Author: shahzad.malik

LAHORE: PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has urged the Pakistan women’s team to play fearless cricket at the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, starting September 30 in India.

Mohsin Naqvi visited the Gaddafi Stadium following the conclusion of the Pakistan ODI series against South Africa.

Naqvi handed over the trophy to South Africa’s captain after the conclusion of the series and later met Pakistan women’s team players and coaches. He lauded the team’s performance and praised their fighting spirit.

The PCB chairman announced a cash prize of PKR 2 million for opener Sidra Amin in recognition of her back-to-back centuries during the series. In addition, all members of the women’s team will receive PKR 1 million each.

Wishing the team success ahead of the ICC Women’s World Cup, Naqvi urged the players to play fearlessly and without pressure.

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“Fight till the last ball. Success is always the result of teamwork,” he remarked.

For context, Pakistan will depart for Sri Lanka tomorrow to play the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. The mega event is scheduled to take place from 30 September to 2 November.

Pakistan will begin its campaign against Bangladesh on October 2 and will play all its games at R. Premadasa ICS, Colombo, at 3pm local time.

Pakistan team fixtures in ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025

• 2 October – vs Bangladesh
• 5 October – vs India
• 8 October – vs Australia
• 15 October – vs England
• 18 October – vs New Zealand
• 21 October – vs South Africa
• 24 October – vs Sri Lanka

READ: Mohammad Wasim backs Pakistan to shine at Women’s World Cup 2025

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has doubled down on its demand for the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft from the ongoing ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025, warning that the team will not play under his supervision.

According to board insiders, the PCB has written a second letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC), adopting a hardline stance after its initial request was not entertained.

In the strongly worded response, the PCB rejected the ICC’s decision not to take action against Pycroft and labelled the inquiry into his conduct as nothing more than a formality.

Sources revealed that the board categorically stated it would boycott matches officiated by the controversial referee and maintained its stance that Pakistan’s participation hinges on Pycroft’s removal.

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The letter further argued that the ICC inquiry neither examined all aspects of the controversy nor engaged with the relevant stakeholders.

“Pakistan has urged that all concerns be fully addressed. Only after the official acceptance of our demand will Pakistan agree to play,” a PCB insider confirmed.

This development comes as Pakistan prepares to face the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in their final group match on Wednesday in Dubai.

However, PCB spokesperson Aamir Mir clarified on Tuesday that consultations are still ongoing, and a final decision on Pakistan’s participation will be announced before the match.

Catch Asia Cup 2025 news updates here!

“The decision will be taken keeping Pakistan’s interests in mind,” Mir said.

The saga stems from the no-handshake controversy in the India clash, where both captains skipped the customary gesture at the toss, and Indian players walked off without acknowledging their rivals after the match.

The PCB has held Andy Pycroft responsible for the incident, calling his directives a breach of cricket’s spirit and traditions.

READ: Sidra Amin achieves major milestone with century against South Africa

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has suspended its Director of International Cricket, Usman Wahla, after the handshake controversy during the Asia Cup 2025 match against India, sources confirmed on Monday.

Insiders reported that Wahla was removed from his position over the delay in issuing a formal response to the match referee’s conduct and India’s actions.

The board was reportedly dissatisfied with the delay of several hours before a protest was lodged.

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The development comes in the backdrop of escalating tensions after the high-profile clash between Pakistan and India in Dubai, which ended with India sealing a seven-wicket victory.

The game sparked widespread controversy when both captains were instructed by match referee Andy Pycroft to avoid the customary handshake at the toss.

Matters worsened after the match when Indian players, led by captain Suryakumar Yadav, bypassed Pakistan’s lineup and headed straight into the dressing room, refusing the traditional post-match handshake.

Pakistan players, who had waited for the gesture, were left visibly disappointed.

Catch Asia Cup 2025 news updates here!

In response, the PCB formally lodged a complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), demanding Pycroft’s immediate removal from the ongoing Asia Cup.

The board stressed that his directive had violated both the ICC Code of Conduct and MCC’s laws, undermining the “spirit of cricket.”

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, also serving as the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President, voiced his disapproval on social media, calling the incident “against the spirit of the game” and urging corrective action.

Sources further revealed that the PCB has even threatened to boycott the remainder of the Asia Cup unless Pycroft is removed from his post.

READ: PCB demands removal of match referee Andy Pycroft from Asia Cup

Members of the Pakistan women’s team and coaching staff have extended their heartfelt support and best wishes to the men’s side ahead of the high-voltage Asia Cup 2025 clash against India.

Head coach of the women’s team, Mohammad Wasim, expressed confidence in the Green Shirts, noting the positives from their recent tri-nation series.

“Pakistan played some really good cricket in the tri-series, and I am hopeful they will deliver against India as well,” he said. “We are eagerly waiting for this big game and wish the boys the very best.”

All-rounder Aliya Riaz encouraged the men’s team to play with spirit and pride.

“Best of luck to the boys’ team, play well and make the nation proud,” she said.

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Top-order batter Iram Fatima also shared her support and extended her best wishes.

“Our best wishes and prayers are with Pakistan. We hope the players perform well and come out on top,” she stated.

Meanwhile, experienced campaigner Natalia Pervaiz also echoed similar sentiments.

“We have full confidence that the Pakistan team will showcase their best cricket in this crucial match,” she said.

The hype surrounding the fixture is at its peak, with both sides entering the contest in strong form.

India bowled out hosts UAE for just 57 runs before racing to the target in 4.3 overs, while Pakistan posted 160-7 and dismissed Oman for 67 in 16.4 overs.

Catch Asia Cup 2025 news updates here!

In head-to-head T20I history, India hold the edge with 10 wins in 13 encounters.

Their last meeting in the format was during the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in New York, where Rohit Sharma’s men prevailed in a tense, low-scoring contest against Babar Azam’s side.

Pakistan squad: Salman Agha (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem.

India squad: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (wk), Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh.

READ: Dubai Police issue strict advisory ahead of Pakistan-India clash

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday announced women’s domestic contracts for 65 players, including 23 U19 & Emerging players for the season 2025-26.

The contracts, for the first time, have been categorised into Gold and Silver, with 20 and 45 players awarded, respectively. They will run from July 2025 to June 2026, during which a number of domestic and U19 tournaments are scheduled.

The monthly retainers have been awarded to not just the performers of previous domestic events but also those who have showcased promise and potential in their respective skillsets during this time.

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The Women’s National Selection Committee, comprising former Test Cricketer Asad Shafiq and former Pakistan Women’s International cricketer Batool Fatima, recommended the names of the 65 players.

Additionally, players outside of this pool can also stake a claim in the domestic contracts list by demonstrating their potential in upcoming domestic events and regional academy camps.

The PCB has conferred domestic contracts for the third consecutive season, maintaining its consistency in a bid to strengthen the player pool at the pathway and domestic level.

Women’s domestic contracts for 2025–26:

Gold contracts (20)

Anam Amin (Lahore), Anosha Nasir (Karachi), Ayesha Zafar (Lahore), Dua Majid (Lahore), Ghulam Fatima (Lahore), Gull Rukh (Dera Ghazi Khan), Hafsa Khalid (Karachi), Huraina Sajjad (Karachi), Iram Javed (Lahore), Kaynat Hafeez (Lahore), Mahnoor Aftab (Peshawar), Neelam Mushtaq (Lahore), Noreen Yaqoob (Lahore), Saima Malik (Quetta), Saira Jabeen (Chitral), Tania Saeed (Rawalpindi), Tasmia Rubab (Jhang), Yusra Amir (Karachi), Zaib-un-Nisa (Charsadda) and Zunash Abdul Sattar (Lahore)

Silver contracts (45)

Aleena Masood (Khanewal), Amber Kainat (Lahore), Areesha Noor (Lahore), Ayesha Bilal (Lahore), Fatima Khan (Lahore), Fatima Shahid (Lahore), Fatima Zahra (Rawalpindi), Humna Bilal (Rawalpindi), Khadija Chishti (Lahore), Laiba Mansoor (Rawalpindi), Maham Manzoor (Hyderabad), Momina Riasat (Abbottabad), Muqadas Bukhari (Okara), Neha Sharmin Nadeem (Karachi), Noor-ul-Iman (Bahawalpur), Rabia Rani (D.I Khan), Rida Aslam (Muzaffarabad), Saiqa Riaz (Lahore), Sana Urooj (Karachi), Shabnam Hayat (Karachi), Soha Fatima (Lahore) and Syeda Masooma Zahra (Karachi)

U19 and Emerging Players (All part of silver category)

Aleesa Mukhtiar (Bahawalpur), Aqsa Bibi (D.G Khan), Areesha Ansari (Sheikhupura), Barira Saif (Rawalpindi), Fizza Fiaz (Lahore), Haniah Ahmer (Karachi), Komal Khan (Lahore), Laiba Nasir (Lahore), Maham Anees (Islamabad), Mahnoor Zeb (Mardan), Malaika Suhani (Lahore), Manahil Rafiq (Faisalabad), Meerab Sheikh (Rawalpindi), Memoona Khalid (Faisalabad), Minahil Javaid (Lahore), Quratulain (Sialkot), Ravail Farhan (Lahore), Samiya Afsar (Lahore), Shahar Bano (Lodhran), Syeda Batool Fatima (Karachi), Tayyba Imdad (Abbottabad), Wasifa Hussain (Karachi) and Zoofishan Ayyaz (Wah Cantt)

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LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) held its 80th Board of Governors (BoG) meeting on Saturday, under the chairmanship of Mohsin Naqvi, with discussions focusing on steps to improve the overall standard of cricket in the country.

The BoG reviewed measures aimed at enhancing Pakistan’s performance in international cricket, while also receiving a comprehensive briefing on initiatives promoting women’s cricket at the grassroots level.

Members were also briefed on reforms in domestic cricket aimed at providing greater opportunities for young talent, as well as plans to upgrade the High-Performance Centres across the country.

The BOG meeting approved updated financial rules of the PCB and also sanctioned the reappointment of auditors for the current fiscal year.

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Furthermore, procedural amendments were approved for the adoption of the global anti-corruption code, along with revised criteria for the scrutiny of clubs.

The BoG ratified the decisions taken in its 78th and 79th meetings.

Among those in attendance during the meeting were PCB BoG members Anwar Ghani, Zaheer Abbas, Sajjad Ali Khokhar, Zafarullah, Tanveer Ahmed, Muhammad Ismail Qureshi, Tariq Sarwar, and others.

Senior PCB officials, including COO Sameer Ahmed, PSL CEO Salman Naseer, CFO, and directors of International Cricket, Media and Communications, Domestic Cricket, Human Resources, High-Performance Centres, along with the head of Women’s Cricket and representatives of the legal department, also joined the session.

READ: Harvey’s unbeaten century powers Adelaide Strikers into Top End T20 semis

Pakistan’s star javelin thrower, Arshad Nadeem, has been ruled out of the upcoming Diamond League due to his fitness issues.

According to details, Arshad’s medical team has advised him against participating in the elite event as he continues his recovery from a serious leg injury.

The Olympic medalist is currently undergoing an intensive rehabilitation program in England, where he has gradually started to put weight on his injured leg after surgery, an encouraging step forward in his recovery journey.

However, according to Dr. Ali Sher Bajwa, who performed Arshad’s surgery in Cambridge last month, Arshad has not yet completed his rehabilitation, and the nature of his injury is serious, which means recovery will take time.

Dr. Bajwa revealed that the injury involved partial muscle damage and required immediate medical intervention.

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“Arshad’s latest injury is entirely new and extremely serious,” Dr. Bajwa confirmed.

Post-surgery, Arshad Nadeem has been based in the UK, where his rehab continues under the supervision of British specialists. While the early signs of progress are encouraging, the timeline for his full recovery remains uncertain.

Importantly, Arshad Nadeem’s participation in the upcoming World Athletics Championship will also depend entirely on the outcome of his rehabilitation programme.

A final decision regarding his involvement in the prestigious event will only be taken once his rehab is successfully completed.

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Pakistan’s star javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem has officially begun his rehabilitation programme after undergoing successful muscle surgery in the United Kingdom (UK) earlier this week.

The surgery was conducted by renowned sports surgeon Dr Ali Sher Bajwa in Cambridge, who diagnosed partial damage to Arshad’s calf muscle, an injury that had been bothering the Olympic champion for some time.

The decision to skip the recent international meet in Switzerland turned out to be a wise one, allowing early diagnosis and timely treatment.

Arshad Nadeem has now started light walking as part of the initial rehab phase.

Dr Bajwa is closely monitoring the recovery process and is expected to conduct a follow-up check-up next week to determine the timeline for resuming full training.

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For now, Arshad’s rehab will consist of controlled walking and basic exercises. His return to training will be phased and gradual, depending on how his body responds in the coming weeks.

Coach Salman Iqbal Butt and the medical team remain optimistic about a smooth and complete recovery, keeping a close eye on progress.

Arshad Nadeem has been in top form over the past year, having made history at the Paris Olympics with a record-breaking 92.97-metre throw to win Pakistan’s first-ever athletics gold.

He followed it up with another golden performance at the Asian Athletics Championship, throwing 86.40 metres.

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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, lauded the Pakistan Hockey team for reaching the U-18 Hockey Asia Cup final on Friday.

Pakistan continued their unbeaten run in the tournament, emerging victorious in a narrowly contested semi-final. During the regular time, neither team could score a goal despite multiple attempts.

The outcome of the high-stakes encounter was decided on shootouts, where Green Shirts netted four goals and missed one. In contrast, Malaysia managed only three goals while missing two crucial chances to advance in the final.

This was Pakistan’s fifth consecutive win in the tournament, having previously defeated Bangladesh, China, Sri Lanka, and Hong Kong dominantly.

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Pakistan will now face Japan in the final of the U-18 Hockey Asia Cup, set to be played on Sunday.

Mohsin Naqvi praised the hockey team for their unity and coordination in the semi-final.

“Pakistan Under-18 hockey team reached the final after demonstrating excellent play, said the board chairman. “The players demonstrated exceptional teamwork and coordination,” he noted.

Mohsin Naqvi also congratulated the team captain, coaches, and management on the achievement, expressing hope that Pakistan would come home with the winning trophy.

“The players have showcased remarkable performances throughout the tournament. I am confident that the U18 team will bring home the Asia Cup title,” he concluded.

Pakistan Hockey Squad for U-18 Asia Cup

Mohammad Usman, Atif Ali, Asam Junaid, Mohammad Abdullah Farooq, Abdullah Awan, Zubair Lateef, Mohammad Yaseen, Mohammad Ali Taj, Ghulam Mustafa, Ali Hamza, Ali Hamzad, Aamir Sohail, Adeel Afzal, Mohammad Zaman, Mohammad Hussain, Mohammad Shaheer, Hasan Shahbaz, Yaseen Jamshaid

Team management

Shafqat Malik (manager): Mukhtar Ahmed, Touseeq Ahmed, Masood-ur-Rahman (coaches)

READ: Pakistan edge past Malaysia to reach U-18 Hockey Asia Cup final

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has reportedly called its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on July 24 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, despite the opposition from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

This will be the first ACC meeting in Bangladesh in several years, but uncertainty looms as India and Sri Lanka have reportedly raised concerns over the venue and suggested a change.

According to the sources, the notice for the meeting has already been sent to all member boards, with ACC President Mohsin Naqvi himself summoning the meeting.

However, both the BCCI and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have reportedly requested the ACC to shift the venue, citing logistical and political concerns.

Despite the objections, the meeting is still likely to take place in Dhaka, with the ACC providing member boards with a 15-day advance notice to make necessary arrangements.

In case any member board is unable to attend the meeting, an online participation option has also been made available.

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“Online meetings are a global norm now, even ACC and ICC have held several of them in the past,” a source from the ACC noted.

Significantly, the Pakistan-Bangladesh T20I series will also be underway in Dhaka during the same period, with representatives from various ACC member nations expected to be present in the city.

This overlapping schedule may have also influenced the decision to retain Dhaka as the host city.

Meanwhile, preparations for the ACC Asia Cup 2025 are in motion, with the UAE emerging as the likely host.

As per the proposed schedule, the tournament is expected to run from September 5 to 21, though final confirmation remains pending.

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