Author: Huzaifa Gaba

DHAKA: Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced a 15-member squad for the opening Test against Pakistan, set to begin on May 8 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium as part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.

Najmul Hossain Shanto will continue to lead the side, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz appointed as vice-captain for the series opener.

The squad includes two uncapped players, Tanzid Hasan and Amite Hasan, both rewarded for their recent performances.

Tanzid, already a regular in white-ball formats, has featured in 34 ODIs and 45 T20Is, scoring over 1,900 runs, and will now look to establish himself in the longer format.

Amite, a 24-year-old middle-order batter, earns his maiden call-up on the back of consistent domestic returns, boasting a first-class average close to 50 since his debut in 2019.

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Bangladesh have also bolstered their bowling attack with the return of pace duo Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam, who last featured in Tests in late 2024. Spinner Nayeem Hasan has also been recalled to the red-ball setup.

In the current 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.

The two-match series will continue with the second Test scheduled from May 16 to 20 at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

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

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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday announced a 16-member Test squad for the upcoming two-match series against Bangladesh, with four uncapped players included as part of what appears to be a continued push towards rebuilding the red-ball setup.

But beneath that routine selection cycle lies a deeper issue that continues to define Pakistan’s red-ball structure, lack of consistency in player development and long-term planning.

The series, part of the ICC World Test Championship cycle, will be played from May 8 to 20, with the first Test scheduled at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka and the second at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

Shan Masood will continue to lead the side, while Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais and Muhammad Ghazi Ghori have earned maiden call-ups to the Test squad.

On paper, this looks like healthy regeneration. In practice, however, it adds to a growing concern: Pakistan keeps rotating through uncapped players without giving them time to settle at the highest level.

No continuity in the selection strategy

In the previous home Test series against South Africa in October 2025, Pakistan had also included three uncapped players, Asif Afridi, Rohail Nazir, and Faisal Akram, in the squad.

Out of those three, only left-arm spinner Afridi made his debut, picking up six wickets in his lone Test appearance, while the other two were never handed a cap before being dropped from the current squad.

These selections raise an important question: what was the point of their inclusion?

39-year-old Asif Afridi, with over 250 first-class wickets at an average close to 24, is a proven domestic performer, particularly in spin-friendly conditions like Bangladesh; however, he has been dropped after a solitary Test.

Similarly, left-arm wrist spinner Faisal Akram, who has 60 wickets in 15 first-class matches, is also out despite previously being part of the South Africa tour.

Interestingly, the squad features only two specialist spinners in Noman Ali and Sajid Ali.

Who is Pakistan’s reserve wicket-keeper?

Rohail Nazir, once seen as a long-term backup to Mohammad Rizwan, was also part of the South Africa squad but is now omitted despite having stronger domestic experience than the current replacement Muhammad Ghazi Ghori.

Rohail, who has 2470 first-class runs at 34.78 along with 148 catches and 23 stumpings in 52 matches, was not given a game in South Africa despite being in the squad.

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Ghori, meanwhile, has 1692 runs in 26 first-class matches at an average of 41.26. He is undeniably a talented keeper-batter, but the question is not about his ability; it is about the consistency of opportunity.

If Rohail was not going to be tested at the international level, why was he selected in the first place?

Top-order batting conundrum

Top-order batter Abdullah Shafique has been dropped after a below-par showing against South Africa, where he scored 106 runs at an average of 26.50; however, his opening partner Imam-ul-Haq remains in the squad after scoring just 13 more runs in the same series.

Two left-handed openers, Abdullah Fazal, who has scored 1828 runs in 25 first-class matches at 41.54, and Azan Awais, who has 2673 runs at an average of 48.60, have been included.

Their inclusion suggests a search for new opening combinations, but the lack of clarity around roles remains a concern. Will Pakistan persist with Imam and hand the Test cap to one of these two? Or will we see a new opening pair with two new batters? There is no clarity, and that uncertainty often reflects a lack of planning.

It’s worth noting that a similar search for a reliable Test opener landed an opportunity for Mohammad Huraira, who featured in a two-match home Test series against the West Indies in early 2025.

He managed a mere 46 runs in spin-friendly conditions during the series and was subsequently dropped from the Test team without being given a long enough run to establish himself.

His first-class record, 4762 runs in 65 first-class matches at an average above 45, including a triple century, including a triple century, suggests potential that has not been fully explored at the international level.

When compared with the newly selected openers, Huraira’s exclusion becomes even harder to explain purely on performance grounds. This is where Pakistan’s selection model appears inconsistent: promising players are tried briefly, then replaced, rather than being developed through sustained exposure.

Selection direction under scrutiny

None of this is an argument against the current squad members of the Pakistan Test team. Every player selected has earned his place through domestic or international performances. The issue is structural rather than individual.

Pakistan’s Test setup seems caught in a cycle of experimentation without patience, introducing players, testing them briefly, and then moving on before they can adapt to international demands.

Test cricket, more than any other format, rewards stability and continuity. Teams that succeed in it build combinations over time, allow players to fail and learn, and invest in roles rather than constantly reshuffling them. Pakistan, at least in recent cycles, has struggled to maintain that balance.

The talent pool is not the problem. Pakistan continues to produce capable fast bowlers, spinners, and batters in domestic cricket. The real challenge lies in how that talent is managed once it reaches the international stage.

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Former AC Milan and Japan star Keisuke Honda said he wanted to set a new record after signing for a Singapore Premier League club, FC Jurong, on Friday to resume his colourful playing career aged 39.

FC Jurong announced that the attacking midfielder, who appeared and scored at three World Cups, would play for them next season.

Honda appeared most recently for the Bhutan club Paro FC, playing in two games and scoring two goals in the 2024/25 season.

Before that, he played for Lithuania’s FK Suduva in 2021 and has also turned out for clubs in Japan, the Netherlands, Russia, Italy, Mexico, Australia, Brazil and Azerbaijan.

Honda said in a statement that he was “pursuing several personal challenges”, including trying to score in more domestic top leagues than anyone else.

“However, my primary goal with this club is to win the league title,” he said. “There are a couple of very strong rivals, so it will be a tough challenge, but I am determined to achieve it.”

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For the unversed, Keisuke Honda retired from the Japan national team with 98 caps and 38 goals after playing at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Outside football, he heads a venture capital fund, owns a non-league club in Japan and has also dabbled in management, taking charge of Cambodia’s national team from August 2018 to January 2023.

FC Jurong, formerly known as Albirex Niigata Singapore, said bringing Honda to the club “goes beyond the signing of a single player”.

“To build a great castle, you need a solid cornerstone,” said Chairman Daisuke Korenaga.

“Into that cornerstone, we pour world-class experience, vision, and passion. Together with Keisuke Honda, we are determined to build a legacy that will carry this club forward for the next 100 years.”

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The much-anticipated anthem for Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 11, titled ‘Khelenge Beat Pe’, featuring Atif Aslam, Aima Baig, Sabri Sisters and Daniya Kanwal, was released on Tuesday.

The anthem premiered across PSL’s social media platforms, accompanied by the caption, “The wait is over. The official Pepsi x HBL PSL 11 Anthem has arrived to define a #NewEra. Ab rukna nahi hai, kyunke maidan main aag laga dein ge! Are you ready to Khelenge Beat Pe?”

“The anthem reflects the journey of the league across 10 years as it expands to eight teams for the first time,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement.

“As the HBL PSL has become a passion for the cricket fans throughout the country, Khelenge Beat Pe tells the story of the tournament that runs through the veins of a whole generation now.

“It is also a vivid rendition of Pakistan’s love for the game of cricket as the sport continues to rule the hearts of millions across the length and breadth of the country.

“And once every year since 2016, the whole nation comes together to celebrate the sport through its own world-class cricketing extravaganza, the HBL PSL.”

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Notably, Atif Aslam has brought his stunning vocals to the PSL for the second time after starring in the PSL 2022 anthem “Agay Dekh”.

Meanwhile, this season will mark Aima’s fourth appearance after entertaining the fans in the 2021 anthem “Groove Mera”, the 2022 anthem and the 2024 anthem “Khul ke khel”.

“The HBL PSL has always stood for world-class cricket, unforgettable entertainment and the incredible passion of our fans,” said PSL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Salman Naseer.

“As we step into Season 11, this anthem represents the evolution of the league and the exciting journey ahead. It reflects where PSL stands today: confident, dynamic and ready to inspire a whole new generation of players and fans.”

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Former Australia batter Usman Khawaja has come out in support of Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq following a controversial incident during the second T20I against Australia.

During the game, Australian batter Cameron Green was seen making a gesture widely interpreted as questioning Tariq’s bowling action.

The incident occurred after Green, who had been looking in control at the crease, was dismissed for 35 runs off Tariq’s delivery, caught by Shadab Khan.

Broadcast cameras captured Green making a gesture that many fans and analysts took as implying an illegal action, or “chucking.”

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This is not the first time Tariq’s bowling has been scrutinised. The spinner was reported during PSL 9 and 10, but his action was officially cleared on both occasions.

While Green has not publicly addressed the gesture, Khawaja, who played alongside him for Australia, expressed his support for Tariq on Instagram, sharing the views of cricket journalist Paul Dennett.

“There aren’t many things worse than being called a ‘chucker’ in cricket,” Usman Khawaja wrote.

“The stigma is real. The man is just doing his best and has been cleared twice. Let’s have some perspective and understanding and stop jumping to conclusions.”

Usman Tariq has previously explained that the natural bend in his elbows can create confusion for spectators.

“There are two corners on my elbow that make it hard for me to straighten,” he said in an interview last year.

“I gave two tests at labs in Pakistan, and my action was cleared within a week. I didn’t get told to change anything. I was confident because I knew I was not throwing.”

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BULAWAYO: Pakistan and India are set for a high-stakes showdown on Sunday, February 1, in what has effectively become a virtual knockout for a place in the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2026 semi-finals.

While fans are already dreaming of a potential Pakistan vs India final, the reality is that both teams qualifying from Super Six Group 2 is highly unlikely, though not impossible.

The outcome hinges on the result of England vs New Zealand, scheduled for Friday, January 30.

England currently lead their Super Six group, boasting an unbeaten 3-0 record, which includes wins carried forward against Pakistan and Zimbabwe from the group stage.

If England beat New Zealand, they will finish on eight points, securing a semi-final spot and leaving only one place for either Pakistan or India.

However, if New Zealand manage to turn things around and pull off an upset, the door opens for both Pakistan and India.

In that scenario, a Pakistan win over India on Sunday would create a three-way tie at six points, with Net Run Rate (NRR) deciding the top two teams to advance.

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At present, England’s NRR is 1.989, while Pakistan sits at 1.484 and India at 3.337. Pakistan can improve its NRR significantly with a dominant performance against India, potentially pipping England and qualifying for the semi-final with India.

However, in case of England’s victory, Pakistan not only have to defeat India, but to win in a manner to surpass their arch-rivals in NRR to make it to the semi-finals.

Currently, India hold the advantage with six points and a better NRR; however, the NRR gap may look daunting, but it’s not as impossible as it seems.

If Pakistan bat first and post a total of 300, they would need to win by at least 85 runs to surpass India’s NRR.

If Pakistan bowl first and restrict India to 200, they would need to chase the target in roughly 31.5 overs.

For a target of 251, Pakistan would need to finish the chase in about 33.2 overs.

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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) could face serious financial and sporting repercussions if the national team withdraws from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, according to reports in Indian media.

The speculation gathered pace after PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed on Saturday that the final decision on Pakistan’s participation will be taken by the federal government, following the ICC’s decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland for the marquee event.

Naqvi made it clear that the board would follow government directives, even if it means pulling out of the tournament.

However, sources cited in Indian media believe Pakistan’s stance is being viewed within ICC circles as a pressure tactic rather than a concrete decision to withdraw.

Meanwhile, officials within ICC have reportedly warned that an actual pullout could trigger severe penalties.

According to a report by Hindustan Times, ICC officials have indicated that Pakistan’s withdrawal at this stage would amount to a breach of the event’s participation agreement, with immediate financial consequences for the PCB.

The report claims that PCB’s annual ICC revenue share, estimated at around $34.5 million, could be frozen. The amount forms part of the ICC’s $3.2 billion media rights cycle (2024–27), a bulk of which is driven by the Indian market.

“As a direct consequence, PCB’s share of ICC annual revenue would be withheld,” an ICC official was quoted as saying on condition of anonymity.

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Beyond the financial hit, the report suggests that Pakistan could also face restrictions on future bilateral series and a diminished role in upcoming ICC events if the withdrawal is seen as politically motivated rather than based on cricketing or security concerns.

According to the report, a boycott could also impact the Pakistan Super League (PSL), particularly in terms of foreign player availability.

The report further added that if the Green Shirts boycott the T20 World Cup “solely on government advice” despite no issue concerning the team, then ICC will see it as an attempt to “weaponise sport for politics.”

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled to begin on 7 February, with Pakistan originally set to open their campaign against the Netherlands.

Pakistan are drawn in Group A alongside India, the Netherlands, USA and Namibia, with all of their group matches to be played in Sri Lanka under the hybrid model.

Pakistan are due to face the USA on 10 February, followed by the much-anticipated clash against India on 15 February, before concluding the group stage against Namibia on 18 February.

If Pakistan qualify for the semi-finals and final, both matches are slated to be played in Colombo. Otherwise, the knockout fixtures will take place in Kolkata and Ahmedabad.

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KARACHI: Pakistan TV (PTV) broke a 232-year-old first-class cricket record to register a thrilling two-run victory against Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) in the President’s Trophy Grade-I at the National Bank Stadium on Saturday.

PTV came from the back on the final day to pull off an extraordinary victory in the history of the game, successfully defending a target of just 40 runs.

With this feat, PTV became the first team in the 253-year history of first-class cricket to defend a target as low as 40, eclipsing a record that had stood unbroken for 232 years.

The contest appeared firmly tilted in SNGPL’s favour for most of the match. PTV were dismissed for 166 in their first innings, with Amad Butt’s unbeaten 46 offering the lone resistance.

SNGPL’s bowling attack was disciplined and incisive, led by Shehzad Gul’s four-wicket haul, while Shahnawaz Dahani and Sajid Khan chipped in with two wickets apiece.

In reply, SNGPL posted 238, gaining a healthy 72-run lead. Their innings was rescued by wicketkeeper-batter Saifullah Bangash, who played a counter-attacking knock of 71 after the side had slumped to 94-6.

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For PTV, left-arm spinner Ali Usman starred with the ball, claiming four wickets, while Amad Butt and Israr Hussain took three each to keep the deficit within reach.

However, PTV’s second innings failed to ignite, as they were bowled out for 111, setting SNGPL a seemingly straightforward target of 40.

Once again, Shehzad Gul proved the chief tormentor, tearing through the batting line-up with a five-wicket haul.

However, what followed rewrote the record book as PTV launched an improbable fightback, led by a sensational spell from Ali Usman, who ran riot to claim figures of 6 for 9.

Meanwhile, Amad Butt provided relentless support at the other end, claiming the remaining four wickets. SNGPL bundled out for just 37, handing PTV a stunning two-run victory.

The previous record for the lowest successful defence in first-class cricket dated back to 1794, when Oldfield defended a target of 41 against the Marylebone Cricket Club at Lord’s Old Ground.

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LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has opted to revise the match timings for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Australia, with an official announcement expected soon, sources confirmed on Friday.

The move has been prompted by extreme weather conditions in Lahore, which have led the PCB to bring forward the start time of all three matches.

Each T20I will now begin at 4:00 PM local time, with the toss scheduled for 3:30 PM. Earlier, the matches were set for a 6:00 PM start, with the toss at 5:30 PM.

Pakistan and Australia are set to face off at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on January 29, January 31 and February 1.

The series will serve as an important build-up for both sides ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.

At the upcoming World Cup, Pakistan have been placed in Group A alongside arch-rivals India, as well as the USA, the Netherlands and Namibia.

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Australia, meanwhile, will compete in Group B, featuring Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Oman.

The tour will mark Australia’s third visit to Pakistan since their landmark return in March–April 2022, when they played a historic Test series, followed by an ODI leg and a solitary T20I.

More recently, Australia also featured in three matches of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 held in Pakistan.

Pakistan and Australia share a competitive T20I rivalry, having faced each other 28 times in the shortest format.

Australia hold a slight edge with 14 wins, while Pakistan have claimed 12 victories. One match ended in a tie, with another producing no result.

Pakistan vs Australia series revised schedule

• 1st T20I – Thursday, 29 January – 4pm PKT
• 2nd T20I – Saturday, 31 January – 4pm PKT
• 3rd T20I – Sunday, 1 February – 4pm PKT

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The year 2025 was an unusual and difficult one to assess for the Pakistan men’s cricket team.

There were no trophies added to the cabinet, no Test series victories to celebrate, and while the T20I results showed a healthy number of bilateral wins on paper, the quality of opposition often left room for debate.

In ODI cricket, Pakistan looked directionless in the first half of the year before finding some stability later on, making it impossible to categorically describe the year as either a success or a failure.

While the senior side struggled to establish consistency, the country’s young cricketers stepped forward with authority, winning tournaments, showing composure in pressure moments, and offering a glimpse of a future that appears far more secure than the present.

Test Cricket: Promising Moments, Familiar Outcomes

Pakistan’s year began on a disappointing note in South Africa, where they suffered a second Test defeat that became memorable for reasons beyond the result.

Ryan Rickelton’s marathon 259 dominated the match, while Saim Ayub’s injury during the first innings not only hurt Pakistan in the moment but also disrupted their plans for much of the year that followed.

The loss completed a 2-0 whitewash in the two-match series and once again highlighted Pakistan’s struggles away from home in Test cricket.

Back in familiar conditions, Pakistan hosted West Indies for a two-match Test series on spin-friendly surfaces, a trend they had fully embraced since late 2024.

Sajid Khan was the standout performer in the opening Test, claiming nine wickets as Pakistan secured a 127-run victory, though West Indies found encouragement through left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, who finished with a 10-wicket haul.

The second Test, however, swung decisively in the visitors’ favour. Warrican once again emerged as the defining figure, taking nine wickets and contributing a crucial unbeaten 36 with the bat as West Indies defeated Pakistan by 120 runs to level the series, ensuring Pakistan ended the year without a single Test series win.

ODI Tri-Series: Brief Optimism Before Reality Sets In

In early February, Pakistan hosted South Africa and New Zealand in an ODI tri-series as part of their preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

A defeat against New Zealand was followed by one of Pakistan’s most memorable run chases in recent years, as they hunted down a daunting target of 353 against South Africa.

Captain Mohammad Rizwan anchored the innings with an unbeaten 122, while Salman Ali Agha produced a superb 130, the pair adding 260 runs for the fourth wicket in a record-breaking partnership that briefly reignited belief around the team.

That momentum, however, failed to carry into the final, where Pakistan were comfortably beaten by New Zealand after being unable to defend a modest total of 242.

Champions Trophy: A Disastrous Home Campaign

The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, hosted by Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) under the ICC-approved hybrid model, was meant to be a statement event.

Instead, it became one of Pakistan’s most painful tournaments in recent memory. Entering as defending champions, Pakistan’s campaign quickly spiralled off course.

In the opening match, centuries from Tom Latham and Will Young powered New Zealand to a commanding 60-run victory.

The much-anticipated clash against India followed, but Pakistan’s batting collapsed under pressure as they were dismissed for 241, a total India chased down comfortably with Virat Kohli scoring an unbeaten century.

With two defeats already on the board, Pakistan’s fate was effectively sealed before their final group match.

Their match against Bangladesh was washed out without a ball being bowled in Rawalpindi, resulting in Pakistan crashing out in the group stage with a net run rate worse than Bangladesh’s.

India eventually went on to lift the trophy, while Pakistan were left to reflect on a home campaign that ended far earlier than expected.

Reset in Leadership, Struggles on Tour

The Champions Trophy exit prompted significant changes within the Pakistan setup, as Mohammad Rizwan was removed as T20I captain and replaced by Salman Ali Agha, with Shadab Khan appointed vice-captain as part of a broader rebuild aimed at the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Notably, no immediate changes were made to the ODI leadership despite the tournament being played in that format.

Pakistan’s subsequent tour of New Zealand did little to improve matters. The visitors lost the T20I series 4-1 and were comprehensively whitewashed 3-0 in the ODI series.

The lone bright moment arrived in the third T20I, where young batter Hasan Nawaz announced himself with a scintillating unbeaten 105 off 45 balls, during Pakistan’s only win of the tour.

PSL 10: Lahore Qalandars Defy the Odds

The tenth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) delivered the spectacle expected from a landmark season, particularly with expansion set to follow in future editions. Few stories captured the imagination more than Lahore Qalandars’ remarkable turnaround.

After scraping into the playoffs as the fourth-placed side with a victory over Peshawar Zalmi in a virtual knockout, they defeated arch-rivals Karachi Kings in the Eliminator, and then overcame defending champions Islamabad United in the Qualifier

In the final, they chased down a challenging target of 202 against Quetta Gladiators with six wickets to spare, lifting their third PSL title under the leadership of Shaheen Shah Afridi and joining Islamabad United as the league’s most successful franchises.

New Coach, Mixed White-Ball Returns

Following the PSL, the PCB appointed New Zealand’s Mike Hesson as white-ball head coach, a move aimed at modernising Pakistan cricket team’s limited-overs approach.

Hesson’s tenure began with a dominant 3-0 T20I whitewash of Bangladesh at home, but Pakistan were unable to replicate that success on the return tour, losing the series 2-1 in July.

The tour of the West Indies further highlighted the team’s inconsistency, as Pakistan won the T20I series 2-1 but lost the ODI series by the same margin, a result that ultimately marked the end of Rizwan’s tenure as white-ball captain.

Asia Cup and a Familiar Rivalry

Pakistan then travelled to the UAE for a T20I tri-series against Afghanistan and the hosts as part of their Asia Cup preparations, claiming the trophy after defeating Afghanistan in a low-scoring final. The Asia Cup itself, however, told a familiar story.

After opening with a win over Oman, Pakistan suffered defeats to India in the group stage and again in the Super Four, though victories over Sri Lanka and Bangladesh ensured a place in the final.

There, India once again proved too strong, completing a clean sweep over Pakistan across the tournament.

Late-Year Stability in White-Ball Cricket

Pakistan began their WTC 2025-27 campaign with a home Test win over South Africa, though the visitors bounced back to draw the series.

During the second Test, the PCB confirmed Shaheen Shah Afridi as Pakistan’s new ODI captain, a change that brought immediate results.

Under Shaheen’s leadership, Pakistan defeated South Africa 2-1 in the ODI series and later whitewashed Sri Lanka 3-0 to secure back-to-back series wins.

The year concluded on a positive note with Pakistan winning a low-scoring T20I tri-series final against Sri Lanka, also featuring Zimbabwe.

Pakistan’s Youth Steal the Spotlight

While the senior team searched for stability, Pakistan’s juniors delivered silverware and optimism.

Under Abbas Afridi, Pakistan won the Hong Kong Super Sixes, losing only one rain-affected group match before dominating Kuwait in the final.

In the inaugural ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament, Pakistan cricket team went unbeaten, including a group-stage win over India.

The final against Bangladesh ended in a tie and was decided by a Super Over, which Pakistan won to lift the trophy.

The year’s crowning moment came at the U19 Asia Cup, where Pakistan clinched their maiden title.

In a high-scoring final against India, the young Green Shirts produced a performance reminiscent of the 2017 Champions Trophy, setting a huge total and bowling India out cheaply to seal a historic triumph.

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