipline, and the will to push beyond limits.”

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Standing at a formidable height of 4,892 meters, Mount Vinson towers above the landscape, nestled deep within Antarctica’s stunning, frozen wilderness.

This mountain is notorious for its brutal conditions, where temperatures can plummet to a bone-chilling -40°C and weather patterns shift unpredictably, solidifying its reputation as one of the world’s most formidable challenges for climbers.

Asad Ali Memon, who hails from Larkana, has previously summited Mount Everest in Asia, Mount Elbrus in Europe, Mount Aconcagua in South America, Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, and Mount Denali in North America.

“With this, I stand at 6 out of 7 summits complete, one last climb remains to complete my Mission 7 Summits. The dream is within reach,” he stated.

The 26-year-old dedicated his triumph to those who supported him and prayed for him.

“The victory is not just mine—it belongs to all of you who believed in me, supported me, and sent me strength through your prayers. Your love and encouragement carried me through every icy step,” he said.

“I dedicate this success to every dreamer out there. To those who choose hardship over luxury, discipline over comfort, and resilience over giving up. This is for YOU. Keep chasing your dreams, no matter how impossible they seem.”

READ: Manchester United great Denis Law passes away at 84

KUALA LUMPUR: The Pakistan team, under the leadership of captain Komal Khan, landed here in Malaysia on Saturday to participate in the upcoming ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup.

The arrival of the national team at Kuala Lumpur Airport was met with excitement, as fans chanted “Pakistan Zindabad” and extended their best wishes to the players.

“We have come fully prepared,” said Komal Khan. “The players’ morale is high, and we are determined to give our best to win the group matches,” she added.

Head coach Mohsin Kamal echoed her sentiments, emphasizing the hard work put into the players’ training.

“This team will perform differently compared to the Asia Cup. A lot of effort has been made to prepare them,” Kamal stated.

The Pakistan team will rest today to recharge before hitting the nets to prepare for the mega-event, which will be played from January 18 to February 2 in Malaysia.

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Pakistan are placed in Group B alongside England, Ireland and the USA. Pakistan will play their opening match on 18 January against the USA.

This will be followed by the encounter against England on 20 January, while Pakistan’s last group match will be against Ireland on 22 January. All three Pakistan matches will be staged at the JCA Oval, Johor in Malaysia.

Following the conclusion of the Group Stage fixtures, three teams from each group will qualify for the Super Six. The bottom-ranked sides from Groups A and D, and B and C will contest in last place play-off on 24 January.

The 12 teams, which will qualify for the Super Six stage will be divided into two groups. Group one will include the top three teams each from Group A and Group D while Group two will have top three teams each from Group B and Group C.

In the Super Six stage every team will carry forward their wins, points and Net Run-rate (NRR) which is secured against their fellow Super Six qualifying teams. Each team will play two games in the Super Six stage.

The top two sides from the two super six stage groups will qualify for the semi-finals. The semi-finals are set to take place on January 31, while the final of the tournament will be played at Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur on 2 February.

Pakistan squad for ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup

Komal Khan (c)(wk), Zoofishan Ayyaz (vc), Aleesa Mukhtiar, Areesha Ansari, Fatima Khan, Haniah Ahmer, Maham Anees, Mahnoor Zeb, Memoona Khalid, Minahil, Quratulain, Ravail Farhan, Shahar Bano, Tayyaba Imdad and Wasifa Hussain.

Non-travelling reserves: Fizza Fiaz, Laiba Nasir, Manahil Javed, Rozina Akram and Sania Rasheed.

Pakistan fixtures (all matches at JCA Oval, Johor):

vs USA – 18 January

vs England – 20 January

vs Ireland – 22 January

READ: ICC delegation visits Rawalpindi Stadium to review Champions Trophy preparations

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday unveiled the complete schedule of the men’s domestic cricket tournaments set to take place in the year 2025.

Three first-class tournaments, including the ongoing President’s Trophy Grade-I, will headline Pakistan’s bumper domestic cricket calendar.

Apart from the red-ball, focus will also be placed on white-ball tournaments, which include one 50-over List-A event, three T20 and one non-first-class three-day tournament.

Development cricket has seen some exciting changes as well with the introduction of the U15 and U17 tournaments, and the Champions U19 One-Day Cup and three-day Trophy. These three events will serve as a clear pathway for aspiring and talented cricketers.

A total of 21 domestic, age-group and pathways cricket tournaments are set to take place according the schedule of 2025. This includes a minimum of 131 first-class, 37 50-over List-A and 119 T20 matches.

Additionally, the club, age group, schools, colleges and universities tournaments are set to yield more than 10,000 matches across the country, further creating opportunities for emerging cricketers.

The 18-team National T20 Cup will take place in March and will provide opportunities to players from 16 regions across Pakistan to showcase their talent in the shortest format.

President’s Trophy Grade-II, the non-first-class three-day departmental tournament, will be held in April and May, which will be a battleground for the departments vying for places in the 50-over List-A and first-class departmental tournaments.

The exciting Pakistan Super League 10 will catch the eye-balls in April and May, following which the senior men’s domestic events will come to a three-month halt.

During this time period, the PCB will hold training, fitness and conditioning camps across the 16 regions to get the players ready for the upcoming domestic tournaments, while also preparing for the second half of the year, which again promises to be exciting, competitive and challenging.

Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and the Champions Cup – the two premier first-class tournaments – are set to take place in September and October.

These events will provide the players opportunities to perform in red-ball matches and strengthen their claims for places in the Pakistan Test side.

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The 50-over List-A tournament – President’s Cup Grade-I – is slotted for the November-December window, which will be followed by the second edition of the Champions T20 Cup. The Champions Cup One-Day tournament will be played in January 2026.

On the age-group and Pathways front, the PCB has reassessed the U13 and U16 categories and relaunched them as U15 and U17 to maximise the participation of teenagers in the national tournaments.

The decision also aims at nurturing the talent early and providing the youngsters with plenty of time in their respective age groups to grow and emerge.

The National U19 Cup will be contested between 18 regional teams in September as the top performers of the Inter-District U19 players will progress to regional academies and then take part in this tournament.

After working their way up from the Club and District and Regional level, the best of the best U19 men’s cricketers will be assembled as part of the inaugural five-team Champions U19 Cup and Trophy under the guidance of the five mentors, which is set to take place in October and November.

The District U19 and senior events along with the Inter-Schools, Collegiate and Universities tournaments are also set to take place as usual helping Pakistan cricket widen the talent scouting net in the year 2025.

Domestic cricket schedule 2025 (Subject to any late changes)

Men’s domestic Tournaments

January-February – President’s Trophy Grade-I (first-class)

March – National T20 Cup

April-May – President’s Trophy Grade-II (non-first-class three-day)

April-May – Pakistan Super League 10

September-October – Quaid-e-Azam Trophy

September-October – Champions four-day Cup (first-class)

November-December – President’s Cup Grade-I (50-over List-A)

December – Champions T20 Cup

Age-group and Pathways Tournaments

January-June – National Club Championship (Grade-I and II)

February – National U15 One-Day Tournament

February – National U17 One-day Tournament

February-April – Challenge League Senior (two-day)

April – Challenge U19 One-day Cup (Intra-District)

May – Regional Inter-District U19

May-June – Regional Inter-District Senior Tournament

June-July-August – Regional U19 Academies

September – National U19 Cup (Inter-regional)

October-November – Champions U19 One-day Cup and three-day Trophy

September-October – Inter-Schools Tournament

October-November – Inter-Colleges Tournament

November – Inter-University Tournament

READ: ICC delegation reviews Champions Trophy preparations at National Bank Stadium