Author: A Sports

LAHORE: Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have reportedly confirmed their participation in the proposed tri-nation ODI series in Pakistan that will also feature England, sources revealed on Wednesday.

According to sources, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had already agreed in principle earlier to take part in the series, which is being planned for the October-November window.

With Sri Lanka’s confirmation now in place, the structure of the tri-series is expected to be formally locked in, with scheduling discussions entering their final phase. Sources added that the detailed fixtures for the ODI tri-series will be announced shortly once logistical arrangements are completed.

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Ahead of the ODI tri-series, Sri Lanka are also scheduled to tour Pakistan for a three-match T20 International series. As per the ICC Future Tours Programme (FTP), the Sri Lankan side are also expected to play a two-match Test series in Pakistan as part of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.

For the unversed, Pakistan featured in two T20I tri-nation series last year, one involving UAE and Afghanistan, and another on home soil featuring Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

Pakistan went on to win both events, first defeating Afghanistan in the final in August 2025 in the UAE, and later overcoming Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi in November to lift the trophy.

READ: Babar Azam, Shan Masood register gains in ICC Test rankings

MIRPUR: Star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has set his sights firmly on guiding Pakistan towards the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, stressing that consistency across a demanding Test calendar will be key to achieving that goal.

Speaking ahead of Pakistan’s upcoming Test series against Bangladesh, the left-arm pacer stressed the importance of consistency, preparation, and adaptability in what he described as a long and challenging Test cycle.

“We are looking forward to the challenge of the Test series. Tests are very important for us, and this is a long Test season for us, perhaps for the first time like this. We are fully prepared and ready to give our best,” Afridi said.

Pakistan are set to play a two-match Test series against Bangladesh, with the first Test scheduled at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium from May 8 to 12, followed by the second in Sylhet from May 16 to 20.

Shaheen acknowledged that home conditions naturally provide an advantage to hosting teams, but emphasised that execution and preparation remain the real deciding factors in Test cricket.

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“We hope the conditions will be good for us and we will play excellent cricket. Every team is strong in its home conditions, but what matters most is how well you prepare and execute,” he added.

He also underlined Pakistan’s broader ambitions in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, making it clear that the team’s focus extends beyond individual series.

“We are not only focused on this Test series but also on the ICC World Test Championship. Our target is to reach the final, and for that we must play our best cricket consistently,” he stated.

Looking ahead to the upcoming series against Bangladesh, Afridi noted the challenge posed by spin-friendly conditions but insisted Pakistan are well prepared for all scenarios.

“Bangladesh have previously done well on spin-friendly tracks, and every team uses home advantage. We have prepared accordingly, both for spin conditions and for a green wicket, and we are ready for every challenge,” he said.

READ: Ahmedabad to host IPL 2026 final after Bengaluru switch

DUBAI: Pakistan batters Babar Azam and Shan Masood were among the notable movers in the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) Test rankings released on Wednesday.

Among Pakistan’s batters, Saud Shakeel continues to lead the way, retaining ninth position with 734 rating points. Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan also held his ground, remaining 21st with 664 points.

Babar climbed one place to 22nd with 656 points, while Pakistan captain Shan made a more notable jump, moving up two spots to 42nd with 576 points. In contrast, Salman Ali Agha slipped one position to 28th in the updated list.

Further down the rankings, Imam-ul-Haq held on to 51st place, while Abdullah Shafique dropped to 57th. Kamran Ghulam remained at 85th in the latest update.

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At the top of the batting rankings, Joe Root retained the number one position, followed by Harry Brook in second, while Australia’s Travis Head moved up to third.

In the bowling charts, Shaheen Shah Afridi is Pakistan’s highest-ranked pacer, placed 24th with 632 points. Both Mohammad Abbas and Sajid Khan dropped one spot each to 29th and 30th, respectively.

Hasan Ali registered a slight improvement, moving up to 43rd, while Abrar Ahmed slipped to 51st. Khurram Shahzad retained his 70th position, whereas Asif Afridi dropped to 96th.

India’s Jasprit Bumrah continues to lead the Test bowling rankings, with Pakistan spinner Noman Ali holding second place, while Australia’s Mitchell Starc slipped to third in the latest update.

READ: BCB makes ‘special announcement’ for Pakistan-Bangladesh series

KARACHI: Najiha Alvi drew widespread praise from the team management after her record-breaking innings powered Pakistan women’s team to a dominant win over Zimbabwe earlier this week, with the wicketkeeper-batter also being awarded the ‘Star of the Match’ for her efforts.

Alvi’s explosive knock came in Monday’s ODI against Zimbabwe at the National Bank Stadium, where she smashed an unbeaten 56 off just 30 deliveries.

Her innings included eight fours and a six and saw her register the fastest half-century in Pakistan Women’s ODI history, reaching the milestone in just 24 balls.

The team management acknowledged her performance as a standout moment, with mentor Wahab Riaz particularly appreciating the aggressive intent shown by the batter in the closing stages of the innings.

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Pakistan had posted a formidable 330 for five in their allotted 50 overs, the highest women’s ODI total at the venue, before completing a comprehensive 168-run victory.

Zimbabwe were bowled out for 162 in 36.4 overs despite fighting contributions from Beloved Biza (53) and Kelis Ndhlovu (31), as Pakistan’s bowlers maintained control throughout the chase.

Fatima Sana, Tasmia Rubab and Syeda Aroob Shah claimed two wickets each.

Meanwhile, the match also marked a significant milestone for Momina Riasat, who made her ODI debut. The management extended their congratulations and best wishes to the youngster for her future.

READ: ICC releases latest Men’s T20I team rankings

DHAKA: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Tuesday announced free entry for Students and academy trainees for the two-match Test series against Pakistan.

The first of the two matches – part of the ICC World Test Championship will be played at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka from 8 to 12 May, while Sylhet International Cricket Stadium will host the second Test, which will be played from 16 to 20 May.

The board termed it a “special opportunity” aimed at encouraging young cricket fans to experience the longer format of the game from the stands.

“On the occasion of the upcoming Bangladesh vs Pakistan Test Series, a special opportunity has been introduced to encourage young cricket enthusiasts to experience the ultimate form of the game from the stands and galleries,” the BCB said in a statement.

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“Students from schools and educational institutions, wearing their respective uniforms and carrying valid ID cards, will be granted free entry to designated stands/galleries,” it added.

BCB also said that the condition applies to trainees under the age of 15, who can come to the stadium wearing their official academy kits.

“This privilege also applies to trainees under the age of 15 who are enrolled in private cricket academies. These trainees must wear their official academy kits to receive complimentary access to the stadiums,” the board concluded.

In the current World Test Championship (WTC) standings, Bangladesh are placed eighth, having registered one defeat and one draw from two matches, with a win percentage of 16.67.

Pakistan, meanwhile, sit fifth with one win and one loss, holding 12 points and a 50 percent win ratio.

Bangladesh squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (vc), Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Ebadot Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Tanzid Hasan, Amite Hasan.

Pakistan squad: Shan Masood (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais, Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi

READ: Warwickshire Bears sign Usman Tariq for T20 Blast 2026

Pakistan mystery off-spinner Usman Tariq expressed excitement after being signed by Warwickshire Bears for the T20 Blast 2026. 

The tournament will run from May 22 to July 18, with Bears playing their opening match against Gloucestershire on Friday, May 22.

Earlier today, the Bears announced the signing of a 30-year-old spinner, hailing the spinner’s high impact with the ball.

Following the signing, Tariq shared his views, noting that he is eager to join Bears with enthusiasm and positive energy.

“I am very excited to bring more fun and energy to the Bears. I can’t wait to get involved with the squad and it’s a great feeling to be part of this team. I hope to see as many people as possible at Edgbaston this summer,” he said.

Meanwhile, Warwickshire Bears performance director James Thomas lauded Tariq’s bowling, highlighting his skillset and strategy that pose a threat to modern-day batters.

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“Usman is exactly the type of high-impact player we want to bring into Warwickshire, so we’re delighted to get this deal completed,” he said.

“His skillset and tactical awareness make him a genuine threat in modern white-ball cricket, but it’s his hunger to compete and continually improve that really stands out,” he added.

Usman, who rose to prominence due to unusual action, has played 9 T20Is for Pakistan. The tall spinner has taken 18 wickets, including a hat-trick in his second match.

For the unversed, Usman Tariq will spend most of his time in England during the summer. He will first play in the T20 Blast and will later on represent Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred 2026.

The 30-year-old was signed for a whopping GBP 140,000 at the player auction earlier this year.

READ: Warwickshire Bears sign Usman Tariq for T20 Blast 2026

Warwickshire Bears have signed Pakistan mystery spinner Usman Tariq for the forthcoming T20 Blast campaign.

The announcement was confirmed through the team’s social handles.

“Worth the wait,” the caption of the post read.

 

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A post shared by Bears (@warwickshireccc)

Following the signing, team performance director James Thomas lauded Tariq’s bowling, highlighting his skillset and strategy that pose a threat to modern-day batters.

“Usman is exactly the type of high-impact player we want to bring into Warwickshire, so we’re delighted to get this deal completed,” Bears performance director James Thomas said., external

“His skillset and tactical awareness make him a genuine threat in modern white-ball cricket, but it’s his hunger to compete and continually improve that really stands out,” he added.

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The director further said that what made the signing particularly exciting was the alignment between Warwickshire and Birmingham Phoenix.

He added that bringing Usman into the Bears for the Vitality Blast before his transition into The Hundred with the Phoenix reflected the strength of their integrated model across the club and franchise.

“What makes this signing particularly exciting is the alignment between Warwickshire and Birmingham Phoenix. Bringing Usman into the Bears for the Vitality Blast, before transitioning into The Hundred with the Phoenix, reflects the strength of our integrated model across club and franchise,”

“It allows us to create continuity for the player, maximise performance impact across both competitions, and build stronger connections with our supporters in Birmingham and Warwickshire.” Ultimately, this is about strengthening the team, the franchise, and our presence in the area, and we believe Usman can play a key role in that this summer,” he concluded.

The T20 Blast will run from May 22 to July 18. Birmingham Bears will play their opening match against Gloucestershire on Friday, May 22.

For the unversed, Usman made headlines for his unorthodox action and has played 9 T20Is for Pakistan. The 30-year-old has so far taken 18 wickets, including a hat-trick in his short career.

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DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday released the annual rankings of Men’s T20I teams, with title holders India remaining at the top spot. 

According to the cricket apex body, the latest rankings are weighted: matches played since May 2025 count at 100 percent and those from the previous two years at 50 percent.

“The latest rankings rate all matches played since May 2025 at 100 per cent and those of the previous two years at 50 per cent,” the press release said.

India remains firm in the top spot with 275 points, followed by England on 262 points. Australia are closely behind the Three Lions with 258 points.

The Men in Blue’s top position is on the back of their stellar run over the past two years, during which they lifted two World Cups — 2024 and 2026 — and remained undefeated in all T20I series.

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Meanwhile, the top seven positions in the rankings are unchanged with New Zealand on 247 points. South Africa is in fifth position with 244 points, while Pakistan (240) and West Indies (233) are in sixth and seventh positions, respectively.

At the bottom, Sri Lanka slipped to the ninth spot, while Bangladesh moved one step up and is in eighth position. Afghanistan is in 10th position, while Zimbabwe and Ireland’s positions are unchanged.

The USA continued their rise, gaining six points, sitting at 13th place, leapfrogging the Netherlands and Scotland at 14th and 15th ranks respectively.

Italy, who made their debut in the T20 World Cup 2026, are the biggest gainers, climbing from 26th to 23rd position.

It is worth noting that the number of teams in the rankings has dropped from 102 to 98, as Fiji, Gambia, Greece, and Israel did not make the cut because they did not play the required eight T20Is in the past three years.

READ: Babar Azam shares inspirational post after Peshawar Zalmi PSL triumph

Pakistan ace batter Babar Azam has shared an inspirational story on his social media handle following Peshawar Zalmi’s triumph in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11. 

Babar took to his Instagram handle to showcase a collage of photographs featuring young cricketers and fans.

“My motivation. If I can, you all can”, the caption of the story read.

The post comes after Peshawar Zalmi’s victory over Hyderabad Kingsmen in the PSL 11 final. Babar led his side to title glory, winning the PSL trophy for the first time as a captain. Moreover, this was Zalmi’s first trophy in nine years.

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It is worth mentioning that Babar Azam served as a ball boy during the 2007 Test series between Pakistan and South Africa at Gaddafi Stadium. His journey is a symbol of determination and hard work.  As a ball boy, the 31-year-old idolized South African batter AB de Villiers and took inspiration from him.

He also remained Pakistan U-19 captain and led Pakistan into the quarter-finals of the ICC World Cup.

Since making his debut in 2015 against Zimbabwe, Babar has become one of the top performers for the national team across all three formats.

Overall, he has played 346 matches for Pakistan, amassing 15463 runs at an average of 45, including 32 centuries and 106 fifties.  He is also on the verge of breaking the record for the most ODI centuries for Pakistan, currently tied with Saeed Anwar at 20.

READ: Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi named in PSL 11 Team of the Tournament

Iran football team have suffered a significant setback ahead of their preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2026 after winger Ali Gholizadeh was ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a serious knee injury sustained in club action.

The 30-year-old, who plays his club football for Polish side Lech Poznań, was forced off during last weekend’s league match against Motor Lublin after picking up the injury in a routine challenge.

Medical assessments later confirmed a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, a diagnosis that has effectively ended his season and cast doubt over his availability for the World Cup build-up.

Lech Poznań have confirmed that Gholizadeh will undergo surgery in the coming days, followed by a lengthy rehabilitation process that is expected to keep him sidelined for several months.

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The injury is a major blow for Iran, particularly given Gholizadeh’s expected role on the right flank in their World Cup plans. His absence removes one of the team’s key attacking outlets at a crucial stage of preparation.

Iran’s preparations have already been under strain in recent months. Domestic football activity in the country was suspended amid regional tensions linked to broader geopolitical conflict involving the United States and Israel, limiting competitive match exposure for national team players.

As a result, training for the national side has largely been restricted to controlled sessions, including drills and occasional intra-squad matches in Tehran, rather than regular competitive fixtures. Despite these limitations, members of the squad have continued their preparations at national training camps.

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